Conversion of carbonimidodithioates to carbamates

Carbonimidodithioates derived from primary amines or α-amino acid esters have been converted to N-benzyloxycarbonyl derivatives under mild conditions by treatment first with sodium benzyl alcoholate and then with water. N-Benzyloxycarbonyl α-amino acids have been generated from the methyl esters by alkaline hydrolysis or from the allyl esters by Pd0-catalysed de-allylation

Preparation of Al2O3 - SiC In-Situ Composite Powder Mixtures by Carbothermal Reduction of Kaolinite

A1,,O3-SiC,, composite powder mixtures were prepared by carbothermal reduction of kaolinite (A],03.2SiO,.2H,O) in argon atmosphere at constant gas pressure of 0.15 MPa. The reactions were carried out with different mole ratios of silica (in the precursor) and carbon (4.5-9.0), with two types of carbon i.e.carbon black (300m2/g)and activated charcoal (1000m2/g) and at different temperatures in the temperature range of 1550-17000C with one hour of soaking to find the progress of the reaction in all the cases. It was observed that the reactions were complete at 17000C. The reactions were carried out with higher soaking time to optimise the process. It was noted that mullite forms as the intermediate phase at lower temperatures which converts progressively later to a mixture of A1,O, and SiC,, composite product at higher temperatures

A PILOT STUDY ON THE EFFICACY OF SIDDHA MEDICINE SEENTHIL SARKARAI IN THE MANAGEMENT OF MOOTHIRAKIRICHARAM (URINARY TRACT INFECTION)

Objective: The present pilot study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of Seenthil sarkarai, a Classical Siddha medicine in Moothirakiricharam (Urinary Tract Infection) patients.Method: This study was approved by IEC and registered in Clinical Trial Registry of India and was conducted at the National Institute of Siddha, Tambaram, Chennai, India. The investigator recruited 20 patients of both male and female with an inclusion and exclusion criteria. All the patients were treated with Seenthil Sarkarai at the dose level of 2 grams two times a day with warm water for 21 days. Dietary regimen was advised for the patients. Study outcome was studied with negative Urine culture and also based on the improvement in the reduction of Burning micturition, Frequency of micturition, Dysuria with fever, Foul smelling urine.Results: The symptoms such as burning micturition, persistent urge to urinate, foul smelling urine, and presence of bacteriuria reduced markedly within 21 days of duration. Out of 20 patients, 12 patients were completely relieved from the compliance of UTI with negative Urine culture. The symptoms of UTI were markedly reduced in remaining 8 patients. There were no adverse effect reported during the study and no recurrence of UTI was noticed in 12 patients who were completely cured.Conclusion: Results suggest that the trial drug Seenthil Sarkarai is effective and safe for the management of Moothirakiricharam (UTI) and in alleviating recurrences

Detection of Wolbachia endobacteria in Culex quinquefasciatus by Gimenez staining and confirmation by PCR

Background & objectives: Wolbachia are common intracellular bacteria that are found in arthropods and nematodes.These endosymbionts are transmitted vertically through host eggs and alter host biology in diverse ways, includingthe induction of reproductive manipulations, such as feminization, parthenogenesis, male killing and sperm-eggincompatibility. Since they can also move horizontally across species boundaries, Wolbachia is gaining importancein recent days as it could be used as a biological control agent to control vector mosquitoes or for paratransgenicapproaches. However, the study of Wolbachia requires sophisticated techniques such as PCR and cell culturefacilities which cannot be affordable for many laboratories where the diseases transmitted by arthropod vectorsare common. Hence, it would be beneficial to develop a simple method to detect the presence of Wolbachia inarthropods.Method: In this study, we described a method of staining Wolbachia endobacteria, present in the reproductivetissues of mosquitoes. The reliability of this method was compared with Gram staining and PCR based detection.Results: The microscopic observation of the Gimenez stained smear prepared from the teased ovary of wildcaught and Wolbachia (+) Cx. quinquefasciatus revealed the presence of pink coloured pleomorphic cells ofWolbachia ranging from cocci, comma shaped cells to bacillus and chain forms. The ovaries of Wolbachia (–)cured mosquito did not show any cell. Although Gram’s staining is a reliable differential staining for the otherbacteria, the bacterial cells in the smears from the ovaries of wild caught mosquitoes did not take the stain properlyand the cells were not clearly visible. The PCR amplified product from the pooled remains of wild caught andWolbachia (+) Cx. quinquefasciatus showed clear banding, whereas, no banding was observed for the negativecontrol (distilled water) and Wolbachia (–) Cx. quinquefasciatus.Interpretation & conclusion: The Gimenez staining technique applied, could be used to detect the members of theendobacteria Wolbachia easily, even in a simple laboratory without any special facilities or even in the fieldcondition and for handling large number of samples in a shorter duratio

Conductive Buffer Layers and Overlayers for the Thermal Stability of Coated Conductors

We analyze fundamental issues related to the thermal and electrical stability of a coated conductor during its operation. We address the role of conductive buffer layers in the stability of Ni-based coated conductors, and the effect of a metallic cap layer on the electrical properties of Ni alloy-based superconducting tapes. For the first case we report on the fabrication of a fully conductive RABiTS architecture formed of bilayers of conductive oxides SrRuO3 and LaNiO3 on textured Ni tapes. For the second case we discuss measurements of current-voltage relations on Ag/YBa2Cu3O7-d and Cu/Ag/ YBa2Cu3O7-d prototype multilayers on insulating substrates. Limitations on the overall tape structure and properties that are posed by the stability requirement are presented.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Plk1/Polo Phosphorylates Sas-4 at the Onset of Mitosis for an Efficient Recruitment of Pericentriolar Material to Centrosomes

Centrosomes are the major microtubule-organizing centers, consisting of centrioles surrounded by a pericentriolar material (PCM). Centrosomal PCM is spatiotemporally regulated to be minimal during interphase and expands as cells enter mitosis. It is unclear how PCM expansion is initiated at the onset of mitosis. Here, we identify that, in Drosophila, Plk1/Polo kinase phosphorylates the conserved centrosomal protein Sas-4 in vitro. This phosphorylation appears to occur at the onset of mitosis, enabling Sas-4's localization to expand outward from meiotic and mitotic centrosomes. The Plk1/Polo kinase site of Sas-4 is then required for an efficient recruitment of Cnn and gamma-tubulin, bona fide PCM proteins that are essential for PCM expansion and centrosome maturation. Point mutations at Plk1/Polo sites of Sas-4 affect neither centrosome structure nor centriole duplication but specifically reduce the affinity to bind Cnn and gamma-tubulin. These observations identify Plk1/Polo kinase regulation of Sas-4 as essential for efficient PCM expansion

PEAK FACTOR IN THE DESIGN OF WATER DISTRIBUTION-AN ANALYSIS

ABSTRACT Water distribution system , being an important components of a water supply system, consumes nearly 75% of installation cost. Population, minimum residual pressure, peak factor and demand variation mostly decide the pipe size and cost. Peak factor value adopted for the design of distribution system differs country to country around the world. A critical review of peak factor used by different countries has been made. The cost of the net work increases with the peak factor. In India, the actual peak factor observed in the field fluctuates from 3 to 12 due to intermittent water suppl. Peak factor 5 to 6 is found to be suitable for ensuring the reliability of the distribution system