A study of hypoglycemic effect of Caesalpinia bonduc extract on alloxan induced diabetic albino rats

Background: The objective of the study was to scientifically investigate the oral hypoglycemic activity of Caesalpinia bonduc on Alloxan induced diabetic albino rats. To compare the hypoglycemic effect of Caesalpinia bonduc with that of the standard drug Glibenclamide used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.Methods: Adult healthy albino rats of wister strain of either sex weighing 150-200gms were included in the study. The animals were divided into 4 groups namely control, diabetic control, standard and test groups with 6 animals in each group. Diabetes was chemically induced using alloxan to produce hyperglycemia in rats. Standard drug Glibenclamide suspended in gum acacia was administered for standard group. Test drug Caesalpinia bonduc was administered for test group. Morning around 9 a.m. blood glucose levels were recorded on 1st, 3rd, 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th days.Results: The control group of rats showed no variation. The diabetic control rats showed consistent hyperglycemia. Comparing the test drug Caesalpinia bonduc to the standard drug Glibenclamide, the test drug was 1.38 times more efficacious than the standard.Conclusions: The alcoholic extract of Caesalpinia bonduc (seeds) has shown more anti diabetic activity by lowering the blood glucose levels in diabetic rats significantly. These findings suggest that hypoglycemic potential of the test compound Caesalpinia bonduc is promising and found to be more significant than the standard compound

EXPLORING TURBULENT WAKES IN A NON-UNIFORMLY STRATIFIED ENVIRONMENT FOR SUBMARINE DETECTION

This study aims to explore the behavior of turbulent wakes generated by a spherical submerged body propagating with constant speed in a non-uniformly stratified fluid. The investigation is based on a series of high-resolution numerical simulations in which the background stratification is systematically varied. We consider one linear and five non-linear temperature profiles and two sets of Froude numbers (Fr), Fr = 1.0 and Fr = 3.2. The analysis of dissipation of thermal variance (χ) shows that the shape of the wake for non-uniform profiles is more horizontally spread, and internal waves are much stronger than in linear stratification. Experiments with Fr = 1.0 show a rather asymmetric energy distribution caused by internal wave reflections from low-gradient regions. An idealized model demonstrates that internal waves emitted at horizontal angles shallower than roughly 64 degrees are reflected. For Fr = 3.2, internal waves are radiated at steeper angles and transmitted more. Using decay rates of χ, the maximum detection time of the wake can be estimated, showing that for Fr = 3.2, the thermal signal lasts four to five times longer than for Fr = 1.0. Furthermore, concave profiles produce signals lasting approximately twice as long as those for linear profiles, whereas low-gradient types have half the duration. This research is expected to assist in the development of non-traditional detection algorithms for undersea warfare.Office of Naval Research, 875 North Randolph Street, Arlington, VA 22203Outstanding ThesisCapitão de Corveta, Brazilian NavyApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited

Evaluation of antihistaminic activity of quercetin by using histamine induced bronchospasm and clonidine induced catalepsy models

Background: Histamine is an important mediator of allergic reactions. Even though presently available antihistaminics are effective in treatment of allergic reactions, still there is scope for better new drugs. Quercetin has been used as a nutritional supplement and may be beneficial against a variety of diseases. Some of the beneficial effects include anticancer, antitumor, anti-ulcer, anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory effects. As quercetin is used in traditional system of medicine for treatment of allergies, this study was undertaken to evaluate antihistaminic activity of quercetin.Methods: In histamine induced bronchospasm model, 18 guinea pigs were divided into 3 groups. Control group received normal saline, standard control group received Chlorpheniramine and test group received Quercetin. All drugs were given once daily for 5 days. Preconvulsive dyspnoea was calculated on day 0 and day 5 for all guinea pigs after administration of Histamine aerosol. In clonidine induced catalepsy model, 18 albino mice were divided into 3 groups. Control group, standard control group and test group received normal saline, Chlorpheniramine and Quercetin respectively. One hour after administration of drugs the mice were given clonidine and catalepsy was measured at 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 min.Results: In histamine induced bronchospasm model, both chlorpheniramine and quercetin produced significant protection as compared to control group. In clonidine induced catalepsy model the effect of quercetin was comparable to chlorpheniramine.Conclusions: Quercetin has significant antihistaminic activity. It appears to be due to H1 receptor blockade, contrary to the belief that it inhibits release of histamine from mast cells

Quench Protection System of Superconducting Quadrupole Magnet: Simulation and Experimental Studies

The main motivation behind this thesis is to design an efficient quench protection system (QPS)for the superconducting quadruple magnet system under development at IUAC. A detailed the magneto-static simulations have been done for the quadruple magnet using OPERA-3D software to analyse the field profile and the magnet bore, fringe field and peak field in the conductor of the magnet system. Quench simulation with different QPS circuit configurations using OPERA-QUENCH code for a single NbTi coil and a quadrupole singlet is one of the major objectives of the thesis. One of the configurations of the protection circuit for single NbTi coil has been tested at 4.2K in a test rig. Single superconducting quadrupole coil is simulated in QUENCH package with adiabatic boundary condition for same circuit operated at current of 80A and 100A, it results in linear increment of final maximum temperature and resistance of coil after quenching. Depending on the protection circuit such as only resistor, back-to-back diode and back-to-back diode with resistor across the coil. The final temperature varies in between 38 to 47 K. The purpose of the heater power to initiate the quench in the magnet analysed and experimentally validated from the single coil experiment in LHe cryostat. The effect of dumping resistors of 0.91 and 2.5 ? results into the decrement in original time constant (t_C=1.5 s) to decay the remaining current from 1 s and 0.667 s respectively is characterized. Simulation study is extended to superconducting quadruple singlet with many combinations of circuits and gets an idea about mutual coupling between the coils during quench. A helium cryostat has been designed for testing of the QPS of the superconducting quadrupole doublet structure (QDS). And optimized it mechanically for minimum heat load of 21.4 W

Geographical Analysis of the Coastal Landforms of Canacona, Goa

Of the total 247 nations of the Globe, 123 nations are characterized by coastline accounting to 1.6 million kilometers. Coastal areas are highly useful to humans because they have ecological, biological, social, and economic values. Since the antiquity of man, oceans and seas have served as a linkage amid humans and lands. They have bonded us together. Economic development in the world is concentrated in the coastal regions hence most thickly populated cities are found concentrated in these areas. The coastal ecosystems are composed of diversified landforms of different dimensions and forms. India has 7516.6 km long coastline of which 130kms lies in Goa. The shoreline of Goa is characterized sandy beaches, rocky beaches, sea caves, estuaries, mangroves, bays, headlands, cliffs, hills, corals, ports, harbors and coastal islands. Of the 12 talukas of Goa, 7 talukas are gifted with coastline. Canacona taluka has the longest coastline among all the talukas. The coast of Canacona is very fragile and eco-geologically vital. The coast of Canacona is characterized by a number of coastal landforms created by both erosion and deposition. Hence, this paper make an attempt to investigate in to the coastal landscape of Canacona and identify important coastal landforms

A survey to assess the knowledge of adverse drug reactions and pharmacovigilance practices among undergraduate medical students, interns and postgraduate students in a tertiary care hospital

Background: The objective of the study was to evaluate the knowledge and attitude towards pharmacovigilance and adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting among the undergraduates, interns and postgraduate students.Methods: This was a cross sectional study done among the undergraduates, interns and post graduate medical students at Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, Hubballi using a pre-validated questionnaire that included 20 questions to evaluate the participants knowledge and perception of ADR and pharmacovigilance. The questionnaire was distributed to the participants (n=606) after taking their informed consent. The data was compiled and evaluated as percentages.Results: About 52% of the participants were aware of pharmacovigilance and 38.7% knew about the purpose of pharmacovigilance programme of India. 51% of the participants have experienced ADRs during their professional practice out of which 23% have reported to the pharmacovigilance centre. The most common barrier for under-reporting was lack of time to report ADR among 34% of the participants. 31% of the participants felt that managing patient was more important than reporting ADRs. 29% of the participants gave the reason as lack of access to ADR reporting forms. 25% of the participants had difficulty to decide whether ADR has occurred or not.Conclusions: Our study strongly suggests a greater need to create an awareness among undergraduate medical students, interns and postgraduate students to improve the reporting of ADRs

MENSTRUAL HYGIENE IN SCHOOL GOING GIRLS: A SURVEY STUDY

Background: Menstruation is a normal physiological process to the females but even in this modern era people set back to speak out freely about menstruation and menstrual related problems. Objectives: To study about the menstrual hygiene practices and deictic pattern among the adolescent girls. Materials and methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted in January and February in Gadag district of Karnataka among 150 adolescent school going girls in the age group of 14-16 years. Data was collected by the predesigned and pretested questionnaires. Observation: During the study it was observed that till today few adolescent girls did not feel it comfortable to tell freely about their menstrual practices and problems. It was observed that the dietic pattern of the teens left a major impact on their menstrual problems. Results: 115 out of 150 girls use sanitary napkins as their hygienic practices but the rest still used cloth. It is necessary to educate them about the dietic patterns to be followed. Conclusion: Hygienic practices during menstruation were satisfactory. Girls should be educated about the proper hygienic practices, dietic pattern, yoga and meditation as well as bring them out of traditional misconceptions and restrictions regarding menstruation

Viscosity dependence of the rotational reorientation of coumarins by depolarization technique

Steady-​state and time-​resolved fluorescence behavior of coumarin 6 (C6) and coumarin 7 (C7) in alkane and alc. solvents has been investigated. Steady-​state absorption and emission spectral behavior of C6 and C7 was found not to be affected by both the solvents. Time-​resolved fluorescence anisotropy measurements showed that the rotational reorientation of the probe became faster in alc. A comparison of the exptl. measured rotational reorientation times of C6 and C7 were identical in a given solvent at a particular temp. The present study has been undertaken to examine the role of friction experienced by the polar solutes in a polar and non-​polar solvents. Mol. shape and size were similar but the friction experienced by these probes in n-​tridecane and n-​propanol solvents viscosities were varied by temp. However, it was obsd. that C6 and C7 rotates faster in alc. than alkane and the obsd. results were discussed in the last section

Perception of Students on Tablet and Laptop Distribution Scheme of U.P. Government

If the 18th century is characterized as the age of reason, the 19th as one of industry and the 20th as revolution then the 21th century could well be known as the age of ICT. This is the time when more youth everywhere are involved in acquiring new knowledge and skills continuously throughout their lives and from virtually every context of daily life. This study aims at studying the effectiveness of a program of the government through students’ perception. The scheme aimed at providing free tablet and laptops to the high school and senior secondary government school graduates. The sample consisted of 200 secondary and senior secondary boys and girls. The overall results revealed that there is favourable perception of students towards tablet and laptop distribution scheme of U.P. Government. Students’ perception on the bases of level of schooling (level 1-class 10th and level 2-class 12th), gender and locale was also examined in the present study