Antifungal activity of Terminalia chebula fruit extracts

The present study was aimed to investigate the anticandidal and antifungal potential of dried fruit extracts of Terminalia chebula against Candida albicans, C. tropicalis C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis, and Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, A. fumigatus, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. rubrum, Microsporum gypseum. Phytochemical analysis of methanol extracts of T. chebula dried fruits showed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, tannins, terpenoids and steroids. Among the tested four extracts, the methanol extracts of T. chebula dried fruits exhibited the highest antifungal activity and their inhibition zone was ranged between 7.5 to 19.5mm. MIC and MFC values were between 62.5-250μg/ml and 250-500μg/ml respectively. Zone of inhibition (19.5 mm), MIC (62.5µg/ml) and MFC (125µg/ml) values observed in methanolic extracts of T. chebula dried fruits against A. fumigates and T. mentagrophytes. Our findings proved that methanolic extracts of T. chebula dried fruits were possessed substantial anticandidal and antifungal properties

Effect of Trade Liberalization on Low-Carbon Energy Technology Dissemination in Asia

The production and use of low-carbon energy technology and services, such as renewable energy, are imperative for Asia’s emerging economies (which are heavily dependent on imported energy and resources) to tackle global environmental issues like climate change. Acknowledging this fact, recently, governments in the Asian region individually have been taking effective actions in the form of voluntary targets and policy commitments to improve the production and use of low-carbon technology, such as solar, wind, geo-thermal, and so forth. Nevertheless, the diffusion of these technologies has been through liberalized trade, which has been low compared with trade and investment in other energy intensive sectors. Though effective tariffs are low, non-tariff barriers or behind-the-border constraints are very high. In this exploratory study, the potential for increased exports in low-carbon technology and services under a grand regional coalition, partial regional coalition, and stand alone scenarios is studied. We find that production, trade, and investment in renewable energy technologies are very low regionally. There is a large gap between the demand for and the supply of low-carbon energy technology and associated pollution abatement services. Behind-the-border constraints that exist within the exporting country, such as poor infrastructure and inefficient institutions, create this gap between actually realized and potentially possible exports. This supply gap provides an opportunity for those emerging Asian economies, which have the potential to contribute to the manufacturing of such technologies individually and collectively pooling their physical and human capital

Misoprostol for cervical ripening at and near term - a comparative study

Objective. To compare the safety and efficacy of misoprostol with that of dinoprostone for the induction of labour at term, or near term.Design. Three hundred and ninety-six women with term pregnancies were randomised to receive either oral or vaginal misoprostol, or dinoprostone. Women who had had a previous caesarean section (CS) or those with a malpresentation or who were parity ≥ 5, were excluded. The control group received dinoprostone 1 mg inserted in the posterior fornix and repeated 6-hourly to a maximum of three doses. The study group received either oral misoprostol 20 pμ 2-hourly to a maximum of four doses (80 μg), or vaginal misoprostol 25 μg in the posterior fornix with a switch to the oral misoprostol regimen if there was no change in the Bishop's score or no palpable uterine contractions.Results. There was no significant difference in vaginal delivery rate within 24 hours between the groups (58.1% v. 58%, p = 0.633). There were no significant differences in CS rates between the groups; however, more CSs were performed for fetal distress in the misoprostol group than in the dinoprostone group (28% v. 25%). There was a significantly higher incidence of hyperstimulation in the vaginal misoprostol group (21.4%) than in the other two groups (oral misoprostol 16.5%, dinoprostone 8.9%) (p = 0.004). The incidence of meconium staining of liquor was comparable between the groups.Conclusions. In selected women, the efficacy of misoprostol for the induction of labour at term is similar to that of dinoprostone but misoprostol is associated with a higher incidence of hyperstimulation

Studies of vitamin A deficiency in children

The clinical features of 319 children with vitamin A deficiency observed in Coonoor and forty-nine children studied in Hyderabad have been discussed in detail. Estimations of the contents of vitamin A and carotene in the serum and the in vitro destruction of vitamin A by lysed red blood cells were carried out. There was a lack of association between the incidence of night blindness and other ocular signs of vitamin A deficiency. Although signs of vitamin A deficiency were always associated with a low dietary intake of carotene and vitamin A, the reverse did not always occur. The proportion of patients with vitamin A deficiency who had keratomalacia was much greater in Hyderabad than in Coonoor. Levels of vitamin A and carotene in the serum were low in all children with vitamin A deficiency. Levels of vitamin A in the serum of subjects with kwashiorkor but without clinical signs of vitamin A deficiency were also found to be significantly lower than the levels in apparently normal children. Treatment with a high protein diet without vitamin A supplementation brought about a significant increase in the levels of vitamin A in the serum in the latter. The in vitro destruction of vitamin A by lysed red blood cells of children suffering from vitamin A deficiency appeared to be higher than that of the normal controls Treatment with vitamin A lowered this abnormal in vitro destruction

Pharmacokinetics of articaine hydrochloride and its metabolite articainic acid after subcutaneous administration in red deer (Cervus elaphus)

“This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in New Zealand Veterinary Journal on 23 October 2017, available online: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00480169.2017.1391141”Publishe

Comparison study of existing bowl piston and modified bowl piston diesel engine performance emission and combustion characteristics by using diesel

In this investigation, the Modified bowl piston (MBP)diesel engine performanceemission and combustion characteristics have been studied by using diesel (100%D)and compared with theExisting bowl piston (EBP). From the results, it is evident that the MBP has given higher brake thermal efficiency (BTE) at an engine load 80%, 100% and higher exhaust gas temperature (EGT) has been given in engine all loads, when compared with EBP. In emission point of view,the MBP has given lower hydrocarbon (HC),carbon monoxide (CO), smoke at all loads when compared with EBP, However nitrogen oxide (NOX), carbon dioxide (CO2)have increased for MBP. In the combustion point of view MBP has given higher cylinder pressure (CP) and higher cumulative heat release rate (CHRR) at full load condition when compared with EBP.  From the experimental results, it has been concluded that the MBP is anapt one in performance, emission and combustion perspective when compared with EBP by using 100%D

First principles studies of the potential-induced lifting of the Au(100) surface reconstruction

The potential-induced surface reconstruction of Au(100) has been studied by a combination of density functional theory and thermodynamic considerations. Surface free energies of reconstructed-(5 x 1) and unreconstructed-(1 x 1) surfaces were calculated as function of an external electric field using the extended ab initio atomistic thermodynamics approach. After relating electric field and electrode potential by using capacitance measurements, we calculate lifting of the reconstruction to occur at 0.58 V in 0.01 M HClO4 and 0.27 V in 0.01 M H2SO4, being in agreement with the experimental values of 0.60 and 0.27 V (vs. SCE). Finally, the consequences of using experimental capacitance measurements for calculating surface free energies are discussed

Performance of ZnO-Nb2O5 core/shell and aluminium doped ZnO electron transporting layer with CdS/CdSe quantum dot-sensitized solar cells

470-477In the present investigation, solar cells have been fabricated using Cds/CdSe quantum dots sensitized ZnO photoanode for solar cell application. Photocurrent-voltage analysis and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements have been performed to investigate the electron transport and recombination of charge carriers in quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) based on ZnO photoanodes. This dynamic study reveals that the CdS/CdSe sensitized aluminium (Al) doped ZnO NPs photoanode solar cell performs ultrafast electron transport and high charge collection efficiency (80 %). As a consequence, a power conversion efficiency as high as 5.32 % (JSC = 12.86 mA/cm2, VOC = 600 mV, FF = 69 %) for aluminium doped ZnO NPs/CdS/CdSe photoelectrode based QDSSC is observed under one sun AM 1.5 G illumination (100 mW cm-2). This result highlights the necessity of treating QD-sensitized solar cells from another perspective than dye sensitized solar cells, considering the fundamental differences in their behavior

Uptake and movement of phosphorus (32P) in grapes

Phosphorus applied into the soil, appeared in the vine shoots within 24 hours of application, and the 6th bud of the shoot, which is generally the most fruitful region of shoots in the Anab-e-Shahi variety of grape, accumulated a high concentration of fertilizer P