EVALUATION OF ACUTE AND SUB-ACUTE TOXICITY OF A STANDARDIZED POLYHERBAL FORMULATION (HC9): AN IN VIVO STUDY

Objective: In the present study, we have performed the acute and sub-acute toxicity of a standardized polyherbal formulation (HC9) in Swiss albino mice. Methods: In acute toxicity study, the mice were orally administered with different doses (1750 and 2000 mg/kg) of HC9 and monitored for 14 d. In the sub-acute toxicity study, animals received HC9 extract by oral gavage at the doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg/day (????=5/group/sex) for 28 d. At the end of the study, the animals were sacrificed and evaluated for effect of HC9 on biochemical, hematological and histopathological parameters. Results: HC9 did not produce any adverse effects in biochemical, hematological, urine and histopathological parameters in mice. HC9 did not induce any adverse effects in terms of mortality and clinical signs in the acute toxicity study. It was well-tolerated by mice up to 2000 mg/kg/body weight. In sub-acute toxicity study, no treatment-related adverse effects were found in the mice upto 1000 mg/kg/day dose. No significant changes were observed in biochemical and hematological parameters as well as histopathology of tissues (liver, kidney, spleen, heart, lung, thymus, adrenal gland, epididymis and testis/ovary) among mice of either sex. Conclusion: Our results showed that HC9 did not induce any acute and sub-acute toxicity in male and female mice, thereby, suggesting its safety for future clinical application

Organic Semiconductor for Hydrogen Production

The quest of conquering balanced environment for the ultimate search of “Who am I” furnished to pollution and energy crises. As the viable world development is dependent on effective utilization of available renewable energy resources. Hydrogen fuel as an energy source is the future for many upcoming generations as it never produces pollutants. 6, 13 Pentacenequinone (PENQ) is recently developed and reported organic photocatalyst for the generation of hydrogen from water as well as hydrogen sulfide. PENQ can be synthesized and characterized using different methods and techniques/approaches that are listed in this chapter. Green Solid state synthesis method of PENQ is the most promising one as it gives high yield at room temperature and without solvents. Structural characterization of this novel organic catalyst were done using powdered XRD. Cyclic voltammetry is used for the calculating the difference between valance and conduction band levels in the organic PENQ catalyst. After complete structural and morphological characterization, organic PENQ was explored for the hydrogen production from hydrogen sulfide. This photocatalytic nature was also being confirmed using its composites/ coupled systems (PENQ: TiO2 and PENQ: MoS2) using hydrogen sulfide and water

Cohort and period effects in U.S. migration: How demographic and economic cycles influence the migration schedule

This paper examines the influence of demographic and economic cycles on the migration propensities given in the migration age schedule. It is well known that while the shape or profile of the migration-age relationship has enduring regularity over time and space, its level (or intensity) shows considerable volatility. Recent studies suggest that variations in generation size and economic conditions may systematically influence the levels of the migration schedule. These studies show that large cohorts have notably lower migration rates than small cohorts, mainly because they face more competitive labor markets upon entry into young adulthood. Similarly, migration rates, especially of young adults, have been found to decline during recessionary periods and increase during economic booms. Building on these studies, I examine the influence of generation size on the migration intensities seen in a cohort (longitudinal) migration schedule and that of economic conditions on the intensities of a period (cross-sectional) migration schedule. I further specify a model that incorporates both cohort and period effects in order to understand their relative importance in shaping the migration schedule. Empirical analyses based on Current Population Survey data for the 1949-1993 period reveal that the level of the migration schedule is sensitive to demographic and economic cycles, with the effect of generation size being relatively more influential. The findings call for a more explicit incorporation of cohort and period effects in analyses of migration patterns. Key Words: migration, baby boom, economic cycle, United States. O ne of the most prominent regularities noted in migration studies is the distinctive age pattern of migration The markedly high migration propensities of twenty-year-olds has been attributed to the interaction of two effects: the demands generated by the stage of the young adult's life cycle and the positive relationship between age and community attachmen

The Geographic Structure of Cross-national Trade Flows and Region States

POON J. and PANDIT K. (1996) The geographic structure of cross-national trade flows and region states, Reg. Studies 30, 273-285. Recent trends in the globalization of production and the formation of regional coalitions has brought into question the suitability of the nation state as the relevant scale for regional analysis. Economic activities are increasingly occuring within supranational spaces or region states, which act as mediators between the national and the international economy. The rise of the region state has provoked fears that the postwar world order is disintegrating into closed trading blocs. This paper examines the spatial structure of region states and the role they play in the international economy, based upon international trade flows 1970-90. Six region states are identified, arranged around the core market countries of the US, Japan, Germany, France, UK and the former USSR. Trade linkages between region states are hierarchically arranged, revealing a bipolar structure of Pan-Pacific and Pan-European trade. We also found an increase in the trade between region states relative to the trade within region states, indicating that the emerging regionalization is associated with stronger global interdependencies. POON J. et PANDIT K. (1996) La geographie des flux commerciaux transnationaux et des etats-region, Reg. Studies 30, 273-285. Des tendances recentes dans la globalisation de la production et l'etablissement de coalitions regionales ont remis en question la pertinence de la nation en tant que l'echelle appropriee a l'analyse regionale. Des activites economiques ont lieu de plus en plus a l'interieur des espaces supranationales ou des etats-region qui se servent de mediateurs entre l'economie nationale et internationale. La montee de l'etat-region a provoque des craintes que l'ordre economique mondial d'apres-guerre se desintegre dans des blocs commerciaux clos. Cet article cherche a examiner la geographie des etats-region et le role qu'ils jouent dans l'economie internationale a partir des flux commerciaux internationaux de 1970 a 1990. Six etats-region se voient identifier, situes autour des marches qui constituent le noyau, a savoir les Etats-Unis, le Japon, l'Allemagne, la France, le Royaume-Uni et l'ex-Union sovietique. Les relations commerciales entre les etats-region sont organisees sous forme d'une hierarchie, ce qui laisse voir une structure bipolaire de commerce panpacifique et paneuropeen. Ils'est avere aussi une augmentation du commerce entre les etats-region, ce qui signale que la regionalisation naissante s'associe a de plus fortes interdependances mondiales. POON J. und PANDIT K. (1996) Die geographische Struktur von Handelsstromungen uber Nationalstaaten und Staaten-regionen hinweg, Reg. Studies 30, 273-285. Tendenzen der jungsten Vergangenheit bezuglich Globalisation der Produktion, und die Bildung regionaler Koalitionen haben dazu gefuhrt, die Angemessenheit des Nationalstaates also relevantem Massstab fur die Regionalanalyse in Frage zu stellen. Wirtschaftliche Tatigkeit findet zunehmend in Nationalstaaten und Staatenregionen uberspringenden Raumen statt, die als Vermittler der internationalen Wirtschaft und der eines Landes auftreten. Der Aufstieg der Staatenregion hat zu Befurchtungen gefuhrt, dass die wirtschaftliche Weltordnung der Nachkriegszeit ins Wanken gerat und der Herausbildung abgeschlossener Handelsblocke weicht. Dieser Aufsatz untersucht die raumliche Struktur von Staatenregionen und ihre Rolle in der internationalen Wirtschaft auf der Basis internationaler Handelsflusse im Zeitraum 1970-1990. Es werden sechs Staatenregionen identifiziert, die sich um die Kernmarktlander der USA, Japans, Deutschlands, Frankreichs, Grossbritanniens und der ehemaligen Sovietunion gebildet haben. Handelsverbindungen zwischen Staatenregionen sind hierarchisch geordnet, wobei sich eine bipolare Struktur pan-pazifischen und pan-europaischen Handels ergibt. Es wurde daruberhinaus eine Zunahme des Handels zwischen Staatenregionen im Verhaltnis zu dem innerhalb der Staatenregionen festgestellt, was darauf hinweist, dass die aufkommende Regionalisierung mit starkerer globaler Interdependenz verbunden ist.Staatenregion, Regionalisierung, Handel,

Minimizing Delay Using New Dynamic Blocking Expanding Ring Search Technique for Ad hoc Networks

Energy and latency are the significant Quality of Service parameters of ad hoc networks. Lower latency and Limited energy expenditure of nodes in the ad hoc network contributes to a prolonged lifetime of the network. Reactive protocols determine the route to the destination using a route discovery process which results in increased delay and increased energy expenditure. This paper proposes a new technique of route discovery,Dynamic Blocking Expanded Ring Search (DBERS) which minimizes time delay and energy required for route discovery process. DBERS reduces energy expenditure and time delay occurring in the existing route discovery techniques of reactive protocols. The performance of DBERS is simulated with various network topologies by considering a different number of hop lengths. The analytical results of DBERS are validated through conduction of extensive experiments by simulations that consider topologies with varying hop lengths.The analytical and simulated results of DBERS are evaluated and compared with widely used route discovery techniques such as BERS, BERS+. The comparison of results demonstrates that DBERS provides substantial improvement in time efficiency(53.88% and 26.66% comapred with BERS and BERS+ respectively) and also minimizes energy consumption

SP-D impedes transfer of HIV-1 from multi-layered vaginal epithelium with a distinct gene signature

Surfactant Protein (SP) D is a member of the collectin family of soluble pattern recognition receptors. We have previously shown that a recombinant fragment of SP-D (rhSP-D) inhibits gp120-CD4 interaction and HIV-1 entry in target cells. To potentiate its prophylactic use as a vaginal microbicide, we determined ex vivo efficacy using organotypic human vaginal-ectocervical epithelia (VEC-100) that closely resemble the native tissues of origin. VEC-100, stratified human vaginal-ectocervical tissues grown on membrane inserts were treated with rhSP-D followed by a challenge with HIV-1 to assess the transfer of HIV-1 through the VEC-100 tissues to PBMCs in the basal submucosal compartment. Treated VEC tissues were subjected to mRNA Illumina microarray analysis. Levels of transcripts encoding for immune mediators, adhesion and tight junction proteins were also evaluated. Effect of rhSP-D on viability, NFκB activation, cytokine secretion and bacterial colonization of cervical vaginal epithelial cells was determined. rhSP-D significantly inhibited HIV-1 transfer from the multi-layered epithelial tissues to the basal PBMCs as compared to HIV-1 alone. Global gene expression profile of HIV-1 challenged VEC-100 tissues revealed differential regulation of genes and pathways majorly involved in inflammation, cell survival and transcription factors. Levels of Guanylate-binding proteins (GBPs) and interferon-inducible proteins were significantly upregulated suggesting an interferon host defense response. rhSP-D showed an inhibition in the levels of GBPs and rescued the cell adhesion molecules such as Claudin 2, 3, 4, 5 and Occludin, known to be down regulated by HIV-1 in primary vaginal cells. Importantly, rhSP-D conditioned VEC tissue supernatants did not enhance susceptibility of target cells to HIV-1. rhSP-D treated vaginal epithelial cells did not show any significant alteration in viability, NFκB activation and levels of immune mediators like IL-1RA, Elafin, SLPI, TGFβ, GRO-α, MIP-3α and RANTES. Bacterial colonization and direct toxicity assays revealed that rhSP-D did not adversely affect growth of vaginal commensals. Blockade of viral movement within the vaginal epithelium, inhibition of detrimental early gene signature and safety profile of rhSP-D suggests that topical formulation comprising rhSP-D may significantly curb the sexual transmission of HIV-1