Effect of growth regulators and stages of spray on seed yield and seed quality parameters of ridge gourd [Luffa acutangula (Roxb) L.]

The experiment was undertaken to study the influence of different growth regulators on seed yield and seed quality parameters in ridge gourd [Luffa acutangula (Roxb) L.]. There were 30 treatment combinations comprising of two factors; plant growth stage as main plot treatment, and plant growth regulators as sub plot treatment embedded in a split plot design. The results indicated that significantly the highest average fruit weight (32.76 g), matured fruit yield per plant (65.84 g), 100 seed weight (13.41 g) and seed yield per plant (12.79 g) was recorded with spraying of 500 ppm ethereal, whereas significantly the maximum fruit length (20.89 cm) and fruit diameter (5.15 cm) with 25 ppm GA3. Significantly the highest seed germination (69.22 %) was recorded with spraying of 250 ppm ethereal, while application of NAA at 50 ppm recorded significantly the highest vigour index I (2737.85) and vigour index II (5029.33). Spraying of PGR at two to four leaf stage recorded the higher fruit length (20.19 cm), fruit yield per plant (47.49 g), 100 seed weight (13.18 g) and seed yield per plant (11.98 g) as well as highest germination (60.90%), vigour index I (2460.80) and vigour index II (4377.66). It is concluded that spraying of 500 ppm etherel at two to four leaf stage increased the higher fruit length, fruit yield per plant, 100 seed weight and seed yield per plant as well as highest germination, vigour index I and vigour index II

Changes in murine anorectum signaling across the life course

Background: Increasing age is associated with an increase in the incidence of chronic constipation and fecal impaction. The contribution of the natural aging process to these conditions is not fully understood. This study examined the effects of increasing age on the function of the murine anorectum.Methods: The effects of increasing age on cholinergic, nitrergic, and purinergic signaling pathways in the murine anorectum were examined using classical organ bath assays to examine tissue function and electrochemical sensing to determine age‐related changes in nitric oxide and acetylcholine release.Key Results: Nitrergic relaxation increased between 3 and 6 months, peaked at 12 months and declined in the 18 and 24 months groups. These changes were in part explained by an age‐related decrease in nitric oxide (NO) release. Cholinergic signaling was maintained with age by an increase in acetylcholine (ACh) release and a compensatory decrease in cholinesterase activity. Age‐related changes in purinergic relaxation were qualitatively similar to nitrergic relaxation although the relaxations were much smaller. Increasing age did not alter the response of the anorectum smooth muscle to exogenously applied ACh, ATP, sodium nitroprusside or KCl. Similarly, there was no change in basal tension developed by the anorectum.Conclusions and Inferences: The decrease in nitrergic signaling with increasing age may contribute to the age‐related fecal impaction and constipation previously described in this model by partially obstructing defecation

Nanosuspension: a novel approach to enhance solubility of poorly water soluble drugs- A review

Solubility is the crucial factor for drug effectiveness, independence of the route of administration. Large proportion of newly discovered drugs are water insoluble and therefore poorly bioavailable contributing to desert development effort. Nanosuspensions have emerged as a promising strategy for the efficicent delivery of hydrophilic drugs because of their versatile features and unique advantages. The reduction of drug particles into submicron range leads to a significant increase in dissolution rate and therefore enhances bioavailability. Nanosuspension contain submicron colloidal dispersion of the pharmaceutical active ingredient particles in a liquid phase stabilised by surfactant. Nanosuspensions can be delivered by oral and non-oral route of administration. Study is focused on various methods of preparation with advantages and disadvantages, characterization properties, applications

Reviewing outcomes of psychological interventions with torture survivors: conceptual, methodological and ethical issues

Background: Torture survivors face multiple problems, including psychological difficulties, whether they are refugees or remain in the country where they were tortured. Provision of rehabilitation varies not only with the needs of survivors and resources available, but also with service models, service provider preferences and the local and country context. Despite increasing efforts in research on effectiveness of psychological interventions with torture survivors, results are inconclusive. Methods: We undertook a Cochrane systematic review of psychological, social and welfare provision, with meta-analysis to best estimate efficacy. The process raised conceptual, methodological and ethical issues of relevance to the wider field. Findings: We searched very widely, but rejected hundreds of papers which recommended treatment without providing evidence. We found nine randomised controlled trials, from developed and under-resourced settings. All conceptualised survivors’ problems in psychiatric terms, using outcomes of post-traumatic stress symptoms, distress, and quality of life, by self-report, with or without translation or unstandardised interpretation, and with little mention of cultural or language issues. None used social or welfare interventions. Four related studies used narrative exposure therapy (NET) in a brief form, and without ensuring a safe setting as recommended. Five used mixed methods, including exposure, cognitive behavioural therapy, and eye movement desensitisation. Combined, the studies showed no immediate improvement in PTSD, distress, or quality of life; at six months follow-up, a minority showed some improvement in PTSD and distress, although participants remained severely affected. Conclusions: While applauding researchers’ commitment in running these trials, we raise ethical issues about exposure in particular, and about the effects of shortcomings in methodology, particularly around assessment using unfamiliar cultural frameworks and language, and the lack of concern about dropout which may indicate harm. The issues addressed aid interpretation of existing research, and guide clinical practice as well as future studies evaluating its effectiveness

Evaluation of Nutritional and Medicinal Properties of Opuntia elatior Mill

Medicinal plant Opuntia elatior Mill., family Cactaceae, was studied for its nutritional value and health benefited properties from fruit. The fruit of the plants was extracted in sequential manner using methanol, hexane and distilled water. Out of these, maximum extract yield present in the methanolic extract was 36.84%. Nutritional value present in the 100 g of methanolic extracts of fruit was 1.02, 0.60, 63.26, and 0.11 mg of carbohydrates, protein, vitamin C and fat, respectively. Methanolic extract exhibits the highest antioxidant activity that is 54.10% and the lowest antioxidant activity is exhibited by the hexanoic extract at 45.66% and the distilled water at 50.40% of antioxidant activity. The anti-inflammation activity, the ability of protein denaturation in different fruit extracts of the maximum percentage of inhibition of 37.49% was observed from methanol extract followed by distilled water at 34.15% and then hexane at 30.38%. Phytochemical constituents present in the methanolic extract are alkaloids and phytosterols compound. High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis of methanolic extract showed the presence of three bands. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis of methanolic extracts 19 characterization of bioactive compound. The methanolic extracts of fruits containing high content of protein, vitamin-C and carbohydrates provide good nutritional potential value and antioxidant activity and antiinflammation activity that may be possibly contribute to the treatment of arthritic disease

Homotopy Analysis Approach of Boussinesq Equation for Infiltration Phenomenon in Unsaturated Porous Medium.

oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/11Boussinesq’s equation is one-dimensional nonlinear partial differential equation which represents the infiltration phenomenon. This equation is frequently used to study the infiltration phenomenon in unsaturated porous medium. Infiltration is the process in which the groundwater of the water reservoir has entered in the unsaturated soil through vertical permeable wall. An approximate analytical solution of nonlinear partial differential equation is presented by homotopy analysis method. The convergence of homotopy analysis solution is discussed by choosing proper value of convergence control parameter. The solution represents the height of free surface of infiltrated water

A systematic review of the role of non-magnified endoscopy for the assessment of H. pylori infection.

Background There is growing interest in the endoscopic recognition of H. pylori infection, and application to routine practice. We present a systematic review of the current literature regarding diagnosis of H. pylori during standard (non-magnified) endoscopy, including adjuncts such as image enhancement and computer-aided diagnosis. Method The Medline and Cochrane databases were searched for studies investigating the performance of non-magnified optical diagnosis for H. pylori, or those which characterised mucosal features associated with H. pylori infection. Studies were preferred with a validated reference test as the comparator, although were included if at least one validated reference test was used. Results 20 suitable studies were identified and included for analysis. In total, 4,703 patients underwent investigation including white light endoscopy, narrow band imaging, i-scan, blue-laser imaging, and computer-aided diagnostic techniques. The endoscopic features of H. pylori infection observed using each modality are discussed and diagnostic accuracies reported. The Regular Arrangement of Collecting Venules (RAC) is an important predictor of the H. pylori naïve stomach. ‘Mosaic’ and ‘Mottled’ patterns have a positive association with H. pylori infection. The ‘Cracked’ pattern may be a predictor of an H. pylori negative stomach following eradication. Conclusions This review summarises the current progress made in endoscopic diagnosis of H. pylori infection. At present there is no single diagnostic approach that provides validated diagnostic accuracy. Further prospective studies are required, as is the development of a validated classification system. Early studies in Computer-Aided Diagnosis suggest potential for a high level of accuracy but real-time results are awaited

Recent research on liquisolid technology for solubility enhancement- A review

Liquisolid system is a novel and promising approach to enhance aqueous solubility, dissolution rate as well as bioavailability of water insoluble solid drugs or liquid lipophilic drugs by conversion of liquid drugs, drug suspensions or drug solution in non-volatile solvents, into dry, non-adherent, free flowing and compressible powder mixtures by simple blending with selected carriers and coating materials. This technology is based on a new mathematical model proposed by Spireas et al . The three main proposed mechanisms by which bioavailability of drug is increased that are increased surface area of drug, increase aqueous solubility of drug and improved wettability of the drug