ANTIOXIDANT, CYTOTOXICITY, AND STABILITY EVALUATION OF GINKGO BILOBA EXTRACT-BASED MICROEMULSIONS FOR ENHANCED THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY

Objective: This study is aimed to evaluate the antioxidant (AO) potential, cytotoxicity, and stability of preformulated Ginkgo biloba standard extractmicroemulsion (GBME), to investigate if, it retains the therapeutic potential of EGB761 and remains safe and stable for a longer period.Method and Results: GBME has shown enhanced AO (85.2±0.78%, IC50=31.3±0.45 μg/ml) in comparison to EGB761 (74.1±0.51%,IC50=49.4±0.05 μg/ml) using 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assay. Similarly, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate(DPPH) assay has also shown that AO for GBME (94.6±0.04%, IC50=11.4±1.03 μg/ml) was higher than EGB761 (78.6±1.20%, IC50=34.6±0.81 μg/ml).Further, IC50 value of antiradical unit of GBME was much lesser (ABTS=14.3±1.05 μg/ml and DPPH=17.03±1.8 μg/ml) in comparison to EGB761(ABTS=34.1±1.62 μg/ml and DPPH=37.5±0.08 μg/ml). Equivalently, both, hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity, and nitric oxide activity wereappreciably higher for GBME than the pure extract. The in vitro cytotoxicity assessment showed that GBME is quite safe (98.68±0.76% cell viability) incomparison to EGB761 (83.29±1.02%). Thereafter, these samples were tested for stability by evaluating their AO activity along with high-performanceliquid chromatography analysis, for the major phytocompounds, after 1 year, and results suggested that AO of GBME remained stable while comparingwith the freshly prepared GBME, whereas AO of EGB761 reduced significantly as compared to freshly taken EGB761 extract implying the degradationof phytocompounds supporting decrease in AO activity.Conclusion: Therefore, the observed results suggest that GBME maintained AO and scavenging activity along with enhanced shelf life with no observedtoxicity, which can be explored further for its potential therapeutic implications in various oxidative stress-induced central nervous system disorders

Dielectric Behaviour of Binary Mixtures of Toluene with Chlorobenzene, n-Hexanol & Benzyl Alcohol

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Common Bulkhead Tank Design for Cryogenic Stage of an Indian Launch Vehicle

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has been advancing in space technology with its cost-effective techniques. Currently, ISRO, in its cryogenic stages, uses truss type intertank structure, which induces large concentrated loads at the truss interfaces. As a remedial measure, works on closed intertank are being carried out by them, but this configuration will considerably increase the launch vehicle mass compared to truss type. Therefore, after a thorough literature survey, a Common bulkhead (CBH) tank seemed to be the best solution to the aforementioned problem. Detailed research on sandwich-type CBH has been carried out in this paper with the motivation of saving mass and height in launch vehicles. Suitable core and facesheet material were selected. A novel foam-filled honeycomb core is suggested in this work. Several comparisons in various CBH dome designs were carried out to reach for the best possible configuration and composition that can be used. MATLAB®, SolidWorks®, and ANSYS® were used in parallel for all computations dealing with design and analysis. A mass saving of approximately upto 490 kgs and a height reduction of upto 1.755 m was obtained with the final selected configuration with respect to the current GSLV configuration. These savings can add extra payload capacity to ISRO launch vehicles in their future missions

Influence of NPK levels on growth and yield of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni under hills of Uttarakhand

66-72A field experiment was carried out at CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Research Centre Purara, Bageshwar, Uttarakhand, India during 2014 and 2015 in sandy loam soil on Influence of NPK levels on plant growth and yield of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni under lower hills of Kumaon Uttarakhand were tested in a randomized block design with factorial concept in three replications. Four harvestings were taken in a year. Stevia were treated with three doses of nitrogen (100,200,300 N kg/ha), three doses of phosphorus (60,120,180 P2O5 kg/ha) and two levels of potassium (80,160 K2O kg/ha). Pooled results indicated that significantly higher dry leaf yield was obtained with nitrogen @ 300 Kg/ha (45.68 t/ha) and it was on par with 200 kg/ha (43.76 t/ha). Phosphorus @ 180/ha recorded significantly highest dry leaf yield (40.68 t/ha) and it was on par with 120 kg/ha (43.40 t/ha). Potassium @ 160 kg/ha recorded dry leaf yield of 43.12 t/ha and it was comparable with potassium @80 kg/ha (41.84 t/ha). The growth parameters viz., plant height (cm), number of branches per plant and number of leaves per plant were significantly higher with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium @ 300 kg/ha, 180 kg/ha and 160 kg/ha, respectively which were on par with 200 kg/ha, 120 kg/ha and 80 kg/ha respectively. In pooled data nitrogen N3 i.e., 300 kg/ha recorded the highest B:C (4.60) which was on par with nitrogen @ N2 i.e., 200 kg/ha (4.34), but significantly higher than N1 i.e., 100 kg/ha (3.38). Phosphorous P3 i.e., 180 kg/ha resulted in higher B:C (4.61) which was on par with P2 i.e., 120 kg/ha (4.50). Potassium level influenced the B:C non-significantly. Significantly lowest B:C was recorded with absolute control in pooled data (2.19). Nutrient level of 300:180:160 kg/ha NPK applied in equal splits to four harvestings in a year has been considered as an economically optimum level of nutrients for stevia

Detection of mullerian duct anomalies: diagnostic utility of two dimensional ultrasonography as compared to magnetic resonance imaging

Background: Mullerian duct anomalies (MDAs) are a fascinating group of disorders that have varied clinical presentation from being asymptomatic to primary amenorrhea to inability to reproduce. Correct diagnosis of the condition plays a crucial role in management. Imaging plays a pivotal role in making correct diagnosis. This study aims to find the prevalence of MDAs amongst study population and their relation with infertility and also compares diagnostic utility of pelvic ultrasound with MRI.Methods: A randomized diagnostic test evaluation study was conducted in the Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging of a tertiary care teaching hospital over a period of 2 years. The patient first underwent pelvic 2D USG in multiple planes using curvilinear probe of 3MHz to 5 MHz. frequency and then MRI.Results: Most common MDA in total study sample and in primary infertility group is arcuate uterus while in recurrent abortions group it is unicornuate uterus. Out of total study sample of 75 patients 2D USG detected 18 cases of MDA while MRI detected 22 cases of MDA. So, 2D USG failed to detect 04 cases of MDA in total study population bringing overall sensitivity of 2D USG as 81.8%, specificity of 100%, PPV of 100%, NPV of 93.4% and accuracy of 94.6%.Conclusions: 2D USG has a few limitations but in view of relatively simple imaging procedure, ease of availability and cost effectiveness it should be utilized as an initial imaging modality in patients with suspicion of MDAs

W8 - Curvature Tensor in Generalized Sasakian Space Forms

The generalized Sasakian-space-forms and their properties have been examined by various researchers such as Alegre and Carriazo [2008], Prakasha [2012], Sarkar and Akbar [2014], Shanmukha et al. [2018], Sarkar and Sen [2012], Rajan and Singh [2020] and Sarkar and Sen [2012]. Motivated by the results of these works, we have proposed the idea of the W8−curvature tensor in generalized Sasakian-space- forms. The main goal of this paper is to investigate the curvature properties of generalized Sasakian-space-forms that satisfy the conditions ξ − W8− flatness, ϕ − W8−semi-symmetric, W8 · Q = 0, W8 · R = 0 and to prove some interesting results

Translation and validation of the Nepalese version of Derriford appearance scale (DAS-59)

Objectives: To establish a valid and reliable translated version of Derriford Appearance Scale (DAS 59) for Nepali population.Methods: A standard translation-back-translation procedure was used followed by evaluation of semantic, conceptual and society equivalence by the committee and changes were made according to recommendations. This corrected version was pretested and a final version was developed. A validation study was performed using the final version on 424 patients including 212 patients with clinical appearance problems and similar number of young adults who had no concern for facial appearance. Reliability was assessed by cronbach’s alpha value and test-retest correlation coefficient. Discriminate and convergent validity were assessed by comparison between clinical and normal population and correlation with Beck’s Anxiety Inventory(BAI), Beck’s Depression Inventory(BDI)and General Health questionnaire (GHQ) Results: The results indicated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.98) and good test –retest reliability (0.91 for clinical population, 0.86 for normal population). The Discriminate validity was good with statistically significant differences between clinical and normal population .The convergent validity was confirmed by good correlation with other related psychometric tools.Conclusion: A valid and reliable Nepali DAS59 version was developed which can be used for research and clinical assessment of patients with appearance problems and concerns

Synergistic effect on static and dynamic mechanical properties of carbon fiber-multiwalled carbon nanotube hybrid polycarbonate composites

Carbon fiber (CF) and multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-reinforced hybrid micro-nanocomposites are prepared through melt mixing followed by injection moulding. The synergistic effect on both the static and dynamic mechanical properties with MWCNT/aMWCNT and CF reinforcement in a polycarbonate matrix is investigated by utilizing dynamic mechanical analysis, and flexural and tensile measurements. The enhancement in the flexural modulus and strength of the composite specimens as compared to pure PC for maximum loading of CF is 128.40% and 39.90%, respectively, which further improved to 142.94% and 42.60%, respectively, for CF-functionalized MWCNTs. Similarly, the storage modulus of the composite specimens reinforced with a maximum loading of CF and CF-functionalized MWCNTs show an increment of 176.57% and 203.33%, respectively over pure PC at 40 degrees C. Various types of parameter such as the coefficient C factor, degree of entanglement and adhesion factor have been calculated to analyze the interaction between fillers and the polymer matrix. Composite specimens containing 2 wt% of functionalized MWCNTs show a lower C value than the as-synthesized MWCNTs, which is indicative of a higher effectiveness of functionalized MWCNT-containing composite specimens. These results are well supported by optical microscopy and Raman spectroscopy by confirming the distribution of reinforcement