Customs House Agents Perspective on Effectiveness of Container Freight Stations, Chennai

A key factor in determining the trade volume is the efficiency of the cargo handling capacity of the ports. Container Freight Stations forms a major infrastructural component which primarily contributes to the decongestion of ports at the terminals. It is considered as an extension of department of customs. As India has improved its trade environment, development of ports, the volume of trade has increased over the years. The containerization of cargo has increased the role of CFS in India. CFS are the integral part of the EXIM supply chain. Custom House Agents and importers have some grievances such as the delay in the movement of cargo which would in turn increase the demurrage incurred on the importers, lack of infrastructure facilities, modern container handling equipment. Indias EXIM trade is fast growing and for managing and sustaining the growth, it is very essential to enhance the infrastructure facilities, modern cargo handling equipment. The purpose of the study is to analyse the important criteria in the selection of a CFS, the association of problems and satisfaction of the Customs house agents. SPSS 21 is used to perform the MANOVA, ANOVA and Correlation analysis. The results revealed that there is a significant effect of number of shipping bills on location, safety and quick clearance, difference of opinion on satisfaction between importers and exporters and a negative association between the problems in the CFS and satisfaction. The study also identified that quick clearance, modern cargo handling equipments and location are the major criteria in the selection of the CFS. Keywords: Container Freight Stations, Customs House Agent, EXIM, CHA, LOGISTICS FIRMS

AUDIOMETRY IN TYPE 2 DIABETIC AND NON-DIABETIC PATIENTS OF THE AGE GROUP 45 TO 65 YEARS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

ABSTRACTObjective: To compare the relationship between Type 2 diabetic patients and hearing loss in patients of age Group 45-65 years.Methods: The study was conducted on two groups of people: Diabetic and non-diabetic patients (n=25). The results of the pure-tone audiometry werecollected from the center and analyzed for statistical differences.Results: Statistically significant results were obtained. It indicated that diabetic patients had less hearing sensitivity compared to non-diabeticpatients.Conclusion: It was concluded that patients with longer duration of diabetics had less hearing sensitivity.Keywords: Diabetic, Pure tone audiometry, Frequency

EVALUATIONS OF CURATIVE EFFICACY OF HYDROALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF APIUM GRAVEOLENS IN EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED NEPHROLITHIATIC WISTAR MALE RATS

In Indian folk medicine, there is a claim that medicinal plants can treat urolithiasis although there is insufficient scientific evidence. The objective of this study was to evaluate the curative efficacy of hydro alcoholic extract of Apium graveolens in experimentally induced nephrolithiatic rats. Methods: Urolithiasis was induced in male Wistar rats by feeding ethylene glycol in drinking water for 28 days. The curative effects were evaluated after oral administrations of 200 and 400 mg/kg of the extracts from 15 to 28 days. Urine samples were collected 1 day before sacrificing the rats. Blood and kidney samples were gathered under anaesthetic condition at day 28. Results: Hydro alcoholic extract of Apium graveolens reduced significantly in the urinary level of protein, calcium, Uric acid, Creatinine, Oxalate and Phosphate (P < 0.001), whereas it was significantly elevated the levels of magnesium (P < 0.01) compared to lithiatic control. In the kidneys, CaOx crystal deposits were reduced significantly by hydro alcoholic extract of Apium graveolens.(P < 0.01) Conclusion: It has been noted that Hydro alcoholic extract of Apium graveolens  was potent in treating urolithiasis. However, further study is required to assess the efficacy of the active compounds against urolithiasis

EFFECT OF VARIOUS IRRIGANTS ON DENTAL BIOFILM: A REVIEW

ABSTRACTObjective: The objective of the article is to describe in brief the various endodontic irrigants on dental biofilm.Method: Articles based on various endodontic irrigants and dental biofilm were searched in an iterative manner from journals,books and sites suchas PubMed.Result: It was found out that sodium hypochlorite is more effective on dental biofilms than chlorhexidine, MTAD, EDTA, herbal irrigants and newirrigants such as Qmix and tetraclean.Conclusion: Disinfection of root canal system is done using mechanical instrumentation,chemical irrigation along with medication.Sodiumhypochlorite an excellent antibacterial agent,is the most commonly used and is more effective than other irrigants on dental biofilm.Keywords: Irrigants, Dental biofilm, Antimicrobial resistance, Sodium hypochlorite, Chlorhexidine, Tetraclean, Herbal irrigants

Awareness On Recent Trends of Global Climate Change

Climate change is defined as a change in the statistical properties of meteorological variables, which are considered over a long period of time, regardless of the cause. Modern climate change is mainly dominated by human influences, which is now large enough to exceed the bounds of natural variability. The main sources of global climate change are human induced changes in the atmospheric composition. Changes to the climate system is observed at a global scale through measurement of temperature at the surface in the middle of the atmosphere, increased sea level, increased sea surface temperature, increased ocean heat content and water vapour in the atmosphere. The decrease in polar ice sheet, decreased global sea ice content, and the net decrease in glacier volumes were all observed. The aim of the study is to assess the recent trends of global climate change & create awareness among the public based on the topic. A questionnaire comprising 15 questions was circulated among 100 participants with the aid of an online survey platform. The data collection was performed using Google forms. The statistical analysis was done using SPSS software. When inquired about the awareness of the risks of global warming, 99% of the participants responded positively. It was observed that, according to the participants’ opinion, global climate change is too late to be prevented or reduced. 80% of the participants believe that a technological breakthrough would influence climate change and global warming rates. The participants of the survey were questioned whether global warming was linked to extreme weather events like hurricanes et cetera, and 96% of the participants responded positively. When they were questioned about their awareness and impacts of global climate change on the future, the majority responded that it would result in rise in sea levels, as well as a rise in global temperature. The recent trends of global climate change was studied, surveyed and demonstrated that this climate change has a vast impact on the future. It must be reduced to maximum to avoid complex circumstances in the future

Expression of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH 1) and CD144 in Non-habit associated Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Cancer stem cells are tumour cells that have the capacity of self-renewal, the potential to develop into any cell in the overall tumour population and the proliferative ability to drive continued expansion of the population of malignant cells. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) is a cell surface marker for cancer stem cells. ALDH1 is involved in the conversion of retinol to retinoic acid and catalyses the oxidation of intercellular aldehyde metabolites into carboxylic acid. Vascular Endothelial-Cadherin (VE-Cadherin; CD144) is an adhesion molecule that promotes cell-to-cell interaction. CD144 also controls the cohesion and organization of the intercellular junctions. Overexpression level of VE-Cadherin enhances the cancer neovascularization, growth, and progression. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the expression of ALDH 1 and CD144 in patients with non-habit associated OralSquamous Cell Carcinoma by Immunohistochemistry(IHC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Immunohistochemical detection of ALDH1 was done using polyclonal antibody and Poly Excel HRP/DABTMchromogen detection system on 37formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue samples, which included non-habit associated Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma(OSCC; n=20) and the expression was compared with that of normal mucosa(n=17). Immunohistochemical detection of CD144 was done using polyclonal antibody and Poly ExcelHRP/DAB chromogen detection system on 37formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue samples,which included non-habit associated Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma(OSCC; n=20) and the expression was compared with that of normal mucosa(n=17). RESULTS: The positivity of CD144 expression was higher in OSCC when compared with normal mucosa. The connective tissue also showed positively stained vascular channels, cells around the vascular channels and keratin pearls. ALDH1 positivity was expressed more in normal mucosa when compared to OSCC. The connective tissue showed ALDH1 positively stained blood vessels, keratin pearls and muscle. CONCLUSION: When comparing the expression of CD144 and ALDH1 between the two groups, CD144 was increased in OSCC (Group I) and decreased in normal mucosa (Group II). ALDH1 was increased in normal mucosa and decreased in OSCC. The decreased expression of ALDH1 in OSCC can be due to the lower levels of acetaldehyde during alcohol metabolism in non-alcoholics and the biological behaviour difference between smokers and alcoholics when compared to non-smokers and non-alcoholics

INVESTIGATION ON RECYCLED GLASS AS A REPLACEMENT FOR FINE AGGREGATE IN CONCRETE

Waste management is becoming a major issue for communities worldwide. Glass, being non-biodegradable, is not suitable for addition to landfill and such recycling opportunities need to investigate. Continuous use of natural resources since ages has been depleting them at an alarming rate. Natural sand is the best form of the fine aggregate used in concrete till now. But continuous sand mining results in impure water in river which leads to an environment disaster. In the search for the replacement of sand, construction material waste and environmental waste materials got the focus of research people. Among these materials like waste glass can be an effective replacement for fine aggregate. This project studies the suitability of crushed glass as a possible substitute for conventional fine aggregate. Experimental investigation was carried out to evaluate the properties of concrete mixture in which the fine aggregate was replaced with the crushed glass in 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% & 100% by weight. Mechanical properties like compressive strength and tensile strength were determined at an age of 28 days. The test results indicate when crushed glass used as fine aggregate enhances the strength properties of concrete. It is found that 60% fine glass and 40% natural is the optimum proportion