Physico-chemical parameters and nutritive value of Pavetta crassicaulis Bremek and Olea dioica Roxb. collected from Western Ghats region of Karnataka

Pavetta crassicaulis and Olea dioica are two unexplored medicinal plants used by some of the tribal communities in India, in curing different ailments such as, fever, headache and cancer. The flower of P. crassicaulis and the fruit of O. dioica were eaten by the tribes of Mizo’s, Mizoram and locals of Kerala respectively. The present study was aimed to investigate the physico-chemical, elemental composition and nutritive value of selected medicinal plant parts such as. From this experiment, it is revealed that mainly leaf, stem and root have the highest macro and micronutrients. But, even though the flower of P. crassicaulis and fruit of O. dioica have moderate macro and micronutrients showed excellent nutritive value due to higher crude protein, fat and carbohydrate. From the results, it is concluded that the flower of P. crassicaulis and fruit of O. dioica is loaded with higher crude protein, fat and carbohydrate along with appreciable macro and micronutrients. The study also gave positive feedback on the traditional use of tribes in Mizoram and tribes in Kerala, India

Environmental Conditions off Karaikal, South-East Coast of India, as Deciphered from Recent Benthic Foraminiferal Distributions

Bottom water and sediment samples collected from off Karaikal, Arasalar River mouth and further upstream revealed that the environmental conditions control the distribution of benthic foraminiferal populations. In the offshore region, although Ammonia beccarii dominates the assemblage, depth of the water column seems to play a significant role in controlling the distribution of taxa constituting the assemblage. Within the depth range of sampling, a general increase in total populations of this species is observed. The nearshore stations are characterized by relatively higher total populations of such species as Spiroloculina orbis, Pararotalia nipponica and Elphidium crispum, all of which typically inhabit shallow waters on the east coast of India. Both living and total populations of all the species put together show a definite increase with depth of the water column; the maximum living and total populations have been counted to be 36 and 328, respectively. In proximity to the Arasalar River mouth also, A. beccarii predominates the assemblage which, however, is similar to those recorded from estuaries in the Indian region. The assemblage recorded from the upstream samples with relatively increased DO content but decreased salinities is still dominated by the same species, but its associated taxa are characteristic of euhaline to meso-polyhaline environmental conditions. The present study reiterates the need for examining modern benthic foraminiferal distributions and the assemblages therein from diverse environments, in order to facilitate better interpretation of fossil assemblages. Keywords Foraminifera , Distribution ,Environment ,Karaikal , SE coast of  Indi

A dynamics-driven approach to precision machines design for micro-manufacturing and its implementation perspectives

Precision machines are essential elements in fabricating high quality micro products or micro features and directly affect the machining accuracy, repeatability and efficiency. There are a number of literatures on the design of industrial machine elements and a couple of precision machines commercially available. However, few researchers have systematically addressed the design of precision machines from the dynamics point of view. In this paper, the design issues of precision machines are presented with particular emphasis on the dynamics aspects as the major factors affecting the performance of the precision machines and machining processes. This paper begins with a brief review of the design principles of precision machines with emphasis on machining dynamics. Then design processes of precision machines are discussed, and followed by a practical modelling and simulation approaches. Two case studies are provided including the design and analysis of a fast tool servo system and a 5-axis bench-top micro-milling machine respectively. The design and analysis used in the two case studies are formulated based on the design methodology and guidelines

Temporal Analysis of Land Use and Land Cover Changes in Vizianagaram District, Andhra Pradesh, India using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques

Land use and land cover change (LULCC) has become a significant global concern due to its wide-ranging environmental, social and economic impacts. This literature review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the key ideas, drivers, consequences and approaches to studying LULCC. By synthesizing various research articles, this review offers insights into the causes and impacts of LULCC, as well as the methods used to analyze and monitor these changes. The review also highlights the importance of understanding LULCC dynamics for sustainable land management and policy making. Between 2017 and 2022, the LULC categories underwent several changes. Data acquisition process for satellite imagery combining Sentinel-2 digital remote sensing data digital remote sensing data through the Copernicus Open Access Hub. The spectral resolution is 10, 20, and 30 meters respectively, while the spatial resolution is 10 meters which was used for the LULC analysis of the study area. This analysis underscores the importance of LULCC monitoring to inform sustainable land management practices and conservation efforts. The trends identified provide a basis for further investigation into the underlying drivers of these changes and their potential impacts on ecosystems, water resources and human well-being. Continued monitoring and proactive measures are essential to mitigate adverse impacts and promote sustainable land use in the future

Patchy layered structure of tropical troposphere as seen by Indian MST radar

The MST radar observations at Gadanki (13.47° N, 79.18° E) show, almost every day throughout the year, stratified layers of intense reflectivity near the tropopause level (17 km) and also at a couple of levels between 4 km and 10 km. Highest individual reflectivity values occur near 17 km, but they occur for a short while. The region between 11 km and 15 km shows the lowest values of reflectivity alongwith vertical downward motion almost on all days of the year. High values of reflectivity are attributed to the existence of visible or sub-visible clouds; the layered structure of clouds is attributed to inertio-gravity waves with vertical wavelength of 2-3 km. It is suggested that each high reflectivity layer consists mainly of thin sheets and patches of visible and sub-visible cloud material. Hydrometeors inside the cloud material go up and down due to gravity, precipitation-loading, Brunt-Vaisala oscillations, and Kelvin-Helmholtz waves. In these small-scale motions, thin air sheets and patches get formed with sharp temperature and humidity discontinuities through contact cooling, melting, evaporation, condensation and freezing. Also, melting and freezing at low temperatures generate electrical charges in these thin sheets and patches. These thin sheets and patches have vertical dimensions ranging from a few centimetres to several metres and horizontal dimensions of the order of 1km. These thin sheets and patches have corresponding vertical and horizontal discontinuities and sharp gradients in refractive index for the MST radar beam. These show up as regions of high values of reflectivity

A Comprehensive Survey of Convolutional Neural Networks for Skin Cancer Classification and Prediction

Skin cancer, a prevalent and potentially fatal condition, requires early detection and precise classification to ensure effective treatment. In recent years, there has been a significant rise in the popularity of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) prominence as a robust solution for image processing and analysis, significantly surpassing conventional techniques in skin cancer prediction and classification. This survey paper offers a thorough examination of CNNs and their diverse applications in diagnosing skin cancer, emphasizing their benefits, existing obstacles, and potential avenues for future research

Enhanced antitumor effect of curcumin loaded solid lipid nanoparticles in Dalton’s ascites lymphoma mice

Curcumin is widely known for its antibacterial, antioxidant and anti inflammatory effects and has been reported to possess anticancerous activity as well. However, its medical application is limited because of poor bioavailability and rapid metabolism. In this study, we encapsulated curcumin in solid lipid nanoparticles and studied its anticancerous effect in Dalton’s Ascites Lymphoma (DAL) mice model. The physicochemical characteristics of curcumin solid lipid nanoparticles (CUR-SLN) were assessed and the anticancer efficacy was determined by in vivo studies. The curcumin solid lipid nanoparticles were synthesized by solvent emulsification evaporation method with particle size less than 100 nm. Antitumor effect of nanocurcumin (50 mg/kg) and curcumin (100 mg/kg) was evaluated in Dalton’s Ascites Lymphoma bearing mice. Pathological and immunohistochemical parameters were studied. Mean survival time and percentage increase in lifespan were assessed. Nanocurcumin group showed more significant influence in reducing tumor volume and weight, inducing apoptosis, reducing angiogenesis and invasion restoring antioxidant parameters and increased mean survival time. Curcumin and nanocurcumin inhibited the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (Nf-kB), and thereby proved the pathway by which it induced anti-angiogenic and anti-invasive property