Ethnobotanical Studies on Some Rare and Endemic Floristic Elements of Eastern Ghats-Hill Ranges of South East Asia, India

The Eastern Ghats, one of the nine Floristic Zones in India. Eastern Ghats are spread over three States of India, namely Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The hilly areas of Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh are mainly inhabited by 33 aboriginal/tribal communities, who still practice the age old traditional medicines and their application. There are 62 different tribes, inhabited in Orissa. The inhabitants of the aboriginal tribal communities, who still practice the age old traditional medicines and their applications. The author undertook ethno medicobotanical studies in Eastern Ghats along with systematic survey. Many tribal people depending on naturally growing or wild plants for their food and medicine in this region. The study during 1997-2005 brought to light, many unknown uses of plants which are interesting has been collected by the author. The present paper deals with some rare and endemic plant ethnobotanical uses of Eastern Ghats

Ethno-Medico-Botanical Studies From Rayalaseema Region of Southern Eastern Ghats, Andhra Pradesh, India

This paper deals with Ethno- Medico botanical Studies of Rayalaseema Region, Andhra Pradesh, India. An ethno-botanical survey was carried out in Seshachalam hills of Chittoor District, Palakondas and Lankamalais of Kadapa District, Errmalais and Nallamalai hills of Kurnool District and some other isolated hill ranges in Ananthapur District are Kalasamudram-Nigidi forest range, Amagondapalem hills and Kikati forest

Kinetics of substitution of cis-bis(malonato)diaquochromate(III) with glycine, DL-alanine and DL-phenylalanine in alkaline medium

The kinetics of interaction among amino acids such as glycine, DL-alanine and DL-phenylalanine and cis-bis(malonato)diaquochromate(III) has been studied spectrophotometrically as a function of [glycine], [DL-alanine] and [DL-phenylalanine] in alkaline medium. The effect of pH, temperature and substrate was also studied. The substitution reaction has been found to proceed via two steps: amino acid dependent and amino acid independent path. In this process, it indicated that the substitution reaction occurs through an Ia mechanism in the amino acid dependent path and a dissociative mechanism in the independent path, showing the higher reactivity of single ended malonate complex.KEY WORDS: Substitution, cis-bis(Malonato)diaquochromate(III), Amino acids, Alkaline mediumBull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2011, 25(1), 103-110

Simultaneous measurement of pressure evolution of crystal structure and superconductivity in FeSe0.92 using designer diamonds

Simultaneous high pressure x-ray diffraction and electrical resistance measurements have been carried out on a PbO type {\alpha}-FeSe0.92 compound to a pressure of 44 GPa and temperatures down to 4 K using designer diamond anvils at synchrotron source. At ambient temperature, a structural phase transition from a tetragonal (P4/nmm) phase to an orthorhombic (Pbnm) phase is observed at 11 GPa and the Pbnm phase persists up to 74 GPa. The superconducting transition temperature (TC) increases rapidly with pressure reaching a maximum of ~28 K at ~ 6 GPa and decreases at higher pressures, disappearing completely at 14.6 GPa. Simultaneous pressure-dependent x-ray diffraction and resistance measurements at low temperatures show superconductivity only in a low pressure orthorhombic (Cmma) phase of the {\alpha}-FeSe0.92. Upon increasing pressure at 10 K near TC, crystalline phases change from a mixture of orthorhombic (Cmma) and hexagonal (P63/mmc) to a high pressure orthorhombic (Pbnm) phase near 6.4 GPa where TC is maximum.Comment: 6 figures, 6 pages, Subjects: Superconductivity and Condensed matter (structural, mechanical & thermal

EPR and optical absorption studies of Fe3 ions in sodium borophosphate glasses

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and optical absorption spectral investigations have been carried out on Fe3 ions doped sodium borophosphate glasses (NaH2PO4B2O 3Fe2O3). The EPR spectra exhibit resonance signals with effective g values at g=2.02, g=4.2 and g=6.4. The resonance signal at g=4.2 is due to isolated Fe3 ions in site with rhombic symmetry whereas the g=2.02 resonance is due to Fe3 ions coupled by exchange interaction in a distorted octahedral environment. The EPR spectra at different temperatures (123295 K) have also been studied. The intensity of the resonance signals decreases with increase in temperature whereas linewidth is found to be independent of temperature. The paramagnetic susceptibility (Ï) was calculated from the EPR data at various temperatures and the Curie constant (C) and paramagnetic Curie temperature (θp) have been evaluated from the 1/Ï versus T graph. The optical absorption spectrum exhibits bands characteristic of Fe3 ions in octahedral symmetry. The crystal field parameter (Dq) and the Racah interelectronic repulsion parameters (B and C) have also been evaluated and discussed. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd

Effect of Filarial Infection on Serum Inflammatory and Atherogenic Biomarkers in Coronary Artery Disease (CURES-121)

Helminth infections can potentially confer protection against metabolic disorders, possibly through immunomodulation. In this study, the baseline prevalence of lymphatic filariasis (LF) among subjects without (N = 236) and with (N = 217) coronary artery disease (CAD) was examined as part of the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiological Study (CURES). The prevalence of LF was not significantly different between CAD(−) and CAD(+) subjects. The LF antigen load and antibody levels indicated comparable levels of infection and exposure between the groups. Within the CAD group, LF(+) and LF(−) subjects had no significant difference in the intimal medial thickness and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein values. However, LF infection was associated with augmented levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 among CAD(+) subjects. The LF infection had no effect on serum adipocytokine profile. In conclusion, unlike type-2 diabetes, there is no association between the prevalence of LF and CAD and also no evidence of protective immunomodulation of LF infection on CAD in the Asian Indian population