PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN LAYER BIRDS SUPPLEMENTED WITH HERBAL LIVER TONIC AND ANTISTRESSOR PRODUCT DURING SUMMER STRESS

Objective: The present study was designed to study the efficacy of herbal liver tonic product Superliv liquid (M/S Ayurvet Limited) on overall performance in layer birds during summer stress.Methods: Seventy-two commercial layer strain BV300 were randomly divided into three groups. Each group was subdivided into three replicates (n=8). Group T0, the control group, supplemented with commercial layer mash only. In Group T1 commercial layer mash supplemented with synthetic vitamin C at 100 gm/tonne of feed and group T2 commercial layer supplemented with herbal liver tonic-Superliv Liquid at 10 ml/100birds/day (M/S Ayurvet Limited). The layer performance parameters like feed consumption, feed efficiency, egg weight, egg production and egg quality were studied.Results: Feed efficiency was also found to be improved in Superliv liquid supplemented group T2. Significant (p<0.05) improvement in egg weight and egg production in Superliv liquid supplemented group T2. Serum cortisol level was also significantly reduced in group T2 birds after Superliv liquid supplementation.Conclusion: From the overall study, it was concluded that the supplementation synthetic vitamin C as well as herbal liver tonic Superliv liquid at the levels studied in the experiment found to be beneficial to improve the performance parameters like feed efficiency, egg weight, egg production in laying hens during summer stress.Keywords: Herbal liver tonic, Synthetic vitamin C, Layer performance, Summer stres

Size based separation of submicron nonmagnetic particles through magnetophoresis in structured obstacle arrays

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, 2010.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references.The focus of this work was on developing a novel scalable size based separation technology for nonmagnetic particles in the submicron size range utilizing magnetophoretic forces. When a nonmagnetic particle is immersed in a magnetic fluid and subjected to magnetic field gradients, it behaves like a magnetic hole and experiences magnetic buoyancy forces proportional to its volume. This size dependence of magnetic buoyancy forces can be exploited to selectively focus larger nonmagnetic particles from a mixture and thus we can fractionate nonmagnetic particles on the basis of size. We designed a separation system composed of a regular array of iron obstacle posts which utilized magnetic buoyancy forces to perform size based separations. A Lagrangian particle tracking model was developed which could describe the behavior of a nonmagnetic particle in regions of inhomogeneous magnetic field gradients. Particle trajectories were simulated for a number of obstacle array geometries and over a range of operating conditions in order to understand the nature of the magnetic buoyancy force and aid in separation system design. Based on the results of the trajectory simulations, an experimental set up was conceptualized and built to demonstrate capture and separation of nonmagnetic particles using magnetic buoyancy forces. Capture visualization experiments were performed utilizing fluorescence microscopy which showed visual evidence of focusing and preferential capture of larger nonmagnetic particles. Experiments also yielded results qualitatively consistent with the Lagrangian trajectory model. Pulse chromatography experiments were also performed in order to quantitatively understand the capture and separation behavior. The results obtained showed quantitative evidence of preferential capture of larger particles. Particle capture efficiencies were compared with predictions from simulations and were found to be qualitatively consistent. Finally, the potential of this separation technology was demonstrated by performing proof-of-concept separation experiments with a mixture of 840 nm and 240 nm particles.by V. N. Ravikanth Annavarapu.Ph.D

A rare case report of ruptured distal pica aneurysm and complications

Aneurysms of the distal PICA are rarely encountered and are challenging lesions prone for surgical rupture. PICA is the greatest of the branches of the vertebral artery, and is the causative vessel for aneurysm in the posterior cranial fossa. Common location of aneurysms of PICA is at its junction with vertebral artery. Aneurysms originating from more distant PICA segments are called distal aneurysms and are very rare, with a prevalence of 0.3%. Cerebral infarction and cranial nerve compression occur commonly with rupture of PICA aneurysm. CT angiography has been proposed superior to conventional angiography in patients with ruptured aneurysms presenting with SAH. Surgical treatment of PICA aneurysms depends on the sites of occurrence. Surgical aneurysm clipping and endovascular coiling are the available treatment options to prevent further complications. Here, we report a rare case of distal PICA aneurysm presenting with diffuse SAH and IVH

How promising are endophytic fungi as alternative sources of plant secondary metabolites?

In this article the authors discusses the use of endophytic fungi as substitute of plant secondary metabolites. It states that endophytic fungi exist internally in plants and enhance the plants' ability to tolerate abiotic and biotic stresses. Endophytic fungi if cultured outside their host can produce secondary metabolites such as anti-cancer, anti-fungal, anti-diabetic and immunosuppressant compounds

Prospecting for alternate sources of shikimic acid, a precursor of Tamiflu, a bird-flu drug

Shikimic acid, more commonly known by its anionic form, shikimate, is an important intermediate compound of the ‘shikimate pathway’ in plants and microorganisms1. It is the principal precursor for the synthesis of aromatic amino acids,phenylalanine, tryptophan and tyrosine and other compounds such as alkaloids, phenolics and phenyl propanoids2. It is used extensively as a chiral building block for the synthesis of a number of compounds in both pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries3. In the recent past, the focus on shikimic acid has increased since it is the key precursor for the synthesis of Tamiflu, the only drug against avian flu caused by the H5N1 virus4,5. Shikimic acid is converted to a diethyl ketal intermediate, which is then reduced in two steps to an epoxide that is finally transformed to Tamiflu6

AN ORAL FEED STRATEGY IN SHEEP FOR IMPROVED DIGESTIBILITY, NUTRIENT UTILIZATION AND METHANE MITIGATION

Objective: A trial was conducted to study the efficacy of herbal formulation Ruchamax (M/S Ayurvet Limited, India) on digestibility and nutrient utilization in Deccani sheep.Methods: 12 growing healthy Deccani sheep (5-6 months) were randomly divided into 2 groups. Control Group I (T0) was not given any treatment. Group II (T­1) supplemented with Ruchamax (appetite stimulant and digestive tonic). The test herbal formulation was mixed in the concentrate feed as per the recommendations. Parameters like body weight, plasma cortisol level, blood enzyme estimation, feed analysis, nitrogen balance, methane estimation and carcass quality traits were studied.Results: Statistically (P<0.05) Ruchamax supplemented group had significantly superior average daily gain (g) than that of control. DMI, Dry matter digestibility and FCR of Ruchamax supplemented group were significantly (P<0.05) improved. The maximum nitrogen balance was obtained in Ruchamax supplemented group T1. Significantly (P<0.05) lower level of cortisol in Ruchamax supplemented animals confirmed the increased resilience of animal towards stress. The Ruchamax supplemented group T1 emitted significantly less methane as compared to control group T0. Animals belonging to Ruchamax supplemented group T1 had significantly higher dressing % as compared to control group T0. The enzymatic values in both groups were under normal physiological level.Conclusion: The herbal appetite stimulant and digestive tonic Ruchamax was found to be safe for usage and efficient to improve digestibility, nutrient utility, performance traits in sheep alongwith added benefit of its methane mitigating potential.Â

EFFECT OF VARIOUS PROCESS PARAMETERS ON PUNCH AND DIE DESIGN IN DEEP DRAWING PROCESS

The model is designed in CREO software. Analysis is done in ANSYS software for different materials. In this work static analysis is done for cup and punch to determine the deformation, stress and strain at different load conditions and for different materials by changing the geometry thickness. In this work the stress have been calculated theoretically and as well as using ansys and both results are compared. Modal analysis is done for cup to determine the deformation and frequency for different materials  by changing the geometry thicknesses. Random vibration analysis is done for cup to determine  the directional deformation, shear stress and shear strain for different materials by changing the geometry thickness.In this work the shear stress have been calculated theoretically and as well as using ansys and both results are compared.Transient analysis is done for cup to determine the  deformation, stress and strain for different materials by changing the geometry thickness with respect to time

Attenuation of camptothecin production and negative relation between hyphal biomass and camptothecin content in endophytic fungal strains isolated from Nothapodytes nimmoniana Grahm (Icacinaceae)

Endophytic fungi, a group of fungi living inside the host plant tissues without causing visible symptoms of disease, are known to occur ubiquitously in plants. Existing in a mutualistic association with their host plants, they have been shown to enhance the plant’s ability to tolerate abiotic and biotic stresses3. In culture, many endophytic species have been shown to produce a number of important secondary metabolites including anticancer,antidiabetic, antifungal and immunosuppressant compounds. Many of these compounds closely mimic those produced by the respective host plants, suggesting that the fungi could in fact potentially serve as an alternative source of plant secondary metabolites. Notwithstanding these findings, to date, there has been no major breakthrough in commercially exploiting the endophytic fungi as a source of important secondary metabolites. Among the reasons attributed is the severe attenuation of production of the secondary metabolite by the fungi in culture. Li et al. showed that successive cultures of an endophytic fungi Pericornia sp. isolated from Torreya grandifolia, resulted in the attenuation of taxol production, though the fungal growth itself was unaffected. Although the reasons for such attenuation are not extensively studied, it is conjectured that it could be due to lack of host stimulus in the culture media