A statistical analysis of corpus based approach on learning sentence patterns

This research paper examines the adverse effect of theoretical explanation of the grammatical rules among the learners. Exploration of the methods and materials taught inductively or deductively is the panacea to achieve the required goal. The study throws light on the pedagogical implication of adopting appropriate methods and materials for building the learners’ grammar and language. It primarily intends to explore a new teaching method using language corpora that can be employed in the English grammar classes in colleges at the undergraduate level. It strives to evaluate the effectiveness of teaching sentence patterns through corpus based activities comparing with the traditional based teaching. Thus the methodology aims to encourage students to become independent corpus users

COMBINED EFFECT OF SELECTIVE BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS FROM PLANT ORIGIN IN AN ANIMAL MODEL OF ANXIETY

Objective: Evidence is emerging that specific combinations of bioactive compounds may be far more effective in protecting against several diseases as compared to the effect of a single compound. The present study was aimed to investigate the interactive effect of Diosgenin and Silymarin, the bioactive compounds from plant origin in an animal model of anxiety. Methods: Albino wistar rats of either sex were divided into five groups and treated for 5 d. Group I and II served as control and standard and test groups were treated with Diosgenin (100 mg/kg, p. o.), Silymarin (100 mg/kg, p. o.) and combination of Diosgenin (50 mg/kg, p. o.)+Silymarin (50 mg/kg, p. o.), respectively. Diazepam (1 mg/kg, i. p.) was used as a standard for the study. Anxiolytic effects were studied in the Elevated plus-maze, Hole-board test and Light/Dark model. Results: The results suggested that Diosgenin when given alone at a dose of 100 mg/kg, does not shown significant anxiolytic effect when as compared with control. Whereas, the compound Silymarin (100 mg/kg) shown significant anti-anxiety effect (P<0.01), independently. The same two bioactive compounds, given in combination at a dose of 50 mg/kg, (each), exhibited significant anxiolytic-like effect, potentially. Conclusion: It can be concluded that Diosgenin has got a synergistic effect on anti-anxiety action when given in combination with Silymarin

SOLID DISPERSION TECHNIQUE TO ENHANCE THE SOLUBILITY AND DISSOLUTION OF FEBUXOSTAT AN BCS CLASS II DRUG

Objective: The present study was aimed to enhance the solubility of poorly water-soluble drug (BCS Class II) Febuxostat using water-soluble polymers.Methods: Pre-formulation studies like drug excipient compatibility studies by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopyDifferential scanning calorimetry and determination of saturation solubility of drug individually in various media like distilled water and pH 7.4 phosphate buffer. Solid dispersions of Febuxostat was prepared using Polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000) (fusion method) and Polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP K30) (solvent evaporation method) in various ratios like 1:1, 1:2, 1:3 and 1:4 separately. The formulated solid dispersions were evaluated for percentage yield, drug content and in vitro dissolution studies.Results: From the results of pre-formulation studies it was revealed that there was no interaction between drug and excipients and the pure drug was poorly soluble in water. The percentage yield of all formulations was in the range of 54-78 %, and drug content was in the range of 43-78 mg. The solid dispersion containing polyvinylpyrrolidone K 30 in 1:4 ratio showed the highest amount of drug release at the end of 30 min than other formulations.Conclusion: Finally it was concluded that solid dispersion prepared with PVP K-30 in 1:4 ratio by solvent evaporation method was more soluble than by fusion method

A checking method for probabilistic seismic-hazard assessment: case studies on three cities

The conventional Cornell's source-based approach of probabilistic seismic-hazard assessment (PSHA) has been employed all around the world, whilst many studies often rely on the use of computer packages such as FRISK (McGuire FRISK-a computer program for seismic risk analysis. Open-File Report 78-1007, United States Geological Survey, Department of Interior, Washington 1978) and SEISRISK III (Bender and Perkins SEISRISK III-a computer program for seismic hazard estimation, Bulletin 1772. United States Geological Survey, Department of Interior, Washington 1987). A "black-box" syndrome may be resulted if the user of the software does not have another simple and robust PSHA method that can be used to make comparisons. An alternative method for PSHA, namely direct amplitude-based (DAB) approach, has been developed as a heuristic and efficient method enabling users to undertake their own sanity checks on outputs from computer packages. This paper experiments the application of the DAB approach for three cities in China, Iran, and India, respectively, and compares with documented results computed by the source-based approach. Several insights regarding the procedure of conducting PSHA have also been obtained, which could be useful for future seismic-hazard studies. © 2010 The Author(s).published_or_final_versionSpringer Open Choice, 21 Feb 201

Principles and Practices of Seismic Microzonation: Case Studies in India

This paper presents an overview of the principles and practices of seismic microzonation with some case studies in India. India has experienced major damages and loss of life due to earthquakes. Macrozonation map in Indian seismic code IS-1893 is frequently revised soon after a major earthquake in the country. New revision which was published in 2002 after Bhuj earthquake in 2001 contains four macro zones. These zones are based on geology and limited seismology input without considering geotechnical aspects such as site effects and liquefaction. In order to understand the earthquake vulnerability of major urban centers and prepare new zonation map, the Govt. of India has initiated microzonation of 63 cities in India after 2001 earthquake. Many microzonation studies are under progress and few of them have been completed. This paper presents an overview of these studies. Seismic microzonation of Jabalpur urban area is the first work in India towards seismic microzonation of Indian cities. Jabalpur study has provided many learning lessons to other studies. Preliminary microzonation of Delhi has been completed and detailed one is under progress. Seismic Hazard and Microzonation Atlas of the Sikkim Himalaya has been published with geological and seismological background. Microzonation of Guwahati was done based on geology, geomorphology, seismotectonics, soil characteristics, pre-dominant frequencies, peak ground acceleration, seismic hazard and demography. Seismic Microzonation of Dehradun has been prepared based on shear wave velocity with site response. First order Microzonation of Haldia has been developed based on peak ground acceleration, predominant frequency and elevation map. Different maps and results were presented for Gujarat microzonation based on noise survey and after shock data. None of these studies included the geotechnical aspects. The geotechnical aspects were fully incorporated in the recently completed Microzonation work of Bangalore and the ongoing study of Chennai microzonation. An overview of seismic microzonation studies in India is presented in this paper

Comparative study on the antimicrobial activities of three Indian medicinal plants

Aqueous, methanol and chloroform extracts from the leaves of Ficus religiosa, Thespesia populnea and Hibiscus tiliaceus were completely screened for antibacterial and antifungal activity. The chloroform extract of F. religiosa possessed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity with a zone of inhibition of 10 to 21 mm at very low MIC values. The methanolicextracts possessed moderate antibacterial activity against a few bacterial strains. There was less antibacterial activity or none at all using aqueous extracts. The extracts of F. religiosa were found to be active against Aspergillus niger and Penicillium notatum. The extracts from theleaves exhibited considerable and variable inhibitory effects against most of the microorganisms tested

A REVIEW ON SUPRAMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY IN DRUG DESIGN AND FORMULATION RESEARCH

Supramolecular chemistry, other way called as intermolecular chemistry disclose the relationship of molecules with environment. It exploits while exposing the physicochemical phenomina that happens when two like or unlike molecules/ions/systems contact each other. Drug action involve the target recognition process and response triggered by the intermolecular complex of drug and target. Drug design therefore require in depth study of intermolecular forces that exist between drug and target. Formulation of the drug or Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) is also regulated by these forces. Compatibility and incompatibility in formulations are nothing but of the effect of the intermolecular forces on physical behavior of systems. Therefore review of intermolecular chemistry in general and its role particularly in pharmaceutical research is presented here for the benefit of the students and research scholars who aspire to work on interdisciplinary projects in the field of pharmacy. Key words: intermolecular forces, hydrogen bond, drug design, active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), crystal

Survey and surveillance on rice false smut disease severity in Tamil Nadu and the influence of wind velocity on disease progression under field conditions

The false smut disease of rice incited by Ustilaginoidea virens is a major constraint on rice production. The main aim of the present study was to ascertain the false smut disease severity in both delta and non-delta districts of Tamil Nadu through survey and surveillance and assess the correlation between the disease severity and wind velocity for the past three years, 2019, 2020 and 2021. Moreover, the present study addressed the disease distribution pattern of false smut diseases under field conditions.  The results obtained from survey results revealed that the maximum disease severity was recorded in Nagapattinam district (Nagapattinam block) with 27.45% and the minimum disease severity was recorded in the district Theni (Bodinayakanur block) with 8% in 2021. Similarly in 2019 and 2020 maximum disease severity was recorded in the following districts Thanjavur district (Orathanadu block) with 19.91% and Thanjavur district (Peravurani block) with 18.54% and the minimum disease severity was recorded in the following districts Madurai district (Madurai north block) with 4.78% and Madurai district (Usilampatti block) with 4.78% respectively. The obtained R2 values through regression analysis were 0.70, 0.79 and 0.76 in the following years, 2019, 2020 and 2021, respectively. Besides the relationship between the false smut disease development, the pattern wind direction was also assessed. By assessing the false smut disease distribution pattern under field conditions, more disease distribution was observed around the surrounding area of the paddy field as well as the diagonal path of the field which clearly revealed that wind direction influences the disease development

Isothermal Titration Calorimetric Studies on the Interaction of the Major Bovine Seminal Plasma Protein, PDC-109 with Phospholipid Membranes

The interaction of the major bovine seminal plasma protein, PDC-109 with lipid membranes was investigated by isothermal titration calorimetry. Binding of the protein to model membranes made up of diacyl phospholipids was found to be endothermic, with positive values of binding enthalpy and entropy, and could be analyzed in terms of a single type of binding sites on the protein. Enthalpies and entropies for binding to diacylphosphatidylcholine membranes increased with increase in temperature, although a clear-cut linear dependence was not observed. The entropically driven binding process indicates that hydrophobic interactions play a major role in the overall binding process. Binding of PDC-109 with dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine membranes containing 25 mol% cholesterol showed an initial increase in the association constant as well as enthalpy and entropy of binding with increase in temperature, whereas the values decreased with further increase in temperature. The affinity of PDC-109 for phosphatidylcholine increased at higher pH, which is physiologically relevant in view of the basic nature of the seminal plasma. Binding of PDC-109 to Lyso-PC could be best analysed in terms of two types of binding interactions, a high affinity interaction with Lyso-PC micelles and a low-affinity interaction with the monomeric lipid. Enthalpy-entropy compensation was observed for the interaction of PDC-109 with phospholipid membranes, suggesting that water structure plays an important role in the binding process