Evaluation of various plant species for biodiesel production

Fuels are the combustible substances containing carbon, hydrogen as the main constituents. The biomass consists of these carbonaceous materials as the chemical form. In this recent new era when we are facing short listing of conventional fuels, a substitute is urging. Newer inventions and research works are being carried out by various agencies. The biofuel concept is found much helpful, sustainable and environmental friendly. Some members of Euphorbiaceae, some algal species, sugarcane, residues and sugar beet are remarkable in this field. Biomass has been used for energy purposes ever since man discovered fire. With the evolutionary trend man discovered the conventional fuels and started its consumption. The over consumption of these fuels have brought up to the condition that today these fuels are depleted and stocks towards end. To cope up with these conditions, a newer technological concept is to develop the fuels, which are never ending. This need can be fulfilled by the use of non-conventional fuels or resources. Biomass is likely to remain as an important global source in developing countries well in the next century. Some species of petro plants have been found fruitful and a bless in the route. A powerful option for improving our environment while reducing dependence on foreign fuels, and the stretching fossil fuel reserves in the biodiesel. Biodiesel is a clean burning fuel for diesel engines made from domestically produced, renewable fats and oils such as Soybean oil, Jatropha, Pongamia pinnata, and various other species. The aim and purpose of developing these plant species is to incorporate such species, which are economical, beneficial and having potency to grow even in the drastic conditions. India is a country of vast diversity, blessed with all types of vegetation: tropical, subtropical, temperate and alpine. Keeping in mind its economic and development status, some species like Pongamia pinnata, Jatropa curcas, Shorea robusta, Madhuca indica, Pongamia glabra, Azadirachta indica, Magnifera indica, Salvadora oleoides, some grasses like Andropogon, Cymbopogan, Lemon grasses, etc. The oil extracted from these species particularly the Jatropa and Pongamia pinnata has environmental as well as economical benefits. These species are found growing, luxuriantly even in the desertified, barren and waste lands. The oil obtained from the species can be used for lightening lamps, electrification and as a biodiesel for automobiles. Maintenance cost and cost of production are negligible. As expensive can help in employment for locals and increasing soil fertility and green patches of these can be developed for substance of good, healthier environment

Study of correlation between perceived sleep disturbances in depressed patients with objective changes in sleep architecture using polysomnography before and after antidepressant therapy

Background: A prospective cohort study to correlate perceived sleep disturbances in depressed patients with objective changes in sleep architecture using polysomnography (PSG) before and after antidepressant therapy.Methods: Patients were recruited into the study after applying strict inclusion and exclusion criterion to rule out other comorbidities which could influence sleep. A diagnosis of Depressive episode was made based on ICD-10 DCR. Psychometry, in the form of Beck Depressive inventory (BDI) and HAMD (Hamilton depression rating scale) insomnia subscale was applied on Day 1 of admission. Patients were subjected to sleep study on Day 03 of admission with Polysomnography. Patients were started on antidepressant treatment post Polysomnography. An adequate trial of antidepressants for 08 weeks was administered and BDI score ≤09 was taken as remission. Polysomnography was repeated post remission. Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal Wallis test and Pearson correlation coefficient.Results: The results showed positive (improvement) polysomnographic findings in terms of total sleep time, sleep efficiency, wake after sleep onset, percentage wake time and these findings were statistically significant. HAM-D Insomnia subscale was found to correlate with total sleep time, sleep efficiency, wake after sleep onset, total wake time and N2 Stage percentage.Conclusions: Antidepressant treatment effectively improves sleep architecture in Depressive disorder and HAM-D Insomnia subscale correlates with objective findings of total sleep time, sleep efficiency, wake after sleep onset, total wake time and duration of N2 stage of NREM

Fluorides in the ground waters of Amravati district (M.S), India

India is one of the important country on the world map and ranks 3rd for its water reservoirs. Although it is blessed with these reservoirs ground water constitutes the main reliable source for drinking water. The concentration of elements is of great concern. Keeping in mind the dilema of fluoride and its impact the present study carried out for Amravati district where major portion of population rely on the ground water source. Consumption of excessive fluorides in drinking water causes dental decay and physiological deformities. In the present study it is observed that some glimpses of Nimbhi and Daryapur are above the prescribed limits. A variation in concentration is seen with the change in season. Some spots like Mullapua, Amravati are approaching the verge of contamination. Need for continuos and recurrent monitoring of water will be helpful for betterment.Â

Study of Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) - Dependent Pseudothrombocytopenia

Objective: To evaluate and compare the cases of EDTA-PTCP with actual platelet counts at different time intervals with new anticoagulant.Methods: This cross–sectional study was carried out in rural tertiary centre in central India. Blood samples were collected in K3-EDTA and CPT vials separately and subjected for peripheral smear examination and manual platelet counts. Comparison of platelet counts obtained by automated cell counter at 30 minutes, 3-4 hours and at 24 hours of blood collection from both anticoagulants and with manual counts was done.Results: The platelet counts in EDTA anticoagulated blood on suspicion of thrombocytopenia, as well as even after collection of fresh blood sample from same patient in EDTA and the counts at different time intervals showed significantly lower counts than that observed in CPT anticoagulated blood at the parallel time intervals and than that in the manual platelet counts.Conclusions: Unrecognized PTCP may result in unnecessary laboratory testing, bone marrow aspiration and unwarranted transfusions and will prevent needless evaluations of thrombocytopenia and related therapeutic decisions

Ublažavajući učinak biljke Andrographis paniculata na promjene u brojlera uzrokovane bakterijom E. coli

The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the ameliorative effect of Andrographis paniculata during E. coli-induced pathology in broilers. Day-old broiler chicks (n = 100) were randomly divided into four equal groups. Group I served as a negative control and was fed with a commercial diet. On day 8, the birds from groups II and IV were challenged with a single oral dose of E. coli broth culture 0.2 mL (1×109 cfu/mL). Groups III and IV were fed with Andrographis paniculata 5 g/kg of feed from day old to the end of the experiment. The total duration of the experiment was 35 days. On the 7th, 21st and 28th day post infection (DPI) with E. coli, six birds from each group were randomly sacrificed and observed for gross and histopathogical observations. Group II birds showed ascites and thickened intestinal mucosa with cheesy material on the 28th and 35th DPI. Pathomorphological alterations, viz. congestion, hemorrhages, degenerations, necrosis, fibrinous exudates, edema, mononuclear cell and heterophil infiltration in the lung, liver, heart, kidneys and duodenum were observed in group II birds, along with depletion of the lymphoid cell population in the spleen. Pretreatment of Andrographis paniculata in the E. coli challenged group led to mild degenerative changes in all organs, indicating the putative protective effect of the plant during E. coli induced pathology in broilers. However, further, more elaborated study is required to calculate the dosage of Andrographis paniculata for use as an antibacterial agent in broiler feed.Istraživanje je provedeno kako bi se procijenio ublažavajući učinak biljke Kineski andrografis (Andrographis paniculata) na patološke procese u brojlera uzrokovane bakterijom E. coli. Jednodnevni pilići (n = 100) slučajnim su odabirom podijeljeni u četiri jednake skupine. Prva je skupina poslužila kao negativna kontrola i hranjena je komercijalnom hranom. Osmi dan pilićima iz druge i četvrte skupine peroralno je dana jednokratna doza E. coli bujona u količini od 0,2 mL (1×109 cfu/mL). Treća i četvrta skupina hranjene su biljkom Andrographis paniculata u količini od 5 g/kg hrane od početka do kraja pokusa. Istraživanje je trajalo 35 dana. Sedmi, 21. i 28. dan nakon zaražavanja bakterijom E. coli po šest pilića iz svake skupine nasumce je usmrćeno te su promatrane makroskopske i patohistološke promjene. U drugoj je skupini uočen ascites i zadebljanje crijevne sluznice sa sirastim naslagama 28. i 35. dan poslije zaražavanja. U toj su skupini promatrane patomorfološke promjene poput kongestije, krvarenja, degeneracije, nekroze, fibrinskog eksudata, edema, infiltracije pluća, jetre, srca, bubrega i dvanaesnika mononuklearnim i heterofilnim stanicama, uz depleciju limfoidnih stanica u slezeni. Dodavanje biljke Andrographis paniculata skupini zaraženoj bakterijom E. coli utjecalo je na pojavu blažih degenerativnih promjena u svim organima, što upućuje na zaštitni učinak biljke tijekom izlaganja brojlera bakteriji E. coli. Potrebna su daljnja istraživanja kako bi se izračunala doza biljke Andrographis paniculata kao antibakterijskog dodatka/lijeka u prehrani brojlera

Age related histological and histochemical studies on the testis of Aseel and Vanaraja breeds of poultry

Birds (10) of 2 age group, viz. 5 months (grower) and 13 months (adult) of Aseel and Vanaraja breeds of poultry were used. The thickness of tunica albuginea, maximum and minimum diameter of seminiferous tubules, diameter of primary spermatocytes and number of sustentacular cells or Sertoli cells per seminiferous tubule were significantly higher in growers and adults of Vanaraja than Aseel whereas, number of interstitial cells per field were significantly higher in growers and adults of Aseel than Vanaraja. The density of connective tissue fibers, PAS activity and AB-PAS activity was more in both groups of Vanaraja than Aseel

A Novel Approach for Shadow Detection and Removal from Image

Image processing has been one region of studies that draws the interest of extensive form of researchers. Surveillance structures are in big demand specially, for their packages in public areas, consisting of airports, stations, subways, front to buildings and mass events. Shadow occurs while objects consist of light from light source. Shadows offer wealthy information about the item shapes as well as light orientations. Shadow in picture reduces the reliability of many computer imaginative and prescient algorithms. Shadow regularly degrades the visual exceptional of an image. Shadow removal in an image is pre-processing step for computer imaginative and prescient algorithm and image enhancement. Shadow detection and removal in numerous actual lifestyles situations consisting of surveillance device and laptop vision machine remained a hard project. Shadow in visitors surveillance system might also misclassify the actual item, lowering the gadget overall performance

WTC2005-63696 FRICTION AND WEAR BEHAVIOR OF BORONIZED CHROMIUM FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS

ABSTRACT Enhanced corrosion and wear resistance are crucially important to prolong the service life of biomaterials. Boronizing has been reported to enhance the wear resistance of pure chromium. In this research, we investigate friction and wear behavior of boronized chromium. Pin-on-disc tribometer was used to conduct the wear and friction tests. Experiments were conducted in dry conditions as well as in simulated body fluid (SBF). Fundamental aspects of wear mode and lubrication behavior were studied using surface characterization techniques such as TEM, and X-ray diffraction. Results showed evidence of tribo-chemical interactions between SBF and work piece materials. INTRODUCTION Boride coatings have been applied to metal surfaces in order to improve their corrosion resistance, electrochemical properties, tribological performance, and to prolong service life [1, 2, 3 and 4]. Boronizing is one way to form this uniform coating on the substrate material. It is a thermo-chemical diffusion surface treatment in which boron atoms diffuse into the surface of the work piece to form hard borides with the base material

First record of patchy coral reef off Terekhol, North Goa, India

This study reports the first time record of the patchy coral reef (~ 2 km2) of Terekhol in North Goa, the western coast of India during January – February 2020. There were more than 07 genera/species of hard corals in the reef and is dominated by a reef building Turbinaria mesenterina (Dendrophylliidae), which is considered as a sediment tolerant coral species. A total of 25 fish species were counted and the major species recorded were Chromis viridis, Chromis sp., Dascyllus sp., Abudefduf saxatilis, Abudefduf bengalensis, Acanthurus blochii, Acanthurus nigroris, Acanthurus sp., and Odonus niger that contributed 80 % of the total fish community. The documentation and record of the reef area could give identity to the ecosystem in the spatial platform and the conservation efforts can be planned for the reef by limiting the anthropogenic activities in and around the ecosystem