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

Development and validation of novel ultraviolet spectrophotometric method for estimation of antileishmanial drug buparvaquone

A novel, simple, accurate, precise, economical and reliable ultraviolet spectrophotometric method has been developed for the estimation of buparvaquone in bulk and in pharmaceutical dosage form. The drug shows maximum absorption at 251 nm by using acetonitrile as solvent. The method was validated as stated in International Council for Harmonisation Q2 (R1) guidelines. It obeys Beer's law in the concentration range of 2-20 µg/ml with correlation coefficient of 0.998. The drug shows great accuracy close to 100 %. The method was found to be robust and precise as the relative standard deviation are less than 2 %. Limit of detection and limit of quantitation were found to be 0.60 µg/ml and 1.83 µg/ml respectively. From the results of specificity, the drug was found to be more degraded under alkaline, oxidative and photolytic conditions. The proposed method can be employed for the reliable quantification of buparvaquone in bulk and routine analysis of pharmaceutical formulations

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

Knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) regarding menstruation among girls in Aurangabad, India and their correlation with sociodemographic factors

Background: Menstruation has always been surrounded by different perceptions throughout the world. Nowadays, there is some openness toward menstruation, but differences in attitude still persist between different populations depending upon the education, socioeconomic status and the surroundings. We conducted this study to assess the knowledge regarding menstruation, their attitudes and the practises undertaken by the young girls of India .A prewritten questionnaire was distributed to these girls and the answers were analysed.Methods: A school based cross-sectional study design was employed in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. A multi stage sampling technique was used to select 1000 female high school and junior college and pharmacy college students. Data collection was carried out from May 2018 to August 2018 using a pre- tested structured questionnaire. The data were entered into a computer using Epi-info version 3.5.1 and then exported to SPSS for Windows version 20.0 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was done at 95 % confidence interval.Results: In this study 682and 552 respondents had good knowledge and practice of menstruation respectively. The findings of the study showed a significant positive association between good knowledge of menstruation and educational status of mothers (AOR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.02-2.22), (AOR = 2.42, 95% CI:1.64-3.56). Educational status of the mother (AOR = 2.03, 95 % CI =1.38-2.97), revealed significant positive association with good practice and attitude of menstrual process.Conclusions: The findings showed that the knowledge and practice of menstruation is low. Hence awareness programmed should be conducted in schools regularly. Participation of mothers can also add to the knowledge and good practice scores of the young girls

Bioactivity of plants gums against pathogenic fungi

In order to investigate the bioactivity of gum of selected plants  against the economically important fungi like Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus niger, Curvularia lunata, Curvularia pellescence, Fusarium equiseti, Fusarium oxysporum, Macrophomina phaseolina, Penicillium digitatum, Penicillium chrysogenum and Rhizopus stolonifer  the experiments were carried out by using different concentrations of plant gum i.e. 1%, 5%, 10%. Gum Acacia arabica was found to promote the growth of fungi like Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus niger as the function of concentration of gum. Whereas the growth of fungi like Curvularia lunata, Fusarium equiseti, Fusarium oxysporum, Macrophomina phaseolina, Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium chrysogenum, were found to be inhibited by the 1% gum of Acacia arabica. But on the contrary the concentration of gum increased to level of 5% and 10%, the increase in dry mycelium weight of these fungi were found. The Rhizopus stolonifer was found to be suppressed at 10% concentration. Gum of Acacia chundra was found to promote the growth of fungi like Macrophomina phaseolina and Penicillium chrysogenum with the increased concentration of gum. On the other hand the fungi like Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus niger, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium equiseti, Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizopus stolonifer were found to be inhibited at 1% concentration of gum. But at 5% concentration the fungi like Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus niger, Curvularia pellecence, Fusarium equiseti and Rhizopus stolonifer showed the increased in dry mycelial weight. At 10 % concentration all fungi except Curvularia pellecence and Penicillium digitatum showed increase in dry mycelium weight. Similarly, gum of Azadirechta indica, Boswellia serrata and Butea monosperma showed fungitoxic activity at variable concentrations

Storage mycoflora of oilseeds: a review

Present paper deals with the review of storage seed mycoflor

Transient facial nerve palsy after scalp block for awake craniotomy: A case report

Awake craniotomy is a unique clinical setting that needs anesthesiologist to provide variable states of sedation and analgesia to ensure optimal operating conditions without compromising patient safety. Scalp block is an integral part of awake craniotomy as it provides regional anesthesia to the nerves innervating the scalp. It minimizes response to noxious stimuli of cranial pin application and craniotomy. We report a case of transient facial nerve palsy after scalp block in awake craniotomy in a patient with a lesion in the motor cortex. Facial nerve palsy has been described as a rare complication of scalp block and is less reported

In vitro antimicrobial activity of crude extracts of Jatropha species

Leaf extracts, stem extract, roots extract, latex and oil of Jatropha curcas, J. glandulufera, J. integerrima and J. gossypofolia were screened in order to study their effect on plant pathogenic fungi Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum, and Rhizoctonia solani and plant pathogenic bacteria Erwinia carotovora pv. Carotovora, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Xanthomonas campestris pv. Citri and Xanthomonas campestris pv. mangiferaeindicae. Degree of variation of antifungal and antibacterial activity of different parts of Jatropha sp. was observed

Zero Order Spectrophotometric Method for Estimation of Escitalopram Oxalate in Tablet Formulations

A new, simple, fast and reliable zero order spectrophotometric method has been developed for determination of Escitalopram Oxalate in bulk and tablet dosage forms. The quantitative determination of drug was carried out using the zero order values (absorbance) measured at 238 nm. Calibration graph constructed at 238 nm was linear in concentration range of 2-20 µg/ml with correlation coefficient 0.9999. The method was found to be precise, accurate, specific, and validated as per ICH guidelines and can be used for determination of Escitalopram Oxalate in tablet formulations

A review on a deep learning perspective in brain cancer classification

AWorld Health Organization (WHO) Feb 2018 report has recently shown that mortality rate due to brain or central nervous system (CNS) cancer is the highest in the Asian continent. It is of critical importance that cancer be detected earlier so that many of these lives can be saved. Cancer grading is an important aspect for targeted therapy. As cancer diagnosis is highly invasive, time consuming and expensive, there is an immediate requirement to develop a non-invasive, cost-effective and efficient tools for brain cancer characterization and grade estimation. Brain scans using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), as well as other imaging modalities, are fast and safer methods for tumor detection. In this paper, we tried to summarize the pathophysiology of brain cancer, imaging modalities of brain cancer and automatic computer assisted methods for brain cancer characterization in a machine and deep learning paradigm. Another objective of this paper is to find the current issues in existing engineering methods and also project a future paradigm. Further, we have highlighted the relationship between brain cancer and other brain disorders like stroke, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, andWilson’s disease, leukoriaosis, and other neurological disorders in the context of machine learning and the deep learning paradigm