Ni(NO3)2·6H2O/I2/water: A new, mild and efficient system for the selective oxidation of alcohols into aldehydes and ketones under sonic condition

A new, simple, efficient and rapid method for the oxidation of alcohols into respective aldehydes and ketones by Ni(NO3)2· 6H2O/I2/water system under ultrasonic irradiation is reported. The process is mild and inexpensive; the yields are high and the reactions go to completion within 2-7 min. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Ultrasound accelerated one-​pot five component reaction: a facile access to functionalized piperidines

A one-​pot five-​component coupling of aryl aldehydes, aryl amines and β-​keto ester affords functionalized piperidines I [R1 = C6H5, 4-​FC6H4, 3,​4,​5-​(OCH3)​3C6H2; R2 = C6H5, 4-​CH3C6H4; R3 = CH3, CH2CH3] under sonication (35 kHz) is developed. Cerium trichloride acts as a good catalyst and ultrasound acts as an excellent rate accelerator for this reaction resulting in good yield of the products

A facile synthesis of N-H-and N-substituted acridine-1,8-diones under sonic condition

Synthesis of an assembly of structurally important N-H- and N-substituted acridine-1,8-diones by CAN (ceric ammonium nitrate) catalysed one-pot four-component reaction of electron-deficient and electron-rich aromatic aldehydes and aromatic amines or ammonium acetate and dimedone or cyclohexyl-1,3-diones at 26°C under sonic condition is reported. The method is clean and energy efficient as it uses a greener method and an eco-friendly catalyst. © 2013 S. Sudha and M. A. Pasha

Ultrasound assisted synthesis of tetrahydrobenzocxanthene-11-ones using CAN as catalyst

Tetrahydrobenzocxanthenes-11-ones was synthesized by a three component reaction of α-naphthol, aromatic aldehyde and dimedone. Ceric ammonium nitrate acts as a suitable eco-friendly catalyst for this method. Shorter reaction duration, mild reaction condition and low cost make this protocol more effective

Personality, Coping Strategy, and Quality of Life of Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Patients with chronic kidney disease are subject to prolonged medical treatment that might affect their quality of life. The purpose of this research was to investigate the correlation between personality, coping strategies, and quality of life in patients with chronic kidney disease. 40 Participants (25-55 years old) were recruited using purposive sampling and presented with three instruments: the Indonesian versions of NEO Personality Inventory-Revised (NEO PI-R), Ways of Copings, and Kidney Disease Quality of Life-36 (KDQOL-36). Results showed a significant correlation between all variables after regression analysis was applied. Further results indicate certain coping strategies were related to an individual’s perceptions of kidney disease. A significant correlation was found between three personality traits: neuroticism, extraversion and conscientiousness, and quality of life. Results also found that female patients have a better quality of life than men. Further research is needed to examine further the crucial role of social support and ethnic differences. Psychological intervention programs to provide psychoeducation on how to recognize stress symptoms and better stress management for patients with chronic kidney disease are also warranted

A single case study to evaluate the applicability of Ayurveda treatment protocol in Otalgia w.s.r. to Kaphaja Karnashoola

Background: Otalgia or ear ache is a symptom which will hamper the daily activities of individual, and a cause of unease or discomfort. Even today there is no specific permanent remedy to this condition in advance modern medical system despite of some Otogesics which will only mask the pain. The common over the Counter medicines available on medical stores are having side effects on continuous usage. So there is a need for safe Ayurvedic medicine which can act better like modern analgesics but fewer side effects. Methodology: In this Case study, Agastya Haritaki Avaleha, Dashamoola Katutraya Kashaya and Capsule Grab, internally and Haridradi Karnadhoopana and Anu Taila Nasya as Sthanika Chikitsa were tried on patient of otalgia with ASOM (Kaphaja Karnashoola) Patient was treated in 2 stages. Observations: It was observed in the present study that in stage 1 there was 50% improvement as compared to stage 2 which showed better results in reducing the symptoms of Otalgia with ASOM. Re-occurrence of symptoms were merely less in stage 2 as compared to stage 1 Conclusion: There is a false assumption that Ayurvedic medicines are slow acting and allopathic medicines are desperately used for pain management and acute conditions. But this study throwing a light to substantiate that, Ayurvedic medicines are potent enough to manage acute otalgia also, just like Otogesics in Modern Medical Science. The study revealed that the re-occurrence rate of symptoms was very less in patients who used Agastya Haritaki Avaleha, Dashamoola Katutraya Kashaya and grab along with Haridradi Karnadhoopana and Anu Taila

Efficacy of essential oils as antiseptics on the productive characteristics of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori L.

The study aimed to test the efficacy of three essential oils (basil Ocimum basilicum L., lemon Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck, and thyme Thymus vulgaris L.) as disinfectants, including their positive and negative effects, on the biological and productive parameters of the silkworm Bombyx mori. Biological parameters: basil oil treatment at 2000 ppm the highest significant 5th instar larval weight and pupal weight were 2.226 g and 0.787 g. In addition, at the same concentration, recorded the lowest significant mortality percentage and 5th instar larval duration, were 0.787 g and 5.09% respectively. On the other hand, lemon and thyme oils at 4000 ppm come in the second place the same parameters, compared to the control and the chemical disinfectant. While it is equal to the concentration of 8000 ppm for the oils tested in all biological parameters with the control and chemical disinfectant. Economical parameters: basil oil at 2000 ppm and lemon and thyme oils at 4000 ppm had the highest significance for cocoon weights, cocoon shell weight, and silk productivity, which were 1.203 g, 0.220 g, 2.34 cg for basil oil, 1.139 g, 0.210 g, 2.367 cg for lemon oil and 1.265 g, 0.216 g, 2.397 cg for thyme oil, compared with control and disinfectant chemical groups (0.993 g, 0.157 g, 1.49 cg and 0.991 g, 0.160 g, 1.68 cg, respectively). The highest significant difference of cocoon percentages was seen with basil oil at 2000 ppm, compared to the other treatments. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.590659

SHATAVARI GHRITA ASCHYOTANA IN COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME A PILOT STUDY

Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) is one among major lifestyle hazard of superfast and advanced 21st century. According to contemporary science, only palliative measures in the form of Tear supplements are available which has to be used lifelong by the patients. So considering the grave nature of the disease, higher incidence and lack of effective measure it has been selected for the present study. As CVS is a technological occupational hazard there are no direct references available in our classics. Though few features mentioned in Netra rogas provide indirect references through which one can understand doctrines behind its treatment. Symptoms of CVS mainly indicate vitiation of Vata and Pitta dosha. So there is a need of finding effective measures which can fulfil the criteria such as Vatapittahara, Snehana, Chakshusya and Rasayana.Considering above facts Aschyotana with Shatavari ghrita is expected to yield better results.In the present study, 10 patients were randomly selected and treated with Shatavari Ghrita Aschyotana, 10 drops i.e., Snehana type, twice daily for a period of 30 days. Follow up study was undertaken for every 15 days upto 3 months. There is significant improvement in condition especially related to subjective symptoms like eye strain, dryness, diplopia and redness. The collected data was statistically analysed and at the end of present study overall response was moderate i.e., 65.96%.Hence we can infer that Ayurvedic siddhantas are eternal and can be applied in understanding any disease. Shatavari Ghrita Aschyotana proved effective in management of Computer Vision Syndrome. So this simple, cost effective formulation can be used in treating CVS

Threat-Based Approach to Risk, Case Study: The Strategic Homeland Infrastructure Risk Assessment (SHIRA)

The culture of risk management is beginning to grow at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Created in response to the attacks of September 2001, the Department has as one of its primary missions to protect the nation from terrorism.1 Five years after its creation, and through several reorganizations, DHS still struggles to master risk management with respect to terrorism. Although DHS realized the need for the collaboration of intelligence and security professionals to jointly assess risk at its inception,2 it was not until the formation of the Homeland Infrastructure Threat and Risk Analysis Center (HITRAC) that DHS had a truly integrated approach to terrorism risk analysis

Teacher's in-service professional development needs assessment–the Pakistani context

This paper explains the study of conducting a survey to assess the professional development needs of the teachers in schools affiliated with Aga Khan University – Examination Board (AKU-EB) with the aim of strategizing and designing teacher development programmes. An online survey was carried out with questions regarding the demographic information, teachers’ current practices and their professional training needs. There were 306 teachers who participated in this survey from affiliated schools from the provinces of Sindh, Punjab, Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The results show that teachers expressed a preference in using lecturing as the main teaching method and familiarity with relevant IT skills to perform their tasks to a large extent. They indicated a greater need for content-based support, different classroom teaching methods, understanding the syllabus for lesson planning, and developing classroom assessments. Particularly, they emphasized a strong need for using technological resources to improve teaching and student learning. However, they were less interested in developing students’ critical thinking and in teaching students how to learn