Short-term H{\alpha} line variations in Classical Be stars: 59 Cyg and OT Gem

We present the optical spectroscopic study of two Classical Be stars, 59 Cyg and OT Gem obtained over a period of few months in 2009. We detected a rare triple-peak H$\alpha$ emission phase in 59 Cyg and a rapid decrease in the emission strength of H$\alpha$ in OT Gem, which are used to understand their circumstellar disks. We find that 59 Cyg is likely to be rapid rotator, rotating at a fractional critical rotation of $\sim$ 0.80. The radius of the H$\alpha$ emission region for 59 Cyg is estimated to be $R_d/R_*$ $\sim$ 10.0, assuming a Keplerian disk, suggesting that it has a large disk. We classify stars which have shown triple-peaks into two groups and find that the triple-peak emission in 59 Cyg is similar to $\zeta$ Tau. OT Gem is found to have a fractional critical rotation of $\sim$ 0.30, suggesting that it is either a slow rotator or viewed in low inclination. In OT Gem, we observed a large reduction in the radius of the H$\alpha$ emission region from $\sim$ 6.9 to $\sim$ 1.7 in a period of three months, along with the reduction in the emission strength. Our observations suggest that the disk is lost from outside to inside during this disk loss phase in OT Gem.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, Accepted for publication in Journal of Astrophysics and Astronomy. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1602.0293

Physico-Chemical Analysis of Groundwater Covering the Parts of Padmanabhanagar, Bangalore Urban District

The present study evaluated the ground water quality and physico-chemical characteristics of the water samples collected from 15 bore wells in the study area which is situated in Rangappa Layout which is located in the Ittamadgu Village of Uttarahalli Hobli which falls in the Bangalore South taluk of the Bangalore Urban district. Physico-chemical characteristics of the collected water samples, various parameters like pH, Temperature, Total Suspended Solids, Turbidity, Total Dissolved Solids, Total Hardness, Electrical Conductivity, Sodium, Potassium, Ca, Mg, Cl, HCO3, CO3, NO3, F, SO4, PO4, Cr+6, Fe, Cu, Pb, Ni, Zn are analyzed. Spatial variation maps are prepared to understand the distribution. The variation in elevation, overburden thickness, fractures, rate of discharge are determined. Hill piper, Wilcox and USSL have been obtained to determine the percentage of salinity and alkalinity of water. The quality of water found suitable for drinking purpose

Etiological factors and maternal outcome in pregnancies with malpresentation: an observational study

Background: The most common presentation of the fetus is malpresentation. These include breech, face, brow, shoulder and compound presentations. Malpresentations of fetus complicate labor in about 5% of pregnancies. To find out the incidence of malpresentation, to analyze etiological factors of malpresentation, to evaluate the maternal outcome in cases with a malpresentation.Methods: This prospective observational study was done in, Chengalpattu Government medical college and hospital. Study period from October 2018 to September 2019. Pregnancies with malpresentation presenting to the department of obstetrics and gynecology at CMCH were included in the study.Results: A total of 680 malpresentation were admitted in this period were included in this study. The incidence of malpresentation during the study period was 7.72%. The incidence of the breech was 4.38%, transverse lie 1.11%, face 0.28%, brow 0.05% and compound presentation 0.13%. The common causes were prematurity, multiple gestations, grand multiparty, IUGR, oligohydramnios, anomalies of uterus, polyhydramnios, contracted pelvis, placenta previa, hydrocephalus, prematurity was reported as the commonest cause of breech presentation and multiparty for transverse lie, face and brow presentations. The most common complication was obstructed labor 6.9% followed by post-partum hemorrhage 3.65%. There was no maternal death due to malpresentation during the period of study.Conclusions: Early diagnosis and timely management can prevent the complications of labor associated with a malpresentation. Delivery should be planned at centers which have expertise in conducting vaginal delivery in malpresentation with good intrapartum monitoring and with facilities for cesarean section for the better feto-maternal outcome

EVALUATION OF EFFECT OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF ZINGIBER OFFICINALE ROSCOE (GINGER) ON ACUTE AND CHRONIC INFLAMMATION IN ADULT ALBINO RATS

 Objective: Zingiber officinale (ZO) Roscoe (Ginger) is known to have many medicinal properties. The present study was carried out to evaluate theanti-inflammatory activity of aqueous extract of ginger in adult albino rats, both in acute and chronic inflammatory settings and to compare the samewith standard anti-inflammatory agent diclofenac sodium.Methods: Anti-inflammatory activity of ginger at the dose of 500 mg/kg body weight administered orally was evaluated in adult albino rats dividedinto different groups as control, test and standard. Effect of ginger on acute inflammation was evaluated by carrageenan in induced rat paw edemamethod and chronic inflammation was evaluated by rexin pellet granuloma method. Histopathological analysis was also done to evaluate effect ofginger on leukocyte migration and lymphocyte accumulation at the site of acute and chronic inflammation respectively.Results: Aqueous extract of ginger decreased the signs of both acute and chronic inflammation. The percent inhibition of edema (for acuteinflammation) with ZO extract was 28.80%, whereas with diclofenac sodium 63.46%. Percentage inhibition of granulation tissue (for chronicinflammation) for ginger was 31.04% and 63.42% for diclofenac sodium.Conclusion: Aqueous extract of ginger decreased the signs of both acute and chronic inflammation and was comparable to standard anti-inflammatorydrug diclofenac sodium. As currently available anti-inflammatory drugs are associated with number of side-effects, ginger can be potentially exploredas an anti-inflammatory agent with minimal or no side-effects.Keywords: Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Ginger, Acute inflammation, Chronic inflammation, Rat paw oedema, Rexin pellet granuloma, Diclofenac sodium

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF MOUTH-DISSOLVING FILM OF AN H1 ANTIHISTAMINE DRUG

Objective: The objective of present work was to develop a Mouth dissolving film of Levocetirizine dihydrochloride drug by Solvent casting method using different natural polymers. The best polymer was selected on the basis of the release of the drug and disintegration time. Methods: Sodium alginate and Guar gum are used as a natural polymers. Starch is used as a disintegrant. Glycerol is used as a plasticizer. Citric acid is usedas a saliva-stimulating agent. Mannitol is used as a sweetener. Peppermint oil as a flavoring agent. Mouth-dissolving films were prepared by using the solvent casting method. Results: The compatibility study of the drug with different natural polymers was carried out. The IR spectral studies showed no interaction between drug and polymers. Obtained satisfactory results for Preformulation and post-formulation tests. Formulation F6 containing sodium alginate, F9 containing guar gum and F14 containing a combination ratio of (Sodium alginate: guar gum) showed good results throughout the study. The stability studies on the formulations F6, F9 and F14 indicates that there is no significant change in physical appearance, disintegration time and drug content release study. Conclusion: From the results, it was concluded that the Mouth dissolving films of Levocetirizine dihydrochloride containing natural polymer sodium alginate (F6) showed the least disintegration time (14.28 sec), highest dissolution rate (98.24%) than the formulation containing natural polymer guar gum and combination ratio of (Sodium alginate: guar gum)

A study of factors associated with tokophobia and its effect on pregnancy

Background: Tokophobia is pathological fear of childbirth which has bearing on the women’s health with the physical and psychosocial morbidity. It includes fear of injury to the baby, genital tract, death and is a common cause for which a woman opts for caesarean section. Recognition of tokophobia and close liaison with  obstetricians/specialists can help to reduce its severity and ensure treatment. Aim of the current study was to assess the incidence of tokophobia and correlation with the sociodemographic variables to evaluate the possibility of reducing the requests for caesarean section.Methods: 150 pregnant women attending the antenatal OPD and labour ward in a tertiary care centre constituted the study population. Data was gathered using standard questionnaire to assess fear of child birth, anxiety associated and was analysed with chi-square test for statistical significance.Results: 150 women included in the study, the incidence of tokophobia was 55.3% and severe tokophobia was 30.7%. Of these 62% were primigravidae and 38% multigravidae.15.3% of the total requested for caesarean section with the major reason being fear of childbirth. However, 84.7% of the study population did so without any such request for caesarean section. Higher incidence of tokophobia was observed in women with intermediate education as against those who completed their graduation and post-graduation.Conclusions: Tokophobia is associated with pregnant women in different severity. It’s influenced by sociodemographic variables like educational and socioeconomic status. Improvement in sociodemographic conditions could reduce tokophobia

Evaluation of cognition enhancing activity of pioglitazone in albino mice

Background: Worldwide, 47.5 million people have dementia, with just over half (58%) living in low- and middle-income countries. Every year, there are 7.7 million new cases. The estimated proportion of the general population aged 60 and over with dementia at a given time is between 5 to 8 per 100 people. The total number of people with dementia is projected to be 75.6 million in 2030 and almost triple by 2050 to 135.5 million.Methods: All animals were allowed to acclimatize with laboratory conditions at least two weeks before starting the experiment and they were maintained under the same condition throughout the experiment. They were given food and water ad libitum. The experiments were performed as per the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision on Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA) guidelines. The animals were subjected to experimentation between 0900-1600 hours in noise free atmosphere with ambient temperature 23-300ºC.Results: The Pioglitazone treated groups showed statistically significant results in the SDL when compared to the control group (p<0.01 on both days) and the scopolamine group (p<0.01 on both days) on both acquisition day and retention day.Conclusions: There was no significant difference in SDL in standard and Pioglitazone treated groups on both acquisition day and retention day