331 research outputs found
DNA fingerprinting for the authentication of Ruta graveolens
Ruta graveolens is a small aromatic shrub and has been used medicinally and magically, since ancient times. In this study, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was employed to develop reproducible markers for authentication of this species from its adulterant Euphorbia dracunculoides. The random decamer oligonucleotide primers (42) were screened for identification of genuine and adulterant samples using the DNA isolated from the dried leaf, seed and stem of both samples. Out of 42 primers, 10 gave faint band, 12 gave species-specific reproducible unique band and the remaining did not amplify the DNA. RAPD could thus, serve as a complementary tool for quality control.Key words: Adulterant, Euphorbia dracunculoides, herbal drugs, random amplified polymorphic DNA
Reliability of spring recession curve analysis as a function of the temporal resolution of the monitoring dataset
Mountain springs represent one of the largest and most precious sources of potable water in Italy, necessary to meet the water needs of the population. Optimizing the present and future management strategies of mountain groundwater resources has become increasingly necessary. The accuracy and frequency of the flow rate (Q) measurements determine and restrict the processes that can be studied using spring hydrograph and recession curve analysis. Therefore, to properly define mountain aquifers’ hydrogeological properties, it turns out important to highlight the variation of the error in the estimation of the hydrogeological parameters as the time interval of sampling varies. In this paper, recession curve analysis was performed on two different mountain springs (Spring 1 and Spring 2) of north-western Italy, firstly considering available 4-h resolution measuring data and subsequently by resampling data to simulate longer sampling intervals of 1, 3, 7, 15, and 30 days. The resulting distribution of errors introduced by longer acquisition intervals underlined how the percentage error increases with increasing acquisition interval. For obtaining an adequate estimation of mountain aquifer hydrodynamic parameters, in place of continuous hourly data, 1-day and 3-day sampling intervals with associated errors respectively lower than 5% and 10% were found to be valid
Purification and characterization of thermostable chitinase from a novel S. maltophilia strain
Aims: The presents study examines the purification and characterization of a chitinase from S. maltophilia SJ602 strainisolated from a soil sample collected from Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi.Methodology and Results: The purification steps included chitin affinity using colloidal chitin as the affinity matrix andcolumn chromatography using Sephadex G-100. The chitinase was purified to 66 fold having a yield of 17%. The molecular weight of the chitinase was found to be around 29 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The pH and temperature optima of the purified chitinase were found to be at pH 5.5 and60 °C, respectively. Conclusion, Significance and Impact of the study: Besides showing a significant yield, the enzyme has a highthermal stability which has its applicability in the recycling of chitin waste
Groundwater heat pump systems diffusion and groundwater resources protection
Geothermal Energy, being a clean and sustainable source of energy, is gaining importance worldwide due to various reasons. Geothermal power can be generated throughout the year on twenty four hour basis as it's not much dependent on ambient temperature and weather conditions. Recently there is an increased interest in exploitation of low enthalpy geothermal resources for other applications such as geothermal space heating and cooling for domestic, industrial and commercial applications.GroundWater Heat Pump systems (GWHPs) extract water from one or more wells, pass it through a heat exchanger or a heat pump, which either extracts heat from, or rejects heat, and discharge water back into the aquifer or nearby surface water.This reinjection disturbs the natural aquifer temperature, producing a local temperature anomalies (cold or heat plume) known as the thermal affected zone (TAZ).Moreover, it is important to know if the TAZ can interfere with downgradient pre-existing plants or subsurface infrastructure or with the plant itself (thermal feedback). It is then important to know, even before constructing a GWHP system, the future TAZ extent around the planned injection point.Due to these risks, the increasing number of GWHP systems enforces the need for new criteria to develop subsurface energy policies that allow planning their spatial distribution. To obtain these sustainability criteria, the results of different dedicated studies are here proposed, in order to optimize the design and operation of GWHP systems
EQ-5D-3L Derived Population Norms for Health Related Quality of Life in Sri Lanka
Background Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) is an important outcome measure in health economic evaluation that guides health resource allocations. Population norms for HRQoL are an essential ingredient in health economics and in the evaluation of population health. The aim of this study was to produce EQ-5D-3L-derived population norms for Sri Lanka. Method A population sample (n =  780) was selected from four districts of Sri Lanka. A stratified cluster sampling approach with probability proportionate to size was employed. Twenty six clusters of 30 participants each were selected; each participant completed the EQ-5D-3L in a face-to-face interview. Utility weights for their EQ-5D-3L health states were assigned using the Sri Lankan EQ-5D-3L algorithm. The population norms are reported by age and socio-economic variables. Results The EQ-5D-3L was completed by 736 people, representing a 94% response rate. Sixty per cent of the sample reported being in full health. The percentage of people responding to any problems in the five EQ-5D-3L dimensions increased with age. The mean EQ-5D-3L weight was 0.85 (SD 0.008; 95%CI 0.84-0.87). The mean EQ-5D-3L weight was significantly associated with age, housing type, disease experience and religiosity. People above 70 years of age were 7.5 times more likely to report mobility problems and 3.7 times more likely to report pain/discomfort than those aged 18-29 years. Those with a tertiary education were five times less likely to report any HRQoL problems than those without a tertiary education. A person living in a shanty was 4.3 more likely to have problems in usual activities than a person living in a single house. Conclusion The population norms in Sri Lanka vary with socio-demographic characteristics. The socioeconomically disadvantaged have a lower HRQoL. The trends of population norms observed in this lower middle income country were generally similar to those previously reported in high income countries
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Harmonic-suppression Using Adaptive Surface Meshing and Genetic Algorithms
yesA novel design strategy for microstrip harmonic-suppression antennas is presented. The computational method is based on an integral equation solver using adaptive surface meshing driven by a genetic algorithm. Two examples are illustrated, all involving design of coaxially-fed air-dielectric patch antennas implanted with shorting and folded walls. The characteristics of the antennas in terms of the impedance responses and far ÂŻeld radiation patterns are discussed theoretically and experimentally. The performances of all of the GA-optimised antennas were shown to be excellent and the presented examples show the capability of the proposed method in antenna design using GA.MSCR
Perfil lipĂdico, compuestos volátiles y estabilidad oxidativa durante el almacenamiento del aceite de semilla de Opuntia ficus-indica marroquĂ
The fatty acids, sterol, tocopherol and volatile compositions of Moroccan cold-pressed cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) seed oil were studied. The most abundant fatty acid, tocopherol and sterol were linoleic acid (60.6%), Îł-tocopherol (533 mg/kg) and β-sitosterol (6075 mg/kg), respectively. In this study, 23 volatile compounds were identified with perceivable odor attributes for 14 compounds. The oxidative quality of cactus seed oil was monitored over 4 weeks at 50 °C. Increases in PV, K232 and FFA were detected during the first two weeks as well as a decrease in the induction time; whereas no change was reported for the K270 values. The amount of total phenolic content increased until it reached 0.3 mg/kg and then decreased by the end of the storage period; while tocopherols started to decrease after the first week. The fat-free residue extracts showed a very strong effect to reduce the oxidation of linoleic acid. Consequently, the extracts were significantly more effective to bleach β-carotene in the β-carotene-linoleic acid assay in comparison with the control.Se estudiaron los ácidos grasos, esteroles, tocoferoles y la composiciĂłn volátil del aceite de semilla de cactus marroquĂ (Opuntia ficus-indica) prensado en frĂo. Los ácidos grasos, tocoferoles y esteroles más abundantes fueron el ácido linoleico (60,6%), Îł-tocoferol (533 mg/kg) y β-sitosterol (6075 mg/kg), respectivamente. En este estudio, se identificaron 23 compuestos volátiles con atributos perceptibles para 14 de ellos. La oxidaciĂłn del aceite de semilla de cactus fue monitoreada durante 4 semanas a 50°C. Se observĂł un aumento en el PV, K232 y FFA durante las dos primeras semanas y una disminuciĂłn en el tiempo de inducciĂłn, mientras que no se apreciaron cambios para los valores de K270. La cantidad de fenoles totales aumentĂł hasta alcanzar 0,3 mg/kg y luego disminuyĂł al final del almacenamiento, mientras que los tocoferoles comenzaron a disminuir despuĂ©s de la primera semana. Los extractos de residuos libres de grasa mostraron un efecto muy fuerte para reducir la oxidaciĂłn del ácido linoleico. En consecuencia, los extractos fueron significativamente más efectivos para blanquear el β-caroteno en el ensayo de β-caroteno-ácido linoleico en comparaciĂłn con el control
Efficacy of ivabradine in heart failure patients with a high-risk profile (analysis from the SHIFT trial)
Aims Early start and patient profile-oriented heart failure (HF) management has been recommended. In this post hoc analysis from the SHIFT trial, we analysed the treatment effects of ivabradine in HF patients with systolic blood pressure
(SBP) < 110 mmHg, resting heart rate (RHR) ≥ 75 b.p.m., left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 25%, New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III/IV, and their combination.
Methods and results The SHIFT trial enrolled 6505 patients (LVEF ≤ 35% and RHR ≥ 70 b.p.m.), randomized to ivabradine or
placebo on the background of guideline-defined standard care. Compared with placebo, ivabradine was associated with a similar relative risk reduction of the primary endpoint (cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization) in patients with SBP < 110 and
≥110 mmHg [hazard ratio (HR) 0.89, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.74–1.08 vs. HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.72–0.89, P interaction = 0.34],
LVEF ≤ 25% and >25% (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.72–1.01 vs. HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.71–0.90, P interaction = 0.53), and NYHA III–IV and II
(HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.74–0.94 vs. HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.69–0.94, P interaction = 0.79). The effect was more pronounced in patients
with RHR ≥ 75 compared with <75 (HR 0.76, 95% CI 0.68–0.85 vs. HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.81–0.1.16, P interaction = 0.02). When
combining these profiling parameters, treatment with ivabradine was also associated with risk reductions comparable with
patients with low-risk profiles for the primary endpoint (relative risk reduction 29%), cardiovascular death (11%), HF death
(49%), and HF hospitalization (38%; all P values for interaction: 0.40). No safety concerns were observed between study
groups.
Conclusions Our analysis shows that RHR reduction with ivabradine is effective and improves clinical outcomes in HF patients across various risk indicators such as low SBP, high RHR, low LVEF, and high NYHA class to a similar extent and without
safety concern
Compartmentalization of Cells Bearing "Rheumatic” Cell Surface Antigens in Peripheral Blood and Tonsils in Rheumatic Heart Disease
Monoclonal antibodies that recognize "rheumatic” antigens of peripheral blood non-T cells were used to study the compartmentalization of such cells in peripheral blood and tonsils of individuals with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and suitable control subjects. The peripheral blood of most (71%) of the 42 individuals with RHD contained cells reacting with monoclonal antibody 83S19.23 or 256S.10, whereas these cells were present in only 17% of the 41 control subjects (P < .02). However, none of 21 individuals with RHD had such cells in their tonsils, although they were present in the tonsils of 50% of the 40 control subjects (P < .03). These results may reflect a failure in RHD of organ-specific homing of cells with the epitopes recognized by the antibodies. The presence of these cells in tonsils may be important in the immune response to streptococcal pharyngeal infection, and their absence in RHD may be involved in the unusual immune responses characteristic of this diseas
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