Study of Electrical and Thermal Behaviour of Li-ion Polymer Cells for Auxiliary Power Supply in Underwater Applications

Lithium  ion  polymer (Li-Po) battery technology is the latest technology for portable use and the most promising technology for exercise torpedoes. These batteries are technologically evolved from Lithium ion batteries. In this paper, extensive experimental studies on Li-Po cells which include studies on electrical characteristics during charge-discharge cycles, discharge at different C rates, self discharge throughout  charge stand, temperature profiles at the cathode and anode during the discharges, etc. are reported and discussed. The extensive electrical characterisation done on these cells indicates the capability of these cells for use as auxiliary power supply in underwater weapon applications.Defence Science Journal, 2012, 62(2), pp.127-131, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.62.99

Application of plant growth-promoting bacteria associated with composts and macrofauna for growth promotion of Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.)

Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) were reported to influence the growth, yield, and nutrient uptake by an array of mechanisms. We selected seven different plant growth-promoting traits and antagonistic ability to screen 207 bacteria isolated from composts. Fifty-four percent of PGPB were from farm waste compost (FWC), 56% from rice straw compost (RSC), 64% from Gliricidia vermicompost (GVC), and 41% from macrofauna associated with FWC. Twelve isolates based on different plant growth-promoting traits and seed vigor index were evaluated at glasshouse for plant growth-promoting activity on pearl millet. Seven isolates significantly increased shoot length and ten isolates showed significant increase in leaf area, root length density, and plant weight. Maximum increase in plant weight was by Serratia marcescens EB 67 (56%), Pseudomonas sp. CDB 35 (52%), and Bacillus circulans EB 35 (42%). Plant growth-promoting activity of composts and bacteria (EB 35, EB 67, and CDB 35) was studied together. All the three composts showed significant increase in growth of pearl millet, which was 77% by RSC, 55% by GVC, and 30% by FWC. Application of composts with bacteria improved plant growth up to 88% by RSC with EB 67, 83% with GVC and EB 67. These results show the synergistic effect of selected bacteria applied with composts on growth of pearl millet

Assessment of protein silver nanoparticles toxicity against pathogenic Alternaria solani

Mycogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was carried out in the present investigation using an aqueous extract of endophytic non-pathogenic Alternaria solani F10 (KT721914). The mycosynthesized AgNPs were characterized by means of spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The surface plasmon resonance found at 430 nm confirmed the formation of stable AgNPs for several weeks at room temperature. Also, the results revealed the formation of spherical and monodispersed AgNPs with an average size of 14.8 +/- 1.2 nm. The FT-IR spectrum suggested that the fungal extracellular proteins and secondary metabolites had the role in Ag reduction and AgNPs capping of which protein Ag nanoconjugates were formed. Furthermore, the mycosynthesized AgNPs exhibited potent antifungal activity against different pathogenic isolates of the same Alternaria solani fungus, the causal pathogen of tomato early blight disease. The antifungal efficiency of the AgNPs at 1, 5 and 10 ppm were evaluated for 8 days after incubation by measuring the inhibition rate of fungal radial growth. The results were further supported by investigating fungal hyphae morphology alteration by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Treated fungal hyphae showed formation of pits and pores. Also, the mycosynthesized AgNPs were able to pass and distribute throughout the fungal cell area and interact with the cell components.A financial support from European Commission by Erasmus Mundus Scholarship-ACTION 2 WELCOME program is gratefully acknowledged. Work in JAD laboratory was supported by grant BIO2014-54269-R from the Ministerio de Economia y Competividad (Spain).Abdel-Hafez, SII.; Nafady, NA.; Abdel-Rahim, IR.; Shaltout, AM.; Daros Arnau, JA.; Mohamed, MA. (2016). 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2011. Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles by using derived callus extract of bitter apple (Citrullus colocynthis

Citrullus colocynthis belong to the family of cucurbitaceae are purgative and used for the treating mamilities, jaundice and urinary disease Plant mediated synthesis of metallic nanoparticles is an increasing commercial demand due to the wide applicability in various areas such as electronics, catalysis, chemistry, energy, cosmetics and medicine. In the present investigation, synthesis of silver nanoparticles by using stem derived callus extracts of Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrader. The extract incubated with AgNO 3 showed gradual change in the colour of the extract from greenish to reddish brown it indicate the silver nanopaticles synthesis. The shape of the SNP synthesized by stem derived callus extract was spherical and was found to be in the range of 75 nm by AFM. FTIR absorption spectra conclude that the compounds attached with silver nanoparticles could be polyphenols with aromatic ring and bound amide region. The novel silver nanoparticles exhibited a tremendous antibacterial activity; it showed the maximum activity against bioflim bacteria such as E.coli (10.1 mm), V. paraheamolyticus (10.1 mm), P. aeruginosa (8 mm), Proteus vulgaris (9 mm) and L. monocytogens (8 mm) and also observed that it showed no activity against Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella enteritidis, and Staphylococcus aureus. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report on the antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles against bioflim forming bacteria

Stratifying Renal Risk and Retinal Involvement in South Indian Type 2 Diabetic Patients: Using the Kdigo Classification

Aim: To stratify the renal risk using estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) and albuminuria based on Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcome (KDIGO) classification and its association with the degree of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) among people with Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) in South India. Methods: A total of 3426 (2193:1233) subjects with T2DM who underwent Fundus Photography and Fundus Fluorescent Angiography for DR, estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) and renal function test for assessing renal function were included in the cross - sectional study. Based on eGFR and albuminuria, patients were grouped into Low Risk (LR), Moderately increased Risk (MR), High Risk (HR) and Very High Risk (VHR) categories as per KDIGO classification. Demographic, anthropometric, and biochemical details were recorded accordingly. Results: Among the study population (n=3426) 61.4% were in LR group followed by 17.2 % in MR, 14.3% in HR and 7.2% in VHR group respectively. Among different risk categories, significant difference (p<0.001) was observed among LR, MR, HR and VHR group in age, duration of diabetes, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, HbA1c, urea, creatinine and eGFR. eGFR significantly declined as the risk categories in KDIGO increased. Among the study population, 27.32% (n = 936) had different degree of DR. Significant difference in eGFR was observed among patients with and without DR. As the severity of the DR increases, renal risk categories based on KDIGO classification also increased. High concordance was observed between different degrees of DR and KDIGO classification. Conclusion: In T2DM subjects, there is a significant association between DR and renal risk category using KDIGO classification. Thus, KDIGO classification can be used to stratify the renal and retinal risk in T2DM than mere albuminuria or eGFR

Antidiabetic effect of a black mangrove species Aegiceras corniculatum in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Earlier ethnopharmacological records divulged the traditional usages of mangrove Aegiceras corniculatum (Linn.) Blanco distributed in coastal and estuarine areas of Southeast India. Excluding scientific knowledge of A. corniculatum against diabetes an upgrowing endocrinal disorder, our present study evaluated the effect on alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in adult rats of the Wistar strain by intraperitoneal injection of alloxan monohydrate. The experimental rats were administered with leaf suspension of A. corniculatum post orally using an intragastric tube. On completion of the 60-day treatment, a range of biochemical parameters were tested including liver hexokinase, glucose-6phosphatase and fructose 1, 6 bisphosphatase in the liver of control and allaxon-diabetic rats. As a result, A. corniculatum leaf suspension showed moderate reduction in blood glucose (from 382 ± 34 to 105 ± 35), glycosylated hemoglobin, a decrease in the activities of glucose-6 phosphatase and fructose 1, 6-bisphosphatase, and an increase activity of liver hexokinase achieved through the oral administration of extract on 100 mg/kg. The present findings support promising results in terms of antidiabetic activities establishing its candidacy for further purification of individual compound in order to understand their mechanism of action

Incidence of cardiovascular diseases and associated risk factors among subjects with type 2 diabetes – An 11-year follow up study

Aims: This study was planned to assess the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events over an 11-year period and to identify the associated risk factors that could predict the onset of CVD among subjects with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Retrospective data of 249 patients (M:F 149:100) with type 2 diabetes, from a cohort of 7800 patients, attending a tertiary care center for diabetes from January 2000 to December 2011 were retrieved and analyzed for this study. Sociodemographic and habitual risk factors, baseline diabetes duration, HbA1c and time of onset of CVD and its risk factors were collected from case records. Person-years method was used to calculate incident rate of CVD. Binary logistic regression analyses were done to identify predictors associated with CVD and its risk factors. Results: Incidence of CVD among subjects with diabetes was 5.6 cases/1000 person-years. Nearly 60% developed hypertension and dyslipidemia or both during the 11-year period. The most common complication was neuropathy (14.4%). Smoking [OR (95%CI)] [9.26 (1.6–54.9)] (p = 0.014) and heavy alcohol consumption [8.7 (1.1–69.8)] (p = 0.04) were significantly associated with CVD. Higher BMI was significantly associated with hypertension and dyslipidemia [2.4 (1.3–4.3)] (p = 0.003). Conclusions: Smoking and heavy alcohol consumption were significantly associated with CVD, and increased BMI was significantly associated with hypertension and dyslipidemia among subjects with type 2 diabetes in this study population. These findings emphasize the need for early identification and modification of risk factors associated with CVD events in patients with diabetes

Prevalence of lower urinary tract infection in South Indian type 2 diabetic subjects

This study was done to determine the prevalence of lower urinary tract infection (UTI), the causative pathogens, their antimicrobial pattern, and the recurrence of infection in type 2 diabetic subjects. A total of 1157 (M: F 428: 729) type 2 diabetic subjects were selected for this study. Midstream urine specimens were collected and the culture tests were done by a quantitative method whereas antimicrobial sensitivity was determined by using the Kirby-Bauer method. A significant colony count was seen in 495 (42.8%) subjects and an insignificant count in 350 (30.3%) subjects; there were a few cases of recurrent UTI. Women (47.9%) had a significantly higher prevalence of UTI than men (34.1%) (χ2 = 20.3, P < 0.0001). Except for BMI, UTI was significantly associated with age, duration of diabetes, and poor glycemic control in both sexes. About 533 pathogens of gram positive and gram negative bacilli were isolated from 495 subjects in this study. Escherichea coli (E. coli) was the most commonly found organism. Gram negative pathogens were found to be highly sensitive to sulbactum / cefoperazone and piperacillin / tazobactum. The prevalence of UTI was significantly higher in women than men with E. coli being the major isolated pathogen. Gram negative pathogens were highly sensitive to sulbactum / cefoperazone and piperacillin / tazobactum