Performance Analysis of Indoor Optical Wireless Links

Indoor wireless optical communication is a good alternative to existing mature RF technology. However various challenges in indoor optical wireless technology are due to free space loss, ambient light, and multi path dispersion causing inter symbol interference (ISI). The degradation in performance due to these facts is very much influenced by the channel topology. So in this paper the performance of indoor optical configuration has been analyzed using three types of channel topologies viz., directed (LOS), non-directed (LOS), and multi beam diffused link for various transmitter and receiver design parameters. The analysis has been carried using Optiwave simulation tools

MANAGEMENT OF SPASMODIC DYSMENORRHEA (UDAVARTA YONIVYAPADA) WITH CHATURBEEJA CHURNA AND YOGIC PRACTICES

In Ayurvedic texts, diseases of the female reproductive system have been collectively described as Yoni Vyapada. Udavarta Yoni Vyapada is one in which the woman feels pain and distress in the peri-menstrual period along with systemic symptoms. It is an extremely common disease affecting majority of women even in present day world. It is caused by vitiation of Vayu. According to the clinical features, Udavarta Yoni Vyapada can be correlated with primary dysmenorrhoea. Chaturbeeja Churna is mentioned in Bhava Prakasha Nighantu, as Vata shamaka. Yogic practices regulate body mechanism and improve the psychology of the patients. In the present study, 50 patients were studied. The results have been presented after taking into account every aspect of the history of the patient. Then thorough examination was done. After that all the symptoms were observed in these patients during the trial for improvement. These patients were treated in single group. Patients were treated with Chaturbeeja churna with yogic practices. Chaturbeeja Churna 3g bd with hot water along with specific Yogic Practices for 3 menstrual cycle. 26 patients were markedly improved, 15 moderately improved and 9 patients were improved. From the above discussion, we can say that therapy (Chaturbeeja Churna and Yogic with practices) had statistically highly significant results and was very effective

Antimicrobial Activity of Ethanolic Extracts of Syzygium aromaticum and Allium sativum Against Food Associated Bacteria and Fungi

The successful control of food spoilage microorganisms require the use of indigenous antimicrobials in foods including certain botanical compounds that have been historically used for flavour enhancement as well as preservation. The present study was designed to evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extracts of Syzygium aromaticum (clove) and Allium sativum (garlic) against Gram-positive and Gram-negative food associated bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, B. megaterium, B. polymyxa, B. sphaericus, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli) and molds (Penicillium oxalicum, Aspergillus flavus, A. luchuensis, Rhizopus stolonifer, Scopulariopsis sp. and Mucor sp.) assayed by agar well diffusion method and poisoned food technique, respectively. Clove extract showed better antimicrobial activity than the garlic extract. The zone of inhibition in clove ethanolic extract against all the food associated bacteria was in the range of 25mm to 32mm and in molds the percent mycelial growth inhibition ranged from 70% to 100%. The growth inhibition zone in garlic ethanolic extract against bacteria was in the range of 20mm to 31mm and in molds the percent mycelial growth inhibition ranged between 20% and 50%. The clove ethanolic extract exhibited the maximum zone of inhibition against E. coli whereas garlic ethanolic extract showed maximum activity against B. subtilis. Both the extracts exhibited maximum percent mycelial growth inhibition against R. stolonifer. However garlic extract was not effective against P. oxalicum. The MIC values of clove ethanolic extract for different bacterial isolates ranged from 5.0mg/ml to 20mg/ml and 10 mg/ml to 20mg/ml against molds. The MIC values of garlic ethanolic extract for different bacterial and fungal isolates ranged from 10 mg/ml to 20mg/ml. The value of MBC and MFC equaled the MIC. Based on this finding, it may be suggested that these extracts may be used as natural antimicrobial additives to reclaim the shelf-life of foods

Synthesis, Spectral, and Biological Properties of Copper(II) Complexes of Thiosemicarbazones of Schiff Bases Derived from 4-Aminoantipyrine and Aromatic Aldehydes

We have synthesized a novel series of Schiff bases by condensation of 4-aminoantipyrine and various aromatic aldehydes followed by reaction with thiosemicarbazide. These thiosemicarbazones are potential ligands toward transition metal ions. The reaction of copper(II) salts with 4[N-(benzalidene)amino]antipyrinethiosemicarbazone (BAAPTS), 4[N-(4′-methoxybenzalidene) amino] antipyrinethiosemicarbozone (MBAAPTS), 4[N-(4′-dimethylamino benzalidene) amino] antipyrinethiosemicarbazone (DABAAPTS), and 4[N-(cinnamalidene) amino] antipyrinethiosemicarbazone (CAAPTS) resulted in the formation of solid complexes with the general composition CuX(2) · (H(2)O)(L)(X = Cl, Br,NO(3),NCS, or CH(3)COO; L = BAAPTS, MBAAPTS, DABAAPTS, or CAAPTS). These complexes were characterized through elemental analysis, molecular weight, electrical conductance, infrared, electronic spectra, and magnetic susceptibilities at room temperature. Copper(II) complexes with BAAPTS and MBAAPTS were screened for antibacterial and antifungal properties and have exhibited potential activity. Thermal stabilities of two representative complexes were also investigated

Investigation of the stellar content in the western part of the Carina nebula

We obtained deep $UBVRI$ H$\alpha$ photometric data of the field situated to the west of the main Carina nebula and centered on WR~22. Medium-resolution optical spectroscopy of a subsample of X-ray selected objects along with archival data sets from $Chandra$, $XMM-Newton$ and 2MASS surveys were used for the present study. Different sets of color-color and color-magnitude diagrams are used to determine reddening for the region and to identify young stellar objects (YSOs) and estimate their age and mass. Our spectroscopic results indicate that the majority of the X-ray sources are late spectral type stars. The region shows a large amount of differential reddening with minimum and maximum values of $E(B-V)$ as 0.25 and 1.1 mag, respectively. Our analysis reveals that the total-to-selective absorption ratio $R \rm_{V}$ is $\sim$3.7 $\pm$ 0.1, suggesting an abnormal grain size in the observed region. We identified 467 YSOs and studied their characteristics. The ages and masses of the 241 optically identified YSOs range from $\sim$0.1 to 10 Myr and $\sim$0.3 to 4.8M$_\odot$, respectively. However, the majority of them are younger than 1 Myr and have masses below 2 M$_\odot$. The high mass star WR 22 does not seem to have contributed to the formation of YSOs in the CrW region. The initial mass function slope, $\Gamma$, in this region is found to be -1.13 $\pm$ 0.20 in the mass range of 0.5 < M/M$_\odot$ < 4.8. The $K$-band luminosity function slope ($\alpha$) is also estimated as 0.31 $\pm$ 0.01. We also performed minimum spanning tree analysis of the YSOs in this region, which reveals that there are at least ten YSO cores associated with the molecular cloud, and that leads to an average core radius of 0.43 pc and a median branch length of 0.28 pc.Comment: 23 pages, 19 figures, 4 tables, Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics [A&A]. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:0906.0201, arXiv:1211.2995, arXiv:1103.3396 by other author

Amplified fragment length polymorphism of clinical and environmental Vibrio cholerae from a freshwater environment in a cholera-endemic area, India

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The region around Chandigarh in India has witnessed a resurgence of cholera. However, isolation of <it>V. cholerae </it>O1 from the environment is infrequent. Therefore, to study whether environmental nonO1-nonO139 isolates, which are native to the aquatic ecosystem, act as precursors for pathogenic O1 strains, their virulence potential and evolutionary relatedness was checked.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p><it>V. cholerae </it>was isolated from clinical cases of cholera and from water and plankton samples collected from freshwater bodies and cholera-affected areas. PCR analysis for the <it>ctxA, ctxB, tcpA, toxT </it>and <it>toxR </it>genes and AFLP with six primer combinations was performed on 52 isolates (13 clinical, 34 environmental and 5 reference strains).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>All clinical and 3 environmental isolates belonged to serogroup O1 and remaining 31 environmental <it>V. cholerae </it>were nonO1-nonO139. Serogroup O1 isolates were <it>ctxA, tcpA </it>(ElTor), <it>ctxB </it>(Classical), <it>toxR </it>and <it>toxT </it>positive. NonO1-nonO139 isolates possessed <it>toxR</it>, but lacked <it>ctxA </it>and <it>ctxB</it>; only one isolate was positive for <it>toxT </it>and <it>tcpA</it>. Using AFLP, 2.08% of the <it>V. cholerae </it>genome was interrogated. Dendrogram analysis showed one large heterogeneous clade (n = 41), with two compact and distinct subclades (1a and 1b), and six small mono-phyletic groups. Although <it>V. cholerae </it>O1 isolates formed a distinct compact subclade, they were not clonal. A clinical O1 strain clustered with the nonO1-nonO139 isolates; one strain exhibited 70% similarity to the Classical control strain, and all O1 strains possessed an ElTor variant-specific fragment identified with primer ECMT. Few nonO1-nonO139 isolates from widely separated geographical locations intermingled together. Three environmental O1 isolates exhibited similar profiles to clinical O1 isolates.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In a unique study from freshwater environs of a cholera-endemic area in India over a narrow time frame, environmental <it>V. cholerae </it>population was found to be highly heterogeneous, diverse and devoid of major virulence genes. O1 and nonO1-nonO139 isolates showed distinct lineages. Clinical isolates were not clonal but were closely related, indicating accumulation of genetic differences over a short time span. Though, environment plays an important role in the spread of cholera, the possibility of an origin of pathogenic O1 strains from environmental nonO1-nonO139 strains seems to be remote in our region.</p

Assessment of Biomass Potential in Engine Emission Reduction

77-80The twin crisis of environmental degradation and fossil fuel depletion has confronted the world with the upcoming threat to seek the solution for some alternate fuel. The present condition of environment forces the search of some suitable alternate fuel. The present degradation of environment is also mainly influenced by the diesel vehicles. The emissions released by these diesel vehicles not only degrade the environment but also increase the number of health diseases. The present research on bio-fuels will lead to develop a sustainable solution to this problem and also create a harmonic relationship between the economy and ecosystem. The present research will provide the optimized blending ratio compression ratio and other operating parameters to be selected while approaching to sustainable output. The present study will depict the behavior of different bio-fuels poured in VCR engine at different compression ratio at different operating parameters. The outcomes of this research paper reveals the discussion on the potential assessment of different biofuels in the reduction of engine emissions

Retinopathy of prematurity: incidence and risk factors: a hospital based study from Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India

Background: The blindness due to retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is avoidable, if it is detected in time by screening. With increasing survival of preterm and low birth weight newborns in neonatal units, who are on prolonged oxygen therapy and mechanical ventilation; ROP is bound to affect these babies. This study was planned to investigate the incidence and the risk factors of ROP in a tertiary care institute in Himalayan region of north India.Methods: This was a hospital based prospective study, conducted at neonatal intensive care units at IGMC, Shimla, from June 2011 to July 2012. 64 premature and low birth weight neonates born or admitted for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) were screened for ROP using indirect ophthalmoscope. Cases found positive for ROP were closely followed up and managed as per international guidelines.Results: Out of 64 neonates, 14 were lost to follow up and 50 babies were enrolled in the study. Out of them 21 were males and 29 were females. Among them 3 male and 5 female newborns developed ROP. Mean gestational age of babies with ROP was 30.63 weeks. ROP was significantly associated with oxygen administration (p=0.027), RDS (p=0.003), septicaemia (p=0.028) and exchange transfusion (p=0.003). Apneic spells, surfactant administration, hyperbilirubinemia, phototherapy, blood transfusion and maternal factors were not associated with increased risk of ROP.Conclusions: For premature infants with birth weight less than 1200 grams, who has received prolonged oxygen therapy, associated respiratory distress and had received exchange transfusion the screening of ROP should be done at most appropriate time that is 32 - 40 weeks of gestational age. Timely referral of detected ROP cases for early treatment prevents blindness. There is a need for the obstetricians, neonatologist and ophthalmologist to work in close co-operation to prevent blindness due to ROP