The Land Acquisition Bill debate: more political than practical

There has been widespread resistance for the proposed amendments to the Land Acquisition Act but Sammith Shivananda argues that the changes signal a paradigm shift in Indian policy making to facilitate investment and cut red tape, while at the same time retaining safeguards for farmers

Investigation into Photovoltaic Distributed Generation Penetration in the Low Voltage Distribution Network

Significant integration of photovoltaic distributed generation (PVDG) in the low voltage distribution network (LVDN) could potentially pose threats and challenges to the core activity of distribution system operators (DSO), which is to transport electrical energy in a reliable and cost-effective way. The main aim of this research is to investigate the active planning and operation of LVDNs with increased PVDG integration through steady state power system analysis. To address the impacts of voltage profile fluctuation due to power flow modification, this research proposes a probabilistic risk assessment of power quality (PQ) variations and events that may arise due to significant PVDG integration. A Monte Carlo based simulation is applied for the probabilistic risk assessment. This probabilistic approach is used as a tool to assess the likely impacts due to PVDG integration against the extreme-case scenarios. With increased PVDG integration, site overvoltage is a likely impact, whereas voltage unbalance reduces when compared with no or low PVDG penetration cases. This is primarily due to the phase cancellation between the phases. The other aspect of the work highlights the fact that the implementation of existing volumetric charges in conjunction with net-metering can have negative impacts on network operator’s revenue. However, consideration of capacity charges in designing the existing network tariff structure shows incentivising the network operator to perform their core duties under increased integration of PVDG. The site overvoltage issue was also studied and resolved in a novel way, where the active and reactive power of the PVDG inverters at all the PV installed premises were optimally coordinated to increase the PV penetration from 35.7% to 66.7% of the distribution transformer rating. This work further explores how deficiencies in both reactive power control (RPC) and active power control (APC) as separate approaches can be mitigated by suitably combining RPC and APC algorithms. A novel “Q” or “PF” limiter was proposed to restrict frequent switching between the two droop characteristics while ensuring a stabilizing (smoothened) voltage profile in each of the PV installed nodes. This novel approach not only alleviates the voltage fluctuation but also reduces the overall network losses

Relationship between inflammatory markers, metabolic and anthropometric variables in the Caribbean type 2 diabetic patients with and without microvascular complications

BACKGROUND: Serum sialic acid and C reactive protein are the markers for inflammation. The main objective of this study was to determine the sialic acid level in Caribbean type 2 diabetic patients with and without microvascular complications and its relationship with metabolic and anthropometric variables. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The Caribbean subjects aged 15–60 years with type 2 diabetes were recruited for the study. Fasting venous blood samples were collected from 162 subjects of which 44 were healthy individuals, 44 were of type 2 diabetes, 44 were of type 2 diabetes with nephropathy and 30 were of diabetes with retinopathy. Simultaneously urine samples were also collected from each of the subjects. All the blood samples were processed for lipid profile, glucose, HbA1(C, )C-reactive protein and sialic acid. The urine samples were analysed for sialic acid and microalbumin. RESULTS: Serum sialic acid concentrations were significantly higher among diabetic subjects (66.0 ± 11.7 mg %) as compared to controls (55.2 ± 8.3 mg %). There was a significantly increasing trend of serum sialic acid with severity of nephropathy (71.6 ± 23.6 mg %) and degree of urinary albumin excretion (794.3 ± 805.9). The diabetic retinopathy patients also demonstrated significantly higher values of serum sialic acid (77.9 ± 29.0) and urine microalbumin (351.1 ± 559.9). Elevated serum sialic acid microalbumin concentrations were associated with cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, increased waist to hip ratios. (P < 0.05). Sialic acid had no correlation with CRP or any component of the lipid profile. CONCLUSION: The increased serum sialic acid and microalbumin were strongly related to the presence of microvascular complications like diabetic nephropathy and diabetic retinopathy and cardiovascular risk factors like hypertension and waist to hip ratios in Caribbean type-2 diabetic patients. The serum sialic acid may be used as an inflammatory marker and possible indicator of microvascular complications in type-2 diabetic patients

Synthesis, characterization and curing studies of thermosetting epoxy resin with amines

A new hybrid thermosetting maleimido epoxy compound 4-(N-maleimidophenyl) glycidylether (N-MPGE) is prepared by reacting N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) maleimide (HPM) with Epichlorohydrin by using benzyltrimethylammonium chloride as a catalyst. The resulting compound possesses both the oxirane ring and maleimide group. The curing reaction of these maleimidophenyl glycidylether epoxy compound (N-MPGE) with amines as curing agents such as ethylendiamine (EDA), diethylentriamine (DETA) and triethylenetetramine (TETA), aminoethylpiperazine (AEP) and isophoronediamine, IPDA), are studied. Incorporation of maleimide groups in the epichlorohydrin provides cyclic imide structure and high cross-linking density to the cured resins. The cured samples exhibited good thermal stability, excellent chemical (acid/alkali/solvent) and water absorption resistance. Morphological studies by the SEM technique further confirmed the phase homogeneity net work of the cured systems

Relationship between Sialic acid and metabolic variables in Indian type 2 diabetic patients

BACKGROUND: Plasma sialic acid is a marker of the acute phase response. Objective is to study the relationship between sialic acid relationship with metabolic variables in Indian type 2 diabetes with and without microvascular complications. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Fasting Venous blood samples were taken from 200 subjects of which 50 were of diabetes mellitus (DM) and nephropathy patients, 50 patients with type 2 diabetes and retinopathy, 50 patients with type 2 diabetes without any complications and 50 healthy individuals without diabetes. The Indian subject's aged 15–60 years with type 2 diabetes were recruited for the study. Simultaneously urine samples were also collected from each of the subjects. All the blood samples were analyzed for total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), fasting and postprandial glucose on fully automated analyzer. Serum and urine sialic acid along with microalbumin levels were also estimated. RESULTS: There was a significantly increasing trend of plasma and urine sialic acid with severity of nephropathy (P < 0.001) and with degree of urinary albumin excretion (P < 0.001). Serum sialic acid correlated with increasing serum creatinine concentration (P < 0.001). Elevated serum sialic acid concentrations were also associated with several risk factors for diabetic vascular disease: diabetes duration, HbA(1)c, serum triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations, waist-to-hip ratio and hypertension. Significant correlations were found between sialic acid concentration and cardiovascular risk factors like LDL and TG in the diabetic subjects. CONCLUSION: The main finding of this study is that elevated serum and urinary sialic acid and microalbumin concentrations were strongly related to the presence of microvascular complications like diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy and cardiovascular risk factors in Indian type 2 diabetic subjects. Further study of acute-phase response markers and mediators as indicators or predictors of diabetic microvascular complications is therefore justified

Production of lignans in callus culture of Podophyllum hexandrum

Purpose: Podophyllum hexandrum Royle, a source of highly valued podophyllotoxin has been subjected to heavy collection from the wild. The ever-increasing demand of podophyllum is mainly due to two semi synthetic derivatives of podophyllotoxin that is etoposide and teniposide, which are used in the treatment of various types of cancer. The anti cancer lignan derivative podophyllotoxin in Podophyllum hexandrum is biosynthesized at very low quantities in intact plant, so the biotechnological production of podophyllotoxin has been considered essential. Method: The aseptically germinated embryos of Podophyllum hexandrum were developed on solid nutrient agar slab. For the growth of callus culture, Murashigae and Skoog media (MS media)) with various concentrations of BAP, NAA and GA3 adjusted to pH 5.8 was used. Podophyllotoxin content in the alcoholic extract of calli and plant root was analysed by HPLC and HPTLC and was also compared with cultivated Podophllum hexandrum root extracts. Result: A fully defined MS medium supplemented with Naphthalene acetic acid and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) were effective for both initiation and sustained growth of callus tissue. The relative proportion of callus was markedly influenced by presence of plant growth regulators. The amount of Podophyllotoxin obtained from callus was 0.78 and 0.79 percent as characterized by HPLC and HPTLC respectively. Conclusion: The study revealed that callus culture may be a fruitful tool for the production of podophyllotoxin resin, an anticancer entity. Keywords: Podophyllum hexandrum, Tissue culture, Podophyllotoxin, HPTLC, HPLC Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Vol. 6 (4) 2007: pp. 803-80

Preparation and reactivity studies of maleimidophenyl glycidylether with amines

The hybrid thermosetting maleimido epoxy compound 4-(N-maleimidophenyl) glycidylether (N-MPGE) was prepared by reacting N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) maleimide (HPM) with epichlorohydrin by using benzyltrimethylammonium chloride as a catalyst. The resulting compound possessed both the oxirane ring and maleimide group. The curing reaction of N-MPGE with amines as curing agents such as tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA), bishexamethylenetriamine (BHMT), 2-methyl pentamethylenediamine (2-MPMDA) and 2,2,4-trimethy diamines (2,2,4-TMDA) was studied. The cured samples exhibited good thermal stability and excellent chemical (acid/alkali/solvent) and water absorption resistance. Morphological studies by the SEM technique further confirmed the phase homogeneity network of the cured systems. © 2011 Chemical Society of Ethiopia

User Awareness on ‘Single Window Search’ Tool provided by the KMC Health Sciences Library, MAHE, Manipal: A Study

In academic libraries, information resources are increasing at an alarming rate due to information explosion and development in information and communication technology. Open access resources available for access are also increasing. Academic libraries are putting their best effort to make the process of conducting literature search much easier as users find it difficult to search for literature on a given research topic through several types of resources separately. This necessitated the integration of information resources for easy access. A Web-Scale Discovery tool integrates library subscribed content, library catalogue, digital repositories, open access resources and offers a search and retrieval interface for the users to access the required information easily and quickly. To support users in conducting an effective literature search, KMC Health Sciences Library, MAHE, Manipal has implemented Web-scale Discovery Service, named it as Single Window Search and provided access in Library web portal. The objective of the study was to understand the awareness and satisfaction on different features and modules available at the Single Window Search tool among the library users at KMC Health Sciences Library, MAHE, Manipal. The study revealed that almost all users (92.16%) who participated in the study were aware of the Basic Searching (Title, Keyword, Author) feature of the single window search tool. From the study, it is understood that more than 60.78% of users are satisfied with Basic Searching option and 45.10% of users are satisfied with the Advanced Searching option provided in Single Window Search tool

Assessing the Effectiveness of Information Literacy Instruction Program: Pre and Post Evaluation Case Study

Learning is a continuous process and effective learning relates to students’ attitudes, feelings and approach towards the subject of learning. To excel in their academic curricula students must acquire, evaluate and use the available information effectively. One of the mandates of today’s higher education is to develop a community of students with information literacy (IL) skills while pursuing their education and enable them to further extend it to their future workplace. This paper examines the information literacy competency of post-graduate students of pharmaceutical sciences course at Manipal University, Manipal. The present case study, conducted prior to and after an Information Literacy Instruction (ILI) program at the Health Sciences Library of Manipal University, Manipal, assesses different aspects of information competency for utilization of information resources. Data were collected through a survey prior to IL session and through feedback response at the end of the session (after the session). Structured questionnaires were distributed to all the participants (125) before and after the instruction program. Students’ awareness about the library website, availability of types of resources of the library, familiarity with the name of online database in the health sciences field, knowledge about the use of library catalogue, bibliographic databases and open access resources; confidence level related to search skills before and after the ILI and the usefulness of ILI program were assessed during the study. The results indicated that the information literacy instruction had a positive influence on effective learning of information literacy skills

Usage of Grammarly – Online Grammar and Spelling Checker Tool at the Health Sciences Library, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal: A Study

Accurate use of grammar and writing is an essential aspect of any writing. Today various online grammar spelling checker tools are available for improving writing quality. The popularity of these platforms is increasing among researchers and academicians every day. Aim of the present study is to know the opinion, use and satisfaction level among the users of Grammarly - online grammar and spelling checker tool subscribed by the Health Science Library, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal. Structured questionnaires were distributed among the registered users of Grammarly tool at the Health Sciences Library. The study observed that almost all the users were aware that the Health Science Library is subscribing to Grammarly tool. More than half of the users used this tool because of the limitation of Microsoft word as found in the study. It is also found from the study that the majority of the respondents who participated in the study were using Grammarly for Microsoft Office. The study also observed that users are using Grammarly tool for different purposes like writing research papers, dissertations, theses, books, reports, and course papers. From the present study, it is also observed that most important advantages of Grammarly are - it improves the writing skills, catches contextual spelling and grammar mistakes, integrates with Microsoft Office, shows definitions and synonyms via double-clicks. Grammarly is one of the tools subscribed by the Health Sciences Library to boost up academic writing, research, and publication of students, faculty members, and research scholars of MAHE, Manipal