Environmental Qualification of Buffer Amplifier Unit Using CATH Test Facility for SARAS Aircraft Program

The Buffer Amplifier Unit (BAU) was subjected to Temperature variation and Altitude tests in a Combined Altitude, Temperature and Humidity chamber. This unit was design and developed by Aerospace Electronics Division (ALD), NAL for Saras Aircraft. These tests were done as per RTCA - DO160E, Cat.C, Sec.5.3.1 & Sec. 4.6.1. After conditioning, the functional test was carried out by the firm and the unit was handed over to the firm

Gastroprotective Effect of Ginger Rhizome (Zingiber officinale) Extract: Role of Gallic Acid and Cinnamic Acid in H+, K+-ATPase/H. pylori Inhibition and Anti-Oxidative Mechanism

Zinger officinale has been used as a traditional source against gastric disturbances from time immemorial. The ulcer-preventive properties of aqueous extract of ginger rhizome (GRAE) belonging to the family Zingiberaceae is reported in the present study. GRAE at 200 mg kg−1 b.w. protected up to 86% and 77% for the swim stress-/ethanol stress-induced ulcers with an ulcer index (UI) of 50 ± 4.0/46 ± 4.0, respectively, similar to that of lansoprazole (80%) at 30 mg kg−1 b.w. Increased H+, K+-ATPase activity and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were observed in ulcer-induced rats, while GRAE fed rats showed normalized levels and GRAE also normalized depleted/amplified anti-oxidant enzymes in swim stress and ethanol stress-induced animals. Gastric mucin damage was recovered up to 77% and 74% in swim stress and ethanol stress, respectively after GRAE treatment. GRAE also inhibited the growth of H. pylori with MIC of 300 ± 38 μg and also possessed reducing power, free radical scavenging ability with an IC50 of 6.8 ± 0.4 μg mL−1 gallic acid equivalent (GAE). DNA protection up to 90% at 0.4 μg was also observed. Toxicity studies indicated no lethal effects in rats fed up to 5 g kg−1 b.w. Compositional analysis favored by determination of the efficacy of individual phenolic acids towards their potential ulcer-preventive ability revealed that between cinnamic (50%) and gallic (46%) phenolic acids, cinnamic acid appear to contribute to better H+, K+-ATPase and Helicobacter pylori inhibitory activity, while gallic acid contributes significantly to anti-oxidant activity

Role of sex hormone binding globulin as the early predictor for gestational diabetes mellitus

Background:  The aim of this study was to find role of SHBG as an early predictor for gestational diabetes mellitus.Methods: A hospital based prospective/observational/diagnostic and explorative study. The necessary information was collected from the participants through the prepared set of questionnaires. Pregnant women between 11 to 14 weeks of gestation who visited JSS OPD for antenatal checkup satisfying inclusion and exclusion criteria giving informed and written consent for the study were examined clinically. 3ml of venous blood was drawn with aseptic precautions for the estimation of SHBG and adiponectin. OGTT with 75gms glucose first done at 11 to 14weeks and again at 24-28 weeks and 32-36 weeks were done to the same patient to find out whether the patient developed GDM or not. These mothers were followed periodically till delivery. The sensitivity and specificity of SHBG were assessed and compared in patients who developed GDM.Results: 100 cases were selected for the study. About 12 patients were diagnosed as gestational diabetes mellitus in present study by OGCT at 32 weeks to 36 weeks. In present study about 14 patients had low level of SHBG. Low level of SHBG is found to be statistically significant in predicting GDM in first trimester.Conclusions: The combination of SHBG can be used as predictor of GDM in first trimester

Combined Altitude Temperature and Humidity Testing of the Solid State Flight Data Recorder (Ssfdr) for the Su-30 MKI Aircraft

The Solid State Flight Data Recorder (SSFDR) unit was subjected to CATH test in a Combined Altitude, Temperature and Humidity chamber. This unit was developed by M/S SLN Technologies Pvt Ltd Bangalore, for SU-30 MKI Aircraft to HAL,Korwa. This unit has LRU's namely, 1. Data Acquisition Unit(DAU), 2. Recorder Unit (RU) and 3. Control and Indication Unit (CIU). The CATH test was done as per MIL-STD 810F, Method 520.2. After conditioning, the functional test was carried out by the firm and the unit was handed over to them

An approach to obtain specific polyclonal antisera to Xanthomonas campestris pv. cyamopsidis and its potential application in indexing of infected seeds of guar

Clusterbean seed health testing is warranted since the pathogen (Xanthomonas campestris pv. cyamopsidis (Xccy)) is seed-borne and seed-transmitted. A polyclonal antibody was developed in rabbit via subcutaneous and intramuscular injections and characterized for sensitivity, specificity and its applicability to ELISA which: (i) was sensitive in detecting as few as 102 cells ml−1 at a titre of 1:4000; (ii) was specific, since it reacted only with Xccy and not with other xanthomonads; (iii) reacted both with Xccy cells and culture filtrate, indicating that the antigenic determinant is a secretory component; (iv) was applicable and reliable in seed health testing since it reacted only with infected seeds and plant materials and not with healthy seeds and (v) a purified fraction of antibody was virulent-specific since heat-denatured and avirulent isolates were not detected. The ELISA thus developed is highly reproducible and therefore suitable for the evaluation of the potential disease status of seeds and plant health, which is appropriate for routine seed health testing

Bark anatomy of four species of Cinnamomum (Lauraceae) from Kerala

Bark anatomy of four species of Cinnamomum - three cultivated (C. verum, C. cassia, C. camphora) and the most common wild cinnamon (C. malabatrum) arereporLed here. They differ with regard to many characters such as the nature of the scierenchymatous groups in the pericyciic region, nature of the phloem rays, distl;bution of phloem fibres and in the presence of crystalline inclusions. The differences in the bark structure are useful in distinguishing the genuineness of the true cinnamon (C. verum) bark and also in the taxonomy of the genus. &nbsp

Health and Wellness Product from Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) Rind: Bioactive Potentials

Mangosteen rind (MSR) (Garcinia mangostana L.) is a predominant component of the fruit contributing to 62% of the whole fruit. However, utilization of the same for the preparation of health products was not explored due to its sensorially less acceptable parameters. Differential extraction in different polarity solvents of MSR was done and evaluated their acceptability for product preparation.Current study thus is a detailed investigation on bioactivity profiling of MSR fraction and utilization of the same for health product preparation. Among various extracts, 70% ethanol (70%AE) yielded the maximum (15g/100g). Xanthone:Phenolic ratio was 1: 2.8, in 70%AE as opposed to hot water extract – HWE and 50% AE, which contained Xanthone:Phenolic ratio of 1:1.4/5. Higher the phenolic content obviously reduces the bitterness of Xanthones. 70% AE contained phenolics 60.08± 0.213 mg/g and xanthones 22.56± 0.317 mg/g. HPLC analysis revealed a spectrum of phenolic acids such as gallic, chlorogenic, caffeic, epicatechin, catechin and ferulic acids at various levels. Potent Free Radical Scavenging (FRS) activity, cytoprotectivity, DNA protectivity, H+K+ATPase inhibitory (PPAI) activities were observed in 70% AE. Gallic/tannic acid appear to contribute to antioxidant activity; while ferulic acid was responsible for PPAI activity in 70%AE. Among xanthones, although α- mangostin was the dominating component, gartanin, 8 deoxygartanin and 3-isomangostin contributed to FRS activity. The products were prepared from 70%AE which are sensorially acceptable. Data thus for the first time delineate the specific health beneficial role of both phenolic and xanthone constituents in MSR particularly with higher abundance of phenolics than xanthones

Gastroprotective Properties of Karanjin from Karanja (Pongamia pinnata) Seeds; Role as Antioxidant and H+, K+-ATPase Inhibitor

Plant extracts are the most attractive sources of newer drugs and have been shown to produce promising results for the treatment of gastric ulcers. Karanjin, a furano-flavonoid has been evaluated for anti-ulcerogenic property by employing adult male albino rats. Karanjin (>95% pure) was administered to these rats in two different concentrations, that is, 10 and 20 mg kg−1 b.w. Ulcers were induced in the experimental animals by swim and ethanol stress. Serum, stomach and liver-tissue homogenates were assessed for biochemical parameters. Karanjin inhibited 50 and 74% of ulcers induced by swim stress at 10 and 20 mg kg−1 b.w., respectively. Gastric mucin was protected up to 85% in case of swim stress, whereas only 47% mucin recovery was seen in ethanol stress induced ulcers. H+, K+-ATPase activity, which was increased 2-fold in ulcer conditions, was normalized by Karanjin in both swim/ethanol stress-induced ulcer models. Karanjin could inhibit oxidative stress as evidenced by the normalization of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme (i.e., catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase) levels. Karanjin at concentrations of 20 mg kg−1 b.w., when administered orally for 14 days, did not indicate any lethal effects. There were no significant differences in total protein, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and alkaline phosphatase between normal and Karanjin-treated rats indicating no adverse effect on major organs. During treatment schedule, animals remained as healthy as control animals with normal food and water intake and body weight gain

Hesperidin Ameliorates Immobilization-Stress-Induced Behavioral and Biochemical Alterations and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Mice by Modulating Nitrergic Pathway

The present study was aimed to evaluate the protective effect of hesperidin against immobilization-stress-induced alterations in biochemical, behavioral, and mitochondrial functions in mice. In many instances neuroscientists have reported that acute immobilization stress for 6 h resulted in anxiety and impaired locomotor activity due to excess oxidative-nitrergic stress, depletion of antioxidant defense mechanisms, and mitochondrial dysfunction in animals. In the present study, 6 h of acute immobilization stress had significantly altered the behavioral (anxiety and memory) and biochemical parameters coupled with mitochondrial dysfunction in Swiss albino mice. Fourteen days of pretreatment with Hesperidin (50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly and dose-dependently inhibited the behavioral and biochemical alterations and mitochondrial dysfunction caused by acute immobilization stress. Furthermore, pre-treatment of l-arginine (50 mg/kg, i.p.), a nitric oxide precursor, reversed the protective effect of Hesperidin (50 and 100 mg/kg) (P < 0.05). In contrast, pretreatment of l-NAME (5 mg/kg, i.p.), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, potentiated the protective effect of Hesperidin (P < 0.05). These results suggest the possible involvement of nitrergic pathway in the protective effect Hesperidin against immobilization-stress-induced behavioral, biochemical, and mitochondrial dysfunction in mice