Dermal application of lactic acid based cream of a non pathogenic Kocuria marina (BMKO1) strain against Epidermophyton floccosum (MTCC 613) symptomatic excision mice model

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal efficacy of Kocuria marina (BMKo1) derived Lactic acid against Epidermophyton floccosum (MTCC-613) infections induced on male Swiss Albino mice model (Mus musculus).  For this purpose, the isolated strain was subjected to ‘flask fermentation’ and the Lactic acid produced as fermentation product, was quantified and analysed. Prior to preclinical test, healthy mice models of approximately 8 weeks old and 25-30 gm (weight) were subjected to intra-dermal administration for a period of 15 days to test for toxicity. Mortality, clinical signs, body weight changes were continually monitored. Then the mouse models were inoculated with 100 µl/ml (V/V) of E. floccosum (MTCC-613) spore suspensions following ‘Excision model’. After induction of the infection, the symptomatic mice groups were subjected to topical application of Kocuria lactic acid cream based formulation at a concentration of 1µl/ml (V/V). The naked eye observations were made on the infected lesions till the absolute deduction of infection of excised skin surfaces. The degrees of deduction of infection were converted into scores and the percentages (%) of deduction of infection were calculated and the average value was derived. There were inclusion of positive control (Fluconazole) and negative control (group with infection induced excision, but without any drug application) mice groups for the sake of comparison. Further, with absolute deduction of infection score observed in mice group, applied with Kocuria derived Lactic acid was akin to Fluconazole activity. However, the infection induced mice group was found to be with substantial increase of degree of infection. This study have curtain raised about the anti Epidermophyton infection activity of a cream based  Cell free Lactic acid derived from a non pathogenic strain of Kocuria marina on mouse models. Keywords: Kocuria marina, Epidermophyton floccosum, Lactic aci

Ferroelectric ceramic dispersion to enhance the beta phase of polymer for improving dielectric and ferroelectric properties of the composites

Ferroelectric ceramic-polymer composites consisting of Poly Vinyledine Fluoride-Hexa Fluoro Propylene (PVDF-HFP) as polymer host and 0.5Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O-3-0.5(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3(BZT-BCT) ceramics as filler were prepared using solution casting technique. These composites are characterized for structural, microstructural, vibrational, optical, dielectric and ferroelectric properties at various experimental conditions. The electroactive beta phase fraction (observed from XRD and FTIR analysis) increases as the filler concentration increases up to 20 wt% of BZT-BCT and above that its value decreases. FTIR results were analyzed to understand the mechanism of enhancement of beta phase by the interaction between negatively surface charged ions of filler with the CH(2)dipole of polymer matrix. UV-visible spectroscopy also employed to confirm polymer-ceramic filler interaction. Variation of the dielectric constant with different filler concentrations is explained using the percolation theory. Finally, the interplay between the functional properties and the beta phase is discussed in detail

BGREI Impact on Productivity & Income from Rice: Western Vs. Northern Odisha

The article provides a comparison of the impact of the BGREI on rice productivity and income in the western and northern portions of Odisha in 2016–17. After consulting with scientists of ICAR-NRRI, Cuttack, 2 districts Mayurbhanj and Bargarh were selected as the research location. Two blocks from each district, 4 villages from each block were taken into consideration purposively and 10 farmers were selected randomly. Two pre-tested questionnaires were administered separately to the randomly selected beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries to collect the required data. After analysis of the data, it was observed that there is an increase of 8.83 quintals/acre (61.92%) in the productivity of Kharif rice in western Odisha, whereas in northern Odisha it is 6.1 quintals/acre (60.10%). Likewise, in case of Income from Kharif rice, there is an increment of Rs.12980/acre in western Odisha, whereas in northern Odisha it is Rs.8967/acre. After a critical statistical study, it was also clarified that there is no such major difference in the impact of BGREI on the income of rice farmers and productivity of rice, based on the location (i.e. between western Odisha and northern Odisha). It can be said that there is no such biasness in the BGREI scheme implemented areas of Odisha

Enhanced ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of BCT-BZT at the morphotropic phase boundary driven by the coexistence of phases with different symmetries

The discovery of lead-free piezoelectric materials is crucial for future information and energy storage applications. Enhanced piezoelectric and other physical properties are commonly observed near the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) composition of ferroelectric solid solutions. The (1-x)Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3-x(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3 (BZT-xBCT) system exhibits a large electromechanical response around its MPB region at x=0.5. We report experimental and theoretical results of BZT-xBCT over a wide composition range (0.3=x=1.0). X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy studies indicate a composition-induced structural phase transition from a rhombohedral (R3m) phase at x=0.4 to a tetragonal (P4mm) phase at x=0.6 through a multiphase coexistence region at 0.45=x=0.55 involving orthorhombic + tetragonal (Amm2+P4mm) phases. First-principles calculations elucidate the phase competition in the coexistence region. The critical composition (x= 0.5) displays enhanced dielectric, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties, where notably d33~ 320 pC/N. This work provides clear evidence of Amm2+P4mm crystallographic phases in the MPB region, which is responsible for the improved functional properties.C. C. acknowledges support from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities under the “Ramón y Cajal” fellowship RYC2018-024947-I.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Installation of biologically active pyrimidine moiety into pyridopyrimidine framework and evaluation of their antibacterial activities

120-126Pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines 3 have been synthesized starting from 5-benzylidene barbiturate and maloninitrile in presence of ammonium acetate. Installation of pharmacologically active pyrimidine moiety into pyridopyrimidine framework 3 has been accomplished by condensation of 3 with formic acid, acetic acid, urea, thiourea, formamide and hydrazine hydrate. The antibacterial activities of the synthesized compounds have been evaluated. Good to moderate activities of the tested compounds have been observed

Sintering dependent Ca2+ solubility in barium titanate synthesized by sol-gel auto combustion method

We report the preparation of ferroelectric Ba0.7Ca0.3TiO3 (BCT) ceramics by sol-gel auto combustion technique and its specific functional properties. The structural, dielectric and ferroelectric properties of BCT are strongly depending on the sintering temperature which also improves the phase purity and crystalline quality of the system. The formation of single-phase BCT is realized by sintering at 1450 degrees C for 4h. suggesting the solubility limit of Ca2+ cation. Grain size and relative density are increased as the sintering temperature increased. The Rietveld refinement technique is employed for the detailed crystal structural analysis. The temperature and frequency dependent dielectric properties are investigated; the measured dielectric constant is epsilon(r)=2680at the transition temperature T-c=120 degrees C for the single phase ferroelectric BCT. Sintering and electrical poling improved the shape of the hysteresis curve and reduced the leakage current. Electrical conduction mechanism is also discussed