EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT, ANTIMICROBIAL, AND ANTIFUNGAL POTENTIAL OF CUCURBITA PEPO VAR. FASTIGATA SEED EXTRACTS

Objective: The current study aims to study the antioxidant and antimicrobial and antifungal potential of the methanolic extract of Cucurbita pepo var. fastigata seeds (MECS). Methods: Extraction of the seeds has been carried out with solvents of increasing polarity (chloroform, acetone, and methanol) and the phytochemical study of the methanolic extract have been carried out using standard methods. The free radical scavenging activity of all the extracts was evaluated by DPPH and H2O2 methods. Standard disk diffusion method was used to evaluate antibacterial and antifungal activities. Results: Phytochemical evaluation showed the maximum presence of triterpenoids, phenolic compounds, tannins and small amount of Coumarins. Methanolic extract revealed momentous antioxidant activity as compared to chloroform and ethyl acetate extract. Hence, methanolic extract of C. pepo. seeds (MECS) at a dose level of 100, 200 and 300 μg/ml was evaluated for antioxidant potential. Maximum free radical scavenging activity of methanolic seed extract of cucurbita pepo var. fastigata has been found at a dose of 300 μg/ml to be 63±0.16 % by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl model and at a value of 78% at 300 μg/ml with H2O2 model. Methanolic extract also showed the presence of antibacterial activity. Conclusion: Presence of phytochemicals in the methanolic extract is responsible for the antioxidant potential. Extracts were investigated for antibacterial activity using the standard disc diffusion assay method against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and for the antifungal activities against Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans. The seed extract showed the presence of antibacterial activity, but the antifungal activity was found to be absent in the extract

Modelling an above knee prosthesis-a kinematics approach

An attempt has been made to mathematically model a totally mechanical passive type pneumatic damper controlled AK prosthesis for swing control. An Alimco, India made AK prosthesis was taken and was upgraded to a pneumatic damper controlled one. A CAD model of the same was made on ProE software and moment of inertia was found and the data were used for calculating the swing time using kinematics model approach. The prosthesis coupled with an electronic interface was experimented to find the swing time. The experimental results matched the theoretical ones within acceptable limits and it is concluded that kinematics model approach as given by the authors is an effective tool to design passive AK prosthesis and the model can also be used for designing active knee

A CAD Based Dynamic analysis approach to AK prosthesis design

Paper introduces dynamic simulation approach based on computer aided design (CAD), which was applied for development of a passive above-knee (AK) prosthesis to enable a one leg amputated patient with a reasonable size of stump. A locally-fabricated prosthetic knee was modified to develop a pneumatic damper-controlled AK prosthesis. Design studies were carried out to find center of gravity and moment of inertia of the assembly. CAD dynamic analysis was conducted on ProE software and the results were compared to actual swing time found experimentally in the lab. The leg was tested for validation on subjects with positive result

Artificial neural network-based prediction assessment of wire electric discharge machining parameters for smart manufacturing

Artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, cybersecurity, the Industrial Internet of Things, and blockchain are some of the technologies and solutions that are combined to produce “smart manufacturing,” which is used to optimize manufacturing processes by creating and/or accepting data. In manufacturing, spark erosion technique such as wire electric discharge machining (WEDM) is a process that machines different hard-to-cut alloys. It is regarded as the solution for cutting intricate parts and materials that are resistant to conventional machining techniques or are required by design. In the present study, holes of different radii, i.e. 1, 3, and 5mm, have been cut on Nickelvac-HX. Tapering in WEDM is a delicate process to avoid disadvantages such as wire break, wire bend, wire friction, guide wear, and insufficient flushing. Taper angles viz. 0°, 15°, and 30° were obtained from a unique fixture to get holes at different angles. The study also shows the influence of taper angles on the part geometry and area of the holes. Next, the artificial neural network (ANN) technique is implemented for the parametric result prediction. The findings were in good agreement with the experimental data, supporting the viability of the ANN approach for the evaluation of the manufacturing process. The findings in this research provide as a reference to the potential of AI-based assessment in smart manufacturing processes and as a design tool in many manufacturingrelated fields

Simulations of a weakly conducting droplet under the influence of an alternating electric field

We investigate the electrohydrodynamics of an initially spherical droplet under the influence of an external alternating electric field by conducting axisymmetric numerical simulations using a charge-conservative volume-of-fluid based finite volume flow solver. The mean amplitude of shape oscillations of a droplet subjected to an alternating electric field for leaky dielectric fluids is the same as the steady-state deformation under an equivalent root mean squared direct electric field for all possible electrical conductivity ratio $(K_r)$ and permittivity ratio $(S)$ of the droplet to the surrounding fluid. In contrast, our simulations for weakly conducting media show that this equivalence between alternating and direct electric fields does not hold for $K_r \ne S$. Moreover, for a range of parameters, the deformation obtained using the alternating and direct electric fields is qualitatively different, i.e. for low $K_r$ and high $S$, the droplet becomes prolate under alternating electric field but deforms to an oblate shape in the case of the equivalent direct electric field. A parametric study is conducted by varying the time period of the applied alternating electric field, the permittivity and the electrical conductivity ratios. It is observed that while increasing $K_r$ has a negligible effect on the deformation dynamics of the droplet for $K_r<S$, it enhances the deformation of the droplet when $K_r>S$ for both alternating and direct electric fields. We believe that our results may be of immense consequence in explaining the morphological evolution of droplets in a plethora of scenarios ranging from nature to biology.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figure

Evaluation of relationship between bone mineral density and fragility fracture in perimenopausal women between 40-58 years of age: a hospital based prospective observational study

Background: At present the risk assessment for osteoporosis using low bone mineral density (BMD) is based on data obtained from elderly females, largely ≥ 65 years of age. The risk factors for low peak bone mass or accelerated bone loss that occurs during perimenopausal phase is ignored in this risk assessment. Osteoporosis is found to occur at a relatively younger age in the Indian population. Although lower BMD values have an established identity as a major risk factor for fractures in postmenopausal women, we endeavour to evaluate relationship between bone mineral density and fragility fracture in perimenopausal women.Methods: 65 Patients were recruited for the study. After X-ray of involved part, patients were divided into cases (with fracture, n=33) and control (no bony injury, n=32). All patients underwent dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan. Results of DEXA scans were evaluated in both the groups. BMD was expressed in g/cm2.Results: 33 patients (50.77%) were diagnosed as fracture, 32(49.23%) had no bony injury. Threshold bone mineral density (BMD) for fragility fracture found out asfor L1, cut off ≤0.767. For L2, cut off ≤0.829. For L3, cut off ≤0.811. L4, cut off ≤0.798. For L1-L4, cut off ≤0.845. For left femur total hip, cut off ≤0.918. For left forearm-total, cut off ≤0.411. For right femur total hip-cut off ≤0.795. For right forearm-total, cut-off≤0.382.Conclusions: Perimenopausal women having BMD below threshold for involved site are at risk of fragility fracture and should be given prophylactic treatment to improve bone mineral density

Antibacterial Evaluation of Plant Extracts: an insight into Phytomedicine

This study was carried out to evaluate the antibacterial activity of petroleum ether, methanol and aqueous extract of the two plant Ocimum sanctum and pepper nigrum extract using agar well diffusion and broth dilution method against gram-positive bacterial strains (B. firmus, B. megaterium and B. cereus) and gram-negative bacterial strains (Escherichia coli, Enterobacter sp. and Klebsiella pneumoniae). The results indicate that petroleum ether extract compare to methanol and aqueous extract of O. sanctum and P. nigrum exhibited significant antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 0.13 to 0.21x 10-4 mg/well concentration. Moreover, gram-negative bacteria were less susceptible against petroleum ether, methanol and aqueous extract of O. sanctum and P. nigrum and their MIC ranging from 0.13 to 0.21x 10-2. The most susceptible organism to the organic extracts from both studied plants was B. firmus and the most resistant organism was Enterobacter sp. The result obtained with B. cereus and K. pneumoniae were particularly interesting, since it was inhibited by antibiotic ampicillin used and susceptibility was observed with the individual extracts, where higher antibacterial activity with petroleum ether and aqueous extracts of O. sanctum and P. nigrum respectively.  The presence of phytochemicals such as alkaloids, tannins, saponin, triterpenoids, steroids and glycosides in the extracts of these plants supports their traditional uses as medicinal plants for the treatment of various ailments. The present study reveals potential use of these plants for developing new antibacterial herbal drugs against pathogenic microorganisms

Pruning in guava (Psidium guajava) and appraisal of consequent flowering phenology using modified BBCH scale

The guava (Psidium guajava L.) shows well defined phenological stages during growth, flowering and fruiting stages depending upon climatic conditions which of course is amenable to manipulations through cultural interventions. The BBCH scale (Biologische Bundesantalt Bundessortenant and Chemiscle Industrie) is used for recording the data of the different phenological stages in coded form starting from bud development, vegetative stages, floral stages and ends in fruit maturity. Pruning is an important tool for increasing the production but it impacts the normal phenological stages by causing variation in the occurrence of principal and secondary stages. Therefore, the normal BBCH scale proves to be erroneous. In order to assess the quantum of variation on the normal phenology, an experiment was carried out in the guava cv. Lalit for collection of phenological data using the traditional nomenclature described by Fleckinger (1945) and to relate them to the BBCH general scale in pruned or unpruned trees. Significant variation in the principal growth stages was observed as a result of pruning during February, May and September. The duration between the pruning and the beginning bud sprout was from 11 to 15 days during different times of pruning. In contrast, the control unpruned tree showed bud emergence within 2-3 days. The flowering in February and September pruned trees ranged from 78 to 93 days from flower opening and took 153 and 150 days, respectively, for the fruit ripeness as compared to control (129-146 days). Interestingly, beginning of bud sprout occurred in 7 days in May pruning as compared to 3 days in control and the 50 % flowering was hastened and occurred in 43 days and fruit ripening took 136 days. Thus the normal BBCH scale proved to be erroneous in trees subjected to pruning. Phenology of guava according to the traditional Fleckinger Code and the aberrations in the BBCH General Scale resulting from pruning is described in this paper

Antibacterial Evaluation of Plant Extracts: an insight into Phytomedicine

This study was carried out to evaluate the antibacterial activity of petroleum ether, methanol and aqueous extract of the two plant Ocimum sanctum and pepper nigrum extract using agar well diffusion and broth dilution method against gram-positive bacterial strains (B. firmus, B. megaterium and B. cereus) and gram-negative bacterial strains (Escherichia coli, Enterobacter sp. and Klebsiella pneumoniae). The results indicate that petroleum ether extract compare to methanol and aqueous extract of O. sanctum and P. nigrum exhibited significant antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 0.13 to 0.21x 10-4 mg/well concentration. Moreover, gram-negative bacteria were less susceptible against petroleum ether, methanol and aqueous extract of O. sanctum and P. nigrum and their MIC ranging from 0.13 to 0.21x 10-2. The most susceptible organism to the organic extracts from both studied plants was B. firmus and the most resistant organism was Enterobacter sp. The result obtained with B. cereus and K. pneumoniae were particularly interesting, since it was inhibited by antibiotic ampicillin used and susceptibility was observed with the individual extracts, where higher antibacterial activity with petroleum ether and aqueous extracts of O. sanctum and P. nigrum respectively.  The presence of phytochemicals such as alkaloids, tannins, saponin, triterpenoids, steroids and glycosides in the extracts of these plants supports their traditional uses as medicinal plants for the treatment of various ailments. The present study reveals potential use of these plants for developing new antibacterial herbal drugs against pathogenic microorganisms