Development of Mathematical Model and Characterization of Internal Surface Obtained by Elasto-Abrasives Magneto-Spiral Finishing (EAMSF)

The implantation of stents and instruments with capillary action demands super-finished internal surfaces of the manufactured product. Elasto-abrasives magneto-spiral finishing (EAMSF) is the attempt made in this paper to enhance finishing productivity by incorporating the abrasive flow in spiral motion due to the presence of the magnetic field. Here, novel impregnated elasto-magnetic abrasive particles (IMPs) are used in a magnetic field-assisted environment to polish the inner walls of the workpiece. In EAMSF, magnetic force provides excess finishing pressure to the abrasives. In contrast, the high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) elasticity absorbs the extra force of the IMPs on the finishing surface. An Indigenous mathematical relation considering the physics of this superfinishing process indicating material removal shows a close resemblance to the experimental results with an error percentage of 1.03 has been developed. The results of the experimentation reveal that 50% concentration of abrasives and a magnetic field density of 18mT yield a superior surface finish with a Ra value equal to 0.053 μm and maximum material removal of 6.9 mg, while in the absence of a magnetic field, excellent surface finish with a Ra=0.266 μm and maximum material removal of 5.4 mg is achieved. In the presence of magnetic field density, significant enhancement of material removal, surface finish, and burr removal is observed. Finishing the surface at 50% abrasive concentration with a magnetic field represents regular finishing, and the trench marks on the original surface are removed after finishing

An Economic Assessment along the Jatropha-based Biodiesel Value Chain In India

The Government of India had launched the National Biofuel Mission in the year 2003 as an initiative to limit the country’s dependence on crude oil imports. An integral part of this mission is the Biodiesel Blending program and Jatropha, a tree-borne biodiesel yielding crop, is the cornerstone of the program. This study has been specifically designed to carry out economic assessment of the upcoming jatropha-based biodiesel value chain in the country. The study, based on primary data collected from three major jatropha growing states, has observed that jatropha cultivation is an economically viable proposition in the long-run as indicated by favourable values of net present value, internal rate of return and benefit cost ratio. Nevertheless, initial government support till attaining break even point is crucial to sustain the interest of the farmers. The jatropha seed processing industry has been found to be viable if operated at sufficient economies of scale, which in turn is determined by the level of backward integration with the seed market and a forward integration with biodiesel distribution channels. However, the existing biodiesel value chain in India lacks this integration and is characterized by under-developed seed markets, sub-optimal processing infrastructure and ill-defined biodiesel distribution channels. The involvement of corporate players to participate in processing and distribution activities has further delayed the program to take off. The study has cautioned that unless proactive orientation of all the stakeholders is ensured, the program may fail to meet its objectives, at least in the medium-term.Agricultural and Food Policy,

Raising the Age of Purchase and Use of Tobacco Product in Bangladesh: Benefits and Challenges in Protecting Youth from the Tobacco Epidemic

Background: Tobacco use among young and adolescents is the biggest threat to public health globally. In Bangladesh, every one in 14 youth (13-15 years) uses tobacco in some form. While this problem is growing in the country, we estimate the underage initiation of tobacco use and present evidence that policy measures like increasing the age of purchase and use from the current 18 years to 21 years in the country backed with current tobacco control efforts and adopting vendor licensing will significantly reduce future tobacco burden. Method: We analysed the two rounds of nationally representative Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) data: GATS-1 (2009-10) and GATS-2 (2016-17) and segregated the data for two categories of tobacco consumption (smokers and smokeless tobacco users) based on the age of initiation (21 years). Consumption patterns were also analyaed by using the GATS-2 data. Projections from sub-national level analysis for youth initiating tobacco use before 21 years and change in the prevalence of overall underage tobacco users were calculated based on weighted value. Result: According to GATS-2, around 89% of current tobacco users initiated tobacco use into daily use before the age of 18 years in Bangladesh. Whereas, striking differences were observed (statistically significant) for the average age of initiation of smoking among smokers aged 20-34 increased from 17.4 in 2009 to 19.3 years; and 20.1 to 22 years for SLT. Moreover, more than 24% of them initiated into regular smoking before the age of 15 years. Conclusion: There is an increasing trends of tobacco initiation among the underage youth of Bangladesh. By increasing the age of access, sale, purchase, and use of tobacco from current 18 years to 21 years will significantly reduce youth initiation and taper down the overall adult tobacco use prevalence over the long run in Bangladesh.publishedVersio

COMPARATIVE STUDIES ON THE IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF METHANOLIC LEAFY EXTRACTS FROM SIX EDIBLE LEAFY VEGETABLES OF INDIA

Objective: Antioxidants are vital substances which possess the ability to protect the body from damage caused by free radical induced oxidative stress. Epidemiological studies specify that intake of fruits and vegetables have the ability to inhibit the damaging behavior of free radicals in the human body. In this study, we assessed antioxidative properties of the methanolic extracts of Mentha arvensis, Moringa oleifera, Spinacia oleracea, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Tamarindus indica, and Amaranthus viridis. Methods: The methanolic extracts were studied for phytochemical screening and antioxidant properties by different in-vitro experiments including DPPH radical assay, ABTS radical assay, Total antioxidant assay, Reducing activity assay for ascorbic acid equivalents, Total Phenolic content for gallic acid equivalents and Total flavonoid content for quercetin equivalent. Results: The present study revealed that Mentha arvensis extract exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50 value of 28 µg/ml), Reducing activity (1.731±0.072), Total antioxidant activity (208 µg/ml expressed as ascorbic acid equivalents), Total phenolic content (75 µg/ml expressed as gallic acid equivalents) and Total flavonoid contents (674 µg/ml expressed as quercetin equivalents) and Tamarindus indica extract showed highest ABTS radical scavenging activity (IC50 value of 35 µg/ml), The results obtained in the present study indicate that the leaves of Mentha arvensis showed potential antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity. Conclusion: The results obtained in the present study indicate that leaves of Mentha arvensis, Moringa oleifera plant materials have potent, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Tamarindus indica have moderate and Amaranthus viridis, Spinacia oleracea have mild antioxidant activity and/or free radical scavenging activity. Key words: Leafy vegetables, Methanolic extracts, In-vitro antioxidant activit

Synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of benzothiazole linked isoxazole Schiff bases

1463-1470A new series of benzothiazole linked isoxazole Schiff base derivatives have been prepared and characterized by suitable spectroscopic methods via 1H and 13C NMR, ESI-MS and IR spectra. These compounds have been further screened for their antimicrobial activity against a panel of microorganisms. Among them, compounds 12d, 12g and 12l demonstrate promising antimicrobial activity against all the tested strains with MIC values ranging between 3.9 – 62.5 μg/mL. Further, compounds 12d, 12g and 12l exhibit promising antifungal activity with MIC values ranging between 7.8 – 32.5 μg/mL. Further studies are underway for determining the antifungal molecular mechanisms of these potential compounds

Synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of benzothiazole linked isoxazole Schiff bases

A new series of benzothiazole linked isoxazole Schiff base derivatives have been prepared and characterized by suitable spectroscopic methods via 1H and 13C NMR, ESI-MS and IR spectra. These compounds have been further screened for their antimicrobial activity against a panel of microorganisms. Among them, compounds 12d, 12g and 12l demonstrate promising antimicrobial activity against all the tested strains with MIC values ranging between 3.9 – 62.5 µg/mL. Further, compounds 12d, 12g and 12l exhibit promising antifungal activity with MIC values ranging between 7.8 – 32.5 µg/mL. Further studies are underway for determining the antifungal molecular mechanisms of these potential compounds

Synthesis of curcumin based imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole derivatives and their biological evaluation as antiproliferative agents

13-20Motivated by the antiproliferative potential of curcumin and imidazothiazoles, a series of curcumin based imidazo[2,1-b] thiazole derivatives have been prepared, characterized and evaluated for their anticancer activity against various human cancer cell lines. These synthesized compounds have been found to have appreciable to moderate activity. Consequently, compounds 8a and 8g display noteworthy cytotoxicity with IC50 values of 7.2 μM and 4.7 μM, respectively, against A549 cell line. Furthermore, compounds 8a, 8b and 8g exhibit substantial cytotoxicity with IC50 values ranging between 9.1 μM to 9.9 μM respectively, against HeLa cell line. Interestingly, compounds 8a and 8g exhibit appreciable cytotoxicity with IC50 values ranging between 7.5 μM to 8.7 μM respectively, against DU145 cancer cell line. Overall, four compunds (8a, 8b, 8g and 8h) demonstrate IC50 values less than 10 μM against selected human cancer cell lines. They could be taken further for investigation of their mode of action and other parameters

Jellyfish menace in shoreseines operated off Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh

Jellyfish form seasonal swarms that mainly negatively impact fisheries, aquaculture and tourism sectors. In recent years, mass swarming of jellyfish has increased in world oceans and has become a topic of current scientific interest and research. Recent studies link their blooms to a combination of global climate events and several local anthropogenic stressors like overexploitation of finfish, eutrophication, and an increase in marine artificial structures which provide substrate for jellyfish attachment

Report on incidence of Cepheid jellyfish

Unusual landings of a Cepheid jellyfish was observed at Jeerupalem landing centre , Srikakulam, northern Andhra Pradesh on 11th and 12th April 2023. Based on enquiry, it was found that mass swarming of the Cepheid jellyfish was observed from inshore coastal water. Jellyfish was caught in ring seine operated by outboard FRP boats (OAL-7.5-9.8m; engine capacity: 15HP) at a water depth of 20-30 m and discarded. Altogether 50 boats were operated per day, and each unit discarded an average of 25-30/kg of Cepheid jellyfis

Einkorn genomics sheds light on history of the oldest domesticated wheat

Einkorn (Triticum monococcum) was the first domesticated wheat species, and was central to the birth of agriculture and the Neolithic Revolution in the Fertile Crescent around 10,000 years ago$^{1,2}$. Here we generate and analyse 5.2-Gb genome assemblies for wild and domesticated einkorn, including completely assembled centromeres. Einkorn centromeres are highly dynamic, showing evidence of ancient and recent centromere shifts caused by structural rearrangements. Whole-genome sequencing analysis of a diversity panel uncovered the population structure and evolutionary history of einkorn, revealing complex patterns of hybridizations and introgressions after the dispersal of domesticated einkorn from the Fertile Crescent. We also show that around 1% of the modern bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) A subgenome originates from einkorn. These resources and findings highlight the history of einkorn evolution and provide a basis to accelerate the genomics-assisted improvement of einkorn and bread wheat