Metal Chalcogenide Clusters with Closed Electronic Shells and the Electronic Properties of Alkalis and Halogens

Clusters with filled electronic shells and a large gap between the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) are generally energetically and chemically stable. Enabling clusters to become electron donors with low ionization energies or electron acceptors with high electron affinities usually requires changing the valence electron count. Here we demonstrate that a metal cluster may be transformed from an electron donor to an acceptor by exchanging ligands while the neutral form of the clusters has closed electronic shells. Our studies on Co6Te8(PEt3),(CO) (m + n = 6) clusters show that Co6Te8(PEt3)(6) has a closed electronic shell and a low ionization energy of 4.74 eV, and the successive replacement of PEt3 by CO ligands ends with Co6Te8(CO)(6) exhibiting halogen-like behavior. Both the low ionization energy Co6Te8(PEt3)(6) and high electron affinity Co6Te8(CO)(6) have closed electronic shells marked by high HOMO-LUMO gaps of 1.24 and 1.39 eV, respectively. Further, the clusters with an even number of ligands favor a symmetrical placement of ligands around the metal core

Spilanthes acmella ethanolic flower extract: LC-MS alkylamide profiling and its effects on sexual behavior in male rats

According to Indian Systems of Medicine, Spilanthes acmella (L.) Murr. (Family- Asteraceae), is considered effective in the treatment of sexual deficiencies especially due to aging. In the present study, characterization of ethanolic extracts of the Spilanthes acmella flower and its effect on general mating pattern, penile erection and serum hormone levels of normal male Wistar albino rats were investigated and compared with sildenafil citrate. In-vitro nitric oxide release was also investigated in human corpus cavernosum cell line. N-alkylamides are a promising group of naturally occurring bio-actives in Spilanthes spp. Therefore, N-alkylamide profiling of ethanol extract of Spilanthes acmella flowers was performed, using a gradient reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-MS) method on an embedded polar column. MS1 and MS2 fragmentation data were used for identification purposes. The extracts (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg body weight/day) and sildenafil citrate (5mg/kg) were administered orally for 28 days. The behavioral parameters were observed at day 0, 15, 28 and after a lapse of 7 and 14 days of discontinuance of drug treatment. Five N-isobutylamides, one 2-methylbutylamide and one 2-phenylethylamide were tentatively identified. The orally administered extract had a dose dependent effect on mounting frequency, intromission frequency and ejaculation frequency. A dose dependent effect was also observed on the FSH, LH and testosterone serum levels. The aphrodisiac potential of an ethanolic Spilanthes acmella extract was demonstrated in-vitro and in-vivo. Study lends support to the traditional utilization of S. acmella as a sexual stimulating agent

Symmetry and magnetism in Ni9Te6 clusters ligated by CO or phosphine ligands

The removal of a single ligand from the magnetic Ni9Te6(L)(8) (L = P(CH3)(3), CO) clusters is found to quench the magnetic moment. The reduction in magnetic moment is caused by a geometric deformation of the Ni9Te6 core that breaks the octahedral symmetry of the cluster. This effect is observed in both the CO and phosphine based ligands. The octahedral symmetry bare cluster is also found to have a large magnetic moment. These results highlight the dilemma faced by magnetic ligand protected clusters whose symmetry has been broken: whether to break the spin symmetry as in Hund\u27s rules or to break the spatial symmetry as in the Jahn-Teller effect. The spatial symmetry breaking is found to be an oblate distortion that forms additional Ni-Te bonds resulting in the enhanced stability of the cluster

Design and Study of QWT FED Microstrip Patch Antenna at 6.5 Ghz Application

We design the QWT fed micro strip patch antenna at 6.5 GHz application. The first stage is to design square shaped patch Antenna and feeding is done with the QWT feed to match the impedance of 50 ohm. In the simple rectangular microstrip patch, two slots in the patch have been made. The two slots have been made along two corners of the patch. The parametric changes provide the result for 6.5 GHz applications. The frequency 6.5 GHz is chosen because the frequency gives extremely high performance i.e the return loss response exhibiting the characteristic three transformation zeros exceeds 40 dB

A prospective study of comparison of scoring systems in trauma patients

Background: Trauma is a neglected area of the society. It is a health problem that is responsible for mortality and disability, predominantly among the young generation. Thereupon, the risk stratification of such patients become essential to avoid the mortality, for which various scoring systems are employed.Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted among the 300 polytrauma patients who presented in a tertiary care institute over a span of one and half year (March 2018 to December 2019). The severity of injuries of each patient was assessed using various scoring systems (GCS, RTS, AIS, ISS, NISS), and accordingly the outcome (mortality and hospital stay) was recorded.Results: Of the total 300 cases of polytrauma, the young men are most commonly afflicted with road traffic injuries as the leading cause. Most patients presented after a latent period of 2-8 hours since injury with predominantly accidental injuries. Total 21% mortality was observed in this study of which 5% patients succumbed early (<24 hours) despite all possible resuscitative efforts. Mortality was associated with lower GCS and RTS scores but higher ISS and NISS scores.Conclusions: All patients should have their GCS and RTS scores computed on admission along with the primary survey as they are good predictors of outcome and can predict salvageable patients from the non-salvageable ones. Both anatomical scores ISS and NISS can significantly predict the need for emergency life-saving surgery within 24 hours of admission

A comprehensive review of new innovations in dental implant imaging techniques

Background: Over the past three decades, dentistry has undergone considerable development in all of its branches. The need for more accurate diagnostic methods have become inevitable with these progresses. Advanced imaging methods such as computed tomography, cone beam computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging have also found space in modern dentistry from the traditional intra-oral periapical X-rays. Aim: This paper is intended to explore recent developments in imaging technology and its applications in various dental disciplines. Conclusion: The three - dimensional visualization has made the complex cranio-facial structures more available for analysis and early and precise diagnosis of deep rooted lesions. Clinical Significance: Moving from analog to digital radiography has not only made the process easier and quicker, but has also enabled image storage, manipulation (brightness/contrast, cropping of images, etc.) and recovery

In vitro rapid and mass multiplication of highly valuable medicinal plant Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst.

A protocol has been developed for micropropagation of Bacopa monnieri (L) Wettst, a medicinal plant of high commercial potential with legendary reputation as a memory vitalizer. Nodal segments containing axillary buds were surface sterilized with 0.1% solution of mercuric chloride for 5 min and were inoculated aseptically on culture medium, axillary bud break was achieved in 100% of cultures in semisolid MS medium supplemented with 0.2 mg/l BAP. These proliferated in vitro axillary shoots were excised and cut into groups of shoot clusters and subcultured on MS medium supplemented with 0.2 mg/l BAP for shoot multiplication. 100% in vitro rooting was obtained when shoot clusters were cultured on MS medium supplemented with 0.15 mg/l IBA. The rooted plantlets were hardened, acclimatized and successfully established in field.Key words: Bacopa monnieri, nodal segments, micropropagation, plant growth regulators

Prevention and amelioration of erythrocyte instability observed under deficiency of vitamin B12 alone or combined with micronutrient limitation through dietary supplementation with Chlorella and Spirulina

7-16Micronutrient rich microalgae, Chlorella and Spirulina, could be natural food supplements to overcome the micronutrient deficiency, increasingly recognised as a global health issue. In two independent experiments, the Spirulina and Chlorella were evaluated as prophylactic and ameliorative dietary supplements of vitamin B12. Erythrocyte stability (relative osmotic fragility and haemolysis percentage), haematological parameters, micronutrient deficiency (serum levels of iron, zinc), plasma vitamin B12 and vitamin B12 biomarker (methylmalonic acid) were analysed. The deficient groups receiving Spirulina and Chlorella as prophylactic dietary supplements showed a 1.34 to 1.41 folds increase in serum iron and a 2.13 to 2.19 folds increase in plasma vitamin B12, compared to B12 deficient group. Supplementation of Spirulina to ameliorate vitamin B12 deficiency combined with micronutrient limitation showed an increase of 1.14 folds and 1.2 folds in serum iron and zinc respectively and 1.51 folds in plasma vitamin B12 compared to the deficient group. The relative osmotic fragility of erythrocytes in deficient experimental animals was 17 to 45% higher compared to the control. The osmotic fragility and deformation in the morphology of erythrocytes observed under vitamin B12 deficiency, alone or in combination with micronutrient limitation, were prevented and ameliorated on dietary supplementation with the microalgal biomass

Prevention and amelioration of erythrocyte instability observed under deficiency of vitamin B12 alone or combined with micronutrient limitation through dietary supplementation with Chlorella and Spirulina

Micronutrient rich microalgae, Chlorella and Spirulina, could be natural food supplements to overcome the micronutrient deficiency, increasingly recognised as a global health issue. In two independent experiments, the Spirulina and Chlorella were evaluated as prophylactic and ameliorative dietary supplements of vitamin B12. Erythrocyte stability (relative osmotic fragility and haemolysis percentage), haematological parameters, micronutrient deficiency (serum levels of iron, zinc), plasma vitamin B12 and vitamin B12 biomarker (methylmalonic acid) were analysed. The deficient groups receiving Spirulina and Chlorella as prophylactic dietary supplements showed a 1.34 to 1.41 folds increase in serum iron and a 2.13 to 2.19 folds increase in plasma vitamin B12, compared to B12 deficient group. Supplementation of Spirulina to ameliorate vitamin B12 deficiency combined with micronutrient limitation showed an increase of 1.14 folds and 1.2 folds in serum iron and zinc respectively and 1.51 folds in plasma vitamin B12 compared to the deficient group. The relative osmotic fragility of erythrocytes in deficient experimental animals was 17 to 45% higher compared to the control. The osmotic fragility and deformation in the morphology of erythrocytes observed under vitamin B12 deficiency, alone or in combination with micronutrient limitation, were prevented and ameliorated on dietary supplementation with the microalgal biomass