Shalagrama-shila : shastric evidence

When Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was touring South India, He spent the four months during the rainy season called Caturmasya in Shri Rangam at the house of Vyenkata Bhatta, the chief priest of the Ranganatha Temple. His son, Shri Gopala Bhatta, was then able to serve the Lord to his heart's con-tent. Being pleased by his devotion, Shri Caitanya gave him initiation and ordered him to go to Vrin-davana after the disappearance of his parents. There he should remain with Rupa and Sanatana doing bhajana and writing books. - At the age of thirty, after the death of his parents, Gopala Bhatta, left for Vrindavana. When Lord Caitanya heard that Gopala Bhatta Goswami had arrived in Vrindavana and had met Shri Rupa and Sanatana Goswami, He was very pleased. At that time Mahaprabhu had already visited Vrindavana. Although Rupa and Sanatana had gone to visit him in Puri, Gopala Bhatta never received any invitation to go. ..

flipkart.com’s Strategy on Amazon.com’s Entry into India :A Case Study

The online retail industry in India is expected to grow to Rs. 7000 crores by 2015. Its size in 2013 is Rs. 2500 crores. By 2014 India is expected to become the 3rd largest nation of Internet users and this would provide huge potential to the online retail Industry1.Among the major cities in India, consumers in Mumbai topped the chart in doing online shopping followed by Ahmedabad and Delhi2. As per Google study conducted in 2012, 51 percent of the traffic for its Great online shopping festival (GOSF) was due to customers from cities other than the four metros. Referring to the growth in online sales, Nitin Bawankule, industry director, e-commerce, online classifieds and media/entertainment at Google India said, “Top motivators for shopping online include cash back guarantee, cash on delivery, fast delivery, substantial discounts compared to retail, and access to branded products”3.  The E –commerce space in India has seen a lot of action and there are many online players like flipkart.com, Myntra.com, Fabmart, Indiaplaza and Indiatimesshopping. Amazon.com made an indirect entry through Junglee.com. The reason for this indirect entry is the result of government policy towards foreign direct investment.  The Government of India announced in September 2012 the revised foreign direct investment policy in retail. As per this announcement foreign investments are blocked in e-commerce sector while allowing 51 percent FDI in multi-brand retail stores and 100 percent FDI in single brand retail. Amazon has been eyeing the Indian E commerce market which is estimated around $2 billion4

A hot X-ray filament associated with A3017 galaxy cluster

Recent simulations and observations have shown large scale filaments in the cosmic web connecting nodes, with accreting materials (baryonic and dark matter) flowing through them. Current high sensitivity observations also show that the propagation of shocks through filaments can heat them up, and make filaments visible between two or more galaxy clusters or around massive clusters, based on optical and/or X-ray observations. We are reporting here the special case of the cluster A3017 associated with a hot filament. The temperature of the filament is 3.4$^{-0.77}_{+1.30}$ ~keV and its length is $\sim$ 1 Mpc. We have analysed its archival {\it Chandra} data and report various properties. We also analysed GMRT 235/610 MHz radio data. Radio observations have revealed symmetric two-sided lobes which fill cavities in the A3017 cluster core region, associated with central AGN. In the radio map, we also noticed a peculiar linear vertical radio structure in the X-ray filament region which might be associated with a cosmic filament shock. This radio structure could be a radio phoenix or old plasma where an old relativistic population is re-accelerated by shock propagation. Finally we put an upper limit on the radio luminosity of the filament region

A study of drug prescribing pattern using WHO prescribing indicators in the state of Goa, India

Background: The quality of life in developing countries can be improved by enhancing the standards of medical treatment at all levels of the health care delivery system. Teaching hospitals have a special responsibility toward society to promote rational prescribing by their staff and, through them, the future generations of doctors.Methods: A sample of 1000 patient prescriptions was assessed retrospectively to assess the drug prescription patterns in the state of Goa.Results: Of 1842 drug products prescribed, the average number of drugs per prescription was 1.842. The total number of drugs prescribed by generic name was 1 (0.05%). An antibiotic was prescribed in 318 patient encounters (31.8%). Almost all drugs prescribed (n=1842, 99.67%) were on the essential drug list of India. During the study period, antibiotics were prescribed the most (n=318, 17.26%), followed by drug for cardiovascular system (n=265, 14.39%) and gastrointestinal tract (n=238, 12.92%).Conclusions: Baseline data gathered by this study can be used by researchers and policymakers. Further the problem-based basic training in pharmacotherapy; targeted continuing education can prove useful to medical profession to improve prescribing practice and public health administrators for promoting effective rational drug use

DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF STABILITY-INDICATING HPTLC METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF DARUNAVIR ETHANOLATE AND RITONAVIR

Objective: To develop and validate a new simple, accurate, precise and selective stability-indicating high performance thin layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method for simultaneous estimation of Darunavir ethanolate and Ritonavir in combined tablet dosage form as per ICH guidelines.Methods: Chromatographic separation of drugs was performed on precoated silica gel aluminium plate 60 F254 (10 ×10) with 250 µm thicknesses (E. MERCK, Darmstadt, Germany) using a CAMAG Linomat 5 sample applicator (Switzerland). The mobile phase selected was Toluene: Ethyl acetate: Methanol (6: 2.5: 1.5, v/v/v) with UV detection at 250 nm.Results: The retention factor for Darunavir ethanolate and Ritonavir was found to be 0.29±0.005 and 0.50±0.07. Results were found to be linear in the concentration range of 200-1000 ng band-1for both the drugs. Intra-day variation, as RSD (%), was found to be in the range of 0.45 to 1.54 for Darunavir ethanolate and 0.22 to 0.64 for Ritonavir. Interday variation, as RSD (%) was found to be in the range of 0.64 to 1.48 for Darunavir ethanolate and 0.13 to 1.24 for Ritonavir. The lower values of % RSD obtained have proved that the method is precise and robust.Conclusion: Stability-indicating HPTLC method was developed and validated for simultaneous estimation Darunavir ethanolate and Ritonavir and can be used for assessing the stability of Darunavir ethanolate and Ritonavir in bulk drug and pharmaceutical dosage form.Â

Investigation of the surface relief grating formation on amorphous azobenzene polymer films

The most staggering effect in photosensitive organic thin films is the formation of surface relief gratings (SRGs) onto thin azobenzene polymer films. The phenomenon was reported independently by two different groups in 1995. These gratings can be inscribed onto thin films of azobenzene polymer films using intensity or polarisation modulations resulting from an interference pattern. Using a wavelength corresponding to the absorption maxima of the azobenzene moiety, grating of several hundreds of nanometre heights, depending upon initial film thickness, can be easily written well below the glass transition temperature. Several models have been proposed to describe the process of grating formation and to explain the origin of the force, forming these gratings but none of these theories could explain the complete process depending upon various parameters like polarisation, photo-induced softening and the origin of the inscribing force. The scope of this thesis work is to find out the origin of the stress which leads to the formation of grating onto the azobenzene polymer film and to support the experimental data with an appropriate model. From all the theories and previously reported scientific papers, it has been seen that trans-cis-trans photo-isomerization is the initiative of the orientation phenomenon within azobenzene polymer. Considering this fact, the interaction of azobenzene chromophores with the polarised light leads to the orientation of the whole polymer chain along with the azobenzene chromophores was our assumption about the formation process. The orientation of azo chromophores leads to the generation of the mechanical stress necessary for the formation of the gratings. To verify the orientation mechanism, I studied the formation of surface relief grating by continuous and pulsed exposure techniques with respect to temperature. The temperature dependent continuous exposure measurements have revealed the ordering of chromophores at room temperature and disordering at higher temperature whereas the temperature dependent pulsed exposure measurements have revealed the orientation and relaxation of chromophores. The experimental results were found to support the assumption of orientation mechanism. The orientation mechanism was also studied in the context of the dipole moment of the two different azobenzene polymers namely pDR1M and pMEA having dipole moments µ=7.0D and µ=0.05D respectively. From this study it was found that the orientation rate is higher for high dipole moment pDR1M compared to low dipole pMEA. Most of the theories support the assumption of softening of the azobenzene polymer film under visible irradiation, at least three orders of magnitude less compared to the room temperature as found near the glass transition temperature of the polymer and hence predict a light induced stress of σ<1Kpa for the inscription of grating. The logical consequence of this assumption is that inscription of surface relief gratings should become more effective upon approaching the glass transition region of the azobenzene polymer. The temperature dependent continuous and pulsed exposure results are contradictory to the above statement. The grating formation diminishes approaching the glass transition temperature of the polymer. Also in this study, It was possible to predict the magnitude of the stress generated during the orientation mechanism of azobenzene and its relation to the laser power. The magnitude of the stress is found to be enough to deform the glassy polymer at room temperature during the process of grating formation. The stress is higher than the yield stress of the typical polymer like pDR1M, (σY=50MPa). The obtained data of the temperature dependent measurements can be very well explained in frame of the viscoelastic model. Further the decomposition of the total external stress obtained from the simulation data into yield stress and viscoplastic stress can lead to the up- gradation of viscoelastic model into viscoplastic model which is found to be the appropriate model for the description of deformation of a polymers in its glassy state. Finally, the alteration of the mechanical properties of the polymer film during the process of grating formation have been reported. The ex-situ investigation was carried out by spatially resolved hardness measurements using atomic force microscope (AFM) to clarify the process at microscopic level. It can be concluded that the polymer chains are uniformly arranged with respect to each other at the crests of the grating. This uniformity and higher density increases the hardness of the polymer material at crests compared to the non uniform arrangement at troughs

Solar PV parameter estimation using multi-objective optimisation

The estimation of the electrical model parameters of solar PV, such as light-induced current, diode dark saturation current, thermal voltage, series resistance, and shunt resistance, is indispensable to predict the actual electrical performance of solar photovoltaic (PV) under changing environmental conditions. Therefore, this paper first considers the various methods of parameter estimation of solar PV to highlight their shortfalls. Thereafter, a new parameter estimation method, based on multi-objective optimisation, namely, Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm-II (NSGA-II), is proposed. Furthermore, to check the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed method, conventional methods, such as, ‘Newton-Raphson’, ‘Particle Swarm Optimisation, Search Algorithm, was tested on four solar PV modules of polycrystalline and monocrystalline materials. Finally, a solar PV module photowatt PWP201 has been considered and compared with six different state of art methods. The estimated performance indices such as current absolute error matrics, absolute relative power error, mean absolute error, and P-V characteristics curve were compared. The results depict the close proximity of the characteristic curve obtained with the proposed NSGA-II method to the curve obtained by the manufacturer’s datasheet

An isolated pisiform fracture: a case report

With overall prevalence between 2% to 3%, carpal bone fractures are not encountered frequently in clinical practice. Amongst these, pisiform fractures have very low incidence of <0.2%, in which, more than half are associated with other carpal injuries, and sometimes ulnar styloid and ligamentous injuries. Thus, diagnosis of isolated pisiform fracture requires a very high index of suspicion. Hereby, authors report an isolated pisiform fracture in a 27 year old dentist who sustained an injury due to fall on outstretched hand. After radiographic confirmation in multiple views and CT scan, isolated-minimally displaced pisiform fracture was found. A below-elbow cast with slight palmar flexion was given for 4 weeks. He returned to normal pre-injury activities at 12 weeks

Poster and model competition: a novel interest-generating teaching tool in the subject of pharmacology

Background: The objective of this study was to provide an extrinsic motivation for learning and allow it to translate into intrinsic motivation during the activity. To generate an interest and to have a better understanding of pharmacology by preparing models and posters.Methods: The present study was carried out among the second year MBBS students. The topic selected was “pharmacotherapy of diabetes mellitus.” A formal announcement was made 30 days in advance. Didactic lectures were taken as per schedule. Ninety-seven students were divided into 18 groups of 5-6 student’s each. Nine groups were allotted to prepare models and nine were allotted to prepare posters. On the assigned day student’s presented their posters and models with enthusiasm. The best three posters and three models were awarded. Feedback forms in the form of questionnaire were given to the students. The students had to grade the answers: 1: little help, 5: extremely helpful. 1-2: low score; 3: medium score; 4,5: high score.Results: Chi-square test was applied to all answers except eighth. The answers showed Chi-square value more than 9.21 and p<0.01, which is considered statistically significant. As for the eighth answer, 77.7% students scored it 4-5 (high score).The sample size for 1-2 (low score) was only 3: so Chi-square test was not applicable.Conclusions: The poster model competition did generate an interest in the topic. The students had a new avenue to express themselves and in the process gain more knowledge in an enjoyable manner. Learning is facilitated when students themselves play an important role in the learning process. Poster-model competition can be incorporated as a teaching-learning tool to encourage and motivate students who lack intrinsic motivation