Compressor and fan wake characteristics

A triaxial probe and a rotating conventional probe, mounted on a traverse gear operated by two step motors were used to measure the mean velocities and turbulence quantities across a rotor wake at various radial locations and downstream stations. The data obtained was used in an analytical model developed to study how rotor flow and blade parameters and turbulence properties such as energy, velocity correlations, and length scale affect the rotor wake characteristics and its diffusion properties. The model, includes three dimensional attributes, can be used in predicting the discrete as well as broadband noise generated in a fan rotor, as well as in evaluating the aerodynamic losses, efficiency and optimum spacing between a rotor and stator in turbomachinery

Bilateral renal angiomyolipomas with invasion of the renal vein: A case report

An angiomyolipoma (AML) is usually a benign, rare, and, more commonly, a unilateral renal tumour. Bilateral tumours are very rare, particularly in the absence of tuberous sclerosis complex. Only in a few isolated cases have features of malignancy been associated with an AML. We present a unique case of bilateral AMLs mimicking invasive tumours in the absence of any other features of tuberous sclerosis complex

Isolation and characterization of nitrogen fixing bacteria from raw coir pith

Coir fibre is the hard fibre extracted from the coconut husk and coir pith is a lignocellulosic byproduct released during the extraction of coir fibre. The pith is not degraded under normal environmental conditions and accumulates in the fibre extraction units occupying sprawling space in the units. The inherent properties of coir pith make it useful as a plant nutrient. Nitrogen fixing bacteria could be isolated from the coir pith and four strains were amplified with nifH gene viz. NF-4 (Lysinibacillus sp.), NF-7 (Ochrobactrum sp.), NF-12 (Paenibacillus sp.) and an uncultured bacterial clone which shows only 50% similarity to NF-18 (Clostridium sp). The present study targeted the isolation and characterization of natural flora of nitrogen fixing organisms in the coir pith.Key words: Coir pith, nifH gene, nitrogen fixation, organic manure

Inherited thrombophilia in young Indian adults presenting with thrombotic vascular events

Background: There is limited Indian data available regarding inherited thrombophilias. This study was to determine the prevalence of inherited thrombophilias in young Indian patients presenting with thrombotic events.Methods: This study was done at a tertiary hospital in Western India over a period of 20 months. Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data was recorded of all consecutive patients aged 16 to 45 admitted with arterial and venous thrombotic vascular events. Blood samples for the thrombophilia profile were sent. Data was tabulated and analyzed using microsoft excel and graph pad software.Results: 49 patients aged 15 to 45 years, admitted with thrombotic vascular events a period of 20 months were included. 26 (53.1%) were male. The mean age was 22.2±7 years. 20 (40.8%) patients; 10 (38.5%) males and 10 (43.5%) females had at least one thrombophilia. The commonest thrombophilia in both arterial and venous thrombotic events was hyperhomocysteinemia.Conclusions: Young patients with thrombotic vascular events should be tested for thrombophilias since they are an important risk factor in this subset of patients

IN VITRO STUDY ON PROTEASE AND THROMBOLYTIC ACTIVITY OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT FROM LEUCAS ASPERA (L.) LEAVES

Objective: The current study is an attempt to screen for the in vitro clot lysis and proteolytic activity of aqueous extract of Leucas aspera leaves. Methods: Thrombolytic activity and protease activity of the crude enzyme obtained by ammonium sulfate precipitation and dialysis were assayed using blood clot and casein as substrates respectively. Native PAGE and gel documentation studies were performed to calculate the molecular weight of the enzyme. Results: In the study, 40% salt fractioned crude enzyme sample exhibited significant thrombolytic and caseinolytic activity. Further dose-dependent increased activity was observed with the maximum lytic activity of 52.11±1.04 % at 1 mg/ml of the sample when compared to the reference drug streptokinase (71.39±0.32%). Also, 68.72±0.62 U/hr of caseinolytic activity was observed for 1 mg/ml of the sample fraction. Conclusion: The study highlights and validates the efficacy of Leucas aspera leaves extract for thrombolytic and proteolytic actions. Enzyme with an approximate molecular weight, 19.89 KDa could be responsible for the significant lytic activity