Microbial Study of Water Samples Collected from Different Districts of Himachal Pradesh

Water Microbiology deals with the study of the living organisms of microscopic size present in water that causes infectious diseases of man. The primary test performed on water taken from 10 different sites act as an indicator of different types of water pollution, especially fecal pollution of water due to the presence of coliforms bacteria because they are invariably present in feces of human beings. The safety of drinking water is an ongoing concern within the global village. Traditionally, the safety of potable water supplies has been controlled by disinfection, usually by chlorination and coliform population estimates. However, it has been reported that coliform-free potable water may not necessarily be free of pathogens. Some diseases causing microorganisms enter the water from different sources and causes different types of diseases such as Polio, Typhoid, Hepatitis, Shigellosis, Salmonellosis can spread through this contaminated water which is a matter of concern

Comparative Studies of \u3cem\u3eRubia cordifolia\u3c/em\u3e L. and its Commercial Samples

Rubia cordifolia L. (Family - Rubiaceae), is a common medicinal plant used in the preparation of different formulations in Ayurveda. The root of the plant is commonly known as Manjistha and its dried samples are sold in the market under the name Manjith. The present study was carried out to compare the authentic sample from its commercial samples keeping in mind the pharmacopoeial standards of Ayurveda. The quantitative phytochemical studies of the drug samples were carried out by studying the percentage of ash, extractive values and qualitative screening was carried out by Thin Layer Chromatography and different biochemical tests. Thus, the present work aims in forming certain parameters for identification of drug with the help of various phytochemical observations

Evaluation of seeding rates of rice nursery on seedling vigour and its effect on crop productivity under system of rice intensification

Four seeding rates (25, 30, 35 and 40 g/m2) of rice in nursery were tested for seedling vigour recorded at 10, 17 and 24 DAS at Malan during 2013 and 2014. The seedling vigour so obtained in nursery was subsequently evaluated in field during kharif 2013. Thus twenty four treatments comprised of combinations of three seedling ages (10, 17 and 24 days) and two spacings (20 × 20 cm and 20 × 15 cm) in main plots and four seedling vigour from four seeding rates (25, 30, 35 and 40 g/m2) in sub plots were evaluated in split plot design. Seedling shoot length under all seeding rates (25-35 g/m2) was significantly higher compared to check (40 g/m2) during 2013. In the next year, shoot and root length (30-35 g/m2), tiller per seedling and leaves per seedling (25-30 g/m2) of 24 days nursery was significantly higher over check (40 g/m2). Plant height, tillers, leaves and dry matter accumulation were significantly higher when younger seedlings aged 10 and 17 days were used. The crop raised using 10 days old seedlings matured 3-5 days earlier than 24 days old seedlings. Wider spacing resulted in more plant height, tillers, leaves and dry matter accumulation. Seedlings from 25, 30 and 35 g seed/m2 resulted in significantly taller plants than 40 g/m2. The seeding rate, seedling age and plant spacing did not significantly influence rice productivity thereby permitting flexibility to the rice farmers in the adoption of these factors

Predicting pregnancy outcomes from homocysteine level: an evidence from a North Indian study

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a major cause of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Though the etiology of spectrum of vascular disorders of pregnancy is still not understood completely, yet abnormally elevated homocysteine level has been implicated in the causal pathway and pathogenesis. Hyperhomocysteinemia has been significantly associated with increased risk of poor maternal and foetal outcomes in terms of PIH, abruption, IUGR, recurrent pregnancy loss, intrauterine death and prematurity.Methods: The present prospective study was conducted among 180 pregnant women (57 exposed and 123 non exposed) in Kamla Nehru State Hospital for Mother and Child, IGMC Shimla, Himachal Pradesh with an objective of determining association of abnormally elevated homocysteine level in pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Socio-demographic, clinical, biochemical including homocysteine level, laboratory, ultrasonographic parameters and foeto-maternal outcomes of pregnancy of all the participants were documented.Results: The mean homocysteine level of exposed group (23.26±10.77 µmol/L) was significantly higher than the unexposed group (8.99±2.47 µmol/L). Among hyperhomocysteinemic subjects, 10.5% had abruption, 15.8% had PRES and 8.7% PPH which was significantly higher than normal subjects. Similarly, patients with homocysteinemia had significantly higher proportion (21.3%) of poor Apgar score, more (41.9%) NICU admissions and higher frequency (4.7%) of meconium aspiration syndrome.Conclusions: The present study generates necessary evidence for associating abnormally elevated homocysteine levels with pregnancy related hypertensive ailments and adverse pregnancy outcomes. It further demands the need of robustly designed studies and trials to further explore the phenomenon. Moreover, it emphasizes on a simple and timely intervention like estimating the much-neglected homocysteine levels during pregnancy which can definitely contribute in predicting and preventing adverse perinatal outcomes

Can serum homocysteine predict hypertensive disorders of pregnancy?: an evidence from a case control study in a North Indian tertiary health care institution

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a major cause of both maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality. Although pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) is still regarded as a disease of theories and unknown etiology, elevated homocysteine level has been hypothesized as a key risk factor. Abnormally raised homocysteine has been significantly associated with increased risk of PIH, abruption, intrauterine growth restriction, recurrent pregnancy loss, intrauterine death and prematurity.Methods: The present case control study was conducted among 180 pregnant women (90 cases and 90 controls) in Kamla Nehru State Hospital for Mother and Child, IGMC Shimla, Himachal Pradesh with an objective of ascertaining the role of homocysteine in pregnancy related hypertensive disorders. Socio-demographic, clinical, biochemical including homocysteine level, laboratory and ultrasonographic parameters of all the participants were documented.Results: The mean homocysteine level of cases (18.30±10.81) was significantly higher than the controls (8.70±2.64).  About 62.2% cases had abnormally raised homocysteine level (>15 µmol/L), while only 1.1% controls had such level. The odds of a case having abnormally elevated homocysteine level were 146.6 (CI: 19.52-1101) times to that of controls. Eclamptics had the highest homocysteine level followed by preeclamptics and controls.Conclusions: The present study significantly associates the abnormally elevated homocysteine levels with pregnancy related hypertensive ailments and demands much needed robustly designed studies to further explore the phenomenon. A simple intervention like estimating the much neglected homocysteine levels prior to pregnancy can definitely aid in predicting and preventing perinatal outcomes

Effect of pomegranate polyphenols on lipids metabolism in patients with myocardial infarction: a double-blind placebo controlled trial

Background: Myocardial Infarction (MI) is a leading disease globally. Major risk factors for MI are smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, reactive oxygen species (ROS), obesity, coronary artery disease (CAD) and abnormally altered blood lipid levels. It is recommended that for healthy living the risk factors for CAD and ROS should be less. Consumption of natural food supplements rich in antioxidants and polyphenols reduce the risk of MI. One herb is Pomegranate. Pomegranate is polyphenols and antioxidants rich fruit. This prompted us to find out whether the presence of antioxidants in pomegranate offers any prognostic benefits in patients with MI?.Methods: Pomegranate Extract of Whole Fruit (PEWF) was prepared as tablet of 300mg to investigate its effects in patients with MI. Total 100 participants were included in the trial. Participants were assigned to two groups of 50 each. One group received “Add On” PEWF and other got matching placebo of same colour, shape and size as comparator agent in the dose of 300mg BD for 1 month.Results: Results were compared by Z test, Chi square test and coefficient of variations. Statistical analysis proves the prognostic effect after active medication (p<0.05). Study results indicate the rejection of Null Hypothesis (H0) and acceptance of Alternative Hypothesis (H1).Conclusions: Our findings suggest that consumption of antioxidant and polyphenols rich food supplements such as PEWFs for one month reduces the risk factors for CAD

Ectopic expression of alkaline phosphatase in proximal tubular brush border membrane of human renal cell carcinoma

AbstractThe present study was conducted to find out any alteration in the expression and activity of alkaline phosphatase in the brush border membrane (BBM) from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in comparison to normal renal BBM. The specific activity of alkaline phosphatase was drastically reduced in homogenate as well as BBM from RCC kidney when compared to ALP activity in BBM of normal kidney. Kinetic studies revealed that diminished activity of alkaline phosphatase in BBM isolated from RCC was fraternized with decrease in maximal velocity (Vmax) and increase in affinity constant (Km) of the enzyme. SDS-PAGE studies showed that the BBM proteins having molecular weights ranging from 95 to 170 kDa were poorly expressed in RCC BBM in relative to normal kidney BBM. Incubation of SDS-PAGE gel with BCIP/NBT dye clearly showed that the expression of ALP in tumor renal BBM was markedly reduced as compared to normal kidney. Further, Western blot analysis using anti-alkaline phosphatase antibody also confirmed the reduced expression of ALP in tumor renal BBM. Lipid composition in reference to phospholipids, glycolipids and cholesterol in tumor renal BBM was altered to that of normal renal BBM, indicating alteration in membrane fluidity of tumor renal BBM

Rice quality profiling to classify germplasm in breeding programs

The objective of this work was to define a quality space for assessing rice varieties. Eleven long grain varieties, seven commercial and four new advanced lines were assessed to obtain complete quality profile considering appearance, physicochemical parameters, water absorption behaviour, pasting profile and textural attributes. Commercial varieties were chosen to provide the widest variation in properties, applying the variability analysis concepts of the Taguchi method, including Japonicas, Indicas, hybrids and aromatics. Quality parameters were measured in five different dimensions of quality space (totalling 50). Variable reduction techniques were applied to chose 3 parameters in each dimension (totalling 15 quality indicators) that would describe the whole space with greatest orthogonality, accuracy and yet explaining a significant proportion of the whole variance of data. The analysis of the quality space thus defined and similarities between varieties is illustrated with the conclusion of how the 4 new advanced lines perform in terms of quality behaviour, where it is concluded that one of them is very promising as an improvement over European (Indica) towards the behaviour of a pure Guyana (Indica), whereas 3 others have significant shortcomings in various aspects of the quality space compared to all others, albeit their greater closeness to Japonicas

CoMeT: An Integrated Interval Thermal Simulation Toolchain for 2D, 2.5 D, and 3D Processor-Memory Systems

Processing cores and the accompanying main memory working in tandem enable the modern processors. Dissipating heat produced from computation, memory access remains a significant problem for processors. Therefore, processor thermal management continues to be an active research topic. Most thermal management research takes place using simulations, given the challenges of measuring temperature in real processors. Since core and memory are fabricated on separate packages in most existing processors, with the memory having lower power densities, thermal management research in processors has primarily focused on the cores. Memory bandwidth limitations associated with 2D processors lead to high-density 2.5D and 3D packaging technology. 2.5D packaging places cores and memory on the same package. 3D packaging technology takes it further by stacking layers of memory on the top of cores themselves. Such packagings significantly increase the power density, making processors prone to heating. Therefore, mitigating thermal issues in high-density processors (packaged with stacked memory) becomes an even more pressing problem. However, given the lack of thermal modeling for memories in existing interval thermal simulation toolchains, they are unsuitable for studying thermal management for high-density processors. To address this issue, we present CoMeT, the first integrated Core and Memory interval Thermal simulation toolchain. CoMeT comprehensively supports thermal simulation of high- and low-density processors corresponding to four different core-memory configurations - off-chip DDR memory, off-chip 3D memory, 2.5D, and 3D. CoMeT supports several novel features that facilitate overlying system research. Compared to an equivalent state-of-the-art core-only toolchain, CoMeT adds only a ~5% simulation-time overhead. The source code of CoMeT has been made open for public use under the MIT license.Comment: https://github.com/marg-tools/CoMe

Performance, Power and Cooling Trade-Offs with NCFET-based Many-Cores

Negative Capacitance Field-Effect Transistor (NCFET) is an emerging technology that incorporates a ferroelectric layer within the transistor gate stack to overcome the fundamental limit of sub-threshold swing in transistors. Even though physics-based NCFET models have been recently proposed, system-level NCFET models do not exist and research is still in its infancy. In this work, we are the first to investigate the impact of NCFET on performance, energy and cooling costs in many-core processors. Our proposed methodology starts from accurate physics models all the way up to the system level, where the performance and power of a many-core are widely affected. Our new methodology and system-level models allow, for the first time, the exploration of the novel trade-offs between performance gains and power losses that NCFET now offers to system-level designers. We demonstrate that an optimal ferroelectric thickness does exist. In addition, we reveal that current state-of-the-art power management techniques fail when NCFET (with a thick ferroelectric layer) comes into play