Phytochemical screening and evaluation of cytotoxic activity of Pandanus fascicularis L. (Fruits)

The present study was conducted to evaluate possible phytochemicals present, and cytoctoxic activity of extract of fruits of Pandanus fascicularis L. Phytochemical screening was carried out using the standard test methods of different chemical group. Evaluation of cytotoxic activity was done using the brine shrimp lethality bioassay. The aqueous, methanolic, ethanolic, ethyl acetate, pet ether and chloroform extracts show presence of maximum phytochemicals such as alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, saponins, proteins, terpens, phenols, glycosides, carbohydrate in different fractions etc. During cytotoxicity test, the positive control groups showed nonlinear mortality rates at lower concentrations and linear rates at higher concentrations. The LC50 values of Chloroform extract was found 1.0636 µg/ml where the positive control vincristine sulphate showed LC50 at a concentration of 0.200µg/ml. Therefore, the plant extract possess potent cytotoxic effect

Study on anti-diarrheal activities of Abelmoscous esculentus seeds

The main objective of this study is to analyze anti-diarrheal activities of Abelmoscous esculentus. Phytochemical screening shows that Abelmoscous esculentus contain alkaloid, carbohydrate, saponines, diterpene, phytosterol, proteins and gums. Ethanolic extract of Abelmoscous esculentus as well as n-hexane soluble fraction and chloroform soluble fraction show 81.82% anti-diarrheal activities that is much higher than standard Loperamide (63.64%). Â

Minmax sink location problem on dynamic cycle networks

We address both 1 and k sink location problems on dynamic cycle networks. Our 1-sink algorithms run in O(n) and O(nlogn) time for uniform and general edge capacity cases, respectively. We improve the previously best known O(nlogn) time algorithm for single sink introduced by Xu et al. [Xu et al. 2015] with uniform capacities. When k¿1, we improve two results [Benkoczi et al. 2017] for both with uniform and arbitrary capacities by a factor of O(logn). Using the same sorted matrices optimization framework originally devised by Frederickson and Johnson and employed by [Benkoczi et al. 2017], our algorithms for the k-sink problems have time complexities of O(nlogn) for uniform, and O(nlog3 n) for arbitrary capacities. Key to our results is a novel data structure called a cluster head forest, which allows one to compute batches of queries for evacuation time efficiently

Neurodevelopmental disorders in children aged 2-9 years: Population-based burden estimates across five regions in India.

BACKGROUND: Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) compromise the development and attainment of full social and economic potential at individual, family, community, and country levels. Paucity of data on NDDs slows down policy and programmatic action in most developing countries despite perceived high burden. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We assessed 3,964 children (with almost equal number of boys and girls distributed in 2-<6 and 6-9 year age categories) identified from five geographically diverse populations in India using cluster sampling technique (probability proportionate to population size). These were from the North-Central, i.e., Palwal (N = 998; all rural, 16.4% non-Hindu, 25.3% from scheduled caste/tribe [SC-ST] [these are considered underserved communities who are eligible for affirmative action]); North, i.e., Kangra (N = 997; 91.6% rural, 3.7% non-Hindu, 25.3% SC-ST); East, i.e., Dhenkanal (N = 981; 89.8% rural, 1.2% non-Hindu, 38.0% SC-ST); South, i.e., Hyderabad (N = 495; all urban, 25.7% non-Hindu, 27.3% SC-ST) and West, i.e., North Goa (N = 493; 68.0% rural, 11.4% non-Hindu, 18.5% SC-ST). All children were assessed for vision impairment (VI), epilepsy (Epi), neuromotor impairments including cerebral palsy (NMI-CP), hearing impairment (HI), speech and language disorders, autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), and intellectual disability (ID). Furthermore, 6-9-year-old children were also assessed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning disorders (LDs). We standardized sample characteristics as per Census of India 2011 to arrive at district level and all-sites-pooled estimates. Site-specific prevalence of any of seven NDDs in 2-<6 year olds ranged from 2.9% (95% CI 1.6-5.5) to 18.7% (95% CI 14.7-23.6), and for any of nine NDDs in the 6-9-year-old children, from 6.5% (95% CI 4.6-9.1) to 18.5% (95% CI 15.3-22.3). Two or more NDDs were present in 0.4% (95% CI 0.1-1.7) to 4.3% (95% CI 2.2-8.2) in the younger age category and 0.7% (95% CI 0.2-2.0) to 5.3% (95% CI 3.3-8.2) in the older age category. All-site-pooled estimates for NDDs were 9.2% (95% CI 7.5-11.2) and 13.6% (95% CI 11.3-16.2) in children of 2-<6 and 6-9 year age categories, respectively, without significant difference according to gender, rural/urban residence, or religion; almost one-fifth of these children had more than one NDD. The pooled estimates for prevalence increased by up to three percentage points when these were adjusted for national rates of stunting or low birth weight (LBW). HI, ID, speech and language disorders, Epi, and LDs were the common NDDs across sites. Upon risk modelling, noninstitutional delivery, history of perinatal asphyxia, neonatal illness, postnatal neurological/brain infections, stunting, LBW/prematurity, and older age category (6-9 year) were significantly associated with NDDs. The study sample was underrepresentative of stunting and LBW and had a 15.6% refusal. These factors could be contributing to underestimation of the true NDD burden in our population. CONCLUSIONS: The study identifies NDDs in children aged 2-9 years as a significant public health burden for India. HI was higher than and ASD prevalence comparable to the published global literature. Most risk factors of NDDs were modifiable and amenable to public health interventions

R&D intensity and firms dividend policy: Evidence from BRICS countries

Purpose: Given the importance of both research and development (R&D) investments and dividend policy in the growth of firms, this paper examines the moderating effects of investor protection and other country-level governance mechanisms on the relationship between R&D investments and dividend payments in the firms from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS countries). Design/Methodology/Approach: This empirical study uses a sample of 22,073 firm year observations from the BRICS countries over a period of 2008-2020 and employs both OLS and system GMM estimation methods. The GMM estimation controls for unobservable heterogeneity and endogeneity and reduces estimation bias. Findings: The findings indicate that although R&D intensity is negatively related with the cash dividend payments, with the interaction of investor protection and other country-level mechanisms the relationship between R&D intensity and dividend payments becomes positive. The results further show that investor protection has stronger impact on the relationship between R&D intensity and firm cash dividend payments than other selected country-level governance factors. Practical implications: The research findings should encourage the policy makers in BRICS countries to strengthen investor protection and enhance quality of their institutions to make a right balance between retaining their growth potential and maintaining the value of the firms. Originality: This is the first study to provide evidence of the moderating effects of investor protection and other country-level governance mechanisms on the relationship between R&D investments and dividend payments using the data from BRICS countries

R&D intensity and firms dividend policy: evidence from BRICS countries

Purpose Given the importance of both research and development (R&D) investments and dividend policy in the growth of firms, this paper examines the moderating effects of investor protection and other country-level governance mechanisms on the relationship between R&D investments and dividend payments in the firms from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS countries). Design/methodology/approach This empirical study uses a sample of 22,073 firm year observations from the BRICS countries over a period of 2008–2020 and employs both ordinary least squared (OLS) and system generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation methods. The GMM estimation controls for unobservable heterogeneity and endogeneity and reduces estimation bias. Findings The findings indicate that although R&D intensity is negatively related with the cash dividend payments, with the interaction of investor protection and other country-level mechanisms the relationship between R&D intensity and dividend payments becomes positive. The results further show that investor protection has stronger impact on the relationship between R&D intensity and firm cash dividend payments than other selected country-level governance factors. Practical implications The research findings should encourage the policy makers in BRICS countries to strengthen investor protection and enhance quality of their institutions to make a right balance between retaining their growth potential and maintaining the value of the firms. Originality/value This is the first study to provide evidence of the moderating effects of investor protection and other country-level governance mechanisms on the relationship between R&D investments and dividend payments using the data from BRICS countries

Y2O3 nanoparticles with 2D morphology as reactive oxygen species scavengers under ultraviolet radiation conditions

This study assessed the potential reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activity of Y2O3 nanomaterials with 2D-like morphology in an UV radiation environment and in the Fenton system. The materials were synthesized by a simple chemical precipitation method and annealed in three different environments (air, argon, and hydrogen gas) at 500 °C for 1 h. The materials featured oxygen deficiency and surface defects, and prevented the photodegradation of the dye crystal violet (CV) in presence of TiO2 (P25) under broad-spectrum UV radiation (UVB and UVA). Y2O3 nanoparticles annealed in air prevented ROS-induced dye degradation by 20.5±0.7%, while the prevention rate for the other two particles annealed in Ar and H2 were 19.4±0.7% and 18.1±0.6%, respectively. Similarly, these nanoparticles prevented dye degradation in the Fenton system by 14.5±0.7%, 13.7±0.6%, and 12.0±0.7% for the Y2O3 annealed in Air, Ar, and H2 respectively. Therefore, the use of low atomic number (Z) yttria ceramic nanoparticles could be a promising material to prevent radiation related ROS damage in high-energy ionizing radiation (keV or MeV) conditions

Selective liquid phase benzyl alcohol oxidation over Cu-loaded LaFeO3 perovskite

Copper loaded LaMO3 (M = Mn, Fe and Co) perovskites have been synthesized by a single-step solution combustion method. These materials have been investigated for liquid phase oxidation of benzyl alcohol using tertiary butyl hydrogen peroxide (TBHP) as oxidant in air at 80 degrees C under ambient pressure. Among these, the 10 at% Cu-loaded LaFeO3 has shown the best activity i.e., similar to 99% conversion with complete benzaldehyde selectivity. The formation of perovskite phase was confirmed from XRD and the presence of Cu2+ was confirmed by XPS analysis. The higher activity of the combustion synthesized catalyst has been ascribed to the presence of a poorly defined surface structure containing an amorphous CuO phase wrapping the LaFeO3 particle, as evidenced from the HRTEM analysis. The catalyst recycling tests have shown a negligible loss of activity in the consecutive cycles.Postprint (author's final draft