PHARMACOGNOSY OF PEETHA BHRINGARAJA (WEDELIA CHINENSIS (OSBECK) MERRILL)

Bhringaraja (Eclipta prostrata (L.)) is a plant widely used as a remedy for liver disorders, Anaemia etc. The drug is said to have three varieties based on the colour of its flower. Peetha Bhringaraja is the yellow flowered variety of Bhringaraja. The drug is botanically identified as Wedelia chinensis (Osbeck) Merrill belongs to the family Asteraceae. The drug is not that much abundantly seen nowadays. Wedelia trilobata is another similar invasive species belongs to the same family Asteraceae. The IUCN has listed Wedelia Trilobata in its 100 world’s worst invasive alien species. Florida exotic plant pest council considered it as category 2 invader. Due to its invasion most of the similar Wedelia species got replaced. Pharmacognosy is the only reliable tool to differentiate among plants. For the purpose of utilisation of genuine source of Wedelia chinensis (Osbeck) Merrill, the plant was identified and detailed macroscopy and microscopy of root, stem and leaf along with the powder microscopy of whole plant is done

HOBt·DCHA-Mediated Synthesis of Sterically Hindered Peptides employing Fmoc-Amino Acid Chlorides in Both Solution-Phase and Solid Phase Methods

The synthesis of peptides employing Fmoc-amino acid chlorides in presence of HOBt·DCHA salt in solution as well as by the solid-phase methods is described. The coupling was found to be complete in 30 min and free from racemization. The synthesis of β-casomorphin by solid-phase protocol employing Fmoc-amino acid chloride/HOBt·DCHA in DMF–CH2Cl2 has also been outlined. The final peptide was obtained in 80% yield and was fully characterized

Land markets, Property rights, and Deforestation: Insights from Indonesia

We examine the emergence of land markets and their effects on forest land appropriation by farm households in Jambi Province, Sumatra, using micro-level data covering land use and land transactions for a period of more than 20 years (1992 2015). Based on a theoretical model of land acquisition by a heterogeneous farming population, different hypotheses are developed and empirically tested. Farm households involved in forest land appropriation differ from those involved in land market purchases in terms of migration status and other socioeconomic characteristics. In principle, these differences provide opportunities for market-induced deforestation. However, the appropriated forest land is not extensively traded, which we attribute to the lack of de jure property right protection and the resulting undervaluation in the market. While the de facto property right protection under customary law provides sufficient security within the village community, the sense of external tenure security is low when the land cannot be formally titled. Clearing forests for trading in the land market is, therefore, financially less lucrative for farm households than engaging in own cultivation of plantation crops, such as oil palm and rubber. We conclude that land markets did not have significant effects on deforestation. On the other hand, the emergence of land markets alone has also not been able to deter forest appropriation by local farm households. (c) 2017 The Author(s)This study was undertaken as part of the research project SFB 990.Ecological and Socioeconomic Functions of Tropical Lowland Rainforest Transformation Systems, Sumatra (Indonesia)- (EFForTS) funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG)

Pseudoarthrosis following fracture of left lamina of C2 vertebra causing compressive myelopathy

Pseudoarthrosis involving lamina of C2 vertebra requiring intervention is very rare. We report the unusual case of a 38-year-old man presenting with pseudoarthrosis of an old fracture involving left lamina of C2 vertebra. The patient presented with progressive spastic quadriparesis and history of sustaining injury to his neck 15 years ago. Imaging showed pseudoarthrosis involving the left lamina of C2 vertebra with significant cord compression. Posterior approach was used and decompressive laminectomy was done at C2 and C3 levels with removal of the affected segment with pseudoarthrosis. The postoperative period was uneventful and the neurological recovery was good

Effect Of Thermal Load On Valve By Using Conventional Diesel And Blended Fuels

The valves used in the IC engines are of three types: Poppet or mushroom valve or Sleeve valve or Rotary valve. Of these three types, Poppet valve is most commonly used. Since both the inlet and exhaust valves are subjected to high temperatures of 500°C to 1200°C during the power stroke, therefore, it is necessary that the materials of the valves should withstand these temperatures. The temperature at the inlet valve is less compared to exhaust valve. Thus the inlet valve is generally made of nickel chromium alloy steel and exhaust valve is made of si-chrome steel.Automobile engines are usually petrol, diesel or gasoline engines. Petrol engines are Spark Ignition engines and diesel engines are Compression Ignition engines. Blended fuels are mixtures of traditional and alternative fuels in varying percentages. Here the effect of diesel blended fuels on valve is studied by mathematical correlations applying thermal loads produced during combustion. Blended fuels are usually bio fuels blended in different percentages. Percentages vary from 0%, 5%, 10% and 20%.Internal combustion engines produce exhaust gases at extremely high temperatures and pressures. As these hot gases pass through the exhaust valve, temperatures of the valve, valve seat, and stem increase. To avoid any damage to the exhaust valve assembly, heat is transferred from the exhaust valve through different parts, especially the valve seat insert during the opening and closing cycle as they come into contact with each other. In this thesis, a finite-element method is used for modeling the thermal analysis of an exhaust valve. The temperature distribution and resultant thermal fluxes are evaluated. Detailed analyses are performed to estimate the boundary conditions of an internal combustion engine. In this thesis, Catia is employed for modeling and Ansys is used for analysis of the exhaust valve

Impact of CGIAR maize germplasm in sub-Saharan Africa

Open Access ArticleThis study reports on the adoption and impacts of CGIAR-related maize varieties in 18 major maize-producing countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) during 1995–2015. Of the 1345 maize varieties released during this timeframe, approximately 60% had a known CGIAR parentage. About 34% (9.5 million ha) of the total maize area in 2015 was cultivated with ’new’ CGIAR-related maize varieties released between 1995 and 2015. In the same year, an additional 13% of the maize area was cultivated with ’old’ CGIAR-related maize varieties released before 1995. The aggregate annual economic benefit of using new CGIAR-related maize germplasm for yield increase in SSA was estimated at US$1.1–1.6 billion in 2015, which we attributed equally to co-investments by CGIAR funders, public-sector national research and extension programs, and private sector partners. Given that the annual global investment in CGIAR maize breeding at its maximum was US$30 million, the benefit-cost ratios for the CGIAR investment and CGIAR-attributable portion of economic benefits varied from 12:1–17:1, under the assumption of a 5-year lag in the research investment to yield returns. The study also discusses the methodological challenges involved in large-scale impact assessments. Post-2015 CGIAR tropical maize breeding efforts have had a strong emphasis on stress tolerance