Pharmacognostical and phytochemical evaluation of Lycopodium clavatum stem

228-232Paper presents pharmacognostical and phytochemical study of L. clavatum. Ferulic acid, a potential antioxidant present in this species, has been studied through HPTLC and may be utilized by industries for quality evaluation, ensuring successful commercial exploitation of this drug

Effect of Different Training System on Growth, Yield and Quality of Bottle Guard (Lagenaria siceraria L.) under Prayagraj Agro-Climatic Condition

The present investigation was planned to know the feasibility of training systems of growing vis-a-vis traditional method and their effects on growth, yield and quality traits in bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl]. The results revealed that trailing method had significantly higher vine length (495.21 cm), number of nodes/vine (11.55) and chlorophyll content (40.32) at 90 DAS. The reduction in number of days to anthesis to first male flower (55.13 days) and female flower (62.30 days) in trailing as compared to other trailing systems. The fruit development attributes, viz. number of fruits plants-1 (9.47), fruit weight (4119.15 gm) were recorded significantly higher in trailing but significantly less fruit width (64.10m), were recorded in training system. Fruit yield attributes, i.e. the number of total fruit plant-1 (9.47), fruit yield plot-1 (9.84 kg), seed yield ha-1 (246.45 qha-1) was significantly higher in bower training system. The significant increase in germination (97.54%) was recorded in trailing system as compared to traditional system (95.21%). Similarly, seedling length (42.66 cm), and seedling dry weight (6.56 mg) were significantly higher in training systems. B:C ratio (4.60%) were also significantly superior in Inverted “V” trellis. The presence of fungi was lower in trailing than traditional among the infected fruits

Fabrication of personalized lithophane via additive manufacturing

Industry 4.0 encourages the combination of latest technologies and manufacturing systems. The Additive Manufacturing (AM) may play a fundamental role in Industry 4.0 as it has capability of turning a 3D model data into a product without much human intervention. Moreover, the requirement for eliminated tools and fixtures and material waste make it suitable for industry of the future. The 3D model data, generated using modeling software is utilized in order to fabricate a three-dimensional object. However, the modeling software has some limitations regarding the conversion of the 2D digital image into a 3D model. It makes difficult direct additive manufacturing of 2D digital image. Although, there are some online resources available for this purpose. However, the detailed discussion on the algorithm is not available. Therefore, this article presents an approach for additive manufacturing of lithophane using 2D digital image. It mainly concentrates on the development of Graphical User Interface (GUI) for generating point cloud data and STL using a 2D digital image in MATLAB environment. The developed algorithm is discussed in detail for lithophane fabrication. The proposed approach takes 2D digital image from the user and converts it into 3D model data. Furthermore, the material deposition tool path is also prepared using generated 3D model data. Finally, the proposed approach is validated and tested by performing additive manufacturing. The obtained results have shown the conformity between the additive manufactured lithophane and given a 2D digital image. The obtained results of the current study may be useful in industry 4.0 for fashion and jewelry products

Advanced colorectal carcinoma with testicular metastasis in an adolescent: a case report

Abstract Background Colorectal carcinoma in the pediatric age group is rare and tends to be very aggressive and present late, due to which it has a very poor prognosis. It may present with distant metastasis; however, metastasis to the testes is very rare and signifies an advanced stage of the disease. Surgery is the only effective modality to cure patients with localized colorectal carcinomas. However, statistics show a higher incidence of unresectable disease and a higher metastasis rate in childhood colorectal carcinomas. We present a case of advanced colorectal carcinoma with testicular metastasis in an adolescent. Case presentation A 15-year-old Indian Hindu boy presented to surgical emergency with signs and symptoms of intestinal obstruction. He also had a history of passing blood and mucus per rectum. On examination he had abdominal distension. On digital rectal examination, a circumferential proliferative growth was felt 1 cm above the anal verge. On scrotal examination, a small nodule was felt in his right testis. In view of intestinal obstruction, he was taken into our emergency operation theater and a diverting loop sigmoid colostomy was performed to relieve the obstruction. A punch biopsy from anorectal growth was taken which suggested signet ring cell adenocarcinoma. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of his chest, abdomen, and pelvis showed advanced colorectal carcinoma with distant metastasis. Ultrasonography of his testes showed a hypoechoic nodule in the right testis from which a needle aspiration biopsy was done which revealed metastatic adenocarcinoma. Conclusions Childhood colorectal carcinomas have a very poor prognosis due to their aggressive nature and late presentation. In spite of all the advances in diagnosis and treatments, the overall long-term survival is still dismal in these patients. Due to the rarity of this disease, screening is not recommended for individuals under the age of 50. Thus, to improve outcome, early diagnosis and treatment is paramount. For that to happen, awareness needs to be created regarding pediatric colorectal carcinoma and its signs and symptoms

Ergonomic Assessment of Walk-behind Battery-powered Two-wheel Weeder

Various  types  of  manual  weeders  are  developed  for  mechanical  weeding  in  line  sown  crops to reduce the potential losses in the crop production system. Forces required for an operation of weeder is up to 384 N. An ergonomic study was conducted on a walk-behind type  battery-powered  two-wheel  weeder  for  physiological  aspects,  discomfort,  rapid  entire body assessment (REBA) and postural parameters to assess discomfort/ drudgery on operator. The battery-powered weeder was studied with two attachments: three-tine shovel type and sweep type cultivators. The average heart rate of subjects was recorded at 120 and 114 beats.min-1 with shovel type and sweep type cultivators, respectively. It was found that energy expenditure of subjects reduced by 28.5% to 37.5% in battery-powered two-wheel weeder as compared to manual weeder. The average body parts discomfort score (BPDS) was 26.54 with shovel type cultivator and 23.35 with a sweep type cultivator. The average twisting velocity, sagittal flexion and maximum lateral velocity of subjects during operation of battery-powered weeder with sweep type and shovel type cultivators were 4.33 to 4.55degrees s-1, 24.47 to 24.97degrees and 65.55 to 67.63 degreess-1. The REBA score indicates need for possible modification in design of handle as per anthropometric dimensions in existing battery powered unit/weeder. The field capacity of the battery-powered two-wheel weeder was 0.0515 and 0.0434 ha h-1 with a shovel type cultivator and sweep type cultivator, respectively