Abstract The effective inhibition of MS corrosion in H2SO4 by CP and CP + KI was assessed by EIS. SM of MS was studied using SEM and AFM. The rise in Rct and decrease in Cdl, with higher C of CP only and CP + KI, confirmed MS CI. IE (%) increased with higher C of CP only and CP + KI (from 10-3 to 10-1 M). CP’s maximum IE (%) was 93.9%, at 10-1 M. CP + KI, due to I- ions synergistic effect, showed an IE (%) of about 98.8% at 10-1 M. CP only and CP + KI adsorption mechanism followed Langmuir’s isotherm. SM studies suggested that a barrier film of CP only and CP + KI, mitigated MS surface corrosion. CP + KI is an efficient inhibitor in H2SO4.

Abstract Acmella uliginosa, an edible herb belonging to Asteraceae family, was collected from the Terai region of Uttarakhand, India. Methanol and hexane extracts of the whole plant were prepared using soxhlet apparatus. The GC-MS analysis of plant extracts identifies 22 and 35 major compounds of methanol and hexane extracts which comprises of 74.21% and 73.20% of the total composition of extracts, respectively. The major compound in hexane was 2, 4-heptadienal (7.99%) whereas trans, trans-9, 12-octadecadienoic acid propyl ester (16.96%) was major compound in methanol extract. The extracts were evaluated for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Methanol extract showed higher free radical scavenging and reducing power activities with IC50 value 153.82±1.69 μg/mL and RP50 value of 152.28±0.41 μg/mL, respectively. The metal chelating activity was higher in hexane extract as compared to methanol extract i.e., 62.08±0.25 μg/mL. The anti-inflammatory activity assessed by its ability to inhibit denaturation was higher in methanol having IB50 value 87.33±0.15 µg/mL. The total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and ortho-dihydric phenol content (ODP) of methanol and hexane extracts were also evaluated. TPC, TFC and ODP was higher in methanol extract having value of 122.23±0.22, 35.01±0.29 and 8±0.86 mg/mL, respectively. Acmella uliginosa, might be considered as a natural source for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

ABSTRACT Collision tumors have been reported in various organs like the gastrointestinal tract, lung, skin, adrenals, central nervous system, lymph nodes, uterus, but are rarely seen in the ovary. Collision tumors are two histologically distinct neoplasms in the same organ without any intermixture between them. Here we present a case of a collision tumor of the ovary represented by a mucinous cystadenoma and teratoma. It is imperative for a surgical pathologist to correctly diagnose the collision tumor components and differentiate them from mixed tumors as it will dictate the appropriate treatment based on the individual biological aggressiveness of each component.

Abstract Introduction Tonsillectomy is one of the most common otolaryngology procedures performed worldwide. It is also one of the first procedures learnt by residents during their training period. Although tonsillectomy is viewedrelatively as a low-risk procedure, it can be potentially harmful because of the chance of posttonsillectomy hemorrhage. Objective The objective of the present study is to analyze the effects of peroperative factors and experience of the surgeon on the incidence and pattern of posttonsillectomy reactionary hemorrhage. Methods A retrospective review of medical charts was performed from 2014 to 2017 in a tertiary care hospital. A total of 1,284 patients who underwent tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy were included in the study. The parameters assessed were experience of the surgeon, operating time, intraoperative blood loss, difference in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and pulse rate. Results A total of 23 (1.79%) out of the 1,284 patients had reactionary hemorrhage. Out of those 23, 16 (69.5%) patients had been operated on by trainees, while 7 (30.5%) had been operated on by consultants (p=0.033, odds ratio [OR]=0.04). Operating time, intraoperative blood loss, difference in MAP and pulse rate were significantly higher in the reactionary hemorrhage group, and showed a positive association with risk of hemorrhage (p<0.05; OR>1). Re-exploration to control the bleeding was required in 10 (76.9%) out of the 23 cases. Conclusion The experience of the surgeon experience and peroperative factors have an association with posttonsillectomy hemorrhage. Close surveillance and monitoring of the aforementioned peroperative factors will help in the identification of patients at risk of hemorrhage.

ABSTRACT Roccella montagnei Bél. belongs to lichen family Roccelleceae growing luxuriantly along the coastal regions of India. As Roccella has been shown to be bioactive, we prepared methanolic extract and assessed its anticancer potential. The methanolic extract showed significant in vitro cytotoxic activity against four human cancer cell lines such as colon (DLD-1, SW-620), breast (MCF-7), head and neck (FaDu). This prompted us to isolate bioactive compounds through column chromatography. Two compounds roccellic acid and everninic acid have been isolated, out of which everninic acid is reported for the first time. Both the compounds have been tested for in vitro cytotoxic activity in which roccellic acid showed strong anticancer activity as compared to the everninic acid. Cyclin Dependent Kinase (CDK-10) contributes to proliferation of cancer cells, and aberrant activity of these kinases has been reported in a wide variety of human cancers. These kinases therefore constitute biomarkers of proliferation and attractive pharmacological targets for development of anticancer therapeutics. Therefore both the isolated compounds were tested for in silico molecular docking study against Cyclin Dependent Kinase isomer enzyme to support the cytotoxic activity.

RESUMO A combinação de antibióticos e nanoparticulas podem ser usadas para tratamento terapêutico de microoganismos multi-resistentes. Nanoparticulas (NPs) tem sido relatada com atividade antimicrobial. A atividade antimicrobial de nanopartículas de ZnO dopadas (ZnO NPs) foram estudas contra fungos, e bactérias gram-postivas e gram-negativas, usando o método de microdiluição. A interação entre as nanoparticulas e antibioticos foi estimada por cálculos de Concentração Inibitória Fracionada (FIC índice) da combinação através do ensaio do Tabuleiro de Xadrez. Os resultados demonstraram que as nanopartículas de Oxido de Zinco dopadas 10% (ZnO NPs) exibem o máximo efeito antimicrobiano em contraste com aquelas carregadas em 1% e as puras ZnO nanoparticulas. O aumento do efeito antimicrobiano foi observado quando combinadas com antibióticos. Efeitos sinérgicos e aditivos foram observados. Não foram observados efeitos de antagonismo. Maior efeito sinérgico foi observado quando combinado com ciprofloxania e ampicilina. Fungos apresentaram somente efeito aditivo. Os resultados estão de acordo com MIC mostrando claramente que agentes com alta dopagem são mais propícios para terapia combinada. 100% de interação sinergística foi observada na maior dopagem com ciprofloxacina e ampicilina. Este estudo fornece um relato preliminar da atividade sinergística de nanopartículas com antibióticos contra diferentes linhagens patogênicas. Isto fornece base para novos estudos em relação a terapia combinada de nanopartículas com antibióticos.

ABSTRACT Combination therapy of antibiotics and nanoparticles can be used against multi drug resistant microorganisms. Nanoparticles (NPs) have been reported to show antimicrobial activity. The antimicrobial activities of doped ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were studied against fungi, gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria using the standard microdilution method. The interaction between the nanoparticle and the antibiotic was estimated by calculating the fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC index) of the combination through checkerboard assay. Experimental results demonstrated that 10% doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) exhibited the maximum antimicrobial effect in contrast with that of the 1% loading and pure ZnO nanoparticles. The enhancement in antimicrobial effect was seen when combined with antibiotic. Synergistic and additive effects were found. No antagonistic effect was found. More synergistic effect was observed when combined with ciprofloxacin than ampicillin. Fungus showed only additive effect. The results are quite in terms with MIC clearly depicting that high doping agent is most suitable for combined therapy. 100% synergistic interaction was observed in higher doping with both ciprofloxacin and ampicillin. This study provides a preliminary report of the synergistic activity of nanoparticles with antibiotics against different pathogenic strains. This provides groundwork for further studies on the combination therapy of nanoparticles with antibiotics.

The present study was carried out to find the effect of fruit harvesting stage (October, November and December) on the physicochemical and antioxidant properties in five kiwi cultivars (Abbot, Bruno, Allison, Hayward, Monty). Results showed that soluble solid content (SSC) and pH increased while ascorbic acid (Vit C), titrated acidity (TAD) and SSC/TAD decreased in all the cultivars with delay in harvesting. Total polyphenols (TP) were decreased while total flavonoids (TF) increased in all tested cultivars with delay in harvesting. The highest concentration of TP (2.02 mg gallic acid equivalent/g fresh weight) and TF (51.12 mg catechin equivalent/100g FW) were found in cultivar 'Allison' in the month of October and December, respectively. Antioxidant activities (AA) were genotype depended and no trend was observed with month of harvesting. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed strong correlation between Vit C, TP and antioxidant activities. Two major clusters were computed using agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC). All the studied important traits may be used in the breeding programmes to increase the variability for different physiochemical and antioxidative characteristics and to make suitable selections that could be acceptable to consumers.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the hepatoprotective potential and invitro cytotoxicity studies of whole plant methanol extract of Rumex vesicarius L. Methanol extract at a dose of 100 mg/kg bw and 200 mg/kg bw were assessed for its hepatoprotective potential against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity by monitoring activity levels of SGOT (Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase), SGPT (Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase), ALP (Alkaline phosphatase), TP (Total protein), TB (Total bilirubin) and SOD (Superoxide dismutase), CAT (Catalase), MDA (Malondialdehyde). The cytotoxicity of the same extract on HepG2 cell lines were also assessed using MTT assay method at the concentration of 62.5, 125, 250, 500 μg/ml. RESULTS: Pretreatment of animals with whole plant methanol extracts of Rumex vesicarius L. significantly reduced the liver damage and the symptoms of liver injury by restoration of architecture of liver. The biochemical parameters in serum also improved in treated groups compared to the control and standard (silymarin) groups. Histopathological investigation further corroborated these biochemical observations. The cytotoxicity results indicated that the plant extract which were inhibitory to the proliferation of HepG2 cell line with IC50 value of 563.33 ± 0.8 Mg/ml were not cytotoxic and appears to be safe. CONCLUSIONS: Rumex vesicarius L. whole plant methanol extract exhibit hepatoprotective activity. However the cytotoxicity in HepG2 is inexplicable and warrants further study.

This paper is devoted to the study of propagation of Rayleigh waves in a homogeneous isotropic microstretch generalized thermoelastic diffusion solid half-space. Secular equations in mathematical conditions for Rayleigh wave propagation are derived for stress free, insulated/impermeable and isothermal/isoconcentrated boundaries. The phase velocity, attenuation coefficient, the components of normal stress, tangential stress, tangential couple stress, microstress, temperature change and mass concentration are computed numerically. The path of surface particles is also obtained for the propagation of Rayleigh waves. The computationally stimulated results for the resulting quantities are represented to show the effect of thermally insulated, impermeable boundaries and isothermal, isoconcentrated boundaries alongwith the relaxation times. Some particular cases have also been deduced from the present investigation.

This paper is concerned with the study of propagation of Stoneley waves at the interface of two dissimilar isotropic microstretch thermoelastic diffusion medium in the context of generalized theories of thermoelasticity. The dispersion equation of Stoneley waves is derived in the form of a determinant by using the boundary conditions. The dispersion curves giving the phase velocity and attenuation coefficients with wave number are computed numerically. Numerically computed results are shown graphically to depict the diffusion effect alongwith the relaxation times in microstretch thermoelastic diffusion solid half spaces for thermally insulated and impermeable boundaries, respectively. The components of displacement, stress, couple stress, microstress, and temperature change are presented graphically for two dissimilar microstretch thermoelastic diffusion half-spaces. Several cases of interest under different conditions are also deduced and discussed.

The problem of reflection and refraction phenomenon due to plane waves incident obliquely at a plane interface between uniform elastic solid half-space and microstretch thermoelastic diffusion solid half-space has been studied. It is found that the amplitude ratios of various reflected and refracted waves are functions of angle of incidence, frequency of incident wave and are influenced by the microstretch thermoelastic diffusion properties of the media. The expressions of amplitude ratios and energy ratios are obtained in closed form. The energy ratios have been computed numerically for a particular model. The variations of energy ratios with angle of incidence are shown for thermoelastic diffusion media in the context of Lord-Shulman (L-S) (1967) and Green-Lindsay (G-L) (1972) theories. The conservation of energy at the interface is verified. Some particular cases are also deduced from the present investigation.

Aspergillus niger F7 isolated from soil was found to be the potent producer of cellulase and xylanase. The residue of forest species Toona ciliata, Celtris australis, Cedrus deodara and Pinus roxburghii was selected as substrate for biodegradation study due to its easy availability and wide use in industry. It was subjected to alkali (sodium hydroxide) treatment for enhancing its degradation. Biodegradation of forest waste by hydrolytic enzymes (cellulase and xylanase) secreted by A. niger under solid state fermentation (SSF) was explored. SSF of pretreated forest biomass was found to be superior over untreated forest biomass. Highest extracellular enzyme activity of 2201±23.91 U/g by A. niger was shown in pretreated C. australis wood resulting in 6.72±0.20 percent hydrolysis and 6.99±0.23 biodegradation index (BI). The lowest BI of 1.40±0.08 was observed in untreated saw dust of C. deodara having the least enzyme activity of 238±1.36 U/g of dry matter. Biodegradation of forest biomass under SSF was increased many folds when moistening agent i.e. tap water had been replaced with modified basal salt media (BSM). In BSM mediated degradation of forest waste with A. niger, extracellular enzyme activity was increased up to 4089±67.11 U/g of dry matter in turn resulting in higher BI of 15.4±0.41 and percent hydrolysis of 19.38±0.81 in pretreated C. australis wood. A. niger exhibited higher enzyme activity on pretreated biomass when moistened with modified BSM in this study. Statistically a positive correlation has been drawn between these three factors i.e. enzyme activity, BI and percent hydrolysis of forest biomass thus proving their direct relationship with each other.

The lac insects (Homoptera: Tachardiidae), belonging to the genus Kerria, are commercially exploited for the production of lac. Kerria lacca is the most commonly used species in India. RAPD markers were used for assessing genetic variation in forty-eight lines of Kerria, especially among geographic races, infrasubspecific forms, cultivated lines, inbred lines, etc., of K. lacca. In the 48 lines studied, the 26 RAPD primers generated 173 loci, showing 97.7% polymorphism. By using neighbor-joining, the dendrogram generated from the similarity matrix resolved the lines into basically two clusters and outgroups. The major cluster, comprising 32 lines, included mainly cultivated lines of the rangeeni form, geographic races and inbred lines of K. lacca. The second cluster consisted of eight lines of K. lacca, seven of the kusmi form and one of the rangeeni from the southern state of Karnataka. The remaining eight lines formed a series of outgroups, this including a group of three yellow mutant lines of K. lacca and other species of the Kerria studied, among others. Color mutants always showed distinctive banding patterns compared to their wild-type counterparts from the same population. This study also adds support to the current status of kusmi and rangeeni, as infraspecific forms of K. lacca.

Synthesis of 2-amino-5-substituted-1,3,4-oxadiazoles through the electrochemical oxidation of semicarbazone was carried out at platinum anode at room temperature under controlled potential electrolysis in an undivided cell assembly. The electrolysis were carried out in the non aqueous medium acetic acid and lithium perchlorate was used as a supporting electrolyte. The antimicrobial activities of the compounds have been studied by screening the compounds against two gram negative organisms Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and two gram positive organisms Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus aureus and antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger and Crysosporium pannical and results have been compared with the standard antibacterial Streptomycin and antifungal Griseofulvin.