Salacia chinensis L. has various beneficial properties including antidiabetic and antioxidant activity. The S. chinensis fruit pulp (SCFP) was extracted with four different solvents (Methanol, ...ethanol, acetone and water) and was screened for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and antioxidant activity (AOA). The AOA was assessed by evaluating the 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and metal chelating assay. Methanolic SCFP extract exhibited the highest phenolic content (3.20 ± 0.12 mg GAE/g FW) whereas, ethanolic extract showed highest flavonoid content (0.31 ± 0.68 mg RE/g FW). The methanolic extract possesses highest antioxidant activity towards DPPH (92.44 %), FRAP (1.939 O.D) and metal chelating activity (74.16 %). AOA (DPPH and FRAP) was significantly correlated with TPC. The results indicated that SCFP is a good natural source of antioxidant compounds for use in food and pharmaceutical industry.
Different approaches to synthesis of Li
2
FeSiO
4
-based electrode materials for lithium intercalation, using low-cost and abundant Li-, Si-, and Fe-containing parent substances, are discussed. XRD, ...SEM, and a laser-diffraction analyzer of particle size were used for structure and morphology characterization of the composite electrode materials. Li
2
FeSiO
4
was shown to be the main lithium-accumulating crystalline phase; minor LiFeO
2
and Li
2
SiO
3
admixtures are also present. The material microparticles’ average size was shown to vary from tenths of micrometer to 1 μm. Larger objects sized ca. 2–4 μm are the microparticles’ agglomerates. The material electrochemical properties were studied by dc chronopotentiometry (galvanostatic charging–discharging) and cyclic voltammetry with potential linear sweeping. The initial reversible cycled capacity of the best samples is 170 mA h/g. The anodic and cathodic processes manifest obvious hysteresis caused by the presence of several different lithium ion energy states in the material; the transition between the states is kinetically hindered. The dependences of the specific capacity and its stability under cycling on the current load and the conductive carbon component content in the composite were elucidated.
This work describes the transport and capture processes of electrons and holes in ultrapure germanium
〈
100
〉
at low temperature and low electric field. Dynamic space-charge effects are responsible ...for the most significant systematics of the Cryogenic Dark Matter Search. To understand the relationship of transport dynamics to space charge evolution, it is important that we understand charge carrier transport under these nonequilibrium operating conditions. Here, we present measured data and a consistent model of electron and hole dynamics and capture. A charged and a neutral capture probability for both electrons and holes appears to explain the multiple, field-dependent power laws observed in data. This offers a quantitative understanding why germanium crystals operating under these conditions should “neutralize” when grounded, but accrue space charge while under bias.
The Indian Society of Gastroenterology developed this evidence-based practice guideline for management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in adults. A modified Delphi process was used to ...develop this consensus containing 58 statements, which were generated by electronic voting iteration as well as face-to-face meeting and review of the supporting literature primarily from India. These statements include 10 on epidemiology, 8 on clinical presentation, 10 on investigations, 23 on treatment (including medical, endoscopic, and surgical modalities), and 7 on complications of GERD. When the proportion of those who voted either to accept completely or with minor reservation was 80% or higher, the statement was regarded as accepted. The prevalence of GERD in India ranges from 7.6% to 30%, being < 10% in most population studies, and higher in cohort studies. The dietary factors associated with GERD include use of spices and non-vegetarian food.
Helicobacter pylori
is thought to have a negative relation with GERD;
H. pylori
negative patients have higher grade of symptoms of GERD and esophagitis. Less than 10% of GERD patients in India have erosive esophagitis. In patients with occasional or mild symptoms, antacids and histamine H
2
receptor blockers (H2RAs) may be used, and proton pump inhibitors (PPI) should be used in patients with frequent or severe symptoms. Prokinetics have limited proven role in management of GERD.
Topiramate is an oral sulfamate medication used primarily for epilepsy and migraine. The tolerability profile with its lack of significant metabolic side effects makes it a favorable drug for ...patients with comorbid lifestyle illnesses. Topiramate-induced angle closure is an idiosyncratic reaction and can occur in otherwise normal eyes with normal anterior chamber angles. Ocular examination before starting topiramate cannot identify eyes at risk. Prompt cessation of therapy alone can result in rapid resolution of most of these adverse effects, whereas failure to recognize can lead to permanent visual problems. The internists should be aware of the documented side effects of topiramate, particularly when presented with simultaneous bilateral acute angle-closure glaucoma. Neurologists initiating therapy with topiramate should also educate the patients of its potential side effects and importance of reporting back immediately in case of any visual disturbance. Prompt cessation of topiramate is the mainstay of treatment. Supportive treatment in the form of oral and topical antiglaucoma drugs to reduce the intraocular pressure (IOP), topical steroids to bring down the inflammation, and topical cycloplegics to retract the ciliary processes thus bringing down the IOP has been recommended, but a few would warrant laser iridotomy or surgical iridectomy. We report a case of topiramate-induced angle closure glaucoma in a young female being managed as a case of chronic migraine, highlighting the importance of increasing the awareness of this rare, idiosyncratic adverse effect of topiramate and the need for timely intervention to avoid irreversible visual loss.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
It is a well-known fact, that worldwide thousands of plant species are endangered and facing extinction with the current trend of their exploitation and destruction super(1,2). In recent years, there ...is a growing awareness concerning the impact of temperature rise, industrialization, desertification and shift in the growing seasons of plants, loss of pollinators, seed dispersers and increasing frequency of intense weather events such as drought, storms and floods making several valuable plants extinct super(3,4). According to the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN), it is estimated that the current species extinction rate is between 1000 and 10,000 times higher than it would naturally be. It is acknowledged that the future survival of humanity depends on the conservation and protection of natural wealth, and destruction of a species or a genetic line symbolizes the loss of a unique resource. This type of genetic and environmental impoverishment is irreversible. Changes in the structure in the multiplicity of resources lessen the society's scope to respond to new problems and opportunities, and there is the danger of new plant diseases or pests, climatic change due to the greenhouse effect and other setbacks. To overcome these hurdles, there is a need of coordinated efforts of scientists, government departments and nongovernmental organizations to undertake effective measures for conservation of plants (Figure 1). Methods to support conservation consisting of education, providing enticements and adding capacity building need to be adopted at the earliest. To avoid the loss of biodiversity the government authorities have formulated stringent rules to safeguard and protect the existing biodiversity, ensuing protection of the present natural assets. This guided enactment of the Biological Diversity Act for India controls access to all genetic resources of the country and includes provision for equitable profit-sharing. The detailed specific rules are available on the webpage of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, and the National Biodiversity Authority, a statutory and regulatory body established under Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (www.nbaindia.org). IUCN and other organizations undertake wide ranging research projects on the status of biodiversity to protect specific species, manage and restore national parks, botanical gardens super(5) and other protected areas, and promote the sustainable uses of natural resources super(6,7). The modus operandi of biodiversity conservation, however, has to be implemented considering not only protection of any plant life in its natural status but its further multiplication and subsequent plantation followed by utilization which have other economic reflections super(8). Considering the new concept of bio-power applied to numerous crops, fruit and plantation crops as well as forest trees, saving of endangered plants has to focus on their further utility, if any, for various benefits to civilization. In this context, the role of a botanist assumes prime significance to undertake a particular project on threatened plants. The tasks of a botanist can be broadly divided as: (i) Identification and characterization of an endangered plant, (ii) Study of taxonomy, ecology and physiology, (iii) To understand the reasons for a particular plant becoming endangered, (iv) Propagation of the plant under controlled environment followed by in situ and ex situ conservation, (v) To create a self-sustainable population of threatened species in their natural habitat, (vi) Compilation of database and documentation of all threatened plants, (vii) To explore the utility of an endangered plant, if any, for basic as well as commercial applicability, (viii) Use of molecular markers and molecular diagnostic tools to give valuable support for the rapid and accurate identification of plant species through DNA bar-coding super(9).
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
BFBNIB, DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The lantern flowers (genus: Ceropegia L. — Apocynaceae) are among the most fascinating group of flowering plants which comprises of over 200 species of herbs and climbers. Although most of the ...species have appreciable importance as a source of edible tubers, ornamental flowers and implications in folk medicine, the conventional propagation techniques limit the mass propagation and their commercialization. Plant tissue culture and other biotechnological tools proved their importance in breeding and large-scale propagation of lantern flowers. In recent past, numerous in vitro regeneration approaches for micropropagation and conservation have been established for lantern flowers. Molecular markers represent powerful tools for constructing phylogenetics, taxonomic confirmations and reconsiderations of lantern flowers. Moreover, molecular markers are routinely used for ascertaining genetic integrity among the micropropagated clones of lantern flowers. This review provides comprehensive information on the biotechnological interventions for propagation, conservation, and improvement of lantern flowers. Protocols for various in vitro regeneration approaches, genetic composition, genetic fidelity analysis and in vitro secondary metabolite production are compared and optimized results are highlighted.
•Over 200 species in the genus Ceropegia that are commonly called lantern flowers.•Most of species have medicinal and ornamental implications.•Up-to-date literature on plant tissue culture, molecular analysis and secondary metabolites of lantern flowers is provided.•Different in vitro approaches for propagation, conservation and improvement have been reviewed and compared.
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