Showing papers by "Ranjan K. Singh published in 2022"

Effect of f–d and d–d Interactions on Dielectric and Optical Properties of Pyrochlore Eu2−xFexTi2O7

Abstract: X‐ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, dielectric property, and UV–vis spectroscopy studies of pyrochlore Eu2−xFexTi2O7 have been performed. The X‐ray pattern shows that Eu2−xFexTi2O7 has a pure pyrochlore phase up to x = 0.2. The structural analysis shows a strong distortion of TiO6 octahedral due to the presence of the interstitial anionic vacant site. A significantly increased band intensity of FTIR spectrum with Fe doping suggests the enhanced anionic disorder in the system. The broadening of Raman peaks with increasing x supports the increased disorder in TiO6 octahedral. Dielectric study of Eu2Ti2O7 shows a diffused dielectric transition below 150 K. The dielectric diffusiveness and transition temperature get enhanced with Fe doping due to enhanced anionic distortion. The dielectric constant of Eu2−xFexTi2O7 is also increased on Fe doping. The UV–vis spectrum exhibits a strong absorbance in the UV region and a redshift with Fe doping. The Tauc plot of UV–vis spectrum shows multiple successive valence band edges and the bandgap gets reduced with Fe doping due to the formation of new interbands. Thus, these materials are interesting for people searching for material to be used in tunable electrical and optical devices.

Adapting to Social–Ecological Risks to the Conservation of a Muskmelon Landrace in India

Abstract: Crop landraces are vanishing alarmingly worldwide, posing serious risks to the livelihoods of the resource-poor farmers; this study, conducted using ‘vulnerability’ and ‘resilience theory’ frameworks, sought to delineate social–ecological, climatic and policy hindrances to the conservation of a muskmelon landrace ‘Jaunpuri Netted’ traditionally grown in eastern Uttar Pradesh, India. Our results showed that the blue bull menace, market constraints and erratic rainfall have gradually emerged as severe stresses to the conservation of this muskmelon landrace. Yet, a set of enablers including relative ease in crop management, pleasant fruit taste, perceived livelihood opportunities and the cultural legacy seem to offset these stresses, at least partly, keeping the farmers engaged in muskmelon cultivation. The Tobid regression analysis revealed that educated farmers with large landholdings were likely to grow muskmelon on relatively small acreages, and that market constraints, blue bull menace and erratic rainfall are the major future risks to the muskmelon-based livelihoods. A growing obsession with higher fruit yields has led to the virtual eclipse of traditional crop management practices, further enhancing the vulnerability of muskmelon growers. Addressing these challenges requires some major changes to the ways in which the muskmelon crop is managed and traded. While muskmelon growers need to revisit the present chemical-intensive practices, adequate research and policy support remain requisite to unveiling the unique nutraceutical properties of this muskmelon landrace, promoting organic farming, reviving seed-based business opportunities, and creating strong market linkages to enhance the livelihood resilience of the muskmelon growers.

Changing Consumption Patterns of Bamboo shoots: A Case Study of Traditional Food-Related Knowledge Systems

Abstract: Bamboo shoots form an integral part of the local diet of the Northeastern states of India. Fermented shoots have been consumed by tribal communities since ancient times. However, with increasing globalization and fast-food consumption, the traditional knowledge and skills of processing bamboo shoots seem to be changing. This paper highlights the changes in processing ways over the years in the younger generation. Data were collected using an unstructured interview schedule and observation through home visits from Adi women of four villages namely Balek, Sibut, Runne, and Mirbuk in Pasighat Block of Arunachal Pradesh. It was observed that some newer practices of processing bamboo shoots had been adopted while ignoring the traditional practices which emphasized eliminating toxicity in bamboo shoots.

Comparative Analysis Of Chemical Constituent And Antimicrobial Potential Of Acorus Calamus Linn (Sweet Flag) In The Different Geographical Regions Of North Himalayas

Abstract: Sweet flag ( Acorus calamus ) is a well-known plant all over the world due to its specific bioactive components β- asarone in plants. The present study reports the quantitative estimation of rhizome oil of the sweet flag plant; obtain from the various district of Uttarakhand, and different geographical surroundings. GC-MS is used to estimate the quantity of rhizome oil. Although leaves are enriched by the several medicinal constituents revealed by the previous studies, rhizome, and the oil it is being investigated. The main component which was identified was Cis-ocimene, Linalool, Trans methyl isoeugenol, β and α-asarone, and euasarone. β-asarone in the different samples; showed a higher percentage as compared to another component. It was observed that the Gopeshwar region sample had the 74.36 least percentage and the Pauri sample had the 92.22 highest percentage of β-Asarone. Meanwhile, the Gopeshwar region sample had 17.25 highest percentage, and the Pauri sample had 1.57 least percentage of α-Asarone. Fungal infection is prevalent nowadays. The oil from all regions subjected to antifungal activity against the Aspirigilla fumigates, A. Parasiticus, Microsporum Canis, M. gypsum, Cladosporium, Aspergillus niger. The inhibition zone diameter (IZD) against Aspirigilla fumigates , A. parasiticus and was a maximum of 10cm for the Gopeshwar sample,9cm for the Ramnagar sample as compared to the reference drug gentamicin.

Lymphocutaneous Nocardiosis in a Patient With Human Immunodeficiency/Tuberculosis Coinfection

Abstract: Nocardia spp. are Gram-positive bacteria, which are acid-fast as well. Nocardiosis is characterized by abscess formation anywhere in the body, especially in the lungs, brain, and skin. The disease manifests as pulmonary disease, brain abscess, or disseminated lesions in immunocompromised individuals. However, skin involvement in the form of lymphocutaneous abscess is found in immunocompetent individuals. Nocardia spp. appear as thin, branched filaments in fine needle aspirate under the microscope. Diagnosis of the nocardiosis is done by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and identification through matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry from aspirated materials. Our case is lymphocutaneous nocardiosis in a patient having human immunodeficiency (HIV)/tuberculosis coinfection.

A Case of Anaemia With High-Grade Splenomegaly

Abstract: In tropical areas, there are a variety of parasitic and nonparasitic causes of high-grade splenomegaly. An adolescent male patient with haemoglobin E/β-thalassaemia came with high-grade splenomegaly and severe anaemia, requiring blood transfusions on a regular basis. Treatment with folic acid and antioxidant vitamins reduced the requirement for blood transfusions, brought haemoglobin levels back to near normal, and reduced splenic enlargement. Haemoglobin E/β-thalassaemia is a haematological condition that causes anaemia and high-grade splenomegaly in the tropics. Initially, the disease was only seen in Southeast Asia, but it has since spread around the world due to migration from that region.

Study on Gain in Knowledge through Different Combination of Teaching Methods and their Association with Selected Socio-economic Factors

Abstract: The present study was conducted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Chatra for two years i.e. 2018-19& 2019-20 to find out the effectiveness of the different combinations of teaching tools on knowledge gain by vegetable growers farmers of the district. Farmers trained through a combination of teaching method i.e. group meeting + lecture + exposure visit (TO3) gained higher level of knowledge score (70%) followed by a medium level of knowledge score (30%).Positive and significant relationship had been observed between the knowledge gain and annual income of the respondent's group who received training through group meeting + lecture + exposure visit.Respondent education and gain in knowledge by lecture method, lecture + exposure visit, and group meeting + lecture + exposure visit had positive and significant association.

Leprosy and HIV can cause recurrent facial palsy

Abstract: Ranjan Kumar Singh chief medical officer cum superintendent Thirupathirajan and Thinakararajan discuss the differential diagnosis of recurrent facial palsy.1 A few important differentials, such as those between leprosy and HIV, are left out. Leprosy, especially tuberculoid type, is an important contributor to bilateral and occasionally unilateral lowermotorneurone type facial palsy. Thediagnosis ismainly clinical anddetectionofPGL-1 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is used as serological diagnosis of leprosy, although it is positive in 60% of tuberculoid leprosy cases.2 3 HIV serology should be performed to rule out HIV infection. HIV infection can cause facial palsy at any stage.4 -6

Reduction of carbon rate in blast furnace by using catalyst doped nut coke

Abstract: The gasification characteristics of metallurgical coke plays an important role in controlling the thermal balance of blast furnace. In this work, the gasification reaction kinetics of nut coke was enhanced using catalytic materials to improve the reaction efficiency of blast furnace. The starting temperature of nut coke gasification was reduced by 100 °C using the solid waste materials (lime fines and iron oxide dust) that are generated internally from an integrated steel plant. Analysis of catalyst doped nut coke showed that the coke reactivity index (CRI) improved by 5–6 points over the normal nut coke. The catalyst doping facility with catalyst slurry preparation tank, slurry transfer pump, basket filter and spray header fitted with nozzles was developed to produce the catalyst doped nut coke on large scale. The plant trial was conducted in a commercial blast furnace for a month-long duration by replacing the normal nut coke with catalyst doped nut coke. As a result, the reduction of 4 kg carbon rate per ton of hot metal production was achieved through this methodology. Also, slight improvement was observed in the gas utilization efficiency of blast furnace when catalyst doped nut coke was used.

Multifocal Tuberculosis

Abstract: This is Letter to the Editor

Assessment of solution stability and drug release properties of liposomal curcumin in peritoneal dialysis fluid and its synergistic antibacterial activity with Vancomycin

Abstract: Infectious Peritonitis associated with recurrent and persistent infections is the major cause of technique failure of life-sustaining peritoneal dialysis (PD) therapy used for treating patients with end-stage renal failure (ESRF). The infections -if diagnosed timely- are usually resolved with empiric antibiotic treatment. However, the treatment of infections associated with drug resistant bacteria or fungal infections remains challenging, poses a very serious problem to the health of PD patients, and is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity. Therefore, the development of alternate approaches other than antibiotics are required to keep up with the constantly changing and increasing multiple drug resistance (MDR) of bacterial strains. Curcumin exhibits anti-oxidative/anti-inflammatory potential and remarkable wound healing properties. It also has broad-spectrum anti-bacterial/anti-biofilm effects and its synergistic antibacterial activity with several antibiotics (including those used clinically for the treatment of PD associated infections) is well proven against variety of pathogenic infections including MDR strains. However, poor water-solubility of curcumin (<0.125 mg/L) remains a major barrier to achieve desirable bioavailability and further limit its therapeutic efficacy. Among the various drug carrier strategies, liposomal encapsulation has been found to be most promising mode to remarkably enhance the therapeutic index of curcumin by facilitating its gastric absorption, protecting its enzymatic degradation and allowing its slow release over time for maximum benefits. However, to date, the potential of liposomal curcumin has not been explored for the treatment of PD associated infections. Starting our efforts in this direction, a comprehensive assessment of solution stability and drug release properties of curcumin-loaded liposomal vesicles has been demonstrated in peritoneal dialysis fluid. The results clearly indicated an excellent solution stability of curcumin loaded inside liposome and the formulation affirms the regulated curcumin release enhancing the bioavailability. Further, we evaluated the synergistic antibacterial efficacy of curcumin-loaded liposomal formulation with vancomycin against the Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli – pathogens (known for causing intra-peritoneal infections during PD). This synergy strategy resulted in outstandingly improvement in bacterial inhibition efficacy of liposomal curcumin at significantly lowered doses. The results of the present study propose lipocurcumin as a potent antibiotic additive to vancomycin to cure PD-infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.