Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati

About: Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati is a education organization based out in Guwahati, Assam, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Catalysis & Computer science. The organization has 6933 authors who have published 17102 publications receiving 257351 citations.

Quantitative prediction of generation of hydroxyl radicals from ozone microbubbles

Abstract: Concentration of hydroxyl radicals generated from ozone microbubbles was determined by using an indirect method over a wide range of pH (i.e. pH 3–10). p-Chlorobenzoic acid (PCBA) was used as the probe compound to calculate the concentration of hydroxyl radicals. A constant, Rct, was defined as the ratio of OH and O3 exposures, which was employed to estimate the concentration of hydroxyl radicals. The effects of pH and carbonate ions on the generation of hydroxyl radicals were studied. It was observed that the O3 exposure and the depletion of PCBA were higher at acidic pH than at the alkaline pH. At acidic pH, C O 3 2 − acted as the ·OH scavenger only, whereas at alkaline pH, it inhibited ozone decomposition. This changed the values of ·OH exposure, O3 exposure, and hence, Rct. The degradation of phenol was performed at pH 3–10 by using ozone microbubbles. The contributions of ·OH and O3 on the oxidation of phenol were calculated. A mechanism of the generation of ·OH from the ozone microbubbles under acidic and alkaline conditions was developed.

Trends and fluctuations of rainfall regime in the Brahmaputra and Barak basins of Assam, India

Abstract: The historical rainfall data of 110 years (1901–2010) of the two neighbouring basins of Brahmaputra and Barak of Assam, Northeast India were analyzed for monthly, seasonal and annual trends. The Mann–Kendall test and Sen’s slope model were used to identify the trends and estimate the magnitude of change, respectively. The analysis revealed significant decreasing trend of rainfall during monsoon and post-monsoon seasons in the Barak basin during 1901–2010. Annual as well as monsoon rainfall during the recent 30-year normal period decreased significantly in both the basins. The last decade (2001–10) was the leanest decade in both the basins. Recent rainfall fluctuations with larger amplitudes indicate greater degree of uncertainties of heavy floods or short spell drought events.

Multi-Targeted Agents in Cancer Cell Chemosensitization: What We Learnt from Curcumin Thus Far.

Abstract: Background Research over the past several years has developed many mono-targeted therapies for the prevention and treatment of cancer, but it still remains one of the fatal diseases in the world killing 8.2 million people annually. It has been well-established that development of chemoresistance in cancer cells against mono-targeted chemotherapeutic agents by modulation of multiple survival pathways is the major cause of failure of cancer chemotherapy. Therefore, inhibition of these pathways by non-toxic multi-targeted agents may have profoundly high potential in preventing drug resistance and sensitizing cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents. Objective To study the potential of curcumin, a multi-targeted natural compound, obtained from the plant Turmeric (Curcuma longa) in combination with standard chemotherapeutic agents to inhibit drug resistance and sensitize cancer cells to these agents based on available literature and patents. Method An extensive literature survey was performed in PubMed and Google for the chemosensitizing potential of curcumin in different cancers published so far and the patents published during 2014-2015. Result Our search resulted in many in vitro, in vivo and clinical reports signifying the chemosensitizing potential of curcumin in diverse cancers. There were 160 in vitro studies, 62 in vivo studies and 5 clinical studies. Moreover, 11 studies reported on hybrid curcumin: the next generation of curcumin based therapeutics. Also, 34 patents on curcumin's biological activity have been retrieved. Conclusion Altogether, the present study reveals the enormous potential of curcumin, a natural, non-toxic, multi-targeted agent in overcoming drug resistance in cancer cells and sensitizing them to chemotherapeutic drugs.