Showing papers by "Serampore College published in 2017"

In vitro anti-diabetic and anti-oxidant activities of ethanol extract of tinospora sinensis

Abstract: Objective : The aim of the present study was to evaluate the alpha (α)-amylase and alpha (α)-glucosidase inhibitory activities and in vitro antioxidant activities of the 80 % aqueous ethanol extracts of Tinosporasinensis Lour (Merr.). Methods : The 80% aq. ethanol extract of the plant was prepared. The plant extract was examined for its antioxidant activity by using free radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging method, ABTS radical scavenging ability, reducing power capacity, estimation of total phenolic content, flavonoid content and flavonol content. Different concentrations (2, 4, 8,10and 15 μg/ml) of the extract was subjected to α-amylase inhibitory and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities and IC 50 were calculated. Results: The study revealed that the different concentrations of the plant extract possessed a very good amount of total phenolics, flavonoid and flavonol and exhibited potent radical scavenging activity using DPPH and ABTS as a substrate. The ethanol extracts exhibited significant α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities with an IC 50 value1.093µg and 1.04µg dry extract respectively and well compared with standard acarbose drug. Conclusion: Thus, it could be concluded that due to the presence of antioxidant components the plant extracts could be used for the treatment of hyperglycemia, diabetes and the related condition of oxidative stress. This knowledge will be useful in finding more potent components from the natural resources for the clinical development of antidiabetic therapeutics.

Continuously Varying Critical Exponents Beyond Weak Universality

Abstract: Renormalization group theory does not restrict the form of continuous variation of critical exponents which occurs in presence of a marginal operator. However, the continuous variation of critical exponents, observed in different contexts, usually follows a weak universality scenario where some of the exponents (e.g., β, γ, ν) vary keeping others (e.g., δ, η) fixed. Here we report ferromagnetic phase transition in (Sm1−yNdy)0.52Sr0.48MnO3 (0.5 ≤ y ≤ 1) single crystals where all three exponents β, γ, δ vary with Nd concentration y. Such a variation clearly violates both universality and weak universality hypothesis. We propose a new scaling theory that explains the present experimental results, reduces to the weak universality as a special case, and provides a generic route leading to continuous variation of critical exponents and multi-criticality.

Water wave scattering by a pair of thin vertical barriers with submerged gaps

Abstract: The scattering of obliquely incident water waves by two thin vertical barriers with gaps at different depths has been studied assuming linear theory. Using Havelock’s expansion of water wave potential, the problem is reduced to two pairs of integral equations of the first kind, one pair involving a horizontal component of velocity across the gaps and the other pair involving the difference of potentials across each wall. These two pairs of integral equations can be solved approximately by employing a Galerkin single-term approximation technique to obtain numerical estimates for the reflection and transmission coefficients. These estimates for the reflection and transmission coefficients thus obtained are seen to satisfy the energy identity. The reflection coefficient is plotted against wave number in a number of figures for different values of various parameters involved in the problem. It is observed that the reflection coefficient vanishes at discrete frequencies when the vertical barriers are identical. For nonidentical vertical barriers the reflection coefficient never vanishes, though at some wave number it becomes close to zero. The results for a single barrier and fully submerged two barriers, and for a single barrier with a narrow gap, are also recovered as special cases.

Simulated annealing‐based optimal control over tunneling process through SDWP and Eckart barrier: A momentum basis representation

Abstract: For a reaction to proceed via tunneling mechanism, it is essential that the reactants will cross the potential barrier (EP), where its initial energy (E0) is below the potential barrier EP. Tunneling probability τ is defined as the probability of having momentum higher than km, where km=(2mEP). In the momentum basis representation, τ can be directly calculated by integrating |ψ(k)|2 from the limit km to infinity, where ψ(k) is the wave function in the momentum space. Instead of the continuous basis, if we chose momentum grid space, τ can be expressed as τ=∑ki=km∞|ψ(ki)|2. Our target here is to increase this τ by applying a polychromatic field, so that the reaction rate can be enhanced. By applying Simulated Annealing technique we have designed some polychromatic electric fields, spatially symmetric and asymmetric type, which enhances the tunneling rate in symmetric double well system and Eckart barrier confined in an infinite well.

Endophytic bacteria with plant growth promoting abilities from Ophioglossum reticulatum L.

Abstract: Endophytic bacteria colonizing the internal tissues of plants are known to improve plant growth by a wide variety of mechanisms. This study envisages the isolation and evaluation of plant growth promoting attributes of bacterial endophytes in perennial fern Ophioglossum reticulatum L. A total of 20 phenotypically distinguishable bacterial endophytes were isolated from surface sterilized leaf lamina, petiole, rhizome and spike of O. reticulatum L. The Shannon-Weaver diversity index showed that the rhizome (1.54) harbor more diverse types of endophytic bacteria than in its petiole, leaf lamina and spike. The isolated endophytes were characterized on the basis of micromorphological and physio-biochemical characters and tentatively assigned to the genus Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus. The isolates showed distinct variations in their enzymatic activities, sugar fermentation and antibiotic sensitivity profile. A number of endophytic isolates showed plant growth promoting activities like production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and siderophore, growth in nitrogen-free medium and solubilization of phosphate. Time course of growth and IAA production by the potent isolate Bacillus OPR 7 have been determined. Exploitation of such plant growth promoting endophytes appears to be one of the best options in increasing biomass yield and improving plant fitness and productivity.

Production of biopolyester poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) by Bacillus cereus RCL 02, a leaf endophyte of Ricinus communis L.

Abstract: Endophytic bacteria colonizing the internal tissues of plants have attracted the attention of scientific communities in recent years for production of biodegradable polyesters like polyhydroxyalkanotaes (PHAs). A newly characterized bacterium, Bacillus cereus RCL 02 (GenBank accession no. KX458035 ), isolated from surface sterilized leaves of Ricinus communis L. has been explored for the production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)], the most common PHA. As revealed by scanning electron microscopy, P(3HB) accumulating cells developed swellings or blebs and released the native granules as a function of autolysis. During growth in glucose containing mineral salts medium under batch fermentation, the isolate produced P(3HB) accounting 68% of its cell dry weight (CDW). Glucose and yeast extract when used in the ratio of 5:1, significantly influenced intracellular biopolyester accumulation (72.2%, CDW and 2.54 g/L). A further increase of polymer production (81%, CDW and 3.17 g/L) was accomplished in presence of 1.5 mM manganese as exogenous metal stress. Moreover, supplementation of the growth medium with non-conventional carbon sources especially refined sugarcane molasses further enhanced the production of both biomass (9.44 g/L) as well as polyester (83.6%, CDW and 7.89 g/L). These finding emphasises exploration of endophytic bacteria of oleaginous plants in general and R. communis L. in particular as potential but hitherto an under exploited bioresource for commercial production of biodegradable polyesters.

Industrial Development of Port Towns in India

Abstract: Ports have played an important role in the historical study of colonial trade and urbanisation of India. They had always been the poles of international trade and commerce since earlier times. Hence, they were the active agents in the development of the port towns since colonial times. But, the situation had changed in the post-independence period with the gradual changing importance of the ports and port towns in international trade. Not only that, apart from ports, several other factors such as the growing importance of land-based transport system, growth of regional infrastructure, industries within the interior of the country, several push and pull factors of the area such as the higher education, banks, business, job opportunities, recreational facilities etc., population pressure, regional linkages, socio-economic conditions have influenced the growth and development of these port towns. Together with these, the shifts and changes have also occurred in the "functions" of these ports and port towns, in response to the national policy changes during the planning decades in the spheres of industry and trade in favour of 'inward looking strategy' of industrialisation through import substitution and export promotion strategies. All these have changed the occupational structure of these port towns from primary sector of occupations to that of secondary and tertiary sectors, thereby, causing drastically a change in the economic activities of these port towns. This paper also attempts a comparative study between port towns of the western and eastern coasts of India in this respect.

Social Exclusion and Intolerance towards Persons with Mental Illness: Challenge to Mental Health Care and Social Integration

Abstract: Background: Social exclusion and intolerance towards people with mental health problems have been seen across the globe and India is not an exception. Their experiences of social exclusion and intolerance include deprivation of chance to participate in social activities and being affected in multiple ways, such as having a low income, poor housing and being socially isolated. Sometimes it also includes severe humiliation and abuse. Ignorance, prejudice and negative public attitudes towards people with mental illness lead to a cycle of distancing and disadvantage which is the biggest challenge to mental health care and social integration of people with mental health problems. Purpose: To illustrate social exclusion and intolerance towards people with mental health problems which got comparatively little attention in empirical research particularly in the eastern region of the country. The study also demonstrates the feasibility of social case work intervention in such cases. Methodology: The study is based on single subject research design. The case presented here of a middle aged woman who was very much endearing and helpful to everyone around her in the rural community later got a mental illness. Through an in depth case study using face to face interview with her and her family members, a psychosocial formulation was made and a social case work intervention was accomplished associated issues were also discussed. Implications: The study enhanced the understanding on the issue and demonstrated social case work intervention is a good choice for intervening social exclusion. This has an important implication on the lack of awareness about psychosocial intervention and its possible benefit among all the stakeholders of mental health care? This is the biggest challenge to mental health care and social integration of people with mental health problems. Results: Findings of the study illustrate the nature and extent of social exclusion and intolerance of the society towards a person with mental illness which includes sever humiliation and abuse. The role of the family was initially indifferent which was realigned and utilized in intervention which reflected as significant improvement in understanding and awareness about the illness and problem related to that in the family, which ultimately prevented the social execution and enhanced quality of life of the person affected. Limitations: The Single case has its own limitations. Keywords: Social exclusion, intolerance, mental illness, stigma, discrimination, psychosocial intervention