Coarse Powder Research Articles

EVALUATION OF PHYTOCHEMICALS AND NEUROLEPTIC POTENTIAL OF LEAVES EXTRACT OF ADENIUM OBESUM

The term psychosis refers to illnesses that impair the mind and cause a loss of touch with reality. The present research focuses on screening of phytochemicals and neuroleptic potential of leaves extract of Adenium Obesum in animal models. Leaves of Adenium obesum were obtained from the Saharanpur, UP region and these were identified and authenticated by a botanist at BSI, (Prayagraj) Allahabad. The leaves were washed making dust-free and dried at room temperature or shade. The dried leaves were rendered into coarse powders and then finally into fine ones. The powder was weighed and soaked into hydroalcoholic solution consisting ethanol+ distilled water (1:1) for fifteen days with gradual stirrings. A rotating evaporator is used to dry the brownish until a semisolid extract was obtained. Animal House, Department of Pharmacy, Glocal University Saharanpur (UP) was provided Wistar rats of either sex weighing 130–160g. Animals were divided in 4 groups (n=6) i.e., group1 administered only normal saline daily for 21 days, group 2 administered pregabalin (10mg/kg) orally, for 21 days, group 3 administered hydroalcoholic leaves extract of Adenium obesum (HLAO) at dose of 200mg/kg orally, for 21 days and group 4 administered hydroalcoholic leaves extract of Adenium obesum (HLAO) at dose of 400mg/kg orally up to 21 days. Screening of phytochemicals and then neuroleptic activity of Adenium Obesum by screening models i.e., Apomorphine-induced stereotypy, Haloperidol-induced catalepsy and Climbing behavior test was evaluated. In results, Adenium obesum has prominent neuroprotective effect at lower and higher doses (200mg/kg & 400mg/kg). But response was based on dose levels. It exhibited a significant neuroprotective behavior it might be due to better release of constituents from the leaves of Adenium obesum plant. In conclusion, Adenium obesum has potential neuroprotective behaviour at the all the doses used but highest was observed at higher dose of ethanolic extract that might be due to better solubility and constituents release from the A. obesum leaves in extraction. Future research suggests, to identify and isolate the responsible element for the pharmacological potential and make the suitable dosage form.

Photocurable High-Energy Polymer-Based Materials for 3D Printing

Digital light processing (DLP) or stereolithography is the most promising method of additive manufacturing (3D printing) of products based on high-energy materials due to, first of all, the absence of a high-temperature impact on the material. This paper presents research results of an ultraviolet (UV)-cured urethane methacrylate polymer containing 70 wt.% of high-energy solid powder based on ammonium salts, which is intended for digital light processing. Polymerization of the initial slurry is studied herein. It is shown that the addition of coarse powder transparency for the UV radiation to resin increases its curing depth. The thickness of the layer, which can polymerize, varies from 600 µm to 2 mm when the light power density ranges from 20 to 400 mJ/cm2, respectively. In DLP-based 3D printing, the obtained material density is 92% of the full density, while the compressive strength is 29 ± 3 MPa, and the ultimate tensile strength is 13 ± 1.3 MPa. The thermogravimetric analysis shows the decrease in the thermal decomposition temperature of UV-cured resin with high-energy additives compared to the thermal decomposition temperatures of the initial components separately. Thermal decomposition is accompanied by intensive heat generation. The burning rate of obtained samples grows from 0.74 to 3.68 mm/s, respectively, at the pressure growth from 0.1 to 4 MPa. Based on the results, it can be concluded that DLP-based 3D printing with the proposed UV photocurable resin is rather promising for the fabrication of multicomponent high-energy systems and complex profile parts produced therefrom.

Formulation and Assessment of a Ricinus communis Leaf Extract-Based Shampoo for the Treatment of Tinea capitis

Tinea capitis, a dermatophytic fungal infection affecting the scalp, represents a significant global public health concern, with particular prominence in regions characterized by limited economic resources. Unlike antibacterial medications, the options for antimicrobial treatments targeting fungal infections are relatively scarce. Furthermore, several of the existing antifungal compounds are hazardous, chemically unstable, and have poor pharmacologic properties. Therefore, it is imperative to explore alternative therapeutic avenues, particularly those derived from traditional medicinal practices and herbal compounds that have demonstrated antifungal efficacy in laboratory settings. This study aimed to formulate and evaluate a shampoo containing Ricinus communis leaf extract as an adjunctive therapy for Tinea capitis using a laboratory-based experimental design. Ricinus communis leaves were harvested from Kabarak University botanical gardens, dried, and ground into a coarse powder, followed by Soxhlet extraction with methanol. The extract was concentrated to dryness and used in the formulation of a shampoo. The shampoo was evaluated for color intensity, clarity, fluidity, ability to produce foam, homogeneity, and odor. The in vitro antifungal activity on a fungal isolate of Microsporum canis species that causes Tinea capitis was performed to demonstrate the inhibitory effects of the prepared shampoo and the methanolic extract at 100%, 50%, and 25% concentrations. Ketoconazole 2% shampoo was used as a positive control. The quantitative bioassay was performed using the disk diffusion method. The results showed that the methanol extract and the formulated shampoo have an inhibitory effect against Microsporum canis. There was no statistical difference in the zone of inhibition caused by the formulated shampoo with that caused by 2% ketoconazole shampoo (P-value = 0.59957; P-value > 0.05). Therefore, the prepared shampoo demonstrated remarkable antifungal activity against the Microsporum canis sample that is comparable to 2% ketoconazole shampoo highlighting its significance as an adjuvant therapeutic alternative for the treatment of Tinea capitis.

Research on the effective thermal conductivity of nickel-based bi-porous capillary wicks: Modeling and validation

This study proposed an analytical model to predict the effective thermal conductivity (ETC) of bi-sized porous capillary wicks with both interstitial pores (formed inside nickel skeleton) and with large pores created by NaCl as the pore-forming agent. The interstitial-pore model was developed utilizing the sintering neck formation theory and thermal resistance network, which was validated by measured data obtained from samples of multiple particle sizes. It is shown that the model works well for fine nickel powders with the root mean square error (RMSE) of 13.8%, while a large deviation was observed when using the coarse powders. Based on the presented interstitial-pore model, an ETC model for samples containing formation pores was formulated. A total of six types of equations were proposed, considering three packing modes and two shapes of formation pores. Samples with NaCl of various granularities (54–75 μm, 88–125 μm) and proportions (2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0 wt.%) were made for the model validation. The results demonstrated that the bi-porous ETC models, with both interstitial pores and those formed by NaCl, exhibit good performance when applying the BCC configuration, while small and large formation pores can be characterized by spherical and cubic models respectively.

Designing novel piperine-vanillin nano-crystals for bioavailability enhancement

Piperine (PIP) exhibits various pharmacological effects including anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, anti-convulsant, and neuroprotective activity, but its poor water solubility and oral absorption limit its therapeutic uses. In the present study, nano-crystal technology was employed to enhance the dissolution rate and bioavailability of PIP. Piperine-vanillin (PIP-VN) nano-crystals were formulated by top-down and bottom-up techniques and evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. The results revealed that the PIP-VN nano-crystal exhibited an average particle size of 34.03 ± 0.51 nm. In the release study, PIP-VN nano-crystal performed 2.63-fold enhancement than PIP coarse powder. Upon oral administration, in the brain AUC0–24 of PIP-VN nano-crystal was significantly higher than PIP suspension. The brain/blood ratio of the drug for PIP-VN nano-crystal was higher than PIP suspension; indicating that administration of PIP-VN nano-crystal was superior for the delivery drug to the brain. PIP-VN nano-crystal showed AUC0–24 of 5.654 ± 0.230 ngh/mL in the brain which was more than PIP suspension (AUC0–24 of 2.025 ± 0.009 ngh/mL in the brain). From AUC data it may be concluded that brain delivery efficiency was improved using the nano-crystal approach. Compared with PIP coarse powder PIP-VN nano-crystals exhibit excellent performance in both in vitro and in vivo studies.

Formulation of an anthelmintic syrup based on the seeds of Carica papaya (Caricaceae)

In traditional medicine, of Carica papaya (Caricacea) seeds are used as a coarse powder, in maceration or as an aqueous decoction, for the management of helminthiasis. With the aim of contributing to the management of helminthiasis, this study set out to develop a syrup with anthelmintic properties based on Carica papaya L. seeds The aqueous fluid extract was prepared and subjected to phytochemical screening. A syrup based on this fluid extract was prepared and subjected to a physicochemical and microbiological stability control. To assess the effectiveness of the syrup, a pilot study was initiated. The stools of 441 children aged between 5 and 15 years were examined using Kato-katz technique. The secondary metabolites present in the fluid extract were polyphenols (1.2 g EAT/ml), alkaloids, catechic tannins, flavonoids and mucilages. The syrup prepared contained 15.15% of fluid extract and responded favorably to the pharmacotechnical and microbiological tests of the European Pharmacopoeia 9th edition. Only 43 children tested positive for helminth eggs. The syrup based on Carica papaya L fluid seeds extract proved to be comparable to Albendazole on Ascaris lumbricoides (97.46% reduction rate) and on Trichuris trichiura (100% reduction rate) after two administrations of 20 ml 14 days apart. The treatment was also effective against Necator americanus and Tenia sp; but the number of cases of these last two parasitoses was too low to allow any reliable conclusion. Ultimately, the 15.15% syrup of aqueous fluid extract of Carica papaya L. seeds proved a reliable solution for the management of Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura helminthiasis.

Cork by-products as a sustainable source of potential antioxidants

Cork harvesting process is considered sustainable, however, the potential of the waste that is generated in the cork transformation process, in the context of bio-circular economy, still needs more investigation. This work investigated three cork by-products, coarse powder (P0) and fine powder (P1), as well as cork boiling wastewater (CBW), as sustainable sources of value-added ingredients with antioxidant potential for pharmaceutical, food products and the cosmetic industry. The free radical scavenging effect and the metals content of P0 and P1 extracts and CBW was evaluated. A low content of metals was detected for P0 and P1 powders, while CBW showed high levels of the prohibited heavy metals As and Pb, among other metals, above the permissible trace amounts allowed in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and food products. The extractive process was optimized by taking into account the effect of temperature, solvent, extraction time and number of extraction cycles on DPPH scavenging activity and process sustainability. Liquid chromatography coupled to the high-resolution mass spectrometry and ultraviolet–visible detection allowed the unequivocal identification and quantification of the target compounds, respectively. All extracts displayed promising DPPH scavenging effect, being P1 extract obtained with 30% ethanol (IC50 = 4.7 ± 0.2 μg/mL) the most active. The DPPH scavenging effect of cork powder extracts could be explained by the efficiency of extraction of phenolics. This work allied clean and environmentally friendly processes by the use of green solvents and low energy consumption in the extraction procedures. The relationship between chromatographic patterns and the antioxidant activities was also explored.

In-Vitro Anti-Diabetic Activity and Phytochemical Screening of Ethanolic extract of Calotropis gigantea (Linn)

INTRODUCTION Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycaemia due to defect insulin release from pancreas and insulin resistance. The present study was aimed to screen the phytoconstituent present in leaf extract and evaluate α- amylase inhibitory activity of ethanolic extract of Calotropis gigantea leaf. Calotropis gigantea also known as crown flower is rich in phytochemicals like alkaloids, saponins, steroids, flavonoids and glycosides. It is used for asthma, bronchitis and dyspepsia, dried whole plant is a good tonic. MATERIAL AND METHODS About 58.45g coarse powder of Calotropis gigantea leaves was extracted with ethanol using Soxhlet apparatus. Then the phytochemical screening of ethanolic extract was done. Different concentration (0.1mg/ml to 1mg/ml) of ethanolic extracts of leaves, acarbose, sitagliptin and metformin was prepared, and all the concentration were evaluated for α- amylase inhibitory activity through spectrophotometric method. RESULTS Maximum inhibition of α- amylase was shown by acarbose at concentration of 1mg/ml and found to be 78.787 ± 0.00240 % whereas plant extract at concentration of 1mg/ml showed inhibition of α- amylase activity 54.6296 ± 0.00282 %. Percentage inhibition of α-amylase activity by plant extract was found to be dose dependent. CONCLUSION It was concluded that Calotropis gigantea leaves possess some bioactive compounds which were responsible for controlling blood glucose level by inhibiting α-amylase and its identification, isolation and characterization may lead to development of newer drugs with lesser side effects.

Strong and ductile Al–Mn–Mg–Sc–Zr alloy achieved in fabrication-rate enhanced laser powder bed fusion

ABSTRACT The high cost of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) fabricated high-strength Sc containing aluminium alloy hinders its applications. To reduce the cost, we reported a LPBF fabricated strong and ductile Al–Mn–Mg–Sc–Zr alloy using large layer thicknesses to improve the fabrication efficiency on coarse powder particles. A high relative density exceeding 99.2% was achieved at layer thicknesses up to 120 μm. In post-process heat-treated specimens, the yield strength only had a slight 6% decrease from layer thickness of 30 to 120 μm; such a decrease in strength was attributed to the larger grain size resulted from the adopted larger layer thickness. The fabricated sample at layer thickness of 120 μm still exhibited high tensile yield strength of 472 MPa and fracture strain of ∼10%. This work showed a successful application of improving the LPBF fabrication efficiency of high-strength Al–Mn–Mg–Sc–Zr alloy using large layer thickness in LPBF process.

Effect of pack characteristics and process parameters on the properties of aluminide-coated Inconel 625 alloy

Abstract In this study, Inconel 625 alloy was initially aluminide coated by halide-activated pack cementation at 700 °C for 4 h using fine (40–45 µm) globular and coarse (10–75 µm) ligament aluminum particles. Microstructural features and hardness variation of the coatings along with their oxidation behavior at 1000 °C during 50 h were investigated to reveal the effect of pack characteristics on the properties. Investigations revealed that (i) a homogeneous and continuous coating layer was formed on the surface without internal oxidation, (ii) a thicker coating (∼60 µm) was formed due to the pack consisting of coarse particles, (iii) a higher hardness value (1369 HV0.5) was measured for the coated alloy using fine particles in the pack, and (iv) the coating with coarse powder exhibited higher oxidation resistance during the first 50 h of oxidation test period. Secondly, superalloy was coated at different temperatures (700 and 1000 °C) and times (2 and 4 h) using coarse particles. In this stage, the findings showed that by increasing process temperature and time, the accumulation of aluminum on the superalloy surface increased and the oxidation tendency remained at a lower level in coatings containing thicker layers.

In vitro Antibacterial and Cytotoxic Activities of Various Fractions of Lippia alba (Mill.)

Lippia alba (Mill.) (Family: Verbenaceae) is widely known due to both ethnobotanical uses and chemical diversity. The present work was designated to determine the antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of the aqueous ethanolic extract and various fractions of this plant. The whole plant was made into coarse powder and was extracted with 5% aqueous ethanol. The concentrated ethanolic extract (abbreviated as LAE) was successively partitioned with n-hexane (LAH), chloroform (LAC), ethyl acetate (LAA), and the remaining part was designated as water (LAQ). The antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of extract and all these fractions were evaluated in vitro using disc diffusion technique and brine shrimp (Artemia salina) lethality assay, respectively. In antimicrobial assay, five Gram-positive and five Gram-negative bacteria and standard antibiotic ciprofloxacin (10 μg/disc) were used. All the samples were tested at four concentrations (200, 400, 600 and 800 μg/disc). Our study showed that the extractive and different fractions of L. alba had antibacterial activity against all the tested bacteria except Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Among the extractives, LAE and LAH had significant antibacterial activity when compared to standard ciprofloxacin. The zone of inhibition of LAE and LAH were found to be 14.4, 24.4, 13.4, 15.2, 18.5, 24.1, 16.1, 23.5, 23.2 and 14.5, 20.1, 12.5, 17.1, 17.5, 20.1, 12.5, 19.4, and 18.16 mm against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus-β- haemolyticus, Bacillus subtilis, Sarcina lutea, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Salmonella typhi and Shigella dysenteriae, respectively, at 800 μg/disc. The median lethal concentration (LC50) in brine shrimp lethality bioassay was determined by extrapolation from graph and the values were found to be 41.9, 23.9, 21.3, 88.7, 6.7 and 7.5 μg/ml for LAQ, LAH, LAC, LAA, LAE and standard vincristine sulfate, respectively. In the study, different mortality rate was observed at different concentration and all the samples showed positive response, indicating the presence of cytotoxic components in L. alba. Phytochemical screening revealed that L. alba contains saponins, tannins, glycosides, steroids, alkaloids, terpenoids and flavonoids. The results of the study indicate that L. alba might be a good source of potent antibiotic and anticancer drugs. Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Journal 26(2): 150-156, 2023 (July)

Standardization of Euphorbia tithymaloides (L.) Poit. (Root) by Conventional and DNA Barcoding Methods.

Adulteration and substitution of medicinal plants have become a matter of great concern in recent years. Euphorbia tithymaloides is one such medicinal plant that has gained importance but is often confused with other plants of the same species. In order to address this issue, this study aimed to conduct a conventional and molecular pharmacognostic study for the identification of the root of E. tithymaloides. The root of the plant was studied for the macroscopic observations, and then, the root was ground into coarse powder for microscopic studies and to determine the physiochemical properties. The powder was subjected to extraction with solvents such as ethanol, ethanol/water (1:1), hexane, and ethyl acetate. The extracts were then used for qualitative and quantitative (phenol, alkaloids, and flavonoids) phytochemical analysis. The molecular study was performed with the DNA barcoding technique. The DNA was extracted from the root of the plant, and its purity was examined by gel electrophoresis (1% w/v). The DNA was then amplified using an Applied Biosystems 2720 thermal cycler for the rbcL, matK, and ITS primers. The amplified primers were sequenced with a 3130 Genetic Analyzer, and the generated sequences were searched for similarity in the GenBank Database using the nucleotide BLAST analysis. The micro- and macroscopic studies revealed the morphological and organoleptic characters as well as the presence of medullary rays, fiber, cork, sclereids, parenchymal cells, and scalariform vessels. The physiochemical properties were found within the limit. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of terpenoids, flavonoids, saponins, and alkaloids. In addition, the alkaloidal content was high in the ethanol extract (63.04 ± 3.08 mg At E/g), while the phenol content was high in the hexane extract (10.26667 ± 1.77 mg At E/g), and the flavonoid content was high in the ethyl acetate extract (41.458 ± 1.33 mg At E/g). After the BLAST analysis from the GenBank database, the rbcL, ITS, and matK primers showed a similarity percentage of 99.83, 99.84, and 100. The phylogenetic tree for the species closest to each primer was generated using the MEGA 6 software. The matK loci had the highest percentage similar to the rbcL and ITS loci, indicating that the matK loci can be used to identify the root of E. tithymaloides as a standalone. The results from this study can be used to establish a quality standard for E. tithymaloides that will ensure its quality and purity.

Traceability of abnormal energy consumption modes in grinding systems based on evolution analysis of causal network structure

Abnormal energy consumption mode tracing is used to locate the root cause of the system deviating from the normal energy consumption mode (ECM), in order to support operators in understanding system abnormal changes and abnormal propagation trends. Due to the compensatory effect of closed-loop control systems on external interference and the influence of processes such as coarse powder regrinding and circulating air utilization during grinding, there is a strong correlation between parameters, and anomalies are easily propagated between parameters. Tracing the root cause variable of anomalies is challenging. Previous abnormal ECM tracing ignored the dynamic changes in causal relationships between coupled variables in the circulation process, and had problems with strong expert knowledge dependence and slow response. Therefore, this paper proposes an abnormal ECM tracing method based on causal network structure evolution analysis. It proposes directed symbolic transfer entropy to measure variable causal relationships, and combines the advantages of complex networks in characterizing complex system dynamic characteristics to construct an ECM causal network. By analyzing network structure characteristics, it locates the root cause variables of abnormal ECMs and infers propagation paths. Finally, through the application of six types of abnormal scenarios in actual slag grinding processes, it verifies the accuracy of the proposed method in locating abnormal roots and identifying propagation paths.

FORMULATION AND IN-VITRO CHARACTERIZATION OF MUCOADHESIVE PATCHES OF ROOT EXTRACT OF ADENIUM OBESUM

Patches are punched from a sheet that serves as the intermediate product. Oral mucosal medication delivery alternatives to tablets have been studied, including polymers like cellulose etc. can be used to create mucosal patches. The present research was based on the development and in-vitro characterization of mucoadhesive patches of root extract of Adenium obesum utilizing different polymers. Adenium obesum (fresh roots) was obtained from the Unnao region. Eudragit L-100, Propylene glycol, Tween 80, Methanol, Ethanol and HPMCK 4M & HPMCK 15M were purchased from the local market. The initial stages of processing involve grinding the roots into a coarse powder. The Soxhlet equipment was used to extract the powder and then weigh it. After preformulation study, the Adenium obesum mucoadhesive patches were created using the solvent casting technique. Patches were evaluated for physical appearances, thickness, pH, % drug content, in-vitro drug release, SEM and stability. In results, an excellent % drug release was demonstrated by the buccal patch. In order to estimate stability profile of mucoadhesive patches, it was evaluated for physical appearance. In conclusion, patches i.e., F2, F3 and F6 exhibited a significant estimation parameters like drug content, % drug release etc. The buccal drug of herbal (A. obesum) mucoadhesive patch has shown improved stability. It will ease to provide the long-lasting action by suppressing the symptoms of insomnia, agitations etc. Therefore, it may be produced commercially after its successful clinical trials.

Evaluation of the potential of recovering various valuable elements from a vanadiferous titanomagnetite tailing based on chemical and process mineralogical characterization.

In order to evaluate the potential of recovering various valuable elements from vanadiferous titanomagnetite tailing (VTMT), the chemical and process mineralogical characterization of VTMT were investigated in this study by various analytical techniques such as XRF, XRD, optical microscopy, SEM, EDS, and AMICS. It was found that VTMT is a coarser powder in general; about 50% of the particle size is greater than 54.30μm. The total iron content of the VTMT was 22.40 wt.%, and its TiO2 grade is 14.45 wt.%, even higher than those found in natural ilmenite ores. The majority of iron and titanium were located in ilmenite and hematite; 62.84% of hematite and 90.27% of ilmenite were present in monomeric form. However, there is still a portion of ilmenite and hematite embedded in gangue such as anorthite, diopside, and serpentite. For the recovery of valuable fractions such as Fe and TiO2 from VTMT, a treatment process including ball milling-high-intensity magnetic separation-one roughing and three refining flotation was proposed. Finally, a concentrate with TiO2 grade of 47.31% and total Fe (TFe) grade of 35.44% was produced; TiO2 and TFe had recovery rates of 57.71% and 28.23%, respectively. The recovered product is adequate as a raw material for the production of rutile. This study provides a reference and a new research direction for the recycling and comprehensive utilization of VTMT.

Evaluation of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities of dichloromethane leaf extracts of Ficus trichocarpa and Lasianthera Africana

This study evaluated the bioactive compounds present in the dichloromethane leaf extracts of Ficus trichocarpa and Lasianthera africana and also assessed the antioxidant activities of the same leaf extracts. The plant materials were washed under running water to remove foreign matters, air-dried at ambient temperatures under a shade for up to 2 weeks, and afterwards pulverized into coarse powders. The bioactive compounds were analysed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) while the antioxidant activities were assessed by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, DPPH radical scavenging assay, and hydroxyl radical assay. The results of phytochemical content showed that the leaves are rich in secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, terpenes, flavonoids and non-flavonoid phenolics. Quantitatively, alkaloids were the most abundant secondary metabolites (55.73%) present in the leaf of F. trichocarpa. On the other hand, terpenes were the most abundant secondary metabolites present in the leaf of L. Africana (55.45%). The results of antioxidant assay revealed that both F. trichocarpa and L. africana leaves exhibited high antioxidant activities in a dose-dependent manner: 69.52% and 52.08% respectively at 100 μg/ml for DPPH scavenging activities; 73.18% and 65.65 % respectively at 200 μg/ml for FRAP assay; and (86.25% and 67.08 % respectively at 200μg/ml for hydroxyl radical activities. In conclusion, the dichloromethane leaf extracts of F. trichocarpa and L. africana are rich in secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, terpenes, flavonoids and non-flavonoid phenolics. The leaf extracts also have high antioxidant property.

Rheological and early hydration of cementitious material containing recycled concrete powders collected from recycled aggregates

Recycled aggregate (RA) is the primary approach to treatment and utilization of construction and demolition waste in China. During RA preparation, many finer powders with sizes smaller than 0.15 mm are produced compared with those of the natural aggregate preparation, which further reduces the RA quality. Direct separation and individual use are expected to improve the performance of RAs and develop their potential applications in fine powders. Recycled concrete powders with sizes smaller than 0.15 mm (recycled coarse powder, RCP), 0.075 mm (recycled medium powder, RMP) and 0.045 mm (recycled fine powder, RFP) were collected. The rheological and early hydration of cementitious materials containing different volumes of RCP, RMP, and RFP were investigated. The incorporation of RCP decreased the yield stress and plastic viscosity of the cement paste and improved the workability of the slurry, whereas the incorporation of RMP and RFP increased the yield stress and reduced the fluidity of the cement paste compared to that of the pure cement sample. The time-dependent properties of the rheological parameters indicated that the cement paste containing RCP exhibited shear-thinning properties, whereas those incorporating RMP and RFP displayed shear-thickening characteristics. The addition of RMP and RFP increased the initial heat of dissolution of the cement paste and caused the cumulative heat release in 24 h to exceed that of pure cement paste. The effect of RFP on the hydration products and microstructure of the cement paste resulted in mechanical properties comparable to those of mortar without recycled concrete powder.

Characteristics (Yield, Moisture Content, Water Absorption, Ph, and Organoleptic) of Catfishflour (Pangasius hypophthalmus)

Fish meal is a dry solid product, produced by removing most of the liquid and some or all of the fat contained in the body of the fish. This research aims to analyze the characteristics of catfish flour that is given preliminary treatment, namely steamed and boiled and control (without heating) before the drying process. This research is divided into 2 stages, namely phase I research on making fish meal from Patin Fish (Pangasius hypopthalmus) with 3 treatments, namely control, boiling, and steaming and phase II research, namely the test characteristics on catfish meal such as yield tests, organoleptic tests, absorption, water content, and pH.Based on the results of research on the characteristics of catfish flour obtained from the first treatment, control on fish meat before drying is as follows: flour yield 21.7 ± 0.54%; moisture content 5.9 %; absorbency 1.28 %; pH 5.93; and very pungent aromatic organoleptic character, coarse powder and brownish color. Thecharacteristics of catfish flour obtained from the second treatment, namely boiling on fish meat before drying, are as follows: flour yield 12.33%; moisture content 1.8%;absorbency 1.6%; pH5.8; and fish-scented organoleptic character in general, semi-fine, yellowish in color. Thecharacteristic of catfish flour obtained from the third treatment, namely steaming on fish meat before drying, is as follows: flour yield 13.37%; moisture content 2.2%; absorbency 1.8%; pH 5.5; and organoleptic character of non-pungent aroma, fine powder, and yellowish-whitecolor.

Clinical Study of Polyherbal Formulation in the Management of Bronchial Asthma (Tamaka Swasa)

Tamaka Swasa is described as one of the five varieties of swasa mentioned in various Ayurvedic classics like Charaka Samhita, Susruta Samhita, Astanga Hrdaya, Madhava Nidana etc. In classics various single/multiple herbs and minerals has been well establish in the practice of Ayurveda. In the present study an open clinical trial has been made in 100 (one hundred) patients of bronchial asthma with an attempt to explore the efficacy of polyherbal formulation in the management of bronchial asthma. The polyherbal formulation is prepared in coarse powder and made it into kwath (decoction) form by boiling 10 gms in 200ml of water for 5-10 minutes or more till concentrated by evaporation to 50 ml. The decoctions is then keep for cooling for some time and is advice to take twice daily preferably after food continuously for three months. The result after completion of the treatment in all sign and symptoms following inclusion and exclusion criteria is seen to be so satisfactory and encouraging and further no adverse or side effect was observed in any of the patient in the entire study.

Direct Laser Sintering of Bulk Alumina Using 1070 nm Fiber Laser

Pellets made of α-alumina were sintered by fiber laser irradiation (1070 nm) for 1 min. The optical measurements showed that the laser selectively applied heat around the voids and gaps between grains in the green pellets. Even though the laser can penetrate deep inside the pellets, the heating efficiency is low because alumina poorly absorbs the laser energy. The graphite layer effectively improved the heating efficiency on the irradiated surface at the low-temperature region to “ignite” laser sintering. The microstructure of the sintered pellets was controlled by the microstructure of the green bodies. Porous pellets were obtained from coarse powders and transparent dense pellets from mixtures of coarse and fine powders. The porous pellets showed excellent bending strength owing to the joining of grains by the selective heating of gaps between them. The transparent pellets comprised large alumina single crystals anisotropically formed by spontaneous melt growth under laser irradiation.