Newer triphenyl-imidazole derivatives (4a-h) were synthesized in good yields by the reaction of benzil and substituted benzaldehydes in equimolar quantities and refluxing the product with acetyl chloride thereafter. Structures were confirmed by using FT-IR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopic methods. All the synthesized compounds were tested for their antimicrobial activity using agar diffusion technique against Gram positive (Staphhylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis), Gram negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aureginosa) as well as Fungal strain (Candida albicans). Interestingly compounds 4a, 4b, 4f and 4h showed significant antibacterial activity, whereas compound 4b was found to have remarkable activity against the fungal strain. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of most active compounds were determined by broth dilution method and compound 4b emerged to have potent activities against most of the strains having MIC in the range of 25-200 µg/mL. To check the possible toxicities of the most active compounds, they were orally administered in rats and the concentration of liver enzymes serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALKP) were determined. Compound 4h showed significant increase in the enzymes level depicting the hepatotoxicity. The structure-activity relationship studies showed the importance of electron withdrawing groups at the distant phenyl ring at ortho and para positions as the compounds having chloro or nitro at these positions tend to be more active than the compounds with electron releasing groups such as methoxy. These compounds may act as lead compounds for further studies and appropriate modification in their structure may lead to agents having high efficacy with lesser toxicity.

Computational simulation is known to be used for decades. One such platform known to be available for simulating the fluid dynamics (CFD) was used mostly in the field of Aeronautic, Space, Automotive or Electronics industries owing to its high cost, complexity and the low performance of computers. With the significant increase in computing power and reduction of equipment cost, the use of CFD is easily accessible and is gaining momentum significantly in the cement industry. This paper highlights the recent study done for a cement plant in western India. The plant is suffering severely with the pressurisation in complex ducting arrangement handling the flue gases. The cement plant is designed to produce 9000 tpd clinker from a single kiln with 3 string preheaters. The fan outlets of each string preheater is connected to a common junction duct (PH-junction duct) from which the gases are bifurcated to coal mill, raw mill and directly to the dust collector. The plant is also having another junction duct (Raw mill junction duct) for raw mill fan outlets. These two junction ducts are connected by an Interconnecting duct. The operation team is experiencing huge pressurisation in the PHjunction duct and the interconnecting duct. The pressurization results in gases to come out from the openings in these ducts, which is not a healthy sign as these ducts are under negative pressure. The boundary conditions were measured by a team of process experts. The junction ducts along with its inlet and outlet ducts were modelled and simulated by using SST k-omega turbulent model. The paper discusses, in detail, the finding of the simulation and the modifications suggested in the complex duct arrangement to solve the pressurization issues in the plant operation.

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Mungbean is an economically as well as nutritionally enriched crop. Of the different soil borne pathogens attacking mungbean, root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) is an important pathogen affecting growth and production of mungbean. It is grown in summer as well as in kharif season. The germplasm of mungbean of two seasons’ viz., summer and kharif was screened to identify new sources of resistance against root knot nematode, M. incognita. In addition to screening; studies were also conducted on the impact of root knot nematode infestation in roots on nodulation character of mungbean and growth parameters. Of the sixty three genotypes evaluated in summer, seven were found to be moderately resistant. In kharif season, only three genotypes were found to be moderately resistant. M. incognita infestation was also observed to affect the plant growth parameters as well as nodulation on roots of mungbean genotypes. Comparatively, better plant growth and higher nodulation was observed in moderately resistant genotypes as compared to the susceptible ones. The ten identified moderately resistant genotypes from two seasons can be a useful source in breeding programmes for developing cultivars to manage root knot nematode.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia associated with a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, with a prevalence of 44 million people throughout the world in 2015, and this figure is estimated to double by 2050. This disease is characterized by blood-brain barrier disruption, oxidative stress, mitochondrial impairment, neuroinflammation, and hypometabolism; it is related to amyloid-β peptide accumulation and tau hyperphosphorylation as well as a decrease in acetylcholine levels and a reduction of cerebral blood flow. Studies of potential disease-modifying therapy have generally been undertaken in patients with clinically detectable disease, yet evidence suggests that the pathological changes associated with AD begin several years before this. It is possible that pharmacological therapy may be beneficial in this pre-clinical stage before the neurodegenerative process is established. Techniques providing earlier diagnosis, such as cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers and amyloid positron emission tomography neuroimaging, are key to testing this theory in clinical trials. Recent results from trials of agents such as aducanumab are encouraging but must also be interpreted with caution. Such medicines could potentially delay the onset of dementia and would therefore markedly reduce its prevalence.