Valeriana jatamansi is an indigenous medicinal plant used in the treatment of a number of diseases. In the present study, chemical composition of the essential oil was determined by GC-MS. Seven major components were identified in Valeriana jatamansi essential oil, namely, β-vatirenene, β-patchoulene, dehydroaromadendrene, β-gurjunene, patchoulic alcohol, β-guaiene, and α-muurolene. Methanolic, aqueous, and chloroform extracts of Valeriana jatamansi roots were also prepared and analyzed for their polyphenols and flavonoid content. Antioxidant activity of essential oil and different extracts of Valeriana jatamansi roots was determined by DPPH radical scavenging and chelation power assay. A linear correlation has been obtained by comparing the antioxidant activity and polyphenols and flavonoid content of the extracts. Results indicated that antioxidant activity of methanolic extract could be attributed to the presence of rich amount of polyphenols and flavonoid. Essential oil of Valeriana jatamansi roots showed moderate antioxidant activity.

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Stray current is a relevant phenomenon in particular for DC electrified transportation systems, affecting track and infrastructure within the right of way and other structures and installations nearby. It worsens with time and the level of protection depends on timely maintenance, as well as correct design choices. The assessment of track insulation is the starting point for both stray current monitoring systems and at commissioning or upon major changes. Standardized methods (ref. EN 50122-2 or IEC 62128-2) have been almost unchanged in the last 20 years but suffer from accuracy issues and variability due to parameters and conditions not under the operator’s control. The uncertainty of test methods is increasingly important now that contractual specifications require a high level of insulation for new systems. A critical discussion and analysis of the sources of variability and practical constraints is proposed, followed by an evaluation of uncertainty, with the objective not only to assess the accuracy of the provided results, but also to foster research on innovative, more flexible and accurate methods.

Energy efficiency is more and more important for modern electrified transportation systems, requiring an understanding of the various indexes of performance (regenerability, receptivity, and energy losses, thus including braking recovered energy and energy loss in catenary) and of the influence of the main system parameters (headway, line voltage, substation separation, etc.). By means of electromechanical simulation, the most relevant parameters and system conditions are identified as influencing the efficiency performance and optimization capability. Besides the assessment of such efficiency performance indexes, identifying their typical ranges of variation, one further outcome is the identification of characteristic system parameter combinations that lead to extreme variations in the system energy efficiency itself. Such peculiar variations are caused by occasionally synchronized patterns of trains along the line and result in a significant local increase or decrease in efficiency. Efficiency drop scenarios in particular should be taken into consideration for worst-case analysis and to devise effective mitigations. To this aim, the effect of differently distributed passenger stations is considered.

Distal metaphyseal tibial fractures are unique. Fractures of distal tibia metaphysis occur typically as a result of axial and rotational forces on lower extremity and represents approximately 10% of the fractures of distal end of tibia. Objective: The present study aims to compare the functional outcomes of distal metaphyseal fractures of tibia with plating to that with reamed intramedullary nailing and complication arising with different modalities of fixation. Methodology:The study consist of 40 patients of distal metaphysical fracture of tibia consecutively treated in the period between Dec 2013 and Dec 2015 with either reamed intramedullary nailing or locked plating with open reduction method or minimally invasive techniques. Results: Mean age of patients was 41.3 years (range, 22-65) in group 1 and 39.45 years (range, 28-56) in group 2 (p = 0.558). The average time before union was 23.3 weeks (range, 16-36 weeks) in group 1 and 25.55 weeks (range,14-41 weeks) in group 2, (p = 0.299). Conclusion: Intramedullary nail being load sharing device, comparatively early mobilization can be started. Prolonged duration of protected weight bearing was required in patients treated with locked plate and screws.