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Nanotechnological approaches are emerging as one of the most contemporary restoration strategies that may be used to remove a variety of contaminants from the environment, including heavy metals, organic and inorganic pollutants. The application of nanoparticles (NPs) is entrenched with biological processes to boost up the removal of toxic compounds from contaminated soils. Many efforts have been taken to increase the effectiveness of phytoremediation such as the addition of chemical additives, application of rhizobacteria, and genetic engineering, etc. In this context, the integration of nanotechnology with bioremediation has introduced new dimensions to the reclamation methods. Thus, advanced remediation methods that combine nanotechnology with phytoremediation and bioremediation, where nano-scale process regulation aids in the absorption and breakdown of pollutants. NPs absorb/adsorb a variety of contaminants and also catalyze reactions by lowering the energy required for their breakdown due to unique surface properties. As a result, these nanobioremediation procedures decrease the accumulation of contaminants while simultaneously limiting their dispersal from one medium to another. Therefore, the present review is dealing with all the possibilities of the application of NPs for restoration of contaminated soils.

Inadequate water supplies recall the environmental values of recovery and reuse of limited resources. One of the exciting opportunities in these circumstances is Grey water. Wastewater is generated from household activities like bathing, kitchen sinks, washbasins, and laundry classified as greywater. Inventing a pilot-scale greywater treatment system that treats in-house generated greywater and makes it reusable by assisting the untapped potential of physical methods of greywater purification was the main aim of this study. The study results from greywater samples' characterization from various sources in an Indian middle-class single household with four residents for six months. Moreover, the designing and analyzing of a treatment system applied to treat this in-house generated greywater was conducted. A filtration system with different filter layers was designed. It was found to have a chemical oxygen demand removal efficiency of 85.98%, biochemical oxygen demand removal efficiency of 86.28%, and total suspended solids removal efficiency of 94.44%. The filter system designed in this study describes improved removal efficiency in all respects and gives an idea of the reusability of in-house treated greywater. The study concludes that greywater can be recycled and reused for toilet flushing, gardening, car washing, and firefighting. This practice can also lead to a significant reduction in the consumption of freshwater.

Fluorescent nanoparticles have a transformative potential for advanced sensors and devices for point-of-need diagnostics and bioimaging, bypassing the technical burden of meeting the assay performance requirements. Carbon dots (CDs) are rapidly emerging carbon-based nanomaterials. Regardless of their fate, they will find increasing applications. In this study, a simple approach for synthesizing CDs from fruit peels was developed. The CDs were fabricated from Annona squamosa (L.) peels using a carbonization technique through microwave-assisted hydrothermal digestion at temperatures around 200 °C. Synthesized CDs were detected using a UV transilluminator for the preliminary confirmation of the presence of fluorescence. UV–Vis spectrophotometry (absorbance at 505 nm) analysis, zeta potential measurement (−20.8 mV), nanoparticles tracking analysis (NTA) (average size: 15.4 nm and mode size: 9.26 nm), photoluminescence, and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis were used to identify the capping functional groups on the CDs. The total quantum yield exhibited was 8.93%, and the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) showed the size range up to 40 nm. The germinating mung bean (Vigna radiata (L.)) seeds were incubated with biogenically synthesized CDs to check the absorption of CDs by them. The fluorescence was observed under a UV-transilluminator in the growing parts of seeds, indicating the absorption of CDs during the germination, development, and growth. These fluorescent CDs could be used as a bioimaging agent. This novel method of synthesizing CDs was found to be eco-friendly, rapid, and cost-effective.

Nanotechnology paradigm is to endow the agriculture with new tools to increase sustainable food production. Although numerous benefits, the unsafe discharge of nanoparticles (NPs) in the environment is an issue. The unregulated exposure to the soil is expected to impair plant growth and accumulate into edible tissues. As a consequence, human exposure becomes inevitable. The problems of detecting NPs in soil and uptake mechanism in plants are ones of the critical aspects that necessitate being determined and understood. Therefore, the accurate determination of environmentally released NPs and their accumulation in plants, and the impact on health are imperative to assess.

Context: We describe the treatment of cancer patients carried out in a Government of India-designated, dedicated coronavirus disease (COVID) hospital (DCH) in a COVID hotspot in India. Aims: The aim was to study the change and delay in the management of cancer patients during the pandemic and its complications. Settings and Design: This was an observational cohort study conducted at a tertiary care center, which was also a DCH. Subjects and Methods: Cancer patients receiving cancer surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy in our DCH, during the lockdown, were studied. Results: A total of 864 patients received treatment for cancer in our hospital during the period of March 20, 2020 – May 31, 2020. There were no COVID-related complications. The treatment of 109/864 patients (12.61%) was delayed due to the pandemic and lockdown situation and the treatment plan was changed for 84/864 (9.72%) patients. There were 21 deaths in these 864 patients (2.43%), but only two deaths were COVID related. Symptomatic patients were tested for COVID, and 3/864 patients (0.34%) were detected to be COVID positive.Conclusions: We successfully delivered cancer treatment to patients in our DCH. The percentage of adverse effects, symptomatic COVID infection, and related mortality has been very low in our study. Cancer care can be continued with due diligence even during this pandemic.

Reductive amination of biomass derived Levulinic acid (LA) for the synthesis of N-substituted pyrrolidones is one of the highly attractive routes for biomass valorization. The supported homogeneous metal precursor into the solid surface is an important context in the field of catalysis because these types of catalysts provide the heterogeneous nature and meet the needs of recyclability. Herein, we have reported a synthesis of catalyst with ruthenium ion supported on ionic liquid immobilized into graphene oxide (Ru@GOIL) and its application for reductive amination reaction. Synthesized catalyst is characterized using different analytical techniques such as FT-IR, XRD, XPS, TGA, FEG-SEM, TEM and EXAFS analysis. The prepared Ru@GOIL found to be highly effective for reductive amination of LA and under these optimized conditions various N-substituted pyrrolidones derivatives were synthesized in excellent yield (78–93%). Ru@GOIL catalyst demonstrated great catalytic performance for reductive amination reaction of LA giving good turnover frequency (TOF = 62 h−1) value in comparison with other catalysts. The Ru@GOIL catalyst was recycled for six reaction runs with slight drop-in activity after 4th cycle. Practical applicability of the developed catalyst was successfully demonstrated by direct transformation of biomass waste (rice husk and wheat straw) derived LA to N-substituted pyrrolidones.

Pollution by platinum (Pt) is an emerging threat to forest soil health. The widespread use of Pt nanoparticles (NPs) in gas neutralizers for automobile exhaust has sharply increased the amount of PtNP pollution in the environment, including forest ecosystems. Recently, territories with Pt concentrations greater than 0.3 mg/kg in soil have been discovered. This concentration is 750 times greater than the background content in the earth’s crust. Cambisols, the most prevalent forest soil type in boreal forests that determines the functioning of the entire forest ecosystem, occupy a significant share of the Earth’s soil cover, which is about 1.5 billion hectares worldwide, or 12% of the entire continental land area. This shows the importance of studying the effect of pollution on this type of soil. In this study, laboratory simulations of PtNP contamination of the Haplic Cambisols Eutric at concentrations of 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 mg/kg were carried out. The effect of PtNPs on soil properties was assessed using the most sensitive and informative biological indicators. The total number of bacteria was studied by the methods of luminescent microscopy, catalase activity (gasometrically), dehydrogenases activity (spectrophotometrically), germination, and length of roots by the method of seedlings. It was found that at the concentrations of 0.01, 0.1, and 1 mg/kg of PtNPs, there was either no effect or a slight, statistically insignificant decrease in the biological state of Haplic Cambisols Eutric. Concentrations of 10 and 100 mg/kg of PtNPs had a toxic effect on all the studied parameters. No statistically significant stimulating effect (hormesis) of PtNPs on the biological properties of Haplic Cambisols Eutric was observed, which indicates the high toxicity of PtNPs and the importance of studying the consequences of soil and ecosystem contamination with PtNPs. However, when the content of Pt in the soil was 1 mg/kg, there was a tendency to stimulate germination, the length of radish roots, and the total number of bacteria. The toxicity of PtNPs measured by biochemical indicators (activity of catalase and dehydrogenases) starts at a concentration of 100 mg/kg for phytotoxic effects (germination and root length of radish) and 10 mg/kg for microbiological effects (total number of bacteria).

Concepts and ethics at a younger age are better understood and inculcated respectively when they are visualized. To build a better society and better tomorrow the future generation has to be ethically and morally strong. This can be inculcated efficiently through the means of visualization. This can be achieved by the proposed system which uses Refined Novel Generative Adversarial Network. The proposed system is one of the applications of the Refined Novel Generative Adversarial Network, which could bring a revolutionary change in the teaching-learning process.

In this work, the synthesis of a catalyst with Ru metal supported on a montmorillonite (MMT) support was performed and the prepared catalyst was characterized via different characterization techniques such as: SEM, XRD, XPS, EDX, TEM, and TGA. The catalytic effect of the prepared Ru-MMT with various wt% of Ru metal were determined for the dehydration reaction of fructose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), and for the efficient oxidation of HMF into 2,5-diformylfuran (DFF). HMF conversion occurred completely in 4 h of reaction time to obtain DFF with a 96% yield at 120 °C and an oxygen pressure of 3 bar in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solvent with 2 wt% of the Ru-MMT catalyst. A one-pot, two-step reaction produced a yield of 89% DFF with 100% conversion of fructose, however an 81% yield of DFF was achieved from a one-pot, one-step reaction using the 2 wt% Ru-MMT catalyst. The catalyst can be isolated easily after the completion of the reaction and successfully reused up to five times with no substantial loss of catalyst activity. The practical applicability of the developed catalyst was successfully demonstrated for the direct transformation of various carbohydrates (glucose, inulin, sucrose, starch, raffinose, and maltose) to DFF in moderate to good yields (35–64% yield). Overall, the 2 wt% Ru-MMT catalyst demonstrated excellent catalytic activity for the one-pot transformation of fructose to DFF showing an excellent yield of DFF in a short reaction time, and afforded wide substrate applicability, good recyclability and catalyst stability.

Forest ecosystems perform important forestry and ecological functions. However, mining and processing companies cause significant soil contamination by heavy metals, in particular, copper (Cu). The resistance of nine types and subtypes of forest soils of the dry and humid subtropics in the Greater Caucasus region to Cu contamination at concentrations of 100, 1000, and 10,000 mg/kg was evaluated for the first time following the most sensitive and informative biological (microbiological, biochemical, and phytotoxic) indicators via a laboratory simulation study. Contamination was simulated under laboratory conditions. The series of forest soils was established following their resistance to Cu pollution: brown leached soils (Haplic Cambisols Eutric) = brown typical soils (Haplic Cambisols Eutric) > brown carbonate soils (Haplic Cambisols Eutric) = sod-carbonate typical soils (Rendzic Leptosols Eutric) ≥ yellow soils (Albic Luvisols Abruptic) ≥ leached sod-carbonate soils (Rendzic Leptosols Eutric) > brown forest slightly unsaturated soils (Haplic Cambisols Eutric) > acid brown forest soils (Haplic Cambisols Eutric) > acid brown forest podzolized soils (Haplic Cambisols Eutric). Regional environmentally safe standards for the Cu content in forest soils of the dry and humid subtropics of the Greater Caucasus were proposed: for brown typical soils, brown leached soils, brown carbonate soils, brown forest slightly unsaturated soils, sod-carbonate typical soils, leached sod-carbonate soils, and yellow soils, the rMPC was 100 mg/kg; for acid brown forest soils and acid brown forest podzolized soils, the rMPC was 70 mg/kg.

Nanotechnology is a rising area emerged after the amalgamation of the different advanced scientific fields of physics, chemistry and biology, and it has resulted in engineering of nanoparticles (1–100 nm) and their applications. These nanoparticles have an extensive utility in electronic circuits, biochemical sensors, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, cosmetic industry, therapeutic medical science, garment, food industry, etc. The market of nanoparticles is growing substantially, and many different types of nanoparticles and nanoparticle-based products have launched in the recent past. At the same time, unprecedented increases in the usage of nanoparticles have raised concerns over their ultimate release in the ecosystem, posing serious health hazards and environmental impact. The consequences may be more pronounced because of higher surface area against the mass ratio for the nanoparticles than bulk chemistry bestowing them unique physicochemical, electrical, optical and biological properties. Interaction of nanoparticles to the microbes is, therefore, vital to interpret the influence of nanoparticles on the aquatic bodies and soil health. In this regard, it is crucial to know the stability of nanoparticles, and better to understand the interaction and resulting toxicity mechanisms of nanoparticles to the microbes. In the present chapter, we have discussed these aspects with critical insights. Further, antimicrobial and antifungal properties of the nanoparticles are elaborated with a focus on the toxicity mechanism. The impact of nanoparticles could be influenced by the concentration, size, shape, etc. The toxicity mechanisms include inactivation of enzymes because of the interaction of thiol group, oxidative stress leading to surge in reactive oxygen species, restricted nutrient availability due to the aggregation of nanoparticles on the microbial surfaces, ultrastructural membranes, subcellular organelles and DNA damage. Understanding the complex nature of the interaction between the consortium of diverse microorganisms with nanoparticles is thoroughly debated in this chapter.

It is necessary to consider only relevant predictor variables for prediction purpose because irrelevant predictors in the regression model will tend to misleading inference. There are so many model selection methods available in the literature; among these, some methods are resistant to vertical outliers, but still, the problem of the presence of vertical outliers and leverage points is not well studied. In this article, we have modified the Sp statistic using the generalized M-estimator for robust model selection in the presence of vertical outliers and high leverage points. The proposed model selection criterion selects only relevant predictor variables by probability one for a large sample size. We found the equivalence of this criterion and the existing Cp and Sp criteria. The superiority of a proposed criterion is demonstrated using simulated and real data.

The asymmetric reduction of unsaturated carbonyl functionalities is one of the most important chemical transformations to generate optically active stereocenters. Optically active secondary alcohols are a class of compounds which displays significant importance as various intermediates, chiral building blocks and biologically active compounds. Various methods have been utilized for the synthesis of these secondary alcohols to achieve high activity and enantioselectivity for reduction reactions of prochiral ketones. Organocatalysis plays a pivotal role in the area of asymmetric synthesis. Recently, several types of organocatalysts have been investigated for asymmetric reduction of prochiral ketones to obtain chiral alcohols with excellent enantioselectivity. This review is focused on selected studies on the development of organocatalysts which are classified into six major categories: i) oxazaborolidine, ii) hydroxyamide, iii) BINOL, iv) ionic liquid, v) phosphoric acid and vi) thiourea-amine based catalysts for asymmetric reduction of prochiral ketones. Mechanistic studies performed in this area are also briefly summarised herein. This review specifically focuses on the most recent applications of organocatalysts used for reduction of ketones for the past seven years.

The assessment of stability and behavior of ionic liquid is possible through the study of molecular interactions of the ionic liquid in water and mixed aqueous l -alanine solutions. We have studied density ( ρ ) and speed of sound ( u ) parameters at various temperatures. Derived parameters like apparent molar volume ( V ϕ ) and apparent molar isentropic compressibility ( K S , ϕ ) of solutes are calculated in the temperature range of 293.15 K–313.15 K. For aqueous binary and ternary solutions having ionic liquid [EMIm][MeSO4] and l -alanine as solute components. For ternary aqueous solutions concentration of l -alanine was kept constant (0.05 mol.kg−1). The limiting apparent molar volume ( V ϕ 0 ) and compressibility ( K S , ϕ 0 ) values for IL are estimated by using smooth extrapolation of V ϕ and K S , ϕ data. In both binary and ternary systems, the limiting apparent molar expansivity ( E ϕ 0 ) of solute and coefficient of thermal expansion ( α * ) and hydration number (nh) parameters have been calculated. The estimation of transfer parameters i.e., transfer volume and transfer compressibility results for transfer of IL from aqueous to aqueous l -alanine solutions are explained in terms of ion–solvent and hydrophobic interaction effects.

Studies of volumetric and compressibility properties of aqueous solutions of medicinal compounds are essential for understanding the molecular interactions between the drug and solvent molecules. In this regard, we have measured the density and speed of sound data for the drug i.e. isoprenaline hydrochloride in aqueous medium and in 0.05 mol.kg−1 aqueous L-alanine solution within the molality range (0.05–0.12 mol.kg−1) at different temperatures i.e. T = 293.15, 298.15, 303.15, 308.15 and 313.15 K. This data have been used to obtain the apparent molar volume of solute V ϕ , isentropic compressibility κ s of solutions and apparent molar isentropic compressibility of solute K S , ϕ as a function of concentration of the drug. The temperature variation data enabled us to calculate apparent molar expansivity E ϕ and limiting expansivity at infinitely dilute solutions E ϕ 0 at selected temperatures. The results are discussed in terms of ion–solvent interactions in binary solutions and the effect of addition of amino acid on the similar interactions.

BACKGROUND: COVID 19 Pandemic and Lockdown situation has changed the way in which patients are treated in hospitals. Several tertiary care Trust Hospitals were designated as Dedicated COVID Hospitals by the Government of India in this period. We describe the treatment of Cancer patients carried out in such a hospital simultaneously alongside COVID patients in a COVID HOTSPOT in India. METHODS: All Cancer patients treated in the lockdown period in our Dedicated COVID hospital were studied. Patients receiving cancer surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy were included. FINDINGS: A total of 864 patients received treatment for cancer in our hospital during the period of 20th March 2020 to 31st May 2020. This included 626 old patients and 238 new patients. 110 patients underwent 122 surgeries, 658 patients received 1888 cycles of chemotherapy and 205 patients received 3498 fractions of radiotherapy during this period. Only 7/110 (6.36%) surgical patients, 129/658 (19.64%) chemotherapy patients and 14/205 (6.82%) radiotherapy patients had any complications, but they were not COVID-related. The treatment of 109/864 (12.61%) was delayed due to Pandemic and Lockdown situation and the treatment plan was changed for 84/864 (9.72%) patients. There were 21 deaths in these 864 patients (2.43%) but only 2 deaths were COVID-related. Only 12 patients were tested for COVID and only 3/864 patients (0.34%) were detected to be COVID positive. INTERPRETATION: We were able to successfully deliver cancer treatment to patients in our Hospital despite the fact that COVID-positive patients were being treated in another part of the hospital. The percentage of adverse effects, delay or change in treatment and COVID infection has been very low in our study. For a disease like cancer, it is important to continue or initiate the treatment taking due precautions in this Pandemic situation. FUNDING STATEMENT: None. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS: None. ETHICS APPROVAL STATEMENT: The Institutional Ethics Committee had approved this study.

The use of complementary and alternative medical therapies is increasing worldwide. Many of these products have biological activity that can lead to severe toxicity or interact with prescribed medications. We present here a case of 68-year-old female, a known diabetic and hypertensive on treatment, who presented with symptoms of liver failure. This was associated with the consumption of mahogany seeds (sky fruit). She was investigated for other causes of liver failure, which turned out negative. It is important to recognize such possible complications during these therapies and promptly withdraw the offending agent.

In present communication we report experimental density and speed of sound data for the antihypertensive drug Hydralazine hydrochloride in water and 0.05 mol.kg−1 L-alanine and L-valine aqueous solutions at temperatures 293.15, 298.15, 303.15, 308.15 and 313.15 K within the molality range of 0.06–0.15 mol.kg−1. By using the experimental density and speed of sound data and appropriate equations, we calculate the parameter like apparent molar volume of solute(Vϕ), limiting apparent molar volume of solute (Vϕ0), apparent molar expansivity(Eϕ), isobaric expansivity coefficient (α), limiting apparent molar expansivity(Eϕ0), isentropic compressibility(Ks), apparent molar isentropic compressibility of solute(KS, ϕ) apparent molar isentropic compressibility at the infinite dilutions(KS, ϕ0), and hydration number(nh). The limiting apparent molar volume of solute has been used to obtain transfer parameter for Hydralazine hydrochloride. The hydration behavior for the experimental studied drug in the different mediums has been understood by computing the hydration number.

Stamping is the process of creating either raised or recessed symbol patterns, images and designs in paper, rubber and other materials. A stamping pattern is raised or sunken into the surface of the material to get the desired impressions. The recent practice of industry includes stamping units with rigidly fixed pulley structure. But it has a difficulty while changing the stamping symbols. These stamping symbols are also called stereos. The stamping unit needs to be fully opened for changing the stereos. Also the stereos get detached along with the working compound in operating condition. This process is time consuming. To overcome this difficulty a separate lock and key arrangement can be made to change various stereos. So the object of our project is to change the current design of stamping unit with new design of lock and key arrangement and recreate the stamping unit which will make the process quick. Then it can be implemented and the same can be checked for performance.

Summary Assessment of Sea water Ingress in coastal aquifer and Identification of Suitable Sites for Rainwater Harvesting to resists Ingress in Coastal aquifer of Jafrabad District, India.

Homogeneous catalysts often show high activity and selectivity towards the various chemical transformations. Most of the transition metal-based active catalysts are expensive, rare, and have strict regulations for their use in pharmaceutical products. Hence, there is a requirement to develop suitable technologies for the practical separation and recycling of metal complex catalysts along with the sustainability of the process. This review focuses on the recent techniques used for the catalyst separation, their recovery, and recyclability of the homogeneous form of catalysts based on their economic compatibility and industrial applications. Various homogeneous catalysts have been reviewed on the basis of their support or media, active centres and recyclability aspects of the catalysts. This review gives brief insights into the varied examples of different recycling techniques utilized in the past 6-7 years.

Quasi-free photoproduction of $ \eta{^\prime}$ -mesons off nucleons bound in the deuteron has been measured with the combined Crystal Barrel - TAPS detector. The experiment was done at a tagged photon beam of the ELSA electron accelerator in Bonn for incident photon energies from the production threshold up to 2.5GeV. The $ \eta{^\prime}$ -mesons have been detected in coincidence with recoil protons and recoil neutrons. The quasi-free proton data are in good agreement with the results for free protons, indicating that nuclear effects have no significant impact. The coincidence with recoil neutrons provides the first data for the $ \gamma$ n $ \rightarrow$ n $ \eta{^\prime}$ reaction. In addition, also first estimates for coherent $ \eta{^\prime}$ -production off the deuteron have been obtained. In agreement with model predictions, the total cross-section for this channel is found to be very small, at most at the level of a few nb. The data are compared to model calculations taking into account contributions from nucleon resonances and t -channel exchanges

Photoproduction of $\eta$ mesons off $^{12}$C, $^{40}$Ca, $^{93}$Nb, and $^{nat}$Pb nuclei has been measured with a tagged photon beam with energies between 0.6 and 2.2 GeV. The experiment was performed at the Bonn ELSA accelerator with the combined setup of the Crystal Barrel and TAPS calorimeters. It aimed at the in-medium properties of the S$_{11}$(1535) nucleon resonance and the study of the absorption properties of nuclear matter for $\eta$ mesons. Careful consideration was given to contributions from $\eta\pi$ final states and secondary production mechanisms of $\eta$-mesons e.g. from inelastic $\pi N$ reactions of intermediate pions. The analysis of the mass number scaling shows that the nuclear absorption cross section $\sigma_{N\eta}$ for $\eta$ mesons is constant over a wide range of the $\eta$ momentum. The comparison of the excitation functions to data off the deuteron and to calculations in the framework of a BUU-model show no unexplained in-medium modifications of the S$_{11}$(1535)., Comment: Accepted for publication in Eur. Phys. J. A

The utility of a chiral Ru-prolinamide catalytic system has been demonstrated in one-pot synthesis of optically active β-triazolylethanol and β-hydroxy sulfone derivatives. The said methodology proceeds through asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of in situ formed ketones of the corresponding chiral products. Various chiral prolinamide ligands were screened, and ligand L6 with isopropyl groups substituted at the ortho position has shown excellent activity at 60 °C in aqueous medium producing up to 95% yield and 99.9% enantioselectivity.

New unsymmetrical vicinal diamine ligands with systematic variation in the regio and stereo positions in the amine and sulphonamide groups were synthesized from cheap starting material such as norephedrine. Catalytic Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation (ATH) of aromatic alkyl ketones has been investigated using transition metal complexes and new derivatives of monotosylated unsymmetrical vicinal diamine ligands using sodium formate as the hydrogen source, in water and methanol. Chiral secondary alcohols were obtained with excellent enantioselectivity (>95% ee) and conversion of ketones (>95%) with [Rh(Cp*)Cl2]2 and ligand 4 as a catalyst. Enantioselectivity was found to be slightly higher with the use of methanol as a solvent for ATH of ketones with sodium formate as the hydrogen source compared to water as a solvent and was found to be consistent with all the ketones investigated. The reaction mixture is homogeneous in methanol unlike in water, where substrate and product are insoluble in water and form separate phase, sodium formate being soluble in water. The activity and enantioselectivity obtained for ATH of ketones using [Rh(Cp*)Cl2]2 and unsymmetrical vicinal diamine ligand as catalyst was comparable with the C2 symmetric benchmark ligands like TsDPEN ((1R,2R)-N-(p-tolylsulfonyl)-1,2-diphenylethylene-diamine), and TsCYDN ((1R,2R)-N-(p-tolylsulfonyl)-1,2-cyclohexyl,diamine) under similar reaction conditions. To the best of our knowledge, this is first example of the ATH of ketones with good activity and high enantioselectivity with [Rh(Cp*)Cl2]2 and unsymmetrical vicinal diamine ligands as catalyst systems.

Biphasic tablet system made of immediate and sustained release tablet core was prepared by direct compression. The outer layer was formulated to release of drug in very short time, while the mini-tablets provided a sustained passion of drug release. Immediate release component comprised of croscarmellose sodium (5%), while mini-tablet was formulated using different concentration of Olibanum gum. The in vitro drug release profile from these tablets showed desired biphasic release behavior. The Nicorandil contained in immediate release component was dissolved within 2 min, whereas drug in mini-tablets was released at different times, depending on the composition of mini-tablets. Dissolution profile was studied in the medium 0.1 N HCl for first 1 h, then Phosphate Buffer Saline pH 6.8 for remaining period of time. TSP and Olibanum gum core was suitable for providing drug release over 7 h time period.

Background: Past decades have witnessed a rapid rise in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus; estimated to affect 415 million adults worldwide and 69.1 million adults in India. There has been an increased prevalence of diabetes associated depression, which can aggravate the symptoms of depression and diabetes associated complications. Use of tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) can disturb the glycemic control. Escitalopram is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and Etizolam is a new safe antianxiety agent. The objective of this study was to study the prevalence of depression and anxiety in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and to assess the efficacy of escitalopram and etizolam in the treatment of depression and/or anxiety in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Methods: Total 125 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus with fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study. Informed written consent was obtained from the patients willing to participate in the study. They were screened for the presence of depression with the help of PHQ-9. Their demographic features were recorded and initial laboratory investigations done. Haemogram, blood sugar level - fasting (BSL-F) and postprandial (PP), serum alanine transferase (ALT), serum creatinine and Urine routine analysis. Patients were started on Escitalopram (10 mg) + Etizolam (0.5 mg) daily for 30 days and others were not treated and acted as control; keeping the management of diabetes mellitus unchanged for all. Laboratory investigations were repeated after 30 days. Results: The prevalence of depression with/without anxiety was 35.2%. 51 patients treated with Escitalopram + Etizolam improved clinically and biochemically. There was a significant (P < 0.05) improvement in BSL-F and PP and HbA1C in patients treated with Escitalopram + Etizolam. Conclusions: Prevalence of depression among type 2 diabetes mellitus was found to be 35% in this study. Fifty one patients treated with escitalopram + etizolam improved clinically as well as biochemically. There was significant improvement in BSL-F, BSL-PP and HbA1c. Escitalopram may be considered as antidepressant of choice in such cases.

Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of various cyclic imines proceeded efficiently with water/methanol co-solvent media in 20 min with excellent yields and enantioselectivities by employing Rh–TsDPEN catalyst and sodium formate as a hydrogen donor. The role of the co-solvent in enhanced productivity of the reaction was investigated by DFT. The mechanism for ATH of the imines has been discussed on the basis of the DFT study.