Abstract : This present study was conducted to evaluate the hypolipidemic potential of sage oil (Salvia officinalis) in controlling hypercholesterolemia and their effect on liver enzymes and pancreatic lipase activitiesin female rats. Twenty four of female rats were housed in standard cages, the experimental rats were divided randomly in to three groups (8 in each group). Group 1 was fed on the standard diet considered as control group (negative), group 2 was fed on experimental diet (HFD) as a replacement for their diet for four weeks to induce hypercholesterolemia as a positive control. Group 3 (treated) was fed on experimental diet (HFD) and oral gavage of sage oil (0.05 ml/kg) as single dose daily for four weeks. Blood sample were taken from these groups after four weeks for biochemical analysis to estimate serum Malon dialdehyde (MDA), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein (HDL-C), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine aminotranferase (ALT) and pancreatic lipase (PL). The results showed that sage oil administration resulted in a decrease in the concentration of Malon dialdehyde, total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein associated with an increased high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) concentration in rats, the serum enzymes activities of aspartate amino transferase, alanine amino transferase and pancreatic lipase werealso significantly decreased. It was concluded from the present study that a protective effect against hypercholesterolemia and hypolipidemic properties of the sage oil, in addition beneficial effect in decreasing the elevated liver enzymes and has inhibitory effect against the pancreatic lipase activitymay be attributed to theantioxidant activity of one or more of its flavonoids and polyphenols.

Abstract : Objective: To evaluate the antidiabetic effect of geraniol, a monoterpene, on the levels of glycoprotein components in plasma and liver of high fat diet (HFD) and low dose of streptozotocin (STZ) induced type 2 diabetic rats. Methods: Diabetes was induced in male albino Wistar rats by HFD in combination with a low dose of STZ (25 mg/kg body weight). Geraniol was administered orally at a dose of (100 mg/kg body weight (b.w)) for 8 weeks. The effect of geraniol was studied on plasma and liver of glycoproteins. Results: Oral administration of geraniol (100 mg/kg b.w) for 8 weeks controlled the altered levels of plasma and liver glycoprotein components to near normal. No significant changes were observed in normal rats treated with geraniol. Conclusion: The present findings suggest that geraniol possesses a protective effect on altered glycoprotein metabolism in addition to its antihyperglycemic activity.

Abstract : Modern living has brought with it, not only innumerable means of comfort, but also a plethora of demands that tax human body and mind. Nowadays, everyone talks about stress. Not only just high level executives are its key victims but also the laborers, slum dwellers, working women, businessmen, professionals and even children are pressurized due to stress. Stress is an inevitable and unavoidable component of human life due to increasing complexities and competitiveness in living standards. The speed at which change is taking place in the world today is certainly overwhelming and breathe taking. In the fast changing world of today, no individual is free from stress and no profession is stress free. Everyone experiences stress, whether it is within the family, business, organization, study, work or any other social or economical activity. Thus in modern time, stress in general and job stress in particular has become a part of the life and has received considerable attention in recent years. Stress has become the core concern in the life of everyone, but everybody wants stress - free life. Stress is a subject which is hard to avoid. Stress is a part of day-to-day living. Every individual is subjected to stress either knowingly or unknowingly. Stress, a long considered alien to Indian lifestyle is now a major health problem.

Abstract : Sugar industry in the country is the most viable and vibrant sector. It is imperative that average cane productivity can be improved. The proper application of fertilizers is the main crop production factor. Therefore, the concept of integrating all sources of plant nutrients made into a productive system to supplement nutrient mining in the soil. Field experiment was conducted in farmer’s field of clay loam soil at Periyanellikollai village at Chidambaram taluk, Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu. The soil was low in available N, medium in available P and medium in available K. In plant crop experiment, treatments consisted of T1 – Seasoned Pressmud @ 25 t ha-1, T2 – T1 + Enriched Gypsum @ 1 t ha-1, T3 – T2 + ZnSO4 @ 37.5 kg ha-1, T4 – T1 + Lignite Fly ash @ 25 t ha-1, T5 – T1 + Vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1, T6 – Vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1 + Enriched Gypsum @ 1 t ha-1, T7 – T6 + ZnSO4 @ 37.5 kg ha-1, T8 –Vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1 + Lignite Fly ash @ 25 t ha-1, T9 – Biocompost @ 5 t ha-1, T10 - T9 + Enriched Gypsum @ 1 t ha-1, T11 – T10 + ZnSO4 @ 37.5 kg ha-1, T12 – T9 + Lignite Fly ash @ 25 t ha-1, T13 – FYM @ 10 t ha-1 and T¬14 – NPK alone (Recommended dose of fertilizer). All the plots received recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers. The design followed was Randomized Block Design (RBD). The treatments were replicated thrice. The highest value of individual cane weight was 1.40 kg cane-1, number of millable cane was 127.53 ( 1000 ha-1) cane yield was 166.85 t ha-1, juice quality (Brix – 21.3 %, pol – 19.13 % Commercial Cane Sugar – 13.33 %) and Sugar yield of 22.62 t ha-1 were recorded in T3 (Seasoned Pressmud @ 25 t ha-1 + Enriched Gypsum @ 1 t ha-1 + ZnSO4 @ 37.5 kg ha-1).

Abstract : HIV infection and its progression to AIDS has become an important subject matter of study. The medical personnel spend much of the time and energy to find a cure from this infection. The mathematicians and statisticians pay their attention to develop stochastic models for the study of the spread of the infection and its progression. An interesting aspect of study is to develop models which could predict the time to serocoversion of HIV infected. In this paper a stochastic model is developed to find the expected time to seroconversion under the assumption that the antigenic diversity threshold is a random variable which follows Three Parameter Generalized Exponential Distribution. Basically the shock model and cumulative damage process is being used. Numerical illustration is also provided.

Abstract : In Indian sub-continent, growing protests against environmental destruction and struggles for survival and existence have highlighted the interconnections of feminist perspectives along with nature. Women have always been undervalued due to patriarchal assumptions. They have been tutored that their greatness lies in their sufferings and therefore, happiness of others is always prioritized to their own. This paper seeks to outline postcolonial ecofeminism in Arundhathi Roy’s The God of Small Things. I also argue that women’s relationship to the environment is ambivalent, thus disputing the dualism of nature/culture and yet straddling the grey area between these two binaries.

Abstract : Studies on the determinant factors to the adoption of agricultural technologies are abound but there is dearth of information on the factors that predispose farmers to discontinue the adoption of innovation. This is despite the vast proof of drastic decline in production yield statistics of many crops such as okra, notwithstanding the proven evidences of technologies transfer from research to the farmers. It is based on this premise that this study was carried out using variables such as attitude, extension visit, feedback provision, marketability and input availability. Totally, 120 okra farmers were randomly selected using multi stage random sampling technique for the study. Structured questionnaire and oral interview were used to obtain information from the respondents. Mean, Tobit model and gross margin analysis model analyses were used to address the objectives of the study. The results revealed that the determinant factors to the rejection of adoption of okra production technology by the farmers were attitude, feedback provision, marketability and input availability. Also, okra is profitable in the study area with positive net farm income of N265, 356 and gross margin of N266, 356. The recommendations proffered were the need to enhance farmers’ access to credit through commercial banks and microfinance banks. Furthermore, there is need to expose farmers to educational and extension programmes.

Abstract : Bamboo handicraft workers are people who produce products out of bamboo. They are classified as unorganized workers. This particular study deals socio-economic profile of them. It elaborates the social condition such as legal identity, memberships, participation in public contests, celebrations, accessibility, discrimination, health problems and their habits. Economic condition such as living house, possession of house, irrigative land, facilities, income, work availability, savings and loans. Environmental condition such as traditionalism, experience, working area, working hours, health condition and satisfaction. The study also explains the correlation among social, economical and environmental status of them. Further, it discusses the constitutional provisions for their welfare and it traces the means and ways to develop the socio economic condition.

Abstract : The present study was aimed at addressing the problems of adoption of improved production technologies of cocoyam from socioeconomic point of view. This research was indispensable especially now that this crop is facing possible extinction in South East and other zones of the country where it serves as staple food and as well a cash crop. Purposive and multi stage random sampling techniques were used to select 120 farmers for the detailed study. Data, comprising information on the farmers’ socio – economic characteristics and other quantitative variables relevant to the study were collected using well structured questionnaire and personal interview. Descriptive statistics such as percentage response was used to address the farmers’ socio – economic characteristics and constraints to cocoyam production respectively, while the extent of adoption was captured using Tobit model analysis. The result shows that extension visit, cooperative membership; off farm income and educational level were the major determinants of extent of technology adoption of cocoyam in the study area. More so, the results revealed that the major constrains to the production of cocoyam were poor access to credit, high cost of labour, high cost of fertilizer and high cost of planting materials. Policies options aimed at increasing farmers’ access to fertilizer, educational programmes such as adult education, cooperative membership and extension contacts were proffered.

Abstract : The present study was conducted about on bitches to affect the adrenal ectomy on ovariectomized to evaluated the level progesterone. Ten adult female dogs were used in the present study. The present study was done in October of 2015 - 2016 in December, the animals divided into two equal groups as: Control group and Unilateral adrenalectomy - ovariectomy group. All grouped examination at first month to determine pregnancy and estrous phase then treated according to dividable groups in proestrous phase, then the animals leaved to eight weeks later, after that the animal ware killed using over dose of anesthesia. The result revealed the average number of day of estrous of cycle of bitches (9.00±1.00) in proestrus phase with change colour of vulva slightily deep - deep pink). Average number of estrous phase (9.00±1.00) with change color vulva to deep pink and slight odema. The appetite and activity of animals observation before and after operation which normal before operation and show simple alterative in some days after operation but restore normal after operation. The level of progesterone hormone recorded significant (p≤ 0.005) decrease in period 1 – 2 – 4 – 5 – 7 - 8 weeks in UADX - UOVE & Control group. The level of progesterone hormone in all period show significant (p≤0.005) decrease compare with control group. The levels of progesterone hormone were significant (p≤0.005) decrease in 3 to 6 weeks to compare UADX- UOVE & control group.

Abstract : The present study was conducted to study the biology of pumpkin beetles, Aulacophora foveicollis (Lucas) and Aulacophora nigripennis (Motschulsky) under laboratory condition. A. foveicollis female were laid an egg with a range of 67 to 98 eggs with an average of 82.50±5.20 and A. nigripennis 40 - 70 eggs laid per female. The oviposition period varied from 9 - 13 and 8 -12 days with an average of 10.67±1.2 and 10.00±0.76 days. In A. foveicollis the average length of egg, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and final instar larva and pupa length were 0.75±0.08 mm, 2.00±0.012 mm, 4.67±0.44 mm, 7.77±0.18 mm, 11.67±0.88 mm and 5.37±0.29 mm and the breadth were measured 0.60±0.03 mm, 0.41±0.06 mm, 0.65±0.08 mm, 0.83±0.09 mm and 2.07±0.18 mm 3.13±0.18 mm respectively. In A. nigripennis, the average length of egg, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and final instar larva and pupa were 0.67±0.06mm, 1.80±0.16mm, 3.75±0.88mm, 6.70±0.08mm, 9.20±0.20 mm and 4.50±0.38 mm and the breadth were measured 0.55±0.05 mm, 0.35±0.03 mm, 0.57±0.05 mm, 0.83±0.07 mm, 1.80±0.15 mm and 2.75±0.24 mm. The average of longevity of adult male and female A. foveicollis was 42.51±3.24 mm and 48.01±3.66 mm. In A. nigripennis 40.67±0.66 and 47.33±1.77 days respectively. The adult male and female A. foveicollis length and breadth was measured about 6.42±0.46 mm, 2.78±0.17 mm and 8.00±0.66 mm, 3.06±0.24 mm. In A. nigripennis adult male and female, length and breadth was measured about 6.00±0.68 mm, 2.50±0.23 mm and 7.70±0.66 mm, 2.85±0.23 mm. The present study clearly demonstrated that the length, breadth in different instars and adult A. foveicollis are somewhat bigger in size compare to A. nigripennis. The egg laying, oviposition period, incubation, hatching percentage and longevity of adult male and female was varied in both species.

Abstract : In the present study, the density of oleaginous microbes isolated from Vellar estuary area at Parangipettai was found to be 1.0 × 104 cfu/g. The oleaginous bacteria were stained with Sudan Black B and observed under an on oil immersion microscope for the presence of blue or grayish colored fat globules within the cells. The bacterial strains showing fat globules within the cells were selected for further studies. The optimized parameters for mass scale production were done to get maximum, growth and lipid accumulation. The use of cheaper substrate for the higher lipid production wheat bran gave high quantity of lipid yield (6.2 g/L) followed by rice straw (5.8 g/L). The fatty acids present in the bacterial culture was analysed by GCMS. The results revealed that the major fatty acids and derivatives were found with carbon backbone of C16 to C37 were produced.

Abstract : The increase in the number of persons who are infected by HIV is a matter of concern for the society as well as for the government. HIV infection results in a number of diseases upon the infected. The HIV infection becomes more dangerous due to successive exposure like sexual contacts and sharing of needles which are HIV infected and blood transmission which is contaminated. So, several researchers found out many mathematical models regarding the antigenic diversity which is a vital factor in HIV infection. One such model to be estimate the expected time to seroconversion due to increasing antigenic diversity. A stochastic model is developed in this paper to estimate the expected time to seroconversion under the assumption that the antigenic diversity threshold is a random variable which follows Two Parameter Burr Type X Distribution. The shock model and cumulative damage processes approach is used for this purpose.

Abstract : Amylases are a group of important enzymes which are mainly employed in the starch processing industries for the hydrolysis of polysaccharides like starch into simple sugars. Amylases accounts for about 30 % of the world’s enzyme production. Due to wide range of application of amylases in various sectors like confectionary, baking, paper, textile, detergent and pharmaceutical many are gaining the attention of researchers. In the present study, the production of extracellular amylases was investigated employing our three laboratory isolates Aspergillus niger - I, Aspergillus niger - II and Aspergillus niger - III. The agricultural residual substrate, wheat bran was used for the enzyme production. Effects of various process conditions, namely: temperature, pH, supplementary carbon and nitrogen source on production of amylase have been studied and accordingly, optimum conditions have been determined. It was found that the amylase production was highest at 35 °C, pH 5.5, supplementation of carbon (starch at 2.0 %) and nitrogen source (yeast extract at 1.0 %) showed an increase in amylase production and the highest amount of amylase production obtained under all optimized conditions.

Abstract : The study was done for 90 days to study the neurotoxicity of TOCP in adult hens. In 4 groups of 20 hens per group, untreated control with corn oil, 1.25, 2.5 and 5 mg/kg of TOCP in corn oil. Then, electron microscopic examination was done with presence of higher number of degenerate myelinated nerve fibers in white matter then in spinal cord of acute neurotoxicity of TOCP. Degenerated myelinated nerve fiber were characterized by presence of vacuolation of myelin, spheroid body formation of degenerate myelin and ovoid lamellated bodies of degenerate myelin also presence of dark stained degenerate lamellated mitochondria. Occasionally, oligodendrocyte showed showed evidence of autophagocytosis of degenerate myelin.