Effect of Mindfulness Meditation on Perceived Stress Scores and Autonomic Function Tests of Pregnant Indian Women.

Introduction: Various pregnancy complications like hypertension, preeclampsia have been strongly correlated with maternal stress. One of the connecting links between pregnancy complications and maternal stress is mind-body intervention which can be part of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). Biologic measures of stress during pregnancy may get reduced by such interventions.

Protective role of ascorbic acid in hemorrhage-induced cardiovascular depression.

Haemorrhagic shock is associated with hyperproduction of free radicals. Hence ascorbic acid (AA), a free radical scavenger, may be of benefit in such cases. We investigated in Wistar rats the role of free radicals in causing cardiovascular depression and the protective role of ascorbic acid, if any, in acute haemorrhage.

A modified method for estimation of chemical oxygen demand for samples having high suspended solids.

Determination of chemical oxygen demand (COD) of samples having high suspended solids concentration such as cattle dung slurry with open reflux method of APHA-AWWA-WPCF did not give consistent results. This study presents a modification of the open reflux method (APHA-AWWA-WPCF) to make it suitable for samples with high percentage of suspended solids. The new method is based on a different technique of sample preparation, modified quantities of reagents and higher reflux time as compared to the existing open reflux method.

Enhancement of biogas production from solid substrates using different techniques--a review.

Biogas, a clean and renewable form of energy could very well substitute (especially in the rural sector) for conventional sources of energy (fossil fuels, oil, etc.) which are causing ecological-environmental problems and at the same time depleting at a faster rate. Despite its numerous advantages, the potential of biogas technology could not be fully harnessed or tapped as certain constraints are also associated with it.