Signs and Codes in a Mild Billboard Advertisement

Everyday when we go somewhere, we often see A Mild advertisements onbillboards on the side of street with imaginative picture and few lines of messages.Advertisement gives various information which aims at persuading the audiencesand also ensuring the reader or listener that their products are so good, so peoplewill be interested to buy the product. The writer is aimed to find out: (1) the kindsof signs found in A Mild billboard ads and (2) the kinds of codes found in A Mildbillboard ads.This study uses qualitative approach in terms of content analysis. Since thefocus of the study is on the signs and codes in the advertisements, the theories ofcode proposed by Barthes(1974) and Chandler ( 2002) are used. The writerchooses four versions of A Mild Billboard advertisement.This study reveals that the iconic signs are mostly used in these ads. Thewriter sees that visual elements in the form of icons are mostly used. The writersees that theories are not only found in the form of visual elements of A Mildadvertisement which are divided into icon, index, and symbol but also in theverbal elements of A Mild advertisements in the form of symbol as thevisualization of verbal language in the form of words, phrases, sentences ordialogue. Based on the writer's analysis to these A Mild advertisements, the codesusually use more iconic signs since the number of iconic signs used in the A Mildadvertisements is fewer than others.Finally, the next researchers can analyze how the codes are valuable inrelating signs and meaning in other visual communication forms and they cancompare their analysis to the result of this research

Evaluation of Carrot (Daucus carota L.) Hybrids at Mid-Elevation and Higher in the Nilgiris

Investigations were made on yield and quality in six hybrids of carrot spanning two seasons under Nilgiri hill conditions during the year 2012-2013. The hybrids were evaluated for per se performance, genotypic coefficient of variance, heritability and genetic advance. A high estimate for genotypic coefficient of variation was observed in root-splitting percentage, total chlorophyll, root carotenoids, leaf carotenoids and root-forking percentage in the hybrids, indicating a potential for improvement of these traits by simple selection, in kharif and summer. Leaf and root carotenoid content, total chlorophyll, number of leaves and root weight exhibited higher values for heritability, coupled with a high genetic advance, revealing these traits to be under the control of gene action. Simple selection can, therefore, effect improvement in these characters

Sleep Timing in Late Autumn and Late Spring Associates With Light Exposure Rather Than Sun Time in College Students

Timing of the human sleep-wake cycle is determined by social constraints, biological processes (sleep homeostasis and circadian rhythmicity) and environmental factors, particularly natural and electrical light exposure. To what extent seasonal changes in the light-dark cycle affect sleep timing and how this varies between weekdays and weekends has not been firmly established. We examined sleep and activity patterns during weekdays and weekends in late autumn (standard time, ST) and late spring (daylight saving time, DST), and expressed their timing in relation to three environmental reference points: clock-time, solar noon (SN) which occurs one clock hour later during DST than ST, and the midpoint of accumulated light exposure (50% LE). Observed sleep timing data were compared to simulated data from a mathematical model for the effects of light on the circadian and homeostatic regulation of sleep. A total of 715 days of sleep timing and light exposure were recorded in 19 undergraduates in a repeated-measures observational study. During each three-week assessment, light and activity were monitored, and self-reported bed and wake times were collected. Light exposure was higher in spring than in autumn. 50% LE did not vary across season, but occurred later on weekends compared to weekdays. Relative to clock-time, bedtime, wake-time, mid-sleep, and midpoint of activity were later on weekends but did not differ across seasons. Relative to SN, sleep and activity measures were earlier in spring than in autumn. Relative to 50% LE, only wake-time and mid-sleep were later on weekends, with no seasonal differences. Individual differences in mid-sleep did not correlate with SN but correlated with 50% LE. Individuals with different habitual bedtimes responded similarly to seasonal changes. Model simulations showed that light exposure patterns are sufficient to explain sleep timing in spring but less so in autumn. The findings indicate that during autumn and spring, the timing of sleep associates with actual light exposure rather than sun time as indexed by SN

A study on comparison of Minimal Separation Hydrocelectomy Vs. conventional Hydrocelectomy (Jaboulay’s procedure) at Govt. Kilpauk Medical College Hospital.

To compare the new minimally access hydrocelectomy versus Jaboulay’s procedure regarding operative outcome and patient’s satisfaction. Minimal access hydrocelectomy surgery is a novel procedure and there is an adequate literature about the benefits of this surgical technique. In India, still in many hospitals we are practicing only conventional hydrocelectomy (Jaboulay’s procedure) and Lord’s plication techniques for the treatment of hydrocele. These techniques have its own complications. Only a very few publications have studied the benefits of minimal access hydrocelectomy over the conventional procedure and there were no studies which involved Indian population. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this thesis is to compare the operative outcomes among the primary vaginal hydrocele patients those underwent minimal access hydrocelectomy and conventional hydrocelectomy. OBJECTIVES: Primary The main objective of this thesis is to compare the post-operative complications among the primary vaginal hydrocele patients those underwent minimal access hydrocelectomy, conventional hydrocelectomy. Secondary: To compare the operating time and hospital stay among the primary vaginal hydrocele patients those underwent minimal access hydrocelectomy and conventional hydrocelectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 adult patients were divided into two groups A and B. Group A patients was subjected to conventional surgical hydrocelectomy (Jaboulay’s procedure) and group B patients were subjected to the new minimal access hydrocelectomy. The primary endpoint of the study was recurrence defined as a clinically detectable characteristic swelling in the scrotum and diagnosed by the two surgeons and confirmed by ultrasound imaging study. The secondary endpoints were postoperative hematoma, wound sepsis and persistent edema and hardening. CONCLUSION: Hydrocelectomy is considered the gold standard technique for the treatment of hydrocele and the minimally access maneuvers provide the best operative outcomes regarding scrotal edema and hardening and patient’s satisfaction when compared to conventional eversion-excision hydrocelectomies

Evaluation of the Effect of Atorvastatin on Insulin Sensitivity

INTRODUCTION: The 3-Hydroxyl-3 methyl glutaryl Coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitors or statins have been a primary force in the management of hypercholesterolemia for many years and are important in the primary and secondary prevention of heart disease. However, increasingly it is being shown that the statins have clinical benefits that appear to be greater than those one would expect from improvement in the lipid profile alone. These pleotrophic actions include direct effects on vascular tissue, kidney, bone and glucose metabolism. The hyperinsulinaemic / insulin resistant states is a metabolic condition linked to widespread and heterogeneous clinical syndrome like hypertension, obesity, type-2 diabetes, dyslipidaemia, atherosclerosis and coronary vascular disease. About 25% of the non-diabetic population shows abnormalities of insulin sensitivity and compensatory hyperinsulinaemia. Diabetes affected 194 million people worldwide in 2003 and is estimated to affect 299 to 333 million by 2025, according to International Diabetes Federation. Various studies have observed the effect of statins on insulin sensitivity in Type 2 Diabetic mellitus. Since statins are commonly used for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia in clinical practice, it is important to know their effect on insulin sensitivity. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of Atorvastatin on insulin sensitivity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study deals with the effect of Atorvastatin on insulin sensitivity conducted at Hypertension outpatient department of Government Stanley Medical College Hospital, Chennai. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the institutional ethical review board. Ninety patients are screened for the study from a random population of 110 hypertensive patients receiving atenolol as anti-hypertensive drug, by a random selection process, from which 68 patients are considered based on patient compliance, intelligence to understand dietary prescriptions and directions and whether free from any other disease on initial medical testing. Written consent for the study as per protocol is obtained. The patients were randomized into two groups, of 34 patients each, by a random selection process. The experimental group consisting of 34 dyslipidaemic and hypertensive patients receiving atorvastatin 10mg/day and atenolol 50 mg/day at the Hypertension OPD at Govt Stanley Medical College Hospital are chosen as volunteers and are compared with another group of 34 hypertensive patients receiving atenolol 50 mg/day only. Uniform diet pattern is prescribed to all of them. Inclusion Criteria: Dyslipidaemia, Hypertension, Age 40 to 50 years, not receiving any drugs other than mentioned above, not suffering from any other diseases. Exclusion Criteria: Those patients not satisfying the inclusion criteria are excluded. Clinical Characters of Volunteers: Clinically, both the groups show no abnormality, other than hypertension in both groups, along with dyslipidaemia in the experimental group. Data Collection: Height, Weight, BMI and blood pressure measurements were done and other information collected with the help of predesigned questionnaire. RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONS: Table – 1 shows the anthropometric and biochemical characteristics of the subject in the control and Atorvastin treated groups at the start of the study. The proportion of the male & female in both the groups was similar. Proportion of subjects having positive family history of diabetes and blood pressure in both the groups were also similar. It is found that in the group receiving atenolol and atorvastatin (experimental group), TC is reduced from initial values of 280 +/- 20 mg/dl to 202 +/- 12 mg/dl (p = 0.05). HDLC is increased from 45 +/-10 mg/dl to 52 +/- 12 mg/dl (p = 0.04). LDLC reduced from 180 +/-20 mg/dl to 148 +/-12 mg/dl (p = 0.05). VLDLC, Triglycerides values remain almost same, and changes are statistically insignificant. FBS values changed from initial 106 +/- 6 mg/dl to 88 +/-4 mg/dl (p = 0.04). In the control group receiving atenolol only, it is observed that TC is from initial values of 140 +/-20 mg/dl to 112+/-8 mg/dl. HDLC changes from 40 +/-10 mg/dl to 44 +/-9 mg/dl. LDLC changes from 110 +/-30 mg/dl to 95 +/-13 mg/dl. VLDLC, TG and FBS values remain almost same, and all the value changes are statistically insignificant. Table 4 shows serum insulin and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA 2-IR) values of different groups, in order to determine insulin sensitivity. It was observed that in the experimental group, serum insulin value initially is 20 +/-5 microU/ml and finally is 18 +/-3 microU/ml (p = 0.03), and in the control group, serum insulin value initially is 18 +/-5 microU/ml and finally is 31 +/-2 microU/ml. HOMA 2 values (insulin resistance or IR) of the two groups of patients show that in the experimental group it was 4.3 +/-0.5 microU/ml initially and 4.3 +/-0.3 microU/ml finally, showing increase in insulin sensitivity by atorvastatin. CONCLUSION: 1. Statins improve insulin sensitivity even in normoglycemics and prevent the progression of IGT to type 2 diabetes. 2. Statins reduce levels of interleukin 6 and TNF through its antiinflammatory activity. These cytokines inhibit lipoprotein lipase activity and to stimulate lipolysis in adipose tissue. Atorvastatin may therefore interrupt the progression from central obesity to insulin resistance mediated by the adipose tissue derived cytokines. 3. Impaired endothelial function has been shown to correlate with insulin resistance. Atorvastatin by restoring endothelial function, may beneficially affect glucose and insulin transport. 4. Since statins are used for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia in clinical practice, it is important to know their effect on insulin sensitivity. If further studies confirm the observation that statins improve insulin sensitivity and reduce the onset of type 2 diabetes, the perceived benefit of cardiovascular intervention in clinical trials could be greatly increased and the long term cost-benefit analysis of those interventions may be more positive than previous studies have estimated

Inductive cum targeted yield model based Integrated fertilizer prescriptions for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) under drip fertigation on an alfisol

Soil test crop response (STCR) correlation studies under Integrated Plant Nutrition System were conducted in the western agro-climatic zone of Tamil Nadu during 2020-2021 to devise the fertilizer prescription equations for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)  under drip fertigation on an alfisol. The equations were derived by following Ramamoorthy’s Inductive cum targeted yield model. The nutrient requirement of N, P2O5 and K2O for producing one quintal of tomato fruit was found to be 0.22, 0.11, 0.27 kg respectively. The per cent contribution of nutrients were 37.93, 46.73 and 29.53 of N, P2O5 and K2O from soil (Cs) and 47.84, 31.12 and 74.13 of N, P2O5 and K2O from fertilizers (Cf) respectively. Two organic sources were applied viz., FYM (Farm Yard Manure) and Biocompost and the per cent contribution of nutrients from FYM were 38.36, 13.22 and 52.17 of N, P2O5 and K2O and from biocompost were 43.34, 10.90 and 57.00 of N, P2O5 and K2O respectively. Fertilizer adjustment equations were formulated for STCR-NPK alone, STCR-IPNS (FYM) and STCR-IPNS (Biocompost) by applying the basic parameters such as NR, Cs, Cf, Cfym, Cbiocompost. A ready reckoner of fertilizer doses for a set of soil test values at yield targets 80 and 90 t ha-1 was computed. The findings also showed that the adoption of STCR-IPNS could save more fertilizers

A Material Model Approach on the Deflection and Crack Pattern in Different Panels of the RCC Flat Plate using Finite Element Analysis

Three reinforced cement concrete (RCC) flat plate panels, namely interior, edge, and corner panels, were considered for evaluating the deflection and crack development from the column. In this study, a numerical analysis was conducted for a steel fibre-reinforced flat plate with steel fibre volumes of 0.3% and 0.4%. The study was conducted on real- and scaled-sized flat plates. We used the ABAQUS software to model and evaluate the deflection and crack patterns. An experimental study was conducted on the scaled-sized specimens to validate the finite element analysis (FEA) results. This study presents the punching shear behaviour of various panels of a flat plate with and without steel fibres. The deflection values obtained from the FEA and experiment were compared, and we found that the interior panel exhibited better results when compared to edge and corner panels. A minimum of three sided support is preferred for the stability of a larger-sized flat plate. The interior panels provided better strength and load-bearing capacity when compared to edge and corner panels. Crack patterns for different panels of a flat plate with different steel fibre volumes were analysed by comparing the FEA and experimental results. The development of cracks moved away from the column face on addition of steel fibres and changed its brittle nature. The results indicate that the crack developed from the column face is away from the critical distance d/2 from the slab-column junction (specimens with fibre), further demonstrating the stability of the structure. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2022-08-03-05 Full Text: PD

Nestroft as a screening tool to Identify Beta Thalassaemia Trait in Paediatric Cases.

In India, There Are Around 20 Million Carrier Cases Of -Thalassaemia And Around 8000-10,000 Children Are Born Every Year With -Thalassaemia Major, Lokeshwar M.R. Shah N, Kanakia N. Et.Al 2006. The Birth Of A Thalassaemia Child Places Considerable Health And Economic Strain Not Only On The Affected Child And His/Her Family But Also On The Community. Since, Thalassaemia Is A Severe And Incurable Disease, Emphasis Has To Be Shifted From The Treatment Of An Affected Child To The Prevention Of Such Births In Future. Identifying Carriers For - Thalassaemia Patients, Thus Plays An Important Role In Preventing This, Verma IC Et.Al (1992). - Thalassaemia Trait Presents With Microcytic Hypochromic Blood Picture Similar To The Picture Of Iron Deficiency Anemia And Anemia Of Chronic Diseases. The Differentiation Between These Conditions Becomes Mandatory Which Usually Relies On The Measurement Of Serum Ferritin, Serum Iron, Total Iron Binding Capacity And Hb A2 Levels. These Diagnostic Methods Are Costly And Hence Constitute A Significant Burden On Public Health Economy Particularly In Developing Countries Like India. This Made The Way For Developing A Simple And Economic Screening Test For The Detection Of Carriers Of - Thalassemia. In 1988 Mehta BC Et Al Developed A Simple Cost Effective Screening Test For The Detection Of Cases Of -Thalassemia Trait Based On Reduced Osmotic Fragility. This Is Called NESTROFT (Naked Eye Single Tube Red Cell Osmotic Fragility Test). We Have Tried To Assess The Usefulness Of This Screening Test In Our Paediatric Cases Presenting With Anemia