Charge order suppression and antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic switch over in Pr_0.5Ca_0.5MnO_3 nanowires

We have prepared crystalline nanowires (diameter ~ 50 nm, length ~ a few microns) of the charge ordering manganite Pr_0.5Ca_0.5Mn_O3 using a low reaction temperature hydrothermal method and characterized them using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, SQUID magnetometry and electron magnetic resonance measurements. While the bulk sample shows a charge ordering transition at 245 K and an antiferromagnetic transition at 175 K, SQUID magnetometry and electron magnetic resonance experiments reveal that in the nanowires phase, a ferromagnetic transition occurs at ~ 105 K. Further, the antiferromagnetic transition disappears and the charge ordering transition is suppressed. This result is particularly significant since the charge order in Pr_0.5Ca_0.5MnO_3 is known to be very robust, magnetic fields as high as 27 T being needed to melt it.Comment: 12 pages including 4 figures. submitted to Applied Physics Letter

A Prolific Scheme for Load Balancing Relying on Task Completion Time

In networks with lot of computation, load balancing gains increasing significance. To offer various resources, services and applications, the ultimate aim is to facilitate the sharing of services and resources on the network over the Internet. A key issue to be focused and addressed in networks with large amount of computation is load balancing. Load is the number of tasks‘t’ performed by a computation system. The load can be categorized as network load and CPU load. For an efficient load balancing strategy, the process of assigning the load between the nodes should enhance the resource utilization and minimize the computation time. This can be accomplished by a uniform distribution of load of to all the nodes. A Load balancing method should guarantee that, each node in a network performs almost equal amount of work pertinent to their capacity and availability of resources. Relying on task subtraction, this work has presented a pioneering algorithm termed as E-TS (Efficient-Task Subtraction). This algorithm has selected appropriate nodes for each task. The proposed algorithm has improved the utilization of computing resources and has preserved the neutrality in assigning the load to the nodes in the network

Evaluation of immediate reactions to β lactam antibiotics using a comprehensive diagnostic protocol

Background: β lactam antibiotics are commonly prescribed groups of antibacterial drugs for various infections however the prevalence of its allergic effects is not clear in our country, hence the need for an effective diagnostic protocol to determine immediate hypersensitivity reactions. The objective was to formulate a diagnostic protocol for evaluating immediate drug hypersensitivity to β lactam antibiotics.Methods: A prospective study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital. Adults who were prescribed any class of β lactam antibiotic were included. Non irritating concentrations of the antibiotic as per The European Network on drug Allergy were used. A strict three step diagnostic algorithm with skin prick test followed by intradermal test and drug provocation test, with 20 minutes observation period between each step, to determine cutaneous allergic reactions was followed.Results: The most commonly prescribed drug was cefazolin, followed by ceftriaxone, and cefoperazone + sulbactam combination. The culprit drugs were ceftriaxone in 4 (4.7%) patients, followed by piperacillin + tazobactam combination in 3 (3.5%), amoxicillin + clavulanic acid in 2 (2.3%) and 1 (1.1%) each for cefotaxime and cefepime + tazobactam combination. No patients were positive for skin prick test; 2.4% were positive for intradermal test and 10.6% were positive for drug provocation test.Conclusions: This diagnostic protocol is apt to adequately diagnose immediate reactions to β lactam antibiotics and henceforth can be used effectively in India. However, the skin prick test may be excluded but the intradermal test and drug provocation test is crucial to identify these immediate reactions

Comparison of self-medication practice for dysmenorrhoea in medical, nursing and dental students

Background: Dysmenorrhea is common in adolescent and young adult females and is responsible for impaired daily activities and significant absenteeism from college among female students. The self-treatment strategy varies among the students. Hence, the present study was done to analyse and compare the self-medication practice for dysmenorrhoea among medical, nursing and dental students.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 188 female students with dysmenorrhoea in M. S. Ramaiah College Campus, Bangalore which included 62 medical, 63 nursing and 63 dental students. Data was collected with prevalidated questionnaire related to various aspects like demographic data, severity and duration of dysmenorrhoea and pattern of management in the three groups. Data collected was analysed using SPSS version 20.Results: The mean age of female students with dysmenorrhoea was 19.12±0.87 years. 28% students perceived hormonal changes as causative factor for dysmenorrhoea. About 92 (48.9%) were on self-medication and 46 (24.5%) of students used home remedies for dysmenorrhoea. Among 92 students drugscommonly used for self-medication were mefenemic acid+dicyclomine  (67.4%) followed by paracetamol (20.7%), ibuprofen (5.4%), dicyclomine (4.3%), and diclofenac (2.2%). NSAIDS such as mefenamic acid, paracetamol, ibuprofen, diclofenac were used commonly by students in the three groups.Conclusions: Dysmenorrhoea is a common cause for self-medication among young females. Self-medication practice for dysmenorrhoea was seen more in medical students where as non-pharmacological remedies in nursing and dental female students. NSAIDS like mefenamic acid and paracetamol are the mainstay of self-medication for dysmenorrhoea

Soft-collinear effects in prompt photon production

We extend next-to-leading logarithmic threshold and joint resummation for prompt photon production to include leading collinear effects. The impact of these effects is assessed for both fixed-target and collider kinematics. We find them in general to be small, but noticeable.Comment: 14 pages, 12 figures, added comment on fragmentation contribution and one more reference. Version to appear in Phys. Rev.

Neuropsychological side effects of anti-epileptic drugs in epilepsy patients: a cross sectional study

Background: Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder in world. Managing an epilepsy with anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) either as monotherapy or polytherapy is necessary to reduce the deleterious effect of the disease and to provide neuroprotection. AEDs exert their negative effects on cognition by suppressing neuronal excitability or enhancing inhibitory neurotransmission. These neuropsychological side effects are found to be modest when the drug level is within the therapeutic concentration and used as monotherapy. Objectives were to assess the prevalence of neuropsychological side effects among epilepsy patients who were on antiepileptic drug therapy. Methods: An open label, cross-sectional, clinical study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital, 126 participants were recruited. Participants demographic data, detailed medical and seizure history followed by neuropsychological tests was performed. The prevalence was assessed based on the number of participants scoring <15th percentile in one or more tests. Results: Out of 126 participants who were recruited, 82 participants were on monotherapy and 44 participants were on polytherapy. Levetiracetam was the most commonly prescribed drug as monotherapy, followed by phenytoin, carbamazepine and valproate; whereas in polytherapy levetiracetam, clobazam followed by phenytoin were the commonly prescribed AED. The most common adverse effect was drowsiness, followed by headache, hypersensitivity reaction, giddiness, tremors, anxiety etc. The prevalence of neuropsychological side effects was 77.8%. The prevalence of impairment between monotherapy and polytherapy was statistically insignificant (p=0.727). Conclusions: In this study, levetiracetam was the most commonly prescribed drug and the most common adverse effect was drowsiness due to AEDs. The subgroup analyses between monotherapy and polytherapy did not show any statistically significant neuropsychological impairment when compared based on the gender, age groups, duration of epilepsy with medication and duration of current therapy

On the planarity of line Mycielskian graph of a graph

The line Mycielskian graph of a graph G, denoted by Lμ(G) is defined as the graph obtained from L(G) by adding q+1 new vertices E' = ei' : 1 ≤  i ≤  q and e, then for 1 ≤  i ≤  q , joining ei' to the neighbours of ei  and  to e. The vertex e is called the root of Lμ(G).  This research paper deals with the characterization of planarity of line Mycielskian Graph Lμ(G) of a graph. Further, we also obtain the characterization on outerplanar, maximal planar, maximal outerplanar, minimally nonouterplanar and 1-planar of Lμ(G).Keywords :  Planar graph, Outerplanar, Maximal planar, Maximal outerplanar, Minimally nonouterplanar and 1-planar.2010 AMS subject classifications : 05C07, 05C10, 05C38, 05C60, 05C76

An audit of the decision to delivery interval in emergency caesarean section and its effect on neonatal outcome

Background: Emergency caesarean section (CS) is divided into four categories based on the degree of urgency by RCOG and NICE guidelines. It is recommended that the decision to delivery interval (DDI) in emergency CS should be within 30 minutes in category 1 and within 75 minutes in category 2. Our Primary objective was to study the incidence and indications of emergency CS and audit the DDI in emergency CS at tertiary care hospital. Our secondary objective was to study the effect of DDI on neonatal outcome.Methods: Descriptive study was carried out among 409 women who underwent emergency CS from August 2018 to December 2018 at St. John's medical college hospital, Bangalore. Relevant data was collected by chart review. Emergency CS were categorised according to RCOG guidelines based on the degree of urgency and further classified based on DDI as 75 minutes.Results: We had 409 cases of emergency CS. Category 1 had 113 (27.63%) cases, category 2 had 126 (30.81%) cases and category 3 had 170 (41.56%) cases. DDI of <30 minutes was achieved in 19.5% in category 1, DDI of <75 minutes was achieved in 93.65% in category 2. Fetal distress was the leading cause of emergency CS in category 1 and 2. There was a high incidence of low APGAR in babies delivered in <30 minutes and lower APGAR was significantly associated with <30 minutes of DDI (p<0.0001).Conclusions: Fetal distress was the leading cause of emergency CS. DDI interval of <30 minutes was not always associated with good neonatal outcome; Category of CS has a significant effect on neonatal outcome

A study of feto-maternal outcome in cases of pre-labour rupture of membranes

Background: Prelabour rupture of membranes is a common obstetric problem and the assessment of women with possible membrane rupture is a management issue faced in every day practice. The diagnosis and treatment of Prelabour rupture of membranes depends upon the facilities available. Unrecognized and inadequately treated conditions can lead to various maternal and neonatal complications.Methods: The present prospective study was conducted on 200 pregnant women satisfying the inclusion criteria after getting consent for participation. Pregnant women between the gestational age of 28 – 40 weeks who presented with Prelabour rupture of membranes to casualty were enrolled into the study.Results: 76.5% of the study participants were between 37-40 weeks of gestation and the remaining 23.5% belonged to the preterm population. Maternal morbidity was found to be 68% among the study participants with latency period more than 24 hrs. 37.5% of the neonates developed morbidity and the neonatal mortality was 2%.Conclusions: Prelabour rupture of membranes contributes significantly to maternal morbidity, neonatal morbidity and perinatal mortality