ENHANCEMENT IN THE COW FEED VALUE OF SOME AGRO-INDUSTRIAL BY-PRODUCTS MEDIATED BY SOLID STATE FERMENTATION WITHTRICHODERMA VIRIDE

Objective: The idea behind this work is to investigate the possible improvement in nutritional values of agro industrial by products namely black gram husk (Vignamungo), yellow pigeon pea husk (Cajanuscajan) and black chick pea husk(Cicerarietinum) using Trichoderma viride a fungus over a period of 15 days. Methods: The samples were analyzed for their proximate composition according to the standard methods of A.O.A.C. Results: Substantial improvement was observed in the protein content for black gram husk and black chick pea husk. The crude fibre of the treated samples of black gram husk, black chick pea husk decreased when compared to the untreated. But there was a trivial decrease in the protein content and increase in crude fibre content for Yellow pigeon pea husk treated with Trichoderma viride than untreated. Ether extract was found to be reduced for all the three treated samples. Significant reduction in the cell wall content of the husk samples was observed. Conclusion: Results of the study showed that fungal biodegradation of the agro industrial by-products can enhance their nutritional status. Using such by-products to feed cow can produce improved quantity of milk

Use of multiple media for the cultivation of mycobacteria from specimens other than sputum

An investigation was carried out on the efficacy of using multiple media in the isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from specimens other than sputum, during the period 1980-1984. Of a total of 3807 specimens examined, 818 were urine, 1428 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), 567 lymph glands, 94 pus samples, 224 operation specimens, 91 gastric aspirates, 108 ascitic fluid and 477 were other types of specimens. Each specimen was inoculated onto one set of media consisting of two slopes each of ‘Lowenstein-Jensen’ medium (LJ), LJ medium containing 0.5 per cent sodium pyruvate (LJP) and 7H11 oleic acid albumin medim (7H11) and two bottles of selective Kirchner’s liquid medium (KL). In all, 550 (14%) were positive by culture in any one of the four media used. Considering the different media individually, KL had the highest efficiency yielding 339 (62%) of the total 550 positive cultures. Also, KL detected 162 positives which were not positive by any of the other media. This was followed by LJ with 328 (60%) positives. LJ and KL when considered together detected 93 per cent of the positives and LJ, LJP and KL increased the positivity to 99 per cent. Thus LJ and KL seems to be the best combination for the isolation of mycobacteria from specimens other than sputum

Binding site conformation dictates the color of the dye stains-all. A study of the binding of this dye to the eye lens proteins crystallins

The interaction of the cationic carbocyanine dye Stains-all (1-ethyl-2-[3-(1-ethyl-naphthol[1,2-d]thiazolin-2-ylidene)-2- methylpropenyl]naphthol[1,2-d]thiazolium bromide) with the eye lens proteins crystallins has been studied. α- and γ-crystallins do not bind the dye, while β- and δ-crystallins do, consistent with the fact that the latter two proteins bind the calcium ion. β-Crystallin resembles parvalbumin in that it induces only the J-band of the bound dye. δ-crystallin, on the other hand, induces only the γ-band. Analysis of the metachromasia induced in the dye by these and other proteins suggests that Stains-all is responsive to the conformational status of the region to which it binds in a protein. The J-band of the dye is activated when it binds to a globular domain, and the γ-band is activated when it binds to a helical stretch of the protein

SMART TRAFFIC CONTROL BARRICADE SYSTEM

At present traffic management is a big challenge and plays a vital role in moving the vehicles from one corner of the city to the other. This system not only controls the traffic signals but also it reduces violating traffic rules and accidents. Here when the red light signal is ON there will be a servomotor which pops up barricade from ground level. It applies one special condition in the road by placing a barricade before the zebra crossing which will stop the vehicles when the signal red light is ON. The barricade will automatically pops up on the vehicle stopping mark, when the signal leaves it pops down to the ground. For ambulance, it is having a special feature that there will be an RFID tag which can sense about its arrival. For this reason the RFID reader is fixed to road. During the red signal, when the ambulance needs to pass at that time RFID reads the tag and changes red light to green light in traffic signal through GSM where RFID reader card number is stored in control system. So the barricade will pop down to ground and the other three ways are stopped with red signal light so that the ambulance can easily pass through the way by these one can save someone's life. This project work is carried out by using IOT technology

Mycobacteremia in tuberculosis patients with HIV infection

Background: Mycobacteremia in HIV positive tuberculosis patients is associated with extra-pulmonary tuberculosis and disseminated tuberculosis. Objective: To study the occurrence of mycobacteremia among HIV-infected patients with tuberculosis (both pulmonary and extra-pulmonary forms) using radiometric BACTEC method. Methods: HIV positive patients admitted to the Government Hospital of Thoracic Medicine with a clinical diagnosis of tuberculosis were screened. HIV serology was reconfirmed using ELISA (two different tests) at Tuberculosis Research Centre. Five ml of venous blood was collected on the day of admission to the ward before start of anti-tuberculosis therapy. Results: Of the 105 patients screened, 85 were were found to be eligible for analysis. Patients were aged between 20-40 years, with a male preponderance (5:1). Pulmonary tuberculosis was the predominant form of tuberculosis (85%), while 15 % had associated extra-pulmonary involvement. Eight-four percent of the patients had CD4 counts of less than 200 cells/mm3, with 42% being below 50 cells/mm3. Four of the 85 patients were blood culture positive; three were identified as M.tuberculosis and one as Mycobacterium phlei. Conclusions: Mycobacteremia was detected in 4% of HIV positive patients with tuberculosis. All of them were immunosuppressed with CD4 counts of <50 cells/m3. More work needs to be done in India to understand the risk factors and outcome of patients with mycobacteremia

Calcium ion binding to δ- and to β-crystallins. The presence of the "EF-hand" motif in δ-crystallin that aids in calcium ion binding

Abnormal levels of endogenous calcium ions are known to induce eye lens opacity, and a variety of causative factors has been proposed, including calcium-mediated aggregation and precipitation of the lens proteins crystallins. We have specifically looked in some detail at the interaction of Ca2+ with various crystallins and its consequences. Lenses incubated in solutions containing 10 mM Ca2+ or 5 mM Tb3+ opacified. Fluorescence titration of crystallins with TbCl3 revealed that this ion binds to &#948;- and &#946;-crystallins in solution. Equilibrium dialysis showed that four Ca2+ ions bind to one &#948;-crystallin tetramer with an affinity of 4.3 &#215; 103 M-1. Analysis of the amino acid sequence of &#948;-crystallin reveals the presence of a calmodulin-type "helix-loop-helix" or "EF-hand" calcium ion binding conformational motif in the region comprising residues 300-350. This is a novel feature of the molecule not reported so far. No other crystallins appear to have this motif. &#946;-Crystallin also binds four Ca2+ ions/aggregate unit of mass 160 kDa, with an affinity of 2.6 &#215; 103 M-1, presumably in the midregion of the molecule that is rich in anionic and polar residues. Circular dichroism spectroscopy shows that the binding of calcium ion leads to subtle conformational changes in the molecules, notably in the tertiary structure

A novel system to obtain addresses of out-patients-assessent in routine clinic practice in Madras

A novel method of obtaining accurate home addresses from out-patients was introduced as a routine procedure in 6 chest clinics of Madras City, following highly satisfactory results under study conditions. In this method, the patient is given a card (the address card), and asked to get his exact address entered on it by any knowledgeable person of his choice such as a landlord or neighbour. An assessment of the system was undertaken after it had been in operation for about 8 months. A complete and legible address was available for 82 % of 3956 patients, the range in the 6 clinics being 74 % to 91 %. The main causes for failure were : not giving address card to patient (7 %), patient not reattending the clinic (6 %), and patient reattending but not returning the address card (3%). Corrective measures have now been introduced, and a re-assessment will be undertaken in due course

A novel system to obtain addresses of out-patients-assessment in routine clinic practice in Madras

A novel method of obtaining accurate home addresses from out-patients was introduced as a routine procedure in 6 chest clinics of Madras City, following highly satisfactory results under study conditions. In this method, the patient is given a card (the Address card), and asked to get his exact address entered on it by any knowledgeable person of his choice such as the landlord or a neighbour. An assessment of the system was undertaken after it had been in operation for about 8 months. A complete and legible address was available for 82 % of 3956 patients, the range in the 6 clinics being 74% to 91%. The main causes for failure were: not giving Address card to patient (7 %), patient not reattending the clinic (6%), and patient reattending but not returning the Address card (3 %). Corrective measures have now been introduced, and a re-assessment will be undertaken in due course