Approximate Deadline-Scheduling with Precedence Constraints

We consider the classic problem of scheduling a set of n jobs non-preemptively on a single machine. Each job j has non-negative processing time, weight, and deadline, and a feasible schedule needs to be consistent with chain-like precedence constraints. The goal is to compute a feasible schedule that minimizes the sum of penalties of late jobs. Lenstra and Rinnoy Kan [Annals of Disc. Math., 1977] in their seminal work introduced this problem and showed that it is strongly NP-hard, even when all processing times and weights are 1. We study the approximability of the problem and our main result is an O(log k)-approximation algorithm for instances with k distinct job deadlines

Impact of Zinc Deficiency on Vibrio Cholerae Enterotoxin-stimulated Water and Electrolyte Transport in Animal Model

The effect of zinc deficiency on the function of the intestine to absorb water and electrolytes was studied in animal models, stimulated by Vibrio cholerae enterotoxin. Sprague-Dawley rats, used in the study, were divided into four groups: Zinc-deficient, ad libitum zinc-fed control, zinc weight-matched control, and zinc-deficient acutely-repleted. 14C-labelled polyethylene glycol solution was used for measuring the absorption capacity of the small intestine. Significantly lower absorption of water and sodium per cm of the intestine was observed in the zinc-deficient animals compared to the ad libitum zinc-fed control animals (p<0.01). An improved absorption capacity was equally observed in the zinc-deficient acutely-repleted animals and ad libitum zinc-fed control group. The zinc-deficient animals showed four times greater cholera toxin-induced net secretions of water and sodium compared to the ad libitum zinc-fed group (p<0.01), while a 40% reduction was observed in the zinc-deficient acutely-repleted group. The results suggest that zinc deficiency is associated with reduced absorption of water and electrolytes and increased secretion of the same stimulated by cholera toxin

Dynamical Compactification, Standard Cosmology and the Accelerating Universe

A cosmological model based on Kaluza-Klein theory is studied. A metric, in which the scale factor of the compact space evolves as an inverse power of the radius of the observable universe, is constructed. The Freedmann-Robertson-Walker equations of standard four-dimensional cosmology are obtained precisely. The pressure in our universe is an effective pressure expressed in terms of the components of the higher dimensional energy-momentum tensor. In particular, this effective pressure could be negative and might therefore explain the acceleration of our present universe. A special feature of this model is that, for a suitable choice of the parameters of the metric, the higher dimensional gravitational coupling constant could be negative.Comment: 11 pages, uses revte

Low cost fish feed for aquarium fish: a test case using colisa fasciata

A comprehensive trial was undertaken to assess the effect of various types of feed on biomass conversion rate as well as on gonad (ovarian) weight in Colisa fasciata, a dual-purpose fish for food and ornamental use. Three groups of juvenile fish (3.0 ± 0.015 g; 10.00 ± 0.75 mm) were fed with three different types of feed: dried earthworm feed, laboratory prepared feed (LPF) and market feed. The LPF made with dried earthworm powder, eggshell powder and plant rhizome (Commelina sp.) dusts proved to be the best and economical feed among the three feed tested. The LPF also increased gonad weight of the cultured fishes indicating a production of more fish offspring�s from a single female fish. The plant rhizome possibly played a role in increasingly appetite among LPF cultured fish, which in turn influenced somatic as well as reproductive growth of those fish.Se llevó a cabo un ensayo para evaluar el efecto de distintos tipos de pienso en la tasa de conversión de biomasa, así como en el peso de las gónadas (ovarios) de Colisa fasciata, pescado tanto con uso ornamental como para alimentación. Se sometieron tres grupos de ejemplares juveniles (3,0 ± 0,015 g, 10,00 ± 0,75 mm) a tres tipos diferentes de alimentación: lombrices de tierra desecadas, pienso preparado en el laboratorio (LPF), y pienso comercial. El LPF preparado con polvo de lombriz de tierra desecada, polvo de cáscara de huevo y rizoma de plantas (Commelina sp.) resultó ser el alimento mejor y más económico entre los tres analizados. El LPF también aumentó el peso de las gónadas de los peces cultivados, lo que implica una mayor producción de crías. El rizoma de plantas posiblemente aumentó de forma progresiva el apetito de los peces cultivados con LPF, lo que a su vez influyó en el crecimiento somático y reproductivo de los peces

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Not AvailableMaximum entropy method (Maxent) for modelling of selected sorghum landraces (Errajonna, Kondajonna, Pachchajonna and Tellajonna) geographic distributions with presence-only data from Khammam district of Telangana state, India for future climate was attempted. Variability occurs among the models generated for specific landraces. Specific potential districts in Telangana state were identified for further cultivation and on-farm conservation of sorghum landraces in the light of climate change regime.Not Availabl

Determination of uranium at ultra trace level in packaged drinking water by laser fluorimeter and consequent ingestion dose

Precise and accurate estimation of natural radioactivity is essential in order to appraise the radiation dose to the member of public due to various intakes. In the present study, an attempt has been made to estimate the uranium content in packaged drinking water by laser induced fluorimetry and then to calculate the committed effective dose. Sixty packaged drinking water samples of different brands were analysed for uranium content. The total uranium content in these samples was found to be in the range of 0.04–3.88 µg l-1. The concentration of uranium is comparable with other reported worldwide values except a few high values such as 0.5–6000 µg l-1 in Finland, 0.1–28 µg l-1 in China, 0.1–40 µg l-1 in Switzerland and 0.04–1400 µg l-1 in Jordan and much lower than the drinking water limit of 15 µg l-1 (WHO, 2004) and 30 µg l-1 (USEPA, 2000a). The radiation dose due to uranium ingestion through packaged drinking water was found to vary from 0.08–3.19 µSv y-1, with an average dose of 1.21 µSv y-1

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Not AvailableThe National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources Regional Station, Hyderabad has facilitated safe introduction of 356 521 (1986-2010) germplasm accessions of various crops into India. About 60 seed-borne pathogens of quarantine importance were intercepted on crop germplasm during seed examination in the laboratory and post-entry quarantine observations in the field. Of these, the quarantine pathogens, viz. Ralstonia solanacearum and peanut stripe virus in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.), Peronospora manshurica (Naum.) Syd. and peanut stripe virus in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], tobacco streak virus in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), Xanthomonas campestris pv holcicola (Elliot) Dye, Burkholderia andropogonis (Smith) Gillis et al. on sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], Drechslera maydis (Nisik.) Subram. & Jain on maize (Zea mays L.) and Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato (Okabe) Young et al. on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) were intercepted from different countries. Yield losses that could have occurred were estimated had these pathogens of groundnut, soybean, sunflower, maize, sorghum and tomato not been intercepted.Not Availabl

In vitro biological activity of prenylflavanones

The International Institute of Anticancer Researc