618 research outputs found
Expression of Hb β-T and Hb β-E genes in Eastern India - Family studies
The distribution patterns of different haemoglobins were observed amongst the family members of β-thalassaemia homozygous and HbE-β-thalassaemia patients with the aid of gel electrophoretic and alkali denaturation techniques. Of the 18 families studied, four belonged to β-thalassaemia homozygous and 14 to HbE-β-thalassaemia patients. Interaction of HbE and β-thalassaemia genes resulted in major clinical abnormalities with increase in the percentages of haemoglobins F and E. The percentages of HbA2 in homozygous β-thalassaemia were within the normal range. Although in Southeast Asia the β° type of HbE-thalassaemia is more prevalent, only one individual with this type of thalassaemia was observed during this survey. In the rest of the patients examined the percentages of adult haemoglobin ranged from 5.2 to 42.5 indicating the presence of a β+ type gene
Preferential Trade among the SAARC Countries: Prospects and Challenges of Regional Integration
Abstract The prospects and challenges of preferential trade liberalisation and regional integration in South Asia are analysed by analysing regional and international trade structures of South Asian countries through conventional trade measures such as commodity composition and direction of trade, and bilateral trade shares. Findings indicate that, with the existing low level of bilateral and intra-original trade shares and low trade with South Asian countries, the gains from free trade arrangements in this region are likely to be minimal. The region accounts for a very insignificant share of world trade but persistent high levels of tariff barriers. Thus, preferential trade liberalisation is more likely to bring about trade diversion than trade creation leading to more gains for large countries and more losses for small countries. Further, trade policies of individual countries are shaped more by political considerations than economic factors. Therefore, implementation of a free trade area and deriving benefits from it will be challenging
Shigella flexneri serotype 1c derived from serotype 1a by acquisition of gtrIC gene cluster via a bacteriophage
BACKGROUND:
Shigella spp. are the primary causative agents of bacillary dysentery. Since its emergence in the late 1980s, the S. flexneri serotype 1c remains poorly understood, particularly with regard to its origin and genetic evolution. This article provides a molecular insight into this novel serotype and the gtrIC gene cluster that determines its unique immune recognition.
RESULTS:
A PCR of the gtrIC cluster showed that serotype 1c isolates from different geographical origins were genetically conserved. An analysis of sequences flanking the gtrIC cluster revealed remnants of a prophage genome, in particular integrase and tRNAPro genes. Meanwhile, Southern blot analyses on serotype 1c, 1a and 1b strains indicated that all the tested serotype 1c strains may have had a common origin that has since remained distinct from the closely related 1a and 1b serotypes. The identification of prophage genes upstream of the gtrIC cluster is consistent with the notion of bacteriophage-mediated integration of the gtrIC cluster into a pre-existing serotype.
CONCLUSIONS:
This is the first study to show that serotype 1c isolates from different geographical origins share an identical pattern of genetic arrangement, suggesting that serotype 1c strains may have originated from a single parental strain. Analysis of the sequence around the gtrIC cluster revealed a new site for the integration of the serotype converting phages of S. flexneri. Understanding the origin of new pathogenic serotypes and the molecular basis of serotype conversion in S. flexneri would provide information for developing cross-reactive Shigella vaccines
A blind hierarchical coherent search for gravitational-wave signals from coalescing compact binaries in a network of interferometric detectors
We describe a hierarchical data analysis pipeline for coherently searching
for gravitational wave (GW) signals from non-spinning compact binary
coalescences (CBCs) in the data of multiple earth-based detectors. It assumes
no prior information on the sky position of the source or the time of
occurrence of its transient signals and, hence, is termed "blind". The pipeline
computes the coherent network search statistic that is optimal in stationary,
Gaussian noise, and allows for the computation of a suite of alternative
statistics and signal-based discriminators that can improve its performance in
real data. Unlike the coincident multi-detector search statistics employed so
far, the coherent statistics are different in the sense that they check for the
consistency of the signal amplitudes and phases in the different detectors with
their different orientations and with the signal arrival times in them. The
first stage of the hierarchical pipeline constructs coincidences of triggers
from the multiple interferometers, by requiring their proximity in time and
component masses. The second stage follows up on these coincident triggers by
computing the coherent statistics. The performance of the hierarchical coherent
pipeline on Gaussian data is shown to be better than the pipeline with just the
first (coincidence) stage.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in Classical and
Quantum Gravit
Shelf life evaluation of restructured chicken meat blocks extended with sorghum flour and potato at refrigerated storage (4±1•C)
Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate the Shelf life of restructured chicken meat blocks extended with sorghum flour and potato at refrigerated storage (4±1•C). Sorghum flour (1:1 hydration, w/w) at 9% level and potato (boiled and mashed) at 6% level were incorporated by replacing the lean meat in pre-standardized formulation. Storage quality with respect to physico-chemical [pH and Thiobarbituric Acid (TBA) value], microbiological [Psychrophilic count (PC), Total plate count (TPC) and coliform count] and sensory properties of control and extended products were studied. The products were aerobically packaged in low density polyethylene (LDPE) pouches and analysed at regular interval of 0, 5, 10 and 15 days during refrigerated storage (4±1•C). The storage period did not bring about any significant changes in pH of the products but TBA values, PC and TPC showed linear increasing trend from 0 to 15 th day of refrigerated storage in treatment products as well as control. Mesophilic and psychrotrophic counts did not exceed log 10 3.12 and 2.98 cfu/g, log 10 2.86 and 2.63 cfu/g, log 10 2.63 and 2.95 cfu/g for control, SF and potato treated RCMB, respectively. Coliforms were not detected in control and treated RCMB during the storage period of 15 days. The sensory scores of treated samples and control for appearance, flavour, binding, texture, juiciness and overall acceptability showed a progressive decline with increase in storage period but the scores were rated above good. The products retained good to very good acceptability for 15 days without any marked loss of physico-chemical, microbiological and sensory quality
Slow Light Propagation in a Thin Optical Fiber via Electromagnetically Induced Transparency
We propose a novel configuration that utilizes electromagnetically induced
transparency (EIT) to tailor a fiber mode propagating inside a thin optical
fiber and coherently control its dispersion properties to drastically reduce
the group velocity of the fiber mode. The key to this proposal is: the
evanescent-like field of the thin fiber strongly couples with the surrounding
active medium, so that the EIT condition is met by the medium. We show how the
properties of the fiber mode is modified due to the EIT medium, both
numerically and analytically. We demonstrate that the group velocity of the new
modified fiber mode can be drastically reduced (approximately 44 m/sec) using
the coherently prepared orthohydrogen doped in a matrix of parahydrogen crystal
as the EIT medium.Comment: 10 pages in two column RevTex4, 6 Figure
First LIGO search for gravitational wave bursts from cosmic (super)strings
We report on a matched-filter search for gravitational wave bursts from
cosmic string cusps using LIGO data from the fourth science run (S4) which took
place in February and March 2005. No gravitational waves were detected in 14.9
days of data from times when all three LIGO detectors were operating. We
interpret the result in terms of a frequentist upper limit on the rate of
gravitational wave bursts and use the limits on the rate to constrain the
parameter space (string tension, reconnection probability, and loop sizes) of
cosmic string models.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures. Replaced with version submitted to PR
Stacked Search for Gravitational Waves from the 2006 SGR 1900+14 Storm
We present the results of a LIGO search for short-duration gravitational
waves (GWs) associated with the 2006 March 29 SGR 1900+14 storm. A new search
method is used, "stacking'' the GW data around the times of individual
soft-gamma bursts in the storm to enhance sensitivity for models in which
multiple bursts are accompanied by GW emission. We assume that variation in the
time difference between burst electromagnetic emission and potential burst GW
emission is small relative to the GW signal duration, and we time-align GW
excess power time-frequency tilings containing individual burst triggers to
their corresponding electromagnetic emissions. We use two GW emission models in
our search: a fluence-weighted model and a flat (unweighted) model for the most
electromagnetically energetic bursts. We find no evidence of GWs associated
with either model. Model-dependent GW strain, isotropic GW emission energy
E_GW, and \gamma = E_GW / E_EM upper limits are estimated using a variety of
assumed waveforms. The stacking method allows us to set the most stringent
model-dependent limits on transient GW strain published to date. We find E_GW
upper limit estimates (at a nominal distance of 10 kpc) of between 2x10^45 erg
and 6x10^50 erg depending on waveform type. These limits are an order of
magnitude lower than upper limits published previously for this storm and
overlap with the range of electromagnetic energies emitted in SGR giant flares.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure
Features of adenosine metabolism of mouse heart
Adenosine metabolism and transport were evaluated in the isolated perfused mouse heart and compared with the well-established model of isolated perfused guinea pig heart. Coronary venous release of adenosine under well-oxygenated conditions in the mouse exceeds that in the guinea pig threefold when related to tissue mass. Total myocardial adenosine production rate under this condition was approximately 2 nmol/min per gramme and similar in both species. Coronary resistance vessels of mice are highly sensitive to exogenous adenosine, and the threshold for adenosine-induced vasodilation is approximately 30 nmol/l. Adenosine membrane transport was largely insensitive to nitrobenzyl-thioinosine (NBTI) in mouse heart, which is in contrast to guinea pig and several other species. This indicates the dominance of NBTI-insensitive transporters in mouse heart. For future studies, the assessment of cytosolic and extracellular adenosine metabolism and its relationship with coronary flow will require the use of more effective membrane transport blockers
Phenotype, outcomes and natural history of early-stage non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy
Aims To characterize the phenotype, clinical outcomes and rate of disease progression in patients with early-stage non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy (early-NICM). Methods and results We conducted a prospective observational cohort study of patients with early-NICM assessed by late gadolinium enhancement cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). Cases were classified into the following subgroups: isolated left ventricular dilatation (early-NICM H−/D+), non-dilated left ventricular cardiomyopathy (early-NICM H+/D−), or early dilated cardiomyopathy (early-NICM H+/D+). Clinical follow-up for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) included non-fatal life-threatening arrhythmia, unplanned cardiovascular hospitalization or cardiovascular death. A subset of patients (n = 119) underwent a second CMR to assess changes in cardiac structure and function. Of 254 patients with early-NICM (median age 46 years [interquartile range 36–58], 94 [37%] women, median left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] 55% [52–59]), myocardial fibrosis was present in 65 (26%). There was no difference in the prevalence of fibrosis between subgroups (p = 0.90), however fibrosis mass was lowest in early-NICM H−/D+, higher in early-NICM H+/D− and highest in early-NICM H+/D+ (p = 0.03). Over a median follow-up of 7.9 (5.5–10.0) years, 28 patients (11%) experienced MACE. Non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (hazard ratio [HR] 5.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.36–11.00, p < 0.001), myocardial fibrosis (HR 3.77, 95% CI 1.73–8.20, p < 0.001) and diabetes mellitus (HR 5.12, 95% CI 1.73–15.18, p = 0.003) were associated with MACE in a multivariable model. Only 8% of patients progressed from early-NICM to dilated cardiomyopathy with LVEF <50% over a median of 16 (11–34) months. Conclusion Early-NICM is not benign. Fibrosis develops early in the phenotypic course. In-depth characterization enhances risk stratification and might aid clinical management
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