Camylofin in the management of prolonged labor: a review of evidence

Prolonged labor can lead to increased maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Hence, it warrants an early detection and appropriate clinical management. Active management of labor has shown to decrease the occurrence of prolonged labor. Administering antispasmodics during labor facilitates a faster and more effective dilatation of the cervix.  Hence, antispasmodics can be used to decrease the incidence of prolonged labor. Camylofin, a potent antispasmodic, with a dual mode of action, has been used in the augmentation of labor for more than six decades. There is a growing body of evidence to support the efficacy and tolerability of Camylofin in the active management of labor.  A review of published evidence suggests that Camylofin has superior efficacy in augmentation of labor on multiple counts like rate of cervical dilation, duration of active phase of first stage of labor and induction delivery interval, when compared to other spasmolytics like drotaverine, hyoscine and valethemate. It also has a benefit of a convenient single dose as compared to the other spasmolytics listed earlier. Camylofin has other advantages like a quick onset of action, prolonged action, no adverse effects on uterine contractility, no contraindication for use in uterine inertia cases and overall good tolerability for both mother and fetus. Given the superior efficacy and benefits that this drug exhibits, coupled with its excellent tolerability profile, Camylofin should be the first choice and may be preferred over other drugs for cervical dilatation and acceleration of active phase of labor

Upper Limit on the Cosmic Gamma-Ray Burst Rate from High Energy Diffuse Neutrino Background

We derive upper limits on the ratio $f_{GRB/CCSN}(z) \equiv R_{GRB}(z)/R_{CCSN}(z) \equiv f_{GRB/CCSN}(0)(1+z)^\alpha$, the ratio of the rate, $R_{GRB}$, of long-duration Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) to the rate, $R_{CCSN}$, of core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe) in the Universe ($z$ being the cosmological redshift and $\alpha\geq 0$), by using the upper limit on the diffuse TeV--PeV neutrino background given by the AMANDA-II experiment in the South Pole, under the assumption that GRBs are sources of TeV--PeV neutrinos produced from decay of charged pions produced in $p\gamma$ interaction of protons accelerated to ultrahigh energies at internal shocks within GRB jets. For the assumed ``concordance model'' of cosmic star formation rate, $R_{SF}$, with $R_{CCSN}(z) \propto R_{SF}(z)$, our conservative upper limits are $f_{GRB/CCSN}(0)\leq 5.0\times10^{-3}$ for $\alpha=0$, and $f_{GRB/CCSN}(0)\leq 1.1\times10^{-3}$ for $\alpha=2$, for example. These limits are already comparable to (and, for $\alpha\geq 1$ already more restrictive than) the current upper limit on this ratio inferred from other astronomical considerations, thus providing a useful independent probe of and constraint on the CCSN-GRB connection. Non-detection of a diffuse TeV--PeV neutrino background by the up-coming IceCube detector in the South pole after three years of operation, for example, will bring down the upper limit on $f_{GRB/CCSN}(0)$ to below few $\times10^{-5}$ level, while a detection will confirm the hypothesis of proton acceleration to ultrahigh energies in GRBs and will potentially also yield the true rate of occurrence of these events in the Universe.Comment: Two references added, an overall constant numerical factor corrected, Figures and relevant portions of abstract and main text slightly changed, main conclusions unchanged, 18 pages Latex with 4 Figures, version accepted for publication in PR

An unedited 1.1 kb mitochondrial orfB gene transcript in the Wild Abortive Cytoplasmic Male Sterility (WA-CMS) system of Oryza sativa L. subsp. indica

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The application of hybrid rice technology has significantly increased global rice production during the last three decades. Approximately 90% of the commercially cultivated rice hybrids have been derived through three-line breeding involving the use of WA-CMS lines. It is believed that during the 21^stcentury, hybrid rice technology will make significant contributions to ensure global food security. This study examined the poorly understood molecular basis of the WA-CMS system in rice.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>RFLPs were detected for <it>atp6 </it>and <it>orfB </it>genes in sterile and fertile rice lines, with one copy of each in the mt-genome. The RNA profile was identical in both lines for <it>atp6</it>, but an additional longer <it>orfB </it>transcript was identified in sterile lines. 5' RACE analysis of the long <it>orfB </it>transcript revealed it was 370 bp longer than the normal transcript, with no indication it was chimeric when compared to the genomic DNA sequence. cDNA clones of the longer <it>orfB </it>transcript in sterile lines were sequenced and the transcript was determined unedited. Sterile lines were crossed with the restorer and maintainer lines, and fertile and sterile F₁hybrids were respectively generated. Both hybrids contained two types of <it>orfB </it>transcripts. However, the long transcript underwent editing in the fertile F₁hybrids and remained unedited in the sterile lines. Additionally, the editing of the 1.1 kb <it>orfB </it>transcript co-segregated with fertility restoring alleles in a segregating population of F₂progeny; and the presence of unedited long <it>orfB </it>transcripts was detected in the sterile plants from the F₂segregating population.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study helped to assign plausible operative factors responsible for male-sterility in the WA cytoplasm of rice. A new point of departure to dissect the mechanisms governing the CMS-WA system in rice has been identified, which can be applied to further harness the opportunities afforded by hybrid vigor in rice.</p

"The fruits of independence": Satyajit Ray, Indian nationhood and the spectre of empire

Challenging the longstanding consensus that Satyajit Ray's work is largely free of ideological concerns and notable only for its humanistic richness, this article shows with reference to representations of British colonialism and Indian nationhood that Ray's films and stories are marked deeply and consistently by a distinctively Bengali variety of liberalism. Drawn from an ongoing biographical project, it commences with an overview of the nationalist milieu in which Ray grew up and emphasizes the preoccupation with colonialism and nationalism that marked his earliest unfilmed scripts. It then shows with case studies of Kanchanjangha (1962), Charulata (1964), First Class Kamra (First-Class Compartment, 1981), Pratidwandi (The Adversary, 1970), Shatranj ke Khilari (The Chess Players, 1977), Agantuk (The Stranger, 1991) and Robertsoner Ruby (Robertson's Ruby, 1992) how Ray's mature work continued to combine a strongly anti-colonial viewpoint with a shifting perspective on Indian nationhood and an unequivocal commitment to cultural cosmopolitanism. Analysing how Ray articulated his ideological positions through the quintessentially liberal device of complexly staged debates that were apparently free, but in fact closed by the scenarist/director on ideologically specific notes, this article concludes that Ray's reputation as an all-forgiving, ‘everybody-has-his-reasons’ humanist is based on simplistic or even tendentious readings of his work

Development of a sensitive molecular diagnostic assay for detecting Borrelia burgdorferi DNA from the blood of Lyme disease patients by digital PCR.

Lyme disease patients would greatly benefit from a timely, sensitive, and specific molecular diagnostic test that can detect the causal agent Borrelia burgdorferi at the onset of symptoms. Currently available diagnostic methods recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for Lyme disease involve indirect serological tests that rely on the detection of a host-antibody response, which often takes more than three weeks to develop. With this process, many positive cases are not detected within a timely manner, preventing a complete cure. In this study, we have developed a digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay that detects Lyme disease on clinical presentation with a sensitivity two-fold higher than that of the currently available diagnostic methods, using a cohort of patient samples collected from the Lyme disease endemic state of Connecticut, USA, in 2016-2018. Digital PCR technology was chosen as it is more advanced and sensitive than other PCR techniques in detecting rare targets. The analytical detection sensitivity of this diagnostic assay is approximately three genome copies of B. burgdorferi. The paucity of spirochetes in the bloodstream of Lyme disease patients has hindered the clinical adoption of PCR-based diagnostic tests. However, this drawback was overcome by using a comparatively larger sample volume, applying pre-analytical processing to the blood samples, and implementing a pre-amplification step to enrich for B. burgdorferi-specific gene targets before the patient samples are analyzed via digital PCR technology. Pre-analytical processing of blood samples from acute patients revealed that the best sample type for Lyme disease detection is platelet-rich plasma rather than whole blood. If detected in a timely manner, Lyme disease can be completely cured, thus limiting antibiotic overuse and associated morbidities

Abstracts of 1st International Conference on Machine Intelligence and System Sciences

This book contains the abstracts of the papers presented at the International Conference on Machine Intelligence and System Sciences (MISS-2021) Organized by the Techno College of Engineering, Agartala, Tripura, India &amp; Tongmyong University, Busan, South Korea, held on 1–2 November 2021. This conference was intended to enable researchers to build connections between different digital technologies based on Machine Intelligence, Image Processing, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Conference Title: 1st International Conference on Machine Intelligence and System SciencesConference Acronym: MISS-2021Conference Date: 1–2 November 2021Conference Location: Techno College of Engineering Agartala, Tripura(w), IndiaConference Organizer: Techno College of Engineering, Agartala, Tripura, India &amp; Tongmyong University, Busan, South Korea