The Response of Serum Cortisol and Leptin Levels to Academic Stress

Background: Medical students are subjected to various types of stress during the academic course and they react differently. This study is an attempt to establish a relationship between the coping abilities, serum cortisol and leptin levels in response to academic examination stress in first year medical students. Methods: Thirty four 1st year medical students between 18 to 21 yrs of age were randomly selected and their coping abilities were assessed using the State Trait Anxiety Inventory. Two fasting blood samples were drawn, one on the day of examination (Situation I) and the second after the completion of the examination (Situation II). Serum cortisol and leptin levels were estimated using a standardized RIA Kit and the levels obtained were correlated with the psychometric data. Results: The results showed increased levels of cortisol prior to examination in the poor adjusters in comparison to the good adjusters. The levels of cortisol decreased after examination in both good and poor adjusters with the poor adjusters showing higher levels. On the other hand, leptin levels increased in good adjusters in comparison with poor adjusters in Situation I and in Situation II the good adjusters showed a marginal decrease and poor adjusters maintained the same levels of leptin. Conclusion: Cortisol and leptin respond inversely to academic stress. Cortisol levels sharply decline from stressful to post-stressful situation indicating the wane of stress

A smart material based approach to morphing

This presentation gives an overview of the Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) based approach to the research and13; development of adaptive/smart/morphing airframe structural technologies at the Advanced Composites13; Division, NAL. Central to this approach is the efficient integration of thermal NiTi SMA elements with13; polymeric carbon composites. The SMA elements could be either externally placed or embedded in the13; polymeric composite. The external connection could be in the form of mechanisms / devices

Role of Alcian blue (pH 2.5) histochemical stain in diagnostic thyroid pathology: how far is it helpful?

Background: Controversies and pitfalls are well-known in diagnostic thyroid pathology. Since, the luminal surface of  neoplastic thyroid follicular cells is said to be covered by a glycoproteinaceous material, there is a need  to  investigate the efficacy of  mucin stains like Alcian blue (pH 2.5), which can be used as an adjunctive tool in difficult cases.Methods: 60 thyroidectomy specimens, received at Department of Pathology, were included in this retrospective analytical study. Alcian blue histochemical (pH 2.5) staining was done on representative sections and assessed for positivity.Results: Of the 60 cases analysed, all cases of papillary/nodular hyperplasia (n=10), follicular adenoma (n=14), follicular carcinoma (n=4) and medullary carcinoma (n=1) were negative for Alcian blue. Only 3/16 (18.7 %) cases of classical papillary carcinoma and 2/15 (13.3%) cases of follicular variant of papillary carcinoma showed positivity.Conclusions: We got statistically insignificant results with Alcian blue (pH 2.5) staining, making it unreliable in diagnostic thyroid pathology

Development and Wind Tunnel Evaluation of a SMA Based Trim Tab Actuator for a Civil Aircraft

This paper presents about the development and wind tunnel evaluation of an SMA based smart trim tab for a typical 2 seater civil aircraft. SMA actuator was housed in the port side of the elevator for actuating the trim tab. Wind tunnel tests were conducted on a full scale Horizontal Tail model with Elevator and Trim Tab at free stream speeds of 25, 35 & 45 m/sec and also for a number of deflections of the elevator (30° up, 0° neutral & 25° down) and trim-tab 11° & 21° up and 15° & 31° down). To measure the hinge moment experienced by the trim-tab at various test conditions, two miniaturized balances were designed and fabricated. Gain scheduled proportional integral controller was developed to control the SMA actuated smart trim tab. It was confirmed during the tests that the trim-tab could be controlled at the desired position against the aerodynamic loads acting on it for the various test conditions

Cotranscription of the electron transport protein genes nifJ and nifF in Enterobacter agglomerans 333

A nucleotide sequence showing extensive homology to the nifF gene, which codes for a flavodoxin involved in nitrogen fixation in Klebsiella pneumoniae, was localized on the plasmid pEA3 of Enterobacter agglomerans and determined. The analysis of transcriptional fusions, as well as transcript protection assays, indicated a novel nif gene organization, that is, the cotranscription of nifJ and nifF

Usage of eco-criticism: as a view of natural environment preserving

The environment is sum of all surroundings, living organisms, including natural forces and other living beings. There is a deep relationship between beings‟ life and the environment. As a part of environment human must understand that relationship, but unfortunately the human beings do not care about this relationship and pollute the environment in several ways without any attention. In the process of environmental protection, literature also has an important role to play, because there is a strong relationship between environment and literature. Environment is one of main phenomenon in literature and many literary work have been compiled according to that theme both eastern and western literature. Apart from literature, literary criticism too was affected by environment. As results of this eco-criticism, a new literary theory has arisen. This research mainly focus on how we can use eco-criticism to make an attitudinal change in human mind and how can they lead to preserve the natural environment in literary field. Three novels namely Aranakata pem bada translated by Chintha Lakshmi, Sansaranyaye Dadayakkaraya of Saimon Navagattegama and Diya holmana of Mahinda Kumara Dalupotha were selected as primary sources and many secondary sources too used to the fulfillment of this research goals. Eco-criticism studies the relationship between literature and the physical environment. It takes an earth centered approach to literary studies. By practicing this theory throughout literary work people can understand easily how environment is important to existence of their lives. Although the Sinhala literature was built in an environmental background, it has not developed as an ecological literature. But nowadays, some books that can be categorized under the ecoliterature such as, Aranakata pem bada, Sansaranyaye Dadayakkaraya, Diya Holman are arising. Examining these novels, some concepts related with eco-criticism have emphasized by the authors as follows. Representing environment as a non-anthropocentric phenomenon, criticizing the environmental pollution, making environmental sensibility by producing ecological fact, emphasizing the ethics associated with environment. This means eco-criticism make an attitudinal chance in human mind with the intention of creating eco-minded human society

4-[Bis(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]piperazin-1-ium 2-(2-phenylethyl)benzoate

The asymmetric unit of the title salt, C17H19F2N2 +.C15H13O2 −, derived from a 1,4-diaza­cyclo­hexane derivative and a carb­oxy­lic acid, contains two formula units. The cation is protonated at the secondary amine functionality. The six-membered heterocycles adopt chair conformations. The fluorophenyl rings in the two cations make dihedral angles of 77.21 (19) and 78.8 (2)° while the aromatic rings in the anions enclose angles of 69.5 (2) and 69.9 (2)°. In the crystal, classical N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds as well as C—H⋯F and C—H⋯O contacts connect the entities into layers parallel to ac

Ethyl N-(2-benzoyl-4-chloro­phen­yl)­ethane­carboximidate

In the title compound, C17H16ClNO2, the N=C—O—C—C fragment is planar within 0.029 (1) Å, and makes dihedral angles of 66.71 (8) and 59.61 (8)° with the planes of the chloro­phenyl and benzoyl rings, respectively. The carbonyl C=O bond is not coplanar with either of the aromatic rings; it makes angles of 42.5 and 23.5° with the normals to the ring planes. In the crystal, very weak C—H⋯O, C—H⋯Cl, C—H⋯π and π–π [inter­planar distance = 3.53 (1) Å] inter­actions are observed

A Visual Computing Unified Application Using Deep Learning and Computer Vision Techniques

Vision Studio aims to utilize a diverse range of modern deep learning and computer vision principles and techniques to provide a broad array of functionalities in image and video processing. Deep learning is a distinct class of machine learning algorithms that utilize multiple layers to gradually extract more advanced features from raw input. This is beneficial when using a matrix as input for pixels in a photo or frames in a video. Computer vision is a field of artificial intelligence that teaches computers to interpret and comprehend the visual domain. The main functions implemented include deepfake creation, digital ageing (de-ageing), image animation, and deepfake detection. Deepfake creation allows users to utilize deep learning methods, particularly autoencoders, to overlay source images onto a target video. This creates a video of the source person imitating or saying things that the target person does. Digital aging utilizes generative adversarial networks (GANs) to digitally simulate the aging process of an individual. Image animation utilizes first-order motion models to create highly realistic animations from a source image and driving video. Deepfake detection is achieved by using advanced and highly efficient convolutional neural networks (CNNs), primarily employing the EfficientNet family of models

4-[3,5-Bis(2-hy­droxy­phen­yl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl]benzoic acid dimethyl­formamide monosolvate

In the mol­ecule of deferasirox dimethyl­formamide solvate, C21H15N3O4·C3H7NO, the central 1,2,4-triazole ring is tilted with respect to the benzoic acid and one of the 2-hy­droxy­phenyl units but coplanar with the other 2-hy­droxy­phenyl group, as indicated by the dihedral angles of 33.69 (9), 72.57 (8) and 5.18 (9)°, respectively. Intra­molecular O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds generate an S(6) ring motif. In the crystal, deferasirox mol­ecules are linked by O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds and weak C—H⋯O inter­actions into chains along the c axis. The dimethyl­formamide solvent mol­ecules are located between the deferasirox chains and are linked to the deferasirox mol­ecules by O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and weak C—H⋯O inter­actions