Decomposable Subspaces, Linear Sections of Grassmann Varieties, and Higher Weights of Grassmann Codes

Given a homogeneous component of an exterior algebra, we characterize those subspaces in which every nonzero element is decomposable. In geometric terms, this corresponds to characterizing the projective linear subvarieties of the Grassmann variety with its Plucker embedding. When the base field is finite, we consider the more general question of determining the maximum number of points on sections of Grassmannians by linear subvarieties of a fixed (co)dimension. This corresponds to a known open problem of determining the complete weight hierarchy of linear error correcting codes associated to Grassmann varieties. We recover most of the known results as well as prove some new results. In the process we obtain, and utilize, a simple generalization of the Griesmer-Wei bound for arbitrary linear codes.Comment: 16 page

Nutritional Values and Economics of Leguminous Blocks as Goat Feed

Rearing of ruminant animals i.e. sheep and goats, especially is hampered by the seasonal availability of good quality and quantity of feeds such that during the dry season months, the little available forage is of low quality. The consequences are weight loss, low birth weight, low resistance to disease and reduced animal performance (Fajemisin et al., 2010). One potential way for increasing the quality and availability of feeds for smallholder ruminant animals in the dry season may be through the use of fodder trees and shrub legumes. Leaf protein sources obtained in leaf vegetables, legume trees, fodder trees and shrubs as feed resources to all classes of livestock offer tremendous potentials (Aye and Adegun, 2013). As foliage of leguminous trees and bushes are a major source of protein for feeding goats, they are components of pasture and grazing lands. The leaf biomass from the trees and bushes is abundant during the wet season, but the quantity and quality of green biomass declines as the dry season progresses. It can be preserved in the form of leaf meals and by pressing into blocks/briquettes with/without incorporating other concentrate feed ingredients. Keeping quality can be increased and a market value can be obtained. These legume blocks could be fed to small ruminants like sheep and goats as protein supplements would improve the nutritive value of the low quality diets and supply main nutrients to goats as possible alternatives for farmers during the dry season. The main justification for using feed blocks to provide deficient nutrients is the convenience for packaging, storage, transport and ease of feeding. Information on simple method of legume blocks production, the benefits of incorporating various ingredients, minerals, additives in the blocks and nutritive values of legume blocks over the years of storage as a feed is not available under local conditions. The present study was carried out with an objective of determining the nutritive values and keeping quality of legume blocks prepared with different ingredients using simple technology as goat feed

Role of Tc-99m MDP bone scan in evaluation of osteoid osteoma at varied locations

Background: Osteoid osteoma is a benign bone tumor; diagnosed using x-ray and Computer Tomography (CT). It shows a nidus and cortical thickening. When the nidus is not well visualised especially in uncommon locations; Bone Scan (BS) can be performed for evaluation of osteoid osteoma.Methods: A retrospective observational study was done where 21 subjects presenting with suspicion of osteoid osteoma underwent BS using 10-20mCi (370 to 740MBq) of Technetium-99m Pertechnetate with perfusion, delayed cortical and Single Photon Emission Tomography/Computer Tomography (SPECT/CT). Increased perfusion and delayed focal cortical uptake was assessed on BS to locate osteoid osteoma. Response evaluation to Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) was also performed using BS.Results: Osteoid osteoma was detected in femur (8), spine (3), forearm bones (2), humerus (2), tibia (2), fibula in one and iliac bone in one patient using BS. BS detected more lesions (18) than CT scan where nidus as confirmatory sign was seen in 13 lesions. The McNemar test showed no significant difference (p=0.22) in the detection of osteoid osteoma using CT and BS in common location of femur. However there was significant difference noted between BS and CT in uncommon site (p=0.023). 3/8 patients showed persistent increased cortical activity after RFA ablation on BS.Conclusions: BS was more useful for confirmation of diagnosis of Osteoid osteoma for lesions in uncommon sites. BS also helped to assess response to RFA ablation therapy. SPECT/CT improved interpretation of BS to locate the osteoid osteoma

Sodium alginate microspheres containing multicomponent inclusion complex of domperidone

Sodium alginate microspheres of domperidone for intranasal systemic delivery were developed to eliminate first pass metabolism, improve patient compliance and obtain improved therapeutic efficacy in treatment of migraine, gastro-esophageal reflux and chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting. Domperidone was encapsulated as ternary inclusion complex with β-cyclodextrin and citric acid to improve solubility. The phase solubility studies were performed in order to select suitable acid and ternary inclusion complex was prepared by kneading method. The complex was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. In vitro dissolution study was carried out in simulated nasal electrolyte solution, pH 6.4. The microspheres of optimised ternary inclusion complex were prepared by emulsification-cross-linking method and were evaluated for particle size, encapsulation efficiency, equilibrium swelling degree, in vitro mucoadhesion and in vitro drug release. The effect of various formulation variables such as drug loading, polymer concentration, crosslinking agent concentration and cross-linking time on microsphere characteristics were studied. The microspheres size range was 57.63-65.3 µm, whereas the percentage drug encapsulation was within the range 15-50 %. All microspheres showed good bioadhesive properties. The formulation variables influenced the drug release profile. The treatment of in vitro release kinetics with kinetic equations indicated that the domperidone release followed Higuchi's matrix model.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

In vitro absorption studies of acyclovir using natural permeation enhancers

Gastroretentive Delivery Systems are employed to improve the bioavailability of drugs which are absorbed through upper part of GIT, by increasing their retention time. Incorporation of permeability enhancers in the formulations of such drugs can further increase their bioavailability; however their use in the formulations is questionable due to the toxicity exhibited by them. Acyclovir is a class III drug having low oral bioavailability due to improper absorption. Mucoadhesive tablets of acyclovir containing natural permeation enhancers were prepared by direct compression and evaluated for mucoadhesion strength, in-vitro dissolution parameters and in-vitro absorption studies. The formulations containing Aloe vera extract showed increase in the mucoadhesion strength and retarded the drug release. The in-vitro absorption studies revealed that the formulations containing Aloe vera extract (Enhancement Ratio 1.94) and chausath prahar pippal (Enhancement Ratio 1.87) showed significant increase in the permeation of the drug. The studies led to the conclusion that by formulating mucoadhesive tablets of acyclovir containing natural permeation enhancers increased the permeability, thus proving to be the cheaper and easily available alternative to the other permeation enhancers.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Smoking status and common carotid artery intima-medial thickness among middle-aged men and women based on ultrasound measurement: a cohort study

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking is an established causal factor for atherosclerosis. However, the smoking effect on different echogenic components of carotid arterial wall measured by ultrasound is not well elucidated. METHODS: Middle-aged men and women who had IMT measurement ≥ 0.7 mm at baseline and follow-up were included (N = 413, age 40–60 years at baseline in 1995). Intima-media thickness of common carotid artery (CCA-IMT) and its components (echogenic and echolucent layers) were measured at baseline and in the follow-up examination 3 years later. IMT and its components were compared across current, former and never smokers. Individual growth models were used to examine how smoking status was related to the baseline and progression of overall IMT and IMT components. RESULTS: For both men and women, current smoking was associated with thicker echogenic layer than never smokers; former smokers exhibited thinner echogenic layer than current smokers after adjustment for cigarette pack-years. Among women, current smoking was also associated with a thinned echolucent layer that resulted in a non-significant overall association of current smoking with IMT for women. CONCLUSION: Cigarette smoking is associated with carotid artery morphological changes and the association is sex-dependent. The atherogenic effect of smoking appears to be partly reversible among former smokers. IMT measurement alone may not be adequate to detect carotid atherosclerosis associated with cigarette smoking among middle-age women

Leukotrienes inhibit early stages of HIV-1 infection in monocyte-derived microglia-like cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Microglia are one of the main cell types to be productively infected by HIV-1 in the central nervous system (CNS). Leukotriene B₄(LTB₄) and cysteinyl-leukotrienes such as LTC₄are some of the proinflammatory molecules produced in infected individuals that contribute to neuroinflammation. We therefore sought to investigate the role of leukotrienes (LTs) in HIV-1 infection of microglial cells.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To evaluate the role of LTs on HIV-1 infection in the CNS, monocyte-derived microglial-like cells (MDMis) were utilized in this study. Leukotriene-treated MDMis were infected with either fully replicative brain-derived HIV-1 isolates (YU2) or R5-tropic luciferase-encoding particles in order to assess viral production and expression. The efficacy of various steps of the replication cycle was evaluated by means of p24 quantification by ELISA, luciferase activity determination and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We report in this study that virus replication is reduced upon treatment of MDMis with LTB₄and LTC₄. Additional experiments indicate that these proinflammatory molecules alter the pH-independent entry and early post-fusion events of the viral life cycle. Indeed, LT treatment induced a diminution in integrated proviral DNA while reverse-transcribed viral products remained unaffected. Furthermore, decreased C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) surface expression was observed in LT-treated MDMis. Finally, the effect of LTs on HIV-1 infection in MDMis appears to be mediated partly via a signal transduction pathway involving protein kinase C.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These data show for the first time that LTs influence microglial cell infection by HIV-1, and may be a factor in the control of viral load in the CNS.</p