Privatization in East Germany: Can the Treuhandanstalt provide a model?

The dynamics of privatization in the Eastern Germany can be better understood in terms of the 'economic polities' applied to the 'political markets'. The Treuhandanstalt played a key role in transforming the entire economy of the former GDR into the market economy in the wake of unification of East Germany with West Germany. The present study discusses the agency's structure, functions and responsibilities, on the one hand and financing, functioning and evaluation, on the other. Although the Treuhandanstalt provides a unique example of privatization by the state and the market, it cannot be duplicated or copied in toto.

Paenibacillus polymyxa as a water additive improved immune response of Cyprinus carpio and disease resistance against Aeromonas hydrophila

AbstractThe present study was undertaken to investigate the impact of Paenibacillus polymyxa as water additive probiotic bacterium in common carp, Cyprinus carpio based on water quality, survival, innate immune responses and disease resistance. The completely randomized experiment design was conducted for eight weeks and treatments consisted of three levels of P. polymyxa added in water at concentration of 103cfumL−1 (PP1), 104cfumL−1 (PP2) and 105cfumL−1 (PP3) and one control (Con, without any probiotic). No significant differences (p>0.05) in water quality parameters, such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, ammonical nitrogen and nitrite nitrogen were observed throughout the experimental period among treatments. The influences of P. polymyxa at different concentrations significantly improved survival (p<0.05). Study of different innate immunological parameters viz. lysozyme activity, respiratory burst assay, myeloperoxidase content, catalase and superoxidase dismutase activities showed significant (p<0.05) improved immune responses in fish exposed to P. polymyxa as water additive at 103 (PP1) and 104 (PP2)cfumL−1. The supplementation of probiotic in challenge test significantly (p<0.05) enhanced the resistance of fish against A. hydrophila infection. In view of recent reports of antibiotic failure from many countries to stop spread of fish diseases, renewed interest in a more complete understanding of the fish immune response to infectious diseases will be critical in developing new eco-friendly control strategies for future. Therefore, the application of probiotic P. polymyxa as water additive could be applied in aquaculture to improve immune responses and disease resistance of C. carpio

Physico-chemical Properties of Water Samples from Manipur River System, India

Assessment of physico-chemical parameters were carried out during April 2008 to March 2009 from four rivers namely the Imphal, Iril, Thoubal and Manipur located in Manipur, a north-eastern State of India bordering Myanmar. Sites I, IV, V and VI were subjected to various anthropogenic activities of man, passing through the urban residential areas while sites II and III from Manipur river were located in a forested watershed and free from human disturbances. Maxima of TDS 870 mg/l, conductivity 467μS/cm, NO3-N 0.550 mg/l, PO4-P 0.068 mg/l and K 9.00 mg/l were recorded during rainy season while maxima of free CO2 22.3 mg/l, total alkalinity 168.0 mg/l, Chloride 42.63 mg/l and total hardness 136.0 mg/l were observed during summer from the rivers indicating degradation of water quality during rainy season than summer. Values of DO was below the minimum permissible limit (4.43 mg/l) and free CO2 beyond the maximum limit (22.30 mg/l) during summer season at site V .The values of the studied parameters were more during rainy season in Thoubal river followed by Imphal, Iril and Manipur rivers. The results indicated that most of the physico-chemical parameters from Manipur river system were within the WHO limits for drinking water and, therefore, may be suitable for domestic purposes. @ JASEM. J. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manage. December, 2010, Vol. 14 (4) 85 - 8

Effect of Muons on the Phase Transition in Magnetised Proto-Neutron Star Matter

We study the effect of inclusion of muons and the muon neutrinos on the phase transition from nuclear to quark matter in a magnetised proto-neutron star and compare our results with those obtained by us without the muons. We find that the inclusion of muons changes slightly the nuclear density at which transition occurs.However the dependence of this transition density on various chemical potentials, temperature and the magnetic field remains quantitatively the same.Comment: LaTex2e file with four postscript figure

A study to evaluate pattern and purpose of smartphone usage and its dependence among medical students of government medical college in northern India

Background: Smartphone usage has become increasingly popular in recent decade. Though it’s of great utility in many aspects, excessive usage among youth has shown increased restlessness, careless lifestyles and greater susceptibility to stress. Aim &amp; Objective: To assess the pattern and purpose of smartphone usage and its dependence among medical students. Methods &amp; Material: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted among 363 MBBS students of 1st, IInd and IIIrd professional year between October 2018 to December 2018 at a government medical college. A 20-item self-administrated questionnaire, focusing on purpose and pattern of use of smart phone and its dependence was filled by all the students. Data was collected, entered and analysed using SPSS Software. Result: Among 363 students, 53% participants were males and rest were females. 80% students were using smartphone for more than 2 years, while 60% were having daily usage of more than 3 hours. Significant association between severity of smartphone dependence and variables like MBBS professional year, daily phone call made and received, daily SMS received, daily WhatsApp message sent and received were observed. Dependence was mild in 8.8% of the students; Moderate in 72.2% while 19% were suffering from severe smartphone dependence. Conclusion: Smart phone dependence is an established and emerging psychological issue which needs attention and intervention. It is of serious concern that all medical students were suffering from smartphone dependence with varying grades of severity. Increased awareness regarding the harmful effects of smartphone addiction is the need of hour

Long Non-Coding RNA Profile in Mantle Cell Lymphoma Identifies a Functional lncRNA ROR1-AS1 Associated With EZH2/PRC2 Complex.

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an aggressive B-cell lymphoma characterized by rapid disease progression. The needs for new therapeutic strategies for MCL patients call for further understanding on the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis of MCL. Recently, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been recognized as key regulators of gene expression and disease development, however, the role of lncRNAs in non-Hodgkin lymphoma and specifically in MCL is still unknown. Next generation RNA-sequencing was carried out on MCL patient samples along with normal controls and data was analyzed. As a result, several novel lncRNAs were found significantly overexpressed in the MCL samples with lncRNA ROR1-AS1 the most significant one. We cloned the ROR1-AS1 lncRNA in expression vector and ectopically transfected in MCL cell lines. Results showed that overexpression of ROR1-AS1 lncRNA promoted growth of MCL cells while decreased sensitivity to the treatment with drugs ibrutinib and dexamethasone. ROR-AS1 overexpression also decreased the mRNA expression of P16 (P = 0.21), and SOX11 (p = 0.017), without much effect on P53, ATM and P14 mRNA. RNA-immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated high affinity binding of lncRNA ROR1-AS1 with EZH2 and SUZ12 proteins of the polycomb repressive complex-2 (PRC2). Suppressing EZH2 activity with pharmacological inhibitor GSK343 abolished binding of ROR1-AS1 with EZH2. Taken together, this study identified a functional lncRNA ROR-AS1 involved with regulation of gene transcription via associating with PRC2 complex, and may serve as a novel biomarker in MCL patients

Role of intrauterine tubo-peritoneal insemination and intrauterine insemination in the treatment of infertility

Background: Infertility management has become more substantial and relevant with an increase in the number of infertile patients as well as advances in the science of reproduction. The objective of our study was to assess the role of intrauterine tuboperitoneal insemination (IUTPI) and intrauterine insemination (IUI) in the treatment of infertile patients.Methods: 236 infertile patients, 118 in each group attending the infertility clinic, after applying both inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled in the present study. Patients in each study group were given clomiphene citrate for ovarian stimulation followed by injection hCG for triggering ovulation. Insemination with washed husband’s sperm was performed about 36-40 hours after hCG administration, using 10ml of  inseminate in IUTPI and 0.5ml inseminate in IUI. The patient was then called after 2 weeks for urine pregnancy test (UPT) which, if positive was considered as clinical pregnancy.Results: Out of the total 236 cases, 42 cases had a positive outcome. Out of these 42 positive cases, 27 were from IUTPI group whereas 15 from IUI group. The pregnancy rate was 22.88% in IUTPI and 12.71% in IUI (p=0.039), which was a statistically significant difference. Endometrial thickness, preovulatory follicle number and prewash sperm motility significantly affected positive outcome in IUTPI. Factors like patient’s age, BMI<25, bilateral patent tubes and decreased duration of infertility also positively affected the treatment outcome.Conclusions: Our study found IUTPI to have better pregnancy rate compared to IUI. IUTPI may become a first line option for treatment of infertile patients

Assessment of drug prescribing pattern using WHO indicators in hospitalized patients at a tertiary care teaching hospital in rural area of India

Background: To promote rational drug use in patients of rural areas, it is important to assess drug use pattern using the WHO prescription indicators. The aim of this study was to assess the drug prescription patterns in patients admitted in Medicine department of UPRIMS&R.Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted from Jan 2015 to June 2015. Data were collected & analysed according to WHO prescribing indicators and presented by using descriptive statistics.Results: 626 prescriptions were selected in which 3205 drugs were prescribed. The most common drug groups prescribed were antibiotics 24.64% followed by anti-diabetic drugs 12.38%, analgesics 12.23% and drugs for cardiovascular diseases 11.82%, GIT drugs 9.01%. Average number of drugs per prescription was 5.11. Drugs prescribed from essential drugs list (India) was 76.06%. Drugs prescribed from essential drugs list (WHO) was 23.04%. Total number of prescriptions with antibiotics was 24.27%. Total number of prescriptions with injections was 24.05%. Percentage of fixed dose combinations was 28.7%. Drugs prescribed by generic name were 89.88%.Conclusions: The prescribing pattern of antibiotics was according to WHO recommendations while the average number of drugs per prescription was found high. There were small differences in the values of drugs prescribed by generic names, injectable and drugs from NLEM from the recommended values