EVALUATION OF A RAPID TEST TO DETECT CARBAPENEMASE PRODUCTION AMONG GRAM-NEGATIVE BACILLI.

Objective: There is a need for an early detection of carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacilli to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with it. The objective of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of the Carba NP test in detecting carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacilli.Methods: This prospective experimental study was conducted in 2013 at PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Coimbatore. In this study, 120 consecutive Gram-negative bacilli clinical isolates identified as carbapenem resistant as per the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute guidelines were subjected to Carba NP.Results: About 62.5% of the carbapenem-resistant isolates were found to be carbapenemase producers by modified Hodge test. The sensitivity of the Carba NP test was found to be 92% and the specificity was 100%. The most common bacterial isolate was Acinetobacter baumannii, and the most common sample was urine.Conclusion: The Carba NP test is a simple inexpensive, rapid, reproducible, sensitive test that can be performed directly from the colonies. It improves early detection of patients infected or colonized with carbapenemase in the hospital

Toward a Background Independent Quantum Theory of Gravity

Any canonical quantum theory can be understood to arise from the compatibility of the statistical geometry of distinguishable observations with the canonical Poisson structure of Hamiltonian dynamics. This geometric perspective offers a novel, background independent non-perturbative formulation of quantum gravity. We invoke a quantum version of the equivalence principle, which requires both the statistical and symplectic geometries of canonical quantum theory to be fully dynamical quantities. Our approach sheds new light on such basic issues of quantum gravity as the nature of observables, the problem of time, and the physics of the vacuum. In particular, the observed numerical smallness of the cosmological constant can be rationalized in this approach.Comment: Awarded Honorable Mention, 2004 Gravity Research Foundation Essay Competition; 8 pages, LaTe

Cyclic voltammetric studies of pure and doped films of cobalt hydroxide in 1M potassium hydroxide

Cyclic voltammetric studies of electrosynthetically prepd. pure and doped thin films of cobalt hydroxide (on a platinum foil substrate) in 1M KOH show that Co(OH)​2 undergoes a quasi-​reversible redox reaction between a nearly quadrivalent black oxidic phase and a trivalent brown bronze-​like phase. The coulombic efficiency is 60​%. A common scheme is proposed for the electrode reactions of oxide electrodes in alk. media, namely: MII(OH)​2 .dblharw. HMIIIO2 .dblharw. MIVO2, where M = Mn, Co, Ni. The three metals execute different steps in this two-​electron redox reaction, either reversibly or qu..

Waste Heat Recovery from Metal Casting and Scrap Preheating Using Recovered Heat

AbstractIn metal casting, after solidification of the molten metal in the mold cavity, the knocked out casting has heat energy stored it and is wasted into atmosphere as the casting cools down in the shop floor. If this heat energy can be absorbed by the raw materials by a suitable arrangement, it will reduce energy consumption during melting, resulting in savings in economy and environment. This paper discusses an innovative approach to implement such a methodology. In a basic set up, when this preheating was achieved, the scrap was found to take 2.83% less energy than it would take to melt without this preheating set up. This technique has been improvised by keeping aluminum powder in between the scrap and the hot casting to have better heat recovery, resulting in an increase of heat recovery to the tune of 5.7%. When this savings are applied to global castings produced, which run into millions, the total energy and emissions saved amounts to a substantial figure. The calculations indicate energy savings as high as 419 GWh, which translates roughly to Rs 377 crores a year for Indian foundries in one year

Effect of alkali treatment on physical properties of banana fibre

Banana fibres have been treated with NaOH at 10, 15 and 20% concentrations and its effect on chemical composition,and physical, morphological, structural and thermal properties are studied. The raw and alkali-treated fibres have beeninvestigated for diameter, density, moisture regain, colour, surface characteristics, functional groups analysis, crystallinity offibres and thermal behavior. The treated fibres show improvement in cellulose content, lignin removal, tenacity,crystallinity, and thermal resistance till 10% concentration, and after that no improvement is observed beyond 15%. Colourhas turned the fibre towards darker side slightly aesthetically unappealing. It is noted that the 15% NaOH concentration isoptimum for treating banana fibres used as reinforcement

Effect of alkali treatment on physical properties of banana fibre

459-465Banana fibres have been treated with NaOH at 10, 15 and 20% concentrations and its effect on chemical composition, and physical, morphological, structural and thermal properties are studied. The raw and alkali-treated fibres have been investigated for diameter, density, moisture regain, colour, surface characteristics, functional groups analysis, crystallinity of fibres and thermal behavior. The treated fibres show improvement in cellulose content, lignin removal, tenacity, crystallinity, and thermal resistance till 10% concentration, and after that no improvement is observed beyond 15%. Colour has turned the fibre towards darker side slightly aesthetically unappealing. It is noted that the 15% NaOH concentration is optimum for treating banana fibres used as reinforcement

Synthesis and reversible hydration behavior of the thiosulfate intercalated layered double hydroxide of Zn and Al

The thiosulfate-intercalated layered double hydroxide of Zn and Al undergoes reversible hydration with a variation in the relative humidity of the ambient. The hydrated and dehydrated phases, which represent the end members of the hydration cycle, both adopt the structure of the 3R1 polytype. In the intermediate range of relative humidity values (40-60), the hydrated and dehydrated phases coexist. The end members of the hydration cycle adopt the structure of the same polytype, and vary only in their basal spacings. This points to the possibility that all the intermediate phases have a kinetic origin. © 2013 Elsevier Inc

Isothermal Shock Wave in Magnetogasdynamics

The problem of propagation of a plane isothermal discontinuity (shock) wave in a homogeneous semi-infinite body of a perfect gas, in the presence of amagnetic field have been solved. It has been shown that under certain definiteconditions, the density p at the wave front may be arbitrarily high for a singlecompression pulse. A certain class of solutions of the present problem for a nonhomogeneous semi-infinite body have been derived. Such solutions are expected to be of great importance in compression problems of plasma

AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF KHALITYA WITH THE HELP OF HAMILTON NORWOOD SCALE IN RELATION EXCESSIVE LAVANA IN DAILY DIET IN SAURASTRA REGION

Now a day the entire world is optimistically looking in the direction of the Ayurveda for its eternal principles so we will have to prove our principles in modern era. In continuation this study is carried out. Excessive consumption of salt is becoming a leading habit in people in now days; which is disturbing the health of the people progressively. Acharya Charaka had described that if people are consuming excessive salt for long duration, absolutely they will influence with baldness (Khalitya). According to him salt is related with hot and sharp properties. However it is responsible for the accumulation of Doshas if not used properly. Due to hot, sharp and accumulation of Doshas properties it becomes harmful for hairs and causes baldness. To examine and prove the Ayurvedic principle the study was conducted in 30 volunteers having baldness (Khalitya) and salt consumption by them. Baldness was identified with the help of Hamilton Norwood Scale in the volunteers. According to questionnaire approximate salt consumption was assessed of the same volunteers and observed the comparison of baldness grade according to salt consumption. It was observed that the severity of baldness was found greater in higher consumption volunteers rather than normal consumption volunteers less than 5gms/day. According to Hamilton Norwood Baldness grading system severely affected from baldness were consuming excess salt having 80%; and only 20% volunteers are consuming in limits. Which shows that high salt intake is a major risk factor related to baldness. It proves the statement of Acharya Charaka related excess consumption of salt and baldness

Crystal structural studies of ethyl-5-(4-chlorophenylsulfonyl)-4-hydroxy-2, 6-dip-tolyl-1, 2, 5, 6-tetrahydropyridine-3-carboxylate and diethyl 4-hydroxy-2-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-(phenylsulfonyl)-6-(phenylsulfonylmethyl)cyclohexa-3,6-diene-1,3-dicarboxylate

The crystal structures of trans,trans-Ethyl-5-(4-chlorophenylsulfonyl)-4-hydroxy-2,6-dip-tolyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine-3-carboxylate (Ia) and cis-Diethyl 4-hydroxy-2-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-(phenylsulfonyl)-6-(phenylsulfonylmethyl)cyclohexa-3,6-diene-1,3-dicarboxylate (Ib) were elucidated by single crystal X ray diffraction. Compound (Ia) C28H28Cl NO5S, crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P 21/c, with a = 9.4530(7) Å, b = 25.366(2) Å, c = 11.4353(8) Å, β = 103.092(7)°, V = 2670 (3) Å3 and   Z = 4. The compound (Ib), C31H29N1O11S2, crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P 21/c, with a = 21.179(4) Å, b = 8.4998(16) Å, c = 17.347(3) Å, β = 102.563(3)°, V = 3048.0(10) Å3 and Z = 4. The central piperidine ring of compound (Ia) adopts the sofa conformation and the central cyclohexadiene ring of compound (Ib) adopts the boat conformation.  Details of the compounds preparation, crystal structures and hydrogen bonding interactions of the compounds are discussed