Comparison of vitamin D levels in obese and non obese patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome in a South Indian population

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common metabolic abnormality occurring in young women of reproductive age. Low vitamin D levels were found to be associated with the development of obesity and insulin resistance in young women with PCOS. The study was conducted as a prospective observational study involving 121 women with PCOS. The diagnosis of PCOS cases were based on the revised Rotterdam consensus criteria. Vitamin D levels were compared in the obese and non obese PCOS groups and also with the controls. In the PCOS group, sixty subjects were obese with BMI of ≥25 kg/m2 and forty seven subjects were found to be non obese. In the control group, sixteen subjects were obese and sixty five subjects were non obese. The mean vitamin D level in the PCOS group was 15.45±7.88 ng/ml and in the control group was 12.83±5.76ng/ml. The mean vitamin D levels in the obese and non obese group with PCOS were 16.11±8.9ng/ml and 14.61±6.1ng/ml respectively. Majority of the patients and controls had vitamin D deficiency and there was no difference in the vitamin D levels in PCOS group and controls as well as obese and non obese groups

Economic justification of advanced manufacturing technology

Despite the far reaching implications of the advanced manufacturing technologies (AMT) for the maintenance and enhancement of a firm's competitive position, the financial justification of investments in AMT has not been easy. Recent research in manufacturing strategy, financial theory, management accounting and organization decision making suggests that the AMT-justification process should involve (i) a strategic analysis to ascertain the strategic fit and the competitive advantage of AMT, (ii) an economic analysis to ascertain the financial viability of AMT and (iii) an understanding of the dynamics of organizational decision making to overcome the barriers to the adoption of AMT. Focusing on the economic analysis we present a concise review of the state of the art and propose a four-level justification framework for investment in AMT. At Level 1 of this framework, we analyze the easily quantifiable benefits and costs using the traditional discounted cash flow (DCF) models. We examine the limitations of the traditional DCF analysis and discuss some refinements suggested in the literature. At Level 2, we develop and illustrate with a numerical example, a stochastic mathematical programming model to quantify the strategic benefits such as flexibility and quality. At Level 3, we quantify the benefits of the time series linkages between the project currently being justified and a related future project using a learning curve model. Finally, at Level 4 we focus on a qualitative assessment of the benefits which were not included in the evaluation at the first three levels.automation capital investment stochastic programming technology

Comparison of vermiwash and vermicompost tea properties produced from different organic beds under greenhouse conditions

Abstract Purpose Using different organic beds to produce vermicompost may influence on quality of vermicompost and its derived productions. Methods A greenhouse experiment was conducted to compare the properties of vermicompost, vermiwash and vermicompost tea obtained from three types of organic beds consisted of cow manure, leaf meal and a combination of cow manure and leaf meal (1:1 w/w). Results Cow manure vermicompost had more desirable effect on many measured traits toward leaf meal and combination of leaf meal and cow manure vermicomposts. Vermicompost tea obtained from three vermicompost types was richer in terms of macro and micro nutrients, C/N, percent of organic matter and organic carbon toward the vermiwash produced from the same vermicompost. Vermiwash and vermicompost tea produced from cow manure vermicompost were at first order in majority of measured traits toward others. Conclusions Generally vermicompost which was richer in nutrient concentrations affected intensively quality of vermiwash and vermicompost tea produced from it