A study of the application of singular perturbation theory

A hierarchical real time algorithm for optimal three dimensional control of aircraft is described. Systematic methods are developed for real time computation of nonlinear feedback controls by means of singular perturbation theory. The results are applied to a six state, three control variable, point mass model of an F-4 aircraft. Nonlinear feedback laws are presented for computing the optimal control of throttle, bank angle, and angle of attack. Real Time capability is assessed on a TI 9900 microcomputer. The breakdown of the singular perturbation approximation near the terminal point is examined Continuation methods are examined to obtain exact optimal trajectories starting from the singular perturbation solutions

Assessment and evaluation of drug information services provided by drug information centre at a multispecialty hospital in Erode, Tamil Nadu, India

Background: To evaluate the performance of Drug Information Centre (DIC) in providing quality drug information services to the health care professionals.Methods: It was a prospective study carried out for a period of six months (June-November 2017). The drug information services provided by the pharmacist at the DIC during ward rounds, direct access, telephone and mail were documented in the drug information request and documentation forms. The quality of drug information provided was assessed with the help of feedback questionnaire which was filled by receivers.Results: A total of 283 queries were received, with a maximum from ward rounds 140(49.47%). On evaluation, it was found that most of the queries were from physicians 207 (73.14%) followed by nurses 33(11.66%), pharmacists 26 (9.18%), patients 17 (6.07%). Among that 178 (62.89%) queries were received from department of general medicine. Most of the queries were intended to update knowledge 110 (38.86%) and for the purpose of better patient care 90 (31.81%). The time frame for an authentic reply ranged from minutes to 24 hours, where a maximum of 110 (38.86%) queries had sent a 24 hours deadline. The majority of the queries were for adverse drug reactions [ADR-60 (21.20%)] and most preferred resources were primary 188 (66.43%).Conclusions: The DIC has always presented and offered itself to be an impressive resource, which is used routinely as an information source by all levels of professionals involved in the health system, in addition to the patients themselves

A taxonomic note on Truncatella guerinii A. Villa & J. B. Villa, 1841 in India (Mollusca: Littorinimorpha: Truncatellidae)

1452-1457Members of the family Truncatellidae Gray, 1840 are widely distributed globally, but their presence in India is unclear. So far, only one species Truncatella guerinii A. Villa & J. B. Villa, 1841 has been reported from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, but most malacologists were unsure of its occurrence due to the lack of appropriate descriptions and proper identification. In this paper, we confirm its presence in the Andaman Islands and also in Pondicherry in Indian waters. In addition, its natural history, distribution and the detailed taxonomy of the species is discussed

First record of the twostripe goby, Valenciennea helsdingenii (Gobiidae, Gobiiformes) from the southeast coast of India

Two specimens of Valenciennea helsdingenii (Bleeker, 1858) were collected off Punnakayal coast, from Gulf of Mannar, southeast coast of India in November 2012. The morphometric and meristic characters of the recorded specimens are described and discussed. This is the first record of the species from the Indian waters that is a range extension of its known range within the Indian Ocean

First record of the twostripe goby, Valenciennea helsdingenii (Gobiidae, Gobiiformes) from the southeast coast of India

Two specimens of Valenciennea helsdingenii (Bleeker, 1858) were collected off Punnakayal coast, from Gulf of Mannar, southeast coast of India in November 2012. The morphometric and meristic characters of the recorded specimens are described and discussed. This is the first record of the species from the Indian waters that is a range extension of its known range within the Indian Ocean

Complex foot deformity and Illizarov technique: a record-based study

Background: Complex foot deformities may occur as a result of trauma, poliomyelitis, osteomyelitis, burn contractures, neuromuscular diseases or may present as a resistant congenital contracture such as clubfoot. The Ilizarov fixator is new and more efficient method in the treatment of orthopedic foot problems. The aim of the study was to assess the outcome of Illizarov technique.Methods: This is a hospital record-based study conducted in 32 patients of foot deformity at orthopedic ward of Navodaya Medical college and Hospital, Raichur.  The record- based data was collected in January to July 2019. Data analysis done with SPSS 24.0 version IBM USA.Results: Majority of the subjects were from 0 to 5 years age group i.e. 14 (43.8%). Mean age was 26.2±4.9 years. Majority in our study were males i.e. 71.9%. In majority of the cases, the cause of foot deformity was neglected and relapsed club foot i.e. 12 (37.5%). Treatment period was 22±7 weeks.   Conclusions: The Ilizarov method can successfully correct complex foot deformities. Success rate was 90.6%

The Inclination of Library Professionals to Modern Tools in the Knowledge Era

The edited volume of the book consists of ten articles covering the innovative practices of libraries in the digital environment. It includes the areas such as library network, e-resources, scholarly publishing, digital libraries, knowledge management, Web 2.0, and blockchain technology etc., that can influence the work-life of the library professionals and the academic community

Photodegradation of organic pollutants RhB dye using UV simulated sunlight on ceria based TiO2 nanomaterials for antibacterial applications

To photo-catalytically degrade RhB dye using solar irradiation, CeO2 doped TiO2 nanocomposites were synthesized hydrothermally at 700 °C for 9 hrs. All emission spectra showed a prominent band centered at 442 nm that was attributed to oxygen related defects in the CeO2-TiO2 nanocrystals. Two sharp absorption bands at 1418 cm−1 and 3323 cm−1 were attributed to the deformation and stretching vibration, and bending vibration of the OH group of water physisorbed to TiO2, respectively. The photocatalytic activities of Ce-TiO2 nanocrystals were investigated through the degradation of RhB under UV and UV+ visible light over a period of 8 hrs. After 8 hrs, the most intense absorption peak at 579 nm disappeared under the highest photocatalytic activity and 99.89% of RhB degraded under solar irradiation. Visible light-activated TiO2 could be prepared from metal-ion incorporation, reduction of TiO2, non-metal doping or sensitizing of TiO2 using dyes. Studying the antibacterial activity of Ce-TiO2 nanocrystals against E. coli revealed significant activity when 10 μg was used, suggesting that it can be used as an antibacterial agent. Its effectiveness is likely related to its strong oxidation activity and superhydrophilicity. This study also discusses the mechanism of heterogeneous photocatalysis in the presence of TiO2

AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Plays an Important Evolutionary Conserved Role in the Regulation of Glucose Metabolism in Fish Skeletal Muscle Cells

AMPK, a master metabolic switch, mediates the observed increase of glucose uptake in locomotory muscle of mammals during exercise. AMPK is activated by changes in the intracellular AMP∶ATP ratio when ATP consumption is stimulated by contractile activity but also by AICAR and metformin, compounds that increase glucose transport in mammalian muscle cells. However, the possible role of AMPK in the regulation of glucose metabolism in skeletal muscle has not been investigated in other vertebrates, including fish. In this study, we investigated the effects of AMPK activators on glucose uptake, AMPK activity, cell surface levels of trout GLUT4 and expression of GLUT1 and GLUT4 as well as the expression of enzymes regulating glucose disposal and PGC1α in trout myotubes derived from a primary muscle cell culture. We show that AICAR and metformin significantly stimulated glucose uptake (1.6 and 1.3 fold, respectively) and that Compound C completely abrogated the stimulatory effects of the AMPK activators on glucose uptake. The combination of insulin and AMPK activators did not result in additive nor synergistic effects on glucose uptake. Moreover, exposure of trout myotubes to AICAR and metformin resulted in an increase in AMPK activity (3.8 and 3 fold, respectively). We also provide evidence suggesting that stimulation of glucose uptake by AMPK activators in trout myotubes may take place, at least in part, by increasing the cell surface and mRNA levels of trout GLUT4. Finally, AICAR increased the mRNA levels of genes involved in glucose disposal (hexokinase, 6-phosphofructokinase, pyruvate kinase and citrate synthase) and mitochondrial biogenesis (PGC-1α) and did not affect glycogen content or glycogen synthase mRNA levels in trout myotubes. Therefore, we provide evidence, for the first time in non-mammalian vertebrates, suggesting a potentially important role of AMPK in stimulating glucose uptake and utilization in the skeletal muscle of fish

Genetic Variability of the mTOR Pathway and Prostate Cancer Risk in the European Prospective Investigation on Cancer (EPIC)

The mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) signal transduction pathway integrates various signals, regulating ribosome biogenesis and protein synthesis as a function of available energy and amino acids, and assuring an appropriate coupling of cellular proliferation with increases in cell size. In addition, recent evidence has pointed to an interplay between the mTOR and p53 pathways. We investigated the genetic variability of 67 key genes in the mTOR pathway and in genes of the p53 pathway which interact with mTOR. We tested the association of 1,084 tagging SNPs with prostate cancer risk in a study of 815 prostate cancer cases and 1,266 controls nested within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). We chose the SNPs (n = 11) with the strongest association with risk (p<0.01) and sought to replicate their association in an additional series of 838 prostate cancer cases and 943 controls from EPIC. In the joint analysis of first and second phase two SNPs of the PRKCI gene showed an association with risk of prostate cancer (ORallele = 0.85, 95% CI 0.78–0.94, p = 1.3×10−3 for rs546950 and ORallele = 0.84, 95% CI 0.76–0.93, p = 5.6×10−4 for rs4955720). We confirmed this in a meta-analysis using as replication set the data from the second phase of our study jointly with the first phase of the Cancer Genetic Markers of Susceptibility (CGEMS) project. In conclusion, we found an association with prostate cancer risk for two SNPs belonging to PRKCI, a gene which is frequently overexpressed in various neoplasms, including prostate cancer