Authorship Trends and Collaborative Patterns on Annals of Library and Information Studies

Annals of Library and Information Studies (ALIS) is a quarterly journal, published by National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resource (NISCAIR). This study aimed at analyzing the authorship trends and collaborative pattern of the 377 publications published by ALIS during the period of eleven years (2007-2017). The findings revealed that majority of the publications (246) were multi-authored and the overall degree of collaboration (DC) is 0.65. The average publication of the journal is 34 articles per year. Further, Collaborative co-efficient was applied to find out the different levels of multi-authored collaboration and finally conclusion was presented with scope and directions for further researc

Phase diagram of the system Ca-Ti-O at 1200 K

Phase relations in the system Ca-Ti-O have been established by equilibration of several samples at 1200 K for prolonged periods and identification of phases in quenched samples by optical and scanning electron microscopy, XRD and EDS. Samples representing 20 compositions in the ternary system were analyzed. There was negligible solid solubility of Ca in the phases along the binary Ti-O, and of Ti in CaO. Four ternary oxides were identified: CaTiO3, Ca4Ti3O10 and Ca3Ti2O7 containing tetravalent titanium, and CaTi2O4 containing trivalent titanium. Tie-lines link calcium titanite (CaTi2O4) with the three calcium titanates (CaTiO3, Ca4Ti3O10 and Ca3Ti2O7), CaO, oxygen excess TiO1+δ and stoichiometric TiO. Tie-lines connect CaTiO3 with TiO2−x , Magneli phases Ti n O2n−1 (28 ≥ n ≥ 4), Ti3O5, Ti2O3 and TiO1+δ . CaO was found to coexist with TiO, and Ti-O solid solutions α and β. The phase diagram is useful for understanding the mechanisms and kinetics of direct calciothermic reduction of TiO2 to metal and electrochemical reduction of TiO2 using graphite anode and molten CaCl2 electrolyte

Modeling the Growth of Food Science and Technology Literature in India

Purpose: The purpose of the research paper is to find the most appropriate growth model in the field of Food Science and Technology in India. Design/Methodology/Approach: The Growth rate functions α1 and α2 methodology suggested by Egghe and Rao. Findings: The research shows that Growth of the Food Science and Technology Literature is viable in terms of Publications as well as in Citations. Research Limitations/ Implications: The research area is limited to Food Science and Technology area in India only. Originality/Value: The growth rate functions in the field of food science and technology particularly in India is not performed earlie

A randomized comparative study of exteriorization of uterus versus in situ intra-peritoneal repair at cesarean delivery

Background: Various caesarean delivery techniques have been compared in the past to assess the associated short-term and long-term advantages and disadvantages. Although uterine exteriorization at caesarean section is popular among obstetricians, safety of this technique remains a disputed matter. The aim of the present study was to compare the influence of uterine exteriorization or in situ repair on caesarean section morbidity.Methods: In this prospective, randomized, controlled study, 200 pregnant women with indication for caesarean delivery were randomized as 100 patients each in the exteriorization group and in the in-situ group. Data on mean time taken for uterine incision closure, intra-operative blood loss and post-operative morbidities were collected and compared between the two groups for statistical analysis.Results: A statistically significant trend towards lesser mean time taken for the uterine wound repair was observed in the exteriorization group. However significantly more number of patients had increased post-operative pain and need for additional analgesia in exteriorization group. There was no significant difference with respect to intra-operative blood loss and incidence of nausea and vomiting; incidence of post-operative endomyometritis, febrile morbidity, wound infection, time taken for return of bowel function and length of hospital stay among the two groups.Conclusions: We concluded that uterine exteriorization and in situ repair have similar post-operative caesarean section morbidity outcomes. However, in situ repair of uterus was associated with lesser post-operative pain, and exteriorization of uterus was associated with lesser operating time

A prospective study on abnormal uterine bleeding with sonological and histopathological correlation in women attending tertiary care hospital

Background: Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is a common problem among women in the reproductive age group, with reported prevalence in India being 17.9%, AUB has a substantial effect on health-related quality of life and morbidity related if requiring surgeries. The objective of this study was to evaluate various histopathological features in endometrial curetting and co-relate them with transvaginal ultrasonographic findings.Methods: The study consisted of 500 cases who presented to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology with complaints of abnormal uterine bleeding. Relevant history was elicited from all cases and a clinical examination was done. All cases underwent endometrial biopsy followed by transvaginal ultrasonography before surgery and the results were compared with the histopathological study of the specimen.Results: 16.7% of patients diagnosed with AUB had severe anemia requiring transfusion of blood. 4.2% of subjects in the study were nulliparous. 59.7% of subjects had an endometrial thickness ranging from 10mm to 14.9 mm in the transvaginal ultrasonographic study. Endometrial carcinoma accounted for 1.4% of the study population. Normal USG findings were seen in 18.1% of patients.Conclusions: In conclusion, a significant association was found between ultrasound and histopathological findings

Is Face Recognition Biased by Unintentional Recognition of Distracting Information?

Research highlights that we are not as skilful in controlling our memory as we may believe. Instead, our everyday intentional recognition judgments are often biased by what we unintentionally recognise in the same context. So far, it has been demonstrated that the unintentional recognition of image distractors can bias the intentional recognition of word targets, in the form of a familiarity (old/new) congruency bias. This bias reflects improved recognition performance for targets when the distractor/context upon which it is present at test is of the same memory status (also old or new). However, this effect has not yet been explored using face stimuli, despite faces varying in pre-existing familiarity and often being encountered in different familiar or unfamiliar contexts in everyday life. Furthermore, the distractor stimuli used in past literature have often been limited to simple drawings. Past designs have also typically relied on the use of working memory load or divided-attention tasks, or healthy aging to magnify distractibility, which is arguably not ecological valid nor generalisable. Consequently, this research investigated whether distractor-induced congruency biases found for words also apply to faces, using a new database of up-to-date face stimuli and without secondary manipulations of distractibility. I also attempted to replicate these results in an alternative sample and compared effects between target types (words vs faces). Results show novel evidence for the idea that faces are also biased by distracting stimuli in the same manner that has been found in relation to words. In turn, providing evidence for specific cognitive theories (e.g. Perceptual load theory) while questioning others (face processing modularity). Lastly, the study also provides future direction for neurocognitive research to answer questions regarding the underlying mechanisms of distractor bias, based on past research findings of dissociating event-related potentials (ERPs) in relation to unintentional and intentional recognition

Direct detection and quantification of microRNAs

The recent discovery of the potent regulatory nature of microRNAs (miRNAs), a relatively new class of approximately 22 nucleotide RNAs, has made them a primary focus in today’s biochemical and medical research. The relationship between miRNA expression patterns and the onset of cancer, as well as other diseases, has glimpsed the potential of miRNAs as disease biomarkers or drug targets, making them a primary research focus. Their promising future in medicine is hinged upon improving our scientific understanding of their intricate regulatory mechanisms. In the realm of analytical chemistry, the main challenge associated with miRNA is its detection. Their extremely small size and low cellular concentration poses many challenges for achieving reliable results. Current reviews in this area have focused on adaptations to microarray, PCR, and Northern blotting procedures to make them suitable for miRNA detection. While these are extremely powerful methods and accepted as the current standards, they are typically very laborious, semi-quantitative, and often require expensive imaging equipment and/or radioactive/toxic labels. This review aims to highlight emerging techniques in miRNA detection and quantification that exhibit superior flexibility and adaptability as well as matched or increased sensitivity in comparison to the current standards. Specifically, this review will cover colorimetric, fluorescence, bioluminescence, enzyme, and electrochemical based methods, which drastically reduce procedural complexity and overall expense of operation thereby increasing the accessibility of this field of research. The methods are presented and discussed as to their improvements over current standard methods as well as their potential complications preventing acceptance as standard procedures. These new methods have addressed the many of the problems associated with miRNA detection through the employment of enzyme-based signal amplification, enhanced hybridization conditions using PNA capture probes, highly sensitive and flexible forms of spectroscopy, and extremely responsive electrocatalytic nanosystems, among other approaches

Replication confers β cell immaturity.

Pancreatic β cells are highly specialized to regulate systemic glucose levels by secreting insulin. In adults, increase in β-cell mass is limited due to brakes on cell replication. In contrast, proliferation is robust in neonatal β cells that are functionally immature as defined by a lower set point for glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Here we show that β-cell proliferation and immaturity are linked by tuning expression of physiologically relevant, non-oncogenic levels of c-Myc. Adult β cells induced to replicate adopt gene expression and metabolic profiles resembling those of immature neonatal β that proliferate readily. We directly demonstrate that priming insulin-producing cells to enter the cell cycle promotes a functionally immature phenotype. We suggest that there exists a balance between mature functionality and the ability to expand, as the phenotypic state of the β cell reverts to a less functional one in response to proliferative cues

Antifungal activity of various plant oils against yeast isolates from ICU patients

Background: To evaluate the in-vitro antifungal activity of various essential plant oils against yeast species.Methods: The present study was a prospective study conducted in Department of Microbiology along with Department of Pharmacology at Tertiary care teaching hospital. Various clinical samples from ICU patients were inoculated on Sabourauds Dextrose Agar (SDA) in accordance with the standard methods. Yeast isolates were recovered and identified as per standard recommended procedure. The antifungal activity of plant oils against these isolated yeasts was determined using disc diffusion method. The results were interpreted as <9mm-inactive, 9-12mm-partially active, 13-18mm-very active. Fluconazole and Itraconazole were taken as control drugs.Results: The various yeast isolated were C. albicans, C. tropicals, C. krusei, C. glabrata, C. gulliermondi, C. keyfr, Cryptococcus and Tricosporon. Among essential plant oils, Cinnamon oil and clove oil showed high activity against all isolated yeast species. Olive oil showed least antifungal activity. Fluconazole was resistant in all yeast isolates, while Itraconazole was sensitive to all yeast isolates. Sensitivity of cinnamon and clove oil was statistically significant than Itraconazole.Conclusions: To conclude present study shows the potential of essential plant oils as newer therapeutic alternatives to antifungal drugs. These may be used in combination with antifungal agents to overcome drug resistance, adverse effects and in shortening the long-term treatment with antifungal drugs. Thus, these essential plant oils can be used in future as antifungal agents in azoles resistant strains

Aequorin and Obelin Mutants with Differing Wavelengths and Bioluminescence

The invention relates to aequorin and obelin mutants whose emission is shifted with respect to wild type. The shift in emission is accomplished using a combination of mutations of amino acids within aequorin or obelin that affect bioluminescence; use of different types of chromophores, i.e., coelenterazines with variable emission characteristics; and modifications of the photoprotein with fluorophores that will allow for emission of light at longer wavelengths as a result of energy transfer. Additionally, an assay employing aequorin mutants to test for HIV-1 protease inhibitors is disclosed