Quality evaluation of the invader species, Artemia franciscana from Covelong salt works, Kelambakkam, South India

The quality of the invader brine shrimp, Artemia franciscana, colonized in Covelong salt works, Kelambakkam (South India) was evaluated based on biometrics, hatching characteristics and nutritional composition of cyst and freshly hatched nauplii. Hydrated cysts measured 238.31±10.42 μm in diameter, while the freshly hatched nauplii measured about 429.00±12.19 μm in length. A hatching of 76.80±5.68% was obtained with hydrated cysts. Time required to obtain 90% hatching was 22.31 hrs for this strain. The hatching synchronization time was of 4.41 hrs. The proximate composition of the decapsulated cysts and newly hatched nauplii showed high level of protein, energy content and low ash content. Fatty acids analysis of the freshly hatched nauplii indicated low level of EPA and absence (or undetectable) of DHA

An interesting rare case of spontaneous pregnancy with imperforate hymen and high transverse vaginal septum with bicornuate uterus

Congenital anatomic disorders of the female reproductive tract may result from genetic mutation, developmental arrest and abnormal hormonal exposure during embryonic development. These anomalies have a huge impact on the woman’s menstrual, sexual and reproductive functions. Pregnancy with these anatomic disorders is quite challenging. Here we present a rare interesting case of spontaneous pregnancy with multiple anatomic disorders namely- imperforate hymen, high transverse vaginal septum and bicornuate uterus

Air-Abrasion in Dentistry: A Short Review of the Materials and Performance Parameters

The selection of abrasive material and parameters of the Air-Abrasion device for a particular application is a crucial detail. However, there are no standard recommendations or manuals for choosing these details; the operator must depend on his experience and knowledge of the procedure to select the best possible material and set of parameters. This short review attempts to identify some of the effects that the selection of material and parameters could have on the performance of the Air-Abrasion procedure for a particular application. The material and parameter data are collected from various studies and categorized according to the most popular materials in use right now. These studies are then analyzed to arrive at some inferences on the performance of Air-Abrasion materials and parameters. This review arrives at a few conclusions on the effectiveness of a material and parameter set, and that there is potential for developments in the area of standardizing parameter selection; also, there is scope for further studies on Bio-Active Glass as an alternative to the materials currently used in Air-Abrasion

The muscle protein dysferlin accumulates in the Alzheimer brain

Dysferlin is a transmembrane protein that is highly expressed in muscle. Dysferlin mutations cause limb-girdle dystrophy type 2B, Miyoshi myopathy and distal anterior compartment myopathy. Dysferlin has also been described in neural tissue. We studied dysferlin distribution in the brains of patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) and controls. Twelve brains, staged using the Clinical Dementia Rating were examined: 9 AD cases (mean age: 85.9 years and mean disease duration: 8.9 years), and 3 age-matched controls (mean age: 87.5 years). Dysferlin is a cytoplasmic protein in the pyramidal neurons of normal and AD brains. In addition, there were dysferlin-positive dystrophic neurites within Aβ plaques in the AD brain, distinct from tau-positive neurites. Western blots of total brain protein (RIPA) and sequential extraction buffers (high salt, high salt/Triton X-100, SDS and formic acid) of increasing protein extraction strength were performed to examine solubility state. In RIPA fractions, dysferlin was seen as 230–272 kDa bands in normal and AD brains. In serial extractions, there was a shift of dysferlin from soluble phase in high salt/Triton X-100 to the more insoluble SDS fraction in AD. Dysferlin is a new protein described in the AD brain that accumulates in association with neuritic plaques. In muscle, dysferlin plays a role in the repair of muscle membrane damage. The accumulation of dysferlin in the AD brain may be related to the inability of neurons to repair damage due to Aβ deposits accumulating in the AD brain

Using a community-based definition of poverty for targeting poor households for premium subsidies in the context of a community health insurance in Burkina Faso

Background: One of the biggest challenges in subsidizing premiums of poor households for community health insurance is the identification and selection of these households. Generally, poverty assessments in developing countries are based on monetary terms. The household is regarded as poor if its income or consumption is lower than a predefined poverty cut-off. These measures fail to recognize the multi-dimensional character of poverty, ignoring community members? perception and understanding of poverty, leaving them voiceless and powerless in the identification process. Realizing this, the steering committee of Nouna's health insurance devised a method to involve community members to better define `perceived? poverty, using this as a key element for the poor selection. The community-identified poor were then used to effectively target premium subsidies for the insurance scheme. Methods: The study was conducted in the Nouna's Health District located in northwest Burkina Faso. Participants in each village were selected to take part in focus-group discussions (FGD) organized in 41 villages and 7 sectors of Nouna's town to discuss criteria and perceptions of poverty. The discussions were audio recorded, transcribed and analyzed in French using the software NVivo 9. Results: From the FGD on poverty and the subjective definitions and perceptions of the community members, we found that poverty was mainly seen as scarcity of basic needs, vulnerability, deprivation of capacities, powerlessness, voicelessness, indecent living conditions, and absence of social capital and community networks for support in times of need. Criteria and poverty groups as described by community members can be used to identify poor who can then be targeted for subsidies. Conclusion: Policies targeting the poorest require the establishment of effective selection strategies. These policies are well-conditioned by proper identification of the poor people. Community perceptions and criteria of poverty are grounded in reality, to better appreciate the issue. It is crucial to take these perceptions into account in undertaking community development actions which target the poor. For most community-based health insurance schemes with limited financial resources, using a community-based definition of poverty in the targeting of the poorest might be a less costly alternative

An interesting rare case of spontaneous pregnancy with imperforate hymen and high transverse vaginal septum with bicornuate uterus

Congenital anatomic disorders of the female reproductive tract may result from genetic mutation, developmental arrest and abnormal hormonal exposure during embryonic development. These anomalies have a huge impact on the woman’s menstrual, sexual and reproductive functions. Pregnancy with these anatomic disorders is quite challenging. Here we present a rare interesting case of spontaneous pregnancy with multiple anatomic disorders namely- imperforate hymen, high transverse vaginal septum and bicornuate uterus

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Microstructure, optical and photoluminescence properties of simple thermal evaporated CdS nanocrystalline films

CdS nanocrystalline films were deposited on glass substrates by thermal evaporation at 300 K and 573K. All the films exhibited wurtzite structure with crystallite size varied from 10 - 20 nm. The sharp sudden fall of optical transmittance spectra shifted from 485 nm to 455 nm with increasing substrate temperature. The excitation wavelength of all films is about 500 nm and emission wavelengths 545 nm and 570 nm for all films. The possible optical and photoluminescence mechanisms are proposed in this paper. The photoluminescence of CdS nanocrystalline films enables them to have important applications in optoelectronic devices