Study of onychomycosis

Background: Onychomycosis is one of the most common fungal nail infections caused by Dermatophytes, Non-Dermatophytic Molds (NDM) and Yeast. Though it is not life-threatening, can cause pain, discomfort, and disfigurement. It decreases the nail growth rate. Objectives: This study was carried out to document the clinico-mycological pattern and antifungal susceptibility pattern of onychomycosis.Methods: The study group included 130 consecutive patients with suspected fungal nail infections, attending Dermatology outpatient department of King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh during November 2012 to August 2014. The nail clippings of the patients were collected and subjected to KOH mounts for direct microscopy and fungal culture and antifungal susceptibility tests.Results: Onychomycosis was common among males (66.92%) than females (33.08%) with highest incidence was in age group 31-40 years (41.37%). Finger or toenails were exclusively involved in 32.18% and 55.18% patients respectively while these were involved concurrently in the rest of the 12.65% patients. Distal and lateral subungual onychomycosis seen in 64.36% of the patients was the most common clinical type. KOH and culture positivity were recorded in 56.92% and 48.46% cases respectively. Dermatophytes (50.58%) were predominant isolate followed by NDM (27.58%) and yeast (21.84%). Clotrimazole and ketoconazole were most effective antifungals against dermatophytes. For NDM, itraconazole, nystatin and amphotericin B and for yeast fluconazole and itraconazole were effective.Conclusions: The present study gives an insight about the aetiological agents causing onychomycosis and their anti-fungal susceptibility pattern in this region. Thus, it can help in taking adequate control measures to prevent it

Economic effect of mechanical intervention through sub-soiling on growth and yield of rainfed pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan)

A two-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of sub-soiling on plant growth, root morphology and yield of rainfed pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L. ) Millsp.] (Var LRG 41) during 2012-13 and 2013-14. Crop exposed to moisture stress condition from flowering to harvest (120 days) during 2013-14, compared to experiment conducted during 2012-13. The results indicated that sub-soil tillage sustained higher shoot, root growth and seed yield during the year 2013-14, which coincided with end of season drought compared to conventional tillage treatment. Crop growth in terms of plant height, leaf area/plant significantly improved due to sub-soiling compared to conventionally tilled treatment. Similarly sub-soiling recorded significant increase in drought tolerant traits, viz. root length (234%), root dry weight (274%) and relative water content (37%). Consequently, sub-soil tillage recorded significant increase in number of pods/plant by 59%, 100 seed weight by 12% and pod yield by 219% compared to conventionally tilled treatment. Sub-soil tillage proved efficient method of mechanical intervention for drought mitigation under rainfed pigeonpea cultivation

Conversion of fructose into 5-hydroxy methyl furfural over Mesoporous-ZrO2-phosphomolybdic acid nanocomposite catalysts

A series of phosphomolybdic acid (MPA) with varying ts contant incorporated into the mesoporous zirconia (ZMPA) catalysts were prepared by surfactant-assisted sol-gel copolymerization technique. These catalysts were evaluated for selective dehydration of fructose to 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF). The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen physisorption, Fourer-Transform infrared, temperature programmed disorption, pyridine adsorbed FT-infrared and transmssion electron microscopy. The characterization results suggest that these catalysts possess ordered mesoporous structure with Keggin heteropoly molybdate. More over the incorporation of phosphomolybdic acid into mesoporous zirconia resulted in generaton of more number of strong acidic sites. These catalysts exhibited about 80 % HMF yield with in 30 min of reaction time. The existence of relatively strong interaction between the MPA keggin units with ZrO2 mesoporous structure played crucial role in fabricating the stable heterogeneous catalyst. This catalyst is reusable with constant activity

A Study on the Effect of Peristalsis and Cilia of MHD Micropolar Fluid Flow through an Inclined Porous Channel

The study of the influence of magnetic field, channel inclination, porous medium and cilia on the Micropolar fluid under different boundary conditions is carried out. The methods of solving Navier Stokes equation specific to Micropolar fluid under the joint influence of these effects are presented. The profiles of velocity (along the flow direction), the micro rotation vector and the variation of pressure rise with time average flow rate for fixed values of other parameters were carried out and the results are discussed

THE MANAGEMENT OF PRIMARY DYSMENORRHOEA (KASHTARTAVA) - A PROSPECTIVE MULTICENTRIC OPEN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Objective: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of Rajahpravartini vati in the management of primary dysmenorrhoea (Kashtartava) and changes in the quality of life of the subjects. Study design: A multi-centric prospective single arm observational study. Setting and participants: 359 subjects aged between 16 - 35 years suffering from painful menstruation at least for three consecutive regular menstrual cycles were included in the study. Intervention: Rajahpravartini Vati a classical Ayurvedic formulation was administered 250 mg b.d. with lukewarm water for 90 days followed by subsequent 90 days without intervention. Outcome measures: The management of menstrual pain assessing by 10 points Visual Analogue Scale and improvement in the quality of life using SF-36 (RAND) questionnaire. Results: The mean VAS score of pain at baseline was 6.94±1.98, decreasing to 1.7±2.22 at 90th day which further decreased and maintained to 1.24±1.9 up to 180th day. Associated symptoms like nausea, vomiting, constipation, giddiness, breast tenderness, diarrhea, headache and fainting were completely relieved. The improvements of quality of life in 8 domains viz. pain, general health, physical functioning, social functioning, emotional wellbeing, energy/fatigue, limitation due to physical health and emotional problems at the end of 90th day of intervention was also significant (p<0.001) in comparison to baseline. No adverse event occurred during the treatment period. Conclusion: Rajahpravartini Vati has shown a positive role for the treatment of dysmenorrhoea and to improve the quality of life of the subjects

Unitarizable Representations of the Deformed Para-Bose Superalgebra Uq[osp(1/2)] at Roots of 1

The unitarizable irreps of the deformed para-Bose superalgebra $pB_q$, which is isomorphic to $U_q[osp(1/2)]$, are classified at $q$ being root of 1. New finite-dimensional irreps of $U_q[osp(1/2)]$ are found. Explicit expressions for the matrix elements are written down.Comment: 19 pages, PlainTe

Performance of the ocean state forecast system at Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services

The reliability of the operational Ocean State Forecast system at the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) during tropical cyclones that affect the coastline of India is described in this article. The performance of this system during cyclone Thane that severely affected the southeast coast of India during the last week of December 2011 is reported here. Spec-tral wave model is used for forecasting the wave fields generated by the tropical cyclone and vali-dation of the same is done using real-time automated observation systems. The validation results indicate that the forecasted wave parameters agree well with the measurements. The feedback from the user community indicates that the forecast was reliable and highly useful. Alerts based on this operational ocean state forecast system are thus useful for protecting the property and lives of the coastal communities along the coastline of India. INCOIS is extending this service for the benefit of the other countries along the Indian Ocean rim

Wave forecasting and monitoring during very severe cyclone Phailin in the Bay of Bengal

Wave fields, both measured and forecast during the very severe cyclone Phailin, are discussed in this communication. Waves having maximum height of 13.54 m were recorded at Gopalpur, the landfall point of the cyclone. The forecast and observed significant wave heights matched well at Gopalpur with correlation coefficient of 0.98, RMS error of 0.35 m and scatter index of 14%. Forecasts were also validated in the open ocean and found to be reliable (scatter index < 15%). The study also revealed the presence of Southern Ocean swells with a peak period of 20-22 sec hitting Gopalpur coast along with the cyclone-generated waves

The quantum superalgebra Uq[osp(1/2n)]U_q[osp(1/2n)]: deformed para-Bose operators and root of unity representations

We recall the relation between the Lie superalgebra $osp(1/2n)$ and para-Bose operators. The quantum superalgebra $U_q[osp(1/2n)]$, defined as usual in terms of its Chevalley generators, is shown to be isomorphic to an associative algebra generated by so-called pre-oscillator operators satisfying a number of relations. From these relations, and the analogue with the non-deformed case, one can interpret these pre-oscillator operators as deformed para-Bose operators. Some consequences for $U_q[osp(1/2n)]$ (Cartan-Weyl basis, Poincar\'e-Birkhoff-Witt basis) and its Hopf subalgebra $U_q[gl(n)]$ are pointed out. Finally, using a realization in terms of ``$q$-commuting'' $q$-bosons, we construct an irreducible finite-dimensional unitary Fock representation of $U_q[osp(1/2n)]$ and its decomposition in terms of $U_q[gl(n)]$ representations when $q$ is a root of unity.Comment: 15 pages, LaTeX (latex twice), no figure

A bibliography of parasites and diseases of marine and freshwater fishes of India

With the increasing demand for fish as human food, aquaculture both in freshwater and salt water is rapidly developing over the world. In the developing countries, fishes are being raised as food. In many countries fish farming is a very important economic activity. The most recent branch, mariculture, has shown advances in raising fishes in brackish, estuarine and bay waters, in which marine, anadromous and catadromous fishes have successfully been grown and maintained