Federal Transfers and the Tax efforts of the States in India

The paper has examined the the impact of federal fiscal transfers on the budget of the state (sub-central) governments in India. The relationship between the federal fiscal transfers and the tax efforts of the 14 major Indian states have been anlysed for fifteen years (from 1970-71 to 1984-85)through a panel dadat set. Fixed efeect model and its variants have been employed. The study found that the federal transfers have dampaned the tax efforts of states in India. Hence, a hiher weightaege for the 'tax effort criterion' has been suggested in the vertical devolution formula of the Indian Finance Commission to ensure efficiency.Federal Transfers; Tax Efforts; Fiscal Federalism in India; Efficiency; Vertical fiscal balance

Encryption Quality and Performance Analysis of GKSBC Algorithm

In the age of intensive data exchanges, security of data poses a major challenge to the existing communication arrangement. In this context the evolution and evaluation of new encryption system is inextricably linked to the process of realizing ever increasing network security needs. Recently a Generalized Key Scheme in a Block Cipher Algorithm (GKSBC) is found to be robust in cryptanalysis and the result of key sensitivity analysis was found satisfactory. This study compares GKSBC with the class of block cipher algorithms viz., RC6, AES and Blowfish, and presents a performance evaluation. To assess the encryption quality two measures viz., Encryption Quality measure and Correlation analysis is applied. Thorough experimental tests with detailed analysis showed the high quality and comparative efficiency of GKSBC algorithm. Keywords: symmetric, generalized, throughput, encryption, correlation

EFFECT OF GYMNEMA SYLVESTRE METHANOLIC EXTRACT ON PANCREATIC PUTRESCINE LEVELS AGAINST ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Objective: Gymnema sylvestre, a rare herb with significant medicinal values widely used as a naturopathic treatment for diabetes. This study demonstrates the antidiabetic potential and changes in the levels of pancreatic putrescine in G. sylvestre treated experimental rat models.Methods: Phytochemical analysis was carried out for methanolic leaf extract of G. sylvestre (GSME). Further, antidiabetic property and putrescine levels in alloxan-induced diabetic Wister albino rats were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography method.Results: The GSME (500 mg/kg b/w) was administered daily up to 15 days in diabetic rats against standard drug metformin (500 mg/kg b/w). At the end of the experiments, the increased body weights were noted in the diabetic control groups, while there was reduction in blood glucose level, total protein, liver glycogen, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, and blood catalase, respectively.Conclusion: GSME at the dose of (500 mg/kg b/w) brings about significant beneficial effects in various physiological parameters and level of putrescine altered during diabetic manifestations, and these effects are quite comparable with the standard drug, metformin

ANTIDIABETIC, HYPOLIPIDEMIC, AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF ZINGERONE IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Objectives: This study assessed the effects of antidiabetic and hypolipidemic activity of Zingerone on STZ induced diabetic rats.Methods: In this study 30 Wistar male rats were divided into five groups: Group 1: Normals control receiving normal saline, Group 2: Diabetic controlreceiving single intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin (STZ) (40 mg/kg body weight). Group 3: Five days after STZ administration, diabeticrats received zingerone (10 mg/kg body weight) orally for 30 days. Group 4: Five days after STZ administration, diabetic rats received metformin(50 mg/kg body weight) orally for 30 days and Group 5: Rats received zingerone alone (10 mg/kg body weight) orally for 30 days.Results: Zingerone treatment significantly reduced blood glucose level, Lipid profiles of serum, liver and kidney showed higher reduction in the levelsof phospholipids (PL), triglycerides (TG) and free fatty acids (FFA) of zingerone treated diabetic rats than STZ-induced diabetic rats and Met-treateddiabetic rats. In addition, zingerone treatment of STZ-rats was found to be effective in preserving the normal histological appearance of pancreaticislets, liver and kidney whereas the untreated diabetic rats exhibited pathological features.Conclusions: These findings substantiated the beneficial effects of zingerone in the treatment of diabetes through exhibiting hypolipidemic effectsas well as restoring the function of several organs including the pancreas. Thus, zingerone may have the potential in managing the effects of diabeticcomplications in human subjects.Keywords: Diabetes, Streptozotocin, Ginger, Zingerone, Antidiabetic, Hypolipidaemic

Impact of maternal obesity on maternal and fetal outcome

INTRODUCTION: The world health organisation defines obesity as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health using the BMI>=30kg/m2 as a crude estimate. Obesity contributes to increased mortality and morbidity worldwide due to several diseases. Obesity incidence was increasing with age and negatively associated with level if physical activity. Obesity endangers both maternal and fetal wellbeing.Obesity in pregnancy is associated with higher rate of pre-eclampsia, GHTN, GDM, abnormal labour, cesarean section, DVT, fetal macrosomia, RDS, birth defects. Obesity complicating pregnancy were studied as early as 1975 since there is a number studies shared a clear association between maternal overweight and adverse obstetric outcome. BMI is widely accepted as better measure of obesity. Weight gain in pregnancy is calculated as difference between weight at the time of labour and her pre-pregnant weight. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study is to determine the adverse effects of obesity in pregnancy and maternal and fetal outcome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A comparative prospective study conducted in the outpatient department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, TVMCH. 100 women attending antenatal clinics in the first trimester were recruited for this study based on their BMI and followed up throughout the antenatal period, during delivery and postnatally. Both maternal and fetal outcome were studied. Height was measured at the booking visit by standard methods. Weight was recorded twice at beginning of pregnancy and end of pregnancy to calculated the net weight gain. While BMI is calculated with weight recorded in 1st trimester booking visit using formula

Predicting domain-domain interactions using a parsimony approach

We propose a novel approach to predict domain-domain interactions from a protein-protein interaction network. In our method we apply a parsimony-driven explanation of the network, where the domain interactions are inferred using linear programming optimization, and false positives in the protein network are handled by a probabilistic construction. This method outperforms previous approaches by a considerable margin. The results indicate that the parsimony principle provides a correct approach for detecting domain-domain contacts