Low-lying dipole strengths for probable pp-wave one-neutron halos in the medium mass region

The one-neutron halos lying in the island of inversion around $N=20$ has provided the podium, to study the variation of total low-lying dipole strength with the neutron separation energy. We study three probable p-wave one-neutron halo candidates 31Ne and 34Na and 37Mg lying in the island of inversion. A simple analytic model has been used for the calculation of the total low-lying dipole strength for the medium mass p-wave one-neutron halos. A correction factor to this analytical model has been estimated with a realistic Woods-Saxon potential. A comparison of these analytic calculations has been made with the those performed by a finite-range distorted-wave Born approximation theory of the Coulomb dissociation. We also make an estimate of the one-neutron separation energies of 31Ne, 34Na and 37Mg.Comment: 7 pages latex, 4 figures, to appear in EPJ

How gender inclusive is MGNREGA?

Dr Manju Singh calls for more research to determine whether India’s public employment programmes such as MGNREGA are promoting gender equality

Development and in vitro evaluation of polar lipid based lipospheres for oral delivery of peptide drugs

A 32 factorial design was employed to produce oral sustained release lipospheres prepared by modified double emulsion solvent evaporation technique for Serratiopeptidase (acid-labile enzyme) using wax and polar lipid combination as retardants. The effects of formulation variables selected through preliminary trials namely peptide and stabilizer (Tween® 80) concentration was evaluated by F-test on the drug content and size of lipospheres. The results of analysis of variance tests for both effects indicated that the test is significant (p < 0.05). The effect of Tween® 80 concentration (SSY1- 41.66; SSY2 – 25.30) was found to be higher than peptide amount (SSY1- 3.94; SSY2 – 4.03) on the size and drug content of lipospheres. Characterization was carried out through photomicroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, particle size analysis and in vitro drug release study. The effect of formulation variables on the integrity of enzyme was confirmed by in vitro proteolytic activity. The drug release from lipospheres followed first-order kinetics and was characterized by the Higuchi diffusion and Ritger-Peppas model. Lipospheres having maximum drug content (11.93±0.89) released 3-4% enzyme at pH 1.2 in 4 h. In phosphate buffer, lipospheres showed an initial burst release of 20.89±1.87% to 27.89±2.03% in one hour with additional 73.22±2.36% to 94.75±2.78% in next 12 hours. Thus, peptide loaded lipospheres with desirable characters in terms of maximum peptide content and diffusion release pattern were successfully prepared with formulation optimization approach.Keywords: Cetyl alcohol, Enzyme, factorial design, Lipospheres; Peptide, Serratiopeptidas

Development and in vitro evaluation of polar lipid based lipospheres for oral delivery of peptide drugs

A 32 factorial design was employed to produce oral sustained release lipospheres prepared by modified double emulsion solvent evaporation technique for Serratiopeptidase (acid-labile enzyme) using wax and polar lipid combination as retardants. The effects of formulation variables selected through preliminary trials namely peptide and stabilizer (Tween® 80) concentration was evaluated by F-test on the drug content and size of lipospheres. The results of analysis of variance tests for both effects indicated that the test is significant (p < 0.05). The effect of Tween® 80 concentration (SSY1- 41.66; SSY2 – 25.30) was found to be higher than peptide amount (SSY1- 3.94; SSY2 – 4.03) on the size and drug content of lipospheres. Characterization was carried out through photomicroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, particle size analysis and in vitro drug release study. The effect of formulation variables on the integrity of enzyme was confirmed by in vitro proteolytic activity. The drug release from lipospheres followed first-order kinetics and was characterized by the Higuchi diffusion and Ritger-Peppas model. Lipospheres having maximum drug content (11.93±0.89) released 3-4% enzyme at pH 1.2 in 4 h. In phosphate buffer, lipospheres showed an initial burst release of 20.89±1.87% to 27.89±2.03% in one hour with additional 73.22±2.36% to 94.75±2.78% in next 12 hours. Thus, peptide loaded lipospheres with desirable characters in terms of maximum peptide content and diffusion release pattern were successfully prepared with formulation optimization approach.Keywords: Cetyl alcohol, Enzyme, factorial design, Lipospheres; Peptide, Serratiopeptidas

Gouty tophi of small joints of hand: A classical presentation

Gout is an acute inflammatory disorder caused by deposition of monosodium urate crystals. Gouty tophus can be the initial presenting feature of chronic disease. Diagnosis of periarticular nodules can be a challenge for clinicians. Fine needle aspiration can provide quick, cost-effective and definitive diagnosis for the early management of these patients. Here, we present the case of gouty tophi of the right-hand index finger in a 45-years-old male leading to restricted finger movements

Comparative Analysis of Energy Efficient Clustering Protocol in Wireless Sensor Networks

The clustering based protocols are the best for the heterogeneous wireless sensor networks because they perform the work on divide and conquer rule. In this study, the mainly focus is on the cluster head selection using tabu search in energy efficient clustering protocol. Due to limited energy in sensor nodes, the networkis not stable. For this, many protocols has been proposed so far to improve the energy efficiency .This paper presents the comparative analysis of REAC-IN protocol with Tabu based REAC-IN protocol in terms of alive nodes, energy variance and data received to the sink in bytes. The simulation results show that tabu based REAC-IN protocol performs better instead of REAC-IN protoco

Clinical presentation, diagnosis and management of bacterial vaginosis: a hospital based cross-sectional study

Background: Bacterial vaginosis is most common cause of vaginal discharge. Clinical presentation varies from person to person. The management of bacterial vaginosis is largely syndromic and empirical, it is usually based on naked eye examination of vaginal discharge and that is unsatisfactory because the diagnostic accuracy is lost without microscopic examination. The modern management of bacterial vaginosis demands a specific diagnosis which is a combination of naked eye examination plus laboratory workup.Methods: The study was carried out on 183 females with complaint of vaginal discharge in the outpatient department of obstetrics and gynecology. Specimens were collected in outpatient department of Jhalawar Medical College in associated Zanana Hospital. The laboratory work was conducted in the department of microbiology in Jhalawar Medical College, Jhalawar, Rajasthan, India.Results: The prevalence of microbial positivity in our study was 79.9%. Bacterial vaginosis was the most common diagnosis seen in 86 (47.0%) cases. Maximum patients presented with complaint of copious amount of foul-smelling yellow discharge.Conclusions: The study concludes that it is important to know the various presentations, confirm the diagnosis by proper microbiological tests, and provide appropriate treatment to patients to prevent resistance and recurrence of bacterial vaginosis

Antimicrobials associated adverse drug reaction profiling: a four years retrospective study (Pharmacovigilance study)

Background: All drugs profoundly modify our biological processes and may manifest as adverse drug reactions (ADRs), which are unpredictable and inevitable consequences. Antibiotics are a common cause of ADR, necessitating stopping or change of antibiotics. The incidence of ADRs increases with the number of drugs prescribed in a prescription, and antibiotics are rarely prescribed as monotherapy.Aim: The study aimed to assess frequency, class of antibiotics, symptoms, causality, the severity of antimicrobial-associated ADRs, and see the demographic distribution.Methods: ADRs were collected and filled in suspected ADR forms and sent via vigiflow to the National Coordination Centre-Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (NCC-PvPI). These ADR reports, termed individual case safety reports (ICSRs), were analyzed from Jan 2016 to Dec 2019.Results: A total of 414 (54.33%) ICSRs of 762 were identified as antimicrobial-associated. Adults in the age group 19–65 years accounted for 345 (83.09%) of ADRs. A total of 192 (46.38%) were males, and 222 (53.14%) were females. Skin and subcutaneous tissue System organ class was involved in 54% of cases. In the causality assessment, 268 (64.49%) were “probable,” 123 (29.71%) were “possible,” and 23 (5.56%) were “certain.” On severity assessment, 256 ADRs (61.83%) were mild, 133 (32.12%) were moderate, and 25 (6.03%) were severe. A total of 54 antimicrobial agents, excluding anti-tubercular drugs, were identified, and antibacterial accounted for 268 (64.73%) ADRs, followed by antiviral 90 (21.73%), antiprotozoal agents 33 (7.97%) antimalarials anti-scabicidal, antifungal accounting for the remaining.Conclusion: Antimicrobials play a crucial role in treating infections, and utmost vigilance during antimicrobials prescription reduces the frequency and severity of the ADRs, thereby reducing the morbidity and mortality and the pharmacoeconomic burden to the health care system. Pharmacovigilance must be boosted to ensure the safe and effective use of antibiotics and reduce the occurrence of ADRs

A Review of the Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Indian Retailing

Retailing is the largest private industry in India and second largest employer in the Indian economy. At present, Indi