Development of UVM based Reusabe Verification Environment for SHA-3 Cryptographic Core

In this work, an industry standard methodology for ASIC verification domain, SystemVerilog (SV) with Universal Verification Methodology (UVM) is introduced with its features and application to Keccak SHA-3 Cryptographic Core. The ASIC verification flow for SHA-3 core is followed with creation of UVM based verification environment. By application of UVM on the core, horizontal and vertical re-use can be achieved in standard projects. Proposed verification environment uses OOPs concepts from SV UVM to develop layered testbench. In this approach initial learning curve is slow, considering overhead to learn new verification methodology. But, once full fledge working environment is created, re-usability feature from SV UVM can be achieved with less amount of time. Also coverage results give effectiveness of the proposed verification environment. DOI: 10.17762/ijritcc2321-8169.15057

Computed tomographic evaluation of bone tunnel enlargement following single bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with hamstring autograft

The purpose of this study is to evaluate tibial and femoral tunnel diameter following single bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and correlation between tunnel enlargement and clinical outcome. Twelve patients who underwent primary arthroscopic single bundle ACL reconstruction with hamstring graft were included in prospective case series. Preoperative clinical evaluation was performed using international knee documentation committee (IKDC) subjective score and grade, Tegner knee score and Lysholm knee score. Computed tomography (CT) evaluation of the femoral and tibial tunnels were done on post-operative day (POD) 1 and at a mean follow up of 9 months (range 7-12 months) and were compared with functional scores. Our study shows significant tibial and femoral tunnel enlargement on CT scan at 9 months (range 7-12 months) postoperatively. All the clinical evaluation scales showed improvement postoperatively. The mean average femoral tunnel diameter increased significantly (p<0.001) from 8.17±0.57 to 9.08±0.660 (10%) and tibial tunnel diameter increased significantly (p<0.001) from 8.08±0.669 to 9.07±0.601 (11%) postoperatively at a mean follow up of 9 months (range 7-12 months). No statistically significant difference between tunnel enlargement and clinical values were found. In our current prospective CT based study, we conclude use of extracortical fixation of femoral tunnel with stronger fixation of the tibial tunnel, tunnel orientation and anatomic fixation close to the joint line along with less aggressive rehabilitation protocol with use of extension knee brace may result in minimization of tunnel widening with quadrupled hamstring autograft

Open Access Initiatives: A Boon to Academic Libraries

Abstract: The article gives the meaning and definition of open access. It throws light on emergence and development of open access initiatives and various declarations in the world. The types of open access and their characters are given. The gradual increase of journals in DOAJ is shown. The impacts of OA are various facts of the academic community and the challenges for OA are dealt. The OA initiatives in India are listed

Open Access Initiatives: A Boon to Academic Libraries

Abstract: The article gives the meaning and definition of open access. It throws light on emergence and development of open access initiatives and various declarations in the world. The types of open access and their characters are given. The gradual increase of journals in DOAJ is shown. The impacts of OA are various facts of the academic community and the challenges for OA are dealt. The OA initiatives in India are listed

SHORT COMMUNICATION: Reduction of Spirometric Lung Function Tests in Habitually Smoking Healthy Young Adults: Its Correlation with Pack Years

Background: Adolescent smoking and the subsequent health problems are a major concern today. However there are very few studies done on spirometric lung functions and its relation with pack years in young adult habitual smokers who are apparently healthy. Aims and Objectives: The present study is undertaken to assess the change in lung functions in apparently healthy young adult habitual smokers compared to their age matched controls. Materials and Methods: A random sample of apparently healthy young adult habitual smokers (n=40) and nonsmokers (n=40) between age group17-35 years with history suggesting of pack years of 2-10 years were selected from students & employees of B.L.D.E.Us Sri B.M. Patil Medical College,Hospital & Research Centre Bijapur (Karnataka), India. Spirometric lung functions recorded were forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), FEV1%, Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and Maximal expiratory pressure (MEP). Results: The results suggested that inapparently healthy habitual smokers there was significant decrease in FEV1 (L) (-13.34%, p<0.001), FEV1 % (-10.76%, p<0.001), PEFR (-45.26%, p<0.0001) and MEP (-35.51%, p<0.0001) compared to nonsmokers and decrease in FEV1 was negatively correlated withpack years in smokers (r2=0.063, p=0.001). Reduced lung functions and negative correlation to pack years may be attributed todecreased airway diameter & reflex broncho- constriction in response to inhaled smoke particles. Conclusions: In conclusion young adulthabitual smokers who were apparently healthy are more prone for respiratory dysfunction than their nonsmoker counterparts. FEV1 reduction in relation to pack years acts as an important determinant for detecting lung dysfunction in the early stage of the disease. As the risk of having smoking related diseases depends mainly on number of pack years, it is suggested that quitting smoking earliest helps to get greatest health benefits in apparently healthy young adult habitual smokers

Seed anatomical studies on dormancy and germination in Chamaecrista absus

Present study was conducted to analyze the anatomical structure of seed to study the dormancy behaviour in Chamaecrista absus. Seed germination behaviour was also studied after breaking the seed dormancy by artificial seed treatments. The anotamical studies revealed that seed has apical hilar region and seed coat has four layers consisting of outer cuticle, sub cuticle, palisade layer and inner tegma leading to physical dormancy. Outer cuticle and sub cuticle layers are very hard to break naturally and hence seeds possess hard seed coat dormancy. This physically hard seed coat should be made soft to enhance germination. Studies to break dormancy were conducted involving treatments like hot water, hormones and in combinations of both. The results revealed that seeds dipped in boiling water made inner layers permeable for water absorption in hilar region and thus germination enhanced. In specific seeds treated with boiling water for 5 minutes recorded higher germination (82 %) over untreated control (26 %). . Other artificial treatments with hormones gibberellic acid (33 % ) and ethrel (34 % ) did not enhanced the germination significantly over control. C. absus has hard coat dormancy and can be overcame by treating seeds with boiling water treatment

FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF ALMOND GUM BASED SUSTAINED RELEASE MATRIX TABLET OF INDOMETHACIN

Objective: The aspiration of the current research involves employing various concentrations of polymer and filler to develop indomethacin sustained release (SR) matrix tablets. The objective of this research work is to reduce dosing frequency thereby increasing patients compliance and enhanced therapeutic activity.Methods: Polymers such as Almond gum (AG), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and starch at different concentrations were used for formulating SR polymeric matrix tablets. Evaluation of pre-compression and post-compression parameters was done for both granules and formulated tablets.Results: Results obtained from pre-compression parameters and post-compression parameters suggested that all the parameters are within the prescribed limits, demonstrating that formulated granules had shown better flow properties. The morphological characteristics of the developed tablet were observed by employing scanning electron microscope where the surface of the tablet was found to be smooth from the in vitro dissolution study, combination of AG (30 mg) with PVP (30 mg), and starch used as a filler has sustained the release of drug up to 10 h.Conclusion: Therefore, developed polymeric matrix tablet exhibited enhanced potency over a conventional tablet by exhibiting an excellent dissolution profile for a period of 10 h

Biological relationship of Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) infecting cowpea with leguminous plant species

Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) associated with cowpea mechanically inoculated to different legumi-nous plants. Out of nineteen including cowpea Var.C-152, the virus was easily transferred to ten different legumi-nous hosts. All other hosts assessed for the presence of BCMV were found to be uninfected. The number of days taken for symptom expression and symptoms were varied within plant species. Pole bean expressed mosaic symp-tom after long incubation period (15-18 days) whereas, shorter incubation period was observed in common bean and rice bean (7- 10 days). BCMV produced chlorosis, mosaic, leaf distortion, puckering, vein banding, vein clearing and vein netting on cowpea(C-152). A typical virus symptom, mosaic was observed in green gram, common bean, lime bean, rice bean and yard long bean, whereas, leaf rolling and leaf distortion was observed in black gram, pole bean and snap bean. The virus-host relationship was confirmed by back inoculation test to C. amaranticolor. Further symptomatic plants were subjected for Reverse Transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for molecular confirmation using BCMV coat protein (CP) specific primer pair. A PCR fragment size of 439bp was amplified for the symptomatic plants. The results generated indicated the ability of a plant to support virus expression and host speci-ficity of BMCV within the leguminous plant species

FORMULATION AND INVESTIGATION OF POLYMERIC MULTIPLE UNIT PELLET SYSTEMS CONSISTING OF SUSTAINED RELEASE GLIMEPIRIDE AND IMMEDIATE RELEASE ATORVASTATIN CALCIUM

Objective: The objective of the present work was to develop novel fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) for improvement of glucose tolerance in type II diabetes mellitus patients associated with dyslipidemia. Methods: Multiple unit pellet systems (MUPSs) consisting of sustained release (SR) glimepiride and immediate release atorvastatin calcium pellets were formulated. The SR glimepiride pellets were prepared using a combination of locust bean gum and gum ghatti/guar gum. Similarly, the immediate release of atorvastatin calcium pellets was prepared using locust bean gum suspension as a binder. Results: The formulated pellets were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Further, surface morphology of the formulated pellets was done by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). FT-IR and DSC studies suggested that there were no chemical interactions between the drug and natural polymers. SEM studies revealed that formulated pellets were in spherical shape. Based on in vitro evaluation, the SR glimepiride formulation developed using a combination of 2% locust bean gum and 2.5% gum ghatti polymers sustained the release of the drug up to 12 h. Similarly, the immediate release atorvastatin calcium formulation containing 1% w/w locust bean gum suspension as a binder and 7% croscarmellose sodium showed fast disintegration of pellets. The in vivo studies in albino Wistar rat revealed that there was an improvement in bioavailability of the drugs. Stability studies showed that there were no significant changes in the drug content and physical appearance of the prepared SR glimepiride and immediate release atorvastatin pellet formulations. Conclusion: Thus, the formulated FDC as MUPS can be used as an alternative approach for treating diabetes mellitus-induced dyslipidemia

Homologous recombination in mycobacteria

In recent years, considerable effort and resources have been expended to develop targeted gene delivery methods, and generation of auxotrophic mutants of mycobacteria. The results of these studies suggest that mycobacteria exhibit a wide range of recombination rates, which vary from loci to loci. Here we review the methods developed for allele exchange and targeted gene disruption as well as the mechanistic aspects of homologous recombination in mycobacteria. The results of whole genome, functional and structural analyses of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium smegmatis RecA and SSB proteins provide insights into variations of the prototypic Escherichia coli paradigm. This variation of a common theme might allow mycobacteria to function in their natural but complex physiological environments