A new species of the genus Macrocentrus Curtis, 1833 from Jammu and Kashmir (UT), India

The genus Macrocentrus Curtis, 1833 is extensively dispersed with 238 species known worldwide. Including this new species, eight species of Macrocentrus are known from India. This genus is characterized by following characters: Antenna often about as long as or somewhat longer than the body (but sometimes distinctly shorter), with 24-61 segments, apical segment with distinct spine or without a spine. In the present study a new braconid, Macrocentrus hayati sp. nov. is described and illustrated from Jammu and Kashmir (UT), India. Specimens were collected from the grass (Cynodon) and weeds near the vegetables like brinjal, potatoes and beans through net sweeping. The collected material was transferred to glass vials containing 70% ethyl alcohol and brought to the laboratory for further studies.The study will help to boost the knowledge of Braconid parasitoids (living weapon) which play a key role in controlling the harmful pests, ultimately resulting in the increase of the yield of crops and other economic commodities like food grains

Capability Assessment of Finite Element Software in Predicting the Last Ply Failure of Composite Laminates

AbstractFinite element programming using language such as FORTRAN, C++ and MATLAB has been the common and traditional tool to perform the progressive failure analysis of composite structures. This procedure requires high programming skills and strong mathematical understanding. This paper for the first time assesses the capability of a commercially available finite element analysis (FEA) software, ANSYS, to perform the Last Ply Failure (LPF) analysis of a laminated composite plate. The analysis is carried out by employing Maximum Stress and Tsai-Wu failure criteria. It is modelled and performed using ANSYS software which has a feature that supports the failure criteria and analysis procedure. The feature allows determination of maximum strength on individual layers in a composite laminate, thus provide an easier way to predict the failure progression. Based on analysis, the ultimate failure load and failure curves (LPF) are determined. The failure curves are compared and discussed with respect to previous experimental and FEA (both LPF and FPF) works. The results show that the LPF curves are very close to experiment that exhibits average errors as low as 16%. Finally, it can be concluded that the ANSYS software is applicable in predicting an accurate composite laminate LPF

Principle of Islamic neighborhood planning in order to create a better neighborhood community

The design of neighborhood community are important is to achieve social unity and harmony among others are strongly encouraged for city development. The balancing elements of physical, social and environment is importance to forming a city. Nowadays, many people become individually and personally, especially in communities involving of their local neighborhoods. Traditional Islamic teachings and traditions involve guideline that has direct application in the domestic sphere. In order to move towards sustainable Islamic urban planning in Malaysia, the formation of city planning must be firmly balance not only physically but also the social aspect. This study will identify an Islamic neighborhood principle to be assimilated into Islamic city Planning in Malaysia. To identify the principles of Islamic neighborhood principles, a qualitative method research that involves content analysis is the most suitable approach to be employed in this study. By the end of the research, this study will reveal the principle of neighborhood planning based on Islamic perspective. Thus, this study suggested that good neighborhood planning practices could contribute and formulate for good urban form and enhance a better quality of life

Relationship among foreign direct investment, economic growth and CO2 emission: A panel data analysis

This study aims to investigate the effects of foreign direct investment and economic growth on CO2 emission.The panel data for the period of 1992 to 2012 from 15 developing countries were collected.The Johansen co-integration was conducted and the results show that there is cointegrated relationship between the variables (FDI, CO2 and GDP).Then the FMOLS was done and it was found that in the long run foreign direct investment does not have any effect on CO2 emission.Therefore, it suggests that an increase in FDI does not influence CO2 emission. However an increase in economic growth can intensify CO2 emission.Therefore, the developing countries should formulate policies on the environment in order to accomplish economic sustainability.At last, Granger causality based on VECM was employed and the results suggest there is no effect of FDI and GDP on CO2 emission in the short run

Relationship among Foreign Direct Investment, Economic Growth and CO2 Emission: A Panel Data Analysis

This study aims to investigate the effects of foreign direct investment and economic growth on CO2 emission. The panel data for the period of 1992 to 2012 from 15 developing countries were collected. The Johansen co-integration was conducted and the results show that there is co-integrated relationship between the variables (FDI, CO2 and GDP). Then the FMOLS was done and it was found that in the long run foreign direct investment does not have any effect on CO2 emission. Therefore, it suggests that an increase in FDI does not influence CO2 emission. However an increase in economic growth can intensify CO2 emission. Therefore, the developing countries should formulate policies on the environment in order to accomplish economic sustainability. At last, Granger causality based on VECM was employed and the results suggest there is no effect of FDI and GDP on CO2 emission in the short run. Keywords: CO2 emissions; economic growth; foreign direct investment JEL Classifications: Q4; Q

Testing the validity of academic staff performance predictors and their effects on workforce performance

This study investigated the validity of quality culture (QC) and excellent work culture (EWC) constructs, and their effects on academic staff performance (ASP) mediated by EWC in selected West Malaysian higher education institutions (HEIs). The study included 1,068 faculty members from eight HEIs. The findings showed that QC construct is represented by nine separate elements, whereas two factors index both ASP and EWC. Moreover, the findings established evidence of construct reliability and validity in relation to the elements comprised the three constructs. The findings indicated that quality culture and excellent work culture have direct impact on ASP. The findings also showed that excellent work culture exhibits indirect causal effect on academic staff performance. This empirical study analyzed the mediating effect of EWC on ASP, which has not been extensively examined in the context of Malaysian HEIs

Natural product-inspired synthesis of coumarin–chalcone hybrids as potential anti-breast cancer agents

Twelve novel neo-tanshinlactone–chalcone hybrid molecules were constructed through a versatile methodology involving the Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons (HWE) olefination of 4-formyl-2H-benzo [h]chromen-2-ones and phosphonic acid diethyl esters, as the key step, and evaluated for anticancer activity against a series of four breast cancers and their related cell lines, viz. MCF-7 (ER + ve), MDA-MB-231 (ER-ve), HeLa (cervical cancer), and Ishikawa (endometrial cancer). The title compounds showed excellent to moderate in vitro anti-cancer activity in a range of 6.8–19.2 µM (IC50). Compounds 30 (IC50 = 6.8 µM and MCF-7; IC50 = 8.5 µM and MDA-MB-231) and 31 (IC50 = 14.4 µM and MCF-7; IC50 = 15.7 µM and MDA-MB-231) exhibited the best activity with compound 30 showing more potent activity than the standard drug tamoxifen. Compound 30 demonstrated a strong binding affinity with tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in molecular docking studies. This is significant because TNFα is linked to MCF-7 cancer cell lines, and it enhances luminal breast cancer cell proliferation by upregulating aromatase. Additionally, virtual ADMET studies confirmed that hybrid compounds 30 and 31 met Lipinski’s rule; displayed high bioavailability, excellent oral absorption, favorable albumin interactions, and strong penetration capabilities; and improved blood–brain barrier crossing. Based on the aforementioned results, compound 30 has been identified as a potential anti-breast cancer lead molecule

Effect of early tranexamic acid administration on mortality, hysterectomy, and other morbidities in women with post-partum haemorrhage (WOMAN): an international, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background Post-partum haemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal death worldwide. Early administration of tranexamic acid reduces deaths due to bleeding in trauma patients. We aimed to assess the effects of early administration of tranexamic acid on death, hysterectomy, and other relevant outcomes in women with post-partum haemorrhage. Methods In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we recruited women aged 16 years and older with a clinical diagnosis of post-partum haemorrhage after a vaginal birth or caesarean section from 193 hospitals in 21 countries. We randomly assigned women to receive either 1 g intravenous tranexamic acid or matching placebo in addition to usual care. If bleeding continued after 30 min, or stopped and restarted within 24 h of the first dose, a second dose of 1 g of tranexamic acid or placebo could be given. Patients were assigned by selection of a numbered treatment pack from a box containing eight numbered packs that were identical apart from the pack number. Participants, care givers, and those assessing outcomes were masked to allocation. We originally planned to enrol 15 000 women with a composite primary endpoint of death from all-causes or hysterectomy within 42 days of giving birth. However, during the trial it became apparent that the decision to conduct a hysterectomy was often made at the same time as randomisation. Although tranexamic acid could influence the risk of death in these cases, it could not affect the risk of hysterectomy. We therefore increased the sample size from 15 000 to 20 000 women in order to estimate the effect of tranexamic acid on the risk of death from post-partum haemorrhage. All analyses were done on an intention-to-treat basis. This trial is registered with ISRCTN76912190 (Dec 8, 2008); ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00872469; and PACTR201007000192283. Findings Between March, 2010, and April, 2016, 20 060 women were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive tranexamic acid (n=10 051) or placebo (n=10 009), of whom 10 036 and 9985, respectively, were included in the analysis. Death due to bleeding was significantly reduced in women given tranexamic acid (155 [1·5%] of 10 036 patients vs 191 [1·9%] of 9985 in the placebo group, risk ratio [RR] 0·81, 95% CI 0·65–1·00; p=0·045), especially in women given treatment within 3 h of giving birth (89 [1·2%] in the tranexamic acid group vs 127 [1·7%] in the placebo group, RR 0·69, 95% CI 0·52–0·91; p=0·008). All other causes of death did not differ significantly by group. Hysterectomy was not reduced with tranexamic acid (358 [3·6%] patients in the tranexamic acid group vs 351 [3·5%] in the placebo group, RR 1·02, 95% CI 0·88–1·07; p=0·84). The composite primary endpoint of death from all causes or hysterectomy was not reduced with tranexamic acid (534 [5·3%] deaths or hysterectomies in the tranexamic acid group vs 546 [5·5%] in the placebo group, RR 0·97, 95% CI 0·87-1·09; p=0·65). Adverse events (including thromboembolic events) did not differ significantly in the tranexamic acid versus placebo group. Interpretation Tranexamic acid reduces death due to bleeding in women with post-partum haemorrhage with no adverse effects. When used as a treatment for postpartum haemorrhage, tranexamic acid should be given as soon as possible after bleeding onset. Funding London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Pfizer, UK Department of Health, Wellcome Trust, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Azimuthal anisotropy of charged jet production in root s(NN)=2.76 TeV Pb-Pb collisions

We present measurements of the azimuthal dependence of charged jet production in central and semi-central root s(NN) = 2.76 TeV Pb-Pb collisions with respect to the second harmonic event plane, quantified as nu(ch)(2) (jet). Jet finding is performed employing the anti-k(T) algorithm with a resolution parameter R = 0.2 using charged tracks from the ALICE tracking system. The contribution of the azimuthal anisotropy of the underlying event is taken into account event-by-event. The remaining (statistical) region-to-region fluctuations are removed on an ensemble basis by unfolding the jet spectra for different event plane orientations independently. Significant non-zero nu(ch)(2) (jet) is observed in semi-central collisions (30-50% centrality) for 20 <p(T)(ch) (jet) <90 GeV/c. The azimuthal dependence of the charged jet production is similar to the dependence observed for jets comprising both charged and neutral fragments, and compatible with measurements of the nu(2) of single charged particles at high p(T). Good agreement between the data and predictions from JEWEL, an event generator simulating parton shower evolution in the presence of a dense QCD medium, is found in semi-central collisions. (C) 2015 CERN for the benefit of the ALICE Collaboration. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Peer reviewe