A catalog of Nearby Poor Clusters of Galaxies

A catalog of 732 optically selected, nearby poor clusters of galaxies covering the entire sky north of $\rm -3^{\circ}$ declination is presented. The poor clusters, called WBL clusters, were identified as concentrations of 3 or more galaxies with photographic magnitudes brighter than 15.7, possessing a galaxy surface overdensity of $10^{4/3}$. These criteria are consistent with those used in the identification of the original Yerkes poor clusters, and this new catalog substantially increases the sample size of such objects. These poor clusters cover the entire range of galaxy associations up to and including Abell clusters, systematically including poor and rich galaxy systems spanning over three orders of magnitude in the cluster mass function. As a result, this new catalog contains a greater diversity of richness and structures than other group catalogs, such as the Hickson or Yerkes catalogs. The information on individual galaxies includes redshifts and cross-references to other galaxy catalogs. The entries for the clusters include redshift (where available) and cross-references to other group and cluster catalogs.Comment: 27 pages, 7 figures, + one 20-page landscape table, accepted for publication in A

Sugar-hydrolysing enzymes in gustatory mutants of Drosophila

The distribution of the isozymes of α-glucosidase in different parts of Drosophila melanogaster was examined. Two of the eight glucosidase bands are associated with tarsi. The gustatory mutations in the genes gustB and gustC greatly reduce tarsal glucosidase activity, but the enzyme deficiency is not correlated with inability to taste sugars

ADVANCES IN GRDDS: RAFT FORMING SYSTEM A REVIEW

In recent years several advancement has been made in research and development of Gastro retentive drug delivery system to overcome the drawback of non-site specificity when drug administered orally. In order to understand various physiological difficulties to achieve gastric retention, we have summarized important factors controlling gastric retention time. We have reviewed various gastro retentive approaches designed and developed until now i.e. floating drug dosage systems (FDDS), swelling or expanding systems, mucoadhesive systems, high density system, Raft forming system, magnetic systems. Among these systems, the review summarizes the special focus on raft forming approach which comes under floating drug delivery system. Raft system incorporates alginate gels which have carbonate components react with gastric acid causes bubbles and this enables floating. Finally, Evaluation, advantages, disadvantages, future potential and marketed preparation of raft forming approach in gastro retentive drug delivery systems were covered

Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Innovations in Automation and Mechatronics Engineering (ICIAME2018)

The Mechatronics Department (Accredited by National Board of Accreditation, New Delhi, India) of the G H Patel College of Engineering and Technology, Gujarat, India arranged the 4th International Conference on Innovations in Automation and Mechatronics Engineering 2018, (ICIAME 2018) on 2-3 February 2018. The papers presented during the conference were based on Automation, Optimization, Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing, Nanotechnology, Solar Energy etc and are featured in this book

Incidence and medical management of bisphosphonate-associated atypical femoral fractures in a major trauma centre: a retrospective observational study

BACKGROUND: Atypical femoral fractures (AFFs) are rare events associated with increased duration of bisphosphonate exposure. Recommended management of AFFs include cessation of bisphosphonates and imaging of the contralateral femur. The aims of this study were to identify the local incidence of AFFs in bisphosphonate users and to audit the medical management of AFFs against published recommendations. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the admissions database for a major trauma centre identified all femoral fractures (3150) in a five-year period (July 2009 to June 2014). Electronic health records and radiographs were reviewed using the 2013 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) diagnostic criteria for AFF to establish the number of cases. To estimate incidence, the total number of bisphosphonate users was derived from primary care prescription and secondary care day-case records. Medical management of cases with AFF on bisphosphonates was audited against guidance from ASBMR and Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. RESULTS: 10 out of 3150 femoral fractures met criteria for AFF; 7 of these patients had a history of exposure to bisphosphonates (6 oral, 1 intravenous). There were 19.1 AFFs per 100,000 years of bisphosphonate use in our region. Bisphosphonates were stopped and the contralateral femur imaged in only 2 of the 7 patients treated with bisphosphonates. CONCLUSION: Our local incidence is in line with published figures; however, this is the first published evidence suggesting that medical management and identification of AFF may be suboptimal. Managing these patients remains challenging due to their rarity and possible lack of awareness

Protective action of taurine, given as a pretreatment or as a posttreatment, against endotoxin-induced acute lung inflammation in hamsters

To assess the effect of taurine on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis, female Golden Syrian hamsters were intratracheally instilled with bacterial LPS (0.02 mg in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) pH 7.4), before or after a 3-day intraperitoneal treatment with a single dose of taurine (50 mg/kg/day in PBS pH 7.4), and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue samples were collected at 24 hr after the last treatment. In comparison to BALF samples from animals receiving only PBS pH 7.4, and serving as controls, those of LPS-stimulated animals exhibited a higher count of both total leukocytes and neutrophils and increased expression of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1. In comparison to lungs from control animals, those from LPS-treated animals showed increased cellular apoptosis, lipid peroxidation, decreased glutathione levels, altered activities of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase) and focal inflammation confined to the parenchyma. A treatment with taurine was found to significantly attenuate all these alterations, with the protection being, in all instances, greater when given before rather than after LPS. The present results suggest that taurine is endowed with antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties that are protective in the lung against the deleterious actions of Gram negative bacterial endotoxin

Mind over matter: investigation of materialization of intentions

In this article, we present our investigation of materialization of intentions using the input-output data based Six Sigma methodology for problem solving. The investigation is inspired by our respective Gurus, the wisdom of present and past seers, and the works of several scientists. We present two examples of materialization of intentions (change of pH and levitation). The pH example is preliminary requiring additional experimentation. We believe that the evidence presented is very supportive of the hypothesis of materialization of intentions. We hope this paper will contribute towards the unfolding of a Copernican-like revolution which will have profound positive impact on humanity

Farmakokinetika u plazmi i režim doziranja cefpirom-sulfata u ovaca

Cefpirome is fourth- generation cephalosporin class of drug with a broad spectrum of activity against Gram- positive and Gram- negative organisms. A pharmacokinetic study of single dose intravenous (IV) and intramuscular (IM) administration of cefpirome sulfate (10 mg/kg body weight) was conducted using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and the pharmacokinetic parameters established were utilized to calculate optimal dosage regimens in ewes. Following IV administration of cefpirome in ewes the mean value of the elimination rate constant (β), elimination half life (t½β), the area under the plasma drug concentration-time curve (AUC0-∞), the area under the first moment of the plasma drug concentration (AUMC), the mean residence time (MRT), the apparent volume of distribution (Vdarea) and total body clearance (ClB) were 0.43 ± 0.04 h-1, 1.68 ± 0.21 h, 82.71 ± 3.76 mg.h/mL, 211.06 ± 23.99 mg.h2/mL, 2.51 ± 0.19 h, 0.28 ± 0.03 L/kg and 0.11 ± 0.00 L/h/kg, respectively, while following IM administration of cefpirome the mean values were 0.33 ± 0.01 h-1, 2.04 ± 0.06 h, 73.27 ± 4.04 mg.h/mL, 229.02 ± 20.32 mg.h2/mL, 3.09 ± 0.12 h, 0.45 ± 0.03 L/kg and 0.14 ± 0.01 L/h/kg, respectively. The bioavailability following IM administration of cefpirome was 88.85 ± 4.07 %. Cefpirome concentration in plasma was maintained above the target MIC (≥0.25 mg/mL) for 12 h. The therapeutic dosage regimen calculated using the pharmacokinetic parameters generated by the intravenous route of drug administration indicated the most appropriate dose of cefpirome to maintain MIC at ≥ 0.25 μg/mL with a dosage interval of 12 h, would be 13.00 mg/kg body weight in ewes.Cefpirom je cefalosporin četvrte generacije lijekova sa širokim spektrom djelovanja protiv gram-pozitivnih i gram-negativnih mikroorganizama. Istraživanje farmakokinetike pojedinačne doze cefpirom-sulfata, primijenjene intravenski (iv.) i intramuskularno (im.) (10 mg/kg tjelesne mase), provedeno je tekućinskom kromatografijom visoke djelotvornosti (HPLC) te su utvrđeni pokazatelji za optimalan režim doziranja u ovaca. Nakon intravenske primjene cefpiroma u ovaca prosječna vrijednost konstante brzine eliminacije (β) bila je 0,43 ± 0,04 h-1, poluvijek eliminacije (t½β) 1,68 ± 0,21 h, područje ispod krivulje odnosa koncentracije u plazmi i vremena (AUC0-∞) 82,71 ± 3,76 mg.h/ mL, područje ispod krivulje prvog momenta koncentracije u plazmi (AUMC) 211,06 ± 23,99 mg.h2/mL. Nadalje, srednja vrijednost vremena zadržavanja (MRT) bila je 2,51 ± 0,19 h, prividni volumen distribucije (Vdarea) 0,28 ± 0,03 L/kg i ukupni tjelesni klirens (ClB) 0,11 ± 0,00 L/h/kg. Srednje vrijednosti tijekom intramuskularne primjene cefpiroma za prethodno navedene parametre bile 0,33 ± 0,01 h-1, 2,04 ± 0,06 h, 73,27 ± 4,04 mg.h/mL, 229,02 ± 20,32 mg.h2/mL, 3,09 ± 0,12 h, 0,45 ± 0,03 L/kg i 0,14 ± 0,01 L/h/kg. Bioraspoloživost nakon intramuskularne primjene cefpiroma bila je 88,85 ± 4,07 %. Koncentracija cefpiroma u plazmi održavana je iznad ciljne vrijednosti MIK-a (≥ 0,25 mg/mL) tijekom 12 sati. Terapijski režim doziranja izračunat na temelju farmakokinetičkih pokazatelja dobivenih intravenskom primjenom lijeka upućuje na optimalnu dozu cefpiroma kojom se može održati MIK pri vrijednosti ≥ 0,25 μg/mL s intervalom doziranja od 12 sati, a ta bi doza u ovaca bila 13,00 mg/kg tjelesne mase