Eye banking: an introduction

This article introduces the work of eye banks, institutions responsible for collecting (harvesting) and processing donor corneas, and for distributing them to trained corneal graft surgeons

Defect Formation and Kinetics of Atomic Terrace Merging

Pairs of atomic scale terraces on a single crystal metal surface can be made to merge controllably under suitable conditions to yield steps of double height and width. We study the effect of various physical parameters on the formation of defects in a kinetic model of step doubling. We treat this manifestly non- equilibrium problem by mapping the model onto a 1-D random sequential adsorption problem and solving this analytically. We also do simulations to check the validity of our treatment. We find that our treatment effectively captures the dynamic evolution and the final state of the surface morphology. We show that the number and nature of the defects formed is controlled by a single dimensionless parameter $q$. For $q$ close to one we show that the fraction of defects rises linearly with $\epsilon \equiv 1-q$ as $0.284 \times \epsilon$. We also show that one can arrive at the final state faster and with fewer defects by changing the parameter with time.Comment: 17 pages, 8 figures. To be submitted to Phys. Rev.

Lysozyme-sensitive bioemulsifier for immiscible organophosphorus pesticides

Two Bacillus strains capable of emulsifying immiscible organophosphorus pesticides were isolated by enrichment methods. The emulsifying factor produced by Bacillus strain FE-2 has a high molecular weight, is Iysozyme sensitive and thermostable, and can be precipitated with trichloroacetic acid or ammonium sulfate; it may be a glycolipopeptide. It is specific for immiscible organophosphorus pesticides and is secreted during growth in the presence of such pesticides

Роль цифровизации в сельском банковском секторе в Мадурае, Индия

The Indian banking sector has reached greater heights in recent days because of adopting and involving in the Digitalisation of banking. Though India is moving forward with digitalisation process, our nation faces several setbacks and opposition, which has to be crossed specifically in the rural banking system. The current research work has attempted to examine these challenges and setbacks which are found commonly in rural banking digitalisation. This paper aims in analysing the impacts and influences of Digitalisation in rural banks of Madurai city, Tamil Nadu. Moreover, the study is surveying multiple influencing factors like literacy rate, education qualification, income quality, gender equality and socio-economic position. Finally, some suggestions and conceptions to increase the maximum reach of knowledge and importance regarding the Digitalisation of banks in rural regions are suggested to the government and banking sectors. Regional based loan schemes and mechanisms and procedures must be encouraged by banks. Income assessment, repayable capacity in the rural areas of Madurai has to be initiated. The study focuses on research-based on quantitative tools. The Study aims in explaining the various positive outcomes of bank digitalisation via digital banking and financial inclusion here in India. The present study provides the awareness of the digital world and the advantages of adopting them in rural India for various banking services. The paper concludes that there is a need for digital establishments and digital banking in most rural areas all over India.В последнее время индийский банковский сектор достиг больших высот, благодаря внедрению и участию в цифровизации банковского дела. Хотя Индия движется вперед в процессе цифровизации, она сталкивается с рядом трудностей и противодействий, которые необходимо преодолеть, в частности, в сельской банковской системе. В рамках проводимых в настоящее время исследований была предпринята попытка проанализировать эти проблемы и проблемы, которые обычно возникают в процессе оцифровывания банковских счетов в сельских районах. Целью исследования является определение проблем, возникающих при внедрении цифровизации в банках сельских регионов - на примере города Мадурай штата Тамилнад. В рамках исследования рассмотрены такие факторы влияния, как уровень грамотности населения, уровень образования, качество доходов, гендерное равенство и социально-экономическое положение. Авторы статьи выдвигают свои предложения и концепции для правительства и банковского сектора, направленные на повышение максимального уровня знаний и важности цифровизации банков в сельских районах. Банки должны поощрять региональные кредитные схемы, механизмы и процедуры. В сельских районах Мадураи должна быть начата оценка доходов и платежеспособности. Исследование проведено с использованием научно-исследовательских и количественных инструментов. Цель исследования заключается в разъяснении положительных результатов цифровизации банковского сектора через цифровой банкинг и финансовые услуги в Индии. Настоящее исследование позволяет узнать о цифровом мире и преимуществах внедрения различных банковских услуг в сельских районах Индии. В статье делается вывод о том, что в большинстве сельских районов Индии существует потребность в цифровых учреждениях и цифровых банках

Weak Long-Ranged Casimir Attraction in Colloidal Crystals

We investigate the influence of geometric confinement on the free energy of an idealized model for charge-stabilized colloidal suspensions. The mean-field Poisson-Boltzmann formulation for this system predicts pure repulsion among macroionic colloidal spheres. Fluctuations in the simple ions' distribution provide a mechanism for the macroions to attract each other at large separations. Although this Casimir interaction is long-ranged, it is too weak to influence colloidal crystals' dynamics.Comment: 5 pages 2 figures ReVTe

Microbial contamination of hydrogel contact lenses

Bacterial contamination of contact lenses (CLs) may contribute to CL-related corneal infection and inflammation. This study reports CL biota over time during daily and extended wear. Microbial contamination of a 58% water, ionic hydrogel CL and a 38% water, non-ionic hydrogel CL was evaluated in an Australian and an Indian population. Fifty wearers were repeatedly sampled over 18 months. Overnight CL use did not alter the frequency of positive cultures, nor the spectrum of organisms compared with daily CL wear. There were no differences in type and frequency of CL contamination between the CL types. Positive cultures were more frequently recovered from the Indian population compared with the Australian population. Streptococcus spp. and Propionibacterium spp. were more frequently isolated from the Australian population. Fungi and Bacillus spp. were more frequently isolated from the Indian population. Normal CL biota alone cannot explain the increased rate of infection and inflammation in extended wear

mTORC2 signaling drives the development and progression of pancreatic cancer

mTOR signaling controls several critical cellular functions and is deregulated in many cancers, including pancreatic cancer. To date, most efforts have focused on inhibiting the mTORC1 complex. However, clinical trials of mTORC1 inhibitors in pancreatic cancer have failed, raising questions about this therapeutic approach. We employed a genetic approach to delete the obligate mTORC2 subunit Rictor and identified the critical times during which tumorigenesis requires mTORC2 signaling. Rictor deletion resulted in profoundly delayed tumorigenesis. Whereas previous studies showed most pancreatic tumors were insensitive to rapamycin, treatment with a dual mTORC1/2 inhibitor strongly suppressed tumorigenesis. In late-stage tumor-bearing mice, combined mTORC1/2 and PI3K inhibition significantly increased survival. Thus, targeting mTOR may be a potential therapeutic strategy in pancreatic cancer

Evidence of verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) in livestock of Tamil Nadu - an explorative study

There is a paucity of data about the prevalence, burden of disease and complications associated with verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) in animals in India. Cattle and other livestock harbour VTEC strains associated with haemorrhagic colitis (HC) and haemorrhagic ureamic syndrome (HUS). Therefore this explorative study analysed 115 livestock including healthy and diarrhoic animals for the excretion of VTEC. Isolates (12) belonging to non-sorbitol fermenting Escherichia coli (10.4%) were obtained out of 115 samples screened to tellurite cefixime-sorbitol MacConkey agar (TC-SMAC) that produced CPE on verocell monolayer. Culture filtrate of 4 out of these 12 E. coli isolates extracted after treatment with 10% (wlv) polymyxin B showed neutralization with antishigatoxin-1 suggesting them to be true VTEC strains. This study marks the first evidence of the isolation of VTEC from livestock in Tamil Nadu and underscores the need for large-scale epidemiological and bacteriological investigation to discern the mode of transmission and prevalent serotypes of VTEC in India

Seasonal variations in the physico-chemical and biological characteristics of the Eastern Arabian Sea

The entire area along the west coast of India, between Cape Comorin and Kandla within the EEZ was covered in six research cruises of FORV Sagar Sampada, 2 each in pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon periods during 1991-93. Data on the physical, chemical and bio- logical parameters were collected at every station (one degree square) from surface to maximum depth of 500 m by using Rosette samplers along with CTD Unit. The results of the investigations indicated definite fluctuations in the physico-chemical and biological features in different seasons. The influence of physico-chemical features on primary production in terms of chlorophyll a and other relevant observations made by earlier workers were compared and briefly discussed in order to get a comprehensive picture of the characterestics of the waters in different seasons in the eastern Arabian Sea