A Critique of Drexler Dark Matter

Drexler dark matter is an alternate approach to dark matter that assumes that highly relativistic protons trapped in the halo of the galaxies could account for the missing mass. We look at various energetics involved in such a scenario such as the energy required to produce such particles and the corresponding lifetimes. Also we look at the energy losses from synchrotron and inverse Compton scattering and their signatures. The Coulomb repulsive instability due to the excess charge around the galaxies is also calculated. The above results lead us to conclude that such a model for DM is unfeasible.Comment: 4 pages, 10 equation

Selenium in storage proteins of wheat cultivated on selenium impacted soils of Punjab, India

Wheat, an important staple cereal crop cultivated in seleniferous region of India, noted to accumulated significantly high concentrations of Se, was examined for the distribution of selenium in various protein fractions of the grains. Amongst the protein fractions, Se was dominantly (33–37%) present in the albumin fraction in Se rich grains followed by other fractions viz., globulin (20–25%), glutelin (20–25%), and prolamin (17–20%). The observations are important in context of exploring the use of this material as functional foods in formulating Se-enriched diets for Se-deficient population

Technology Integration (Task 20) Aeroservoelastic Modeling and Design Studies

The HSCT Flight Controls Group has developed longitudinal control laws, utilizing PTC aeroelastic flexible models to minimize aeroservoelastic interaction effects, for a number of flight conditions. The control law design process resulted in a higher order controller and utilized a large number of sensors distributed along the body for minimizing the flexibility effects. Processes were developed to implement these higher order control laws for performing the dynamic gust loads and flutter analyses. The processes and its validation were documented in Reference 2, for selected flight condition. The analytical results for additional flight conditions are presented in this document for further validation

Ricci Solitons in f-Kenmotsu Manifolds and 3-dimensional Trans-Sasakian Manifolds

In the Present paper we study Ricci solitons in trans-sasakian manifolds. In particular we consider Ricci solitons in f -Kenmotsu manifolds and we prove the conditions for the Ricci solitons to be shrinking, steady and expanding.Key words: Ricci solitons; f -Kenmotsu; Trans-Sasakian; Shrinking; Steady; Expandin

Study of price variation among the different brands of anti-tubercular drugs available in India

Background: India is one of the largest Tuberculosis (TB) burden countries in the world. Although Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme provides free cost of therapy, sometimes patient get treated by private practioners. This can sometimes lead to irregular course of treatment due to decreased patient compliance. This in turn may lead to multi drug resistance among TB bacilli. One of the reasons for decreased patient compliance is cost of therapy. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the cost of therapy of various anti-TB drugs and their combinations available in India.Methods: The maximum and minimum cost in rupees (INR) of all anti-TB drugs manufactured by various pharmaceutical companies was noted. The cost of 10 tablets/capsules or their fixed dose combinations (FDCs) was calculated. The cost ratio and percentage price variation were calculated for each brand and compared.Results: Percentage variation in cost of oral anti-TB drugs marketed in India was highest in ethambutol 400mg (474.51), cycloserine 250mg (384.61), ethambutol 800mg (321.84) and rifampin 450mg (258.45). The lowest percentage cost variation was seen with pyrazinamide 225mg (10.04), ethambutol 1000mg (18.82) and rifampin 100mg (22.78). Among the FDCs lowest percentage cost variation seen with rifampin 150mg +isoniazid 75mg+pyrazinamide 400mg (0.16) and highest percentage cost variation is seen with rifampin 450mg+isoniazid 300mg+pyrazinamide 750mg+ethambutol 800mg (232.73).Conclusions: There is a significant variation in the cost of different brands of oral anti-TB drugs and their FDCs available in India. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) should take more proactive steps for bringing down the prices of first line anti-TB drugs and the clinicians prescribing them should be aware of the price variation among the various brands of anti-TB drugs available in India

ALBI and Child-Pugh Score in Predicting Mortality in Chronic Liver Disease Patients Secondary to Alcohol: A Retrospective Comparative Study

Background/Aims: The severity of liver dysfunction in chronic liver disease (CLD) is often estimated with Child-Pugh (CTP) classification or model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score. The albumin-to-bilirubin (ALBI) score is a new model for assessing the severity of liver dysfunction, which is simple and more objective. In the present study, we aimed to retrospectively compare the performance of ALBI score with Child-Pugh score for predicting the mortality in patients with CLD. Material and methods: Data of patients with CLD, irrespective of etiology, were retrospectively reviewed. Child-Pugh score and ALBI score were calculated for the patients and results from receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were analyzed. Results: The study was conducted on 299 patients of CLD; age distribution was between 20 and 85 years with mean age of patients being 45.7 ± 10.94 years, sex ratio male: female 265:34 with mortality rate of 19.73%. The area under the curve (AUC) of ROC of ALBI and Child-Pugh were 0.586 and 0.549, respectively. Conclusion: Ability of ALBI score for predicting mortality was comparable with that of Child-Pugh score but Child-Pugh score of >10 had better performance of predicting mortality as compared to ALBI score

Flower Development and Gametogenesis in Oenothera laciniata Hill

Calyx, carpels, stamens, and corolla arise in acropetal succession. The wall of the anther has four layers of cells. The tapetum is binucleate and is of glandular type. Tricolpate pollen grains are triangular in outline and are binucleate at the time of shedding. The cells of the endothecium have spiral thickenings. Development of the ovule is described. The synergids have filiform apparatus with prominent hooks. Pollen tube enters porogamously and destroys one of the synergids during its entry. A hypostase is organized at the chalazal end of the ovule. The present observations are discussed in relation to the previous literature

Liver abscesses in cattle: A review of incidence in Holsteins and of bacteriology and vaccine approaches to control in feedlot cattle

Citation: Amachawadi, R. G., & Nagaraja, T. G. (2016). Liver abscesses in cattle: A review of incidence in Holsteins and of bacteriology and vaccine approaches to control in feedlot cattle. Journal of Animal Science, 94(4), 1620-1632. doi:10.2527/jas2015-0261Liver abscesses are the primary liver abnormality of feedlot cattle at slaughter. The incidence of liver abscesses is highly variable, but generally ranges from 10% to 20%. The incidence of total and the proportion of severely abscessed livers (A+) are greater in Holsteins fed for beef production and culled dairy cows than in beef breeds. The reason for the greater incidence of liver abscesses in Holstein steers is not known, but one of the reasons is likely because of increased days on feed. The high prevalence in cull cows is likely because no specific intervention, such as use of tylosin in the feed, is approved for use in dairy cows. Liver abscesses are generally a sequela to ruminal acidosis and rumenitis in cattle fed diets high in readily-fermentable carbohydrates and low in roughages; thus, the term "acidosis-rumenitis-liver abscess complex." Liver abscesses are almost always polymicrobial infections with Gram negative anaerobes constituting the predominant flora. Almost all studies have concluded that Fusobacterium necrophorum, a ruminal bacterium, is the primary causative agent and Trueperella (formerly Arcanobacterium) pyogenes is the secondary pathogen. A limited number of studies have been done on the bacterial flora of liver abscesses of culled dairy cows and Holstein feedlot steers. A recent study has reported on isolation of Salmonella from liver abscesses of Holstein cattle. The control of liver abscesses in feedlot cattle has depended on the use of antibiotics, particularly tylosin, in the feed combined with sound nutritional management to minimize occurrence of acidosis and subsequent rumenitis. Although there is no evidence of resistance development in F. necrophorum, the future of tylosin use as a feed additive in feedlot cattle is uncertain. Regardless, beginning January 2017, the use of tylosin in feedlot cattle for the prevention of liver abscesses will be under veterinary oversight. Although tylosin is widely used in the feedlot industry, there is considerable interest in evaluating antibiotic alternatives, such as essential oils and vaccines, to control liver abscesses. Because liver abscess is a bacterial infection and the pathogenicity and virulence factors of F. necrophorum have been studied widely, there have been considerable interest and efforts to develop an efficacious vaccine. The 2 antigens that have been targeted for vaccine production are leukotoxin and outer membrane proteins of F. necrophorum

Practice and Perception of First Aid Among Lay First Responders in a Southern District of India

Background: Injuries rank among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and are steadily increasing in developing countries like India. However, it is often possible to minimize injury and crash consequences by providing effective pre-hospital services promptly. In most low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), transportation of road traffic victims, is usually provided by relatives, taxi drivers, truck drivers, police officers and other motorists who are often untrained. Objective: The current study was conducted to understand the current practice and perception of first aid among lay first responders in a rural southern district of India. Materials and Methods: The current cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in the southern district of Tumkur in India within three months from January to March 2011 and covered the population including all police, ambulance personnel, taxi drivers, bus and auto drivers, and primary and middle school teachers within the study area. Results: Nearly 60% of the responders had witnessed more than two emergencies in the previous six months and 55% had actively participated in helping the injured person. The nature of the help was mainly by calling for an ambulance (41.5%), transporting the injured (19.7%) and consoling the victim (14.9%). Majority (78.1%) of the responders informed that they had run to the victim (42.4%) or had called for an ambulance. The predominant reason for not providing help was often the ‘fear of legal complications’ (30%) that would follow later. Significant number (81.4%) of respondents reported that they did not have adequate skills to manage an emergency and were willing to acquire knowledge and skills in first aid to help victims. Conclusions: Regular and periodical community-based first aid training programs for first care responders will help to provide care and improve outcomes for injured persons