Role of Higher Multipole Excitations in the Electromagnetic Dissociation of One Neutron Halo Nuclei

We investigate the role of higher multipole excitations in the electromagnetic dissociation of one-neutron halo nuclei within two different theoretical models -- a finite range distorted wave Born approximation and another in a more analytical method with a finite range potential. We also show, within a simple picture, how the presence of a weakly bound state affects the breakup cross section.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figure

Magnetic Properties of Ternary Gallides of type RNi4Ga (R = Rare earths)

The magnetic properties of RNi4Ga (R = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm and Lu) compounds have been investigated. These compounds form in a hexagonal CaCu5 type structure with a space group P6/mmm. Compounds with the magnetic rare earths, R = Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er and Tm, undergo a ferromagnetic transition at 5 K, 17 K, 20 K, 19 K, 12 K, 3.5 K, 8 K and 6.5 K, respectively. The transition temperatures are smaller compared to their respective parent compounds RNi5. PrNi4Ga is paramagnetic down to 2 K. LaNi4Ga and LuNi4Ga are Pauli paramagnets. All the compounds show thermomagnetic irreversibility in the magnetically ordered state except GdNi4Ga.Comment: 14 Pages 6 Figures 1 Tabl

A randomised controlled trial to assess the impact of audiotaped consultations on the quality of informed consent in cardiac surgery

<b>Context</b>: Informed Consent has become a contentious issue over the last few decades. It has been discussed and debated in all specialties of medicine. <b>Objective</b>: We have used a previously published and validated questionnaire, which was designed to measure patients’ level of knowledge within the domains described in the General Medical Council’s informed consent guidelines, to evaluate the impact of audiotaping outpatient consultations on informed consent in cardiac surgery. <b>Design</b>: Randomised Controlled Trial <b>Setting</b>: Tertiary health care centre in Scotland <b>Participants</b>: Patients attending outpatient clinic prior to first time coronary artery bypass grafting were recruited. We made audiotape recordings of outpatient consultations conducted by a single consultant surgeon with 84 patients. <b>Intervention</b>: The participants were randomly allocated to three trial arms. The control group (Group A; n = 29) received no tape. The 'generic' group (Group B; n = 25) received a copy of a tape which contained general information about coronary artery surgery which we scripted to include information covering each of the domains described by the General Medical Council. The 'consultation' group (Group C; n = 30) received a tape of their consultation interview. Patients were then interviewed on admission to hospital, shortly after giving consent. As well as the knowledge questionnaire, the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were administered. <b>Main outcome measures</b>: Impact of audiotape in improving the informed consent process, as measured by a knowledge questionnaire, in cardiac surgery. Its impact on health locus of control and anxiety and depression was also assessed. <b>Results</b>: The mean knowledge score of patients who received a recording of their consultation was almost two-and-a-half times greater than that of the controls (p<0.001). Patients who received a consultation recording reported a significantly greater sense of control over their own health (p<0.001) and were overall less anxious and depressed. <b>Conclusion</b>: Providing an audiotape of the consultation before cardiac surgery appears to improve patients’ knowledge whilst increasing their perceptions of control of their health status and reducing levels of anxiety and depression

Detailed analysis of the clinical effects of cell therapy for thoracolumbar spinal cord injury: an original study

Alok Sharma,1 Nandini Gokulchandran,1 Hemangi Sane,2 Prerna Badhe,1 Pooja Kulkarni,2 Mamta Lohia,3 Anjana Nagrajan,3 Nancy Thomas3 1Department of Medical Services and Clinical Research, 2Department of Research and Development, 3Department of Neurorehabilitation, NeuroGen Brain and Spine Institute, Surana Sethia Hospital and Research Centre, Chembur, Mumbai, India Background: Cell therapy is amongst the most promising treatment strategies in spinal cord injury (SCI) because it focuses on repair. There are many published animal studies and a few human trials showing remarkable results with various cell types. The level of SCI determines whether paraplegia or quadriplegia is present, and greatly influences recovery. The purpose of this study was to determine the significance of the clinical effects and long-term safety of intrathecal administration of autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells, along with changes in functional independence and quality of life in patients with thoracolumbar SCI. Methods: We undertook a retrospective analysis of a clinical study in which a nonrandomized sample of 110 patients with thoracolumbar SCI underwent autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear cell transplantation intrathecally and subsequent neurorehabilitation, with a mean follow-up of 2 years ± 1 month. Changes on any parameters were recorded at follow-up. The data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon's signed-rank test and McNemar's test. Functional Independence Measure and American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scores were recorded, and a detailed neurological assessment was performed. Results: Overall improvement was seen in 91% of patients, including reduction in spasticity, partial sensory recovery, and improvement in trunk control, postural hypotension, bladder management, mobility, activities of daily living, and functional independence. A significant association of these symptomatic improvements with the cell therapy intervention was established by the statistical analysis. Some patients showed a shift on the ASIA scale and changes in electrophysiological studies or functional magnetic resonance imaging. No major side effects were noted. Conclusion: In patients with thoracolumbar SCI, there were statistically significant beneficial effects, both symptomatic and functional, from intrathecal autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear cell therapy and rehabilitation. This was a safe and viable therapeutic option with no long-term side effects at 2 years. This analytical study is an early documentation of cell therapy, and can be used as a guide to devise larger more refined clinical trials. Keywords: cell therapy, spinal cord injury, autologous, bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells, intrathecal administratio

In vitro and in vivo activities of the nitroimidazole CGI 17341 against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

CGI 17341 (2-ethyl-5-nitro-2,3-dihydro[2-1b]imidazo-oxazole) is a novel orally active representative of the 5-nitroimidazole series of antimicrobial agents. At concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 0.3 micrograms/ml, CGI 17341 inhibited the drug-susceptible and multi-drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. CGI 17341 had no cross-resistance with isoniazid, rifampin, streptomycin, or ethambutol. While the in vitro activity of CGI 17341 against M. tuberculosis was comparable to those of isoniazid and rifampin, it was superior to those of streptomycin, ciprofloxacin or norfloxacin, and oxazolidinone DuP 721. The MIC of CGI 17341 was not affected when the pH of the medium was decreased from 6.8 to 5.6, while four- to sixfold increases in the MICs of ciprofloxacin and isoniazid were observed. In mice infected with M. tuberculosis, the 50% effective dose for CGI 17341 was 7.7 mg/kg of body weight (95% confidence limits, 3.5 and 10.27) when administered on days 11 and 12 postinfection. CGI 17341 gave a dose-dependent (r = 0.995) and significant increase in the survival time. Our data indicate that the 5-nitroimidazole CGI 17341 is a promising and novel antituberculosis compound with potent in vitro and in vivo activities. Further investigations on this compound are warranted

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Not AvailableMarker assisted backcross breeding (MABB) is aimed at introgression of trait(s) into a popular variety to augment specific trait(s) in an otherwise popular variety. While MABB can improve a variety with respect to introgressed trait(s), it offers very little scope for improvement of other traits. Marker assisted restricted backcross breeding (MARBB) is an alternative which can help in identifying transgressive segregants especially, when the donor parent is an elite genotype with several desirable traits. In the present study, restricted backcrossing followed by pedigree selection was used for the development of improved genotypes of Basmati rice with BB and blast diseases using an early maturing Basmati rice variety, Pusa Basmati 1509 as recurrent parent and an elite restorer line, Pusa 1790 as donor. Foreground selection for xa13, Xa21, Pi2 and Pi54 in the backcross progenies was combined with phenotypic selection for agronomic and grain quality traits to ensure premium Basmati grain quality in the progenies. Multi-location yield trial was conducted to evaluate the performance of the improved Basmati rice genotypes with both BB and blast resistance. Pusa 1847-12-62-115-20-6 and Pusa 1847-12-62-190-39-7 recorded significantly higher yields of 68.88 and 62.44 q/ha, espectively, compared to PB 1509 (57.88 q/ha). The improved progenies exhibited resistance to BB with an average lesion length of 2 cm, and blast with scores between 0-2, while PB 1509 was highly susceptible. Another genotype, Pusa 1847-12-62-37-8-3 exhibited head rice recovery (HRR) of 63.99 %, which was significantly higher than in PB 1509 (56.40 %). Marker assisted selection was also effected for fertility restoration genes and improved grain quality traits based on which two improved Basmati rice genotypes pyramided with BB and blast resistance namely, Pusa 1847-12-62-115-20-6 and Pusa 1847-12-62-190-39-7 were found promising, along with improved grain and cooking quality as well as restoration potential, which could be used in breeding better quality hybrids.Not Availabl

Novel integrative genomic tool for interrogating lithium response in bipolar disorder

We developed a novel integrative genomic tool called GRANITE (Genetic Regulatory Analysis of Networks Investigational Tool Environment) that can effectively analyze large complex data sets to generate interactive networks. GRANITE is an open-source tool and invaluable resource for a variety of genomic fields. Although our analysis is confined to static expression data, GRANITE has the capability of evaluating time-course data and generating interactive networks that may shed light on acute versus chronic treatment, as well as evaluating dose response and providing insight into mechanisms that underlie therapeutic versus sub-therapeutic doses or toxic doses. As a proof-of-concept study, we investigated lithium (Li) response in bipolar disorder (BD). BD is a severe mood disorder marked by cycles of mania and depression. Li is one of the most commonly prescribed and decidedly effective treatments for many patients (responders), although its mode of action is not yet fully understood, nor is it effective in every patient (non-responders). In an in vitro study, we compared vehicle versus chronic Li treatment in patient-derived lymphoblastoid cells (LCLs) (derived from either responders or non-responders) using both microRNA (miRNA) and messenger RNA gene expression profiling. We present both Li responder and non-responder network visualizations created by our GRANITE analysis in BD. We identified by network visualization that the Let-7 family is consistently downregulated by Li in both groups where this miRNA family has been implicated in neurodegeneration, cell survival and synaptic development. We discuss the potential of this analysis for investigating treatment response and even providing clinicians with a tool for predicting treatment response in their patients, as well as for providing the industry with a tool for identifying network nodes as targets for novel drug discovery