Inflaton Decay in an Alpha Vacuum

We study the alpha vacua of de Sitter space by considering the decay rate of the inflaton field coupled to a scalar field placed in an alpha vacuum. We find an {\em alpha dependent} Bose enhancement relative to the Bunch-Davies vacuum and, surprisingly, no non-renormalizable divergences. We also consider a modified alpha dependent time ordering prescription for the Feynman propagator and show that it leads to an alpha independent result. This result suggests that it may be possible to calculate in any alpha vacuum if we employ the appropriate causality preserving prescription.Comment: 16 pages, 1 figure, Revtex 4 preprin

Viscosities of Binary Liquid Mixtures of Carbon Tetrachloride with Toluene & Xylenes

503-50

Acceptance Sampling Plans for Percentiles Based on the Exponentiated Half Logistic Distribution

In this article, acceptance sampling plans are developed for the exponentiated half logistic distribution percentiles when the life test is truncated at a pre-specified time. The minimum sample size necessary to ensure the specified life percentile is obtained under a given customer’s risk. The operating characteristic values (and curves) of the sampling plans as well as the producer’s risk are presented. Two examples with real data sets are also given as illustration

To evaluate the anticonvulsant activity of ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera (drumstick leaves) in albino mice

Background: To evaluate the anti-convulsant activity of ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera (Drum stick leaves) in seizure induced albino mice and to compare it with standard drug Sodium valproate.Methods: Swiss albino mice of either sex weighing around 25-30g were randomly selected and divided into four groups of six mice each. Group 1: control- treated with gum acacia. Group 2: Standard - Valproic acid 40mg/kg body weight. Group 3: T1- ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera (150mg/kg). Group 4: T2 - ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera (300mg/kg). All drugs were administered orally one hour prior to induction of seizure. The anticonvulsant activity was screened using maximal electroshock seizure (MES) model and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) model.Results: Results were analysed by ANOVA followed by Bonferroni’s post hoc test. Abolition of Tonic hind limb extension was taken as the protective end point against MES induced seizures and prolongation of seizure latency in PTZ model.At both the doses the ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera significantly (p value <0.05) reduced the duration of hind limb extension in MES test and also significantly (p value <0.05) delayed the onset of clonic seizures in PTZ induced convulsion when compared with control group.Conclusions: On comparing the percentage protection offered by Moringa oleifera leaves against both MES and PTZ model, it possesses significant anticonvulsant activity at both doses, with more efficacy at 300mg/kg BW indicating that the test drug can prove a very promising drug for treatment of epilepsy. Further studies are required for isolation and identification of the active constituent

Synthesis, structural and antimicrobial studies of some novel 1-(aroyl)-1-(arylsulphonyl)-2-[4-oxo-4H-1-benzopyran-3-yl]ethenes

99-10

Sex- and tissue-specific Bkm(GATA)-binding protein in the germ cells of heterogametic sex

The ZZ male/ZW female system of sex determination (female heterogamety) is found in snakes and birds whereas XY male/XX female system of sex determination (male heterogamety) operates in mammals including humans. The W and Y chromosomes are largely heterochromatic and undergo cycles of condensation and decondensation in the germ cells of ovary and testis, respectively, whereas they remain highly condensed and transcriptionally inactive in all somatic cells. Both chromosomes have enriched stretches of GATA repeats along their entire length (which is identified as banded krait minor satellite DNA and called Bkm) that are highly conserved through widely separated orders of eukaryotes. Here we report the existence of a factor, which specifically binds to Bkm, in the germ cells of the heterogametic sex (ovary in female heterogamety and testis in male heterogamety) where decondensation (activation) of the W and Y chromosomes, respectively, occurs; it has been purified as a polypeptide of 57.5 kDa from the rat snake ovary and designated as Bkm-binding protein (BBP) by virtue of its binding to GATA repeats of Bkm. Such a sex- and tissue-specific BBP is also present in the ovary of other species of snakes and in the testis of mouse and human where the Y chromosome is highly decondensed. We suggest that GATA repeats of Bkm brings about a coordinated decondensation of the W and Y sex chromosomes in the germ cells of the heterogametic sex in response to BBP which may serve as a "switch" for the activation of the genes present on the W and Y chromosomes

Review of stormwater quality, quantity and treatment methods part 2: Stormwater: Quality modelling

In this paper, review of stormwater quality and quantity in the urban environment is presented. The review is presented in three parts. This second part reviews the mathematical techiques used in the stromwater quality modelling and has been undertaken by examining a number of models that are in current use. The important features of models are discussed

Enhanced removal of nitrate in an integrated electrochemical-adsorption system

© 2017 Elsevier B.V. The electrochemical (EC) method of removing pollutants in water is a widely used process in water and wastewater treatment. An EC-adsorption integrated system was investigated to test whether the simultaneous removal of nitrate by the two processes would be better than removal utilising the individual EC and adsorption methods. In the integrated system, an adsorbent (ion exchange resin - Dowex 21k XLT) was placed inside a stainless steel box that served as an anode with a Cu plate as cathode. In an experiment using 2 L nitrate solution containing 20 mg N/L and 2 g adsorbent the rate of nitrate removal in the integrated system was initially fast with 35% removed in 30 min, though slowing down later. The rate of removal increased with increasing current, voltage and pH up to 7 but decreased as the distance between the electrodes also increased. The optimum nitrate removal of 67% was obtained at pH 7, 1 A, and 31 V for a distance of 1 cm between the electrodes after 180 min. The amount of nitrate removed fell when sulphate was present in the integrated system due to sulphate competing with nitrate for adsorption. Concentration of ammonium produced by nitrate reduction in the EC system was reduced in the presence of adsorbent. Nitrate removal in the integrated system is approximately equal to the sum of the removals in the two individual processes

An evaluation of functional outcome following minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis in fractures of the distal tibia

Background: Management of fractures of the distal tibia remains a challenging proposition due to the fact that the major part of the bone is in a subcutaneous location and the blood supply is quite precarious. Conventional forms of osteosynthesis are associated with high rates of infection and nonunion. Due to extensive soft tissue stripping, the vascularity is compromised and often results in poor wound healing and tends to compromise fracture healing as well. Closed reduction with minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) addresses these issues and has emerged as a viable treatment option with minimal complications. The aim of this study was to assess the functional outcome MIPO using locking compression plates (LCP).Methods: 32 patients with distal tibial fractures treated by MIPO technique with LCP fixation were studied from January 2012 to January 2014 and were followed up for a period of 2 years.Results: All the fractures in our series united well at the end of 6 months with mean time to radiological evidence of callus formation at 10 weeks and the mean time to fracture union was 20 weeks. There were 2 cases with varus angulation in our series and no cases with implant failure. There were 3 patients with superficial skin infections and no cases of deep infection.Conclusions: We conclude that MIPO with LCP is an effective treatment option for distal tibial fractures avoiding all the complications associated with other forms of internal fixation. We strongly recommend its usage in these types of complex injuries