Bacillus thuringiensis and its application in agriculture

Presently, a number of approaches to pest control via genetic engineering have been developed and genetically engineered crops expressing insecticidal characteristics are under cultivation for the last 15 years. Use of Bacillus thuringiensis genes encoding o̅ endotoxins with insecticidal characteristics is the major approach and a number of such B. thuringiensis genes have been expressed in crops with variable level of efficiency. It is very crucial to achieve adequate level of B. thuringiensis gene expression to have durable resistance against target insect pests. As with many aspects of genetic engineering, politics can impact on the success of a project involving the development of B. thuringiensis transgenic crops, irrespective of its apparent social, economic or environmental benefits. Public education will be essential to ensure the widespread adoption of genetic adoption technologies in agriculture, and scientists will have to play an active role in this process

Rational prescribing practice assessment among resident doctors in a tertiary care teaching hospital: a questionnaire based observational study

Background: One of the important factors in health policy is recognised to be rational use of medicines (RUM). Physicians can influence the health and well-being of patients by prescribing appropriate drug in right doses and they should be taught to prescribe rationally at the earliest of their professional carrier.Methods: This cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was carried out in SMHS hospital which is a tertiary-care teaching hospital associated with Government Medical College, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.Results: Out of 106 resident doctors enrolled in the study, 96.2% respondents were aware about the term essential medicines of India, and 47.6% had National List of Essential Medicines of India available at their work place. When the participants were questioned about the term RUM only 17% of them responded positively, but majority of the resident doctors (88.67%) were aware about the ingredients of the drugs they use to prescribe. Though only 3.7% of our participating doctors always use essential medicines during their prescription writing but majority of them (96.22%) would always use to inform the patient regarding disease, drug therapy and monitoring of drug therapy.Conclusions: Considering the fact that respondents are future prescribers they should be aware of all aspects about RUM and improper knowledge in certain areas of RUM is a matter of concern that needs to be addressed

Challenges in design and construction of deep excavation for KVMRT in Kuala Lumpur limestone formation

The Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line project is the first Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project in Malaysia. The KVMRT Project when completed will cover a distance of 51km and comprises of 31 passenger stations. This paper covers the challenges in design and construction of deep excavation works for three underground stations, namely Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) station, Cochrane Station and Maluri Station, as well as one portal (South Portal) all located in Kuala Lumpur limestone formation. The Kuala Lumpur Limestone formation exhibits notorious karstic features with irregular bedrock profiles, variable weathering condition, cavities and slime zones. This paper presents the design principles of temporary earth retaining system together with vertical rock excavation to the final depth of the station in karstic limestone formation. The unique experience (design and construction) gained from this project will be a useful reference for similar excavation works, especially in karstic limestone formation

Online monitoring of the impact of language processing on motor processes: prehensile grip-force measures during passive listening of manual action.

A large number of recent behavioural studies have established that processing linguistic descriptions of motor actions affect overt motor behaviour. For instance, when participants are asked to make sensibility judgments on sentences that describe action toward the body (“Mark gave the book to yo

Entanglement distribution for a practical quantum-dot-based quantum processor architecture

We propose a quantum dot (QD) architecture for enabling universal quantum information processing. Quantum registers, consisting of arrays of vertically stacked self-assembled semiconductor QDs, are connected by chains of in-plane self-assembled dots. We propose an entanglement distributor, a device for producing and distributing maximally entangled qubits on demand, communicated through in-plane dot chains. This enables the transmission of entanglement to spatially separated register stacks, providing a resource for the realization of a sizeable quantum processor built from coupled register stacks of practical size. Our entanglement distributor could be integrated into many of the present proposals for self-assembled QD-based quantum computation (QC). Our device exploits the properties of simple, relatively short, spin-chains and does not require microcavities. Utilizing the properties of self-assembled QDs, after distribution the entanglement can be mapped into relatively long-lived spin qubits and purified, providing a flexible, distributed, off-line resource. © IOP Publishing Ltd and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft

Dynamic Creep Performance of Hot Mix Asphalt Mixture Incorporating Fibre

Permanent deformation is one of the distress that develops gradually as the number of load applications increases and appears as longitudinal depressions in the wheel paths and small upheavals to the sides. For this reason, numerous studies conducted on modification asphalt binder or mixture by various fibre. This paper presents the evaluation of creep modulus and permanent deformation of modified asphalt mixture with fibres. In order to envisage the modified asphalt mixture, Forta-fi, Kenaf and PET was blended to estimate the creep properties and rut depth value at different loading pattern. Superpave mix design method was employed with NMAS 12.5mm to obtain the optimum bitumen content established at 4% air void. In the respect, bitumen 60/70 penetration grade with 0.5% of Forta-Fi, 0.1% Kenaf fibre and 0.5% PET by weight of asphalt mixture were prepared. Dynamic Creep Test was performed in accordance to the EN 12697-25:2005 guidelines using the Universal Testing Machine (UTM). As the result, the minimum value of permanent deformation was found at 0.5% of PET. Based on these studies, adding a minimum percent of PET in the asphalt mixture shows a better resistance to rutting deformation and enable a better understanding of the properties in modified asphalt mixtures

Dynamic Creep Performance of Hot Mix Asphalt Mixture Incorporating Fibre

Permanent deformation is one of the distress that develops gradually as the number of load applications increases and appears as longitudinal depressions in the wheel paths and small upheavals to the sides. For this reason, numerous studies conducted on modification asphalt binder or mixture by various fibre. This paper presents the evaluation of creep modulus and permanent deformation of modified asphalt mixture with fibres. In order to envisage the modified asphalt mixture, Forta-fi, Kenaf and PET was blended to estimate the creep properties and rut depth value at different loading pattern. Superpave mix design method was employed with NMAS 12.5mm to obtain the optimum bitumen content established at 4% air void. In the respect, bitumen 60/70 penetration grade with 0.5% of Forta-Fi, 0.1% Kenaf fibre and 0.5% PET by weight of asphalt mixture were prepared. Dynamic Creep Test was performed in accordance to the EN 12697-25:2005 guidelines using the Universal Testing Machine (UTM). As the result, the minimum value of permanent deformation was found at 0.5% of PET. Based on these studies, adding a minimum percent of PET in the asphalt mixture shows a better resistance to rutting deformation and enable a better understanding of the properties in modified asphalt mixtures

A model for cathodic blister growth in coating degradation using mesomechanics approach

The paper presents a novel theoretical model of blistering initiation and propagation especially useful for coating life assessment. The focus is on initially circular blisters. A two-part theoretical analysis of blistering is conducted using mesomechanics approach coupling diffusion concepts with fracture mechanics concepts. The diffusion concept is used to treat the corrosive species transport, eventually causing corrosion and blistering, while the fracture mechanics concept is used to treat the blister growth as circular crack propagation. Effects of thickness ratio and modulus ratio on blistering propagation are discussed. A simple criterion is identified which excludes the possibility of widespread blister propagation. Furthermore, a comparative study with the existing blistering models is carried out. Experiments are reported for blistering using a model coating-substrate system, chosen to allow visualisation of interface and to permit coupled (diffusion and residual) stresses in the coating over a full range of interest. The predicted limits from theoretical model are expected to be useful for the manufacturers in the design and deposition of coatings