Echolocation by Quasiparticles

It is shown that the local density of states (LDOS), measured in an Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) experiment, at a single tip position contains oscillations as a function of Energy, due to quasiparticle interference, which is related to the positions of nearby scatterers. We propose a method of STM data analysis based on this idea, which can be used to locate the scatterers. In the case of a superconductor, the method can potentially distinguish the nature of the scattering by a particular impurity.Comment: 4+ page

Measurement of antibiotic consumption in surgical ward of a tertiary care hospital

Background: Antibiotic resistance is a global health problem. Improper use of antibiotics leads to development of antibiotic resistance, side effects, superinfections and increase in treatment costs. There are few publications on antibiotic consumption. Serious morbidity and mortality are associated with postoperative wound infections. The use of peri or pre-operative antibiotics has resulted in a reduced risk of postoperative infection when appropriate principles of prophylaxis are applied.Methods: An observational study during a 2-month period was carried out in the department of surgery of Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Science and Research, Burla. We utilized the administrative data for expression of antibiotic consumption using anatomical therapeutic classification (ATC) / defined daily dose (DDDs) methodology. The information included were drug names, strength, pharmaceutical form, quantity dispensed, total number of patients admitted during the study period and average length of stay. Each drug was then given a code according to the ATC classification. The number of DDDs and DDDs/100 bed days was calculated.Results: The most frequent antibiotic used was cephalosporin group with DDDs 62.70 DDDs/100 bed days (44.34%) followed by metronidazole with 23.10 DDDs/100 bed days (16.34%). Among cephalosporin group most common antibiotic used was ceftriaxone with 24.46 DDDs/100 bed days. The mean duration of stay was 7.2 days.Conclusions: The results of this study are similar to previous studies and it showed that there is irrational use of antibiotics as there is no antibiotic policy in our hospital. Drug utilization research should be carried out at frequent intervals to improve rational use of antibiotics

Reconstruction of Exenterated Orbit using Combined Surgical and Prosthetic Approach

Reconstruction of an exenterated orbit remains a challenge. Orbital prostheses are nowadays are made of silicone elastomers. A major limitation with silicone orbital prostheses is their relatively short life span. This case report describes the treatment of a patient with an exenterated orbit using a combined surgical and prosthetic approach. The upper and lower eyelids were reconstructed surgically using a deltopectoral flap. A sectional eye prosthesis was made and placed in the modified bottle-neck shaped defect to restore the patient’s appearance and confidence

Water-triggered frontal polymerization

A totally new mode of frontal polymerization (FP) of acrylamide is established which is triggered by the simple addition of a minute, specific volume of water. Experimental conditions under which this mode of polymerization yields linear and water-soluble polyacrylamide were carefully established, paving the way to synthesize commercially pertinent homo- and copolymers. A new redox couple was identified to circumvent the imidization and the ensuing gelation, hitherto associated with FP of acrylamide. Effects of reaction variables such as type and concentration of redox couple and volume of water on measurable parameters of FP such as front velocity, front temperature, shape of front and yield have been studied. Two types of redox couples are reported. Nonplanar frontal regime was observed in few redox couples. We could visually observe helical patterns with naked eyes, while layered patterns were observable under SEM. Additionally, micro-phase separation and heterogeneity in the polymer matrix was observed due to unreacted pockets of monomer which evolve via bulk mode. This nonlinear phenomenon is described

Evaluation of petroleum based horticulture oil for the management of the tea red spider mite, Oligonychus coffeae Neitner (Acarina: Tetranychidae)

The Servo agro spray oil (petroleum based horticulture oil) was evaluated in the laboratory against tea red spider mite, Oligonychus coffeae to determine its effect on adult mortality, viability of eggs, oviposition deterrence and repellent properties. The same was also evaluated in the field to determine its effect on mite population. Direct spray method was used in the laboratory at concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5%. Mortality of O. coffeae was both concentration and time dependent. Deposition of eggs by adult mites on treated leaf surfaces decreased significantly and the viability of eggs was also significantly reduced. In addition, different concentrations of the Servo agro spray also exhibited repellent properties against adult mites. In the field Servo agro spray oil significantly reduced the mite population and its bio-efficacy was comparable to that of the synthetic pesticide (propargite 57 EC). No phytotoxic effect was observed when tea bushes were sprayed with different doses of Servo agro spray. Tea samples were taint free. Quality (appearance of liquor, flavour, taint and taste) of made tea was not adversely affected by treatments with Servo agro spray oil. Therefore Servo agro spray oil may be a potential agent to be used in the sustainable management of tea red spider mite

Comparative studies on protective efficacy of gentisic acid and 2-pyrocatechuic acid against 5-fluorouracil induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats

241-247Nephrotoxicity is a frequent and severe side effect of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) chemotherapy which limits its use clinically regardless of being one of the most promising chemotherapeutic agents. Here, we assessed the nephroprotective activity of two structurally related phenolic acids 2-pyrocatechuic acid (2,3 dihyroxybenzoic acid) and gentisic acid (2,5 dihyroxybenzoic acid) against 5-FU induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats. Intraperitoneal administration of 5-FU at a dose of 20 mg/kg once a day for 5 days produced a significant elevation in serum parameters of the kidney such as uric acid, urea, creatinine, sodium and potassium levels along with severe histopathological changes in renal tissues of rats indicating severe nephrotoxicity. Administration of 2-pyrocatechuic acid (2-PCA) at 10, 30 and 100 by oral route for 9 days and additional 5 days with 5-FU resulted in an amelioration of altered serum parameters in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, 2-PCA attenuated the renal damage produced by 5-FU demonstrating its efficacy as a nephroprotective agent for the prevention as well as amelioration of 5-FU induced nephrotoxicity. None of the doses of gentisic acid (GA) were found to be effective in this posology when given orally

Radial-Distance Based Shape Descriptor for Image Retrieval

Shape analysis is used in many application fields including emerging virtual environments or 3D model market, security applications, medical imaging and many more. A Shape descriptor (or Signature) is the simplified representation of images. These shape descriptors carry important image information to store and makes easy the comparing of different shapes. The proposed shape descriptor is based on radial-distances. The type of shape descriptor used here is contour-based shape descriptor. Distance from center of bounding box encompassing the edge image to farthest point on the edge is calculated. A circle is drawn using the distance mentioned above as radius. The ratio of Euclidean distances of an edge pixel and the radius is considered as a feature. A set of such ratios for all the edge pixels forms a shape descriptor. The descriptor is divided into segments so as to avoid global distribution. A rotational matching scheme ensures invariance to rotation. As the computation of feature set is compact, implementation of this method results in quick retrieval of images invariant to scaling, translation and rotation

Development of improved processing and evaluation methods for high reliability structural ceramics for advanced heat engine applications Phase II. Final report

The research program had as goals the development and demonstration of significant improvements in processing methods, process controls, and nondestructive evaluation (NDE) which can be commercially implemented to produce high reliability silicon nitride components for advanced heat engine applications at temperatures to 1370{degrees}C. In Phase I of the program a process was developed that resulted in a silicon nitride - 4 w% yttria HIP`ed material (NCX 5102) that displayed unprecedented strength and reliability. An average tensile strength of 1 GPa and a strength distribution following a 3-parameter Weibull distribution were demonstrated by testing several hundred buttonhead tensile specimens. The Phase II program focused on the development of methodology for colloidal consolidation producing green microstructure which minimizes downstream process problems such as drying, shrinkage, cracking, and part distortion during densification. Furthermore, the program focused on the extension of the process to gas pressure sinterable (GPS) compositions. Excellent results were obtained for the HIP composition processed for minimal density gradients, both with respect to room-temperature strength and high-temperature creep resistance. Complex component fabricability of this material was demonstrated by producing engine-vane prototypes. Strength data for the GPS material (NCX-5400) suggest that it ranks very high relative to other silicon nitride materials in terms of tensile/flexure strength ratio, a measure of volume quality. This high quality was derived from the closed-loop colloidal process employed in the program

The determinants of hotels' marketing managers' green marketing behaviour

Little is known about the factors underlying the pro-environmental behaviour of marketing managers. This paper explores the determinants of green marketing practices in the Red Sea hotel sector in Egypt. The research model assesses green marketing practices against the personal and organisational values of the marketing managers, together with a range of organisational and demographic variables expected to influence hotels' environmental behaviour. From a valid sample of 89 marketing managers responsible for 194 hotels, it was found that organisational contextual variables, and in particular targeting Western tourists, being affiliated to an international hotel chain and the marketers' own demographics, including age, academic subject studied and gender, were the best predictors of more proactive green marketing. Personal environmental values did not explain the pro-environmental behaviour of marketers, and the organisational environmental values that had explained part of their ethical behaviour had resulted from voluntarism rather than utilitarian or conformance-based values. Government policies also appeared to be ineffective determinants. The implications for green marketing practices are also discussed. © 2010 Taylor & Francis