Asymmetric Berry-Phase Interference Patterns in a Single-Molecule Magnet

A Mn4 single-molecule magnet displays asymmetric Berry-phase interference patterns in the transverse-field (HT) dependence of the magnetization tunneling probability when a longitudinal field (HL) is present, contrary to symmetric patterns observed for HL=0. Reversal of HL results in a reflection of the transverse-field asymmetry about HT=0, as expected on the basis of the time-reversal invariance of the spin-orbit Hamiltonian which is responsible for the tunneling oscillations. A fascinating motion of Berry-phase minima within the transverse-field magnitude-direction phase space results from a competition between noncollinear magnetoanisotropy tensors at the two distinct Mn sites.Comment: 4 double-column page

Taxonomic studies on developmental stages of Balanus sp. from Karachi (Northern Arabian Sea)

Present study deal with the identification of nauplius stages of Balanus sp. Collected during plankton and sediment sampling from Karachi coast. The stages are described, illustrated and compared with available literature

Morphological study of Cristapseudes omercooperi (Larwood, 1954) (Crustacea: Tanaidacea: Kalliapseudidae) manca stage I from Pakistani waters (Port Qasim)

Present paper deal with the morphological study of Cristapseudes omercooperi (Larwood, 1954) Manca stage I. Sediment samples were taken from Port Qasim (Lat. 25o46’N Long. 67o21’E) during 2008. The stage is described and illustrated

Study of planktonic and benthic caught naupliar stages of Rhincalanidae and Diosaccidae

The zooplankton samples and benthic samples were taken from Pasni Bay (Lat 25 deg 16’N Long 63 deg 29’E) and Sandspit (Lat 24 deg 50’ 24”N Long 66 deg 54’ 24” E) respectively. Present study is undertaken to study the planktonic naupliar stage of Rhincalanus sp. of Rhincalanidae and a benthic naupliar stage of unidentified Diosaccidae

Larval developmental stages of Athanas dimorphus Ortmann, 1894 (Crustacea, Caridea, Alpheidae) in laboratory from Pakistan

An ovigerous female of Athanas dimorphus Ortmann, 1894 captured from intertidal zone at Buleji (Karachi, Pakistan) on December 03, 2005 was kept under the laboratory conditions. The larvae were hatched out on December 07, 2005. The zoea I of Athanas dimorphus passed through II, III and IV zoeal stages within four days at room temperature: 23°C-26°C, in filtered seawater with salinity of 35-37‰ and pH 7.5-7.9. The developmental stages are described along with their illustrations and compared with the available descriptions of Athanas dimorphus larvae given by Gurney, 1927 for the first stage and Bhuti, et al., 1977 for first three stages. Thus, the fourth stage is being described for the first time not only in the species but in the genus Athanas

First report of larval forms of Paragnathia sp. (Crustacea: Isopoda: Gnathidae) from Pakistani waters (Makri Creek)

The present report is based on the study of sample collected from Ghora Bari (Makri Creek) on May 29, 2006 for the purpose of non-penaeid shrimps exploitation. The sample, besides having shrimps have fishes belonging to several species and isopod parasites in large numbers. The environmental parameters recorded are: water temperature 31oC, Salinity 42 ppt and pH 8.7. Two larval stages of Paragnathia sp. are described, illustrated and compared with the available descriptions of Paragnathia formica pranizae larvae given earlier. The specimens are placed only tentatively in Paragnathia sp. till the authors find adult specimens nevertheless this is the first report of the genus and the larvae from the area

Redescription of Arcotheres placunae and three new records, A. aff. alcocki, A. casta and Pinnotheres quadratus from Pakistan with a note on previously recorded Pakistani Pinnotherid crabs

Arcotheres placunae a commen commensal of bivalve Placuna placenta is redescribed;two species of the same genus :A. aff. alcocki and A. casta and one species of another genus Pinnotheres P.quadratus are reported as new records from Pakistan. Previously recorded Pakistani pinnotherid crabs are reviewed

First-Phase Insulin Secretion Restoration and Differential Response to Glucose Load Depending on the Route of Administration in Type 2 Diabetic Subjects After Bariatric Surgery

OBJECTIVE—The purpose of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms of diabetes reversibility after malabsorptive bariatric surgery

Antiinflammatory Therapy with Canakinumab for Atherosclerotic Disease

Background: Experimental and clinical data suggest that reducing inflammation without affecting lipid levels may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Yet, the inflammatory hypothesis of atherothrombosis has remained unproved. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind trial of canakinumab, a therapeutic monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-1β, involving 10,061 patients with previous myocardial infarction and a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level of 2 mg or more per liter. The trial compared three doses of canakinumab (50 mg, 150 mg, and 300 mg, administered subcutaneously every 3 months) with placebo. The primary efficacy end point was nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or cardiovascular death. RESULTS: At 48 months, the median reduction from baseline in the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level was 26 percentage points greater in the group that received the 50-mg dose of canakinumab, 37 percentage points greater in the 150-mg group, and 41 percentage points greater in the 300-mg group than in the placebo group. Canakinumab did not reduce lipid levels from baseline. At a median follow-up of 3.7 years, the incidence rate for the primary end point was 4.50 events per 100 person-years in the placebo group, 4.11 events per 100 person-years in the 50-mg group, 3.86 events per 100 person-years in the 150-mg group, and 3.90 events per 100 person-years in the 300-mg group. The hazard ratios as compared with placebo were as follows: in the 50-mg group, 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80 to 1.07; P = 0.30); in the 150-mg group, 0.85 (95% CI, 0.74 to 0.98; P = 0.021); and in the 300-mg group, 0.86 (95% CI, 0.75 to 0.99; P = 0.031). The 150-mg dose, but not the other doses, met the prespecified multiplicity-adjusted threshold for statistical significance for the primary end point and the secondary end point that additionally included hospitalization for unstable angina that led to urgent revascularization (hazard ratio vs. placebo, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.95; P = 0.005). Canakinumab was associated with a higher incidence of fatal infection than was placebo. There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio for all canakinumab doses vs. placebo, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.06; P = 0.31). Conclusions: Antiinflammatory therapy targeting the interleukin-1β innate immunity pathway with canakinumab at a dose of 150 mg every 3 months led to a significantly lower rate of recurrent cardiovascular events than placebo, independent of lipid-level lowering. (Funded by Novartis; CANTOS ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01327846.

The Non-party Caretaker Government (NCG) for conducting elections: Bangladesh as a case study

This paper is based on empirical data collected mainly from published secondary sources, personal observation of national election as well as information from the EC website and print and electronic media about election and democracy in Bangladesh. The paper argues that Bangladesh democracy is again at the crossroads as the provision of Non-party Caretaker Government (NCG) has been scrapped from the Constitution despite resistance from the main opposition block. In fact, even after restoration of democracy in 1991, democracy has been provided with little room for expected development by uncouth electoral politics. Though an interim arrangement, called Caretaker System, was introduced for transition from dictatorship into democracy in 1991, the system had to be continued due to distrust of elections under party governments. Three consecutive Caretaker Governments were relatively successful in holding free and fair elections. However, the fourth one suffered a setback owing to composition imbroglio and was replaced by a military-backed Caretaker Government. Therefore, this paper draws the conclusion that though electoral system under Non-Party Caretaker Government system achieved kind of stability during the last four general elections but little qualitative change has taken place in the country’s political arena