Formation of double ring patterns on Co2MnSi Heusler alloy thin film by anodic oxidation under scanning probe microscope

Double ring formation on Co2MnSi (CMS) films is observed at electrical breakdown voltage during local anodic oxidation (LAO) using atomic force microscope (AFM). Corona effect and segregation of cobalt in the vicinity of the rings is studied using magnetic force microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Double ring forma-tion is attributed to the interaction of ablated material with the induced magnetic field during LAO. Steepness of forward bias transport characteristics from the unperturbed region of the CMS film suggest a non equilibrium spin contribution. Such mesoscopic textures in magnetic films by AFM tip can be potentially used for memory storage applications.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

Coastal sea level response to the tropical cyclonic forcing in the northern Indian Ocean

The study examines the observed storm-generated sea level variation due to deep depression (event 1: E1) in the Arabian Sea from 26 November to 1 December 2011 and a cyclonic storm "THANE" (event 2: E2) over the Bay of Bengal during 25–31 December 2011. The sea level and surface meteorological measurements collected during these extreme events exhibit strong synoptic disturbances leading to storm surges of up to 43 cm on the west coast and 29 cm on the east coast of India due to E1 and E2. E1 generated sea level oscillations at the measuring stations on the west coast (Ratnagiri, Verem and Karwar) and east coast (Mandapam and Tuticorin) of India with significant energy bands centred at periods of 92, 43 and 23 min. The storm surge is a well-defined peak with a half-amplitude width of 20, 28 and 26 h at Ratnagiri, Verem and Karwar, respectively. However, on the east coast, the sea level oscillations during Thane were similar to those during calm period except for more energy in bands centred at periods of ~ 100, 42 and 24 min at Gopalpur, Gangavaram and Kakinada, respectively. The residual sea levels from tide gauge stations in Arabian Sea have been identified as Kelvin-type surges propagating northwards at a speed of ~ 6.5 m s−1 with a surge peak of almost constant amplitude. Multi-linear regression analysis shows that the local surface meteorological data (daily mean wind and atmospheric pressure) is able to account for ~ 57 and ~ 69% of daily mean sea level variability along the east and west coasts of India. The remaining part of the variability observed in the sea level may be attributed to local coastal currents and remote forcin

Prion-like proteins sequester and suppress the toxicity of huntingtin exon 1

Expansions of preexisting polyglutamine (polyQ) tracts in at least nine different proteins cause devastating neurodegenerative diseases. There are many unique features to these pathologies, but there must also be unifying mechanisms underlying polyQ toxicity. Using a polyQ-expanded fragment of huntingtin exon-1 (Htt103Q), the causal protein in Huntington disease, we and others have created tractable models for investigating polyQ toxicity in yeast cells. These models recapitulate key pathological features of human diseases and provide access to an unrivalled genetic toolbox. To identify toxicity modifiers, we performed an unbiased overexpression screen of virtually every protein encoded by the yeast genome. Surprisingly, there was no overlap between our modifiers and those from a conceptually identical screen reported recently, a discrepancy we attribute to an artifact of their overexpression plasmid. The suppressors of Htt103Q toxicity recovered in our screen were strongly enriched for glutamine- and asparagine-rich prion-like proteins. Separated from the rest of the protein, the prion-like sequences of these proteins were themselves potent suppressors of polyQ-expanded huntingtin exon-1 toxicity, in both yeast and human cells. Replacing the glutamines in these sequences with asparagines abolished suppression and converted them to enhancers of toxicity. Replacing asparagines with glutamines created stronger suppressors. The suppressors (but not the enhancers) coaggregated with Htt103Q, forming large foci at the insoluble protein deposit in which proteins were highly immobile. Cells possessing foci had fewer (if any) small diffusible oligomers of Htt103Q. Until such foci were lost, cells were protected from death. We discuss the therapeutic implications of these findings.Howard Hughes Medical InstituteNational Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant GM25874)National Science Foundation (U.S.). Graduate Research Fellowship Program (Grant 1122374)G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers FoundationBeckman Laser Institute FoundationEleanor Schwartz Charitable FoundationWhitehead Institute for Biomedical Researc

Finfish constituents of trawl low value by-catch off Mangalore

Trawling remains a controversial method of fishing due to the poor selectivity of trawl net and catching of hugequantity and diversity of non target fishes. By-catch is recognised as an unavoidable portion of fish catch but quantity variesaccording to the type of gear operated. FAO has considered the resource damage due to discarding of by-catch as serious issue.Mangalore fisheries harbour is one among the major fishing harbours of Karnataka state with its significant contribution tothe Trawl landings. The study was conducted to assess the recourse damage due to indiscriminate fishing and landing of juveniles of commercially important species in low value by-catch due to smaller size and improper handling. The quantity of lowvalue by-catch was estimated from the landings of single-day and multi-day trawler landings for the period of August 2012 toMay 2013. The quantity of low value by-catch (trash fish) generated by trawlers of Mangalore was estimated as 32,426 t (19%of the total trawl catch). A total 121 species of finfishes belonging to 55 families have been identified constituting the low valueby-catch. Order Perciformes contributed 61.16 per cent (74 species) to the total number of species, followed by Clupeiformesand other groups, whereas the family Carangidae contributed 11.57 per cent (14 species) to the total number of species, followedby Engraulidae and other families. Presence of wide diversity of finfishes in low value by-catch showed an alarming signal of fisheries resource damage

A rare case report on uterine perforation by levonorgestrel releasing intrauterine device

A levonorgestrel-containing intrauterine contraceptive devices are widely used in contemporary gynaecology, primarily as an effective method for contraception and for control of menstrual disorders like menorrhagia and dysmenorrhea. A case report of the uterine perforation by the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device (LNG-IUD) in a 33-year-old asymptomatic woman after an 18-month of insertion. On routine cervical smear examination, the LNG-IUD threads were not visualised through the cervical os. After abdominal ultrasound scan the confirmation of perforated LNG-IUD was done and was removed laparoscopically

A comparative study to assess the efficacy of oral versus vaginal route of misoprostol in missed first trimester abortion

Background: Aim of the study to contrast the effectiveness of misoprostol taken oral vs vaginal method, for the management of missed abortion in the early trimester, and to acknowledge misoprostol value in cervical dilatation before any surgical pregnancy termination, Methods: Comparing the efficacy of misoprostol, by vaginal and oral routes, for termination of first trimester missed abortion was conducted in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology, at DR B. R. Ambedkar medical college and hospital, Bangalore. 2 groups were made as group A and group B which had 24 participants in each group and a total of 48 participants, in which group A was given misoprostol 400 mcg orally, maximum up to 3 doses and group B was given misoprostol 400 mcg maximum up to 3 doses and outcome was documented. Primary outcome expecting drug-induced complete expulsion of products of conception (POCs). Secondary outcomes measured were induction expulsion interval, number of doses required, classification of failures, cervical canal permeability in women requiring surgical evacuation, side effects. Results: Both oral and vaginal routes are highly effective (oral=75%, vaginal=91.7%, p=2.400), safe and acceptable with tolerable side effects. The mean time to expulsion was longer (10.55 hours) in the oral than vaginal group (8.09 hours). All unsuccessful cases, 2 in vaginal group and 6 in oral group had permeable cervices prior to surgical evacuation. Most of the side effects were tolerable in both groups. Conclusions: Vaginal route of misoprostol is more effective than oral misoprostol for first trimester missed abortion.

Evaluation of Anti Asthmatic Activity of Urtica Dioica (Linn.) Leaves and Its Phytochemical Studies

Urtica dioica, often called common nettle, stinging nettle (although not all plants of this species sting) or nettle leaf, is a herbaceousperennial flowering plant in the family Urticaceae. It is native to Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and North America, and introduced elsewhere. The species is divided into six subspecies, five of which have many hollow stinging hairs called trichomes on the leaves and stems, which act like hypodermic needles, injecting histamine and other chemicals that produce a stinging sensation upon contact ("contact urticaria"). The plant has a long history of use as a source for traditional medicine, food, tea, and textile raw material in ancient societies. Urtica dioica is a dioecious, herbaceous, perennial plant, 1 to 2 m (3 to 7 ft) tall in the summer and dying down to the ground in winter.[1] It has widely spreading rhizomes and stolons, which are bright yellow, as are the roots. The soft, green leaves are 3 to 15 cm (1 to 6 in) long and are borne oppositely on an erect, wiry, green stem. The leaves have a strongly serrated margin, a cordate base, and an acuminate tip with a terminal leaf tooth longer than adjacent laterals. It bears small, greenish or brownish, numerous flowers in dense axillary inflorescences. The leaves and stems are very hairy with non-stinging hairs, and in most subspecies, also bear many stinging hairs (trichomes or spicules), whose tips come off when touched, transforming the hair into a needle that can inject several chemicals causing a painful sting or paresthesia, giving the species its common names: stinging nettle, burn nettle, burn weed, or burn hazel. AIM & OBJECTIVE: Synthetic drugs used for the treatment of asthma and allergy in India but more side effects are reported. Over the centuries, they are using medicinal herbs in daily life and approximately 6000 plants species are known to have medicinal properties in India. As per the literature survey will be expressed medicinal plants and traditional systems of medicines, Ayurveda, Yunani, Siddha and Homeopathy for the treatment of asthma and allergy but no scientific validation. Several literatures are indicated that the herbal drugs have lesser adverse effects when compared to synthetic drugs. The Urtica dioica is not scientifically validated and which was traditionally using herb. The work provides scientific validation for use of leaves against asthma by revealing the chemical compounds may be present in the plant. The present study is attempts to develop a novel plant based antihistamine work through antiastmatic drug which will be evaluated by in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSION: This work will be useful to find new anti asthamatic drug with help of in vitro and in vivo models. Ethanolic extract will be possess highly substantial anti-asthmatic activity by significantly inhibited the histamine induced broncho constriction of guinea pig representing its H1 receptor antagonistic activity and support the plants by its anti-asthmatic properties. The results will be obtained in the study to be provide basic data for further progress and application of plant

One-to-One and One-to-Many Business Relationship Marketing: Toward a Theoretical Framework

Purpose. This work addresses mixed findings in relationship marketing literature regarding the importance of micro-level (interpersonal) relationships on firm outcome. MethodobgylApproach: The article leverages impression formation theory to advance a framework to understand one-to-one and one-to-many marketing relationships to better predict firm outcome. Findings: The authors suggest that 5 framework moderators—the type and consistency of the encounters, relationship age, purchase frequency, relationship interruptions, and two customer side characteristics (i.e., need to evaluate [NTE] and need for cognitive closure [NFCC] )—can qualify the relationship building process and impact the effectiveness of interpersonal and/or group relationships on firm outcome. Practical Implications: The framework suggests that (1) highly consistent sales team behaviors reduce the risk of losing business in case of a sales team member leaving; (2) low frequency purchases are better suited for one-to-many selling relationships; (3) temporarily suspending relationships by individual salespeople is more harmful than suspending relationships by sales teams; (4) involving the customer in the acquisition process facilitates team selling; and (5) a positive first impression is more important for high (vs. low) NFCC and high NTE customers. Originality/Value. The theoretical framework (1) distinguishes between individual-to-individual and individual-to-group relationships, (2) suggests a distinction between micro-level individual-to-individual and individual-to-group relationships and macro-level individual-to-firm relationships, (3) analyzes the impact of micro-level relationships under the influence of context-related and customer-related factors, and (4) provides managerially relevant guidelines for strategic sales planning

Seroprevalence of human immuno-deficiency virus infection in babies born to HIV positive women

Background: Parent to child transmission (PTCT) is a major route of human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) infection in children. PTCT contributes to about 4% of HIV infections in India. Prevention of parent to child transmission (PPTCT) of HIV involved testing of all pregnant women for HIV status, administration of antiretroviral therapy (ART) to HIV positive pregnant women, antiretroviral (ARV) prophylaxis to their infants and safe obstetric and infant feeding practices. Purpose of the study was finding out the mother to child transmission rates in our institution and whether we have been able to achieve the World Health Organization (WHO) target. Methods: This was a descriptive retrospective cohort study conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Government Medical College, Kozhikode, Kerala, India. Data of HIV positive mothers and infants born to them was collected using records. Results: Out of the 60 pregnancies, we had 23 new cases (40.3%) and 34 mothers (59.6%) known HIV positives becoming pregnant. 39.5% had taken ART for <24 weeks and 60.4% had taken ART for >24 weeks. There were 48 live births. At 6 weeks, 3 babies had tested positive by HIV total nucleic acid (TNA) polymerase chain reaction (PCR). One out of these expired at 1 week of diagnosis. Conclusions: Poor maternal adherence to ART, unsuppressed viral load, lack of ART during pregnancy, lack of ARV prophylaxis for the infant, poor antenatal visits were associated with HIV infections among children born to HIV positive mothers