Biological Fouling at Port Kakinada, Godavari Estuary, India

Results of fouling investigations conducted for the first time at the fastdeveloping intermediate port of Kakinada in Godavari Estuary, Andhra Pradesh during 1983-1984 are presented. The fouling species collected from different structures and craft were identified and listed. Several of the species are reported for the first time from the area and some are new records to the Bay of Bengal. The main species are: the serpulid, Mercierella enigmatica; the barnacle, Balanus amphitrite; and the bryozoans, Electra bengalensis, Membranipora amoyensis, A lderina arabianensis, and Victorella pavida. Panel tests (timber and glass; short- and long-term) were conducted at two selected stations (Station I: Kakinada canal, port area; Station II: new fishing harbor) with widely differing hydrographical conditions. The data obtained for one year are presented. Variations in the nature and composition of the fouling communities were found between the two stations. Station I, subjected to extreme salinity fluctuations, typically supported a low number of highly tolerant (estuarine) species, whereas a high number of species and a more complex community structure were found at the more stable Station II. Data on seasonal settling patterns, fouling biomass fluctuations, and growth rates of important species are given and relevant comparisons made with other Indian harbors

Interesting shipworm (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Teredinidae) records from India

In a survey on the occurrence of marine wood boring organisms at Chippada-Rambilli, Visakhapatnam-Bhimunipatnam and Soralgondi-Nachugunta coastal stretches along Bay of Bengal on the east coast of India, a good assemblage of wood borers, especially teredinids were collected.  Among these samples, five species of teredinids, namely, Uperotus panamensis (Bartsch), U. lieberkindi (Roch), Teredora malleolus (Turton), Teredo poculifer Iredale and Nototeredo norvagica (Spengler) are new records to India; three species, namely, Teredo mindanensis Bartsch, T. portoricensis Clapp and T. somersi Clapp new to the mainland and one species, namely, Teredothyra matocotana (Bartsch) new to the east coast.  Systematic details of these nine teredinid taxa are presented in this communication

Quantumness of noisy quantum walks: a comparison between measurement-induced disturbance and quantum discord

Noisy quantum walks are studied from the perspective of comparing their quantumness as defined by two popular measures, measurement-induced disturbance (MID) and quantum discord (QD). While the former has an operational definition, unlike the latter, it also tends to overestimate non-classicality because of a lack of optimization over local measurements. Applied to quantum walks, we find that MID, while acting as a loose upper bound on QD, still tends to reflect correctly the trends in the behavior of the latter. However, there are regimes where its behavior is not indicative of non-classicality: in particular, we find an instance where MID increases with the application of noise, where we expect a reduction of quantumness.Comment: 5 pages with 4 figures, Published Versio

Modelización por Cadenas de Markov de la evolución de la deformación en vigas de hormigón armado flexotraccionadas

From the analysis of experimentally observed variations in surface strains with loading in reinforced concrete beams, it is noted that there is a need to consider the evolution of strains (with loading) as a stochastic process. Use of Markov Chains for modeling stochastic evolution of strains with loading in reinforced concrete flexural beams is studied in this paper. A simple, yet practically useful, bi-level homogeneous Gaussian Markov Chain (BLHGMC) model is proposed for determining the state of strain in reinforced concrete beams. The BLHGMC model will be useful for predicting behavior/response of reinforced concrete beams leading to more rational design.A través del análisis de la evolución de la deformación superficial observada experimentalmente en vigas de hormigón armado al entrar en carga, se constata que dicho proceso debe considerarse estocástico. En este trabajo se estudia la utilización de cadenas de Markov para modelizar la evolución estocástica de la deformación de vigas flexotraccionadas. Se propone, para establecer el estado de deformación de estas, un modelo con distribución gaussiana tipo cadena de Markov homogénea de dos niveles (BLHGMC por sus siglas en inglés), cuyo empleo resulta sencillo y práctico. Se comprueba la utilidad del modelo BLHGMC para prever el comportamiento de estos elementos, lo que determina a su vez una mayor racionalidad a la hora de su cálculo y diseñ

GENERATION OF ACCELERATION RESPONSE SPECTRUM BY USING FUZZY-RANDOM MODELS OF EARTHQUAKE GROUND MOTIONS

ABSTRACT The acceleration response spectra are usually used for specifying the seismic ground motions for design. Two of the major factors to be considered while determining the response spectra for a given site are the variability in ground motions expected at the site and the local site conditions. Probabilistic approaches have been used internationally to represent the stochastic variations in ground motion at the site. However, the site conditions are usually defined in a general and qualitative manner in linguistic terms (viz., hard rock, stiff soil). This gives rise to uncertainties, which can best be modelled by using the theory of fuzzy sets. A methodology for generating acceleration response spectrum by using fuzzy-random models of earthquake ground motions is proposed in this paper. The usefulness of the proposed methodology in developing site-specific acceleration response spectra is illustrated through an example problem. From the results obtained, it is noted that proper classification of soil sites is important for design, indicating the need for seismic microzonation

AN INTRIGUING CAUSE OF CHRONIC DIARRHEA – PROTEIN-LOSING ENTEROPATHY AS THE PRESENTING MANIFESTATION OF SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS

ABSTRACTSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune inflammatory disease.  It presents with myriad of clinical manifestations affecting every other organ system in human body. The gastrointestinal system is one of the commonest affected and it involves any part of the GI tract with incidences ranging from 1.3% to 27.5%. Gastrointestinal manifestations as a presenting feature of SLE is unusual. Chronic diarrhea due to protein losing enteropathy as the presenting manifestation of SLE is very rare and a diagnosis of SLE should be kept in mind when other systemic manifestations are absent. Hence, we report a 29-year-old female with chronic diarrhea as the main manifestation of SLE.Â

DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF A NEW AND STABILITY INDICATING LC METHOD FOR ANALYSIS OF PINAVERIUM BROMIDE IN BULK DRUG AND PHARMA- CEUTICAL DOSAGE FORM

ABSTRACT A simple, rapid, and stability indicating reverse phase high performance liquid chromatographic assay method was developed for pinaverium bromide in the presence of its degradation products generated from decomposition studies.LC separation was achieved isocratic mode on a Zorbax SB C8 (4.6x250) mm, 5 µm column using mobile phase containing solution A (0.1% ortho phosphoric acid) with solution B (acetonitrile) (30:70) (v/v) at flow rate 1.0 ml/min. The UV detector was operated at 245 nm and temperature was 25˚C. The retention time was 4.84 min and linearity was observed in the concentration range of 20-150µg/ml with correlation coefficient of 0.9999. The percentage relative standard deviation in accuracy and precision studies was found to be less than 2%. The method was successfully validated as per International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines. pinaverium bromide undergoes degradation under acidic, basic, oxidation, dry heat and photolytic conditions, degradation impurities did not interfere with the retention time of pinaverium bromide, and assay method is thus stability indicating

A Study on Impact of Clinical Pharmacist Interventions on Medication Adherence and Quality of Life in Rural Hypertensive Patients

Hypertension is the very common chronic disease in rural, urban and semi-urban areas of today's world, which needs continuous monitoring and treatment through out the life. Lack of education, lifestyle modification, and low level of understanding on disease management in rural people will influence directly on their quality of life (QOL). The objective of this study was to know the impact of clinical pharmacist interventions on medication adherence and QOL. It was a prospective, randomized and interventional study. Fifty-six patients were enrolled; only 52 patients completed the study. Interventional group patients received patient counselling, patient information leaflets (PILS), and frequent telephonic reminding. In the baseline, first and second follow-ups, medication adherence and QOL were assessed by using Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS) and Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS) Questionnaires and SF-12v2 Quality of life Questionnaire in both the groups. The results showed that systolic blood pressure P value in the second follow-up was 0.086+ when compared to baseline follow-up P value 0.094. The diastolic blood pressure reading of the intervention group at the second follow-up was 77.73 ± 3.63 in mmHg when compared to the baseline, i.e. 86.62 ± 11.35 in mmHg. The MMAS and MARS scores P values were 0.007**, 1.000, <0.001**; 0.007, 0.014 and 0.000 at the baseline, first and second follow-ups, respectively. The QOL score P values of physical component scale and mental component scale showed highly significant. This study concluded/showed that the impact of clinical pharmacist provided patient counselling had a positive impact on medication adherence and QOL

Tectono-Thermal History of the Neoarchean Balehonnur Shear Zone, Western Dharwar Craton (Southern India)

AbstractA widely spaced Neoarchean shear zone network traverses the granite-greenstone terrains of the Western Dharwar craton (WDC). The NNW-SSE trending Balehonnur shear zone traverses the largest part of the preserved tilted Archean crustal ensemble in the Western Dharwar craton (WDC) from the amphibolite-granulite transition in the south to greenschist facies in the north and eventually concealed under Deccan lava flows. Published tectonic fabrics data and kinematic analysis, with our data reveal a sinistral sense of shearing that effectuate greenstone sequences, Tonalite-Trondhjemite-Granodiorite Gneisses (TTG), and Koppa granite as reflected in variable deformation and strain localization. A profound increase of strain towards the core of the shear zone in the ca. 2610 Ma Koppa granite is marked by a transition from weak foliation outside the shear zone through the development of C-S structures and C-prime fabrics, mylonite to ultramylonite. The mineral assemblages in the Koppa granite and adjoining greenstone indicate near peak P-T conditions of 1.2 Gpa, 775-800°C following a slow cooling path of 1.0 GPa and 650°C. Field-based tectonic fabrics data together with U-Pb zircon ages reveal that the Koppa granite emplaced along the contact zone of Shimoga-Bababudan basin ca. 2610 Ma, coinciding with the emplacement of ca. 2600 Ma Arsikere-Banavara, Pandavpura, and Chitradurga granites further east which mark the stabilization of WDC. Significant variation in major element oxide (SiO2 = 56-69 wt.%) together with high content of incompatible elements (REE, Nb, Zr, and Y) and high zircon crystallization temperatures (~1000°C) of Koppa granite suggests derivation by partial melting of composite sources involving enriched uppermost mantle and lower crust. The development of widely spaced shear zones is probably linked to the assembly of eastern and western blocks through westward convergence of hot oceanic lithosphere against already cratonized thick colder western block leading to the development of strain heterogeneities between greenstone and TTGs due to their different mineral assemblages leading to rheological contrast in the cratonic lithologies