Chemotherapy induced nausea & vomiting (CINV)

Chemotherapy is the first line treatment in management of many cancers, both for cure and palliation; hence it’s crucial to minimize the unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy to increase tolerability to chemotherapy. Most of the conventional anti cancer drugs are emetogenic. Patients receiving chemotherapy experience different degrees of nausea and vomiting depending on the emetogenic potential of the anti cancer drugs given and the patient characteristics. With a better understanding of the pathophysiology, distinct phases of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) i.e., acute emesis, delayed emesis and anticipatory emesis have been identified. Identification of various mediators has led to the development of different drugs acting through different mechanisms which are useful in the prevention and treatment of CINV. Serotonin receptor three (5-HT3) antagonists, corticosteroids and neurokinin type one receptor (NK-1) antagonists are of proven usefulness and have wide therapeutic indexes in the prevention of CINV. Other drugs like dopamine receptor antagonists & benzodiazepines are not routinely used because of their narrow therapeutic index. Practice guidelines for prevention of CINV will not only improve patient’s tolerability to chemotherapy & wellbeing, but also decrease hospital stay and overall cost of treatment of the patient

Neutrino processes in the K0K^0 condensed phase of color flavor locked quark matter

We study weak interactions involving Goldstone bosons in the neutral kaon condensed phase of color flavor locked quark matter. We calculate the rates for the dominant processes that contribute to the neutrino mean free p ath and to neutrino production. A light $K^+$ state, with a mass $\tilde{m}_{K^+} \propto (\Delta/\mu) (\Delta/m_s)(m_d-m_u)$, where $\mu$ and $\Delta$ are the quark chemical potential and superconducting gap respectively, is shown to play an important role. We identify unique characteristics of weak interaction rates in this novel phase and discuss how they might influence neutrino emission in core collapse supernova and neutron stars.Comment: 21 pages, 4 figure

Charge Screening at First Order Phase Transitions

Possibility of structured mixed phases at first order phase transitions is examined with taking into account of charge screening and surface effects. Hadron-quark phase transition in dense neutron star interior is considered, as concrete example.Comment: 15 pages, 1 figur

Study on Mangrove Ecology and Impact in Kakinada Bay

The southern fringes of the Kakinada Bay are predominantly mud-flats interrupted by creeks/rivers which traverse, at the hayw ard end , through dense forests of mangrove as mentioned by Ramasarma and Ganapathi (1968) in their study on the Bay hydrography. The larger trees are located at a height of 03 m in relation to creek river low water level but in high tide and spring tides major parts are innundated. A part of the system forms a fringe along the eroding creek/river banks with roots in the water but on the bay-ward side the trees are succeeded by vascular plants, the shrubs and grasses on the mudflats due, probably, to show encroachment and reclamation for human habitation and paddyfields. especially in Matlapalem creek (Rajyalakshmi. 1975). However, the creeks are highly saline in non-monsoonal seasons, deep with a directional flow towards the Bay

Carrier induced ferromagnetism in concentrated and diluted local-moment systems

For modeling the magnetic properties of concentrated and diluted magnetic semiconductors, we use the Kondo-lattice model. The magnetic phase diagram is derived by inspecting the static susceptibility of itinerant band electrons, which are exchange coupled to localized magnetic moments. It turns out that rather low band occupations favour a ferromagnetic ordering of the local moment systems due to an indirect coupling mediated by a spin polarization of the itinerant charge carriers. The disorder in diluted systems is treated by adding a CPA-type concept to the theory. For almost all moment concentrations x, ferromagnetism is possible, however, only for carrier concentrations n distinctly smaller than x. The charge carrier compensation in real magnetic semiconductors (in Ga_{1-x}Mn_{x}As by e.g. antisites) seems to be a necessary condition for getting carrier induced ferromagnetism.Comment: 9 pages (REVTeX), 6 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev.

Cumulative and Residual Effects of Paclobutrazol on Growth, Yield and Fruit Quality of 'Alphonso' Mango

A field experiment was conducted during 1996 to 2002 at Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, to study the cumulative and residual effects of paclobutrazol (PBZ) application on shoot vigour, flowering and fruit yield of seventeen years old 'Alphonso' mango trees. Foliar sprays of the chemical at 500, 1000 or 2000 ppm or soil drench at 5 or 10 g a. i. per tree was given during September for three consecutive years and the residual effects were observed for three more subsequent years. Application of PBZ as soil drench was more effective than its foliar spray and doubled fruit yield during the six years. Chemical parameters of fruits such as TSS and acidity were not affected by the treatments but average weight of a fruit was less in the case of PBZ treatments. Residual influence of this chemical, when applied as soil drench, persisted in the three years following the discontinuation of application for three consecutive years, indicating the scope for skipping the application of PBZ or tapering down its dose after three years of its continuous application. From the results of this study, application of paclobutrazol at 5 g a.i. per tree as soil drench for three consecutive years and then its discontinuation for the subsequent three years appears to be most appropriate for 'Alphonso' mango trees in the age group of about 15 to 25 years

Effect of Pruning and Chemicals on Flowering and Fruit Yield in Mango Cv. Alphonso

A field trial was conducted from 2005 to 2009 on pruning and spray of various chemicals to study their effects on flowering and fruit yield in 'Alphonso' mango, at Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore. Seven treatments were imposed, with pruning of fruited shoots as a common treatment, followed by chemical sprays and a control. Over the five years, flowering parameters (% vegetative, dormant or flowering shoots) were found to be non-significant among different treatments. Treatments increased fruit yield compared to control. The best treatment was T3 (Pruning+1% K2HPO4+1% KNO3 spray) which recorded mean fruit yield of 63.9 kg/plant, compared to a fruit yield of 33.0 k/ plant in control

Effect of Dose and Time of Paclobutrazol Application on the Flowering, Fruit Yield and Quality of Mango Cv. Alphonso

A field trial was conducted for eight years at Indian Institute of Horticulture Research, Bengaluru to find out the effect of dose and time of application of paclobutrazol (PBZ) on flowering, fruit yield and quality of 'Alphonso' mango. The percentages of flowering, vegetative and dormant shoots were affected by paclobutrazol application. Different dose and time of application of paclobutrazol increased the percentage of flowering shoots significantly and most pronounced effect was with treatment D1T2 (3ml/m canopy PBZ applied 90 days before bud break) which recorded 89.9% flowering shoots as compared to 73.8% in control treatment. Regarding fruit yield, maximum mean fruit yield of 22.0kg/plant was recorded with treatment D1T2 (3ml/m canopy PBZ applied 90 days before bud break) and least was with control (13.1kg/plant) which accounts for fruit yield increase of 67.9%. No particular trend was observed in respect of shoot length in different treatments. However in general, paclobutrazol application reduced the shoot length compared to control. With respect of fruit quality attributes, acidity and TSS were found to be non-significant among different treatments during different years. Average fruit weight was found to be significant during different years and paclobutrazol application reduced the average fruit size compared to control. Cost benefit ratio was maximum of 1:2.52 was with treatment 3ml/m canopy PBZ applied 90 days before bud break and least cost benefit ratio of 1:1.06 was with control