Energy Cost and Gait Efficiency of Below-Knee Amputee and Normal Subject with Similar Physical Parameters & Quality of Life: A Comparative Case Study

The study focused on the comparative analysis of energy cost and gait efficiency between a below knee (BK) amputee and a reference subject (without amputation). It also attempted to indicate the specific feature responsible for a controlled gait with optimum energy cost for BK amputees. Selection criteria of the subjects were similar physical parameters and quality of life studied with WHOQOL-100 quality of life assessment. A Cosmed® k4 b2 Respiratory Analyzer system was used for the measurement of Oxygen Uptake (VO2), Energy Expenditure per minute (EE) and Heart Rate (HR). Gait efficiency (p < 0.0002) was found higher for BK amputee than normal subject. The therapeutic activities and mainly walking rhythm contributed to improve the mobility & balance. This ensures the optimum time & co-ordination of movements and hence improves the gait efficiency for the BK amputee. Comparison with control group was performed to validate the data

Study on Gait Efficiency and Energy Cost of Below Knee Amputees After Therapeutic Practices

An earlier research advocated that a below knee amputee (BK) with conventional trans-tibial prosthesis attains higher gait efficiency at lower energy cost with therapeutic practices of proper time and co-ordination in compare to normal subjects of similar physical parameters and quality of life. The present study focused on comparative analysis of energy cost and gait efficiency between a group of below knee amputees and a control group (normal subjects without amputation) to indicate the consistency of the earlier findings. The subjects were selected with similar physical parameters and quality of life. Oxygen Uptake (VO2) and Heart Rate (HR) were measured by Cosmed® k4 b2 analyzer system. Gait efficiency (p < 0.0001) was found higher with lower energy cost for BK amputees after therapeutic practices than control group. The therapeutic activities contributed to efficient gait pattern for amputees ensuring proper time and co-ordination with balance in consistence to the earlier research

Isolation of low erucic acid-containing genotype of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea Czern. and Coss.) through F1 hybrid anther culture

Reciprocal crosses were done between two cultivars; cv. RJ15 and cv. RLM198 of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea). Anther derived lines designated as A1 plants, were raised through anther culture fromthese F1 hybrid plants. 45% germination was obtained from distinctly shriveled and small A1 seeds and grown along with the F2 plants in the same agro-climatic conditions. Subsequently the lines werecompared for inheritance pattern between the lines. A normal frequency distribution curve for siliqua per plant was obtained in all the lines reflecting a similar pattern of recombination. Few seeds from theplants of each lines exhibiting high number of siliqua per plant, were isolated for analysis of erucic acid. Three plants in which erucic acid content was lower than the parent cultivars of A2 generationwere identified. This showed that contrasting characters could be obtained from A2 plants where the traits are oligo or monogenic through anther culture

Impact of enhanced flow on the flow system and wastewater characteristics of sewage-fed fisheries in India

In this study, we estimated the impact of enhanced flow on shallow wetlands that receive major effluent discharge from an adjoining metropolitan city. The local people use the shallow wetlands for pisciculture. Beginning in 1998, the population of the city began to rise and the amount of effluent discharge increased. The excess load is now a problem for the city engineers, and they plan to manage the sewage by increasing the area of the sewage network. The depth of the wetlands is also decreasing due to an increase in suspended solids. The quantity of the toxic load suspended in the discharge has increased the silt content, which has consequently further reduced the depth of the wetlands. The excess flow on low depth wetlands may cause overflows and destroy both the ecosystem and the livelihood of the local people. In this study, the pattern identification capability of neuro-genetic models was used to estimate the impact of the excess flow on sewage-fed wetlands. Two neural network models were created to estimate whether fisheries can accommodate the enhanced flow. According to the results of this study, the East Kolkata Wetlands, India can accommodate 1450 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage, if the average depth of water is increased to 1.18 m.Key words: Dry weather flow, East Kolkata wetlands, neural network, sewage-fed fisheries

Effect of different plant hormones on callus induction in Gymnema sylvestris R.Br. (Asclepiadaceae)

The use of Gymnema sylvestris as an alternative remedy for diabetes was well known from ancient times in India and the plant is valuable for its pharmaceutical properties. The present study describes callus induction of the plant G. sylvestris using internodal explants and the influence of different plant hormones like 2,4-D, kinetin, IAA, BAP on the growth of calli. Internodes were proved to be the best explant for culture, which were grown on MS basal medium (Murashige and Skoog, 1962) with differentconcentration of various growth regulators. The standard plant tissue culture protocol for callus culture and/or micropropagation was adopted. The highest efficiency of callus formation was observed in themedium containing different concentration of 2,4-D and kinetin

Rostral lumbar segments are the key controllers of hindlimb locomotor rhythmicity in the adult spinal rat

The precise location and functional organization of the spinal neuronal locomotor-related networks in adult mammals remain unclear. Our recent neurophysiological findings provided empirical evidence that the rostral lumbar spinal cord segments play a critical role in the initiation and generation of the rhythmic activation patterns necessary for hindlimb locomotion in adult spinal rats. Since added epidural stimulation at the S1 segments significantly enhanced the motor output generated by L2 stimulation, these data also suggested that the sacral spinal cord provides a strong facilitory influence in rhythm initiation and generation. However, whether L2 will initiate hindlimb locomotion in the absence of S1 segments, and whether S1 segments can facilitate locomotion in the absence of L2 segments remain unknown. Herein, adult rats received complete spinal cord transections at T8 and then at either L2 or S1. Rats with spinal cord transections at T8 and S1 remained capable of generating coordinated hindlimb locomotion when receiving epidural stimulation at L2 and when ensembles of locomotor related loadbearing input were present. In contrast, minimal locomotion was observed when S1 stimulation was delivered after spinal cord transections at T8 and L2. Results were similar when the nonspecific serotonergic agonists were administered. These results demonstrate in adult rats that rostral lumbar segments are essential for the regulation of hindlimb locomotor rhythmicity. In addition, the more caudal spinal networks alone cannot control locomotion in the absence of the rostral segments around L2 even when loadbearing rhythmic proprioceptive afferent input is imposed.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The exact location of the spinal neuronal locomotor-related networks in adult mammals remains unknown. The present data demonstrate that when the rostral lumbar spinal segments (~L2) are completely eliminated in thoracic spinal adult rats, hindlimb stepping is not possible with neurochemical modulation of the lumbosacral cord. In contrast, eliminating the sacral cord retains stepping ability. These observations highlight the importance of rostral lumbar segments in generating effective mammalian locomotion

Effect of Ispaghula and Oxyphenonium Bromide on the Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome - A Comparative Study

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic continuous or remittent gastrointestinal illness characterized byfrequent unexplained symptoms that include abdominal pain, bloating, and bowel disturbance, in our country, no studyhas been conducted using the Ispaghula husk and oxyphenonium bromide for the treatment of IBS patients. Objectives:To compare the efficacy of treatment with Ispaghula husk and Oxyphenonium bromide. Methods: Total sixty patientsdiagnosed clinically as irritable bowel syndrome irrespective of subtype who fulfilled the Rome II criteria were includedequally into two groups-Group-I (Ispaghula group) &amp; Group-II (Oxyphenonium group). In Group-I patients were given30gm of Ispaghula husk at night daily and in Group-II patients were given 5mg of oxyphenonium bromide. After sixweeks the clinical parameters of both the groups recorded in the case record forms were taken for analysis. Results: Themean age of the patients in the Group- I were 33.4&plusmn;11.9 yrs and that of the patients in the Group-II were 31.0&plusmn;17.5 yrs.Male and female ratio in group I was 14:1 and in group II was 23:7. Most of the patients were recorded in the age groupof 26-30 in both groups. Symptom free patients were graded in 16.7% patients in Group-I and in 20% patients in Group-II. No improvement was occurred in 16.7% patients in Group-I and in 10% patients in Group-II. Conclusions: Ispaghulahusk shows the better efficacy to improve the symptoms of IBS like abdominal pain or discomfort and sense of well beingthan Oxyphenonium bromide. Oxephenonium bromide shows the better efficacy to decrease the stool frequency frombase line than Ispaghula husk.DOI: 10.3329/bsmmuj.v3i1.5506BSMMU J 2010; 3(1): 3-

Characterization of insulating coatings for wind-and-react coil fabrication

Electrical insulation breakdown between conductor and coil parts and structures is a limiting factor in the performance of high-field magnets. We have evaluated various insulation coatings for possible application in both Nb Sn and Bi-2212 coil fabrication. Such coatings must be robust to maintain structural integrity and provide adequate voltage standoff after the wind-and-react coil fabrication process. Such processes are characterized by reaction temperatures of 650°C in an inert atmosphere for Nb Sn and 890°C in a pure oxygen atmosphere for Bi-2212, and down to cryogenic temperatures when coils are in service. We present a method of testing standardized samples and report the performance characteristics of oxide layers produced (or applied) by plasma-spray, surface conversion, and "paintable" coatings in common areas of voltage breakdown in coil parts. We also address material compatibility and durability during high-temperature heat treatment and cryogenic shock. Suitable coatings selected in the testing process will be instrumental in improving the performance of future wind-and-react coils. © 2014 AIP Publishing LLC. 3

Increased collagen synthesis rate during wound healing in muscle

Wound healing in muscle involves the deposition of collagen, but it is not known whether this is achieved by changes in the synthesis or the degradation of collagen. We have used a reliable flooding dose method to measure collagen synthesis rate in vivo in rat abdominal muscle following a surgical incision. Collagen synthesis rate was increased by 480% and 860% on days 2 and 7 respectively after surgery in the wounded muscle compared with an undamaged area of the same muscle. Collagen content was increased by approximately 100% at both day 2 and day 7. These results demonstrate that collagen deposition during wound healing in muscle is achieved entirely by an increase in the rate of collagen synthesis

Production of Androgens by Microbial Transformation of Progesterone in Vitro: A Model for Androgen Production in Rivers Receiving Paper Mill Effluent

We have previously documented the presence of progesterone and androstenedione in the water column and bottom sediments of the Fenholloway River, Taylor County, Florida. This river receives paper mill effluent and contains masculinized female mosquitofish. We hypothesized that plant sterols (e.g., β-sitosterol) derived from the pulping of pine trees are transformed by bacteria into progesterone and subsequently into 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, and other androgens. In this study, we demonstrate that these same androgens can be produced in vitro from the bacterium Mycobacterium smegmatis. In a second part to this study, we reextracted and reanalyzed the sediment from the Fenholloway River and verified the presence of androstadienedione, a Δ1 steroid with androgen activity