Dvali-Gabadadze-Porrati Cosmology in Bianchi I brane

The dynamics of Dvali-Gabadadze-Porrati Cosmology (DGP) braneworld with an anisotropic brane is studied. The Friedmann equations and their solutions are obtained for two branches of anisotropic DGP model. The late time behavior in DGP cosmology is examined in the presence of anisotropy which shows that universe enters a self-accelerating phase much later compared to the isotropic case. The acceleration conditions and slow-roll conditions for inflation are obtained

Prevalence and association of obesity with self-reported comorbidity: a cross-sectional study of 1321 adult participants in Lasbela, Balochistan

Association of fatness with chronic metabolic diseases is a well-established fact, and a high prevalence of risk factors for these disorders has increasingly been reported in the third world. In order to incorporate any preventive strategies for such risk factors into clinical practice, decision-makers require objective evidence about the associated burden of disease. A cross-sectional study of 1321 adults from one of the districts of Balochistan, among the most economically challenged areas of Pakistan, was carried out for the measures of fatness and self-reported comorbidities. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were measured and demographic information and self-reported comorbidities were documented.The prevalence of obesity was 4.8% (95% CI: [3.8, 6.1]) and 21.7% (95% CI: [19.5, 24.0]), as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) international and Asia/Asia-Pacific BMI cut-offs, respectively. The proportion exhibiting comorbidity increased with increasing levels of fatness in a dose-response relationship

Study of the superconducting properties of the Bi-Ca-Sr-Cu-O system

High Temperature Superconductivity in the Bi-Ca-Sr-Cu-O System has been observed and has attracted considerable attention in 1988. The 80 K superconductivity phase has been identified to have a composition of Bi2CaSr2Cu2Ox, while the 110 K phase as reported in the literature has a possible composition of Bi2Ca2Sr2Cu3Ox. Researchers present here a study of the electrical properties of bulk samples of the slowly cooled and rapidly quenched 2:1:2:2 system. The samples used in this study were prepared from appropriate amounts of Bi2O3, CuO, SrCO3, CaCO3

Transmuted New Weibull-Pareto Distribution and its Applications

this article, a generalization of the new Weibull-Pareto (NWP) distribution is derived. The quadratic equation (QRTM rank transmutation map) studied by Shaw and Buckley (2007), has been used to develop the generalization. The proposed distribution includes as special cases with the new Weibull-Pareto distribution (NWP), transmuted Weibull distribution (TW), transmuted Rayleigh (TR) distribution and transmuted exponential (TE) distribution. Various structural properties of the new distribution, including of moments, quantiles, moment generating function, mean deviations, reliability analysis, order statistics and Renyi entropy are derived. The maximum likelihood estimation method has been proposed for the estimation of the parameters of the TNWP distribution. The usefulness of the derived model is illustrated using two data sets and it is proved that TNWP distribution is a better distribution than other distributions based on some goodness of fit measures. Therefore, we conclude that the new model attracts applications in several areas such as engineering, survival data, economics and others

Bulk scalar field in DGP braneworld cosmology

We investigated the effects of bulk scalar field in the braneworld cosmological scenario. The Friedmann equations and acceleration condition in presence of the bulk scalar field for a zero tension brane and cosmological constant are studied. In DGP model the effective Einstein equation on the brane is obtained with bulk scalar field. The rescaled bulk scalar field on the brane in the DGP model behaves as an effective four dimensional field, thus standard type cosmology is recovered. In present study of the DGP model, the late-time accelerating phase of the universe can be explained .Comment: 10 pages, to appear in JCA

Metabolic engineering and thermodynamic characterization of an extracellular β-glucosidase produced by Aspergillus niger

The production of an extracellular β-glucosidase by Aspergillus niger NRRL 599 was optimized using submerged fermentation technique. Effect of different media, different carbon sources, initial pH of the fermentation medium, temperature, incubation period and inoculum size on the production of β- glucosidase enzyme was investigated. A. niger NRRL 599 produced maximum extracellular β- glucosidase (4.48 U/mg) in Eggins and Pugh medium with 1% wheat bran (w/v) at pH 5.5 inoculated with 4% conidial suspension after 96 h of incubation at 30°C. Purified β-glucosidase gave Km and Vmax values of 3.11 mM and 20.83 U/mg respectively for pNPG hydrolysis. The enzyme was optimally active at pH 4.8 and at temperature of 60°C. Thermodynamic parameters, Ea, ΔH and ΔS were found to be 52.17 KJ/mol, 49.90 J/mol.K and -71.69 KJ/mol, respectively. The pKa1 and pKa2 of ionizable groups of active site residues involved in Vmax were calculated to be 4.1 and 6.0 respectively.Key words: β-Glucosidase, Aspergillus niger, kinetics, thermodynamics

Effects of different fruit juices used as carbon source on cucumber seedling under in-vitro cultures

In this study, the effect of various commercial fruit juices (used as plant carbon source) was assessed on cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) cv. Liza at seedling stage under aseptic conditions. Seeds were germinated on ½MS medium (within 2-days) under dark conditions. They were sub-cultured on MS0 (MS basal salts) medium and its derivatives [MS, supplemented with fruit juices in place of sucrose (3%) such as, MS1 (orange), MS2 (apple), MS3 (red grapes) and MS4 (strawberry)] for six weeks. Maximum seedling growth was observed in MS1 and MS3 cultures (p > 0.05). Significant increase in proline and reducing sugars was measured in MS2 and MS4 in comparison to MS0 (control) culture. Abundance of chlorophyll contents (Chl a, b and ab) and total carotenoids including its precursor (lycopene) was also found in MS1 medium. Both orange and grapes supplied cultures were most effective in relation to all growth related parameters.Key words: Cucumis sativus L., seedling growth, proline contents, total carotenoids, lycopenes

Pioneering the human development revolution: Analysing the trajectory of Mahbub ul Haq

Mahbub ul Haq's work to coordinate, establish and propagate the human development approach offers an example of effective leadership in promoting more ethical socio-economic development. This article reviews Pioneering the Human Development Revolution-An Intellectual Biography of Mahbub ul Haq (edited by Haq and Ponzio), and extends themes from the United Nations Intellectual History Project to examine Haq's contributions in terms of four aspects of leadership: articulating and applying values that combine depth with broad appeal; providing a fruitful and vivid way of seeing, a 'vision', that reflects the values; embodying the values and vision in workable practical proposals; and supporting and communicating the previous aspects through wide and relevant networks. It suggests that the human development approach may need to update its values and vision, including through better integration of human security thinking, if it is to retain the leadership role it acquired thanks to Haq

Studies of oil from cowpea (vigna unguiculata ( l.) walp.) cultivars commonly grown in Pakistan

The physiochemical properties and fatty acid ( FA) composition of oil from seeds of 4 cowpea cultivars viz., Elite, CP(1), White Star and SA dandy, commonly grown in Pakistan, were investigated. Oil contents ranged from 2.71-2.96% with triacylglycerols being present in highest amount. Iodine values were found highest in CP1 while SA dandy and CP1 excelled in saponification values and acid values, respectively. Despite variations unsaturated fatty acids were observed as being present in higher concentration in all cultivars. Among sterols, stigmasterol was present in highest amount followed by beta-sitosterol and campesterol. Among tocopherols, alpha-, and beta-tocopherols were observed as being present in highest and lowest concentrations, respectively. Results from most of the parameters revealed not significant (