GPCR-OKB: the G protein coupled receptor oligomer knowledge base

Rapid expansion of available data about G Protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR) dimers/oligomers over the past few years requires an effective system to organize this information electronically. Based on an ontology derived from a community dialog involving colleagues using experimental and computational methodologies, we developed the GPCR-Oligomerization Knowledge Base (GPCR-OKB). GPCR-OKB is a system that supports browsing and searching for GPCR oligomer data. Such data were manually derived from the literature. While focused on GPCR oligomers, GPCR-OKB is seamlessly connected to GPCRDB, facilitating the correlation of information about GPCR protomers and oligomers

Highly-parallelized simulation of a pixelated LArTPC on a GPU

The rapid development of general-purpose computing on graphics processing units (GPGPU) is allowing the implementation of highly-parallelized Monte Carlo simulation chains for particle physics experiments. This technique is particularly suitable for the simulation of a pixelated charge readout for time projection chambers, given the large number of channels that this technology employs. Here we present the first implementation of a full microphysical simulator of a liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) equipped with light readout and pixelated charge readout, developed for the DUNE Near Detector. The software is implemented with an end-to-end set of GPU-optimized algorithms. The algorithms have been written in Python and translated into CUDA kernels using Numba, a just-in-time compiler for a subset of Python and NumPy instructions. The GPU implementation achieves a speed up of four orders of magnitude compared with the equivalent CPU version. The simulation of the current induced on 10^3 pixels takes around 1 ms on the GPU, compared with approximately 10 s on the CPU. The results of the simulation are compared against data from a pixel-readout LArTPC prototype

Ultrastructures of silver nanoparticles biosynthesized using endophytic fungi

AbstractThree endophytic fungi Aspergillus tamarii PFL2, Aspergillus niger PFR6 and Penicllium ochrochloron PFR8 isolated from an ethno-medicinal plant Potentilla fulgens L. were used for the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles. Scanning and transmission electron microscopic analysis were performed to study the structural morphology of the biosynthesized silver nanoparticles. The electron microscopy study revealed the formation of spherical nanosized silver particles with different sizes. The nanoparticles synthesized using the fungus A. tamarii PFL2 was found to have the smallest average particle size (3.5±3nm) as compared to the nanoparticles biosynthesized using other two fungi A. niger PFR6 and P. ochrochloron PFR8 which produced average particle sizes of 8.7±6nm and 7.7±4.3nm, respectively. The energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) technique in conjunction with scanning electron microscopy was used for the elemental analysis of the nanoparticles. The selected area diffraction pattern recorded from single particle in the aggregates of nanoparticles revealed that the silver particles are crystalline in nature

Effect of Calcium Nitrate and Potassium Nitrate priming on seed germination and seedling vigour of papaya (Carica papaya L.).

Not AvailableThe effect of seed priming with calcium nitrate Ca(NO3)2 and potassium nitrate (KNO3) on germination and seedling vigour were studied in papaya varieties. Open pollinated local (gauty) papaya seeds were soaked in Ca(NO3)2and KNO3 solutions (10000 ppm,15000 ppm and 20000 ppm) up to 24 hours and germination percentage and seedling characteristics were recorded. The least number of days taken for seed germination (4.33 days), the highest germination percentage (82.56 %), the highest shoot length (14.31 cm) and the highest fresh biomass (1.36 g) and dry biomass (0.174 g) were recorded in 10000 ppm Ca(NO3)2 treatment. Further, seeds of papaya varieties viz., Arka Surya, Arka Prabhat and Madhu bindhu were treated with 5000 ppm, 10000 ppm and 15000 ppm Ca(NO3)2 and observed that Arka Prabhat seeds treated with 10000 ppm Ca(NO3)2 had taken the least number of days for germination (4.75 days) and also the highest shoot length (25.2 cm). The results of the experiment proved the significant effect of calcium ions over potassium ions on papaya seed germination and seedling vigour.Not Availabl

Hubungan Tingkat Pendidikan Ibu, Tingkat Pendapatan Orang Tua Dan Tingkat Pengetahuan Gizi Anak Dengan Status Gizi Siswa-Siswi Sekolah Menengah Pertama Al-Hikmah Petukangan Selatan.

Status gizi merupakan salah satu faktor yang sangat berpengaruh pada kualitas sumber daya manusia karena mempengaruhi kecerdasan, produktivitas, dan kreativitas. Dalam upaya peningkatan status gizi pada hakekatnya harus dimulai sedini mungkin pada usia anak remaja. Pada usia ini harus diperhatikan untuk menunjang produksi fisik otak yang merupakan syarat agar anak mempunyai kecerdasan tinggi. Permasalahan yang dikaji dalam penelitian ini adalah hubungan tingkat pendidikan ibu, tingkat pendapatan orang tua dan tingkat pengetahuan gizi anak dengan status gizi. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain penelitian cross sectional dengan tujuan untuk mengetahui hubungan dua variabel, variabel terikat (Dependen) dan variabel bebas (Independen) pada waktu yang sama. Teknik sampling yang digunakan adalah Stratified Random Sampling. Hasil analisis bivariat Dari 4 variabel terdapat 2 variabel yang memiliki hubungan yang bermakna yaitu hubungan jenis kelamin dengan status gizi dengan Pvalue = 0,005, dan hubungan tingkat pengetahuan gizi anak dengan status gizi dengan Pvalue = 0,002. Sedangkan 2 variabel lainnya tidak ada hubungan yang bermakna, variabel tersebut antara lain yaitu Hubungan tingkat pendidikan ibu dengan status gizi dengan Pvalue = 1,121 dan Hubungan tingkat pendapatan orang tua dengan status gizi dengan Pvalue = 2,760. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian disarankan perlu diadakan penelitian selanjutnya mengenai Status Gizi pada remaja untuk memberikan informasi kepada anak remaja, serta memberikan pengetahuan mengenai status gizi melalui buku-buku bacaan dan peran UKS untuk mensosialisasikan tentang gaya hidup sehat

'Kulagar’- A potential system to conserve crop diversity

Not AvailableGoa and Konkan region of Maharashtra are parts of Western Ghats with huge diversity of fl ora and fauna. Hot-humid climate with heavy monsoon makes this area a biodiversity hotspot. Farmers of this region have a conventional, multitier, homestead system of gardening called kulagar, inherited from their ancestors, to cultivate and conserve the local crop plants near their household. It is an integrated system with the skeletal component as areca nut palms. Other types of crops included in the system are cash crops, plantation crops, spices, fruits, local vegetables, medicinal and aromatic plants and fl ower crops. Some of the kulagars include animal components to make the system cost effective and holistic. Bioresource conservation, crop diversifi cation, recycling of the resources, value addition and processing and byproduct utilization are important features of a kulagar. Advanced crop production technologies are being incorporated in kulagar by the new generation farmers to make it sustainable and economically viable

Pseudomonas Aeruginosa: epidemiology of bacteremia and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern in a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur

A cross-sectional study of 109 patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia from the University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) in the years 2000 and 2001 was conducted to describe epidemiological features, underlying diseases, possible source of infection, early mortality among patients as well as the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of patients' isolates. Further analysis of the 87 patient records that were available revealed that the mean age was 48.5 years (SD ' 25.1). Fifty-two per cent of cases were male and 48% female. Seventy-nine per cent of infections were nosocomially acquired, 33% of bacteremias were polymicrobial, 47% of patients had a continuous bladder drainage catheter (CBD) in situ, 33% had a central venous catheter (CVL) present at the time of bacteremia and 30% were ventilated. Sixty-eight per cent of patients had an underlying immunosuppressed state and 26% had undergone surgery involving general anesthesia in the week prior to isolating P. aeruginosa. Among the 23 patients with early mortality, 61% were on inappropriate antimicrobials. Most of the patients' isolates were sensitive to imipenem (86%), ciprofloxacin (81%), ceftazidime (79%), gentamicin (78%) and cefoperazone (77%). Among the community acquired strains, however, there was 100% sensitivity to imipenem, ceftazidime, cefoperazone and ciprofloxacin

Cost Benefit Analysis of Drip Fertigation and Flower Induction in Pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.) variety ‘Giant Kew’ in Goa, India.

Not AvailableThe economics of drip fertigation and flower induction in pineapple variety ‘Giant Kew’ in Goa state, India was estimated in the present study. The field experiment was conducted in split plot design with six main plot treatments viz., F0- Surface irrigation + Conventional application of 100 % RDN (12:4:12 g NPK/ plant/ cycle), F1-Drip irrigation + Conventional application of 100% RDN (12:4:12 g NPK/ plant/ cycle), F2- Fertigation with 125% RDN (15: 5:15 g NPK/ plant/ cycle), F3- Fertigation with 100 % RDN (12:4:12 g NPK/ plant/ cycle), F4-Fertigation with 75 % RDN (9:3:9 g NPK/ plant/ cycle) and F5- Fertigation with 50 % RDN (6:2:6 g NPK/ plant/ cycle) and two flower induction treatments (T1:Ethephon 25 ppm+ Urea (2%) + Sodium Carbonate (0.04%), T2: NAA 25 ppm) along with a control (T0) as the sub plot treatments. The establishment cost of drip was calculated and a depreciation of 4 %, 10 % interest on cost and 2 % repair and maintenance cost were considered for the calculation of the fixed costs and operating costs. The total cost of cultivation was estimated by adding the fixed costs and operating costs along with the main plot and subplot treatment costs. The highest total cost of cultivation of ₹ 421295.05 was recorded in F2T2 followed by F2T1 (₹420860.04). The net returns were calculated by deducting the total cost of cultivation from the gross returns. Among all the treatments, the net returns were the highest in F2T1 (₹1383500.47) followed by F3T1 (₹1396412.28).The highest B: C ratio of 3.34 was obtained in F3T1 followed by F2T1 (3.32). Fertigation with 100 % or 75 % RDN by straight fertilizers and flower induction by Ethephon 25ppm+ Urea (2%) + Sodium carbonate (0.04%) can give maximum returns in ‘Giant Kew’ pineapple production in Goa.Not Availabl

Comparison of conventional and supported liquid extraction methods for the determination of sitagliptin and simvastatin in rat plasma by LCâESIâMS/MS

Three extraction methods were compared for their efficiency to analyze sitagliptin and simvastatin in rat plasma by LCâMS/MS, including (1) liquidâliquid extraction (LLE), (2) solid phase extraction (SPE) and (3) supported liquid extraction (SLE). Comparison of recoveries of analytes with different extraction methods revealed that SLE was the best extraction method. The detection was facilitated with ion trap-mass spectrometer by multiple reactions monitoring (MRM) in a positive ion mode with ESI. The transitions monitored were m/z 441.1â325.2 for simvastatin, 408.2â235.1 for sitagliptin and 278.1â260.1 for the IS. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 0.2 ng/mL for sitagliptin and 0.1 ng/mL for simvastatin. The effective SLE offers enhanced chromatographic selectivity, thus facilitating the potential utility of the method for routine analysis of biological samples along with pharmacokinetic studies. Keywords: Rat plasma, Simvastatin, Sitagliptin, Supported liquid extractio

Not Available

Not AvailableThe field experiment was conducted at the Research Farm of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal to study the effect of drip fertigation on the fruit character and yield banana during 2011 to 2013. The drip fertigation was done at four evapotranspiration (ET) based irrigation levels (D1=0.6 ET, D2=0.8 ET, D3=1.0 ET for drip and surface irrigation (S) at IW/CPE 1.0) and at three fertilizer levels of recommended doses of fertilizer (RDF) viz., F1=60% RDF, F2=80% RDF and F3=100% RDF laid out in factorial randomized block design with three replications. The drip irrigation level D3 gave the highest fruit yield (40.8 t/ha) followed by that of D2 (40.2 t/ha) and D1 (34.0 t/ha) and the lowest for surface irrigation (29.0 t/ha). The higher fertilizer dose (F3) produced the highest yield (39.8 t/ha). The treatment combination, D3F3 gave the positive effect on finger and bunch characteristics. The combination also gave the maximum yield (44.6 t/ha for main and (42.5 t/ha) for ratoon crop). The lowest yield was registered under conventional irrigation and fertilization system (34.2 t/ha) resulting 27% lesser yield compared with treatment D3F3Not Availabl