Interpolating from Bianchi Attractors to Lifshitz and AdS Spacetimes

We construct classes of smooth metrics which interpolate from Bianchi attractor geometries of Types II, III, VI and IX in the IR to Lifshitz or $AdS_2 \times S^3$ geometries in the UV. While we do not obtain these metrics as solutions of Einstein gravity coupled to a simple matter field theory, we show that the matter sector stress-energy required to support these geometries (via the Einstein equations) does satisfy the weak, and therefore also the null, energy condition. Since Lifshitz or $AdS_2 \times S^3$ geometries can in turn be connected to $AdS_5$ spacetime, our results show that there is no barrier, at least at the level of the energy conditions, for solutions to arise connecting these Bianchi attractor geometries to $AdS_5$ spacetime. The asymptotic $AdS_5$ spacetime has no non-normalizable metric deformation turned on, which suggests that furthermore, the Bianchi attractor geometries can be the IR geometries dual to field theories living in flat space, with the breaking of symmetries being either spontaneous or due to sources for other fields. Finally, we show that for a large class of flows which connect two Bianchi attractors, a C-function can be defined which is monotonically decreasing from the UV to the IR as long as the null energy condition is satisfied. However, except for special examples of Bianchi attractors (including AdS space), this function does not attain a finite and non-vanishing constant value at the end points.Comment: 37 pages, 12 figures, The comment regarding the behavior of C-function for general Bianchi Types appearing in IR or UV clarified, the relation of Type IX with $AdS_2 \times S^3$ for $\lambda=1$ made more precise and a comment regarding type V added in the conclusio

Evaluation of pharmacological and toxicological studies of an ayurvedic medicine Rasaraj Ras on biological system of the male Sprague-Dawley rats

Background: In this study, the pharmacological and toxicological effects along with possible side effects of the classical ayurvedic formulation Rasaraj Ras (RR) which is used as a traditional medicine in the treatment of hemiplegia in the rural population were evaluated.Methods: During this study, various experiments on body growth rate, organ-body weight ratio and tissue hydration indices were performed to evaluate its efficacy and toxicity. To find out the toxicological characteristic of RR, it was administered chronically to the male Sprague-Dawley rats at a dose of 40 mg/kg. After 28 days chronic administration of the RR preparation the following toxicological changes were noted.Results: All throughout the experimental period the RR treated animals were always maintaining negligible changes in body weight, but all throughout the experimental period no statistically significant increase or decrease was noted. There is a statistically significant decrease in the relative percent weight of the male rat heart. There is a statistically highly significant decrease in the absolute weight of the male rat liver. There is a statistically highly significant decrease in the relative percent weight of the male rat liver. There is a statistically significant decrease in the relative percent weight of the male rat kidney. In the tissue hydration index determination, no significant changes were noted in case of any organ.Conclusions: As RR decreases abnormally weight of several organs in body of treated rats, so it should not be administered chronically at a higher dose

Preclinical hematological profile studies of an ayurvedic medicine Siddha Makardhwaja after chronic administration to male sprague-dawley rats

Background: Siddha Makardhwaja (SMD) is a classical Ayurvedic formulation markedly used as a traditional medicine in the rural population for various purposes such as stimulant, tonic, and rejuvenator.Methods: The present study is conducted to evaluate the effect of conventionally prepared SMD on the hematological parameters in experimental animals, for providing scientific data base for its logical use in clinical practice. Acute toxicity tests were conducted to determine the LD50 of the drug. To find out the effect of chronic administration of SMD on hematological parameters it was administered chronically to the male Sprague-Dawley rats at a dose of 40mg/kg for 28 days.Results: In this experiment the TC, DC, various erythrocytic parameters, platelet parameters, ESR were determined. The results of the studies are given below. There is an (13.41%) increase in the number of white blood cell count of the male rat, the increase though not significant yet it was prominent (p=0.257). There is an (15.87%) increase in the absolute count of Neutrophils of the male rat, the increase though not significant yet it was prominent (p=0.371). There is an (12.29%) increase in the absolute count of Lymphocytes of the male rat, the increase though not significant yet it was prominent (p=0.388). There is a statistically significant (p=0.035) increase in the number of platelet count of the male rat (11.13% increase). There is a (2.03%) decrease in the platelet volume distribution width of the male rat, the decrease though not significant yet it was noticeable (p=0.094). There is a statistically insignificant (p=0.619) (10.0%) increase in Erythrocyte sedimentation rate in blood from the male rat.Conclusions: As SMD decreases and increases abnormally on the hematological parameters in body of treated rats, so it should not be administered chronically at a higher dose. Further studies should be done by reducing the administered dose

Preclinical HbA1c level studies of Brihat Khadir Batika and Chandraprabha Batika after chronic administration to male Sprague-Dawley rats

Background: Brihat Khadir Batika (BKD) and Chandraprabha Batika (CPB) are Ayurvedic preparations used as traditional medicines for different clinical indications in the rural population. BKD is used in diseases of throat and CPB is used in glandular enlargement. In this study we evaluate the influence of these preparations on HbA1c (%) level.Methods: To find out the average plasma glucose concentration over prolonged period of time, Ayurvedic medicinal preparations BKD and CPB were administered chronically to the male Sprague-Dawley rats at a dose of 400 mg/kg. After 28 days of chronic administration of BKD and CPB the following changes were noted. In this experiment Glycated Hemoglobin A1C level was determined.Results: The results of the study of in vitro quantitative determination of rat Glycated hemoglobin A1c concentrations in serum studies are thus: BKD caused a statistically insignificant (p=0.066) increase in the HbA1c level of the male rat (16.87% increase). CPB demonstrated a statistically insignificant (p=0.079) (17.47%) increase in the HbA1C level of the blood of the male rat.Conclusions: Both preparation BKD and CPB found in increasing HbA1c level of the blood of the male rat

An Integrated Biorefinery Concept for Conversion of Sugar Beet Pulp into Value-added Chemicals and Pharmaceutical Intermediates

Over 8 million tonnes of sugar beet are grown annually in the UK. Sugar beet pulp (SBP) is the main by-product of sugar beet processing which is currently dried and sold as a low value animal feed. SBP is a rich source of carbohydrates, mainly in the form of cellulose and pectin, including D-glucose (Glu), L-arabinose (Ara) and D-galacturonic acid (GalAc). This work describes the technical feasibility of an integrated biorefinery concept for fractionation of SBP and conversion of these monosaccharides into value-added products. SBP fractionation is initially carried out by steam explosion under mild conditions to yield soluble pectin and insoluble cellulose fractions. The cellulose is readily hydrolysed by cellulases to release Glu that can then be fermented by a commercial Yeast strain to produce bioethanol with a high yield. The pectin fraction can be either fully hydrolysed, using physico-chemical methods, or selectively hydrolysed, using cloned arabinases and galacturonases, to yield Ara-rich and GalAc-rich streams. These monomers can be separated using either Centrifugal Partition Chromatography (CPC) or ultrafiltration into streams suitable for subsequent enzymatic upgrading. Building on our previous experience with transketolase (TK) and transaminase (TAm) enzymes, the conversion of Ara and GalAc into higher value products was explored. In particular the conversion of Ara into L-gluco-heptulose (GluHep), that has potential therapeutic applications in hypoglycaemia and cancer, using a mutant TK is described. Preliminary studies with TAm also suggest GluHep can be selectively aminated to the corresponding chiral aminopolyol. Current work is addressing upgrading of the remaining SBP monomer, GalAc, and modelling of the biorefinery concept to enable economic and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)

Symptom dimensions in people affected by long-term neurological conditions:a factor analysis of a patient-centred palliative care outcome symptom scale

Abstract Long-term neurological conditions (LTNCs) often cause debilitating symptoms. Better understanding of symptom dimensions in LTNCs is needed to support health professionals and improve care. This can be achieved by exploring the factor structure of a standardised measure of symptoms in LTNC patients. The symptom subscale of the Integrated Palliative Outcome Scale for LTNCs (IPOS Neuro-S24) comprises 24 items measuring symptom severity. Descriptive statistics and psychometric properties of the scale were assessed, followed by differential item functioning (DIF), exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Data from N = 238 patients were analysed. The mean IPOS Neuro S-24 score was 27.0 (possible range 0–96) and floor effects were found for 21 items. The scale had good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.77). Weak evidence of DIF was found for nine items. All but one item (falls) loaded onto four factors with loadings > 0.3. The factors represented four clinically meaningful symptom dimensions: fatigue, motor symptoms, oral problems and non-motor symptoms. We identified a reliable four-factor structure of symptom experience in LTNC patients. The results suggest that symptom dimensions are common across LTNCs. The IPOS Neuro S-24 is an appropriate tool to measure symptoms in LTNC patients, which may improve care

Active surveillance identified a neglected burden of macular cases of Post Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis in West Bengal.

BackgroundPost Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL) develops in patients apparently cured of Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL), and is the strongest contender for being the disease reservoir. Therefore, existence of a few cases is sufficient to trigger an epidemic of VL in a given community, emphasizing the need for its active detection and in turn ensuring success of the current elimination program. This study explored the impact of active surveillance on the demographic profile of PKDL patients in West Bengal.Methodology/principal findingsPatients with PKDL were recruited through passive (2003-date, n = 100) and active surveillance (2015-date, n = 202), the former from outpatient departments of dermatology in medical colleges in West Bengal and the latter through an active door-to-door survey in four VL hyper-endemic districts of West Bengal. Passive surveillance indicated a male preponderance and a predominance of polymorphic lesions, whereas active surveillance indicated absence of any gender bias and more importantly, macular PKDL constituted almost 50% of the population burden. In terms of polymorphic vs. macular PKDL, the former appeared at a later age, their disease duration was longer and had a higher parasite burden. In the polymorphic variant, the lesional distribution was asymmetrical, comprised of papules/nodules/macules that were present mainly in sun-exposed areas whereas in macular cases, the hypopigmented patches were diffusely present all over the body.Conclusions/significanceActive surveillance unraveled a disease component whose demographic profile showed important differences with PKDL cases who sought treatment in government hospitals. Detection of a higher proportion of macular cases indicates that this variant is not an uncommon presentation as conventionally stated in text books, and should be studied in greater detail to ensure success of the ongoing Leishmaniasis elimination programme