Quorum-quenching activity of the AHL-lactonase from <i>Bacillus licheniformis</i> DAHB1 inhibits vibrio biofilm formation in vitro and reduces shrimp intestinal colonisation and mortality

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a significant cause of gastroenteritis resulting from the consumption of undercooked sea foods and often cause significant infections in shrimp aquaculture. Vibrio virulence is associated with biofilm formation and is regulated by N-acylated homoserine lactone (AHL)-mediated quorum sensing. In an attempt to reduce vibrio colonisation of shrimps and mortality, we screened native intestinal bacilli from Indian white shrimps (Fenneropenaeus indicus) for an isolate which showed biofilm-inhibitory activity (quorum quenching) against the pathogen V. parahaemolyticus DAHP1. The AHL-lactonase (AiiA) expressed by one of these, Bacillus licheniformis DAHB1, was characterised as having a broad-spectrum AHL substrate specificity and intrinsic resistance to the acid conditions of the shrimp intestine. Purified recombinant AiiA inhibited vibrio biofilm development in a cover slip assay and significantly attenuated infection and mortality in shrimps reared in a recirculation aquaculture system. Investigation of intestinal samples also showed that AiiA treatment also reduced vibrio viable counts and biofilm development as determined by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) imaging. These findings suggest that the B. licheniformis DAHB1 quorum-quenching AiiA might be developed for use as a prophylactic treatment to inhibit or reduce vibrio colonisation and mortality of shrimps in aquaculture

A RARE CASE REPORT ON MYXOEDEMA COMA

Myxoedema coma is a sporadic life-threatening complication of severe hypothyroidism with high mortality. Altered mental status and hypothermia are the main symptoms of myxoedema coma. Apart from that, hypoxia, bradycardia, hypotension, anemia, and hyponatremia would be present. Few patients present comatose with severe myxoedema. Presenting coma may mislead the diagnosis of this condition. A female patient presented with fever, breathlessness, and disorientation was admitted. First diagnosed to have electrolyte imbalance and treatment was started accordingly. The patient did not show much of an improvement, and it took a day to identify the presence of severe hypothyroidism. Treating hypothyroidism resulted in an advance in the patient condition. Patients’ previous history of hypothyroidism was not informed during admission. It is always tough to diagnose myxoedema coma when the patients’ previous history of hypothyroidism is unknown. Hence, it is still essential to have hypothyroidism in mind while treating patients with comatose. This case has been reported to alert physicians in diagnosing myxoedema coma patients and to proceed with the treatment at the earliest

Paradigm of Mainstreaming Gender Perspective in Marine Fisheries Sector of India

Mobilization of Self Help Groups, setting up of Mahila Rural Cooperative banks, Women cell and collaboration and networking with NGOs etc are to be worked out by using the strategy developed in the case studies as a practical manual. Promoting “men and women partnership firms” instead of exclusively women-oriented enterprises is another practical strategy. It is seen that husband-wife enterprises with one or two helpers in fish processing/marketing in fishery related activities and other fishery related activity yields better prospects. Integration of the gender perspective in aquaculture research and technology development is an essential requisite because the gender mainstreaming approach advances gender equality and equity in the society. Similarly it is quite necessary for integrating gender perspective in aquaculture extension also because women are the important stakeholders of our aquaculture development process and our Extension system hardly targets the women folk for technological empowerment

A Study of Female Spouses of Male Alcohol Dependence patients.

INTRODUCTION: The use of alcohol has been present since time immemorial. The problem of alcoholism is not just related to the alcoholics but Also the lives of those around them are adversely affected especially the Wives leading onto social, occupational and psychological damage (24). Alcohol dependence is a complex behavior with far reaching Harmful effects on the work, family and society. The most negatively affected are the spouse and children of an Alcoholic. However less attention has been focused on them so far (25). There are a considerable number of anecdotal reports and research Findings that suggest that individuals who are married to alcoholics have Poor physical and mental health (4). The wives are too close to the problem and don’t see how they are Enabling the user. Two models have dominated the literature on alcoholism and Marriage. Personality profile of the wives. Behaviour of them in reaction to their husband’s Drinking. These wives suffer from various stressors due to their husband’s Alcohol dependence. They seek assistance to cope with the impact of the Husband’s drinking (34). This study is an attempt to study certain aspects of the wives of the Alcoholic’s mental health and compare them with the normal population. The wives of the alcoholics are an ‘Unknown Universe’ in Indian Society. Clinical work and some research suggest that partner responses To drinking may either facilitate or hinder treatment acceptance and Recovery efforts (29). Hence the reason for taking up this study is Justified

Bacteriological Profile of Surgical Site Infection and Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern in Tertiary Care Hospital

INTRODUCTION: Surgical site infections are one of the most common nosocomial infections accounting for 38% of all infections in post surgical patients. The aim is to find out the incidence rate of surgical site infection in patients undergoing surgery in the departments of Surgery, Orthopedics,Obstetrics and Gynaecology and its antibiotic susceptibility pattern. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Under sterile aseptic precautions, Pus exudate was collected using two sterile cotton swabs for aerobic culture and for anaerobic culture pus was aspirated in a sterile syringe and inoculated onto Blood agar and Macconkey agar, Nutrient agar and Robertson cooked meat media. The samples were processed as follows, Direct microscopic examination of Gram stained smear, preliminary identification by colony morphology,Biochemical test for characterization of species and Antibiotic sensitivity testing. RESULTS: Out of 220 cases,137 were male patients and 83 were female patients with infection rate more in Male. Clean wound were 20, Clean contaminated wound were 71, Contaminated wound were 110 and Dirty wound were 19, with infection rate more in Contaminated wound. Elective surgeries were 98 and Emergency surgeries were 122 with infection rate more in Emergency surgeries. Culture positive were 153 and Culture negative were 67. In the culture positive cases, aerobic were 146 and anaerobic were 7. Among the aerobic isolates Staphylococcus was the most common Gram positive organisms isolated and klebsiella pneumoniae was the most common Gram negative organism isolated. CONCLUSION: Knowledge about Surgical site infection will help surgeon in diagnosis and treatment, early detection and intervention is a prerequisite in surgical patients. Although surgical wound infections cannot be completely eliminated, a reduction in infection rate to a minimum level could have significant benefits, by reducing burden to patients and their families. Intervention aimed at reducing Surgical site infection would provide cost savings and improve the efficiency of health care system

Energy Conservation Using Dynamic Voltage Frequency Scaling for Computational Cloud

Cloud computing is a new technology which supports resource sharing on a “Pay as you go” basis around the world. It provides various services such as SaaS, IaaS, and PaaS. Computation is a part of IaaS and the entire computational requests are to be served efficiently with optimal power utilization in the cloud. Recently, various algorithms are developed to reduce power consumption and even Dynamic Voltage and Frequency Scaling (DVFS) scheme is also used in this perspective. In this paper we have devised methodology which analyzes the behavior of the given cloud request and identifies the associated type of algorithm. Once the type of algorithm is identified, using their asymptotic notations, its time complexity is calculated. Using best fit strategy the appropriate host is identified and the incoming job is allocated to the victimized host. Using the measured time complexity the required clock frequency of the host is measured. According to that CPU frequency is scaled up or down using DVFS scheme, enabling energy to be saved up to 55% of total Watts consumption

Single Phase Quasi-Z-Source Based Modified Cascaded Multilevel Inverter with Half-Bridge Cell

A new Quasi-Z-Source Modified Cascaded Multilevel Inverter (qZS-MCMLI) with Half-Bridge Cell presents attractive advantages over conventional cascaded MLI with voltage boost ability and reduced switches. The new proposed topology is comprised of cascaded auxiliary units and a full H-bridge inverter, where the auxiliary unit includes half bridge cell with qZS network. With qZS network shoot-through state control, the output voltage amplitude can be boosted, which is not limited to DC source voltage summation similar to conventional cascaded MLI. The performance parameters of qZS-MCMLI with various multicarrier PWM control methods are analysed with simulation results and portrayed here