Role of MgO impurity on the superconducting properties of MgB2

We address the effect of MgO impurity on the superconducting properties of MgB2. The synthesis of MgB2 is very crucial because of sensitivity of Mg to oxidation which may lead to MgO as a secondary phase. Rietveld refinement was performed to determine the quantitative volume fraction of MgO in the samples synthesized by two different techniques. Both the samples were subjected to magnetization measurements under dc and ac applied magnetic fields and the observed results were compared as a function of temperature. Paramagnetic Meissner effect has been observed in a sample of MgB2 having more amount of MgO (with Tc = 37.1K) whereas the pure sample MgB2 having minor quantity of MgO shows diamagnetic Meissner effect with Tc = 38.8K. M-H measurements at 10K reveal a slight difference in irreversibility field which is due to MgO impurity along with wide transition observed from ac magnetic susceptibility measurements. The magnetotransport measurements R(T)H using RN = 90%, 50% and 10% criterion on pure sample of MgB2 has been used to determine the upper critical field whereas the sample having large quantity of MgO does not allow these measurements due to its high resistance.Comment: 15 pages text + Fig

The rK39 strip test is non-predictor of clinical status for kala-azar

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The rK39 strip test is reported to be simple, sensitive, specific, non-invasive and economical test. Since this method is supposed to be patient friendly, it may easily be accepted for sero-epidemiological surveys. An attempt was made to evaluate the role of rK39 strip test in pre and post treatment phases of Kala azar, as a diagnostic and prognostic marker, in addition to other laboratory investigations, in order to evaluate its role in sero-epidemiological surveys.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>A total of 210 cases were selected for the study. One hundred clinically and parasitologically confirmed cases were corroborated with other hematological profiles. The formol-gel test was included along with well matched control group comprising of normal endemic controls (50), non-endemic normals (20) and other febrile cases (40). All groups were tested by rK39 strip test. Fifty Kala azar cases were followed up after completion of successful treatment. They were subjected to rK39 strip test after 0, 90 and 180 days of completion of successful treatment.</p> <p>The rK39 showed sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and diagnostic accuracy of 98% (95% CI 91.7-100), 100%, 100%, 90% (95% CI 66-100) and 98% (95% CI 92.6-100) respectively. All the 50 cured followed up cases showed positive result by rK39 strip test even after 180 days of completion of successful treatment.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The test seems an ideal qualitative test for the diagnosis of kala-azar. But for sero-epidemiological studies the test may be used with other parameters. Alternatively a quantitative ELISA using rK39 antigen may be used.</p

Rapid identification and susceptibility pattern of various Candida isolates from different clinical specimens in a tertiary care hospital in Western Uttar Pradesh

Background: Candida species are component of normal flora of human beings. Candidiasis is the commonest fungal disease affecting mucosa, skin, nails and internal organs. A variety of predisposing factors are known to cause candidiasis either by altering balance of normal microbial flora of the body or by lowering the host defence.Methods: A total of 90 specimens submitted in the department of microbiology were included in this study.  Identification of Candida species as well as antifungal sensitivity testing was performed with Vitek®2 compact (Biomerieux France) using Vitek2 cards for identification of yeast and yeast like organisms (ID-YST cards). Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed using Vitek2 fungal susceptibility card (AST YS01) kits respectively.Results: The distribution of the clinical samples were urine 53 (58.9%), sputum 14 (15.5%), blood 10 (11.1%), nail 6 (6.7%) and high vaginal swab 7 (7.8%). Among 90 clinical isolates, species obtained were C. tropicalis 53 (59%), C. albicans 23 (25.5%), C. glabrata 6 (6.7%), C. parapsilosis 4 (4.4%), C. krusei 2 (2.2%), C. pelliculosa 1 (1.1%), C. famata 1 (1.1%).Conclusions: Infections caused by non-candida albicans species have increased. Identification of Candida species and their antifungal susceptibility are important for the treatment of hospitalized patients with serious underlying disease

A clinical study of elective hysterectomies for benign lesions

Background: Hysterectomy is widely used for treating a variety of gynecologic conditions. Most hysterectomies are elective and are performed to treat benign indications. Hence the present study was undertaken to determine the benign indication of hysterectomy, choice of surgical approach, safety and clinical aspect of hysterectomy as a surgical procedure and to correlate the findings with histopathological reports of the specimen.Methods: The present series represents a clinical study of 120 cases of elective hysterectomies for benign lesions. Out of which 73 were done by abdominal and 47 by vaginal route. Finally, all operated specimen were subjected to histological examination.Results: The main indications for elective hysterectomy were leiomyoma 53 (44.2%), prolapse 47 (39.2%) and dysfunctional uterine bleeding 11 (9.2%). Type of operation performed were mainly total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salphingo-oophorectomy in 60% cases and vaginal hysterectomy with anterior and posterior repair in 38.3% cases. The mean duration of surgery and average blood loss was more in vaginal procedure (90 min and 100ml) compared to abdominal (70 min and 80ml) respectively. Vaginal hysterectomy was associated with less morbidity and a smoother convalescence than abdominal hysterectomy. In 81.2% cases of abdominal hysterectomies correspondence of indication with histopathological report (HPR) were found, in vaginal 74.5% cases corresponded their histopathological report with their symptoms and investigations. Associated adnexal pathology was found in 8.3% cases. There was no mortality during the whole study period.Conclusions: Hysterectomy for benign pelvic lesions is a safe procedure and an important component of health care for women

Critical Analysis of Background Subtraction Techniques on Real GPR Data

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is used to detect the underground buried objects for civil as well as defence applications under varying conditions of soil moisture content. The capability of detection depends upon soil moisture, target characteristics and subsurface characteristics, which are mainly responsible for contaminating the GPR images with clutter. Researchers earlier have used averaging, mean, median, Eigen values, etc. for subtracting the background from GPR images. To analyse the background subtraction or clutter reduction problems, in this paper, we have experimentally reviewed background subtraction techniques with or without target conditions to enhance the target detection under variable soil moisture content. Indigenously developed GPR has been used to collect the data for different soil conditions and several background subtraction signal processing techniques were critically reviewed like, mean, median, singular value decomposition (SVD), principal component analysis (PCA), independent component analysis (ICA) and training methods. The signal to clutter ratio (SCR) measurement has been used for performance evaluation of each technique. The relative merits and demerits of each technique has also been analysed. The background subtraction techniques have been appliedto experimental GPR data and it is observed that in comparison of mean, SVD, median, ICA, PCA, the training method shows the highest SCR with buried target. Finally, this review helps to select the comparatively better background subtraction technique to enhance the detection capability in GPR

Characterization, speciation and antimicrobial resistance pattern of Enterococcus species isolated from clinical specimens at a rural tertiary care hospital

Background: Enterococci have attracted much attention in recent years due to their increased recognition as a cause of nosocomial infection. They exhibit vancomycin resistance with increasing frequency so that determination of antimicrobial susceptibility pattern is necessary. Aim of present study is to determine the prevalence and susceptibility pattern of Enterococci in rural tertiary care hospital.Methods: Total of 100 Enterococcus isolated from various clinical samples were identified and speciated by Vitek®2 compact system (BIOMERIEUX). Antibiotic susceptibility was determined by modified Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. Results were interpreted as per CLSI guidelines and vancomycin MIC was determined by E-test method.Results: Out of 100 Enterococcus strains 47 were E. faecalis, 51 were E. faecium, 02 were E. gallinarum and 01 was E. cassaliflavus. Resistance to penicillin, ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, elevated level gentamycin and high-level streptomycin were observed. All isolates were sensitive to linezolid and teicoplanin, 6% strains showed vancomycin resistance by E-test.Conclusions: High rate of resistance to penicillin, ciprofloxacin and aminoglycosides is observed and emergence of VRE has further worsened this situation. So, there is an urgent need for more rational use of antimicrobials and infection control

In Search of an Ideal Test for Diagnosis and Prognosis of Kala-azar

The latex agglutination test (KAtex), direct agglutination test (DAT), and the rK39 immuno-chromatographic strip test (dipstick test) were evaluated for their role in the diagnosis and prognosis of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) in India. Sera and urine samples from 455 subjects—150 confirmed visceral leishmaniasis cases, 160 endemic controls, 100 non-endemic controls, and 45 other febrile diseases—were included in the study. The sensitivity of the KAtex, DAT, and rK39 strip test was 87% [95% confidence interval (CI) 80–96], 93.3% (95% CI 88–100), and 98% (95% CI 93–100) respectively. The specificity of these tests was 98% (95% CI 93–100), 93% (95% CI 87–100), and 89% (95% CI 82–97) for the KAtex, DAT, and rK39 strip test respectively. Fifty cases were followed up and subjected to the KAtex, DAT, and rK39 strip test after 30 days of successful treatment. The DAT and rK39 strip test showed positive results in all the 50 cases whereas the KAtex showed no positive reaction in any case. Based on the results, it is concluded that the sensitivity and specificity of the DAT and rK39 strip test are comparable but the greater convenience of use of the strip test makes it a better tool for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in the peripheral areas of endemic regions whereas the sensitivity of the KAtex needs to be improved to promote its use as a first-line diagnostic test in the field-setting. It may be used for the prognosis of the disease as antigen becomes undetectable in urine after 30 days of the completion of the treatment. Alternatively, it can be used as an adjunct with rK39 for sero-epidemiological surveys

Comparison of BACTEC MGIT with conventional methods for detection of Mycobacteria in clinically suspected patients of extra pulmonary tuberculosis in a tertiary care hospital

Background: Tuberculosis is an important public health problem in India and globally.  Extra pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) constitutes for approximately 15 to 20 per cent of all cases of tuberculosis in immunocompetent patients and accounts for more than 50 per cent of the cases in HIV- positive individuals. Main problem with the extra-pulmonary tuberculosis is the paucibacillary nature of the specimen, which makes the diagnosis difficult and delay the treatment. With this in background, this study aimed at the isolation of Mycobacteria from clinical specimens of patients suspected of extra pulmonary tuberculosis using BACTEC MGIT, Lowenstein Jensen (LJ) media and direct acid-fast bacilli smear examination.Methods: A total of 66 samples were processed for direct AFB smear examination, and culture on MGIT and LJ media. Acid fast staining of the specimens was done using the Ziehl-Neelsen method.Results: Among 66 specimens, MGIT gave a higher yield of mycobacteria (46.9%), lower contamination rate (3%) and shorter time to positive culture as compared to LJ media.Conclusions: MGIT gives higher yield and faster results

Biometrical Analysis of Capsules per Plant in Salinity in Linseed Plant

The main objective of breeding linseed is the improvement of yield potential at the new cultivars; so that they became more desirable agronomically and economically, viz. higher yield improved the content and the quality of oil resistance, decreased pests, early maturity fertilizers responsiveness and genetics extension of seed filling period. The present study deals with the measurement of capsules per plant under salinity conditions

Effect of Salinity on Flowering Ability in Linseed under Experimental Conditions

Keeping in view linseed utility is so high a magnitude for oil, fibre, coke, nursing and various important industries together with the area under cultivation, it has become obvious that the crop has suffered a neglect, at the hands of Geneticists and Plant Breeders of the country for increasing the yield potential of seed and the fibre quality. The present study is designed to see the effect on flowering under saline experimental conditions