Magnetic-time model for seed germination

Germination of seed depends on several physico-chemical factors like temperature, water potential, light,  nitrate content, smoke, electric field and magnetic field. In the present work, effect of static magnetic field on black-gram seeds (Cicer arietinum L.) was described. Seeds of C. arietinum L. were exposed in batches to static magnetic fields of 0 to 226 mT strength in steps of 50 mT (approximately) for 1 h. Treatment of seeds in these magnetic fields increased the speed of germination, seedling shoot and root length under laboratory  germination tests. On the basis of this, a new germination model called magnetic time model is developed which was incorporated in hydrothermal model and hence nominated as hydrothermal magnetic time model which is proposed to incorporate the effect of magnetic field of different intensities on plants. Magnetic time constant ΘB is determined experimentally for different seeds population. The model is helpful in a way that it defines another constant called hydrothermal-magnetic-time constant, which is of great importance to  understand the behavior of induced magnetic field on seeds and plant growth.Key words: Magnetic-time model, hydro-thermal-magnetic-time model, Cicer arietinum L

Predictors of third and Higher order births in India

Background: Total fertility rate (TFR) reflecting population growth is closely related to higher order parity progression. Many Indian states reached replacement level of TFR, but still states constituting nearly 40% population are with TFR ? 3. The predictors are the desire of son’s, poor contraceptives practices, younger age at marriage, child loss and shorter birth spacing. Objective: This analysis assessed the degree of relation of 3rd and higher order parity progression with the above mentioned predictors. Material and Methods: State/Union Territories wise proportions of women: progressing to ?3 births, more sons desire, birth spacing <24 months, adopting modern contraception and median marriage age <18 years along with infant mortality rate (IMR) were taken from NFHS-III report. Correlation matrix and stepwise forward multiple regression carried. Significance was seen at 5%. Results: Hindi speaking states constituting 38.92% nation population recorded TFR ?3. Positive correlation of mothers progressing ? 3 births was highest (0.746) with those desiring more sons followed by IMR (0.445); while maximum negative correlation with those practicing modern contraceptives (-0.565) followed by median age at marriage (-0.391). Multiple regression analysis in order identified desire of more sons, practicing modern contraception and shorter birth spacing as the significant predictors and jointly explained 77.9% of the total variation with gain of 15.5% by adding modern contraceptive practice and 8.3% by adding shorter birth spacing. Conclusions: Desire of more sons appeared the most important predictor to progress ?3 births that is governed by society culture and educational attainment, require attitudinal change. Further, mothers need motivation to practice both spacing and terminal methods once family is complete

Isolated dislocation of pisiform bone – a rare case

An isolated dislocation of pisiform bone in a sixteen years male child hasbeen reported here with its clinical presentation, treatment and a brief review of literature. The aim of presenting this case is its rarity due to trauma.KEY WORDS: Pisiform bone; Dislocation; Traum

Spatial variation of the aftershock activity across the Kachchh Rift Basin and its seismotectonic implications

We analyzed 3365 relocated aftershocks with magnitude of completeness (Mc) ≥1.7 that occurred in the Kachchh Rift Basin (KRB) between August 2006 and December 2010. The analysis of the new aftershock catalogue has led to improved understanding of the subsurface structure and of the aftershock behaviour. We characterized aftershock behaviour in terms of a-value, b-value, spatial fractal dimension (D s ), and slip ratio (ratio of the slip that occurred on the primary fault and that of the total slip). The estimated b-value is 1.05, which indicates that the earthquake occurred due to active tectonics in the region. The three dimensional b-value mapping shows that a high b-value region is sandwiched around the 2001 Bhuj mainshock hypocenter at depths of 20–25 km between two low b-value zones above and below this depth range. The D s -value was estimated from the double-logarithmic plot of the correlation integral and distance between hypocenters, and is found to be 2.64 ± 0.01, which indicates random spatial distribution beneath the source zone in a two-dimensional plane associated with fluid-filled fractures. A slip ratio of about 0.23 reveals that more slip occurred on secondary fault systems in and around the 2001 Bhuj earhquake (Mw 7.6) source zone in KRB

Analysis of ankle alignment abnormalities as a risk factor for pediatric flexible flat foot

Majority of paediatric flat feet are flexible and asymptomatic;less than 0.1% of all flat feet are rigid. If these can be diagnosed and managed early, then various complications can be prevented and they will remain asymptomatic. This study was conducted to analyse the ankle rotational malalignments in the natural course of flexible flat foot in children. Seventy-six patients of flexible flat foot and one hundred controls were included in this study. The height of foot arches was judged clinically by inspecting the height of the medial arch and by measuring the arch index on weight-bearing podograms. Tibial torsion and bimalleolar angle were assessed in all subjects. Tibial torsion was assessed in the first twenty subjects (ten cases and ten controls) both by clinical methods (foot-thigh angle) and CT. As no statistical difference in the two methods was observed, tibial torsion was measured by clinical methods only in the remaining subjects. Bimalleolar angle was measured on weight-bearing podograms in all subjects. For a minimum of two years, cases were followed up regularly with a standard conservative protocol and the height of the arches observed. Majority of cases of flexible flat foot were found to have increased tibial torsion and increased foot-bimalleolar angle (high talar spin). The severity of collapse of the medial arch and the response to conservative treatment was found to correlate with these rotational mal-alignments of the ankle. Ankle rotational mal-alignments were seen to make these flexible flat foot deformities more complex and less responsive to conservative treatment.KEY WORDS: Flat foot; Pediatric flat feet; Flexible flat fee

Induction followed with concurrent chemo radiotherapy in advanced head & neck cancer

Background: The need for effective, well tolerated, and convenient therapies for inoperable Head and Neck cancer has led researchers to continually refine chemotherapeutic regimens with radiotherapy to balance efficacy with safety and tolerability in order to maintain or improve quality of life and chemotherapy either induction or concurrent with radiation have emerged as a viable alternative. Aim: This study was performed to analyze the efficacy and safety of induction chemotherapy with radiotherapy and con-current radiotherapy on survival, functional and quality of life outcomes. Material and Method: From Dec. 2001 to July 2003, hundred inoperable Head & Neck cancer patients were planned to be treated with methotrexate, Bleocin and cis-platin. On Completion of 3 cycles at 21 days interval, after 2 weeks of last cycles, fifty patients were planned to receive only radiotherapy (Group A) and rest 50 patients (Group B) were given cisplatin 50 mg weekly before Rt. on every Monday. All 100 patients received radiotherapy (66-70 cGy) to the locoregional sites by cobalt 60 units. Result: After completion of therapy in group A complete response was observed in 56% patients which was 68% in group B. After 2 years of follow up only 54% patient alive and 34% patients were disease free in group A where as in group B. 60% patient alive in which 42% were disease free. The survived patient enjoyed good quality of life. Conclusion: Patients responded better with induction chemotherapy can be treated with radiotherapy and those who failed to show satisfactory response may be treated with concurrent chemo radiotherapy to get additional benefit in term of survival with good organ preservation along with acceptable and manageable occurrence of schedule & dose related adverse events

Fighting malaria in Madhya Pradesh (Central India): Are we loosing the battle?

Malaria control in Madhya Pradesh is complex because of vast tracts of forest with tribal settlement. Fifty four million individuals of various ethnic origins, accounting for 8% of the total population of India, contributed 30% of total malaria cases, 60% of total falciparum cases and 50% of malaria deaths in the country. Ambitious goals to control tribal malaria by launching "Enhanced Malaria Control Project" (EMCP) by the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), with the World Bank assistance, became effective in September 1997 in eight north Indian states. Under EMCP, the programme used a broader mix of new interventions, i.e. insecticide-treated bed nets, spraying houses with effective residual insecticides, use of larvivorous fishes, rapid diagnostic tests for prompt diagnosis, treatment of the sick with effective radical treatment and increased public awareness and IEC. However, the challenge is to scale up these services

Role of pulmonary intravascular macrophages in endotoxin-induced lung inflammation and mortality in a rat model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Bile-duct ligated (BDL) rats recruit pulmonary intravascular macrophages (PIMs) and are highly susceptible to endotoxin-induced mortality. The mechanisms of this enhanced susceptibility and mortality in BDL rats, which are used as a model of hepato-pulmonary syndrome, remain unknown. We tested a hypothesis that recruited PIMs promote endotoxin-induced mortality in a rat model.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Rats were subjected to BDL to induce PIM recruitment followed by treatment with gadolinium chloride (GC) to deplete PIMs. Normal and BDL rats were treated intravenously with <it>E. coli </it>lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with or without GC pre-treatment followed by collection and analyses of lungs for histopathology, electron microscopy and cytokine quantification.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>BDL rats recruited PIMs without any change in the expression of IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-10. GC caused reduction in PIMs at 48 hours post-treatment (P < 0.05). BDL rats treated intravenously with <it>E. coli </it>LPS died within 3 hours of the challenge while the normal LPS-treated rats were euthanized at 6 hours after the LPS treatment. GC treatment of rats 6 hours or 48 hours before LPS challenge resulted in 80% (1/5) and 100% (0/5) survival, respectively, at 6 hours post-LPS treatment. Lungs from BDL+LPS rats showed large areas of perivascular hemorrhages compared to those pre-treated with GC. Concentrations of IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-10 were increased in lungs of BDL+LPS rats compared to BDL rats treated with GC 48 hours but not 6 hours before LPS (P < 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We conclude that PIMs increase susceptibility for LPS-induced lung injury and mortality in this model, which is blocked by a reduction in their numbers or their inactivation.</p

Presence of two alternative kdr-like mutations, L1014F and L1014S, and a novel mutation, V1010L, in the voltage gated Na+ channel of Anopheles culicifacies from Orissa, India

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Knockdown resistance in insects resulting from mutation(s) in the voltage gated Na⁺channel (VGSC) is one of the mechanisms of resistance against DDT and pyrethroids. Recently a point mutation leading to Leu-to-Phe substitution in the VGSC at residue 1014, a most common <it>kdr </it>mutation in insects, was reported in <it>Anopheles culicifacies</it>-a major malaria vector in the Indian subcontinent. This study reports the presence of two additional amino acid substitutions in the VGSC of an <it>An. culicifacies </it>population from Malkangiri district of Orissa, India.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p><it>Anopheles culicifacies sensu lato (s.l.) </it>samples, collected from a population of Malkangiri district of Orissa (India), were sequenced for part of the second transmembrane segment of VGSC and analyzed for the presence of non-synonymous mutations. A new primer introduced restriction analysis-PCR (PIRA-PCR) was developed for the detection of the new mutation L1014S. The <it>An. culicifacies </it>population was genotyped for the presence of L1014F substitution by an amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) and for L1014S substitutions by using a new PIRA-PCR developed in this study. The results were validated through DNA sequencing.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>DNA sequencing of <it>An. culicifacies </it>individuals collected from district Malkangiri revealed the presence of three amino acid substitutions in the IIS6 transmembrane segments of VGSC, each one resulting from a single point mutation. Two alternative point mutations, 3042A>T transversion or 3041T>C transition, were found at residue L1014 leading to Leu (TTA)-to-Phe (TTT) or -Ser (TCA) changes, respectively. A third and novel substitution, Val (GTG)-to-Leu (TTG or CTG), was identified at residue V1010 resulting from either of the two transversions–3028G>T or 3028G>C. The L1014S substitution co-existed with V1010L in all the samples analyzed irrespective of the type of point mutation associated with the latter. The PIRA-PCR strategy developed for the identification of the new mutation L1014S was found specific as evident from DNA sequencing results of respective samples. Since L1014S was found tightly linked to V1010L, no separate assay was developed for the latter mutation. Screening of population using PIRA-PCR assays for 1014S and ARMS for 1014F alleles revealed the presence of all the three amino acid substitutions in low frequency.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This is the first report of the presence of L1014S (homologous to the <it>kdr-e </it>in <it>An. gambiae</it>) and a novel mutation V1010L (resulting from G-to-T or -C transversions) in the VGSC of <it>An. culicifacies </it>in addition to the previously described mutation L1014F. The V1010L substitution was tightly linked to L1014S substitution. A new PIRA-PCR strategy was developed for the detection of L1014S mutation and the linked V1010L mutation.</p