Anisotropic Isometric Fluctuation Relations in experiment and theory on a self-propelled rod

The Isometric Fluctuation Relation (IFR) [P.I. Hurtado et al., PNAS 108, 7704 (2011)] relates the relative probability of current fluctuations of fixed magnitude in different spatial directions. We test its validity in an experiment on a tapered rod, rendered motile by vertical vibration and immersed in a sea of spherical beads. We analyse the statistics of the velocity vector of the rod and show that they depart significantly from the IFR of Hurtado et al. Aided by a Langevin-equation model we show that our measurements are largely described by an anisotropic generalization of the IFR [R. Villavicencio et al., EPL 105, 30009 (2014)], with no fitting parameters, but with a discrepancy in the prefactor whose origin may lie in the detailed statistics of the microscopic noise. The experimentally determined Large-Deviation Function of the velocity vector has a kink on a curve in the plane.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Role of K\u3csub\u3eATP\u3c/sub\u3e Channels in Reduced Antinociceptive Effect of Morphine in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice

The nociceptive effect was measured using withdrawal latency in tail flick test in mice rendered diabetic by administering streptozotocin (200 mg/kg, i.p.). The antinociceptive effect of morphine (4 and 8 mg/kg, s.c.) and cromakalim, a KATP channel opener, (0.3, 1 and 2 micrograms, i.c.v.) was significantly reduced in diabetic mice. Moreover, co-administration of cromakalim(0.3 microgram) did not alter the reduced antinociceptive effect of morphine(4 mg/kg) in diabetic mice. Spleenectomy in diabetic mice restored the decrease in antinociceptive effect of morphine and cromakalim. Multiple dose treatment with insulin to maintain euglycaemia for 3 days in diabetic mice prevented the decrease in antinociceptive effect of morphine and cromakalim. However, hyperglycaemic tyrode\u27s buffer did not alter the pD2 value of morphine in isolated guinea pig ileum suggesting that hyperglycaemia does not interfere with mu receptor mediated responses in vitro. The results suggest that hyperglycaemia induced decrease in antinociceptive effect of morphine and cromakalim may be due to alteration in KATP channels. Some unknown factor from spleen in diabetic mice may be responsible for this alteration in KATP channels in diabetic mice

Evaluation of clinical outcome of post placental insertion of Cu T 380 A in women undergoing caesarean delivery

Background: The objective of the study was to evaluate clinical outcome of insertion of post placental Cu T 380 A in women undergoing caesarean delivery.Methods: A prospective observational study was carried out in the department of obstetrics and gynecology, Dr RPGMC Kangra at Tanda (Rural Medical College) to evaluate the clinical outcome of post placental Cu T 380 A insertion in women undergoing caesarean section after taking approval of protocol review and institutional ethics committee of the institution. A total of 104 women delivering by caesarean section and wanting post-placental intra-caesarean Cu T 380 A insertion and who were meeting WHO standard medical criteria for PPIUCD insertion and were willing to comply with the study protocol was recruited for the study.Results: The present study showed that there were no major complications and only minor side effects were like pain, fever, discharge and irregular bleeding which were observed in only 5-15% of women during hospital stay and during follow up visit up to 6 months. String became visible in 72.12% of women at the 6 weeks follow up visit. The string visibility increased with time and at 6 months follow up stings became visible in 90.81% of the cases. Continuation rate was 100% at 6 weeks post-partum follow up. After that spontaneous expulsion occurred in 4 cases (3.84%) and another 4 women (3.84%) requested removal for various reasons leading to continuation rate of 92.3% at six months post-partum follow up. There was no case of pregnancy with Cu T in situ with no failure at the end of study at six months post-partum.Conclusions: Intra caesarean insertion of PPIUCD is practical, convenient, safe, effective and acceptable contraceptive method for spacing of the birth in this rural setting

Effect of Admixture on the Compressive Strength of Composite Cement Mortar

The effect of superplasticizer on the development of composite cement based on flyash/limestone powder as per EN-197-2000 has been studied. Various mixes of fly ash and limestone up to 40% has been blended. The results have been compared with clinker of 43 grade ordinary portland cement used in the present study. 1 day strength of mixes with 5% and 10% limestone powder has been found to be is comparable to control. Further, it has been found that 28 days strength of mix with 15% lime stone powder and 25% fly ash gives more than 32.5 R required for composite cement. With the use of superplasticizer, strength has been found comparable or more in all the mixes at 1day to 43 grade OPC. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of various mixes at different hydration times has also been evaluated.

Pregnancy outcome in women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

Background: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy is a multifactorial condition of pregnancy diagnosed when otherwise unexplained pruritus with abnormal liver function test and neither of which has an alternative cause. The most appropriate gestational age for the delivery of women with ICP is yet to be determined. The present study is designed to determine whether with active intervention, pregnancy with ICP can be carried to a later gestation.Methods: Fifty Women with diagnosed a case of ICP were recruited into the study. The diagnosis of ICP was based on the symptoms, clinical examination and lab investigations. Group I: 25 women planned for delivery at POG 37 - 37+6 weeks of pregnancy. Group II: 25 women Planned for delivery at POG ≥38 weeks of pregnancy.Results: In group, one woman had preterm delivery at POG 36+2 weeks and rest of 24 women were delivered at POG 37-37+6 weeks. In group II, out of 25 women one woman had emergency LSCS at POG 35+3 weeks for MSL and induction of labour was done in 2nd for abnormal fetal well-being tests at POG 37 weeks. One woman had pre-term delivery at POG 36+1 weeks. Remaining 22 women in group II were delivered at POG ≥38 weeks. In the present study there was no significant difference in the gestational age at delivery between the two groups.Conclusions: It can be concluded that pregnancies with obstetric cholestasis can be carried to later gestation of ≥38 weeks under surveillance with UDCA treatment

Ultrafast optical excitation of a combined coherent-squeezed phonon field in SrTiO<SUB>3</SUB>

We have simultaneously excited a coherent and a squeezed phonon field in SrTiO3 using femtosecond laser pulses and stimulated Raman scattering. The frequency of the coherent state (~1.3 THz) is that of the A1g-component of the soft mode responsible for the cubic-tetragonal phase transformation at &#8776; 110 K. The squeezed field involves a continuum of transverse acoustic phonons dominated by a narrow peak in the density of states at ~ 6.9 THz

Comparative study of sublingual versus vaginal misoprostol for induction of labor

Background: Induction of labor done, when the benefits to either mother or fetus outweighs those of continuing pregnancy. Pharmacological methods used for induction includes oxytocin, prostaglandin (E1, E2) and mifepristone. However the ideal dose, route and frequency of administration of misoprostol are still under investigation. Hence we plan to do a comparative study between sublingual and vaginal misoprostol for inducing labor.Methods: A prospective randomized interventional study was conducted on seventy pregnant women who met the inclusion criteria. They were explained about the study on admission and were randomized into two groups: Group I (sublingual) and Group II (vaginal). Bishop score at start of induction, number of pelvic examinations, doses required, mode of delivery, induction to delivery interval, duration of different stages of labor and perinatal outcome of the women were recorded followed by statistical analysis.Results: Patients in both the groups were comparable with respect to demographic data, period of gestation, gravidity and parity. There was no significant difference with regard to number of doses, p/v examinations and number of patients required augmentation. Mean induction to delivery interval, average duration of first, second and third stage was almost comparable. Out of 35 women in each group, 29 women (82.8%) in both groups had normal vaginal delivery, one woman in Group I and three women in Group II had instrumental delivery. Emergency LSCS was done in 5 women (14.28%) in Group I and 3 women (8.57%) in Group II.Conclusions: Sublingual misoprostol seems as effective as vaginal misoprostol for induction of labor at term. Sublingual route represents a valid alternative to vaginal route with the advantage of convenience of administration. In view of limited sample size, we cannot reach definitive conclusions in regard to the preference of sublingual or vaginal route of misoprostol for induction of labor

Mechanical property assessment of tissue-mimicking phantoms using remote palpation and optical read-out for amplitude of vibration and refractive index modulation

A coherent light beam is used to interrogate the focal region within a tissue-mimicking phantom insonified by an ultrasound transducer. The ultrasound-tagged photons exiting from the object carry with them information on local optical path length fluctuations caused by refractive index variations and medium vibration. Through estimation of the force distribution in the focal region of the ultrasound transducer, and solving the forward elastography problem for amplitude of vibration of tissue particles, we observe that the amplitude is directed along the axis of the transducer. It is shown that the focal region interrogated by photons launched along the transducer axis carries phase fluctuations owing to both refractive index variations and particle vibration, whereas the photons launched perpendicular to the transducer axis carry phase fluctuations arising mainly from the refractive index variations, with only smaller contribution from vibration of particles. Monte-Carlo simulations and experiments done on tissue-mimicking phantoms prove that as the storage modulus of the phantom is increased, the detected modulation depth in autocorrelation is reduced, significantly for axial photons and only marginally for the transverse-directed photons. It is observed that the depth of modulation is reduced to a significantly lower and constant value as the storage modulus of the medium is increased. This constant value is found to be the same for both axial and transverse optical interrogation. This proves that the residual modulation depth is owing to refractive index fluctuations alone, which can be subtracted from the overall measured modulation depth, paving the way for a possible quantitative reconstruction of storage modulus. Moreover, since the transverse-directed photons are not significantly affected by storage modulus variations, for a quantitatively accurate read-out of absorption coefficient variation, the interrogating light should be perpendicular to the focusing ultrasound transducer axis

“Subtotal” hemispherectomy in children with intractable focal epilepsy

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/109835/1/epi12845.pd