On Retention of Eventual Stability of Perturbed Impulsive Differential Systems

In this paper, a system of non nonlinear differential equations withimpulse effect at fixed time moments is considered and criteria for retention ofuniform eventual stability of its perturbed impulsive differential systems undervanishing perturbations are established. Sufficient conditions are obtained byusing piecewise continuous Lyapunov functions. An example is also worked outto illustrate the results.AMS Subject Classification: 34CXX, 34DXX, 34A37, 34K45

Analysis of Magneto-inductive System for Rocket Sled Velocity Measurement Beyond Mach 1.5

The rail track rocket sled (RTRS) national test facility at Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) has been established to provide simulated flight environment for carrying out aero dynamic studies, terminal studies and kinematic studies of variety of test articles. The sled velocity is a critical parameter in evaluation trials.  This velocity is also used to ensure that the maximum speed and allowable g loading does not exceed the value which the test article will experience under free flight in air1. Overseas, the facilities have been set up to attain velocities ranging from sub-sonic to hypersonic2. The rocket sled at TBRL can be presently accelerated to travel along the rail track at velocities up to 500 m/s and capability is being built to increase velocity beyond 500 m/s. Signals acquired from existing magneto-inductive arrangement have been analysed in the present work. The experiments indicate that with increase in velocity the rate of change of flux increases, the amplitude of induced emf also increases but terminal voltage decreases and shape of the acquired pulse gets distorted. The parameters of magneto-inductive pick up have been modified in such a way that there is improvement in amplitude and shape of the received pulse with increase in velocity. The improved signals have been analysed and simulation results validated with feasible experiments. This paper also discusses issues, challenges and proposes recommendations in improving the sensor for measurement of velocity beyond Mach 1.5. It has been found that it is prudent to reduce the inductance by reducing the number of turns and changing the core from soft iron core to air core which will improve the response of inductive pick up coil at high velocity.Defence Science Journal, 2014, 64(2), pp. 143-151. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.64.503

Epidemiology of ovarian malignancies

Background: The location of the ovaries makes it difficult to diagnose ovarian cancer at an earlier more curable stage. This study was done with intend of developing insight into risk factors, clinical presentation and prognostic factors for the same.Methods: An observational prospective study was undertaken over a period of 2 years of 77 cases in a tertiary care hospital with cancer unit. Case records of cases during study period were evaluted and epidemiology studied.Results: Most of the malignant tumors i.e. 35.1% were in the age group of 40- 50 yrs and 42 % of tumors seen in the age group of 41-60 years. 9.1% were post hysterectomy, 46.8% were premenopausal and 44.2% were postmenstrual. Majority cases were parous women and none had used oral contraceptive pills. In the present study, blood group A was found more commonly more commonly associated with ovarian tumors in comparison to the general population. the most common complaint of the patient was pain in abdomen (70.1%) followed by distension of abdomen (45.5%) and menstrual irregularities (16.9 %).Conclusions: The epidemiology and presentation of ovarian tumours has remained unchanged since last 3 decades. Nulliparity is not as significant a factor in the aetiology of ovarian malignancy however contraception leading to anovulatory cycles (OC pills) may have a protective role. Infertility can be suggested as a risk factor but the treatment for infertility & its role in oncogenesis remains controversial

Induced chlorophyll mutations in bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L. var. grossum)

An investigation entitled “Induced chlorophyll mutations in bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L. var. grossum)” was conducted during kharif (summer-rainy season) 2012 and 2013 at Experimental farm of the Department of Vegetable Science and Floriculture, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur, H.P., India. Healthy seeds of California Wonder of bell pepper were exposed to physical mutagen Gamma rays using 60CO as a source of radiation at Mutation Breeding Centre, Department of Biotechnology, BARC Trombay, Mumbai and chemical mutagen EMS (Ethyl Methane Sulphonate) to obtain the spectrum and frequency of chlorophyll mutations in M2 generation. The M1 generation was produced from these mutagen treated seeds. Several unique and interesting chlorophyll and viable mutants were obtained in M2 generation. In M2 generation, gamma rays induced higher proportion of chlorophyll mutants then EMS. A progressive increase in mutation frequency of chlorophyll mutations was observed with increasing doses/concentrations. Four different types of chlorophyll mutants namely xantha, yellow xantha, chlorina and viridis were induced. Out of these mutants, chlorina and viridis were most frequent and were produced even in lower doses/concentrations while yellow xantha was least frequent and produced only in higher doses. The highest frequency of chlorophyll mutations (18.8 %) was reported in the 22 kR of gamma dose, while the lowest (0.80 %) frequency of chlorophyll mutations was found in the treatment of 1.0 % EMS. There was a dose dependent increase in the spectrum and frequency of chlorophyll mutations. These chlorophyll mutants induced by gamma radiation and EMS could be used in mutation breeding programme for inducing viable mutations for improvement of bell pepper varieties

On Stability of Differential Systems with Noninstantaneous Impulses

A new class of impulsive differential equations with noninstantaneous fixed time impulses is considered. Uniform stability and uniform asymptotic stability of solutions of the system have been established by employing piecewise Lyapunov functions. An example is also given to illustrate the theoretical results

Micropropagation of fruit crops: a review

In vitro culture has the greatest commercial value in the extremely quick creation of clonal plants compared to conventional techniques of propagation. It has also proven to be of tremendous practical utility as assistance to the development and maintenance of disease-free planting material, germplasm conservation, and supplements to the regular methods of plant progress, such as plant genetic engineering. The discovery and implementation of current tissue culture techniques are thought to be paving the way for a second green revolution. Here, the standardization of techniques for the in vitro clonal propagation of fruit crops is highlighted. In addition, we summarize the effects of several surface sterilizing agents, plant growth regulators (PGRs), and anti-phenolic chemicals on culture establishment, shoot proliferation, in vitro rooting, hardening and economics of in vitro generation of true-to-type plants

Design and Development of Two-Dimensional Strained Layer Superlattice (SLS) Detector Arrays for IR Applications

The implementation of strained layer superlattices (SLS) for detection of infrared (IR) radiation has enabled compact, high performance IR detectors and two-dimensional focal plane arrays (FPAs). Since initially proposed three decades ago, SLS detectors exploiting type II band structures existing in the InAs/GaSb material system have become integral components in high resolution thermal detection and imaging systems. The extensive technological progress occurring in this area is attributed in part to the band structure flexibility offered by the nearly lattice-matched InAs/AlSb/Ga(In)Sb material system, enabling the operating IR wavelength range to be tailored through adjustment of the constituent strained layer compositions and/or thicknesses. This has led to the development of many advanced type II SLS device concepts and architectures for low-noise detectors and FPAs operating from the short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) to very long-wavelength infrared (VLWIR) bands. These include double heterostructures and unipolar-barrier structures such as graded-gap M-, W-, and N-structures, nBn, pMp, and pBn detectors, and complementary barrier infrared detector (CBIRD) and pBiBn designs. These diverse type II SLS detector architectures have provided researchers with expanded capabilities to optimize detector and FPA performance to further benefit a broad range of electro-optical/IR applications

An early gene of the flavonoid pathway, flavanone 3-hydroxylase, exhibits a positive relationship with the concentration of catechins in tea (Camellia sinensis)

Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) leaves are a major source of flavonoids that mainly belong to the flavan 3-ols or catechins. Apart from being, responsible for test duality. these compounds have medicinal properties. Flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H) is an abundant enzyme in tea leaves that catalyzes the stereospecific hydroxylation of (2S)-naringenin to form (2R.3R)-dihdrokaempferol. We report full-length cDNA sequence of F3H from tea (CsF3H Accessionno. AY641730). CsE3H comprised 1365 by with an open reading frame of 1107 it (from 43 to 1149) encoding a polypeptide of 368 amino, acids. Expression of CsF3H in an expression vector in Escherichia coli yielded a frictional protein with a specific activity of 32 nmol min(-1) mg protein(-1). There was a positive correlation between the concentration of catechins and CsF3H expression in leaves of different developmental stages. CsF3H expression was clown-regulated in response to drought, abscisic acid and gibberellic acid treatment, but up-regulated in response to wounding. The concentration of catechins paralleled the expression data. Exposure of tea shoots to 50-100 mu M catechins led to down-regulation of CSF3H expression suggesting substrate mediated feedback regulation of the gene. The strong correlation between the concentration of catechins and CsF3H expression indicates a critical role of F3H in catechin biosynthesis

Tumor-induced osteomalacia: experience from three tertiary care centers in India

Tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome characterized by recalcitrant hypophosphatemia. Reports from the Indian subcontinent are scarce, with most being single center experiences involving few patients. Herein, we conducted a retrospective analysis of 30 patients of TIO diagnosed at three tertiary care hospitals in India. Patients with persistent hypophosphatemia (despite correction of hypovitaminosis D), normocalcemia, elevated alkaline phosphatase, low TmP/GFR and elevated or ‘inappropriately normal’ FGF23 levels were labeled as having TIO. They were sequentially subjected to functional followed by anatomical imaging. Patients with a well-localized tumor underwent excision; others were put on phosphorous and calcitriol supplementation. The mean age at presentation was 39.6 years with female:male ratio of 3:2. Bone pain (83.3%) and proximal myopathy (70%) were the chief complaints; 40% of cases had fractures. The mean delay in diagnosis was 3.8 years. Tumors were clinically detectable in four patients (13.3%). The mean serum phosphate was 0.50 mmol/L with a median serum FGF23 level of 518 RU/mL. Somatostatin receptor-based scintigraphy was found to be superior to FDG-PET in tumor localization. Lower extremities were the most common site of the tumor (72%). Tumor size was positively correlated with serum FGF23 levels. Twenty-two patients underwent tumor resection and 16 of them had phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors. Surgical excision led to cure in 72.7% of patients whereas disease persistence and disease recurrence were seen in 18.2% and 9.1% of cases, respectively. At the last follow-up, serum phosphate in the surgically treated group was significantly higher than in the medically managed group