Draft Nuclear Genome Sequence of the Liquid Hydrocarbon-Accumulating Green Microalga Botryococcus braunii Race B (Showa).

Botryococcus braunii has long been known as a prodigious producer of liquid hydrocarbon oils that can be converted into combustion engine fuels. This draft genome for the B race of B. braunii will allow researchers to unravel important hydrocarbon biosynthetic pathways and identify possible regulatory networks controlling this unusual metabolism

Unwrapping the Cosmetic Package: A Discriminant Analysis Approach

Packaging which is often called as the ‘silent salesman’ is an important component of marketing. Today the importance of packaging has risen to such an extent that product packaging is rightly called as the fifth ‘P’ of marketing mix. Cosmetics are products which are utilized by a large number of people. The present study examines the discriminating power of five selected cosmetics packaging variables namely ‘picture’, ‘colour’, ‘size’, ‘shape’ and ‘material’ amidst those who purchased cosmetics based on these packaging variables and for those who purchased cosmetics not based on these packaging variables. Discriminant analysis showed that only two variables namely ‘Colour’ (.706) and ‘Shape’ (– .527) were good predictors. Variables ‘Picture’, ‘size’ and ‘material’ were considered as poor predictors as far as the student communities were considered. The cross validated classification showed that out of the 240 samples drawn, 91.8% of the cases were correctly classified. &nbsp

Spin re-orientation induced anisotropic magnetoresistance switching in LaCo0.5_{0.5}Ni0.5_{0.5}O3−δ_{3-\delta} thin films

Realization of novel functionalities by tuning magnetic interactions in rare earth perovskite oxide thin films opens up exciting technological prospects. Strain-induced tuning of magnetic interactions in rare earth cobaltates and nickelates is of central importance due to their versatility in electronic transport properties. Here we reported the spin re-orientation induced switching of anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) and its tunability with strain in epitaxial LaCo$_{0.5}$Ni$_{0.5}$O$_{3-\delta}$ thin films across the ferromagnetic transition. Moreover, with strain tuning, we could observe a two-fold to four-fold symmetry crossover in AMR across the magnetic transition temperature. The magnetization measurements revealed an onset of ferromagnetic transition around 50 K, and a further reduction in temperature showed a subtle change in the magnetization dynamics, which reduced the ferromagnetic long-range ordering and introduced glassiness in the system. X-ray absorption and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy measurements over Co and Ni L edges revealed the Co spin state transition below the magnetic transition temperature leading to the AMR switching and also the presence of Ni$^{2+}$ and Co$^{4+}$ ions evidencing the charge transfer from Ni to Co ions. Our work demonstrated the tunability of magnetic interactions mediated electronic transport in cobaltate-nickelate thin films, which is relevant in understanding Ni-Co interactions in oxides for their technological applications such as in AMR sensors

Outcome of delayed versus immediate casting on spasticity of lower limb muscles in cerebral palsy post-botulinum toxin injection

Background: Botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) is widely used to treat spasticity in children. The optimal strategy for the combined treatment of casting and BTX-A injections is not known. This prospective study is conducted to know the functional outcome of immediate versus delayed casting post-BTX-A injection in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study is to compare delayed versus immediate casting as an adjunct to botulinum toxin therapy for spasticity of lower limb muscles in CP. The objectives of the study are to test the hypothesis that delayed casting is superior to immediate casting post-botulinum toxin injection and to know the feasibility of using the Edinburgh visual gait score (EVGS) as a single qualitative and quantitative outcome measure. Materials and Methods: A prospective study is conducted to compare immediate casting with delayed casting post-botulinum toxin injection to spastic lower limb muscles in patients with CP from July 2018 to February 2019. Inclusion criteria: A diagnosis of CP with associated spastic monoplegia, diplegia, or hemiplegia with aided or unaided ambulation. Exclusion criteria: History of orthopedic surgery in the preceding 12 months; selective dorsal rhizotomy; mixed CP; ataxia; athetosis; non-ambulatory subjects. Results: The botulinum toxin injection + delayed POP casting group fared better in terms of clinical and functional outcome (as shown by improved EVGS scores) in our study. Conclusion: There is a clear benefit in delaying casting after the injection of Botulinum toxin in the recurrence of spasticity

Heavy Quarkonium Potential Model and the 1P1{}^1P_1 State of Charmonium

A theoretical explanation of the observed splittings among the P~states of charmonium is given with the use of a nonsingular potential model for heavy quarkonia. We also show that the recently observed mass difference between the center of gravity of the ${}^3P_J$ states and the ${}^1P_1$ state of $c\bar{c}$ does not provide a direct test of the color hyperfine interaction in heavy quarkonia. Our theoretical value for the mass of the ${}^1P_1$ state is in agreement with the experimental result, and its E1 transition width is 341.8~keV. The mass of the $\eta_c'$ state is predicted to be 3622.3~MeV.Comment: 15 page REVTEX documen

Unique Mass Texture for Quarks and Leptons

Texture specific quark mass matrices which are hermitian and hierarchical are examined in detail . In the case of texture 6 zeros matrices, out of sixteen possibilities examined by us, none is able to fit the low energy data (LED), for example, $V_{us} = 0.2196 \pm 0.0023$, $V_{cb} = 0.0395 \pm 0.0017$, $\frac{V_{ub}}{V_{cb}} = 0.08 \pm 0.02$, $V_{td}$ lies in the range $0.004 - 0.013$ (PDG). Similarly none of the 32 texture 5 zeros mass matrices considered is able to reproduce LED. In particular, the latest data from LEP regarding $|V_{ub}|/|V_{cb}|(=0.093\pm0.016)$ rules out all of them. In the texture 4 zeros case, we find that there is a unique texture structure for $U$ and $D$ mass matrices which is able to fit the data.Comment: 12 pages, LaTeX,some changes in the references,minor changes in the text,to appear in Phys Rev D(Rapid communications

Draft Nuclear Genome Sequence of the Liquid Hydrocarbon–Accumulating Green Microalga \u3cem\u3eBotryococcus braunii\u3c/em\u3e Race B (Showa)

Botryococcus braunii has long been known as a prodigious producer of liquid hydrocarbon oils that can be converted into combustion engine fuels. This draft genome for the B race of B. braunii will allow researchers to unravel important hydrocarbon biosynthetic pathways and identify possible regulatory networks controlling this unusual metabolism

The potential of silage lactic acid bacteria derived Nano-selenium as a dietary supplement in sheep

Context: Selenium (Se) is a trace element essential for cellular function in animals as a component of the enzymes glutathione peroxidase and iodothyronine-5-deiodinase. In many parts of Europe, Se is often deficient in livestock diets due to the low Se status of soil. Supplementation of diets with selenised-yeast (predominately as seleno-methionine) or inorganic sodium selenite is common practice in most livestock systems, including ruminants. Lactic acid bacteria have been shown to convert inorganic Se into predominantly elemental Nano-Se, which have been used recently in human pro-biotics as a less toxic form of Se. Therefore, silage lactic acid bacteria may provide a supplementation route of bioavailable Nano-Se for ruminants. Aim: Here we report the effect of feeding inoculated silage enriched with supra-nutritional Nano-Se (Selage) versus control inoculated silage (Silage) on the Se status of finishing lambs and their products, followed by a second study where blood parameters were investigated in ewes. Methods: In the first study 40 Charollais × Suffolk lambs (42 ± 1.7 kg) were paired according to weight and sex then allocated to the two treatments for 8 or 10 weeks. Uptake of Se into wool was temporally assessed as well as excretion into faeces. Se concentrations in blood and muscle, carcass characteristics and meat quality were reported post mortem. In the second study, individually penned Suffolk × Mule ewes (n = 12; 76 ± 4.5 kg) were offered the same diets as in the first study. Blood parameters were assessed at the start and after 6-weeks, with intake and excretion into faeces and urine assessed temporally through the study. Key Results: In the first study, DM intake was comparable 0.8 ± 0.03 kg/d, with Se concentrations of the diets significantly different resulting in intakes of approximately 0.14 vs. 1.60 mg/d on the Silage and Selage diets, respectively. This was reflected in higher Se concentrations in faeces (0.4 vs. 2.0 mg/kg DM; P<0.001); wool (0.11 vs. 0.25 mg/kg DM; P<0.001); blood (0.19 vs. 0.46 mg/L; P<0.001) and muscle (0.31 vs. 0.41 mg/kg: P<0.01). Colour (chroma) shelf life of the meat was significantly higher on the Selage treatment (8.05 vs 9.2 days; P<0.05). In the second trial, for ewes fed Selage blood seleno-methionine increased from 0.21 to 0.25 and seleno-cysteine from 0.25 to 0.35 mg/L after 6 weeks on treatment, whereas there was no change for ewes fed Silage. Glutathione peroxidase increased whilst haematocrit, haemoglobin and platelet count were shown to decrease during the study but with no difference between treatments. Conclusions: Nano-Se provided from the Selage treatment was shown to be available to sheep and improve shelf life with no adverse haematological effects. Implications: There is potential to use silage inoculants to provide bioavailable Se to ruminants. Further research is required to determine the most appropriate dose rate for animal performance and product quality

Southern sun fish Mola ramsayi (Giglioli, 1883) recorded from Kochi, southwest coast of India

Family Molidae with three genera (Ranzania, Masturus and Mola) and four species are known as the world’s heaviest fishes with a planktivorous diet. Known for their truncated anatomy, these fishes are characterized by lack of caudal bones, ribs and pelvic fins (Tifler, 1980). A southern ocean sunfish Mola ramsayi with total length 111cm and weighing 50kg was landed at Munambam Fisheries Harbour on 6 September 2013

Relativistic two-photon and two-gluon decay rates of heavy quarkonia

The decay rates of $c\bar{c}$ and $b\bar{b}$ through two-photon or two-gluon annihilations are obtained by using totally relativistic decay amplitudes and a sophisticated quantum-chromodynamic potential model for heavy quarkonia. Our results for the photonic and gluonic widths of the 1S0, 3P0, and the 3P2 states are in excellent agreement with the available experimental data. The procedures and mathematical techniques used by us for the treatment of the fermion-antifermion bound states are also applicable to other decay processes.Comment: 15 pages, RevTeX, PostScript available at http://gluon.physics.wayne.edu/wsuhep/jim/predecay.p