Fatty acid composition of select sea anemones from Mandapam Coast, Tamil Nadu

1232-1237Sea anemones, such as Heteractis magnifica, H. aurora, Stichodactyla haddoni, and S. gigantea, were collected from Mandapam coast, south-east coast of India. The tissue samples were extracted and analyzed by gas chromatography–flame ionization detection using a one-step extraction–methylation method. Totally, 40 fatty acids were identified and confirmed. Among them, palmitic acid (C16:0) was found in all the sea anemones. It was higher in H. aurora (60.53%) than in S. gigantea (23.62%). The highest saturated fatty acid (SFA) content was observed in S. gigantea extract followed by H. magnifica, H. aurora, and S. haddoni. The predominant SFA C16:0N alcohol was present in H. magnifica (22.24%) and S. haddoni (27.79%). Monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) C16:1ω-7 was found in H. magnifica (3.88%) and S. haddoni (8.12%) and saturated fatty acid (SFA) C18:1ω-9 was found in H. aurora extract (3.87%). Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) C18:3ω-6 was found in H. magnifica (3.88%) and C20:4ω-6 was found in S. haddoni (9.49%), H. aurora (12.26%), and S. gigantea (3.47%). The percentage of total fatty acids and SFA was higher in S. gigantea extract, the MUFA was high in H. magnifica, and PUFA was higher in H. aurora than in other sea anemone species. It is presumed that the chief fatty acids present in a particular organ are related to the specific functions of the organ. In all the tissues that were analyzed, SFA levels were higher than MUFA and PUFA. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the fatty acid composition in sea anemones from Indian waters

An educational interventional study to compare conventional versus peyton’s method in training medical students on antenatal examination skills

Background: Introduction of competency based medical education in India has made it imperative to teach and assess clinical skills in a uniform manner. Antenatal Examination is one of the core competency under Obstetrics and Gynaecology. We need to use effective instructional methods to teach skills. In this study, we have compared Peyton’s ‘four step approach’ with the conventional ‘see one, do one’ approach.Methods: A quasi- randomized crossover study with educational intervention was done among 49 medical students. They were divided into two groups (A and B). Students of group A were first trained on Antenatal examination using Conventional method and evaluated. With a gap of one week, they were re-trained on the same skill using Peyton’s method and re-evaluated again; the vice versa was for done in group B. Mann Whitney test was used to compare the difference in score between the two groups of students (A and B) and Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test was used to compare the student’s perception of both teaching methods.Results: The mean score obtained by students after the first training by Peyton’s (24.08±2.31) was greater than Conventional method (20.32±3.59) which was found to be statistically significant (Z=-3.54, p<0.5). Following the second training i.e crossover of the training technique, the marks obtained by both group of students were almost the same. Students perceived Peyton’s methods to be more interesting, interactive, better understanding and recall over conventional.Conclusions: Peyton’s method was found to be superior over conventional method of training medical students in Antenatal examination

Implementation of Physical Layer Key Distribution using Software Defined Radios

It was well known from Shannon’s days that characteristics of the physical channel like attenuation, fadingand noise can impair reliable communication. But it was more recently that the beneficial side effects of channelcharacteristics in ensuring secret communication started getting attention. Studies have been made to quantify theamount of secrecy that can be reaped by combining channel coding with security protocols. The Wiretap channelproposed by Wyner is arguably one of the oldest models of physical layer security protocols. In this paper, wepresent a brief tutorial introduction to the Wiretap channel, followed by an application of the physical layer modelto a class of Key Distribution protocols. We present results from an implementation of key distribution protocolsusing Software Defined Radio tools along with physical RF hardware peripherals. We believe this approach is muchmore tangible and informative than computer based simulation studies.Defence Science Journal, 2013, 63(1), pp.6-14, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.63.375

A retrospective study on ectopic pregnancy: a two year study

Background: Diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy was frequently missed and rising trend in incidence of ectopic pregnancies necessitates awareness about risk factors, resultant morbidity and mortality. Aim of the study was to determine the incidence, clinical presentation, risk factors, treatment and morbidity and mortality associated with ectopic pregnancy.Methods: Retrospective analysis of ectopic pregnancy was done in Government Raja Mirasudhar Hospital from January 2014 to December 2015. The following parameters: age, parity, gestational age, risk factors, clinical presentation, site of ectopic, diagnostic methods, mode of treatment and morbidity were noted.Results: Out of 27881 deliveries, 228 were ectopic pregnancies (0.81 %).Women with age 20-25yrs had highest incidence (42.98%) and with least below 20yrs (9.64%). Ectopic pregnancies were common in multiparous women than primigravida (18.42%). Common symptoms: abdominal pain (82.4%), amennorhea (78.5%), bleeding per vaginum (63.3%), asymptomatic (12%) patients. Urine pregnancy test positive in 90.4%. Etiology was pelvic infection (15.78%), infertility (7.01%), previous ectopic (8.33%), contraception (6.14), surgeries including LSCS and tubal surgeries (6.57%). Right sided ectopic was more common. Site of ectopic: Common in fallopian tube- ampullary region (63.15%), cornua (13.15%), isthmus (11.40%), fimbria (7.01%), followed by ovarian ectopic (3.94%) then cervical, caesarean scar, rudimentary horn pregnancy with 0.43% each. About 66.66% of ectopic was ruptured, 3/4th of these patients presented with shock at the time of presentation. Tubal abortions were seen in 20.17% of patients. Most of cases being ruptured ectopic pregnancies, salpingectomy in 90.52% and salpingoopherectomy in 3.5%. Morbidity was blood transfusion (76.31%), wound complications 4.38 and no mortality.Conclusions: Early diagnosis, identifying of underlying risk factors and timely intervention in the form of conservative or surgical treatment will help in reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with ectopic pregnancy.

Captive Breeding and Nursery Rearing of the Indian Seahorse, Hippocampus kuda (Teleostei: Syngnathidae)

Breeding of laboratory-reared 21 pairs of broodstock Hippocampus kuda (Bleeker 1852) and rearing of their young ones indicated that 262.00 ± 59.00 offsprings were released during each spawning. A newly born seahorse was (mean ± SE) 7.83 ± 0.11 mm in length with a weight of 1.17 ± 0.009 mg. It could attain a mean length of 31.14 ± 0.66 mm with a mean weight of 16.13 ± 0.60 mg in 30 days when fed ad libitum with Artemia nauplii. The mean survival per brood cycle was enhanced to 65.22 ± 1.87% from almost less than 1.0% by improving the rearing conditions

Leisure and the Racing of National Populism

While leisure, race, and national populism have been minimally linked and theorized in the literature, we take this moment, during the global turn to national populism and conservative regimes, to center leisure and race in the politics of today. While theorizing the link to leisure and national populism, we center how the turn towards ethno-nationalist populism derives from the workings of race, alongside class, caste, and ethnicity, in various global north and global south leisure contexts. We provide an introduction that puts in conversation the realms of leisure (in all its possibilities), race, and the various modes of national populism. Therefore, we provide both the important theoretical foundations to understanding these relationships while offering numerous instances of such shifts to national populism. In particular, we start the conversation with a case of the realm of art, sport, and protest as a way to pull out the extraordinary links to social phenomenon, power, and theory

Amp\`ere-Class Pulsed Field Emission from Carbon-Nanotube Cathodes in a Radiofrequency Resonator

Pulsed field emission from cold carbon-nanotube cathodes placed in a radiofrequency resonant cavity was observed. The cathodes were located on the backplate of a conventional $1+\frac{1}{2}$-cell resonant cavity operating at 1.3-GHz and resulted in the production of bunch train with maximum average current close to 0.7 Amp\`ere. The measured Fowler-Nordheim characteristic, transverse emittance, and pulse duration are presented and, when possible, compared to numerical simulations. The implications of our results to high-average-current electron sources are briefly discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figures; submitted to Applied Physics Letter

Normative values of neck muscle strength in adult population of Delhi NCR region

Background: The neck pain is common problem in the adult population. Neck muscles have the potential to regulate the neck movement and to maintain its physiological functions and hence should have a quantitative value for strength. The aim of this study was to evaluate the neck muscle strength which would be used as a reference in the analysis of neck pain. Further aim of this study was to analyze the effect of age, weight, height, gender, body mass index (BMI) on muscle strength. Methods: This study was an observational study conducted at physiotherapy department of I. T. S. Institute of Health and Allied Sciences from 23 September 2023 to 24 February 2024.The study comprised 1200 participants, both male and female, in the age group of 21 to 50 years old. Isometric strength measurements for several neck muscles were made using a handheld dynamometer after ethical approval. Normative strength values were calculated, and multivariate analysis was performed to conclude the effect of age, weight, height, gender and BMI on neck muscle strength. Data analysis was calculated using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 21.0. Results: Males are at lower risk than females to develop neck pain as males are having more strength than females in all age groups. Weight and age were positively associated with muscle strength (p&lt;0.5). Height and BMI showed no significant correlation to muscle strength (p&gt;0.5). Conclusions: This research provides the normative ranges of neck muscle strength in the adult population that will serve as a baseline and aid in prevention, maintenance and treatment of neck pain. It provides the standard for the clinician to compare the muscle strength of different age groups and unaffected

Phytochemical constituent and antioxidant activity of extract from the leaves of Ocimum basilicum

Ocimum basilicum leaf extracts of were investigated for phytochemical constituent and antioxidant activity. Tests for tannins, steroids, terpenoids, flavonoids and cardiac glycosides were positive in both ethanolic and aqueous extracts. The ethanolic extract of O. basilicum had a DPPH scavenging activity of 85.2% at 250μg/ml and a reductive potential of 0.79 at 100 μg/ml. These values were comparable with those of gallic acid, 91.1% at 250 μg/ml and ascorbic acid, 0.76 at 60 μg/ml as standards for DPPH scavenging activity and reductive potential, respectively. These findings suggest that the rich phytochemical content of O. basilicum and its good antioxidant activity may be responsible for its popular and wide traditional use