A comparative study of the search and retrieval features of OAI harvesting services

Several OAI service providers (Harvesters) are coming up providing cross-search services by harvesting metadata from OAI compliant repositories. OAI facilitates quick discovery of content and free exchange of information among repositories through Service Providers (Harvesters). In order to achieve interoperability in their operations, Service Providers need to incorporate a generalized set of search and browse features in their search interface. Few parameters are drawn to compare the search and retrieval features of harvesters and arrived at a useful checklist for Service Providers to achieve homogeneity and standardization while designing their search interfac

Phytochemical and antibacterial analysis of two morpho-types of Solanum melongena var. insanum (L.) Prain. an ayrvedic herb

The Solanaceae, one of the largest family in angiosperms have high commercial value. The genus Solanum in Solanaceae is a complex one. Many species in Solanum does not contain a well-defined species boundaries. Many of them with taxonomical controversies. The present study was about such a Solanum species – Solanum melongena var. insanum. There were two morpho-types which are botanically known as S. melongena var. insanum. In Ayurveda both of them were treated as separate plants – as „Cheruvazhuthina‟ and „Punyahachunda‟. „Cheruvazhuthina‟ was extensively used in Ayurveda but „Punyahachunda‟ was not. Roots of „Punyahachunda‟ was used instead in the unavailability of roots of „Cheruvazhuthina‟. So this study was aimed to analyse the pharmacognostic properties of both morpho-types. The therapeutic value was assayed by antibacterial activity of roots of both plants. For convenience the two plants viz., „Cheruvazhuthina‟ and „Punyahachunda‟ were denoted as morpho-type 1 and morpho-type 2 respectively. Phytochemical profiling revealed significant differences in certain components. Hence the samples were subjected for FT-IR analyses and the spectra showed high pattern of similarity as well as differences in both the morpho-types investigated. Phytochemical profile was prepared for both the morpho-types which were further fractionated by chromatography. The fractionated components were subjected for bioassay against the growth inhibition of E. coli. The bioassay results revealed that the therapeutic potency of morpho-type 1 was more significant and hence I recommend the use of morphote type 1. However a detailed phytochemical as well as molecular profiling is warranted to confirm the recently obtained results

Ideals as generalized prime ideal factorization of submodules

For a submodule $N$ of an $R$-module $M$, a unique product of prime ideals in $R$ is assigned, which is called the generalized prime ideal factorization of $N$ in $M$, and denoted as ${\mathcal{P}}_M(N)$. But for a product of prime ideals ${{{\mathfrak{p}}_1} \cdots {{\mathfrak{p}}_{n}}}$ in $R$ and an $R$-module $M$, there may not exist a submodule $N$ in $M$ with ${\mathcal{P}}_{M}(N) = {{{\mathfrak{p}}_1} \cdots {{\mathfrak{p}}_{n}}}$. In this article, for an arbitrary product of prime ideals ${{{\mathfrak{p}}_1} \cdots {{\mathfrak{p}}_{n}}}$ and a module $M$, we find conditions for the existence of submodules in $M$ having ${{{\mathfrak{p}}_1} \cdots {{\mathfrak{p}}_{n}}}$ as their generalized prime ideal factorization

Ideals as Generalized Prime Ideal Factorization of Submodules

For a submodule $N$ of an $R$-module $M$, a unique product of prime ideals in $R$ is assigned, which is called the generalized prime ideal factorization of $N$ in $M$, and denoted as ${\mathcal{P}}_M(N)$. But for a product of prime ideals ${{{\mathfrak{p}}_1} \cdots {{\mathfrak{p}}_{n}}}$ in $R$ and an $R$-module $M$, there may not exist a submodule $N$ in $M$ with ${\mathcal{P}}_{M}(N) = {{{\mathfrak{p}}_1} \cdots {{\mathfrak{p}}_{n}}}$. In this article, for an arbitrary product of prime ideals ${{{\mathfrak{p}}_1} \cdots {{\mathfrak{p}}_{n}}}$ and a module $M$, we find conditions for the existence of submodules in $M$ having ${{{\mathfrak{p}}_1} \cdots {{\mathfrak{p}}_{n}}}$ as their generalized prime ideal factorizatio

Natural Drugs in DNA Repair

Natural products have been used in medicine right from the ancient civilisation. Natural products are used in many types of diseases, together with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Many products are used against cancer. Many diseases are genetically derived. The drugs which have the capacity to act at genome level gains significant importance in any disease scenario. The genetic information essential for the identity and function of eukaryotic cells exist in DNA and during the lifetime of the cell DNA can be repeatedly damaged due to different factors. The stability and the fidelity of the replication process are meant to be the most remarkable features of the genetic material. The stability can be affected at any time. Compound which can enhance the DNA repair are applicable in many disease condition. Our study was focussed on the DNA repair enhancing property of a glucan from the macro fungi Ganoderma lucidum. Comet assay and chromosomal aberrations in mouse bone marrow were used as end points of study. Glucan was found to have DNA repair enhancing property in human lymphocytes

English as a second language (ESL) writing instructions and the effects on primary students: a multiple case study

English as a second language (ESL) writing instruction is a challenging task for teachers. Writing lessons need to be prepared adequately by deciding on the right approach to be employed as the instructional methods influence students’ learning greatly. This study investigates the preferred teaching practices (between the product and process approach) of 10 pre-service teachers’ in teaching writing and the effects on students’ written texts. The data were collected from observations, semi-structured interviews and students’ written texts. The data from the observation checklists were analyzed using Rasch Measurement Model which validated the study with a high value of alpha Cronbach (0.81). Thematic and textual analyses were conducted on participants’ views and the students’ written text respectively. The findings revealed that product approach was the preferred practice. Consequently, the students’ prepared very identical pattern of written work based on the participants’ input. The students were able to prepare the written work with linguistic accuracy but did not show attempt to write more creatively. Thus, this study recommends teachers to integrate process approach strategies into their writing instructions to guide students to write more profoundly in future

Effect of provision of an integrated neonatal survival kit and early cognitive stimulation package by community health workers on developmental outcomes of infants in Kwale County, Kenya: study protocol for a cluster randomized trial

Background: Each year, more than 200 million children under the age of 5 years, almost all in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), fail to achieve their developmental potential. Risk factors for compromised development often coexist and include inadequate cognitive stimulation, poverty, nutritional deficiencies, infection and complications of being born low birthweight and/or premature. Moreover, many of these risk factors are closely associated with newborn morbidity and mortality. As compromised development has significant implications on human capital, inexpensive and scalable interventions are urgently needed to promote neurodevelopment and reduce risk factors for impaired development. Method/Design: This cluster randomized trial aims at evaluating the impact of volunteer community health workers delivering either an integrated neonatal survival kit, an early stimulation package, or a combination of both interventions, to pregnant women during their third trimester of pregnancy, compared to the current standard of care in Kwale County, Kenya. The neonatal survival kit comprises a clean delivery kit (sterile blade, cord clamp, clean plastic sheet, surgical gloves and hand soap), sunflower oil emollient, chlorhexidine, ThermoSpotTM, Mylar infant sleeve, and a reusable instant heater. Community health workers are also equipped with a portable hand-held electric scale. The early cognitive stimulation package focuses on enhancing caregiver practices by teaching caregivers three key messages that comprise combining a gentle touch with making eye contact and talking to children, responsive feeding and caregiving, and singing. The primary outcome measure is child development at 12 months of age assessed with the Protocol for Child Monitoring (Infant and Toddler version). The main secondary outcome is newborn mortality. Discussion: This study will provide evidence on effectiveness of delivering an innovative neonatal survival kit and/or early stimulation package to pregnant women in Kwale County, Kenya. Study findings will help inform policy on the most appropriate interventions for promoting healthy brain development and reduction of newborn morbidity and mortality in Kenya and other similar settings. Trial registration: ClinicalTrial.gov NCT02208960 (August 1, 2014

Author correction: High-resolution bacterial 16S rRNA gene profile meta-analysis and biofilm status reveal common colorectal cancer consortia

In this Article, in the section entitled ‘Quantitative real-time PCR’ within the Supplementary Methods, the probe for the Bacteroides fragilis 16S real-time PCR reaction was listed incorrectly as 5ʹHEX-AGGGACTGGAAGGCTTTACTGCTTC-3ʹBHQ1. The correct probe for Bacteroides fragilis 16S should be listed as 5ʹHEX-ACACGTATCCAACCTGCCCTTTACTCG-3ʹBHQ1. The mistake was a result of a copy and paste error with a different primer set targeting a B. fragilis toxin gene. All qPCR reactions were performed using the correct probe, and therefore no data were affected

A Review—Additive Manufacturing of Intermetallic Alloys Based on Orthorhombic Titanium Aluminide Ti2AlNb

Titanium alloys based on orthorhombic titanium aluminide Ti2AlNb are promising refractory materials for aircraft engine parts in the operating temperature range from 600–700 °C. Parts made of Ti2AlNb-based alloys by traditional technologies, such as casting and metal forming, have not yet found wide application due to the sensitivity of processability and mechanical properties in chemical composition and microstructure compared with commercial solid-solution-based titanium alloys. In the last three decades, metal additive manufacturing (MAM) has attracted the attention of scientists and engineers for the production of intermetallic alloys based on Ti2AlNb. This review summarizes the recent achievements in the production of O-phase-based Ti alloys using MAM, including the analysis of the feedstock materials, technological processes, machines, microstructure, phase composition and mechanical properties. Powder bed fusion (PBF) and direct energy deposition (DED) are the most widely employed MAM processes to produce O-phase alloys. MAM provides fully dense, fine-grained material with a superior combination of mechanical properties at room temperature. Further research on MAM for the production of critical parts made of Ti2AlNb-based alloys can be focused on a detailed study of the influence of post-processing and chemical composition on the formation of the structure and mechanical properties, including cyclic loading, fracture toughness, and creep resistance. © 2023 by the authors.22–49-02066This work has been supported by joint RSF-DST grant № 22–49-02066