Evidence of Songbird Intoxication From Rozol Application at a Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Colony

Concerns about avian poisonings from anticoagulant rodenticides have traditionally focused on secondary poisoning of raptors exposed by feeding on contaminated mammalian prey. However, ground foraging songbirds can be directly poisoned from operational applications of the anticoagulant rodenticide RozolH (0.005% chlorophacinone, active ingredient) applied as a grain bait, at black-tailed prairie dog Cynomys ludovicianus colonies. A dead western meadowlark Sturnella neglecta recovered from the study prairie dog colony displayed hemorrhaging in brain and pectoral muscle tissue, and it contained chlorophacinone residue concentrations of 0.59 and 0.49 mg/g (wet weight) in the liver and intestinal contents, respectively. Chlorophacinone residues from two Rozol-colored songbird droppings found at the study colony were 0.09 and 0.46 mg/g (wet weight). The timing of the meadowlark mortality and the occurrence of discolored droppings show that songbird exposure and poisoning can occur weeks after a Rozol application

Isometries of a function space

It is proved here that an isometry on the subset of all positive functions of L1⋂Lp(ℝ) can be characterized by means of a function h together with a Borel measurable mapping ϕ of ℝ, thus generalizing the Banach-Lamparti theorem of Lp spaces

Malignant placental trophoblastic tumour a diagnostic dilemma: rare association with focal segmental glomerulonephritis and cardiomyopathy

Placental site trophoblastic tumour (PSTT) is the rarest form of Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN).It has a wide clinical spectrum of presentation and its complications have a multi organ involvment. Inspite of the advances in HCG assays and sensitive unltrasounds, its diagnosis and course in every case is a mystery. However, it is only rarely associated with glomerulonephritis. Most cases have not been biopsied and the specific nature of renal involvement is not clearly understood. Here we report a case of PSTT with glomerulonephritis and cardiomyopathy

Effectiveness of music interventions to reduce test anxiety in pharmacy students

Background: The main objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the impact of a classroom activity involving music on anxiety associated with preparing for and taking an assessment. Methods: Two hundred and two (202) pharmacy students were randomly assigned to one of two conditions of the experimental study: active music playing (n = 103) versus passive music listening (n = 99). All students completed a pre-test, a mid-test, and a post-test including: an “Attitudes and Perceptions” survey, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adults (STAI Survey), and a knowledge assessment. Data were analyzed to determine the impact each of the music interventions had on students’ test anxiety. Results: Both types of musical interventions produced similar results in terms of anxiety reduction. Faced with an upcoming test prior to the musical intervention, average state-trait anxiety scores increased; after the musical intervention, state-trait anxiety scores decreased. Conclusions: The use of music helped to reduce test anxiety, even after one brief musical intervention, regardless of whether students passively listened to music or actively played music

Impact of technology transfer for fennel primary processing on income and employment opportunities for tribal women in district Sirohi (Rajasthan)

Krishi Vigyan Kendra organized a set of need based skill oriented training programmes for selected 500 tribal women (fennel producers) in small groups (25-30 trainees) during last four years (2008 to 2012) with an aim to develop their skills regarding harvesting of umbel at post-mature stage, grading of produce (A, B, C & D grades), drying of fennel in modified shade house made up of local indigenous material, threshing on RCC floor or polyether sheet and packaging in polythene lined bags and marketing of the final produce. The skill oriented trainings had a positive impact on tribal women and about half of the total area (50%) has been transformed in primary processing. By primary processing of fennel, additional employment of about one lakh man days have been generated in district Sirohi. By this intervention, additional monetary returns of around Rs. 29.0 crores have been generated in the district. In the district, trained tribal women are getting Rs. 200-250 day-1 for harvesting and primary processing of fennel, whereas other unskilled women are getting only Rs. 100-150 day-1. This intervention has not only improved the living standards of the rural and tribal households but also increased the socio-economic status by providing self employment opportunities and livelihood security. &nbsp

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF SUSTAINED RELEASE MATRIX TABLETS OF NATEGLINIDE

The objective of this work was to prepare and evaluate oral sustained release matrix tablet of Nateglinide and to study the effect of proportion of wax and addition of release liner on in-vitro release of drug.The prepared tablets were evaluated for pre and post compression parameters. Stability study of the promising formulation was also performed. The matrix tablets were prepared by Direct compression, Co-processed & melt granulation, method using wax in concentration 25%, 35% & 45% and evaluated for on in-vitro drug release using Compritol & Precirol. No interactions were found between drug and excipients. Formulation containing 25% Precirol F13 shows releases up to 12 hours. Tablets with release characteristics offers critical advantages such as site specificity with improved absorption and efficacy etc. Keywords: Nateglinide, Sustained release, Compritol 888, Precirol ATO 5, Melt Granulation, Direct compression

Continuum Gauge Fields from Lattice Gauge Fields

On the lattice some of the salient features of pure gauge theories and of gauge theories with fermions in complex representations of the gauge group seem to be lost. These features can be recovered by considering part of the theory in the continuum. The prerequisite for that is the construction of continuum gauge fields from lattice gauge fields. Such a construction, which is gauge covariant and complies with geometrical constructions of the topological charge on the lattice, is given in this paper. The procedure is explicitly carried out in the $U(1)$ theory in two dimensions, where it leads to simple results.Comment: 16 pages, HLRZ 92-3

Standardization of primary processing of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) in tribal area of Sirohi (Rajasthan)

An experiment was conducted in a farmer’s field at Sirohi (Rajasthan) during 2009–10 and 2010–11. Five separate experiments on (i) harvesting time (ii) umbels drying structure (iii) fennel threshing floor (iv) grading stages and (v) packing material of fennel, were laid out in a completely randomized design with four treatments replicated five times. The results revealed that different treatments had significant effect on sensory attributes, geometry and economics of fennel seed quality. The fennel umbels which were harvested at post maturity stage [31-40 days after flower initiation (DAFI)] were superior to rest of the harvesting stages and recorded maximum sensory scores, seed dimensions and highest yield (17.35 q ha-1), maximum market rate (Rs. 150.24 kg-1) and B:C ratio (4.62). Results also showed that drying of fennel umbels in modified locally made structures gave better quality of seed over other structures, giving good market price (Rs. 135.74 kg-1). Threshing on RCC floor was found to be better for maintaining good quality of seed. The grading and packing also improved the quality of seed. The fennel seed which was packed in polyethylene lined gunny bag was found to be better because the quality of seed did not deteriorate in terms of taste, colour, and flavour for longer time. Maximum shelf life of produce along with better quality and higher market price was also obtained in this treatment. &nbsp