GRB000301C with peculiar afterglow emission

The CCD magnitudes in Johnson V and Cousins R and I photometric passbands are determined for GRB 000301C afterglow starting ~ 1.5 day after the gamma-ray burst. In fact we provide the earliest optical observations for this burst. Light curves of the afterglow emissions in U, B, V, R, I, J and K' passbands are obtained by combining the present measurements with the published data. Flux decay shows a very uncommon variation relative to other well observed GRBs. Overall, there is a steepening of the optical and near-infrared flux decay caused by a geometric and sideways expanding jet. This is superimposed by a short term variability especially during early time (Delta t < 8 days). The cause of variability is not well understood, though it has occurred simultaneously with similar amplitude in all the filters. We derive the early and late time flux decay constants using jet model. The late time flux decay is the steepest amongst the GRB OTs observed so far with alpha ~ 3. Steepening in the flux decay seems to have started simultaneously around Delta t ~ 7.6 day in all passbands. The value of spectral index in the optical-near IR region is ~ -1.0. Redshift determination with z=2.0335 indicates cosmological origin of the GRB having a luminosity distance of 16.6 Gpc. Thus it becomes the second farthest amongst the GRBs with known distances. An indirect estimate of the fluence > 20 keV indicates, if isotropic,> =10^53 ergs of release of energy. The enormous amount of released energy will be reduced, if the radiation is beamed which is the case for this event. Using a jet break time of 7.6 days, we infer a jet opening angle of ~ 0.15 radian. This means the energy released is reduced by a factor of ~ 90 relative to the isotropic value.Comment: LaTeX file, 11 pages including 4 figures, uses psfig.sty, Bull. Astron. Society of India(accepted, Sept, 2000 issue

A study to assess the effectiveness of dual task exercises on improving balance and gait pattern among elderly in selected old age homes at Kanyakumari District

INTRODUCTION: Many of the elderly were affected by balance and gait problems. Dual task exercises helps to improve balance and gait pattern. The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of dual task exercises to improve the balance and gait pattern among elderly in selected old age homes at Kanyakumari district. METHODS: One group pretest post-test pre experimental design was adopted for the study. Thirty elderly with balance and gait problem were selected using purposive sampling techniques as samples. Data was collected on the 1st and 7th day by using interview schedule and Berg Balance Scale and Functional Gait Assessment Scale. Four session of training was provided. RESULTS: The pretest mean berg balance score was 17.9±2.5 and the post- test score was 52.4±2.3. The mean difference was high and “t” value was 53.227 which was statistically significant. The pretest mean functional gait assessment score was 12.0±3.3 and the post- test score was 28.4±2.2. The mean difference was high and the “t” value was 20.756 which was statistically significant. There is a no significant association found between the pretest level of balance and gait pattern with demographic variables like age, gender, education, occupation, marital status, exercise pattern and health information medias, does not show any significant association. CONCLUSION: Dual task exercises helps to improve their balance and gait pattern among elderly

Incidence of white muscle disease, a viral like disease associated with mortalities in hatchery reared postlarvae of the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man) from the south east coast of India

Incidence of post-larval mortalities of 30- 100% was reported from commercial freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man) hatcheries in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu (south-eastern states of India) since 2001. Infec ted postlarvae (PL) exhibited clinical symptoms with lethargy, anorexia and whitening of abdominal muscles and the disease was identified as white muscle disease (WMD)

Biogenic synthesis of gold nanoparticles using Sargassum tenerrimum and its evaluation of antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi

1291-1297An important aspect of nanotechnology is the development of a reliable and ecofriendly method for the synthesis of nanomaterials. In the present study, Sargassum tenerrimum extract was used to synthesize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) by the reduction of AuCl4− ions to Au0. The formation and morphology of the synthesized AuNPs were investigated using \UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and field emission scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The nanoparticles synthesized at 60 °C were spherical in shape while few were also hexagonal in shape with the size ranging between 10 and 40 nm. The antibacterial activity of AuNPs was tested against Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and Salmonella typhi (ATCC 6539). On examination under an epifluorescence microscope, it was found to cause a significant amount of deterioration to the bacterial cells

Multi loop soliton solutions and their interactions in the Degasperis-Procesi equation

In this article, we construct loop soliton solutions and mixed soliton - loop soliton solution for the Degasperis-Procesi equation. To explore these solutions we adopt the procedure given by Matsuno. By appropriately modifying the $\tau$-function given in the above paper we derive these solutions. We present the explicit form of one and two loop soliton solutions and mixed soliton - loop soliton solutions and investigate the interaction between (i) two loop soliton solutions in different parametric regimes and (ii) a loop soliton with a conventional soliton in detail.Comment: Published in Physica Scripta (2012

In vitro anticancer activity of Sargassum sp. polysaccharides against MCF-7 cell lines

1267-1273Seaweed polysaccharides are compounds with promising chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic activities. In this study, polysaccharides isolated from Sargassum seaweeds were tested for their efficiency in cancer therapy. Polysaccharides were isolated, purified, and characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR); and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometric (MALDI-MS). It was found that the polysaccharides from Sargassum sp. branches are sulfated galactose–fucose disaccharides and sulfated galactose monosaccharides attached to the main chain through (1–4) linkages. Further, the polysaccharides were tested for cytotoxicity and anticancer activity against human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF-7) using the Annexin-V/propidium iodide (PI) staining method

Effect of temperature and salinity on the infectivity pattern of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in giant tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon (Fabricius, 1837)

White spot disease (WSD) caused by the lethal white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) continues to be the major cause of mortality among farmed tiger shrimp in India and elsewhere, resulting in an annual loss of about 4-6 billion US$. Among the environmental variables, temperature and salinity of the rearing water are considered to be major triggering factors for white spot disease outbreak. In order to characterise the effect of salinity and temperature on the pathogenecity of WSSV infection in giant tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon, a laboratory challenge study was conducted at different levels of temperature (16, 25, 27, 28, 30, 32 and 36 ºC) and salinity (0.5, 5, 10, 15, 30 and 45 g l-1) with virulent white spot syndrome virus. Significant influence of temperature (p<0.05) on the percentage mortality and time until death of shrimp affected by the virus was observed, whereas salinity did not show any effect. Significantly higher survival rate was recorded in animals exposed at 32 ºC (37%) and 36 ºC (14%), 21 days post-challenge (dpc). All the shrimp challenged at other temperature levels, however, died after 21 dpc. These results demonstrated preference of WSSV for lower temperatures and higher survival in temperature ranges of 32 ºC to 36 ºC. The present observation may help to develop a management option to control the WSSV inflicted mortalities by selecting favorable hyperthermic rearing conditions for the shrimp

Human nasal rhinosporidiosis - A case report

Rhinosporidiosis is primarily an infection of the nose caused by Rhinosporidium seeberi. Other sites that can be involved areconjunctiva, urethra, palate, tongue, epiglottis, larynx, trachea, bronchi, skin, vulva, and vagina. It is endemic in certain parts ofIndia and Sri Lanka. The pathogen is difficult to grow in culture and Hematoxylin and Eosin staining helps in confirmation of theetiological agent. Surgery remains the mainstay of treatment. Here is a report aimed at documenting a 26-year-old female patientwith nasal rhinosporidiosis

1-(2,4-Dinitro­phen­yl)-5-ferrocenyl-3-methyl-1H-pyrazole

In the title compound, [Fe(C5H5)(C15H11N4O4)], the dinitro­phenyl and cyclo­penta­dienyl rings make dihedral angles of 53.61 (6) and 23.11 (9)°, respectively, with the pyrazole unit. The two cyclo­penta­dienyl rings are in an eclipsed conformation. The crystal structure is stabilized by inter­molecular C—H⋯O inter­actions, which link mol­ecules into chains parallel to the b axis