Flows on quaternionic-Kaehler and very special real manifolds

BPS solutions of 5-dimensional supergravity correspond to certain gradient flows on the product M x N of a quaternionic-Kaehler manifold M of negative scalar curvature and a very special real manifold N of dimension n >=0. Such gradient flows are generated by the `energy function' f = P^2, where P is a (bundle-valued) moment map associated to n+1 Killing vector fields on M. We calculate the Hessian of f at critical points and derive some properties of its spectrum for general quaternionic-Kaehler manifolds. For the homogeneous quaternionic-Kaehler manifolds we prove more specific results depending on the structure of the isotropy group. For example, we show that there always exists a Killing vector field vanishing at a point p in M such that the Hessian of f at p has split signature. This generalizes results obtained recently for the complex hyperbolic plane (universal hypermultiplet) in the context of 5-dimensional supergravity. For symmetric quaternionic-Kaehler manifolds we show the existence of non-degenerate local extrema of f, for appropriate Killing vector fields. On the other hand, for the non-symmetric homogeneous quaternionic-Kaehler manifolds we find degenerate local minima.Comment: 22 page

Optical and magnetic resonance studies of the interaction of metallo tetraphenylporphyrins with nitrobenzofuroxan

Metallo tetraphenylporphyrins form 1:1 molecular complexes with 4,6-dinitrobenzofuroxan. The molecular association is described in terms of π-π interaction with porphyrins functioning as donors. The association constants and thermodynamic parameters have been evaluated using optical absorption and 1H nmr spectral methods. Based on the binding constants, the donor ability of various metalloporphyrins can be arranged in the following order: Pd(II) > Co(II) > Cu(II) > Ni(II) ˜ VO(IV) ˜ 2H > Zn(II). Electron paramagnetic resonance studies of the complexes reveal that the π-complexation results in changes in the electronic structure of the central metal ions which are reflected in the changes in the M-N σ bonding. The dipolar contribution to the acceptor proton chemical shifts in the CoTPP complex has been partitioned from ring current contributions using the shifts observed in the ZnTPP complex. The shifts, along with the line broadening ratios observed for the CoTPP complex, are used to arrive at the possible solution structures of the complexes

A comparative study of lipid profile in patients with and without infective hepatitis

Background: Liver plays a central role in lipid metabolism. Liver carries out some important functions in lipid metabolism like liver facilitates the digestion and absorption of lipids by the production of bile, which contains cholesterol and bile salts synthesized within the liver de novo or from uptake of lipoprotein cholesterol, the liver has active enzyme system for synthesizing and oxidizing fatty acids and for synthesizing triacylglycerols and phospholipids, synthesis of the ketone bodies, it plays an integral part in the synthesis and metabolism of plasma lipoproteins. The objective was to compare lipid profile in patients with and without infective hepatitis.Methods: Hospital based cross sectional comparative study was carried out among 112 cases. The patients were divided as having infective hepatitis (69) called cases and not having infective hepatitis (43) called controls. Concentration of serum total cholesterol was determined by Carr and Drekter method. Concentration of serum HDL cholesterol was determined by Carr and Drekter method. Concentration of serum triglyceride level was determined by enzymatic end point peroxidase coupled method.Results: Total cholesterol, VLDL, LDL and triglycerides have been found to be significantly higher in cases of infective hepatitis compared to control. The HDL value was also significantly deranged i.e. significantly lower in cases compared to controls (p <0.05). Thus, it was clear that infective hepatitis deranges the lipid profile of the patients.Conclusions: Lipid profile can be used as sensitive indicators of hepatic function and may have diagnostic and prognostic importance in infective hepatitis

Measuring R&D Demographics to Assess the Potential for Technological Innovation of SMEs in India

“Innovation is one of the best-known indicators of organizational competitive advantage. However, little is known about the innovation behavior of SMEs in developing countries. The capacity of SMEs to be lean, flexible and agile makes their potential for innovation, high. Their R&amp;D demographics is a good indicator of whether they will be potentially innovative or not. It is with this aim that we studied the R&amp;D characteristics of Indian SMEs. The survey methodology was used. The questionnaire method was used for data collection. A sample of 55 Indian SME organizations in the pharmaceuticals, information technology, machine tools and precision tools sectors were surveyed. The metrics used to measure R&amp;D demographics included spread of R&amp;D activities within the SMEs, R&amp;D expenditure of the SMEs, education levels of the SMEs, collaborations of the SMEs for technology acquisition and clients of the SMEs between foreign and Indian markets. Implications and policy suggestions are also discussed

Effect of smoking on vitamin C and MDA: a cross sectional comparative study

Background: Plasma gets exposed to the gases present in the smoke of the cigarette which leads to peroxidation. The ascorbic acid present in the body gets oxidized there is danger of derangement of lipid profile. The measure of malondialdehyde which is formed in lipid peroxidation reaction is indicative of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress seen among the smokers has been attributed to high MDA levels. Objective was to study the effect of smoking on vitamin C and MDA.Methods: Present study was cross sectional study. Two groups of subjects were compared. Out of 100 study subjects, 25 were non smokers and were kept in one group. Remaining 75 were smokers. These two groups were compared to find out how the smoking habit affects the MDA as well as vitamin C levels among them.Results: The levels of MDA were more in smokers compared to those who did not smoke and this difference was significant. The levels of vitamin C were less in smokers compared to those who did not smoke and this difference was significant (p<0.05). It was found that the MDA levels were significantly more among all degrees of smokers. It was less in smokers with mild degree compared to smokers with heavy or moderate degree. Level of vitamin C was more in non smokers compared to smokers. Mild degree of smokers had better levels of vitamin C compared to moderate degree of smokers.Conclusions: Smoking affects the vitamin C levels and MDA levels in the human body

A study of serum lipid profile in smokers and non-smokers: evaluation of role of smoking on lipid profile

Background: Several studies have reported elevated blood cholesterol levels among persons who regularly smoke cigarettes and lowered blood cholesterol levels among persons quitting smoking. Other studies have also shown that smoking lowers high density lipoprotein level, resulting in an increased risk of coronary heart disease. Smoking also leads to increase in LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The objective was to study serum lipid profile in smokers and non-smokers.Methods: A cross sectional comparative study was carried in 100 subjects. The subjects were divided into two groups. First group consisted of 25 nonsmokers and second group of 75 smokers. The group of 75 smokers was again divided into three equal sub groups of 25 each depending upon the duration and intensity of smoking. Concentration of serum total cholesterol and HDL was determined by Zak’s method. Concentration of serum LDL and VLDL cholesterol was determined by Friedwald’s formula. Concentration of serum triglyceride level was determined by enzymatic end point peroxidase coupled method.Results: All the values of lipid profile i.e., total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, VLDL were found to be significantly higher among the smokers compared to the non-smokers. HDL value was significantly lower among smokers. As the degree of smoking increased from mild to heavy smokers, the values of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and VLDL increased. The degree of smoking was inversely proportional to HDL values i.e., the HDL value decreased as the smoking degree increased.Conclusions: Thus, it can be said based on the present study that smoking affects and deranges the lipid profile of the person

Evaluation of nootropic activity of Curcuma longa leaves in diazepam and scopolamine-induced amnesic mice and rats

Background: The present study was undertaken to assess the nootropic activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Curcuma longa leaves (HAECL) in diazepam-induced amnesia in mice using Morris water maze method and scopolamine-induced amnesia in rats by using elevated plus maze behavioral paradigm and its effect on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and reduced glutathione (GSH) level were carried out.Methods: Amnesia was induced by administration of diazepam (1 mg/kg i.p.) and scopolamine (0.4 mg/kg i.p.) and treatment groups received HAECL (200 and 400 mg/kg p.o) for 14 and 10 days in scopolamine and diazepam-induced amnesia model, respectively. The extent of improvement in memory was measured by behavioral paradigm. Finally, animals were sacrificed, and the whole brain was isolated for estimation of concentration of AChE and reduced GSH levels.Results: The oral treatment with HAECL with a dose 400 mg/kg has shown an enhancement in the memory function compared to 200 mg/kg.Conclusion: This could be by inhibiting the levels of cholinesterase concentration  of enzyme and thereby increasing the concentration of acetylcholine level in brain and improving cognition-memory performance

Disordered quantum walk-induced localization of a Bose-Einstein condensate

We present an approach to induce localization of a Bose-Einstein condensate in a one-dimensional lattice under the influence of unitary quantum walk evolution using disordered quantum coin operation. We introduce a discrete-time quantum walk model in which the interference effect is modified to diffuse or strongly localize the probability distribution of the particle by assigning a different set of coin parameters picked randomly for each step of the walk, respectively. Spatial localization of the particle/state is explained by comparing the variance of the probability distribution of the quantum walk in position space using disordered coin operation to that of the walk using an identical coin operation for each step. Due to the high degree of control over quantum coin operation and most of the system parameters, ultracold atoms in an optical lattice offer opportunities to implement a disordered quantum walk that is unitary and induces localization. Here we present a scheme to use a Bose-Einstein condensate that can be evolved to the superposition of its internal states in an optical lattice and control the dynamics of atoms to observe localization. This approach can be adopted to any other physical system in which controlled disordered quantum walk can be implemented.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, published versio