To compare the effects of intra vaginal prostaglandin E1 and intra-cervical prostaglandin E2 for prelabour ripening of unfavorable uterine cervix in nulliparous women

Background: Induction of labour by use of prostaglandins improves the obstetric outcome in complicated cases such as prolonged deliveries. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) for prelabour ripening of unfavourable uterine cervix in nulliparous women, to study the effect of PGE1 and PGE2 on duration of labor and to evaluate the obstetrical and neonatal outcome of induction of labour using prostaglandins E1 and E2.Methods: This was a prospective study conducted on 50 nulliparous women with singleton pregnancy with gestational age ≥37 weeks during the period from August 2008 to October 2010 in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Bombay Hospital Institute of Medical Sciences and Allied Hospitals, Mumbai. All the 50 patients were divided into two groups. Group-1 containing 25 patients received intravaginal PGE1, (Tablet Misoprostol 25 mcg) inserted in the posterior vaginal fornix under all aseptic precautions. Group-2 containing 25 patients received intracervical PGE2, (Dinoprostone gel, 0.5 mg). Analysis and comparison of various parameters like induction- delivery interval, Bishops score before and after administration of drug, mode of delivery, neonatal outcome, foeto-maternal complications between the two groups were noted and analysed the data statistically by using Chi-square, continuity correction, Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney tests.Results: Majority of the patients in both the groups were under the age of 23-27 years. Post-datism was the common indication noticed in 18 (72%) and 13 (52%) patients of both the groups respectively. Maximum patients had a Bishop’s score of 3 in PGE1 (56%) and PGE2 groups (48%) respectively. The improvement in Bishop’s score in both the groups before and after drug administration was 6.20 and 6.76 respectively. Maximum patients in both the groups went into active labour within six hours of induction of labour. The most common side effects seen in our study was nausea and vomiting in both groups. Majority (23) were born with Apgar score 8-10 in group 1 and 21 for group 2 patients.Conclusions: Both the drugs had similar efficacy and safety in induction of labour. Prospective research is required to fully evaluate the impact of AMOR-IPAT on nulliparous birth outcomes

Coal Washing Pilot Plants at Central Fuel Research Institute, Jealgora, India

The plan, design and selection of industrial coal washers require the proper assessment of a number of factors which can be summarised as follows: (1) Methods of Mining, mode of transport and handling at the collieries as well as inside the washery and their resultant effect on the size of the coal fed to the washery. (2) Requirement of the consumers as regards size, quality and moisture content of the washed products. (3) Washability characteristics of the deals to be cleaned. (4) Limitations and efficiency of the different types of washing plants. (5) Capital and recurring expenses etc. etc

Transcriptional regulation of PRPF31 gene expression by MSR1 repeat elements causes incomplete penetrance in retinitis pigmentosa.

PRPF31-associated retinitis pigmentosa presents a fascinating enigma: some mutation carriers are blind, while others are asymptomatic. We identify the major molecular cause of this incomplete penetrance through three cardinal features: (1) there is population variation in the number (3 or 4) of a minisatellite repeat element (MSR1) adjacent to the PRPF31 core promoter; (2) in vitro, 3-copies of the MSR1 element can repress gene transcription by 50 to 115-fold; (3) the higher-expressing 4-copy allele is not observed among symptomatic PRPF31 mutation carriers and correlates with the rate of asymptomatic carriers in different populations. Thus, a linked transcriptional modifier decreases PRPF31 gene expression that leads to haploinsufficiency. This result, taken with other identified risk alleles, allows precise genetic counseling for the first time. We also demonstrate that across the human genome, the presence of MSR1 repeats in the promoters or first introns of genes is associated with greater population variability in gene expression indicating that copy number variation of MSR1s is a generic controller of gene expression and promises to provide new insights into our understanding of gene expression regulation

Probing a ferromagnetic critical regime using nonlinear susceptibility

The second order para-ferromagnetic phase transition in a series of amorphous alloys (Fe{_5}Co{_{50}}Ni{_{17-x}}Cr{_x}B{_{16}}Si{_{12}}) is investigated using nonlinear susceptibility. A simple molecular field treatment for the critical region shows that the third order suceptibility (chi{_3}) diverges on both sides of the transition temperature, and changes sign at T{_C}. This critical behaviour is observed experimentally in this series of amorphous ferromagnets, and the related assymptotic critical exponents are calculated. It is shown that using the proper scaling equations, all the exponents necessary for a complete characterization of the phase transition can be determined using linear and nonlinear susceptiblity measurements alone. Using meticulous nonlinear susceptibility measurements, it is shown that at times chi{_3} can be more sensitive than the linear susceptibility (chi{_1}) in unravelling the magnetism of ferromagnetic spin systems. A new technique for accurately determining T{_C} is discussed, which makes use of the functional form of chi{_3} in the critical region.Comment: 11 Figures, Submitted to Physical Review

Transcriptional regulation of PRPF31 gene expression by MSR1 repeat elements causes incomplete penetrance in retinitis pigmentosa.

PRPF31-associated retinitis pigmentosa presents a fascinating enigma: some mutation carriers are blind, while others are asymptomatic. We identify the major molecular cause of this incomplete penetrance through three cardinal features: (1) there is population variation in the number (3 or 4) of a minisatellite repeat element (MSR1) adjacent to the PRPF31 core promoter; (2) in vitro, 3-copies of the MSR1 element can repress gene transcription by 50 to 115-fold; (3) the higher-expressing 4-copy allele is not observed among symptomatic PRPF31 mutation carriers and correlates with the rate of asymptomatic carriers in different populations. Thus, a linked transcriptional modifier decreases PRPF31 gene expression that leads to haploinsufficiency. This result, taken with other identified risk alleles, allows precise genetic counseling for the first time. We also demonstrate that across the human genome, the presence of MSR1 repeats in the promoters or first introns of genes is associated with greater population variability in gene expression indicating that copy number variation of MSR1s is a generic controller of gene expression and promises to provide new insights into our understanding of gene expression regulation

Half-lives and pre-supernova weak interaction rates for nuclei away from the stability line

A detailed model for the calculation of beta decay rates of the $fp$ shell nuclei for situations prevailing in pre-supernova and collapse phases of evolution of the core of massive stars leading to supernova explosion has been extended for electron-capture rates. It can also be used to determine the half-lives of neutron-rich nuclei in the $fp/fpg$ shell. The model uses an averaged Gamow-Teller (GT) strength function. But it can also use the experimental log ft values and GT strength function from $(n,p)$ reaction studies wherever available. The calculated rate includes contributions from each of the low-lying excited states of the mother including some specific resonant states ("back resonance") having large GT matrix elements.Comment: 11 pages; Latex; no figs; version to appear in J. Phys.