Independent Complementary Distance Pattern Uniform Graphs

AgraphG =(V,E) is called to be Smarandachely uniform k-graph for an integer k ≥ 1ifthereexistsM1,M2, ·· ·,Mk ⊂ V (G) such that fMi (u) ={d(u, v):v ∈ Mi} for ∀u ∈ V (G)−Mi is independent of the choice of u ∈ V (G)−Mi and integer i, 1 ≤ i ≤ k. Each such set Mi, 1 ≤ i ≤ k is called a CDPU set [6, 7]. Particularly, for k = 1, a Smarandachely uniform 1-graph is abbreviated to a complementary distance pattern uniform graph, i.e., CDPU graphs. This paper studies independent CDPU graphs

Effects of binders on stability and palatability of formulated dry compounded diets for spiny lobster Panulirus homarus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Experimental trials were conducted to formulate a palatable dry compounded diet for subadults of the spiny lobster Panulirus homarus in the size range 103-114 mm, using ingredients derived from natural sources in a desirable combination of 54.5% crude protein. Since the diet exhibited low stability, series of experiments were conducted further using different combinations of binders sourced from plant as well as synthetic origin to derive a stable and palatable pellet diet. Among 35 test diets formulated, diet with good palatability and maximum pellet stability (85.55 ± 5.94% for 8 h) were identified as the pellets made with binders in combination of sodium alginate (3%), ‘stick on’ a commercial phytochemical (1%) and agar agar (3%). This combination of binders was found suitable for artificial pelleted diet prepared for subadults of P. homarus

Pulmonary tuberculosis in HIV individuals: Preliminary report on clinical features and response to treatment

Objectives: To study the clinical, radiological and immunological profile of pulmonary tuberculosis in HIV infected patients and assess the response to short-course chemotherapy regimens. Methods: Seventy eight patients (68 males and 10 females) with HIV infection and having symptoms suggestive of tuberculosis attending the Government Hospital for Thoracic Medicine, Tambaram or the Tuberculosis Research Centre, Chennai were studied. The diagnosis of tuberculosis was based on clinical evaluation, bacteriological examination including sputum smear and culture and chest skiagram. HIV diagnosis was based on two tests (rapid/ELISA), detecting different antigens. CD4+ T cell counts were done on all patients initially and at the end of treatment. Blood tests and skiagrams were repeated at 2 months and at the end of treatment. All the patients were treated with standard (RNTCP) short course regimens. Patients were given all the doses under supervision during the initial intensive phase and through community DOTS providers in the continuation phase. Results: Sixty five patients had culture confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis, of whom 54 had smear positive disease, initially. The radiological manifestations were varied, with 11 subjects having miliary tuberculosis, 54 with non-homogeneous opacities and 10 with cavitation. The mean CD4 cell count at intake was 192 ± 172 cells/cumm. Patients showed good initial response to treatment with significant weight gain. At the end of 2 months of treatment, 91% of patients had sputum cultures negative for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, the CD4 % fell significantly by the sixth month. The study is being continued to assess the long-term response to SCC of patients with HIV and tuberculosis. Conclusions: Tuberculosis has a varied clinical presentation in patients with HIV infection. The spectrum of radiographic features ranges from normal to a miliary pattern. Inspite of clinical and bacteriological improvement during treatment, immunologic deterioration may continue

Adherence to Medications among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Three Districts of Al Dakhliyah Governorate, Oman : A cross-sectional pilot study

Objectives: This pilot study aimed to assess the medication adherence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in three wilayats(districts) of the Al Dakhliyah governorate, Oman, and to identify the probable reasons for medication non-adherence. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based pilot survey was conducted among T2DM Omani patients between February and June 2012 to assess their medication adherence and the relationship between their socio-demographic characteristics and adherence levels. Results: A total of 158 patients participated in the survey. The majority of the participants were unemployed or were housewives (66.5%). Forgetfulness was the most frequent reason for medication non-adherence (36.4%). Participants demonstrated an excellent level of adherence to their medicines (median total score = 3). No significant difference in median total adherence scores was observed based on the evaluated parameters. Conclusion: The medication adherence of T2DM patients in the area under study was good. A larger study in a wider population is warranted to obtain a more representative picture of this important factor which contributes to public health

Assessment of growth responses of Wistar rats fed with a diet containing composite flour premix

Composite flour technology involves the process of mixing cereals and legumes to facilitate the usage of locally available raw materials to produce high-quality food products economically. The present investigation evaluated the growth responses of a composite flour blend formulated using selected cereals, pulses and oil seed (a total of nine grains) were evaluated in two-month-old growing Wistar rats. The feeding trial was conducted for four weeks after an acclimatization period of five days. Daily feed intake and weekly body weight were recorded and parameters such as weight gain, feed conversion efficiency and digestibility of protein were estimated. A significantly higher average final live weight, weekly weight gain and better feed conversion efficiency (p<0.05) were observed in the treatment group. The observed values of digestibility of protein were 84.74 ± 0.85 % and 65.16 ± 0.89 % respectively for the treatment and control diets. Data were analyzed statistically using Analysis of Variance in SPSS 24 software. The investigation revealed that the formulated composite flour premix promotes growth with good protein digestibility in rats and could be used for nutraceutical fortifications to support human life and good health

Critical thickness for ferromagnetism in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures

In heterostructures of LaAlO3 (LAO) and SrTiO3 (STO), two nonmagnetic insulators, various forms of magnetism have been observed [1-7], which may [8, 9] or may not [10] arise from interface charge carriers that migrate from the LAO to the interface in an electronic reconstruction [11]. We image the magnetic landscape [5] in a series of n-type samples of varying LAO thickness. We find ferromagnetic patches that appear only above a critical thickness, similar to that for conductivity [12]. Consequently we conclude that an interface reconstruction is necessary for the formation of magnetism. We observe no change in ferromagnetism with gate voltage, and detect ferromagnetism in a non-conducting p-type sample, indicating that the carriers at the interface do not need to be itinerant to generate magnetism. The fact that the ferromagnetism appears in isolated patches whose density varies greatly between samples strongly suggests that disorder or local strain induce magnetism in a population of the interface carriers

Measurements of the gate tuned superfluid density in superconducting LaAlO3/SrTiO3

The interface between the insulating oxides LaAlO3 and SrTiO3 exhibits a superconducting two-dimensional electron system that can be modulated by a gate voltage. While gating of the conductivity has been probed extensively and gating of the superconducting critical temperature has been demonstrated, the question whether, and if so how, the gate tunes the superfluid density and superconducting order parameter is unanswered. We present local magnetic susceptibility, related to the superfluid density, as a function of temperature, gate voltage and location. We show that the temperature dependence of the superfluid density at different gate voltages collapse to a single curve characteristic of a full superconducting gap. Further, we show that the dipole moments observed in this system are not modulated by the gate voltage

Estimated marine fish landings (in tonnes)in India during 2002 and 2003

Estimated marine fishing landing in India during 2002 and 2003 is 2.59 and 2.58 millon tonnes respectively. Gear wise landing were also estimated during this period

Effect of thermization of dahi on post fermentation acidification during refrigerated storage

Post fermentation acidification is defined as the development of acidity past the desired level of fermentation or acid development. Effect of thermization at 65oC for different periods (30 sec, 60 sec, 2 min and 5 min) on post fermentation acidification of dahi samples prepared using Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus 18 or Lacticaseibacillus casei 01 upon refrigerated storage was assessed in this study. Significant changes (p< 0.01) were observed between the two starter cultures in terms of their post acidification potential with L. rhamnosus 18 dahi showing lower pH, higher titratable acidity and lactobacilli count than L. casei 01 during refrigerated storage. On assessing the impact of heat treatment on post acidification, significant decrease (p< 0.05) in pH, increase (p< 0.01) in titratable acidity and lactobacilli count of the heat treated and control samples were observed throughout the storage. Based on this study, it can be inferred that heat treatment at 65oC for even upto 5 min is not having any significant inhibitory effect on post fermentation acidification characteristics of the lactobacilli cultures tested

Insights into the Recent Advances in Nanomaterial Based Electrochemical Sensors for Pesticides in Food

Food safety is one of the rising concerns challenging all over the world and the analysis and determination of food contaminants to ensure the quality of food is highly inevitable. Electroanalytical sensors are a versatile tool for the accurate monitoring of food samples from the pollutants. Pesticides are one of the major sources of food pollutants and their impacts on human health is also very dangerous. This will trigger the researchers to develop more and more sensitive devices to monitor the level of various pesticides in various food samples, especially in agricultural products. Electrochemical sensors fabricated using nanocomposites offers more sensitive electrochemical response in the detection of these pesticides than traditional unmodified electrodes. This prompted us to write a mini review on the electrochemical sensors for pesticides in food using nanomaterials as modifiers from some of the previous reports. This review will motivate the experts working in this area to develop highly efficient sensing devices for pesticides, beneficial to the society as well