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Introduction and Aim: Stroke is one of the prominent causes of long-term disability. Stroke affects everyone uniquely depending on the level and location of the area affected in the brain and how long the brain tissue was deprived of oxygen. Individuals with stroke usually demonstrate changes in breathing patterns, decreased strength of respiratory muscles, and decreased ventilatory function. The aim of the study is to assess the effects of water aerobics on the pulmonary function of people with stroke. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in a clinical setup. A total number of 16 subjects were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. All the subjects received water aerobic exercises for 40minutes sessions for 4days per week for 12weeks. Pre- and Post-treatment assessments were done by measuring chest expansion and forced vital capacity. Results: All the 16 subjects completed the 12 weeks water aerobics intervention. After 12 weeks post treatment assessments were taken. The outcome measures, of chest expansion and forced vital capacity showed a significant improvement. Conclusion: The results of this study show that there is a significant improvement in the chest expansion and pulmonary function after giving water aerobics intervention.

Background: The study aims to know the safety and effectiveness of a stent with a string attached after ureteroscopy (URS) for self-removal of the stent by the patient in our practice. Subjects and Methods: After Institutional Review Board approval, a chart review was performed concerning patients who underwent URS & received an indwelling stent with or without a string attached to the stent (55 vs. 65, respectively). Statistical analyses included chi-square and Student’s t-tests. Results: The string group consisted of 55patients, in which 32.7% of the patients were male. In the no-string group, 33.8% of the 65 patients were males. No significant difference in complication rates between both groups (P-value = 0.317). Stent duration (Indwell time) was significantly more in no string group (13.32days) compared to the string group (6.28days). In the string group, stent dislodgement has significant (P-value = 0.0183), can be easily overcome by patient education. Post-procedural pain was significant in no string group (P-value = 0.0233). Conclusion: The use of a stent with an Extraction string after URS appears safe and effective and offers several advantages without increasing stent-related urinary symptoms, complications, or postoperative morbidity.

Calsequestrin (CASQ) is a major Ca2+-storage/buffer protein present in the sarcoplasmic reticulum of both skeletal (CASQ1) and cardiac (CASQ2) muscles. CASQ has significant affinity for a number of pharmaceutical drugs with known muscular toxicities. Our approach, with in silico molecular docking, single crystal X-ray diffraction, and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), identified three distinct binding pockets on the surface of CASQ2, which overlap with 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol (MPD) binding sites observed in the crystal structure. Those three receptor sites based on canine CASQ1 crystal structure gave a high correlation (R2 = 0.80) to our ITC data. Daunomycin, doxorubicin, thioridazine, and trifluoperazine showed strong affinity to the S1 site, which is a central cavity formed between three domains of CASQ2. Some of the moderate-affinity drugs and some high-affinity drugs like amlodipine and verapamil displayed their binding into S2 sites, which are the thioredoxin-like fold present in each CASQ domain. Docking predictions combined with dissociation constants imply that presence of large aromatic cores and less flexible functional groups determines the strength of binding affinity to CASQ. In addition, the predicted binding pockets for both caffeine and epigallocatechin overlapped with the S1 and S2 sites, suggesting competitive inhibition by these natural compounds as a plausible explanation for their antagonistic effects on cardiotoxic side effects.

Efficacy of certain fungicides and non-conventional chemicals against Aspergillus spp. contamination and subsequent aflatoxin production in rice was investigated. Among the 10 fungicides tested, carbendazim, contaf plus, folicur, propiconazole and saaf completely inhibited the growth of all Aspergillus spp. and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) production at 1 g or ml/kg concentration. Of the five non-conventional chemicals tested, benzoic acid effectively inhibited the mycelial growth of Aspergillus flavus (72%) at 4 g/kg, completely inhibited the Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus niger even at 1 g/kg and Aspergillus ochraceus at 4 g/kg concentration. Vanillin completely reduced the AFB1 production at 4 g/kg of seed followed by sodium chloride with out inhibiting the mycelial growth. This study reveals that fungicides and non-conventional chemicals had effectively inhibited the mycelial growth of Aspergillus spp. and AFB1 production in rice.

Twenty-two aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) producing Aspergillus flavus strains were isolated from 1,200 discolored rice grain samples collected from 20 states across India and tested their potential to produce AFB1 on different agar media. Further these isolates were characterized through randomly amplified polymorphic DNA method. All the strains of A. flavus were produced AFB1 on yeast extract sucrose agar media and none of the strains on A. flavus and A. parasiticus agar. Among the 22 strains, two strains from Tamil Nadu (DRAf 009) and Maharashtra (DRAf 015) produced high amount of AFB1 in all the media tested. To assess the genetic variability in A. flavus, the isolates were analyzed by using random amplified polymorphic DNA markers. Isolates showed 17–80% similarity with standard culture of A. flavus (MTCC 2799).

Learning Point for Clinicians Hyperemesis gravidarum occurs in ∼1% of all pregnancies. One- to two-thirds of these women develop gestational hyperthyroidism due to β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG)- mediated activation of the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor. Thiamine has a limited storage pool of only a few weeks and an acute deficiency leading to Wernicke’s encephalopathy can occur in the setting of hyperemesis gravidarum and gestational hyperthyroidism. An 18-year-old primigravida presented with a fall at 16 weeks gestation. She had experienced persistent nausea, vomiting and weight loss since conception. On examination, angular stomatitis, confusion, ataxia, horizontal nystagmus, ophthalmoplegia and bilateral lower limb weakness were noted. Investigations revealed ketonuria but with normal blood chemistry. β Human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) levels (81 290 IU/L) were consistent with gestation and abdominal ultrasound confirmed a 16-week singleton pregnancy. A provisional diagnosis of hyperemesis gravidarum with Wernicke’s encephalopathy was made. Consistent with this, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed bilateral …

The gene flow technique for predicting response to selection with overlapping generations is formulated in terms of demographic parameters for stage-structured population and illustrated with a sequential selection scheme in dairy cows.

The gene flow technique for predicting response to selection in random mating populations with overlapping generations is extended to cover any system of mating and illustrated with full-sibbing.

In analogy to the concept of breeding value defined for random mating equilibrium populations, the “transmittable genetic value” of an individual is defined as the average value of its expected progeny for any system of mating. The genotypic value is then characterised in terms of transmittable and residual genetic values and components of genetic variance redefined which can be estimated by the conventional procedure based on resemblance between relatives.

A general expression for response to selection appropriate for both random and non-random mating situations is derived and illustrated with full-sibbing.

The objective of this research work was to investigate the environmental aspects of Pongamia bio-fuel blends and diesel in a Thermal Barrier Coated (TBC) diesel engine with the influence of fuel injection pressure. The combustion chamber components including inlet and exhaust valves, cylinder head and piston crown were coated with yttria stabilized zirconia ceramic material over nickel aluminium alloy bond coat for 300 μm thickness. Biodiesel obtained by Transesterification process from non-edible Pongamia pinnata oil was blended with diesel in various proportions from 0–30% in steps of 5% by volume. Injection pressure was varied from 210 bar to 240 bar in steps of 10 bar by means of adjusting the injector spring tension. The effect of fuel injection pressure for specified biodiesel blends and diesel at full load are studied. Experimental results confirmed that in coated engine biodiesel blend 15% by volume (B15) with diesel showed significant reduction in emissions carbon monoxide (CO) of about 50%, unburnt hydrocarbon (UHC) of 26.5%, smoke of 20% with slightly higher values of 2.37% oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and 5.17% of carbon di oxide (CO2) at 230 bar injection pressure in full load condition compared with uncoated engine. Increase of injection pressure improved heat release rate of about 5.21%, 4.65% for diesel and blend B15 in coated engine and the occurrence of peak heat release rate is earlier around 2°CA before diesel fuel in coated engine at 230 bar pressure for blend B15. From the test results, it was found that blend B15 causes better atomization with improved emission characteristics at 230 bar injection pressure.

The methylation status of the nuclear DNA from a mealybug, aPlanococcus species, has been studied. Analysis of this DNA by High Performance Liquid Chromatography and Thin Layer Chromatography revealed the presence of significant amounts of 5-—methylcytosine. Since analysis of DNA methylation using the Msp I/Hpa II system showed only minor differences in susceptibility of the DNA to the two enzymes, it seemed possible that 5-methylcytosine (5mC) occurred adjacent to other nucleotides in addition to its usual position, next to guanosine. This was verified by dinucleotide analysis of DNA labelledin vitro by nick translation. These data show that the total amount of 5-methylcytosine in this DNA is slightly over 2.3 mol %, of which 0.61% occurs as the dinucleotide 5mCpG, 0.68% as 5mCpA, 0.59% as 5mCpT and 0.45% as 5mCpC. 5mCpG represents approximately 3.3% of all CpG dinucleotides. The experimental procedure would not have permitted the detection of 5mCp5mC, if it occurs in this system. Unusually high amounts of 6-methyladenine (approximately 4 mol %) and 7-methylguanine (approximately 2 mol %) were also detected, 6-methyladenine and 7-methylguanine occurred adjacent to all four nucleotides. The total G+C content was 33.7% as calculated from dinucleotide data and 32.9% as determined from melting profiles.

The expression of Neisseria gonorrhoeae opacity protein shows frequent phase transitions. The genome contains at least twelve copies of the opa gene. Each copy is complete and different from most of the others in certain hypervariable regions. All opa genes are constitutively transcribed. Part of the leader peptide of all Op's is encoded by repetitive CTTCT pentameric units, the so-called coding repeat (CR). The number of repeat units found in the genes and mRNAs is subject to frequent and precise changes. Such changes affect the expression of individual opa genes at the translational level. This control mechanism is common also to the class 5 proteins of N. meningitidis and the Op-related proteins of N. lactamica.