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In this article, effect of random machine breakdown along with random repair time for a manufacture unit exposed to exponentially decreasing rate due to machine breakdown. Production is taken as directly proportional to demand and greater than demand. The model is proposed for demand as stock dependent and also for fixed demand. The unit is also producing deteriorating items. Comparison of expected lost sale cost has been made by considering demand as stock dependent and then as fixed. Using uniform probability density function expected manufacturing time is estimated. The work is done to compare both the demands and then come to a decision for the manufacture system to optimize the expected overall cost with respect to time, subjected to random machine breakdown. To summarize the model a numerical example is also discussed.

A retrospective analysis of causes of dystocia was conducted on 78 dystocia cases in cattle and buffalo presented to the Veterinary Clinical Complex of the College, Navania, Udaipur (Rajasthan, India) to find out the incidence of different causes of dystocia in this particular area. The high incidence of dystocia found in cattle was of fetal mal-disposition (46.87%), while in buffalo it was of uterine torsion (41.30%). Other causes of dystocia with low incidence in both the species included fetal emphysema, fetal monster, narrow pelvis, fetal dropsy and fetal oversize.

The research will involve collecting data on consumer behavior, demographics, geographic location, and competitors. The study will also analyze Pepsi's sales data, market share, and pricing strategies to determine how effective they are in achieving the company's objectives. In addition, the research will evaluate the quality control, inventory management, and forecasting techniques employed by Pepsi to maintain product quality and ensure adequate stock levels.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the addition of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) and Ginger (Zingiber officinale) alone and in combination on feed intake and growth performance in broilers. A total of 180 one-day-old broiler chicks (VENCOBB) were brooded for 2 weeks, then randomly allocated into four treatments with three replicates of 15 birds each. Group T1 Birds were fed on basal diet, T2 and T3 supplemented with turmeric powder and ginger powder @1.5 %, respectively, and T4 group birds were fed 0.75 % turmeric powder and 0.75% ginger powder in combination. All the treatment groups were further divided into three replicates, viz., R1, R2, and R3 (n=15 chick each). Statistical analysis of data revealed that there were no significant differences in the overall average daily feed intake and weekly feed intake but there was a highly significant difference (p less than 0.01) in the body weight at the end of the 6th week in T2 group as compared to other treatment groups. It was concluded that supplementation of diet with turmeric powder @ 1.5% improved the growth performance in broilers.

Purpose The role of information and communications technology (ICT) has been tested in various contexts of online shopping and the results show that ICT has successfully transformed the way of doing business. This study aims to propose that if women have adequate internet skills, namely, operative, informational and creative skills, their entrepreneurial intentions will be high. Design/methodology/approach This is descriptive research. The data was collected from 246 university students and analyzed using PLS-SEM. Findings The results of the study show that students belonging to entrepreneurial backgrounds have a positive attitude toward entrepreneurship. The impact of internet skills was mixed on the relationship of entrepreneurial attitude and entrepreneurial intention. Research limitations/implications The sample was not generalized as the sample consisted of urban and internet-using women. Future research can test the model for rural women entrepreneurs or usage of m-commerce for the same. Practical implications The results of the study show that women having the skills to operate the internet have higher intentions to become an entrepreneur. Thus, the e-commerce web-space can use the results to influence women of the new generation to use available tools in their journey of entrepreneurship. Social implications Women are an indispensable part of society. Empowering them will not only improve their confidence but will also strengthen the pillars of society. Originality/value Extensive research work has been done in the context of women entrepreneurship. The study is a novel attempt to test the effects of internet skills on entrepreneurial intention among new generation women. The results will be very much useful for future research and will extend the body of academic literature.

???????????? ???? ??????????, ???????????? ?? ?????? ?????????? ?[1] Maha Upanishad of Sam Veda tradition propounds that for noble persons who know the supreme truth, whole world is one family. Ancient Indians believed in sarve bhavantu sukhina or happiness of globe. When these Vedic principles are read with the eternal law of Dharma, concept of Vedic Bhumandalikaran (globalisation based on values of Veda) evolves. English philosopher Jeremy Bentham formulated, ‘greatest happiness of the greatest number’. Western 'primum non nocere' means first do no harm. John Stuart Mill stressed that power can be applied upon any member of society only to prevent harm. But LPGC- Liberalization, privatization and globalization when associate with corruption prepare the way for exploitation of some by others. Corruptocracy in the name of democracy and capitalism in the name of development have become tools of ‘minimum number of elites to swallow the share of maximum numbers’. In the contemporary materialistic and selfish world high ethical values are losing their significance. Accumulation of wealth not only for the use of oneself but for increasing red tapes has become ‘modern way of life’. This status improving property of wealth alarmingly proliferating outlawed traits among people of the world. **** [1] Mantra VI-72, Maha Upanishad of Sam Veda legacy

The actomyosin network is involved in crucial cellular processes including morphogenesis, cell adhesion, apoptosis, proliferation, differentiation, and collective cell migration in Drosophila, Caenorhabditis elegans, and mammals. Here, we demonstrate that Drosophila larval blood stem-like progenitors require actomyosin activity for their maintenance. Genetic loss of the actomyosin network from progenitors caused a decline in their number. Likewise, the progenitor population increased upon sustained actomyosin activation via phosphorylation by Rho-associated kinase. We show that actomyosin positively regulates larval blood progenitors by controlling the maintenance factor Cubitus interruptus (Ci). Overexpression of the maintenance signal via a constitutively activated construct (ci.HA) failed to sustain Ci-155 in the absence of actomyosin components like Zipper (zip) and Squash (sqh), thus favoring protein kinase A (PKA)-independent regulation of Ci activity. Furthermore, we demonstrate that a change in cortical actomyosin assembly mediated by DE-cadherin modulates Ci activity, thereby determining progenitor status. Thus, loss of cell adhesion and downstream actomyosin activity results in desensitization of the progenitors to Hh signaling, leading to their differentiation. Our data reveal how cell adhesion and the actomyosin network cooperate to influence patterning, morphogenesis, and maintenance of the hematopoietic stem-like progenitor pool in the developing Drosophila hematopoietic organ.

Country like India is mostly dependent upon the agriculture produce as even in the twenty-first-century agriculture is the backbone of Indian economy. The main challenge for any activity is to know whether it is going to survive. This study focuses on determining the profitability and sustainability of tea and pineapple growers. Both the plantation grows well in the studied region. The researcher used a structured questionnaire for collecting data from the growers. Cost-Benefit Ratio, Profit volume, break-even point, Margin of safety, and profit is ascertained in the study. In both the plantation the results show the CBR is greater than one, which implies it is economically feasible. The total cost of planting tea in one acre of land is Rs 189505. Whereas the total cost pineapple plantation is Rs 49600. The average total revenue that planters generate from sales proceeds of tea is Rs 400925 and for pineapple is Rs 287000 from one acre of land. The tea planters are earning a net profit of Rs 211420 and pineapple planters are earning a net profit of Rs 237400. It can be said that the growers earn a fairly good sum of money. None of the pineapple growers are using any kind of fertilizer or chemicals which make them organic and healthy to consume. Both tea and pineapple Plantation can generate good revenue and are feasible investment decisions to take on, among the two pineapples is generating more revenue than tea.

The main purpose of the study was to examine the role of mobile technology in shopping of grocery items among consumers. The objectives of the study were accomplished by using the technology acceptance model (TAM) which was used as the base of the study to test how Indian consumers perceive the use of technology in shopping of grocery using mobile applications (mobile apps). The research design is descriptive in nature. The respondents were selected through purposive and snowball sampling. Primary data were collected through self-administered questionnaire, and 346 usable responses were recorded. The data were analysed using the partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach. All the hypotheses of TAM were supported. Additionally, perceived usefulness and attitude were found to partially mediate the relationships. The study concluded that consumers are well adapted to use of mobile apps for general shopping but influence of mobile app as a tool was found limited in grocery sector in consistence to previous studies. This shows that there may be other reasons that reduce the use of mobile apps for grocery shopping other than technology. The study theoretically extends the knowledge of consumer behaviour in emerging field of m-commerce, and practically, it will help the m-commerce practitioners to understand need of the consumer.

Stem cell compartments in metazoa get regulated by systemic factors as well as local stem cell niche-derived factors. However, the mechanisms by which systemic signals integrate with local factors in maintaining tissue homeostasis remain unclear. Employing the Drosophila lymph gland, which harbors differentiated blood cells, and stem-like progenitor cells and their niche, we demonstrate how a systemic signal interacts and harmonizes with local factor/s to achieve cell type-specific tissue homeostasis. Our genetic analyses uncovered a novel function of Lar, a receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase. Niche-specific loss of Lar leads to upregulated insulin signaling, causing increased niche cell proliferation and ectopic progenitor differentiation. Insulin signaling assayed by PI3K activation is downregulated after the second instar larval stage, a time point that coincides with the appearance of Lar in the hematopoietic niche. We further demonstrate that Lar physically associates with InR and serves as a negative regulator for insulin signaling in the Drosophila larval hematopoietic niche. Whether Lar serves as a localized invariable negative regulator of systemic signals such as insulin in other stem cell niches remains to be explored.

Stem cell compartments in metazoa get regulated by systemic factors as well as local stem cell niche derived factors. However, mechanisms by which systemic signal integrate with local factors in maintaining tissue homeostasis remains enigmatic. Employing the Drosophila lymph gland, which harbors differentiated blood cells, stem-like progenitor cells, and their niche, we demonstrate how a systemic signal interacts and harmonizes with local factor/s to achieve cell-type-specific tissue homeostasis. Our genetic analyses uncovered a novel function of Lar (Leukocyte Antigen Related like), a Receptor Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase. Niche-specific loss of Lar leads to up-regulated insulin signaling, causing increased niche cell proliferation and ectopic progenitor differentiation. Insulin signaling assayed by PI3K activation is down-regulated post-second instar larval stage, a time point that coincides with the appearance of Lar in the hematopoietic niche. We further demonstrate that Lar physically associates with InR and serves as a negative regulator for insulin signaling in Drosophila larval hematopoietic niche. Whether Lar serves as a localized invariable negative regulator of systemic signals like insulin in other stem cell niches remains to be explored.

Background: The nephron is the functional and structural unit of the kidney and greatly varies in its structure among different vertebrates; also the formation of nephron shows a variable degree of differences among species. This study was done to compare the size of the renal corpuscle, glomerulus, and urinary space between human and goat kidneys. Methodology: This observational descriptive type of the study was done in the Department of Anatomy, Government Medical College, Kota from December 2019 to January 2021, after seeking proper approval from the Institutional Review Board and Ethical Committee for the study. Seventy human and 70 goat kidney tissues were taken for this study. The stained sections were studied under light microscopy for the diameter of renal corpuscles and glomeruli were measured in ×400 by MICAPS camera and software attached on microscope. The observed data were analyzed, and calculated by MedCalc software version 20.0.3. Data were subjected to independent sample t-test and results were compared and were considered significant at P < 0.05. Results: The renal corpuscles had the mean greatest and least diameter of 131.57 μ and 131.49 μ in humans. While respective values were 157.95 μ and 142.61 μ in goats. The glomeruli had mean maximum and minimum diameter of 112.80 μ and 111.60 μ in humans and 128.20 μ and 119.59 μ in goats. Mean urinary space distance that was 9.66 μ and 13.19 μ in humans and goats, respectively. Conclusions: The present is useful for anatomists and veterinary doctors, comparative anatomists, anthropologists, and histologists.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between perceived organizational politics and three levels of antecedents (i.e. organizational, work environment and individual levels) and its consequents. It further aims to examine the relative importance of the three levels of antecedents in influencing employees’ POP. The study has been conducted at a central university in India. Design/methodology/approach A conceptual framework and a set of hypotheses were first developed on the basis of a review of previous studies of organizational politics (OP). A questionnaire was then developed, carrying 55 items related to eight constructs and the demographic characteristics of its respondents. Judgmental sampling was used to choose the university. The respondents were selected on the basis of convenience. Primary data were collected via a structured questionnaire from 45 faculty members at the university. The sample was made up of professors, associate professors and assistant professors from its various departments. To test the hypotheses, data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equations modeling (PLS-SEM). Findings The results have indicated that all the three levels of antecedents have significant impacts on POP. The antecedents of workforce diversity (the organizational level), relationship conflict (the work environment level) and a need for power (the individual level) have a significant positive impact on POP. No relationship was found between role conflict and POP. Of the three levels of antecedents, it was observed that the organizational level contributed most significantly to POP. Of the three consequences, the intention to turnover and job anxiety were found to be positively related to POP, while organizational commitment was negatively related to it. Practical implications The study provides managerial insights for both organizations and managers. Workforce diversity is a primary driver of POP and it is under the purview of organizations. Thus, to control the unfavorable consequences of POP, organizations must design effective policies to manage workforce diversity. Specifically, human resource processes must be formalized. Since human managers often make decisions in favor of those who are relatively homogeneous to them (homosocial reproduction), the distribution of resources and benefits is restricted to a few people only. Those who do not get their share of organizational resources perceive such acts of homosocial reproduction to be political. If policies are formalized, people have to take decisions within the boundaries of well-defined sets of rules and procedures. Those who are not homogeneous with decision-makers (the outgroup) should get a fair share of organizational resources in such a formalized environment. They neither need to play political games to gain power, nor will they perceive the organizational processes and environment to be political. It is also suggested that managers design effective development programs for enhancing the political skills of “outgroups” and minorities. This would help them to understand how to deal with political situations. Thus, the detrimental effects of employees’ political perceptions on work-related outcomes would be reduced. Originality/value Although a large number of studies on the antecedents and consequents of POP have been reported, the antecedents and consequences mentioned herein have never been examined previously by a single study. Four antecedents are introduced at three levels. Furthermore, in previous research, the relationships examined have treated OP either as a dependent variable or an independent variable. However, for this paper, the authors have provided a PLS-SEM-based model, which allows for simultaneous treatment of organizational politics as an independent variable in some relationships, and as a dependent variable in other relationships.

Traditional knowledge incorporates knowledge of ecosystem relationships and a code of ethics governing appropriate use of the environment. This code includes rules and conventions promoting desirable ecosystem relations, human-animal interactions and even social relationships, since the latter continue to be established and reaffirmed through hunting and other activities on the land. Traditional knowledge articulates with non-traditional knowledge to form a rich and distinctive understanding of life and the world environment. In this context, systematic and in-depth studies on eco community’s indigenous knowledge capacity building for disaster risk reduction and management are rare in India. Indigenous knowledge, as such, is not well documented, let alone digitized, and is in eminent danger of being lost as its custodians pass away. It is crucial to preserve this valuable body of knowledge and integrate it into modern disaster risk reduction efforts. The inclusion of indigenous people into discussions of climate change and risk reduction cannot be ignored. Lack of organized study in this area has led to vulnerability of communities and the nation as a whole in coping with natural disasters. Several studies are available on the value of indigenous knowledge for natural resource management in Africa and Asia-Pacific countries. However, literature on indigenous knowledge for disaster mitigation and preparedness is scattered and very scarce. Systematic and in-depth studies on disaster mitigation in general and indigenous knowledge in particular would be very useful in this regard. In order to bridge this gap, the present project eventually aimed to designing and development of a web-portal with the name A.A.D.I.GYAN- Augmenting Action for Disaster Management through Indigenous Knowledge; meant to promote a global scale and commonly shared digital platform for dissemination and enrichment of Indigenous knowledge and practices across eco-communities of India and abroad based on a fully developed and functional web-site. This portal is a part of digital library initiatives for documenting, preserving and promoting the role of Indigenous knowledge in mitigating natural and man-made disasters, particularly among Eco-communities. It carries an extensive research database covering various states of India and possibly some other countries and their respective hub-locations (Eco-community/ tribal regions), with a scope to expand at global scale, containing data and information about indigenous activities related to Agriculture, Medicinal plants, Green technology, Healthcare, Education, Environment Management, Socio-Cultural and Spiritual Practices, Employment, Housing etc. It entails a shared web-platform facilitating real-time interactions and exchange of ideas, knowledge and information among all stakeholders -Community, Government, Experts, Researchers, Environmentalists and Academicians. It promises to be a very rich database with an innovative structured classification system for the purpose of systematic arrangement, dissemination and retrieval in order to facilitate further research and distribution of information at global scale. It would have a project team constituted of Environmental Scientist, Consultant, Experts and Academicians. As a project with limited coverage, the work done so far on the above lines has revealed several significant and interesting aspects and applications of traditional knowledge for building long term social, economic and environmental capacities in the eco-communities of India.

Introduction: Dietary consumption of omega-3 fatty acids has been found to be beneficial in patients with dry eye syndrome. Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of dietary omega-3 fatty acids (O3FAs) for dry eye in patients with psoriasis with and without meibomian gland dysfunction. Materials and Methods: An interventional, non-randomized, controlled, multi-center study was done. Psoriatic patients were recruited when they had either dry eye symptoms and/ or Schirmer

In this work, a parameter optimization in turning Inconel 718 for multiple performance characteristics has been attempted. The process parameters viz., cutting speed (v), feed (f) and depth of cut (d) is optimized that minimizes surface roughness (Ra) and tool wear (VB). Response surface methodology (RSM) employing CCD experimental design was used to develop predictive model for Ra and VB. The predictive capability of the model provides the average percentage error as 3.87 % and 5.10% for Ra and VB respectively with maximum percentage error limited to 14.67 %. The data are analysed to study the main effect and interaction effects of machining parameters through surface plot. Feed remains dominating factor. Process parameters are optimized for single and multiple objectives using three different techniques viz., statistical and mathematical approach based desirability analysis (DA) and soft computing based genetic algorithm (GA) and firefly algorithm (FA). The results are compared.

Glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites are extensively used now-a-days in manufacturing various components in aerospace, oil, gas and process industries. It replaces conventional materials due to their excellent properties such as light weight, corrosive resistance and superior properties. Development of predictive modeling and optimization of machining process in producing components is important for machining industries. In this work, fuzzy logic based multi response predictive model development and multi objective optimization of processes parameters using Desirability Function Analysis (DFA) in turning GFRP composite has been attempted. The input variables are cutting speed ( v ), feed rate ( f) and depth of cut ( d ). The responses are surface roughness ( R a), metal removal rate ( MRR ) and tool wear ( VB ). The average percentage error in fuzzy logic prediction obtained as 2.74%, 12.67% and 3.06% for R a, MMR and VB respectively. The optimum level of input parameters for composite desirability was found v 2 f 1 d 3. The corresponding optimum parameter is v =100 m/min, f =0.10 mm/rev and d = 1.5 mm for obtaining combine optimization of R a, MRR and VB having equal weightage. The analysis of variance of composite desirability at 95% confidence level showed that depth of cut is the most significant parameter with 39.38% contribution followed by feed and cutting speed.

Background. Inguinal hernia is one of the most common diseases in the males. Treatment of this pathology is exclusively surgical . While in the past hernia surgery was carried out mainly under general and spinal anesthesia, in recent years there has been growing emphasis on the role of local anesthesia. Local anesthesia for inguinal hernia repair is cost-effective, but fear of intra-operative pain may hinder its widespread use. Objectives.To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of inguinal hernia repair under local anaesthesia. To compare the inguinal hernia repair under local anaesthesia versus spinal anaesthesia in relation with post operative pain, complications and hospital stay. Material and Methods; This prospective study comprised of 50 cases of inguinal hernia which were randomly divided into two groups of 25 each named group A and group B. Inguinal hernia mesh repair was done under local anaesthesia in group A and under spinal anaesthesia in group B. All the parameters were recorded intra and postoperatively in both groups. Data was compiled and subjected to statistical analysis by using "paired student t test". conclusion: Tension-free mesh repair under local anaesthesia is simple, safe, cost effective, very low rates of complications and a speedy discharge.

Introduction: Endothelial cell loss and complications after cataract surgery may be higher when cataract is complicated by uveitis. Objective : To compare endothelial cell damage and complication rates after phacoemulsification and manual small incision cataract surgery (SICS) in patients with uveitis. Materials and methods: Patients with uveitic cataract were randomly allocated for phacoemulsification (n=75) or manual SICS (n=80) in a double blind prospective study. In the bag implantation of a hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lens was aimed in all cases. Patients with follow up of less than six months were excluded. Main outcome measures were alteration in endothelial cell counts (ECC) and morphology, improvement in vision and complication rates. ECC was measured preoperatively and at 1 week, 3 months and six months, postoperatively. Results : Six patients were lost to follow up and another three due inability to implant IOL. There were no significant difference in endothelial cell counts (P= 0.032), the variance of endothelial cell size (CV) and percentage of hexagonal cells between both the groups at six months (Mann-Whitney test, P=0.283). Endothelial cell density was significantly less in the group in which vitrectomy and/or pupil dilatation procedures were performed (2290±31.5 cells/mm 2 ) versus (2385±50.3 cells/mm 2 ), respectively (t test, P

PURPOSE To compare the safety and efficacy of phacoemulsification and manual small incision cataract surgery (SICS) to treat cataract in patients with Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis (FHI). DESIGN A randomized, double-masked, prospective, multicenter study. METHODS Consecutive patients with cataract after FHI were randomly assigned to have phacoemulsification or manual SICS by 1 of 2 surgeons experienced in both techniques. Complications (intraoperatively and postoperatively), operative time, visual acuities, endothelial cell counts, and surgically induced astigmatism were compared. RESULTS At 6 months, 65 (92.8%) patients in the phacoemulsification group and 70 (92.1%) in the manual SICS group had a corrected distance visual acuity of 20/63 or better (P = 0.974). Surgical time was significantly shorter in the SICS group (11.2 ± 2.4 minutes) than in the phacoemulsification group (14.2 ± 3.1 minutes) (P < 0.001). The mean surgically induced astigmatism was 0.8 ± 0.2 diopters (D) in the phacoemulsification group and 1.16 ± 0.2 D in the SICS group (P < 0.001). Endothelial cell counts at 1 week and at 6 months did not differ significantly in the phacoemulsification and SICS groups (t test; P = 0.133 and P = 0.032, respectively). Intraoperatively, 2 (3%) eyes randomized to receive phacoemulsification and 4 (5.3%) eyes randomized to receive SICS had posterior capsular rent (P = 0.465). CONCLUSIONS Both techniques achieved good visual outcomes with low rates of complications. Manual SICS may be a viable alternative for cataract management in patients with FHI in settings with limited access to phacoemulsification.

Limbic encephalitis (LE) is a rarely encountered disease in modern clinical practice. It is basically autoimmune in nature, with its pathophysiology determined by a number of antibodies to neural surface proteins. However, 20% of cases are paraneoplastic and have a tumour source in the body which leads to limbic encephalitis secondarily. Studies have shown that VGKC complex (Voltage Gated Potassium Channels) is one of the common antibodies found in this disease and is represented by three such proteins out of which LGI1 is most prevalent in limbic encephalitis. This entity is characterized by monophasic presentation with acute or subacute onset memory loss, confusion, seizures and psychiatric symptoms. The presence of anti LGI1 antibodies in serum or CSF confirms the diagnosis. We hereby report a case of a 65 year old woman with 8 months history of peripheral neuropathy followed by memory impairment, focal seizures with behavioural and psychiatric changes. No tumour was found on imaging and the classic paraneoplastic panel was negative. However, she was found to be positive for Antibody LGI1 proving autoimmune basis of her illness which responded majorly to immuno-modulatory therapy in the form of high dose steroids.

Background: Iron deficiency anaemia is the most common form of anaemia in India. Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is used in diabetic patients as an index to reflect glucose levels of the previous 3 months. Like blood sugar levels, HbA1c levels are also affected by presence of variant haemoglobin, haemolytic anaemia, nutritional anaemias, uremia, pregnancy and acute blood loss. However, reports on the effects of iron deficiency anaemia on HbA1c levels are inconsistent. We conducted a study to analyze the effects of iron deficiency anaemia on HbA1c levels and to assess whether treatment of iron deficiency anaemia affects HbA1c levels. Methods: Fifty patients confirmed to have iron deficiency anaemia were enrolled in the study. HbA1c levels of them were measured both at baseline and after 3 months of treatment of iron deficiency. These values were also compared with those in the control population. Results: The mean baseline HbA1c level in anaemic patients (6.60) was significantly higher than that of controls (5.48). However, after 3 months of treatment, significant decline from 6.60 to 5.74 was found in HbA1c levels. Conclusions: Our study proved that Iron deficiency anaemia has a straight forward correlation with HbA1c levels and the relationship is inverse between them. This signifies that as the level of haemoglobin drops with increasing severity of iron deficiency in anaemic subjects, at the same time HbA1c levels increase correspondingly. Moreover, with correction of iron deficiency in the anaemic subjects, the HbA1c levels decline to near normal values. Other than blood glucose, many other factors effect calculated HbA1c value which should be kept in mind before doing a therapeutic treatment modification. Iron deficiency anaemia being extremely common in Indian settings should always be ruled out when high HbA1c levels are detected and should be corrected on priority to achieve true levels of HbA1c.

The diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis is still a major challenge. Using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR), one can detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis in clinical samples within a few hours. However, single gene targets may result in false negativity due to the absence of target DNA in some M. tuberculosis isolates. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a multiplex PCR (M-PCR) using IS6110 and devR primers for the detection of M. tuberculosis in sputum samples.Sputum samples were collected from: (1) 200 confirmed cases of tuberculosis; (2) 100 suspected cases of tuberculosis diagnosed on the basis of clinical and radiological findings; (3) 200 non-tubercular patients suffering from respiratory diseases other than tuberculosis, in whom tuberculosis had been excluded. All 500 sputum samples were subjected to PCR using IS6110 primers, and M-PCR using IS6110 and devR primers; results were compared with conventional techniques.It was found that M-PCR was 97.5% successful in detecting the presence of tuberculosis in the confirmed tuberculosis group as compared to 84.5% by IS6110-based PCR. In the suspected tuberculosis group, M-PCR could detect 45% of cases as compared to 40% by IS6110-based PCR. Overall, the specificities of both the PCR and M-PCR were found to be 96.5%.This study demonstrated that the M-PCR assay is more sensitive than the IS6110-based PCR for the detection of M. tuberculosis in sputum specimens and could be applied in situations of highly suspected tuberculosis when all others tests including IS6110 PCR are negative.

Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (MPCR) is a technique in which two or more gene targets are amplified in a single reaction. This has increased sensitivity of diagnosis as a single gene target may be absent in some Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains.MPCR using two target genes specific for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, that is, IS6110 and MPB 64, ZN staining and Mycobacterial culture were performed on synovial fluid/pus samples of 80 (three confirmed, 77 suspected) patients of osteoarticular tuberculosis and 25 non tuberculosis patients.MPCR had a sensitivity of 100% in confirmed cases and 81.8% in clinically suspected cases. AFB was positive in one patient and Mycobacterial culture was positive in three patients. MPCR also had 100% specificity; MPB64 was positive in five patients in which IS6110 was negative whereas IS6110 was positive in two patients in which MPB64 was negative.MPCR is a sensitive and specific method for diagnosis of paucibacilliary conditions such as osteoarticular tuberculosis.

Waste Cooking Oil has recently attracted researchers and mechanical engineers as a low cost source for biodiesel production. This is because of the fact that it has a very rich oil content and eco-friendly in nature. In the present research, an orthogonal array has been used for optimizing production of biodiesel from waste cooking oil using trans-esterification process of conversion. Five independent variables were identified having impact on dependent variable yield of biodiesel(Y). Five independent variables are Stirring Speed(S), Concentration of catalyst(C), Methanol to oil ratio (M), Time of transesterification reaction (T), and working temperature (W). LP16 matrix was constructed to understand and statically examine the effects of 5 independent variables. Results of the Statistical analysis revealed that Y was maximum (74.2%) for S = 200 RPM, C = 1.60% by Weight, M = 10: 1, T = 40 Minutes and W = 328 degree Kelvin.

AIM:To compare surgical peeling and aspiration and neodymium yttrium garnet laser capsulotomy for pearl form of posterior capsule opacification (PCO).METHODS:A prospective, randomized, double blind, study was done at Rotary Eye Hospital, Maranda, Palampur, India, Santosh Medical College Hospital, Ghaziabad, India and Laser Eye Clinic, Noida India. Consecutive patients with pearl form of PCO following surgery, phacoemulsification, manual small incision cataract surgery and conventional extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) for age related cataract, were randomized to have peeling and aspiration or neodymium yttrium garnet laser capsulotomy. Corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), intra-operative and post-operative complications were compared.RESULTS:A total of 634 patients participated in the study, and 314 (49.5%) patients were randomized to surgical peeling and aspiration group and 320 (50.5%) to the Nd:YAG laser group. The mean pre-procedural logMAR CDVA in peeling and neodymium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser group was 0.80±0.25 and 0.86±0.22, respectively. The mean final CDVA in peeling group (0.22±0.23) was comparable to Nd:YAG group (0.24±0.28; t test, P=0.240). There was a significant improvement in vision after both the procedures (P<0.001). A slightly higher percentage of patients in Nd:YAG laser group (283/88.3%) than in peeling group (262/83.4%) had a CDVA of 0.5 (20/63) or better at 9mo (P<0.001). On the contrary, patients having CDVA worse than 1.00 (20/200) was also significantly higher in Nd:YAG laser group as compared to peeling group (25/7.7% vs 15/4.7%, respectively). On application of ANCOVA, there was less than 0.001% risk that PCO thickness and total laser energy had no effect on rate of complications in Nd:YAG laser group and less than 0.001 % risk that PCO thickness had no effect on complications in peeling group respectively. Sum of square analysis suggests that in the Nd:YAG laser group, thick PCO had a stronger impact on complications (Fischer test probability, PrPrPrP=0.527) and cystoid macular edema (P=0.068), did not differ significantly between both the groups. However, intraocular pressure spikes (P=0.046) and retinal detachment (PP<0.001). Recurrence of pearls was the most common cause of reduction of vision in the peeling group (24/7.6%, P<0.001).CONCLUSION:There is no alternative to Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy for fibrous subtype of PCO. For pearl form of PCO, both techniques are comparable with regard to visual outcomes. Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy has a higher incidence of IOP spikes and retinal detachment whereas recurrence of pearls may occur after successful peeling and aspiration. When posterior capsulotomy is needed in patients with retinal degenerations, retinopathies and pre-existing retinal breaks, the clinician should be cautious about increased risks of possible complications of Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy.

Introduction : Fuch’s heterochromic iridocyclitis (FHI) is often complicated by cataract formation. Objective : To assess the results of small-incision cataract surgery (SICS) in FHI and to study the effect of preoperative factors on postoperative vision. Materials and methods : Sixty-three eyes of 59 patients with Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis who had SICS with in-the-bag implantation of intraocular lens (IOL) were evaluated retrospectively; and the primary and secondary outcome measures evaluated were the postoperative vision and complication rate. Results : The mean age was 39.22 ± 4.95 years. The mean pre-operative vision was 0.75 ± 0.24 Log MAR units. The mean final vision was 0.27 ± 0.10 Log MAR units (P = < 0.001). At the final follow-up, 84.1 % of the patients had a final Snellen’s vision of 6/12 or better. The mean follow-up period was 12.06 ± 2.06 months. The causes of corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) worse than 6/60 were vitreous opacities, posterior keratic precipitates (KPs), glaucoma, persistent uveitis and cystoid macular edema (CME). Preoperative factors like iris atrophy (P = 0.973), heterochromia (P = 0.10) and vessels in angle (P = 0.074) did not have a significant effect on the final vision. On the contrary, vitreous opacities (P = 0.002) and posterior KPs (P = 0.009) had a significant effect on the final visual outcome. Conclusion : SICS with in-the-bag implantation of IOL in patients with Fuch’s heterochromic iridocyclitis resulted in good visual outcomes. SICS in complicated cataracts can be performed in rural settings and eye camps with minimal instrumentation, obviating the need for referral to tertiary care centers. Pre-operative factors like vitreous opacities and posterior KPs have a significant effect on the final vision. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nepjoph.v6i2.11705 Nepal J Ophthalmol 2014 : 6 (12): 153-161