On Contra -wgrα-Continuous and Almost Contra-wgrα-Continuous Functions

In this paper a new class of function called contra-wgrα continuous function is introduced and its properties are studied. Further the notion of almost contra wgrα-continuous function is introduced

Critical adsorption on curved objects

A systematic fieldtheoretic description of critical adsorption on curved objects such as spherical or rodlike colloidal particles immersed in a fluid near criticality is presented. The temperature dependence of the corresponding order parameter profiles and of the excess adsorption are calculated explicitly. Critical adsorption on elongated rods is substantially more pronounced than on spherical particles. It turns out that, within the context of critical phenomena in confined geometries, critical adsorption on a microscopically thin `needle' represents a distinct universality class of its own. Under favorable conditions the results are relevant for the flocculation of colloidal particles.Comment: 52 pages, 10 figure

PHYTOCHEMICAL, ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIOXIDANT STUDIES ON LEAF EXTRACTS OF PIPER BETLE L.

Objective: In the present research, a clear systematic investigation of antibacterial and antioxidant potential of ambadi variety of P. betle of Mysore region has been carried out.Methods: Antibacterial activity of aqueous and solvent extracts of Piper betle L. was evaluated by agar cup diffusion and disc diffusion methods against some common pathogenic bacteria. The antioxidant property of all the solvent extracts were evaluated by diphenyl picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay. The IC50 values were calculated and compared with standard BHT and AA.Results: The results indicated that methanol and chloroform extracts of this variety recorded significant antibacterial activity and all the extracts recorded good radical scavenging capacity. Phytochemical analysis revealed that phenols, tannins, flavanoids, glycosides and proteins are present in aqueous, methanol and petroleum ether extracts.Conclusion: The results obtained in this study clearly indicate that P. betle extracts has a significant potential to use as antibacterial agent. The free radical scavenging capability by DPPH was better and IC50 value found was lesser than the standard used for all the extracts, which suggest that P. betle extracts have potent antioxidant activity. The solvent extracts are effective against free radical mediated diseasesÂ

Developments in the Ni–Nb–Zr amorphous alloy membranes

Most of the global H2 production is derived from hydrocarbon-based fuels, and efficient H2/CO2 separation is necessary to deliver a high-purity H2 product. Hydrogen-selective alloy membranes are emerging as a viable alternative to traditional pressure swing adsorption processes as a means for H2/CO2 separation. These membranes can be formed from a wide range of alloys, and those based on Pd are the closest to commercial deployment. The high cost of Pd (USD *31,000 kg-1) is driving the development of less-expensive alternatives, including inexpensive amorphous (Ni60Nb40)100-xZrx alloys. Amorphous alloy membranes can be fabricated directly from the molten state into continuous ribbons via melt spinning and depending on the composition can exhibit relatively high hydrogen permeability between 473 and 673 K. Here we review recent developments in these low-cost membrane materials, especially with respect to permeation behavior, electrical transport properties, and understanding of local atomic order. To further understand the nature of these solids, atom probe tomography has been performed, revealing amorphous Nb-rich and Zr-rich clusters embedded in majority Ni matrix whose compositions deviated from the nominal overall composition of the membrane

Congenital Right-side Rib Agenesis in a Male Lamb: A Rare Case Report

Sheep play a vital role in agriculture, contributing to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through meat, wool, and leather. The number of ribs in sheep is an important economic trait, particularly for meat production, as a higher rib count correlates with increased mutton yield. However, the congenital absence of ribs is a rare condition scarcely documented in veterinary field. This report presents the first known case of rib aplasia in a lamb, highlighting its clinical presentation, diagnosis, and implications. A two-day-old male co-twin lamb exhibited symptoms of ataxia, anorexia, and dyspnea. Physical examination revealed missing ribs on the right side and scoliosis at the thoracic vertebrae level. Chest X-rays confirmed the absence of the 9th and 10th ribs and thoracic scoliosis. Despite explanations of the poor prognosis, the lamb collapsed after two days, and no post-mortem examination was conducted. This case underscores the need for further research to identify genetic factors contributing to congenital rib agenesis in lambs, given its economic importance in the sheep industry

Green synthesis of magnesium oxide nanoparticles and their antibacterial activity

1210-1215Nanotechnology has prospects of opening new avenues to fight and prevent diseases using atomic-scale tailoring of materials. As the nano revolution emerges, it is imperative to develop “nano‑naturo” links between nanotechnology and green domains of the nature. The present investigation describes the mangrove Rhizophora lamarckii’s property of synthesizing magnesium oxide nanoparticles . The newly synthesized magnesium oxide nanoparticle morphology is nanohexagonal and spherical. The particles range in dimensions between 20 and 50 nm and are crystalline in nature. The functional groups of the mangrove, amine, and alkane are found to act as reductants and stabilizers. The newly synthesized MgO nanoparticles are found to have potent antibacterial activity

Population stratification may bias analysis of PGC-1α as a modifier of age at Huntington disease motor onset

Huntington’s disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor, cognitive and behavioral disturbances, caused by the expansion of a CAG trinucleotide repeat in the HD gene. The CAG allele size is the major determinant of age at onset (AO) of motor symptoms, although the remaining variance in AO is highly heritable. The rs7665116 SNP in PPARGC1A, encoding the mitochondrial regulator PGC-1α, has been reported to be a significant modifier of AO in three European HD cohorts, perhaps due to affected cases from Italy. We attempted to replicate these findings in a large collection of (1,727) HD patient DNA samples of European origin. In the entire cohort, rs7665116 showed a significant effect in the dominant model (p value = 0.008) and the additive model (p value = 0.009). However, when examined by origin, cases of Southern European origin had an increased rs7665116 minor allele frequency (MAF), consistent with this being an ancestry-tagging SNP. The Southern European cases, despite similar mean CAG allele size, had a significantly older mean AO (p < 0.001), suggesting population-dependent phenotype stratification. When the generalized estimating equations models were adjusted for ancestry, the effect of the rs7665116 genotype on AO decreased dramatically. Our results do not support rs7665116 as a modifier of AO of motor symptoms, as we found evidence for a dramatic effect of phenotypic (AO) and genotypic (MAF) stratification among European cohorts that was not considered in previously reported association studies. A significantly older AO in Southern Europe may reflect population differences in genetic or environmental factors that warrant further investigation

Dental Practitioners’ Opinions and Methods in the Management of Oral Mucosal Lesions and TMJ Disorders in Dakshina Kannada District: A Questionnaire Based Survey

INTRODUCTION: Oral mucosal lesions and temperomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders are important areas of concern in the present dental practice due to their increasing prevalence. Timely management is important as it aids in maximal prognosis.AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to determine the awareness of dental practitioners in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, regarding various aspects of oral mucosal lesions and TMJ disorders. And also to know their interest in managing such disorders.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A self- administered questionnaire was constructed and given to dental practitioners, selected through multistage cluster random sampling method; from Dakshina Kannada district. Chi-square test was performed and the level of significance was set at p &lt; 0.05.RESULTS: The majority of dental practitioners had a dental practice of duration five to ten years. Many of the respondents (72%) indicated that oral ulcers are the most common mucosal lesions and prescribed topical anaesthetics for these. The investigations suggested were blood investigations (24%) for various oral mucosal lesions and radiographs (20%) for TMJ disorders. Different pharmacological treatments provided by the majority of the respondents were topical anaesthetics and multi vitamin supplements. About 34% dental practitioners routinely refer the patients to specialty practitioners.CONCLUSION: The present study shows that there should be emphasis on workshops and various other awareness programs for general dental practitioners for better understanding of the subject and about the latest protocols regarding referral of the patients to specialists

Candidate glutamatergic and dopaminergic pathway gene variants do not influence Huntington’s disease motor onset

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor, cognitive, and behavioral disturbances. It is caused by the expansion of the HTT CAG repeat, which is the major determinant of age at onset (AO) of motor symptoms. Aberrant function of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and/or overexposure to dopamine has been suggested to cause significant neurotoxicity, contributing to HD pathogenesis. We used genetic association analysis in 1,628 HD patients to evaluate candidate polymorphisms in N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subtype genes (GRIN2A rs4998386 and rs2650427, and GRIN2B rs1806201) and functional polymorphisms in genes in the dopamine pathway (DAT1 3′ UTR 40-bp variable number tandem repeat (VNTR), DRD4 exon 3 48-bp VNTR, DRD2 rs1800497, and COMT rs4608) as potential modifiers of the disease process. None of the seven polymorphisms tested was found to be associated with significant modification of motor AO, either in a dominant or additive model, after adjusting for ancestry. The results of this candidate-genetic study therefore do not provide strong evidence to support a modulatory role for these variations within glutamatergic and dopaminergic genes in the AO of HD motor manifestations