The Magnon Spectrum in the Domain Ferromagnetic State of Antisite Disordered Double Perovskites

In their ideal structure, double perovskites like Sr_2FeMoO_6 have alternating Fe and Mo along each cubic axes, and a homogeneous ferromagnetic metallic ground state. Imperfect annealing leads to the formation of structural domains. The moments on mislocated Fe atoms that adjoin each other across the domain boundary have an antiferromagnetic coupling between them. This leads to a peculiar magnetic state, with ferromagnetic domains coupled antiferromagnetically. At short distance the system exhibits ferromagnetic correlation while at large lengthscales the net moment is strongly suppressed due to inter-domain cancellation. We provide a detailed description of the spin wave excitations of this complex magnetic state, obtained within a 1/S expansion, for progressively higher degree of mislocation, i.e., antisite disorder. At a given wavevector the magnons propagate at multiple energies, related, crudely, to `domain confined' modes with which they have large overlap. We provide a qualitative understanding of the trend observed with growing antisite disorder, and contrast these results to the much broader spectrum that one obtains for uncorrelated antisites

Assessment of prescription writing skills among undergraduate medical students

Background: The existing medical undergraduate curriculum includes training in prescription writing in second phase under pharmacology and Therapeutics. This study evaluates the prescription writing skills of undergraduate medical students and interns and need for emphasis on prescription writing during various phases of learning process in medical undergraduates.Methods: After obtaining institutional ethics committee approval, we recruited 4th to 8th semester medical undergraduate students and interns into the study, who gave written informed consent. They were given a pilot-tested, pre-evaluated questionnaire addressing the issues of prescription writing. They were asked to prescribe for a common clinical scenario. Their prescriptions were analysed for various parameters as indicated in WHO guidelines.Results: Of the 350 medical undergraduate students and interns invited, 281 of them participated in the study. 169 participants (60.1%) agree that they have not written a formal prescription to any patient when the questionnaire was administered. 134 participants (47.6 %) feel that undergraduate training has not prepared them for prescribing properly. 90% of participants said reinforcing classes during 3rd, 4th year and during Compulsory Routine Rotatory Internship will be beneficial. Though 220 participants have opined that generic name should be used while prescribing, only 124 have actually used generic names in their prescriptions. Fifteen participants have failed to write the symbol while prescribing. All 121 interns in the study have used brand names while prescribing.Conclusions: There are widespread lacunae in prescription writing by medical undergraduates. There is perceived need for reinforcement sessions at third and final phase of undergraduate education to address this gap. Most participants opine that clinicians do not discuss this issue during case discussion. There is knowledge and practice gap in using generic names while prescribing

Geoinformatics for Groundwater Characterization in Coastal Areas of Thoothukudi District

A study was undertaken with a view to assess the groundwater quality in the coastal areas of Thoothukudi district. 200 groundwater samples were collected from borewells, openwells and tubewells located five to ten kilometres from coastal line at regular intervals. The groundwater samples were analysed for pH, EC, TDS, TSS, anions (HCO3-, CO3 2-, Cl-, SO4 2-) and anions (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+) by adopting standard procedures. Experimental results showed that the pH was slightly acidic to alkaline in nature varying from 6.38 to 8.65 and the electrical conductivity values of the samples ranged from 0.17 to 18.08 dS m-1 i.e., good to alkali condition. The correlation studies revealed that the pH was negatively correlated and EC was positively correlated with all the other parameters. From the study, it is concluded that the dominating ions in the groundwater samples of Thoothukudi district were Na+ and Cl-. According to AICRP classification, 22.5 per cent of samples were good, 14 per cent were marginally saline, 15.5 per cent were saline, 4.5 per cent were high SAR saline, 23.5 per cent were marginally alkali and 20 per cent were alkali.This indicates that the groundwater in the study area were of Na-Cl type, indicating that they were largely intruded with seawater and are of poor quality.&nbsp

Drug package inserts: how accessible is the information?

Background: Information given in drug package inserts is often not easily accessible by patients and practitioners. Presentation of important information in an easily accessible manner fulfills the very purpose of inserts. In the present study, accessibility of important information in drug package inserts is evaluated.Methods: We evaluated 110 package inserts. Accessibility to important information was noted under following headings: use of box, use of special/bigger font or color, use of table of contents and information in front sheet. Each of these parameters was given a point. Cumulative accessibility score of more than three considered as accessible. Provision of toll free numbers and internet addresses of the companies noted.Results: Information in inserts regarding posology, method of administration, precautions under special conditions, contraindications, pharmacokinetics, interactions, pregnancy and lactation, driving, and machine use precautions were adequate and orderly in most. Only seven drug inserts mentioned important information with special font/different color. 18 drug inserts had used boxes. About 13 inserts used bigger font size for revealing important information. We observed a mean accessible score was 0.37 a insert. Only two inserts carried toll free numbers.Conclusion: Important information in drug package inserts is not easily accessible. Display of toll free numbers and internet addresses for queries and reporting adverse drug reactions is highly recommended

Knowledge and practices regarding pharmacoeconomics among resident doctors in a tertiary care teaching hospital

Background: With skyrocketing health care costs, even the essential care provided by the health care service providers need to be evaluated under the lens. The development of nationwide awareness of cost-benefit, cost-utility and cost-effectiveness of services is the need of the hour. The objectives of the present study were to assess the knowledge about pharmacoeconomics among resident doctors and to assess the clinical application of pharmacoeconomics among them.Methods: A cross sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted among resident doctors involving both interns and post-graduates of a teaching medical college. There were 20 questions; initial ten were for knowledge assessment and next ten questions assessed practical applications. Questions assessed the knowledge regarding components of pharmacoeconomics, direct and indirect medical costs, and application of pharmacoeconomics, local cost-effectiveness decisions and advantages of pharmacoeconomics.Results: Of the 118 participants who took part in the study, 42 were clinicians working in medical college hospital, 12 were clinicians working in dental college hospital, 24 medial postgraduates, 30 dental postgraduates and 10 interns. Nearly 90% of the respondents opine that concepts of pharmacoeconomics are not followed in every teaching hospital in India. Many participants (90%) opined that health economics and pharmacoeconomic are different. Nearly 94% of participants have not under gone any training regarding pharmacoeconomics. More than 95% respondents have opined that principles of pharmacoeconomics has to be introduced into current medial undergraduate curriculum.Conclusions: This study shows light on the knowledge and practices of resident doctors regarding principles of pharmacoeconomics. This study has revealed the level of awareness of younger generation regarding pharmacoeconomics

INFLUENCE OF AFLOTOXIN B1 ON PROTEIN AND DNA CONTENT OF LYMPHOID ORGANS OF ONE WEEK OLD BROILERS DURING INDUCED AFLOTOXICOSIS

Metabolic exudates liberated by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus are referred as mycotoxins. Among them Aflotoxin B1 (AFB1) is prominent and is categorized as the group 1 carcinogen along with its mutagenic and terrotogenic behavior. AFB1 is hepatotoxic, nuerotoxic, and nephrotoxic causing a high degree of immunosupression in poultry birds having a broad spectrum of lethal impact as carcinogenic, hepatotoxic, mutagenic, and nephrotoxic agent. Our present investigation is focused on determining the levels of protein and DNA in bursa fabricus and cecal tonsils of one week old broilers suffering due to induced chronic aflotoxicosis thereby to know the intensity of alterations and anomaly of cellular mechanisms and to understand the immune response of the individual in the light of its physiological state. The organs that are playing a pivotal role are highly affected by AFB1 which causes adverse and disturbed levels of protein and DNA. Alterations in the metabolism of proteins in bursa fabricus and cecal tonsils of broilers treated with AFB1 are the significant toxic effects of AFB1

Novel Small Leucine-Rich Protein Chondroadherin-like (CHADL) is Expressed in Cartilage and Modulates Chondrocyte Differentiation.

The constitution and biophysical properties of extracellular matrices can dramatically influence cellular phenotype during development, homeostasis, or pathogenesis. These effects can be signaled through a differentially regulated assembly of collagen fibrils, orchestrated by a family of collagen-associated Small Leucine-Rich Proteins, SLRPs. In this report, we describe the tissue-specific expression and function of a previously uncharacterized SLRP Chondroadherin-like (CHADL). We have developed antibodies against CHADL and, by immunohistochemistry, detected CHADL expression mainly in skeletal tissues, particularly in fetal cartilage and in pericellular space of adult chondrocytes. In situ hybridizations and immunoblots on tissue lysates confirmed this tissue-specific expression pattern. Recombinant CHADL bound collagen in cell culture, and inhibited in vitro collagen fibrillogenesis. After Chadl shRNA knockdown chondrogenic ATDC5 cells increased their proliferation and differentiation, indicated by increased transcript levels of Sox9, Ihh, Col2a1, and Col10a1. The knockdown increased collagen II and aggrecan deposition in the cell layers. Microarray analysis of the knockdown samples suggested collagen receptor-related changes, although other upstream effects could not be excluded. Together, our data indicate that the novel SLRP CHADL is expressed in cartilaginous tissues, influences collagen fibrillogenesis, and modulates chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation. CHADL appears to have a negative regulatory role, possibly ensuring the formation of a stable extracellular matrix

1-Isobutyl-N,N-dimethyl-1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-4-amine

In the title compound, C16H20N4, the 1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinoline ring system is approximately planar, with a maximum deviation of 0.0719 (15) Å. An intra­molecular C—H⋯N hydrogen bond contributes to the stabilization of the mol­ecule, forming an S(6) ring motif. In the crystal, the mol­ecules are stacked along the b axis through weak aromatic π–π inter­actions between benzene and imidazole and benzene and pyridine rings [centroid–centroid distances = 3.6055 (10) and 3.5342 (10) Å, respectively]

4-Hydrazinyl-1-isobutyl-1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinoline

In the title compound, C14H17N5, the 1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinoline ring system is essentially planar, with a maximum deviation of 0.0325 (7) Å. In the crystal, a pair of inter­molecular N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds link neighbouring mol­ecules, forming an inversion dimer and generate an R 2 2(10) ring motif. These dimers are further connected into a chain along the b axis via inter­molecular C—H⋯N hydrogen bonds, resulting in an R 2 2(14) ring motif