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This paper introduces a new current-mode (CM) universal biquad filter structure with optimum number of active and passive elements. In the design, the proposed circuit uses a single active element namely, current follower trans-conductance amplifier (CFTA) and two grounded capacitors as passive elements. The main feature of the proposed circuit is that it can realize all five standard filtering functions such as low pass (LP), band pass (BP), high pass (HP), band stop (BS) and all pass (AP) responses across an explicit high impedance output terminal through the appropriate selection of three inputs. In addition, the same circuit is also capable to simultaneously realize three filtering functions (LP, BP and HP) by the use of single current input signal. Moreover, the proposed structure is suited for low voltage, low power operations and offers the feature of electronic tunability of pole-frequency and quality factor. Further to extend the utility of the proposed circuit block higher order current-mode filters are also realized through direct cascading. A detailed non-ideal and parasitic study is also included. The performance of the circuits has been examined using standard 0.25 μm CMOS parameters from TSMC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & objectives: There is a paucity of data available on genetic biodiversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from central India. The present study was carried out on isolates of M. tuberculosis cultured from diagnostic clinical samples of patients from Bhopal, central India, using spoligotyping as a method of molecular typing. Methods: DNA was extracted from 340 isolates of M. tuberculosis from culture, confirmed as M. tuberculosis by molecular and biochemical methods and subjected to spoligotyping. The results were compared with the international SITVIT2 database. Results: Sixty five different spoligo international type (SIT) patterns were observed. A total of 239 (70.3%) isolates could be clustered into 25 SITs. The Central Asian (CAS) and East African Indian (EAI) families were found to be the two major circulating families in this region. SIT26/CAS1_DEL was identified as the most predominant type, followed by SIT11/EAI3_IND and SIT288/CAS2. Forty (11.8%) unique (non-clustered) and 61 (17.9%) orphan isolates were identified in the study. There was no significant association of clustering with clinical and demographic characteristics of patients. Interpretation & conclusions: Well established SITs were found to be predominant in our study. SIT26/ CAS1_DEL was the most predominant type. However, the occurrence of a substantial number of orphan isolates may indicate the presence of active spatial and temporal evolutionary dynamics within the isolates of M. tuberculosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Probotic strains Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Saccharomyces boulardii, Streptococcus faecalis and Lactobacillus acidophilus have been found to enhance the antagonistic activity of antibiotics (Amoxycillin/Clavulanate Azithromycin, Ciprofloxacin and Levofloxacin) against the standard and clinical isolates of staphylococcus. Probotic strains were isolated from the commercial probotic products "Darolac" and "Prepro" by using suitable protocol. For this study the Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method was used. Zone of inhibition of antibiotics was enhanced in 84.375% tests by probiotic strains against the standard and clinical isolates of staphylococcus. No enhancement was seen in 12.5% of tests while reduction of zone was observed only in 3.125% tests. This study endorses the role of Probiotic strains in reducing the multiple drug resistance of staphylococcus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & objectives: As CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte numbers decline, the conventional, localized forms of tuberculosis shift to the atypical, disseminated forms. Variations in lymphocyte and immune cell expression levels affect how tuberculosis manifests in disseminated forms. Understanding the relationship between lymphocyte counts (CD4+ and CD8+) and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-12 and interferon, we may therefore be able to shed light on how infections spread and suggest potential biomarkers for these immune factors. Methods: In this study, 15 guinea pigs were infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) H37Rv strain and grouped into three groups of five each for further investigation. Serum samples and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were examined for the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and T-cell subsets in guinea pigs infected with pulmonary tuberculosis and disseminated tuberculosis. Results: We found that M.tb escapes macrophages due to pro-inflammatory cytokine dysregulation. Despite the protective immunity created by T-cells and cytokines, M.tb bacilli may spread to other organs due to inflammation induced by these immune components. A high number of T-cells and stimulated cytokine production are involved in triggering inflammation after necrotic tissue develops and tuberculosis spreads. Interpretation & conclusions: Our findings imply that increased bacilli in the spleen at the 8th wk of infection may be caused by the overexpression of CD4+ T-cell lymphocyte subsets and cytokines that generated inflammation during the 4th wk of infection. This is a pilot study with a small sample size and less assertive inference. Larger studies would be helpful to validate the results of the present investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tropical Ecology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Tropical Ecology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The authors discuss the challenges faced by the Indian government on the effective governance of the forest management concept Van Panchayats in Uttarakhand, India. The authors relate a study on the rules developed in 1930 for the management and protection of forests using Van Panchayats. Furthermore, the authors provide analysis on the administration and policy in Van Panchayats despite the autonomous function or authority for forests, and existence of social inequity and poor infrastructure in the region.

There is good number of options to design energy efficient/green buildings. One of the objectives of green building is to conserve the natural resources and substantial energy is consumed in the operation of air conditioning system. In this paper total usage of energy (embodied and operational energy) has been calculated for fire clay bricks and ash blocks building material. Energy and environment indices were calculated and it was found that use of ash block as replacement of fire clay bricks can reduce significantly the heat load, size of air conditioning system and hence contributes towards saving of natural resources and environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study made an assessment of the floral status of the project site of Kotlibhel hydrolectric project (Stage 1B) at Alaknanda valley in the Ganga river system (India). Study area included two broad zones: Influence (IZ) and Submergence zone (SZ). Influence zone showed higher species richness in all vegetation strata. In the upper layer, there were 26 tree species, middle layer consisted of 32 shrub species and ground layer (understory) contained 41 species. Maximum density in the tree layer (36.4 plants/ha) was found for Haldinia cordifolia in the Influence zone. On the other hand, shrub and herb species showed highest density in the Submergence zone. Highest density of shrubs species was recorded for Ficus hederacea (844.0 plants/ha), while highest density of herbs for Desmodium triflorum (5540.1 plants/ha). Significant differences in Shannon diversity were found between Influence and Submergence zones for shrub and herb species (P<0.001), but not for trees. Simpson diversity was not significantly different for tree, shrub and herb species in both zones. Differences in Margalef species richness were found (P<0.001) for all vegetation layers in both zones. Distribution pattern of the species showed contagious patterns for both Submergence and Influence zone. Maximum Shannon diversity (3.561) was recorded in the Influence zone for herb species, followed by shrubs species (3.184) and tree species (2.593). Submergence zone showed lower Shannon diversity than the Influence zone, where a higher Shannon diversity (3.480) was recorded for herb species. Pinus roxburghii showed the highest IVI in the Influence zone (71.88) and Mangifera indica in Submergence zone (58.77). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we have presented a talk-through application explaining the basic significance of the software defined radio. The software defined radio is a flexible architecture allowing multiple waveforms to be rapidly ported and its functionality is defined in software. We have shown the procedure to build in hardware a specific receiver to work with this real time application using TMSC6713DSK Processor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new first-order voltage-mode (VM) cascadable all-pass sections are proposed using a single, active element and two grounded passive components, ideal for IC implementation. The active element used is a fully differential current conveyor. All the circuits possess high input and low output impedances, which is a desirable feature for VM circuits. The proposed circuits are verified through PSPICE simulation results. The circuits have useful analogue signal processing applications in nth-order all-pass filter and multiphase oscillator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & objectives: Fluoroquinolones (FQs) are important drugs used for treatment of drug resistant tuberculosis and are also now being considered as first line drugs to shorten the duration of treatment of tuberculosis (TB). In order to find out useful FQs for treatment of tuberculosis, the comparative efficacy of five FQs, namely, ofloxacin (OFL), ciprofloxacin (CIP), sparfloxacin (SPX), gatifloxacin (GAT) and levofloxacin (LEVX) was studied against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) isolates obtained from both treated and untreated patients from Agra and Kanpur regions of north India. Methods: A total of 162 MTB isolates [including 110 MTB isolates obtained from untreated patients (Cat-I) and 52 isolates from treated patients (Cat-II)] were tested for their susceptibilities to FQs using standard minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method on Löwenstein-Jensen medium. Results: Keeping in view the therapeutically achievable drug levels, it was found that in Cat-I 97.2 per cent (107/110) isolates were sensitive to GAT, 89 per cent (98/110) to LEVX at 1 µg/ml whereas 92.7 percent (102/110) isolates were inhibited by OFL at 2 µg/ml and 73.6 per cent (81/110) to SPX at 0.5 µg/ml. Only 63.6 per cent (70/110) isolates were found to be sensitive to CIP at 2 µg/ml which increased to 89 percent (98/110) at 4 µg/ml (higher than achievable peak serum level). On the other hand, among 52 isolates for Cat-II, 37 (71.2%) were found to be sensitive to GAT and 33 (63.5%) to LEVX at 1 µg/ml concentration, 28 (53.8%) to SPX at 0.5 µg/ml whereas 33 (63.5%) and 24 (46.2%) isolates were found to be sensitive to OFL and CIP at 2 µg/ml, respectively. Interpretation & conclusions: It appears that GAT has higher activity against MTB isolates followed by OFL, LEVX and SPX whereas CIP showed the lowest activity. GAT was also found to be the most effective FQ against multi-drug resistant (MDR) isolates both from Cat-I and Cat-II patients. Thus, except CIP, other FQs showed potential to be included in the treatment regimens of tuberculosis including MDR-TB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tropical Ecology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background & objectives: Infection due to Mycobacterium bovis typically occurs in cattle and animals transmit infection to each other. The choice of appropriate clinical specimen is very important for isolation of M. bovis and M. tuberculosis from cattle. The present study reports the isolation of M. tuberculosis and M. bovis from different types of specimens from cattle suspected to be suffering from tuberculosis in certain organized cattle farms in north India. Method: A total of 768 specimens (heparinized or EDTA containing blood (162), fine needle aspirates from prescapniar lymph gland (PSLG,160), milk (154), pharyngeal swab (PhS, 98), rectal pinch (RP, 97) and faecal sample (97) from 161 cattle of organized cattle farms in north India suspected to be suffering from tuberculosis were analyzed. After decantamination by modified Petroff's method isolation of M.tuberculosis complex was done on Lowenstein-Jensen medium (with and without pyruvate). The culture isolates were identified as M. tuberculosis and M. bovis on the basis of biochemical tests. Results: A total of 54 M. tuberculosis complex isolates were obtained, of them 40 were identified as M.bovis and 14 as M. tuberculosis. M.bovis were isolated from 12 0f 38 animals in group A (Tuberculin +ve with signs of tuberculosis), 7 of 37 animals in group B (Tuberculin +ve and apparently healthy), 9 of 21 group C animals in (Tuberculin -ve with clinical signs of tuberculosis), 4 of 26 animals in group D (Tuberculin -ve and apparently healthy), 4 of 27 group E animals (having non-mycobacterial infection) and 4 of 12 animals in group F (having clinical signs such as debilitated condition, cough, decreasing milk production, etc). Maximum number of M. bovis (19140, 47.5%) and M. tuberculosis (5/14, 35.7% ) isolates were grown from prescapniar lymph gland biopsy (PSLG) followed by blood from which 9/40 122.5%) M. bovis and 4/14 (28.5%) M. tuberculosis were isolated. M. bovis [6/40(15%)] and M. tuberculosis 14/14(28.5%)] were also isolated from milk. Only 3/40 (7.5%) isolates of M.bovis could be isolated from 97 rectal pinch followed by 98 pharyngeal swab 2/40 (5%) and 97 fecal samples 1/40 (2.5%) while 1/14 (7.1%) M.tuberculosis isolates were obtained from pharyngeal swab. Interpretation & conclusions: Among the samples analyzed, PSLG was found to be most suitable specimen for isolation of M. tuberculosis complex from cattle and is thus of diagnostic importance. M. bovis in milk indicates the need to investigate the transmission to human in such settings. Isolation of M. bovis and/or M. tuberculosis from apparently healthy cattle indicates sub-clinical infection in the herd. Further, isolation of a significant number of M. tuberculosis from cattle suggests possible human-to-cattle transmission which need to be confirmed by prospective studies including tools like DNA fingerprinting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tropical Ecology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A new method for topology identification, bad data detection and state estimation (SE) is proposed in this paper. The method utilizes fuzzy clustering and pattern matching for this purpose. The proposed approach is very efficient and accurate for simple SE and to aid in improving the accuracy and time performance for conventional weighted least squares state estimator (WLSE). In this method, a fuzzy pattern vector is generated based on the analog measurement vector (telemetry data) received. The topology identification and gross errors are detected from difference between the fuzzy pattern vector and the analog measurement data. The gross errors and topology errors in the measurement data are detected and corrected by using the fuzzy pattern vector which can directly be used as good measurement data for SE. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated on IEEE 14-bus, IEEE 57-bus, practical 75-bus Indian system and IEEE 118-bus systems. The SE results obtained by proposed method are also compared with ANN models reported in the literatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]