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Problem: Smoking and infection with human papilloma virus (HPV) are major risk factors for cervical cancer. Our earlier work shows that nicotine enhances cellular proliferation of cervical cancer cell lines by up-regulating epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor EGF-R, which leads to increased insulin-like growth factor II in vitro. We found that the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C, one of the five isoforms of VEGF, may be specifically involved in lymphogenic metastasis of cervical cancer. This has prompted us to study if in vitro nicotine treatment will up-regulate VEGF-C alongside EGF-R levels, while down regulating the anti-proliferative transforming growth factor (TGF)-β levels in HPV positive cervical cancer cell lines. Method of study: Cervical cancer cell lines CaSki, HeLa and ME-180, were cultured in serum free DMEM medium for 24-hr, and treated with 10 ng/mL nicotine in the medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. A group of untreated cells served as controls. The cells were cultured in chamber slides (for immunofluorescent antibody assay) as well as microtiter plate wells (for BrdU cell proliferation assay). The cellular levels of VEGF-C, TGF-β, EGF-R and HPV-E6 (early protein 6) were measured by a semi-quantitative immunofluorescent antibody assay. The cell proliferation and immunofluorescent assay data were analyzed by a Student's t-test. Results: Cell proliferation was significantly increased after nicotine treatment in all the cell lines. The VEGF-C levels were significantly increased, while TGF-β levels were decreased by nicotine in all the cell lines (P

Waste disposal facility design must involve some form of barrier that separates the waste from the groundwater system located below it. This barrier is intended to minimize the migration of contaminants from the waste facility. Natural clay deposits and compacted clay liners of a certain minimum thickness are often used to prevent leachate from flowing down towards groundwater. The finite difference numerical model developed in this study is validated for two case studies. Subsequently, a study was conducted by taking the finite mass of a leachate at the top of the liner; the variation of the maximum concentration of the pollutant in the liner is then determined. From the concentration profiles generated, the optimum clay barrier thickness required to prevent migration of contaminants to the aquifer located below can also be determined.

First ever methodology for bremsstrahlung background correction to extract a true Compton profile from the high energy Compton measurements is presented. The bremsstrahlung correction, calculated from the Born approximation, in the experimental Compton profile leads to a better agreement with theory, which warrants the incorporation of this correction during data reduction.

Titanium carbide/amorphous-carbon (TiC/a-C:H) nanocomposite coatings deposited by pulsed unbalanced reactive magnetron sputtering have been investigated in terms of structure, chemical and phase composition by AFM, TEM, XPS and XRD analyses. Subject to total carbon content, metallic titanium, titanium carbide and amorphous-carbon phases were found in the deposited coatings, which contributed to the observed microstructures and morphologies. The specific resistivity of nanocomposite coatings scales up with increasing amount of matrix-forming carbon. Hardness profiles of the different compositions revealed that nearly stoichiometric TiC films with average crystallite size of 70 nm exhibit the maximum hardness, whereas the lowest friction coefficient (μ

Internal fruit rot of sweet peppers, caused by Fusarium subglutinans is a new disease found in commercial greenhouses in British Columbia and Alberta, which causes considerable yield losses. Experiments were conducted to develop a rapid and accurate assay for detection of F. subglutinans, by dot-blot hybridization. Internal transcribed spacers 1 (ITS1) and 2 (ITS2) and 5.8S rDNA were amplified by polymerase chain reaction, using universal primers, and a dot-blot assay was employed to detect the pathogen in culture and in the host. Among six probes tested, three (Fsub-1, Fsub-3, and Fsub-5) were selected because they differentiated F. subglutinans from other Fusarium spp. and greenhouse pathogens. Probe Fsub-3 hybridized with all F. subglutinans isolates. Fsub-1 hybridized only with F. subglutinans isolates from Monterey pine (Pinus radiata). Fsub-5 hybridized with F. subglutinans isolates from corn (Zea mays), peppers (Capsicum annuum), and Panicum miliaceum, but not with Pinus radiata isolates. None of t...

Experiments were conducted to isolate the causal organism of internal fruit rot in greenhouse sweet pepper (Capsicum annum), confirm its identity, and elucidate its transmission mode and host range. The effects of inoculum concentration, growth stage of the plant, and cultivar of sweet pepper on disease development were also determined. The causal organism was identified as Fusarium subglutinans. Inoculum concentrations of 104 to 106 conidia/mL resulted in a higher incidence of fruit infection compared with 103 conidia/mL when just-opened and fully opened flowers were inoculated. Inoculation of flowers at different stages with F. subglutinans resulted in more diseased fruits than fruit inoculations. None of the seeds from infected pepper fruits germinated, and 92% of those yielded typical F. subglutinans colonies. No evidence of root infection of pepper plants by F. subglutinans was observed, and no disease developed on fruits of greenhouse tomato, cucumber, or eggplant. Fruits of Capsicum annuum ‘Bison’ ...

The isotropic Compton profile of mercury has been measured, using 661.65 keV gamma-rays from a 20 Ci 137Cs source. To extract the true experimental Compton line shape, besides the usual systematic corrections we have incorporated for the first time the background correction due to bremsstrahlung radiation generated by photo and Compton electrons. Theoretical computations have been carried out, using the renormalised-free-atom (RFA) for the electron configuration 4f145d106s2 and free electron models. It is found that the present experimental data with bremsstrahlung background correction are in better agreement with the RFA calculations. This work suggests the incorporation of the bremsstrahlung background correction in Compton scattering experiments of heavy materials using high-energy gamma-ray sources.

We report the results of an XMM-Newton observation of the Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 galaxy Mkn 1239. This optically highly polarized AGN has one of the steepest X-ray spectra found in AGN with alpha-X = +3.0 based on ROSAT PSPC data. The XMM-Newton EPIC PN and MOS data confirm this steep X-ray spectrum. The PN data are best-fit by a powerlaw with a partial covering absorption model suggesting two light paths between the continuum source and the observer, one indirect scattered one which is less absorbed and a highly absorbed direct light path. This result agrees with the wavelength dependent degree of polarization in the optical/UV band. Residuals in the X-ray spectra of all three XMM-Newton EPIC detectors around 0.9 keV suggest the presence of an emission line feature, most likely the Ne IX triplet. The detection of NeIX and the non-detection of OVII/OVIII suggest a super-solar Ne/O ratio.

SUMMARY In this paper, the characteristic based split scheme is employed for the solution of three-dimensional incompressible viscousow problems on unstructured meshes. Many algorithm related issues are dis- cussed. Fully explicit and semi-implicit forms of the scheme are explained and employed in the cal- culation of both isothermal and non-isothermal incompressibleows simulation. The extension of the scheme to porous mediumows is also demonstrated with relevant examples. Copyright ? 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Objective Our hypothesis is that insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGF-BP3) would downregulate epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) levels in cervical cancer cell lines, thereby reducing cellular IGF-II and angiogenesis-related vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF). As folate deficiency is a risk factor in cervical cancer, we sought to determine if folic acid treatment might increase IGF-BP3 production, thereby inhibiting malignant cell proliferation. Material and methods We determined the cellular levels of EGF-R, IGF-II, and VEGF in the cervical cancer cell lines HeLa, ME-180 (both positive for human papilloma virus; HPV), and HT-3 (HPV-negative), following their treatment with IGF-BP3. Levels of IGF-BP3 in these cells before and after treatment with folic acid and VEGF were also enumerated, using a computerized semiquantitative immunofluorescent antibody assay. Results Treatment with IGF-BP3 significantly reduced the levels (mean intensity per pixel) of EGF-R, IGF-II, and VEGF in all three cell lines and IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) in representative ME-180 cell line. Treatment with antiproliferative folic acid increased IGF-BP3 levels while the proliferative VEGF depleted cellular IGF-BP3 in all the cell lines. Conclusion Levels of EGF-R, IGF-II, IGF-IR, and VEGF are significantly reduced following treatment with IGF-BP3 in cervical cancer. We observed increased levels of IGF-BP3 by folic acid, and decreased IGF-BP3 levels by VEGF. Downregulation of EGF-R by IGF-BP3 suggests an IGF-independent action. Folate deficiency is a risk factor in cervical cancer. Our results suggest that folic acid supplementation can lead to inhibition of cervical cancer cell growth by promoting increased IGF-BP3 levels.

During the storm duration, the effects of surface resistance on the developing and receding overland flow depths (hj) on different flow parameters like the overland flow resistance coefficient (Nj), flow velocities (vj), Reynolds number (Rj), and Froude number (Fj) have been studied for the six natural catchments (0.012–92.5 km2) located in different agroclimatic regions of India. The kinematic wave (KW) equations are used for simulation of overland and channel flows using explicit methods for developing numerical solutions for the estimation of flow parameters at short durations. For the complete storm duration hj-Nj relationships have been found to form hysteresis loops. To predict resistance coefficients, simple hj-Nj relationships have been worked out separately for the rising and depleting overland flow conditions. Computed hydrographs simulated by incorporating these equations in the KW model agree well with the observed ones. The overall applicability of the suggested approach is successfully demon...

PROBLEM: We have previously reported elevated serum levels of cervical human papilloma viral proteins E6 and E7 and serum insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) in women with cervical cancer and advanced cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. As most women with cervical cancer have elevated levels of serum IGF-II, we sought to determine whether the cervical cancer and lymph node biopsies from these women demonstrated increased production of IGF-II and whether this elevation was also present in ovarian and endometrial cancers. METHOD OF STUDY: We used the semi-quantitative immunofluo- rescent antibody assay established in our laboratory to identify the levels of IGF-II in 21 cervical cancers (seven with matching lymph nodes), 18 benign cervical biopsies, 13 endometrial cancers, 15 benign endometrial biopsies, 5 ovarian cancers, and 15 benign ovarian biopsies. RESULTS: The immunofluorescent IGF-II levels (relative intensity per pixel) were the highest in cervical cancers; they were significantly higher than in matched controls. IGF-II levels were not higher in ovarian cancers and only slightly elevated in endometrial cancers. The presence of IGF-II in pelvic lymph nodes of women with cervical cancer paralleled with those in the cervical cancers. Interestingly, we could identify small nests of metastases of malignant cells in the nodes (pauci-cellular metastasis) by using IGF-II as the marker. CONCLUSION: We propose that measurement and identification of IGF-II in the cervical biopsy may be a sensitive method of detecting cervical cancer and metastatic spread in the lymph nodes.

Objectives: The occurrence of aplastic anemia following topical administration of ophthalmic chloramphenicol is controversial and debated internationally. We have determined the influence of such debate on the utilization of ophthalmic chloramphenicol in Bahrain, through studying the utilization patterns of ophthalmic antimicrobial preparations by the Ministry of Health, with an emphasis on chloramphenicol, between 1993 and 2000. Cost-implications of these patterns are examined. Material and methods: Information on the annual purchase of ophthalmic antimicrobial drug preparations and their unit price was obtained from the Directorate of Materials Management, Ministry of Health, and analyzed. Results: In 1993, the 3 most commonly purchased ophthalmic antibacterial preparations were oxytetracycline 1% eye ointment (40.1%); sulfacetamide 10% and 20% eye drops (25.3%); and chloramphenicol 0.5% eye drops and 1% eye ointment (10.8%). In 2000, oxytetracycline remained the most frequently purchased preparation (33%), followed by chloramphenicol (21.2%), Between 1993 and 1999, chloramphenicol purchases fluctuated between 10% to 16.4% with a remarkable increase to 21.2%, in 2000. Chloramphenicol accounted for 8.6% and 15.1% of cost of total ophthalmic preparations purchased in 1993 and 2000, respectively. Conclusion: Despite continued concerns of potential risks of ophthalmic chloramphenicol, this preparation is extensively utilized in Bahrain. We are of the opinion that for minor infections, chloramphenicol ophthalmic preparations should be replaced by safer alternatives. Further, we recommend that their use be reserved for ocular infections that are resistant to other antimicrobials, and that ophthalmologists, at the secondary care level, should supervise such treatment.

Purpose To determine whether primary care physicians take into consideration age, gender and diabetes mellitus as risk factors for sexual dysfunction (SD) when prescribing antihypertensives. Methods A prescribing survey on hyperternsive patients with or without diabetes mellitus in primary care setting of Bahrain was carried out. Results In 5301 hypertensive patients, we found that a β-blocker (atenolol) was the most commonly prescribed drug and was significantly more often prescribed for young male hypertensives (

The present study relates to the influence of hydraulic shock loads and total dissolved solids (TDS) on the performance of three large-scale common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) treating textile effluents, which is generated from clusters of small-scale industries in the state of Rajasthan in India. Of the three CETPs, two having capacities 7.0 and 9.0 million liters per day (mld) are located in Pali and one of capacity 6.0 mld in Balotra, District Barmer. Wastewater from about one thousand small-scale industries is treated in these CETPs. The effects of hydraulic shock loads and TDS on effluent data from secondary clarifier for parameters biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and suspended solids (SS) for CETPs at Pali, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) and SS for the CETP at Balotra were studied. It was observed that the effluent BOD and SS remained within the prescribed limits for CETP Pali at 30% increased flow rate, whereas effluent COD and SS at 30% increased flow rate for CETP Balotra exceeded the prescribed limits and the CETP could sustain 20% increased flow rate. The shock loading analysis revealed that CETP Balotra had reduced capacity to sustain shock loads by 10% as compared to CETP Pali due to the presence of high TDS (15,000-20,000 mg/l). High TDS interfered with the oxygen transfer necessary for biological metabolism, thereby affected the efficiency of activated sludge process. Hence, activated sludge process treating high TDS effluents are more sensitive to hydraulic shock loads and prone to process upsets.

We present a 63 ks FUSE observation of the Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 galaxy Arakelian 564. The spectrum is dominated by the strong emission in the O VI \lambda\lambda1032, 1038 resonance doublet. Strong, heavily saturated absorption troughs due to Lyman series of Hydrogen, O VI and C III \lambda 977 at velocities near the systemic redshift of Arakelian564 are also observed. We used the column densities of O VI and C III in conjunction with the published column densities of species observed in the UV and X-ray bands to derive constraints on the physical parameters of the absorber through photoionization modeling. The available data suggest that the UV and X-ray absorbers in Arakelian~564 are physically related, and possibly identical. The combination of constraints indicates that the absorber is characterized by a narrow range in total column density N_H and U, centered at log N_H ~ 21 and log U ~ -1.5, and may be spatially extended along the line of sight.

Experiments were conducted to study the effect of various chemical and biological agents on stem canker caused by Botrytis cinerea Pers.: Fr. on tomato plants grown in sawdust under near-commercial greenhouse conditions. Lesion lengths following treatment with RootShield® and strain S33 of Rhodosporidium diobovatum Newell & Hunter, applied as post-inoculation sprays, were significantly smaller than those in inoculated controls. These treatments also increased fruit yield and decreased the number of dead plants compared with inoculated controls. Decree®, Prestop®, and R. diobovatum S33, applied as sprays, prevented the occurrence of stem canker and increased fruit yield in tomato. The number of dead plants was also smaller with these treatments than with the other treatments and in inoculated controls. These results suggest that, in tomato, post-inoculation sprays of RootShield® and R. diobovatum S33 can reduce lesion lengths, and that a preventive spray of Decree®, Prestop®, and R. diobovatum S33 might prevent stem canker, under near-commercial greenhouse conditions.Key words: biological control, Botrytis cinerea, Bacillus subtilis, Rhodosporidium diobovatum, grey mold.

We present X-ray and optical observations of CXOMP J213945.0-234655, a high redshift (z=4.93) quasar discovered through the Chandra Multiwavelength Project (ChaMP). This object is the most distant X-ray selected quasar published, with an X-ray luminosity of L(X)=5.9x10^44 erg/s (measured in the 0.3-2.5 keV band and corrected for Galactic absorption). CXOMP J213945.0-234655 is a g' dropout object (>26.2), with r'=22.87 and i'=21.36. The rest-frame X-ray to optical flux ratio is similar to quasars at lower redshifts and slightly X-ray bright relative to z>4 optically-selected quasars observed with Chandra. The ChaMP is beginning to acquire significant numbers of high redshift quasars to investigate the unobscured X-ray luminosity function out to z~5.

Much of the weight of writing on business strategy and strategic marketing deals with the tasks and perspectives of top managers of large and well-known companies and, to some extent, with the organizational and structural aspects of those issues.However,all businesses have a strategic need for designing what to sell in the future, for example against the time when present market offerings cease to generate value. In businesses which are either large or at the leading edge of technological innovation, much of this task may fall on managers below the top level. This paper suggests that this task of designing what to sell is nevertheless strategic and,therefore,is legitimately described as a competitive strategy. It also suggests that what needs to be designed are individual offerings,even when the viability of several offerings is interdependent.It is the offering that customers choose or reject and the price of which they compare with prices of substitutes. Most dissenters imply that what needs to be desi...

SummaryA dot blot assay, based on the internal transcribed spacer of the ribosomal region, was developed for rapid diagnosis and identification of Botrytis cinerea, the causal agent of grey mould of greenhouse tomatoes. In this assay, DNA from fungal cultures and diseased plant tissue were amplified by PCR using primers specific to septate fungi, fixed to nylon membranes, and hybridized with digoxigenin-d-UTP labelled oligonucleotides specific to B. cinerea. The hybridized probes were detected by chemiluminescence. Six isolates of B. cinerea, four isolates of Botrytis species, one isolate each of B. fabae, B. squamosa, B. streptothrix, B. allii, B. porri, and B. tulipae and some common greenhouse pathogens were tested using this assay. Of four probes screened, probe Bot1 gave a positive reaction with all isolates of B. cinerea and with fresh or frozen plant tissue affected with grey mould from research centres and commercial greenhouses. All other greenhouse fungi tested negative with probe Bot1. This dot...

Hydrogen producing bacteria IODB-O3 was isolated from sludge and identified as Clostridium sp. by 16S rDNA gene analysis. In this study, biohydrogen production process was developed using low-cost agro-waste. Maximum H2 was produced at 37°C and pH 8.5. Maximum H2 yield was obtained 2.54±0.2mol-H2/mol-reducing sugar from wheat straw pre-hydrolysate (WSPH) and 2.61±0.1mol-H2/mol-reducing sugar from pre-treated wheat straw enzymatic-hydrolysate (WSEH). The cumulative H2 production (ml/L), 3680±105 and 3270±100, H2 production rate (ml/L/h), 153±5 and 136±5, and specific H2 production (ml/g/h), 511±5 and 681±10 with WSPH and WSEH were obtained, respectively. Biomass pre-treatment via steam-explosion generates ample amount of WSPH which remains unutilized for bioethanol production due to non-availability of efficient C5-fermenting microorganisms. This study shows that Clostridium sp. IODB-O3 is capable of utilizing WSPH efficiently for biohydrogen production. This would lead to reduced economic constrain on the overall cellulosic ethanol process and also establish a sustainable biohydrogen production process.

WOS: 000344141500013, Recently the number of main-sequence and subgiant stars exhibiting solar-like oscillations that are resolved into individual mode frequencies has increased dramatically. While only a few such data sets were available for detailed modeling just a decade ago, the Kepler mission has produced suitable observations for hundreds of new targets. This rapid expansion in observational capacity has been accompanied by a shift in analysis and modeling strategies to yield uniform sets of derived stellar properties more quickly and easily. We use previously published asteroseismic and spectroscopic data sets to provide a uniform analysis of 42 solar-type Kepler targets from the Asteroseismic Modeling Portal. We find that fitting the individual frequencies typically doubles the precision of the asteroseismic radius, mass, and age compared to grid-based modeling of the global oscillation properties, and improves the precision of the radius and mass by about a factor of three over empirical scaling relations. We demonstrate the utility of the derived properties with several applications., NASANational Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) [NNX13AC44G, NNX13AE91G]; White Dwarf Research Corporation through the Pale Blue Dot project; Danish National Research FoundationDanmarks Grundforskningsfond [DNRF106]; European Research CouncilEuropean Research Council (ERC) [267864]; Scientific and Technological Research Council of TurkeyTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [TUBITAK:112T989]; European Commission grant for the SPACEINN project [FP7-SPACE-2012-312844]; NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics postdoctoral fellowshipNational Science Foundation (NSF) [AST 09-02004]; NSFNational Science Foundation (NSF) [PHY 08-21899, PHY 11-25915]; Investigador FCT contract - FCT/MCTES (Portugal); POPH/FSE (EC)European Commission Joint Research CentreEuropean Social Fund (ESF); Hungarian OTKAOrszagos Tudomanyos Kutatasi Alapprogramok (OTKA) [K83790, KTIA URKUT_10-1-2011-0019]; Lendulet Young Researchers Programme of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences; Janos Bolyai Research Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of SciencesHungarian Academy of Sciences; City of Szombathely [S-11-1027]; European Community Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) [269194 (IRSES/ASK)]; CNES grant at CEA-Saclay; NIUS programme of HBCSE (TIFR); MICINN grant [AYA2011-24704]; ESF EUROCORES Program EuroGENESIS (MICINN) [EUI2009-04170]; Australian Research CouncilAustralian Research Council; Science and Technology Facilities CouncilScience & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) [ST/J001163/1], We would like to thank Victor Silva Aguirre for helpful discussions. This work was supported in part by NASA grants NNX13AC44G and NNX13AE91G, and by White Dwarf Research Corporation through the Pale Blue Dot project (http://whitedwarf.org/palebluedot/). Computational time on Kraken at the National Institute of Computational Sciences was provided through XSEDE allocation TG-AST090107. Funding for the Stellar Astrophysics Centre is provided by The Danish National Research Foundation (grant DNRF106). We acknowledge the ASTERISK project (ASTERoseismic Investigations with SONG and Kepler) funded by the European Research Council (grant agreement No.: 267864), the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK:112T989), and a European Commission grant for the SPACEINN project (FP7-SPACE-2012-312844). B.P.B. was supported in part by NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics postdoctoral fellowship AST 09-02004. C.M.S.O. is supported by NSF grant PHY 08-21899 and K.I.T.P. is supported by NSF grant PHY 11-25915. M.S.C. is supported by an Investigador FCT contract funded by FCT/MCTES (Portugal) and POPH/FSE (EC). A.D. has been supported by the Hungarian OTKA grants K83790, KTIA URKUT_10-1-2011-0019 grant, the Lendulet-2009 Young Researchers Programme of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the Janos Bolyai Research Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the City of Szombathely under agreement No. S-11-1027. A.D. and R.A.G. acknowledge the support of the European Community Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement No. 269194 (IRSES/ASK). R.A.G. and D. Salabert acknowledge the support of the CNES grant at CEA-Saclay. A.M. acknowledges support from the NIUS programme of HBCSE (TIFR). A.S. is supported by the MICINN grant AYA2011-24704 and by the ESF EUROCORES Program EuroGENESIS (MICINN grant EUI2009-04170). D. Stello is supported by the Australian Research Council.

Hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanoparticles of two different shapes but of same size (ca. 40 nm) were dispersed in PEDOT:PSS matrices in various concentration ranges (0-7 wt%) to study the consequent changes in conductivity in the dark and under solar illumination conditions. Within a distinct range of concentration, a distinct increase in the conductivity was observed for both spherical and cubical particle population. We ascribed this effect to the generalized Poole-Frenkel theory of conduction in conjunction with the basic depletion width properties of heterojunctions and electrostatic dipole moments, and verified our assumptions through data fitting. A difference in conductivity between sphere- and cube-based α-Fe2O3-PEDOT:PSS nanocomposites was also observed and ascribed to the electrostatic edge effect on the nanoparticles. The dispersion of α-Fe2O3 nanocrystals was confirmed by high-resolution electron microscopy, whereas the electrical properties and modulations thereof were followed by recording current-voltage characteristics.

This study concerns in-house development of cellulases from a mutant Penicillium janthinellum EMS-UV-8 and its application in separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) processes for bioethanol production from pre-treated wheat straw. In a 5 L fermentor, the above strain could produce cellulases having activity of 3.1 FPU/mL and a specific activity of 0.83 FPU/mg of protein. In-house developed cellulase worked more efficiently in case of SSF as ethanol concentration of 21.6 g/L and yield of 54.4% were obtained which were higher in comparison to SHF (ethanol concentration 12 g/L and 30.2% yield). This enzyme preparation when compared with commercial cellulase for hydrolysis of pre-treated wheat straw was found competitive. This study demonstrates that P. janthinellum EMS-UV-8 is a potential fungus for future large-scale production of cellulases.

Context. The unparalleled photometric data obtained by NASA's Kepler Space Telescope has led to improved understanding of red giant stars and binary stars. Seismology allows us to constrain the properties of red giants. In addition to eclipsing binaries, eccentric non-eclipsing binaries that exhibit ellipsoidal modulations have been detected with Kepler. Aims. We aim to study the properties of eccentric binary systems containing a red giant star and to derive the parameters of the primary giant component. Methods. We applied asteroseismic techniques to determine the masses and radii of the primary component of each system. For a selected target, light and radial velocity curve modelling techniques were applied to extract the parameters of the system and its primary component. Stellar evolution and its effects on the evolution of the binary system were studied from theoretical models. Results. The paper presents the asteroseismic analysis of 18 pulsating red giants in eccentric binary systems, for which masses and radii were constrained. The orbital periods of these systems range from 20 to 440 days. The results of our ongoing radial velocity monitoring programme with the Hermes spectrograph reveal an eccentricity range of e = 0.2 to 0.76. As a case study we present a detailed analysis of KIC 5006817, whose rich oscillation spectrum allows for detailed seismic analysis. From seismology we constrain the rotational period of the envelope to be at least 165 d, which is roughly twice the orbital period. The stellar core rotates 13 times faster than the surface. From the spectrum and radial velocities we expect that the Doppler beaming signal should have a maximum amplitude of 300 ppm in the light curve. Fixing the mass and radius to the asteroseismically determined values, we find from our binary modelling a value of the gravity darkening exponent that is significantly larger than expected. Through binary modelling, we determine the mass of the secondary component to be 0.29 ± 0.03 Mmiddot; Conclusions. For KIC 5006817 we exclude pseudo-synchronous rotation of the red giant with the orbit. The comparison of the results from seismology and modelling of the light curve shows a possible alignment of the rotational and orbital axis at the 2σ level. Red giant eccentric systems could be progenitors of cataclysmic variables and hot subdwarf B stars. © 2014 ESO., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

The common causes of mediastinal mass are neoplasms including Hodgkin’s disease, neuroblastoma and non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma. About one third of the cases are benign such as teratomas, neurofibromas and lipomas. Histological findings are essential to distinguish between benign and malignant conditions. Zygomycosis is a rare fungal infection usually presenting as a subcutaneous infection. Visceral involvement is reported usually with pulmonary and gastrointestinal tract involvement. Here the authors report a case of zygomycosis in an immunocompetent adult male who presented with mediastinal mass.

OBJECTIVE: To determine drug prescription patterns and the extent of conformity with World Health Organization/International Society of Hypertension (WHO/ISH) guidelines in diabetic hypertension. DESIGN: Retrospective prescription-based survey. SETTING: Seven primary-care health centers, comprising approximately one-third of primary-care health centers in Bahrain. PATIENTS: Patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The prescribing pattern of antihypertensive and antidiabetic drugs. RESULTS: Among a study sample of 1463 patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension, antidiabetic agents were prescribed as monotherapy in the following descending order: glyburide, gliclazide, insulin, and metformin. As combinations, sulfonylureas plus metformin was most popular, followed by metformin plus insulin, and sulfonylureas plus insulin. Sulfonylurea and metformin with insulin was rarely used. There was no significant difference in prescribing of glyburide and metformin between the elderly and young middle-aged diabetic patients; many patients older than 65 years were treated with a β-blocker along with a long-acting sulfonylurea. Both as monotherapy and in overall use, β-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and calcium-channel blockers were most often prescribed. Among 35.5% patients treated with antihypertensive combinations, various two- and three-drug combinations of β-blockers, ACE inhibitors, calcium-channel blockers, and diuretics were often used. The proportion of patients taking atenolol 100 mg/d was higher with combination regimens. Hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg or equivalent thiazide diuretics were extensively used. CONCLUSIONS: The prescribing pattern of antihypertensives in diabetic hypertension differs in many instances from WHO/ISH guidelines, especially regarding the choice of antihypertensive drugs and their combinations. The appropriateness of antidiabetic drug choice is questionable in relation to the antihypertensive used.

We present the results of a two-year long optical monitoring program of the narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy Akn 564. The majority of this monitoring project was also covered by X-ray observations (RXTE) and for a period of ~50 days, we observed the galaxy in UV (HST) and X-rays (RXTE & ASCA) simultaneously with the ground-based observations. Rapid and large-amplitude variations seen in the X-ray band, on a daily and hourly time-scale, were not detected at optical and UV wavelengths, which in turn exhibited much lower variability either on short (one day) or long (several months) time-scales. The only significant optical variations can be described as two 2--4 day events with ~10% flux variations. We detect no significant optical line variations and thus cannot infer a reverberation size for the broad-line region. Similarly, the large X-ray variations seem to vanish when the light curve is smoothed over a period of 30 days. The UV continuum follows the X-rays with a lag of ~0.4 days, and the optical band lags the UV band by ~2 days. No significant correlation was found between the entire X-ray dataset and the optical band. Focusing on a 20-day interval around the strongest optical event we detect a significant X-ray--optical correlation with similar events seen in the UV and X-rays. Our data are consistent with reprocessing models on the grounds of the energy emitted in this single event. However, several large X-ray flares produced no corresponding optical emission., 10 pages, 6 figures included, LaTeX emulateapj5.sty, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal

BACKGROUND: About 90% of cervical cancers and advanced cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN II/III) are squamous epithelial cells with mRNA for human papillomavirus (HPV)16 and 18 and up-regulated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R). Since presence of proteins rather than mRNA may be truly indicative of active infection or disease progression, establishing reliable methods for quantifying these proteins in cervical biopsies is important. METHOD: We have established an objective semi-quantitative immunofluorescent antibody assay to reliably assess the levels of HPV-E6/E7 and EGF-R proteins in the cervical biopsies from 12 normal women, five women with CIN I, 15 with CIN II/III and ten with cervical cancer. RESULTS: HPV-E6/E7 and EGF-R, when present, were specific to para-basal, basal and squamous epithelial cells (negative in stromal cells). Nine of ten women with cervical cancer and 15 (14 CIN II/III; 1 CIN I) of 20 women with CIN were positive for HPV-E6/E7. All 12 controls were HPV-negative. The controls and six women with CIN (four with CIN I) negative for HPV had low levels of EGF-R. The only exception was one woman with cervical cancer negative for HPV, with high levels of EGF-R. Levels of HPV-E6/E7 and EGF-R were significantly higher (P

The physically-based flood frequency models use readily available rainfall data and catchment characteristics to derive the flood frequency distribution. In the present study, a new physically-based flood frequency distribution has been developed. This model uses bivariate exponential distribution for rainfall intensity and duration, and the Soil Conservation Service-Curve Number (SCS-CN) method for deriving the probability density function (pdf) of effective rainfall. The effective rainfall-runoff model is based on kinematic-wave theory. The results of application of this derived model to three Indian basins indicate that the model is a useful alternative for estimating flood flow quantiles at ungauged sites.

We present images from five observations of the quasar 3C 273 with the Chandra X-ray Observatory. The jet has at least four distinct features which are not resolved in previous observations. The first knot in the jet (A1) is very bright in X-rays. Its X-ray spectrum is well fitted with a power law with alpha = 0.60 +/- 0.05. Combining this measurement with lower frequency data shows that a pure synchrotron model can fit the spectrum of this knot from 1.647 GHz to 5 keV (over nine decades in energy) with alpha = 0.76 +/- 0.02, similar to the X-ray spectral slope. Thus, we place a lower limit on the total power radiated by this knot of 1.5e43 erg/s; substantially more power may be emitted in the hard X-ray and gamma-ray bands. Knot A2 is also detected and is somewhat blended with knot B1. Synchrotron emission may also explain the X-ray emission but a spectral bend is required near the optical band. For knots A1 and B1, the X-ray flux dominates the emitted energy. For the remaining optical knots (C through H), localized X-ray enhancements that might correspond to the optical features are not clearly resolved. The position angle of the jet ridge line follows the optical shape with distinct, aperiodic excursions of +/-1 deg from a median value of -138.0deg. Finally, we find X-ray emission from the ``inner jet'' between 5 and 10" from the core., 10 pages, 5 figures; accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. For the color image, see fig1.ps or http://space.mit.edu/~hermanm/papers/3c273/fig1.jpg

OBJECTIVES To determine in older people with uncomplicated hypertension: (a) the pattern of prescribing of antihypertensives; (b) the extent of physicians' adherence to recommendations on dosage for antihypertensive combinations; (c) whether prescribing practice conforms with recommended therapeutic guidelines; and (d) the frequency of prescribing of other drugs which have the potential to alter the efficacy of antihypertensive agents. METHODS A survey of prescribing in older patients with uncomplicated hypertension in primary care setting of Bahrain was conducted. RESULTS Of the 432 (56.5%) patients on monotherapy, 192 (44.4%) were treated with beta-blockers, 87 (20.1%) with calcium channel blockers (CCBs), 53 (12.3%) with alpha-methyldopa, 47 (10.9%) with diuretics, 46 (10.6%) with angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and 7 (1.6%) with hydralazine. Of the 1146 patients on mono- or combination therapies, 434 (56.8%) were treated with beta-blockers, 244 (31.9%) with diuretics, 211 (27.6%) with CCBs, 139 (18.2%) with ACE inhibitors, 103 (13.5%) with alpha-methyldopa 8 (1.0%) with brinerdine and 7 (0.9%) with hydralazine. In the 332 (43.5%) patients on combination therapy, 15 different two- and three-antihypertensive drug combinations were prescribed: a diuretic with a beta-blocker (37.2%) and a beta-blocker with either a CCB (20.9%) or an ACE inhibitor (12.4%) were the most popular two-drug regimens. The most commonly prescribed triple drug regimens were a diuretic and a beta-blocker plus either a CCB (26.1%) or an ACE inhibitor (17.4%) and diuretic plus an ACE inhibitor and a CCB (15.2%). Daily dosage of beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors and alpha-methyldopa were somewhat high in a considerable proportion of patients on both mono- and combined therapies. A substantial proportion (9.7%) of patients on monotherapy were treated with immediate release nifedipine. CONCLUSION The pharmacotherapy of hypertension in elderly patients was found in some instances not to conform to recommended guidelines. For certain classes of antihypertensive agent such as beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors and alpha-methyldopa, neither the principles of geriatric pharmacology nor of antihypertensive combination therapy, and in particular, the need to reduce daily dosage, were followed. The use of immediate release nifedipine in the elderly is irrational, and instead, the use of long-acting dihydropyridine CCBs should be considered. The results of long-term randomized clinical trials published during the last decade have had a minimal impact on clinical practice of primary care physicians in Bahrain.

A 62-year-old lady presented to hospital with thunderclap headache and was found to have a grade 1 subarachnoid haemorrhage due to ruptured anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysm, treated by endovascular coiling. Two small coincidental left middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms were managed conservatively. Follow-up imaging at 6 months showed only minor ischaemic changes. Routine 2 year follow up magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) showed the coiled aneurysm to be secure with unchanged coincidental MCA aneurysms but multiple new right cerebral hemisphere lesions with extensive perilesional oedema. These lesions showed punctate enhancement on contrast MRI. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) imaging showed normal brain FDG update. The patient developed focal left-sided motor seizures, prompting readmission, and empirical treatment with corticosteroids, antibiotics and aspirin in addition to levetiracetam. Cerebral spinal fluid constituents were normal. Routine bloods, inflammatory markers and blood cultures were normal or negative, as was an echocardiogram. There were no further seizures, and subsequent improvement was noted in the right cerebral hemisphere imaging appearances. Foreign material emboli following endovascular coiling is described in the literature but, to our knowledge, its presentation in this manner with this latency has not been reported.

Purpose To determine the antihypertensive drug prescribing pattern by primary care physicians in patients with uncomplicated essential hypertension; to identify whether such pattern of prescription is appropriate and in accordance with international guidelines for pharmacotherapy of hypertension; and to estimate the impact of such prescriptions on cost of treatment. Methods A prescription-based survey among patients with uncomplicated essential hypertension was conducted in seven out of a total of 18 health centres in Bahrain. The relevant data for our study was collected using cards, designed for chronically-ill patients. Results A total of 1019 male and 1395 female (62.9%) out of 3838 of the study population were on monotherapy, whereas 596 male and 828 female (37.1%) were on antihypertensive combination therapy. Among the monotherapy category, the various antihypertensive drugs used were as follows: beta-blockers (58.8%), angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (14.2%), calcium channel blockers (11.1%), diuretics (8.1%) and α-methyldopa (7.0%). With respect to overall utilization pattern, beta-blockers were the most frequently prescribed (65.5%), diuretics ranked second (27.4%), followed by ACE inhibitors (20.6%), calcium channel blockers (19.9%) and α-methyldopa (8.5%). Within each class of antihypertensives used, the most frequently used individual agents were as follows: (a) among beta-blockers 97.7% used atenolol; (b) among the diuretics, indapamide (35.4%), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) (32.7%), HCTZ in combination with triamterene (25.7%), and chlorthalidone (4.6%); (c) among the ACE inhibitors, captopril (44.9%), enalapril (29.7%), and lisinopril (19.0%); (d) among the calcium channel blockers, nifedipine (98.2%). Significant age- and gender-related differences in prescribing patterns were seen. Short-acting nifedipine monotherapy was inappropriately prescribed in a significant number of patients above the age of 50 years. ACE inhibitors accounted for approximately two-thirds of the total antihypertensive drug expenditure, although these drugs represent only one-fifth of overall antihypertensives used. There is a trend towards excessive use of expensive thiazide-like diuretics such as indapamide which seems to be unjustifiable practice, particularly in a study population free from diabetic hypertensive patients. Conclusions The general pattern of antihypertensive utilization appears to be in accordance with the guidelines of WHO and the Joint National Committee issued in the 1990s. The trends of prescribing of antihypertensives were in favour of conventional ones such as the beta blockers and diuretics, and the introduction of newer classes of antihypertensives had a generally minimal impact on the prescribing profile. Almost two-thirds of the patients were treated with monotherapy. A disproportionately large percentage of antihypertensive drug cost was due to overt use of ACE inhibitors, and indapamide, instead of thiazide diuretics. The use of short-acting calcium channel blockers especially in the elderly is unjustifiable. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A 46-year-old man underwent two coronary bypass operations and three percutaneous interventions over a period of 18 years. A non-functioning internal mammary artery (IMA) graft, was observed shortly after the second surgery. This graft was anastomosed to the left anterior descending (LAD) that had adequate flow from an older vein graft placed during the first surgery. Over the ensuing 8 years, the IMA graft regained patency after progressive occlusive disease in the competing vein graft.

Intra-operatively retained surgical sponges are a cause of both medical and medico-legal problems. Unresolving postoperative sepsis associated with a suspicious radiological finding raises the possibility of a retained surgical sponge. Computed tomography (CT) is the technique of choice for recognition of retained sponges, although the appearance can be highly variable.1 On imaging, a retained surgical sponge can bemimicked by radio-opaquematerials intentionally employed during operation, making it important for radiologists and surgeons to be aware of them. We report a case of unusual appearance of side-to-side jejunal anastomosis staple line that mimicked a retained surgical sponge at CT. Although the possibility of the abnormality being a staple linewas considered, the use of this staple device was new in our institution accounting for the unfamiliarity of its imaging appearance. As a result, a retained surgical spongewas diagnosed leading to re-laprotomy. To the authors’ knowledge, prior to the present case, there have been

OBJECTIVES To explore the prescribing pattern and rationale of antihypertensive combination drug therapy at the level of primary health care centers; and to analyze the extent of physicians' adherence to dosage range of antihypertensives in combination regimens as recommended by Guidelines Subcommittee of WHO/ISH 1999. SUBJECTS, MATERIAL AND METHODS A prescribing survey of antihypertensive combination regimens among patients with uncomplicated essential hypertension was conducted in 7 out of a total of 18 health centers in Bahrain. The relevant data for our study was collected using cards designed for chronically ill patients. RESULTS A total of 2414 hypertensive patients (62.9%), of a 3838 study population, were on monotherapy, whereas 1414 (37.1%) were on antihypertensive combination therapy. Among those who were treated with drug combinations, 85.1% (n = 1212) received two-drug, 14.2% (n = 202) received three-drug and four- and five-drug regimens were used by 0.6% and 0.07%, respectively. Prescription analysis revealed that 17 different two- and three-antihypertensive drug combinations were prescribed for each category. The four major two-drug regimens were ranked in the following order: a beta-blocker with a diuretic (40.4%) used more frequently in females than in males (p < 0.0001), a beta-blocker with a calcium channel blocker (19.7%), a beta-blocker with an ACE inhibitor (12.8%) and a diuretic with an ACE inhibitor (7.3%) - used more frequently in males than in females (p = 0.001, 0.01, and 0.028, respectively). The most frequently prescribed three-drug regimens were diuretic and a beta-blocker plus either an ACE inhibitor (30.7%) or a calcium channel blocker (22.3%), beta-blocker plus an ACE inhibitor and a calcium channel blocker (16.3%), and a diuretic plus an ACE inhibitor and a calcium channel blocker (11.4%). There was no gender-related difference among triple-drug regimens. There was a trend towards using high doses of the beta-blocker atenolol, ACE inhibitors and methyldopa. CONCLUSION The prescribing patterns of some practising physicians were analyzed in terms of conformity with guidelines of combination of drugs and dosages. The use of antihypertensive combination therapy and the doses of individual drugs in combination regimens seem to be partly non-compliant with guidelines issued by WHO recommendations; this is illustrated by excessive prescription of some irrational combinations, as well as limited prescription of some rational combinations. In addition, a tendency to use high doses of certain classes of antihypertensive combinations was observed.

PROBLEM: To ascertain if cervical epithelial epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) and serum insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) levels are potential markers for cervical cancer. METHOD OF STUDY: We tested cervical biopsies obtained from 18 controls, 3 women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) I, 17 women with CIN II and III, and 12 women with cervical cancer for EGF-R using a quantitative immunofluorescent antibody assay. We measured serum IGF-II levels using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 20 controls, 26 CIN patients, 12 with cervical cancer before therapy, 5 with cervical cancer for

Isolates of Albugo Candida, collected from different geographical locations in western Canada, were tested for virulence on a set of differentials from Brassica species to determine the variability and distribution of different races and pathotypes. Most isolates were classified as race 7 based on virulence to Brassica rapa accessions and these could be subdivided broadly into two pathotypes, 7A or 7V, on the basis of their virulence to B. rapa cvs. Torch and Reward. Some isolates were classified as race 2 based on virulence to Brassica juncea and these could also be subdivided into pathotypes, 2A or 2V, based on their virulence to B. juncea cvs. Burgonde and Cutlass. The predominant pathotype was 7V. Two isolates of race 7, 28-7 and 29-1, appeared to be less virulent as they were avirulent on all of the differentials except rapid-cycling B. rapa accession CrGCl-18. Race 7 was most prevalent in collections from Alberta and Manitoba. In British Columbia, pathotypes 2A, 2V, 7A, and 7V were commonly observed...

PROBLEM: Over-expression of epidermal growth factor-receptors (EGF-R) has been described in a variety of cancers, including cervical cancer. Nicotine may increase cellular proliferation rates through a mechanism involving EGF or EGF-R. In this study, we ascertain the effect of EGF antibodies on nicotine-enhanced proliferation rates in two cervical cancer cell lines. METHOD OF STUDY: We studied (a) nicotine-induced increase in the cellular expression of EGF-R in human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive ME-180 and HPV-negative HT-3 cervical cancer cell line cultures, using a semi-quantitative immunofluorescent antibody assay; (b) alterations in cellular proliferation in association with changes in EGF-R levels; and (c) the EGF-R mediation by EGF. RESULTS: Nicotine exposure at physiologically attainable plasma concentrations caused increased expression of EGF-R in both cervical cancer cell lines. Up-regulation of EGF-R was associated with increased cellular proliferation. Decreased expression of EGF-R was associated with decreased cellular proliferation. These data were consistent with EGF-R expression as a mechanism for the control of proliferation of the cervical cancer cells. The action of nicotine was abrogated when antibodies to EGF were added, implying that nicotine up-regulation of EGF-R may be mediated by EGF. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that nicotine-induced proliferation of cervical cancer cells is mediated through EGF-R over-expression and that this action of nicotine utilizes EGF.

A new synthetic discriminant-function-based amplitude modulated phase-only filtering technique is proposed for scale invariant pattern recognition. This technique has been found to yield improved correlation output when compared with the alternate techniques. The proposed technique is inherently suitable for optical implementation using the currently available spatial light modulators. Simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed technique.

Selective flocculation is a potential process for solid–solid separations in the fine particle size range. The critical barriers to further the commercial applications of this technique are loss in predicted single mineral selectivity in mixed mineral systems, extrapolation of mixed mineral selectivity to natural systems, and scale up from laboratory to plant. A comprehensive review of the recent advances in selective flocculation technology, which facilitates overcoming these barriers, is presented in this paper. These include identification/design of selective reagents based on the surface chemistry of particles, use of site blocking agents to minimize heteroflocculation, and tailoring the polymer characteristics vis-a-vis particle size to achieve the desired separation efficiency.

A derived flood frequency distribution (DFFD) combines a stochastic rainfall model with a deterministic rainfall–runoff model to obtain a physically based probability distribution of flood discharges. Previous DFFD studies have either assumed that rainfall intensity and duration are independent or negatively correlated. This study is more general than previous studies because it accommodates both positive and negative correlations between rainfall intensity and duration. Rainfall–runoff processes are modeled using a φ -index infiltration model and a geomorphoclimatic instantaneous unit hydrograph. Applications to four Indian watersheds and one US watershed demonstrates that (1) the correlation of rainfall intensity and duration has an important impact on the DFFD and (2) the DFFD provides a potentially useful alternative for estimating flood flow quantiles at ungaged sites.

The oil content of 64 samples of groundnut kernels, representing 47 genotypes, was determined by the conventional Soxhlet extraction procedure (OilSOX). The values of OilSOX ranged from 403 to 536 g kg−1. The optical densities (ODs) of these samples were determined at 12 wavelengths (918, 928, 940, 950, 968, 975, 985, 998, 1010, 1023, 1037 and 1045 nm) in the near-infrared (NIR) region using a food composition analyser (essentially a filter-based NIR spectrophotometer). The instrument also recorded the temperatures of the sample (TempS) and the air (TempA) surrounding it. A sample holder (75 mm × 150 mm; optical path length 25 mm) was used for optical density measurement. The data obtained were subjected to multiple linear regression analysis using the ODs at 12 wavelengths, TempS and TempA as the independent (predictor) variables, and OilSOX as the dependent variable. The multiple linear regression equation comprising 14 predictors showed a significant relationship between predicted values of oil content (OilNIR) and OilSOX. The standard error of calibration and the coefficient of determination for calibration (R) were 3.54 and 0.821 respectively, while the standard error of prediction and the coefficient of determination for prediction were 5.82 and 0.865 respectively. The ratio of standard error of calibration and standard error of prediction was 0.608. The differences between OilSOX and OilNIR were less than ± 20 g kg−1 for samples having oil contents in the range from 480 to 510 g kg−1. However, for samples having OilSOX lower than 480 g kg−1 or higher than 510 g kg−1, differences greater than ± 20 g kg−1 were observed. There exists scope for further refining the regression equation by using a larger number of samples for generating optical data. The results demonstrated the potential of NIR transmittance spectroscopy for determining the oil content of groundnuts in a non-destructive manner. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry

An extracellular β-glucosidase enzyme was purified from the fungus Aspergillus niger strain 322. The molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 64 kDa by SDS gel electrophoresis. Optimal pH and temperature for β-glucosidase were 5·5 and 50 °C, respectively. Purified enzyme was stable up to 50 °C and pH between 2·0 and 5·5. The Km was 0·1 mmol l−1 for cellobiose. Enzyme activity was inhibited by several divalent metal ions.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the USA and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women. Breast cancer metastases to the bladder are unusual but have been reported occasionally in the literature. The majority of the reports describe bladder metastases presenting with symptomatology or occurring in the context of disseminated disease. We present the case of an 87-year-old woman with a history of breast cancer and negative routine work-up for metastatic disease. She was referred to the urogynecology division in our institution because of complaints of urinary incontinence and urinary urgency. A urethrocystoscopy revealed suspicious bladder mucosal lesions that were biopsied. The pathology findings, when compared to the original cancer specimens, were consistent with metastatic disease. This case suggests that in patients with a history of breast cancer, even subtle urinary symptoms should be thoroughly evaluated.

In India there are 0.6 million human settlements scattered all over the country. Forty-eight percent of these villages are connected with all-weather roads and the remaining 52 percent of these villages are yet to be connected with all-weather, black-topped roads. The prevailing construction methodologies that use mechanized implements do not suit the construction of low-volume roads in India due to the high cost of machinery and unavailability of skilled labor and technicians. In view of the above, the present methods of low-volume road construction and maintenance are largely labor-based. These methods are slow and often result in substandard quality of construction. Therefore, it is considered essential to adopt an appropriate man-machine combination. Such an approach will be necessary in the future to improve the standards of construction required for low-volume road infrastructure development and also to meet the accelerated pace of rural developmental activities. Cultivation and farming are the main activities in the villages leading to the availability of farming tractors and other related implements. Since tractors are increasingly available in large numbers in rural areas, it is considered most appropriate to make use of various agricultural implements towed by tractors for the different road construction operations. A survey was made of the existing agricultural implements suitable for carrying out the various road construction operations. Based on results of this study, different farming implements were used for various road construction activities on demonstration projects. The data obtained from these projects were analyzed to determine the technical and economic feasibility of labor-intensive and tractor-towed equipment construction techniques. An economic evaluation of these low-cost road construction techniques was performed to identify relative cost factors. Different low-cost agricultural implements and their possible use in various road construction operations are highlighted. Based on these studies, it is evident that the deployment of tractor-based techniques would result in substantial economy with the added benefit of better-finished quality of work and considerable time-saving in projects.