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Currently barley has received renewed interest especially due to its high content of glucans. Since the glucan content vary greatly with genotype, four hull less barley variety (K-551, RD-2794, RD-2035 and RD-2552) commonly cultivated in northern plains of India were chosen for study. In this study we isolate β-glucan from different barley cultivars by four different methods includes alkali, acidic, hot water and enzymatic methods. Different extraction methods have significant effect on yield, recovery, functional and biological properties. Highest gum yield (4.85%) was found in samples that were extracted by hot water treatment in all barley cultivars. Although the highest recovery were achieved by enzymatic method (86.7%) followed by hot water extraction method (85.2%). Among all cultivars, RD-2552 identified to have highest glucan content (4.57%) and therefore selected to evaluate the effect of different extraction methods on functional and biological properties . Highest water binding capacity (3.82g/g) and foaming capacity (1.65g/g) was exhibited by hot water extraction method where as enzymatic method result in highest viscosity (49.1cP). The biological properties were determined in term of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. In this study found extraction method have no significant effect on the antioxidant activity but have significant effect on antimicrobial activity. Among all method, enzymatic extraction methods give highest recovery of glucan and exhibit highest antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work reports results on the drag and heat transfer from an in-line array of three isothermal spheres falling in a cylindrical confinement filled with Bingham plastic fluids. The effects of dimensionless parameters, such as the Reynolds number (1 ≤ Re ≤ 100), Prandtl number (1 ≤ Pr ≤ 100), Bingham number (0 ≤ Bn ≤ 100), blockage ratio (2 ≤ β ≤ 4) and sphere-to-sphere distance (1.5 ≤ t ≤ 6) have been elucidated. The flow and heat transfer characteristics were analysed in terms of yielded/unyielded regions, streamline and isotherm contours, drag coefficient, pressure coefficient, and local and average Nusselt number. Broadly, the drag coefficient shows a positive dependence on Bn and sphere-to-sphere distance (t) while it exhibits an inverse dependence on Re and β. On the other hand, the Nusselt number shows a positive dependence on Re, Pr, Bn and β; and a complex dependence on t for each sphere. Simple predictive expressions for the average Nusselt number for each sphere are formulated, thereby enabling its prediction in a new application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatomegaly may be a presenting sign or symptom of the patient's illness or it may be an incidental finding in patients being examined for various other reasons At present, many patients are diagnosed with liver disease who are asymptomatic and who have been found to have hepatomegaly or abnormalities in biochemical liver tests These asymptomatic or undiagnosed liver diseases are of great concern so as to prevent various life threatening complications and better future outcome of patients. The present study was planned to explore of spectrum of causes of hepatomegaly from common to rare in a teaching hospital. In our cross-sectional study all consecutive patients >18 years old with hepatomegaly detected on clinical examination and/or in ultrasonographic assessment( liver span>15cm)attending as medical outpatient department were enrolled. Depending on the clinical diagnosis based on detailed history and clinical examination, patients were subjected to hematological and biochemical investigations as required. Both infective and non infective causes constituted two equal halves. Acute viral hepatitis and dengue fever (15% each) were the commonest infective causes of hepatomegaly. Among noninfective causes NAFLD was the most common (21%) followed by congestive heart failure (18%). Seasonal variation showed increased prevalence of infective causes during the rainy season while non-infective causes were more common in winter and autumn. Liver diseases are common in our population with diversified etiology, many are asymptomatic or may present only with liver enzyme abnormalities . There is almost equal prevalence of infective and non infective causes for hepatomegly and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease has emerged as an important cause of hepatomegaly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Media has been hailed as the Fourth Estate of democracy that checks the three estates of the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary. This paper seeks to explore the changing role of media in the modem age of advancement of telecommunications and its interplay with the notions of justice and to analyse the dichotomy between the fundamental rights to freedom and press and right to fair trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatomegaly may be a presenting sign or symptom of the patient's illness or it may be an incidental finding in patients being examined for various other reasons At present, many patients are diagnosed with liver disease who are asymptomatic and who have been found to have hepatomegaly or abnormalities in biochemical liver tests These asymptomatic or undiagnosed liver diseases are of great concern so as to prevent various life threatening complications and better future outcome of patients. The present study was planned to explore of spectrum of causes of hepatomegaly from common to rare in a teaching hospital. In our cross-sectional study all consecutive patients >18 years old with hepatomegaly detected on clinical examination and/or in ultrasonographic assessment( liver span>15cm)attending as medical outpatient department were enrolled. Depending on the clinical diagnosis based on detailed history and clinical examination, patients were subjected to hematological and biochemical investigations as required. Both infective and non infective causes constituted two equal halves. Acute viral hepatitis and dengue fever (15% each) were the commonest infective causes of hepatomegaly. Among noninfective causes NAFLD was the most common (21%) followed by congestive heart failure (18%). Seasonal variation showed increased prevalence of infective causes during the rainy season while non-infective causes were more common in winter and autumn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice, a staple food crop, is often subjected to drought and salinity stresses thereby limiting its yield potential. Since there is a cross talk between these abiotic stresses, identification of common and/or overlapping regulatory elements is pivotal for generating rice cultivars that showed tolerance towards them. Analysis of the gene interaction network (GIN) facilitates identifying the role of individual genes and their interactions with others that constitute important molecular determinants in sensing and signaling cascade governing drought and/or salinity stresses. Identification of the various cis-regulatory elements of the genes constituting GIN is equally important. Here, in this study graphical Gaussian model (GGM) was used for generating GIN for an array of genes that were differentially regulated during salinity and/or drought stresses to contrasting rice cultivars (salt-tolerant [CSR11], salt-sensitive [VSR156], drought-tolerant [Vandana], drought-sensitive [IR64]). Whole genome transcriptom profiling by using microarray were employed in this study. Markov Chain completed co-expression analyses of differentially expressed genes using Dynamic Bayesian Network, Probabilistic Boolean Network and Steady State Analysis. A compact GIN was identified for commonly co-expressed genes during salinity and drought stresses with three major hubs constituted by Myb2 transcription factor (TF), phosphoglycerate kinase and heat shock protein (Hsp). The analysis suggested a pivotal role of these genes in salinity and/or drought stress responses. Further, analysis of cis-regulatory elements (CREs) of commonly differentially expressed genes during salinity and drought stresses revealed the presence of 20 different motifs.