Fascinating organic transformations: Rational mechanistic analysis

A carbocation can stabilize itself by a series of C-H and C-C shifts to reach the most stable form. Several examples are shown in which relatively strained systems upon such cationic rearrangements produce diamondoid systems.     

Effect of oral antioxidant supplementation on lipid peroxidation during radiotherapy in head and neck malignancies

The objectives of the present study were to ascertain the variations in the serum levels of malondialdehyde and total antioxidant status, in head and neck malignancies with different stages, with and without oral antioxidant supplementation, before and after radiotherapy, and to validate the protective effects of an antioxidant supplementation during radiotherapy. The pretreatment values of serum malondialdehyde were significantly raised, while that of serum total antioxidant status were significantly declined in all the stages of head and neck malignancies, when compared with the healthy controls values (P<0.001). A significant correlation was observed related to the studied parameters and different stages of the disease. The study suggests that an oral antioxidant supplementation during radiotherapy is an effective mode in reducing oxidative stress. Antioxidant supplementation during radiotherapy may serve as an adjuvant therapy in malignancies offering a protection to normal cells that may further reduce the risk of developing secondary cancers.     

Clinical Significance of Ischemia Modified Albumin in Critically Ill Patients with Sepsis

The study was conducted on 38 patients admitted into the intensive care unit with a provisional diagnosis of sepsis and 25 apparently healthy volunteers as controls. Serum procalcitonin (PCT) was assayed by an electrochemiluminescence method. Serum ischemia modified albumin (IMA), expressed as absorbance units was assayed by the albumin cobalt binding test. Patients with sepsis had significantly higher IMA levels (1.087 ± 0.786) as compared with those without sepsis (0.085 ± 0.234) with a p value <0.0001. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) plot showed a sensitivity of 100 % and a specificity of 86.2 %. The area under the curve of the ROC plot was 0.917 with a p value of <0.0001. The higher levels of IMA serve to highlight the occurrence of ischemic damage which could be a prelude to poorer prognosis. The performance characteristics of IMA warrants its inclusion along with PCT as a parameter in the diagnosis of sepsis.     

Impacts of Climate Change on Leisure Sports Golf Tourism For the World Leisure Sports Foundation Congress

According to the International Association of Golfing Tour Operators,the global golf tourism market is worth over $20 billion per year,countries are promoting golf as an important tourism activity, and golf tourism expanding rapidly. This study investigated the consumer trends and current situation ofgolf real estate in Caribbean area,revealed the impacts of climate change on golf course construction and on leisure sports golf tourism     

Estimation of leg power: a two-variable model

Leg power is an essential component for success in sports and athletic performance. Therefore, the leg power measurement may help athletes, coaches, athletic trainers, and rehabilitation specialists in selecting, treating, and training athletes for a specific sport. Using a conventional 'jump and reach' test, one can accurately predict the leg power and success in anaerobic-type sports. Nineteen untrained male subjects performed 'jump and reach' vertical jumps on a force platform. Power values were calculated from the force versus time data obtained from the force platform. A regression equation was obtained to predict the power values using the weight of an individual and the 'jump and reach' height as independent variables. The regression equation is given by p = -666.3 + 14.74 [Mass (kg)] + 1925.72 [Height (m)]; [R-square = 0.69, p < 0.05].     

A geometry in which all triangles are isosceles An introduction to non-archimedean analysis

The purpose of this article is to introduce ‘a new analysis’ to students of mathematics at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, which in turn introduces a geometry very different from our Euclidean geometry and Riemannian geometry. Some strange things happen: for instance, ‘every triangle becomes isosceles!’.     

Iron sulfur proteins and their synthetic analogues: Structure, reactivity and redox properties

A number of non-heme proteins contain iron-sulfur clusters as their core. The various structural types that have been characterised so far are discussed. Attempts to understand their properties and functions at a molecular level through model systems are described.     

Think it over

This section ofResonance is meant to raise thought-provoking, interesting, or just plain brain-teasing questions every month, and discuss answers a few months later. Readers are welcome to send in suggestions for such questions, solutions to questions already posed, comments on the solutions discussed in the journal, etc. toResonance Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore 560 080, with “Think It Over” written on the cover or card to help us sort the correspondence. Due to limitations of space, it may not be possible to use all the material received. However, the coordinators of this section (currently C S Yogananda and R Nityananda) will try and select items which best illustrate various ideas and concepts, for inclusion in this section.