Einstein as armchair detective: The case of stimulated radiation

Einstein was in many ways like a detective on a mystery trail, though in his case he was on the trail of nature’s mysteries and not some murder mystery! And like all good detectives he had a style. It consisted of taking facts that he knew were correct and forcing nature into a situation that would contradict this established truth. In this process she would be forced to reveal some new truths. Einstein’s 1917 paper on the quantum theory of radiation is a classic example of this style that enabled him to predict the existence of stimulated radiation starting from an analysis of thermodynamic equilibrium between matter and radiation.     

In vitro study of vitamin B6 status in cancer breast patients

There is ample evidence that vitamin status of an individual can have a profound influence on the resistance of Cancer. Pyridoxine is one of the water soluble vitamins playing an important role in various metabolic reactions. Aspartate aminotransferase and Alanine aminotransferase are pyridoxal phosphate requiring enzymes and their activities in erythrocytes have been used to assess the state of vitamin B₆ nutrition in man. We report here the erythrocyte transaminase levels in controls and patients with early and advanced cancer of breast. Thein vitro study of vitamin B₆ shows a marked difference in the per cent stimulation in patients as compared to the controls on addition of pyridoxal phosphate. The difference indicates a subclinical deficiency of vitamin B₆. The possibility exists that the rapid progression of the disease could be due to lack of host resistance caused by the deficiency of vitamin B₆. The possibility of an effective treatment response after enhancing the vitamin B₆ status is being looked into.     

Einstein as armchair detective: The case of stimulated radiation

Einstein was in many ways like a detective on a mystery trail, though in his case he was on the trail of nature’s mysteries and not some murder mystery! And like all good detectives he had a style. It consisted of taking facts that he knew were correct and forcing nature into a situation that would contradict this established truth. In this process she would be forced to reveal some new truths. Einstein’s 1917 paper on the quantum theory of radiation is a classic example of this style that enabled him to predict the existence of stimulated radiation starting from an analysis of thermodynamic equilibrium between matter and radiation.     

The 2012 nobel prize in physics

The 2012 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded jointly to Serge Haroche and David J Wineland “for ground-breaking experimental methods that enable measuring and manipulation of individual quantum systems”. In this article, we discuss how the experiments of the two Laureates have taught us how to study single quantum particles — using photons to study single atoms in the case of Wineland, and using atoms to study single photons in the case of Haroche. Their work may some day lead to a superfast quantum computer.     

Nitric oxide: A useful indicator in acute allograft rejection after liver transplantation

The aim of this study was to monitor serum nitric oxide levels at various times, intraoperatively and following liver transplantation in humans. Nitric oxide production was assessed by cadmium reduction method in 15 patients undergoing liver transplantation. We observed strong correlation between nitric oxide production and allograft rejection. Sustained rise in nitric oxide level after transplantation might provide an indication of acute allograft rejection. Therefore measurement of nitric oxide, a stable end product appears to be an excellent marker that can help in the development of strategies intended to improve graft viability and patient’s survival.     

Biochemical Profile of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Patients in Eastern India with Histopathological Correlation

Aminotransferase assay is often used as a screening test as well as an endpoint for resolution of disease in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship of transaminase level with metabolic variables and histology in NAFLD. Single center observational study was conducted in a gastroenterology clinic at Cuttack in coastal Odisha. Subjects were consecutive patients presenting with functional bowel disease and undergoing abdominal sonography. All participants were evaluated for the presence of metabolic syndrome (MS), insulin resistance, liver function test and lipid profile. Various parameters were compared between NAFLD subjects and controls. 53.5 % of NAFLD had normal serum transaminases, whereas 20.8 % of healthy controls had transaminitis. NAFLD patients had significantly higher BMI, fasting plasma glucose, serum transaminases, serum triglycerides, serum insulin and homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) IR than controls. NAFLD patients who had transaminitis had significantly higher incidence of MS and higher mean HOMA IR than those without. There was no significant difference in histopathological features between NAFLD with and without transaminitis. To conclude, over half of NAFLD subjects do not have transaminitis while transaminitis is present in a fifth of healthy people without fatty liver. Hence serum transaminase should not be used as screening test for NAFLD. NAFLD patients with transaminitis had a higher incidence of MS and insulin resistance than those without. However, there was no significant difference in histopathological features between these two groups.     

Synthesis and evaluation of 4-substituted semicarbazones of levulinic acid for anticonvulsant activity

Objective: A series of 4-aryl substituted semicarbazones of levulinic acid (4-oxo pentanoic acid) was designed and synthesized to meet the structural requirements essential for anticonvulsant activity. Methods: All the compounds were evaluated for anticonvulsant activity. Anticonvulsant activity was determined after intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration to mice by maximal electroshock (MES) and subcutaneous metrazol (ScMet) induced seizure methods and minimal motor impairment was determined by rotorod test. Results: A majority of the compounds exhibited significant anticonvulsant activity after intraperitoneal administration. In the present study 4-(4'-fluoro phenyl) levulinic acid semicarbazone emerged as the most active molecule, showing broad spectrum of activity with low neurotoxicity. Unsubstituted levulinic acid semicarbazone was found to be inactive in all the screens. Conclusion: The results obtained validate the hypothesis that presence of an aryl group near the semicarbazone moiety is essential for anticonvulsant activity. The results also indicate that the hydrophilic-hydrophobic site can accommodate hydrophilic groups.     

Effect of the use of instructional anatomy videos on student performance

Medical schools have reduced the time allotted to anatomy instruction. Consequently, schools engage students in more independent settings using information and communication technologies (ICT). There has been limited research in the use of video aids, a type of ICT, to enhance anatomy examination performance. The objective of this study is to describe the design, usage, and effect on examination performance of eight locally developed instructional anatomy videos. First‐year UCSF medical students (n = 141) had access to the videos. They reported their video usage, reason for usage, and satisfaction. The prior year students (n = 141) served as a historical control group. Anatomy and radiology examination performance was compared between groups while controlling for prior performance. The students with and without access to the videos did not differ in examination performance. Sixty‐one (43%) students in the experimental group responded to the survey. Of these, 79% reported using at least one video, viewing an average of 4.75 of the eight videos. They watched 3.27 (SD = 1.57, range 1–5) of the five anatomy videos and 1.48 (SD = 1.35; range 0–3) of the three radiology videos. In a regression analysis controlling for age and MCAT scores, using the anatomy videos at least once improved anatomy examination performance by 3.4% (P‐value = 0.007). There was no relationship between radiology video usage and radiology exam score. Video resource availability did not enhance student performance in anatomy and radiology. However, when analyzing performance for those whom we knew level of video use, there was a statistically different and higher anatomy achievement. Anat Sci Ed, 2008. © 2008 American Association of Anatomists.     

The 2001 Nobel Prize in Physics

This year’s Nobel Prize in Physics has been jointly awarded to Eric A Cornell of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder (USA), Wolfgang Ketterle of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge (USA), and Carl E Wieman of the University of Colorado, Boulder (USA). They have been cited “for the achievement of Bose-Einstein condensation in dilute gases of alkali atoms, and for early fundamental studies of the properties of the condensates”. The scientists have been recognized for their pioneering work in a field that has grown explosively around the world in the past few years. Though the phenomenon of Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) was predicted by Einstein in 1925 (based on the new statistics of Bose), it was observed only in 1995. In this article, we review the basic physics behind the phenomenon, the experimental techniques involved in achieving it, and high-light some of the potential applications of condensates.