Interaction of - α 3.7, ? Thalassemia Mutation IVS 1-5 and HbD Punjab in a Family: A Case Report

Hemoglobin D exist in four form; HbD trait, HbD-thalassemia, HbD sickle cell and HbD homozygous. HbD trait and HbD homozygous generally asymptomatic condition but when HbD co-inherit with thalassemia and sickle cell anemia, produces clinically significant conditions like chronic hemolytic anemia. Here we present a case of HbD Punjab with α 3.7 kb deletion and IVS-1-5 β-thalassemia across a family. Diagnosis of HbD patient was performed by high performance liquid chromatography and complete blood count was measured by automated cell analyzer. Molecular study for common alpha deletions done by Gap-PCR while beta thalassemia mutation identified by ARMS-PCR. Case was clinically significant due to the inheritance of HbD/β⁺thalassemia genotype. Thus observed case behaved like thalassemia intermedia due to co-existence of α 3.7 deletions with IVS 1-5 β-thalassemia mutation in HbD Punjab patient.     

Correlation of Brain Biomarker Neuron Specific Enolase (NSE) with Degree of Disability and Neurological Worsening in Cerebrovascular Stroke

Stroke is the third major cause of death and foremost cause of disability worldwide. Cerebrovascular stroke remains largely a clinical diagnosis. The use of biomarkers in diagnosing stroke and assessing prognosis is an emerging and rapidly evolving field. The study aimed to investigate the predictive value of neurobiochemical marker of brain damage (neuron-specific enolase [NSE]) with respect to degree of disability at the time of admission and neurological worsening in acute ischemic stroke patients. We investigated 150 patients with cerebrovascular stroke who were admitted within 72 h of onset of stroke in the Department of Neurology at SAIMS. Venous blood samples were taken after admission and NSE was analyzed by solid enzyme linked immunosorbent assay using Analyzer and microplate reader from Biored: Code 680. In all patients, the neurological status was evaluated by a standardized neurological examination and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale on admission and on day 7. Serum NSE concentration was found to significantly correlate with both degree of disability and neurological worsening in acute ischemic stroke cases in the present study. The maximum serum NSE level within 72 h of admission was significantly higher in patients with greater degree of disability at the time of admission. Serum NSE levels were also found to be significantly elevated in patients with bad neurological outcome. Our study showed that serum NSE has high predictive value for determining severity and early neurobehavioral outcome after acute stroke.     

Understanding DC motors through experiments

We present here a set of simple experiments through which various characteristics of a DC motor can be investigated. The experiments also provide insights on how to control a DC motor. We first study the back-emf versus angular speed and the torque versus current characteristics. We then extract the moment of inertia of the rotor and the speedtorque curve for the load from the start-stop dynamics of the motor. Finally, we study an alternate way of obtaining the angular speed from the back-emf waveform.     

Aligning work force management practices with competitive priorities and process technology: A conceptual examination

Despite the accepted need for strategic alignment in the manufacturing strategy literature, there has been relatively little research aimed at simultaneously aligning decisions in the structural and infrastructural areas with the competitive priorities of an organization. This article attempts to bridge the gap by examining how work force management practices, an infrastructural decision, should be aligned with both the process technology of a manufacturing plant, a structural decision, and its competitive priorities. A conceptual model for linking competitive priorities, process technologies, and work force management practices is presented, and specific and testable propositions are developed for future empirical research. The proposed conceptual model is based on the premise that the process of matching work force management practices to competitive priorities involves identification of the key managerial tasks underlying various competitive priorities. These tasks, in turn, are matched with the process technology characteristics and work force management practices to seek a good fit, which is expected to improve manufacturing performance.     

Activity of Hydrolytic Enzymes in Various Regions of Normal Human Brain Tissue

The activity of six hydrolytic enzymes-carboxyl esterase, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, β-galactosidase, β-glucosidase and β-hexosaminidase, were studied in different regions of the normal human brain tissue obtained at autopsy. Protein estimation and activities of the hydrolytic enzymes with respective substrates were assayed by spectrophotometric and spectroflourometric methods. Amongst the eight regions of the brain-frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal, thalamus, cerebellum and hippocampus, the pineal gland showed highest activity for all hydrolytic enzymes studied except for carboxyl esterase. Among six hydrolases studied, hexosaminidase exhibited highest activity in all regions of the human brain while alkaline phosphatase activity was the least amongst all regions studied. A majority of the enzymes studied showed higher activity in gray matter as compared to the white matter except acid phosphatase and β-glucosidase which exhibited higher activity in the white matter. The most significant finding in the present study was the high activity of all hydrolytic enzymes noted in the pineal gland as compared to all other regions of the human brain. Such a finding has not been hitherto reported earlier in human brain tissue samples. If the specific activities of these enzymes are to be considered as any functional index, then pineal gland may be more metabolically active tissue with respect to the hydrolytic function as compared to the other regions of the brain.     

A Review of: “Hacking Cyberspace’

Abstract

The efforts of other nations to develop comprehensive approaches to the development and application of information technology have given rise to concern in many quarters about the adequacy of the U.S. government's response to information issues.

A bill, H.R. 3137, was introduced in the House of Representatives in April 1981 by Congressman George E. Brown, Jr., in an attempt to stimulate movement toward a coordinated development of U.S. information policies. Hearings on this legislation elicited a wide variety of opinion concerning how best to proceed toward this development. This paper surveys the testimony presented at the hearings and some recent actions taken by Congress and by the Reagan Administration on information issues.     

Transport of particles and microorganisms in microfluidic channels using rectified ac electro-osmotic flow

A new method is demonstrated to transport particles, cells, and other microorganisms using rectified ac electro-osmotic flows in open microchannels. The rectified flow is obtained by synchronous zeta potential modulation with the driving potential in the microchannel. Experiments were conducted to transport both neutral, charged particles, and microorganisms of various sizes. A maximum speed of 50 μm∕s was obtained for 8 μm polystyrene beads, without any electrolysis, using a symmetrical square waveform driving electric field of 5 V∕mm at 10 Hz and a 360 V gate potential with its polarity synchronized with the driving potential (phase lag=0°).     

Immuno-Modulatory Effect and Therapeutic Potential of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brugia malayi</Emphasis> Cystatin in Experimentally Induced Arthritis

Helminths are known to modulate host’s immune system and understanding this modulation can help in identification of novel therapeutic agents for autoimmune diseases. In this study, we have assessed the immune-modulatory activity and the therapeutic effect of Brugia malayi recombinant cystatin (rBmCys) in methylated BSA (mBSA) induced arthritis using rodent model. Administration of rBmCys has suppressed the severity of mBSA-arthritis in mastomys by reducing paw swelling and other clinical disease parameters as evident from significantly decreased arthritic index. The anti-arthritic effect of rBmCys was also confirmed by decreased histopathological score for synovitis, bone erosion and fibrosis in the tissue sections of paws. Further, this therapeutic effect of cystatin was found to be associated with significantly decreased production of IFN-γ and TNF-α and increased release of IL-4 and IL-10 cytokines. These results implied that rBmCys treatment has alleviated mBSA-induced arthritis and thus can be a promising alternative agent for the treatment of arthritis.