Non-linear dynamic response of circular plates subjected to transient loads

The Chebyshev polynomials have been applied to the large amplitude motions of circular plates under transient loads, with and without damping. The non- linear differential equations are linearized by using Taylor series expansions for one of the terms. It is shown that there is good agreement between the results obtained by the present technique and the available results. The advantage of this technique is essentially due to the fact that the Chebyshev polynomials are rapidly converging polynomials. It is shown that very accurate results can be obtained with only four terms of the Chebyshev series which may not be possible with conventional methods.     

Effect of L-carnitine Supplementation on Nutritional Status and Physical Performance Under Calorie Restriction

L-carnitine is popular as a potential ergogenic aid because of its role in the conversion of fat into energy. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of short term supplementation of L-carnitine on metabolic markers and physical efficiency tests under short term calorie restriction. Male albino rats were divided into four groups (n = 12 in each)—control, calorie restricted (CR for 5 days, 25 % of basal food intake), L-carnitine supplemented (CAR, given orally for 5 days at a dose of 100 mg/kg), CR with L-carnitine supplementation (CR + CAR). Food intake and body weight of the rats were measured along with biochemical variables like blood glucose, tissue glycogen, plasma and muscle protein and enzymatic activities of CPT-1 (carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1) and AMP kinase. Results demonstrated that L-carnitine caused marked increase in muscle glycogen, plasma protein, CPT-1 activity and swim time of rats (P < 0.05) on short term supplementation. In addition to the substantive effects caused by CR alone, L-carnitine under CR significantly affected muscle glycogen, plasma protein, CPT-1 activity and AMP kinase (P < 0.05). Short term CR along with L-carnitine also resulted in increased swim time of rats than control, CR and L-carnitine treated rats (P < 0.05). The present study was an attempt towards developing an approach for better adherence to dietary restriction regimen, with the use of L-carnitine.     

Effect of short term supplementation of tomatoes on antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation in type-II diabetes

The objective of the present study is to evaluate the beneficial effect of tomatoes, which are rich source of Lycopene, relatively a new carotenoid known to play an important role in human health and disease. In this study lipid peroxidation rate was measured by estimating Malondialdehyde and the levels of serum enzymes involved in antioxidant activities like Super Oxide Dismutase, Glutathione Peroxidase, Glutathione Reductase, Reduced Glutathione, in type-II diabetic group (n=40) and age matched control group (n=50), and observed significantly lower levels of antioxidant enzymes and very high lipid peroxidation rate in type-II diabetes when compared to control group (p<0.001). Short term supplementation with tomatoes (cooked) to diabetic group for a period of 30 days, showed a significant improvement in antioxidant enzyme levels (p<0.001) and decreased lipid peroxidation rate (p<0.001) suggesting the supplementation with tomato lycopene may serve as the best method of preventing the oxidative stress in diabetic patients.     

Librarian instruction-delivery modality preferences for professional continuing education

Objectives:

Attending professional continuing education (CE) is an important component of librarianship. This research study identified librarians'' preferences in delivery modalities of instruction for professional CE. The study also identified influential factors associated with attending CE classes.

Methods:

Five instruction-delivery modalities and six influential factors were identified for inclusion in an online survey. The survey completed by members of the American Library Association (ALA), Special Libraries Association (SLA), and Medical Library Association (MLA) provided the data for analysis of librarian preferences and influential factors.

Results:

The majority of respondents were MLA members, followed by ALA and SLA members. Librarians from all three library associations preferred the face-to-face instructional modality. The most influential factor associated with the decision to attend a professional CE class was cost.

Conclusions:

All five instruction-delivery modalities present useful structures for imparting professional CE. As librarians'' experience with different modalities increases and as technology improves, preferences in instruction delivery may shift. But at present, face-to-face remains the most preferred modality. Based on the results of this study, cost was the most influential factor associated with attending a CE class. This may change as additional influential factors are identified and analyzed in future studies.

Highlights

• Despite the many technological advances in the education arena, librarians prefer face-to-face instruction (direct interaction with instructors and other participants, hands-on experience, focused learning). This creates a dilemma as increased budgetary constraints are a barrier to attending face-to-face professional continuing education (CE) classes.
• Librarians in all age groups preferred the traditional classroom style of face-to-face instruction to web-based methods.

Implications

• Instructors and course designers face a challenge in incorporating the perceived advantages of face-to-face instruction into the more affordable modalities of online instruction.
• As cost becomes more of a factor for attending professional CE classes, web-based asynchronous and synchronous modalities offer important, less expensive, alternatives.

     

Sunyaev-zeldovich effect

Soon after the discovery of the cosmic background radiation, Zeldovich and Sunyaev proposed that hot gas in galaxy clusters should cast a faint shadow because of the interaction between energetic electrons and the radiation photons. Sunayev-Zeldovich effect is now routinely observed, and it has become an important tool for studying the history of the universe.