Errors in <Emphasis Type="Italic">The Feynman Lectures on Physics</Emphasis>

We discuss some errors in The Feynman Lectures on Physics related to the concept of symmetry. We also suggest a possible correction to Fig.1.4 of Vol. I. The discussion may be useful for students of crystallography, solid state physics and solid state chemistry.     

Female Motivation in the Patriarchal School: an analysis of primary textbooks and school organisation in Nepal,and some strategies for change

Nepal is currently the focus of much attention in the form of aid and advice from the international community, and policy documents and proposals recognise the importance of education opportunities for girls and women as one of the cornerstones for successful development. Our concern was that in spite of policy intentions few real strategies exist with regard to the implementation of policy. Our research focused on the textbooks and school organisation patterns currently in use in Nepalese primary schools as this focus has not to date been addressed in Nepal. In suggesting short‐ and long‐term strategies as a response to the research findings, we hope that these suggestions may make a small contribution to educational research in Nepal.

     

A note on growth of superconductivity patents with two new indicators

Patent statistics may be indicative of growth and evolution of technologies in relation to a scientific field or sub-field of research. In this paper annual growth of patents in the field of superconductivity has been studied. The data in five-yearly cumulation have been set against research papers on superconductivity to show comparative growth of basic research and technological development. Two simple indicators have been devised to understand the apparent influence of basic research on technology and trends of relative growth.     

Glycemic control modifies the association between microalbuminuria and c-reactive protein in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Microalbuminuria and C-reactive protein reflect closely related components of the same disease process. The present study attempts to evaluate whether any association exists between C-reactive protein and microalbuminuria in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients with poor and adequate glycemic control. It was observed that in diabetics with poor glycemic control, microalbuminuria showed a significant positive correlation with C-reactive protein and the prevalence of microalbuminuria was significantly more at elevated C-reactive protein levels. These parameters were not significant in subjects with adequately controlled disease. Further, there was a significant increase in levels of microalbuminuria in patients with poor glycemic control when compared to well-controlled diabetics at comparative levels of C-reactive protein. This study supports the hypothesis that endothelial dysfunction and inflammatory activity are involved in the pathogenesis of microalbuminuria and underscores the importance of glycemic control in the progression of inflammation in diabetes.     

Serum arylsulfatase A assay in metachromatic leukodystrophy: An experience in a neuropsychiatric set-up

Metachromatic leukodystrophy is a lysosomal disease caused mainly by a deficiency of the enzyme arylsulfatase A. The assay of arylsulfatase A in the serum provides a fast and easy method for the confirmatory diagnosis of this disorder. Serum arylsulfatase A was estimated in 52 normal healthy control subjects and 269 patients with symptoms of cerebral white matter disease in order to diagnose and confirm metachromatic leukodystrophy. A total of eight cases of metachromatic leukodystrophy with a low serum arylsulfatase A was detected, of which three cases were of the late-infantile type, four cases the juvenile type and only one case the adult type.     

Rare case of iatrogenic pan hypopituitarism

Excess glucocorticoids exert feedback suppression on hypothalamus and pituitary, Thereby the release of CRH and ACTH are suppressed which results in bilateral adrenal cortical atrophy, at the same time patients is having features of latrogenic Cushing syndrome. The interesting part of this case is excess glucocorticoids have exerted cross feedback suppression on hypothalamus and pituitary resulting in suppression of release of GHRH, GH and LHRH, LH and FSH also from hypothalamus and pituitary thereby resulting in growth retardation as well as hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism. Combination of feedback and cross feedback effect of excess glucocorticoids are seen in one patient which is an interesting part of the case.     

Comparative Study of Two ELISA Kits for Estimation of Antibodies to Hepatitis B Virus in Human Normal Immunoglobulin and Specific Immunoglobulin Intended for Intravenous or Intramuscular Use

Current study is conducted to evaluate method verification of two locally available kits manufactured by DSI & BIORAD for quantitative estimation of Hepatitis B virus antibodies in human normal immunoglobulin by using International standard of National Institute of Biological Standards and Control. Four analyst perform five sets of test in duplicate analysing accuracy, precision, and limit of detection, sensitivity and specificity. Our results suggest that both DSI and BIORAD kits fulfil the validation criteria and are sensitive to detect up to 10 mIU concentration precisely and accurately. DSI kit is more precise at concentration 100 mIU and economically 4–5 times cheaper in local market; on the other hand, BIORAD kits provide larger detection range up to 1000 mIU.     

Expression of Telomere Binding Proteins (RAP1 and POT1) in Renal Cell Carcinoma and Their Correlation with Clinicopathological Parameters

Telomere stability is indispensable for continuous proliferation of cells. Telomere structure is maintained by group of six proteins termed as shelterin. RAP1 and POT1 proteins are significant members of shelterin complex. Expression of RAP1 and POT1 are crucial for telomere maintenance and hence uncontrolled division of cells. Notably, expression of RAP1 and POT1 is unknown in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). In view of these facts, the present study was initiated to investigate the expression of RAP1 and POT1 in RCC and their relationships with clinicopathological features. In total 65 histopathologically confirmed RCC cases and their adjacent normal renal parenchyma were analyzed for gene expression. The mRNA expression of telomere binding proteins RAP1 and POT1 were measured using RT-PCR. Expression of RAP1 was observed to be significantly increased in tumour tissues as compared to corresponding normal renal tissues (P = 0.004). The gene expression of RAP1 was documented to be related to grades of RCC (P = 0.002) and subtypes of RCC (P = 0.01). Although, POT1 expression was up-regulated in RCC tissue, however it was not statistically significant. Also, POT1 expression was not related to grades, stages and subtypes of RCC. This is the first study which shows correlation RAP1 with grades and subtypes of RCC.     

Preliminary study on circulating serum levels of tumor necrosis factor—Alpha in patients of tuberculosis

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several non-infectious and infectious diseases including tuberculosis. In a prospective longitudinal study, TNF-α level in blood was estimated by sandwich ELISA using anti human TNF-α antibody, in 22 patients with active pleuro-pulmonary and lymphnode tuberculosis before and after chemotherapy and 8 healthy controls. Six patients and six controls had detectable levels (> 5 pg/ml) of TNF-α in blood. The mean TNF-α levels in controls and cases before and after treatment were 182.4pg/ml, 896.7 pg/ml and 678.7pg/ml pg/ml respectively. Though not statistically significant, there was a trend towards younger age, shorter duration of symptoms, presence of fever and anorexia, and high ESR, in patient with high serum TNF-α levels.     

The (amorphous) anatomy of an invention: the case of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

The priority dispute between Raymond Damadian and Paul Lauterbur over the 'invention' of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has attracted the attention of social and natural scientists for more than 30 years. In this paper, I have used this priority dispute to analyze the complex socio-epistemic processes through which a claim for an invention is made and strengthened. I argue that a tension exists because techno-scientific practices are embedded within a particular disciplinary regime of authorship: even though techno-scientific practices occur through distributed cognition and are contingent upon particular socio-epistemic contexts, a claim for an invention requires assigning authorship to a particular person, company, or institution in order to clearly define the origin and the novelty of that particular techno-scientific event. Nevertheless, the outcomes of socio-epistemic practices for making and strengthening priority claims are shifting, open-ended, and contingent upon particular socio-epistemic contexts.