Effect of oral ingestion of different forms of silver on tissue content of some essential elements in chicks

Silver is ingested in India in the form of varak, Ayurvedic bhasm and water contained in silver utensils, but nobody knows their effects. We have examined the effect of interaction of silver ingested in the form of varak (leaf), bhasm (ash) and water (colloidal solution) on some essential elements (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe and Zn) in blood, liver, spleen and kidneys of chicks. The results showed significant rise of silver in all the tissues and significant fall in copper in the blood. The greatest rise was obtained in blood silver by silver sol while it had the lowest amount of silver. Iron significantly increased in tissues but somewhat decreased in blood. Zinc content increased in all the tissues by leaf and ash but decreased by sol. No consistent pattern was seen in case of other elements.     

Digital humanities and the emerging framework for digital curation

ABSTRACT

Digital humanities (DH) represents an emerging framework for digital curation. This study focuses on the evolving relationship of the DH (including history) to digital curation and archives and describes the models of collaboration in the digital environment. A conceptual framework is presented, followed by discussions of scarcity and abundance, archival frameworks, models of collaboration, and a review of selected DH projects. Despite the semantic disagreements over the term archives, researchers and curators should consider each other's perspectives for continued collaboration.     

Exploring modes of engagement within reform-oriented primary mathematics textbooks in India

Educational Studies in Mathematics - In India, a curriculum reform inspired by critical perspectives has sought to transform primary mathematics teaching and learning. It is aimed at strengthening...     

Incidence of microalbuminuria in hypertensive patients

The prevalence of microalbuminuria was assessed in 174 albustix negative hypertensive patients by estimating albumin in the morning random urine samples by immunoturbidimetric method within four hours of voiding of urine. The urine samples were not stored and collected without any preservatives. The urinary albumin was calculated in terms of ratio with respect to urinary creatinine and expressed as albumin creatinine ratio (mg/g). Out of 174 albustix negative hypertensives, 58 (33.3%) patients were found to have microalbuminuria. The prevalence of microalbuminuria in males and females was found to be 34% and 30.7% respectively. No correlation was found between the Body Mass Index (BMI) and albumin excretion (r² = 0.0271) and between duration of hypertension and urinary albumin excretion (r² = 0.0042). Prevalence of microalbuminuria in nonsmokers and non-alcoholic hypertensives was 20%. The prevalence in alcoholics, smokers and both smokers and alcoholics was found to be 35%, 42% and 41% respectively. The high prevalence of microalbuminuria than the various reported studies on the subject demands establishment of a screening programme for microalbuminuria, implementation of specific intervention methods and education of hypertensive patients about the consequences of smoking and alcohol on possible involvement of renal system.     

Foreign-born academic scientists and engineers: producing more and getting less than their U.S.-born peers?

The Chronicle of Higher Education recently reported that the number of doctoral degrees awarded in the U.S. rose 3.4 percent in 2004, largely because of an increase in foreign students [Smallwood (2005). Doctoral degrees rose 3.4% in 2004, survey finds. The Chronicle of Higher Education, December 9, 2005]. Currently, 20.9 percent [National Science Board (2003). The science and engineering workforce realizing America’s potential. NSB, vol. 3, National Science Foundation] of all science and engineering faculty positions at U.S. universities are held by foreign-born scientists (with even larger percentages in computer science and engineering)—and we can expect higher numbers of foreign-born faculty at U.S. universities in the future. In this paper, we use 2001 Survey of Doctorate Recipients (SDR) data from the National Science Foundation to compare productivity levels, work satisfaction levels and career trajectories of foreign-born scientists and U.S.-born scientists. The results indicate that foreign-born academic scientists and engineers are more productive than their U.S.-born peers in all areas. Yet, average salaries and work satisfaction levels for foreign-born scientists are lower than for U.S.-born scientists. The use of NSF data does not imply NSF endorsement of the research methods or conclusions contained in this report.     

Perceptions of transparency of government policymaking: A cross-national study

In the past two decades, governments from around the world have adopted access-to-information laws at a rate unlike any other time in history. This reform in government information policy parallels a global movement of intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, which have pressed countries to advance the norm of transparency. Competition in the global economy has also provided a strong incentive for governments to show openness, as business leaders and donor nations contend that access-to-information is critical for efficient markets. Given the growing interaction between governments and transnational firms, and the global emphasis on access-to-information, this cross-national study examines the relationship between business executives' perceptions of transparency in government policymaking, and several indicators suggested in the literature as means to advance the flow of information about government. The study found countries that respondents ranked as ‘most transparent’ had significantly higher levels of access-to-information laws, telecommunication infrastructure, E-Government, free press, and higher income levels, than countries with low transparency levels. Our regression findings indicate that telecommunications infrastructure and free press influenced the perceptions of government transparency in a positive and significant way. The evidence indicates that democracy did not contribute toward the perceptions of transparency. The findings also suggest that nations aiming for openness by adopting access-to-information laws and engaging in E-Government may signal to businesses that their governments are aware of the international norm of transparency—though these conditions are not necessarily sufficient to advance the perceptions of government transparency.     

Effect of Certain Antibiotics Against Filarial Parasite <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brugia malayi</Emphasis> In Vitro: Possible Role of Oxidative Stress

WHO-Tropical Disease Research scheme highlighted the need for development of new anti-filarial drugs. Certain antibiotics have recently been found effective against Wolbachia, co-existing symbiotically with filarial parasites. Inflammatory response entails oxidative mechanism to educe direct anti-microbial effect. In the present study microfilariae were maintained in vitro in medium supplemented with varying concentrations of tetracycline, doxycycline (20–100 μg/ml) or ciprofloxacin (50–250 μg/ml) separately to find out any involvement of oxidative mechanism in the anti-filarial effect of these antibiotics. Loss of motility of the microfilariae was measured after 48 h and correlated with the levels of MDA, nitric oxide and protein-carbonylation. Significant loss of microfilarial motility was recorded with increasing concentration of tetracycline and doxycycline but with ciprofloxacin the effect was not marked. Agents with high antifilarial activity revealed significant association with oxidative parameters in a dose dependent manner. The result suggests that oxidative effect might be exploited to design novel antifilarial drug candidate.     

Non Transferrin Bound Iron: Nature, Manifestations and Analytical Approaches for Estimation

Iron is an essential trace element and plays a number of vital roles in biological system. It also leads the chains of pathological actions if present in excess and/or present in free form. Major portion of iron in circulation is associated with transferrin, a classical iron transporter, which prevent the existence of free iron. The fraction of iron which is free of transferrin is known as “non transferrin bound iron”. Along with the incidence in iron over loaded patient non transferrin bound iron has been indicated in patients without iron overload. It has been suggested as cause as well as consequence in a number of pathological conditions. The major organs influenced by iron toxicity are heart, pancreas, kidney, organs involved in hematopoiesis etc. The most commonly suggested way for iron mediated pathogenesis is through increased oxidative stress and their secondary effects. Generation of free oxygen radicals by iron has been well documented in Fenton chemistry and Haber–Weiss reaction. Non transferrin bound iron has obvious chance to generate the free reactive radicals as it is not been shielded by the protective carrier protein apo transferrin. The nature of non transferrin bound iron is not clear at present time but it is definitely a group of heterogenous iron forms free from transferrin and ferritin. A variety of analytical approaches like colorimetry, chromatography, fluorimetry etc. have been experimented in different research laboratories for estimation of non transferrin bound iron. However the universally accepted gold standard method which can be operated in pathological laboratories is still to be developed.     

1, 25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25-(OH)<Subscript>2</Subscript> D<Subscript>3</Subscript>) levels in osteoporosis

In the present study primary involution osteoporosis and vitamin D levels were studied in 60 subjects including thirty controls. The biochemical analysis of serum calcium, phosphorus, ALP, albumin and vitamin D₃ (1,25-(OH)₂ D₃) levels were significantly decreased in osteoporotic patients when compared to non-osteoporotic control group. There was a significant correlation of magnitude of sun exposure with 1,25-(OH)₂ D₃ levels. Similarly, vitamin D intake in the diet has a significant correlation with 1,25-(OH)₂ D₃ concentration. However, no correlation could be obtained between vitamin D₃ levels with increasing age. Among the biochemical markers serum calcium, phosphorus, ALP and albumin could not be correlated with 1,25-(OH)₂ D₃ levels.