Showing papers by "Government College published in 2001"
TL;DR: Coesite, recognized petrographically and confirmed by in situ Raman microprobe spectroscopy, is reported from an eclogite from the Kaghan valley, Pakistan, and represents the first record of ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism in the Himalaya.
Abstract: Coesite, recognized petrographically and confirmed by in situ Raman microprobe spectroscopy, is reported from an eclogite from the Kaghan valley, Pakistan, and represents the first record of ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism in the Himalaya. The formation conditions of >27 kbar implied by the presence of coesite are supported by garnet-pyroxene- phengite barometry (27–29 kbar, 690–750 °C). If, as seems likely from previous field and geochronologic studies, the eclogites represent metamorphosed dikes, sills, and lava flows of Permian age within the granitic gneiss-metapelite-marble sequence of the Higher Himalayan crystalline nappes, then continental crust—the leading edge of the Indian plate— must also have been subducted to coesite-forming depths (90–100 km). This more than doubles previous depth estimates and, on the basis of available geochronological data for this area, requires average exhumation rates at least twice as fast (∼10 mm/yr) as previously imagined. A further implication, based on interpretations of deep seismic data, is that the present-day shallow angle of subduction of Indian plate lithosphere beneath Tibet represents a significant change from an initially much steeper angle.
250 citations
TL;DR: The 50% ethanol extract of the whole plant of Solanum nigrum was tested in vitro for its cytoprotection against gentamicin-induced toxicity on Vero cells and exhibited significant hydroxyl radical scavenging potential, thus suggesting its probable mechanism of cy toprotection.
88 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The prevalence of skeletal fluorosis was relatively higher in males and increased with higher F level and age, and deformities such as crippling, kyphosis, invalidism and genu-varum were observed frequently in higher age group subjects at a F concentration of 3.3 ppm.
Abstract: Chronic fluoride (F) toxicity in the form of osteo-dental fluorosis was observed in both sexes of children and adults from ten villages viz., Bhavanpura, Dovada, Genhuwara, Gokulpura, Hathai, Kahela, Mandav, Nalwara, Pratappura and Samota located in the vicinity of alive F mines of Dungarpur district (Rajasthan) where F concentration in drinking waters varied from 1.2 to 8.9 ppm. At 1.7 and 6.1 mean F concentrations, 70.6% and 100.0% of children ( 21 years) were showing evidence of skeletal fluorosis, respectively. Although, skeletal fluorosis was also found in children with low prevalence (5.2%) but at high F concentration (4.8 ppm). The prevalence of skeletal fluorosis was relatively higher in males and increased with higher F level and age. Deformities such as crippling, kyphosis, invalidism and genu-varum were observed frequently in higher age group subjects (> 48 years) at a F concentration of 3.3 ppm. None of fluorotic individuals revealed evidence of genu-valgum syndrome and goitre (thyroidism). Radiological findings of other deformities in fluorotic subjects were also found. The distribution of F and endemic fluorosis in different districts of Rajasthan state have also been reviewed.
84 citations
TL;DR: Chronic undernutrition as indicated by deficit in height decreased with increasing income level, and Socio-economic differences in weight status were not uniform among various age–sex groups.
Abstract: Objective: To study the socio-economic differences in height and body mass index (BMI) in urban areas of Karachi. Design: A comparative study was undertaken to compare the heights and BMIs of adults and children belonging to three distinctively different income groups living in urban areas of Karachi. Setting: Data was collected from families living in small, medium and large houses located in the authorised urban residential areas of Karachi. Subjects: A total of 600 families, 200 from each income group, were included in the study. Anthropometric measurements of 1296 females and 1197 males of different ages were taken. Methods: All the housewives were interviewed to collect socio-demographic information. Height and weight of all the available family members were measured. In order to determine the socio-economic difference in height status, the mean height in cm of adults was compared. For children (2–17 y) means of height-for-age Z-scores determined on the basis of NCHS reference values were compared. For studying the weight status the BMI of all the respondents was calculated and they were grouped into categories of under-, normal or overweight according to the NCHS recommended cut-off points. For adult men and women BMI values 25 kg/m2 indicated overweight. Among children, those having BMI values below the 5th percentile of the NHANES III reference values were categorised as underweight and those above the 95th percentile were termed overweight. Results: Height status improved with income level among adults and children of both sexes. Among males the difference in weight status was significant only among 2 to 18-y-olds (P<0.05 in each case). The rate of overweight among 2 to 18-y-old males was significantly higher (P=0.004) at the middle-income level (15%) as compared to low or high income. The rate of underweight was significantly higher (P=0.025) at the low-income level among 2 to 18-y-old males (31%, 21% and 22% at low-, middle- and high-income levels, respectively). Among females, rates of underweight were not significantly different at any age. Rates of overweight increased significantly (P=0.048) with income level among 41 to 60-y-old women (38%, 53% and 60% at low-, middle- and high-income levels, respectively). Conclusion: Chronic undernutrition as indicated by deficit in height decreased with increasing income level. Socio-economic differences in weight status were not uniform among various age–sex groups. The influence of increasing affluence is likely to be seen both in the form of increased obesity among older females and underweight among children. Differing patterns of association between income and weight status among male and female children need to studied further with more accurate birth records, so as to further clarify the situation. In terms of prevention of nutrition-related disorders both problems of under- and over-nutrition need to be addressed. Sponsorship: Financial support for this project was provided by ISFE, Switzerland. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2001) 55, 400–406
58 citations
TL;DR: Both extracts markedly protected the rats against antigen-induced challenge of mast cells and inhibited histamine-induced contractions of the guinea-pig ileum in a dose-related manner.
38 citations
TL;DR: The dual reproductive behavior exhibited by A. leptopus is an adaptation for its survival as a successful weed in tropical latitudes.
Abstract: Antigonon leptopus is a tropical climber, which grows year-long with alternation between flowering, fruiting and vegetative phases. Dianthesis, temporal dioecy and facultative xenogamy are exhibited by A. leptopus flowers, which are obligately dependent on vectors for pollination. Pollination vectors are unspecialized and promiscuous, even for short-tongued anthophiles. The flowers are foraged by bees, wasps, flies, butterflies and thrips with the first group playing a key role in pollination. Antigonon leptopus is also capable of thriving by vegetative reproduction. The dual reproductive behavior exhibited by A. leptopus is an adaptation for its survival as a successful weed in tropical latitudes.
35 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a new discrete integrability criterion based on the growth of some characteristic of the solutions of a mapping, using Nevanlinna theory, is introduced, which allows to recover the known forms of the discrete Painleve equations and to show that no new ones may exist within a given parametrization.
Abstract: We introduce a new discrete integrability criterion inspired from the recent findings of Ablowitz and collaborators. This criterion is based on the study of the growth of some characteristic of the solutions of a mapping, using Nevanlinna theory. Since the practical implementation of the latter does not always lead to a clear-cut answer, we complement the growth criterion by the singularity confinement property. This combination turns out to be particularly efficient. Its application allows us to recover the known forms of the discrete Painleve equations and to show that no new ones may exist within a given parametrization.
28 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this article, the prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in South Asian populations living at different levels of urbanization was compared.
Abstract: Background: Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) and other Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are increasing globally. Comparison of various sections of the South Asian populations living at different levels of urbanization can help in understanding the role of demographic transition in the increased prevalence of these diseases in urbanized populations. Objective: To compare the prevalence of certain CHD risk factors in 10-12 year old school children living at different levels of urbanization. Method: Differences in height Body Mass Index (BMI) Waist Hip Ratio (WHR) Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG) and Total Blood Cholesterol (TBC) were studied. Subjects: Anthropometric and biochemical measurements of six groups of 10-12 year old children representing various urbanization categories were studied. Three groups of children were recruited from Punjab Pakistan: rural middle income urban and high income urban and they were assigned urbanization rank (UR) 1 2 and 3. Another three groups of children were recruited from Slough UK: British Pakistani British Indian and British Caucasian and they were assigned urbanization rank 4 5 and 6 respectively. Results: Proportion of children having high CHD risk increased with urbanization rank. Increase in BMI and TBC with urbanization status was steadier than the increase in FBG and WHR. Stunting which have been found to have a positive association with obesity and increased risk of CHD was higher among the less urbanized groups. BMI and TBC of the urbanized South Asian groups were lower but FBG was higher than the British Caucasian who served as controls. Conclusion: These findings support the hypothesis that high CHD death rate among South Asians in UK may have its origin in the genetic predisposition to diabetes but are not likely to be solely due to this factor. The environmental factors like under nourishment in early life adoption of urbanized life style or a combination of both could be the major determinants of CHD morbidity and mortality. (authors)
28 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the correlation of neutron emission with plasma electron temperature in a low-energy (2.3 kJ) plasma focus and found that for a pressure range of high neutron emission (1-4 mbar), the neutron yield correlated with the plasma temperature.
Abstract: Correlation of neutron emission with plasma electron temperature in a low-energy (2.3 kJ) plasma focus is investigated. To determine the plasma temperature by continuum X-ray analysis, cobalt is selected as the filter, which discriminates the line radiation from the background impurities like carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen, or the copper of which plasma focus electrodes are made. For a pressure range of high neutron emission (1-4 mbar), the neutron yield is found to correlate with the plasma temperature. The highest temperature recorded is 5 keV at 2.5 mbar, the filling pressure for the highest neutron emission in this device.
20 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors apply certain operators of fractional calculus with a view to evaluating various families of infinite integrals associated with functions of several variables, including integrals and derivatives of arbitrary real or complex order.
Abstract: The authors apply certain operators of fractional calculus (that is, integrals and derivatives of arbitrary real or complex order) with a view to evaluating various families of infinite integrals associated with functions of several variables They also present relevant connections of the infinite integrals evaluated in this paper with those given in earlier works on the subject
TL;DR: In this article, the characteristics of cobalt as a soft x-ray filter are investigated and it is found to be a good choice to diagnose 0.5-5 keV hot plasmas in a device like a plasma focus.
Abstract: The characteristics of cobalt as a soft x-ray filter are investigated. It is found to be a good choice to diagnose 0.5-5 keV hot plasmas in a device like a plasma focus. The focus plasma temperature is found to be filling pressure dependent. The highest temperature recorded is 5 keV at a filling pressure of 2.5 mbar, which gives the highest neutron yield in the 2.3 kJ low-energy Mather-type device under study. The advantage of the cobalt filter is to prevent contamination of the temperature-sensitive continuum radiation by the dominant Cu Kα line radiation. The energy dependence of the detector sensitivity is incorporated to yield a more accurate temperature measurement. The Ni-Co filter combination helps to estimate the Cu Kα line radiation from the device, which is the highest at 0.5 mbar. The emitted energy is estimated to be 1.2 J in the 4π geometry, which corresponds to system efficiency of about 0.045%. The Cu Kα is 90-95% of the total x-ray emission.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: For the prevention of disease, efforts are required not only to increase the children's knowledge about health but also to increase awareness and understanding of healthy body weight, physical activity, hazards of smoking and to inculate belief in internal control over own health.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE To study the differences in health related knowledge and attitudes of less and more urbanised 10-12 year old South Asian school children. METHOD A total of 589 Asian children living in UK and in Pakistan were studied. Three groups of children were recruited from Punjab, Pakistan: rural (RrP, n = 100), middle income urban (MUP, n = 148) and high income urban (HUP, n = 159) and they were assigned urbanization rank (UR) 1, 2 and 3. Another two groups of children were recruited from Slough, UK: British Pakistani (BrP, n = 110) and British Indian (Brl, n = 71) and they were assigned urbanization rank 4 and 5 respectively. Information about Cardiovascular Health (CVH) related knowledge, Health Locus of Control (HLC), smoking behaviour, self-perception of bodyweight and self-perception of activity level was collected through questionnaire. Actual weight status was judged by measuring body height and weight. Actual Physical Activity Level (PAL) was calculated from three day activity records kept by children. RESULTS In general health related knowledge improved with urbanisation status. In all groups girls scored better on knowledge test than boys from the same group. HLC scores increased (indicate higher level of internal locus of control) steadily with urbanisation from UR 1-3. In most groups girls had slightly lower HLC scores. Smoking intentions were not related to UR. Validity of perceptions slightly improved with urbanisation rank only for activity level. CONCLUSION Due to lack of knowledge and belief in external health locus of control, behaviour modification is likely to harder in less urbanized Pakistani groups. For the prevention of disease, efforts are required not only to increase the children's knowledge about health but also to increase awareness and understanding of healthy body weight, physical activity, hazards of smoking and to inculate belief in internal control over own health.
TL;DR: In this paper, the dynamics of uniaxially (along the z direction) anisotropic Heisenberg ferromagnets (in three dimensions) in the presence of a magnetic field varying sinusoidally in time was studied by Monte Carlo method using Metropolis rate.
Abstract: The dynamics of uniaxially (along the z direction) anisotropic Heisenberg ferromagnets (in three dimensions) in the presence of a magnetic field varying sinusoidally in time (along the x-direction only) is studied by Monte Carlo method using Metropolis rate. The time averaged (over a complete cycle of the oscillating field) value of z component of the magnetization continuously vanishes at a particular transition temperature associated with a dynamic symmetry breaking of mz-hx loop. The temperature variation of dynamic order parameter and the dynamic specific heat for different values of the anisotropy show that the transition temperature increases as the strength of anisotropy increases.
TL;DR: The antagonist actions of three sub-series of tetrahydro- β -carbolines at the serotonin 2B (5HT 2B) contractile receptor in the rat stomach fundus are analyzed in relation to the physicochemical properties of the molecules.
Abstract: The antagonist actions of three sub-series of tetrahydro- β -carbolines at the serotonin 2B (5HT 2B) contractile receptor in the rat stomach fundus are analyzed in relation to the physicochemical properties of the molecules. Significant correlations are obtained between the 5HT 2B receptor antagonist affinity and the hydrophobic, steric, electronic, hydrogen bond acceptor and some indicator variables of substituents. Based on these findings, the mode of actions of these congeneric series and future strategy to synthesize more potential compounds are discussed.
TL;DR: In this article, bitumen emulsion as an admixture in magnesia cement is used as a moisture proofing and strengthening material, which improves strength and soundness of the product while decreasing the initial setting periods.
Abstract: Addition of bitumen emulsion to the matrix has been found to improve strength and soundness of the product while decreasing the initial setting periods. Thus, bitumen emulsion as an admixture in magnesia cement is a moisture proofing and strengthening material.
TL;DR: The hydroxyl radical scavenging effect of the extract was enhanced with increases in the concentration of drug, suggesting the role of free radical scavengers in minimizing gentamicin-induced kidney cell damage.
Abstract: Tephrosia purpurea, commonly known as Sarphonka, is widely used in the traditional Indian system of medicine as an anti-inflammatory agent and also used in various liver, spleen and kidney disorders. The protective role of this plant has been investigated in gentamicin-induced rat kidney cortical cell damage. The alcohol extract of T. purpurea showed a significant hydroxyl radical scavenging activity in vitro. Using a Trypan blue exclusion assay, it was found that the extract markedly increased the percentage viability of the isolated rat kidney cortical cells in gentamicin-induced cell damage. By the evaluation of LDH activity and acid phosphatase content, it was established that the cell damage was minimized in the case of cells treated with the extract of T. purpurea. The hydroxyl radical scavenging effect of the extract was enhanced with increases in the concentration of drug, suggesting the role of free radical scavengers in minimizing gentamicin-induced kidney cell damage.
TL;DR: Bianchi Type I magnetized cosmological model for perfect fluid distribution is investigated in this paper, where the magnetic field is due to an electric current produced along x-axis and the distribution consists of an electrically neutral perfect fluid with an infinite electrical conductivity.
Abstract: Bianchi Type I magnetized Cosmological model for perfect fluid distribution is investigated. The magnetic field is due to an electric current produced along x-axis. The distribution consists of an electrically neutral perfect fluid with an infinite electrical conductivity. To get a determinate solution, a supplementary conditionA = BC between metric potentials is used. The behaviour of the model in presence and absence of magnetic field is also discussed.
TL;DR: In this article, the perfectly matched layer (PML) is applied to an open boundary problem, i.e., the calculation of PCB crosstalk using the TLM.
Abstract: Numerical results obtained by directly applying the perfectly matched layer (PML) to an open boundary problem, i.e. the calculation of PCB crosstalk using the TLM, are presented. While evanescent waves cannot be absorbed even by a large number of PML layers, a single layer is sufficient provided it is placed sufficiently far away.
TL;DR: Two series of compounds reported as novel α1a-selective adrenoceptor antagonists, having potential for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and a urological disorder in the older age male population, were subjected to a quantitative structure-activity relationship study.
Abstract: Two series of compounds were recently reported as novel α1a-selective adrenoceptor antagonists. In the first series, a dihydropyrimidone moiety is attached to a 4-phenyl piperidine containing side chain, while in the second, it is linked to a 4-substituted phenyl piperazine containing side chain. These compounds having potential for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, a urological disorder in the older age male population, were subjected to a quantitative structure-activity relationship study. The analysis has helped to ascertain the role of different substituents in explaining the observed binding potencies of these analogues. In the first category of compounds, three sites R1 R2 and X were varied and from the quantitative structure - activity relationship, it emerged that X- and R1-substituents having respectively, the high values of field and resonance effects may lead to more potent α1a-antagonists. The substituent of R2 being either CH3 or C2H5, does not add to improve the activity and thu...
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The inhibitory effect of E-721B on immediate hypersensitive reactions such as asthma is indicated, indicating that a single dose of the drug does not have cromoglycate like properties.
Abstract: E-721B, an indigenous herbal combination was investigated for its usefulness in immediate hypersensitivity using different animal models. The drug inhibited the mast cell degranulation induced both by antigen and compound 48/80, the Schultz-Dale response in sensitized guinea pig ileum smooth muscle preparation and the production of precipitating antibodies in 50% of tested rats. It also inhibited the mast cell degranulation in passively sensitized rats indicating its suppressive action on production of reaginic antibody (IgE). However, the drug did not inhibit the 48 hours passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction in rats, indicating that a single dose of the drug does not have cromoglycate like properties. All the above results indicate the inhibitory effect of E-721B on immediate hypersensitive reactions such as asthma.