Archives-December 

The effect of ampicillin and amoxicillin on the corrosion of copper in 0.1 M HCl was evaluated using potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and electrochemical frequency modulation (EFM) techniques. The results of polarization studies indicate that the investigated drugs are mixed type inhibitors. It was observed that inhibition efficiency increased with increasing drug concentrations and decreased with raising temperature. Thermodynamic activation and adsorption parameters were calculated and discussed. Adsorption of these drugs on the copper surface was found to follow Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The experimental results are supported by the theoretical data.

Mobile video-audio transmission systems have delivered patient video with relevant snoring sound to quantify the severity of the sleep apnea patient over wireless networks, but few have optimized video-audio transmission in combination with transmission protocol over error-prone environments using wireless links. In this paper, the performance of the MPEG (Motion Picture Expert Group)-4 error resilient tools with UDP(User Datagram Protocol) protocol were evaluated over a wireless network to suggest the optimum combination of MPEG-4 error resilient tools and UDP packet size suitable for real-time transmission of video-audio transmission over error-prone mobile networks. Through experimentation, it was found that the packet size should correspond to IP(Internet Protocol) datagram size minus UDP and IP header for optimal video-audio quality. Also, for error resilient tool selection, the combination of resynchronization marker and data partitioning showed the best performance.

The objective of the study was assessment and mapping of the community villages in order to rank degree of vulnerabilities to climate change. On sensitivity to vulnerability, the majority of the respondents indicated that it was high (59.6%), medium (16.3%) and low (20.8%).of which on response to exposure to vulnerability, the respondents who indicated high (61.7%), medium (24.2% and low (11.3%).On vulnerabilities in response to adaptive capacity to vulnerability, was high (3.3%), medium (12.5%) and low (81.3%).This study demonstrated that participatory approach of addressing vulnerability to climate change which involved all stakeholders is effective in this dry forested pastoral ecosystem.

Association rule mining is one of the well established fields in data mining. This paper has surveyed the research papers in this field from 1993 to 2013. This paper describes the fundamental algorithms and its advantages and disadvantages. This also provides brief overview of current trends of association and frequent pattern mining and medical applications.

The present study deals with the fractional analysis of lipid components and their biotransformation process especially of -?3 fatty acids from primary food sources(detritus, mangrove leaves and planktons) of Cerebratulus sp. - an intertidal benthic nemertine species found in the intertidal mudflats of Subarnarekha estuary. The primary food sources of this intertidal benthic funa understudy has been shown to contain appreciable amount of -?3 fatty acids, particularly ?- linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3?3) which has been appeared to have been consumed and biotransformed in the process of food chain and food web interactions in the studied mangrove- estuarine ecosystem. On analyzing the fatty acids of muscles of studied species. Remarkeble amount of 20:5?3(EPA, Eicosapentaenoic acid) and of 22:6?3(DHA, Docosahexaenoic acid) have been found to remain present in the muscles of this animal. From the standpoint of biochemical ecology, these animals are being considered as a facilitator of chain elongation and simultaneous desaturation of ALA in order to produce essential long chain PUFA's (Polyunsaturated fatty acids), EPA and DHA which are now being recommended as an important pharmaceutical supplement.

Voice morphing means the transition of one speech signal into another. Like image morphing, speech morphing aims to preserve the shared characteristics of the starting and final signals, while generating a smooth transition between them. Speech morphing is analogous to image morphing. In image morphing the in-between images all show one face smoothly changing its shape and texture until it turns into the target face. It is this feature that a speech morph should possess. One speech signal should smoothly change into another, keeping the shared characteristics of the starting and ending signals but smoothly changing the other properties. The major properties of concern as far as a speech signal is concerned are its pitch and envelope information. These two reside in a convolved form in a speech signal. Hence some efficient method for extracting each of these is necessary. We have adopted an uncomplicated approach namely cepstral analysis to do the same. Pitch and formant information in each signal is extracted using the cepstral approach. Necessary processing to obtain the morphed speech signal include methods like Cross fading of envelope information, Dynamic Time Warping to match the major signal features (pitch) and Signal Re-estimation to convert the morphed speech signal back into the acoustic waveform.

The present case involves the management of severe tooth wear in elderly patient using a multidisciplinary treatment approach, which includes full mouth rehabilitation to restore upper and lower generalized tooth wear due to attrition, re- treatment of failing root treated teeth, stabilizing localized periodontal problem, restoring the missing multiple upper teeth (sparse dentition) and management of bruxism. The treatment provided include non- surgical management of localized moderate chronic periodontitis affecting the posterior teeth, re-root treatment of the lower anterior teeth, direct resin composite restorations at an increased occlusal vertical dimension (OVD) and an upper removable cobalt-chromium partial denture (overdenture) with tooth 24 and 28 as abutments. Finally a lower soft splint was given to protect the restorations and remaining dentition due to bruxism.

To compare the essential oil composition of two Thyme species T.daenensis and T.fedtschenkoi, the aerial parts of them were collected at flowering stage. The essential oil was obtained by hydro distillation method for 3 hours and their chemical components of essential oil were identified by GC and GC/MS. The main constituents of T.daenensis were thymol (73.86 %), caryophyllene (5.55 %), ?-terpinene (5.03 %), p-cymene (3.92 %) and carvacrol (2.92 %). While the main constituents of T.fedtschenkoi were linalool (63.77 %), ?-terpineol (10.17 %), 1,8-cineole (4.01 %), thymol (3.3 %), sabinene (2.66 %).

Objectives: We compare the analgesic efficiency of the endo-rectal instillation of xylocaine gel compared to peri-prostatic infiltration xylocaine biopsies before transrectal ultrasound guided prostate. Patients and Methods: Between November 2013 and March 2014, candidates for prostate biopsies were randomized into 2 groups. In group 1, 10 ml of Xylocaine 2% gel was instilled in the rectum 10 minutes before biopsy, while patients in group 2 benefited from the periprostatic infiltration of 5 ml injection of Xylocaine 2% in two equal injections , 4 min before prostate biopsies. A visual analogue scale possible to assess pain during anesthesia (VAS 1) and during prostate biopsies (VAS 2) and finally 30 min after the end of these (VAS 3). Results: 69 patients were included in the study, 35 in group 1 and 34 in group 2. The pain experienced by patients was statistically lower in Group 2 for the VAS 2 score (3.5 in group 1 vs 1.5 in group 2) and the VAS score 3 (0.5 in group 1 vs 0.1 in group 2). No major complications were reported. Conclusion: periprostatic block infiltration of xylocaine, allows better patient comfort during biopsies and 30 min after the end thereof

Conflict, in some forms and degrees, is part and parcel of virtually every facet of human life. Workplace conflict is varied, pervasive, and costly to the organization in many ways. Conflict management strategy has an important place in the study of organizational commitment. The commitment of the workers of an organization is a very important factor for an organization to be successful. This research examined the influence of conflict management strategies on perceived organizational commitment. Subjects for the study were 253 respondents which comprised 198 males and 55 females. Three hypotheses were tested and the findings of the study revealed that there was a joint effect of yielding and problem-solving on organizational commitment {F(2,250) = 7.857; R = .243, R2 = .059, Adj. R2 = 0.052; P < .05}. The result also showed that the joint effect of problem-solving, compromising, avoiding, forcing and yielding was significant {F(5,247) =7.514; R = .363, R2 = .132, Adj. R2 = 0.114; P < .05}. Lastly, the result also showed that there was no significant difference in the organizational commitment of male and female respondents {t(251) = 1.96; p > .05}. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended among others that managers should develop diverse but appropriate strategies to resolve and manage conflicts as they arise before it escalates to unmanageable levels. Hence, organizations should take time to analyze the source, type and amount of conflict before making a decision on which strategy to adopt for the effective management of the conflict.