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Effect of creatine supplementation on learning, memory formation and brain histology in male albino mouse following right common carotid ligation and hypoxic insult
No full textPresent study was designed to determine the neuroprotective effect of 2% creatine monohydrate supplementation for variable duration in male albino mice. Study had short and long term phases. During short term experiments, various neonatal reflexes (Righting, Cliff aversion and Negative geotaxis) were studied at postnatal day 10 and 11 following hypoxic ischemic insult along with the measurement of brain infract volume. During long term experiments, mice were supplemented either 2% with creatine monohydrate (Cr) or normal rodent diet for 8, 12 and 15 weeks followed by a battery of neurological tests including Morris water maze (MWM), Open field (OF) and Rota rod. Blood serum was collected at the end of the experiments to determine the concentration of interlukin-6 and 18 in all experimental treatments.\ud
It was observed that righting reflexes (P = 0.002), cliff aversion (P < 0.001) and negative geotaxis (P < 0.001) reflexes were significantly affected when compared between hypoxic ischemic (HI) and non HI pups at postnatal day 10 and Cliff aversion reflex was significantly different (P = 0.004) when compared between HI and non HI pups at postnatal day 11. During long term experiments, HI mice supplemented with 2% Cr for 8, 12 and 15 weeks and no HI mice supplemented with Cr for 12 weeks performed better than their littermates on normal rodent diet during water maze (learning and memory) and rotating rod (neuromuscular coordination and balance) test. Result were revealed that serum IL-6 and IL-18 concentration were significantly higher in Cr supplemented treatments than in male albino mice on normal rodent diet following HI insult indicating that long term Cr supplementation up regulates the IL-6 and 18 concentrations triggering the neuroprotective and neuroinflammatory responses respectively.\ud
In conclusion, we had observed that Cr supplementation is beneficial for male albino mice following hypoxic ischemic insult as mice supplemented with 2% Cr diet had performed better than mice on normal rodent diet indicating better learning ability and neuromuscular coordination. We have observed the maximum neuroprotective effect of Cr supplementation in 15 week treatment indicating that the longer will be the Cr supplementation, the more beneficial it would be for the subjects
Electrochemical Studies of Nanostructured Protein \ud Based Immunosensors
No full textImmunosensor plays an important role in the diagnostic area such as disease diagnoses, drug selection, and food quality control, by providing applications with rapid detection, high sensitivity and specificity. The immunosensor technique is growing technique for detection and quantification of biomolecules. It takes advantage of affinity binding between antibodies and the corresponding antigens that allows the detection, even if it present at very low concentration and in complex biological matrix. \ud
The work presented in this thesis is to establish an understanding for use of different types of supporting matrix for the preparation of immunosensor. The different types of supporting matrix have different sensitivity toward detection, which directly affects the performance of immunosensor. This concept was employed to compare the performance of immunosensor using different types of supporting matrix such as self assembled monolayer (SAM), Au nanostructures (AuNS), and co-polymer brushes for detection of carcinoembroynic (CEA) and prostate specific (PSA) antigen.\ud
The growth kinetics and adhesion properties of SAM also affect the sensitivity towards the detection of biomolecules and it makes SAM an interesting candidate for biomedical applications. The formation assembly and adhesion properties of SAM were studied by varying the incubation time. The atomic force microscopy results showed that the agglomeration of SAM was observed at higher incubation time. The piles of SAM were observed as compared to the lateral growth which limits the surface coverage to 26% at higher incubation time. The annealing of SAM was performed, which result the lateral diffusion of SAM, and almost doubled the surface coverage compared to as grown SAM. The force- distance spectroscopy was performed to study the adhesion properties of SAM. The elastic modulus was calculated by applying the Johnson-Kendall-Roberts (JKR) theory and shows that the adhesion properties depends on the growth stages of SAM. \ud
In the present work, different approaches were used to prepare the immunosensor for detection of CEA and PSA. For CEA detection, three different types of Au nanostructure (AuNS) such as pyramid, spherical, and rod-like nanostructures were electrochemically deposited on Au electrode. Electrochemical measurements were performed to compare the performance of plane Au, pyramids, spherical, and rod-like nanostructured electrodes. It showed that the spherical nanostructured electrode showed superior performance among other types of nanostructures. These was probably due to the fact that the spherical nanostructures were smaller in size and possess high surface area compared to plane Au, pyramid, and rod-like nanostructures. The prepared immunosensor showed limit of detection (LOD) of 4 pgml-1. Finally, another electrochemical sandwich immunosensor was prepared by synthesis of oligo(ethylene glycol)methacrylate-co-glycidyl methacrylate (OEGMA-co-GMA) copolymer brush on plane Au and nanostructured electrode. Due to large loading capacity for antibody binding and high resistance to non-specific adsorption to co-polymer brushes the AuNS co-polymer brush immunosensor exhibit detection in a wide dynamic range of five orders of magnitude with improved LOD of 2 pgml-1, which is better than the co-polymer brush grown on plane Au electrode. The prepared immunosensors would be an exciting addition in diagnosis of early detection of cancer biomarkers, eventually helpful in circumventing cancer metastasis
DNA based analysis of thrips diversity and thrips-borne Iris yellow spot virus (Tospovirus: Bunyaviridae) from Pakistan
No full textThrips (Thysanoptera) are one of the most economically important groups of crop pests at a global scale which damage a wide range of field and horticultural crops. Some thrips species also serve as vectors of plant viruses. Despite the importance of this tiny insect as pests, predators, fungal feeders, gall formers, pollinators and virus vector, scant work was carried out on their systematics in Pakistan. Currently thrips taxonomy in Pakistan is solely based on morphological identification. Present study focused on thrips species identification based on the morphological characters, and developing a database of thrips fauna and their characterization based on DNA barcoding. Thrips were collected from multiple plants during 2009-2012 at 158 sites in three climatic regions of Pakistan. Twelve species from five genera of the suborder Tubulifera and twenty nine species from seventeen genera of the suborder Terebrantia were identified following standard taxonomic keys. A checklist of species reported in Pakistan since 1947 including thrips from the current survey was compiled. A comparison of our species with those previously reported from this region showed that one species (Apterygothrips pellucidus Ananthakrishnan) from Tubulifera and seven species (Chaetanaphothrips orchidii Moulton, Chirothrips meridionalis Bagnall, Megalurothrips distalis Karny, M. usitatus Bagnall, Neohydatothrips samayunkur Kudo, Taeniothrips major, Thrips trehernei Priesner) from Terebrantia and four genera (Apterygothrips, Chaetanaphothrips, Neohydatothrips, Taeniothrips) were the first reports from Pakistan. Mitochondrial COI sequences were used for discriminating 471 thrips that represented 55 species in the current survey. Sequence analysis revealed that the intraspecific and interspecific distances ranged from 0.0% to 7.5% and 2.3% to 22.3%, respectively. In addition, the study showed that four of the major thrips species in the region, Aeolothrips intermedius, Haplothrips reuteri, Thrips palmi and Thrips tabaci were cryptic species complexes. The study showed that DNA barcoding successfully discriminated regional thrips species including those which were morphologically cryptic. A barcode reference library for thrips from Pakistan was compiled and regional lineages of four important virus-vector thrips were connected with those from other countries by haplotype networks. A survey to determine the \ud
incidence of selected tospoviruses was carried out in onion-growing regions of the Punjab province of Pakistan during February-May and September-October 2012 in thirteen administrative districts. Plants with symptoms suggestive of Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV) infection were collected and tested for the presence of the virus by ELISA and RT-PCR. Sequence analysis of RT-PCR amplified nucleocapsid (N) gene confirmed IYSV infection of onion in Pakistan. This was the first report of IYSV infecting onion in Pakistan. A global analysis of more than 100 IYSV N gene sequences was carried out to determine the comparative population structure, spatial and temporal dynamics with reference to its genetic diversity and evolution. Global IYSV population could be grouped into two genotypes, IYSVBR and IYSVNL and the analysis showed that the two genotypes were almost equally distributed. A temporal shift was observed from IYSVNL to IYSVBR genotype over a period of 15 years (1997 to 2013). The diversity in IYSV population and temporal shift in IYSVBR genotype is attributable to genetic recombination, abundance of purifying selection, insignificant positive selection and population expansion. Restricted gene flow between the two major IYSV genotypes (IYSVBR and IYSVNL) further emphasizes the role of genetic drift in modeling the population architecture, evolutionary lineages and epidemiology of IYSV
Heat and Mass Transfer Analysis of Thin Film Flow over Stretched Surface
No full textThe flow and heat transfer of viscous fluids in thin films over horizontal stretching surfaces have drawn considerable attention and interest due to their extensive relevance in fluid mechanics, physics, nanotechnology and chemical and mechanical engineering. It is of fundamental importance in a wide range of heat/mass transfer processes. Some of its applications in industry are: lubrications of machinery, fluid bearings, coating including the preparation of thin films, printing and painting and in the adhesives. Biological applications include studies of liquid flow in the lungs and eyes. Other relevant areas of applications are wire and fiber coating, foodstuff processing, reactor fluidization, transpiration, cooling, polymer processing and extrusion processes etc. The fundamental purpose in almost each extrusion process is to preserve the surface quality of the finished sheet forced through the die. All coating projects require a smooth glossy surface to meet the requirements for best appearance and optimum service properties such as low friction, transparency and strength. Often, a textured surface is required to prevent layers of thin films from adhering together or to produce a combination of high semi-transparent surface with high diffusion in a light fitting. The problem of the co-extrusion of thin surface layers needs special consideration to gain knowledge for controlling the coating product efficiently keeping the high quality. The lubricating oil between two rotating cylinders is another area of application for thin film flow. It has been found from the literature that most of researchers have introduced only the heat transfer phenomenon in thin film flows. But the mass transfer analysis has by and large remained less attended. The introduction of mass transfer adds further complexities in an already difficult non linear coupled system governing heat and mass transfer in thin film flow. Knowing the importance of thin film flow in the presence of mass transfer, our core objective is to investigate the heat and mass transfer for linearly stretching unsteady thin film flows. Similarity transformations used by earlier researchers are not adequate in the sense that the governing equations lead to local self similar equations and the key objective of self similar situation is not achieved. This also limits the ability to find the numerical solution of the problem.\ud
We have derived new similarity transformation using Group theoretic methods and have been successful in reaching out to self similar boundary vale problem. The resulting equations are interestingly solved analytically using regular perturbation method. The significance of the proposed similarity transformation is thus apparent from the fact that the self similar governing equations are reached instead of local similar form. Further benefits lie in that the resulting equations are amenable to analytical solution using perturbation method for small deforming parameter (dimensions of Reynold number). This parameter turns out to be constant for an appropriate choice of time varying height of the thin film due to stretching . Small parameter assumption is reasonable for small deforming velocity of the thin film and is thus according to the physics of the problem. The introductory chapter gives the historical background for the problems investigated in the thesis. Chapter 2 comprises the fundamental definitions, the governing equations for the flow and heat and mass transport of the viscous fluid and the mathematical techniques to find the solutions of the problems. Chapter 3 deals with the modeling of the heat and mass transfer in thin film flow, the derivation of similarity transformation using group theoretic method, the solution of the equation using perturbation method and the numerical solution. The base fluid is taken as viscous fluid. The base problem is then compounded in the subsequent chapters. The effects of viscous dissipation are added in the energy equation and chemical reaction in concentration equation in chapter 4. Chapter 5 deals with electrically conducting fluid in the presence of applied magnetic field with Ohmic heating and heat absorption. In chapter 6 is the inclusion of thermophoretic effects in MHD flow. In the final analysis, starting from the mass transfer analysis for heat transfer in thin film flow, the model has been compounded to the heat and mass transfer including dissipation, chemical reaction, MHD fluid, Ohmic heating, heat absorption and therophoresis. In this thesis we have looked and investigated the combined effects of heat and mass transfer for the flow of thin film fluid flow. The model has been compounded taking into consideration further important features of extreme physical and industrial importance. New similarity transformations, not available in the literature, are derived using group theoretic methods. The resulting equations are solved analytically. The numerically results are obtained all throughout for the comparison and adding credibility to both the results.\ud
The agreement between these results is very encouraging and provides a complete confidence on the methodology and the correctness of the results. The thesis has the mathematical appeal in the sense of deriving the similarity transformations and finding analytical results for the nonlinear equations. The analytical results help to provide physical insight in explaining the physics of the fluid. Numerical results serve the purpose of engineers and have great usefulness in the industry
A CASE STUDY OF ISLAMI JAMHOORI ITTEHAD (IJI)
No full textAlliance politics is one of the prominent features of democratic form of government. Pakistan is an example of such democracies where alliances of political parties play an important and at times decisive role. In Pakistan, there exists a large number of regional and national political parties. The division on the basis of various ethnicities and regions is the greatest hindrance in the nativity of national political parties representing the whole country. Another phenomenon that has severely struck the political developments in the country is suspension of democratic rule by military dictators off and on. That resulted in long intervals of democratic rule and prevented the natural growth of political parties which would, otherwise have evolved to a national stature. \ud
In Pakistan, political parties are mainly personality oriented and are generally formed for attaining petty objectives. Many of the parties get divided into further factions due to internal differences of party's leadership. Due to all these factors Pakistan is still lacking national political parties having national agenda. Divided Due to the division in mandate, political parties have to coordinate with each other to achieve short term goals like suspending a government or to achieve any other goals. Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) was one of such alliances that operated in the political history of Pakistan. It was formed by eight political parties in 1988 to contain the power of PPP in the elections of 1988. The alliance was neither planned nor organized. In the beginning, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz Group) (PML-N) and National Peoples Party (NPP) of Ghulam Mustufa Jatoi joined hands to contest the 1988 elections from a common platform. The alliance was later joined by a few small parties and Jamaat-i Islami (JI). There was no strong ideological cohesion among the allied parties except the agenda for the enforcement of Sharia and prevent PPP from winning elections. Therefore, IJI could not work smoothly although it survived for more than four years, contested two general elections under one election symbol and remained in opposition and in government as a political alliance. This alliance participated in the elections of 1988 under one electoral symbol and gave a tough time to PPP during its rule from December 1988 to August 1990. Subsequently, it won the elections of 1990 and formed the government at center as well as in the provinces. The alliance was formally dissolved in 1993. IJI is the most controversial alliance in the political history of Pakistan as there are many myths regarding its formation: it is argued to be a command performance under the auspices of the ISI, and that the alliance was formed to counter the power of the PPP and to prevent it to form \ud
government, and also that the alliance had all the traditions of previous alliances made in the history of Pakistan. The present study is an effort to find answers to all such questions
SYNTHESIS AND BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF VARIOUS NITROGEN AND OXYGEN CONTAINING MOLECULES BEARING BENZODIOXOLE HETEROCYCLES
No full textFive membered heterocyclic compounds and their derivatives have gained much attraction of synthetic chemists due to their valuable biological activities. Especially 1,3,4-oxadiazole have shown remarkable broad spectrum biological activities which prompted us to synthesize its different 2,5-disubstituted-1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives. Benzodioxole moiety has also shown numerous biological activities. It was assumed that 2,5-disubstituted-1,3,4-oxadiazole ring along with the potential benzodioxole moiety might boost up the pharmacological activities of the synthesized molecules.Sulfamoyl derivatives werealso preparedto evaluate them for their various biological activities. Many incurable fatal diseases can be made curable to much extent by the help of latest and advanced research. So the presented research work comprises of the synthesis of some novel multifunctional compounds followed by the characterization of these compounds and biological evaluation including antibacterial studies as well as enzyme inhibition studies. The selection of these moieties was made on the basis of their known remarkable pharmacological activities.</BR>\ud
The compounds presented in this particular work were synthesized according to the protocol available in the literature and has been mentioned in respective schemes in detail. In Scheme-1, twenty four(24) various 5-substituted-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thiol 4a-x were synthesized, starting from different carboxylic acids through formation of correspondingesters converted intohydrazides and ultimately 5-substituted oxadiazoles were obtained through an intermolecular cyclization\ud
mechanism.Moreover, the reaction of different 5-substituted-1,3,4-Oxadiazol-2-\ud
thiols4a-xScheme-2, 3 & 4,with electrophiles, 6-chloro-3,4-\ud
methylenedioxybenzylchloride 5, 6-bromo-3,4-methylenedioxybenzylbromide7and 2bromo-N-(3,4-methylenedioxybenzyl)acetamide11,yielded twenty four(24)5(aryl/aralkyl)-2-((6-chloro-3,4-methylenedioxybenzyl)thio)-1,3,4-Oxadiazoles 6ax,twenty four(24)5-(aryl/aralkyl)-2-((6-bromo-3,4-methylenedioxybenzyl)thio)-1,3,4Oxadiazole8a-x,and twenty (20)N-[3,4-methylenedioxybenzyl]-2-[(5-substituted1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)thio]acetamide12a-t,respectively in the presence of N,Ndimethylformamide and sodium hydride. According to the Scheme-5, twenty (20)different electrophiles, N-substituted-2-bromoacetamides14a-t,were synthesized in aquous basic conditions on simple shaking. Twenty(20)N-substituted-2-{(5-(3,4methylenedioxy)phenyl-1,3,4-Oxadiazol-2-yl) sulfanyl}acetamide derivatives15at,were also produced by the reaction of twenty presynthesised electrophiles, 14a-t with 5-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-1,3,4-Oxadiazol-2-thiol4a in N,Ndimethylformamide and sodium hydrideScheme-6. In Scheme-7, twenty one(21) different 2-alkyl/aralkylthio-5-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-1,3,4-Oxadiazole derivatives17a-uwere synthesized on treating 5-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-1,3,4Oxadiazol-2-thiol 4awith twenty one aryl/aralkyl halides(16a-u).Scheme-8 comprises of the synthesis of fourteen(14)sulfonamide derivatives of paroxetine20a-k,m-o by the usual method of stirring in basic aquous medium with fourteen different sulfonyl chlorides19a-k,m-o.Twelve(12)3,4-methylenedioxyphenylsulfonohydrazide\ud
derivatives 21a-l, were prepared by the reaction of3,4-\ud
methylenedioxybenzohydrazide3awith different sulfonyl chlorides19a-lby the continuous stirring in basic aquous conditions using sodium carbonate solution.\ud
All the synthesized compounds were characterized by using different spectroscopic techniques i.e. IR, 1H-NMR and mass spectral data. 13C-NMR technique was also used in some cases to elucidate and to support the structural analysis. A proposed mass fragmentation pattern of some of the compounds is also given. Some of the 1HNMR, 13C-NMR and EIMS spectra of synthesized compounds are presented. The synthesized compounds were also evaluated for antibacterial and enzyme inhibition activities. All the nine schemes were put for antibacterial assay. Overall the synthesized compounds showed significant results. In Scheme-2, the compound 5(Pyridin-3-yl)-2-((6-chloro-3,4-methylenedioxybenzyl)thio)-1,3,4-Oxadiazole 6i showed overall maximum activity against E.coli (-), and Bacillissubtilis (+)among the compounds. The compound remained at the top with %age inhibition value, 76.17±5.00 for E.coli, and 70.12±3.65 forBacillissubtilis (+),compared to the reference standard,Ciprofloxacin with the %age inhibition value 92.02±1.97. In Scheme-3, the compound, 8xexpressed the highest %age inhibition value 79.19±1.10 against Escherichia coli (-) relative to the reference standard, Ciprofloxacin with %age inhibition value 90.44±1.23. In Scheme-4, the compound,N-[3,4-\ud
methylenedioxybenzyl]-2-[(5-(4-chlorophenoxy)methyl)-1,3,4-Oxadiazol-2yl)thio]acetamide12mrevealed the maximum activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa with the %age inhibition value 76.45±0.70 relative to the reference standard, ciprofloxacine with the %age inhibition value 93.45±0.42.In Scheme-6the compounds which seem as highly active within the series are 15r, 15a, 15m and 15bamong which N-[2,3-dimethylphenyl]-2-[(5-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-1,3,4oxadiazol-2-yl)thio]acetamide15a is the most active one with %age inhibition value 68.75±0.68 againstE.coli relative to the reference value92.79±0.83. In Scheme-7, the compound, 2-(2-Phenylethyl)thio-5-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-1,3,4Oxadiazole17j,surprisingly, showed maximum excellent activity against all the bacterial strains used under analysis. Its %age inhibition values are 80.50±2.64, 88.11±0.33, 87.20±1.65, 83.86±1.75, 84.25±0.58 and 87.46±0.69 relative to the reference standard, ciprofloxacine whose inhibitory values are 90.85±1.53, 92.04±1.07, 91.83±2.77, 89.59±2.00, 89.25±1.92 and 88.15±1.23 against the bacterial strains S. Typhi,E. Coli,K. Pneumonae andP. aeroginosa, B. Subtilis, S. Aerus respectively. In the Scheme-8, lipoxygenaseenzyme inhibition assay,was carried out. The excellent inhibition in LOX assay was shown by the compoundN-(4chlorobenzenesulfonyl)paroxetine(20m)with %age inhibition value98.01±0.01 compared with the reference standard baicalienvalue 93.79±1.27.The Scheme-9, was tested for antibacterial activity and it was found that all the compounds were quite active against E.coli. The results are very close to the reference standard value. Amongst the compounds, 2-(1,3-Benzodioxol-5-ylcarbonyl)-3,5-dichloro-2hydroxybenzenesulfonohydrazide(21l), was found to be the most active against all bacterial strains. Its % inhibition values are 70.35±3.06, 87.38±1.75, 89.33±1.42,\ud
72.60±2.20 and 85.35±1.65compared with reference values; 91.19±2.10, 90.44±1.23, 92.00±2.76, 89.98±2.07 and 92.21±1.59 against S. typhi (-),E. coli (-),P. aeroginosa (),B. subtilis (+) and S. aureus (+)respectively.Overall it was observed that the compounds having electron donating substitutions within their structures exhibited good to excellent antibacterial results. Biological activity data in comparison with the reference standard drugs is presented in biological activity section
Numerical Solutions of Nonlinear Radiative Heat Transfer Problems forBoundary Layer Flows
No full textN/
A GENETIC DIVERSITY IN MAHSEER SPECIES IN AZAD JAMMU AND KASHMIR
No full textGolden mahseer (family Cyprinidae, resident of South and South East Asia) \ud
was once commonly distributed in different rivers of Pakistan; while recent ecological \ud
changes and over-harvesting has limited its populations only to rivers of Punjab \ud
(Chenab, Soan and Harro), Khyber Pukhtunkwa (Swat and Indus), Azad Jammu and \ud
Kashmir (Rivers Poonch, Jhelum and Mangla Reservoir) and Balochistan (River \ud
Hingol). Present study has been designed to find out the genetic similarity existing \ud
between different populations by using 16 Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA \ud
(RAPD) and 3 microsatellite (SSR) markers. \ud
RAPD primers generated 197 bands with 87.73 percent (%) polymorphic loci \ud
and 43.75 percent (%) unique bands. The mean genetic diversity between the \ud
population was 0.13±0.04 SEM (Nei's index) and 0.20±0.05 SEM (Shannon index). \ud
The population of Swat River with the highest level of polymorphism holds the \ud
highest genetic diversity (73 percent (%) followed by Mangla Reservoir (57 percent \ud
(%), Indus River (54.31%), Jhelum River (44.67%), Poonch River (37.06 percent (%) \ud
and Hingol River (2.03 percent (%). Assuming populations under Hardy-Weinberg \ud
Equilibrium, the values of heterogeneity (Ht, 0.19±0.02 SEM), genetic diversity \ud
within (HS, 0.13±0.01, SEM) and between populations (Dst, 0.05±0.02 SEM), and \ud
genetic differentiation constant (Gst, 0.022±0.04 SEM) were low. The gene flow \ud
between populations (3.22± 0.32 SEM) were high, pointed out that population was \ud
not isolated in to sub-populations. The analysis of molecular variance revealed higher \ud
genetic variation (79 percent) within population and lower (21 percent) noted between \ud
populations. UPGMA dendrogram based on Nei's genetic similarities and genetic \ud
distances separated three main clusters of populations; 1) Poonch River, Jhelum River \ud
and Mangla Reservoir; 2) Swat River and Indus River; 3) Hingol River. RAPD \ud
markers, with a higher number of loci analyzed, worked more efficiently in analysis \ud
of intra- and inter-population differences. \ud
SSR markers produced 8 identifiable bands/ alleles. The average heterogeneity \ud
(Ht) for the pooled sample (0.336±0.088 SEM), genetic diversity index within \ud
populations (Hs, 0.168±0.023 SEM), and genetic diversity (Gst, 0.403±0.148 SEM) \ud
were relatively lower as compared to higher rate of gene flow (Nm, 1.802±1.101 \ud
SEM) between populations. Dendrogram on the basis of similarities/differences \ud
generated two clusters, separating the River Swat population from all other \ud
populations. SSR markers due to small amplified loci did not effectively work in the \ud
inter-population and intra-population analysis of the Golden mahseer populations
Development of a Process Improvement Framework for Globally Distributed Software Development Teams
No full textBackground: Global Software Development (GSD), an emerging software development methodology within a technology-enabled environment, has recently received increased attention from scholars and practitioners. Many software development organizations have opted GSD to access the globalized skills, knowledge, experienced resources and low cost of software development. Globally distributed teams gain many advantages over co-located teams. However, they face many challenges; those are not observed by co-located teams. Literature reveals that major challenges include weak communication & coordination and weak monitoring & control of distributed team members. Despite the fact that GSD face many challenges, research on global software development, related to process improvement is still very limited. Existing literature lacks a comprehensive process improvement framework (PIF) that could accommodate the complex and dynamic needs of GSD. Objective: Considering the challenges of GSD, and potential need to improve the processes of software development, this research is primarily focused on the development of a process improvement framework for globally distributed software development teams. Methods: In this study, the main methodology of research is exploratory mixed method design. In this multi-method approach, qualitative data is collected first to explore novel themes of process improvement in GSD environment. The proposed framework is constructed by using grounded theory methodology. The quantitative data is collected and analyzed to validate the components of the proposed framework. The components are validated by using the methods of face validity, content validity, construct validity, convergent validity and discriminant validity. The case study methodology is adopted to implement and validate the proposed framework in a software development organization that has globally distributed software development teams. Results: The proposed framework is reliable, and it has significant face, content, construct, convergent and discriminant validities. The results of the case study support the usefulness of the framework in GSD environment. Measurements & analysis results showed that the proposed framework resulted into the significant positive improvements for the selected project in GSD environment. Conclusion: Findings depicted that the proposed framework is a valid and reliable framework of process improvement in GSD environment. The detailed analysis depicts that the proposed framework helped to improve the processes of communication & coordination and global monitoring & control, and, it minimized the overall negative impact of challenges of GSD in distributed teams' environment
Evaluation of production data of positron emitting radionuclide 55Co and measurement of proton and deuteron induced reaction cross sections for natNi
No full textProduction cross sections of natNi(d,x)56,57Ni, 55,56,57,58Co, 52,54Mn, 51Cr nuclear reactions up to 40 MeV, and of natNi(p,x)60,61Cu, 56,57Ni, 55,56,57,58Co nuclear reactions up to 65 MeV, were measured by using the stacked-foil activation technique in combination with high resolution ?-ray spectrometry. The results were compared with the available literature values, predictions of the nuclear reaction model codes ALICE-IPPE, TALYS1.4, and extracted data from the TENDL-2012 library. The new measured data removed some discrepancies and the nuclear model calculations were found to reproduce the experimental data only with partial success. Spline fits were made on the basis of selected data, from which physical yields were calculated and compared with the literature values. In the case of deuteron, the thick target yield was also directly measured and compared with the theoretical value. The applicability of the natNi(d,x)56,57,58Co and natNi(p,x)57Ni, 57Co reaction products for thin layer activation (TLA) was investigated. The production rate of 55Co was compared for proton and deuteron induced reactions on Ni. The \ud
excitation functions of the 54Fe(d,n)55Co, 56Fe(p,2n)55Co and 58Ni(p,?)55Co reactions were analyzed with relevance to the production of the ?+-emitter 55Co (T½ = 17.53 h), a promising cobalt radionuclide for positron emission tomography (PET). The nuclear model codes ALICE-IPPE, EMPIRE and TALYS were used to check the consistency of the experimental data of those three production reactions. The statistically fitted excitation functions were employed to calculate the integral yields. The amounts of the impurities 56Co and 57Co were assessed. The significance of nuclear data in production of high-purity radionuclides is discussed