Search Results - (Author, Cooperation:T. Ramamurthy)

2011-08-26

Nature Publishing Group (NPG)

0028-0836

1476-4687

Biology

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Medicine

Natural Sciences in General

Physics

Cholera/*epidemiology/microbiology/*transmission ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Haiti/epidemiology ; Humans ; Likelihood Functions ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Pandemics/*statistics & numerical data ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics ; Vibrio cholerae/classification/*genetics/*isolation & purification ; Zimbabwe/epidemiology

1460-2695

Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics

Abstract— The Modified Crack Closure Integral (MCCI) technique based on Irwin's crack closure integral concept is very effective for estimation of strain energy release rates G in individual as well as mixed-mode configurations in linear elastic fracture mechanics problems. In a finite element approach, MCCI can be evaluated in the post-processing stage in terms of nodal forces and displacements near the crack tip. The MCCI expressions are however, element dependent and require a systematic derivation using stress and displacement distributions in the crack tip elements.Earlier a general procedure was proposed by the present authors for the derivation of MCCI expressions for 3-dimensional (3-d) crack problems modelled with 8-noded brick elements. A concept of sub-area integration was proposed to estimate strain energy release rates at a large number of points along the crack front. In the present paper a similar procedure is adopted for the derivation of MCCI expressions for 3-d cracks modelled with 20-noded brick elements. Numerical results are presented for center crack tension and edge crack shear specimens in thick slabs, showing a comparison between present results and those available in the literature.

Electronic Resource

1460-2695

Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics

In this paper, the effects of T-stress on steady, dynamic crack growth in an elastic–plastic material are examined using a modified boundary layer formulation. The analyses are carried out under mode I, plane strain conditions by employing a special finite element procedure based on moving crack tip coordinates. The material is assumed to obey the J2 flow theory of plasticity with isotropic power law hardening. The results show that the crack opening profile as well as the opening stress at a finite distance from the tip are strongly affected by the magnitude and sign of the T-stress at any given crack speed. Further, it is found that the fracture toughness predicted by the analyses enhances significantly with negative T-stress for both ductile and cleavage mode of crack growth.

Electronic Resource

1460-2695

Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics

Abstract— Results of an experimental estimation of the crack closure stress, using electron fractography and laser interferometry for CT specimens of an aluminium-copper alloy are presented in this paper. Crack closure stress was estimated at stress ratios of 0.1, 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7 using programmed load sequences. In addition, the crack closure stress was estimated for a simple random load sequence. Scanning and transmission electron fractography provided a similar estimate of crack closure, with the later technique providing better quality fractographs. Laser-interferometry based estimates were closer to fractographic estimates when the crack-tip is very close to the micro-indent axis. In addition, laser-interferometry based estimates of the crack opening stress for a random load sequence, confirmed the possibility of a cycle-by-cycle variation of the crack opening stress.

Electronic Resource

1460-2695

Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics

Abstract— A numerical investigation of the fatigue crack closure phenomenon has been performed by an elastic-plastic finite element analysis. Computer software was developed to consider many aspects affecting plasticity-induced crack closure. Linear and power-law hardening models are considered in the finite element analysis. The paper presents results from the study carried out on compact tension (CT) coupons at various crack lengths corresponding to different loading conditions. Finally the results of the analysis are compared with the experimental estimates of fatigue crack closure levels obtained from laser interferometry, scanning-electron and transmission-electron fractography presented in Part I of this paper on identical specimens.

Electronic Resource

1365-2036

Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Medicine

Background : Helicobacter pylori infection is very common in India, as in other developing countries, but few data exist on the susceptibility of H. pylori to antimicrobial agents commonly used for eradication here.Aim : To determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of H. pylori strains from Kolkata, in eastern India.Methods : A total of 67 H. pylori strains isolated from gastritis and peptic ulcer patients of Kolkata were examined in the study. Minimum inhibitory concentration to the antibiotics was determined by the agar dilution method.Results : Most of the strains (85%) were resistant to at least 8 μg/mL of metronidazole and 7.5% strains were resistant to tetracycline, which was high when compared with other reports in India. All Kolkata strains were highly sensitive to clarithromycin, furazolidone and amoxicillin.Conclusions : Our results differed significantly from the few available reports on drug sensitivity profile of H. pylori from other parts of India, namely, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Lucknow. This finding supports the need for rigorous susceptibility testing as a guide to empirical treatment and more generally, to define the resistance patterns of H. pylori in particular geographical areas.

Electronic Resource

0740-0020

Elsevier Journal Backfiles on ScienceDirect 1907 - 2002

Process Engineering, Biotechnology, Nutrition Technology

Electronic Resource

1574-6968

Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Biology

Preservation of the acidophilic heterotroph, Acidocella sp. strain GS19h, at 4°C in stab culture eliminated all indigenous plasmids from this bacterium. Growth at 42°C initially caused changes in the plasmid profile followed by total elimination of plasmids after 10 cycles of growth. Concomitant to this loss of all plasmids, the cured derivatives became sensitive to CdSO4 and ZnSO4, and the MIC value of the salts dropped from 1 M for each in the case of parental strain to 2 mM and 5 mM, respectively, suggesting plasmid-mediated inheritance of metal resistance in this bacterium. The cured derivatives could not utilise lactose, indicating this metabolic activity to be plasmid-associated in this strain.

Electronic Resource

1574-6968

Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Biology

This study reports the results of a molecular analysis of the CTX prophages in classical biotype strains of Vibrio cholerae O1 of clinical origin isolated between 1970 and 1979 in India. All strains were sensitive to group IV classical phage and polymyxin B but resistant to group 5 El Tor phage. These phenotypic traits are consistent to that exhibited by the classical biotype. PCR studies reconfirmed their biotype assignment and showed the presence of intact CTX prophages and the presence of the recently described toxin linked cryptic plasmid. Restriction fragment length polymorphism of rRNA genes and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis showed clonal diversity among the strains. The most notable observation was the finding that one strain (GP13) has three CTX prophages while another (GP147) has four CTX prophages. This is the first time heterogeneity is reported in the arrangement of the CTX prophages among classical strains of V. cholerae O1.

Electronic Resource

1574-695X

Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Biology

Medicine

Abstract A series of monoclonal antibodies of different isotypes specific for Vibrio cholerae O139, the new pandemic strain of cholera, was produced. These mAbs reacted only with the reference strain (MO45) representing serovar O139 but did not react with any of the other reference strains representing serovars O1 to O140. Significantly, the mAbs did not agglutinate the R-cultures of V. cholerae (CA385, 20–93) which demonstrated the exceptional specificity of these mAbs and indicated that the mAbs recognized antigenic determinants unique for the O139 serovar. There was heterogeneity in the intensity of reactivity of the mAbs with strains of V. cholerae O139 isolated from diverse sources. Apart from 4H6, the other mAbs agglutinated all the O139 strains examined. 2D12 and 2F8 were the best mAbs based on the intensity of agglutination with all the O139 strains. Evaluation of 3A10 in comparison with a polyclonal anti-O139 antibody raised in rabbit using the slide agglutination format revealed that 3A10 fared as well as the polyclonal antibody for the laboratory identification of the O139 serovar. The acquisition of these mAbs provide reagents which would be very useful in the development of simple immunodiagnostic assays for the diagnosis of V. cholerae O139 infections.

Electronic Resource

1574-6968

Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Biology

Abstract The distribution of the zot gene that encodes the zonula occludens toxin, a newly described toxin of Vibrio cholerae, among clinical, environmental and food isolates of V. cholerae 01 and non-01 was investigated. Both the zot gene and the ctx gene that encode cholera toxin were found in 247 of 257 clinical strains and 62 of 415 environmental or food isolates of V. cholerae 01. The zot gene, but not the ctx gene was found in 37 strains (one clinical strain and 36 environmental or food isolates). In addition, two of 31 clinical strains and six of 98 environmental or food isolates of V. cholerae non-01 possessed both the zot gene and the ctx gene. These results demonstrated the predominantly concurrent occurrence of the zot gene and ctx genes among strains of V. cholerae 01 which suggests a possible synergistic role of ZOT in the causation of acute dehydrating diarrhea produced by V. cholerae 01.

Electronic Resource

1574-6968

Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Biology

Abstract Using ligand blotting, it was found that partially purified cytolethal distending toxin prepared from and enterotoxigenic strain of Campylobacter jejuni, bound to two peptides of molecular masses of approximately 59 kDa and 45 kDa and to a single peptide of 59 kDa in protein blots prepared from HeLa and CHO cell membranes, respectively. In contrast, labile toxin of Escherichia coli and cholera toxin bound to a single peptide of the same molecular mass (15 kDa) on protein blots prepared from both CHO and HeLa cell crude membranes resolved by gel electrophoresis. This banding pattern was identical using SDS-solubilized membrane, with or without heat treatment, but no band was obtained when reduced (treatment with 2-mercaptoethanol) samples were used for the gel electrophoresis. The differences between receptors of cytolethal distending toxin and cholera toxin/labile toxin were exploited to develop a receptor-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of cytolethal distending toxin which involved the consecutive addition of either solubilized CHO or HeLa membranes, antigen and antibody. This enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay consistently detected crude cytolethal distending toxin diluted up to 16-fold. The receptor-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of cytolethal distending toxin developed in this study is a suitable alternative assay which can be performed easily in laboratories with minimal facilities and, more importantly, the results are available within a few hours as compared to times of up to 5 days in the conventional tissue culture detection of cytolethal distending toxin.

Electronic Resource

1573-0972

DNA probe ; heat-stable enterotoxin ; NAG-ST ; Vibrio ; Vibrio mimicus

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Biology

Process Engineering, Biotechnology, Nutrition Technology

Abstract Using a 0.27 kb DNA probe specific for the heat-stable enterotoxin gene (nag-st) of Vibrio cholerae non-O1, 1109 strains representing 17 species of the genus Vibrio, isolated from clinical and environmental sources were examined. The nag-st gene was preponderantly associated with strains classified as V. mimicus; 16.8% of these strains hybridized. It was more frequent in the clinical isolates (22.6%) than in the environmental isolates (13.7%). The incidence of nag-st gene-positive strains of V. mimicus isolated from different countries was uniformly high and ranged between 8.7% (Bangladesh) and 57.1% (environmental strains from USA). The incidence of the nag-st gene was much lower among strains of V. cholerae non-O1 (3.6%). Probe-positive and-negative strains of V. mimicus and V. cholerae non-O1 were used to evaluate the performance of the conventional suckling mouse assay for detection of the NAG-ST enterotoxin. Of the 31 probe-positive strains, only five (16.1%) yielded a positive fluid accumulation ratio (FA ratio) when neat heated culture supernatant was used to perform the suckling mouse assay. All the 31 probe-positive strains gave a positive FA ratio when 20-fold concentrated and heated culture supernatants of the strains were used to perform the suckling mouse assay. The need to concentrate (by at least 20-fold) the culture supernatant of strains of V. mimicus and V. Cholerae non-O1 was identified as an important step to obtain consistent results when using the suckling mouse assay for detection of NAG-ST.

Electronic Resource

0029-5981

Engineering ; Engineering General

Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000

Mathematics

Technology

Fields exhibiting skew symmetry occur frequently in structural problems. There are many situations where non-skew-symmetric functions are conveniently used to analyse these skew fields. Specification of force and displacement conditions on the skew axis reduces the analysis to a half of the domain. The difficulty in using such conditions in an FEM analysis is their non-explicit nature. A method of overcoming this difficulty is developed using concept of generalized forces and displacements.

3 Ill.

Electronic Resource

1588-2780

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering

Abstract Carbon-14 labelled p-fluorophenylacetic acid was prepared by heating its sodium salt with14CO2 at 325 °C. The labelled acid after isolation from the reaction mixture was degraded by reaction with sodium azide. From the radioactivity measurements it was observed that no scrambling of14C had taken place and the acid could be designated as carboxyl-14C.

Electronic Resource

1588-2780

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering

Abstract The exchange reaction between14CO2 and sodium salt of p-fluorophenyl acetic acid was found to proceed with greater than 50% isotope incorporation when salt to CO2 ratio was 6∶1. The carboxyl-C-14 labelled p-fluorophenyl acetic acid was isolated in a pure form using small chemical concentrations of radioactive14CO2 of high specific activity /30 mCi/mmol/.

Electronic Resource