Path minimization in a tandem running Indian ant in the context of colony relocation.

The phenomenon of minimizing the path length to a target site in order to increase transport efficiency is described as path optimization, and it has been observed in many mammals, birds and some invertebrates such as honeybees and ants. It has been demonstrated that ants can optimize their foraging path through an emergent process, involving the trail pheromone concentration, without individual ants having to measure and compare distances. In the current study, we investigated whether ants that use only tandem running to recruit their nestmates can minimize their path while relocating their entire colony into a new nest.

Intermittent Directly Observed Therapy for Abdominal Tuberculosis: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing 6 Months Versus 9 Months of Therapy.

Background: The duration of treatment of gastrointestinal tuberculosis continues to be a matter of debate. The World Health Organization advocates intermittent directly observed short-course therapy (DOTs), but there is a lack of data of its efficacy in abdominal tuberculosis. We therefore conducted a multicenter randomized controlled trial to compare 6 months and 9 months of antituberculosis therapy using DOTs.

Psychiatric, somatic and other functional gastrointestinal disorders in patients with irritable bowel syndrome at a tertiary care center.

Background/aims: To study the prevalence of somatic and psychiatric co-morbidities in the patients of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and to assess the quality of life (QOL) of these patients.

Methods: One hundred and eighty-four IBS patients and 198 controls were included. Diagnosis of IBS, its sub-classification and assessment of other functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) was made on basis of Rome III criteria.