Role of delay in the mechanism of cluster formation

We study the role of delay in phase synchronization and phenomena responsible for cluster formation in delayed coupled maps on various networks. Using numerical simulations, we demonstrate that the presence of delay may change the mechanism of unit to unit interaction. At weak coupling values, same parity delays are associated with the same phenomenon of cluster formation and exhibit similar dynamical evolution. Intermediate coupling values yield rich delay-induced driven cluster patterns. A Lyapunov function analysis sheds light on the robustness of the driven clusters observed for delayed bipartite networks. Our results reveal that delay may lead to a completely different relation, between dynamical and structural clusters, than observed for the undelayed case.Comment: 4+ pages, 4 figues, PRE Rapid Communication (in press

Outsourcing Trends in University Libraries

Outsourcing means to source from outside or in other words getting another person or organization to provide a service on a contractual basis.It can be very helpful for Libraries and any other management. The paper lists the activities that can be outsourced. It also outlines the advantages ad disadvantages of oursourcing

Comparative study between LMA supreme with I-gel in anaesthetised adult patient on effectiveness and safety

Background: Supreme laryngeal mask airway (SLMA) and I-gel airway devices are second generation supraglottic airway devices (SAD) and are good alternatives to intubation during surgeries. The study was conducted with the objective to compare two supraglottic airway devices for ease of insertion, number of attempts of insertion, hemodynamic changes, incidence of adverse effects like regurgitation, lip and dental trauma and post-operative sore throat, dysphagia or hoarseness.Methods: This study was conducted at Topiwala National Medical College and BYL Nair hospital, Mumbai. 80 patients of ASA class 1 and 2 with Mallampati grading 1 and 2, between age group of 18-60 years and with BMI 0.05). Postoperatively no significant complications were observed in terms of dental injury, laryngospasm. Complication like sore throat after 1 hour and after 24 hours was comparatively more in I-gel group but difference was not significant at 1 hr (p>0.05). Dysphagia was reported more in SLMA group (8 cases) than I-gel group (1 case) at one hour and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.013).Conclusions: SLMA and I-GEL are better airway management option for patients undergoing short surgical procedures under general anaesthesia

Development of Advanced Hybrid, Nano-Sized, Brine Sludge Impregnated MWCNT Composite Material Useful for Broad Application Spectrum

A novel microwave irradiated process has been developed for the synthesis of advanced hybrid, nano-sized, functionalized, brine sludge impregnated MWCNT composite material useful for broad application spectrum. MWCNTs and brine sludge are mainly used as raw materials and are heated in flask using microwave synthesizer in the temperature range of 50-60 ºC for the duration of 20- 25 minutes. Brine sludge act as a novel agent wherein simultaneously and synergistically in-situ funtionization of MWCNTs takes place and therefore enabling synthesis of dark grey colored advanced hybrid, nano-sized, functionalized, brine sludge impregnated MWCNT composite material useful for broad application spectrum. The synthesized advance material has been characterized by various complementary techniques namely XRD, FTIR, FESEM and EDXA. FESEM study reveals the increase in the thickness of the MWCNT wall thereby confirms the brine sludge impregnation on MWCNT. The applications of synthesized material lie in the area such as radiation shielding materials, hybrid polymeric materials to advanced chemically designed composite (ACDC) materials useful for broad application spectrum

Self-organized and driven phase synchronization in coupled maps

We study the phase synchronization and cluster formation in coupled maps on different networks. We identify two different mechanisms of cluster formation; (a) {\it Self-organized} phase synchronization which leads to clusters with dominant intra-cluster couplings and (b) {\it driven} phase synchronization which leads to clusters with dominant inter-cluster couplings. In the novel driven synchronization the nodes of one cluster are driven by those of the others. We also discuss the dynamical origin of these two mechanisms for small networks with two and three nodes.Comment: 4 pages including 2 figure

Vegetation of the coastal dunes and wetland of Schinias National Park (NE Attica, Sterea Ellas, Greece)

The vegetation developing on the coastal sand dunes and wetland of Schinias National Park, a Natura 2000 Site, was studied following the Braun-Blanquet method. Vegetation units were delimited using cluster analysis and by applying the fidelity measure; the phi-coefficient was used for the definition of diagnostic species. The vegetation types distinguished (twenty associations, two sub-associations and thirteen communities not assigned formal rank), which belong to 18 alliances, 16 orders and 12 classes, are discussed and presented in phytosociological tables. Among them Mathiolo tricuspidatae-Anthemidetum tomentosae, Pistacio lentisci-Pinetum halepensis pinetosum pineae, Puccinellio festuciformis-Aeluropetum litoralis cressetosum creticae and Tamaricetum tetrandrae are described for the first time. The vegetation types recognized in the study area are linked to twelve EUNIS habitat types, nine of which are related to 13 Annex I habitat types (Directive 92/43/EEC), and one to a habitat type of national interest (72A0). One Annex I habitat type occurring in the study area has scattered presence in the Natura 2000 network in Greece (1420), two are infrequent (2190, 2260), two are rare (2230, 2270) and three are priority habitat types (1150, 2250, 2270)

Random matrix analysis of localization properties of Gene co-expression network

We analyze gene co-expression network under the random matrix theory framework. The nearest neighbor spacing distribution of the adjacency matrix of this network follows Gaussian orthogonal statistics of random matrix theory (RMT). Spectral rigidity test follows random matrix prediction for a certain range, and deviates after wards. Eigenvector analysis of the network using inverse participation ratio (IPR) suggests that the statistics of bulk of the eigenvalues of network is consistent with those of the real symmetric random matrix, whereas few eigenvalues are localized. Based on these IPR calculations, we can divide eigenvalues in three sets; (A) The non-degenerate part that follows RMT. (B) The non-degenerate part, at both ends and at intermediate eigenvalues, which deviate from RMT and expected to contain information about {\it important nodes} in the network. (C) The degenerate part with $zero$ eigenvalue, which fluctuates around RMT predicted value. We identify nodes corresponding to the dominant modes of the corresponding eigenvectors and analyze their structural properties

Immobilized metal complexes in porous hosts: catalytic oxidation of substituted phenols in CO2 media

This is the published version. Copyright 2006 Royal Society of ChemistryDevelopment of processes that utilize heterogeneous catalysis in environmentally beneficial media is of fundamental and practical importance. The oxidation of 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol (DTBP) to 2,6-di-tert-butyl-1,4-benzoquinone (DTBQ) and 3,5,3′,5′-tetra-tert-butyl-4,4′-diphenoquinone (TTBDQ) has been investigated to evaluate the factors necessary to achieve high product conversion and selectivity in various media. A series of porous materials with immobilized Co(II) complexes served as catalysts and their reactivities using O2 as the terminal oxidant were screened in neat acetonitrile, supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2), and CO2-expanded acetonitrile. The highest conversions were found with the catalysts that had high affinity for dioxygen. Moreover, the greatest conversions (∼60%) were obtained when reactions were done in scCO2, which is attributed to improved mass transfer of O2 and substrates through the porous catalysts. Furthermore, the heterogeneous catalysts can be recycled with some loss of activity (∼30%) after three cycles; nonetheless these results suggest that the polymer hosts efficiently protect the immobilized catalytic sites from destructive bimolecular routes

A placebo-controlled trial of folic acid and betaine in identical twins with Angelman syndrome.

BackgroundAngelman syndrome (AS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is caused by maternal genetic deficiency of a gene that encodes E6-AP ubiquitin-protein ligase (gene symbol UBE3A) mapping to chromosome 15q11-q13. AS leads to stiff and jerky gait, excess laughter, seizures, and severe intellectual disability. In some parts of the brain, the paternally inherited UBE3A gene is subject to genomic imprinting by the action of the UBE3A-antisense transcript (UBE3A-ATS) on the paternally inherited allele. Consequently, only the maternally inherited UBE3A gene is expressed in mature neurons. AS occurs due to deletions of the maternal 15q11 - 13 region, paternal uniparental disomy (UPD), imprinting center defects, mutations in the maternal UBE3A gene, or other unknown genetic malfunctions that result in a silenced maternal UBE3A gene in the specific imprinted regions of the brain.ResultsA potential treatment strategy for AS is to increase methylation of UBE3A-ATS to promote expression of the paternal UBE3A gene and thus ameliorate the clinical phenotypes of AS. We treated two sets of male identical twins with class I deletions with a 1 year treatment trial of either betaine and folic acid versus placebo. We found no statistically significant changes in the clinical parameters tested at the end of the 1 year trial, nor did we find any significant adverse events.ConclusionsThis study tested the hypothesis that by increasing the methylation of the UBE3A-antisense transcript in Angelman syndrome to promote expression of the silenced paternal UBE3A gene we may ameliorate the clinical phenotypes of AS. We treated two sets of identical twins with placebo versus betaine and folic acid. Although this study represented a novel approach to treating Angelman syndrome, the differences in the developmental testing results was not significant. This paper also discusses the value of monozygotic twin studies in minimizing confounding variables and its utility in conducting small treatment studies.Trial registrationNCT00348933 . Registered 6 July 2006