SARAS 2: A Spectral Radiometer for probing Cosmic Dawn and the Epoch of Reionization through detection of the global 21 cm signal

The global 21 cm signal from Cosmic Dawn (CD) and the Epoch of Reionization (EoR), at redshifts $z \sim 6-30$, probes the nature of first sources of radiation as well as physics of the Inter-Galactic Medium (IGM). Given that the signal is predicted to be extremely weak, of wide fractional bandwidth, and lies in a frequency range that is dominated by Galactic and Extragalactic foregrounds as well as Radio Frequency Interference, detection of the signal is a daunting task. Critical to the experiment is the manner in which the sky signal is represented through the instrument. It is of utmost importance to design a system whose spectral bandpass and additive spurious can be well calibrated and any calibration residual does not mimic the signal. SARAS is an ongoing experiment that aims to detect the global 21 cm signal. Here we present the design philosophy of the SARAS 2 system and discuss its performance and limitations based on laboratory and field measurements. Laboratory tests with the antenna replaced with a variety of terminations, including a network model for the antenna impedance, show that the gain calibration and modeling of internal additives leave no residuals with Fourier amplitudes exceeding 2~mK, or residual Gaussians of 25 MHz width with amplitudes exceeding 2~mK. Thus, even accounting for reflection and radiation efficiency losses in the antenna, the SARAS~2 system is capable of detection of complex 21-cm profiles at the level predicted by currently favoured models for thermal baryon evolution.Comment: 44 pages, 17 figures; comments and suggestions are welcom

Thoracic segmental spinal anaesthesia vs general anaesthesia for laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a comparative study

Background: Regional anaesthesia techniques are now being preferred over General anaesthesia in patients with major medical problems and those at high risk for GA. Thoracic segmental spinal anaesthesia has recently gained popularity because of its safety and efficacy in procedures like laparoscopic cholecystectomy, breast surgeries etc. Methods: A comparative study involving 50 patients of ASA grade I & II of both genders with age group of 25-55 years, weighing between 50-85 kg posted for lap. Cholecystectomy in GGH, Kakinada for a study period of 5 months. 50 Patients were divided into Group A & Group B with 25 patients in each group. After taking informed & written conscent, Group A patients were given Thoracic Segmental Spinal Anaesthesia at T10 level with Inj.0.5% isobaric Levo-bupivacaine 1.75 ml (13.75 mg) with Inj. Fentanyl 0.25 ml (25 mcg) and Group B patients were given GA with fentanyl, propofol, sevoflurane, succinylcholine and vecuronium. Results: conscious patients with less hemodynamic variability, greater duration of post operative analgesia, greater duration for first rescue analgesia were observed in Group A. Whereas greater hemodynamic variability, intubation response, more requirement of intraoperative opioid, less duration of post operative analgesia, lesser time for first rescue analgesia were observed in Group B. Conclusions: TSSA is safe alternative as it provides excellent analgesia. With TSSA, GA can be avoided in patents with comorbidities

REGULATORY DOSSIER- ASEAN COMMON TECHNICAL DOCUMENT (ACTD) FOR ASEM COUNTRIES

The Regulatory Affairs department is very often the first point of contact between the government authorities and the company. The attitudes and actions of Regulatory Affairs Professionals will condition the perceptions of the government officials to the company. Dossier is a collection or file of documents on the same subject, especially a file containing detailed information about a person or a topic. Any preparation for human use that is intended to modify or explore physiological systems or pathological states for the benefit of the recipient is called as “pharmaceutical product for human use”. This guideline merely demonstrates an appropriate write-up format for acquired data. Throughout the ACTD, the display of information should be unambiguous and transparent, in order to facilitate the review of the basic data and to help a reviewer become quickly oriented to the application contents. This ASEAN Common Technical Dossier (ACTD) is a guideline of the agreed upon common format for the preparation of a well-structured Common Technical Dossier (CTD) applications that will be submitted to ASEAN regulatory authorities for the registration of pharmaceuticals for human use. This guideline describes a CTD format that will significantly reduce the time and resources needed to compile applications for registration and in the future, will ease the preparation of electronic documental submissions. ICH‐ECTD is an internationally driven standard designed to reduce cost in the administration, assessment and archiving of applications for marketing authorization of medicinal products for human use, to reduce the use of paper and streamline the assessment process making the system more efficient

Profile of patients with intellectual disability visiting a tertiary care center in western India

Background:Intellectual disability is commonly associated with variety of etio-pathological and co-morbid conditions influencing outcome of rehabilitative measures. Understanding of these factors helps in better management of disabled condition.Methods:A qualitative retrospective case record review, of patients with intellectual disability, visiting psychiatry department of a tertiary care hospital, within a period of one year, was conducted to assess their epidemiological and clinical profile.Results: Patients with Intellectual disability are brought to the hospital at all ages and commonly by their parents. Etiologically related various peri-natal factors (delayed birth cry and seizures being most common) as well as childhood medical conditions (epilepsy and recurrent respiratory/GI infections being most common) were commonly found in these patients. Milestones are delayed in almost 60-70% of cases whereas various physical and psychiatric conditions commonly co-existed with disability.Conclusion:Clinical profile of these patients demands a comprehensive evaluation and management apart from routine IQ assessment

Anti-Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1 and HSV-2) activity of biogenic gold and silver nanoparticles using seaweed Sargassum wightii

1252-1257Biogenic gold (Au) and silver (Ag) nanoparticles were synthesized using seaweed Sargassum wightii (Sw) and their antiviral activity against Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1 and HSV-2) was evaluated. Efficacy of Sw-Au and Sw-Ag nanoparticles against HSV was estimated by the reduction of cytopathic effect (CPE) caused by HSV, which was observed in a dose-dependent manner. Sw-Au nanoparticles reduced 70% CPE of HSV-1 and HSV-2 at 10 μL and 25 μL, respectively, whereas 2.5 μL Sw-Ag nanoparticles effectively reduced 70% CPE of HSV-1 and HSV-2. Cytotoxicity was estimated in Vero cells by MTT assay. Sw-Au nanoparticles were significantly non-toxic in all the concentrations tested, whereas Sw-Ag nanoparticles were found to be toxic in higher concentrations. Sw-Au nanoparticles showed cell viability of 93.12-85.18 % in the range of 2.5-25 µL, and Sw-Ag nanoparticles showed cell viability of 97.21-21.91% in the range of 1-10 μL. Sw-Au and Sw-Ag nanoparticles effectively reduce the CPE caused by both HSV-1 and HSV-2 in Vero cells and can be used to treat HSV infections

The Murchison Widefield Array Transients Survey (MWATS). A search for low frequency variability in a bright Southern hemisphere sample

We report on a search for low-frequency radio variability in 944 bright (> 4Jy at 154 MHz) unresolved, extragalactic radio sources monitored monthly for several years with the Murchison Widefield Array. In the majority of sources we find very low levels of variability with typical modulation indices < 5%. We detect 15 candidate low frequency variables that show significant long term variability (>2.8 years) with time-averaged modulation indices M = 3.1 - 7.1%. With 7/15 of these variable sources having peaked spectral energy distributions, and only 5.7% of the overall sample having peaked spectra, we find an increase in the prevalence of variability in this spectral class. We conclude that the variability seen in this survey is most probably a consequence of refractive interstellar scintillation and that these objects must have the majority of their flux density contained within angular diameters less than 50 milli-arcsec (which we support with multi-wavelength data). At 154 MHz we demonstrate that interstellar scintillation time-scales become long (~decades) and have low modulation indices, whilst synchrotron driven variability can only produce dynamic changes on time-scales of hundreds of years, with flux density changes less than one milli-jansky (without relativistic boosting). From this work we infer that the low frequency extra-galactic southern sky, as seen by SKA-Low, will be non-variable on time-scales shorter than one year.Comment: 19 pages, 11 figure