Agricultural Drought Assessment Based on Multiple Soil Moisture Products

In this study, we evaluated three soil moisture (SM) products (Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-2 [AMSR2], Advanced SCATterometer [ASCAT], and European Reanalysis Interim [ERA-interim]) across Australia in four climate zones by comparing against the Australian Water Resources Assessment-Landscape (AWRA-L) SM products from July 2012 to June 2017. The ASCAT SM indicated better performance than other SM products over Australia. To evaluate the applicability and reliability for monitoring agricultural drought, an agricultural drought index, the Soil Water Deficit Index, was estimated from three SM products and compared with three commonly-used drought indices (atmospheric water deficit [AWD], Evaporative Stress Index, and Reconnaissance Drought Index). Volumetric contingency tables were compiled to quantitatively assess the performance of agricultural drought detection using various SM products compared with the AWD. All products had reliable drought detection capability over Australia based on the results of temporal evolution and contingency tables with a mean volumetric hit index of 0.700, 0.728, and 0.787 for AMSR2, ASCAT, and ERA-interim, respectively. The slight incapability of drought detection capability of SWDI in tropical region was low due to the variation in persistence times of moisture in the atmosphere and soil. Except arid zone, in all climate zones, the reliability of SM products for drought detection followed the following order ASCAT \u3e ERA-interim \u3e AMSR2

The Panglossian Paradigm revisited : The role of non adaptive mechanisms in hominid brain and body size evolution

The largely dominant adaptationist argument is currently used as the framework within which hominid brain evolution is explained; however these adaptationist explanations are inherently problematic and only suffice to ‘clutter’ our knowledge of the possible causes of hominid brain evolution. This study addresses the caveats observed in the fossil record and aims to assess the relative influence of structural laws of form, phylogenetic constraints, and adaptive factors during the course of primate and hominid brain evolution. A combination of methods such as variance partitioning, phylogenetic regression procedures and path analysis indicate that constraints have played a critical role in the scaling attributes of the primate and hominid brain. In particular, developmental constraints governing the scaling attributes of the skull and body are shown to explain up to 50 % of the variation in body mass whereas phylogenetic constraints are purported to have played a lesser role (i.e. 0.8 -3.6 %). In addition, the scaling attributes of neural and non-neural components of the cranial vault suggest a highly constrained suite of traits and suggest that as much as 96 % of the variation in both brain mass and residual endocranial space may be explained by correlated scaling with the cranial vault. Constraints are observed to be far more pliable than traditionally thought – a feature highlighted by intraspecific analyses of scaling attributes in humans. Low regression coefficients typical reported for intraspecific curves are shown to arise during development as greater variation in body parameters is allowed with advancing age. Grade shifts in the scaling of brain and body size for primates and other mammalian orders is also emphasised by this current study and it is argued that correlated changes between the brain and body size may not necessarily impact upon the ‘complexity’ of the neural system as the functional integrity may be maintained via higher output states initiated at certain levels of organisation such as at the level of the cortical area. Although constraints should rightfully be given greater coverage in explanations concerning hominid brain expansion, it is only through implementation of research protocols that take a pluralistic approach to an understanding of the role of both constraints and adaptation in the formation of the brain that our interpretation of the likely mechanism for hominid brain expansion may be understood

Investigating the Factors Influencing RFID Adoption Intentions of Retailers: Evidences from Lahore-Pakistan

Although there have been many articles emphasizing the common remunerations of the RFID implementation in the supply chain but the progression of instigating the equipment  for the administration tenacity is somewhat on the leisurelier side particularly in likes of Pakistan and other under developed realms. The perseverance of the investigation is to accomplish a scrutiny of the administrative issues which stimulus the RFID implementation intents. The investigation is to be conducted by the mean of a statistical study of the numbers congregated over an opinion poll through different retailers in the Lahore region. The inquiryis done with the assistance of SPSS and for this perseverance the questionnaire is alienated in agreement to some variables explicitly technology competence, social issuesand competitive pressure. The emphasis group for the study is the retail industry as it is supposed to be the most conspicuous field which can develop the maximum improvement from the RFID technology espousal.This research would benefit in enhanced understanding of the aspectsimpelling the RFID implementation aims on the administrative foundation

Distributed Optical Fiber Sensing in Railway Engineering

There are many technologies associated with optical fiber sensing (OFS) and depending upon the type of application, a specific OFS technology plays a crucial role in the associated application as compared to the use of conventional sensing technologies with these applications. The same is true with the railway industry and the two most suitable OFS technologies in the railway sector are distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) and fiber Bragg grating (FBG). The two mentioned technologies in association with the railway industry are explained briefly in this chapter

Darwinian medicine: an evolutionary perspective on health and disease

Under the name of Darwinian medicine evolutionary theory has made a strong impact on modern medical research and practice. This paper focuses on phenomena such as evolved host defences, evolution of virulence, genetic conflicts with other organisms, adaptations to novel environments and tradeoffs and constraints in biological systems

Presentation with Personality changes and Tinnitus to a Vascular Intervention: Rare case of Carotid Body Paraganglioma

Background: Carotid body paragangliomas are rare neuroendocrine neoplasms of chromaffin negative glomus cells. This case report explains an atypical case with unusual presentation and treatment. Case Report: A healthy smoker technician by profession was brought to the emergency room (ER) with coprolalia. The general physical exam did not reveal any information. His history revealed unilateral tinnitus and odynophagia leading to a consultation by the neurologist with head imaging. Acoustic neuroma was ruled out and the caregiver was asked to elaborate the events mentioned in the history and a psychiatric examination was done. The personality changes were evaluated by the psychiatrist that showed overlapping of delirium and depression. The patient was further examined by a vascular surgeon. After careful revisiting of the history, examination and indication of tender mass in the neck by the patient's vascular surgeon, the diagnosis of carotid body paraganglioma was made which was followed by surgical resection for treatment. Conclusion: Carotid Body Paragangliomas are very vascular structures and their manipulation in a surgery setting requires expertise. This case presented with personality changes and tinnitus, a very less likely event to occur in a carotid body tumor. The present care report, thus adds on to the literature of carotid body tumors and its presenting symptoms

Ethyl (3E)-3-[2-(4-bromo­phenyl­sulfon­yl)hydrazin-1-yl­idene]butano­ate

The asymmetric unit of title compound, C12H15BrN2O4S, contains two mol­ecules (A and B), with slightly different conformations: the bromo­phenyl rings and the SO2 planes of the sulfonyl groups are oriented at dihedral angles of 50.2 (2) (mol­ecule A) and 58.24 (7)° (mol­ecule B), and the ethyl acetate groups make dihedral angles of 63.99 (19)° (A) and 65.35 (16)° (B) with their bromo­phenyl groups. In the crystal, both mol­ecules exist as inversion dimers linked by pairs of N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, which generate R 2 2(14) loops. The dimers are linked by C—H⋯O inter­actions

Valproic Acid-Induced Hyperammonemia with Encephalopathy (VIHE): A Case Report

Valproic acid (VPA) is a wide spectrum antiepileptic medication indicated for seizure prophylaxis across the spectrum of epilepsy. Since coming into clinical use, VPA has also been recommended for the management of a variety of other pathologies, including, most notably, mood stabilization in the manic patient. VPA’s common adverse effects include gastrointestinal, influenza-like symptoms, headache, and difficulties with sleep; nonetheless, in rare instances, VPA has been noted to cause the severe and potentially lethal condition of hyperammonemia with encephalopathy (VIHE). VIHE is the result of a dose-independent increase in ammonia levels. Often the patient is asymptomatic; if symptoms reach clinical threshold, lethargy is most common, though seizures, focal neurologic deficits and even coma are possible. VIHE can occur in patients despite normal hepatic function, normal loading doses, chronic stable doses and normal free serum drug levels. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the first approach for symptomatic patients is to discontinue VPA, start alternative mood stabilizer as indicated, and supplement hyperammonemia treatment with lactulose, carnitine or carglumic acid. Below is a case report of VIHE that developed in an adolescent girl with a history of Bipolar I Disorder who was hospitalized in our facility for stabilization of mania.  As demonstrated below, early diagnosis of VIHE is pivotal in reducing morbidity and ultimately can be life-saving