Toksični učinci natrijeva arsenata (Na2HAsO4x7H2O) na pousminu soma dvodihalice Clarias batrachus (L.)

The toxicopathological effects have been investigated of a sublethal concentration (1 ppm) of sodium arsenate on the epidermis of the skin of air-breathing catfish Clarias batrachus L. The skin that acts as an accessory respiratory organ in this fish, faces direct contact stress of the toxicants and exhibits extensive damage, including massive wear and tear, sloughing of the epithelial cells (ECs) along with degeneration of the club cells (CCs) whose contents get squeezed out onto the body surface. This causes altered histomorphology of the epidermis. The mucous cells (MCs) show great hyperplasia and hypertrophy at most exposure periods. The staining properties of MCs also showed periodic alterations exhibiting more affinity for sulphate moieties. A thick layer of slime very often protects the surface of the skin. The epidermis also exhibits periodic but independent fluctuations in its protein, RNA and DNA contents. This is due to periodic synthesis, accumulation and sloughing of the slime, along with degeneration followed by regeneration of its different cellular elements, especially in the earlier stages of the treatment.Istraženi su toksopatološki učinci subletalne koncentracije (1 ppm) natrijeva arsenata na pousminu soma dvodihalice Clarias batrachus (L.). Na koži, koja u te ribe ima ulogu akcesornoga dišnoga organa, izravni dodirni stress uzrokovan toksinom očituje se u obliku jakoga oštećenja, uključujući obilno propadanje i ljuštenje epitelnih stanica s degeneracijom vrčastih stanica čiji se sadržaj istisnuo na površinu tijela. Sluznične stanice pokazivale su jaku hiperplaziju i hipertrofiju većim dijelom tijekom izloženosti. Njihova sposobnost primanja boje također se periodično mijenjala iskazujući veći afinitet za sulfatne dijelove. Debeli sloj sluzi zaštićivao je kožu. Epiderma (pousmina) također je pokazivala povremene i neovisne promjene u sadržaju svojih bjelančevina, RNA i DNA. To se pripisuje periodičnoj sintezi, nakupljanju i odbacivanju sluzi s degeneracijom i posljedičnom regeneracijom različitih staničnih sastojaka, osobito u ranom stupnju obrade

Controlling the size distribution of nanoparticles through the use of physical boundaries during laser ablation in liquids

A simple, yet effective method of controlling the size and size distributions of nanoparticles produced as a result of laser ablation of target material is presented. The method employs the presence of physical boundaries on either sides of the ablation site. In order to demonstrate the potential of the method, experiments have been conducted with copper and titanium as the target materials that are placed in two different liquid media (water and isopropyl alcohol). The ablation of the target material immersed in the liquid medium has been carried out using an Nd:YAG laser. Significant differences in the size and size distributions are observed in the cases of nanoparticles produced with and without confining boundaries. It is seen that for any given liquid medium and the target material, the mean size of the nanoparticles obtained with the boundary-fitted target surface is consistently higher than that achieved in the case of open (flat) targets. The observed trend has been attributed to the plausible role(s) of the confining boundaries in prolonging the thermalisation time of the plasma plume. In order to ascertain that the observed differences in sizes of the nanoparticles produced with and without the presence of the physical barriers are predominantly because of the prolonged thermalisation of the plasma plume and not due to the possible formation of oxide layer, select experiments with gold as the target material in water have also been performed. The experiments also show that, irrespective of the liquid medium, the increase in the mean size of the copper-based nanoparticles due to the presence of physical boundaries is relatively higher than that observed in the case of titanium target material under similar experimental conditions.Comment: 24 pages, 9 figures, a part of this work has been published in Photonics Prague 2017, (Proc. SPIE 10603, Photonics, Devices, and Systems VII, 1060304) titled "A novel method for fabrication of size-controlled metallic nanoparticles

Response of eastern Indian Ocean (ODP Site 762B) benthic foraminiferal assemblages to the closure of the Indonesian seaway

AbstractPliocene-Pleistocene deep sea benthic foraminifera from ODP Site 762B in the eastern Indian Ocean were examined to understand the tectonically/climatically induced palaeoceanographic changes. In addition to already published data on this site by Rai & Singh (2001), some more faunal parameters were considered in the present work. Characteristic benthic foraminiferal assemblages as well as more diverse fauna during the early Pliocene (before 3.5Ma) reflected relatively oligotrophic and warm bottom water conditions. At the beginning of the late Pliocene (i.e. ∼ 3±0.5Ma) relative abundances of Uvigerina proboscidea, infaunal taxa and high productivity taxa increased, whereas faunal diversity showed a distinct decline, suggesting the development of pronounced upwelling resulting in higher surface water productivity. The strongly reduced inflow of warm and oligotrophic water masses as the South Equatorial Current (SEC) from the South Pacific to the eastern Indian Ocean due to the effective closure of the Indonesian seaway increased the surface water productivity. The closing of the Indonesian seaway during the late Pliocene was also responsible for the cessation of the warm, southward-flowing Leeuwin Current (LC) and the greater influence of the cold, deep and northward-flowing Western Australian Current (WAC) in the eastern Indian Ocean

Analysis of personality traits as a risk factor in crash related trauma

Background: Due to increasing stress, individual personality traits are becoming a significant contributor to CRT (Crash Related Trauma). In the present study, we hypothesized that there will be no difference in personality characteristics of CRT patients and control subjects and there will be no association between trauma and personality characteristics of CRT patients.Method: A total of 119 cases and 112 controls of age >18 years were selected as per criteria decided. After obtaining ethical clearance, patients presenting to the emergency orthopedic unit were included in the study. After primary management allenrolled subjects were assessed by ICD 10 module screening questionnaire and analyzed for nine personality traits, subject to written informed consent.Results: Of all the cases enrolled 82.35% were males. Impulsive personality trait is found in 84.78% (39/46) cases. There were 46 motorcyclists out of 119 cases enrolled. Most of the personality traits showed a statistical significant association (p < 0.0003) with CRT.Conclusion: Majority of CRT victims attending orthopedic emergency unit at trauma center had impulsive and histrionic personality characteristics which accounted for 84.78% and 82.61% cases respectively. These traits showed a statistical  significant association with CRT.Keywords: Crash related trauma, personality traits, motorcyclist.Due to errors in the previous PDF especially in the 'Cite as' authors names, the PDF fulltext has been reloaded. This information is now correct

Development and validation of a questionnaire in Hindi language to assess Parental Knowledge, Attitude and Practices regarding Calcium and Vitamin D deficiency in children

Background: Despite being in temperate zone, India is endemic to nutritional rickets. However, very little has been studied on knowledge, perception and cultural practices of Indian communities, towards calcium and vitamin-D deficiency in children. Aim & Objective: The study aimed to develop and validate a questionnaire in Hindi language for the assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practices of parents towards calcium and vitamin D deficiency among children. Methodology: We searched electronic databases for item generation. The questionnaire was developed in Hindi language by five experts in the field of pediatrics, pediatric orthopaedics and community medicine using Delphi method. After language correction from Hindi language experts, a convenient sample of 30 participants filled the questionnaire and tested for internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Results: The overall Cronbach’s alpha value for the finalized 46-item scale indicated an acceptable reliability (alpha = 0.91). The internal consistency reliability for six domains created was acceptable. The results revealed ‘high’ test-retest reliability, and there was no statistically significant difference noted between any of the first test and re-test corresponding values (p>0.05). Conclusion: The present questionnaire developed in Hindi Language to assess knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of parents towards Calcium & Vitamin-D deficiency in children, has a good validity and reliability. This newly developed instrument could prove its use to highlight the gaps that may exist among parents. The use of this tool may help clinicians, health educators and policy makers to identify key areas of intervention with regards to Calcium & Vitamin-D deficiency in children