Geomorphic Control on Soil Erosion – a Case Study in the Subarnarekha Basin, India

Geomorphology depicts the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of both terrain and landscape features combined with the processes responsible for its evolution. Soil erosion by water involves processes, which removes soil particles and organic matter from the upper sheet of the soil surface, and then transports the eroded material to distant location under the action of water. Very few studies have been conducted on the nature and dynamics of soil erosion in the different geomorphologic features. In the present investigation, an attempt has been made to assess the control of geomorphologic features on the soil loss. Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) was used to determine soil loss from the various geomorphological landforms. Principal component analysis (PCA) was implemented on the USLE parameters to determine the degree of association between the individual principal components and the USLE-derived soil loss. Results obtained from the investigation signify the influence of the various landforms on soil erosion. PC5 is found to be significantly correlated with the USLE-derived soil loss. The results ascertained significant association between the soil loss and geomorphological landforms, and therefore, suitable strategies can be implemented to alleviate soil loss in the individual landforms

Semipermeable Membranes, Diffusion, and Osmosis Inquiry: Effective Modeling in a High School Classroom

A novel approach is taken in teaching the core chemical and biological concepts of mass transport properties, specifically diffusion and osmosis, in an investigation-rich unit of instruction spanning fifteen days. The unit is based on the highly successful 5-E, inquiry based approach known as project-based instruction which emphasizes the use of laboratories and interactive discussions. The entire unit will center on a grand challenge which the students will provide a media-based solution for by encompassing the concepts taught in the unit. When introducing these topics in the high school classroom, the instructor must be able to help students understand the basic similarities and differences between diffusion and osmosis as well as provide real world applications for these phenomena. The current unit of instruction employs hands-on activities and physical models allowing students to visualize the processes and effects of diffusion and osmosis. Utilizing inquiry-based guided questions and strategies embedded within the lesson plans, the instructor can probe students for their understanding of mass transport properties. By employing the developed hands-on activities and guided-questioning discussions, students are actively engaged and better equipped to master fundamental concepts which can become a foundation for more advanced topics

Deep Brain Stimulation Management of Essential Tremor with Dystonic Features

Clinical Vignette: A 64-year-old female with essential tremor (ET) presents for evaluation of deep brain stimulation (DBS) candidacy. Examination revealed subtle dystonic features as well as a disabling postural-action tremor. Clinical Dilemma: Can dystonia occur in the setting of the diagnosis of ET and can its presence alter DBS target selection? Clinical Solution: Unilateral DBS implantation of the ventralis intermedius (Vim) led to improvement in both tremor and dystonic posturing. Gap in Knowledge: Case reports of DBS in dystonic tremor suggest Vim, globus pallidus internus (GPi), and subthalamic targets may all be effective, to varying degrees, in improving both tremor and dystonia. More rigorous studies are needed to identify the optimal target(s). Expert Commentary: This case underscores the limited evidence available to guide a clinician’s choice of DBS targets in patients with ET and dystonia. The severity of the dystonia and the presence of more generalized dystonia may alter the thinking about optimal targeting. Vim, GPi, and subthalamic targets appear potentially acceptable options, though Vim is usually the first target attempted when postural-action tremor is the chief complaint. Occasionally, a second rescue DBS lead may be necessary

Designing and Handling Failure issues in a Structured Overlay Network Based Grid

Grid computing is the computing paradigm that is concerned with coordinated resource sharing and problem solving in dynamic, autonomous multi-institutional virtual organizations. Data exchange and service allocation between virtual organizations are challenging problems in the field of Grid computing, due to the decentralization of Grid systems. The resource management in a Grid system ensures efficiency and usability. The required efficiency and usability of Grid systems can be achieved by building a decentralized multi-virtual Grid system. In this thesis we present a decentralized multi-virtual resource management framework in which the system is divided into virtual organizations, each controlled by a broker. An overlay network of brokers is responsible for global resource management and managing the allocation of services. We address two main issues for both local and global resource management: 1) decentralized allocation of tasks to suitable nodes to achieve both local and global load balancing; and 2) handling of both regular and broker failures. Experimental results verify that the system achieves dependable performance with various loads of services and broker failures

Synthesis of Aromatic Monothiols and Aromatic Dithiols to Increase the Folding Rate and Yield of Disulfide Containing Proteins

Most pharmaceutically relevant proteins and many extracellular proteins contain disulfide bonds. Formation of the correct disulfide bonds is essential for stability in almost all cases. Disulfide containing proteins can be rapidly and inexpensively overexpressed in bacteria. However, the overexpressed proteins usually form aggregates inside the bacteria, called inclusion bodies, which contains inactive and non-native protein. To obtain native protein, inclusion bodies need to be isolated and resolubilized, and then the resulting protein refolded in vitro. In vitro protein folding is aided by the addition of a redox buffer, which is composed of a small molecule disulfide and/or a small molecule thiol. The most commonly used redox buffer contains reduced and oxidized glutathione. Recently, aliphatic dithiols and aromatic monothiols have been employed as redox buffers. Aliphatic dithiols improved the yield of native protein as compared to the aliphatic thiol, glutathione. Dithiols mimic the in vivo protein folding catalyst, protein disulfide isomerase, which has two thiols per active site. Furthermore, aromatic monothiols increased the folding rate and yield of lysozyme and RNase A relative to glutathione. By combining the beneficial properties of aliphatic dithiols and aromatic monothiols, aromatic dithiols were designed and were expected to increase in vitro protein folding rates and yields. Aromatic monothiols (1-4) and their corresponding disulfides (5-8), two series of ortho- and para-substituted ethylene glycol dithiols (9-15), and a series of aromatic quaternary ammonium salt dithiols (16-17) were synthesized on a multigram scale. Monothiols and disulfides (1-8) were utilized to fold lysozyme and bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor. Dithiols (11-17) were tested for their ability to fold lysozyme. At pH 7.0 and pH 8.0, and high protein concentration (1 mg/mL), aromatic dithiols (16, 17) and a monothiol (3) significantly enhanced the in vitro folding rate and yield of lysozyme relative to the aliphatic thiol, glutathione. Additionally, aromatic dithiols (16, 17) significantly enhance the folding yield as compared to the corresponding aromatic monothiol (3). Thus, the folding rate and yield enhancements achieved in in vitro protein folding at high protein concentration will decrease the volume of renaturation solution required for large scale processes and consequently reduce processing time and cost

Efectos de la salinidad del suelo en el crecimiento, estado hídrico y acumulación de nutrientes en semillas de Suadea nudiflora (Chenopodiaceae)

Greenhouse experiments were conducted to assess the effects of soil salinity on emergence, growth, water status, proline content and mineral accumulation of seedlings of Suaeda nudiflora (Wild.) Moq. (Chenopodiaceae). NaCl was added to the soil and salinity was maintained at 0.3, 3.9, 6.0, 7.9, 10.0, 12.1 and 13.9 dSm-1. This bush species is salt tolerant at seed germination stage. Growth of plants was stimulated by salt and their optimum growth was at 7.9 dSm-1 salinity. Increase in plant growth was due to osmotic adjustment and increased leaf area. Results suggested that S. nudiflora is a halophytic plant. The K and Na profiles of this plant suggested its two distinct traits: (i) high Na+ influx and/or low Na+ efflux on root plasma membrane and (ii) high K+/Na+ discrimination. Changes in tissues and whole-plant accumulation patterns of other nutrients, as well as possible mechanisms for avoidance of Na toxicity in this species in response to salinity, are discussed.Se realizaron experimentos en invernadero para evaluar los efectos de de la salinidad del suelo en la emergencia, crecimiento, estado hídrico contenido de prolina y acumulación mineral en semillas de Suaeda nudiflora (Wild.) Moq. (Chenopodiaceae). Se añadió NaCl al suelo y se mantuvo la salinidad a 0,3; 3,9; 6,0; 7,9; 10,0; 12,1 y 13,9 dSm-1. Esta especie arbustiva es tolerante a la sal en el estadío de semilla. La sal estimuló el crecimiento de las plantas y su crecimiento óptimo se produjo a una salinidad de 7,9 dSm-1. El incremento del crecimiento de la planta se debió al ajuste osmótico y al aumento de la superficie foliar. Los resultados sugieren que S. nudiflora es una planta halofítica. Los perfiles de K y Na de esta planta sugieren dos rasgos diferentes: (i) afluencia elevada y/o baja salida de Na+ en la membrana de la raíz y (ii) alta discriminación de K+/Na+. También se discute sobre las variaciones en los patrones de acumulación de otros nutrientes, en cada tejido y el conjunto de la planta, así como sobre posibles mecanismos para eludir la toxicidad del Na en esta especie

Efectos de la salinidad del suelo en el crecimiento, estado hídrico y acumulación de nutrientes en semillas de Aegiceras corniculatum (Myrsinaceae)

Greenhouse experiments were conducted to assess the effects of soil salinity on germination, growth, water status, proline content and mineral accumulation of seedlings of Aegiceras corniculatum (L.) Blanco (Myrsinaceae). NaCl was added to the soil and salinity was maintained at 0.3, 3.9, 7.9, 12.1, 16.1, 19.7, 24.0, 28.0, 32.0, 36.0 and 40.0 dSm-1. This plant is highly salt tolerant at germination stage. Growth of seedlings was significantly promoted by low salinity and their optimum growth was obtained at 24.0 dSm-1. Moreover, higher salinities inhibited plant growth. Water potential of tissues became significantly more negative with increase in salinity. Proline content in tissues significantly increased as salinity increased. Concentration of Na in tissues significantly increased, whereas K, Ca, N and P content decreased with increase in salinity. Changes in tissues and whole-plant accumulation patterns of other nutrients, as well as possible mechanisms for avoidance of Na toxicity in this plant in response to salinity, are discussed.Se realizaron experimentos en invernadero para valorar los efectos de la salinidad del suelo en la emergencia, crecimiento, estado hídrico contenido de prolina y acumulación mineral en plántulas de Aegiceras corniculatum (L.) Blanco (Myrsinaceae). Se añadió NaCl al suelo y se mantuvo la salinidad a 0,3; 3,9; 7,9; 12,1; 16,1; 19,7; 24,0; 28,0; 32,0; 36,0 y 40,0 dSm-1. Esta especie es muy tolerante a la sal durante la fase de germinación. Las concentraciones bajas de sal estimularon significativamente el crecimiento de las plántulas, siendo su crecimiento óptimo a 24,9 dSm-1 aunque salinidades mayores lo inhibieron. Al aumentar la salinidad, se produjeron los siguientes efectos: el potencial hídrico de los tejidos se volvió negativo. La cantidad de prolina aumentó. La concentración de Na en los tejidos aumentó, mientras que disminuyeron el K, Ca, N y P. También se discute sobre los cambios en los patrones de acumulación de otros nutrientes y los posibles mecanismos para evitar la toxicidad del Na, en respuesta a la salinidad

Dorsal GPi/GPe Stimulation Induced Dyskinesia in a Patient with Parkinson’s Disease

Clinical vignette: A 68-year-old man with Parkinson’s disease (PD) had bilateral GPi DBS placed for management of his motor fluctuations. He developed stimulation-induced dyskinesia (SID) with left dorsal GPi stimulation. Clinical dilemma: What do we know about SID in PD patients with GPi DBS? What are the potential strategies used to maximize the DBS therapeutic benefit and minimize the side effects of stimulation? Clinical solution: Avoiding the contact implicated in SID and programming more ventral contacts, using lower voltage, frequency and pulse width and programming in bipolar configuration all appear to help minimize the SID and provide appropriate symptomatic motor control. Gap in knowledge: Little is known about SID in patients with PD who had GPi DBS therapy. More studies using volume of tissue activated and diffusion tensor imaging MRI are needed to localize specific tracts in or around the GPi that may be implicated in SID