Parametric Study of Decay of Homogeneous Isotropic Turbulence Using Large Eddy Simulation

Numerical simulations of decaying homogeneous isotropic turbulence are performed with both low-order and high-order spatial discretization schemes. The turbulent Mach and Reynolds numbers for the simulations are 0.2 and 250, respectively. For the low-order schemes we use either second-order central or third-order upwind biased differencing. For higher order approximations we apply weighted essentially non-oscillatory (WENO) schemes, both with linear and nonlinear weights. There are two objectives in this preliminary effort to investigate possible schemes for large eddy simulation (LES). One is to explore the capability of a widely used low-order computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code to perform LES computations. The other is to determine the effect of higher order accuracy (fifth, seventh, and ninth order) achieved with high-order upwind biased WENO-based schemes. Turbulence statistics, such as kinetic energy, dissipation, and skewness, along with the energy spectra from simulations of the decaying turbulence problem are used to assess and compare the various numerical schemes. In addition, results from the best performing schemes are compared with those from a spectral scheme. The effects of grid density, ranging from 32 cubed to 192 cubed, on the computations are also examined. The fifth-order WENO-based scheme is found to be too dissipative, especially on the coarser grids. However, with the seventh-order and ninth-order WENO-based schemes we observe a significant improvement in accuracy relative to the lower order LES schemes, as revealed by the computed peak in the energy dissipation and by the energy spectrum

Appraising the therapeutical potentials of Alchornea laxiflora (Benth.) Pax & K. Hoffm., an underexplored medicinal herb: A systematic review

Ethnopharmacological relevance:Alchornea laxiflora (Benth.) Pax & K. Hoffm. (Euphorbiaceae) is an important traditional medicinal plant grown in tropical Africa. The stem, leaves, and root have been widely used in the folk medicine systems in Nigeria, Cameroon, South Africa, and Ghana to treat various ailments, including inflammatory, infectious, and central nervous system disorders, such as anxiety and epilepsy.Material and methods: The scientific name of the plant was validated using the “The Plant List,” “Kew Royal Botanic Gardens,” and Tropicos Nomenclatural databases. The literature search on A. laxiflora was performed using electronic search engines and databases such as Google scholar, ScienceDirect, PubMed, AJOL, Scopus, and Mendeley.Results: To the best of our knowledge, no specific and detailed review has been reported on A. laxiflora. Consequently, this review provides an up-to-date systematic presentation on ethnobotany, phytoconstituents, pharmacological activities, and toxicity profiles of A. laxiflora. Phytochemical investigations disclosed the presence of important compounds, such as alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, terpenoids, and fatty acids. Furthermore, various pharmacological activities and traditional uses reported for this botanical drug were discussed comprehensively.Conclusion: This systemic review presents the current status and perspectives of A. laxiflora as a potential therapeutic modality that would assist future researchers in exploring this African botanical drug as a source of novel drug candidates for varied diseases

Natural History of Geographic Atrophy Secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Results from the Prospective Proxima A and B Clinical Trials.

Abstract Purpose To better characterize visual function decline and geographic atrophy (GA) progression secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Design Proxima A (NCT02479386) and Proxima B (NCT02399072) were global, prospective, non-interventional, observational clinical trials. Participants Eligible patients were aged ≥50 years. Patients in Proxima A had bilateral GA without choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in either eye (N=295). Patients in Proxima B had GA with no CNV in the study eye and CNV±GA in the fellow eye (fellow eye CNV cohort, n=168); or GA with no CNV in the study eye, without CNV/GA in the fellow eye (fellow eye intermediate AMD cohort, n=32). Methods Changes in visual function and imaging/anatomic parameters were evaluated over time using a Mixed Model for Repeated Measurement (MMRM) accounting for key baseline characteristics. Main Outcome Measures Pre-specified endpoints included change in GA area from baseline, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) score assessed by ETDRS, and BCVA under low-luminance conditions (LLVA). Results At 24 months, the adjusted mean (standard error; SE) change in GA lesion area from baseline was 3.87 (0.15) mm2 in participants with bilateral GA (Proxima A), 3.55 (0.16) mm2 in the fellow eye CNV cohort (Proxima B), and 2.96 (0.25) mm2 in the fellow eye intermediate AMD cohort (Proxima B). GA progression was greater in patients with baseline non-subfoveal (vs. subfoveal) GA lesions, and tended to increase as baseline low-luminance deficit increased (Proxima A; Proxima B, all patients). Conversion to GA or CNV in the fellow eye occurred in 30% and 6.7% of participants, respectively, in the Proxima B intermediate AMD cohort at month 12. Adjusted mean (SE) changes in BCVA and LLVA (ETDRS letters) in the study eye from baseline to 24 months: −13.88 (1.40) and −7.64 (1.20) in Proxima A, −9.49 (1.29) and −7.57 (1.26) in the Proxima B fellow eye CNV cohort, −11.48 (3.39) and −8.37 (3.02) in the Proxima B fellow eye intermediate AMD cohort, respectively. Conclusions The prospective Proxima A and B studies highlight the severe functional impact of GA and the rapid rate of GA lesion progression over a 2-year period, including in patients with unilateral GA at baseline

Exploited marine fishery resources of Madras

Data on tha cxploited marine fishery resources related to 3 major landing centres in Madras have been analysed for 1980-1986 with reference to important pelagic and demersal resources. The centre K a s i d u was taken into account because of large scale operation of trawlers and the other two centres, viz. Triplicane and Nochikuppam were selected mainly because of the various types of indigenous gears being operated

Industrial fisheries off Madras coast based on exploratory surveys during 1973-1980

At the Madras Research Centre of CMFRI, there existed data for areas (Fig. 1) south of 15°40'N Upto the latitude zone of I0°40'N off Velanganni in depths ranging from 10 to 130 m for a eight year period From 1973 to 1980. The results of analysis of these data are presented here with a view to providing information on and extending our knowledge about the spatial and seasonal distribution of various indusirially important fisheries as also their resource potential along the north Tamil Nadu-South Andhra Coast

Cardio-Protection of Salvianolic Acid B through Inhibition of Apoptosis Network

Targeting cellular function as a system rather than on the level of the single target significantly increases therapeutic potency. In the present study, we detect the target pathway of salvianolic acid B (SalB) in vivo. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was induced in rats followed by the treatment with 10 mg/kg SalB. Hemodynamic detection and pathological stain, 2-dimensional electrophoresis, MALDI-TOF MS/MS, Western blot, pathway identification, apoptosis assay and transmission electron microscope were used to elucidate the effects and mechanism of SalB on cardioprotection. Higher SalB concentration was found in ischemic area compared to no-ischemic area of heart, correlating with improved heart function and histological structure. Thirty-three proteins regulated by SalB in AMI rats were identified by biochemical analysis and were classified as the components of metabolism and apoptosis networks. SalB protected cardiomyocytes from apoptosis, inhibited poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 pathway, and improved the integrity of mitochondrial and nucleus of heart tissue during AMI. Furthermore, the protective effects of SalB against apoptosis were verified in H9c2 cells. Our results provide evidence that SalB regulates multi-targets involved in the apoptosis pathway during AMI and therefore may be a candidate for novel therapeutics of heart diseases

Consumption of fish oil providing amounts of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid that can be obtained from the diet reduces blood pressure in adults with systolic hypertension: a retrospective analysis

Background: Although a large number of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have examined the impact of the n-3 (ω-3) fatty acids EPA (20:5n-3) and DHA (22:6n-3) on blood pressure and vascular function, the majority have used doses of EPA+DHA of > 3 g per d,which are unlikely to be achieved by diet manipulation. Objective: The objective was to examine, using a retrospective analysis from a multi-center RCT, the impact of recommended, dietary achievable EPA+DHA intakes on systolic and diastolic blood pressure and microvascular function in UK adults. Design: Healthy men and women (n = 312) completed a double-blind, placebo-controlled RCT consuming control oil, or fish oil providing 0.7 g or 1.8 g EPA+DHA per d in random order each for 8 wk. Fasting blood pressure and microvascular function (using Laser Doppler Iontophoresis) were assessed and plasma collected for the quantification of markers of vascular function. Participants were retrospectively genotyped for the eNOS rs1799983 variant. Results: No impact of n-3 fatty acid treatment or any treatment * eNOS genotype interactions were evident in the group as a whole for any of the clinical or biochemical outcomes. Assessment of response according to hypertension status at baseline indicated a significant (P=0.046) fish oil-induced reduction (mean 5 mmHg) in systolic blood pressure specifically in those with isolated systolic hypertension (n=31). No dose response was observed. Conclusions: These findings indicate that, in those with isolated systolic hypertension, daily doses of EPA+DHA as low as 0.7 g bring about clinically meaningful blood pressure reductions which, at a population level, would be associated with lower cardiovascular disease risk. Confirmation of findings in an RCT where participants are prospectively recruited on the basis of blood pressure status is required to draw definite conclusions

Pharmacokinetics of high-dose oral thiamine hydrochloride in healthy subjects

Background: High dose oral thiamine may have a role in treating diabetes, heart failure, and hypermetabolic states. The purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetic profile of oral thiamine hydrochloride at 100 mg, 500 mg and 1500 mg doses in healthy subjects. Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, single-dose, 4-way crossover study. Pharmacokinetic measures were calculated. Results: The $AUC_{0-10 hr}$ and $C_{max}$ values increased nonlinearly between 100 mg and 1500 mg. The slope of the $AUC_{0-10 hr}$ vs dose, as well as the $C_{max}$ vs dose, plots are steepest at the lowest thiamine doses. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that high blood levels of thiamine can be achieved rapidly with oral thiamine hydrochloride. Thiamine is absorbed by both an active and nonsaturable passive process