Cenomanian-Turonian sea-level transgression and OAE2 deposition in the Western Narmada Basin, India

We report the Narmada Seaway began in India during the largest global sea-level transgression and Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE2) δ¹³C excursion during the late Cenomanian to early Turonian. The transgression progressed eastward during the Turonian-Coniacian and reached Jhilmili by the end of the Maastrichtian. During this time the Narmada and Godavari Seaways may have joined via the Narmada-Tapti rift and formed a Trans-India Seaway. The history of this major seaway is entombed in a fossil-rich marine transgression of the tectonically active Narmada rift zone. We examined this transgression in the western Narmada Basin, Gujarat, to improve age control based on planktic foraminifera and ostracods and evaluate paleoenvironmental changes based on the Cenomanian-Turonian OAE2 δ¹³C excursion, δ¹⁸O records, and mercury concentrations in sediments as index for volcanic eruptions. Results reveal the onset of the OAE2 δ¹³C excursion began in the western Narmada Basin during the late Cenomanian coeval with the sea-level transgression and first influx of planktic and benthic foraminifera in the Nimar Sandstone that overlies Archean rocks. The OAE2 δ¹³C excursion peak was recorded in oyster biostromes followed by fluctuating values of the δ¹³C plateau in the overlying Limestone with oysters beds, and gradual decrease to background values by the early Turonian. We tested the age of the transgression and δ¹³C excursion based on planktic foraminifera and ostracod biostratigraphy and successfully compared the results with the Pueblo, Colorado, Global Section and Stratotype Point (GSSP), and the eastern Sinai Wadi El Ghaib section of Egypt

Outcome analysis of Cohen’s cross trigonal ureteric reimplantation in paediatric age group

Introduction: Cohen’s cross trigonal ureteric reimplantation is the gold standard for surgical management of vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) in children with high success rate. The objective of this study was to evaluate and assess the outcome of open Cohen’s procedure in children with VUR.  Methods: A retrospective review of all patients with VUR who underwent Cohen’s procedure between March 2010 and February 2020 was done. The following were recorded for each patient: age, sex, grade of reflux, operative time, outcome and complications.  Results: The series consisted of 40 patients (25 girls and 15 boys) who underwent Cohen’s procedure with a mean age of 32 months (6 months to 8 years). Bilateral repairs were performed in 16 patients (40%) in the same setting and unilateral repair in 24 patients (60%). Twenty-two patients (55%) had grade IV VUR, 13 patients (32.5%) had grade V VUR and 05 patients (12.5%) had grade III VUR. Mean operative time for bilateral repairs was 249.4(200-290) minutes and 158.3(130-180) minutes for unilateral repair respectively. The mean length of hospital stay was 10.55 (7-15) days. Major complications included two persistent VURs, and one case of bladder hematoma. Postoperative ultrasound abdomen in all patients and micturating cystourethrogram in few patients was obtained, in which 38 patients (95%) had normal study. Conclusion: Cohen’s uretric reimplantation is a standard procedure in paediatric VUR. For better outcome, patient selection and refinement of operative technique should be pursued

Outcome analysis of Cohen’s cross trigonal ureteric reimplantation in paediatric age group

Introduction: Cohen’s cross trigonal ureteric reimplantation is the gold standard for surgical management of vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) in children with high success rate. The objective of this study was to evaluate and assess the outcome of open Cohen’s procedure in children with VUR.  Methods: A retrospective review of all patients with VUR who underwent Cohen’s procedure between March 2010 and February 2020 was done. The following were recorded for each patient: age, sex, grade of reflux, operative time, outcome and complications.  Results: The series consisted of 40 patients (25 girls and 15 boys) who underwent Cohen’s procedure with a mean age of 32 months (6 months to 8 years). Bilateral repairs were performed in 16 patients (40%) in the same setting and unilateral repair in 24 patients (60%). Twenty-two patients (55%) had grade IV VUR, 13 patients (32.5%) had grade V VUR and 05 patients (12.5%) had grade III VUR. Mean operative time for bilateral repairs was 249.4(200-290) minutes and 158.3(130-180) minutes for unilateral repair respectively. The mean length of hospital stay was 10.55 (7-15) days. Major complications included two persistent VURs, and one case of bladder hematoma. Postoperative ultrasound abdomen in all patients and micturating cystourethrogram in few patients was obtained, in which 38 patients (95%) had normal study. Conclusion: Cohen’s uretric reimplantation is a standard procedure in paediatric VUR. For better outcome, patient selection and refinement of operative technique should be pursued

Search for eccentric black hole coalescences during the third observing run of LIGO and Virgo

Despite the growing number of confident binary black hole coalescences observed through gravitational waves so far, the astrophysical origin of these binaries remains uncertain. Orbital eccentricity is one of the clearest tracers of binary formation channels. Identifying binary eccentricity, however, remains challenging due to the limited availability of gravitational waveforms that include effects of eccentricity. Here, we present observational results for a waveform-independent search sensitive to eccentric black hole coalescences, covering the third observing run (O3) of the LIGO and Virgo detectors. We identified no new high-significance candidates beyond those that were already identified with searches focusing on quasi-circular binaries. We determine the sensitivity of our search to high-mass (total mass M>70 M⊙) binaries covering eccentricities up to 0.3 at 15 Hz orbital frequency, and use this to compare model predictions to search results. Assuming all detections are indeed quasi-circular, for our fiducial population model, we place an upper limit for the merger rate density of high-mass binaries with eccentricities 0<e≤0.3 at 0.33 Gpc−3 yr−1 at 90\% confidence level

Ultralight vector dark matter search using data from the KAGRA O3GK run

Among the various candidates for dark matter (DM), ultralight vector DM can be probed by laser interferometric gravitational wave detectors through the measurement of oscillating length changes in the arm cavities. In this context, KAGRA has a unique feature due to differing compositions of its mirrors, enhancing the signal of vector DM in the length change in the auxiliary channels. Here we present the result of a search for U(1)B−L gauge boson DM using the KAGRA data from auxiliary length channels during the first joint observation run together with GEO600. By applying our search pipeline, which takes into account the stochastic nature of ultralight DM, upper bounds on the coupling strength between the U(1)B−L gauge boson and ordinary matter are obtained for a range of DM masses. While our constraints are less stringent than those derived from previous experiments, this study demonstrates the applicability of our method to the lower-mass vector DM search, which is made difficult in this measurement by the short observation time compared to the auto-correlation time scale of DM

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Not AvailableTo augment conventional crop improvement approaches in cultivated sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) and other under-utilized Crotalaria species, genetic diversity of 94 genotypes from seven Crotalaria species was studied using 20 Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) markers. High allele number (1.32), polymorphism information content (0.37) and resolving power (6.59) established SCoT as a reliable marker system for genetic analysis in Crotalaria. All the species except Crotalaria retusa L. exhibited high number of SCoT bamplicons. Analysis of molecular variance revealed significant variability between (24.0%) the species as well as within species (76.0%). A cluster analysis identified distinct groups corresponding to the seven species and also identified sub-groups within the species. The sunnhemp cultivars were distant from the landraces, suggesting the need of population improvement using distantly related genotypes. Species relationship identified Crotalaria pallida Aiton to be a close relative of C. juncea. The results of principal coordinate analysis were comparable to that of cluster analysis, revealing high genetic variability in sunnhemp and other semi-domesticated Crotalaria species. The study further suggests some measure for conservation of genetic resources and genetic improvement of these species based on the results of diversity analysis.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableTo augment conventional crop improvement approaches in cultivated sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) and other under-utilized Crotalaria species, genetic diversity of 94 genotypes from seven Crotalaria species was studied using 20 Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) markers. High allele number (1.32), polymorphism information content (0.37) and resolving power (6.59) established SCoT as a reliable marker system for genetic analysis in Crotalaria. All the species except Crotalaria retusa L. exhibited high number of SCoT amplicons. Analysis of molecular variance revealed significant variability between (24.0%) the species as well as within species (76.0%). A cluster analysis identified distinct groups corresponding to the seven species and also identified sub-groups within the species. The sunnhemp cultivars were distant from the landraces, suggesting the need of population improvement using distantly related genotypes. Species relationship identified Crotalaria pallida Aiton to be a close relative of C. juncea. The results of principal coordinate analysis were comparable to that of cluster analysis, revealing high genetic variability in sunnhemp and other semi-domesticated Crotalaria species. The study further suggests some measure for conservation of genetic resources and genetic improvement of these species based on the results of diversity analysis.Director, ICAR-CRIJA

From understanding to action: Interventions for surgical disparities

Background: Health care disparities are a well-documented phenomenon. Despite the development and implementation of multiple interventions, disparities in surgery have proven persistent. Thought to arise from a combination of patient, provider, and system-level factors, the objective of this study was to identify what is currently known about factors that influence surgical disparities and elucidate possible interventions to address them across four intervention-based themes: (1) condition-specific targeted interventions; (2) increased reliance on quantitative factors; (3) doctor-patient communication; and (4) cultural humility. Data sources: Articles were abstracted from PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library using controlled keyword vocabulary. Conclusions: There are various forms of interventions to address surgical disparities, spanning knowledge from disparate fields. Promising efforts have emerged towards the successful alleviation of disparities. In order to move the field of surgery from understanding of disparities towards actions to mitigate them, continued development of meaningful quality improvement initiatives are neede