Does A Short, Thick Neck Predict Obstructive Sleep Apnea?: The Role of Physical Examination in OSA Screening

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether a short neck, alone or together with a thick neck, can predict obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods: The laryngeal heights of 169 new adult patients presenting to a sleep medicine physician were measured over a period of 5 months. Neck circumference, Mallampati score, and body-mass index (BMI) were also determined, together with medical history, smoking status, and serum bicarbonate. Lastly, patients’ polysomnograms were obtained in order to ascertain the presence or absence of OSA as indicated by the apnea-hypopnea index, as well as other sleep study parameters. Results: No association was found between laryngeal height and presence of OSA, bicarbonate concentration or oxygen saturation. Of interest, neck circumference was also not significantly associated with any of the aforementioned parameters, although there was a trend towards significance in its association with OSA (p=0.055). Still, a combined short laryngeal height and large neck circumference was associated with lower nadir SaO2 (p=0.018). Of all clinical parameters we measured, only higher BMI, older age and male sex were positively associated with OSA (p\u3c0.05). Conclusion: This study challenges the popular notion that short necks predict OSA

Optimization of osmotic dehydration process for Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus sajor-caju) in sodium chloride solution using RSM

Sodium chloride (NaCl) and water transfer were quantitatively investigated during osmotic dehydration of Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus sajor-caju) using response surface methodology with the NaCl concentration (10– 20%, w/v), solution temperature (30–60° C) immersio n time (15–240 min) and solution to fruit ratio (4:1 to 8:1) were taken as independent process variables. Experiments were conducted in a thermostatically controlled agitating incubator. For each response, second order polynomial models were developed using multiple linear regression analysis. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to check the adequacy and accuracy of the fitted models. The response surfaces and contour maps showing the interaction of process variables were constructed. Applying desirability function method, the optimum operating conditions were found to be: solution temperature – 45o C, immersion time – 53.54 min, salt concentration – 14.09% and solution to fruit ratio 6.08:1. Corresponding to these optimum values water loss, solute gain and weight reduction were 38.13, 2.1 and 36.02 (g/100 g initial mass) respectively

Radio Continuum and HI study of Blue Compact Dwarf Galaxies

The multifrequency radio continuum and 21cm HI observations of five blue compact dwarf (BCD) galaxies, Mrk 104, Mrk 108, Mrk 1039, Mrk 1069 and I Zw 97 using the Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope (GMRT) are presented here. Radio continuum emission at 610 MHz and 325 MHz is detected from all the observed galaxies whereas only a few are detected at 240 MHz. In our sample, three galaxies are members of groups and two galaxies (Mrk 1069 and I Zw 97) are isolated galaxies. The radio emission from Mrk 104 and Mrk 108 is seen to encompass the entire optical galaxy whereas the radio emission from Mrk 1039, Mrk 1069, I Zw 97 is confined to massive HII regions. This, we suggest, indicates that the star formation in the latter group of galaxies has recently been triggered and that the environment in which the galaxy is evolving plays a role. Star formation rates (SFR) calculated from 610 MHz emission is in the range 0.01-0.1 M_sun/yr; this is similar to the SFR obtained for individual star forming regions in BCDs. The integrated radio spectra of four galaxies are modelled over the frequency range where data is available. We find that two of the galaxies Mrk 1069 and Mrk 1039, show a turnover at low frequencies which is well fitted by free-free absorption whereas the other two galaxies, Mrk 104 and Mrk 108, show a power law at the lowest GMRT frequencies. The flatter spectrum, localized star formation and radio continuum in isolated galaxies lend support to stochastic self-propagating star formation (SSPSF). The HI observations of four galaxies Mrk 104, Mrk 108, Mrk 1039 and Mrk 1069 show extended disks as large as ~1.1-6 times the optical size. All the observed BCDs (except Mrk 104) show rotating disk with a half power width of ~50-124 km/s. Solid body rotation is common in our sample. We note that the tidal dwarf (TD) origin is possible for two of the BCDs in our sample.Comment: 39 pages, 8 figures, 38 sub-figures. Accepted for publication in Ap

Mass exchange evaluation during optimization of osmotic dehydration for Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus sajor-caju) in salt-sugar solution

The objective of this study was to investigate the osmotic dehydration of Oyster mushrooms in salt-sugar solution at different solution concentrations, immersion times, temperatures and solution to fruit ratio to analyze the water loss, solute gain and weight reduction. Salt-sugar uptake and water transfer were quantitatively investigated during osmotic dehydration of Oyster mushrooms using response surface methodology. Experiments were conducted in a thermostatically controlled agitating incubator. With respect to water loss, solute gain and weight reduction both linear and quadratic effects of four process variables were found to be significant. For each response, second order polynomial models were developed using multiple linear regression analysis. ANOVA was performed to check the adequacy and accuracy of the fitted models. The response surfaces and contour maps showing the interaction of process variables were constructed. Applying desirability function method, the optimum operating conditions were found to be: solution temperature – 42.3° C, immersion time – 44.21 min, salt-sugar concentration – 15 %: 52.57° B and solution to fruit ratio 4.99:1. At these optimum values, water loss, solute gain and weight reduction was 41, 2.15 and 38.6 (g/100 g initial mass) respectively

Robust local and non-local transport in the Topological Kondo Insulator SmB6_{6} in the presence of high magnetic field

SmB$_6$ has been predicted to be a Kondo Topological Insulator with topologically protected conducting surface states. We have studied quantitatively the electrical transport through surface states in high quality single crystals of SmB$_6$. We observe a large non-local surface signal at temperatures lower than the bulk Kondo gap scale. Measurements and finite element simulations allow us to distinguish unambiguously between the contributions from different transport channels. In contrast to general expectations, the electrical transport properties of the surface channels was found to be insensitive to high magnetic fields. Local and non-local magnetoresistance measurements allowed us to identify definite signatures of helical spin states and strong inter-band scattering at the surface.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figures, 1 tabl

GMRT Observations of the 2006 outburst of the Nova RS Ophiuchi: First detection of emission at radio frequencies < 1.4 GHz

The first low radio frequency (<1.4 GHz) detection of the outburst of the recurrent nova RS Ophiuchi is presented in this letter. Radio emission was detected at 0.61 GHz on day 20 with a flux density of ~48 mJy and at 0.325 GHz on day 38 with a flux density of ~ 44 mJy. This is in contrast with the 1985 outburst when it was not detected at 0.327 GHz even on day 66. The emission at low radio frequencies is clearly non-thermal and is well-explained by a synchrotron spectrum of index alpha ~ -0.8 (S propto nu^alpha) suffering foreground absorption due to the pre-existing, ionized, warm, clumpy red giant wind. The absence of low frequency radio emission in 1985 and the earlier turn-on of the radio flux in the current outburst are interpreted as being due to higher foreground absorption in 1985 compared to that in 2006, suggesting that the overlying wind densities in 2006 are only ~30% of those in 1985.Comment: 14 pages, 1 figure. Accepted for publication in ApJ

Integrative Taxonomic Approach for Describing a New Cryptic Species of Bush Frog (Raorchestes: Anura: Rhacophoridae) from the Western Ghats, India

A new cryptic species of bush frog Raorchestes honnametti sp. nov. is described from the south-eastern part of the Western Ghats, India. This newly described species belongs to the Charius clade and is morphologically similar to other clade members—R. charius and R. griet. Therefore, an integrative taxonomic approach based on molecular and bioacoustic analysis along with morphology was used to delimit the new species. Raorchestes honnametti sp. nov., is currently known only from Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve, a part of Biligiri Rangaswamy horst mountain range (a mountain formed due movement of two faults) formed during the Late Quaternary period (1.8–2.58 Ma). Discovery of cryptic species from a highly speciose and well-studied genus Raorchestes hints at the possible existence of several more cryptic species in this genus. We discuss the possible reasons for crypsis and emphasize the need for continued systematic surveys of amphibians across the Western Ghats