Potentiality of Kolar Dam Water for Drinking Purposes

Kolar Dam, a major masonry dam, is located about 35 km away from Bhopal, near Lawakhari village in Sehore District. Constructed across the Kolar River, a tributary of Narmada on the right bank, the dam is about 45 m high. The maximum storage capacity is 270 Mcm. Kolar reservoir is the important sources of potable water supply for the Bhopal city. To assess its suitability for drinking purpose, the physico chemical and microbiological characteristics were studied on monthly basis.  In general almost all the parameters are within the range except coliform bacteria. Coliform bacteria were found beyond the norm prescribed for drinking water by various agencies. The analysis indicates that the water of Kolar reservoir is moderately soft with moderate alkalinity, transparent, low BOD, COD level as apparent by the study. The overall water quality of Kolar reservoir is not much affected by anthropogenic sources as it is surrounded by thick forest and less human activities are evident in this area. Therefore its water can only be used for drinking purposes but only after conventional treatment and disinfection. Keywords: Kolar Dam, Water quality, Physico chemical parameter, Drinking water

Anti-Relapse Efficacy of Transdermal Primaquine Against Plasmodium Cynomolgi B in Rhesus Monkeys

Transdermal administration of primaquine has been found to produce radical cure against sporozoite induced Plasmodium cynomolgi B infection in rhesus monkeys. Formulation containing 7mg/kg primaquine (base) was curative in 12 out of 13 rhesus monkeys as no relapse occurred during the observation period of 100 days

Hypoxia mimetic agents for ischemic stroke

Every year stroke claims more than 6 million lives worldwide. The majority of them are ischemic stroke. Small molecule-based therapeutics for ischemic stroke has attracted a lot of attention, but none has been shown to be clinically useful so far. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) plays a crucial role in the transcriptional adaptation of cells to hypoxia. Small molecule-based hypoxia-mimetic agents either stabilize HIF-1α via HIF-prolyl hydroxylases (PHDs) inhibition or through other mechanisms. In both the cases, these agents have been shown to confer ischemic neuroprotection in vitro and in vivo. The agents which act via PHD inhibition are mainly classified into iron chelators, iron competitors, and 2 oxoglutarate (2OG) analogs. This review discusses HIF structure and key players in the HIF-1 degradation pathway as well as the genes, proteins and chemical molecules that are connected to HIF-1 and how they affect cell survival following ischemic injury. Furthermore, this review gives a summary of studies that used PHD inhibitors and other HIF-1α stabilizers as hypoxia-mimetic agents for the treatment of ischemic injury

Commissioning and quality assurance of HalcyonTM 2.0 linear accelerator

BACKGROUND: Varian Medical Systems has introduced a new medical linear accelerator called HalcyonTM 2.0, which is based on the ring delivery system (RDS). It is a true IGRT machine having 6MV FFF photon energy. In addition to the planar and MV-CBCT imaging techniques it also has an option of ultra-fast kV-iCBCT which enhances the image reconstruction and improves the visualization of soft tissue. The field portals are shaped by a unique dual layer MLC with special stacked and staggered design which enables high modulation with low radiation leakage. Recently, we have commissioned our first Halcyon 2.0 machine. The aim of this work was to systematically investigate various parameters of a newly installed HalcyonTM 2.0 linear accelerator. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Detailed measurements were conducted as per various guidelines. Also, the measurements were performed to fulfil the national regulatory requirements. Commissioning data of Halcyon 6 MV-FFF beam was performed in a water tank. For absolute measurements, a 0.6-cc waterproof Farmer chamber and electrometer were used. All relative measurements (PDDs, in-line, cross-line and angular profiles) were performed with 0.0125 cc point chamber. RESULTS: All the tests were within the acceptable limit. Measured data were compared with factory data as well as the existing medical linear accelerator of the same category. The obtained results were quite satisfactory. CONCLUSIONS: This study summarizes the commissioning experience with Halcyon linear accelerator. Evaluation of mechanical, radiation safety and dosimetric parameters were performed. The obtained parameters were well below the specified tolerance limits

Simulation of boron diffusion during low-temperature annealing of implanted silicon

Modeling of ion-implanted boron redistribution in silicon crystals during low-temperature annealing with a small thermal budget has been carried out. It was shown that formation of "tails"' in the low-concentration region of impurity profiles occurs due to the long-range migration of boron interstitialsComment: 16 pages, 3 figure

KLF4 is a key determinant in the development and progression of cerebral cavernous malformations

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are vascular malformations located within the central nervous system often resulting in cerebral hemorrhage. Pharmacological treatment is needed, since current therapy is limited to neurosurgery. Familial CCM is caused by loss-of-function mutations in any of Ccm1, Ccm2, and Ccm3 genes. CCM cavernomas are lined by endothelial cells (ECs) undergoing endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT). This switch in phenotype is due to the activation of the transforming growth factor beta/bone morphogenetic protein (TGF\u3b2/BMP) signaling. However, the mechanism linking Ccm gene inactivation and TGF\u3b2/BMP-dependent EndMT remains undefined. Here, we report that Ccm1 ablation leads to the activation of a MEKK3-MEK5-ERK5-MEF2 signaling axis that induces a strong increase in Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) in ECs in\ua0vivo. KLF4 transcriptional activity is responsible for the EndMT occurring in CCM1-null ECs. KLF4 promotes TGF\u3b2/BMP signaling through the production of BMP6. Importantly, in endothelial-specific Ccm1 and Klf4 double knockout mice, we observe a strong reduction in the development of CCM and mouse mortality. Our data unveil KLF4 as a therapeutic target for CCM

Association between Features of Spontaneous Late Preterm Labor and Late Preterm Birth

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the association between clinical and examination features at admission and late preterm birth. Study Design The present study is a secondary analysis of a randomized trial of singleton pregnancies at 34 0/7 to 36 5/7 weeks' gestation. We included women in spontaneous preterm labor with intact membranes and compared them by gestational age at delivery (preterm vs. term). We calculated a statistical cut-point optimizing the sensitivity and specificity of initial cervical dilation and effacement at predicting preterm birth and used multivariable regression to identify factors associated with late preterm delivery. Results A total of 431 out of 732 (59%) women delivered preterm. Cervical dilation ≥ 4 cm was 60% sensitive and 68% specific for late preterm birth. Cervical effacement ≥ 75% was 59% sensitive and 65% specific for late preterm birth. Earlier gestational age at randomization, nulliparity, and fetal malpresentation were associated with late preterm birth. The final regression model including clinical and examination features significantly improved late preterm birth prediction (81% sensitivity, 48% specificity, area under the curve = 0.72, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.68-0.75, and p -value < 0.01). Conclusion Four in 10 women in late-preterm labor subsequently delivered at term. Combination of examination and clinical features (including parity and gestational age) improved late-preterm birth prediction

An Observational Overview of Solar Flares

We present an overview of solar flares and associated phenomena, drawing upon a wide range of observational data primarily from the RHESSI era. Following an introductory discussion and overview of the status of observational capabilities, the article is split into topical sections which deal with different areas of flare phenomena (footpoints and ribbons, coronal sources, relationship to coronal mass ejections) and their interconnections. We also discuss flare soft X-ray spectroscopy and the energetics of the process. The emphasis is to describe the observations from multiple points of view, while bearing in mind the models that link them to each other and to theory. The present theoretical and observational understanding of solar flares is far from complete, so we conclude with a brief discussion of models, and a list of missing but important observations.Comment: This is an article for a monograph on the physics of solar flares, inspired by RHESSI observations. The individual articles are to appear in Space Science Reviews (2011