Tentative Appraisal of Compatibility of Small-Scale CMB Anisotropy Detections in the Context of COBE-DMR-Normalized Open and Flat Λ\Lambda CDM Cosmogonies

Goodness-of-fit statistics are used to quantitatively establish the compatibility of CMB anisotropy predictions in a wide range of DMR-normalized, open and spatially-flat $\Lambda$, CDM cosmogonies with the set of all presently available small-scale CMB anisotropy detection data. Conclusions regarding model viability depend sensitively on the prescription used to account for the 1$\sigma$ uncertainty in the assumed value of the DMR normalization, except for low-density, $\Omega_0 \sim 0.3$ -- 0.4, open models which are compatible with the data for all prescriptions used. While large baryon-density (\Omega_B \gap 0.0175 h^{-2}), old (t_0 \gap 15 -- 16 Gyr), low-density ($\Omega_0 \sim 0.2$ -- 0.4), flat-$\Lambda$ models might be incompatible, no model is incompatible with the data for all prescriptions. In fact, some open models seem to fit the data better than should be expected, and this might be an indication that some error bars are mildly overconservative.Comment: 15 page PostScript file, including 6 included figures. Also available via anonymous ftp from ftp://astro.caltech.edu/users/kmg/chi.p

Signal-to-Noise Eigenmode Analysis of the Two-Year COBE Maps

To test a theory of cosmic microwave background fluctuations, it is natural to expand an anisotropy map in an uncorrelated basis of linear combinations of pixel amplitudes --- statistically-independent for both the noise and the signal. These $S/N$-eigenmodes are indispensible for rapid Bayesian analyses of anisotropy experiments, applied here to the recently-released two-year COBE {\it dmr} maps and the {\it firs} map. A 2-parameter model with an overall band-power and a spectral tilt $\nu_{\Delta T}$ describes well inflation-based theories. The band-powers for {\it all} the {\it dmr} $53,90,31$ $a$+$b$ GHz and {\it firs} 170 GHz maps agree, $\{(1.1\pm 0.1)\times 10^{-5}\}^{1/2}$, and are largely independent of tilt and degree of (sharp) $S/N$-filtering. Further, after optimal $S/N$-filtering, the {\it dmr} maps reveal the same tilt-independent large scale features and correlation function. The unfiltered {\it dmr} $53$ $a$+$b$ index $\nu_{\Delta T}+1$ is $1.4\pm 0.4$; increasing the $S/N$-filtering gives a broad region at (1.0--1.2)$\pm$0.5, a jump to (1.4--1.6)$\pm$0.5, then a drop to 0.8, the higher values clearly seen to be driven by $S/N$-power spectrum data points that do not fit single-tilt models. These indices are nicely compatible with inflation values ($\sim$0.8--1.2), but not overwhelmingly so.Comment: submitted to Phys.Rev.Letters, 4 pages, uuencoded compressed PostScript; also bdmr2.ps.Z, via anonymous ftp to ftp.cita.utoronto.ca, cd to /pub/dick/yukawa; CITA-94-2

Fatty acid signatures of the Indian mackerel Rastrelliger kanagurta (Cuvier)from the Arabian Sea along the Indian coast

The fatty acid profile of the Indian mackerel Rastrelliger kanagurta from the Arabian Sea was studied in relation to its maturation and spawning cycle. Among fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) component was the highest (46.9%) followed by saturated fatty acids (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) at 41.8% and 11% respectively. No differences were observed between the period of low spawning activity in January and peak spawning activity in May. However significant (p<0.05) differences were observed with regard to sex where females had higher levels of SFA and MUFA while males had higher levels of PUFA. With regard to maturity stages, only females showed significant differences (p<0.05) in MUFA content with higher level in mature stages compared to immature stages. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was the single largest component of PUFA. The absence of marked temperature differences in the Arabian Sea probably precludes seasonal effects on the levels of SFA, MUFA and PUFA in the Indian mackerel while variations of individual FA within these groups indicate lipid dynamics in relation to reproduction and feeding

Reverse chemical ecology approach for the identification of an oviposition attractant for Culex quinquefasciatus.

Pheromones and other semiochemicals play a crucial role in today's integrated pest and vector management strategies. These semiochemicals are typically discovered by bioassay-guided approaches. Here, we applied a reverse chemical ecology approach; that is, we used olfactory proteins to lead us to putative semiochemicals. Specifically, we used 7 of the top 10 odorant receptors (ORs) most expressed in the antennae of the southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus, and which are yet to be deorphanized. We expressed these receptors in the Xenopus oocyte recording system and challenged them with a panel of 230 odorants, including physiologically and behaviorally active compounds. Six of the ORs were silent either because they are not functional or a key odorant was missing. CquiOR36, which showed the highest transcript levels of all OR genes in female antennae, was also silent to all odorants in the tested panel, but yielded robust responses when it was accidentally challenged with an old sample of nonanal in ethanol. After confirming that fresh samples were inactive and through a careful investigation of all possible "contaminants" in the old nonanal samples, we identified the active ligand as acetaldehyde. That acetaldehyde is activating CquiOR36 was further confirmed by electroantennogram recordings from antennae of fruit flies engineered to carry CquiOR36. Antennae of female mosquitoes also responded to acetaldehyde. Cage oviposition and dual-choice assays demonstrated that acetaldehyde is an oviposition attractant in a wide range of concentrations and thus of potential practical applications

Impact of pollination strategies on fruit set and fruit growth attributes in jasmine

Jasmine occupies predominant position among the flower crops in India in terms of area, production and productivity. The demand for jasmine flowers is growing day by day owing to its wide range of uses and there is a pressing need for improving the crop by exploring strategies to evolve diverse genotypes. The present study focuses on the hybridization of Jasminum spp with the objective of introgression of desirable traits that would aid in creation of wider genetic variability. Pollination is the basis in any hybridization programme. The main aim of this research study was to determine the suitable pollination methods among self, open and cross pollination and to assess the effect of the pollination methods on the fruit set and fruit characteristics. The results of the study revealed that the overall response of J. auriculatum was found effective with maximum fruit set percentage. J. auriculatum cv Parimullai yielded the highest fruit set of 76.43% under open pollination and the least fruit set rate of 2.14% under self-pollination. Among the possible cross combination involving J. auriculatum and J. grandiflorum cultivars as seed parents with various pollen parents, J. flexile showed considerable results. Cross combination of J. auriculatum x J. flexile recorded maximum fruit set revealing best cross compatibility while crosses involving J. sambac resulted in no fruit set indicating the prevalence of fertilization barriers that hinder hybridization

A Study to Assess the Efficacy of Magnetization Transfer Ratio in Differentiating Tuberculoma from Neurocysticercosis.

Single Or Multiple Enhancing Lesions In Computerized Tomography (CT) Of Brain May Occur In Several Infectious And Neoplastic Diseases Of The Central Nervous System And Are The Most Common Radiological Abnormality Seen In Patients With Acute-Onset Seizures In India And Many Other Developing Countries(1,2,3,6). Similar CT-Documented Lesions Have Also Been Reported In The Developed World Where These Lesions Are Often Considered To Be Caused By Neoplasm Or Tuberculoma. (1) Histopathological Studies In India And Even In Some Developed Countries Revealed That Neurocysticercosis (NCC) Is The Most Likely Cause Of These Lesions. The Second Most Common Cause Of These CT-Detected Lesions Is Tuberculoma; In Patients With These Lesions Similar Clinical And Neuroimaging Features Are Also Present. Few Authors Believe That In Poor And Developing Countries, Where Both Tuberculosis And NCC Are Common, It Is Difficult To Differentiate Between Tuberculoma And A Single Cysticercal Granuloma. The Most Interesting Feature Of These Solitary Enhancing Lesions Is Their Spontaneous Disappearance Within Weeks Or Months. Some Lesions "Heal" By Becoming Calcified. These Patients Require Only Antiepileptic Therapy, And This Medication May Be Withdrawn Safely After The Lesion Has Resolved On CT Scanning. In Several Studies Provision Of Anticysticercal Drugs Has Been Attempted, But Because Of Conflicting Results, Their Role In The Management Of These Single Lesions Is Uncertain. (1) Using CECT And Conventional MRI Brain, Tuberculoma And Neurocysticercus Granuloma Can Be Differentiated To Some Extent.(3) Various Studies Have Shown That Magnetization Transfer Ratio Obtained Using Magnetization Transfer MR Imaging Can Differentiate Tuberculoma From NCC.(8) This Forms The Basis Of The Study

Hypoxic bradycardia: an enigma in coronavirus disease 2019

Coronavirus disease 2019 varies from asymptomatic to severe acute respiratory syndrome with multiple organ involvement, primarily involving the microvasculature and heart. Acute myocardial injury is the most frequently observed and reported cardiac complication with acute coronary events, acute left ventricular systolic dysfunction, and cardiac arrhythmias, but sinus bradycardia reported only in a few cases. The development of sinus bradycardia can be crucial warning sign of onset of severe cytokine storm. The primary determinant of severity of COVID-19 is aging and co-morbidities such as diabetes and hyperlipidemia with dysregulated immunological status. Patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease infected with COVID-19 have increased risk of severity and mortality. Literature available regarding the occurrence of bradycardia is limited, and electrophysiology studies in COVID-19 patients have shown sinus bradycardia, heart block, bundle branch block, and intraventricular conduction delay. The pathophysiological mechanism regarding the occurrence of bradycardia is not yet known entirely. Cardiac manifestations could be attributed to multiple clinical etiologies, including direct viral myocardial damage, inflammatory response, hypoxia, hypotension, downregulation of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2), drug toxicity, and endogenous toxicity of catecholamine adrenergic status, also severe hypoxic damage of lungs by COVID-19 can also act as a trigger. We report one such case of bradycardia due to COVID-19 detected through intensive monitoring and managed successfully in the ICU of tertiary care dedicated COVID-19 hospital. Bradycardia in COVID-19 is a rare clinical phenomenon, could be a worst prognostic marker. If detected early may help in prognostication and, if managed appropriately, will avert a life-threatening complication.

Effect of Upper Limb Exercise and 10 Minutes Tread Mill Training on Improving the Autonomic Nervous Control in COPD Patients

INTRODUCTION: The common disease entity of chronic bronchitis and emphysema is known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. COPD is defined as a disease state Characterized by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. The airflow limitation is usually both progressive and associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to noxious particle or gases GOLD, 2001, COPD is characterized by reduced maximum expiratory flow and slow forced emptying of lungs which is slowly progressive and mostly irreversible to present medical treatment ERS, 1995. The impairment of lung function is largely fixed but is partially reversible by bronchodilator or other therapy BTS, 1997. COPD is largely preventable Huib, 1999. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major cause of chronic morbidity and mortality throughout the world. For patients with COPD, degradation in lung function is progressive, leading to premature disability and death. As the lung function decreases, the ability to engage in activities of daily living decreases, and thus the quality of life impaired. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the effect of upper limp exercise along with treadmill training on heart rate and spo2 among COPD subjects. STUDY DESIGN: Pre test and post test experimental study. METHODOLOGY: Subjects were assigned into two groups with 15 in GROUP A and 15 in GROUP B. The GROUP A subjects underwent for conventional therapy such as diaphragmatic breathing Exercise and chest mobility exercise, while GROUP B underwent upper limp exercise and treadmill training along with conventional therapy. Treadmill training is for 10 minutes daily, lasted for 8 weeks. OUTCOME MEASURES: Heart rate and SPO2 were measured by using pulsoximeter. RESULTS: The date were analyzed using independent and paired t test at 5% level of significance. There was significant difference between the groups in all the outcome measures. There Was significant improvement on heart rate and SPO2 in both groups, but the mean shows that GROUP B has more improvement than GROUP A. CONCLUSION: The study reveal that there is significant improvement in heart rate and SPO2 on subject Who underwent upper limp exercise along with treadmill training

Efficiency of gamma irradiation and ethyl methane sulphonate in inducing variations in Jasminum auriculatum Vahl.

Vegetatively propagated crops like Jasminum auriculatum have a constraint in genetic variation due to a narrow genetic base that restricts the insights in any crop breeding programme. Mutation breeding is a potential tool that directs a way to create desirable variation effectively in vegetatively propagated crops. The optimum dose of mutagen is the one which produces the maximum frequency of mutation in turn the variation, with minimum killing. The aim of the present paper unveils the Lethal Dose (LD50) and the growth reduction dose (GR50) for both Gamma irradiation (GI) and Ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) for the ecotype ‘Muthu Mullai’ of Jasminum auriculatum. These parameters of GR and EMS treated cuttings were analysed by considering the GR50 values of the mortality rate (57%, 48%), survival percentage (12.479Gy, 13.268mM), shoot length (18.59Gy, 18.28mM), root length (20.39Gy, 18.17mM), number of leaves (22.29Gy, 17.47mM), number of sprouts (22.97Gy, 16.17mM), vigour index (10.43Gy, 11.05mM), leaf length (21.61Gy, 19.90mM) and leaf width (19.2Gy, 16.17mM). The LD50 value was 12.479 Gy for GI and 13.268 mM for EMS treatment. The GR50 for different growth parameters ranged from 14.93 to 22.9 Gy for GI and 1.05 to 19.9 mM for EMS treatment. The mutagenic efficiency and effectiveness were 214.96 and 89.36 for GI and 48.66 and 33.77 for EMS treatment, respectively. These doses can be used for generating considerable variation, which can be put to use in future crop improvement programmes for Jasmine

Python I, II, and III CMB Anisotropy Measurement Constraints on Open and Flat-Lambda CDM Cosmogonies

We use Python I, II, and III cosmic microwave background anisotropy data to constrain cosmogonies. We account for the Python beamwidth and calibration uncertainties. We consider open and spatially-flat-Lambda cold dark matter cosmogonies, with nonrelativistic-mass density parameter Omega_0 in the range 0.1--1, baryonic-mass density parameter Omega_B in the range (0.005--0.029) h^{-2}, and age of the universe t_0 in the range (10--20) Gyr. Marginalizing over all parameters but Omega_0, the combined Python data favors an open (spatially-flat-Lambda) model with Omega_0 simeq 0.2 (0.1). At the 2 sigma confidence level model normalizations deduced from the combined Python data are mostly consistent with those drawn from the DMR, UCSB South Pole 1994, ARGO, MAX 4 and 5, White Dish, and SuZIE data sets.Comment: 20 pages, 7 figures, accepted by Ap