Multi-wavelength Temporal Variability of the Blazar 3C 454.3 during 2014 Activity Phase

We present a multi-wavelength temporal analysis of the blazar 3C 454.3 during the high $\gamma$-ray active period from May-December, 2014. Except for X-rays, the period is well sampled at near-infrared (NIR)-optical by the \emph{SMARTS} facility and the source is detected continuously on daily timescale in the \emph{Fermi}-LAT $\gamma$-ray band. The source exhibits diverse levels of variability with many flaring/active states in the continuously sampled $\gamma$-ray light curve which are also reflected in the NIR-optical light curves and the sparsely sampled X-ray light curve by the \emph{Swift}-XRT. Multi-band correlation analysis of this continuous segment during different activity periods shows a change of state from no lags between IR and $\gamma$-ray, optical and $\gamma$-ray, and IR and optical to a state where $\gamma$-ray lags the IR/optical by $\sim$3 days. The results are consistent with the previous studies of the same during various $\gamma$-ray flaring and active episodes of the source. This consistency, in turn, suggests an extended localized emission region with almost similar conditions during various $\gamma$-ray activity states. On the other hand, the delay of $\gamma$-ray with respect to IR/optical and a trend similar to IR/optical in X-rays along with strong broadband correlations favor magnetic field related origin with X-ray and $\gamma$-ray being inverse Comptonized of IR/optical photons and external radiation field, respectively.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures, 1 table, MNRAS accepte

Prediabetes and prehypertension in disease free obese adults correlate with an exacerbated systemic proinflammatory milieu

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Obesity is a pro-inflammatory state frequently associated with widespread metabolic alterations that include insulin resistance and deregulation of blood pressure (BP). This cascade of events in some measure explains the susceptibility of obese adults for co-morbid conditions like diabetes mellitus and hypertension.</p> <p>Hypothesis</p> <p>We hypothesized that an elevated systemic proinflammatory burden correlates with dysglycemia and deregulated blood pressure.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We analyzed the screening anthropometric and laboratory measures from healthy disease free obese adults (n = 35; women (W) 27, men (M) 8) in a weight loss study.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Healthy obese normoglycemic (fasting serum glucose: FSG <100 mg/dL) women and men compared with healthy obese with prediabetes (FSG 100-125 mg/dL) had no significant differences for age (Mean ± SD: 52 ± 12 vs. 56 ± 9 y), weight (95 ± 11 vs. 99 ± 13 kg), or waist circumference (108 ± 10 vs. 108 ± 11 cm). Normoglycemic group (n = 24; W = 19, M = 5) had normal FSG 92 ± 4 mg/dL, HbA1c 5.4 ± 0.3%, BP 118/75 mm Hg, but had elevated high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs CRP) 3.7 ± 3 mg/L and fibrinogen 472 ± 76 mg/dL. The group with prediabetes (n = 11; W = 8, M = 3) with significantly higher FSG (106 ± 3 mg/dL; p < 0.0001), HbA1c (5.9 ± 0.5%; p < 0.002), had prehypertension (BP: 127/80 mm Hg) and significantly higher hs CRP (16.9 ± 9 mg/; p < 0.0001) and fibrinogen (599 ± 95 mg/dL; p < 0.0002).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In otherwise healthy disease free obese adults, a higher degree of systemic inflammation is associated with prediabetes and prehypertension.</p

Evolution of the earth's mantle and core: convective cycle within the mantle and different plate tectonic environments related to magma generation

The earth is considered to have been formed in several stages in a solar nebula by accretion of carbonaceous chondrites. The moon might have been formed toward the end of such a process by collapse of a sedimentary ring around the proto-earth or due to collision of the proto-earth with a large comet. The thermal energy related to the impact resulted in the formation of a magma ocean. The process of density stratification of Fe-Ni alloy at the core and other silicates (magnesiowustite, pervoskite, garnet, spinel, etc.) is the subject of modern experimental studies. The large difference in temperature between the core and the mantle-crust interface resulted in convection, either involving whole mantle right from the outer core or initiating two-layered convection (650 km seismic discontinuity separating the two convective cycle systems). Earthquake and volcanism in the mid oceanic ridges, oceanic plate boundaries and subduction zones are surface manifestations of energy flow through mantle convection

Effect of Different Chemical Environment on Porous Silicon

Properties of porous silicon (PS) are found to be sensitive towards different chemical environment. Because of its large surface area, it is highly reactive and can adsorb chemical vapours. The present study shows that photoconductivity and photoluminescence (PL) properties are changed significantly in the presence ofacetone, ammonia and steam vapours and can be used to identify and sense these chemical environment. These results also suggest that the molecules adsorbed on the pores change the transport mechanism of carriers in PS, leading to increase or decrease in conductivity. On the other hand, surface states on the enormous PS surface are modified under different chemical environment, leading to change in visible PL

Study of renal functions in preterm and full term new born in relation to parity of the mother

Background:During the intrauterine life, placenta performs the function of maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance and removing harmful waste products. The renal function is related more closely to gestational age, postnatal age and parity of mother. Objective of the study was to study renal functions in preterm and full term new born in relation to the parity of mother (primiparous versus multiparous mother).Methods: The study was conducted from January 2015 to December 2015 on 500 healthy new-borns among them 250 were full term healthy new-borns and 250 were preterm healthy new-borns. They were divided into 3 groups on the basis of gestational age and parity of mother. Relevant investigations were done in all cases enrolled in study:Results:  Out of total 500 new-born 255 (51%) male 245 (49%) female. In both FT and PT new-borns, primigravida child was more dehydrated then multigravida (P- Value<0.001). Mean change in the levels of S. Na, S. urea. S. Cr, BUN Ratio at 72 hours in dehydrated PT (BF) new born was significantly higher than FT (BF) non-dehydrated new born (P-value<0.001).Conclusions: Hypernatremic dehydration is a potentially fatal complication of the failure of establishment of breastfeeding mainly in primigravida so mothers should be highly motivated to breastfeed having either decreased milk production or nipple-related abnormalities that create feeding difficulty and result in inadequate fluid and caloric intake in their infants. Therefore, mothers should be helped and supported to breast feed their infants as soon as possible after delivery.

Drug repositioning: current scenario and future prospective for rewriting saga of drug development

Drug development is a process that demands huge investment of resources and time with only 1 drug candidate successful in reaching market among 10,000 screened taking time duration of 10-15 years and millions of dollars. This high attrition rates discourage investors and researchers. The pharmaceutical industry is shifting its attention away from de novo drug research and towards discovering novel targets and indications for already-approved drugs. In order to accelerate the drug development process with reduced risk of failure and relatively lower costs, pharmaceutical companies have adopted drug repositioning as an alternative. Therefore, a good strategy for drug development would be drug repositioning or drug repurposing, which is to identify, investigate, and exploit new therapeutic uses of already-available, on-market drugs, as well as those that have been withdrawn due to toxicities or that remain on shelves in various stages of development. The outbreak of SARS-COV-19 shows that humanity is constantly vulnerable to epidemics and new microbial attacks and that there is no time to create disease-specific therapies. Consequently, it would seem advantageous to use what is already accessible. Novel therapeutic indications that have previously been approved by the market can reduce investment costs significantly in terms of money, resources, and most importantly, time, as long as they meet PKPD and toxicity standards. Sponsors and pharmaceutical corporations get enthusiastic about additional investments and initiatives related to drug development as a consequence. The upcoming therapeutic revolution, especially with the aid of artificial intelligence, is indicated by the successful applications of several already-available drugs against COVID-19 and the various phases of repurposed drugs against TB, colorectal cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, cervical cancer, and Parkinsonism

High pressure-temperature studies on an olivine tholeiite and a tholeiitic picrite from the pavagarh region, Gujarat, India

Experimental studies have been performed on an olivine tholeiite and tholeiitic picrite at pressure and temperature ranges of 20-40 kb and 1200-1300°C. The lower and upper limits of basalt-eclogite transition zone for tholeiitic picrite are 23 kb and 31.67 kb at 1200°C, and 24.67 kb and 33.67 kb at 1300°C, whereas for olivine tholeiite, these are 27 kb and 32.33 kb at 1200°C, and 28.70 kb and 33.70 kb at 1300°C. While the assemblages for both samples below the transition region are Pl+Px+Mt, they are Pl+Gt+Px+Mt within it. The eclogite field has Gt+Px+Mt. The ratio of garnet to plagioclase increases from the transition zone to the eclogite field and with the disappearance of plagioclase, the percentage of garnet increases to 30 in the eclogite field. Comparison of our results with previous studies on basalt-eclogite transition shows that the transition zone found by us occurs at higher pressure-temperature conditions. Seismic studies of the region below the Deccan Traps show an increase in velocity (1-4%) at depth. It is suggested that after partial melting, during ascent of the basaltic liquid, a significant portion of it crystallizes within the upper mantle as pockets of eclogite. As eclogite is more dense than peridotite, their presence should cause a similar increase in the seismic velocity below the Deccan area