Heparin and air filters reduce embolic events caused by intra-arterial cerebral angiography - A prospective, randomized trial

Background-Intra-arterial cerebral angiography is associated with a low risk for neurological complications, but clinically silent ischemic events after angiography have been seen in a substantial number of patients.Methods and Results-In a prospective study, diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) before and after intra-arterial cerebral angiography and transcranial Doppler sonography during angiography were used to evaluate the frequency of cerebral embolism. One hundred fifty diagnostic cerebral angiographies were randomized into 50 procedures, each using conventional angiographic technique, or systemic heparin treatment throughout the procedure, or air filters between the catheter and both the contrast medium syringe and the catheter flushing. There was no neurological complication during or after angiography. Overall, DW-MRI revealed 26 new ischemic lesions in 17 patients (11%). In the control group, 11 patients showed a total of 18 lesions. In the heparin group, 3 patients showed a total of 4 lesions. In the air filter group, 3 patients exhibited a total of 4 lesions. The reduced incidence of ischemic events in the heparin and air filter groups compared with the control group was significantly different (P=0.002). Transcranial Doppler sonography demonstrated a large number of microembolic signals that was significantly lower in the air filter group compared with the heparin and control groups (P=0.01), which did not differ from each other.Conclusions-Air filters and heparin both reduce the incidence of silent ischemic events detected by DW-MRI after intra-arterial cerebral angiography and can potentially lower clinically overt ischemic complications. This may apply to any intra-arterial angiographic procedure

Spatial distribution of outbreak of locust swarms: a geographical analysis of vulnerability and preventions in India

Current outbreak of locust swarms in the different parts of the world has also emerged as a big problem for the Indian agricultural sector and associated livelihood options. Being known for its transient nature, the locust swarms containing millions of locusts. These swarms are, therefore, one of the most dangerous pests in the world that may have a disastrous impact on food, food crops, fodder and food security around the world. The outbreak has been historically noticed in several regions of the world which effected the agriculture system of the many countries and major cause for the slowdown in the economy. This paper examines the origin and migration trends of locust swarms in the world in general and India in particular.  Also paper evaluates the recent outbreak of locusts in India along with assessing its devastating impact on Indian Agricultural Sector and the track routes of the swarms in India in different months. In the end, the paper highlights preventive measures that have been used in monitoring and preventions of locust swarms. The outbreaks of locust in India is not new, but have been encountered in the past too. The intensity and number of hives and migratory frequency is increasing with time. The Area, magnitude and impacts of the locust swarms is also growing with time and space. Since the outbreak results in social, economic and environmental consequences, therefore, adequate measures and planning are required to tackle the crisis.Keywords:  Locusts, Swarms, Vulnerability, Prevention Measures, Spatial distributio

Application of Lippmann interference photography to data storage

Lippmann's interference photography is an elegant process to record coloured images in the volume of a sensitive material. We propose to use this technique for wavelength multiplexed data storage in a page-oriented approach. Using computer simulations, we demonstrate that the capacities reached with this technique are similar to those reached by volume holographic data storage

Selective recovery of indium from iron-rich solutions using an Aliquat 336 iodide supported ionic liquid phase (SILP)

Selective recovery of valuable metals from secondary (waste) sources is essential for better resource efficiency. However, low-grade waste streams typically have complex and variable compositions and low concentrations of valuable metals. Therefore, development of novel technologies, able to deal with these complex and variable waste streams, is necessary. In this work, we present a process for the separation and purification of indium from iron-rich matrix solutions making use of a supported ionic liquid phase (SILP). The SILP used in this study was synthesized by impregnating AmberliteXAD–16N with the iodide form of the quaternary ammonium salt Aliquat336. The SILP was characterized by infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, density, specific surface area and porosity and it was tested for the selective recovery of indium. Adsorption was preceded by the addition of an excess of iodide anions to the solution, to form indium iodide species, which were extracted to the ionic liquid of the SILP. A high selectivity for indium over iron could be achieved because iron iodide species are not stable in aqueous medium. The reaction kinetics and several adsorption parameters, including anion concentration, adsorbent mass, stripping and reusability of the adsorbent were investigated, using synthetic binary iron-indium solutions containing iron in large excess in comparison with indium, as is typically the case in low-grade ores or industrial process residues. Finally, the developed indium recovery process was validated on a real leachate of goethite residue. A pure indium solution of 49mg·L–1 was obtained with an indium-over-iron mass ratio of 7.9 and a selectivity factor equal to 5400

Sinus venosus ASD

A 32-year-old man presented at the cardiology department for a routine check-up. He had no symptoms, particularly no cardio - logical symptoms. Clinical examination and ECG revealed no abnormalities. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a mild dilatation of the right heart

Lack of neurotrophin-4 causes selective structural and chemical deficits in sympathetic ganglia and their preganglionic innervation

Neurotrophin-4 (NT-4) is perhaps the still most enigmatic member of the neurotrophin family. We show here that NT-4 is expressed in neurons of paravertebral and prevertebral sympathetic ganglia, i.e., the superior cervical (SCG), stellate (SG), and celiac (CG) ganglion. Mice deficient for NT-4 showed a significant reduction (20-30%) of preganglionic sympathetic neurons in the intermediolateral column (IML) of the thoracic spinal cord. In contrast, neuron numbers in the SCG, SG, and CG were unchanged. Numbers of axons in the thoracic sympathetic trunk (TST) connecting the SG with lower paravertebral ganglia were also reduced, whereas axon numbers in the cervical sympathetic trunk (CST) were unaltered. Axon losses in the TST were paralleled by losses of synaptic terminals on SG neurons visualized by electron microscopy. Furthermore, immunoreactivity for the synaptic vesicle antigen SV2 was clearly reduced in the SG and CG. Levels of catecholamines and tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity were dramatically reduced in the SG and the CG but not in the SCG. Despite this severe phenotype in the sympathetic system, blood pressure levels were not reduced and displayed a pattern more typical of deficits in baroreceptor afferents. Numbers of IML neurons were unaltered at postnatal day 4, suggesting a postnatal requirement for their maintenance. In light of these and previous data, we hypothesize that NT-4 provided by postganglionic sympathetic neurons is required for establishing and/or maintaining synapses of IML neurons on postganglionic cells. Impairment of synaptic connectivity may consequently reduce impulse flow, causing a reduction in transmitter synthesis in postganglionic neurons

Macrospin approximation and quantum effects in models for magnetization reversal

The thermal activation of magnetization reversal in magnetic nanoparticles is controlled by the anisotropy-energy barrier. Using perturbation theory, exact diagonalization and stability analysis of the ferromagnetic spin-s Heisenberg model with coupling or single-site anisotropy, we study the effects of quantum fluctuations on the height of the energy barrier. Opposed to the classical case, there is no critical anisotropy strength discriminating between reversal via coherent rotation and via nucleation/domain-wall propagation. Quantum fluctuations are seen to lower the barrier depending on the anisotropy strength, dimensionality and system size and shape. In the weak-anisotropy limit, a macrospin model is shown to emerge as the effective low-energy theory where the microscopic spins are tightly aligned due to the ferromagnetic exchange. The calculation provides explicit expressions for the anisotropy parameter of the effective macrospin. We find a reduction of the anisotropy-energy barrier as compared to the classical high spin-s limit.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figure