The RSZ BASIC programming language manual

The RSZ BASIC interactive language is described. The RSZ BASIC interpreter is resident in the Telemetry Data Processor, a system dedicated to the processing and displaying of PCM telemetry data. A series of working examples teaches the fundamentals of RSZ BASIC and shows how to construct, edit, and manage storage of programs

Why Are Radio-Galaxies Prolific Producers of Type Ia Supernovae?

An analysis of SNIa events in early type galaxies from the Cappellaro et al (1999) database provides conclusive evidence that the rate of type Ia Supernovae (SNe) in radio-loud galaxies is about 4 times higher than the rate measured in radio-quiet galaxies, i.e. SNIa-rate$(radio-loud galaxies) = 0.43^{+0.19}_{-0.14}h^2_{75}$ SNu as compared to SNIa-rate$(radio-quiet galaxies) = 0.11^{+0.06}_{-0.03}h^2_{75}$ SNu. The actual value of the enhancement is likely to be in the range $\sim 2-7$ (P$\sim 10^{-4}$). This finding puts on robust empirical grounds the results obtained by Della Valle & Panagia (2003) on the basis of a smaller sample of SNe. We analyse the possible causes of this result and conclude that the enhancement of SNIa explosion rate in radio-loud galaxies has the same origin as their being strong radio sources, but there is no causality link between the two phenomena. We argue that repeated episodes of interaction and/or mergers of early type galaxies with dwarf companions, on times-scale of about 1 Gyr, are responsible for inducing both strong radio activity observed in $\sim$14% of early type galaxies and to supply an adequate number of SNIa progenitors to the stellar population of ellipticals.Comment: 26 pages+6 figures, ApJ, in pres

The rate and the origin of type Ia supernovae in radiogalaxies

An analysis of type Ia supernova (SNIa) events in early type galaxies from Evans et al (1989) database provides strong evidence that the rate of type Ia supernovae (SNe) in radio-loud galaxies is about 6 times higher than the rate measured in radio-quiet galaxies, i.e. SNIa-rate$(radio-loud galaxies)=0.47^{+0.23}_{-0.15} h^2_{50}$ SNe per century and per 10$^{10}$L$^{B}_\odot$ (SNU) as compared to SNIa-rate(radio-quiet galaxies)\lsim 0.080 h^2_{50} SNU. The exact value of the enhancement is still rather uncertain, but is likely to be in the range $\sim 4-15$. We discuss the possible causes of this result and we conclude that that the enhancement of SNIa explosion rate in radio-loud galaxies has the same common origin as their being strong radio sources, but that there is no causality link between the two phenomena. We argue that repeated episodes of interaction and/or mergers of early type galaxies with dwarf companions are responsible for inducing both strong radio activity in $\sim$14% of early type galaxies, and the $\sim1$ Gyr old stellar population needed to supply an adequate number SNIa progenitors. Within this scenario we predict that the probability of detecting a core-collapse SN event in radio-loud elliptical galaxies amounts to about 4% of their SNIa events.Comment: 17 pages, 1 figure, accepted for publication in ApJ

Reliability and Reproducibility of Landmark Identification in Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Patients: Digital Lateral Vis-A-Vis CBCT-Derived 3D Cephalograms

Background: The aim of the retrospective observational study was to compare the precision of landmark identification and its reproducibility using cone beam computed tomography-derived 3D cephalograms and digital lateral cephalograms in unilateral cleft lip and palate patients. Methods: Cephalograms of thirty-one (31) North Indian children (18 boys and 13 girls) with a unilateral cleft lip and palate, who were recommended for orthodontic treatment, were selected. After a thorough analysis of peer-reviewed articles, 20 difficult-to-trace landmarks were selected, and their reliability and reproducibility were studied. These were subjected to landmark identification to evaluate interobserver variability; the coordinates for each point were traced separately by three different orthodontists (OBA, OBB, OBC). Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential statistics with paired t-tests to compare the differences measured by the two methods. Real-scale data are presented in mean ± SD. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered as significant at a 95% confidence level. Results: When comparing, the plotting of points posterior nasal spine (PNS) (p < 0.05), anterior nasal spine (ANS) (p < 0.01), upper 1 root tip (p < 0.05), lower 1 root tip (p < 0.05), malare (p < 0.05), pyriforme (p < 0.05), porion (p < 0.01), and basion (p < 0.05) was statistically significant. Conclusion: In patients with a cleft lip and palate, the interobserver identification of cephalometric landmarks was significantly more precise and reproducible with cone beam computed tomography -derived cephalograms vis-a-vis digital lateral cephalograms

Unfeasible body mass index and its association with low haemoglobin concentration: a correlation study among undergraduate medical students

Background: Low hemoglobin concentration and unfeasible body mass index adversely affect the health of people, consequently increasing morbidity and mortality among them. Hemoglobin concentration among individuals is associated with their body mass index. The prevalence of iron deficiency anemia is higher among underweight and overweight/obese people compared to those with normal BMI. Thus, the present study aimed to determine the correlation between hemoglobin concentration and BMI of undergraduate medical students.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 210 undergraduate medical students. Body mass index was calculated and hemoglobin estimation was done by Sahli's hemoglobinometer. Correlation between hemoglobin concentration and body mass index of subjects was assessed by Pearson’s correlation coefficient.Results: Underweight students had lowest mean hemoglobin concentration and the mean hemoglobin concentrations increased significantly (p<0.001) with increase in the BMI of subjects. A highly significant positive correlation (r=0.307, p<0.001) between BMI and hemoglobin concentration was observed. Further, significant positive correlation was observed among males (r=0.268, p=0.013), students with normal BMI (r=0.283, p=0.003) and overweight students (r=0.415, p=0.035) only.Conclusions: Hemoglobin concentration and BMI show a positive correlation, however this correlation tends to become negative in obese individuals. As both low hemoglobin concentration and unfeasible body mass index have detrimental effects on the health, diligent screening and management of both is essential for better outcome

Durable Red Blood Cell Transfusion Independence in a Patient with an MDS/MPN Overlap Syndrome Following Discontinuation of Iron Chelation Therapy

Background. Hematologic improvement (HI) occurs in some patients with acquired anemias and transfusional iron overload receiving iron chelation therapy (ICT) but there is little information on transfusion status after stopping chelation. Case Report. A patient with low IPSS risk RARS-T evolved to myelofibrosis developed a regular red blood cell (RBC) transfusion requirement. There was no response to a six-month course of study medication or to erythropoietin for three months. At 27 months of transfusion dependence, she started deferasirox and within 6 weeks became RBC transfusion independent, with the hemoglobin normalizing by 10 weeks of chelation. After 12 months of chelation, deferasirox was stopped; she remains RBC transfusion independent with a normal hemoglobin 17 months later. We report the patient’s course in detail and review the literature on HI with chelation. Discussion. There are reports of transfusion independence with ICT, but that transfusion independence may be sustained long term after stopping chelation deserves emphasis. This observation suggests that reduction of iron overload may have a lasting favorable effect on bone marrow failure in at least some patients with acquired anemias

Anaphylaxis: Revision of the Brighton collaboration case definition

The Brighton Collaboration (BC) has formulated a number of case definitions which have primarily been applied to adverse events of special interest in the context of vaccine safety surveillance. This is a revision of the 2007 BC case definition for anaphylaxis. Recently, the BC definition has been widely used for evaluating reports of suspected anaphylaxis following COVID-19 vaccination. This has led to debate about the performance of the BC definition in comparison with those from the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease/Food Allergy Anaphylaxis Network (NIAID/FAAN) and the World Allergy Organization (WAO). BC convened an expert working group to revise the case definition based on their usual process of literature review and expert consensus. This manuscript presents the outcome of this process and proposes a revised case definition for anaphylaxis. Major and minor criteria have been re-evaluated with an emphasis on the reporting of observable clinical signs, rather than subjective symptoms, and a clearer approach to the ascertainment of levels of certainty is provided. The BC case definition has also been aligned with other contemporary and international case definitions for anaphylaxis

Comets, historical records and vedic literature

A verse in book I of Rigveda mentions a cosmic tree with rope-like aerial roots held up in the sky. Such an imagery might have ensued from the appearance of a comet having `tree stem' like tail, with branched out portions resembling aerial roots. Interestingly enough, a comet referred to as `heavenly tree' was seen in 162 BC, as reported by old Chinese records. Because of weak surface gravity, cometary appendages may possibly assume strange shapes depending on factors like rotation, structure and composition of the comet as well as solar wind pattern. Varahamihira and Ballala Sena listed several comets having strange forms as reported originally by ancient seers such as Parashara, Vriddha Garga, Narada and Garga. Mahabharata speaks of a mortal king Nahusha who ruled the heavens when Indra, king of gods, went into hiding. Nahusha became luminous and egoistic after absorbing radiance from gods and seers. When he kicked Agastya (southern star Canopus), the latter cursed him to become a serpent and fall from the sky. We posit arguments to surmise that this Mahabharata lore is a mythical recounting of a cometary event wherein a comet crossed Ursa Major, moved southwards with an elongated tail in the direction of Canopus and eventually went out of sight. In order to check whether such a conjecture is feasible, a preliminary list of comets (that could have or did come close to Canopus) drawn from various historical records is presented and discussed.Comment: This work was presented in the International Conference on Oriental Astronomy held at IISER, Pune (India) during November, 201