Pollination biology of Aristolochia tagala, a rare species of medicinal importance

Floral phenology, pollination biology and breeding system were studied in Aristolochia tagala Cham (Aristolochiaceae) grown under ex situ conditions. The flower exhibits structural features typical of fly-trap mechanism described for other Aristolochia species. Flowers show pronounced protogyny. Stigmas are receptive at anthesis and remain so for 24 h. Anthers dehisce 45– 48 h after anthesis by which time stigma receptivity is lost. Chironomid fly (Diptera) is the pollinator. Attracted by the odour and colour of the flower, the flies enter it and are detained in the chamber of the perianthtube (where the anthers and stigma are located) for nearly 50 h. Their escape is prevented by the presence of dense downward-pointing hairs in the perianth tube. The nectaries provide food to the insects. Following anther dehiscence, the thorax of the flies becomes loaded with sticky pollen grains. Hairs on the inner wall of the perianth tube wither and facilitate the exit of the flies. When a fly carrying the pollen load enters a fresh flower, it brings about pollination. Manual pollinations showed that the species permits geitonogamous pollination. The percentage of fruit set in manually pollinated flowers is higher than that resulting from open pollination, confirming that pollination is a limitation for fruit set in the ex situ-grown population. Nevertheless, fruit and seed set is sufficiently high for ex situ conservation purposes

Some flow features of the Indian summer monsoon deduced from Nimbus II radiation data

Radiation data obtained from Nimbus-II MRIR (10–11μ) and HRIR (3.5–4.1μ) radiometer for 14–19 June 1966, over the Indian Ocean are used to study some features of the monsoon circulation during the six-day period. Low values of radiation which are associated with cloudiness show two distinct features from 15–17 June: (i) a very extensive band of approximately 1000 km in width at the equator between 50°–60° E extending towards both hemispheres, and (ii) a synoptic-scale cell covering the equatorial region approx. between 70°–90° E and 0°–10° S. The two cloud systems are separated from each other by a wide region of high radiation indicating clear conditions. Sub-synoptic scale features could be detected in the radiation field (which in turn are related to the cloud field). Northern and Western sections of the Arabian Sea were relatively cloud-free. An attempt is made to relate the cloud fields with computed vertical motion fields. Areas of upward motion seem to coincide well with centers of low radiation (clouds) and those of subsidence with regions of high radiation. Horizontal flow features related to the computed vertical motion fields are discussed in the pape

Contrecoup Epidural Haematoma-a Rare Phenomenon: an Autopsy Case Report

Background: Contrecoup extradural haemorrhage (CCEDH) is reported very rarely in literature, 13 to be exact. All these cases have been documented based on clinical, radiological and intraoperative findings.Case Report: Here we report a rare entity of CCEDH with autopsy findings in a 48-year old male with an alleged history of fall. The clinical and the radiological findings recorded in the hospital files as well as information supplied by the investigating officer has been considered.Conclusion: Various mechanisms of CCEDH hypothesised by the previous authors have been discussed

A clinical trial combining donor bone marrow infusion and heart transplantation: intermediate-term results.

BACKGROUND: Donor chimerism (the presence of donor cells of bone marrow origin) is present for years after transplantation in recipients of solid organs. In lung recipients, chimerism is associated with a lower incidence of chronic rejection. To augment donor chimerism with the aim to enhance graft acceptance and to reduce immunosuppression, we initiated a trial combining infusion of donor bone marrow with heart transplantation. Reported herein are the intermediate-term results of this ongoing trial. METHODS: Between September 1993 and August 1998, 28 patients received concurrent heart transplantation and infusion of donor bone marrow at 3.0 x 10(8) cells/kg (study group). Twenty-four contemporaneous heart recipients who did not receive bone marrow served as controls. All patients received an immunosuppressive regimen consisting of tacrolimus and steroids. RESULTS: Patient survival was similar between the study and control groups (86% and 87% at 3 years, respectively). However, the proportion of patients free from grade 3A rejection was higher in the study group (64% at 6 months) than in the control group (40%; P =.03). The prevalence of coronary artery disease was similar between the two groups (freedom from disease at 3 years was 78% in study patients and 69% in controls). Similar proportions of study (18%) and control (15%) patients exhibited in vitro evidence of donor-specific hyporesponsiveness. CONCLUSIONS: The infusion of donor bone marrow reduces the rate of acute rejection in heart recipients. Donor bone marrow may play an important role in strategies aiming to enhance the graft acceptance

Non operative treatment of chronic ankle sprain: a study conducted in teaching general hospital, Telangana, India

Background: Chronic ankle sprain due to “sprained ankle syndrome” may be particularly troublesome. Some causes of chronic ankle instability may be symptomatic insufficiency of pathologic laxity, arthro-kinematic changes, degenerative changes, decrease of proprioception and inadequate neuromuscular control. This study was conducted to review our experience with footwear correction of chronic ankle sprains of grade 2 and 3.  Methods: Ankles of 280 patients, who had chronic ankle sprains grade 2, grade 3 were considered in this study, to assess results of non-operate treatment. Diagnosis was made with history of pain, swelling on walking, clinical findings of swelling, tenderness on antero-lateral aspect of lateral malleolus. All patients were given 3 days of anti-inflammatories, analgesics and footwear modifications. Later patients were advised exercise program.Results: Out of 280 patients, who were regularly followed, 92% people had relief, 3.4% of patients continued footwear as they had associated symptoms, 3.9% of patient continued to have pain maybe obscure or not following doctor orders.Conclusion: The study concludes that lateral elevated foot wear made of micro cellular rubber of 0.75 cm is the choice of treatment for grade 2 and 3 ankle sprains. This foot wear helps in biomechanical correction from varus and also decreases symptoms and signs. Cosmetically acceptable.

Emerging Methods for Color Image and Video Quality Enhancement

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Maculopapular skin rash due to amoxicillin tri-hydrate hypersensitivity reaction: a case report

Amoxicillin tri-hydrate (AMT) is a commonly used penicillin group of antibacterial agent to combat various bacterial infections. Penicillin group of drugs are known to cause cutaneous drug eruptions as a hypersensitivity reaction. Most of the time, these eruptions are mild in nature, however, sometimes they represent the early manifestation of rare and severe drug-induced cutaneous reactions, such as; Stevens–Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. Here, we report a case of maculopapular skin rash developed due to AMT hypersensitivity reaction in a 48-year-old Indian male patient. Pheniramine maleate, hydrocortisone and skin protecting lotion were prescribed to manage the situation. This case is being reported to emphasize the need for reporting of drug induced complications and their management procedures

In Emerging EO Newspace Global Markets - Challenges for Indian Remote Sensing Systems

Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites have been providing various types of IRS images ̶ wide-field and high repeat multi-spectral images; moderate resolution multi-spectral data; high resolution panchromatic and multi-spectral image products; panchromatic stereo images; Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data; ocean colour images, scatterometer data and many others. The data are received at Indian station and also at polar receiving stations ̶ data is processed and disseminated from the processing centre at Hyderabad. Within India, IRS images are priced low and are widely used; across the world the use of IRS images are through cooperative arrangements. The average turn-around for moderate- or high-resolution images is 7-10 days. A Remote Sensing Data Policy (RSDP) defines the scheme for IRS data dissemination to users in India. Globally EO business in NewSpace era have not only been commercial but have gone e-image portals ̶ bringing high efficiency using advanced image processing and internet technologies. Spurred by US DigitalGlobe and WorldView, French SPOT, European Sentinel, other commercial systems like Rapideye, Planet etc, global EO is now focussed on high-demand geospatial markets and providing high resolution panchromatic/multi-spectral images with very high cadence/frequency of global coverage AND real-time image availability. The trend is for IMAGES ANYTIME ANYWHERE with real-time geo-rectification, seaming, organising and making available images as they stream or within 24-48 hours of image acquisition. Google offers online Landsat image archive from 1980 onwards for immediate access. These global developments in EO imaging and dissemination can be “disrupting to IRS" even as Indian EO is making significant shifts by continued space segment deployments strengthening of ground segment and online Bhuvan geoportal - all for “easier access" by users. The characters of NewSpace EO developments have not been fully addressed in the IRS environment and fragmented nature of value generation is becoming glaringly apparent. In a highly subsidised environment and lack of competitive business models, IRS could easily slip-down to an “average national endeavour" and loose impact in the global NewSpace environment. We assess markets of traditionally strong national programmes - like IRS that will need re-definition to be able to compete and be relevant in the NewSpace era. The paper assesses the evolutionary trends and market opportunities for IRS, maintaining “leadership" in EO, need for win-win relation between government and Indian industry, deregulation of IRS data access for energising industry and even licensing private Indian EO systems. This paper presents a strategic analysis of NewSpace implications for IRS

Perspectives for a National GI Policy (Including a National GI Policy Draft) (NIAS Report No. R11-2012)

GI (Geographic Inf ormation) ….. …..refers to any information that has a geographical or location context. The GI includes satellite images, aerial images/data, maps – topographic and thematic, ground survey data, positioning data, geo-tagged attributes/tables etc and also the derivatives from their processing – all of which are amenable to visual display, integration and processing and serving as maps/images in the spatial domain. Policy…… is declared objectives that a government seeks to achieve and preserve in national interest …. …… typically a “Statement of Inten