Studies of Fallopian Tube Patency in the Cow

On gross examination of 308 fresh female bovine genital tracts abnormalities which involved the oviducts were adhesions (20.5%), paratubal cysts (4.87%) and hydrosalpinx (1.62%). One hundred and eighty of these were studied in more detail and in 3 both oviducts were blocked whereas unilateral blockage was found in 6. Insufflation studies on apparently normal tracts showed a wide variation of pressures at which air escaped from the oviducts. The main area of resistance to the passage of air was the isthmus. Endometrial rupture occurred in 31% of the tracts during transuterine insufflation of the oviducts although in 98% of these both oviducts were patent. Subsequent passage of air down the oviducts required significantly higher pressures. The phenosulphonphthalein dye test was studied to determine its clinical application in cattle. This involved instillation of the dye into the body of the uterus via the cervix and detecting its passage through the oviducts into the peritoneum by its presence in the urine. When the dye was detected within 15-30 minutes both oviducts were patent. The stage of the oestrous cycle did not have any obvious effects on the test. In some cases with delay in appearance of the dye in urine, on repeating the test two or three times there was a reduction in the time of appearance of the dye. If after 3 tests the dye did not appear in the urine until about 45-60 minutes, one oviduct was occluded and if it was not detected by 120 minutes, both oviducts were occluded, these findings being confirmed both on post-mortem examination and by carrying out oviduct ligation in 2 animals. The test did not cause obvious damage to the epithelium lining of the uterus or oviducts and resulted in an almost complete emptying of oviduct lumenal contents. The carcase value was not lowered and the future fertility did not appear to be reduced since 4 of the 5 animals which were Inseminated conceived to first insemination and were all diagnosed pregnant at 2 1/2 months. Endoscopy demonstrated that the dye passed through the oviducts. In most cases the entire genital tract could be seen from either left or right flank, the latter being an easier method with better visualisation. In fat animals both left and right flank approaches were necessary for complete visualisation

Various analytical models for supercapacitors: a mathematical study

Supercapacitors (SCs) are used extensively in high-power potential energy applications like renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, power electronics, and many other industrial applications. This is due to SCs containing high-power density and the ability to respond spontaneously with fast charging and discharging demands. Advancements in material and fabrication techniques have induced a scope for research to improve the application of SCs. Many researchers have studied various SC properties and their effects on energy storage and management performance. In this paper, various fractional calculus-based SC models are summarized, with emphasis on analytical studies from derived classical SC models. Study prevails such parameterized resistor- capacitor networks have simplified the representation of electrical behavior of SCs to deal with the complicated internal structure. Fractional calculus has been used to develop SC models with the aim of understanding their complicated structure. Finally, the properties of different SC models utilized by various researchers to understand the behavior of SCs are listed using an equivalent circuit

Intercropping of menthol mint (Mentha arvensis L.) and spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) with sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.)

Field experiments were conducted at Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), to study the effect of two sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) cultivars namely, Co-S 767 (early, profuse tillering) and Co-Lk 8001 (late, shy tillering) and two planting geometries namely, 90 cm interval regular rows and 75 cm (row-to-row distance within the pair) x 120 cm (distance between two pairs of rows) paired rows for maximizing productivity, land use efficiency and income benefits through raising of menthol mint (Mentha arvensis) or spearmint (Mentha spicata) as intercrops in main as well as rata on crop of sugarcane. As a sale crop, the two sugarcane cultivars were equally productive during the main crop cycle but during'the rata on crop cycle cv. Co-S 767 yielded 15.3% more cane than cv. Co-Lk 8001. Sugarcane cv. Co-S 767 in paired row planting showed no reduction in cane yield by mint intercropping compared to 16.2% to 28.1% reduction in regular row planting during both main and rata on crop cycles. Sugarcane cv.Co-Lk 8001, however, did not suffer yield reduction by mint intercropping, irrespective of methods of sugarcane planting and crop cycles. However, menthol mint and spearmint suffered yield reduction (52% to 75%) as intercrops compared to their respective sale crop yields. In general; mint oil yield reductions were more during the ratoon crop cycle and when the companion crop was cv. Co-S 767. Mint intercropping with sugarcane cv. Co-Lk 8001 significantly improved land use efficiency (23% to 35%), gross (29% to 46%) and net returns (90% to 137%) and benefit-cost ratio (44% to 63%). Interplanting spearmint with sugarcane cv. Co-Lk 8001 resulted in maximum profits. &nbsp

Sexual dimorphism in striatal dopaminergic responses promotes monogamy in social songbirds

In many songbird species, males sing to attract females and repel rivals. How can gregarious, non-territorial songbirds such as zebra finches, where females have access to numerous males, sustain monogamy? We found that the dopaminergic reward circuitry of zebra finches can simultaneously promote social cohesion and breeding boundaries. Surprisingly, in unmated males but not in females, striatal dopamine neurotransmission was elevated after hearing songs. Behaviorally too, unmated males but not females persistently exchanged mild punishments in return for songs. Song reinforcement diminished when dopamine receptors were blocked. In females, we observed song reinforcement exclusively to the mate’s song, although their striatal dopamine neurotransmission was only slightly elevated. These findings suggest that song-triggered dopaminergic activation serves a dual function in social songbirds: as low-threshold social reinforcement in males and as ultra-selective sexual reinforcement in females. Co-evolution of sexually dimorphic reinforcement systems can explain the coexistence of gregariousness and monogamy

Cirrhosis of liver is a risk factor for gallstone disease

Background: Gallstones are common clinical finding in general population. Mean prevalence rate in Indian population is 4-5%. The prevalence of gallstones is found to be high in cirrhotic patients compared to the general population in some western studies. Cause of this increased prevalence however is not known. Aim of the study was to evaluate prevalence of the gall stones in the cirrhotic patients, assess risk factors in cirrhotic patients and clinical presentation.Methods: This is the cross sectional observational study, included cirrhotic patients (compensated or decompensated). Risk factors for gallstone formation (age, gender and diabetes mellitus), characteristics of liver cirrhosis (etiology, Child Turcotte Pugh class, hypersplenism and varices) and clinical presentation were assessed in all cirrhotic patients with gallstones.Results: 336 patients with liver cirrhosis are included in this study; 201 (59.80%) male and 135 (40.2%) female. Mean age of the patients is 44.95±13.1 years. Overall prevalence of gall stones was 12.8% (43/336). Out of 43 patients, 23 (53.5%) are male and 20 (46.5%) are female. As child status progresses from A to B to C, prevalence of gall stone increases, with 60.46% (26/43) of gall stones occurring in the patients with CTP class C. Only 8 (18.6%) patients had gallstone related symptoms while rests were asymptomatic. 5 (11.6%) had concurrent CBD stones. Cholecystectomy was possible in only 2 patients with symptomatic gallstones.Conclusions: The prevalence of gall stones in cirrhotic is higher than general population which increases with the severity of liver cirrhosis. Most cirrhotic patients are asymptomatic for gallstones

Everyday life and environmental change

This paper explores how daily changes in the physical environment intersect and connect with people’s everyday lives, routines and practices in the Maldives. Day-to-day life is often regarded as mundane and ordinary, and therefore not particularly worthy of study. As this paper argues, however, the everyday is central to understanding how environmental change occurs and how people respond to it. Much recent work has challenged the ontological separation of the human and non-human, yet approaches to examining environment-everyday connections have, to date, been largely one-directional, focusing on either how the environment impacts on human practices or is impacted by them. Using the notion of the everyday, this paper explores how ‘impacting on’ and ‘impacted by’ are entangled, ongoing cyclical processes that unfold daily. It draws on a series of innovative methodologies conducted with island-based communities to examine three keys changes in the physical environment that are taking place in the context of the recent and rapid development of tourism on inhabited islands: sand excavation and erosion, the appearance and removal of rubbish and debris, and the expansion of the built environment. The paper reveals the significance of these day-to-day changes and the ways in which they are accommodated by, and incorporated into, the spatial and temporal dimensions of people’s daily practices. It concludes by suggesting that an appreciation of the everyday can contribute to new understandings of human/non-human entanglements