Zonal Velocity Bands and the Solar Activity Cycle

We compare the zonal flow pattern in subsurface layers of the Sun with the distribution of surface magnetic features like sunspots and polar faculae. We demonstrate that in the activity belt, the butterfly pattern of sunspots coincides with the fast stream of zonal flows, although part of the sunspot distribution does spill over to the slow stream. At high latitudes, the polar faculae and zonal flow bands have similar distributions in the spatial and temporal domains.Comment: To appear in Solar Physic

The Response of Cerebral Cortex to Haemorrhagic Damage: Experimental Evidence from a Penetrating Injury Model

Understanding the response of the brain to haemorrhagic damage is important in haemorrhagic stroke and increasingly in the understanding the cerebral degeneration and dementia that follow head trauma and head-impact sports. In addition, there is growing evidence that haemorrhage from small cerebral vessels is important in the pathogenesis of age-related dementia (Alzheimer's disease). In a penetration injury model of rat cerebral cortex, we have examined the neuropathology induced by a needlestick injury, with emphasis on features prominent in the ageing and dementing human brain, particularly plaque-like depositions and the expression of related proteins. Needlestick lesions were made in neo- and hippocampal cortex in Sprague Dawley rats aged 3-5 months. Brains were examined after 1-30 d survival, for haemorrhage, for the expression of hyperphosphorylated tau, Aβ, amyloid precursor protein (APP), for gliosis and for neuronal death. Temporal cortex from humans diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease was examined with the same techniques. Needlestick injury induced long-lasting changes-haem deposition, cell death, plaque-like deposits and glial invasion-along the needle track. Around the track, the lesion induced more transient changes, particularly upregulation of Aβ, APP and hyperphosporylated tau in neurons and astrocytes. Reactions were similar in hippocampus and neocortex, except that neuronal death was more widespread in the hippocampus. In summary, experimental haemorrhagic injury to rat cerebral cortex induced both permanent and transient changes. The more permanent changes reproduced features of human senile plaques, including the formation of extracellular deposits in which haem and Aβ-related proteins co-localised, neuronal loss and gliosis. The transient changes, observed in tissue around the direct lesion, included the upregulation of Aβ, APP and hyperphosphorylated tau, not associated with cell death. The findings support the possibility that haemorrhagic damage to the brain can lead to plaque-like pathology.This work was supported by the Sir Zelman Cowen Universities Fund, and by the Bluesand Foundation. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

A study on stability analysis of atrial repolarization variability using ARX model in sinus rhythm and atrial tachycardia ECGs

© 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd Background The interaction between the PTa and PP interval dynamics from the surface ECG is seldom explained. Mathematical modeling of these intervals is of interest in finding the relationship between the heart rate and repolarization variability. Objective The goal of this paper is to assess the bounded input bounded output (BIBO) stability in PTa interval (PTaI) dynamics using autoregressive exogenous (ARX) model and to investigate the reason for causing instability in the atrial repolarization process. Methods Twenty-five male subjects in normal sinus rhythm (NSR) and ten male subjects experiencing atrial tachycardia (AT) were included in this study. Five minute long, modified limb lead (MLL) ECGs were recorded with an EDAN SE-1010 PC ECG system. The number of minute ECGs with unstable segments (N us ) and the frequency of premature activation (PA) (i.e. atrial activation) were counted for each ECG recording and compared between AT and NSR subjects. Results The instability in PTaI dynamics was quantified by measuring the numbers of unstable segments in ECG data for each subject. The unstable segments in the PTaI dynamics were associated with the frequency of PA. The presence of PA is not the only factor causing the instability in PTaI dynamics in NSR subjects, and it is found that the cause of instability is mainly due to the heart rate variability (HRV). C onclusion The ARX model showed better prediction of PTa interval dynamics in both groups. The frequency of PA is significantly higher in AT patients than NSR subjects. A more complex model is needed to better identify and characterize healthy heart dynamics

On the electron-induced isotope fractionation in low temperature ³²O₂/³⁶O₂ ices—ozone as a case study

The formation of six ozone isotopomers and isotopologues, 16O16O16O, 18O18O18O, 16O16O18O, 18O18O16O, 16O18O16O, and 18O16O18O, has been studied in electron-irradiated solid oxygen 16O2 and 18O2 (1 : 1) ices at 11 K. Significant isotope effects were found to exist which involved enrichment of 18O-bearing ozone molecules. The heavy 18O18O18O species is formed with a factor of about six higher than the corresponding 16O16O16O isotopologue. Likewise, the heavy 18O18O16O species is formed with abundances of a factor of three higher than the lighter 16O16O18O counterpart. No isotope effect was observed in the production of 16O18O16O versus 18O16O18O. Such studies on the formation of distinct ozone isotopomers and isotopologues involving non-thermal, non-equilibrium chemistry by irradiation of oxygen ices with high energy electrons, as present in the magnetosphere of the giant planets Jupiter and Saturn, may suggest that similar mechanisms may contribute to the 18O enrichment on the icy satellites of Jupiter and Saturn such as Ganymede, Rhea, and Dione. In such a Solar System environment, energetic particles from the magnetospheres of the giant planets may induce non-equilibrium reactions of suprathermal and/or electronically excited atoms under conditions, which are quite distinct from isotopic enrichments found in classical, thermal gas phase reactions

Comparative study of anaphylaxis incidence in patients receiving anti-snake venom with or without prophylactic adrenaline: a prospective, randomized, blinded study

Background: Anti-snake venom serum (ASV) administered for snake-bite patients is the most specific treatment available. Unfortunately, it can cause severe anaphylaxis which can be fatal sometimes.Methods: Fifty patients were included in the study and randomly divided into group A, who received sub-cutaneous adrenaline before administration of anti-venom serum and group B who did not. Each group comprised of twenty-five patients. The incidences as well as the severity of anaphylaxis in both groups and also the effects of subcutaneous adrenaline on the hemodynamic were analysed.Results: Anaphylactic reactions were significantly less in group A than group B population (p0.05) implying that administration of sub-cutaneous adrenaline is safe.Conclusions: Prophylactic subcutaneous adrenaline before anti snake venom administration is highly efficacious and safe in reducing the incidence as well as severity of anaphylactic reactions

Survey and Review on Various Topology and Geographical based Routing Protocol Parameters to Ensure the QOS Parameters of VANET

Vehicular Ad Hoc Network (VANET) is a type of wireless network that allows communication between vehicles and infrastructure. One of the critical considerations in VANET is Quality of Service (QoS) parameters, which determine the network's performance. The effective management of QoS parameters is essential for VANET's reliable and efficient operation. In this research paper, we aim to explore topology-based and geographical-based routing protocol parameters to ensure QoS parameters in VANET. The former uses the network topology to make routing decisions, while the latter uses the location information of vehicles.  We will first provide an overview of VANET and QoS parameters. Then, we will delve into the key parameters of topology-based and geographical-based routing protocols and how they affect QoS. We will also survey and review the existing routing protocols and parameter values used in these protocols. The findings of this research paper will provide insights into the effective management of QoS parameters in VANET and contribute to the development of more efficient routing protocols

Optimization of Intelligent Transportation System using Biologically-Inspired Vehicular Ad hoc Networks for Achieve the Desired Performance

Many innovations made possible by the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS), such as media apps, encrypted financial transactions, and effective traffic management, rely heavily on vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs). Using bio-inspired methodologies, This study looks back at the past and forward to the future to examine all of the routing challenges in VANETs, whether they are associated with a chain of related routing tasks or are aimed at a group of distinct approaches to routing. The high node mobility and unpredictable vehicle distribution (on the road) lead to major issues for VANETs, including the design of a network's physical architecture and unstable connections. VANET's provision of reliable and appropriate vehicular contact in situations requiring good service is crucial. As a result, effective means of navigation are desperately needed in VANET. Hence, in this paper, we examine the Bio-Inspired vehicular ad hoc networks (Bio-VANETs), wherein, should a suggested algorithmic network fail at any given node or vehicle, the remaining vehicles may be able to take over the task of relaying the data to the necessary nodes to achieve the desired performance. Route lifetime increases, and connection failures are decreased when the shortest way is selected using the fewest possible hops over highly connected links. In addition, the received signal intensity fluctuations due to vehicle density and speed are assessed. Packet Delivery Ratio, Optimal Performance, Accuracy and Efficiency of Bio-VANET are discussed and simulated against other methods that are existing models

Ethnobotanical investigations among tribes in Madurai District of Tamil Nadu (India)

BACKGROUND: An ethnobotanical survey was carried out to collect information on the use of medicinal plants in Southern Western Ghats of India (Madurai district, Tamil Nadu). Information presented in this paper was gathered from the paliyar tribes using an integrated approach of botanical collections, group discussions and interviews with questionnaires in the years 1998 – 1999. The informants interviewed were 12 among whom 4 were tribal practitioners. RESULTS: A total of 60 ethnomedicinal plant species distributed in 32 families are documented in this study. The medicinal plants used by paliyars are listed with Latin name, family, local name, parts used, mode of preparation and medicinal uses. Generally, fresh part of the plant was used for the preparation of medicine. CONCLUSION: We observed that the documented ethnomedicinal plants were mostly used to cure skin diseases, poison bites, stomachache and nervous disorders. The results of this study showed that these tribal people still depend on medicinal plants in Madurai district forest areas

Enabling Future Sustainability Transitions: An Urban Metabolism Approach to Los Angeles Pincetl et al. Enabling Future Sustainability Transitions

Summary: This synthesis article presents an overview of an urban metabolism (UM) approach using mixed methods and multiple sources of data for Los Angeles, California. We examine electric energy use in buildings and greenhouse gas emissions from electricity, and calculate embedded infrastructure life cycle effects, water use and solid waste streams in an attempt to better understand the urban flows and sinks in the Los Angeles region (city and county). This quantification is being conducted to help policy-makers better target energy conservation and efficiency programs, pinpoint best locations for distributed solar generation, and support the development of policies for greater environmental sustainability. It provides a framework to which many more UM flows can be added to create greater understanding of the study area's resource dependencies. Going forward, together with policy analysis, UM can help untangle the complex intertwined resource dependencies that cities must address as they attempt to increase their environmental sustainability

Sugar Mill Effluent Toxicity In Crop Plants

The laboratory experiments were conducted to know the effect of different concentrations of sugar mill effluent on seed germination, biochemical content of crops. The experiment was conducted with the both crops at different concentrations of sugar mill effluent. The growth parameters such as germination percentage, seedling length, lateral roots, dry weight, were measured at 7th DAS. After sowing (DAS) the pigment content viz., chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, carotene, sugar, starch, amino acid, protein contents were analysed at      7th day. All morphological growth parameters, biochemical contents, were found to increase at 5% effluent concentration and it decreased from 10% effluent concentration onwards. So these results reflect  that the sugar mill effluent is toxic to crop and it can be used for irrigation purpose after a proper treatment with appropriate dilution