Performance of the tsunami forecast system for the Indian Ocean

The Indian Tsunami Early Warning System (ITEWS) at the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, Hyderabad, is responsible for issuing tsunami bulletins in India. The tsunami centre oper- ates on a 24×7 basis and monitors seismological sta- tions, bottom pressure recorders and tidal stations throughout the Indian Ocean to evaluate potentially tsunamigenic earthquakes and disseminating tsunami bulletins. The end-to-end capabilities of this warning system have been well proven during all the tsunami- genic earthquakes that occurred since September 2007. Comparison of the earthquake parameters estimated by ITEWS with other international seismological agencies suggests that the system is performing well and has achieved the target set up by the Inter- governmental Oceanographic Commission

Heavy Flavour Baryons in Hyper Central Model

Heavy flavor baryons containing single and double charm (beauty) quarks with light flavor combinations are studied using the hyper central description of the three-body problem. The confinement potential is assumed as hyper central coulomb plus power potential with power index $\upsilon$. The ground state masses of the heavy flavor, $J^P={1/2}^+$ and ${3/2}^+$ baryons are computed for different power index, $\nu$ starting from 0.5 to 2.0. The predicted masses are found to attain a saturated value in each case of quark combinations beyond the power index $\nu=1.0$.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

The profile and treatment outcomes of the older (aged 60 years and above) tuberculosis patients in Tamilnadu, South India

Background: With changing demographic patterns in the context of a high tuberculosis (TB) burden country, like India, there is very little information on the clinical and demographic factors associated with poor treatment outcome in the sub-group of older TB patients. The study aimed to assess the proportion of older TB patients (60 years of age and more), to compare the type of TB and treatment outcomes between older TB patients and other TB patients (less than 60 years of age) and to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of older TB patients and assess any associations with TB treatment outcomes. Methods: A retrospective cohort study involving a review of records from April to June 2011 in the 12 selected districts of Tamilnadu, India. Demographic, clinical and WHO defined disease classifications and treatment outcomes of all TB patients aged 60 years and above were extracted from TB registers maintained routinely by Revised National TB Control Program (RNTCP). Results: Older TB patients accounted for 14% of all TB patients, of whom 47% were new sputum positive. They had 38% higher risk of unfavourable treatment outcomes as compared to all other TB patients (Relative risk (RR)-1.4, 95% CI 1.2–1.6). Among older TB patients, the risk for unfavourable treatment outcomes was higher for those aged 70 years and more (RR 1.5, 95% CI 1.2–1.9), males (RR 1.5, 95% CI 1.0–2.1), re-treatment patients (RR 2.5, 95% CI 1.9–3.2) and those who received community-based Direct Observed Treatment (RR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1–1.9). Conclusion: Treatment outcomes were poor in older TB patients warranting special attention to this group – including routine assessment and recording of co-morbidities, a dedicated recording, reporting and monitoring of outcomes for this age-group and collaboration with National programme of non-communicable diseases for comprehensive management of co-morbidities

Prevalence and Genotypes of Mycobacterium Avium Subspecies Paratuberculosis in Large Ruminants of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, North India

Uttar Pradesh is the fourth largest, most populous and leading milk and meat producing state in India. Despite the huge livestock population, information on the status of paratuberculosis homogeneity and heterogeneity of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) isolates of eastern Uttar Pradesh is non-existent. Present study was aimed to estimate the presence of MAP in large ruminants (Cattle and Buffaloes) of eastern Uttar Pradesh. A total 108 fecal samples were collected from farmer's herds of large ruminants (cattle and buffaloes) from different geographical regions (Chandauli, Mughalsarai, Gazipur, and Naugarh) of eastern Uttar Pradesh and screened for the presence of MAP infection using microscopic examination, direct IS900 PCR and culture on Herrold egg yolk (HEY) medium. The isolates recovered on HEY medium were subjected to molecular identification and genotyping using IS900 PCR and IS1311 PCR-REA method, respectively. Of the 108 fecal samples, 25 (23.14%) and 11 (10.18%) samples were positive for the presence of acid-fast bacilli and growth on HEY medium, respectively. Species-wise, 17.5, 7.5% and 26.5, 11.7% fecal samples from cattle and buffaloes were found positive for the presence of acid-fast bacilli and growth on HEY medium, respectively. Isolates recovered on HEY medium with mycobactin J were positive for IS900 sequence and genotyped as Bison Type using IS1311 PCR-REA method. Present study is the first report on the presence of MAP infection and ‘Bison Type' genotype of MAP in eastern Uttar Pradesh. These findings will be useful for the intervention of effective control measures in order to reduce the prevalence of MAP infection in domestic livestock species and prevent its spread to the human population in the regions

Effectiveness of pegylated erythropoietin in renal anaemia patients on dialysis-a multicentre, cross-sectional, observational outcome study

Background: Low dose of pegylated erythropoietin (PegEPO) is better than conventional erythropoietin stimulating agents (ESAs) in improving hyporesponsiveness and maintaining stable haemoglobin (Hb) levels in renal anaemic patients undergoing hemodialysis. This real-world study aimed to assess effectiveness and safety of low-dose PegEPO (30 µg/0.3 mL), administered at different time-points in renal anaemia patients on dialysis. Methods: HEMEPEG (HEMoglobin outcomE with PegEPO) was a multicentre, retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study of renal anaemia patients receiving PegEPO up to 3 months. The study assessed an increase in Hb, patients achieving Hb 10-12 g/dl, and Hb increase by ≥1 and ≥2 g/dl. Results: Data from 223 out of 273 patients from 19 Indian centers were analyzed. PegEPO was administered weekly to 132 patients (59.19%), with 38.64% being diabetic and 77.27% previously treated with ESAs. Ten day dosing was given to 91 patients (40.81%), including 46.15% diabetic patients and 72.53% previously treated with ESAs. A Significant (p<0.0001) increase in mean Hb levels from baseline to day 30, 60 and 90 were observed for both studied groups, with a target Hb of 10-12 g/dl achieved in 51.08% and 52.85% of patients in the respective groups after 3 months. An increase in Hb by ≥1 and ≥2 g/dl were observed in weekly (68.67% and 45.78%) and 10-day group (77.14% and 50.00%) patients, respectively. Conclusions: PegEPO (30 µg/0.3 mL) was effective treatment of renal anaemia and diabetic chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients on dialysis when administered weekly or every 10 days over a 3-month treatment period

Extrapolation of Multiplicity distribution in p+p(\bar(p)) collisions to LHC energies

The multiplicity (N_ch) and pseudorapidity distribution (dN_ch/d\eta) of primary charged particles in p+p collisions at Large Hadron Collider (LHC) energies of \sqrt(s) = 10 and 14 TeV are obtained from extrapolation of existing measurements at lower \sqrt(s). These distributions are then compared to calculations from PYTHIA and PHOJET models. The existing \sqrt(s) measurements are unable to distinguish between a logarithmic and power law dependence of the average charged particle multiplicity () on \sqrt(s), and their extrapolation to energies accessible at LHC give very different values. Assuming a reasonably good description of inclusive charged particle multiplicity distributions by Negative Binomial Distributions (NBD) at lower \sqrt(s) to hold for LHC energies, we observe that the logarithmic \sqrt(s) dependence of are favored by the models at midrapidity. The dN_ch/d\eta versus \eta for the existing measurements are found to be reasonably well described by a function with three parameters which accounts for the basic features of the distribution, height at midrapidity, central rapidity plateau and the higher rapidity fall-off. Extrapolation of these parameters as a function of \sqrt(s) is used to predict the pseudorapidity distributions of charged particles at LHC energies. dN_ch/d\eta calculations from PYTHIA and PHOJET models are found to be lower compared to those obtained from the extrapolated dN_ch/d\eta versus \eta distributions for a broad \eta range.Comment: 11 pages and 13 figures. Substantially revised and accepted for publication in Journal of Physics

Can follow-up examination of tuberculosis patients be simplified? A study in Chhattisgarh, India

Each follow-up during the course of tuberculosis treatment currently requires two sputum examinations. However, the incremental yield of the second sputum sample during follow-up of different types of tuberculosis patients has never been determined precisely