Successful delivery in a case of sickle cell disease with bilateral avascular necrosis: a case report

Sickle cell disease is an inherited hemoglobinopathy. The patients with sickle cell disease had a small life years, before the advancement of medical science and development of newer drugs. These have improved the life expectancy among the sickle cell disease patients. Females are reaching reproductive age and are expectant of becoming mothers. But pregnancy in a sickle cell disease carries major fetal and maternal complications. Managing the pregnancy from conception to delivery is a difficult task and needs a team effort. Here we presented a case report of a female who got pregnant without any planning and was already on hydroxyurea. On top of that she was not willing to get her pregnancy terminated

Vulnerability of bangladesh to cyclones in a changing climate : potential damages and adaptation cost

This paper integrates information on climate change, hydrodynamic models, and geographic overlays to assess the vulnerability of coastal areas in Bangladesh to larger storm surges and sea-level rise by 2050. The approach identifies polders (diked areas), coastal populations, settlements, infrastructure, and economic activity at risk of inundation, and estimates the cost of damage versus the cost of several adaptation measures. A 27-centimeter sea-level rise and 10 percent intensification of wind speed from global warming suggests the vulnerable zone increases in size by 69 percent given a +3-meter inundation depth and by 14 percent given a +1-meter inundation depth. At present, Bangladesh has 123 polders, an early warning and evacuation system, and more than 2,400 emergency shelters to protect coastal inhabitants from tidal waves and storm surges. However, in a changing climate, it is estimated that 59 of the 123 polders would be overtopped during storm surges and another 5,500 cyclone shelters (each with the capacity of 1,600 people) to safeguard the population would be needed. Investments including strengthening polders, foreshore afforestation, additional multi-purpose cyclone shelters, cyclone-resistant private housing, and further strengthening of the early warning and evacuation system would cost more than $2.4 billion with an annual recurrent cost of more than$50 million. However, a conservative damage estimate suggests that the incremental cost of adapting to these climate change related risks by 2050 is small compared with the potential damage inthe absence of adaptation measures.Climate Change Mitigation and Green House Gases,Climate Change Economics,Science of Climate Change,Hazard Risk Management,Global Environment Facility

Climate proofing infrastructure in Bangladesh : the incremental cost of limiting future inland monsoon flood damage

Two-thirds of Bangladesh is less than 5 meters above sea level, making it one of the most flood prone countries in the world. Severe flooding during a monsoon causes significant damage to crops and property, with severe adverse impacts on rural livelihoods. Future climate change seems likely to increase the destructive power of monsoon floods. This paper examines the potential cost of offsetting increased flooding risk from climate change, based on simulations from a climate model of extreme floods out to 2050. Using the 1998 flood as a benchmark for evaluating additional protection measures, the authors calculate conservatively that necessary capital investments out to 2050 would total US$2,671 million (at 2009 prices) to protect roads and railways, river embankments surrounding agricultural lands, and drainage systems and erosion control measures for major towns. With gradual climate change, however, required investments would be phased. Beyond these capital-intensive investments, improved policies, planning and institutions are essential to ensure that such investments are used correctly and yield the expected benefits. Particular attention is needed to the robustness of benefits from large-scale fixed capital investments. Investments in increased understanding of risk-mitigation options and in economic mobility will have especially high returns.Hazard Risk Management,Transport Economics Policy&Planning,Climate Change Mitigation and Green House Gases,Science of Climate Change,Climate Change Economics

Fabrication and characterization of sol-gel-based coatings on quartz glass to obtain antireflective effect at 1054 nm for optics of high power Nd:phosphate glass laser

In order to obtain higher laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) and lower loss of laser radiation, the incident radiation must have an insignificant absorbance and high anti-reflectance. In this work, a single-layer porous SiO2-based anti-reflective (AR) coating for the optics of Nd:phosphate laser system has been developed on quartz glass optics adopting sol-gel dip coating technique, following quarter wavelength optical design. As measured by spectroscopic ellipsometer, the refractive index (RI) of the coated layer is found to be similar to 1.2. A maximum transmittance of similar to 99% in single-layer-coated quartz glass has been achieved at 1054 nm. In addition, the non-quarter wavelength-based double layer with an optical design (glass/ 0.7153 M / 1.134 L / air) and triple-layer AR coating with an optical design (glass / 0.28 H / 1.65 M / 1.03 L / air, where H, M and L indicate one-quarter wave thick layers of high, medium and low RI materials) have been fabricated. The deposition of M and H layers has been made from mixed metal oxide precursor sols of zirconia-silica, while L has been made from silica precursor sol to obtain porous silica coating. A maximum transmittance of about 98.1 and 97.6% was found at 1054 nm in double- and triple-layer AR-coated samples, respectively. The LIDT values have been measured on the AR coatings. Based upon the number of layers in the AR coatings, the LIDT values varied in the range of 8.7-2.4 J cm(-2) starting from single to double to triple layer. The AR coatings developed by sol-gel dip coating technique could find application in Nd:phosphate high power laser system

Fasting during Ramadan and subsequent long term impact on health of children: Comparing the Foetal Origin and Predictive Adaptive Response Hypotheses

The Foetal Origin Hypothesis (FOH) states that exposure to nutrition deficiency at the foetal stage results in poor anthropometric growth and a pre-disposition to have cardiac diseases, nephrological problems and diabetes at early middle age. While this hypothesis made us aware of the possibilities that health can be pre-programmed during the foetal stage, methodological problems implied that the hypothesis could not be accepted with certainty. This study is based on a primary survey of Muslim women and their children, and examines the impact of nutritional shock to the foetus in teh form of Ramadan fasting. The survey was undertaken in Basanti block, in South 24 Parganas. Lying in the Sunderban areas, this block is a chronically under-deprived area where nutrition deficiency is a common feature of life. The programming received through exposure to nutrition deficiency at the foetal stage, therefore, prepares the organism for its later life environment through its plasticity. This is called Predictive Adaptive Response (PAR). The primary survey, undertaken in 2013-2014, covered Muslim youth aged 18-22 years. The impact of foetal starvation was measured through anthropometric measurements. In all 27 indicators were studied. Simultaneously, the mothers of the respondents were surveyed. We collected information about education levels of the parents, the past occupation and standard of living, current occupation and standard of living, and information regarding the conceptions. After ascertaining using old Muslim calendars whether the foetal stage coincided with Ramadan, we also clarified whether the mother had fasted during Ramadan. This enabled us to successfully distinguish between the study and control group. Analysis of the data using multivariate regressions showed that the difference in measurements for most indicators was not statistically significant. In those cases, where the difference was found to be significant, it was those exposed to Ramadan fasting at the foetal stage who were found to be “fitter”. This is taken as preliminary evidence in support of PAR. Further testing provides evidence in support of Predictive Adaptive Response

Coping the arsenic toxicity in rice plant with magnesium addendum for alluvial soil of indo-gangetic Bengal, India

Arsenic (As3+) is a toxic metalloid found in the earth’s crust, its elevated concentration is a concern for human health because rice is the staple grain in eastern part of India and the waterlogged rice field environment provides opportunity for more As3+ uptake. Magnesium (Mg2+) is an important plant nutrient. Present work is a search for reducing As3+ toxicity in plants through Mg2+ application. The findings are quite impressive, the root to shoot biomass ratio showed more than 1.5 times increase compared to the control. Total protein content increased 2 folds. Carbohydrate and chlorophyll content increased two to three times compared to control. On the other hand, Malondialdehyde content showed a decline with the application of increased Mg2+ dose. The in-silico study shows a better interaction with As3+ in presence of Mg2+ but interestingly without stress symptoms. These findings from the research indicate that Mg2+ application can be effective in reducing As3+ induced stress in plants

Fasting during Ramadan and subsequent long term impact on health of children: Comparing the Foetal Origin and Predictive Adaptive Response Hypotheses

The Foetal Origin Hypothesis (FOH) states that exposure to nutrition deficiency at the foetal stage results in poor anthropometric growth and a pre-disposition to have cardiac diseases, nephrological problems and diabetes at early middle age. While this hypothesis made us aware of the possibilities that health can be pre-programmed during the foetal stage, methodological problems implied that the hypothesis could not be accepted with certainty. This study is based on a primary survey of Muslim women and their children, and examines the impact of nutritional shock to the foetus in teh form of Ramadan fasting. The survey was undertaken in Basanti block, in South 24 Parganas. Lying in the Sunderban areas, this block is a chronically under-deprived area where nutrition deficiency is a common feature of life. The programming received through exposure to nutrition deficiency at the foetal stage, therefore, prepares the organism for its later life environment through its plasticity. This is called Predictive Adaptive Response (PAR). The primary survey, undertaken in 2013-2014, covered Muslim youth aged 18-22 years. The impact of foetal starvation was measured through anthropometric measurements. In all 27 indicators were studied. Simultaneously, the mothers of the respondents were surveyed. We collected information about education levels of the parents, the past occupation and standard of living, current occupation and standard of living, and information regarding the conceptions. After ascertaining using old Muslim calendars whether the foetal stage coincided with Ramadan, we also clarified whether the mother had fasted during Ramadan. This enabled us to successfully distinguish between the study and control group. Analysis of the data using multivariate regressions showed that the difference in measurements for most indicators was not statistically significant. In those cases, where the difference was found to be significant, it was those exposed to Ramadan fasting at the foetal stage who were found to be “fitter”. This is taken as preliminary evidence in support of PAR. Further testing provides evidence in support of Predictive Adaptive Response

Bioremediation: the eco-friendly solution to the hazardous problem of environmental pollution

Bioremediation is a technique to enhance natural biological processes to rectify polluted groundwater, soil, and even entire habitats. Bioremediation techniques use biological agents to act upon hazardous, toxic materials and subsequently convert them into less toxic substances.Microbes are organisms ubiquitously present in the biosphere. These microorganisms are the main agents that remediate toxic and polluted environmental conditions. Highly polluted areas can be rectified using proper bioremediation procedures and interventions. In this review we have studied the different bioremediation techniques which can be utilized to correct the harmful effects of environmental pollution. In this study we have also emphasized on the benefits of adopting bioremediation as an efficient alternative technique in comparison to the traditional physical and chemical methods to restore the healthy environmental conditions

Bond graph modelling of chemoelectrical energy transduction

Energy-based bond graph modelling of biomolecular systems is extended to include chemoelectrical transduction thus enabling integrated thermodynamically-compliant modelling of chemoelectrical systems in general and excitable membranes in particular. Our general approach is illustrated by recreating a well-known model of an excitable membrane. This model is used to investigate the energy consumed during a membrane action potential thus contributing to the current debate on the trade-off between the speed of an action potential event and energy consumption. The influx of Na+ is often taken as a proxy for energy consumption; in contrast, this paper presents an energy based model of action potentials. As the energy based approach avoids the assumptions underlying the proxy approach it can be directly used to compute energy consumption in both healthy and diseased neurons. These results are illustrated by comparing the energy consumption of healthy and degenerative retinal ganglion cells using both simulated and in vitro data