Higher-order nonlinear electron-acoustic solitary excitations in partially degenerate quantum electron-ion plasmas

Propagation of dressed solitary excitations are studied in a partially degenerate quantum plasma in the framework of quantum-hydrodynamics (QHD) model using multiple scales technique. The evolution equation together with a linear inhomogeneous differential equation is solved using Kodama-Taniuti renormalizing technique. It is shown that the type of solitary excitations (bright or dark) is defined by two critical plasma parameter values.Comment: To appear in Indian Journal of Physic

Converging Neuronal Activity in Inferior Temporal Cortex during the Classification of Morphed Stimuli

How does the brain dynamically convert incoming sensory data into a representation useful for classification? Neurons in inferior temporal (IT) cortex are selective for complex visual stimuli, but their response dynamics during perceptual classification is not well understood. We studied IT dynamics in monkeys performing a classification task. The monkeys were shown visual stimuli that were morphed (interpolated) between pairs of familiar images. Their ability to classify the morphed images depended systematically on the degree of morph. IT neurons were selected that responded more strongly to one of the 2 familiar images (the effective image). The responses tended to peak ∼120 ms following stimulus onset with an amplitude that depended almost linearly on the degree of morph. The responses then declined, but remained above baseline for several hundred ms. This sustained component remained linearly dependent on morph level for stimuli more similar to the ineffective image but progressively converged to a single response profile, independent of morph level, for stimuli more similar to the effective image. Thus, these neurons represented the dynamic conversion of graded sensory information into a task-relevant classification. Computational models suggest that these dynamics could be produced by attractor states and firing rate adaptation within the population of IT neurons

Serodiagnosis of Dengue by Particle Agglutination Assay

Background: Dengue is an emerging public health problem in Tarai Region of Nepal. The most affected are among the poorest populations living in remote, rural areas and urban slums who have even no access for medical treatment. This study was carried out with the objective of the determining the serodiagnosis of dengue in symptomatic individuals and comparing it to IgM ELISA. Methods: One hundred eighty three samples were collected from the suspected cases having clinical symptoms of dengue in the Tarai region of Nepal during September to October 2007. Particle Agglutination (PA) assays was performed and it was compared with IgM capture ELISA.  Results: Out of the total of 183 serum samples that 55(30%) samples were positive by PA assay. When compared with IgM-capture ELISA, a 50 of 55 were positive (sensitivity of 98% and specificity of 96%; a positive prediction value of 90% and negative prediction value of 99%). Conclusions: The finding of this study showed that dengue is firmly established in low endemic Tarai region of Nepal. The sensitivity and specificity of PA assay is acceptably high and will be useful in rural areas of Nepal. Key words: Dengue, Tarai region, Particle agglutination test, IgM capture ELISA   DOI: 10.3126/jnhrc.v7i1.2276 Journal of Nepal Health Research Council Vol. 7, No. 1, 2009 April 29-32</jats:p

Inter-relationship between Annavaha Srotas and Agni W.S.R. Shodhana Therapy

Ayurveda defines human body is made of different gross and subtle channels called srotas. Srotas are the channels through which different elements undergo transformation, transmutation, circulation and transportation. The srotas is an integral part of the body, serving as a route to conduct or convey a substance from one place to other. There are 13 major srotas mentioned. The Srotas or channels which carry Anna or Food is called Annavaha Srotas. Some authorities equate the Annavaha Srotas with the some parts of digestive system or the gastrointestinal tract. Agni, the transformative energy, in the Annavaha srotas digest and transforms the food into components suitable for the body. Impairment of function of agni is root the cause of the disease, which manifest either in Annavaha srotas or other srotas in the body. Thus, correction of agni is the prime in treatment of any disease. Elimination of vitiated doshas by Pancakarma procedure viz Vaman and Virechana has shown to have impact on agni through various guna in the drugs used in these therapy. Sodhana procedures has a significant role in improving the function of agni and restoring the health.</jats:p

Serological and Entomological Study of Dengue in Dang and Chitwan Districts of Nepal

A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 264 suspected dengue patients in two districts (Dang and Chitwan) of Nepal from June 2013 to November 2013. The anti-dengue IgM positivity was found to be (51/264)19.31% by capture ELISA, of which 21 (41.2%) were male and 30 (58.8%) were female. Symptoms of seropositive cases were fever, anorexia, nausea, headache, retro-orbital pain, skin rashes, and myalgia. Hematological features like thrombocytopenia and leucopenia were found to be significantly associated with the dengue fever (DF). Discarded tires were found as the commonest breeding habitats for the dengue vectors. Higher sero-positivity was recorded from the area having higher Breteau index (BI). The pH, chloride ion concentration and the salinity of the water from breeding habitats were found to be ranging from 6.9±0.82 to 8, 103.33±17.52 mg/L to 140.65 mg/L, and 0.19±0.032 ppt to 0.25 ppt respectively. This study may be helpful for the health authorities and public health workers for early diagnosis of DF and for the improved preventive measures to be adopted in the epidemic and possible epidemic areas

Dual component NMDA receptor currents at a single central synapse

Present thinking about the way that the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) class of glutamate receptor operates at central synapses relies mainly on information obtained from single-channel and whole-cell recordings from cultured neurons stimulated by exogenous NMDA receptor agonists. The mechanisms that operate in the postsynaptic membrane of a normal neuron following release of the natural transmitter are far less clear. An important problem is that most normal neurons receive many excitatory synapses (10(3)-10(5) per cell) and these synapses are located on slender dendritic elements far away from the somatic recording site, making the study of discrete synaptic events difficult. Typically, when populations of synapses are activated, NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic potentials appear as slowly rising, long-lasting waves superimposed on faster, non-NMDA-receptor potentials. Although believed to be critical for NMDA receptor function, this slow time-course would not be predicted from single-channel kinetics and its origin remains puzzling. We have now analysed the events occurring at the level of a single excitatory synapse using a simple, small, neuron--the cerebellar granule cell--which has an unusually simple glutamatergic input. By applying high-resolution whole-cell recording techniques to these cells in situ, we were able to study the nature of elementary NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic currents. Contrary to expectations, the prominent currents are fast but are followed by slow ones. Both types of current are strongly voltage-dependent but differ subtly in this respect. Furthermore, the currents are absent unless glycine is provided