Growing electrostatic modes in the isothermal pair plasma of the pulsar magnetosphere

It is shown that a strongly magnetized isothermal pair plasma near the surface of a pulsar supports low-frequency (in comparison to electron cyclotron frequency) toroidal electrostatic plasma modes in the equatorial region. Physically, the thermal pressure coupled with the magnetic pressure creates the low frequency oscillations which may grow for particular case of inhomogeneities of the equilibrium magnetic field and the pair plasma density.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures, Accepted for publication in Astrophysics & Space Science 201

Classification of behaviour in housed dairy cows using an accelerometer-based activity monitoring system

Background Advances in bio-telemetry technology have made it possible to automatically monitor and classify behavioural activities in many animals, including domesticated species such as dairy cows. Automated behavioural classification has the potential to improve health and welfare monitoring processes as part of a Precision Livestock Farming approach. Recent studies have used accelerometers and pedometers to classify behavioural activities in dairy cows, but such approaches often cannot discriminate accurately between biologically important behaviours such as feeding, lying and standing or transition events between lying and standing. In this study we develop a decision-tree algorithm that uses tri-axial accelerometer data from a neck-mounted sensor to both classify biologically important behaviour in dairy cows and to detect transition events between lying and standing. Results Data were collected from six dairy cows that were monitored continuously for 36 h. Direct visual observations of each cow were used to validate the algorithm. Results show that the decision-tree algorithm is able to accurately classify three types of biologically relevant behaviours: lying (77.42 % sensitivity, 98.63 % precision), standing (88.00 % sensitivity, 55.00 % precision), and feeding (98.78 % sensitivity, 93.10 % precision). Transitions between standing and lying were also detected accurately with an average sensitivity of 96.45 % and an average precision of 87.50 %. The sensitivity and precision of the decision-tree algorithm matches the performance of more computationally intensive algorithms such as hidden Markov models and support vector machines. Conclusions Biologically important behavioural activities in housed dairy cows can be classified accurately using a simple decision-tree algorithm applied to data collected from a neck-mounted tri-axial accelerometer. The algorithm could form part of a real-time behavioural monitoring system in order to automatically detect dairy cow health and welfare status

Two years survival rate of class II composite resin restorations prepared by ART with and without a chemomechanical caries removal gel in primary molars

The aim was to test the null hypotheses that there is no difference: (1) in carious lesion development at the restoration margin between class II composite resin restorations in primary molars produced through the atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) with and without a chemomechanical caries removal gel and (2) in the survival rate of class II composite resin restorations between two treatment groups after 2 years. Three hundred twenty-seven children with 568 class II cavitated lesions were included in a parallel mouth study design. Four operators placed resin composite (Filtek Z 250) restorations bonded with a self-etch adhesive (Adper prompt L pop). Two independent examiners evaluated the restorations after 0.5, 1, and 2 years using the modified Ryge criteria. The Kaplan–Meier survival method was applied to estimate survival percentages. A high proportion of restorations were lost during the study period. Therefore, the first hypothesis could not be tested. No statistically significant difference was observed between the cumulative survival percentages of restorations produced by the two treatment approaches over the 2-year period (ART, 54.1 ± 3.4%; ART with Carisolv™, 46.0 ± 3.4%). This hypothesis was accepted. ART with chemomechanical gel might not provide an added benefit increasing the survival percentages of ART class II composite resin restorations in primary teeth

Variation in the reaction zone and its effects on the strength of diffusion bonded titanium–stainless steel couple

Solid state bonding was carried out between commercially pure titanium and 304 stainless steel at 850 °C temperature for 30–150 min under uniaxial load in vacuum. The transition joints were characterized using optical and scanning electron microscopes and revealed the presence of reaction layers in the diffusion zone. The chemical composition of these reaction products was determined by energy dispersive spectroscopy and the presence of phase/phase mixtures σ, α-Fe + χ, χ + λ, λ + FeTi + β-Ti and β-Ti were predicted. Their existence was also confirmed by X-ray diffraction technique. The concentration–penetration plots for Ti, Fe, Cr and Ni are obtained from electron probe microanalysis, which also exhibit concentration gaps in the profile indicating formation of intermetallics in the diffusion zone. The width of intermetallic phases attains its maximum for 90 min joining time, then drops and again rises for 150 min bonding time. The maximum bond strength of 76% of that of titanium was achieved for the assemblies processed for 90 min owing to better coalescence of the mating surfaces, though the volume fraction of intermetallics is high

Tentative Differentiation of Interstitial Cells during Preparatory Phase of Heteropneustes fossilis (Bl.) Under Long Photoperiod

Abstract: Present paper deals with the impact of a long photoperiod (18 h) per day for 45 days on steroid secreting interstitial cells during preparatory phase of a freshwater cat fish, Heteropnuestes fossilis (Bl.). Depending upon the histocytological structure and secretory status, interstitial cells have been grouped into four categories revealing their corresponding functional status

Immune response to chemically modified proteome

Both enzymatic and nonenzymatic PTMs of proteins involve chemical modifications. Some of these modifications are prerequisite for the normal functioning of cell, while other chemical modifications render the proteins as “neo‐self” antigens, which are recognized as “non‐self” leading to aberrant cellular and humoral immune responses. However, these modifications could be a secondary effect of autoimmune diseases, as in the case of type I diabetes, hyperglycemia leads to protein glycation. The enigma of chemical modifications and immune response is akin to the “chick‐and‐egg” paradox. Nevertheless, chemical modifications regulate immune response. In some of the well‐known autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and multiple sclerosis, chemically modified proteins act as autoantigens forming immune complexes. In some instances, chemical modifications are also involved in regulating immune response during pathogen infection. Further, the usefulness of proteomic analysis of immune complexes is briefly discussed

Analysis of saccharide binding to Artocarpus integrifolia lectin reveals specific recognition of T-antigen (β-D-Gal(1→3)D-GalNAc)

The binding of Artocarpus integrifolia lectin to Ndansylgalactosamine (where dansyl is 5-dimethylaminonaphthalene- 1-sulfonyl) leads to a 100%i ncrease in dansyl fluorescence with a concomitant blue shift in the emission maximum by 10 nm. This binding is carbohydrate-specific and has an association constant of 1.74×l04 M−1 at 20°C. The lectin has two binding sites for N-dansylgalactosamine. The values of -ΔH and -ΔS for the bindinogf N-dansylgalactosamine are in the rangeof values reported for severale ctin-monosaccharide interactions, indicating an absence of nonpolar interactiono f the dansylm oiety of the sugar with the combining region of the protein. Dissociation of the bound N-dansylgalactosamine from its complex with the lectin and tchoen sequent change in its fluorescence on addition of nonfluorescent sugars allowed evaluation of the association constant for competing ligands. The thermodynamic parameters for the binding of monosaccharides suggest that theO H groups at C-2, C- 3, C-4, and C-6 in the D-galactose configuration are important loci for interaction with the lectin. The acetamido group at C-2 of 2-acetamido-2-deoxygalactopyranose and a methoxyl group at C-1 of methyl-α-Dgalactopyranoside are presumably also involved in binding through nonpolar and van der Waals' interactions. The T-antigenic disaccharide Galβ1→3GalNAc binds very strongly to the lectinw hen compared with methyl-β-D-galactopyranoside, the β(1→3)-linked disaccharides such as Galβ1→3GlcNAc, and the β(1→4)-linked disaccharides, N-acetyllactosamine andla ctose. The major stabilizing force for the avid bindingof Tantigenic disaccharide appears to be a favorable enthalpic contribution. The combining site of the lectin is, therefore,e xtended. These data takent ogether suggest that the Artocarpus lectin is specific toward the Thomsen-Friedenreich (T) antigen. There are subtle differences in the overaltlo pography of its combining site when compared with that of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) agglutininThe results of stopped flow spectrometry for the binding of N-dansylgalactosamine to the Artocarpus lectin are consistent with a simple single-step bimolecular association and unimolecular dissociation rate processes. The value of k+1 and k−1, at 21°C are 8.1×105 M−1 s−l and 50 s−1, respectively. The activation parameters indicate eant halpy-controlled association process