Observations on TeV gamma rays from Geminga and PSR 0950+08

The Geminga (2 CG 195+04) which exhibits a periodicity with a period of 59 to 60 s in its emission of X-rays, GeV gamma rays and TeV gamma rays was studied. During the winter of 1984 to 1985, this object was observed to see if it emits TeV gamma rays with a periodicity approx 60 s. The observations were carried out at two different sites separated by 11 Km with the Ooty Atmospheric Cerenkov Array split into two parts. Data were collected during clear moonless nights for a total duration of 15.3 hours spread over 2 months. Since the first time derivative of period is believed to be large and uncertain. The total data are subdivided into segments of duration not more than 3 days each to steer clear of the effects of P in the phase analysis. If TeV gamma ray signals are seen in each of these segments, it is possible to derive P from observed data

Peack expiratory flow rate in South Indian Children

PEFR is a simple and reliable way of following patients with bronchial asthma and other obstructive airway diseases. Normal data is available for Caucasian and North Indian children but not for ethnic South Indian children. We, therefore, measured Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) in 343 healthy South Indian children aged 4-15 years, using the Wright mini peak flow meter. A nomogram was constructed relating PEFR to height. Prediction equations for PEFR using height alone or height, age and weight were determined for both sexes. The prediction equation for boys based on height alone was PEFR = 4.08 height (cm) - 284.55 and for girls was PEFR = 3.92 height (cm) - 277.01

Induced corssing over in Drosophila males by ethyl methane sulphonate

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Electron-impact excitation of X 1Sigma_g⁺(v[double-prime]=0) to the a[double-prime] 1Sigma_g⁺, b 1Piu, c3 1Piu, o3 1Piu, b[prime] 1Sigma_u⁺, c₄^[prime] 1Sigma_u⁺, G 3Piu, and F 3Piu states of molecular nitrogen

Measurements of differential cross sections (DCSs) for electron-impact excitation of the a[double-prime] 1Sigmag+, b 1Piu, c3 1Piu, o3 1Piu, b[prime] 1Sigmau+, c4[prime] 1Sigmau+, G 3Piu, and F 3Piu states in N2 from the X 1Sigmag+(v[double-prime]=0) ground level are presented. The DCSs were obtained from energy-loss spectra in the region of 12 to 13.82 eV measured at incident energies of 17.5, 20, 30, 50, and 100 eV and for scattering angles ranging from 2° to 130°. The analysis of the spectra follows a different algorithm from that employed in a previous study of N2 for the valence states [Khakoo et al. Phys. Rev. A 71, 062703 (2005)], since the 1Piu and 1Sigmau+ states form strongly interacting Rydberg-valence series. The results are compared with existing data

Alternative mechanisms of structuring biomembranes: Self-assembly vs. self-organization

We study two mechanisms for the formation of protein patterns near membranes of living cells by mathematical modelling. Self-assembly of protein domains by electrostatic lipid-protein interactions is contrasted with self-organization due to a nonequilibrium biochemical reaction cycle of proteins near the membrane. While both processes lead eventually to quite similar patterns, their evolution occurs on very different length and time scales. Self-assembly produces periodic protein patterns on a spatial scale below 0.1 micron in a few seconds followed by extremely slow coarsening, whereas self-organization results in a pattern wavelength comparable to the typical cell size of 100 micron within a few minutes suggesting different biological functions for the two processes.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

X-ray intensity statistics of approximately centrosymmetric structures

The joint probability distribution of X-ray structure factors of a non-centrosymmetric structure (true structure) and that of a centrosymmetric structure (assumed model) from which it deviates slightly, are given. These are characterised by a parameter D=<cos2πH.Δrj> where Δrj are the deviations of the N atoms from the centrosymmetric arrangements. The limiting forms of the distribution for D=0, and D=1 are respectively the acentric and centric distributions of Wilson. Intermediate values of D characterise different degrees of centrosymmetry of the structure. The parallelism of the results to another "approximately centrosymmetric" situation (Srinivasan, Indian J. Pure Appl. Phys., 1965, 3, 187), is pointed out

Tuberculin skin test results in HIV-infected patients in India: implications for latent tuberculosis treatment

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the utility of the tuberculin skin test (TST) in detecting latent and active tuberculosis (TB) among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients in South India. DESIGN: TSTs and CD4 counts were collected from 631 HIV-infected individuals without active TB and 209 antiretroviral and anti-tuberculosis treatment-naïve HIVinfected patients with TB. We calculated the proportion of TST-positive individuals, as well as the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value of TST in the diagnosis of TB. RESULTS: Among subjects without active TB, 28% with a CD4 count �100 cells/�l vs. 43% of the total cohort had a TST �5 mm (P � 0.14), while the proportions with induration �10 mm were 14% vs. 36%, respectively (P � 0.01). Among those with active TB, using a 5 mm cut-off, the sensitivity was 42% for those with CD4 counts �200 cells/�l compared to 70% for those with CD4 counts �200 cells/�l (P � 0.001). The PPV for detecting active TB was 29%. CONCLUSIONS: TST is a poor predictor of both latent and active TB in HIV-infected individuals in TB endemic countries. Programmes offering treatment for latent TB should consider including all HIV-positive patients regardless of TST status, or use other indicators, such as CD4 count

Saccharin test of mucociliary clearance in Kartagener's syndrome

Saccharin test is a method for estimating mucociliary clearance in the upper respiratory passage. Its application in a clinically diagnosed patient with Kartagener's syndrome is reported

Cellular profile of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in pulmonary tuberculosis

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) has been used to study the immunopathogenesis of several respiratory diseases. The aim of our study was to determine the inflammatory changes occurring at the site of a tuberculous lesion in the lung in children