Characteristics of Fatal Cases of Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) from September 2009 to January 2010 in Saurashtra Region, India

Background: India reported first case of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in May, 2009 and Saurashtra region in August, 2009. We describe the characteristics of fatal cases of 2009 influenza A (H1N1) infection reported in Saurashtra region. Methods: From September, 2009 to January, 2010, we observed 71 fatal cases that were infected with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus and admitted in different hospitals in Rajkot city. Real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) testing was used to confirm infection; the clinico-epidemiological features were observed and documented. Results: Median age of the deceased (71) was 29 years, and 57.7% were females. Median time observed was 5 days from onset of illness to diagnosis of influenza A (H1N1), and 57.7% were referred from general practitioner (OR=0.42, CI=0.24-0.74). Median hospital stay reported was 3 days. All admitted patients received oseltamivir, but only 16.9% received it within 2 days of onset of illness. The most common symptoms were cough (97.2%), fever (93%), sore throat and shortness of breath. Co-morbid conditions were present in almost half of the patients who ultimately died, the most common of which was pregnancy (OR=0.15, CI=0.04-0.52). Radiological pneumonia was reported in 98% patients. Conclusion: Residing in urban area, delayed referral from general practitioner, presence of co-existing condition, especially pregnancy was responsible for mortality among influenza A (H1N1) infected positive

Estimation of Plant Leaf Area using Java Image Processing Techniques

Leaf area represents the amount of leaf material in ecosystems and controls the links between biosphere and atmosphere through various processes like photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration and rain interception. It is also helpful parameter in evaluating damage caused by leaf diseases and pastes, micronutrient deficiencies, water and environmental stress, need of fertilization for effective management and treatment. Precision agriculture production adapting rapid and accurate methods to measure plant leaf area. At presently, grid counting and Leaf Area Meter (Li3100) are used as conventional methods for leaf area estimation. These methods are simple in principle and highly accurate but tend to be time consuming. The above constraints can be overcome by proposed Leaf Area Meter (LAM); a Java based Image processing software application. The software application has many advantages like User friendly, fast, accurate and reusable. The paper discusses different Leaf Area (LA) estimation methods namely Instrument based Using Li 3100 Machine, Manual Graph based Method and Software based Method. Results show that LAM software gives 99.96% to 95.31% accurate results for different leaves except Jasud. Between two image formats, .jpg format shows comparatively less error than .png format. DOI: 10.17762/ijritcc2321-8169.15029

Broadband study of blazar 1ES 1959+650 during flaring state in 2016

Aim : The nearby TeV blazar 1ES 1959+650 (z=0.047) was reported to be in flaring state during June - July 2016 by Fermi-LAT, FACT, MAGIC and VERITAS collaborations. We studied the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) in different states of the flare during MJD 57530 - 57589 using simultaneous multiwaveband data to understand the possible broadband emission scenario during the flare. Methods : The UV/optical and X-ray data from UVOT and XRT respectively on board Swift and high energy $\gamma$-ray data from Fermi-LAT are used to generate multiwaveband lightcurves as well as to obtain high flux states and quiescent state SEDs. The correlation and lag between different energy bands is quantified using discrete correlation function. The synchrotron self Compton (SSC) model was used to reproduce the observed SEDs during flaring and quiescent states of the source. Results : A decent correlation is seen between X-ray and high energy $\gamma$-ray fluxes. The spectral hardening with increase in the flux is seen in X-ray band. The powerlaw index vs flux plot in $\gamma$-ray band indicates the different emission regions for 0.1 - 3 GeV and 3-300 GeV energy photons. Two zone SSC model satisfactorily fits the observed broadband SEDs. The inner zone is mainly responsible for producing synchrotron peak and high energy $\gamma$-ray part of the SED in all states. The second zone is mainly required to produce less variable optical/UV and low energy $\gamma$-ray emission. Conclusions : Conventional single zone SSC model does not satisfactorily explain broadband emission during observation period considered. There is an indication of two emission zones in the jet which are responsible for producing broadband emission from optical to high energy $\gamma$-rays.Comment: 11 pages, 12 figures, Accepted in A&

Evaluation of results of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using peroneus longus graft

Background: The objective of the study was to assess clinical outcome and donor site morbidity of ACL reconstruction with peroneus longus tendon autografts in patients with ACL injury.Methods: 60 Patients who underwent ACL reconstruction using peroneus longus autograft after fulfilling inclusion criteria and obtaining informed consent were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively and followed up for 1 year. Graft diameter was measured intraoperatively. Functional score of knee (Tegner and Lysholm Knee score) and American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Score (AOFAS) for donor site morbidity were recorded preoperatively and 1 year after surgery.Results: 93.3% Patients (56 out of 60) had good to excellent Lysholm knee score 1 year postoperatively and the mean AOFAS score was 96.7. The average peroneus longus graft diameter 8 .7mm.Conclusions: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with peroneus longus autografts produces a good functional outcome at 1  year follow-up, with the advantages of large graft diameter and excellent ankle function based on AOFAS score.res

NMR studies on truncated sequences of human telomeric DNA: observation of a novel A-tetrad

The structure of the telomeric DNA has been a subject of extensive investigation in recent years due to the realization that it has important functional roles to play in vivo and the observations that truncated telomeric sequences exhibit a great variety of 3D structures in aqueous solutions. In this context, we describe here NMR structural studies on two truncated human telomeric DNA sequences, d-AG3T and d-TAG3T in solutions containing K+ ions. The G3 stretches in both the oligonucleotides were seen to form parallel-stranded quadruplexes. However, the AG3 segment as a whole, had different structural characteristics. The structure of d-AG3T revealed the formation of a novel A-tetrad, which was not seen in d-TAG3T. The A's in the tetrad had syn glycosidic conformation as opposed to the anti conformation of the G's in the G-tetrads. The A-tetrad stacked well over the adjacent G-tetrad and the twist angle at this step was smaller in d-AG3T than in d-TAG3T. These observations are expected to be significant from the point of view of structural diversity and recognition in telomeres

Potts Flux Tube Model at Nonzero Chemical Potential

We model the deconfinement phase transition in quantum chromodynamics at nonzero baryon number density and large quark mass by extending the flux tube model (three-state, three-dimensional Potts model) to nonzero chemical potential. In a direct numerical simulation we confirm mean-field-theory predictions that the deconfinement transition does not occur in a baryon-rich environment.Comment: 14 pp RevTeX, 10 Postscript figures, submitted to Phys. Rev D. (Corrected some typographical errors.

Effect of partial replacement of fishmeal with Eichhornia crassipes on growth and survival of Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822) juveniles

The objective of the study was to find out the effect of partial replacement of fish meal in the diet of Labeo rohita juveniles. In this experiment, the data pertaining to growth, survival rate, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio of L. rohita at partial replacement of fishmeal with E. crassipes were evaluated. For that purpose fry of approximately equal weight (57.97mg ± 1.25) were distributed in groups of 15 to each four aquaria at 0% (T1), 10% (T2), 20% (T3), 30% (T4) and 40% (T5) inclusion levels of aquatic macrophyte, Eichhornia crassipes. Maximum mean weight gain (235.25 ± 11.04 mg) was observed in T1 and minimum (165.06 ± 10.93 mg) was observed in T5 at the end of the experiment. Among the treatments tested, the highest survival (89.99% ± 1.93) was recorded in treatment T1 and minimum was found in T4 (79.99% ± 2.72). Lowest FCR was recorded in treatment T3 (2.02 ± 0.39) and highest was found in T5 (3.08 ± 0.59). Higher SGR was observed in treatment T1 (297.15 ± 18.78%) and minimum was observed in T5 (182.74 ± 18.45%). The study revealed a decrease in the growth performance indices as the percentage of water hyacinth increases. In present study also there was not much difference in growth rate upto 20% incorporation of E. crassipes in the diet. Also, significant difference was observed among treatments with respect to feed utilization (P<0.05)