Physiological antioxidant system and oxidative stress in stomach cancer patients with normal renal and hepatic function

Role of free radicals has been proposed in the pathogenesis of many diseases. Gastric cancer is a common disease worldwide, and leading cause of cancer death in India. Severe oxidative stress produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induces uncontrolled lipid peroxidation. Albumin, uric acid (UA) and Bilirubin are important physiological antioxidants. We aimed to evaluate and assess the role of oxidative stress (OS) and physiological antioxidant system in stomach cancer patients. Lipid peroxidation measured as plasma Thio Barbituric Acid Reactive substances (TBARS), was found to be elevated significantly (p=0.001) in stomach cancer compared to controls along with a decrease in plasma physiological antioxidant system. The documented results were due to increased lipid peroxidation and involvement of physiological antioxidants in scavenging free radicals but not because of impaired hepatic and renal functions

Studies on spatial pattern of NDVI over Indiaand its relationship with rainfall, air temperature, soil moisture adequacy and ENSO

The changes in spatial distribution of Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) are studied for different seasons in India for the period 1982 to 2000. The inter-annual variability of All India NDVI (AINDVI) has been studied and related to rainfall, air temperature, soil moisture adequacy, Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) and Nino 3 Sea Surface Temperature (Nino 3 SST) to understand the influence of these variables on vegetal cover. The results show that the NDVI is high during the south-west (June to September) monsoon and retreat (October and November) seasons where in major crop seasons Kharif and Rabi take place over India. The trend of AINDVI is increasing and displayed higher values during La Niña and lower in El Niño episodes. The correlation between rainfall and NDVI of All India is not significant on monthly basis (+0.13) but it is more prominent when the cumulative annual amounts of rainfall are involved (+0.61). NDVI responded very well to the variations of soil moisture adequacy (SAD) which enumerates the strongest correlation (+0.73) of crop performance with NDVI. This significant strong correlation inferred that SAD can be taken as the indicator for the NDVI variations rather rainfall. The linear regression analysis of AINDVI and the ENSO indices revealed the strong impact of sea surface temperatures than SOI on vegetation pattern over India

Studies on spatial pattern of NDVI over india and its relationship with rainfall, air temperature, soil moisture adequacy and ENSO

The changes in spatial distribution of Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) are studied for different seasons in India for the period 1982 to 2000. The inter-annual variability of All India NDVI (AINDVI) has been studied and related to rainfall, air temperature, soil moisture adequacy, Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) and Nino 3 Sea Surface Temperature (Nino 3 SST) to understand the influence of these variables on vegetal cover. The results show that the NDVI is high during the south-west (June to September) monsoon and retreat (October and November) seasons where in major crop seasons Kharif and Rabi take place over India. The trend of AINDVI is increasing and displayed higher values during La Niña and lower in El Niño episodes. The correlation between rainfall and NDVI of All India is not significant on monthly basis (+0.13) but it is more prominent when the cumulative annual amounts of rainfall are involved (+0.61). NDVI responded very well to the variations of soil moisture adequacy (SAD) which enumerates the strongest correlation (+0.73) of crop performance with NDVI. This significant strong correlation inferred that SAD can be taken as the indicator for the NDVI variations rather rainfall. The linear regression analysis of AINDVI and the ENSO indices revealed the strong impact of sea surface temperatures than SOI on vegetation pattern over India

Argo data quality control based on climatological convex hulls

This report discusses a new method of identifying erroneous data in temperature and salinity (T/S) profiles measured by Argo profiling floats. The proposed method uses World Ocean Atlas 2009 (WOA09) climatology to classify good against bad data. An 'n' sided polygon (convex hull) with least area encompassing all the points is constructed based on the Jarvis March algorithm. The mean and standard deviation fields of temperature and salinity obtained from WOA09 corresponding to each standard depth are used for building these polygons. Subsequently Points In Polygon (PIP) principle which is implemented using ray casting algorithm is used to classify the T/S data as within or without acceptable bounds. It is observed that various types of anomalies in the Argo profile data viz., spikes, bias, sensor drifts etc can be identified using this method

Influence of Microstructure on Ultrasonic Velocity in Nimonic Alloy PE16

Superalloys are widely used for many advanced applications. The alloys with optimum properties are obtained by introducing suitable microstructure through thermomechanical treatments. Characterization of microstructure and determination of mechanical properties of these alloys using ultrasonic parameters should help in quality control during heat treatment and identifying changes in microstructure during service. This study is aimed at demonstrating such a possibility in a selected precipitation hardenable nickel base superalloy, Nimonic alloy PE16. As part of this study, the influence of various secondary phases, γ′, MC and M23C6 on ultrasonic velocity is reported. Ultrasonic velocity has been selected as this parameter had been widely used for microstructural characterization and mechanical property determination in various materials [1–6]. γ′ is a coherent and ordered FCC phase having composition Ni3 (Al, Ti). The strengthening is achieved by the presence of γ′ in the microstructure. MC and M23C6 are respectively the Ti rich (Ti, Mo) C and Cr rich (Cr, Fe)23C6 carbides. The carbide phases are introduced to obtain better high temperature creep properties

Marine Meteorological Atlas of Tropical Indian Ocean

This report discusses the preparation of climatology from the data which is from the ship observations obtained from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and Naval Operations Data Processing and Analysis Centre (NODPAC). Processing of these datasets, extraction of surface meteorological variables and SST (Sea surface temperature), the quality control (QC) procedures followed are discussed. The individual records of International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Dataset (ICOADS) and those obtained from IMD are compared and the unique records from IMD data are extracted. The enhancement in ICOADS climatology after adding the unique records from IMD data and NODPAC is checked. ICOADS dataset has been found to be self robust, as there is no much significant improvement in the climatology even after adding new records . Frequency distribution of the ICOADS dataset alone and after adding new records showed no much difference. Spatial correlation between ICOADS monthly climatology fields before and after adding the new records, is greater than 0.9 at all grid point

MaMeAT - A tool for visualizing marine meteorological data for Naval applications

This report discusses various functionalities of tool developed for use by Naval Operations Data Processing and Analysis Centre (NODPAC) a wing of Indian Navy. The data for this tool is obtained from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Naval Operations Data Processing and Analysis Centre (NODPAC) and individual records of International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Dataset (ICOADS). These data sets are processed, quality controlled and merged to form a unique data set for enhancing the marine met climatology of Indian Ocean. The IMD and NODPAC data are compared with the unique records from COADS and duplicates are eliminated. With addition of around 12% unique records to ICOADS data, enhanced climatology is regenerated. With this base data, Graphic User Interface (GUI) based tool is build for visualizing parameters viz., SST, SLP, Wind, Relative Humidity, SSS and bathymetry. This tool has capability to generate climatology dynamically between any chosen periods apart from visualizing various plots which are useful for Navy while at sea. Also provision for adding newly observed marine met data is provided making this most robust tool for use by the Indian Navy

Synergistic Biomineralization Phenomena Created by a Combinatorial Nacre Protein Model System

In the nacre or aragonite layer of the mollusk shell, proteomes that regulate both the early stages of nucleation and nano-to-mesoscale assembly of nacre tablets from mineral nanoparticle precursors exist. Several approaches have been developed to understand protein-associated mechanisms of nacre formation, yet we still lack insight into how protein ensembles or proteomes manage nucleation and crystal growth. To provide additional insights, we have created a proportionally defined combinatorial model consisting of two nacre-associated proteins, C-RING AP7 (shell nacre, Haliotis rufescens) and pseudo-EF hand PFMG1 (oyster pearl nacre, Pinctada fucata), whose individual in vitro mineralization functionalities are well-documented and distinct from one another. Using scanning electron microscopy, flow cell scanning transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Ca(II) potentiometric titrations, and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring quantitative analyses, we find that both nacre proteins are functionally active within the same mineralization environments and, at 1:1 molar ratios, synergistically create calcium carbonate mesoscale structures with ordered intracrystalline nanoporosities, extensively prolong nucleation times, and introduce an additional nucleation event. Further, these two proteins jointly create nanoscale protein aggregates or phases that under mineralization conditions further assemble into protein–mineral polymer-induced liquid precursor-like phases with enhanced ACC stabilization capabilities, and there is evidence of intermolecular interactions between AP7 and PFMG1 under these conditions. Thus, a combinatorial model system consisting of more than one defined biomineralization protein dramatically changes the outcome of the in vitro biomineralization process

Principles of meiotic chromosome assembly revealed in S. cerevisiae

During meiotic prophase, chromosomes organise into a series of chromatin loops emanating from a proteinaceous axis, but the mechanisms of assembly remain unclear. Here we use Saccharomyces cerevisiae to explore how this elaborate three-dimensional chromosome organisation is linked to genomic sequence. As cells enter meiosis, we observe that strong cohesin-dependent grid-like Hi-C interaction patterns emerge, reminiscent of mammalian interphase organisation, but with distinct regulation. Meiotic patterns agree with simulations of loop extrusion with growth limited by barriers, in which a heterogeneous population of expanding loops develop along the chromosome. Importantly, CTCF, the factor that imposes similar features in mammalian interphase, is absent in S. cerevisiae, suggesting alternative mechanisms of barrier formation. While grid-like interactions emerge independently of meiotic chromosome synapsis, synapsis itself generates additional compaction that matures differentially according to telomere proximity and chromosome size. Collectively, our results elucidate fundamental principles of chromosome assembly and demonstrate the essential role of cohesin within this evolutionarily conserved process

Assessment of Tsunami Preparedness in East Coast of India through Mega Mock Tsunami Drill conducted on 24 November 2017

Though tsunamis are infrequent, the death toll from tsunamis is huge compared with other natural disasters. The 26 December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami resulted in disastrous loss of life and property. The major challenge with tsunamis is that they are infrequent, which requires great persistence in sustaining the process of capacity building and preparedness. Because of this infrequency, instruction through tsunami mock drills is the best way to train coastal communities to prepare for devastating actual events. The situational awareness and ability to respond quickly is best achieved through pre-event education and mock drills. The Tsunami mock drills evaluates the ability of warning centre and disaster offices to respond to a tsunami. The drills also educate the public on: where they would receive the official warnings, by which means, what those warnings indicate, how to understand them, and what they need to do in response. INCOIS in collaboration with MHA and NDMA has conducted mega mock tsunami mock drill on 24 November, 2017 to East coast of India. Disaster Management Organisations of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal participated in the drill. They took the drill to community level and executed evacuations at different villages. The average elapsed time achieved from time of receipt of warning to activating the public notification systems was 30 minutes. This is great achievement compared with previous mock drills as it has substantially improved, though the involvement of communities was at huge level. The Tsunami mock drill was very successful which enhanced the awareness and preparedness among the coastal people of East Coast of Indi