Art Directable Tornadoes

Tornado simulations in the visual effects industry have always been an interesting problem. Developing tools to provide more control over such effects is an important and challenging task. Current methods to achieve these effects use either particle systems or fluid simulation. Particle systems give a lot of control over the simulation but do not take into account the fluid characteristics of tornadoes. The other method which involves fluid simulation models the fluid behavior accurately but does not give control over the simulation. In this thesis, a novel method to model tornado behavior is presented. A tool based on this method was also created. The method proposed in this thesis uses a hybrid approach that combines the flexibility of particle systems while producing interesting swirling motions inherent in the fluids. The main focus of the research is on providing easy-to-use controls for art directors to help them achieve the desired look of the simulation effectively. A variety of controls is provided which include the overall shape, path, rotation, debris, surface, swirling motion, and interaction with the environment. The implementation was done in Houdini, which is a 3D animation software whose node based system allows an algorithmic approach to the problem and integrates well with the current tools. The tool allows the user to create animations that reflect the visual characteristics of real tornadoes. The usefulness of the tool was evaluated among participants who had some experience in 3D animation software. The results from the simulation and evaluation feedback reveal that the tool successfully allowed the users to create tornadoes of their choice efficiently

HIV status among presumptive tuberculosis cases attending tertiary care centre in South India

Introduction: In India, to increase human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) case detection, the National Technical Working Group onTB /HIV had made it mandatory to screen for HIV infection among presumptive tuberculosis (TB) cases. Material and methods: Our study was a cross-sectional study, conducted between June 2015 and December 2016 in a tertiarycare institute (JIPMER), in South India, to estimate the prevalence of HIV among presumptive TB cases. Results: Among the 964 presumptive TB cases who attended pulmonary medicine OPD, 189 patients were sputum acid-fastbacilli (AFB) positive. Among the 189 sputum positive cases, 9 were HIV positive. Of the 964 presumptive TB cases, 879 gaveconsent for HIV testing and 33 (3.7%) turned out to be HIV positive. If only sputum positive cases had been screened for HIV,we would have missed 24 new HIV positive cases. The number needed to screen was 27 among presumptive TB cases and 18among TB patients. Conclusions: The uptake of HIV testing (91%) and the diagnostic yield of 3.7% of HIV positive cases among the presumptiveTB patients is quite high compared to that of the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) mechanism of Puducherry.This reinforces the need to screen all the presumptive cases for HIV infection, to increase HIV case detection so thatanti-retroviral therapy (ART) can be initiated early

Geospatial mapping of antimalarial plants used by the ethnic groups of Anuppur district (Madhya Pradesh, India)

261-271The present ethnobotanical study was conducted to document indigenous knowledge and practices for treatment of malaria in Annupur district, Madhya Pradesh, India. This paper also reports on geographical distribution of prevalent antimalarial plants. Information was collected from 29 traditional healers and 240 other informants about their socio-economy and knowledge of plants by means of semi-structured questionnaires-SSQ and interview-SSI. Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates were recorded for marked locations and integrated in ArcGIS to develop geospatial map. A total of 19 plants belonging to 15 families were identified against malaria. Majority of these were growing wild in forest area (57.89%). Andrographis paniculata was the most cited plant (19.23%) followed by Vitex negundo (10.57%). Highest AMI was recorded for A. paniculata (0.338), whereas, lowest (0.029) for Schefflera vinosa and Datura metel. Synergic antimalarial recipes prepared from two or more plants were preferred over single plant recipe. Roots (63.15%) were the most frequently used plant part followed by leaves (42.10%) and seeds (21.05%). This is the first ethnopharmacological documentation of antimalarial plants in Central India. It highlights potential sources for the development of novel antimalarial remedies from indiginous traditional knowledge. The spatial maps facilitate the access of local tribal population to these plants

Possible mechanisms of hypotension produced 70% alcoholic extract of Terminalia arjuna (L.) in anaesthetized dogs

BACKGROUND: The bark of Terminalia arjuna L. (Combretaceae) is used in Ayurveda since ancient times for the treatment of cardiac disorders. Previous laboratory investigations have demonstrated the use of the bark in cardiovascular complications. The present study was aimed to find the effect of 70% alcoholic extract of Terminalia arjuna on anaesthetized dog blood pressure and probable site of action. METHODS: Six dogs were anaesthetized with intraperitoneal injection of thiopental sodium and the blood pressure of each dog (n = 6) was measured from the left common carotid artery connected to a mercury manometer on kymograph. The femoral vein was cannulated for administration of drug solutions. The extract of T. arjuna (dissolved in propylene glycol) in the dose range of 5 to 15 mg/kg were administered intravenously in a pilot study and the dose (6 mg/kg) which produced appreciable hypotension was selected for further studies. RESULTS: Intravenous administration of T. arjuna produced dose-dependent hypotension in anaesthetized dogs. The hypotension produced by 6 mg/kg dose of the extract was blocked by propranolol but not by atropine or mepyramine maleate. This indicates that muscarinic or histaminergic mechanisms are not likely to be involved in the hypotension produced by the extract. The blockade by propranolol of the hypotension produced by T. arjuna indicates that the extract might contain active compound(s) possessing adrenergic ß(2)-receptor agonist action and/or that act directly on the heart muscle. CONCLUSION: The results indicated the likely involvement of peripheral mechanism for hypotension produced by the 70% alcoholic extract of Terminalia arjuna and lends support for the claims of its traditional usage in cardiovascular disorders

Zakażenie wirusem HIV u pacjentów z podejrzeniem gruźlicy diagnozowanych w ośrodku specjalistycznym w południowych Indiach

WSTĘP: W celu zwiększenia wykrywalności zakażenia wirusem HIV w Indiach narodowa grupa robocza ds. zakażenia wirusem HIV i gruźlicy wprowadziła obowiązek badań przesiewowych w kierunku zakażenia wirusem HIV u wszystkich chorych z podejrzeniem gruźlicy. MATERIAŁ I METODY: Badanie miało charakter przesiewowy i miało na celu ocenę występowania zakażenia wirusem HIV wśród chorych z podejrzeniem gruźlicy. Przeprowadzono je w okresie od czerwca 2015 do grudnia 2016 roku w trzeciorzędowym ośrodku referencyjnym JIPMER w południowych Indiach. WYNIKI: Spośród 964 chorych z podejrzeniem gruźlicy przyjętych w poradni pulmonologicznej, u 189 chorych stwierdzono dodatni wynik plwociny w kierunku prątków kwasoodpornych (AFB). Spośród 189 chorych z dodatnim wynikiem plwociny u 9 stwierdzono zakażenie wirusem HIV. Spośród 879 chorych, którzy wyrazili zgodę na badanie w kierunku zakażenia wirusem HIV, u 33 wynik był dodatni (3,7%). Gdyby zbadano jedynie chorych z dodatnim wynikiem plwociny, nie wykryto by 24 nowych przypadków zakażenia wirusem HIV. Liczba badań, które należałoby wykonać, aby wykryć jeden przypadek zakażenia wirusem HIV (number needed to screen), wynosi 27 dla chorych z podejrzeniem gruźlicy i 18 dla chorych z potwierdzoną gruźlicą. WNIOSKI: Wykrywalność zakażenia HIV (91%) i skuteczność diagnostyczna 3,7% w grupie chorych z domniemaną gruźlicą jest wysoka w porównaniu z danymi zaktualizowanego programu narodowego kontroli gruźlicy. W związku z tym w celu zwiększenia wykrywalności zakażenia wirusem HIV konieczne jest objęcie badaniami przesiewowymi również chorych z podejrzeniem gruźlicy, aby można było wcześnie wdrożyć leczenie anty-retrowirusowe.WSTĘP: W celu zwiększenia wykrywalności zakażenia wirusem HIV w Indiach narodowa grupa robocza ds. zakażenia wirusem HIV i gruźlicy wprowadziła obowiązek badań przesiewowych w kierunku zakażenia wirusem HIV u wszystkich chorych z podejrzeniem gruźlicy. MATERIAŁ I METODY: Badanie miało charakter przesiewowy i miało na celu ocenę występowania zakażenia wirusem HIV wśród chorych z podejrzeniem gruźlicy. Przeprowadzono je w okresie od czerwca 2015 do grudnia 2016 roku w trzeciorzędowym ośrodku referencyjnym JIPMER w południowych Indiach. WYNIKI: Spośród 964 chorych z podejrzeniem gruźlicy przyjętych w poradni pulmonologicznej, u 189 chorych stwierdzono dodatni wynik plwociny w kierunku prątków kwasoodpornych (AFB). Spośród 189 chorych z dodatnim wynikiem plwociny u 9 stwierdzono zakażenie wirusem HIV. Spośród 879 chorych, którzy wyrazili zgodę na badanie w kierunku zakażenia wirusem HIV, u 33 wynik był dodatni (3,7%). Gdyby zbadano jedynie chorych z dodatnim wynikiem plwociny, nie wykryto by 24 nowych przypadków zakażenia wirusem HIV. Liczba badań, które należałoby wykonać, aby wykryć jeden przypadek zakażenia wirusem HIV (number needed to screen), wynosi 27 dla chorych z podejrzeniem gruźlicy i 18 dla chorych z potwierdzoną gruźlicą. WNIOSKI: Wykrywalność zakażenia HIV (91%) i skuteczność diagnostyczna 3,7% w grupie chorych z domniemaną gruźlicą jest wysoka w porównaniu z danymi zaktualizowanego programu narodowego kontroli gruźlicy. W związku z tym w celu zwiększenia wykrywalności zakażenia wirusem HIV konieczne jest objęcie badaniami przesiewowymi również chorych z podejrzeniem gruźlicy, aby można było wcześnie wdrożyć leczenie anty-retrowirusowe

Twenty-Three Unsolved Problems in Hydrology (UPH) – a Community Perspective

This paper is the outcome of a community initiative to identify major unsolved scientific problems in hydrology motivated by a need for stronger harmonisation of research efforts. The procedure involved a public consultation through online media, followed by two workshops through which a large number of potential science questions were collated, prioritised, and synthesised. In spite of the diversity of the participants (230 scientists in total), the process revealed much about community priorities and the state of our science: a preference for continuity in research questions rather than radical departures or redirections from past and current work. Questions remain focused on the process-based understanding of hydrological variability and causality at all space and time scales. Increased attention to environmental change drives a new emphasis on understanding how change propagates across interfaces within the hydrological system and across disciplinary boundaries. In particular, the expansion of the human footprint raises a new set of questions related to human interactions with nature and water cycle feedbacks in the context of complex water management problems. We hope that this reflection and synthesis of the 23 unsolved problems in hydrology will help guide research efforts for some years to come

Twenty-three unsolved problems in hydrology (UPH) – a community perspective

This paper is the outcome of a community initiative to identify major unsolved scientific problems in hydrology motivated by a need for stronger harmonisation of research efforts. The procedure involved a public consultation through on-line media, followed by two workshops through which a large number of potential science questions were collated, prioritised, and synthesised. In spite of the diversity of the participants (230 scientists in total), the process revealed much about community priorities and the state of our science: a preference for continuity in research questions rather than radical departures or redirections from past and current work. Questions remain focussed on process-based understanding of hydrological variability and causality at all space and time scales. Increased attention to environmental change drives a new emphasis on understanding how change propagates across interfaces within the hydrological system and across disciplinary boundaries. In particular, the expansion of the human footprint raises a new set of questions related to human interactions with nature and water cycle feedbacks in the context of complex water management problems. We hope that this reflection and synthesis of the 23 unsolved problems in hydrology will help guide research efforts for some years to come

An Improved Understanding of Ecohydrological and Geochemical Functioning of a Mountainous Site Using Multiple Methods and Multiple Tracers

High elevation mountainous catchments are often important sources of water for downstream arid and semi-arid basins. However, a better understanding of the ecohydrological and geochemical functioning of these mountainous systems is presently limited due to sparse observations at these sites which experience extreme climatic and topographic gradients. Therefore, high density observations are needed to improve our understanding of water sources and the temporal and spatial behavior of flow paths in mountainous ecosystems. This study utilizes multi-year observations of hydrologic fluxes, storages, conservative tracers, chemical compositions and water residence times from a mountainous site located within the Santa Catalina Mountains Critical Zone Observatory (SCM-CZO), Tucson, Arizona, to first develop and evaluate competing conceptual models of seasonal streamflow generation. A conceptual model involving four endmembers (precipitation, soil water, shallow and deep groundwater) provided the best match to observations. Subsequently, the long-term isotopic and hydrometric observations for various potential source waters were used to identify sources of water that support mountainous ecosystems during both wet and dry seasons. It was found that the sources of water for both streamflow and vegetation water demand was the same, i.e., there was no evidence supporting the ecohydrological water source separation hypothesis for the selected field site. Finally, improved practical methods for estimating catchment-scale response functions such as transit time distribution (TTD) and evapotranspiration time distribution (ETTD) are presented. The proposed methods are resistant to gaps in tracer time series. It was found that a gamma type TTD best matches the observations when using either very short (e.g., δ18O) or relatively older groundwater age tracers (e.g., 3H). Furthermore, the estimated ETTD type for the field site showed a composite ETTD type with a piston flow type for low periods (<0.1 year) and a gamma type with long-tails for higher periods. Therefore, this work improves understanding of hydrologic structure and function of the CZ in a mountainous catchment in a sub-humid setting