Elliptic flow of thermal photons in relativistic nuclear collisions

We predict the transverse momentum (pT) dependence of elliptic flow of thermal photons for Au+Au collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. We model the system hydrodynamically, assuming formation of a thermalized quark-gluon plasma at some early time, followed by cooling through expansion, hadronization and decoupling. Photons are emitted throughout the expansion history. Contrary to hadron elliptic flow, which hydrodynamics predicts to increase monotonically with pT, the elliptic flow of thermal photons is predicted to first rise and then fall again as pT increases. Photon elliptic flow at high pT is shown to reflect the quark momentum anisotropy at early times when it is small, whereas at low pT it is controlled by the much larger pion momentum anisotropy during the late hadronic emission stage. An interesting structure is predicted at intermediate pT ~ 0.4 GeV/c where photon elliptic flow reflects the momenta and the (compared to pions) reduced v2 of heavy vector mesons in the late hadronic phase.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. Amended Fig. 3 and corresponding discussion, with complete explanation of the low-pT structure of photon elliptic flow around pT=400 MeV/

Progeny of Germ Line Knockouts of \u3cem\u3eASI2\u3c/em\u3e, a Gene Encoding a Putative Signal Transduction Receptor in \u3cem\u3eTetrahymena Thermophila\u3c/em\u3e, Fail to Make the Transition from Sexual Reproduction to Vegetative Growth

The ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena has two nuclei: a germ line micronucleus and a somatic macronucleus. The transcriptionally active macronucleus has about 50 copies of each chromosome. At sexual reproduction (conjugation), the parental macronucleus is degraded and new macronucleus develops from a mitotic product of the zygotic micronucleus. Development of the macronucleus involves massive genome remodeling, including deletion of about 6000 specific internal eliminated sequences (IES) and multiple rounds of DNA replication. A gene encoding a putative signal transduction receptor, ASI2, (anlagen stage induced 2) is up-regulated during development of the new macronuclei (anlagen). Macronuclear ASI2 is nonessential for vegetative growth. Homozygous ASI2 germ line knockout cells with wild type parental macronuclei proceed through mating but arrest at late macronuclear anlagen development and die before the first post-conjugation fission. IES elimination occurs in these cells. Two rounds of postzygotic DNA replication occur normally in progeny of ASI2 germ line knockouts, but endoreduplication of the macronuclear genome is arrested. The germ line ASI2 null phenotype is rescued in a mating of a knockout strain with wild type cells

Health Care Human Factors/Ergonomics Fieldwork in Home and Community Settings

Designing innovations aligned with patients’ needs and workflows requires human factors/ergonomics (HF/E) fieldwork in home and community settings. Fieldwork in these extra-institutional settings is challenged by a need to balance the occasionally competing priorities of patient and informal caregiver participants, study team members, and the overall project. We offer several strategies that HF/E professionals can use before, during, and after home and community site visits to optimize fieldwork and mitigate challenges in these settings. Strategies include interacting respectfully with participants, documenting the visit, managing the study team–participant relationship, and engaging in dialogue with institutional review boards

A KAP study of pharmacovigilance among junior residents and interns of a tertiary care hospital

Background: Pharmacovigilance is the science and activities relating to the detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of adverse effects or any other possible drug-related problems. An “adverse drug reaction” is any noxious, unintended and undesired effect of a drug, which occurs at a dose used in humans for prophylaxis, diagnosis, therapy or modification of physiological functions. Reporting of adverse events and adverse drug reactions is the commonest method utilized for generating safety data. Lack of awareness about Pharmacovigilance is one of the most important causes of such under-reporting. Spontaneous reporting system is considered the main mechanism of pharmacovigilance study for gathering information about ADRs. Hence this study was undertaken to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding Pharmacovigilance among junior residents and interns in a tertiary care hospital.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 134 doctors using pre-validated 20 item questionnaire with details of participant’s information followed by questions regarding knowledge, attitude and prescribing practice of pharmacovigilance was used as a tool, administrated to all the resident doctors and the collected data was analysed.Results: Our study revealed that knowledge about pharmacovigilance was not adequate to JRs and INTs. Survey results revealed that the knowledge of pharmacovigilance among doctors 63 (88.73%) JR and 49 (77.78%) INTs had a knowledge score of less than 50%. This shows that only few doctors are aware about the pharmacovigilance programme. The assessment of questionnaire based on attitude regarding pharmacovigilance shows that 21 (29.58%) JR and 17 (26.98%) of INTs had attitude score of 70% and above. The attitude score was less compared to the knowledge score of JRs and INTs. 52 JR and 58 INTs stated that they have not been trained on how to report ADRs and basic orientation about pharmacovigilance which hinders the process of practicing pharmacovigilance. Conclusions: For the success of Pharmacovigilance programmes only knowledge and attitude regarding Pharmacovigilance is not enough as is evident from our study. Success of Pharmacovigilance programmes depend also upon the effective practice of Pharmacovigilance by healthcare professionals

Insulin resistance and its relation to inflammatory status and serum lipids among young women with PCOS

Background: The incidence of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is increasing among young women. PCOS women have decreased insulin sensitivity independent of body mass index with increase in lipid levels. Studies on measuring inflammatory status in PCOS showed varying results. The inter-relationship between inflammatory status, insulin resistance and lipid levels among PCOS women was studied. Methods: Twenty PCOS women and 20 healthy controls of age 18-25 years were recruited. Fasting blood samples were collected for estimation of serum glucose, insulin levels, lipid levels and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration. Insulin resistance was determined by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) index. Results: PCOS women had significant increase in fasting insulin, HOMA-IR and triglycerides compared to healthy controls. HOMA-IR was positively associated with serum triglycerides, VLDL levels and CRP levels among PCOS subjects. Total Cholesterol was positively associated with CRP. Regression analysis showed HOMA-IR as a sole parameter strongly linked with PCOS women. This indicates that, IR is an independent pathogenic variable linked with PCOS which in turn showed positive association with CRP and triglycerides. Conclusion: IR is the hallmark of PCOS among young adolescent women. IR is associated with elevated CRP and triglyceride levels. Taking measures to increase insulin sensitivity, may help in altering dyslipidemia and inflammatory status, thereby reducing CVD risk among young women with PCOS

Role of Imaging in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Rapid multimodal imaging is essential in the workup and management of acute ischemic stroke. Early parenchymal findings on noncontrast computed tomography or standard magnetic resonance imaging are used to triage patients for intravenous thrombolysis and to provide insight on prognosis. In the wake of recent endovascular stroke trials, advanced techniques including perfusion imaging and noninvasive vascular imaging are becoming important tools to guide potential endovascular treatment or expand therapy windows. Advanced imaging is also important in pediatric ischemic stroke which requires a slightly different workflow and treatment approach. Here, we will discuss key imaging findings in acute ischemic stroke, as well as the present and future of neuroimaging in light of recent and ongoing clinical trials

Polymer-clay Nano Composites

Nano has now become a theme in almost all the established discipline. The confluence ofinnovative methodologies, sophisticated characterisation techniques, and potential technologicalutility has resulted in intense research activity in the field of polymer nano composites. Polymercomposites made out of nano materials display unique properties in terms of improved tensilestrength, flexibility, and flexural endurance. The paper discusses the development of polymerclaynano composites, both from the conceptual point of view as well as practical methods forthe synthesis of nano composites. These are monomer intercalation, monomer modification,common solvent, and melt-intercalation methods. Various models have been discussed thatdescribe improvements in mechanical and barriers properties due to the incorporation of nanomaterials. Ongoing R&D work in the two DRDO laboratories on the development of nanocomposites has been briefly mentioned. The emerging use of polymer-nano composites has alsobeen described

Characteristic Features of Precipitation Extremes over India in the Warming Scenarios

The detection of possible changes in extreme climate events, in terms of the frequency, intensity as well as duration assumes profound importance on the local, regional, and national scales, due to the associated critical socioeconomic consequences. Therefore, an attempt is made in this paper to evaluate various aspects of future projections of precipitation extremes over India, as projected by a state-of-art regional climate modeling system, known as PRECIS (Providing REgional Climates for Impacts Studies) towards the end of the 21st century (that is, 2071–2100) using standardized indices. Study reveals that PRECIS simulations under scenarios of increasing greenhouse gas concentration and sulphate aerosols indicate marked increase in precipitation towards the end of the 21st century and is expected to increase throughout the year. However the changes in daily precipitation and the precipitation extremes during summer monsoon (June through September) season are prominent than during the rest of year. PRECIS simulations under both A2 and B2 scenarios indicate increase in frequency of heavy precipitation events and also enhancement in their intensity towards the end of the 21st century. Both A2 and B2 scenarios show similar patterns of projected changes in the precipitation extremes towards the end of the 21st century. However, the magnitudes of changes in B2 scenario are on the lower side

Zinc Status in the Soils of Karnataka and Response of Horticultural Crops to Zinc Application : A Meta-analysis

Zinc is considered as the fourth important yield limiting nutrient in India, after N, P, and K. From the regular soil analysis data, Indian soils (50%) are found to be deficient in Zn and the zinc deficiency is likely to increase in future. Areas with low soil available Zn are often regions with widespread zinc deficiency in humans. Zinc malnutrition and deficiency in human is alarming and is gaining attention in recent years. Application of zinc to soil and crops is one of the simple and easiest ways to mitigate or alleviate Zn deficiency in human. Moreover Zn uptake, its translocation and yield response of various crops to applied Zn are need to be focused for finding sustainable solutions to the problem of zinc deficiency in crops and humans. In this manuscript, importance of Zn to plants and human, Zn malnutrition problems in India and global level, soil Zn status of Karnataka, various factors that responsible for Zn deficiency in the soils of Karnataka and the response of various horticultural crops to Zn application in the region is discussed. Soil maps are believed to be an important tool to delineate and manage nutrient deficient areas. It also elaborates the effective Zn management strategies to improve crop productivity and farm income

Microplastic abundance in sludge-treated fields:Variance and estimated half-life

This study investigated the abundance of microplastic (MP) in agricultural soil fertilised with sludge, assessing the variation in MP count and estimated mass in three long-term field trials treated excessively with sludge in 2003–2012. Ten samples were taken from each of the three fields with concentrations ranging from 2392 to 48,791 counts kg−1, where over 50 % of the MPs were polyester and acrylic. Due to the considerable variation in concentration, the impact of the number of sub-samples on the predicted measured concentration was estimated applying a Monto Carlo simulation approach. Choosing the number of sampling points is a compromise between acceptable sampling error and available resources. The simulations showed an increasingly high risk of obtaining an outlier when taking less than approx. ten subsamples. When ending fertilisation with sludge, the estimated half-life for the MPs measured by counts was approx. 2.5 years, whereas the half-life for the MP estimated mass was approx. 4 years. Hence, smaller particles seemed to degrade and/or migrate elsewhere the fastest.</p