Measurement of distributed strain and temperature based on higher order and higher mode Bragg conditions

A Bragg grating sensor for measuring distributed strain and temperature at the same time comprises an optical fiber having a single mode operating wavelength region and below a cutoff wavelength of the fiber having a multimode operating wavelength region. A saturated, higher order Bragg grating having first and second order Bragg conditions is fabricated in the optical fiber. The first order of Bragg resonance wavelength of the Bragg grating is within the single mode operating wavelength region of the optical fiber and the second order of Bragg resonance wavelength is below the cutoff wavelength of the fiber within the multimode operating wavelength region. The reflectivities of the saturated Bragg grating at the first and second order Bragg conditions are less than two orders of magnitude of one another. In use, the first and second order Bragg conditions are simultaneously created in the sensor at the respective wavelengths and a signal from the sensor is demodulated with respect to each of the wavelengths corresponding to the first and second order Bragg conditions. Two Bragg conditions have different responsivities to strain and temperature, thus allowing two equations for axial strain and temperature to be found in terms of the measure shifts in the primary and second order Bragg wavelengths. This system of equations can be solved for strain and temperature

Withania somnifera ameliorates nandrolone-decanoate-induced brain damage in rats by inhibiting cell death, prodynorphin mRNA expression and acetylcholinesterase activity

685-693The misuse of anabolic-androgenic steroids by athletes and non-athletes causes harmful effects on the central nervous system. In Ayurvedic medicine, Withania somnifera (WS) as an herbal drug has been reported for several functions including adaptogenic, anticonvulsant, cytoprotective and antioxidant. The present study investigated the neuroprotective functions of WS (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) in nandrolone decanoate (ND)-induced (16 mg/kg body weight) brain injury in male Wistar rats. ND was injected intramuscularly twice weekly for 4 weeks. The water emulsion of WS root powder was administered orally once daily for 30 days to ND-treated rats. At the end of the experiment, anxiety-like behaviour was assessed in rats using the elevated plus maze. Haematoxylin-and-eosin-stained coronal sections of the parietal cortex and hippocampus of ND rats showed severe alterations in brain histology compared with control rats. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the striatum and prodynorphin gene expression in the hippocampus was significantly elevated in the ND group compared with the control group. Treating ND induced rats with various doses of WS significantly reversed the brain damage, anxiety behaviour, increased striatal AChE activity and reduced prodynorphin gene expression in the hippocampus. In conclusion, WS extract can be used as a neuroprotective agent to reduce the effects of anabolic steroids

Withania somnifera ameliorates nandrolone-decanoate-induced brain damage in rats by inhibiting cell death, prodynorphin mRNA expression and acetylcholinesterase activity

The misuse of anabolic-androgenic steroids by athletes and non-athletes causes harmful effects on the central nervous system. In Ayurvedic medicine, Withania somnifera (WS) as an herbal drug has been reported for several functions including adaptogenic, anticonvulsant, cytoprotective and antioxidant. The present study investigated the neuroprotective functions of WS (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) in nandrolone decanoate (ND)-induced (16 mg/kg body weight) brain injury in male Wistar rats. ND was injected intramuscularly twice weekly for 4 weeks. The water emulsion of WS root powder was administered orally once daily for 30 days to ND-treated rats. At the end of the experiment, anxiety-like behaviour was assessed in rats using the elevated plus maze. Haematoxylin-and-eosin-stained coronal sections of the parietal cortex and hippocampus of ND rats showed severe alterations in brain histology compared with control rats. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the striatum and prodynorphin gene expression in the hippocampus was significantly elevated in the ND group compared with the control group. Treating ND induced rats with various doses of WS significantly reversed the brain damage, anxiety behaviour, increased striatal AChE activity and reduced prodynorphin gene expression in the hippocampus. In conclusion, WS extract can be used as a neuroprotective agent to reduce the effects of anabolic steroids

The burden of disease attributable to ambient PM2.5-bound PAHs exposure in Nagpur, India

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) bound to PM2.5 are genotoxic carcinogens that can also elicit non-cancer effects. Previous studies report substantial burdens of PAHs-related lung cancer, but no estimate for other cancer types or non-carcinogenic burden. Here, we assessed the burden of disease, in DALYs/person/year, attributable to thirteen priority PAHs in PM2.5 in Nagpur district, for several endpoints linked to benzo[a]pyrene, to inform policy decision-making for mitigation. We conducted detailed assessment of concentrations of PAHs in nine areas, covering urban, peri-urban and rural environments, from February 2013 to June 2014. PAHs concentrations were converted to benzo[a]pyrene equivalent concentration for cancer and non-cancer effects using relative potency factors and relative toxicity factors derived from quantitative structure-activity relationships, respectively. We derived severity for each endpoint using GBD 2016 dataset. The annual average concentration of total PAHs in Nagpur district was 458±246 ng/m3, and results in 0.011 DALYs/person/year (49,000 DALYs/year), much higher than the WHO reference limit of 1×10-6 DALYs/person/year. PAHs-related burden follow this order: developmental (mostly cardiovascular) impairment (55.1%) > cancer (26.5%) or lung cancer (23.1%) > immunological impairment (18.0%) > reproductive abnormally (0.4%). The estimated DALYs/person/year is high. Mitigation intervention should target combustion sources having the highest level of exposure

Boundary Terms and Junction Conditions for Generalized Scalar-Tensor Theories

We compute the boundary terms and junction conditions for Horndeski's panoptic class of scalar-tensor theories, and write the bulk and boundary equations of motion in explicitly second order form. We consider a number of special subclasses, including galileon theories, and present the corresponding formulae. Our analysis opens up of the possibility of studying tunnelling between vacua in generalized scalar-tensor theories, and braneworld dynamics. The latter follows because our results are independent of spacetime dimension.Comment: 13 pages, Equation corrected. Thanks to Tsutomu Kobayashi for informing us of the typ

How do surgeons decide? Conduit choice in coronary artery bypass graft surgery in the UK

OBJECTIVES Conduits used in coronary artery bypass grafting may have significant impact on outcomes, but evidence is mixed and there is large variation in practice. This study provides insights into the opinions of the UK surgeons on conduit use and their decision-making processes. METHODS A questionnaire was created using the Ottawa Decision Support Framework to elicit the importance that surgeons placed on bilateral internal mammary artery grafting, skeletonization, total arterial revascularization and sequential anastomoses on a scale of 1–10. Scores ≥8 were deemed ‘important’ and ≤3 ‘not important’. Surgeons were asked to specify changes to practice in frail patients or emergencies. Additional questions included conduit type used, factors affecting decision-making and vein harvesting methods. Questionnaires were administered in person with data analysed centrally. RESULTS Ninety-seven consultant cardiac surgeons from 25 centres responded. Thirty-two percent surgeons routinely used radial arteries and 36% used right internal mammary artery. High-quality evidence contributed most to decision-making receiving a total of 328/960 points, with consultant experience being the second (255/960 points). There was a bimodal distribution of perceived importance of bilateral internal mammary artery use, with 29 (30%) ‘important’ and ‘not important’ scores each. 23% of surgeons found total arterial revascularization important. Most surgeons (64%) preferred pedicled mammary arteries. Twenty-six percent of surgeons considered sequential grafting to be important. CONCLUSIONS Low uptake of total arterial revascularization and bilateral internal mammary artery among the UK consultants may be due to the lack of high-quality evidence demonstrating a significant benefit. It is also possible that reluctance to use certain conduits may stem from low levels of exposure to conduits or inadequate training, particularly given the importance of consultant experience on decision-making

Pleosporales

One hundred and five generic types of Pleosporales are described and illustrated. A brief introduction and detailed history with short notes on morphology, molecular phylogeny as well as a general conclusion of each genus are provided. For those genera where the type or a representative specimen is unavailable, a brief note is given. Altogether 174 genera of Pleosporales are treated. Phaeotrichaceae as well as Kriegeriella, Zeuctomorpha and Muroia are excluded from Pleosporales. Based on the multigene phylogenetic analysis, the suborder Massarineae is emended to accommodate five families, viz. Lentitheciaceae, Massarinaceae, Montagnulaceae, Morosphaeriaceae and Trematosphaeriaceae