GW190814: gravitational waves from the coalescence of a 23 solar mass black hole with a 2.6 solar mass compact object

We report the observation of a compact binary coalescence involving a 22.2–24.3 Me black hole and a compact object with a mass of 2.50–2.67 Me (all measurements quoted at the 90% credible level). The gravitational-wave signal, GW190814, was observed during LIGO’s and Virgo’s third observing run on 2019 August 14 at 21:10:39 UTC and has a signal-to-noise ratio of 25 in the three-detector network. The source was localized to 18.5 deg2 at a distance of - + 241 45 41 Mpc; no electromagnetic counterpart has been confirmed to date. The source has the most unequal mass ratio yet measured with gravitational waves, - + 0.112 0.009 0.008, and its secondary component is either the lightest black hole or the heaviest neutron star ever discovered in a double compact-object system. The dimensionless spin of the primary black hole is tightly constrained to �0.07. Tests of general relativity reveal no measurable deviations from the theory, and its prediction of higher-multipole emission is confirmed at high confidence. We estimate a merger rate density of 1–23 Gpc−3 yr−1 for the new class of binary coalescence sources that GW190814 represents. Astrophysical models predict that binaries with mass ratios similar to this event can form through several channels, but are unlikely to have formed in globular clusters. However, the combination of mass ratio, component masses, and the inferred merger rate for this event challenges all current models of the formation and mass distribution of compact-object binaries

Human rights in retreat

Is there not a worse situation today than during the Emergency? There was no colonization of the country by the foreign powers, with agriculture, industry, education, defense, health and trade being at their mercy. There was no communalization of the country's private and public life on the present scale with the communal parties and their militant armed outfits and volunteers attacking the life, liberty, dignity and property of the religious minorities. There was no unbridled play of capitalist forces, with public undertakings and public assets being handed over to them for a song on a platter. The unemployment is rising by leaps and bounds, the inequalities are widening, the corruption and criminalisation of public life has increased many fold, the communalization of the institutions of both the political and civil society including education, is going apace, and the terrorization of the dissenting voices through even physical attacks is taking place with impunity. But where is the unity among the forces opposed to these evils today? Where is the leadership to lead them? That brings home the unique importance of J.P. and his movement.human rights, social movements, politics

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Not AvailableThe population parameters like growth, mortality, exploitation rate and length at first capture of Arius caelatus and A. tenuispinis from Mumbai waters were investigated to derive information required for their management. Asymptotic length (L∞ ) and growth coefficient (K) were calculated as 520 mm and 0.70 year-1 for A. caelatus and 550 mm and 0.73 year-1 for A. tenuispinis,respectively. Instantaneous rate of total, natural and fishing mortalities were estimated to be 2.37, 1.18 and 1.19 for A. caelatus and 2.42, .19 and 1.23 for A. tenuispinis, respectively. Size at first capture was estimated as 274 mm for A. caelatus and 268 mm for A. tenuispinis. Exploitation ratio (E) was found to be at optimum level for both A. caelatus (0.5) and A. tenuispinis (0.51), indicating the stocks are exploited at optimum level and can be fished sustainably in years to comeNot Availabl

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Not AvailableEffect of dietary zinc on growth, survival and physiological responses of Tor putitora fry was investigated. A 60-day experiment was conducted with 1,800 fry (avg. wt 54.35 ± 3.09 mg) of golden mahseer distributed randomly among six treatments in triplicate. Six isonitrogenous semi-purified diets were prepared with graded levels of zinc (0, 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80 mg/kg). Zinc sulphate was added as dietary zinc source to the basal diet. Zinc concentration in rearing water was monitored during feeding period and it was set from 0.01 to 0.03 mg/L. Growth parameters as average weight gain, percentage weight gain, feed efficiency ratio were higher (p < 0.05) in fish fed diets with 40 mg Zn/kg. Suppressed growth and higher mortality was observed in groups fed with 80 mg Zn/kg diet. RNA/DNA ratio and whole body zinc retention showed increasing trend with increasing dietary zinc up to 40 mg Zn/kg and plateaued thereafter. Analysis of digestive enzymes revealed that amylase activity increased with increase in dietary zinc levels however, lipase and protease showed rhythmic changes among treatment groups. There was an increasing trend of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity with increase in zinc supplementation and highest ALP activity was observed in 80 mg Zn/kg diet which was significantly different from that of control group. Polynomial regression analysis indicated that 44.62–46.73 mg Zn/kg diet is optimum requirement, which favoured enzymatic responses for optimal growth and survivality in T. putitora fry.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe present study evaluated the effect of stocking density on growth and survival of post larvae (PL) of Fenneropenaeus merguiensis (de Man, 1888), commonly known as banana shrimp. PL was stocked at four different densities i.e., 10, 20, 30 and 40/m2 (T10, T20, T30 and T40, respectively) and reared for a period of 60 days. Water quality and growth performance parameters of different treatments were compared during the experiment. A significant (p<0.05) decrease in dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration relative with the higher stocking density was observed. Though some of the parameters showed significant (p<0.05) difference among the treatments, the water quality remained within safe level, throughout the experiment. Increase in stocking density led to significant reduction (p<0.05) in BWG and SGR of PL. The highest value of FCR was in T40 and lowest in T10. Stocking density also showed an inverse relationship with survival percentage of shrimp. Results of the present study revealed that high stocking density (≥30/m2) can seriously impair the growth of F. merguiensis PLNot Availabl

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Not AvailableThe present study evaluated the effect of stocking density on growth and survival of post larvae of Fenneropenaeus merguiensis ,commonly known as banana shrimp. PL was stocked at four different densities that is, 10, 20, 30 and 40 per square metres and reared for a period of 60 days. Water quality and growth performance parameters of different treatments were compared during the experiment. A significant (p less than 0.05) decrease in dissolved oxygen concentration relative with the higher stocking density was observed. Though some of the parameters showed significant (p less than 0.05) difference among the treatments, the water quality remained within safe level, throughout the experiment. Increase in stocking density led to significant reduction (p less than 0.05) in BWG and SGR of PL. The highest value of FCR was in T4 and lowest in T1. Stocking density also showed an inverse relationship with survival percentage of shrimp. Results of the present study revealed that high stocking density can seriously impair the growth of post larvae of F. merguiensis.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe knowledge on the reproductive biology of fishOreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) in riverine condition is meagre in the Indian sub-continent which is necessary for the development of an appropriate fishery management protocols for the rivers. In this context, the gonadal maturation profile and fecundity of O. niloticus was studied. Mature, spawning and spent females recorded in almost all the months of the year evidenced multiple and prolonged breeding behaviour. An overall sex ratio (M/F) of 1: 1.08 observed was statistically non-significant from expected 1:1 ratio (χ2=6.994219, p=0.8642) indicating that males and females were statistically equal in number. The absolute fecundity ranged from1192 to 4760 with mean of 2590 eggs from ovary weighing between1.91 g to 28.89 g. Monthly changes in gonado-somatic index (GSI) revealed that fish bred throughout the year except in July and August, but at peak between October- November and March-June. Size at first maturity of male was estimated as 229.6 mm with confidence limit of 235.9 and 223.6 mm and for female as 238.1 mm with confidence limit of 244.7 and 231.7 mm, respectively.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableTemperature can influence sex differentiation in gonochoristic fish with a genetic sex-determination system (GSD). The precise effect of high temperature on sex remains unknown in a eurythermal carp (Cyprinus carpio). The present study aimed to identify the critical thermosensitive period and the effect of temperature on sex differentiation in common carp, C. carpio. Our results demonstrated the lower and upper limits of the lethal maximum temperature (LTmax) of C. carpio juveniles (42 dph) were 37.2 and 39.7 °C, respectively in the present study condition. The confidence limit of the median lethal time (LT50) of the juveniles was 38.87 °C. To de- termine the thermosensitivity of sex differentiation, the larvae were exposed to a high temperature (36 °C) for 7- day durations, starting from hatching until 69 dph. The period of critical thermosensitivity for sex differentiation towards the male phenotype was 7 to 13 dph. The sex proportions and thermosensitivity of sex differentiation illustrated high inter-familial variability of sex ratio skewed towards male phenotype ranged from 69 to 100% in the 10 full-sib families exposed to 36 °C. Exposure of juveniles to the high temperatures (34 °C and 36 °C) significantly altered the sex ratios and produced 63 to 82 % male phenotype even during the transition of sex differentiation. This study demonstrates that sex differentiation in common carp is seriously influenced by the environmental process. Also, it explores a temperature-induced method of skewing sex ratio towards the male phenotype irrespective of morphological gonad differentiation in common carp.Not Availabl

Meta-analysis of HIV-1 vaccine elicited mucosal antibodies in humans.

We studied mucosal immune responses in six HIV-1 vaccine trials investigating different envelope (Env)-containing immunogens. Regimens were classified into four categories: DNA/vector, DNA/vector plus protein, protein alone, and vector alone. We measured HIV-1-specific IgG and IgA in secretions from cervical (n = 111) and rectal swabs (n = 154), saliva (n = 141), and seminal plasma (n = 124) and compared to corresponding blood levels. Protein-containing regimens had up to 100% response rates and the highest Env-specific IgG response rates. DNA/vector groups elicited mucosal Env-specific IgG response rates of up to 67% that varied across specimen types. Little to no mucosal IgA responses were observed. Overall, gp41- and gp140-specific antibodies dominated gp120 mucosal responses. In one trial, prior vaccination with a protein-containing immunogen maintained durability of cervical and rectal IgG for up to 17 years. Mucosal IgG responses were boosted after revaccination. These findings highlight a role for protein immunization in eliciting HIV-1-specific mucosal antibodies and the ability of HIV-1 vaccines to elicit durable HIV-1-specific mucosal IgG