The diffuse X-ray spectrum from 14-200 keV as measured on OSO-5

The measurement of energy spectrum of the diffuse component of cosmic X-ray flux made on the OSO-5 spacecraft is described. The contributions to the total counting rate of the actively shielded X-ray detector are considered in some detail and the techniques used to eliminate the non-cosmic components are described. Positive values for the cosmic flux are obtained in seven energy channels between 14 and 200 keV and two upper limits are obtained between 200 and 254 keV. The results can be fitted by a power law spectrum. A critical comparison is made with the OSO-3 results. Conclusions show that the reported break in the energy spectrum at 40 keV is probably produced by an erroneous correction for the radioactivity induced in the detector on each passage through the intense charged particle fluxes in the South Atlantic anomaly

Genetic relatidness and In vitro antimicrobial activities of alkaloids isolated from Indian varieties of Catharanthus roseus (L.)

Catharanthus roseus (L.) is one of the most intensively studied for its anticancerous property but phytopathogenic activity of the plant has not been much studied. Callus induction from C. roseus was optimized by varying various harmone concentrations and the best result was obtanined in MS medium fortified with 2mgL-1 2, 4-D and 0.1 mgL-1 kinetin. Antimicrobial activity and minimum inhibitory concentration showed that the 20, 40, and 80% leaves, shoot, and root extract inhibits Gram positive B. subtilis and phytopathogenic fungus F. oxysporium, A. niger, Rhizoctonia solani, Colletotrichum falcatum, Cylindrocladium scoparium respectively. Genetic relatidness was determined by RAPD analysis revealed that, white and violet colored C.roseus flowered plant was closely related than rosy pink coloured flower

Multiple Interneural Communications of Brachial Plexus - Anatomical Description and Clinical Significance

Brachial plexus blockade requires efficient and thorough understanding of the detailed anatomy of the plexus and the variations associated with the plexus. Anomalies associated with the branches of the plexus may complicate attempts of nerve blockade for anesthesia. The present case report presents an unusual variation of brachial plexus noticed during routine cadaveric dissection. A rare neural communication between ulnar and radial nerves was observed in the left axilla at high humeral level proximal to the entry of the radial nerve into the radial groove. The communicating ramus also gave a branch to the medial head of triceps brachii 0.3 cm distal to the origin of the communication. Further, there was also a communication between the musculocutaneous and median nerves in the distal half of the arm after the musculocutaneous nerve pierced the coracobrachialis muscle.Though the variations of the brachial plexus have been described in the literature, yet studies regarding the communication between ulnar and radial nerves are rare and the coexistence of this variation along with median and musculocutaneous nerve communication is unique. Knowledge of such rare variations and anomalies is important to minimize the possible complications of regional anesthesia and surgery. Such an unusual variation, as noted in the present study, may prove useful in nerve grafting and neurophysiological evaluation to diagnose peripheral neuropathies. Further, their knowledge is of immense importance in traumatology of the shoulder joint, radial neck dissections and management of fracture of the surgical neck of humerus. Anatomic variations of peripheral nerves are important for Orthopedic surgeons, Neurophysicians, Physiotherapists and Radiologists. The present article is a humble attempt to reinforce awareness of such neural variations among clinicians

Decoupling a Cooper-pair box to enhance the lifetime to 0.2 ms

We present a circuit QED experiment in which a separate transmission line is used to address a quasi-lumped element superconducting microwave resonator which is in turn coupled to an Al/AlO$_{x}$/Al Cooper-pair box (CPB) charge qubit. In our measurements we find a strong correlation between the measured lifetime of the CPB and the coupling between the qubit and the transmission line. By monitoring perturbations of the resonator's 5.44 GHz resonant frequency, we have measured the spectrum, lifetime ($T_{1}$), Rabi, and Ramsey oscillations of the CPB at the charge degeneracy point while the CPB was detuned by up to 2.5 GHz . We find a maximum lifetime of the CPB was $T_{1} = 200\ \mu$s for $f = 4$ to 4.5 GHz. Our measured $T_{1}$'s are consistent with loss due to coupling to the transmission line, spurious microwave circuit resonances, and a background decay rate on the order of $5\times 10^{3}$ s$^{-1}$ of unknown origin, implying that the loss tangent in the AlO$_{x}$ junction barrier must be less than about $4\times 10^{-8}$ at 4.5 GHz, about 4 orders of magnitude less than reported in larger area Al/AlO$_{x}$/Al tunnel junctions

Provider Relationship with Pediatric Patients and Their Families: A Scoping Review of the Role of the Provider’s Religious/Spiritual Beliefs

Pediatricians and other physicians in the United States identify themselves with various religious or spiritual affiliations and use its practices and customary ways to influence their medical practice. Pediatricians and physicians affiliated in the pediatric medical field have an important role in monitoring the health of many children, teenagers, and young adults life, and each course of treatment might be influenced by these medical professionals’ religion or spiritual affiliation. In this study, I examine the role of pediatricians’ religious or spiritual affiliation in their pediatric patient care. By conducting a scoping review, sources including peer-reviewed journal articles, and published works, we used to examine the current state of scientific evidence. Results showed that religious or spiritual affiliation has a subconscious role in the physician’s lives that influences the physician’s medical practice. These results suggest that depending on the pediatrician or physician affiliated in the pediatric medical field and their religious or spiritual affiliation, the way that their medical practice and responses to medical dilemmas would differ. On this basis, patients and their families would decide on which physician to go to and see based on whether or not their morals and values and the physician’s morals and values align.Key Words: pediatrician, physician, religion, spiritual affiliation, patient, role, medical, influenc

"Does anyone even notice us?" COVID-19’s impact on academics’ well-being in a developing country

In March 2020, the President of South African announced that the nation would go into full lockdown in the wake of an increase in COVID-19 infections. Academics had, in some instances, only one day to prepare for “emergency remote teaching”. Few academics had taught online before, as South Africa’s internet connectivity is not guaranteed in underprivileged areas, where 80 per cent of the population reside. The online move thus necessitated an entirely novel pedagogy for most academics, with high potential for an escalation of work-related stress and related illness, outcomes we have related in the wider sphere of workplace readjustment during COVID-19, to a state of “pandemia”. In this article, we report on an institutional case study where we surveyed n=136 academics from a university in the Western Cape, South Africa to learn more about impacts of COVID-19 on their work. The data analysis adopts Ryff’s (1995) theory of well-being. Findings indicate that the enforced lockdown due to COVID-19 and the subsequent move to online teaching has had a negative impact on academics’ sense of well-being. However, the emergence of positive, caring relationships between colleagues is reported as a significant outcome of the COVID-19 enforced move to online teaching

Intra- and inter-operator reproducibility of automated cloud-based carotid lumen diameter ultrasound measurement

Background: Common carotid artery lumen diameter (LD) ultrasound measurement systems are either manual or semi-automated and lack reproducibility and variability studies. This pilot study presents an automated and cloud-based LD measurements software system (AtheroCloud) and evaluates its: (i) intra/inter-operator reproducibility and (ii) intra/inter-observer variability. Methods: 100 patients (83 M, mean age: 68 ± 11 years), IRB approved, consisted of L/R CCA artery (200 ultrasound images), acquired using a 7.5-MHz linear transducer. The intra/inter-operator reproducibility was verified using three operator's readings. Near-wall and far carotid wall borders were manually traced by two observers for intra/inter-observer variability analysis. Results: The mean coefficient of correlation (CC) for intra- and inter-operator reproducibility between all the three automated reading pairs were: 0.99 (P < 0.0001) and 0.97 (P < 0.0001), respectively. The mean CC for intra- and inter-observer variability between both the manual reading pairs were 0.98 (P < 0.0001) and 0.98 (P < 0.0001), respectively. The Figure-of-Merit between the mean of the three automated readings against the four manuals were 98.32%, 99.50%, 98.94% and 98.49%, respectively. Conclusions: The AtheroCloud LD measurement system showed high intra/inter-operator reproducibility hence can be adapted for vascular screening mode or pharmaceutical clinical trial mode