Chemical weathering and provenance evolution of Holocene–Recent sediments from the Western Indus Shelf, Northern Arabian Sea inferred from physical and mineralogical properties

We present a multi-proxy mineral record based on X-ray diffraction and diffuse reflectance spectrophotometry analysis for two cores from the western Indus Shelf in order to reconstruct changing weathering intensities, sediment transport, and provenance variations since 13 ka. Core Indus-10 is located northwest of the Indus Canyon and exhibits fluctuations in smectite/(illite + chlorite) ratios that correlate with monsoon intensity. Higher smectite/(illite + chlorite) and lower illite crystallinity, normally associated with stronger weathering, peaked during the Early–Mid Holocene, the period of maximum summer monsoon. Hematite/goethite and magnetic susceptibility do not show clear co-variation, although they both increase at Indus-10 after 10 ka, as the monsoon weakened. At Indus-23, located on a clinoform just west of the canyon, hematite/goethite increased during a period of monsoon strengthening from 10 to 8 ka, consistent with increased seasonality and/or reworking of sediment deposited prior to or during the glacial maximum. After 2 ka terrigenous sediment accumulation rates in both cores increased together with redness and hematite/goethite, which we attribute to widespread cultivation of the floodplain triggering reworking, especially after 200 years ago. Over Holocene timescales sediment composition and mineralogy in two localities on the high-energy shelf were controlled by varying degrees of reworking, as well as climatically modulated chemical weathering

Seasonal variation of mixed layer depth in the north Arabian Sea

The Arabian Sea is unique due to the extremes in atmospheric forcing that lead to the semi-annual seasonal changes. The reversing winds of summer and winter monsoon induce the variation in the characteristics of mixed layer depth. The importance of mixed layer depth is recognized in studying the biological productivity in the ocean. In this paper variability of mixed layer depth in the north Arabian Sea have been discussed. The study is based on the data collected under North Arabian Sea Environment and Ecosystem Research (NASEER) program. The results of the study indicate that there is a significant variation in the mixed layer depth from summer to winter monsoon as well as coast to offshore

Simultaneous resource recovery and ammonia volatilization minimization in animal husbandry and agriculture

The study demonstrates that the minimization of ammonia volatilization and urea recovery could be coupled through the use of physical adsorption processes in continuous packed-bed columns. The potential of using microwave activated coconut shell based activated carbon toward the recovery of urea from cattle urine was investigated. The prepared carbon was immobilized onto etched glass beads to investigate the effect of initial concentration, flow rate and size of carbon support in a continuous, down-flow mode packed column. Further, to describe the sorption behavior, the experimental data were tested against different kinetic models. The analysis of the breakthrough curves allowed identification of the favorable operating parameters as: sorbate flow (8 L·h−1), initial urea concentration (60%) and glass bead support size (ϕ 1.5 cm). An equilibrium sorption of 802.8 mg·g−1 and up to 80% urea recovery was observed. Regeneration studies allowed for nearly 95% urea recovery with sorbent capacity decreasing by 5% over seven cycles of sorption/desorption

Seismic volcanostratigraphy of the western Indian rifted margin: The pre-Deccan igneous province

The Indian Plate has been the focus of intensive research concerning the flood basalts of the Deccan Traps. Here we document a volcanostratigraphic analysis of the offshore segment of the western Indian volcanic large igneous province, between the shoreline and the first magnetic anomaly (An 28 ∼63 Ma). We have mapped the different crustal domains of the NW Indian Ocean from stretched continental crust through to oceanic crust, using seismic reflection and potential field data. Two volcanic structures, the Somnath Ridge and the Saurashtra High, are identified, extending ∼305 km NE-SW in length and 155 km NW-SE in width. These show the internal structures of buried shield volcanoes and hyaloclastic mounds, surrounded by mass-wasting deposits and volcanic sediments. The structures observed resemble seismic images from the North Atlantic and northwest Australia, as well as volcanic geometries described for Runion and Hawaii. The geometry and internal seismic facies within the volcanic basement suggest a tholeiitic composition and subaerial to shallow marine emplacement. At the scale of the western Indian Plate, the emplacement of this volcanic platform is constrained by structural lineations associated with rifting. By reviewing the volcanism in the Indian Ocean and plate reconstruction of the area, the timing of the volcanism can be associated with eruption of a pre-Deccan continental flood basalt (∼75-65.5 Ma). The volcanic platform in this study represents an addition of 19-26.5% to the known volume of the West Indian Volcanic Province. Copyright 2011 by the American Geophysical Union

Where do T cell subsets stand in SARS-CoV-2 infection: An update

An outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged in China in December 2019 and spread so rapidly all around the globe. It\u27s continued and spreading more dangerously in India and Brazil with higher mortality rate. Understanding of the pathophysiology of COVID-19 depends on unraveling of interactional mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 and human immune response. The immune response is a complex process, which can be better understood by understanding the immunological response and pathological mechanisms of COVID-19, which will provide new treatments, increase treatment efficacy, and decrease mortality associated with the disease. In this review we present a amalgamate viewpoint based on the current available knowledge on COVID-19 which includes entry of the virus and multiplication of virus, its pathological effects on the cellular level, immunological reaction, systemic and organ presentation. T cells play a crucial role in controlling and clearing viral infections. Several studies have now shown that the severity of the COVID-19 disease is inversely correlated with the magnitude of the T cell response. Understanding SARS-CoV-2 T cell responses is of high interest because T cells are attractive vaccine targets and could help reduce COVID-19 severity. Even though there is a significant amount of literature regarding SARS-CoV-2, there are still very few studies focused on understanding the T cell response to this novel virus. Nevertheless, a majority of these studies focused on peripheral blood CD4+ and CD8+ T cells that were specific for viruses. The focus of this review is on different subtypes of T cell responses in COVID-19 patients, Th17, follicular helper T (TFH), regulatory T (Treg) cells, and less classical, invariant T cell populations, such as δγ T cells and mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells etc that could influence disease outcome

Cancellation of Contact Quenching : A Simple Concept for Selective Chemosensing of Basic Fluoride and Acetate Anions

A weakly fluorescent acid-base pair formed by reacting fluorescent acridine orange with the quencher picric acid is reported for the detection of basic fluoride and acetate anions. Deprotonation by these anions causes disengagement of the fluorescent acridine orange from the quencher, picric acid. This phenomenon cancels the quenching existing in the native probe, thereby allowing for the optical signalling of fluoride and acetate anions by color modulation as well fluorescence switch-on response. Anions such as Br-, I-, Cl-, NO3-, SCN-, HSO4-, and H2PO4- offer no detectable interferences even in excess concentrations

Seasonal effect and long-term nutritional status following exit from a Community-Based Management of Severe Acute Malnutrition program in Bihar, India.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Children aged 6 months to 5 years completing treatment for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in a Médecins Sans Frontières Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) program in Bihar, India, showed high cure rates; however, the program suffered default rates of 38%. This report describes the nutritional status of 1956 children followed up between 3 and 18 months after exiting the program. SUBJECTS/METHODS: All children aged 6-59 months discharged as cured with mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) ⩾120 mm or who defaulted from the program with MUAC <115 mm were traced at 3, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months (±10 days) before three exit reference dates: first at the end of the food insecure period, second after the 2-month food security and third after the 4-month food security. RESULTS: Overall, 68.7% (n=692) of defaulters and 76.2% (n=1264) of children discharged as cured were traced. Combined rates of non-recovery in children who defaulted with MUAC <115 mm were 41%, 30.1%, 9.9%, 6.1% and 3.6% at 3, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months following exit, respectively. Combined rates of relapse among cured cases (MUAC ⩾120 mm) were 9.1%, 2.9%, 2.1%, 2.8% and 0% at 3, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months following discharge, respectively. Prevalence of undernutrition increased substantially for both groups traced during low food security periods. Odds of death were much higher for children defaulting with MUAC <110 mm when compared with children discharged as cured, who shared the same mortality risk as those defaulting with MUAC 110-<115 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Seasonal food security predicted short-term nutritional status after exit, with relapse rates and non-recovery from SAM much higher during food insecurity. Mortality outcomes suggest that a MUAC of 110 mm may be considered an appropriate admission point for SAM treatment programs in this context

Deep learning approach for discovery of in silico drugs for combating COVID-19

Early diagnosis of pandemic diseases such as COVID-19 can prove beneficial in dealing with difficult situations and helping radiologists and other experts manage staffing more effectively. The application of deep learning techniques for genetics, microscopy, and drug discovery has created a global impact. It can enhance and speed up the process of medical research and development of vaccines, which is required for pandemics such as COVID-19. However, current drugs such as remdesivir and clinical trials of other chemical compounds have not shown many impressive results. Therefore, it can take more time to provide effective treatment or drugs. In this paper, a deep learning approach based on logistic regression, SVM, Random Forest, and QSAR modeling is suggested. QSAR modeling is done to find the drug targets with protein interaction along with the calculation of binding affinities. Then deep learning models were used for training the molecular descriptor dataset for the robust discovery of drugs and feature extraction for combating COVID-19. Results have shown more significant binding affinities (greater than -18) for many molecules that can be used to block the multiplication of SARS-CoV-2, responsible for COVID-19. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2021 Nishant Jha et al.

Impacts of sediment supply and local tectonics on clinoform distribution: the seismic stratigraphy of the mid Pleistocene-Holocene Indus Shelf

Abstract We present results from the first high-resolution seismic reflection survey of the inner Western Indus Shelf, and Indus Delta, Arabian Sea. The results show major regional differences in sedimentation across the shelf from east to west, as well as north to south, both since the Last Glacial Maximum (*20 ka) and over longer time scales. We identify 10 major regional reflectors, interpreted as representing sea level lowstands. Strong compressive folding is observed underlying a reflector we have called Horizon 6 in the north-western shelf, probably compression associated with the transpressional deformation of the Murray Ridge plate boundary. Downslope profiles show a series of well developed clinoforms, principally at the shelf edge, indicating significant preservation of large packages of sediment during lowstands. These clinoforms have developed close to zones of deformation, suggesting that subsidence is a factor in controlling sedimentation and consequently erosion of the Indus Shelf. These clinoforms fan out from dome features (tectonic anticlines) mostly located close to the modern shoreline