Landing of ‘Flying Gurnard’ in Mumbai

A rare fish ‘flying gurnard’ was landed by a trawler operating in 70-100 m depth in the sea off Mumbai. The species was identified as Dactyloptena peterseni (Nystrom, 1887) and it is reported for the first time along the Indian coast

Time delay compensation in finite-order models of acoustic wave propagation in homogenous media

The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file.Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on Aug. 5, 2011.)Thesis advisor: Dr. Jinglu Tan.Vita.Includes bibliographical references.M.S. University of Missouri--Columbia 2011.Finite-order models do not completely account for the delay in acoustic wave propagation and thus require an additional phase correction, besides parameter adjustments to fit experimental measurements. As a consequence, it is necessary to determine the time or phase delay of a finite-order model as a function of excitation frequency and model order. In this work a homogenous, one-dimensional medium is discretized in finite a number of elements. Two methods were developed to derive the transfer function of wave transmission for an arbitrary number of elements. Results from the two methods were verified with transfer functions computed from state space models developed in the time domain. The transfer functions were used to evaluate the model time delays and consequently the needed additional time delay corrections for a given system. Experimental data were collected and used, to verify utility of the method. By providing the time delay correction, the method helps enhance the model parameter estimation process

Role of Atypical Chemokine Receptors in Microglial Activation and Polarization.

Inflammatory reactions occurring in the central nervous system (CNS), known as neuroinflammation, are key components of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying several neurological diseases. The chemokine system plays a crucial role in the recruitment and activation of immune and non-immune cells in the brain, as well as in the regulation of microglia phenotype and function. Chemokines belong to a heterogeneous family of chemotactic agonists that signal through the interaction with G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Recently, a small subset of chemokine receptors, now identified as “atypical chemokine receptors” (ACKRs), has been described. These receptors lack classic GPCR signaling and chemotactic activity and are believed to limit inflammation through their ability to scavenge chemokines at the inflammatory sites. Recent studies have highlighted a role for ACKRs in neuroinflammation. However, in the CNS, the role of ACKRs seems to be more complex than the simple control of inflammation. For instance, CXCR7/ACKR3 was shown to control T cell trafficking through the regulation of CXCL12 internalization at CNS endothelial barriers. Furthermore, D6/ACKR2 KO mice were protected in a model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). D6/ACKR2 KO showed an abnormal accumulation of dendritic cells at the immunization and a subsequent impairment in T cell priming. Finally, CCRL2, an ACKR-related protein, was shown to play a role in the control of the resolution phase of EAE. Indeed, CCRL2 KO mice showed exacerbated, non- resolving disease with protracted inflammation and increased demyelination. This phenotype was associated with increased microglia and macrophage activation markers and imbalanced M1 vs. M2 polarization. This review will summarize the current knowledge on the role of the ACKRs in neuroinflammation with a particular attention to their role in microglial polarization and function

An experience with off pump technique for repair of anomalous left coronary artery from pulmonary artery (ALCAPA)

AbstractBackgroundAnomalous origin of left coronary artery from pulmonary artery is a very rare disease with incidence of one every 300,000 live births. It has a high mortality of 80% in the first year of life.This observational study summarized our experience using the technique of subclavian arterial bypass without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for treatment of this coronary anomaly in pediatric population. The study aims to revive an earlier technique, with modifications, as an alternative to the existing coronary translocation.MethodsFrom 2009 till 2015, six consecutive infants were operated by a single surgeon using subclavian artery to left coronary artery bypass done off pump, to establish a two coronary circulation.ResultsFive patients had an improvement in their LV ejection fractions at the time of the last follow-up. Angiography done in two cases after 2 and 6 years after surgery revealed good flow in the left coronary artery and good growth in the length of subclavian artery. There was one surgical mortality in this series.ConclusionsThe technique of off pump subclavian arterial bypass for anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery is a viable alternative to the existing standard technique of coronary translocation. It essentially eliminates extracorporeal circulatory support or a left heart bypass that may be needed after coronary translocation. Also, the advantage of avoiding CPB, both in economic terms and also the adverse effects related to use of bypass in this very sick hearts, cannot be disregarded

Modeling and simulation for the spread of Covid-19 in an Indian city: a case study

We present a case study on modeling and predicting the course of Covid-19 in the Indian city of Pune. The results presented in this paper are concerned primarily with the wave of infections triggered by the Delta variant during the period between February and June 2021. Our work demonstrates the necessity for bringing together compartmental stock-and-flow and agent-based models and the limitations of each approach when used individually. Some of the work presented here was carried out in the process of advising the local city administration and reflects the challenges associated with employing these models in a real-world environment with its uncertainties and time pressures. Our experience, described in the paper, also highlights the risks associated with forecasting the course of an epidemic with evolving variants

High Density Planting in Mango cv. Alphonso

A trial was conducted to optimize spacing for high density planting in mango cv. Alphonso to obtain higher yield/ unit area at the Agriculture Research Station, Mulde, during 2006-07 to 2008-09 with four close spacings and one normal spacing as control. Highest yield (6.4 MT/ha) was recorded with a spacing of 5 m x 5 m without reduction in fruit size in 10 year old plants compared to the mean yield of 1.12 MT/ha in 10m x 10m normal spacing. High density plantation helped to get significantly higher yield per unit area compared to the normal spacing, without affecting size and quality of mango fruits. The highest cost:benefit ratio (2.33) was recorded in high density plantation of 5m x 5m, with maximum net returns of Rs.1,12,000/- per hectare. The present findings show promise for more yield and returns per unit area during the initial years of mango plantation by adopting 5m x 5m high density planting