Drainage Morphometric Analysis of the Nagavathi Watershed of Dharmapuri District, Tamil Nadu, India Using SRTM Data and GIS

GIS and Remote sensing have proved to be a resourceful tool in the explanation of drainage pattern for water resources management and its planning. The identification of morphometric characteristics based on a Geographic Information System (GIS) was carried out in the Nagavathi watershed, Dharmapuri District. The quantitative drainage morphometric parameters was carried out for the Nagavathi watershed by estimating their (a) Linear aspects like Stream number, Stream order, Stream length, Mean stream length, Stream length ratio, Bifurcation ratio, (b) Aerial aspects like Drainage density, Stream frequency, Texture Ratio, Elongation ratio, Form factor, Circularity index, Length of overflow, Constant of Channel maintenance, Drainage texture, Compactness coefficient and (c) Relief aspects like Basin relief, Relief ratio, Ruggedness number, Gradient ratio, Melton ruggedness ratio, Slope,  relative relief, Shape Factor and Leminscate.  The drainage area of Nagavithi watershed is 482 sq. Km. the main drainage patterns is dendritic to sub-dendritic drainage. The Nagavathi watershed was classified as a fifth order drainage watershed, whereas micro watershed was classified as an eight in the watershed. Stream order of the watershed was predominantly controlled by structural and lithological controls of various drainage patterns and their stream orientations were identified to evaluate the direction and controlling factors in drainage network. The drainage density in the area has been found to be low which indicates that the area possesses highly permeable soils and low relief. The bifurcation ratio varies from 0.8 to 43.1. The elongation ratio of  Microwatersheds  varies  from  0.13  to  0.43, indicates  Microwatersheds  fall  under elongated  pattern. This study would help the local people to utilize the resources for planning rainwater harvesting and watershed management

Gut microflora of some edible crabs from Porto Novo Coast

399-401Gut microflora of 5 commercially important crabs, viz. Charybdis cruciata (Herbst), Podophthalmus vigil (Fabricius) (marine), Scylla serrata (Forskal), Portumus pelagicus (Linnaeus), Podophthalmus sanguinolentus (Herbst) (estuarine), were studied. The midgut harboured highest aerobic and proteolytic bacteria. Luminescent bacterial flora were predominant in the hindgut and on the cuticular membrane of all the crabs examined. High numbers of heterotrophic bacteria were recorded in the midgut of Scylla serrata

Voltage Controlled Integrator and Linear Quadrature-VCO Using MMCC

A Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) based on the new multiplication-mode current conveyor (MMCC) building block is presented. The oscillator is realized using a double integrator loop (DIL) where a linear frequency (fo) versus the control voltage (Vc) tuning characteristics with quadrature sinusoid signal generation in a range of 40 kHz ≤ fo≤ 700  kHz had been experimentally verified. The fo─ sensitivity is low while the frequency stability factor (Sf >>1) is high at satisfactory values of total harmonic distortion (THD ≈ 1.11%)

Critical Analysis on the Structural and Magnetic Properties of Bulk and Nanocrystalline Cu-Fe-O

Nanocrystalline and bulk samples of “Fe”-doped CuO were prepared by coprecipitation and ceramic methods. Structural and compositional analyses were performed using X-ray diffraction, SEM, and EDAX. Traces of secondary phases such as CuFe2O4, Fe3O4, and α-Fe2O3 having peaks very close to that of the host CuO were identified from the Rietveld profile analysis and the SAED pattern of bulk and nanocrystalline Cu0.98Fe0.02O samples. Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) measurements show hysteresis at 300 K for all the samples. The ferrimagnetic Neel transition temperature () was found to be around 465°C irrespective of the content of “Fe”, which is close to the value of cubic CuFe2O4. High-pressure X-Ray diffraction studies were performed on 2% “Fe”-doped bulk CuO using synchrotron radiation. From the absence of any strong new peaks at high pressure, it is evident that the secondary phases if present could be less than the level of detection. Cu2O, which is diamagnetic by nature, was also doped with 1% of “Fe” and was found to show paramagnetic behavior in contrast to the “Fe” doped CuO. Hence the possibility of intrinsic magnetization of “Fe”-doped CuO apart from the secondary phases is discussed based on the magnetization and charge state of “Fe” and the host into which it is substituted

Intrusion Detection Systems for Community Wireless Mesh Networks

Wireless mesh networks are being increasingly used to provide affordable network connectivity to communities where wired deployment strategies are either not possible or are prohibitively expensive. Unfortunately, computer networks (including mesh networks) are frequently being exploited by increasingly profit-driven and insidious attackers, which can affect their utility for legitimate use. In response to this, a number of countermeasures have been developed, including intrusion detection systems that aim to detect anomalous behaviour caused by attacks. We present a set of socio-technical challenges associated with developing an intrusion detection system for a community wireless mesh network. The attack space on a mesh network is particularly large; we motivate the need for and describe the challenges of adopting an asset-driven approach to managing this space. Finally, we present an initial design of a modular architecture for intrusion detection, highlighting how it addresses the identified challenges

Supplementation of Aripiprazole In Risperidone induced Hyperprolactinemia a Double Bling Randomized Placebo Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION : This scale is designed to assess positive symptoms, principally those that occur in schizophrenia. It is intended to serve as a complementary instrument to the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS). These positive symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, bizarre behavior, and positive formal thought disorder. As in the case of the SANS, the investigator using this instrument will need to decide on an appropriate "time set". The instrument was developed with the exception that, in general, the time set will cover the past month as in the case of SANS. This scale can also be used in psychopharmacologic research in order to make weekly ratings and chart the subject's response to treatment. Investigators using this instrument, particularly in combination with the SANS, will need to use a standard clinical interview in order to evaluate the subject's symptoms. Since positive formal thought disorder is an important positive symptom, it is recommended that, in doing this interview, the investigator begin talking with the subject on a relatively neutral topic for five to ten minutes in order to observe the subject's manner of speaking and responding. Thereafter, he can begin to ask specific questions about the various positive symptoms. Suggested probes are provided in the interview guide. OBJECTIVE: Hyperprolactinemia and related adverse effects often occur with antipsychotics, especially Risperidone. We investigated the effect of adjunctive treatment with Aripiprazole on hyperprolactinemia in patients with schizophrenia maintained on Risperidone. METHOD: Thirty patients who were on stable doses of Risperidone were randomized either to get 10 mg of Aripiprazole or placebo in a double bind fashion. Serum prolactin levels were measured at the baseline and at the end of 8 weeks. Symptoms and side effects were assessed with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Scale for the Assessment for positive symptoms, Scale for Assessment of Negative symptoms, Simpson- Angus Rating scale, Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale, Arizona Sexual Experience Scale and Prolactin Related Adverse Event Questionnaire at baseline, weeks 2, 4, 6 and 8. RESULTS: Prolactin levels of patients receiving Aripiprazole significantly decreased compared to the placebo group, at the end of 8 weeks. In the Aripiprazole group, patients had 60.64% reduction in prolactin level at week 8 whereas no reduction was observed in placebo. Statistically significant reduction in scores of Arizona Sexual Experience Scale and Prolactin Related Adverse Event Questionnaire were noted in Aripiprazole group which denote improvement in sexual side effects. No differences were observed on BPRS, Scale for the Assessment of Positive symptoms, Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms, Simpson-Angus Rating Scale, and Barnes Akathisia Rating scale scores were noted. CONCLUSION: Adjunctive Aripiprazole treatment improved hyperprolactinemia in both gender, resulting in clinical improvement, with no significant effects on psychopathology and extra pyramidal symptoms. Partial agonistic property of Aripiprazole could be the cause of this observation

Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Kinase Plays a Protective Role in β-Adrenergic Receptor-Stimulated Cardiac Myocyte Apoptosis and Myocardial Remodeling

β-Adrenergic receptor (β-AR) stimulation induces cardiac myocyte apoptosis and plays an important role in myocardial remodeling. Here we investigated expression of various apoptosis-related genes affected by β-AR stimulation, and examined first time the role of ataxia telangiectasia mutated kinase (ATM) in cardiac myocyte apoptosis and myocardial remodeling following β-AR stimulation. cDNA array analysis of 96 apoptosis-related genes indicated that β-AR stimulation increases expression of ATM in the heart. In vitro, RT-PCR confirmed increased ATM expression in adult cardiac myocytes in response to β-AR stimulation. Analysis of left ventricular structural and functional remodeling of the heart in wild-type (WT) and ATM heterozygous knockout mice (hKO) 28 days after ISO-infusion showed increased heart weight to body weight ratio in both groups. M-mode echocardiography showed increased percent fractional shortening (%FS) and ejection fraction (EF%) in both groups 28 days post ISO-infusion. Interestingly, the increase in %FS and EF% was significantly lower in the hKO-ISO group. Cardiac fibrosis and myocyte apoptosis were higher in hKO mice at baseline and ISO-infusion increased fibrosis and apoptosis to a greater extent in hKO-ISO hearts. ISO-infusion increased phosphorylation of p53 (Serine-15) and expression of p53 and Bax to a similar extent in both groups. hKO-Sham and hKO-ISO hearts exhibited reduced intact β1 integrin levels. MMP-2 protein levels were significantly higher, while TIMP-2 protein levels were lower in hKO-ISO hearts. MMP-9 protein levels were increased in WT-ISO, not in hKO hearts. In conclusion, ATM plays a protective role in cardiac remodeling in response to β-AR stimulation

Design Analysis of Brushless Direct Current Generator

In this work, optimisation of a brushless direct current (BLDC) generator design was undertaken by carrying out an electromagnetic and computational fluid dynamic study. The studies were carried out for different loading-overloading conditions and angular speeds, keeping in consideration the required electrical and thermal parameters, firstly for the initial design and then for optimised designs. In the initial phase, transient electromagnetic simulations were done using Ansys Maxwell to estimate power output, flux densities, heat losses et al. In the next phase, steady state conjugate heat transfer simulations using frozen rotor method for rotating domains were carried out in Ansys CFX using the heat loss values obtained from electromagnetic study in the first phase. The results from conjugate heat transfer were obtained in the form of temperature and flow parameters. After a thorough study and comparison of the results for different designs, obtained in the two phases, it was seen one of the optimised designs showed better electromagnetic, thermal and flow parameters as compared to the initial design and satisfied all the optimum electrical and thermal parameters

From event analysis to global lessons: disaster forensics for building resilience

With unprecedented growth in disaster risk, there is an urgent need for enhanced learning about and understanding disasters, particularly in relation to the trends in the drivers of increasing risk. Building on the disaster forensics field, we introduce the Post Event Review Capability (PERC) methodology for systematically and holistically analyzing disaster events, and identifying actionable recommendations. PERC responds to a need for learning about the successes and failures in disaster risk management and resilience, and uncovers the underlying drivers of increasing risk. We draw generalizable insights identified from seven applications of the methodology to date, where we find that across the globe policy makers and practitioners in disaster risk management face strikingly similar challenges despite variations in context, indicating encouraging potential for mutual learning. These lessons highlight the importance of integrated risk reduction strategies. We invite others to utilize the freely available PERC approach and contribute to building a repository of learnings on disaster risk management and resilience. This discussion paper is under review for the journal Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences (NHESS)