The water footprint assessment manual: setting the global standard

This book contains the global standard for \u27water footprint assessment\u27 as developed and maintained by the Water Footprint Network (WFN). It covers a comprehensive set of definitions and methods for water footprint accounting. It shows how water footprints are calculated for individual processes and products, as well as for consumers, nations and businesses. It also includes methods for water footprint sustainability assessment and a library of water footprint response options. A shared standard on definitions and calculation methods is crucial given the rapidly growing interest in companies and governments to use water footprint accounts as a basis for formulating sustainable water strategies and policies

Placement-Driven Technology Mapping for LUT-Based FPGAs

In this paper, we study the problem of placement-driven technology mapping for table-lookup based FPGA architectures to optimize circuit performance. Early work on technology mapping for FPGAs such as Chortle-d[14] and Flowmap[3] aim to optimize the depth of the mapped solution without consideration of interconnect delay. Later works such as Flowmap-d[7], Bias-Clus[4] and EdgeMap consider interconnect delays during mapping, but do not take into consideration the effects of their mapping solution on the final placement. Our work focuses on the interaction between the mapping and placement stages. First, the interconnect delay information is estimated from the placement, and used during the labeling process. A placement-based mapping solution which considers both global cell congestion and local cell congestion is then developed. Finally, a legalization step and detailed placement is performed to realize the design. We have implemented our algorithm in a LUT based FPGA technology mapping package named PDM (Placement-Driven Mapping) and tested the implementation on a set of MCNC benchmarks. We use the tool VPR[1][2] for placement and routing of the mapped netlist. Experimental results show the longest path delay on a set of large MCNC benchmarks decreased by 12.3 % on the average

Developmental features of biomedical bibliographic databases

The genesis of bibliographic databases can be traced to the abstracting and indexing (A&I) periodicals. The Journal Des Scavans published in 1665 did contain abstracts of articles, but the formal abstracting journal began in 1820 (English) and in 1830 (German). The growth of primary periodicals required libraries to subscribe to A&I services to search for papers scattered in different journals as it was not possible to acquire all the primary periodical titles. The electronic versions of A&I periodicals started appearing in 1960s with emergence of database concept. The Chemical Titles and the MEDLARS are considered to be the earliest bibliographic databases. The Silver Platter is believed publish first biomedical CD-ROM database the MEDLINE with search facility – SPIRS. The growth and development of bibliographic databases has continued since then and enters the digital era to serve the users. The present paper theoretically examines EMBASE, PubMed and IndMed databases

Defining thermostability of membrane proteins by western blotting

Membrane proteins are relatively challenging targets for structural and other biophysical studies. Insufficient expression in various expression systems, inherent flexibility, and instability in the detergents that are required for membrane extraction are the main reasons for this limited success. Therefore, identification of suitable conditions and membrane protein variants that can help stabilize functional protein for extended periods of time is critical for structural studies. Here, we describe a western blot-based assay that simplifies identification of thermostabilizing conditions for membrane proteins. We show successful testing of a variety of parameters such as additive lipids, ligands and detergent

Near-IR studies of recurrent nova V745 Scorpii during its 2014 outburst

The recurrent nova (RN) V745 Scorpii underwent its third known outburst on 2014 February 6. Infrared monitoring of the eruption on an almost daily basis, starting from 1.3d after discovery, shows the emergence of a powerful blast wave generated by the high velocity nova ejecta exceeding 4000 kms$^{-1}$ plowing into its surrounding environment. The temperature of the shocked gas is raised to a high value exceeding 10$^{8}$K immediately after outburst commencement. The energetics of the outburst clearly surpass those of similar symbiotic systems like RS Oph and V407 Cyg which have giant secondaries. The shock does not show a free-expansion stage but rather shows a decelerative Sedov-Taylor phase from the beginning. Such strong shockfronts are known to be sites for $\gamma$ ray generation. V745 Sco is the latest nova, apart from five other known novae, to show $\gamma$ ray emission. It may be an important testbed to resolve the crucial question whether all novae are generically $\gamma$ ray emitters by virtue of having a circumbinary reservoir of material that is shocked by the ejecta rather than $\gamma$ ray generation being restricted to only symbiotic systems with a shocked red giant (RG) wind. The lack of a free-expansion stage favors V745 Sco to have a density enhancement around the white dwarf (WD), above that contributed by a RG wind. Our analysis also suggests that the WD in V745 Sco is very massive and a potential progenitor for a future SN Ia explosion.Comment: To appear in ApJ (Letters

Performance of direct seeded rice in Tungabhadra command area of Karnataka

A large scale demonstration was taken on direct seeded rice in four locations (one at ARS, and three at Farmers field in 50 acres each) in and around the Agricultural Research Station, Dhadesugur, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, Karnataka. Our analysis showed that, the yield performance of direct seeded rice (DSR) varied with transplanted rice (TPR) and with different locations. This may be due to variety used and crop management practices adopted by the farmers. In L2, maximum grain yield was recorded in DSR (6500 kg/ha) and TPR (6200 kg/ ha) compared to other three locations. Further, the grain yield was higher in DSR compared to TPR in all the locations. Similarly, economics of DSR varied with TPR and with different locations. This may be due to yield variation at different locations. In L2, net returns and B:C ratio were higher in DSR (` 93628/ha and 3.93, respectively) and TPR (`79868/ ha and 3.0, respectively) compared to other three locations. Further, net returns and B:C ratio were higher in DSR compared to TPR. Further, 47% of the labour requirement was saved in DSR compared to TPR. Therefore, concluded that, farmers can grow rice by direct seeding instead of planting to save the labour and the expenditure

Diagnostic laparoscopy in the evaluation of female factor infertility

Background: Infertility is a global problem, with more than 70 million couples suffering every year. In India 10-15% of populations are suffering from infertility. All these people need accurate diagnosis and treatment. Among the many investigations available to evaluate the female partner of the infertile couples, laparoscopy is relatively recent and considered gold standard for pelvis evaluation. The objective of the study was to study the different causes of female factor infertility with diagnostic laparoscopy.Methods: This is a prospective study done on 50 infertile females who attended infertility clinic of department of OBG, ESIC MC and PGIMSR, Rajajinagar, Bengaluru from September 2013 to 2015. Both primary and secondary infertility females were included in this study. These patients underwent diagnostic laparoscopy in premenstrual phase (7, 8, 9th day of menstrual cycle) after conducting thorough clinical and biochemical examinations.Results: In the present study total 50 infertility cases were included. 41 cases had primary infertility and 9 cases had secondary infertility. Mean age was 29.88 years and mean duration of infertility was 5.9 years. Abnormal laparoscopic findings were detected in 41 (82%) cases. Tubal factor was seen in 14 (28%) cases, 11 (22%) cases had endometriosis, 10 (20%) cases had ovarian factor, 4 (8%) cases had pelvic adhesions and 2(4%) had fibroid uterus.Conclusions: Tubal factor is the commonest cause for infertility followed by endometriosis and ovarian factor. Diagnostic laparoscopy is the gold standard procedure to assess tubal status. Laparoscopy has a better role than ultrasonography in diagnosing endometriosis and pelvic adhesions

Visual outcome of central serous retinopathy

Background: Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) is a sporadic disorder of the outer blood retinal barrier. Increasing evidence implicates an abnormal choroidal circulation as the cause of CSCR. The study aimed at the visual outcome of central serous retinopathy for a duration of 6 months from the primary attack.Methods: Study conducted at Department of Ophthalmology in Out Patient Department of Mediciti Medical College Hospital, from June 2013 to December 2014. Total 30 patients’ eyes were treated with placebo treatment with antioxidants for a period of 6 months.Results: Highest prevalence of central serous retinopathy was seen in age group of 20-40 years in 26 eyes (85%), males are predominant i.e. out of 30 patients 27 (90%), risk factors of central serous retinopathy like Type A personality are observed in 3. Associated visual abnormalities like micropsia, central scotomas in 20% of patients, fluorescein angiography showed 60% inkblot pattern. After observation for 6 months visual acuity was spontaneously improved within 4-6 months in 70% of patients, recurrences was seen in 6 patients i.e. 20% is observed.Conclusions: Central serous retinopathy is most commonly seen among 20-40 years age group, with male predominance, unilateral in which Spontaneous resolution of central serous retinopathy is seen in 4-6 months so for which aggressive treatment is not necessary.