Embedded AGN and star formation in the central 80 pc of IC 3639

[Abridged] Methods: We use interferometric observations in the $N$-band with VLTI/MIDI to resolve the mid-IR nucleus of IC 3639. The origin of the nuclear infrared emission is determined from: 1) the comparison of the correlated fluxes from VLTI/MIDI with the fluxes measured at subarcsec resolution (VLT/VISIR, VLT/ISAAC); 2) diagnostics based on IR fine-structure line ratios, the IR continuum emission, IR bands produced by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and silicates; and 3) the high-angular resolution spectral energy distribution. Results: The unresolved flux of IC 3639 is $90 \pm 20\, \rm{mJy}$ at $10.5\, \rm{\mu m}$, measured with three different baselines in VLTI (UT1-UT2, UT3-UT4, and UT2-UT3; $46$-$58\, \rm{m}$), making this the faintest measurement so far achieved with mid-IR interferometry. The correlated flux is a factor of $3$-$4$ times fainter than the VLT/VISIR total flux measurement. The observations suggest that most of the mid-IR emission has its origin on spatial scales between $10$ and $80\, \rm{pc}$ ($40$-$340\, \rm{mas}$). A composite scenario where the star formation component dominates over the AGN is favoured by the diagnostics based on ratios of IR fine-structure emission lines, the shape of the IR continuum, and the PAH and silicate bands. Conclusions: A composite AGN-starburst scenario is able to explain both the mid-IR brightness distribution and the IR spectral properties observed in the nucleus of IC 3639. The nuclear starburst would dominate the mid-IR emission and the ionisation of low-excitation lines (e.g. [NeII]$_{12.8 \rm{\mu m}}$) with a net contribution of $\sim 70\%$. The AGN accounts for the remaining $\sim 30\%$ of the mid-IR flux, ascribed to the unresolved component in the MIDI observations, and the ionisation of high-excitation lines (e.g. [NeV]$_{14.3 \rm{\mu m}}$ and [OIV]$_{25.9 \rm{\mu m}}$).Comment: Accepted for publication in A&

HIV-1 Directly Kills CD4+ T Cells by a Fas-independent Mechanism

The mechanism by which HIV-1 induces CD4+ T cell death is not known. A fundamental issue is whether HIV-1 primarily induces direct killing of infected cells or indirectly causes death of uninfected bystander cells. This question was studied using a reporter virus system in which infected cells are marked with the cell surface protein placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP). Infection by HIV-PLAP of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and T cell lines leads to rapid depletion of CD4+ T cells and induction of apoptosis. The great majority of HIV-induced T cell death in vitro involves direct loss of infected cells rather than indirect effects on uninfected bystander cells. Because of its proposed role in HIV-induced cell death, we also examined the Fas (CD95/Apo1) pathway in killing of T cells by HIV-1. Infected PBMCs or CEM cells display no increase in surface Fas relative to uninfected cells. In addition, HIV-1 kills CEM and Jurkat T cells in the presence of a caspase inhibitor that completely blocks Fas-mediated apoptosis. HIV-1 also depletes CD4+ T cells in PBMCs from patients who have a genetically defective Fas pathway. These results suggest that HIV-1 induces direct apoptosis of infected cells and kills T cells by a Fas-independent mechanism

Clickstream Data Mining and Market Segmentation

Clickstream data is one of the most important sources of information in websites USAge and customers\u27 behavior in Banks e-services. A number of web USAge mining scenarios are possible depending on the available information. While simple traffic analysis based on clickstream data may easily be performed to improve the e-banks services. The banks need data mining techniques to substantially improve Banks e-services activities. The relationships between data mining techniques and the Web USAge mining are studied. Web structure mining has three types of these types are web USAge structure, mining data streams, and web content. The integration between the Web USAge mining and data mining techniques are presented for processes at different stages, including the pattern discovery phases, and introduces banks cases, that have analytical mining technique. A general framework for fully integrating domain Web USAge mining and data mining techniques are represented for processes at different stages. Data Mining techniques can be very helpful to the banks for better performance, acquiring new customers, fraud detection in real time, providing segment based products, and analysis of the customers purchase patterns over time. And in Market Segmentation The importance of data mining techniques for market segmentation is becoming indispensable in the field of marketing research. This is the first identified academic literature review of the available data mining techniques related to market segmentation. This research paper provides surveys of the available literature on data mining techniques in market segmentation. Eight online journal databases were used for searching, and finally, 103 articles were selected and categorized into 13 groups based on data mining techniques. The utility of data mining techniques and suggestions are also discussed. The findings of this study show that neural networks is the most used method, and kernel-based method is the most promising data mining techniques. Our research work provides a comprehensive understanding of past, present as well as future research trend on data mining techniques in market segmentation

Heavy landings of the filefish Aluterus monoceros from the Gulf of Mannar

Heavy landings of the unicorn leatherjacket filefish, Aluterus monoceros (Linnaeus, 1758) was observed at Pamban Therkuvady fish landing centre, landed by trawlers operating in Gulf of Manna

Possible Signature of Low Scale Gravity in Ultra High Enegry Cosmic Rays

We show that the existence of low scale gravity at TeV scale could lead to a direct production of photons with energies above 10^22 eV due to annihilation of ultra high energy neutrinos on relic massive neutrinos of the galactic halo. Air showers initialized in the terrestrial atmosphere by these ultra energetic photons could be collected in near future by the new generation of cosmic ray experiments.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Prospects for observations of high-energy cosmic tau neutrinos

We study prospects for the observations of high-energy cosmic tau neutrinos (E \geq 10^6 GeV) originating from proton acceleration in the cores of active galactic nuclei. We consider the possibility that vacuum flavor neutrino oscillations induce a tau to muon neutrino flux ratio greatly exceeding the rather small value expected from intrinsic production. The criterias and event rates for under water/ice light Cerenkov neutrino telescopes are given by considering the possible detection of downgoing high-energy cosmic tau neutrinos through characteristic double shower events.Comment: 10 pages, Revtex, 3 figures included with eps

Knowledge, attitude and practice among consumers about adverse drug reaction reporting

Background: Background: Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) reporting by consumers is quite low in India. Assessing knowledge and attitude of consumers regarding ADR reporting and observing practice of ADR reporting among them can help explore probable causes for underreporting of ADRs by consumers.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital using investigator-administered questionnaire and interviewing indoor patients of Surgery, Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Dermatology departments. The questionnaire was prepared to assess knowledge, attitude and practice of consumers about ADR reporting. Data was analysed using mean, standard deviation and percentages.Result: A total of 820 consumers of medicines were included. It was found that 32.2% consumers were not aware that a drug can produce adverse effects. After being explained about adverse drug reactions, 94.6% consumers felt that adverse drug reactions should be reported. However, 98.8% consumers were not aware of Pharmacovigilance Programme of India. After consulting about consumer reporting programme, majority of respondents (96.1%) felt that the direct consumer reporting programme helps reporting of ADRs. Moreover, 93.7% of consumers were willing to use it to report ADRs in future. Consumers preferred the Telephonic method with a Toll free number for ADR reporting followed by informing a health care professional.Conclusion: Poor knowledge and awareness about ADR reporting is the major factor for low to nearly absent ADR reporting by consumers in India

Intercalation-enhanced electric polarization and chain formation of nano-layered particles

Microscopy observations show that suspensions of synthetic and natural nano-layered smectite clay particles submitted to a strong external electric field undergo a fast and extended structuring. This structuring results from the interaction between induced electric dipoles, and is only possible for particles with suitable polarization properties. Smectite clay colloids are observed to be particularly suitable, in contrast to similar suspensions of a non-swelling clay. Synchrotron X-ray scattering experiments provide the orientation distributions for the particles. These distributions are understood in terms of competing (i) homogenizing entropy and (ii) interaction between the particles and the local electric field; they show that clay particles polarize along their silica sheet. Furthermore, a change in the platelet separation inside nano-layered particles occurs under application of the electric field, indicating that intercalated ions and water molecules play a role in their electric polarization. The resulting induced dipole is structurally attached to the particle, and this causes particles to reorient and interact, resulting in the observed macroscopic structuring. The macroscopic properties of these electro-rheological smectite suspensions may be tuned by controlling the nature and quantity of the intercalated species, at the nanoscale.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure