Resonance energy transfer from a fluorescent dye molecule to plasmon and electron-hole excitations of a metal nanoparticle

We study the distance dependence of the rate of electronic excitation energy transfer from a dye molecule to a metal nanoparticle. Using the spherical jellium model, we evaluate the rates corresponding to the excitation of l = 1, 2, and 3 modes of the nanoparticle. Our calculation takes into account both the electron-hole pair and the plasmon excitations of the nanoparticle. The rate follows conventional R^-6 dependence at large distances while small deviations from this behavior are observed at shorter distances. Within the framework of the jellium model, it is not possible to attribute the experimentally observed d^-4 dependence of the rate to energy transfer to plasmons or e-h pair excitations.Comment: 4 figure

Identification of Malicious Node for Effective Top-k Query Processing in MANETS

In Mobile Ad-hoc networks, query processing is optimized using Top-k query processing. The accuracy of the results can be lowered if there exists malicious node. In our proposed system, we assume that malicious node perform Data Replacement Attack, in which the malicious node replaces necessary data sets with the false data sets. In our system malicious node identification method, the query issuing node receives the reply messages from the nodes; if a query-issuing node detects a DRA then it performs subsequent inquiries with the nodes which receive the information from the malicious node. In this way the query issuing node identifies the malicious node, and shares the information with the neighbouring nodes. Then the nodes share the information regarding the malicious node with the other nodes which are far away. Each node tends to identify the malicious node in the network, and then floods the information. Query issuing node performs grouping of the nodes based on the similarity of the information on malicious node detected by the nodes. Identification of malicious node is performed based on the results of malicious node identifications by these groups

Secure data aggregation in IoT using Efficient-CSDA

In recent days, IoT has been widely accepted and WSN (Wireless Sensor network) is being used for variety of the applications such as transportation, medical, environmental, military, it moreover the main aim to deploy the WSN is to collect the data about the given set of phenomena. The common task of WSN is to sense the data and send over the network. Moreover, due to the various purpose such as statistical analysis, the data aggregation is required.  However, the when the dynamic network topology is considered, it is considered to be the very difficult task to provide the secure and efficient data aggregation. The main issue here is to ensure the security and accuracy of the data aggregation. Hence, in this research we have proposed an algorithm named as E-SDA (Efficient Secure Data Aggregation) in order to provide the secure data. In this, the algorithm provides the flexibility to detect the dishonest honest through neighbor monitoring. Later, extensive simulation has been done in order to prove the convergence of our algorithm

Long-term trends of changes in pine and oak foliar nitrogen metabolism in response to chronic nitrogen amendments at Harvard Forest, MA

We evaluated the long-term (1995–2008) trends in foliar and sapwood metabolism, soil solution chemistry and tree mortality rates in response to chronic nitrogen (N) additions to pine and hardwood stands at the Harvard Forest Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site. Common stress-related metabolites like polyamines (PAs), free amino acids (AAs) and inorganic elements were analyzed for control, low N (LN, 50 kg NH4NO3 ha−1 year−1) and high N (HN, 150 kg NH4NO3 ha−1 year−1) treatments. In the pine stands, partitioning of excess N into foliar PAs and AAs increased with both N treatments until 2002. By 2005, several of these effects on N metabolites disappeared for HN, and by 2008 they were mostly observed for LN plot. A significant decline in foliar Ca and P was observed mostly with HN for a few years until 2005. However, sapwood data actually showed an increase in Ca, Mg and Mn and no change in PAs in the HN plot for 2008, while AAs data revealed trends that were generally similar to foliage for 2008. Concomitant with these changes, mortality data revealed a large number of dead trees in HN pine plots by 2002; the mortality rate started to decline by 2005. Oak trees in the hardwood plot did not exhibit any major changes in PAs, AAs, nutrients and mortality rate with LN treatment, indicating that oak trees were able to tolerate the yearly doses of 50 kg NH4NO3 ha−1 year−1. However, HN trees suffered from physiological and nutritional stress along with increased mortality in 2008. In this case also, foliar data were supported by the sapwood data. Overall, both low and high N applications resulted in greater physiological stress to the pine trees than the oaks. In general, the time course of changes in metabolic data are in agreement with the published reports on changes in soil chemistry and microbial community structure, rates of soil carbon sequestration and production of woody biomass for this chronic N study. This correspondence of selected metabolites with other measures of forest functions suggests that the metabolite analyses are useful for long-term monitoring of the health of forest trees

Postnatal bladder dysfunction

Background: Voiding difficulty and urinary retention is a common phenomenon in immediate postpartum period. Absolute or relative failure to empty the bladder resulting from decreased bladder contractility (magnitude or duration) or increased bladder outlet resistance or both are defined as voiding dysfunction. It needs high index of suspicion or else can go undiagnosed and can lead to magnitude of problems. The study aims to calculate the incidence of dysfunction of bladder in postnatal women and to study risk factors associated with development of bladder dysfunction and management strategies in cases of bladder dysfunction.Methods: Authors did a prospective observational study in a tertiary care hospital. 200 postpartum women were screened for complaints of voiding dysfunction within 6 hours of removal of catheter in post caesarean patients and of normal vaginal delivery. Authors found that the voiding dysfunction was relatively common with an incidence of 20.20%. Following risk factors were analyzed: parity, mode of delivery, pain at suture site, baby weight, para-urethral tear.Results: Postpartum voiding dysfunction was found to be relatively common with statistically significant association found for pain at suture site and para urethral tear. Intra partum events contributed to voiding dysfunction. 93% of patients who with voiding dysfunction could be managed conservatively, and only 7% had to undergo intervention in the form of re catheterization.Conclusions: The early identification and treatment can reduce the pain and discomfort. Majority of the cases resolves with conservative management and nursing staff plays a key role in early detection of the symptoms

Requirement of flex (female lethal on X) in the development of the female germ line of Drosophila melanogaster

Drosophila melanogaster females homozygous for flex, an X- linked recessive mutation, do not survive. Hemizygous males are unaffected. Homozygous embryos appear to lack SXL, the product of the Sex-lethal (Sxl) gene, apparently as a result of disruption of Sxl splicing. It is known that both Sxl and its somatic splicing regulators [snf and fl(2)d] also function in the development of the female germ line. For this reason, we investigated the role of flex in the germ line by generating flex/flex clones in flex/+ females. Females carrying such clones in their germ lines do not lay eggs whereas females carrying flex eggs lay viable eggs. Additionally, DAPI staining of ovarioles showed that diploid germ cells that are homozygous mutant for flex do not complete oogenesis. These results indicate that the flex+ gene product may be required for the development of the female germ line

Migrant labourers in the marine fisheries sector

It is now recognised that migration is an integral part of the survival strategies of the poor; especially where local economics offer limited livelihood alternatives. Intervention strategies should, therefore, be directed at reducing the vulnerability of migrants, not at reducing migration itself. Migration has become a key facet of today’s world. Migrants living outside their country of birth are 191 million

Pregnancy outcome in low risk pregnancy with decreased amniotic fluid index

Background: To evaluate whether oligohydramnios (AFI≤5) has any significance in the outcome of low risk pregnancies. Normal amniotic fluid index in pregnancy is one of the indicators of fetal well-being.  In a term pregnancy, oligohydramnios, a condition associated with AFI≤5, could be a sign of placental insufficiency. An association of low AFI with complications like pregnancy induced hypertension, consistently leads to poor fetal outcome. A need to deliver the fetus by cesarean section often arises. Occasionally one comes across a full-term pregnancy with AFI ≤5 with no known high risk factors; this could lead to increased cesarean section rates. Thus, it becomes necessary to evaluate if AFI ≤5 in the absence of other risk factors has any significance on obstetric outcome.Methods: Prospective case controlled study was done. Fifty women with term pregnancies and (AFI≤5) cm not associated with any other high risk factors were enrolled for the study. They were matched with fifty controls with normal AFI.Results: Except for a slight increase in variable deceleration in the study group, no differences were noted with fetal heart rate recordings in NST.  Decreased AFI was not associated with increased cesarean section rates, instrumental deliveries or meconium stained amniotic fluid. Severe asphyxia, NICU admission or perinatal mortality was not noted in either group.Conclusions: When a low risk pregnancy is associated with Oligohydramnios (AFI≤5), it does not have any deleterious effect on labor outcome or perinatal outcome

Comparative study of efficacy and safety of vaginal misoprostol versus oral misoprostol in induction of labour when used in equal doses

Background: It was a randomized controlled prospective study. A large number of women in their advanced pregnancies often need labour induction for various reasons. This study aims to evaluate a safe, effective and inexpensive mode of medical induction. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of vaginal misoprostol versus oral misoprostol in induction of labour when used in equal doses.Methods: Two hundred patients were included in the study. They were divided into two groups of 100 patients each. One group i.e. Group A received vaginal misoprostol while the other group i.e. Group B received oral misoprostol. The dosage was 50μg every 6th hourly maximum of four doses. The progress of labour in both groups was charted on a partogram. The outcome of pregnancy, maternal and foetal outcomes were statistically analysed.Results: When compared with respect to age, height, gestational age, indication for induction, there was no difference in either of the groups. The numbers of doses of misoprostol for successful outcome of labour in the vaginal group i.e. 2.25±0.53 was lesser than the dosage needed in the oral group i.e. 2.71±0.60 (P value M 0.0001). which is highly significant. The induction-delivery interval was also less in the vaginal group compared to the oral group. (12.90±2.40 hours versus 15±75 hours). Only 13 women in the vaginal group needed acceleration with oxytocin in contrast to 17 women in the oral group. The need for caesarean section in women induced with vaginal misoprostol was 12 women in comparison to oral group which was 32 women. No statistically significant difference was seen in neonatal outcome in either of the groups.Conclusions: When given in equal doses the vaginal administration of misoprostol is more effective in successful induction of labour when compared to oral misoprostol