The sensitivity and specificity of a new clinical sign of hypocalcaemia were evaluated. The Swan-neck sign, wherein infants with symptomatic hypocalcaemia keep their big toe hyperextended at the ...metatarsophalangeal joint and flexed at the interphalangeal joint, was looked for in 25 infants presenting with non-febrile seizures, alongside their serum calcium levels. The study showed that the sign had a sensitivity of 63.6% and specificity of 66.6%. (Predictive values of positive and negative tests were 93.3% and 20%, respectively.) This is compared with the standard Trousseau and Chvostek signs.
This paper studies a two-tier code-division multiple-access (CDMA) system in which the microcell base is converted into a data access point (DAP), i.e., is a limited-range base station that provides ...high-speed access to one user at a time. The microcell (or DAP) user operates on the same frequency as the macrocell users and has the same chip rate. However, it adapts its spreading factor, and thus its data rate, in accordance with interference conditions. By contrast, the macrocell serves multiple simultaneous data users, each with the same fixed rate. The achievable throughput for individual microcell users is examined and a simple accurate approximation for its probability distribution is presented. Computations for average throughputs, both per-user and total, are also presented. The numerical results highlight the impact of a desensitivity parameter used in the base-selection process.
Felling of immature teak (
Tectona grandis
L.f.) trees or delay in transport of wood logs from felling sites provide platform to microbial attack. Among them, white rot fungi are central driving ...force that degrades wood and causes severe economic loss. In contrast,
Phanerochaete chrysosporium
and
Irpex lacteus
are more extensively studied for their ability to degrade synthetic dyes and poly-aromatic compounds. Therefore, in the present study, both the fungi collected from the Gujarat forest were utilised for in vitro decay test to assess their potential in lignin degradation, extent of cell wall damage and pattern of wood decay in sound blocks of teak. In the early stage of fungal inoculation, there was a negligible amount of weight loss; after 1 month it became rapid and highest weight loss (30.05 % by
P. chrysosporium
and 27.97 % by
I. lacteus
) was observed at the end of 120 days. Mycelial invasion occurred through vessels, from vessels to axial and ray parenchyma and subsequently into xylem fibres. Both the strains showed selective delignification and the first symptom of degradation was defibration, separation of rays, and formation of boreholes on ray cell walls at an advanced stage. Xylem fibres and parenchyma cells lost their integrity and collapsed completely. Among all the cell types, parenchyma cells and fibres were more vulnerable to fungal attack, while vessels were resistant to the activity of lignolytic enzymes.
ABSTRACT
In 2021 BL Lacertae underwent an extraordinary activity phase, which was intensively followed by the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT) Collaboration. We present the WEBT optical data in ...the BVRI bands acquired at 36 observatories around the world. In mid-2021 the source showed its historical maximum, with R = 11.14. The light curves display many episodes of intraday variability, whose amplitude increases with source brightness, in agreement with a geometrical interpretation of the long-term flux behaviour. This is also supported by the long-term spectral variability, with an almost achromatic trend with brightness. In contrast, short-term variations are found to be strongly chromatic and are ascribed to energetic processes in the jet. We also analyse the optical polarimetric behaviour, finding evidence of a strong correlation between the intrinsic fast variations in flux density and those in polarization degree, with a time delay of about 13 h. This suggests a common physical origin. The overall behaviour of the source can be interpreted as the result of two mechanisms: variability on time-scales greater than several days is likely produced by orientation effects, while either shock waves propagating in the jet, or magnetic reconnection, possibly induced by kink instabilities in the jet, can explain variability on shorter time-scales. The latter scenario could also account for the appearance of quasi-periodic oscillations, with periods from a few days to a few hours, during outbursts, when the jet is more closely aligned with our line of sight and the time-scales are shortened by relativistic effects.
Solitary or groups of two to three sieve elements were found in the rays of the secondary phloem of Tamarindus indica L., Melia azedarach L., Gmelina arborea Roxb., Bombax ceiba L., Pongamia pinnata ...(L.) Pierre, Sterculia urens Roxb., and Thespesia populnea (L.) Correa trees. These elements were similar in length while slightly larger in diameter than ray parenchyma cells, and possessed a simple plate on their transverse to slightly oblique end walls. Like axial sieve elements, the ray sieve elements were associated with single companion cells at their corners. When functional, they also exhibited slime plugs and cytoplasmic strands, like axial sieve elements. Non-functional ray sieve elements exhibited massive accumulation of callose on sieve plates, followed by collapse and obliteration. The distribution pattern of the elements differed among the species studied. Usually they developed from the marginal ray parenchyma cells, but they were also found in the central part of the rays. Structural details and their possible significance are discussed.
One of the major issues in orthodontic treatment is anchorage planning when using a pre adjusted edgewise appliance system. The conventional methods described in the literature include banding of ...second molars, transpalatal arches and headgears that involve additional teeth or wire components. With the introduction of temporary anchorage devices, anchorage can be ideally planned to treat a case successfully. However, the stability and placement of these mini implants demands accurate positioning, good bone thickness without damaging the adjacent structures. Here, we illustrate a very economical and two dimensional mini implant guide for accurate and easy placement.
Seasonal cycle of cambial activity was compared among the trees of Azadirachta indica growing in Moist Deciduous (MDF), Dry Deciduous (DDF) and Scrub land Forest (SF) of Gujarat State. Radial growth ...occurred in two growth flushes in MDF and DDF. Cambial cell divisions in MDF started in February and June resulting maximal radial growth in August-September when the rains were heavy and ceased in January and May during the drier part of the year. In DDF the first flush of growth commenced in January with maximal xylem development in April and ceased in May. The second flush of cambial activity began in June with the arrival of rains, reached peak in October and ceased in December. Cambium was active throughout the year in SF and attained its peak activity thrice i.e. in February, July and October. With complete maturation of leaves in November, the cell divisions were rather slow in MDF and SF whereas no divisions were encountered in DDF. Cambial rays exhibited large intercellular spaces during drier months in all the three forests. Seasonal behavior of vascular cambium was discussed in relation to phenology and local climatic conditions.
Relation entre l'activité saisonnière du cambium, la croissance radiale du xylème et la phénologie chez Azadirachta indica dans différents types d'écosystèmes forestiers de l'état du Gujarat. Les cycles saisonniers de l'activité cambiale chez Azadirachta indica dans différents types d'écosystèmes forestiers de l'état de Gujarat ont été comparés entre des arbres provenant de forêts humide décidue (MDF), sèche décidue (DDF) et de savane arborée (SF). La division des cellules cambiales commence en février et juin pour les MDF, ce qui se traduit par une croissance radiale maximale en août-septembre, au moment des fortes pluies, et un arrêt en janvier et mai pendant les périodes les plus sèches de l'année. Dans les DDF, le premier démarrage de croissance radiale commence en janvier, avec un maximum en avril et un arrêt en mai. Une seconde période d'activité commence en juin avec l'arrivée des pluies, atteint son maximum en octobre et s'arrête en décembre. Dans les SF le cambium reste actif toute l'année avec trois pics d'activité en février, juillet et octobre. Lorsque les feuilles arrivent à maturité complète en novembre, la vitesse de division cellulaire du cambium est relativement faible dans les MDF et le SF et nulle dans les DDF. Dans le cambium, les rayons présentent des espaces intercellulaires importants pendant les mois secs pour les trois types de forêts. Le fonctionnement saisonnier du cambium est ensuite discuté en relation avec la phénologie et les conditions climatiques locales.
Plants are sessile organisms and unlike animals, cannot run away from adverse environmental conditions. Therefore, they have evolved sophisticated signaling and protective systems to overcome ...sub-lethal stress situations. Although, effect of stress on physiology and morphology were studied earlier, the research on molecular mechanisms of stress response is albeit new. Studies at the molecular level on stress physiology reveal that, many stress-induced pathways converge downstream or interact significantly. Abiotic stress factors regulate the extent and pattern of developmental programme. The timing of transition from vegetative to flowering phase, which is vital for survival and reproductive success, is often altered under various stresses. Unraveling the mechanisms by which different environmental stresses induce their effects and how tolerance to stress is achieved is an active area of research. Enhancing stress tolerance, especially in crop plants is an area of prime importance. In this review, we focus on stress responses induced by temperatures, high and low light intensities, UV radiation, drought and salinity stress and summarize the recent advancements by highlighting the underlying molecular pathways and processes.
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