In this paper, we present the first high‐speed video observation of a cloud‐to‐ground lightning flash and its associated downward‐directed Terrestrial Gamma‐ray Flash (TGF). The optical emission of ...the event was observed by a high‐speed video camera running at 40,000 frames per second in conjunction with the Telescope Array Surface Detector, Lightning Mapping Array, interferometer, electric‐field fast antenna, and the National Lightning Detection Network. The cloud‐to‐ground flash associated with the observed TGF was formed by a fast downward leader followed by a very intense return stroke peak current of −154 kA. The TGF occurred while the downward leader was below cloud base, and even when it was halfway in its propagation to ground. The suite of gamma‐ray and lightning instruments, timing resolution, and source proximity offer us detailed information and therefore a unique look at the TGF phenomena.
Plain Language Summary
This study provides the very first simultaneous observations of a downward‐directed terrestrial gamma‐ray flash (TGF) together with its associated cloud‐to‐ground lightning flash using a high‐speed camera in addition to gamma‐ray and radio measurements. The camera, running at 40,000 frames per second, allowed us to check the characteristics of the downward leader, the development stage of the lightning flash, and the luminosity variations in coincidence with TGF production.
Key Points
Simultaneous recordings of a downward‐directed terrestrial gamma‐ray flash (TGF), high‐speed video images, and radio emissions
TGF events occurred while the leader was already branching below cloud base and even when it was halfway in its propagation to ground
Energetic downward‐directed TGFs were associated with fast downward leaders that produced high return stroke peak currents
Flood is one of the most dangerous disasters occur in the world. It endangers the lives of humans and other species. In India one – fifth of the global death rate is happening due to flood. From 2018 ...June 1 st to August 19 Kerala also experienced a high intense rainfall which results severe flooding. Five million people were affected and 433 people loss their life during this flood. Hence one way to minimize the effect of flood is proper operation of flood forecasting and flood control systems. In this paper we analysed drastic flood situations in Chalakudy river basin during the years 2018 - 2021. Mapping of flood plain of Chalakudy river basin was prepared using HEC – RAS and ARC GIS and initially drowned areas were mapped using Google Earth Engine. Also identified the flood warning level of Chalakudy river and each local bodies based on actual data and field surveys.
We report an estimation of the injected mass composition of ultra-high energy
cosmic rays (UHECRs) at energies higher than 10 EeV. The composition is
inferred from an energy-dependent sky ...distribution of UHECR events observed by
the Telescope Array surface detector by comparing it to the Large Scale
Structure of the local Universe. In the case of negligible extra-galactic
magnetic fields the results are consistent with a relatively heavy injected
composition at E ~ 10 EeV that becomes lighter up to E ~ 100 EeV, while the
composition at E > 100 EeV is very heavy. The latter is true even in the
presence of highest experimentally allowed extra-galactic magnetic fields,
while the composition at lower energies can be light if a strong EGMF is
present. The effect of the uncertainty in the galactic magnetic field on these
results is subdominant.
We report an estimation of the injected mass composition of ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) at energies higher than 10 EeV. The composition is inferred from an energy-dependent sky ...distribution of UHECR events observed by the Telescope Array surface detector by comparing it to the Large Scale Structure of the local Universe. In the case of negligible extra-galactic magnetic fields the results are consistent with a relatively heavy injected composition at E ~ 10 EeV that becomes lighter up to E ~ 100 EeV, while the composition at E > 100 EeV is very heavy. The latter is true even in the presence of highest experimentally allowed extra-galactic magnetic fields, while the composition at lower energies can be light if a strong EGMF is present. The effect of the uncertainty in the galactic magnetic field on these results is subdominant.
Emerging infectious diseases are increasingly cited as threats to wildlife, livestock and humans alike. They can threaten geographically isolated or critically endangered wildlife populations; ...however, relatively few studies have clearly demonstrated the extent to which emerging diseases can impact populations of common wildlife species. Here, we report the impact of an emerging protozoal disease on British populations of greenfinch Carduelis chloris and chaffinch Fringilla coelebs, two of the most common birds in Britain. Morphological and molecular analyses showed this to be due to Trichomonas gallinae. Trichomonosis emerged as a novel fatal disease of finches in Britain in 2005 and rapidly became epidemic within greenfinch, and to a lesser extent chaffinch, populations in 2006. By 2007, breeding populations of greenfinches and chaffinches in the geographic region of highest disease incidence had decreased by 35% and 21% respectively, representing mortality in excess of half a million birds. In contrast, declines were less pronounced or absent in these species in regions where the disease was found in intermediate or low incidence. Also, populations of dunnock Prunella modularis, which similarly feeds in gardens, but in which T. gallinae was rarely recorded, did not decline. This is the first trichomonosis epidemic reported in the scientific literature to negatively impact populations of free-ranging non-columbiform species, and such levels of mortality and decline due to an emerging infectious disease are unprecedented in British wild bird populations. This disease emergence event demonstrates the potential for a protozoan parasite to jump avian host taxonomic groups with dramatic effect over a short time period.
Background:
Mindfulness training is often used as a therapeutic intervention to manage stress and enhance emotional well-being, yet trials for multiple sclerosis (MS) are limited and few have used an ...active control.
Objective:
Assess the feasibility of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for people with MS and evaluate the efficacy of MBSR compared to an education control.
Methods:
We conducted a single-blind, randomized trial of MBSR versus education control among 62 adults with MS. Primary outcomes were measures of feasibility. Secondary outcomes included perceived stress, anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain, resilience, and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test, assessed at baseline, 8 weeks, and 12 months. Mean scores for secondary outcome measures were compared between groups at each time point and within groups across time by analyses of covariance or paired t-tests, respectively.
Results:
Successful recruitment and retention demonstrated feasibility. Improvements in several secondary outcomes were observed among both MBSR and control groups. However, differences between the groups were not statistically significant at either 8 weeks or 12 months.
Conclusion:
Emotional well-being improved with both MBSR and education. Spontaneous improvement cannot be ruled out as an explanation for findings and additional studies that evaluate the impact of mindfulness training to improve emotional health are warranted.
Mesothelin (MSLN) is a cell surface glycoprotein present in many cancer types. Its expression is generally associated with an unfavorable prognosis. This study examined the prognostic significance of ...MSLN expression in different areas of individual colorectal cancers (CRCs) using tissue microarrays (TMAs) by enrolling 314 patients with stage II (T3–T4, N0, M0) CRCs. Using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks from patients, TMA blocks were constructed. Tissue core specimens were obtained from submucosal invasive front (
Fr-sm
), subserosal invasive front (
Fr-ss
), central area (
Ce
), and rolled edge (
Ro
) of each tumor. Using these four-point TMA sets, MSLN expression was immunohistochemically surveyed. The area-specific prognostic significance of MSLN expression was evaluated. A deep learning convolutional neural network algorithm was used for imaging analysis and evaluating our judgment’s objectivity. MSLN staining ratio was positively correlated between the manual and machine-learning analyses (
r
= 0.71). The correlation coefficient between
Ro
and
Ce
,
Ro
and
Fr-sm
, and
Ro
and
Fr-ss
was
r
= 0.63,
r
= 0.54, and
r
= 0.61, respectively. Disease-specific survival curves for the MSLN-positive and MSLN-negative groups in
Fr-sm
,
Fr-ss
, and
Ro
were significantly different (five-year survival rates 88.1% and 95.5% (
P
= 0.024), 85.0 and 96.2% (
P
= 0.0087), 87.8 and 95.5% (
P
= 0.051), and 77.9 and 95.8% (
P
= 0.046) for
Fr-sm
,
Fr-ss
,
Ce
, and
Ro
, respectively). The analysis performed using area-specific four-point TMAs clearly demonstrated that MSLN expression in stage II CRC was relatively homogeneous within tumors. Additionally, high MSLN expression showed or tended to show unfavorable prognostic significance regardless of the tumor area.
Introduction. Hypertension is one of the most important modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and ...control of hypertension and its associated risk factors in Ernakulam district, Kerala. Methods. In this prospective family-based cohort study, 573 families were included with a total of 997 participants aged 30 years and above. Baseline interviews were conducted in participant’s homes using a combination of self-structured and standardized questionnaire. Blood pressure and plasma glucose were assessed for each participant. Results. The prevalence of hypertension was 43%. It was slightly higher in women than men (43.7% vs. 41.4%). The mean systolic blood pressure in the hypertensive population was 141.9 mmHg and mean diastolic blood pressure was 85.3 mmHg. In total, 78% (86.2% in women, 62.9% in men) of the participants were aware of their hypertension. Among those aware, 60.4% (63.5% in women, 52.6% in men) of the participants were on treatment, and hypertension was controlled in 75.1% (77.5% women, 68% in men) of the participants on treatment. The prevalence of hypertension was higher among persons with comorbidities (diabetes 64.5%, transient ischemic attack 54.7%, and heart disease 64.4%). Prevalence was lower among persons who did regular vigorous intensity exercise versus those who did moderate intensity exercise (32% vs. 45.7%) and among nonsmokers versus smokers (42.2% vs. 46.6%). Conclusion. The prevalence of hypertension in Kerala is high. Although awareness is quite high, there is a need to improve the number of persons with hypertension taking treatment.
To determine the time of acceleration in white matter hyperintensity (WMH) burden, a common indicator of cerebrovascular pathology, in relation to conversion to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the ...elderly.
A total of 181 cognitively intact elderly volunteers from the longitudinal, prospective, Oregon Brain Aging Study underwent yearly evaluations, including brain MRI, and cognitive testing. MRIs were analyzed for imaging markers of neurodegeneration: WMH and ventricular CSF (vCSF) volumes. The time before MCI, when the changes in WMH and vCSF burden accelerate, was assessed using a mixed-effects model with a change point for subjects who developed MCI during follow-up.
During a follow-up duration of up to 19.6 years, 134 subjects converted to MCI. Acceleration in %WMH volume increase occurred 10.6 years before MCI onset. On average, the annual rate of change in %WMH increased an additional 3.3% after the change point. Acceleration in %vCSF volume increase occurred 3.7 years before the onset of MCI. Out of 63 subjects who converted to MCI and had autopsy, only 28.5% had Alzheimer disease (AD) as the sole etiology of their dementia, while almost just as many (24%) had both AD and significant ischemic cerebrovascular disease present.
Acceleration in WMH burden, a common indicator of cerebrovascular disease in the elderly, is a pathologic change that emerges early in the presymptomatic phase leading to MCI. Longitudinal changes in WMH may thus be useful in determining those at risk for cognitive impairment and for planning strategies for introducing disease-modifying therapies prior to dementia onset.
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