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Dust deposition in a sub-tropical opencast coalmine area, India
(Academic Press, 2008) Sudhir Kumar Pandey; B.D. Tripathi; Virendra Kumar Mishra
This paper provides baseline information about the total annual dust fall, and its constituents and seasonal variation, from a sub-tropical opencast coalmine area in Bina, India. Dust samples were collected monthly for 2 years (June 2002-May 2004) from five sampling sites in the region and analyzed in the laboratory for water-soluble and -insoluble matter. Water-insoluble components constituted the major fraction of the total annual dust fall. Two-way ANOVA indicated significant variations in dust fall at different sites, over the months and in their interactions. The dust deposition rate was highest during summer (March-June), followed by winter (November-February) and lowest in the rainy season (July-October). Maximum dust fall was observed near the coal handling plant (at site 2) followed by the receiving pit of the coal handling plant (site 3), near the main sub-station (site 4), Jawahar colony (site 1) and Gharasari village (site 5). An inverse and significant relation was observed between dust fall and precipitation. Our studies have shown that the main residential areas are experiencing higher levels of dust fall which makes them unsuitable for living. We suggest that residential areas should be moved farther away from the mining area in the opposite direction of prevalent winds. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
'Kashi Madhu': A new muskmelon cultivar with high total soluble solids
(American Society for Horticultural Science, 2008) Sudhakar Pandey; Mathura Rai; H.C. Prasanna; G. Kalloo
'Kashi Madhu' (Cucumis melo L.) is a new muskmelon cultivar released for agroecological zone IV of India comprising the states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Delhi, Punjab, and Bihar. The cultivar was developed through selection from a local landrace. Plants bear androemonoecious flowers, round and yellow fruits with prominent green sutures and orange flesh color. The fruits become ready for first harvest in ≈90 days from seed sowing. The fruits have a distinct flavor and higher total soluble solids as compared with other cultivars recommended for cultivation in India after evaluation under different agroecological zones of India under the All India Coordinated Research Project on Vegetable Crops. The release of this cultivar was announced at the XIII meeting of Central Sub-committee on Crop Standard Notification and Release of Varieties for Horticultural Crops.
Pseudoxanthomatous mastocytosis
(2008) Neeraj Srivastava; Satish Chand; Sanjay Singh
A 50-year-old woman presented with itchy, multiple, flat, yellowish, waxy papules and plaques diffusely involving her face, trunk, and upper extremities for 5 years (Fig. 1). Itching was moderate to severe in intensity and was episodic, without any identifiable aggravating or relieving factors. On rubbing the lesions with a blunt object erythema was elicited. Her ophthalmological examination was normal. Her complete hemogram was normal along with other routine investigations. Patient's slit skin smear for acid-fast bacilli and rk39 dip-stick ELISA for post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis were negative. Ultrasound examination of her abdomen was normal and skeletal survey showed no evidence of bony changes. Histological examination showed diffuse dense infiltrate of numerous mast cells filling up the papillary dermis and most of upper- and mid-reticular dermis. Overlying epidermis showed moderate epidermal hyperplasia and hyperpigmentation. There was sparse scattering of neutrophils within the infiltrate. Extracellular mast cells granules were also seen (Fig. 2). Diagnosis of diffuse cutaneous mastocytosis of pseudoxanthomatous variety was made. The patient was prescribed treatment in the form of H1 and H2 blockers (fexofenadine and ranitidine) and trimethylpsoralen and ultraviolet A (PUVA) photochemotherapy. After 2 months of treatment, there has been marked improvement in the appearance and itching. © 2008 The International Society of Dermatology.
Integral frequency distribution of projectile alpha fragments in nuclear multifragmentations at intermediate and high energies
(Elsevier, 2008) Fu-Hu Liu; B.K. Singh; N.N. Abd Allah
The integral frequency distributions of the numbers of projectile alpha fragments produced in nuclear multifragmentations at intermediate and high energies are studied by a simple two-source model. The calculated results are approximately in agreement with the experimental data of 16O, 40Ar, 56Fe, 84Kr, 139La, and 197Au multifragmentations in nuclear emulsions at 2.00A, 1.80A, 1.80A, 0.08-1.70A, 0.60-0.99A, and 0.60-0.99A GeV, respectively. The initial energy of nuclear limiting fragmentation is expected to be at or lower than 0.08A GeV. Two correlations between the mean multiplicity of projectile alpha fragments (〈 nα 〉) and the projectile mass number, as well as 〈 nα 〉 and the maximum multiplicity of projectile alpha fragments are observed. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Human placental extract offers protection against experimental visceral leishmaniasis: A pilot study for a phase-I clinical trial
(2008) D. Chakraborty; J.M. Basu; P. Sen; S. Sundar; S. Roy
An aqueous extract of human placenta (HPE) was found to offer protection against established experimental visceral leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice and hamsters, whether the Leishmania donovani strain involved was one that was sensitive or resistant to pentavalent antimony. Intraperitoneal administration of the extract, into mice or hamsters that had been infected 2 months previously, led to antileishmanial T-cell proliferation among splenic mononuclear cells, the generation of host-protective cytokines (interferon-γ, tumour necrosis factor and interleukin-12) and the upregulation of the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (and subsequent NO generation) in splenocytes. Furthermore, splenic macrophages from the HPE-treated mice showed increased generation of reactive oxygen species and enhanced surface expression of antigens of major histocompatibility complex class II (MHCII), and the extract restored the otherwise-defective antigen-presenting ability of the macrophages. Thus, in mice and hamsters infected with L. donovani, HPE therapy can stimulate both arms of the host's immune system and favour the complete resolution of the leishmanial infection. Among five human cases of visceral leishmaniasis, 30 daily intramuscular injections of HPE, at doses much lower than those used in the experimental infections, also gave very promising results. Based on the results of this pilot study, a further evaluation of the efficacy of HPE therapy, which may offer a cost-effective way of improving the treatment of antimony-resistant cases of visceral leishmaniasis, is being undertaken. © 2008 The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.