Deep Inspiratory Breath-Hold Radiation for Left-Sided Breast Cancer using Novel Frame-based Tactile Feedback.

A frame providing tactile feedback for the reproducibility of deep inspiratory breath-hold (DIBH) is described. The frame, fitted across the patient, comprises a horizontal bar, parallel to the patient's long axis, and holds a graduated pointer perpendicular to it. The pointer provides individualized tactile feedback for reproducibility of DIBH. Within the pointer is a movable pencil, bearing a 5 mm coloured strip which becomes visible only during DIBH, and acts as a visual cue to the therapist. The average variation in separation in the planning and pretreatment cone-beam computed tomography of 10 patients was 2 mm (confidence interval 1.95-2.05). Frame-based tactile feedback is a novel, reproducible technique for DIBH.

Shipment of insects and related arthropods into and out of India for research or commercial purposes.

This paper provides a concise summary of the guidelines and regulations that govern the shipment of insects and related arthropods into and out of India. It discusses the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003, which regulates the import of agents for biological control, and the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and associated Biological Diversity Rules, 2004, which guide the transfer of insects and related arthropods for identification, taxonomic research, and commercial purposes. Insect trade for some food and feed purposes is also mentioned. Finally, some implications, conclusions and recommendations are presented.

Les auteurs présentent succinctement les directives et réglementations régissant les expéditions d'insectes et autres arthropodes connexes à destination et en provenance de l'Inde. Ils examinent le décret de 2003 relatif à la quarantaine végétale (réglementation des importations en Inde), qui couvre également les importations d'agents destinés à la lutte biologique, ainsi que la loi de 2002 sur la diversité biologique et les dispositions réglementaires de 2004 qui lui sont associées concernant les transferts d'insectes et autres arthropodes connexes à des fins d'identification, de recherche taxonomique et de commerce. Le commerce d'insectes destinés à la production de denrées alimentaires ou d'aliments pour animaux est également mentionné. Enfin, les auteurs exposent un certain nombre de conséquences, de conclusions et de recommandations en la matière.

Los autores resumen sucintamente las directrices y reglas que rigen los envíos de entrada o salida de la India de insectos y otros artrópodos conexos. En este sentido, exponen el Decreto de Cuarentena Vegetal (Reglamento de Importaciones a la India) de 2003, que regula la importación de agentes destinados a actividades de control biológico, y la Ley de Diversidad Biológica de 2002 y el correspondiente Reglamento de Diversidad Biológica de 2004, que rigen el traslado de insectos y otros artrópodos conexos con fines de identificación, investigación taxonómica o comercio. Tras referirse al comercio de insectos con determinados fines de alimentación humana o animal, acaban exponiendo ciertas consecuencias de todo ello y presentando una serie de conclusiones y recomendaciones al respecto.

Post-Covid-19 Rhino-Cerebral Mucormycosis: an Observational Study During the Second Wave.

Mucormycosis is one of the most lethal and rapidly spreading fungal infection which is caused by fungus of the order Mucorales. The swiftness of spreading and high mortality rate that characterize mucormycosis cases added more burden to the enormous challenge brought by the Covid-19 pandemic globally. The aim of this article is to identify and discuss mucormycosis and review the literature related to its diagnosis and management. A total of 15 mucormycosis cases with a history of Covid-19 infection were identified in the Department of Dentistry of Shri B M Patil Medical College Hospital and Research Centre BLDE (Deemed to be University), Vijayapura, India. The duration of the study was between April 1st and mid-September 2021. Nasal swab and tissue samples from oral and maxillofacial region were collected. Blood investigations, RT-PCR and HbA1c tests and radiography revealed changes in the trabecular pattern and bone loss associated with periodontal inflammation. Mucormycosis is a life-threatening infection. Hence, dental and other clinical professionals must be aware of this possible fatal complication, so as to avoid an unfavorable outcome in clinical practice.

A novel and effective technique to reduce electromagnetic radiation absorption on biotic components at 2.45 GHz.

A strong evidence of the effects of radiation absorption on the living community together with a better solution to reduce the radiation intensity without compromising the usage of wireless communication systems is presented. This study analyses the radiation effects on living things and validates the proposed techniques for specific absorption rate (SAR) value reduction at 2.45 GHz. To reduce these radiation impacts on the living community, proper shielding from the radiation and effectively reorienting antenna radiation patterns are the solutions suggested. An analogous antenna configuration in wireless communication systems - a coplanar waveguide fed loop antenna is considered and an open loop resonator (OLR) optimized in ANSYS HFSS at 2.45 GHz is incorporated on the back side of the proposed antenna for achieving SAR value reduction. Theoretical and experimental validation is carried out by measuring the variation in absorption power on each vegetable sample using vector network analyzer E5080A. The existence of OLR on the back side of the antenna reduces the absorption power upto 2 dB. From experimental validation, the proposed technique provides 88% to 98% reduction in SAR value when tested in each sample. Along with this OLR exhibits the capability to enhance the shielding characteristics to the controlled environment of experimental setup for analyzing the stages of seed germination, which helps in reducing the reported radiation effects and growth retardation. The proposed method of EMR reduction with miniaturized planar resonator can be effectively used in the communication systems operating at 2.45 GHz for creating a reduced radiation environment.

Development of a Microwave Sensor for Solid and Liquid Substances Based on Closed Loop Resonator.

In this work, a compact dielectric sensor for the detection of adulteration in solid and liquid samples using planar resonators is presented. Six types of filter prototypes operating at 2.4 GHz are presented, optimized, numerically assessed, fabricated and experimentally validated. The obtained experimental results provided an error less than 6% with respect to the simulated results. Moreover, a size reduction of about 69% was achieved for the band stop filter and a 75% reduction for band pass filter compared to standard sensors realized using open/short circuited stub microstrip lines. From the designed filters, the miniaturised filter with Q of 95 at 2.4 GHz and size of 35 mm × 35 mm is formulated as a sensor and is validated theoretically and experimentally. The designed sensor shows better sensitivity, and it depends upon the dielectric property of the sample to be tested. Simulation and experimental validation of the designed sensor is carried out by loading different samples onto the sensor. The adulteration detection of various food samples using the designed sensor is experimentally validated and shows excellent sensing on adding adulterants to the original sample. The sensitivity of the sensor is analyzed by studying the variations in resonant frequency, scattering parameters, phase and Q factor with variation in the dielectric property of the sample loaded onto the sensor.

Aquagenic Wrinkling of Skin: A Screening Test for Cystic Fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE: To study the utility of aquagenic wrinkling as screening test for children with cystic fibrosis. DESIGN: Evaluation of diagnostic test. SETTING: Pediatric Chest Clinic, and Pediatric Wards of a tertiary care hospital in New Delhi. PARTICIPANTS: Three groups (children with cystic fibrosis, carriers of cystic fibrosis, and controls). METHODS: Time taken to develop aquagenic wrinkling was measured. The test was performed by asking the enrolled subject to put their one hand in water and was checked for development of wrinkling every minute, and a photograph was also taken every minute. RESULTS: A total of 64 children with cystic fibrosis, 64 controls and 64 carriers were enrolled in the study. Median (IQR) time to develop aquagenic wrinkling in the three groups was 2 (2.5,3) minutes, 4 (3,5) minutes and 8 (5,11) minutes, respectively. The optimal cut-off was calculated as 3 minutes by Receiver operating characteristic curve with a sensitivity and specificity for identification of children with cystic fibrosis as 81% and 57%, respectively. The area under curve was 76.5%. The 3 minute cut-off for development of aquagenic wrinkling was applied to 54 children referred for sweat test. 20 children had sweat chloride values of ≥60 mEq/l and diagnosed as cystic fibrosis. 15 of these developed aquagenic wrinkling at ≤3 minutes, giving a sensitivity of 75%. CONCLUSIONS: In places with no facility for sweat test, children with phenotype compatible with cystic fibrosis who develop aquagenic wrinkling in 3 minutes may be diagnosed as probable cystic fibrosis and referred for confirmation by sweat test.

Refocusing pulses: A strategy to improve efficiency of phase-modulated heteronuclear decoupling schemes in MAS solid-state NMR.

The strategy of using π pulses in conjunction with continuous-wave radio-frequency fields to refocus spin interactions has lead to robust and efficient family of heteronuclear decoupling schemes in magic-angle spinning solid-state NMR, denoted as, rCW schemes. Here, we investigate the generality of the application of such refocussing pulses in other phase-modulated decoupling schemes, notably the super-cycled XiX decoupling. XiX is a commonly used heteronuclear decoupling scheme under conditions of fast MAS and low-amplitude radio-frequency irradiation. The refocussing of interactions is achieved by inserting π pulses with a phase of 135° in the supercycled XiX scheme. The refocussed XiX, rXiX, scheme has improved decoupling efficiency, better offset tolerance, and easier experimental setup compared to the XiX scheme.

A Comparison Between Measured Concentration of 3H in Kalpakkam Environment with Predicted Atmospheric Dispersion Model.

The field measurements of 3H in the form of HTO present in air moisture carried out around Madras Atomic Power Station were compared with predicted values using atmospheric dispersion modeling. Air 3H samples were collected from different sectors at the site boundary of the operating reactors for the period of 2 y and compared with Gaussian Plume model. The predictions were comparable with the measured value. The slight variation observed between the two methods is attributed to the uncertainty involved in the measurement of air 3H concentration and in the measurement of site-specific meteorological parameters. The radiation dose imparted to members of public due to the levels observed is well within station technical specification limit for 3H.

Photoenolization via excited state double proton transfer induces "turn on" fluorescence in diformyl diaryl dipyrromethane.

A light triggered enolization in diformyl diaryl dipyrromethane by excited state dual proton transfer (ESDPT) induces "turn on" fluorescence. The role of diaryl and diformyl groups in the enolization process was confirmed by photophysical and theoretical studies.

4,4,9,9-Tetraphenyl pyrroloindolizine: a structural analogue of calix[2]pyrrole.

Synthesis, spectral and structural characterization of a pyrroloindolizine derivative having structural similarity with calix[2]pyrrole is described. Here, two pyrrole rings are connected with two meso-carbon atoms having an N,α-linkage and an α,ß-linkage to afford the smallest analogue in the calixpyrrole family. Detailed NMR spectroscopic studies along with single crystal X-ray analysis confirm the assigned structure of the molecule.

Efficiency as a function of MEQ-CWT for large area germanium detectors using LLNL phantom.

The lung counting system at Kalpakkam, India, used for the estimation of transuranics deposited in the lungs of occupational workers, consists of an array of three large area germanium detectors fixed in a single assembly. The efficiency calibration for low energy photons was carried out using ²4¹Am and ²³²Th lung sets of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory phantom. The muscle equivalent chest wall thickness (MEQ-CWT) was derived for the three energies 59.5, 75.95 (average energy of ²³²Th) and 238.9 keV for the series of overlay plates made of different adipose mass ratios. Efficiency as a function of MEQ-CWT was calculated for individual detectors for the three energies. Variation of MEQ-CWT from 16 to 40 mm resulted in an efficiency variation of around 40 % for all the three energies. The array efficiency for different MEQ-CWT ranged from 1.4×10⁻³ to 3.2×10⁻³, 1.5×10⁻³ to 3.3×10⁻³ and 1.1×10⁻³ to 2.3×10⁻³ for 59.5, 75.95 and 238.9 keV, respectively. In the energy response, efficiency was observed to be maximum for 75.95 keV compared with 59.5 and 238.9 keV.

Evaluation of 25 y of environmental monitoring data around Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS), Kalpakkam, India.

The Environmental Survey Laboratory at Kalpakkam, India carries out elaborate monitoring programme involving atmospheric, terrestrial and aquatic samples for radioactivity to evaluate the impact of operating two pressurised heavy water reactors. This paper presents the evaluation of 25 y (1983-2008) data. Statistical analysis of the environmental data for different radionuclides showed that the data best fits log-normal distribution. The data analysed showed that fission products such as (137)Cs, (90)Sr and (131)I were due to global fallout only. A ratio of 0.2 was obtained for (90)Sr to (137)Cs in air filter samples, only during Chernobyl accident period. The transfer factor of (137)Cs and (90)Sr for rice was computed to be 0.23 and 0.03 and vegetables 0.25 and 0.10, respectively. Activation products (3)H and (41)Ar are the only radionuclides that are related to MAPS operation. A strong correlation (r = 0.9) was observed between (3)H activity in air and (3)H discharged to the atmosphere. A similar correlation (r = 0.8) was observed in (3)H concentration in seawater and (3)H discharged in the liquid waste. The annual internal dose due to (3)H and annual external dose due to (41)Ar evaluated in the last 25 y show that the members of the public received less than 2 % of the dose limit (1 mSv y(-1)) set by ICRP 72.

Foraging ecology of aphidophagous predators against Aphis punicae Passerini.

Foraging behaviour of three aphidophagous predators, viz., Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius), Scymnus sp. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and Paragus serratus (Fabricius) (Diptera: Syrphidae) on prey Aphis punicae Passerini (Homoptera: Aphididae) was studied in the laboratory at Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore (12 degrees 58' N; 77 degrees 35'E) during 2002-03 to understand the predation dynamics. The foraging studies of grubs of C. sexmaculata and Scymnus sp. on A. punicae revealed that the distance travelled to reach the food (aphids) was negatively correlated with the feeding time of prey (r = -0.434 and -0.743, respectively). The time taken for second encounter was positively correlated with feeding time in case of both C. sexmaculata (r = 0.715) and P.serratus (r = 0.641). The time taken for first encounter of prey by Scymnus sp. showed negative correlation with the feeding time (r = -0.9491) and positive correlation with the distance traveled by the predator to reach the food (r = 0.620). The foraging behavioural studies of syrphid, P. serratus on A. punicae showed that the time taken for first encounter of prey was positively correlated with both the feeding time (r = 0.467) and the distance travelled by the syrphid to reach the food (r = 0.485). The time taken for first encounter of prey also showed significant positive correlation with the search time of the prey (r = 0.384).

Ecology of aphidophagous predators in pomegranate ecosystem in India.

The aphid, Aphis punicae Passerini (Homoptera : Aphididae) is a serious pest attacking pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), an important semi arid fruit crop grown widely in most parts of the country. The major predators found preying on A. punicae in pomegranate ecosystem were Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius), Scymnus sp., Pseudaspidemerus circumflexo (Motsch.), Paragus serratus (Fabricius), Ischiodon scutellaris (Fabricius) and Chrysopa sp. The population dynamics and spatial distribution of these predators in an unsprayed pomegranate ecosystem were studied at Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore (12 degrees 58' N; 77 degrees 35'E), India during 2000-2002. The predators were found to be distributed uniformly among different tree quadrants and followed the same distributional pattern of A. punicae during their peak in January and February. The predator density was relatively higher in lower canopies than upper canopies. The spatial distribution of predators showed aggregate distribution pattern at higher mean densities and exhibited regular or under-dispersed distribution at lower mean densities. The temporal distribution of aphidophagous predators on A. punicae showed two peaks one during January - February and second during August - September The population of predators started building up along with aphid population and reached maximum at high aphid densities and declined as the prey availability declined. This indicated that predators followed the same trend of their prey, A. punicae, showing a clear numerical response.

Epizootics of an entomopathogenic fungus Entomophthora aphidis Hoggman on the pomegranate aphid aphispunicae passerini (Homoptera: Aphididae).

Thrips of late are becoming more resurgent in agro-ecosystems especially in India and South Asian countries. One of the reasons attributed is the development of resistance in them to groups of insecticides of organo phosphates, carbamates, synthetic pyrethroids, etc., which form the core of recommendation for thrips management. The chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood, is no exception and is tending to be an unmanageable pest. In S. dorsalis, besides evidence of resistance, elimination of natural enemies like Orius sp. is evident, which also probably explains the thrips resurgence. Scirtothrips dorsalis is highly polyphagous and of late has become serious on grapes. The damage is manifested as scab on fruit rind, affecting internal and export markets. Fortunately, it does not vector any virus on grapes in India. Farmers have been reporting inefficacy of established chemicals like acephate, dimethoate, monocrotophos, etc. As grapes is an important cash crop of horticulture, management through insecticides, require alternate or new insecticides. So two trials in 2005 on cv. Bangalore Blue following April and October prunings were conducted at the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bangalore, S. India to evaluate two doses of a newer molecule viz. Clothianidin [Dantop] on S. dorsalis. Clothianidin 0.006%, Clothianidin 0.008% were compared with monocrotophos 0.05%, dimethoate 0.06% and acephate 0.1125%. There was an untreated check. Each treatment was replicated five times; a vine constituted a replicate. These data were subjected to ANOVA, after arc sine transformation. The critical difference (CD) at p < 0.05 was the test criterion. In the first trial it was found that all the insecticides tried were superior to check and were on par at p < 0.05. However, Clothianidin 0.008% gave the best control with a low mean of 0.26% berry damage/bunch as compared to 4.42% in the unsprayed check. The trend was the same in the second trial also with Clothianidin 0.008% giving the best control with 0.64% berry damage/bunch as compared to 8.49% in the unsprayed check. It was on par with acephate and monocrotophos, but significantly superior to Clothianidin 0.006% and dimethoate.

An indigenously developed method for sweat collection and estimation of chloride for diagnosis of cystic fibrosis.

An indigenously developed method for sweat collection and titration method for estimation of chloride was validated. The mean difference in estimated chloride value from the known strength of saline in 50 samples was -1.04 +/- 4.13 mEq/L (95% CI: -0.07 to 2.28). The mean difference in the estimated chloride values between two observers when the test was performed on known strengths of saline solution was -2.5 +/- 4.24 mEq/L (95% CI: -3.67 to 1.33). The inter observer variability between two observers when the test was performed on sweat samples obtained from 50 individuals was -1.12 +/- 4.34 mEq/L (95% CI: -2.23 to 0.8 ). Sweat weight of more than 100 mg could be collected in first attempt in 602 of 757 (80%) patient with an average sweat weight of 230 mg. This inexpensive method of sweat collection and chloride estimation has acceptable accuracy and repeatability and can be used in resource poor setting for making a diagnosis of cystic fibrosis.