Search

The GRAPES-3 tracking muon telescope in Ooty, India measures muon intensity at high cutoff rigidities (15-24 GV) along nine independent directions covering 2.3 sr. The arrival of a coronal mass ejection on 22 June 2015 18:40 UT had triggered a severe G4-class geomagnetic storm (storm). Starting 19:00 UT, the GRAPES-3 muon telescope recorded a 2 h high-energy (~20 GeV) burst of galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) that was strongly correlated with a 40 nT surge in the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). Simulations have shown that a large (17?) compression of the IMF to 680 nT, followed by reconnection with the geomagnetic field (GMF) leading to lower cutoff rigidities could generate this burst. Here, 680 nT represents a short-term change in GMF around Earth, averaged over 7 times its volume. The GCRs, due to lowering of cutoff rigidities, were deflected from Earth's day side by ~210° in longitude, offering a natural explanation of its night-time detection by the GRAPES-3. The simultaneous occurrence of the burst in all nine directions suggests its origin close to Earth. It also indicates a transient weakening of Earth's magnetic shield, and may hold clues for a better understanding of future superstorms that could cripple modern technological infrastructure on Earth, and endanger the lives of the astronauts in space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: People with HIV are living decades longer than before due to combination ART; however, complications including CVD< osteoporosis and non AIDS defining malignancies are higher than in the general population. Many of the emerging complications related to chronic HIV infection represent disease processes where vitamin D is known to play an important role. Objectives: A single point cross sectional case control study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its association with carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) in HIV patients and to study the association of lipid profile with HIV infection. Out of the 45 HIV positive cases, vitamin D deficiency was found in 42 cases (93.33%) whereas only 33 out of 45 (73.33%) healthy controls. Fifty one point eleven percent of cases had dyslipidemia compared to 15.55% of controls. A positive association was seen between CD4 levels and 25 hydroxy vitamin D. An inverse co-relation between CD4 count and triglycerides and VLDL levels while a positive co-relation with total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels was seen. No significant difference was seen in CIMT in cases and controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mature cystic teratomas account for 10-20% of all ovarian neoplasms and are the most common neoplasm in younger patients. Spontaneous rupture of the teratoma is rare and has been occasionally reported. Here we present an unusual case of left ovarian teratoma rupturing into sigmoid colon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author reflects on the issue of H1N1 whether it is a pandemic or bioterrorism. The author states that the current H1N1 virus which started in Mexico in March 2009, has been found of having a combination of genes from pig, bird and human flu viruses, prompting some suspicion that the virus is perpetrated by bad elements. However, the author notes whether the current swine flu outbreak is a pandemic or an attack of bioterrorism, it is still a matter of a debate.

Adaptive Optics (AO) systems improve the resolution of ground based telescopes and allow for long exposure images. Their performance depends on the seeing conditions at the time of observations. In this paper, we evaluate the performance of an AO system under various seeing conditions through simulations. Then we present the wave-front sensing and correction schemes that would be used in the first phase of the AO system to be developed at the Udaipur Solar Observatory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report chemiresistive gas sensing characteristics of cobalt phthalocyanine films deposited on flexible bi-axially oriented polyethylene terephthalate substrates. Charge carrier mobility in these films systematically decreases upon bending, which implies that bending reduces π-π interactions among molecules. At room temperature, these films exhibited a reversible change in resistance on exposure to ammonia (5-50 ppm) along with high sensitivity and selectivity as well as fast response and recovery. The chemiresistive sensing properties were found to improve significantly under bend conditions owing to creation of more numbers of interaction sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

39 examples [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have investigated the low temperature charge transport properties of ultrathin cobalt-phthalocyanine films grown on (100) SrTiO3 single crystal substrates. The temperature dependence of resistivity shows an anomalous behavior, i.e., a transition from semiconducting to metallic behavior at around 110 K. We demonstrated that metallic behavior in these films is triggered by compressive strains of the SrTiO3 substrate due to its cubic to tetragonal structural phase transition at 110 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the degradation in photoluminescence efficiency of GaAs/(InAs/GaAs) quantum dot (QD) heterostructures subjected to 20 to 50 keV sulfur implantation. Sulfur ions of fluence ranging from 2.5 x 1013 to 2 x 1015 ions cm[?]2 were used for implantation. Implantation resulted in shift in photoluminescence emission towards lower wavelength and degradation in photoluminescence efficiency. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed reduction in crystalline quality of GaAs cap layer and an amorphous layer was accomplished with 50 keV sulfur implantation, with a fluence of 2.5 x 1014 ions cm[?]2. The amorphous layer was formed due to the overlap of defect clusters created during implantation, as a result of exceeding the critical nuclear energy density deposited in the GaAs system. Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy revealed damage zones in the cap layer and deformation of QDs upon 50 keV sulfur implantation. Creation of damaged/amorphous GaAs layer probably increased the compressive strain in InAs/GaAs QDs, which resulted in change in energy gap of QDs and blue shift in photoluminescence emission. Implantation resulted in decrease in activation energy from 111 meV (20 keV) to 10 meV (50 keV S). Increase in implantation energy created defects/damage profile at a depth in the vicinity of the QDs. Non-radiative recombination of carriers through these defects might be the possible reason for the degradation of photoluminescence efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors reflect on the success of the journal "JK Science." They note that the journal does not charge authors who submit articles, like an acceptance or a per-published page fee. They state that the journal, unlike others, will continue to host printable pdf version of the printed articles for the benefit of its authors.

A saccular aneurysm at the basilar artery bifurcation associated with a persistent primitive hypoglossal artery (PPHA) was successfully treated by endovascular occlusion with Guglielmi detachable coils. As both vertebral arteries were aplasitc, a microcatheter was advanced via PPHA. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report describing the treatment of a basilar top aneurysm through the PPHA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIMS: To describe the causes of severe visual impairment and blindness (SVI/BL) in children in schools for the blind in north India, and explore temporal trends in the major causes. METHODS: A total of 703 children were examined in 13 blind schools in Delhi. A modified WHO/PBL eye examination record for children with blindness and low vision which included sections on visual acuity, additional non-ocular disabilities, onset of visual loss, the most affected anatomical part of the eye concerning visual impairment, and the aetiological category of the child's disorder based on the timing of insult leading to visual loss was administered in all children. RESULTS: With best correction, 22 (3.1%) were severely visually impaired (visual acuity in the better eye of <6/60) and 628 (89.3%) children were blind (visual acuity in the better eye of <3/60). Anatomical sites of SVI/BL were whole globe in 27.4% children, cornea 21.7%, retina 15.1%, and lens 10.9%. The underlying cause of visual loss was undetermined in 56.5% children (mainly abnormality since birth 42.3% and cataract 8.3%), childhood disorders were responsible in 28.0% (mainly vitamin A deficiency/measles 20.5%), and hereditary factors were identified in 13.4%. Study of temporal trends of SVI/BL by comparing causes in children in three different age groups-5-8 years, 9-12 years, and 13-16 years-suggests that retinal disorders have become more important while childhood onset disorders (particularly vitamin A deficiency) have declined. CONCLUSIONS: Almost half of the children suffered from potentially preventable and/or treatable conditions, with vitamin A deficiency/measles and cataract the leading causes. Retinal disorders seem to be increasing in importance while childhood disorders have declined over a period of 10 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]