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Although the phonological history of Tai Nüa can be roughly demonstrated through comparison of its modern dialects against their reconstructed ancestor, namely, Proto-Southwestern Tai, neither the chronology nor the pathway of the transformative sound changes can be established in detail with any certainty. This study demonstrates a more fine-grained understanding of both the chronology and pathway of the sound changes through the examination of the recently available Sino-Baiyi Manual of Translation, a Chinese-Tai Nüa section of bilingual glossary books produced for diplomatic use during the Ming Dynasty. By comparing the phonological inventory of Tai Nüa as attested in this manuscript against the pre-established list of all characterizing sound changes from Proto-Southwestern Tai to Modern Tai Nüa dialects, we chronologize all the sound changes into the pre-16th versus post-16th century changes. Employing the pre- & post-16th century changes as the demarcating criteria, we tentatively propose a tripartite chronological division of Tai Nüa into 1) Old Tai Nüa, 2) Early Modern Tai Nüa, and 3) Modern Tai Nüa dialects.

This study investigated the effect of aviation turbine fuel exposure on interlaminar and in-plane shear properties of E-glass/epoxy composite. The two types of test specimens, namely bare and resin-coated specimens with varying thicknesses as per the ASTM standard, were made out of E-glass/epoxy composite to evaluate their interlaminar and in-plane shear properties. These all types of specimens were immersed inside the aviation turbine fuel for two months and then afterward their effect on the reduction of mechanical properties like interlaminar and in-plane shear tests properties were experimentally investigated. Test results show that ATF fuel exposure has reduced the interlaminar shear strength by 10.04 %, 7.83 %, and 6.01 % for bare, with 0.1 mm and 0.2 mm resin coating, respectively. Similarly, in-plane shear strength was reduced by 14.75 %, 11.22 %, and 7.52 % for bare, with 0.1 mm and 0.2 mm resin coating, respectively, and in-plane shear modulus was reduced by 10.87 %, 8.94 %, and 6.52 % for bare, with 0.1 mm and 0.2 mm resin coating conditions as compared to as-received (without ATF exposure) specimens. SEM micrographs and results too showed that properties were reduced and indicated that the glass/epoxy composite was resistive to fuel ingression. It was observed that bare specimens exhibited a reduction in shear properties due to ATF ingression to the polymeric network and induced internal stresses, which not only degraded the matrix and fiber-matrix adherence but created micro-cracks too in the resin at interfaces. Resin-coated specimens limit fuel ingression, which has led to a reduction in properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An integral account of design and analysis of grid-stiffened cylindrical structures is presented. For convenience, a two-phase approach is adopted. In the initial phase, with a view to arriving at a few initial possible optimal configurations, parametric analysis through smeared stiffeners approach is utilised. The ribs, in a filament wound grid-stiffened structure, introduce several additional design elements that result in many possible design configurations; in the initial phase, these design options are efficiently reduced to a few numbers. Finite element modelling is used in the final design and analysis. Rib material is distinct from normal unidirectional composites and this aspect is inherently accounted for in the modelling approaches considered here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most low-mass stars form in stellar clusters that also contain massive stars, which are sources of far-ultraviolet (FUV) radiation. Theoretical models predict that this FUV radiation produces photodissociation regions (PDRs) on the surfaces of protoplanetary disks around low-mass stars, which affects planet formation within the disks. We report James Webb Space Telescope and Atacama Large Millimeter Array observations of a FUV-irradiated protoplanetary disk in the Orion Nebula. Emission lines are detected from the PDR; modeling their kinematics and excitation allowed us to constrain the physical conditions within the gas. We quantified the mass-loss rate induced by the FUV irradiation and found that it is sufficient to remove gas from the disk in less than a million years. This is rapid enough to affect giant planet formation in the disk.

In the form of leaves, nature designs the finest photothermal evaporators, and the tremendous evaporation efficiency of leaves is supported by a precisely designed network of veins. Here, we have demonstrated that the vein network of a natural leaf can be extracted through a simple water-assisted digestion process and exploited for low-energy steam generation. The naked leaf veins exhibit a remarkable flux (evaporation rate, 1.5 kg·m -2 ·h -1 ) of capillary evaporation under ambient conditions (25 °C and 30% RH), close to the photothermal material-based evaporators reported in the recent literature. Even inside a dark box, naked veins exhibit an evaporation rate up to 4.5 kg·m -2 ·h -1 (at 30% relative humidity (RH) and a wind speed of 22 km·h -1 ). The mechanistic studies performed with variable atmospheric conditions (temperature, humidity, and wind speed) suggest the evaporation process through the naked veins to be a kinetic-limited process. Naked veins with remarkable evaporation efficiency are found to be suitable for applications like water desalination and streaming potential harvesting. Experiments with the naked veins also unveiled that the biofluidic channels in leaves not only exhibit the characteristics of surface charge-governed ionic transport but also support an exceptional water transport velocity of 1444 μm·s -1 ., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2021 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Introduction: Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus, since its identification in April 2009, has continued to cause significant outbreaks of respiratory tract infections including pandemics in humans. In the course of its evolution, the virus has acquired many mutations with an ability to cause increased disease severity. A regular molecular surveillance of the virus is essential to mark the evolutionary changes that may cause a shift to the viral behavior., Materials and Methods: Samples of Throat/Nasal swabs were collected from a total of 3715 influenza-like illness cases and screened by Real-time Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction for influenza viruses. Nucleotide sequence analysis was done to identify changes in antigenicity of the virus strains., Results: The present study describes the molecular characteristics of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses detected in Assam of Northeast India during 2009-2015. Influenza A viruses were detected in 11.4% (425/3715), of which influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses were detected in 41.4% (176/425). The nucleotide sequencing of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses revealed a total of 17 and 22 amino acid substitutions in haemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of the virus, respectively, compared to contemporary vaccine strain A/California/07/2009. The important mutations detected in HA genes of A/Assam(H1N1)pdm09 strains included E391K, K180Q and S202T. Mutation 'N248D' which has an ability to develop oseltamivir resistance was also detected in NA gene of A/Assam(H1N1)pdm09 strains., Conclusions: Regular molecular surveillance of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 is important to monitor the viral behavior in terms of increase virulence, drug resistance pattern and emergence of novel strains., Competing Interests: None

Background: Microorganisms are a rich source of structurally diverse secondary metabolites that exert a major impact on the control of infectious diseases and other medical conditions. The biosynthesis of these metabolites can be improved by manipulating the nutritional or environmental factors. This work evaluates the effects of fermentation parameters on the production of a lactone compound effective against Candida albicans by Penicillium verruculosum MKH7 under submerged fermentation. Design-Expert version8.0 software was used for construction of the experimental design and statistical analysis of the experimental data., Results: The important factors influencing antibiotic production selected in accordance with the Plackett-Burman design were found to be initial pH, temperature, peptone, MgSO 4 .7H 2 O. Orthogonal central composite design and response surface methodology were adopted to further investigate the mutual interaction between the variables and identify the optimum values that catalyse maximum metabolite production. The determination coefficient (R 2 ) of the fitted second order model was 0.9852. The validation experiments using optimized conditions of initial pH 7.4, temperature 27 °C, peptone 9.2 g/l and MgSO 4 .7H 2 O 0.39 g/l resulted in a significant increase (almost 7 fold from 30 to 205.5 mg/l) in the metabolite production which was in agreement with the prediction (211.24 mg/l). Stability of the compound was also assessed on the basis of its response to physical and chemical stresses., Conclusions: So far as our knowledge goes, till date there are no reports available on the production of antibiotics by Penicillium verruculosum through media optimization using RSM. Optimization not only led to a 7 fold increase in metabolite yield but the same was achieved at much lesser time (8-10 days compared to the earlier 12-15 days). The enhanced yield of the antibiotic strongly suggests that the fungus P. verruculosum MKH7 can be efficiently used for antibiotic production on a large scale.

During August 2013, an outbreak of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) was investigated in Monigong area, near Indo-China border of Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India. Influenza type A/H3N2 was detected by RT-PCR in 33.3% (8/24) of ILI cases. Sequence analysis of HA and NA genes revealed eight and five amino acid substitutions, respectively in Monigong H3N2 (Mo/H3N2) strains as compared to vaccine strain A/Victoria/361/2011. Four non-synonymous substitutions, three localizing at antigenic sites T144A, A; R158G, B; L173S, D, and one H9Y in close proximity to a potential glycosylation site aa8 in HA1 domain along with the substitution T329N in NA are likely to influence the antigenicity/virulence of Mo/H3N2 viruses. J. Med. Virol. 88:1999-2003, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Experimental studies of human rotavirus infections in mice are limited and there is lack of information on the quantitative assessment of rotaviral replication and its relationship with histological changes. In the present study, consequences of human rotavirus strain, YO induced gastroenteritis in infant BALB/c mice were analyzed for the occurrence of clinical symptoms, histopathology and virological events. The infected animals developed diarrhea and dehydration and showed accumulation of vacuolated enterocytes with lodging of the rotavirus antigens and shortening of villi in the intestine over a period of 5 days. The ileum was identified as the most susceptible and supportive part of small intestine for perpetuation of rotavirus infection in mice. Rotaviral antigen/RNA in stool and RNA in intestine were detected throughout the clinical disease period. At 48-72 h post inoculation, diarrhea was at the peak (90-95%) in the infected animals with increased load of viral RNA and intense pathological lesions suggesting it as the critical time point in the course of infection. The rising titers of antirotavirus neutralizing antibodies ascertained the replication of human rotavirus strain, YO in mice. These data may contribute to the understanding of pathophysiological, immunological and virological characteristics of rotavirus infections in mice., (Copyright © 2010. Published by Elsevier SAS.)

Seasonal variations in the concentrations of groundwater with respect to arsenic, lead, cadmium and aluminium has been studied in Dhemaji district of Assam, India. The water samples were collected from 20 different sites in both dry and wet seasons. The metals were analysed by using atomic absorption spectrometer, Perkin Elmer AAnalyst 200 model. The concentrations of aluminium, lead and cadmium in groundwater were found to be significantly elevated. High concentrations of all the metals were recorded in the dry season than in the wet season. Univariate statistics along with skewness, kurtosis and confidence limit have been calculated for both the seasons to test the distribution normality for each metal. Statistical analyses of the data reveal non-uniform distribution of the metals in the area. The metal contamination of groundwater in the district follows the trend Al>Pb>Cd>As in both the seasons.

The primary objective of this study is to present a statistically significant water quality database of Dhemaji district, Assam (India) with special reference to pH, fluoride, nitrate, arsenic, iron, sodium and potassium. 25 water samples collected from different locations of five development blocks in Dhemaji district have been studied separately. The implications presented are based on statistical analyses of the raw data. Normal distribution statistics and reliability analysis (correlation and covariance matrix) have been employed to find out the distribution pattern, localisation of data, and other related information. Statistical observations show that all the parameters under investigation exhibit non uniform distribution with a long asymmetric tail either on the right or left side of the median. The width of the third quartile was consistently found to be more than the second quartile for each parameter. Differences among mean, mode and median, significant skewness and kurtosis value indicate that the distribution of various water quality parameters in the study area is widely off normal. Thus, the intrinsic water quality is not encouraging due to unsymmetrical distribution of various water quality parameters in the study area.

The inner capsid protein VP6 of group A rotavirus possesses group and subgroup epitope specificities. Avian rotaviruses have a unique VP6 that is antigenically different from its mammalian counterpart. The lack of information on the VP6 protein of chicken rotavirus strain, CH2, at the genetic and antigenic level was a major motivation for this work. Sequencing of the complete cDNA of the VP6 gene of CH2, revealed a nucleotide (amino acid) identity that varied from 78.3 to 98.5% (86.4-98.2%) when compared with other avian rotaviruses. Regardless of its host origin dissimilarity, CH2 VP6 showed a close sequence homology (97.4-98.2%) with turkey and pigeon rotaviruses. Homology-based modeling of the CH2 VP6 from the corresponding crystal structure of the bovine rotavirus, RF strain, demonstrated that the hypervariable region (residue 228-240) does have a critical role in strain specific antigenic characteristics of avian and mammalian rotaviruses. A predicted conformational epitope encompasses experimentally characterized group and subgroup epitopes suggesting that it is a major antibody binding site on the VP6 protein. The VP6 structure modeling and conformational epitope prediction together with enzyme immuno assay of SG MAbs placed CH2 in SGI/II. The study may be helpful in designing peptides for group A rotavirus diagnostic assays and to achieve heterotypic protection against rotavirus serotypes.