Rock magnetic finger-printing of soil from a coal-fired thermal power plant

We present seasonal rock magnetic data for 48 surficial soil samples collected seasonally around a coal-fired thermal power plant on the southwest coast of India to demonstrate how fly ash from the power plant is transported both spatially and seasonally. Sampling was carried out during pre-monsoon (March), early-monsoon (June), monsoon (September) and post-monsoon (December) seasons. Low- and high-frequency magnetic susceptibility (χlf and χhf), frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility (χfd), χfd %, isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM), "hard" IRM (HIRM), saturation IRM (SIRM) and inter-parametric ratios were determined for the samples. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used on limited number of samples. NOAA HYSPLIT MODEL backward trajectory analysis and principal component analysis were carried out on the data. Fly ash samples exhibit an average HIRM value (400.07 × 10(-5) Am(2) kg(-1)) that is comparable to that of soil samples. The pre- and post-monsoon samples show a consistent reduction in the concentration of magnetically "hard" minerals with increasing distance from the power plant. These data suggest that fly ash has indeed been transported from the power plant to the sampling locations. Hence, HIRM may perhaps be used as a proxy for tracking fly ash from coal-fired thermal power plants. Seasonal data show that the distribution of fly ash to the surrounding areas is minimum during monsoons. They also point to the dominance of SP magnetite in early-monsoon season, whereas magnetic depletion is documented in the monsoon season. This seasonal difference is attributable to both pedogenesis and anthropogenic activity i.e. operation of the thermal power plant.

Fasciolopsiasis: Endemic focus of a neglected parasitic disease in Bihar

PURPOSE

To describe a newly discovered, previously unreported endemic focus of fasciolopsiasis in the Phulwaria village, under tehsil Sugauli, East Champaran, Bihar.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A study was conducted at village Phulwaria, following diagnosis of fasciolopsiasis in three children from the village. A total of 120 individuals, including all the children and adults who gave history of recent passage of red fleshy masses in their stool, were included in the study. The cases of fasciolopsiasis were treated with Praziquantel 25 mg/kg, three doses a day. Risk factors for the transmission of the parasite in the village were also studied.

RESULTS

Questionnaire revealed majority of the population suffering from abdominal discomfort and passage of red fleshy masses in stool. These fleshy masses were identified as Fasciolopsis buski. One hundred and eighteen individuals were presumably considered as cases of the parasitic infection. After treatment with Praziquantel, all of them passed the parasite in their stool for the next 2-3 days. On investigating, it was observed that all the conditions required for effective continuation of the life cycle of the parasite were present in this village.

CONCLUSION

This study draws attention to a new endemic focus of fasciolopsiasis in Bihar, with a very high prevalence due to poverty, the lack of awareness about the parasite in villagers as well as ignorance among local medical practitioners. There is an urgent need for mass campaign around the region for its effective control.

An efficient and convenient protocol for the synthesis of tetracyclic isoindolo[1,2-a]quinazoline derivatives

A convenient and one-pot synthesis of tetracyclic isoindolo [1,2-a]quinazoline derivatives via Lewis acid mediated sequential C–N bond formation reactions is reported.

Verbal autopsy of neonatal deaths in Khatauli Block of District Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India

BackgroundVerbal autopsy is a method of inquiry to ascertain the likely cause of death in populations where vital registration of deaths is incomplete and unreliable. Over 75% of deaths in India occur at homes; more than half of these do not have a certified cause. Further, most of the deaths in the rural areas of India occur at home and that is why a medical certification by a qualified practitioner is not possible. Keeping these facts in mind, this study was designed having objectives as to find out the causes of neonatal deaths through verbal autopsy and its feasibility to be used by health workers.Material & Methods:This cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted in randomly selected rural areas of Khatauli Block of District Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India. Verbal autopsy data was collected by a team of health workers adequately trained for the same well in advance. Data related to reported neonatal deaths in the study area in the specified period of time was collected on structured & pre-tested questionnaire used as study tool by interviewing the parents, relatives or neighbours of the deceased. Data thus collected was verified twice by the coordinator and principal investigator respectively and analyzed by using Epi info statistical package.Results:A total of 24 perinatal deaths were reported, out of which 7 (29.2%) were stillbirth and 17 (70.8%) were neonatal deaths. ANC was received by 14 mothers (58.3%). Half of the deliveries were conducted by untrained Dai. About 20 deliveries (83.3%) were at home and 10 (58.8%) of the deceased were early neonates. The cause of deaths found by means of verbal autopsies were mainly: pneumonia - 4 (23.5%), diarrhoea - 2 (11.8%) neonatal jaundice - 03 (17.6%) etc.Conclusion:Pneumonia, diarrhoea & neonatal jaundice alone constitute about 53% of the total neonatal deaths. The use of the verbal autopsy tool by health workers to find out the cause of neonatal deaths is very much feasible.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nje.v4i5.12019 Nepal Journal of Epidemiology 2014; 4(5):423-27

Stable algebraic spin liquid in a Hubbard model

We show the existence of a stable algebraic spin liquid (ASL) phase in a Hubbard model defined on a honeycomb lattice with spin-dependent hopping that breaks time-reversal symmetry. The effective spin model is the Kitaev model for large on-site repulsion. The gaplessness of the emergent Majorana fermions is protected by the time-reversal invariance of this model. We prove that the effective spin model is time-reversal invariant in the entire Mott phase, thus ensuring the stability of the ASL. The model can be physically realized in cold atom systems, and we propose experimental signals of the ASL.

Microscopic model of quasiparticle wave packets in superfluids, superconductors, and paired Hall states

We study the structure of Bogoliubov quasiparticles, bogolons, the fermionic excitations of paired superfluids that arise from fermion (BCS) pairing, including neutral superfluids, superconductors, and paired quantum Hall states. The naive construction of a stationary quasiparticle in which the deformation of the pair field is neglected leads to a contradiction: it carries a net electrical current even though it does not move. However, treating the pair field self-consistently resolves this problem: in a neutral superfluid, a dipolar current pattern is associated with the quasiparticle for which the total current vanishes. When Maxwell electrodynamics is included, as appropriate to a superconductor, this pattern is confined over a penetration depth. For paired quantum Hall states of composite fermions, the Maxwell term is replaced by a Chern-Simons term, which leads to a dipolar charge distribution and consequently to a dipolar current pattern.

Managing diabetic ketoacidosis in non-intensive care unit setting: Role of insulin analogs

Aim:

To compare the efficacy and safety of rapid acting insulin analog lispro given subcutaneously with that of standard low-dose intravenous regular insulin infusion protocolin patients with mild to moderate diabetic ketoacidosis.

Materials and Methods:

In this prospective, randomized and open trial, 50 consecutive patients of mild to moderate diabetic ketoacidosis were randomly assigned to two groups. The patients in group 1 were treated with intravenous regular insulin infusion and admitted in intensive care unit. The patients in group 2 were treated with subcutaneous insulin lispro 2 hourly and managed in the emergency medical ward. Response to therapy was assessed by duration of treatment and amount of insulin administered until resolution of hyperglycemia and ketoacidosis, total length of hospital stay, and number of hypoglycemic events in the two study groups.

Results:

The baseline clinical and biochemical parameters were similar between the two groups. There were no differences in the mean duration of treatment and amount of insulin required for correction of hyperglycemia and ketoacidosis. There was no mortality and no difference in the length of hospital stay between the two groups. The length of stay and amount of insulin required for correction of hyperglycemia was greater in patients who had infection as the precipitating cause than those with poor compliance. The hypoglycemic events were higher in the regular insulin group (2 vs1) than in the lispro group.

Conclusion:

Patients with uncomplicated diabetic ketoacidosis can be managed in the medical wards with appropriate supervision and careful monitoring. Rapid acting insulin analog lispro is a safe and effective alternative to intravenous regular insulin for this subset of patients.