Showing papers by "Banaras Hindu University published in 1998"

Facial Expressions of Emotions and Schizophrenia: A Review

Abstract: It is generally agreed that schizophrenia patients show a markedly reduced ability to perceive and express facial emotions. Previous studies have shown, however, that such deficits are emotion-specific in schizophrenia and not generalized. Three kinds of studies were examined: decoding studies dealing with schizophrenia patients' ability to perceive universally recognized facial expressions of emotions, encoding studies dealing with schizophrenia patients' ability to express certain facial emotions, and studies of subjective reactions of patients' sensitivity toward universally recognized facial expressions of emotions. A review of these studies shows that schizophrenia patients, despite a general impairment of perception or expression of facial emotions, are highly sensitive to certain negative emotions of fear and anger. These observations are discussed in the light of hemispheric theory, which accounts for a generalized performance deficit, and social-cognitive theory, which accounts for an emotion-specific deficit in schizophrenia.

Effects on aquatic ecosystems

Abstract: Regarding the effects of UV-B radiation on aquatic ecosystems, recent scientific and public interest has focused on marine primary producers and on the aquatic web, which has resulted in a multitude of studies indicating mostly detrimental effects of UV-B radiation on aquatic organisms. The interest has expanded to include ecologically significant groups and major biomass producers using mesocosm studies, emphasizing species interactions. This paper assesses the effects of UV-B radiation on dissolved organic matter, decomposers, primary and secondary producers, and briefly summarizes recent studies in freshwater and marine systems. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and paniculate organic carbon (POC) are degradation products of living organisms. These substances are of importance in the cycling of carbon in aquatic ecosystems. UV-B radiation has been found to break down high-molecular-weight substances and make them available to bacterial degradation. In addition, DOC is responsible for short-wavelength absorption in the water column. Especially in coastal areas and freshwater ecosystems, penetration of solar radiation is limited by high concentrations of dissolved and particulate matter. On the other hand, climate warming and acidification result in faster degradation of these substances and thus enhance the penetration of UV radiation into the water column. Several research groups have investigated light penetration into the water column. Past studies on UV penetration into the water column were based on temporally and spatially scattered measurements. The process of spectral attenuation of radiant energy in natural waters is well understood and straightforward to model. Less known is the spatial and temporal variability of in-water optical properties influencing UV attenuation and there are few long-term observations. In Europe, this deficiency of measurements is being corrected by a project involving the development of a monitoring system (ELDONET) for solar radiation using three-channel dosimeters (UV-A, UV-B, PAR) that are being installed from Abisko (North Sweden, 68 °N, 19 °E) to Tenerife (Canary Islands, 27 °N, 17 °W). Some of the instruments have been installed in the water column (North Sea, Baltic Sea, Kattegat, East and Western Mediterranean, North Atlantic), establishing the first network of underwater dosimeters for continuous monitoring. Bacteria play a vital role in mineralization of organic matter and provide a trophic link to higher organisms. New techniques have substantially changed our perception of the role of bacteria in aquatic ecosystems over the recent past and bacterioplankton productivity is far greater than previously thought, having high division and turnover rates. It has been shown that bacterioplankton play a central role in the carbon flux in aquatic ecosystems by taking up DOC and remineralizing the carbon. Bacterioplankton are more prone to UV-B stress than larger eukaryotic organisms and, based on one study, produce about double the amount of cyclobutane dimers. Recently, the mechanism of nitrogen fixation by cyanobacteria has been shown to be affected by UV-B stress. Wetlands constitute important ecosystems both in the tropics and at temperate latitudes. In these areas, cyanobacteria form major constituents in microbial mats. The organisms optimize their position in the community by vertical migration in the mat, which is controlled by both visible and UV-B radiation. Cyanobacteria are also important in tropical and sub-tropical rice paddy fields, where they contribute significantly to the availability of nitrogen. Solar UV radiation affects growth, development and several physiological responses of these organisms. On a global basis, phytoplankton are the most important biomass producers in aquatic ecosystems. The organisms populate the top layers of the oceans and freshwater habitats where they receive sufficient solar radiation for photosynthetic processes. New research strengthens previous evidence that solar UV affects growth and reproduction, photosynthetic energy-harvesting enzymes and other cellular proteins, as well as photosynthetic pigment contents. The uptake of ammonium and nitrate is affected by solar radiation in phytoplankton, as well as in macroalgae. Damage to phytoplankton at the molecular, cellular, population and community levels has been demonstrated. In contrast, at the ecosystem level there are few convincing data with respect to the effects of ozone-related UV-B increases and considerable uncertainty remains. Following UV-B irradiation, shifts in phytoplankton community structure have been demonstrated, which may have consequences for the food web. Macroalgae and seagrasses are important biomass producers in aquatic ecosystems (but considerably smaller than phytoplankton). In contrast to phytoplankton, most of these organisms are sessile and can thus not avoid exposure to solar radiation at their growth site. Recent investigations showed a pronounced sensitivity to solar UV-B radiation, and effects have been found throughout the top 10–15 m of the water column. Photoinhibition can be quantified by oxygen exchange or by PAM (pulse amplitude modulated) fluorescence. Surface-adapted macroalgae, such as several brown and green algae, show a maximum of oxygen production at or close to the surface; whereas algae adapted to lower irradiances usually thrive best when exposed deeper in the water column. Mechanisms of protection and repair are being investigated. UV effects on aquatic animals are of increased interest. Evidence for UV effects has been demonstrated in Zooplankton activity. Other UV-B-sensitive aquatic organisms include sea urchins, corals and amphibians. Solar UV radiation has been known to affect corals directly. In addition, photosynthesis in their symbiotic algae is impaired, resulting in reduced organic carbon supply. Amphibian populations are in serious decline in many areas of the world, and scientists are seeking explanations for this phenomenon. Most amphibian population declines are probably due to habitat destruction or habitat alteration. Some declines are probably the result of natural population fluctuations. Other explanations for the population declines and reductions in range include disease, pollution, atmospheric changes and introduced competitors and predators. UV-B radiation is one agent that may act in conjunction with other stresses to affect amphibian populations adversely. The succession of algal communities is controlled by a complex array of external conditions, stress factors and interspecies influences. Freshwater ecosystems have a high turnover and the success of an individual species is difficult to predict, but the development of general patterns of community structure follows defined routes. There is a strong predictive relationship between DOC concentration and the depth to which UV radiation penetrates in lakes. Since DOC varies widely, freshwater systems display a wide range of sensitivity to UV penetration. In these systems, increased solar UV-B radiation is an additional stress factor that may change species composition and biomass productivity. The Arctic aquatic ecosystem is one of the most productive ecosystems on earth and is a source of fish and crustaceans for human consumption. Both endemic and migratory species breed and reproduce in this ocean in spring and early summer, at a time when recorded increases in UV-B radiation are maximal. Productivity in the Arctic ocean has been reported to be higher and more heterogeneous than in the Antarctic ocean. In the Bering Sea, the sea-edge communities contribute about 40–50% of the total productivity. Because of the shallow water and the prominent stratification of the water layer, the phytoplankton are more exposed and affected by solar UV-B radiation. In addition, many economically important fish (e.g., herring, pollock, cod and salmon) spawn in shallow waters where they are exposed to increased solar UV-B radiation. Many of the eggs and early larval stages are found at or near the surface. Consequently, reduced productivity of fish and other marine crops is possible but has not been demonstrated. There is increased consensus, covering a wide range of aquatic ecosystems, that environmental UV-B, independent of ozone-related increases, is an important ecological stress that influences the growth, survival and distribution of phytoplankton. Polar ecosystems, where ozone-related UV-B increases are the greatest and which are globally significant ecosystems, are of particular concern. However, these ecosystems are characterized by large spatial and temporal variability, which makes it difficult to separate out UV-B-specific effects on single species or whole phytoplankton communities. There is clear evidence for short-term effects. In one study a 4–23% photoinhibition of photosystem II activity was measured under the ozone hole. However, extrapolation of short-term effects to long-term ecological consequences requires various complex effects to be accounted for and quantitative evaluation remains uncertain.

Evolution of aluminide coating microstructure on nickel-base cast superalloy CM-247 in a single-step high-activity aluminizing process

Abstract: This study deals with the aluminizing of a directionally cast Ni-base superalloy, namely CM-247, by a single-step process using a high-activity pack. It is observed that significant incorporation of Al into the substrate surface during aluminizing continues over a period of about 1 hour and is not restricted merely to the first few minutes, as reported in the literature. Based on the microstructural details of the coatings formed at various stages of aluminizing, it is concluded that the coating growth in the above process takes place primarily by inward Al diffusion initially, followed by an intermediate stage when the growth involves both inward Al and outward Ni diffusion. In the final stages, the outward diffusion of Ni dominates the coating formation process. The above mechanism of coating formation is different from the one that prevails in the conventional two-step high-activity coating process in that the reaction front for the formation of NiAl remains spatially stationary despite the outward diffusion of nickel during the intermediate stage. It is also shown in the present study that the content of the Al source in the pack affects the coating structure significantly. It is further demonstrated that the microstructure of the aluminide coatings depends not only on the amount of Al incorporated in the sample during aluminizing but also on the time over which the uptake of this Al takes place.

A Study on the Origin of Nonfaradaic Behavior of Anodic Contact Glow Discharge Electrolysis The Relationship Between Power Dissipated in Glow Discharges and Nonfaradaic Yields

Abstract: Chemical effects of contact glow discharge electrolysis (CGDE) at an electrode where a plasma is sustained by dc glow discharges between the electrode and the surrounding electrolyte, are remarkably nonfaradaic. A critical analysis of the chemical results of anodic CGDE at varying voltages, currents, power supplies, and pHs clearly shows that nonfaradaic yields originate in two separate reaction zones: the plasma around the anode and the liquid anolyte near the plasma-anolyte interface. The yields from the former zone appear from 250 V onward (the beginning of the onset of partial glow discharge) and vary linearly with the power dissipated in the glow discharge. The yields from the latter zone appear from 410 V onward (the beginning of the full glow discharge) and are independent of the power dissipated in the glow discharge. The relative contribution of the two zones to the total nonfaradaic yields is dependent on the voltage applied: the plasma zone having a share of 100% up to 400 V, followed by 20% up to 450 V, and thereafter rising steadily to 57% at 500 V.

A cluster of cases of severe cardiotoxicity among kala-azar patients treated with a high-osmolarity lot of sodium antimony gluconate

Abstract: In India, sodium antimony gluconate is the drug of choice for kala-azar. Due to increasing unresponsiveness to this drug in the current epidemic that began in the early 1970s, daily doses of 20 mg/kg/day for 30 days or more is recommended as opposed to the 10 mg/kg/day dose for 6-10 days used in the past. Of the 130-150 patients treated annually at our center with locally made sodium antimony gluconate, serious cardiotoxicity has occurred in less than 10%. During April 1995 at the University Hospital in Varanasi, we encountered life-threatening cardiotoxicity after 3-28 days of therapy in each of the eight patients being treated with a new lot of this drug made by a different manufacturer. Of the eight patients, six each developed congestive heart failure and/or prolongation of the corrected QT interval (QTc), and three died as a direct consequence of drug-induced toxicities. In three instances, the life-threatening complications occurred with a cumulative dose of less than 300 mg/kg. In patients with prolonged QTc, ventricular premature beats and ventricular tachycardia were recorded; in one patient, the ventricular tachycardia progressed to torsade de pointes, culminating in ventricular fibrillation and death. Since switching to different lots of this drug, we have not seen further clustering of dangerous cardiotoxicity. The antimony content of the implicated drug was comparable with that in lots from other manufacturers that did not show overt toxicity, but the osmolarity was approximately 300 mOsm/L higher. The simple technique of measuring of osmolarity may help identify inappropriately manufactured drug.

Shoot regeneration and somatic embryogenesis from different explants of Brahmi [Bacopa monniera (L.) Wettst.].

Abstract: The morphogenetic potential of node, internode and leaf explants of Brahmi [Bacopa monniera (L.) Wettst.] was investigated to develop reliable protocols for shoot regeneration and somatic embryogenesis. The explants were excised from shoots raised from axillary buds of nodal explants cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium. Presence of 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) or kinetin influenced the degree of callus formation, from which a large number of shoot buds regenerated. Leaf explants gave the largest number of shoot buds followed by node and internode explants. BA was superior to kinetin; BA at 1.5 – 2.0 mg/l appeared to be optimum for inducing the maximum number of shoot buds. MS + 0.1 mg/l BA + 0.2 mg/l indole-3-acetic acid was the most suitable for shoot elongation. Elongated shoots were rooted on full- or half-strength MS medium with or without 0.5 – 1.0 mg/l indole-3-butyric acid or 0.5 – 1.0 mg/l α-naphthaleneacetic acid. The rooted plants were successfully established in soil. Calli derived from nodal explants cultured on MS medium containing 0.5 mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), when subcultured on MS medium containing 0.1 or 0.5 mg/l BA or 0.2 mg/l 2,4-D + 0.1 or 0.5 mg/l kinetin, developed somatic embryos. The somatic embryos germinated either on the same media or on MS basal medium, and the resulting plantlets were successfully transplanted to soil.

A Molecular Electrostatic Potential Mapping Study of Some Fluoroquinolone Anti-Bacterial Agents

Abstract: Molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) maps of some fluoroquinolones having varying degrees of activity against the bacterium Staphylococcus Aureus have been studied using the optimized hybridization displacement charges (HDC) combined with Lowdin charges obtained by the AM1 method. The roles of different substitutions at the N1-position in the parent quinolone ring have been studied. The conformation of the carboxylic group attached to the quinolone ring was shown to be such that there is an intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the hydrogen atom of this group and the oxygen atom of the carbonyl group of the quinolone moiety. The carbonyl oxygen atom of the quinolone moiety, hydroxyl oxygen atom of the carboxylic group and the terminal nitrogen atom of the piperazin ring attached to the quinolone ring appear to be involved in the action of the drugs through electrostatic interactions while the N1-alkyl substituents seem to be involved in the same through hydrophobic interactions.

Chemical Fungal taxonomy

Abstract: Chemical fungal taxonomy - an overview numerical analysis of fungal chemotaxonomic data use of PCR and RFLP in fungal systematics proteins in fungal taxonomy the use of isoenzymes in fungal taxonomy and population studies fungal immunotaxonomy taxonomic applications of polysaccharides chemotaxonomy of fungi by unsaponifiable lipids fatty acids in fungal taxonomy carbohydrates and their impact on fungal taxonomy volatiles in fungal taxonomy the role and use of secondary metabolites in fungal taxonomy expression of secondary metabolite characters in relation to the conditions of growth the taxonomic use of metabolic data in lichen-forming fungi.

Soil water dynamics and vegetation patterns in a semiarid grassland

Abstract: Long-term (1985–1992) dynamics and spatial variations in soil water below the evaporative zone were evaluated for a shortgrass steppe with a low and variable precipitation regime. Each of a sandy loam, clay loam, and two sandy clay loam sites comprised a toposequence with upland, midslope and lowland positions. Soil water was monitored at 15 cm intervals providing estimates covering 22.5 to 97.5 cm depths. Soil water throughout the profile was highest in the clay loam site and lowest in the sandy loam site. However, stored soil water did not vary systematically among slope positions. Total vegetation cover was highest on the lowland in two sites, but was greatest on the midslope position in the other two. Total vegetation cover was greatest on the CL site, which was the wettest in terms of soil water. Soil water depletion was related to the depth-distribution of roots. There was an inverse relationship between aboveground production and soil water content of the 30, 45 and 60 cm layers during the growth period. Root distributions through the profile did not, however, vary with soil texture or with different soil water profiles controlled by texture. The less variable water content of deeper soil layers is a resource which potentially buffers the impact of pronounced variability in precipitation and thus contributes to vegetation stability of the shortgrass community.

Ureogenesis in Indian air-breathing teleosts: adaptation to environmental constraints

Abstract: Most of the Indian air-breathing teleosts are primarily ammoniotelic, but appear to have retained the genes for the urea cycle enzymes, since a full complement of urea cycle enzymes have been reported for many of them. The ability to synthesize urea by these fish is probably due to their amphibious nature, and their normal habitat of swamps, where the water ammonia level may to be quite high, is uninhabitable to any typical freshwater teleosts. One of these air-breathing species, the singhi catfish ( Heteropneustes fossilis ), can tolerate very high ambient total ammonia concentrations (up to 75 mM ammonium chloride) for weeks without any deleterious effects. Transition from ammoniotelism to ureotelism occurs in some of these species of air-breathing fish when exposed to apparently stressful conditions such as higher ambient ammonia, to air, and also when they live in semidry condition inside mud during habitat drying. Although the real mechanism(s) of regulation of ureogenesis is not clear in these fish, given available data, it is hypothesized that the accumulation of ammonia within the body per se under the above stressful conditions is likely the internal modulator for enhanced ureogenesis mainly to avoid any build up of ammonia to a level that can be toxic to these fish. An active urea cycle is believed to predominate over uricolysis as a source of urea, even though both pathways are present in these air-breathing fish. The presence of significant levels of both carbamyl phosphate synthetase (CPS), CPS I-like and CPS III activities, reported in some air-breathing catfishes, may represent intermediate scenarios for a proposed evolutionary transition from CPS III to CPS I, or may play an important physiological adaptive role in the tolerance of these fish to high concentrations of ambient ammonia

Dose-related proconvulsant and anticonvulsant activity of isatin, a putative biological factor, in rats

Abstract: Isatin (indole-2, 3-dione) is an endogenous compound with anxiogenic properties, which occur within a narrow dose range (15-20 mg/kg, i.p.). Dose increment beyond 50 mg/kg, i.p. leads to the loss of anxiogenesis. Since a link has been postulated between anxiogenic and convulsant activity, the effect of a range of doses of isatin (20-80 mg/kg, i.p.) was investigated on subconvulsant and convulsant doses of two seizure-inducing agents, namely, pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and 3-mercapto-propionic acid (3MPA) in rats. Isatin was found to induce a dose-related effect on PTZ and 3MPA convulsions. The lower dose (20 mg/kg, i.p.) potentiated PTZ and 3MPA convulsions, a median dose (40 mg/kg, i.p.) had insignificant effect, whereas higher doses (60 and 80 mg/kg, i.p.) of isatin exhibited significant anticonvulsant effect against both PTZ and 3MPA induced clonic convulsions. The investigation, thus, supports the contention that anxiogenic agents increase the susceptibility to chemical seizures. The proconvulsant effect of isatin, may be due to its inhibitory effect on central atrial natriuretic peptide receptors and stimulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine3 (5-HT3) rather than its monoamine oxidase (MAO) B inhibitory action. The anticonvulsant effect on higher doses of isatin, on the contrary, may be induced by its metabolites, including 5-hydroxyisatin.

Mechanical processing and microstructural control in hot working of hot isostatically pressed P/M IN-100 superalloy

Abstract: The hot deformation behavior of hot isostatically pressed (HIPd) P/M IN-100 superalloy has been studied in the temperature range 1000-1200 degrees C and strain rate range 0.0003-10 s(-1) using hot compression testing. A processing map has been developed on the basis of these data and using the principles of dynamic materials modelling. The map exhibited three domains: one at 1050 degrees C and 0.01 s(-1), with a peak efficiency of power dissipation of approximate to 32%, the second at 1150 degrees C and 10 s(-1), with a peak efficiency of approximate to 36% and the third at 1200 degrees C and 0.1 s(-1), with a similar efficiency. On the basis of optical and electron microscopic observations, the first domain was interpreted to represent dynamic recovery of the gamma phase, the second domain represents dynamic recrystallization (DRX) of gamma in the presence of softer gamma', while the third domain represents DRX of the gamma phase only. The gamma' phase is stable upto 1150 degrees C, gets deformed below this temperature and the chunky gamma' accumulates dislocations, which at larger strains cause cracking of this phase. At temperatures lower than 1080 degrees C and strain rates higher than 0.1 s(-1), the material exhibits flow instability, manifested in the form of adiabatic shear bands. The material may be subjected to mechanical processing without cracking or instabilities at 1200 degrees C and 0.1 s(-1), which are the conditions for DRX of the gamma phase.

Polyindole modified potassium ion-sensor using dibenzo-18-crown-6 mediated PVC matrix membrane

Abstract: A potassium ion-selective electrode using PVC matrix membrane impregnated with dibenzo-18-crown-6 at the surface of the polyindole modified electrode is reported. The electroactivity of the polyindole film contributing to the high selectivity of the neutral carrier based ion-sensor is analyzed based on the cyclic voltammetry. The polyindole modified electrode is formed by the electropolymerization of the indole monomer in dichloromethane containing tetrabutyl ammonium perchlorate (TBAP). A highly stable electroactive polyindole film is obtained. A neutral carrier impregnated PVC membrane is formed by casting over the surface of the polyindole modified electrode. The resulting ion-selective electrode without the incorporation of polyanions shows high reproducibility with negligible drift of the standard potential with a slope of 53 mV/decade. The lowest detection limit for the potassium ion sensor is 7.0×10−6 mol dm−3 with a wide linearity over almost five decades. A typical response of the neutral carrier impregnated PVC membrane over the polyindole modified electrode to the potassium ion is reported.

Polycarbazole-based electrochemical transistor

Abstract: A polycarbazole conducting polymer transistor has been constructed having the dimensions 1 cm × 2 cm × 1 mm. Polycarbazole film used here has a redox potential of 1.30 V. Polymer-coated platinum plates were used as the source and drain. The inter-electrode spacing of the device is typically of the order of 200–500 μm to minimise the internal resistance. The high saturation current region of the transistor in the most positive bias voltage (1.3 V), with negligible hysteresis and greater stability, appears to give a device that is superior to other conducting polymer transistors.

Unsteady hydromagnetic free convection flow with heat flux and accelerated boundary motion

Abstract: The effects of viscosity, magnetic field and buoyancy force on the unsteady free convection flow of an incompressible and electrically conducting fluid have been analysed when the flow is generated by uniformly accelerated motion of a vertical plate subject to constant heat flux. The resulting boundary value problem has been solved exactly for the temperature and velocity variables. The fluid velocity and the skin friction have been computed for some saturated liquids and the effects of the fluid and external forces have been discussed. It is observed that the increase in velocity caused by the larger heat flux can be controlled by enhancing the magnetic field strength. The skin friction at the boundary increases for larger Prandtl and Hartmann numbers, and decreases with increasing Grashof number.

Methane flux from irrigated paddy and dryland rice fields, and from seasonally dry tropical forest and Savanna soils of India

Abstract: Methane flux was measured from four tropical, Indian ecosystems: dryland, irrigated rice, seasonally dry forest and savanna. Flux from the irrigated rice paddies was in the range 2.14–8.23 mg CH 4 m −2 h −1 during the crop period. In contrast, the dryland rice soil consumed 0.12–0.90 mg CH 4 m −2 h −1 . Application of wheat straw+fertilizer stimulated CH 4 production in irrigated rice soil while it reduced CH 4 consumption in dryland rice plots. CH 4 flux measurements from nutrient-poor, well-drained dry deciduous forest and savanna soils indicated heavy methane consumption. Maximum CH 4 consumption was observed during the winter season (0.46–0.95 mg CH 4 m −2 h −1 ) at all the sites and was lowest during the rainy season (0.17–0.32 mg CH 4 m −2 h −1 ). The results suggest that dryland rice soils and natural ecosystems are potential sinks of CH 4 . Conservative extrapolation of the results indicates that to compensate for CH 4 production from 1 ha of irrigated rice about 2.4 ha of natural ecosystems are needed. Thus there is a need of further evaluation of the role of tropical dryland rice soils and naturally dry ecosystems in the global methane budget.