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The present paper entitled 'Phonological and Semantic analysis of Malayalam Astrological terms' discussed the Phonological and Semantic aspects of astrological terms in Malayalam. Astrological terms are linguistic signs representing a concept as well as an image. Majority of the technical terms are derived from Sanskrit. All terms have diverse linguistic and cultural origin. So this leads the researcher to take this aspect in terms of Linguistics, because linguistics is a science and through this scientific study of language, language of astrology can be studied. Aim and Objectives of this study is the collection and the phonological and semantic analysis of commonly used astrological terms in Malayalam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kurichiyas are one of the most developed tribes in Wayanad district. They live in scattered homesteads with a self-contained unit with its own hills and fields. They were said to be the first to settle in the Wayanad hills as farmers. Later in the revolt against the British and Muslims they were defeated by the British. The society of the Kurichiya tribes is complex as they maintain caste hierarchy. The Kurichiyas of Wayanad have a great martial tradition. They constituted the army of Pazhassi Raja who engaged the British forces in several battles. The descendants of those warriors are still expert archers. The excellence of Kurichiya archery has been exhibited recently at various centers. The main concern of this work is concentrated on the Language / Dialect spoken by this tribal Community. Hence the phonological analysis of this language has been done with the data elicited from the selected informants of the Kurichiya settlement in the Mananthavady Taluk of Wayanad District, Kerala State, India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The necessity and impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the world's health have led to the development and production of practical and useful vaccines for this deadly respiratory virus. Since April 2020, a vaccine for the virus has been developed. Given that comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease are more prone to viruses and the risk of infection, vaccines should be designed to protect against high-risk respiratory illnesses. In this review, we discussed the cardiovascular alteration in SARS-CoV-2 treatment, and we also reviewed the vaccination information and studies that have been done to primary considerations for cardiac patients.

Little is known about rate of photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal conductance, intrinsic water use efficiency, endogenous phytohormones (Gibberellic acid and Indole acetic acid) concomitant with leaf chlorophyll content during flowering and fruiting stages in pomegranate. As a result, a study was conducted to determine the function of various chemicals, such as Nitrobenzene (NB) at 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 ml plant-1, Cycocel (CCC) at 500, 1000, and 1500 ppm plant-1, Uracil 25 and 50 ppm plant-1, CCC1000 ppm + Uracil 25 ppm plant-1, CCC 1500 ppm + Uracil 50 ppm plant-1, along with control at ICAR - Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru, during the flowering and fruit set stages during two seasons, namely ambe bahar (January–February 2016) and hastha bahar (September–October 2016-17). Applications of Uracil 50 ppm plant-1, Uracil 25 ppm plant-1 and nitrobenzene 1.5 ml plant-1 at flowering stage resulted in highest rate of photosynthesis (16.48 µmol m-2 s-1), transpiration (7.69 mmol m-2 s-1) and stomatal conductance (0.44 mol m-2 s-1). Foliar spray of Nitrobenzene 1.5 ml plant-1, cycocel 1000 ppm plant-1 + Uracil 25 ppm plant-1 in conjunction with application of nitrobenzene 1.0 ml plant-1 registered highest rate of photosynthesis (12.55 µmol m-2 s-1), transpiration (6.19 mmol m-2 s-1) and stomatal conductance (0.19 mol m-2 s-1) at fruit set stage. Application of Uracil 50 ppm plant-1 resulted in higher levels of endogenous IAA content (394.3 ng g-1 FW and 885.3 ng g-1 FW), lower levels of GA3 content (110.7 ng g-1 FW and 144.0 ng g-1 FW), and highest total chlorophyll content (3.14 mg g-1 and 1.99 mg g-1) in the leaves at both flowering and fruit set stages. With application of cycocel 1500 ppm plant-1 at flowering and fruit set stages, highest photosynthetic rate (17.67 µmol m-2 s-1 and 15.71 µmol m-2 s-1), transpiration rate (7.68 mmol m-2 s-1 and 6.13 mmol m-2 s-1) and higher levels of endogenous IAA (946.7 ng g-1 FW and 633.0 ng g-1 FW) were registered respectively. Following application of cycocel 1500 ppm plant-1 and 500 ppm plant?1 at both flowering and fruit set stages, lower endogenous GA3 (163.3 ng g-1 FW and 276.0 ng g-1 FW) were observed. At flowering stage, cycocel 1000 ppm plant-1 + Uracil 25 ppm plant-1 recorded the highest total chlorophyll content (2.35 mg g-1). During flowering period, cycocel 1500 ppm plant-1 application resulted in the highest stomatal conductance (0.57 mol m-2 s-1). Application of cycocel 1500 ppm plant-1 + Uracil 50 ppm plant-1 resulted in the highest stomatal conductance (0.38 mol m-2 s-1) at fruit set stage.

Human biomonitoring studies for water contaminants are often accompanied by surveys relying solely on total drinking water consumption rates, thus, failing to account for specific water sources (bottled and tap water) and use habits, such as water used for preparing cold/hot beverages (coffee, tea, juice, etc.). Despite the extensive use of bisphenol A (BPA) in polycarbonate (PC)-based water contact materials, rarely do BPA biomonitoring studies focus on various PC water uses and sources. Better resolved water consumption rates could reduce the uncertainty associated with surrogate daily BPA intake estimates using fine-tuned surveys. This approach provided a proof of concept on inclusion of water consumption from various sources and uses into estimates of daily intake for water contaminants like BPA found in water-contact materials. The next steps would be in quantifying the extent of improvement in exposure assessment that adds value to refined survey designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Wnt gene family encodes secreted signaling molecules that play important roles in tumorgenesis and embryogenesis. The canonical Wnt signaling pathway regulates target gene expression via the stabilization and nuclear translocation of the cytoplasmic pool of β-catenin. The activation of integrin-linked kinase (ILK) is also known to regulate the stabilization and subsequent nuclear translocation of β-catenin in several epithelial cell models. We now report that molecular and pharmacological inhibition of ILK activity in mammalian cells directly modulates Wnt signaling by suppressing the stabilization and nuclear translocation of β-catenin, as well as β-catenin/Lef-mediated transcription. Inhibition of ILK activity, but not phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) or MEK activities suppresses nuclear β-catenin stabilization in cells stably expressing Wnt3a as well as in cells exposed to either Wnt3a conditioned media or purified Wnt3a. Furthermore, ILK inhibition reverses the Wnt3a-induced suppression of β-catenin phosphorylation that accompanies β-catenin stabilization. In addition, we show that ILK can be identified in a complex with Wnt pathway components such as adenomatous polyposis coli and GSK-3. Upon treatment of L cells with Wnt3a-CM, glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3β) becomes highly phosphorylated on Ser 9, which is completely abolished upon inhibition of ILK activity. However, acute exposure of L cells to purified Wnt3a does not result in the stimulation of GSK-3β Ser 9 phosphorylation, despite β-catenin stabilization. Together our data demonstrate that ILK activity can modulate acute Wnt3a mediated β-catenin phosphorylation, stabilization and nuclear activation in a PI3K-independent manner, as well as the more prolonged PI3K-dependent secondary effects of Wnt signaling on GSK-3 phosphorylation. Finally, we suggest that a novel small molecule inhibitor of ILK, QLT-0267, may be a useful tool in the regulation of pathological Wnt signaling.Oncogene (2006) 25, 7747–7757. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1209752; published online 26 June 2006 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Statistical data on prevalence of tinnitus in India and on the relationship between exposure to recreational sound/music and the presence of tinnitus are scarce. This study was conducted to assess relationship between tinnitus and the use of personal sound system(PSS) in medical students. Materials and Methods A questionnaire based study was conducted on 100 randomly selected medical students to assess their sound habits with the use of PSS. Information on commonly used intensity, frequency, duration of use, type of earphones and severity of tinnitus was sought. Conventional frequency audiometry (0.25-8kHz) was also performed. Result The prevalence of tinnitus was found to be 33%, which was on the higher side of the global prevalence data. All the medical students surveyed in this study used personal sound system. Majority of the students (45%) used PSS less than 1 hour daily. More than 60% of the students complaining of tinnitus preferred louder settings in their PSS. Discussion The most common personal sound system used was mobile phones. No statistically significant association was seen with relation to the type of personal sound system, the type of ear phone used, average duration of use and hearing loss. Tinnitus was found to have statistically significant association with volume in our study with majority having tinnitus listening to higher levels of sound. Conclusion Use of personal sound system is common in medical students. Though duration of use of the personal sound system was not associated with the complaint of tinnitus, exposure to louder sounds had statistically significant association with tinnitus.

Ochronosis is the deposition of homogentisic acid in connective tissues resulting in bluish black discolouration. Hereby a case of ochronosis over the palmar surface of hand in 41-year-old male patient has been reported. Histopathological examination revealed yellowish brown colouration of collagen bundles in reticular dermis over palm of hand.

Several studies have shown a statistically significant correlation between Atlantic multidecadal variability (AMV) and Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR) since 1871 when instrumental data are available. In the instrumental records, both ISMR and North Atlantic sea surface temperatures (SSTs) have multidecadal variability with a period close to 60 yr, where periods of warm (cold) North Atlantic SSTs are accompanied by periods of wetter (dryer) ISMR and lower (higher) frequencies of dry years. We have studied both AMV and ISMR for the period from 1481 to present using several proxy reconstructions from both regions, as well as an extended instrumental data set for ISMR, to investigate multidecadal variability in the ISMR and the teleconnection to AMV. Previous studies investigating the relationship between AMV and ISMR in instrumental data have only used the period from 1871 onwards, whereas rain gauge data from the year 1844 are studied here, extending the instrumental record by 26 yr. We find that the observed link between AMV and ISMR is present in the extended instrumental data. We also find that multidecadal variability is present in the ISMR in all proxy records; however, all the proxy records for both ISMR and AMV diverge before the 1800s. In addition, the observed correlation between AMV and ISMR has weakened in the last decade. These results emphasise that it is not appropriate to use single proxy reconstructions to study past climates.

Aerial photography involves capturing images from aircraft and other flying objects, including Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). Aerial images are used in many fields and can contain sensitive information that requires secure processing. We proposed an innovative new cryptosystem for the processing of aerial images utilizing a chaos-based private key block cipher method so that the images are secure even on untrusted cloud servers. The proposed cryptosystem is based on a hybrid technique combining the Mersenne Twister (MT), Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA), and Chaotic Dynamical Rossler System (MT-DNA-Chaos) methods. The combination of MT with the four nucleotides and chaos sequencing creates an enhanced level of security for the proposed algorithm. The system is tested at three separate phases. The combined effects of the three levels improve the overall efficiency of the randomness of data. The proposed method is computationally agile, and offered more security than existing cryptosystems. To assess, this new system is examined against different statistical tests such as adjacent pixels correlation analysis, histogram consistency analyses and its variance, visual strength analysis, information randomness and uncertainty analysis, pixel inconsistency analysis, pixels similitude analyses, average difference, and maximum difference. These tests confirmed its validity for real-time communication purposes.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a global disease and mortality burden, necessitating the elucidation of its molecular progression for effective disease management. The study aims to understand the molecular profile of three candidate cell cycle regulatory genes, RBSP3, LIMD1 and CDC25A in the basal/ parabasal versus spinous layer of normal oral epithelium and during head and neck tumorigenesis. Immunohistochemical expression and promoter methylation was used to determine the molecular signature in normal oral epithelium. The mechanism of alteration transmission of this profile during tumorigenesis was then explored through additional deletion and mutation in HPV/ tobacco etiological groups, followed byclinico-pathological correlation. In basal/parabasal layer, the molecular signature of the genes was low protein expression/ high promoter methylation of RBSP3, high expression/ low methylation of LIMD1 and high expression of CDC25A. Dysplastic epithelium maintained the signature of RBSP3 through high methylation/ additional deletion with loss of the signatures of LIMD1 and CDC25A via deletion/ additional methylation. Similarly, maintenance and / or loss of signature in invasive tumors was by recurrent deletion/ methylation. Thus, differential patterns of alteration of the genes might be pre-requisite for the development of dysplastic and invasive lesions. Etiological factors played a key role in promoting genetic alterations and determining prognosis. Tobacco negative HNSCC patients had significantly lower alterations of LIMD1 and CDC25A, along with better survival among tobacco negative/ HPV positive patients. Our data suggests the necessity for perturbation of normal molecular profile of RBSP3, LIMD1 and CDC25A in conjunction with etiological factors for head and neck tumorigenesis, implying their diagnostic and prognostic significance.

Jenis tanah dalam suatu wilayah dapat berbeda jenis tergantung dari kontur dan letak wilayah. Sebagai contoh, pemilihan jenis tanah yang tepat dapat menentukan tingkat keberhasilan bercocok tanam. Faktor yang dapat menjadi parameter keberhasilan diantaranya suhu lingkungan, kelembaban lingkungan, kandungan air dalam tanah, ketinggian lahan, kemiringan kontur tanah, serta lokasi lahan. Saat ini belum terdapat alat ukur terintegrasi yang dapat mengetahui parameter-parameter yang diperlukan seperti suhu, kelembaban, kandungan air dalam tanah, kemiringan lahan, ketinggian lahan, serta luas dan keliling lahan. Dengan pemilihan lahan yang tepat guna, akan meminimalisir akibat dari penyalahgunaan lahan seperti bencana alam dan kerusakan lingkungan. Alat ukur ini dapat menampilkan hasil pengukuran luas, keliling, suhu, kelembaban, kelembaban tanah, dan lokasi dari lahan. Smartphone Android menjadi bagian utama dalam alat ini sebagai pengukur luas dan keliling berdasarkan data latitude dan longitude yang bersumber dari sensor Global Positioning System (GPS) Smartphone menggunakan metode Haversine. Sensor suhu dan kelembaban yang digunakan adalah DHT-22 serta sensor Soil Moisture. Kedua sensor tersebut dibaca oleh mikrokontroler Arduino Nano.

The unusual variations observed in the records of the integrated field intensity of the atmospherics (IFIA) at 6 kHz and 9 kHz at Agartala, Tripura, in the north-eastern state of India (latitude, 23˚ N; longitude, 91.4˚ E) during the large earthquake on October 8, 2005 at Muzaffarabad (latitude, 34.53˚ N; longitude, 73.58˚ E) in Kashmir in Pakistan are here analyzed. Spiky variations in the IFIA at 6 kHz and 9 kHz were observed several days previous to the day of the earthquake (from midnight, September 28, 2005). The effects persisted for some days, decayed gradually, and eventually ceased on October 31, 2005. The spikes are distinctly superimposed on the ambient level, with mutual separation of 2–5 mins. The number of spikes per day and the total duration of their occurrence were particularly high on the day of the earthquake. The spike heights are higher at 6 kHz than at 9 kHz. The results are discussed here. The generation of electromagnetic radiation associated with the fracture of rocks, the subsequent penetration of this radiation into the Earth atmosphere, and finally its propagation through the Earth–ionosphere waveguide may be responsible for these observed spikes. The present observations show that the very low frequency anomaly dominates between 6 kHz and 9 kHz. The nature of the spikes presented here is a characteristic feature of the IFIA during the period of the earthquake. This has been established on the basis of time-series analyses over a period of one year.

In the presence of perturbations of the thermospheric auroral region produced by traveling ionospheric disturbances during the propagation of atmospheric gravity waves, an analytical expression of the velocity of the thermospheric plasma is derived through magnetohydrodynamic formalism. The expressions of the Joule heating and the viscous heating are derived, and their rates of variation are presented. A threshold height for their transition has been determined from their ratio, which is in agreement with the experimental data. The analysis indicates that the time taken by the thermospheric plasma to reach a steady-state corresponds to the nature of the traveling ionospheric disturbances in the medium.

Kampung Bajo along the bay of Bone South Sulawesi, inhabited by Bajo tribe and Bugis tribes coexist so that there is social-cultural interaction. Since 1905 the life of the Bajo tribe has changed,they began to open themselves to relationships, initially exchange the staple for its survival. As a result of these relationships, dynamics arise in the use of space both micro space, meso and macro space in the scale of settlements, making it very difficult to see the limits of territory in the use of space. Territory deals with spaces with a certain extent where individuals or groups use and defend their exclusive territory. Seeing this, the research is important and interesting to do, focused on the concept of the territory of social space in the context of the interaction of two ethnic Bajo tribe and Bugis tribe in the form of settlement, using phenomenology method.

Electroencephalography (EEG) associated with motor task have been comprehensively investigated and it can also describe the brain activities while spinal cord injury (SCI) patient with para/tetraplegia performing movement with their limbs. This paper reviews on conducted research regarding application of brain computer interface (BCI) that offer alternative for neural impairments community such as spinal cord injury patient (SCI) which include the experimental design, signal analysis of EEG band signal and data processing methods. The findings claim that the EEG signals of SCI patients associated with movement tasks can be stimulated through mental and motor task. Other than that EEG signal component such as alpha and beta frequency bands indicate significance for analysing the brain activity of subjects with SCI during movements.

Brain-computer interface (BCI) is a paradigm that offers an alternative communication channel between neural activity generated in the brain and the user’s external environment. This paper investigates detection of intention of movement from surface EEG during actual and imagination of movement which is essential for developing non-invasive BCI system for neuro-impaired patients. EEG signal was recorded from 11 subjects while imagining and performing right wrist movement in multiple directions using 28 electrodes based on international 10-20 standard electrode placement locations. The recorded EEG signal later was filtered and pre-processed by spatial filter namely; Common average reference (CAR) and Laplacian (LAP) filter. Features were extracted from the filtered signal using ERSP and power spectrum and classified by k-nearest neighbour (k-NN) and quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA) classifiers. The classification results show that LAP filter has outperformed CAR with respect to classification. Classification accuracy ranged from 63.33% to 100% for detection of imagination of movement and 60% to 96.67% for detection of intention of actual movement. In both of detection of imagination and intention of movement k-NN classifier gave better result compared to QDA classifier.

A comparative study of Model Predictive Control (MPC) using active-set method and interior point methods is proposed as a control technique for highly non-linear pH process. The process is a strong acid-strong base system. A strong acid of hydrochloric acid (HCl) and a strong base of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) with the presence of buffer solution sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) are used in a neutralization process flowing into reactor. The non-linear pH neutralization model governed in this process is presented by multi-linear models. Performance of both controllers is studied by evaluating its ability of set-point tracking and disturbance-rejection. Besides, the optimization time is compared between these two methods; both MPC shows the similar performance with no overshoot, offset, and oscillation. However, the conventional active-set method gives a shorter control action time for small scale optimization problem compared to MPC using IPM method for pH control.

Background: Pranayama has been assigned very important role in yogic system of exercises and is said to be much more important than yogasanas for keeping sound health. Also different pranayamas produce divergent physiological effects. Aim: To study the effect of 12 weeks training of slow and fast pranayama on handgrip strength and endurance in young, healthy volunteers of JIPMER population. Settings and Design: Present study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, JIPMER in 2011-12 (1.06.11 to 1.04.12). Materials and Methods: Total of 91 volunteer subjects were randomised into slow pranayama (SPG) (n=29), fast pranayama (FPG) (n=32) and control groups (CG) (n=30). Supervised pranayama training (SPG - Nadisodhana, Pranav pranayama and Savitri pranayama; FPG - Kapalabhati, Bhastrika and Kukkuriya pranayama) was given for 30 minutes thrice a week for 12 weeks to both slow and fast pranayama groups by certified yoga trainer. Hand grip strength (HGS) and endurance (HGE) parameters were recorded using handgrip dynamometer (Rolex, India) at baseline and after 12 weeks of pranayama training. Statistical Analysis Used: Longitudinal changes in each group were compared by using Student’s paired t-test. Delta changes in each group were analysed by ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc analysis. Results: In SPG significant improvement occurred only in HGE parameter from 83.95±45.06 to 101.62±53.87 (seconds) (p0.05). Conclusion: Pranayama training decreases sympathetic activity, resulting in mental relaxation and decreased autonomic arousal thereby, decreasing force fluctuations during isometric contraction. This is reflected as improvement in HGS and HGE.

Semakin banyak pengguna sepeda motor melakukan perubahan pada bagian kendaraannya yaitu knalpot. Berdasarkan Peraturan Menteri Lingkungan Hidup disebutkan batas kebisingan yang diizinkan untuk kendaraan penggunaan harian adalah maksimal 90 dB. Saat ini Polisi sedang menerapkan peraturan tersebut dengan tujuan untuk menertibkan kendaraan dengan tingkat kebisingan yang sangat tinggi. Namun dalam penerapan peraturan tersebut, Polisi belum memiliki alat ukur kebisingan tersebut. Sehingga dari permasalah di atas dirancang sebuah alat pengukur kebisingan. Alat ukur ini dapat mengukur dan menampilkan tingkat kebisingan yang dihasilkan oleh sebuah knalpot sepeda motor khususnya. Alat uji kebisingan ini menggunakan sensor suara sebagaikomponen penerima suara knalpot. Data suara akan diolah oleh mikrokontroler PIC16F877A. Interface hasil pengukuran ditampilkan di PC atau LCD. Hasil yang telah dicapai dari perancangan ini adalah telah berhasil dirancang sebuah alat uji kebisingan knalpot berbasis mikrokontroler yang dapat menampilkan hasil pengukuran dalam satuan desibel (dB) dan ditampilkan di software yang telah dibuat di Visual Basic. Namun nilai yang diukur belum seakurat dengan alat pembanding buatan pabrik.

To construct maternal phylogeny and prehistoric dispersals of modern human being in the Indian sub continent, a diverse subset of 641 complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genomes belonging to macrohaplogroup M was chosen from a total collection of 2,783 control-region sequences, sampled from 26 selected tribal populations of India. On the basis of complete mtDNA sequencing, we identified 12 new haplogroups--M53 to M64; redefined/ascertained and characterized haplogroups M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M8'C'Z, M9, M10, M11, M12-G, D, M18, M30, M33, M35, M37, M38, M39, M40, M41, M43, M45 and M49, which were previously described by control and/or coding-region polymorphisms. Our results indicate that the mtDNA lineages reported in the present study (except East Asian lineages M8'C'Z, M9, M10, M11, M12-G, D) are restricted to Indian region.The deep rooted lineages of macrohaplogroup 'M' suggest in-situ origin of these haplogroups in India. Most of these deep rooting lineages are represented by multiple ethnic/linguist groups of India. Hierarchical analysis of molecular variation (AMOVA) shows substantial subdivisions among the tribes of India (Fst = 0.16164). The current Indian mtDNA gene pool was shaped by the initial settlers and was galvanized by minor events of gene flow from the east and west to the restricted zones. Northeast Indian mtDNA pool harbors region specific lineages, other Indian lineages and East Asian lineages. We also suggest the establishment of an East Asian gene in North East India through admixture rather than replacement.

Venus transited across the Sun on 06 June 2012, introducing significant contribution to the tidal characteristics of the solar atmosphere. _ atmosphere was perturbed due to an anomalous Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) and γ-radiationγ-radiation influenced by the solar tide due to Venus transit, thereby the Earth-ionosphere waveguide characteristics were changed. In this anomalous situation we measured some atmospheric electricity parameters such as Schumann resonance (SR) amplitude, very low frequency (VLF) sferics, subionospheric transmitted signals and the point discharge current (PDC) along with the vertical electrical potential gradient (PG) at the ground surface on the day of transit. The results showed some remarkable variations during the transit as well as pre- and post-transit periods. The observed anomalies in the recorded data were interpreted in terms of the anomalous solar tidal effects initiated due to Venus transit.

The results from the measurements of some of the fundamental parameters (amplitude of sferics and transmitted signal, conductivity of lower ionosphere) of the ionospheric responses to the 22 July 2009 solar eclipse (partial: 91.7%) are shown. This study summarizes our results from sferics signals at 81 kHz and subionospheric transmitted signals at 19.8 and 40 kHz recorded at Agartala, Tripura (latitude: 23¢XN, longitude: 91.4¢XE). We observed significant absorption in amplitude of these signals during the eclipse period compared to their ambient values for the same period during the adjacent 7 days. The signal strength along their propagation paths was controlled by the eclipse associated decrease in ionization in the D-region of the ionosphere. Waveguide mode theory calculations show that the elevation of the height of lower ionosphere boundary of the Earth-ionosphere waveguide to a value where the conductivity parameter was 106 unit. The absorption in 81 kHz sferics amplitude is high compared to the absorption in the amplitude of 40 kHz signal transmitted from Japan. The simultaneous changes in the amplitudes of sferics and in the amplitude of transmitted signals assert some sort of coupling between the upper atmosphere and the Earth¡¦s near-surface atmosphere prevailing clouds during solar eclipse.

Every year in the United States, more than 300,000 infants are admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICU) where they are exposed to a chemical-intensive hospital environment during a developmentally vulnerable period. The neurodevelopmental impact of environmental exposure to phthalates during the NICU stay is unknown. As phthalate exposure during the third trimester developmental window has been implicated in neurobehavioral deficits in term-born children that are strikingly similar to a phenotype of neurobehavioral morbidity common among children born premature, the role of early-life phthalate exposure on the neurodevelopmental trajectory of premature infants may be clinically important. In this study, premature newborns with birth weight <1500g were recruited to participate in a prospective environmental health cohort study, NICU-HEALTH (ospital xposures nd ong-erm ealth), part of the DINE (evelopmental mpact of ICU xposures) cohort of the ECHO (nvironmental influences on hild ealth utcomes) program. Seventy-six percent of eligible infants enrolled in the study. Sixty-four of 81 infants survived and are included in this analysis. 164 urine specimens were analyzed for phthalate metabolites using high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS) was performed prior to NICU discharge. Linear and weighted quantile sum regression quantified associations between phthalate biomarkers and NNNS performance, and between phthalate biomarkers and intensity of medical intervention. The sum of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate metabolites (∑DEHP) was associated with improved performance on the Attention and Regulation scales. Specific mixtures of phthalate biomarkers were also associated with improved NNNS performance. More intense medical intervention was associated with higher ∑DEHP exposure. NICU-based exposure to phthalates mixtures was associated with improved attention and social response. This suggests that the impact of phthalate exposure on neurodevelopment may follow a non-linear trajectory, perhaps accelerating the development of certain neural networks. The long-term neurodevelopmental impact of NICU-based phthalate exposure needs to be evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]