Search

The sub-Himalayan zone of the Himalaya is bounded by the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) in the northern side and by the Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT) in the southern side. HFT is the youngest major tectonic boundary of the Himalaya, separating the Siwalik Hills from the Indo-Gangetic plains. The HFT and Piedmont fault make the densely populated foothill region vulnerable to seismicity. A morphotectonic study of active faults and frontal anticlines was carried out near the Ghaggar basin along the NW part of the Himalaya. To investigate morphotectonic setup during tectonic deformation, spatial imagery and morphometric parameters extracted from DEM were used along with field investigation. The analysis divulges an important active tectonic setting of the Siwalik foothills, which governs the morphology of the Ghaggar basin and fluvial processes in the area. Variations in the topographic pattern and the interaction of the river drainage system with faults and folds were measured to describe the evolution of tectonic landforms. Drainage pattern development, drainage basin asymmetry young stage of hypsometric curve, active mountain fronts and vigorous down cutting of river indicate active anticline growth. This active fold growth is advanced by the movements along the blind thrust system of the HFT. Morphotectonic evidence such as fracture, fault scarp, river terraces, and active anticlines during field investigation further confirms the recent tectonic activity due to fault-propagated fold growth.

Invasive alien species are a major threat to global biodiversity due to the tremendous ecological and economic damage they cause in forestry, agriculture, wetlands, and pastoral resources. Understanding the spatial pattern of invasive alien species and disentangling the biophysical drivers of invasion at the forest stand level is essential for managing forest ecosystems and the wider landscape. However, forest-level and species-specific information on Invasive Alien Plant Species (IAPS) abundance and their spatial extent are largely lacking. In this context, we analysed the cover of one of the world’s worst invasive plants, Chromolaena odorata, in Sal (Shorea robusta) forest in central Nepal. Vegetation was sampled in four community forests using 0.01 ha square quadrats, covering the forest edge to the interior. C. odorata cover, floral richness, tree density, forest canopy cover, shrub cover, tree basal area, and disturbances were measured in each plot. We also explored forest and IAPS management practices in community forests. C. odorata cover was negatively correlated with forest canopy cover, distance to the road, angle of slope, and shrub cover. Tree canopy cover had the largest effect on C. odorata cover. No pattern of C. odorata cover was seen along native species richness gradients. In conclusion, forest canopy cover is the overriding biotic covariate suppressing C. odorata cover in Sal forests.

Lineament extraction technique is a very considerate method for the study of regional structural geology and tectonics. Lineaments are geomorphological features associated with fractures at a scale ranging from meters to tens of kilometer. In this work, an attempt of automatic extraction of lineaments and their morphotectonic interpretation has been made by satellite image processing in the NW part of HFT. Lineaments are auto-extracted from Landsat-8 OLI using PCI Geomatica software to achieve this objective edge enhancement, and filtering techniques were used. The methodology of this work enumerates the following steps: (1) pansharpening, (2) principal component analysis, (3) directional filtering, (4) lineament extraction, (5) density map generation, and (6) trend analysis. Extracted lineaments were draped over Cartosat DEM-derived ancillary products to understand the morphotectonic condition of the area. The orientation analysis of the extracted lineaments indicates that the major trend of linear features in the study area is NW–SE and parallel to the major structural trend (NNW–SSE). The trend of lineaments is in concordance with the direction of major faults, fractures, and associated geomorphological features. The lineament density value is relatively higher in the high relief area owing to the presence of fractured rocks to the structurally active terrain along the Siwalik range. The overlapping of lineament over geological map, slope aspect map, and drainage map confirms that some of the lineaments identified in the area are morphological features associated with fractures and faults. The study reveals that analysis of extracted lineament with the geological map and DEM gives a good interpretation of active morphotectonics in the parts of northwestern HFT.

Brain state classification using electroencephalography (EEG) finds applications in both clinical and non-clinical contexts, such as detecting sleep states or perceiving illusory effects during multisensory McGurk paradigm, respectively. Existing literature mostly considers recordings of EEG electrodes that cover the entire head. However, for real world applications, wearable devices that encompass just one (or a few) channels are desirable, which make the classification of EEG states even more challenging. With this as background, we applied variants of data driven Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) on McGurk EEG, which is an illusory perception of speech when the movement of lips does not match with the audio signal, for classifying whether the perception is affected by the visual cue or not. After applying a common pre-processing pipeline, we explored four EMD based frameworks to extract EEG features, which were classified using Random Forest. Among the four alternatives, the most effective framework decomposes the ensemble average of two classes of EEG into their respective intrinsic mode functions forming the basis on which the trials were projected to obtain features, which on classification resulted in accuracies of 63.66% using single electrode and 75.85% using three electrodes. The frequency band which plays vital role during audio-visual integration was also studied using traditional band pass filters. Of all, Gamma band was found to be the most prominent followed by alpha and beta bands which contemplates findings from previous studies.

This study investigated the clinical picture of gangrenous sigmoid volvulus presented by Indian patients to describe the various patterns of gangrene and to identify the risk factors leading to the very high mortality from this disease.A structured protocol including nine parameters was used to study risk factors in 76 patients treated at two major teaching hospitals in India. The clinical picture of patients at the two hospitals did not differ significantly.Contrary to expectations, we found gangrene in 26% of cases extending beyond the area of constriction into the rectum/descending colon. This extension was sometimes patchy and had an ill defined line of demarcation, which may lead to an error in judgment and cause a failure of anastomosis, which can be fatal. Risk factors were age over 60 years, the presence of shock on admission and a history of previous episodes of volvulus.This study identified three risks for survival. It is suggested that all patients with nongangrenous sigmoid volvulus undergo a recurrence-prevention procedure immediately or electively. We also found that extension of gangrene beyond the confines of the constriction is not uncommon, calling for caution on the part of the treating surgeon.

This article describes the rural elderly in eastern Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. Data were obtained from a 1990 survey conducted in Varanasi district among four villages and a sample of 267 elderly aged 60 years and older. The main family structure is extended. The number of manual laborers many of whom are elderly has expanded. The elderly lack welfare programs and integrated health care. Families provide amenities and a sense of belonging. About 62% of the elderly in the sample were aged 60-69 years 24% were aged 70-79 years and 14% were aged 80 years and older. The age dependency ratio and the life expectancy at birth are gradually increasing. Rural areas support a larger population of elderly particularly elderly widows. Among the sample of persons grouped as "unhealthy" the common ailments involved the following: chest; cardiovascular neurological and psychiatric systems; gastrointestinal tract; eyes ears nose and throat; urinary tract; joints teeth and skin. Health status was significantly related to gender. 45% did not work. About 68% of the sample enjoyed the same treatment from families over their entire lives. About 28% experienced less satisfactory treatment as elderly. About 32% of lower-caste elderly reported poor treatment by families. 39% who reported poor family relations were housewives. Educated females enjoyed better family relations. About 71% were illiterate of whom 34% experienced poor family relations. About 74% of persons who contributed economically had the same or better family relations. Among 146 respondents who answered questions about assets 58% of males and 53% of females had assets many of whom had been farmers. Lower castes were less inclined to consider the elderly as assets. About 62% reported self-sufficiency. About 13% reported the need for help. About 74% supported the concept of a pension plan.

Chandigarh (India) has been depending on groundwater resources to meet its water requirements in addition to the surface water source (Bhakra Main Canal). With a view to assess the groundwater quality, samples were collected from geo-referenced tube wells in different localities of the city. Samples were analysed for conventional parameters indicative of the physico-chemical quality of groundwater. The groundwater quality mapping was attempted using the ARCGIS 9.0. Thematic maps were generated for each parameter of groundwater quality. This paper presents the spatial distribution of groundwater quality of Chandigarh city. The quality of groundwater was found to be varying with geology of the area as well as the land use and land cover.

SUMMARY The Central Institute of Psychiatry provides extension consultation services at two coalfield hospitals of Bihar, representing the intermediate and central level of health care delivery system. Analysis of data covering a period of one year, from September 1988 to August 1989, revealed significant differences in the utilization pattern of the two centres. The differences relate to the proportion of population observed, their demographic characteristics, diagnostic break-up, and follow-up pattern. The provision of psychiatric extension services at the intermediate level is recommended.

SUMMARY Search for a safe and effective analgesic is long and elusive. Buprenorphine was marketed as a potent and non-addictive narcotic drug. In recent years there have been various case reports highlighting its abuse potential. As the drug will be used more widely and particularly with its use in the detoxification of heroin dependence there is an eminent possibility of its abuse at larger scale in future. Physicians should be careful in its prescription and cases of its abuse should be actively sought tor. A case report along with literature review is presented here.

SUMMARY Twenty four patients meeting R.D.C. criteria for schizophrenia were assessed using the B.P.R.S. before starting neuroleptics. They were then given a standardized test dose of haloperidol. Their subjective response to the test dose was assessed 4 hours later by a blind rater. The B.P.R.S. ratings were repeated after 3 weeks of neuroleptic treatment. A dysphoric response to the test dose was associated with a poor therapeutic outcome. The implications of these findings are discussed.

SUMMARY We report a case of recurrent mania who developed catatonia and was found to be markedly hyponatraemia. The catatonic symptoms showed rapid resolution following correction of hyponatraemia suggesting a causal link between the two. It is suggested that the estimation of serum electrolyte levels should be an important part of the evaluation of cases of catatonia.

36 chronic schizophrenic patients meeting D.S.M. III - R criteria were assessed by a single rater using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Ratings were repeated 9 months later by the same rater. Negative symptoms and syndromes were much more stable over time than positive symptoms and syndromes. Only hallucinations had stability comparable to the negative symptoms. Positive and negative subtypes of schizophrenia based on the composite score were very stable. Relatively few symptoms from the general psychopathology subscale were stable over time. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Gall bladder perforation is a potentially life-threatening condition. Spontaneous perforation is infrequent and rarely seen in the absence of gallstones but gall bladder perforation is an occasional complication of typhoid fever. If such perforations are not treated in time, mortality rates are very high. We report a case of gall bladder perforation complicating typhoid fever following enteric perforation of the ileum necessitating sequential laparotomies during the same admission.

There is a suspicion that mortality in gangrenous sigmoid volvulus has considerably declined over the recent years. This study was aimed to assess if this is a genuine trend, applicable to the patients, of this study too, and to identify factors responsible for the change, if any. Seventy-eight patients operated for gangrenous sigmoid volvulus, in the last four decades of the just gone century, were analysed. Nine clinical parameters were studied to identify factors responsible for mortality and to see if there was a change in clinical presentation in the later decades. Mortality in the 4 studied decades varied between 15.4% and 65%. Differences were significant (p0.05) only between the decades of the seventies and eighties and between bunched pre 1980 (48%) and post 1980 (20%) decades. A sea change in survival scene occurred at the end of the decade of the seventies. The change was not accompanied by a concomitant improvement in clinical presentation (p0.05). Two facts which could explain improved survivals in the post. 1980 period were, the increased recognition of gangrene extending beyond the area of constriction and improved survival after primary anastomoses (p0.05). These indicated a more accurate assessment of viability and the distance between the cut bowel ends, a stricter selection of cases for primary anastomosis and using Hartmann operation in doubtful situations. Mortality in gangrenous sigmoid volvulus, without knotting in the Indian population has genuinely declined from over 50% in an earlier time to 20% in the later 20 years of the last century, the watershed in the changed scenario being the year 1980.

A male patient of 60 years presented with a swelling in the left groin of 10 months duration. Past records showed bilateral lumbar sympathectomy and omentopexy done 20 and 6 years back, respectively, for Buerger's disease. Abdominal examination revealed a huge hernial swelling in the left groin extending from the symphysis pubis to anterior superior iliac spine measuring 25 x 18 cm. On exploration, the contents were intestines and omentum, which were coming out through a defect of 5 x 3 cm in the lower fibers of the conjoint muscle 4 cm cephalad to the deep ring, a finding which made the final diagnosis as an incisional hernia. We present this interesting case as a very rare complication of omentopexy, probably not reported previously, and an unusual case of an incisional hernia presenting as an inguinal hernia which is very difficult to diagnose unless encountered before. Its rarity and clinical challenge is highlighted.

In technical education, laboratory components comprise an essential and integral part without which engineering education remains incomplete. Experiments conducted on laboratory equipments lend a practical touch to the theoretical knowledge acquired by the students. However, setting up a specialized laboratory consisting of sophisticated and expensive equipments such as Digital Storage Oscilloscope, Signal Generator, Spectrum Analyzer and Network Analyzer is an expensive and unaffordable proposition for many universities and engineering colleges. Sophisticated technologies incorporated in recent models of such high-end equipments enable remote access through Internet to the instruments. This concept of accessing these expensive instruments over the Internet can be exploited by setting up a Remote Laboratory. This remote laboratory system aims at not only providing an opportunity to students from distant places to conduct hardware experiments but also to take the corresponding measurements. In this work, real-time hardware experiments have been designed and implemented. These are based on modulation techniques widely employed in Communication Engineering. An interactive Graphical User Interface (GUI) environment has also been developed using Microsoft Visual Basic. This GUI is provided at the user end to facilitate the remote control and access of various instruments and experiment setups. It has been specifically designed and optimized for a low-bandwidth remote access link. The above mentioned system, as a whole, uses real-time capture of images and data from the instruments to perform experiment-related measurements.

PURPOSE: Recurrence in sigmoid colon volvulus is a very vexing problem, because it occurs after all types of treatment including a resection of the sigmoid. A nonresective procedure that prevents recurrence in the long term has been devised and tried during the period 1968 to 1992. METHODS: The procedure involves extraperitonealization of the whole sigmoid colonvia a left paracolic gutter incision in a manner akin to an extraperitonealized colostomy and placing it in the left half of the infraumbilical abdominal wall. This article presents a study of 84 patients who underwent this operation and who were followed-up. Some very useful practical points for ensuring the success of the procedure are also presented. RESULTS: The subjects comprised 58 male and 26 female patients, aged 10 to 81 (median, 60) years. The operating time ranged from 40 to 70 (median, 50) min. The operative mortality (9 percent) and morbidity of the procedure including cardiopulmonary complications (7 percent), incidence of small-bowel obstruction (1 percent), and incisional hernia formation (2.3 percent), were reasonably low. The incidence of woundhealing problems was significantly (P

Seven cases of erythema chronicum migrans are presented. An unusal case with acute course, purpurice and bullous reaction is highlighted. A terminology of acute erythema migrans is suggested for such cases. No organism or vector could be isolated.