Multi-wavelength observations of an unusual impulsive flare associated with CME

We present the results of a detailed analysis of multi-wavelength observations of a very impulsive solar flare 1B/M6.7, which occurred on 10 March, 2001 in NOAA AR 9368 (N27 W42). The observations show that the flare is very impulsive with very hard spectrum in HXR that reveal non-thermal emission was most dominant. On the other hand this flare also produced type II radio burst and coronal mass ejections (CME), which are not general characteristics for impulsive flares. In H$\alpha$ we observed the bright mass ejecta (BME) followed by drak mass ejecta (DME). Based on the consistence of the onset times and direction of BME and CME, we conclude that these two phenomena are closely associated. It is inferred that the energy build-up took place due to photospheric reconnection between emerging positive parasitic polarity and predominant negative polarity, which resulted as a consequence of flux cancellation. The shear increased to $>80^o$ due to further emergence of positive parasitic polarity causing strongly enhanced cancellation of flux. It appears that such enhanced magnetic flux cancellation in a strongly sheared region triggered the impulsive flare.Comment: 14 pages, 8 Figures, Accepted for the publication in Solar Physic

A Toolbox for Tuberculosis Diagnosis: An Indian Multicentric Study (2006-2008): Microbiological Results

BACKGROUND: The aim of this multicentric prospective study in India was to assess the value of several microbiological tools that contribute to the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) according to HIV status. METHODS: Standard microbiological tools on individual specimens were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 807 patients with active TB, 131 were HIV-infected, 316 HIV-uninfected and 360 had HIV-unknown status. Among the 980 non-active TB subjects, 559 were at low risk and 421 were at high risk of M. tuberculosis (Mtb) exposure. Sensitivity of smear microscopy (SM) was significantly lower in HIV-infected (42.2%) than HIV-uninfected (75.9%) (p = 0.0001) and HIV-unknown pulmonary TB patients (61.4%) (p = 0.004). Specificity was 94.5% in non-TB patients and 100% in health care workers (HCW) and healthy family contacts. Automated liquid culture has significantly higher diagnostic performances than solid culture, measured by sensitivity (74.7% vs. 55.9%) (p = 0.0001) and shorter median time to detection (TTD) (12.0 vs. 34.0 days) (p = 0.0001). Specificity was 100% in HCW and cured-TB patients, but was lower in non-TB patients (89%) due to isolation of Mycobacteria other than tuberculosis (MOTT). TTD by both methods was related to AFB score. Contamination rate was low (1.4%). AccuProbe hybridization technique detected Mtb in almost all culture-positive specimens, but MOTT were found in 4.7% with a significantly higher frequency in HIV-infected (15%) than HIV-uninfected TB patients (0.5%) (p = 0.0007). Pre-test classification significantly increased the diagnostic value of all microbiological tests in pulmonary TB patients (p<0.0001) but to a lesser degree in extrapulmonary TB patients. CONCLUSIONS: Conventional microbiological tools led to results similar to those already described in India special features for HIV-infected TB patients included lower detection by SM and culture. New microbiological assays, such as the automated liquid culture system, showed increased accuracy and speed of detection

Comparative Evaluation of Palatal Length, Speech Outcome, and Surgical Complications With Use of Von Langenbeck and Bardach 2 Flap Technique for the Repair of Cleft Palate: A Prospective Randomized Study

Purpose: Successful closure of cleft palate is no more the sole criteria for determining the success of palatoplasty. Approximating soft palate musculature plays an equally important role. A continuous palate with muscular sling, speech and unhampered maxillary growth are 3 important goals of palatoplasty. The current study compared 2 popular palatoplasty techniques and also focused on other vital secondary parameters which would alter the final outcome of palatoplasty. Methods: Thirty-two primary cleft palate patients with repaired cleft lip ranging from 4 to 30 years were randomly and equally divided into 2 groups. Group A underwent Langenbeck and Group B underwent Bardach palatoplasty. Sommerlad’s Intra-Velar Veloplasty was performed in all patients. The patients were evaluated for certain palatal and cleft measurements, speech, and surgical complications. The study also compared impact of cleft severity on speech and complications. Results: All the patients showed improvement in palatal length and speech. Significant palatal lengthening was achieved by Bardach as compared to Langenbeck palatoplasty ( P = .002). Amongst the various speech parameters so compared Bardach group showed better speech articulation post-operatively ( P = .020). No significant difference was found between the 2 groups in relation to other speech parameters. Total 4 complications were encountered 2 belonging to each group. Conclusion: Hard palate cleft repair technique plays little role as far as speech outcomes are concerned. It was Intravelar Veloplasty which reestablished the velopharyngeal sphincter and improved the quality of speech. Hence restoring the muscular sling of soft palate using radical dissection should be stressed upon by the surgeons besides the closure of cleft. The current study found few confounding factors such as age, cleft width, and Veau’s class which altered the speech outcomes and/or complications of palatoplasty. </jats:p

Dynamics of flow structures and transport phenomena: analysis and application

This article does not have an abstract