Appraisal of water quality and ecological sensitivity with reference to riverfront development along the River Gomti, India

The conflict between the vitality of natural ecosystem versus artificially developed systems has existed since decades. The ecological sensitivity and socio-economic aspects associated with riverfront development along rivers have attracted the attention of environmentalists and ecologists across the globe. The present study evaluates the impacts of channelization and riverfront development on the water quality of river Gomti through Water Pollution Index (WPI) and other statistical tools. Of the total studied sites, 75% were found to be in the ‘highly polluted’ category even after the development of riverfront. An approximate increase of 274.5% and 171.76% was witnessed in the WPI values at the midstream sites of Kudiaghat and Daliganj, respectively. This increase in the WPI values clearly stated the deteriorated water quality of river Gomti after the channelization. The major issue of domestic sewage discharge with partial or no treatment into the river seems to be unresolved even after a considerable period of riverfront development. This study can provide a reference database toward development of such projects across the globe.

A Poisson Equation-Based Method for 3D Reconstruction of Animated Images

3D reconstruction techniques for animated images and animation techniques for faces are important research in computer graphics-related fields. Traditional 3D reconstruction techniques for animated images mainly rely on expensive 3D scanning equipment and a lot of time-consuming postprocessing manually and require the scanned animated subject to remain in a fixed pose for a considerable period. In recent years, the development of large-scale computing power of computer-related hardware, especially distributed computing, has made it possible to come up with a real-time and efficient solution. In this paper, we propose a 3D reconstruction method for multivisual animated images based on Poisson’s equation theory. The calibration theory is used to calibrate the multivisual animated images, obtain the internal and external parameters of the camera calibration module, extract the feature points from the animated images of each viewpoint by using the corner point detection operator, then match and correct the extracted feature points by using the least square median method, and complete the 3D reconstruction of the multivisual animated images. The experimental results show that the proposed method can obtain the 3D reconstruction results of multivisual animation images quickly and accurately and has certain real-time and reliability.

Salvarsan for diseases of the urinary tract

Loeb (Derm. Ztschr. Bd. 56, H. 2/3, 29), observing the course of gonorrhea in women simultaneously suffering from syphilis and taking specific treatment, noticed that in this case gonorrhea lasts much longer than in persons free of syphilis. A. observed 421 cases over a considerable period of time and on the basis of this material he believes that uterine gonorrhea, due to the delay of As in its mucosa and the effect on menstrual function, often has an adverse effect, while gonorrhea of ​​the canal proceeds faster due to the disinfecting effect salvarsan in the urine. With cystitis and pyelitis, a positive result is reflected in 60-80% of the cure of these processes.

A New Approach to Fault Detection in the Power Converter in Wind Turbine Conversion Systems

The detection of faults in a wind turbine chain is of prime importance in order to maintain safety, enhance reliability and improve economic performance. In addition, wind systems have to ensure a continuity of service for a considerable period of time in the event of an electrical fault in the network or a fault in one of the elements of the electromechanical conversion system. This paper presents a fault detection methodology of the power converter within a wind turbine chain, equipped with a Doubly-Fed Induction Generator (DFIG). A configurable, fast, and accurate scheme is developed, the basis of which is the reliable identification of the failed switch. The solution proposed in this work involves the deployment of a redundant arm in the event of a fault; the replacement arm is utilized while waiting for a maintenance or repair operation to be carried out. The approach developed in this paper provides continuity of service after the occurrence of a fault in the network system and fault detection time is reduced. The validity of the proposed identification methodology is assessed by means of simulation of the model of a wind turbine conversion system.

The Politics of ‘Collective Putin’ and Patronage Personalization

This chapter examines the patronage pillar of regime personalisation, determined by the strength of the ruler's patronage network, “Collective Putin.” It charts how Vladimir Putin's patron-client network developed and acquired control across institutions. It introduces original data on patron-client networks in Russia and maps these networks over time. Based on expert surveys of policy influence, it further explains how Putin's patron-client network has grown in dominance over time. The chapter finds that the path toward personalisation in Russia centred on the relatively swift acquisition of control over security and enforcement institutions, but a much more gradual penetration of other institutions by the ruler's network. It also finds that within the ranks of the Russian ruling coalition, this network emerges as dominant in early 2007, which also permitted Vladimir Putin to govern the regime from the subordinate position of prime minister from 2008--12. The patron-client network had further consolidated in strength and scope by 2012. Furthermore, Putin's return to presidential office, which coincided with the strengthening of personalisation on other pillars, made him largely autonomous from his own coalition. As the Russian leader has remained unchallenged in office for a considerable period of time, loyalty to the ruler no longer depended on whether officials had personal ties and belonged to the ruler's patronage network. Instead, loyalty came to be determined by the logic of a personalist system so that all officials regarded the ruler as their overall patron.

Reading Girls’ Literature: Popular Finnish Heroine Tiina

The Tiina book series for girls circulated in Finland for a considerable period of thirty years (1956–1986). This girls’ series was quite popular among young girls during the whole period, and the protagonist Tiina has appealed to young Finnish readers for decades. Different generations have read the girls’ books about the brave and tomboy heroine. Girls’ series books are part of the girls’ literature genre, which was developed originally in the mid-nineteenth century. This article explores the reading and reception of Tiina books in the context of the Finnish and international girls’ literature and reading research. Female readers of various ages participated in a reading survey and submitted written accounts of their experiences reading the Tiina books. In particular, this article seeks to examine the engagement of readers with the books and the girl protagonist.

El proclítico verbal a: el vínculo entre el Poqomchi’ y los idiomas mayas cholanos

Some missionary texts written during the Colonial period in the Poqomchi’ language (Mayan family, K’ichean subgroup) attest the verbal proclitic a, that is being lost in the modern language. It was added to verb forms in the completive aspect marked by the prefix x- and indicated, roughly speaking, the relevance of a past event at the moment of utterance. The same proclitic with similar meaning is also registered in two Mayan languages of the Cholan subgroup: Chontal of Tabasco and Chontal of Acalán. The Poqomchi’ people, despite their origin in the Guatemalan highlands, were neighbors of the Cholan groups for a considerable period of time. It is probable that the proclitic a was introduced to Poqomchi’ during the Postclassic period thanks to language contacts with some Cholan group, possibly the Acalá, who spoke a variety of Chontal, that is, a western Cholan language.

A New Species of Waginella (Crustacea: Thecostraca: Ascothoracida) Parasitic on a Stalked Crinoid From Tasman Sea, With Notes on Morphology of Related Genera

A new ectoparasitic ascothoracidan species has been discovered off northern Tasman Sea at a depth of 520 m. Single female, described herein as Waginella ebonita Kolbasov and Newman sp. nov. in the family Synagogidae Gruvel, 1905, was collected on the column of crinoid Metacrinus sp. This is the first study of a new form of Waginella to be based on the extensive use of both light and scanning electron microscopy to document the fine-scale external morphology. We studied the external morphology of other two species of Waginella, W. cf. axotremata and W. sandersi utilizing SEM and compared fine structures of all congeners. The genus Waginella represents a monophyletic taxon including at least 4 species having similar and unique morphology even on the ultrastructural level. Two species, W. cf. axotremata and W. cf. metacrinicola may represent at least two complexes of species. The morphology of an attachment apparatus in all species of Waginella suggests that they remain attached to the host for a considerable period of time. The lattice organs of Waginella have a unique structure distinguishing from all Thecostraca. Waginella ebonita sp. nov. is the second species of this genus known to harbor hyperparasitic cryptoniscid isopods representing parasitic castrators.

Multivariate analysis of geographically diverse rice germplasm for genetic improvement of yield, dormancy and shattering-related traits

A diverse set of 107 rice genotypes was evaluated for yield, shattering and dormancy traits. Analysis of variance revealed sizable variation while skewness and kurtosis values indicated near-normal distribution for most of the traits, thus quantitative nature controlled by many genes. A highly significant deviation from a normal distribution for dormancy and shattering % indicated their qualitative nature of inheritance. Four promising genotypes ‘IRGC1723’ (early with 65 days to flowering), ‘IRGC 11108’ and ‘RNR 15459’ (high grain number – 358 and low average shattering – <5%), ‘RNR 11718’ (high single plant yield – 56.73 g, low average shattering – <5% and dormancy period – 21 days) are identified. A significant positive correlation between shattering and dormancy confirms inter-relationship among domestication-related characteristics. The principal component analysis revealed the contribution of four PCs to maximum variability and hierarchical clustering grouped the genotypes into 18 divergent clusters. Five cultivars (Karimnagar Samba, Sheetal, PR 121, Pranahitha and Jagitial Samba) with a combination of low shattering ability (3.35–5.7%) and considerable dormancy period (13–20 days) falling in the same cluster can be used as donors for the improvement of rice genotypes with low shattering ability and incorporating a considerable period of dormancy so as to avoid pre-harvest sprouting due to delayed harvesting. Further, they can be crossed with ‘Pratyumna’ having less than 1 week dormancy period, a genotype of the cluster XVII with which they have a maximum genetic divergence of 51.4 and may serve as parents in the development of mapping populations for the identification of QTLs/genes for shattering and dormancy traits.

Orbital abscess due to infection of a non-absorbable porous orbital implant after orbital wall fracture repair : An uncommon and delayed occurred case

We report a rare case of a patient who developed an orbital abscess several years after successful orbital medial wall fracture repair. A 37-year-old female patient who underwent orbital fracture repair with a titanium Medpor® orbital implant two years prior visited the clinic for pain, conjunctival injection, discharge, and lid swelling of the right eye. Orbital CT revealed severe orbital cellulitis and sinusitis. After administering antibiotics, the sinusitis was successfully resolved. However, the orbital inflammation around the implant did not improve, forming an orbital abscess. Abscess drainage and implant removal were performed. The removed implant was infected at the center, exhibiting a yellowish abscess-like discoloration. The patient improved rapidly and recovered without complications. In rare cases, orbital cellulitis and orbital abscesses develop even after a considerable period of time after orbital fracture repair using a non-absorbable porous orbital implant. In such cases, delayed orbital implant infection should be suspected as the cause, and an imaging study should be performed. If the patient does not respond to antibiotic treatment, it may be necessary to remove the infected implant with immediate drainage.