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The purpose was to study dry eye following phacoemulsification surgery and analyze its relation to associated intra-operative risk factors. A prospective observational study was carried out on 100 eyes of 100 patients without preoperative dry eye. Schirmer's Test I, tear meniscus height, tear break-up time, and lissamine green staining of cornea and conjunctiva were performed preoperatively and at 5 days, 10 days, 1-month, and 2 months after phacoemulsification surgery, along with the assessment of subjective symptoms, using the dry eye questionnaire. The correlations between these values and the operating microscope light exposure time along with the cumulative dissipated energy (CDE) were investigated. There was a significant deterioration of all dry eye test values following phacoemulsification surgery along with an increase in subjective symptoms. These values started improving after 1-month postoperatively, but preoperative levels were not achieved till 2 months after surgery. Correlations of dry eye test values were noted with the operating microscope light exposure time and CDE, but they were not significant. Phacoemulsification surgery is capable of inducing dry eye, and patients should be informed accordingly prior to surgery. The clinician should also be cognizant that increased CDE can induce dry eyes even in eyes that were healthy preoperatively. In addition, intraoperative exposure to the microscopic light should be minimized.

TB as the cause of uveitis varies from 0.5 to 10.5%; low sensitivity of confirmatory laboratory investigations and inconsistency of diagnostic criteria leads to paucity of data. Diagnosis requires a high level of suspicion and is often presumptive based on indirect evidences. Interferon gamma, Interleukin-2 and Neopterin are key biomarkers in immuno-regulation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. The relative shift from Interleukin-2 towards Interferon gamma (Interferon gamma/Interleukin-2) is more discriminatory for active tuberculosis. Protein carbonyl and Malondialdehyde, as oxidative stress markers, characterize active tuberculosis. A case of disseminated TB presenting with acute uveitis had a recurrent tubercular lymphadenitis after completing category I treatment under revised national tuberculosis control programme. The present study evaluates the potential utility of above mentioned biomarkers to predict atypical presentation in difficult cases of tuberculosis. Though tuberculous uveitis is amenable to treatment in early course of disease, the delay in diagnosis can have serious consequences for the patient.

This study is a comparative analysis of the biochemical, hormonal, and mineral compositions of follicular fluid in preovulatory and cystic follicles of water buffalo ( Bubalus bubalis ). In total, reproductive tracts from 215 buffalo along with intact ovaries were collected randomly from an abattoir. The incidence of cystic conditions found in this study was 3.72% (8/215), involving the right ovary in 62.5% of instances and the left ovary in 37.5% of instances during the non-breeding season. Follicular fluid was aspirated from preovulatory follicles (12–15 mm diameter, oestrogen-active, follicular phase or stage IV corpus luteum on one of the two ovaries, n = 10) and cystic follicles (at least 20 mm diameter, no corpus luteum on any one of the two ovaries, n = 8). The follicular fluid samples were assayed for biochemical components (uric acid, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, cholesterol, total protein, glucose, ascorbic acid, and alkaline phosphatase), hormones (progesterone, estradiol, and insulin), and minerals (calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, and cobalt). Cystic follicles had greater ( P < 0.05) concentrations of creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, cholesterol, progesterone, copper, zinc, and cobalt, and lesser ( P < 0.05) concentrations of uric acid, glucose, ascorbic acid, estradiol, insulin, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus compared with preovulatory follicles. These results indicated the marked differences in follicular fluid composition between preovulatory and cystic follicles in buffalo. Some of the changes were indicative of oxidative stress and disturbed steroidogenesis, two important mechanisms shown to be associated with cystic ovarian disease in various species. Further studies are warranted to investigate whether these differences are directly or indirectly involved in the formation of cystic follicles or are mere manifestations of the condition.

The present short communication puts on record a case of bilateral, multiple follicular cysts in a water buffalo along with a detailed description of its ovarian biometry and follicular fluid composition. The ovarian weight and biometrical parameters were much higher than in normal cycling buffaloes. A total of three follicular cysts were observed, two on the right ovary and one on the left ovary, measuring 4.9, 3.0 and 2.6 cm yielding 21, 9 and 5 ml of follicular fluid, respectively. The cystic fluid was deep yellow in colour with a viscous consistency. The follicular fluid concentrations of glucose, total protein, cholesterol, acid phosphatase, calcium, phosphorus and progesterone in all the cysts were within the range reported previously in normal buffalo follicular fluid; however, the alkaline phosphatase concentration in cyst 1 and total bilirubin concentration in cysts 1 and 2 were higher than the values in normal follicular fluid. In contrast, the levels of urea nitrogen in cysts 1 and 3, and oestradiol in cyst 3 were lower than the normal values. All the three follicles had an oestradiol to progesterone ratio less than 1. The results of our study suggest that follicular cysts in buffalo are oestrogenically inactive and have an altered concentration of certain biochemical and hormonal constituents.

Rainfall is the key weather element which regulates the hydrological cycle, availability of water resources and crop production. In this study, spatial and temporal variability of rainfall has been investigated on seasonal and annual time scales of the 149 blocks of Chhattisgarh State using 120 years (1901–2020) of rainfall data. Non-parametric, and Theil and Sen's slope estimator were used to identify possible trends and ascertain the variability in the magnitude. The results revealed that there exists a well-marked spatial variability in rainfall over Chhattisgarh on annual and seasonal time scales. Out of 149 blocks, a significant negative rainfall was noticed in 105 blocks. Annual rainfall showed a significant positive trend in a few blocks like Bhopalpattnam, Bijapur, Usur, and Konta. A similar pattern of trend was noticed in the monsoon season. The results of the study demand the urgent need to formulate policies and strategies for water resource management and planning. The blocks which showed the positive rainfall trends can be identified to intensify the cultivation of more water-requiring crops based on the suitability for that region. The findings of this study can be used as valuable information for crop planning, policy-making and preparation of contingency plans.

The paper presents the impact of premonsoon meridional sea surface temperature (SST) gradient of a part of north Indian Ocean (84°E–92°E, 0°N–18°N) and frequency of north-west Pacific weather systems (mainly typhoons and super-typhoons) on the formation of monsoon depressions over Bay of Bengal. Analysis shows that decreasing frequency of monsoon depression over BOB may occur as a result of decreasing trend of premonsoon meridional SST gradients over the region 84°E–92°E and 0°N–18°N. Higher frequency of north-west Pacific weather systems (i.e. higher the total number of typhoons and super-typhoons) during the monsoon month (June, July, August, September-JJAS) may be considered as one of the important aspect for the reduction in monsoon depression frequency over BOB (mostly, during last decade). Tropical easterly jet (TEJ) strength (60°E–100°E, 5°N–20°N) is also analysed to check the relationship between convection over BOB and monsoon circulation pattern which is dependent on SST gradient as well as north-west Pacific weather system frequency. Possible explanation is also presented.

In this paper, a simple relationship is employed to investigate the relative impacts on the movement and landfall of tropical cyclone in the Bay of Bengal region when wet component of atmospheric refractivity of different tropospheric levels is used as an input. Four tropical cyclones during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon season over the Bay of Bengal region were selected for the study. The radiosonde/radiowind data of coastal stations, namely Kolkata (Dumdum), Agartala, Bhubaneswar, Visakhapatnam, Machlipatnam, Chennai and Karaikal, were collected for the period of the cyclones under study. The wet component of atmospheric refractivity of different standard levels was plotted against time for the stations for every cyclone. The study suggests that the cyclone moves towards and crosses near the station having a relatively steeper increase in the wet component of atmospheric refractivity up to mid-tropical level. A possible explanation is also presented.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of incubation on freezability of cholesterol loaded cyclodextrin (CLC) treated buffalo spermatozoa. Materials and Methods: Semen samples with mass motility of 3+ and greater, collected from Murrah buffalo bulls were utilized. Immediately after collection, four equal groups of semen sample were made. Group I was kept as control and diluted with Tris upto concentration of 60×106 sperm/ml, where as Groups II, III, and IV were treated with CLC at 3 mg/120× 106 spermatozoa, incubated at 37°C for action of CLC for 10, 15 and 20 min, respectively, and diluted with tris upto concentration of 60×106 sperm/ml. All groups were subjected to equilibration and freezing. The evaluation of semen samples from all groups was carried out at fresh, pre-freeze and post-thaw stage for progressive motility, viability and hypo-osmotic swelling response (HOS response). Results: At the pre-freeze stage, significantly (p<0.05) higher percentage of progressive motility and viability was observed in treatment groups as compared to control with no significant difference among treatment groups. HOS response was significantly (p<0.05) higher in treatment groups as compared to control at pre-freeze stage. At post-thaw stage, significantly (p<0.05) higher percentage of progressive motility, viability and HOS response was recorded in Group II as compared to control and other treatment groups (III and IV). Group II retained significant post-thaw motility and viability at various post-thaw incubation periods. Conclusion: Incubation period of 10 min for CLC treated buffalo spermatozoa yielded significantly higher results in terms of freezability as compared to incubation for 15 and 20 min.

Aim: The study was conducted to investigate the effect of cholesterol loaded cyclodextrin (CLC) on freezability of buffalo spermatozoa. Materials and Methods: Murrah buffalo bull semen samples with progressive motility of 70% and greater were used. After the evaluation of motility and livability, four equal fractions of semen samples were made. Group I was kept as control and diluted with Tris, whereas Group II, III and IV were treated with CLC solution at the rate of 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 mg/ml respectively to obtain 120 x [10.sup.6] sperm/ml as final spermatozoa concentration. The aliquots of all the groups were incubated for action of CLC, followed by dilution and freezing. Evaluation at pre-freeze and post-thaw stage of progressive motility, viability and level of cholesterol and phospholipid was done. Results: The mean cholesterol content ([micro]g/100 x [10.sup.6] spermatozoa) of Group I, II, III and IV at pre-freeze stage was 21.55 [+ or -] 0.63, 49.56 [+ or -] 1.38, 55.67 [+ or -] 0.45 and 47.79 [+ or -] 1.01 and at post-thaw stage were 13.18 [+ or -] 0.45, 34.27 [+ or -] 0.71, 36.21 [+ or -] 0.48 and 33.68 [+ or -] 0.56, respectively. At pre-freeze stage, cholesterol content was significantly (p<0.01) higher in Group III in comparison to other groups. The mean cholesterol and phospholipids content of fresh sperm was 24.14 [+ or -] 0.58 and 51.13 [+ or -] 0.66 [micro]g/100 x [10.sup.6] sperm cells, respectively, and C/P ratio of spermatozoa at fresh stage was 0.47 [+ or -] 0.067. Conclusion: CLC treatment maintains the C/P ratio and plays an important role in maintaining membrane architecture of spermatozoa. Hence, addition of CLC may be helpful in increasing freezability of buffalo spermatozoa by increasing the C/P ratio of spermatozoa. Keywords: buffalo, cholesterol loaded cyclodextrin, cholesterol:phospholipid (C/P) ratio.

The paper presents the nature of variation of refractive index of atmospheric medium before the onset of squall over kolkata (22°34′N 88°22′E), India. The variation of the refractive index with surface temperature and relative humidity during squall is also presented. It is concluded that sharp decrease of the refractivity may be taken as a possible method of forecasting squall. This kind of study is very much helpful from the standpoint of aviation hazards and communication. Possible explanation for the observed results is also presented.