No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

We have undertaken petrographic, mineralogical, geochemical and isotopic investigations on carbonate minerals found within a 10‐m‐long core from Lonar Lake, central India, with the aim of evaluating their potential as palaeoenvironmental proxies. The core encompasses the entire Holocene and is the first well‐dated high‐resolution record from central India. While calcite and/or aragonite were found throughout the core, the mineral gaylussite was found only in two specific intervals (4630–3890 and 2040–560 cal a BP). Hydrochemical and isotope data from inflowing streams and lake waters indicate that evaporitic processes play a dominant role in the precipitation of carbonates within this lake. Isotopic (δ18O and δ13C) studies on the evaporative gaylussite crystals and residual bulk carbonates (calcite) from the long core show that evaporation is the major control on δ18O enrichment in both the minerals. However, in case of δ13C additional mechanisms, for example methanogenesis (gaylussite) and phytoplankton productivity (calcium carbonate), play an additional important role in some intervals. We also discuss the relevance of our investigation for palaeoclimate reconstruction and late Holocene monsoon variability. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Objective. To study the effectiveness of Maitland techniques in the treatment of idiopathic shoulder adhesive capsulitis. Methods. total of 40 patients diagnosed with idiopathic shoulder adhesive capsulitis were recruited and randomly allocated into two groups. In Group A (n = 20) subjects were treated with Maitland mobilization technique and common supervised exercises, whereas subjects in Group B (n = 20) only received common supervised exercises. Variables. Shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI), VAS and shoulder ROM (external rotation and abduction) were variables of the study. These were recorded before and after the session of the training. Total duration of the study was four weeks. Result. Statistical analysis of the data revealed that within-group comparison both groups showed significant improvement for all the parameters, whereas between-group comparison revealed higher improvement in Group A compared to the Group B. Conclusion. The study confirmed that addition of the Maitland mobilization technique with the combination of exercises have proved their efficacy in relieving pain and improving R.O.M. and shoulder function and hence should form a part of the treatment plan.

Citation:Pillai AAS, Anoop A, Sankaran M, Sanyal P, Jha DK and Ratnam J (2017) AbstractTropical grasslands and savannas are globally extensive, and are of significant environmental, economic, and ecological importance. These ecosystems are anticipated to be particularly sensitive to future changes in climate, and understanding how these systems have responded to climatic changes in the past can provide us with insights into their potential responses to future global change. In this study, the temporal dynamics of C3-C4 vegetation changes in response to changes in moisture availability, local fire events and changing levels of herbivory in a summer-rainfall region of Western India are reconstructed for the past ~4600 cal yr BP. Paleodata such as stable carbon isotope of bulk organic matter ( 13 Corg), oxygen isotope from carbonate shells ( 18 Oshell), macro-charcoal and herbivore dung fungal spores are reported from the retrieved cores of two wetland sites located in the Banni grasslands of Western India. Results show that vegetation in the Banni was composed mostly of C3 vegetation from ~4600 to ~2500 cal yr BP, after which there was a decline in C3vegetation. From the late-Holocene to the present, there was a mix of both C3 and C4 vegetation, with C4 grasses being more abundant in the ecosystem. These shifts were coincident with rainfall changes from more mesic conditions during ~4600 to ~2500 cal yr BP to more arid conditions towards the present as indicated by 18 Oshell isotope data. The period of increase in C4 vegetation also coincides with a period of increased biotic disturbances in the ecosystem, particularly fire. Given the current scenarios of global warming, recurrent drought events and increased anthropogenic use of similar ecosystems, such studies can provide us insights into potential future trajectories of these ecosystems.3

Tropical semi-arid grasslands are a widespread and ecologically and economically important terrestrial biome. Here, we use paleoecology to understand woodland-grassland transitions across the mid-to-late Holocene period in the Banni grassland, western India. Multi proxy analyses involving palynology, phytoliths and elemental geochemistry were carried out on two sediment cores retrieved from wetlands (Chachi and Luna), to understand temporal fluctuations in vegetation, moisture availability and other environmental parameters. Based on the results, the Chachi core was divided in to two major climatic phases. Phase 1 (4600-2500 cal yr BP) was characterized by high precipitation and abundance of pollen types and phytolith morphotypes that indicate the presence of woody savanna, and mesic herbaceous taxa. Phase 2 (2500 cal yr BP to the present) was characterized by lower precipitation, lower abundance of mesic taxa and an increase in grass phytolith abundance. However, the period from ~1000 cal yr BP to the present was characterised by the increased abundance of leguminous taxa, dryland herbs/shrubs and a decline in grass phytolith abundance. The Luna core (~1000 cal yr BP to the present) also showed results matching with the Chachi core for this latter period. Overall, moisture availability in the ecosystem appears to have declined since 4600 cal yr BP, and the vegetation has responded to this. Although the balance between tree, shrub and grass elements has fluctuated, overall, the region has remained as an open 'grass and shrub savanna' with sparse woody vegetation throughout this period. Our study 3 provides insights into the vegetation dynamics and environmental settings in a poorly understood tropical arid-grassland ecosystem from Asia during the mid-late Holocene.