Vasopressors are routinely used to counteract hypotension after neuraxial anesthesia in Obstetrics. The understanding of the mechanism of hypotension and the choice of vasopressor has evolved over the years to a point...Vasopressors are routinely used to counteract hypotension after neuraxial anesthesia in Obstetrics. The understanding of the mechanism of hypotension and the choice of vasopressor has evolved over the years to a point where phenylephrine has become the preferred vasopressor. Due to the absence of definitive evidence showing absolute clinical benefit of one over the other, especially in emergency and high-risk Cesarean sections, our choice of phenylephrine over the other vasopressors like mephentermine, metaraminol, and ephedrine is guided by indirect evidence on fetalacid-base status. This review article evaluates the present day evidence on the various vasopressors used in obstetric anesthesia today.展开更多
Diabetes mellitus has become one of the most common chronic diseases,thereby posing a major challenge to global health.Characterized by high levels of blood glucose(hyperglycemia),diabetes usually results from a loss ...Diabetes mellitus has become one of the most common chronic diseases,thereby posing a major challenge to global health.Characterized by high levels of blood glucose(hyperglycemia),diabetes usually results from a loss of insulin-producing β-cells in the pancreas,leading to a deficiency of insulin(type 1 diabetes),or loss of insulin sensitivity(type 2 diabetes).Both types of diabetes have serious secondary complications,such as microvascular abnormalities,cardiovascular dysfunction,and kidney failure.Various complex factors,such as genetic and environmental factors,are associated with the pathophysiology of diabetes.Over the past two decades,the role of small,single-stranded noncoding microRNAs in various metabolic disorders,especially diabetes mellitus and its complications,has gained widespread attention in the scientific community.Discovered first as an endogenous regulator of development in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans,these small RNAs post-transcriptionally suppress mRNA target expression.In this review,we discuss the potential roles of different microRNAs in diabetes and diabetes-related complications.展开更多
The presence of inflammation in dry eye disease(DED)results in increased patient symptomatology,ocular surface damage and worsening tear dysfunction.It also affects the health of meibomian glands and their secretions ...The presence of inflammation in dry eye disease(DED)results in increased patient symptomatology,ocular surface damage and worsening tear dysfunction.It also affects the health of meibomian glands and their secretions which further aggravates ocular surface disease.This article reviews current knowledge regarding ocular surface inflammation in DED and explores the relationships between the vicious cycles of DED,inflammation and meibomian gland dysfunction(MGD).The clinical evaluation of eyes with such changes,markers that identify the presence of inflammation on the ocular surface and current treatment options are discussed.展开更多
Coal is the world＇s most abundant energy source because of its abundance and relatively low cost. Due to the scarcity in the supply of high-grade coal, it is necessary to use low-.grade coal for fulfilling energy dem...Coal is the world＇s most abundant energy source because of its abundance and relatively low cost. Due to the scarcity in the supply of high-grade coal, it is necessary to use low-.grade coal for fulfilling energy demands of modern civilization. However, due to ItS high ash and moisture content, low-grade coal exerts the substantial impact on their consumption like pyrolysis, liquefaction, gasification and combus- tion process. The present research aimed to develop the efficient technique for the production of clean coal by optimizing the operating parameters with the help of response surface methodology. The effect of three independent variables such as hydrofluoric acid （HF） concentration （10-20% by vo!ume ）,. temper- ature （60-100 ~C）, and time （90-180 min）, for ash reduction from the low-grade coal was Investigated.. A quadratic model was proposed to correlate the independent variables for maximum ash reduction at the optimum process condition by using central composite design （CC.D）method. The study reveals that HF concentration was the most effective parameter for ash reduction in comparison with time and temper- ature. It may be due to the higher F-statistics value for HF concentration, which effects to large extent of ash reduction. The characterization of coal was evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy （FTIR） analysis and Field-emission scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray （FESEM- EDX） analysis for confirmation of the ash reduction.展开更多
The study investigates long-term changes in annual and seasonal rainfall patterns in the Indira Sagar Region of Madhya Pradesh, India, from 1901 to 2010. Agriculture sustainability, food supply, natural resource devel...The study investigates long-term changes in annual and seasonal rainfall patterns in the Indira Sagar Region of Madhya Pradesh, India, from 1901 to 2010. Agriculture sustainability, food supply, natural resource development, and hydropower system reliability in the region rely heavily on monsoon rainfall. Monthly rainfall data from three stations (East Nimar, Barwani, and West Nimar) were analyzed. Initially, the pre-whitening method was applied to eliminate serial correlation effects from the rainfall data series. Subsequently, statistical trends in annual and seasonal rainfall were assessed using both parametric (student-t test) and non-parametric tests [Mann-Kendall, Sen’s slope estimator, and Cumulative Sum (CUSUM)]. The magnitude of the rainfall trend was determined using Theil-Sen’s slope estimator. Spatial analysis of the Mann-Kendall test on an annual basis revealed a statistically insignificant decreasing trend for Barwani and East Nimar and an increasing trend for West Nimar. On a seasonal basis, the monsoon season contributes a significant percentage (88.33%) to the total annual rainfall. The CUSUM test results indicated a shift change detection in annual rainfall data for Barwani in 1997, while shifts were observed in West and East Nimar stations in 1929. These findings offer valuable insights into regional rainfall behavior, aiding in the planning and management of water resources and ecological systems.展开更多
A mercury biosensor was constructed by integrating biosensor genetic elements into E. coli JM109 chromosome in a single copy number, using the attP/attB recombination mechanism of λ phage. The genetic elements used i...A mercury biosensor was constructed by integrating biosensor genetic elements into E. coli JM109 chromosome in a single copy number, using the attP/attB recombination mechanism of λ phage. The genetic elements used include a regulatory protein gene （merR） along with operator/promoter （O/P） derived from the mercury resistance operon from pDU1358 plasmid of Serratia marcescens. The expression of reporter gene gfp is also controlled by merR/O/P. Integration of the construct into the chromosome was done to increase the stability and precision of the biosensor. This biosensor could detect Hg（Ⅱ） ions in the concentration range of 100–1700 nmol/L, and manifest the result as the expression of GFP. The GFP expression was significantly different （P 0.05） for each concentration of inducing Hg（Ⅱ） ions in the detection range, which reduces the chances of misinterpretation of results. A model using regression method was also derived for the quantification of the concentration of Hg（Ⅱ） in water samples.展开更多
Hydroxyapatite (HA) having chemical formula Ca10(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>6</sub>(OH)<sub>2</sub>, is the main chemical component of human bone tissue (70%). This is the reason why it ha...Hydroxyapatite (HA) having chemical formula Ca10(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>6</sub>(OH)<sub>2</sub>, is the main chemical component of human bone tissue (70%). This is the reason why it has been widely engaged in the dental and non-load bearing implantations, to cope up with the bone response as a bioactive material. In this study HA powder was synthesized by wet chemical method, using phosphoric acid (H3PO4) and eggshells. The synthesized HA powder was characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Fourier transform (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The Thermos gravimetric analysis (TGA-DTA) was also carried out to evaluate the stability of the synthesized HA powder at higher temperatures. The results of the study indicate that sintered (at 900°C) HA powder resembles the feature of pure and single apatite phase having favourable Ca/P ratio ranging from 1.7 to 2.4.展开更多
Objective： To present our experience in treatment of difficult ununited long bone fractures with locking plate. Methods： Retrospective evaluation of locking plate fixation in 10 difficult nonunions of long bone fra...Objective： To present our experience in treatment of difficult ununited long bone fractures with locking plate. Methods： Retrospective evaluation of locking plate fixation in 10 difficult nonunions of long bone fractures was done. Fixation was done with locking plate for femoral shaft fracture （3 patients）, supracondylar fracture of femur （gap nonunion）, fracture of clavicle, fracture of both forearm bones （radius and ulna） fracture of ulna, fracture of shaft of humerus, fracture of tibial diaphysis and supracondylar frac- ture of humerus （one patient each）. Five fractures had more than one previous failed internal fixation. One patient had infected nonunion which was managed by debridement with cast immobilization followed by fixation with locking plate at six weeks. Seven fractures were atrophic, two were oligotrophic, and one was hypertrophic. Fibular autograft was used in 2 cases and iliac crest cancellous bone graft used in all the patients. Results： Minimum follow-up was 6 months （range, 6 months to 2.5 years）. Average time for union was 3.4 months （range 2.5 to 6 months）. None of the patients had plate- related complications or postoperative wound infections. Conclusion： Along with achieving stability with locking compression plate, meticulous soft tissue dissection, acceptable reduction, good fixation technique and bone grafting can help achieve union in difficult nonunion cases. Though locking plate does not by itself ensure bony union, we have found it to be another useful addition to our armamentarium for treating difficult fracture nonunions.展开更多
Nerve conduits have been a viable alternative to the ‘gold standard’ autograft for treating small peripheral nerve gap injuries. However, they often produce inadequate functional recovery outcomes and are ineffectiv...Nerve conduits have been a viable alternative to the ‘gold standard’ autograft for treating small peripheral nerve gap injuries. However, they often produce inadequate functional recovery outcomes and are ineffective in large gap injuries. Ridge/groove surface micropatterning has been shown to promote neural cell orientation and guide growth. However, optimization of the ratio of ridge/groove parameters to promote orientation and extension for dorsal root ganglion （DRG） cells on poly（lactic-co-glycolic acid） （PLGA） films has not been previously conducted. Photolithography and micro-molding were used to define various combinations of ridge/groove dimensions on PLGA films. The DRG cells obtained from chicken embryos were cultured on micropatterned PLGA films for cell orientation and migration evaluation.Biodegradation of the films occurred during the test period, however, this did not cause deformation or distortion of the micropatterns. Results from the DRG cell orientation test suggest that when the ridge/groove ratio equals 1 （ridge/groove width parameters are equal, i.e., 10 μm/10 μm （even））, the degree of alignment depends on the size of the ridges and grooves, when the ratio is smaller than 1 （groove controlled） the alignment increases as the ridge size decreases, and when the ratio is larger than 1 （ridge controlled）, the alignment is reduced as the width of the grooves decreases. The migration rate and neurite extension of DRG neurons were greatest on 10 μm/10 μm and 30 μm/30 μm micropatterned PLGA films. Based on the data, the 10 μm/10 μm and 30 μm/30 μm micropatterned PLGA films are the optimized ridge/groove surface patterns for the construction of nerve repair devices.展开更多
BACKGROUND The hemodynamic alterations seen in liver cirrhosis lead to renal vasoconstriction,ultimately causing acute kidney injury(AKI).The renal resistive index(RRI)is the most common Doppler ultrasound variable fo...BACKGROUND The hemodynamic alterations seen in liver cirrhosis lead to renal vasoconstriction,ultimately causing acute kidney injury(AKI).The renal resistive index(RRI)is the most common Doppler ultrasound variable for measuring intrarenal vascular resistance.AIM To evaluate the association of the RRI with AKI in patients with liver cirrhosis and to identify risk factors for high RRI.METHODS This was a prospective observational study,where RRI was measured using Doppler ultrasound in 200 consecutive hospitalized patients with cirrhosis.The association of RRI with AKI was studied.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis was utilized to determine discriminatory cut-offs of RRI for various AKI phenotypes.Multivariate analysis was conducted to determine the predictors of high RRI.RESULTS The mean patient age was 49.08±11.68 years,with the majority(79.5%)being male;the predominant etiology of cirrhosis was alcohol(39%).The mean RRI for the study cohort was 0.68±0.09,showing a progressive increase with higher Child-Pugh class of cirrhosis.Overall,AKI was present in 129(64.5%)patients.The mean RRI was significantly higher in patients with AKI compared to those without it(0.72±0.06 vs 0.60±0.08;P<0.001).A total of 82 patients(41%)had hepatorenal syndrome(HRS)-AKI,29(22.4%)had prerenal AKI(PRA),and 18(13.9%)had acute tubular necrosis(ATN)-AKI.The mean RRI was significantly higher in the ATN-AKI(0.80±0.02)and HRS-AKI(0.73±0.03)groups than in the PRA(0.63±0.07)and non-AKI(0.60±0.07)groups.RRI demonstrated excellent discriminatory ability in distinguishing ATN-AKI from non-ATN-AKI(area under ROC curve:93.9%).AKI emerged as an independent predictor of high RRI(adjusted odds ratio[OR]:11.52),and high RRI independently predicted mortality among AKI patients(adjusted OR:3.18).CONCLUSION In cirrhosis patients,RRI exhibited a significant association with AKI,effectively differentiated between AKI phenotypes,and predicted AKI mortality.展开更多
Tuberculosis(TB)is the leading cause of infectious mortality and morbidity in the world,second only to coronavirus disease 2019.Patients with chronic kidney disease and kidney transplant recipients are at a higher ris...Tuberculosis(TB)is the leading cause of infectious mortality and morbidity in the world,second only to coronavirus disease 2019.Patients with chronic kidney disease and kidney transplant recipients are at a higher risk of developing TB than the general population.Active TB is difficult to diagnose in this population due to close mimics.All transplant candidates should be screened for latent TB infection and given TB prophylaxis.Patients who develop active TB pre-or post-trans-plantation should receive multidrug combination therapy of antitubercular therapy for the recommended duration with optimal dose modification as per glomerular filtration rate.展开更多
Numerous natural and industrial processes entail the spontaneous entrapment of gas/air as rough/patterned surfaces are submerged under water.As the wetting transitions ensue,the gas diffuses into the water leading to ...Numerous natural and industrial processes entail the spontaneous entrapment of gas/air as rough/patterned surfaces are submerged under water.As the wetting transitions ensue,the gas diffuses into the water leading to the fully water-filled state.However,the standard models forwetting do not accountfor the microtexture’s topography on collective wetting transitions.In other words,it is not clear whether the lifetime of n cavities arranged in a one-dimensional(I-D)line or a two-dimensional(II-D)(circular or square)lattice would be the same or not as a single 0-D cavity.In response,we tracked the time-dependentfates of gas pockets trapped in I-D and II-D lattices and compared them with wetting transitions in commensurate 0-D cavities.Interestingly,the collective wetting transitions in the I-D and the II-D arrays had a directionality such thatthe gas from the outermost cavities was lostthe first,while the innermost gotfilled by water the last.In essence,microtexture’s spatial organization afforded shielding to the loss of the gas from the innermost cavities,which we probed as a function of the microtexture’s pitch,surface density,dimensionality,and hydrostatic pressure.These findings advance our knowledge of wetting transitions in microtextures and inspiring surface textures to protect electronic devices against liquid ingression.展开更多
Cardiac Arrhythmias shows a condition of abnor-mal electrical activity in the heart which is a threat to humans. This paper presents a method to analyze electrocardiogram (ECG) signal, extract the fea-tures, for the c...Cardiac Arrhythmias shows a condition of abnor-mal electrical activity in the heart which is a threat to humans. This paper presents a method to analyze electrocardiogram (ECG) signal, extract the fea-tures, for the classification of heart beats according to different arrhythmias. Data were obtained from 40 records of the MIT-BIH arrhythmia database (only one lead). Cardiac arrhythmias which are found are Tachycardia, Bradycardia, Supraventricular Tachycardia, Incomplete Bundle Branch Block, Bundle Branch Block, Ventricular Tachycardia. A learning dataset for the neural network was obtained from a twenty records set which were manually classified using MIT-BIH Arrhythmia Database Directory and docu- mentation, taking advantage of the professional experience of a cardiologist. Fast Fourier transforms are used to identify the peaks in the ECG signal and then Neural Networks are applied to identify the diseases. Levenberg Marquardt Back-Propagation algorithm is used to train the network. The results obtained have better efficiency then the previously proposed methods.展开更多
During a sudden viral pandemic,where the pathogenesis and nature of the infection are unclear,early and accurate identification of the patients infected with the pandemiccausing pathogen is crucial to prevent excess m...During a sudden viral pandemic,where the pathogenesis and nature of the infection are unclear,early and accurate identification of the patients infected with the pandemiccausing pathogen is crucial to prevent excess mortality.During the coronavirus disease 2019(COvID-19)pandemic,early diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome virus-2(SARS-CoV-2)is limited by the incidence of the symptoms that are shared with acute respiratory illnesses(ARl)caused by other pathogens.展开更多
We conduct an investigation to explore late-time cosmic acceleration through various dark energy parametrizations(Wettrich,Efstathiou,and Ma-Zhang)within the Horava-Lifshitz gravity framework.As an alternative to gene...We conduct an investigation to explore late-time cosmic acceleration through various dark energy parametrizations(Wettrich,Efstathiou,and Ma-Zhang)within the Horava-Lifshitz gravity framework.As an alternative to general relativity,this theory introduces anisotropic scaling at ultraviolet scales.Our primary objective is to constrain the key cosmic parameters and baryon acoustic oscillation(BAO)scale,specifically the sound horizon(rd),by utilizing 24 uncorrelated measurements of BAOs derived from recent galaxy surveys spanning a redshift range from z=0.106 to z=2.33.Additionally,we integrate the most recent Hubble constant measurement by Riess in 2022(denoted as R22)as an extra prior.For the parametrizations of Wettrich,Efstathiou,and Ma-Zhang,our analysis of BAO data yields sound horizon results of r_(d)=148.1560±2.7688 Mpc,r_(d)=148.6168±10.2469 Mpc,and r_(d)=147.9737±10.6096 Mpc,respectively.Incorporating the R22 prior into the BAO dataset results in r_(d)=139.5806±3.8522 Mpc,r_(d)=139.728025±2.7858 Mpc,and r_(d)=139.6001±2.7441 Mpc.These outcomes highlight a distinct inconsistency between early and late observational measurements,analogous to the H_(0) tension.A notable observation is that,when we do not include the R22 prior,the outcomes for rd tend to be in agreement with Planck and SDSS results.Following this,we conducted a cosmography test and comparative study of each parametrization within the Lambda Cold Dark Matter paradigm.Our diagnostic analyses demonstrate that all models fit seamlessly within the phantom region.All dark energy parametrizations predict an equation of state parameter close ω=-1,indicating a behavior similar to that of a cosmological constant.The statistical analysis indicates that neither of the two models can be ruled out based on the latest observational measurements.展开更多
The accelerated expansion of the Universe has sparked significant interest in the mysterious concept of dark energy within cosmology.Various theories have been proposed to explain dark energy,and many models have been...The accelerated expansion of the Universe has sparked significant interest in the mysterious concept of dark energy within cosmology.Various theories have been proposed to explain dark energy,and many models have been developed to understand its origins and properties.This research explores cosmic expansion using the Polytropic Gas(PG)approach,which combines Dark Matter(DM)and Dark Energy(DE)into a single mysterious fluid.We used the principles of general relativity and built our model within the homogeneous and isotropic framework of Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker(FLRW)spacetime.We revised the Original Polytropic Gas(OPG)model to expand its applicability beyond the OPG,to theΛCDM model.Our model's parameters were carefully adjusted to reflect key cosmological features of the variable PG approach.To validate our model,we performed a Markov chain Monte Carlo analysis using recent Supernova data from the Pantheon+survey,36 observational data points,162 Gamma-Ray Bursts,and 24 binned Quasars distance modulus data.The AIC and BIC criteria indicate that our model is slightly preferred over theΛCDM model based on observational data.We also tested our model with data,Supernova,Gamma-Ray Bursts,and Quasars and found that it exhibits a transition from a quintessential to phantom regime.The Polytropic dark fluid model(PDFM)is a promising candidate that effectively addresses the interplay between cosmic acceleration and dark energy.展开更多
Biphasic layered oxide cathodes,known for their superior electrochemical performance,are prime candidates for commercializing in Na-ion batteries.Herein,we unveil a series of P3/P2 monophasic and biphasic Al-substitut...Biphasic layered oxide cathodes,known for their superior electrochemical performance,are prime candidates for commercializing in Na-ion batteries.Herein,we unveil a series of P3/P2 monophasic and biphasic Al-substituted Na_(3/4)Mn_(5-x/8)Al_(2x/8)Ni_(3-x/8)O_(2)layered oxide cathodes that lie along the‘zero Mn^(3+)line’in the Na_(3/4)(Mn-Al-Ni)O_(2)pseudo-ternary system.The structural analysis showed a larger Na^(+)conduction bottleneck area in both P3 and P2 structures with a higher Al3+content,which enhanced their rate performance.In each composition,the P3/P2 biphasic compound with nearly equal fractions of P3 and P2 phases outperformed their monophasic counterparts in almost all electrochemical performance parameters.Operando synchrotron XRD measurements obtained for the monophasic P3 and biphasic P2/P3 samples revealed the absence of the O3 phase during cycling.The high structure stability and faster Na^(+)transport kinetics in the biphasic samples underpins the enhancement of electrochemical properties in the Al-substituted P3/P2 cathodes.These results highlight fixed oxidation state lines as a novel tool to identify and design layered oxide cathodes for Na-ion batteries in pseudo-ternary diagrams involving Jahn-Teller active cations.展开更多
The Proton Improvement Plan(PIP)-II project is part of Fermilab’s upgrade of its proton accelerator complex,to provide a powerful,high-intensity proton beam to the laboratory’s upcoming research program.The project ...The Proton Improvement Plan(PIP)-II project is part of Fermilab’s upgrade of its proton accelerator complex,to provide a powerful,high-intensity proton beam to the laboratory’s upcoming research program.The project includes an 800 MeV superconducting(SC)linear accelerator(linac),with five flavours of cavities and cryomodules.The medium energy section of the linac contains two types of superconducting Single Spoke Resonator(SSR)RF cavities(SSR1 and SSR2),which are interleaved with strong solenoid focusing lenses.A unified design of the solenoid has been developed,with one solenoid design satisfying both SSR1 and SSR2 requirements.The integral focusing strength requirement of 4.5 T^(2)m with a full width half maximum(FWHM)of 180 mm indicates the peak field strength∼6.8 T in the magnet aperture,necessitating a superconducting design within the limits of NbTi as magnet wire strand.These are complex combined units that include one focusing solenoid with bucking coils to minimize fringe fields and four corrector coils each,with independent current leads to produce dipole and quadrupole fields.To simplify the current lead design and reduce complexity,the project opted conduction cooling for these magnets,thus requiring a redesign compared to previous prototype bath cooled units.Existing designs for high energy accelerators adopt bath cooled design of the solenoid focusing lenses for medium energy cryomodules.The present design explores a unique and technically superior solution for the cryomodule operation by decoupling the magnet and cavity cooling to certain extent.Reliability in cryomodule operations shall be studied after integration of magnets in the Linac beamline.Here we discuss the design requirements,challenges,electromagnetic design,superconducting wire selection and the results from magnetic measurements of the first pre-series units.展开更多
文摘Vasopressors are routinely used to counteract hypotension after neuraxial anesthesia in Obstetrics. The understanding of the mechanism of hypotension and the choice of vasopressor has evolved over the years to a point where phenylephrine has become the preferred vasopressor. Due to the absence of definitive evidence showing absolute clinical benefit of one over the other, especially in emergency and high-risk Cesarean sections, our choice of phenylephrine over the other vasopressors like mephentermine, metaraminol, and ephedrine is guided by indirect evidence on fetalacid-base status. This review article evaluates the present day evidence on the various vasopressors used in obstetric anesthesia today.
文摘Diabetes mellitus has become one of the most common chronic diseases,thereby posing a major challenge to global health.Characterized by high levels of blood glucose(hyperglycemia),diabetes usually results from a loss of insulin-producing β-cells in the pancreas,leading to a deficiency of insulin(type 1 diabetes),or loss of insulin sensitivity(type 2 diabetes).Both types of diabetes have serious secondary complications,such as microvascular abnormalities,cardiovascular dysfunction,and kidney failure.Various complex factors,such as genetic and environmental factors,are associated with the pathophysiology of diabetes.Over the past two decades,the role of small,single-stranded noncoding microRNAs in various metabolic disorders,especially diabetes mellitus and its complications,has gained widespread attention in the scientific community.Discovered first as an endogenous regulator of development in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans,these small RNAs post-transcriptionally suppress mRNA target expression.In this review,we discuss the potential roles of different microRNAs in diabetes and diabetes-related complications.
文摘The presence of inflammation in dry eye disease(DED)results in increased patient symptomatology,ocular surface damage and worsening tear dysfunction.It also affects the health of meibomian glands and their secretions which further aggravates ocular surface disease.This article reviews current knowledge regarding ocular surface inflammation in DED and explores the relationships between the vicious cycles of DED,inflammation and meibomian gland dysfunction(MGD).The clinical evaluation of eyes with such changes,markers that identify the presence of inflammation on the ocular surface and current treatment options are discussed.
文摘Coal is the world＇s most abundant energy source because of its abundance and relatively low cost. Due to the scarcity in the supply of high-grade coal, it is necessary to use low-.grade coal for fulfilling energy demands of modern civilization. However, due to ItS high ash and moisture content, low-grade coal exerts the substantial impact on their consumption like pyrolysis, liquefaction, gasification and combus- tion process. The present research aimed to develop the efficient technique for the production of clean coal by optimizing the operating parameters with the help of response surface methodology. The effect of three independent variables such as hydrofluoric acid （HF） concentration （10-20% by vo!ume ）,. temper- ature （60-100 ~C）, and time （90-180 min）, for ash reduction from the low-grade coal was Investigated.. A quadratic model was proposed to correlate the independent variables for maximum ash reduction at the optimum process condition by using central composite design （CC.D）method. The study reveals that HF concentration was the most effective parameter for ash reduction in comparison with time and temper- ature. It may be due to the higher F-statistics value for HF concentration, which effects to large extent of ash reduction. The characterization of coal was evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy （FTIR） analysis and Field-emission scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray （FESEM- EDX） analysis for confirmation of the ash reduction.
文摘The study investigates long-term changes in annual and seasonal rainfall patterns in the Indira Sagar Region of Madhya Pradesh, India, from 1901 to 2010. Agriculture sustainability, food supply, natural resource development, and hydropower system reliability in the region rely heavily on monsoon rainfall. Monthly rainfall data from three stations (East Nimar, Barwani, and West Nimar) were analyzed. Initially, the pre-whitening method was applied to eliminate serial correlation effects from the rainfall data series. Subsequently, statistical trends in annual and seasonal rainfall were assessed using both parametric (student-t test) and non-parametric tests [Mann-Kendall, Sen’s slope estimator, and Cumulative Sum (CUSUM)]. The magnitude of the rainfall trend was determined using Theil-Sen’s slope estimator. Spatial analysis of the Mann-Kendall test on an annual basis revealed a statistically insignificant decreasing trend for Barwani and East Nimar and an increasing trend for West Nimar. On a seasonal basis, the monsoon season contributes a significant percentage (88.33%) to the total annual rainfall. The CUSUM test results indicated a shift change detection in annual rainfall data for Barwani in 1997, while shifts were observed in West and East Nimar stations in 1929. These findings offer valuable insights into regional rainfall behavior, aiding in the planning and management of water resources and ecological systems.
基金Director, Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbaifor providing facility and financial assistance in the form of Masters’ Fellowship during the research period
文摘A mercury biosensor was constructed by integrating biosensor genetic elements into E. coli JM109 chromosome in a single copy number, using the attP/attB recombination mechanism of λ phage. The genetic elements used include a regulatory protein gene （merR） along with operator/promoter （O/P） derived from the mercury resistance operon from pDU1358 plasmid of Serratia marcescens. The expression of reporter gene gfp is also controlled by merR/O/P. Integration of the construct into the chromosome was done to increase the stability and precision of the biosensor. This biosensor could detect Hg（Ⅱ） ions in the concentration range of 100–1700 nmol/L, and manifest the result as the expression of GFP. The GFP expression was significantly different （P 0.05） for each concentration of inducing Hg（Ⅱ） ions in the detection range, which reduces the chances of misinterpretation of results. A model using regression method was also derived for the quantification of the concentration of Hg（Ⅱ） in water samples.
文摘Hydroxyapatite (HA) having chemical formula Ca10(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>6</sub>(OH)<sub>2</sub>, is the main chemical component of human bone tissue (70%). This is the reason why it has been widely engaged in the dental and non-load bearing implantations, to cope up with the bone response as a bioactive material. In this study HA powder was synthesized by wet chemical method, using phosphoric acid (H3PO4) and eggshells. The synthesized HA powder was characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Fourier transform (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The Thermos gravimetric analysis (TGA-DTA) was also carried out to evaluate the stability of the synthesized HA powder at higher temperatures. The results of the study indicate that sintered (at 900°C) HA powder resembles the feature of pure and single apatite phase having favourable Ca/P ratio ranging from 1.7 to 2.4.
文摘Objective： To present our experience in treatment of difficult ununited long bone fractures with locking plate. Methods： Retrospective evaluation of locking plate fixation in 10 difficult nonunions of long bone fractures was done. Fixation was done with locking plate for femoral shaft fracture （3 patients）, supracondylar fracture of femur （gap nonunion）, fracture of clavicle, fracture of both forearm bones （radius and ulna） fracture of ulna, fracture of shaft of humerus, fracture of tibial diaphysis and supracondylar frac- ture of humerus （one patient each）. Five fractures had more than one previous failed internal fixation. One patient had infected nonunion which was managed by debridement with cast immobilization followed by fixation with locking plate at six weeks. Seven fractures were atrophic, two were oligotrophic, and one was hypertrophic. Fibular autograft was used in 2 cases and iliac crest cancellous bone graft used in all the patients. Results： Minimum follow-up was 6 months （range, 6 months to 2.5 years）. Average time for union was 3.4 months （range 2.5 to 6 months）. None of the patients had plate- related complications or postoperative wound infections. Conclusion： Along with achieving stability with locking compression plate, meticulous soft tissue dissection, acceptable reduction, good fixation technique and bone grafting can help achieve union in difficult nonunion cases. Though locking plate does not by itself ensure bony union, we have found it to be another useful addition to our armamentarium for treating difficult fracture nonunions.
文摘Nerve conduits have been a viable alternative to the ‘gold standard’ autograft for treating small peripheral nerve gap injuries. However, they often produce inadequate functional recovery outcomes and are ineffective in large gap injuries. Ridge/groove surface micropatterning has been shown to promote neural cell orientation and guide growth. However, optimization of the ratio of ridge/groove parameters to promote orientation and extension for dorsal root ganglion （DRG） cells on poly（lactic-co-glycolic acid） （PLGA） films has not been previously conducted. Photolithography and micro-molding were used to define various combinations of ridge/groove dimensions on PLGA films. The DRG cells obtained from chicken embryos were cultured on micropatterned PLGA films for cell orientation and migration evaluation.Biodegradation of the films occurred during the test period, however, this did not cause deformation or distortion of the micropatterns. Results from the DRG cell orientation test suggest that when the ridge/groove ratio equals 1 （ridge/groove width parameters are equal, i.e., 10 μm/10 μm （even））, the degree of alignment depends on the size of the ridges and grooves, when the ratio is smaller than 1 （groove controlled） the alignment increases as the ridge size decreases, and when the ratio is larger than 1 （ridge controlled）, the alignment is reduced as the width of the grooves decreases. The migration rate and neurite extension of DRG neurons were greatest on 10 μm/10 μm and 30 μm/30 μm micropatterned PLGA films. Based on the data, the 10 μm/10 μm and 30 μm/30 μm micropatterned PLGA films are the optimized ridge/groove surface patterns for the construction of nerve repair devices.
文摘BACKGROUND The hemodynamic alterations seen in liver cirrhosis lead to renal vasoconstriction,ultimately causing acute kidney injury(AKI).The renal resistive index(RRI)is the most common Doppler ultrasound variable for measuring intrarenal vascular resistance.AIM To evaluate the association of the RRI with AKI in patients with liver cirrhosis and to identify risk factors for high RRI.METHODS This was a prospective observational study,where RRI was measured using Doppler ultrasound in 200 consecutive hospitalized patients with cirrhosis.The association of RRI with AKI was studied.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis was utilized to determine discriminatory cut-offs of RRI for various AKI phenotypes.Multivariate analysis was conducted to determine the predictors of high RRI.RESULTS The mean patient age was 49.08±11.68 years,with the majority(79.5%)being male;the predominant etiology of cirrhosis was alcohol(39%).The mean RRI for the study cohort was 0.68±0.09,showing a progressive increase with higher Child-Pugh class of cirrhosis.Overall,AKI was present in 129(64.5%)patients.The mean RRI was significantly higher in patients with AKI compared to those without it(0.72±0.06 vs 0.60±0.08;P<0.001).A total of 82 patients(41%)had hepatorenal syndrome(HRS)-AKI,29(22.4%)had prerenal AKI(PRA),and 18(13.9%)had acute tubular necrosis(ATN)-AKI.The mean RRI was significantly higher in the ATN-AKI(0.80±0.02)and HRS-AKI(0.73±0.03)groups than in the PRA(0.63±0.07)and non-AKI(0.60±0.07)groups.RRI demonstrated excellent discriminatory ability in distinguishing ATN-AKI from non-ATN-AKI(area under ROC curve:93.9%).AKI emerged as an independent predictor of high RRI(adjusted odds ratio[OR]:11.52),and high RRI independently predicted mortality among AKI patients(adjusted OR:3.18).CONCLUSION In cirrhosis patients,RRI exhibited a significant association with AKI,effectively differentiated between AKI phenotypes,and predicted AKI mortality.
文摘Tuberculosis(TB)is the leading cause of infectious mortality and morbidity in the world,second only to coronavirus disease 2019.Patients with chronic kidney disease and kidney transplant recipients are at a higher risk of developing TB than the general population.Active TB is difficult to diagnose in this population due to close mimics.All transplant candidates should be screened for latent TB infection and given TB prophylaxis.Patients who develop active TB pre-or post-trans-plantation should receive multidrug combination therapy of antitubercular therapy for the recommended duration with optimal dose modification as per glomerular filtration rate.
文摘Numerous natural and industrial processes entail the spontaneous entrapment of gas/air as rough/patterned surfaces are submerged under water.As the wetting transitions ensue,the gas diffuses into the water leading to the fully water-filled state.However,the standard models forwetting do not accountfor the microtexture’s topography on collective wetting transitions.In other words,it is not clear whether the lifetime of n cavities arranged in a one-dimensional(I-D)line or a two-dimensional(II-D)(circular or square)lattice would be the same or not as a single 0-D cavity.In response,we tracked the time-dependentfates of gas pockets trapped in I-D and II-D lattices and compared them with wetting transitions in commensurate 0-D cavities.Interestingly,the collective wetting transitions in the I-D and the II-D arrays had a directionality such thatthe gas from the outermost cavities was lostthe first,while the innermost gotfilled by water the last.In essence,microtexture’s spatial organization afforded shielding to the loss of the gas from the innermost cavities,which we probed as a function of the microtexture’s pitch,surface density,dimensionality,and hydrostatic pressure.These findings advance our knowledge of wetting transitions in microtextures and inspiring surface textures to protect electronic devices against liquid ingression.
文摘Cardiac Arrhythmias shows a condition of abnor-mal electrical activity in the heart which is a threat to humans. This paper presents a method to analyze electrocardiogram (ECG) signal, extract the fea-tures, for the classification of heart beats according to different arrhythmias. Data were obtained from 40 records of the MIT-BIH arrhythmia database (only one lead). Cardiac arrhythmias which are found are Tachycardia, Bradycardia, Supraventricular Tachycardia, Incomplete Bundle Branch Block, Bundle Branch Block, Ventricular Tachycardia. A learning dataset for the neural network was obtained from a twenty records set which were manually classified using MIT-BIH Arrhythmia Database Directory and docu- mentation, taking advantage of the professional experience of a cardiologist. Fast Fourier transforms are used to identify the peaks in the ECG signal and then Neural Networks are applied to identify the diseases. Levenberg Marquardt Back-Propagation algorithm is used to train the network. The results obtained have better efficiency then the previously proposed methods.
基金supported by the Department of Biotechnology India(DBT)-(BT/PR44561/MED/15/217/2021)the Science and Engineering Research Board,India(SERB)-(CRG/2020/001417),and IISER Bhopal。
文摘During a sudden viral pandemic,where the pathogenesis and nature of the infection are unclear,early and accurate identification of the patients infected with the pandemiccausing pathogen is crucial to prevent excess mortality.During the coronavirus disease 2019(COvID-19)pandemic,early diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome virus-2(SARS-CoV-2)is limited by the incidence of the symptoms that are shared with acute respiratory illnesses(ARl)caused by other pathogens.
文摘We conduct an investigation to explore late-time cosmic acceleration through various dark energy parametrizations(Wettrich,Efstathiou,and Ma-Zhang)within the Horava-Lifshitz gravity framework.As an alternative to general relativity,this theory introduces anisotropic scaling at ultraviolet scales.Our primary objective is to constrain the key cosmic parameters and baryon acoustic oscillation(BAO)scale,specifically the sound horizon(rd),by utilizing 24 uncorrelated measurements of BAOs derived from recent galaxy surveys spanning a redshift range from z=0.106 to z=2.33.Additionally,we integrate the most recent Hubble constant measurement by Riess in 2022(denoted as R22)as an extra prior.For the parametrizations of Wettrich,Efstathiou,and Ma-Zhang,our analysis of BAO data yields sound horizon results of r_(d)=148.1560±2.7688 Mpc,r_(d)=148.6168±10.2469 Mpc,and r_(d)=147.9737±10.6096 Mpc,respectively.Incorporating the R22 prior into the BAO dataset results in r_(d)=139.5806±3.8522 Mpc,r_(d)=139.728025±2.7858 Mpc,and r_(d)=139.6001±2.7441 Mpc.These outcomes highlight a distinct inconsistency between early and late observational measurements,analogous to the H_(0) tension.A notable observation is that,when we do not include the R22 prior,the outcomes for rd tend to be in agreement with Planck and SDSS results.Following this,we conducted a cosmography test and comparative study of each parametrization within the Lambda Cold Dark Matter paradigm.Our diagnostic analyses demonstrate that all models fit seamlessly within the phantom region.All dark energy parametrizations predict an equation of state parameter close ω=-1,indicating a behavior similar to that of a cosmological constant.The statistical analysis indicates that neither of the two models can be ruled out based on the latest observational measurements.
文摘The accelerated expansion of the Universe has sparked significant interest in the mysterious concept of dark energy within cosmology.Various theories have been proposed to explain dark energy,and many models have been developed to understand its origins and properties.This research explores cosmic expansion using the Polytropic Gas(PG)approach,which combines Dark Matter(DM)and Dark Energy(DE)into a single mysterious fluid.We used the principles of general relativity and built our model within the homogeneous and isotropic framework of Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker(FLRW)spacetime.We revised the Original Polytropic Gas(OPG)model to expand its applicability beyond the OPG,to theΛCDM model.Our model's parameters were carefully adjusted to reflect key cosmological features of the variable PG approach.To validate our model,we performed a Markov chain Monte Carlo analysis using recent Supernova data from the Pantheon+survey,36 observational data points,162 Gamma-Ray Bursts,and 24 binned Quasars distance modulus data.The AIC and BIC criteria indicate that our model is slightly preferred over theΛCDM model based on observational data.We also tested our model with data,Supernova,Gamma-Ray Bursts,and Quasars and found that it exhibits a transition from a quintessential to phantom regime.The Polytropic dark fluid model(PDFM)is a promising candidate that effectively addresses the interplay between cosmic acceleration and dark energy.
基金the Science and Engineering Research Board(SERB),Govt.of India,for the financial support(grant number:CRG/2021/005548).
文摘Biphasic layered oxide cathodes,known for their superior electrochemical performance,are prime candidates for commercializing in Na-ion batteries.Herein,we unveil a series of P3/P2 monophasic and biphasic Al-substituted Na_(3/4)Mn_(5-x/8)Al_(2x/8)Ni_(3-x/8)O_(2)layered oxide cathodes that lie along the‘zero Mn^(3+)line’in the Na_(3/4)(Mn-Al-Ni)O_(2)pseudo-ternary system.The structural analysis showed a larger Na^(+)conduction bottleneck area in both P3 and P2 structures with a higher Al3+content,which enhanced their rate performance.In each composition,the P3/P2 biphasic compound with nearly equal fractions of P3 and P2 phases outperformed their monophasic counterparts in almost all electrochemical performance parameters.Operando synchrotron XRD measurements obtained for the monophasic P3 and biphasic P2/P3 samples revealed the absence of the O3 phase during cycling.The high structure stability and faster Na^(+)transport kinetics in the biphasic samples underpins the enhancement of electrochemical properties in the Al-substituted P3/P2 cathodes.These results highlight fixed oxidation state lines as a novel tool to identify and design layered oxide cathodes for Na-ion batteries in pseudo-ternary diagrams involving Jahn-Teller active cations.
文摘The Proton Improvement Plan(PIP)-II project is part of Fermilab’s upgrade of its proton accelerator complex,to provide a powerful,high-intensity proton beam to the laboratory’s upcoming research program.The project includes an 800 MeV superconducting(SC)linear accelerator(linac),with five flavours of cavities and cryomodules.The medium energy section of the linac contains two types of superconducting Single Spoke Resonator(SSR)RF cavities(SSR1 and SSR2),which are interleaved with strong solenoid focusing lenses.A unified design of the solenoid has been developed,with one solenoid design satisfying both SSR1 and SSR2 requirements.The integral focusing strength requirement of 4.5 T^(2)m with a full width half maximum(FWHM)of 180 mm indicates the peak field strength∼6.8 T in the magnet aperture,necessitating a superconducting design within the limits of NbTi as magnet wire strand.These are complex combined units that include one focusing solenoid with bucking coils to minimize fringe fields and four corrector coils each,with independent current leads to produce dipole and quadrupole fields.To simplify the current lead design and reduce complexity,the project opted conduction cooling for these magnets,thus requiring a redesign compared to previous prototype bath cooled units.Existing designs for high energy accelerators adopt bath cooled design of the solenoid focusing lenses for medium energy cryomodules.The present design explores a unique and technically superior solution for the cryomodule operation by decoupling the magnet and cavity cooling to certain extent.Reliability in cryomodule operations shall be studied after integration of magnets in the Linac beamline.Here we discuss the design requirements,challenges,electromagnetic design,superconducting wire selection and the results from magnetic measurements of the first pre-series units.
