The emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in the healthcare is a serious concern.In the Healthcare premises precisely intensive care unit are major sources of microbial diversity.Recent findings have demonstrated...The emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in the healthcare is a serious concern.In the Healthcare premises precisely intensive care unit are major sources of microbial diversity.Recent findings have demonstrated not only microbial diversity but also drug resistant microbes largely habitat in ICU.Pseudomonas aeruginosa found as a part of normal intestinal flora and a significant pathogen responsible for wide range of ICU acquired infection in critically ill patients.Nosocomial infection associated with this organism including gastrointestinal infection,urinary tract infections and blood stream infection.Infection caused by this organism are difficult to treat because of the presence of its innate resistance to many antibiotics(b-lactam and penem group of antibiotics),and its ability to acquire further resistance mechanism to multiple class of antibiotics,including Beta-lactams,aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones.In the molecular evolution microbes adopted several mechanism to maintain genomic plasticity.The tool microbe use for its survival is mainly biofilm formation,quorum sensing,and horizontal gene transfer and enzyme promiscuity.Such genomic plasticity provide an ideal habitat to grow and survive in hearse environment mainly antibiotics pressure.This review focus on infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa,its mechanisms of resistance and available treatment options.The present study provides a systemic review on major source of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in ICU.Further,study also emphasizes virulence gene/s associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa genome for extended drug resistance.Study gives detailed overview of antibiotic drug resistance mechanism.展开更多
In human adipose tissue and obesity,miR-99a expression is negatively correlated with inflammation.Therefore,the present study investigated the role of miR-99a in macrophage phenotype activation and adipose tissue infl...In human adipose tissue and obesity,miR-99a expression is negatively correlated with inflammation.Therefore,the present study investigated the role of miR-99a in macrophage phenotype activation and adipose tissue inflammation.M2 BMDMs showed a significant increase in miR-99a expression when compared to the M0 and M1 phenotypes.Phenotype-switching experiments established an association between upregulated miR-99a expression and the M2 phenotype.Overexpression of miR-99a prevented M1 phenotype activation and attenuated bactericidal activity.Likewise,knockdown of miR-99a abolished M2 phenotype activation.By means of in silico target prediction tools and a luciferase reporter assay,TNFαwas identified as a direct target of miR-99a.Knockdown of TNFαrecapitulated the effect of miR-99a overexpression in M1 BMDMs.In a db/db mice model,miR-99a expression was reduced in eWAT and F4/80+ATMs.Systemic overexpression of miR-99a in db/db mice attenuated adipocyte hypertrophy with increased CD301 and reduced CD86 immunostaining.Flow cytometry analysis also showed an increased M2 and a reduced M1 macrophage population.Mimics of miR-99a also improved the diabetic dyslipidemia and insulin signaling in eWAT and liver,with an attenuated expression of gluconeogenesis and cholesterol metabolism genes in the liver.Furthermore,adoptive transfer of miR-99a-overexpressing macrophages in the db/db mice recapitulated in vivo miR-99a mimic effects with increased M2 and reduced M1 macrophage populations and improved systemic glucose,insulin sensitivity,and insulin signaling in the eWAT and liver.The present study demonstrates that miR-99a mimics can regulate macrophage M1 phenotype activation by targeting TNFα.miR-99a therapeutics in diabetic mice reduces the adipose tissue inflammation and improves insulin sensitivity.展开更多
This paper proposes a multiport bidirectional non-isolated converter topology that provides advantages in terms of simultaneous multiple operations,single-stage conversion,high power density and reduced power losses d...This paper proposes a multiport bidirectional non-isolated converter topology that provides advantages in terms of simultaneous multiple operations,single-stage conversion,high power density and reduced power losses due to the lower number of switches.The proposed multiport converter uses a centralized non-linear controller known as a finite control set model predictive controller to manage the flow of power between different ports.It deals with the parallel operation of photovoltaic and battery energy storage systems for stand-alone alternating current(AC)systems.The converter connects the lower voltage battery to the photovoltaic port using a bidirectional buck/boost converter and the photovoltaic port is linked to the stand-alone AC load through a three-phase full-bridge inverter.Each leg of the three-phase converter will act as a bidirectional direct current(DC)/DC converter as well as an inverter simultaneously.Only six switches manage the power transfer between all the connected ports of photovoltaic-battery energy storage system linked to the stand-alone AC load.The proposed multiport converter is mathematically modelled and controlled by a finite control set model predictive controller.The system is validated in simulation(1-kW rating)and experimental environment(200-W rating).The hardware prototype is developed in the laboratory and the controller is implemented on the field-programmable gate array board.Two independent case studies are carried out to validate the efficacy of the system.The first scenario is for a change in solar irradiance,while the second scenario is for a change in the output load.展开更多
Doubly-fed induction generator(DFIG)-based wind farms(WFs)are interfaced with power electronic converters.Such interfaces are attributed to the low inertia generated in the WFs under high penetration and that becomes ...Doubly-fed induction generator(DFIG)-based wind farms(WFs)are interfaced with power electronic converters.Such interfaces are attributed to the low inertia generated in the WFs under high penetration and that becomes prevalent in a fault scenario.Therefore,transient stability enhancement along with frequency stability in DFIG-based WFs is a major concern in the present scenario.In this paper,a cooperative approach consisting of virtual inertia control(VIC)and a modified grid-side converter(GSC)approach for low voltage ride-through(LVRT)is proposed to achieve fault ride-through(FRT)capabilities as per the grid code requirements(GCRs)while providing frequency support to the grid through a synthetic inertia.The proposed approach provides LVRT and reactive power compensation in the system.The participation of the VIC in a rotor-side converter(RSC)provides frequency support to the DFIG-based WFs.The combined approach supports active power compensation and provides sufficient kinetic energy support to the system in a contingency scenario.Simulation studies are carried out in MATLAB/Simulink environment for symmetrical and unsymmetrical faults.The superiority of the proposed scheme is demonstrated through analysis of the performance of the scheme and that of a series resonance bridge-type fault current limiter(SR-BFCL).展开更多
Inpatient falls from beds in hospitals are a common problem.Such falls may result in severe injuries.This problem can be addressed by continuous monitoring of patients using cameras.Recent advancements in deep learnin...Inpatient falls from beds in hospitals are a common problem.Such falls may result in severe injuries.This problem can be addressed by continuous monitoring of patients using cameras.Recent advancements in deep learning-based video analytics have made this task of fall detection more effective and efficient.Along with fall detection,monitoring of different activities of the patients is also of significant concern to assess the improvement in their health.High computation-intensive models are required to monitor every action of the patient precisely.This requirement limits the applicability of such networks.Hence,to keep the model lightweight,the already designed fall detection networks can be extended to monitor the general activities of the patients along with the fall detection.Motivated by the same notion,we propose a novel,lightweight,and efficient patient activity monitoring system that broadly classifies the patients’activities into fall,activity,and rest classes based on their poses.The whole network comprises three sub-networks,namely a Convolutional Neural Networks(CNN)based video compression network,a Lightweight Pose Network(LPN)and a Residual Network(ResNet)Mixer block-based activity recognition network.The compression network compresses the video streams using deep learning networks for efficient storage and retrieval;after that,LPN estimates human poses.Finally,the activity recognition network classifies the patients’activities based on their poses.The proposed system shows an overall accuracy of approx.99.7% over a standard dataset with 99.63% fall detection accuracy and efficiently monitors different events,which may help monitor the falls and improve the inpatients’health.展开更多
The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus is an ongoing global health burden.Severe cases of COVID-19 and the rare cases of COVID-19 vaccine-induced-thrombotic-thrombocytopenia(VITT)are both associated with thr...The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus is an ongoing global health burden.Severe cases of COVID-19 and the rare cases of COVID-19 vaccine-induced-thrombotic-thrombocytopenia(VITT)are both associated with thrombosis and thrombocytopenia;however,the underlying mechanisms remain inadequately understood.Both infection and vaccination utilize the spike protein receptor-binding domain(RBD)of SARS-CoV-2.We found that intravenous injection of recombinant RBD caused significant platelet clearance in mice.Further investigation revealed the RBD could bind platelets,cause platelet activation,and potentiate platelet aggregation,which was exacerbated in the Delta and Kappa variants.The RBD–platelet interaction was partially dependent on theβ3 integrin as binding was significantly reduced inβ3−/−mice.Furthermore,RBD binding to human and mouse platelets was significantly reduced with relatedαIIbβ3 antagonists and mutation of the RGD(arginine-glycine-aspartate)integrin binding motif to RGE(arginine-glycine-glutamate).We developed anti-RBD polyclonal and several monoclonal antibodies(mAbs)and identified 4F2 and 4H12 for their potent dual inhibition of RBD-induced platelet activation,aggregation,and clearance in vivo,and SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication in Vero E6 cells.Our data show that the RBD can bind platelets partially thoughαIIbβ3 and induce platelet activation and clearance,which may contribute to thrombosis and thrombocytopenia observed in COVID-19 and VITT.Our newly developed mAbs 4F2 and 4H12 have potential not only for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 virus antigen but also importantly for therapy against COVID-19.展开更多
This editorial comments on the study by Liu et al investigating pancreatic metastasis of clear cell sarcoma(CCS)published in the World Journal of Clinical Cases.CCS is a rare and aggressive melanocytic tumor,that typi...This editorial comments on the study by Liu et al investigating pancreatic metastasis of clear cell sarcoma(CCS)published in the World Journal of Clinical Cases.CCS is a rare and aggressive melanocytic tumor,that typically arises from tendons and aponeuroses of the limbs,and metastasizes to the lungs,bones,and brain.However,pancreatic metastasis has rarely been reported,presenting unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.Elucidating the clinical characteristics,imaging features,prognostic factors,and treatment outcomes of patients with pancreatic CCS metastasis is crucial.Surgery remains an effective management strategy for CCS.However,the high recurrence rate and low effectiveness of traditional adjuvant treatments necessitate a shift towards more personalized and targeted treatment plans.Research is needed to investigate and validate novel therapeutic approaches specifically tailored to the distinct genetic and molecular characteristics of rare malignancies like CCS.Additionally,the development of late metastases after a long disease-free interval is common in CCS patients.Therefore,routine postoperative surveillance for metastasis using computed tomography,magnetic resonance imaging,bone scans,and positron emission tomography scans is crucial.Moving forward,enhanced collaboration,investigation,and creative thinking among scientists,medical professionals,and legislators are essential to gain a deeper understanding of these rare presentations.展开更多
Excellent magnetic properties in ferrites are required for high-frequency applications and for wastewater treatment. Thus, the present study shows the comparison of magnetic and structural properties of Nd and Sm subs...Excellent magnetic properties in ferrites are required for high-frequency applications and for wastewater treatment. Thus, the present study shows the comparison of magnetic and structural properties of Nd and Sm substituted Ni-Zn-Bi ferrites with the series Ni_(0.5)Zn_(0.5)Bi_(0.04)Nd_(x)Fe_(1.96-x)O_4(with step size 0.002)and Ni_(0.5)Zn_(0.5)Bi_(0.04)Sm_(x)Fe_(1.96-x)O_4(with step size 0.02) prepared using citrate precursor method. The impact of the substitution of rare earth ions(Nd and Sm) on magnetic properties of the synthesized samples is observed using a vibrating sample magnetometer(VSM). The saturation magnetization values enhance considerably from 52 to 58 emu/g for Nd^(3+)ions and 39 to 57 emu/g for Sm^(3+) ions, thus, making these materials magnetically hard. Further, the higher value of coercivity is also observed ranging from133 to 167 Oe for Nd^(3+)ions and 81 to 155 Oe for Sm^(3+) ions. The shape of hysteresis loops indicates a super paramagnetic and ferromagnetic behavior in the obtained samples. The squareness ratio value is<0.5, suggesting the uniaxial anisotropy of particles and hence, these ferrites are suitable for microwaveabsorbing and in permanent magnetic materials. The X-ray diffraction(XRD) pattern shows the formation of pure cubic crystallites, where, lattice parameters range from 0.840 to 0.839 nm and from 0.838to 0.839 nm for Nd^(3+)and Sm^(3+) ions substitution, respectively. The crystallite size ranges between 28.63to 29.89 nm and 18.33 to 26.23 nm, for substitution of Nd^(3+)and Sm^(3+) ions, respectively. Field emission scanning electron microscopy(FESEM) shows the formation of homogeneous grains, whereas, energy dispersive spectrometer(EDS) counts describe the purity of the samples. The Sm concentration x = 0.10has the maximum surface area with value of 42.6 m^(2)/g which proves to be having good data storage application due to high surface area. The zero-field cooled(ZFC) and field cooled(FC) data show that Nddoped Ni-Zn-Bi nanoferrites show superparamagnetic behaviour in the展开更多
In this paper,the non-static solutions for perfect fluid distribution with plane symmetry in f(R,T)gravitational theory are obtained.Firstly,using the Lie symmetries,symmetry reductions are performed for considered ve...In this paper,the non-static solutions for perfect fluid distribution with plane symmetry in f(R,T)gravitational theory are obtained.Firstly,using the Lie symmetries,symmetry reductions are performed for considered vector fields to reduce the number of independent variables.Then,corresponding to each reduction,exact solutions are obtained.Killing vectors lead to different conserved quantities.Therefore,we figure out the Killing vector fields corresponding to all derived solutions.The derived solutions are further studied and it is observed that all of the obtained spacetimes,at least admit to the minimal symmetry group which consists of δ_(y),δ_(z) and -zδ_(y)+yδ_(z).The obtained metrics,admit to 3,4,6,and 10,Killing vector fields.Conservation of linear momentum in the direction of y and z,and angular momentum along the x axis is provided by all derived solutions.展开更多
We have studied periodic orbits generated by Lagrangian solutions of the restricted three-body problem when both the primaries are triaxial rigid bodies and source of radiation pressure. We have determined periodic or...We have studied periodic orbits generated by Lagrangian solutions of the restricted three-body problem when both the primaries are triaxial rigid bodies and source of radiation pressure. We have determined periodic orbits for different values of (h is energy constant;μ is mass ratio of the two primaries;are parameters of triaxial rigid bodies and are radiation parameters). These orbits have been determined by giving displacements along the tangent and normal at the mobile co-ordinates as defined in our papers (Mittal et al. [1]-[3]). These orbits have been drawn by using the predictor-corrector method. We have also studied the effect of triaxial bodies and source of radiation pressure on the periodic orbits by taking fixed value of μ.展开更多
BACKGROUND Diabetes mellitus(DM)is a progressively increasing metabolic disorder and a significant public health burden that demands immediate global attention.However,there is a paucity of data about adherence to ant...BACKGROUND Diabetes mellitus(DM)is a progressively increasing metabolic disorder and a significant public health burden that demands immediate global attention.However,there is a paucity of data about adherence to antidiabetic drugs among patients with type-2(T2)DM in Uttarakhand,India.Outpatient research reported that more than 50%of patients do not adhere to the correct administration and appropriate medicine dosage.It has been reported that patients with chronic diseases who adhere to treatment may experience improvement in quality of life(QoL)and vice versa.AIM To assess the adherence to antidiabetic medication and QoL among patients with T2DM.METHODS This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Uttarakhand,India.The Medication Adherence Rating Scale and World Health Organization QoL-BREF scale were used to assess medication adherence and QoL.RESULTS Two hundred seventy-seven patients suffering from T2DM participated in the study.Their mean age was 50.80(±10.6)years,155(56%)had a poor adherence level and 122(44%)had a good adherence level to antidiabetic medications.After adjusting for sociodemographic factors,multiple linear regression analysis found patients who were adherent to antidiabetic medications had significantly higher mean overall perception of QoL and overall perception of health,with beta scores of 0.36 and 0.34,respectively(both P=0.000)points compared with nonadherent patients.CONCLUSION There was an association between medication adherence and QoL in patients with T2DM.Hence,there is a need to plan awareness and counseling programs followed by regular follow-up to motivate patient adherence to recommended treatment and lifestyle regimens.展开更多
Cytomegalovirus(CMV) infection is an important contributor to the morbidity and mortality associated with bone marrow transplantation(BMT). Infection may lead to CMV disease involving multiple organs such as pneumonia...Cytomegalovirus(CMV) infection is an important contributor to the morbidity and mortality associated with bone marrow transplantation(BMT). Infection may lead to CMV disease involving multiple organs such as pneumonia, gastroenteritis, retinitis, central nervus system involvement and others. CMV seropositivity is an important risk factor and approximately half of BMT recipients will develop clinically significant infection most commonly in the first 100 d post-transplant. The commonly used tests to diagnose CMV infection in these patients include the pp65 antigenemia test and the CMV DNA polymerase chain reaction(PCR) assay. Because of its greater sensitivity and lesser turnaround time, the CMV PCR is nowadays the preferred test and serves as a main guide for pre-emptive therapy. Methods of CMV prevention include use of blood products from seronegative donors or leukodepleted products. Prophylaxis or pre-emptive therapy strategies for CMV prevention may be used post-transplant with the latter becoming more common. The commonly used antivirals for pre-emptive therapy and CMV disease management include intravenous gancyclovir and foscarnet. The role of intravenous immunoglobulin, although used commonly in CMV pneumonia is not clear.展开更多
When fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium was challenged with gold ions under ambient aqueous conditions gold nanoparticles were formed within 90 minutes. Controlling experimental conditions like the age of fungus, incu...When fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium was challenged with gold ions under ambient aqueous conditions gold nanoparticles were formed within 90 minutes. Controlling experimental conditions like the age of fungus, incubation temperature and different concentration of gold chloride solution had drastic effect on the morphology of the nanoparticles formed. The enzyme assays indicated the role of enzyme as a reducing and shape directing agent. Laccase was the dominating enzyme in the case of fungal media for the synthesis of extracellular gold nanoparticles. Ligninase was responsible for the intracellular formation of nanoparticles on the fungal mycelium. The stabilization of the nanoparticles (NPs) via protein layer was evident by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) which revealed the nanoparticles to be spherical in the range of 10-100 nm. This study represents an important advancement in the use of fungal enzymes for the biosynthesis of highly stable gold nanoparticles by a green and mild technique in one pot in aqueous media.展开更多
Non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor was developed for estimation of low-level cholesterol.Polyindole/tungsten carbide(PIN/WC)nanocomposite was synthesized and used as an electroactive material to develop low-cost mod...Non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor was developed for estimation of low-level cholesterol.Polyindole/tungsten carbide(PIN/WC)nanocomposite was synthesized and used as an electroactive material to develop low-cost modified stainless steel plate electrode(SSPE).Surface morphology of developed electrode was characterized by scanning electron microscopy.Electrochemical behavior of cholesterol was investigated through electron impedance spectroscopy,potentiodynamic polarization and cyclic voltammetry in 1-M KOH electrolytic solution.The quantification of cholesterol was studied by square wave voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry.The calibration plots between the cholesterol concentration and peak current were in linear relation with limit of detection of 1.23×10^(−6) mol L^(−1).The overall result reveals that developed PIN/WC/SSPE electrode has excellent performance for trace-level cholesterol estimation and can be further employed for cholesterol monitoring in blood serum samples.展开更多
This paper considers the problem of hydrodynamics and thermal boundary layers of Darcy flow over horizontal surface embedded in a porous medium. The solutions of such problems for the cases of uniform surface temperat...This paper considers the problem of hydrodynamics and thermal boundary layers of Darcy flow over horizontal surface embedded in a porous medium. The solutions of such problems for the cases of uniform surface temperature and variable surface temperature have been studied and analysed in many papers. This paper, however, attempts to find similarity solutions for the Darcy flow problem with a convective boundary condition at the plate surface. It is found that the solution is possible when the heat transfer coefficient is proportional to x<sup>–2/3</sup>. The numerical solutions thus obtained are analyzed for a range of values of the parameter characterizing the hot fluid convection process. Analytical expressions are provided for local surface heat flux and total surface heat transfer rate while the flow variables are discussed graphically.展开更多
Purpose: Right mini thoracotomy has been evaluated in many studies for mitral valve repair mainly in degenerative valvular disease but not in rheumatic heart disease. Mitral valve repair is more challenging in rheumat...Purpose: Right mini thoracotomy has been evaluated in many studies for mitral valve repair mainly in degenerative valvular disease but not in rheumatic heart disease. Mitral valve repair is more challenging in rheumatic etiology due to complexity of lesions. This prospective randomized case control study was designed to evaluate repair through mini right thoracotomy and to compare the clinical and echocardiographic outcomes with sternotomy in rheumatic patients. Methods: 25 patients of rheumatic heart disease underwent mitral valve repair through mini right thoracotomy (group I). Various clinical and functional parameters were compared with 25 patients of mitral valve repair through sternotomy (group II). On follow up the results were compared in both groups for clinical and echocardiographic parameters. Results: The various pre-operative demographic parameters were comparable in two groups. Equal rate of mitral valve repair (group I-21/25, 84% and group II-21/25, 84%) was achieved in both groups. The various intra-operative and post-operative clinical parameters were better in group I .There were equivalent functional and valve related outcomes in both groups in term of NYHA class (1.28 ± 0.613 vs 1.08 ± 0.276, P = 0.144), post-operative mitral valve area (2.43 ± 0.891 vs 2.82 ± 0.662, P = 0.090), incidence of more than mild mitral regurgitation (0) and mean pressure gradient across mitral valve (4.98 ± 3.33 vs 4.23 ± 1.5, P = 0.309). Conclusion: Mitral valve repair through mini right thoracotomy approach in rheumatic etiology is feasible and safe with equivalent rate of successful repair as compared to median sternotomy. It is associated with lesser morbidity, cosmetic advantage and lesser resource utilization.展开更多
The demand for alternative low-grade iron ores is on the rise due to the rapid depletion of high-grade natural iron ore resources and the increased need for steel usage in daily life.However,the use of low-grade iron ...The demand for alternative low-grade iron ores is on the rise due to the rapid depletion of high-grade natural iron ore resources and the increased need for steel usage in daily life.However,the use of low-grade iron ores is a constant clinical task for industry metallurgists.Direct smelting of low-grade ores consumes a substantial amount of energy due to the large volume of slag generated.This condition can be avoided by direct reduction followed by magnetic separation(to separate the high amount of gangue or refractory and metal parts)and smelting.Chromite overburden(COB)is a mine waste generated in chromite ore processing,and it mainly consists of iron,chromium,and nickel(<1wt%).In the present work,the isothermal and non-isothermal kinetics of the solid-state reduction of self-reduced pellets prepared using low-grade iron ore(COB)were thoroughly investigated via thermal analysis.The results showed that the reduction of pellets followed a firstorder autocatalytic reaction control mechanism in the temperature range of 900-1100℃.The autocatalytic nature of the reduction reaction was due to the presence of nickel in the COB.The apparent activation energy obtained from the kinetics results showed that the solid-state reactions between COB and carbon were the rate-determining step in iron oxide reduction.展开更多
Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a critical component of the reninangiotensin system that contributes to hypertension. Although platelets in blood from hypertensive subjects have an abnormal biological profile, it is unclea...Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a critical component of the reninangiotensin system that contributes to hypertension. Although platelets in blood from hypertensive subjects have an abnormal biological profile, it is unclear if circulating Ang II influences platelet aggregation or thrombus formation. One of the abnormalities presented to the platelets during hypertension is an elevated plasma concentration of serotonin (5-HT) caused by reduced 5-HT uptake secondary to loss of the 5-HT transporter (SERT) on the platelet plasma membrane. In the current study, we evaluated in vivo platelet function after 7 days of subcutaneous Ang II infusion to establish hypertension in mice and additionally assessed the biology of isolated platelets exposed to Ang II in vitro. The administration of Ang II elevated systolic blood pressure, but markers of platelet activation including P-selectin and PEJon/A staining were not changed. However, the aggregation response to collagen was reduced in isolated platelets from Ang II-infused mice, which also showed reduced 5-HT uptake by SERT. In vitro exposure of isolated platelets to Ang II also resulted in a loss of surface SERT associated with a reduced aggregation response to collagen. These abnormalities were reversed by increasing concentra tions of the Ang II receptor antagonist, valsartan. Interestingly, SERT KO mice failed to fully develop hypertension in response to Ang II infusion and isolated platelets from these animals were insensitive to the anti-aggregatory influence of Ang II. Thus, Ang II blunts the aggregation responses of platelets and the mechanism underlying this action may involve a loss of SERT on the platelet plasma membrane. The latter event depletes intracellular 5-HT in platelets, an event that is associated with reduced aggregation. The widespread use of antihypertensive drugs that target the renin-angiotensin system suggest the potential clinical utility of our findings and emphasize the importance of understanding the impact of Ang II on platelet function.展开更多
Aim European and North american studies have suggested that nitrogen(N)depositions reduce plant diversity and increase primary pro-ductivity due to changes in plant traits.To predict the vegetation response to future ...Aim European and North american studies have suggested that nitrogen(N)depositions reduce plant diversity and increase primary pro-ductivity due to changes in plant traits.To predict the vegetation response to future global change,experimental validations from other regions are widely needed.We assessed the effects of N treat-ment by urea fertilization on the diversity and biomass of the her-baceous plant traits(HPTs)in a dry tropical environment of India.Methods Diversity and biomass of different HPTs were determined on the basis of data collected in year 2010,from 135,1 m×1 m plots dis-tributed over 15 locations.The plots were treated with urea fertilizer in different doses(Control,60 kgNha−1 yr−1 and 120 kg N ha−1yr−1)since 1st January 2007.The plots were ordinated and data were subjected to appropriate statistical analyses.Important Findings Correspondence analysis(Ca)suggested uniqueness of species composition due to N amendment.species number and biomass of the trait categories varied due to N fertilization and traits.all studied trait categories(except N-fixers)yielded maximum mean species number at moderate level of N fertilization.Different levels of N fer-tilization exhibited different species diversity-primary productivity(D-P)relationships.Further,study showed reduction in plant diver-sity due to increase in biomass at high rates of N addition.Conclusions Tall,erect,non N-fixers,annuals,grasses HPTs were favoured by N enrichment.N dose above 60 kg enhanced the biomass of fast grow-ing,erect,annuals,non N-fixers,nitrophilic HPTs.The changes in traits with N addition,especially the increase in annuals and grasses and decrease in typically N-rich N-fixers,have implications for sus-tainable cattle production.展开更多
文摘The emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in the healthcare is a serious concern.In the Healthcare premises precisely intensive care unit are major sources of microbial diversity.Recent findings have demonstrated not only microbial diversity but also drug resistant microbes largely habitat in ICU.Pseudomonas aeruginosa found as a part of normal intestinal flora and a significant pathogen responsible for wide range of ICU acquired infection in critically ill patients.Nosocomial infection associated with this organism including gastrointestinal infection,urinary tract infections and blood stream infection.Infection caused by this organism are difficult to treat because of the presence of its innate resistance to many antibiotics(b-lactam and penem group of antibiotics),and its ability to acquire further resistance mechanism to multiple class of antibiotics,including Beta-lactams,aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones.In the molecular evolution microbes adopted several mechanism to maintain genomic plasticity.The tool microbe use for its survival is mainly biofilm formation,quorum sensing,and horizontal gene transfer and enzyme promiscuity.Such genomic plasticity provide an ideal habitat to grow and survive in hearse environment mainly antibiotics pressure.This review focus on infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa,its mechanisms of resistance and available treatment options.The present study provides a systemic review on major source of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in ICU.Further,study also emphasizes virulence gene/s associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa genome for extended drug resistance.Study gives detailed overview of antibiotic drug resistance mechanism.
文摘In human adipose tissue and obesity,miR-99a expression is negatively correlated with inflammation.Therefore,the present study investigated the role of miR-99a in macrophage phenotype activation and adipose tissue inflammation.M2 BMDMs showed a significant increase in miR-99a expression when compared to the M0 and M1 phenotypes.Phenotype-switching experiments established an association between upregulated miR-99a expression and the M2 phenotype.Overexpression of miR-99a prevented M1 phenotype activation and attenuated bactericidal activity.Likewise,knockdown of miR-99a abolished M2 phenotype activation.By means of in silico target prediction tools and a luciferase reporter assay,TNFαwas identified as a direct target of miR-99a.Knockdown of TNFαrecapitulated the effect of miR-99a overexpression in M1 BMDMs.In a db/db mice model,miR-99a expression was reduced in eWAT and F4/80+ATMs.Systemic overexpression of miR-99a in db/db mice attenuated adipocyte hypertrophy with increased CD301 and reduced CD86 immunostaining.Flow cytometry analysis also showed an increased M2 and a reduced M1 macrophage population.Mimics of miR-99a also improved the diabetic dyslipidemia and insulin signaling in eWAT and liver,with an attenuated expression of gluconeogenesis and cholesterol metabolism genes in the liver.Furthermore,adoptive transfer of miR-99a-overexpressing macrophages in the db/db mice recapitulated in vivo miR-99a mimic effects with increased M2 and reduced M1 macrophage populations and improved systemic glucose,insulin sensitivity,and insulin signaling in the eWAT and liver.The present study demonstrates that miR-99a mimics can regulate macrophage M1 phenotype activation by targeting TNFα.miR-99a therapeutics in diabetic mice reduces the adipose tissue inflammation and improves insulin sensitivity.
文摘This paper proposes a multiport bidirectional non-isolated converter topology that provides advantages in terms of simultaneous multiple operations,single-stage conversion,high power density and reduced power losses due to the lower number of switches.The proposed multiport converter uses a centralized non-linear controller known as a finite control set model predictive controller to manage the flow of power between different ports.It deals with the parallel operation of photovoltaic and battery energy storage systems for stand-alone alternating current(AC)systems.The converter connects the lower voltage battery to the photovoltaic port using a bidirectional buck/boost converter and the photovoltaic port is linked to the stand-alone AC load through a three-phase full-bridge inverter.Each leg of the three-phase converter will act as a bidirectional direct current(DC)/DC converter as well as an inverter simultaneously.Only six switches manage the power transfer between all the connected ports of photovoltaic-battery energy storage system linked to the stand-alone AC load.The proposed multiport converter is mathematically modelled and controlled by a finite control set model predictive controller.The system is validated in simulation(1-kW rating)and experimental environment(200-W rating).The hardware prototype is developed in the laboratory and the controller is implemented on the field-programmable gate array board.Two independent case studies are carried out to validate the efficacy of the system.The first scenario is for a change in solar irradiance,while the second scenario is for a change in the output load.
文摘Doubly-fed induction generator(DFIG)-based wind farms(WFs)are interfaced with power electronic converters.Such interfaces are attributed to the low inertia generated in the WFs under high penetration and that becomes prevalent in a fault scenario.Therefore,transient stability enhancement along with frequency stability in DFIG-based WFs is a major concern in the present scenario.In this paper,a cooperative approach consisting of virtual inertia control(VIC)and a modified grid-side converter(GSC)approach for low voltage ride-through(LVRT)is proposed to achieve fault ride-through(FRT)capabilities as per the grid code requirements(GCRs)while providing frequency support to the grid through a synthetic inertia.The proposed approach provides LVRT and reactive power compensation in the system.The participation of the VIC in a rotor-side converter(RSC)provides frequency support to the DFIG-based WFs.The combined approach supports active power compensation and provides sufficient kinetic energy support to the system in a contingency scenario.Simulation studies are carried out in MATLAB/Simulink environment for symmetrical and unsymmetrical faults.The superiority of the proposed scheme is demonstrated through analysis of the performance of the scheme and that of a series resonance bridge-type fault current limiter(SR-BFCL).
基金the Deanship of Scientific Research at Majmaah University for funding this work under Project No.R-2023-667.
文摘Inpatient falls from beds in hospitals are a common problem.Such falls may result in severe injuries.This problem can be addressed by continuous monitoring of patients using cameras.Recent advancements in deep learning-based video analytics have made this task of fall detection more effective and efficient.Along with fall detection,monitoring of different activities of the patients is also of significant concern to assess the improvement in their health.High computation-intensive models are required to monitor every action of the patient precisely.This requirement limits the applicability of such networks.Hence,to keep the model lightweight,the already designed fall detection networks can be extended to monitor the general activities of the patients along with the fall detection.Motivated by the same notion,we propose a novel,lightweight,and efficient patient activity monitoring system that broadly classifies the patients’activities into fall,activity,and rest classes based on their poses.The whole network comprises three sub-networks,namely a Convolutional Neural Networks(CNN)based video compression network,a Lightweight Pose Network(LPN)and a Residual Network(ResNet)Mixer block-based activity recognition network.The compression network compresses the video streams using deep learning networks for efficient storage and retrieval;after that,LPN estimates human poses.Finally,the activity recognition network classifies the patients’activities based on their poses.The proposed system shows an overall accuracy of approx.99.7% over a standard dataset with 99.63% fall detection accuracy and efficiently monitors different events,which may help monitor the falls and improve the inpatients’health.
基金the Canadian Institutes of Health Research(CIHR)Foundation grant(389035)CCOA Therapeutics Inc.research fund to Dr.H.N.CIHR grant for COVID-19(OV3-170344,SBC-171482,and VS1-175560)to Dr.H.Z.D.T.M.,Z.C.,and DK are recipients of the Queen Elizabeth II(QE-II)Graduate Scholarship,Ontario,Canada.S.S.is a recipient of the Canadian Blood Services postdoctoral award.D.T.M.is a recipient of a Graduate Scholarship,Department of Physiology,University of Toronto.Z.C.is the recipient of the Canadian Blood Services Graduate Scholarship,Ontario,Canada.C.S.is a recipient of a postdoctoral Mitacs award,University of Toronto.Z.L.is a recipient of Mitacs Accelerate Postdoctoral Fellowship.LL is a recipient of a scholarship from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences.X.W.is a recipient of Killam Research Fellowship from the Canadian Council for the Arts.D.K.is also the recipient of the St.Michael’s Hospital Research Training Centre Scholarship and the 2021-2022 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships(Vanier CGS),and V.P.is the recipient of the CGS awarded by the CIHR.
文摘The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus is an ongoing global health burden.Severe cases of COVID-19 and the rare cases of COVID-19 vaccine-induced-thrombotic-thrombocytopenia(VITT)are both associated with thrombosis and thrombocytopenia;however,the underlying mechanisms remain inadequately understood.Both infection and vaccination utilize the spike protein receptor-binding domain(RBD)of SARS-CoV-2.We found that intravenous injection of recombinant RBD caused significant platelet clearance in mice.Further investigation revealed the RBD could bind platelets,cause platelet activation,and potentiate platelet aggregation,which was exacerbated in the Delta and Kappa variants.The RBD–platelet interaction was partially dependent on theβ3 integrin as binding was significantly reduced inβ3−/−mice.Furthermore,RBD binding to human and mouse platelets was significantly reduced with relatedαIIbβ3 antagonists and mutation of the RGD(arginine-glycine-aspartate)integrin binding motif to RGE(arginine-glycine-glutamate).We developed anti-RBD polyclonal and several monoclonal antibodies(mAbs)and identified 4F2 and 4H12 for their potent dual inhibition of RBD-induced platelet activation,aggregation,and clearance in vivo,and SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication in Vero E6 cells.Our data show that the RBD can bind platelets partially thoughαIIbβ3 and induce platelet activation and clearance,which may contribute to thrombosis and thrombocytopenia observed in COVID-19 and VITT.Our newly developed mAbs 4F2 and 4H12 have potential not only for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 virus antigen but also importantly for therapy against COVID-19.
基金Supported by National Research Foundation of Korea,No.NRF-2022R1A2C1003638The Basic Research Lab Program through the NRF of Korea Funded by The Ministry of Science and ICT,No.2022R1A4A1025557.
文摘This editorial comments on the study by Liu et al investigating pancreatic metastasis of clear cell sarcoma(CCS)published in the World Journal of Clinical Cases.CCS is a rare and aggressive melanocytic tumor,that typically arises from tendons and aponeuroses of the limbs,and metastasizes to the lungs,bones,and brain.However,pancreatic metastasis has rarely been reported,presenting unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.Elucidating the clinical characteristics,imaging features,prognostic factors,and treatment outcomes of patients with pancreatic CCS metastasis is crucial.Surgery remains an effective management strategy for CCS.However,the high recurrence rate and low effectiveness of traditional adjuvant treatments necessitate a shift towards more personalized and targeted treatment plans.Research is needed to investigate and validate novel therapeutic approaches specifically tailored to the distinct genetic and molecular characteristics of rare malignancies like CCS.Additionally,the development of late metastases after a long disease-free interval is common in CCS patients.Therefore,routine postoperative surveillance for metastasis using computed tomography,magnetic resonance imaging,bone scans,and positron emission tomography scans is crucial.Moving forward,enhanced collaboration,investigation,and creative thinking among scientists,medical professionals,and legislators are essential to gain a deeper understanding of these rare presentations.
基金Project supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFE0122700)in part by National Natural Science Foundation of China(62371241,62350610268,61971230)in part by the Jiangsu Distinguished Professor Program(R2022T48)。
文摘Excellent magnetic properties in ferrites are required for high-frequency applications and for wastewater treatment. Thus, the present study shows the comparison of magnetic and structural properties of Nd and Sm substituted Ni-Zn-Bi ferrites with the series Ni_(0.5)Zn_(0.5)Bi_(0.04)Nd_(x)Fe_(1.96-x)O_4(with step size 0.002)and Ni_(0.5)Zn_(0.5)Bi_(0.04)Sm_(x)Fe_(1.96-x)O_4(with step size 0.02) prepared using citrate precursor method. The impact of the substitution of rare earth ions(Nd and Sm) on magnetic properties of the synthesized samples is observed using a vibrating sample magnetometer(VSM). The saturation magnetization values enhance considerably from 52 to 58 emu/g for Nd^(3+)ions and 39 to 57 emu/g for Sm^(3+) ions, thus, making these materials magnetically hard. Further, the higher value of coercivity is also observed ranging from133 to 167 Oe for Nd^(3+)ions and 81 to 155 Oe for Sm^(3+) ions. The shape of hysteresis loops indicates a super paramagnetic and ferromagnetic behavior in the obtained samples. The squareness ratio value is<0.5, suggesting the uniaxial anisotropy of particles and hence, these ferrites are suitable for microwaveabsorbing and in permanent magnetic materials. The X-ray diffraction(XRD) pattern shows the formation of pure cubic crystallites, where, lattice parameters range from 0.840 to 0.839 nm and from 0.838to 0.839 nm for Nd^(3+)and Sm^(3+) ions substitution, respectively. The crystallite size ranges between 28.63to 29.89 nm and 18.33 to 26.23 nm, for substitution of Nd^(3+)and Sm^(3+) ions, respectively. Field emission scanning electron microscopy(FESEM) shows the formation of homogeneous grains, whereas, energy dispersive spectrometer(EDS) counts describe the purity of the samples. The Sm concentration x = 0.10has the maximum surface area with value of 42.6 m^(2)/g which proves to be having good data storage application due to high surface area. The zero-field cooled(ZFC) and field cooled(FC) data show that Nddoped Ni-Zn-Bi nanoferrites show superparamagnetic behaviour in the
基金UGC for providing financial support in the form of the JRF fellowship via letter NTA Ref.No.:201610006334the financial support provided under the scheme‘Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure(FIST)’of the Department of Science&Technology(DST),Government of India via letter No.SR/FST/MS-I/2021/104 to the Department of Mathematics and Statistics,Central University of Punjab。
文摘In this paper,the non-static solutions for perfect fluid distribution with plane symmetry in f(R,T)gravitational theory are obtained.Firstly,using the Lie symmetries,symmetry reductions are performed for considered vector fields to reduce the number of independent variables.Then,corresponding to each reduction,exact solutions are obtained.Killing vectors lead to different conserved quantities.Therefore,we figure out the Killing vector fields corresponding to all derived solutions.The derived solutions are further studied and it is observed that all of the obtained spacetimes,at least admit to the minimal symmetry group which consists of δ_(y),δ_(z) and -zδ_(y)+yδ_(z).The obtained metrics,admit to 3,4,6,and 10,Killing vector fields.Conservation of linear momentum in the direction of y and z,and angular momentum along the x axis is provided by all derived solutions.
文摘We have studied periodic orbits generated by Lagrangian solutions of the restricted three-body problem when both the primaries are triaxial rigid bodies and source of radiation pressure. We have determined periodic orbits for different values of (h is energy constant;μ is mass ratio of the two primaries;are parameters of triaxial rigid bodies and are radiation parameters). These orbits have been determined by giving displacements along the tangent and normal at the mobile co-ordinates as defined in our papers (Mittal et al. [1]-[3]). These orbits have been drawn by using the predictor-corrector method. We have also studied the effect of triaxial bodies and source of radiation pressure on the periodic orbits by taking fixed value of μ.
文摘BACKGROUND Diabetes mellitus(DM)is a progressively increasing metabolic disorder and a significant public health burden that demands immediate global attention.However,there is a paucity of data about adherence to antidiabetic drugs among patients with type-2(T2)DM in Uttarakhand,India.Outpatient research reported that more than 50%of patients do not adhere to the correct administration and appropriate medicine dosage.It has been reported that patients with chronic diseases who adhere to treatment may experience improvement in quality of life(QoL)and vice versa.AIM To assess the adherence to antidiabetic medication and QoL among patients with T2DM.METHODS This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Uttarakhand,India.The Medication Adherence Rating Scale and World Health Organization QoL-BREF scale were used to assess medication adherence and QoL.RESULTS Two hundred seventy-seven patients suffering from T2DM participated in the study.Their mean age was 50.80(±10.6)years,155(56%)had a poor adherence level and 122(44%)had a good adherence level to antidiabetic medications.After adjusting for sociodemographic factors,multiple linear regression analysis found patients who were adherent to antidiabetic medications had significantly higher mean overall perception of QoL and overall perception of health,with beta scores of 0.36 and 0.34,respectively(both P=0.000)points compared with nonadherent patients.CONCLUSION There was an association between medication adherence and QoL in patients with T2DM.Hence,there is a need to plan awareness and counseling programs followed by regular follow-up to motivate patient adherence to recommended treatment and lifestyle regimens.
文摘Cytomegalovirus(CMV) infection is an important contributor to the morbidity and mortality associated with bone marrow transplantation(BMT). Infection may lead to CMV disease involving multiple organs such as pneumonia, gastroenteritis, retinitis, central nervus system involvement and others. CMV seropositivity is an important risk factor and approximately half of BMT recipients will develop clinically significant infection most commonly in the first 100 d post-transplant. The commonly used tests to diagnose CMV infection in these patients include the pp65 antigenemia test and the CMV DNA polymerase chain reaction(PCR) assay. Because of its greater sensitivity and lesser turnaround time, the CMV PCR is nowadays the preferred test and serves as a main guide for pre-emptive therapy. Methods of CMV prevention include use of blood products from seronegative donors or leukodepleted products. Prophylaxis or pre-emptive therapy strategies for CMV prevention may be used post-transplant with the latter becoming more common. The commonly used antivirals for pre-emptive therapy and CMV disease management include intravenous gancyclovir and foscarnet. The role of intravenous immunoglobulin, although used commonly in CMV pneumonia is not clear.
文摘When fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium was challenged with gold ions under ambient aqueous conditions gold nanoparticles were formed within 90 minutes. Controlling experimental conditions like the age of fungus, incubation temperature and different concentration of gold chloride solution had drastic effect on the morphology of the nanoparticles formed. The enzyme assays indicated the role of enzyme as a reducing and shape directing agent. Laccase was the dominating enzyme in the case of fungal media for the synthesis of extracellular gold nanoparticles. Ligninase was responsible for the intracellular formation of nanoparticles on the fungal mycelium. The stabilization of the nanoparticles (NPs) via protein layer was evident by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) which revealed the nanoparticles to be spherical in the range of 10-100 nm. This study represents an important advancement in the use of fungal enzymes for the biosynthesis of highly stable gold nanoparticles by a green and mild technique in one pot in aqueous media.
文摘Non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor was developed for estimation of low-level cholesterol.Polyindole/tungsten carbide(PIN/WC)nanocomposite was synthesized and used as an electroactive material to develop low-cost modified stainless steel plate electrode(SSPE).Surface morphology of developed electrode was characterized by scanning electron microscopy.Electrochemical behavior of cholesterol was investigated through electron impedance spectroscopy,potentiodynamic polarization and cyclic voltammetry in 1-M KOH electrolytic solution.The quantification of cholesterol was studied by square wave voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry.The calibration plots between the cholesterol concentration and peak current were in linear relation with limit of detection of 1.23×10^(−6) mol L^(−1).The overall result reveals that developed PIN/WC/SSPE electrode has excellent performance for trace-level cholesterol estimation and can be further employed for cholesterol monitoring in blood serum samples.
文摘This paper considers the problem of hydrodynamics and thermal boundary layers of Darcy flow over horizontal surface embedded in a porous medium. The solutions of such problems for the cases of uniform surface temperature and variable surface temperature have been studied and analysed in many papers. This paper, however, attempts to find similarity solutions for the Darcy flow problem with a convective boundary condition at the plate surface. It is found that the solution is possible when the heat transfer coefficient is proportional to x<sup>–2/3</sup>. The numerical solutions thus obtained are analyzed for a range of values of the parameter characterizing the hot fluid convection process. Analytical expressions are provided for local surface heat flux and total surface heat transfer rate while the flow variables are discussed graphically.
文摘Purpose: Right mini thoracotomy has been evaluated in many studies for mitral valve repair mainly in degenerative valvular disease but not in rheumatic heart disease. Mitral valve repair is more challenging in rheumatic etiology due to complexity of lesions. This prospective randomized case control study was designed to evaluate repair through mini right thoracotomy and to compare the clinical and echocardiographic outcomes with sternotomy in rheumatic patients. Methods: 25 patients of rheumatic heart disease underwent mitral valve repair through mini right thoracotomy (group I). Various clinical and functional parameters were compared with 25 patients of mitral valve repair through sternotomy (group II). On follow up the results were compared in both groups for clinical and echocardiographic parameters. Results: The various pre-operative demographic parameters were comparable in two groups. Equal rate of mitral valve repair (group I-21/25, 84% and group II-21/25, 84%) was achieved in both groups. The various intra-operative and post-operative clinical parameters were better in group I .There were equivalent functional and valve related outcomes in both groups in term of NYHA class (1.28 ± 0.613 vs 1.08 ± 0.276, P = 0.144), post-operative mitral valve area (2.43 ± 0.891 vs 2.82 ± 0.662, P = 0.090), incidence of more than mild mitral regurgitation (0) and mean pressure gradient across mitral valve (4.98 ± 3.33 vs 4.23 ± 1.5, P = 0.309). Conclusion: Mitral valve repair through mini right thoracotomy approach in rheumatic etiology is feasible and safe with equivalent rate of successful repair as compared to median sternotomy. It is associated with lesser morbidity, cosmetic advantage and lesser resource utilization.
文摘The demand for alternative low-grade iron ores is on the rise due to the rapid depletion of high-grade natural iron ore resources and the increased need for steel usage in daily life.However,the use of low-grade iron ores is a constant clinical task for industry metallurgists.Direct smelting of low-grade ores consumes a substantial amount of energy due to the large volume of slag generated.This condition can be avoided by direct reduction followed by magnetic separation(to separate the high amount of gangue or refractory and metal parts)and smelting.Chromite overburden(COB)is a mine waste generated in chromite ore processing,and it mainly consists of iron,chromium,and nickel(<1wt%).In the present work,the isothermal and non-isothermal kinetics of the solid-state reduction of self-reduced pellets prepared using low-grade iron ore(COB)were thoroughly investigated via thermal analysis.The results showed that the reduction of pellets followed a firstorder autocatalytic reaction control mechanism in the temperature range of 900-1100℃.The autocatalytic nature of the reduction reaction was due to the presence of nickel in the COB.The apparent activation energy obtained from the kinetics results showed that the solid-state reactions between COB and carbon were the rate-determining step in iron oxide reduction.
文摘Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a critical component of the reninangiotensin system that contributes to hypertension. Although platelets in blood from hypertensive subjects have an abnormal biological profile, it is unclear if circulating Ang II influences platelet aggregation or thrombus formation. One of the abnormalities presented to the platelets during hypertension is an elevated plasma concentration of serotonin (5-HT) caused by reduced 5-HT uptake secondary to loss of the 5-HT transporter (SERT) on the platelet plasma membrane. In the current study, we evaluated in vivo platelet function after 7 days of subcutaneous Ang II infusion to establish hypertension in mice and additionally assessed the biology of isolated platelets exposed to Ang II in vitro. The administration of Ang II elevated systolic blood pressure, but markers of platelet activation including P-selectin and PEJon/A staining were not changed. However, the aggregation response to collagen was reduced in isolated platelets from Ang II-infused mice, which also showed reduced 5-HT uptake by SERT. In vitro exposure of isolated platelets to Ang II also resulted in a loss of surface SERT associated with a reduced aggregation response to collagen. These abnormalities were reversed by increasing concentra tions of the Ang II receptor antagonist, valsartan. Interestingly, SERT KO mice failed to fully develop hypertension in response to Ang II infusion and isolated platelets from these animals were insensitive to the anti-aggregatory influence of Ang II. Thus, Ang II blunts the aggregation responses of platelets and the mechanism underlying this action may involve a loss of SERT on the platelet plasma membrane. The latter event depletes intracellular 5-HT in platelets, an event that is associated with reduced aggregation. The widespread use of antihypertensive drugs that target the renin-angiotensin system suggest the potential clinical utility of our findings and emphasize the importance of understanding the impact of Ang II on platelet function.
文摘Aim European and North american studies have suggested that nitrogen(N)depositions reduce plant diversity and increase primary pro-ductivity due to changes in plant traits.To predict the vegetation response to future global change,experimental validations from other regions are widely needed.We assessed the effects of N treat-ment by urea fertilization on the diversity and biomass of the her-baceous plant traits(HPTs)in a dry tropical environment of India.Methods Diversity and biomass of different HPTs were determined on the basis of data collected in year 2010,from 135,1 m×1 m plots dis-tributed over 15 locations.The plots were treated with urea fertilizer in different doses(Control,60 kgNha−1 yr−1 and 120 kg N ha−1yr−1)since 1st January 2007.The plots were ordinated and data were subjected to appropriate statistical analyses.Important Findings Correspondence analysis(Ca)suggested uniqueness of species composition due to N amendment.species number and biomass of the trait categories varied due to N fertilization and traits.all studied trait categories(except N-fixers)yielded maximum mean species number at moderate level of N fertilization.Different levels of N fer-tilization exhibited different species diversity-primary productivity(D-P)relationships.Further,study showed reduction in plant diver-sity due to increase in biomass at high rates of N addition.Conclusions Tall,erect,non N-fixers,annuals,grasses HPTs were favoured by N enrichment.N dose above 60 kg enhanced the biomass of fast grow-ing,erect,annuals,non N-fixers,nitrophilic HPTs.The changes in traits with N addition,especially the increase in annuals and grasses and decrease in typically N-rich N-fixers,have implications for sus-tainable cattle production.
