The product of the ∧0/b （-B/0） differential production cross-section and the branching fraction of the decay ∧0/b→ J/ψ pK-（-B/0→ J/ψ-K＊（892）0）is measured as a function of the beauty hadron transverse mome...The product of the ∧0/b （-B/0） differential production cross-section and the branching fraction of the decay ∧0/b→ J/ψ pK-（-B/0→ J/ψ-K＊（892）0）is measured as a function of the beauty hadron transverse momentum, PT, and rapidity, y. The kinematic region of the measurements is pT〈20 GeV/c and 2.0 〈g〈4.5.The measurements use a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3fb-1 collected by the LHCb detector in pp collisions at centre-of-mass energies √s=7 TeV in 2011 and √s=8 TeV in 2012. Based on previous LHCb results of the fragmentation fraction ratio,f∧0/b/fd,the branching fraction of the decay ∧0/b→ J/ψ pK-is measured to be B（∧0/b→ J/ψ pK-）=（3.17±0.04±0.07±0.34＋0.45/-0.28）×10-4,where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, the third is due to the uncertainty on the branching fraction of the decay -B/0 →J/ψ-K＊（892）0,and the fourth is due to the knowledge of f∧0/b/fd.The sum of the asymmetries in the production and decay between ∧0/b and ∧0/bis also measured as a function of PT and y.The previously published branching fraction of ∧0/b→ J/ψ pπ-,relative to that of ∧0/b→ J/ψ pK-,is updated. The branching fractions of ∧0/b→P＋c（→ J/ψp）K-are determined.展开更多
Diabetes mellitus is the most common cause of Charcot neuropathy affecting foot and ankle. Acute Charcot foot(CF) presents with a red and swollen foot in co-ntrast to the painless deformed one of chronic CF. En-hanced...Diabetes mellitus is the most common cause of Charcot neuropathy affecting foot and ankle. Acute Charcot foot(CF) presents with a red and swollen foot in co-ntrast to the painless deformed one of chronic CF. En-hanced osteoclastogenesis plays a central role in the pathogenesis of acute CF. Many studies have shown elevated levels of bone turnover markers in patients with acute CF confirming it. These findings have led cl-inicians to use anti-resorptive agents [bisphosphonates(BP), calcitonin, and denosumab] along with immobi-lization and offloading in acute CF patients. The ma-ximum evidence among all anti-resorptive agents is available for BPs, although its quality is low. Pamidronate has been shown to reduce the markers of activity of CF like raised skin temperature, pain, edema, and bone turnover markers in the majority of studies. Intravenous BPs are known to cause acute phase reactions leading to flu-like illness following their first infusion, which can be ameliorated by oral acetaminophen. Alendronate is the only oral BP used in these patients. It needs to be taken on an empty stomach with a full glass of water to avoid esophagitis. The side-effects and contraindications to BPs should be kept in mind while treating acute CF patients with them.展开更多
The Hippo/Yap pathwayis a wll-conserved signaling cascade that regulates cell proliferation and dfferentiationto control organsize and stem/progenitor cell behavior.Following airway injury,Yap was dynamically regulate...The Hippo/Yap pathwayis a wll-conserved signaling cascade that regulates cell proliferation and dfferentiationto control organsize and stem/progenitor cell behavior.Following airway injury,Yap was dynamically regulated in regenerating airway epithelial clls.To deter.mine the role ofHippo signaling in the lung,the mammalian Hippo kinases,Mst1 and Mst2,were deleted in epithelial cells ofthe embry-onic and mature mouse lung.Mst1/2 deletion in the fetal lung enhanced proliferation and inhibited sacculation and epithelial cell differentiation.The transcriptional inhibition of cell proliferation and activation of differentiation during normal perinatal lung maturation were inversely regulated followving embryonic Mst1/2 deletion.Ablation of Mst1/2 from bronchiolar epithelial cells in the adult lung caused airway hyperplasia and altered differentiation.Inhibitory Yap phosphorylation was decreased and Yap nuclear localization and transcriptional targets were increased after Mst1/2 deletion,consistent with canonical Hippo/Yap signaling.YAP potentiated cell prolif-eration and inhibited dfferentiation of human bronchial epithelial cells in vitro.Loss of Mst1/2 and expression ofYAP regulated transcrip-tional targets controlling cell proliferation and diferentiation,including Ajuba LIM protein.Ajuba was required forthe effects ofYAP oncell proliferation in vitro.Hippo/Yapsignaling regulates Ajuba and controls proliferation and diferentiation oflung epithelial progenitor cells.展开更多
Objective To evaluate the expression and diagnostic value of levels of the microRNAs(miRNAs),miRNA-181a,miRNA-23b,and miRNA-16,in late-onset neonatal sepsis(LOS)and compare them with the diagnostic utility of C-reacti...Objective To evaluate the expression and diagnostic value of levels of the microRNAs(miRNAs),miRNA-181a,miRNA-23b,and miRNA-16,in late-onset neonatal sepsis(LOS)and compare them with the diagnostic utility of C-reactive protein(CRP)levels.Methods This was a prospective diagnostic study conducted between January 2021 and March 2023 at a tertiary care center(Sri Ramachandra Hospital)in India.Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to determine miRNA-181a,miRNA-23b,and miRNA-16 expression levels,and CRP was measured by nephelometry.The diagnostic value of miRNA and CRP levels were analyzed using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves.ROC curves were utilized to determine optimal cutoff points,and Mann–Whitney tests were performed using SPSS to ascertain P values,with statistical significance defined as<0.05.Results This study included 100 samples,with 50 cases of culture-proven LOS(27 females,23 males)and 50 healthy controls(31 females,19 males).In LOS,miRNA-181a and miRNA-23b expression levels were significantly downregulated(P<0.001),with area under the curve(AUC)values of 0.83 and 0.92,respectively,whereas those of miRNA-16 were significantly upregulated(P<0.001;AUC=0.97).In comparison,CRP levels had an AUC value of 0.831(P<0.001).Further,miRNA-23b showed the highest sensitivity(98%)of markers tested,whereas miRNA-16 exhibited the highest specificity(96%).Conclusion MiRNA,especially miRNA-16,shows diagnostic potential for neonatal sepsis compared with traditional biomarkers like CRP and procalcitonin,suggesting its use as an early marker for LOS.However,further cohort studies are needed before practical application.展开更多
Renal transplant patients receive several immunosuppressive drug regimens that are potentially nephrotoxic for treatment.Serum creatinine is the standard for monitoring kidney function;however,cystatin C(Cys C)and kid...Renal transplant patients receive several immunosuppressive drug regimens that are potentially nephrotoxic for treatment.Serum creatinine is the standard for monitoring kidney function;however,cystatin C(Cys C)and kidney injury molecule-1(KIM-1)have been found to indicate kidney injury earlier than serum creatinine and provide a better reflection of kidney function.Here,we assessed Cys C and KIM-1 serum levels in renal transplant patients receiving mycophenolate mofetil,tacrolimus,sirolimus,everolimus,or cyclosporine to evaluate kidney function.We used both the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration(CKD-EPI)2021 equation,which is based on creatinine and combined creatinine with Cys C,and the CKD-EPI 2012 equation,which is based on Cys C alone,to estimate glomerular filtration rate(GFR).Then,we assessed the association between serum KIM-1 and GFR<90 mL per minute per 1.73 m2.We observed significantly higher serum Cys C levels in patients with the elevated serum creatinine,compared with those with normal serum creatinine.The estimated GFRs based on creatinine were significantly higher than those based on the other equations,while a significant positive correlation was observed among all equations.Serum KIM-1 levels were negatively correlated with the estimated GFRs by the CKD-EPI Cys C and the combined creatinine with Cys C equations.A serum KIM-1 level above 0.71 ng/mL is likely to indicate GFR<90 mL per minute per 1.73 m2.We observed a significant correlation between serum creatinine and Cys C in our renal transplant patients.Therefore,serum KIM-1 may be used to monitor renal function when using potentially nephrotoxic drugs in renal transplants.展开更多
The rapid increase in the demand for electricity necessitates the power quality improvement for achieving better reliability in smart grids. Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) is the proven technology for reliable monitor...The rapid increase in the demand for electricity necessitates the power quality improvement for achieving better reliability in smart grids. Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) is the proven technology for reliable monitoring. This paper proposes a system model for the development and implementation of WSN based communication system for the monitoring of distributed generation, loads and transmission lines in the electrical grid and a controller system for automated control on the electrical grid. This work also aims to reduce the carbon footprints by reducing the dependency of electrical grid through the enhancement of distributed generation and grid sharing for avoiding voltage rise problem. To achieve this, a smarter electrical grid has been developed for the validation of smart grid considering a generation substation, a transmission substation and a distributed generation with loads. The occurrence of power quality issue and voltage rise has been controlled by active power control strategy. The communication network and controller has been modeled and tested for the performance of monitoring system and data communication capability on smart grid.展开更多
Above-optimal temperatures reduce yield in many crops, including tomato, largely because of the heat-sensitivity of their reproduction process. A full understanding of heat-stress (HS) response and thermotolerance of ...Above-optimal temperatures reduce yield in many crops, including tomato, largely because of the heat-sensitivity of their reproduction process. A full understanding of heat-stress (HS) response and thermotolerance of tomato reproduction is still lacking. Recently, using external application of the plant <span style="font-family:Verdana;">hormone ethylene, it was demonstrated that ethylene plays a role in</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> heat-tolerance of tomato pollen (the male reproductive cells). In order to expand our understanding on involvement of ethylene in tomato pollen thermotolerance, </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">we analyzed the response of wild type and ethylene-related tomato mutant</span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">plants to HS, at physiological and molecular levels. We report that mild</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> chronic </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">HS conditions highly reduce the number of viable and germinating pollen </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">grains as well as the production of seeded fruits in wild type tomato plants, while no significant reduction was detected/observed in pollen quality, number of seeded fruits and seeds per fruit in plants of the ethylene over-producer mutant epinastic. Our findings suggest that ethylene is involved in thermotolerance of tomato reproduction, pointing to an effect on pollen viability and </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">germination potential, highlighting candidate genes involved in pollen re</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">sponse to HS (like </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">SlHSP17</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">SlHSP101</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">SlMBF1</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">) and suggesting directions for further studies.</span>展开更多
Technology development in the Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) has paved the way for body area network for remote health monitoring. For this purpose, a message or a data packet should be transmitted from the patient to ...Technology development in the Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) has paved the way for body area network for remote health monitoring. For this purpose, a message or a data packet should be transmitted from the patient to the medical evaluator without any loss. In this work, Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) algorithm is implemented for Wireless Body Area Networks (WBAN) to deliver the message, based on the criticality of the pa- tient. Finally, we compare the results for both the real-time data and the simulated (random) values in terms of packet-size forwarding for different parameters such as Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR), Delay and Throughput. The result shows better performance in the real time value by using TOPSIS scheme in the WBAN. By improving the quality of service in body area networks, health monitoring system can be automated with good performance.展开更多
Power generation becomes the need of developed, developing and under developed countries to meet their increasing power requirements. When affordability increases their requirement of power increases, this happens whe...Power generation becomes the need of developed, developing and under developed countries to meet their increasing power requirements. When affordability increases their requirement of power increases, this happens when increased per capita consumption. The existing power scenario states that highest power is produced using firing of coals called thermal energy. A high efficiency Switched Reluctance Generator (SRG) based high frequency switching scheme to enhance the output for grid connectivity is designed, fabricated and evaluated. This proposed method generates the output for the low wind speed. It provides output at low speed because of multi-level DC-DC converter and storage system. It is an efficient solution for low wind power generation. The real time readings and results are discussed.展开更多
Growth hormone(GH)excess is associated with several systemic complications,one of which is the increased risk of neoplastic processes particularly of the gastrointestinal(GI)tract.Among the GI neoplasms,the most repor...Growth hormone(GH)excess is associated with several systemic complications,one of which is the increased risk of neoplastic processes particularly of the gastrointestinal(GI)tract.Among the GI neoplasms,the most reported association is with benign and malignant neoplasms of the colon.In the majority of published literature,an increased incidence of GI neoplasms,both colonic adenomas as well as colorectal carcinoma is reported.However,the studies on colon cancer-specific mortality rate are conflicting with recent studies reporting similar cancer-specific mortality rates in comparison to controls.Many studies have reported an association of colorectal neoplasms with GH levels.Pathogenic mechanisms put forward to explain this association of GH excess and GI neoplasms primarily involve the increased GH-insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF-1)signaling.Both GH and IGF-1 have proliferative,anti-apoptotic,and angiogenic effects on the systemic tissues leading to cellular proliferation.Other contributing factors to the increased risk of GI neoplasms include slow intestinal transit with a redundant large bowel,altered bile acids,deranged local immune response,shared genetic susceptibility factors and hyperinsulinemia.In view of the increased risk association,most guidelines for the care of acromegaly patients recommend an initial screening colonoscopy.Recommendations for further follow-up colonoscopy differ but broadly,the guidelines agree that it depends on the findings at first colonoscopy and state of remission of GH excess.Regarding the concern about the risk of colorectal cancers in patients receiving recombinant GH therapy,most cohort studies do not show an increased risk.展开更多
Future long-distance space missions will be associated with significant exposures to ionizing radiation,and the health risks of these radiation exposures during manned missions need to be assessed. Recent Earth-based ...Future long-distance space missions will be associated with significant exposures to ionizing radiation,and the health risks of these radiation exposures during manned missions need to be assessed. Recent Earth-based epidemiological studies in survivors of atomic bombs and after occupational and medical low dose radiation exposures have indicated that the cardiovascular system may be more sensitive to ionizing radiation than was previously thought. This has raised the concern of a cardiovascular disease risk from exposure to space radiation during long-distance space travel. Groundbased studies with animal and cell culture models play an important role in estimating health risks from space radiation exposure. Charged particle space radiation has dense ionization characteristics and may induce unique biological responses,appropriate simulation of the space radiation environment and careful consideration of the choice of the experimental model are critical. Recent studies have addressed cardiovascular effects of space radiation using such models and provided first results that aid in estimating cardiovascular disease risk,and several other studies are ongoing. Moreover,astronauts could potentially be administered pharmacological countermeasures against adverse effects of space radiation,and research is focused on the development of such compounds. Because the cardiovascular response to space radiation has not yet been clearly defined,the identification of potential pharmacological countermeasures against cardiovascular effects is still in its infancy.展开更多
AIM:To determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus(HCV) and its co-infection with hepatitis B virus(HBV),hepatitis delta agent(HDV) and human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) among liver disease patients of south Tam...AIM:To determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus(HCV) and its co-infection with hepatitis B virus(HBV),hepatitis delta agent(HDV) and human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) among liver disease patients of south Tamil Nadu. METHODS:A total of 1012 samples comprising 512 clinically diagnosed cases of liver disease patients and 500 apparently healthy age and sex matched individuals were screened for Hepatitis C virus(anti HCV and HCV RNA) ,Hepatitis B virus(HBsAg),Hepatitis delta agent(anti HDV) and Human immuno virus(antibodies to HIV-1 and HIV-2) using commercially available enzyme linked immunosorbent assay kits.HCV RNA wasdetected by RT-PCR.Liver function tests like ALT,AST,GGT,ALP,bilirubin and albumin were also studied. RESULTS:The seroprevalence of HCV was found to be 5.6%among liver disease patients by ELISA.27/512,49/512 and 12/512 patients were positive for HIV,HBV &HDV respectively.Co-infection of HCV&HBV was found in 8 patients,with 6 for HCV&HIV and 4 for HCV,HBV&HIV co-infections.Sex-wise analysis showed that HIV,HCV&HBV and HCV&HIV co-infection was high among females whereas for HBV it was high in males. The mean ALT and AST in HCV positive cases were 42.1±8.3 and 49±10.1.In people co-infected with HCV&HBV or HCV&HIV or HCV,HBV&HIV the mean ALT of 58.0±03.16,56.78±4.401 and 64.37±4.01 respectively. CONCLUSION:We strongly recommend routine test of the blood for HCV in addition to HBV and HIV.We also recommend individualized counseling to identify those at risk and testing for those who want it.Improved surveillance and periodic epidemiological studies will have to be undertaken to monitor and prevent these blood-borne viruses.展开更多
We report atmospheric turbulence parameters, namely atmospheric seeing, tilt-anisoplanatic angle(θ_0) and coherence time(Τ_0), measured under various sky conditions, at Vainu Bappu Observatory in Kavalur. Bursts of ...We report atmospheric turbulence parameters, namely atmospheric seeing, tilt-anisoplanatic angle(θ_0) and coherence time(Τ_0), measured under various sky conditions, at Vainu Bappu Observatory in Kavalur. Bursts of short exposure images of selected stars were recorded with a high-speed, frame-transfer CCD mounted on the Cassegrain focus of a newly commissioned 1.3 m telescope. The estimated median seeing is ≈ 1.85 " at wavelength of ～ 600 nm, the image motion correlation between different pairs of stars is ～44% for θ0≈ 36" and mean Τ_0 is ≈ 2.4 ms. This work was motivated by the design considerations and expected performance of an adaptive optics system that is currently being planned for the telescope.展开更多
Burkitt's lymphoma(BL) is an aggressive form of nonHodgkin's B-cell lymphoma with three variants namely endemic, sporadic, and immunodeficiency-associated types. It is endemic in Africa and sporadic in other p...Burkitt's lymphoma(BL) is an aggressive form of nonHodgkin's B-cell lymphoma with three variants namely endemic, sporadic, and immunodeficiency-associated types. It is endemic in Africa and sporadic in other parts of the world. While the endemic form is widely reported to occur in early childhood and commonly involves the jaw bones, the sporadic form typically presents as an abdominal mass. This presentation reports a rare case of sporadic form of BL clinically manifesting as a generalized gingival enlargement in an immunocompetent adult male which demonstrated an aggressive behavior. The patient reported with a prominent anterior gingival swelling of 6 mo duration which slowly enlarged in size and associated with multiple lymph node involvement. Microscopic examination of the lesion using H, E and immunohistochemical diagnosis confirmed the diagnosis as BL. The patient succumbed to the disease before any therapy could be instituted. Since a wide array of causes can be attributed to gingival enlargements, it is necessary to consider malignancies as one of the important differential diagnosis so as to facilitate the need for appropriate diagnosis and prompt treatment.展开更多
This review aims to identify in vivo studies investigating the potential of plant substances and their natural molecules in managing inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).Specifically,the objective is to examine the impact ...This review aims to identify in vivo studies investigating the potential of plant substances and their natural molecules in managing inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).Specifically,the objective is to examine the impact of these substances on interleukins and other key inflammatory signaling markers.Relevant articles published up to December 2022 were identified through a search of the PubMed,Scopus,Web of Science,and Embase databases.The search used keywords including“inflammatory bowel disease”,“medicinal plants”,“natural molecules”,“anti-inflammatory”,and“ulcerative colitis”,and identified 1,878 potentially relevant articles,of which 89 were included in this review after completion of the selection process.This study provides preclinical data on natural products(NPs)that can potentially treat IBD,including ulcerative colitis.The main actions of these NPs relate to their effects on nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κβ),the Janus kinase(JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription(STAT)signaling pathway,the regulation of T helper 17/regulatory T cells balance,and oxidative stress.The ability of these NPs to inhibit intestinal inflammation appears to be dependent on lowering levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α),interleukin(IL)-1β,and IL-17,via the Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK)1,NF-κβ-p65,and STAT3 pathways.In addition,NPs were shown to reduce oxidative stress and the severity of ulcerative colitis,as well as increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes.These actions suggest that NPs represent a promising treatment for IBD,and potentially have greater efficacy and safety than current treatments.展开更多
Background:Most patients of established retinitis pigmentosa(RP)have subnormal peripheral vision and heavily rely on central vision for their daily activities.Central visual acuity is dependent on photoreceptor surviv...Background:Most patients of established retinitis pigmentosa(RP)have subnormal peripheral vision and heavily rely on central vision for their daily activities.Central visual acuity is dependent on photoreceptor survival at the macula.Identification of structural changes that precede visual loss is essential.The aim of this study was to correlate the Spectral Domain-Optical Coherence Tomography(SD-OCT)characteristics with visual acuity in patients with typical RP.Methods:This was a retrospective,observational case series of 224 eyes of 113 RP patients conducted a tertiary eye care center.SD-OCT imaging was done for all eyes.Central retinal thickness(CRT),photoreceptor outer segment length(PROS),foveal outer segment pigment epithelial thickness(FOSPET)and ellipsoid zone(EZ)extent were measured.A new variable,FOSPET-PROS ratio(FPR),obtained by dividing FOSPET by PROS is defined and correlated to corrected distance visual acuity(CDVA)in logMAR using linear regression.Results:Out of 113 patients,71 were males and 42 females.Mean age of the patients was 35.4±15.1 years.Mean CDVA was 0.33±0.25 logMAR with no difference between the genders.Mean CRT(218.74±83.5μm)and FPR(1.63±0.22)significantly correlated to CDVA with a correlation coefficient of r=−0.139(p=0.048)and r=0.842(p=0.0001),respectively.FOSPET(mean=71.15±13.8μm)and PROS(mean=44.85±12.5μm)did not show a significant correlation to CDVA,independent of FPR.Conclusions:Retinal microstructural changes on SD-OCT,especially the FPR,can be used as a surrogate marker to monitor disease progression in the central retina in degenerative diseases like RP.展开更多
This study focuses on the design and development of a simplified active power regulation scheme for a two-stage single-phase grid-connected solar-PV(SPV)system with maximum power point(MPP)estimation.It aims to formul...This study focuses on the design and development of a simplified active power regulation scheme for a two-stage single-phase grid-connected solar-PV(SPV)system with maximum power point(MPP)estimation.It aims to formulate and test an improvised new control scheme to estimate the real-time MPP of the PV panel and operate only at either the MPP or on the right-hand side(RHS)of the PV characteristics of the panel.A simple active power regulatory control scheme was formulated to provide frequency control services to a single-phase grid without using an energy storage device.The plant operator provides the reserve fraction as the input for the active power regulation controller.At any time,the reserve fraction is used to determine the magnitude of the reference power to be extracted from the PV panel for injection into the grid.A simple PI controller was used to track the calculated reference power.The different modes of operation of the regulatory scheme are presented in detail.All the above control schemes are integrated and implemented through appropriate switching of the DC-DC converter alone.The DC-AC converter maintains the DC link voltage and unity power factor at the single-phase grid terminals.The proposed control schemes were tested on a 250 Wp solar panel feeding power to a 230 V,50 Hz single-phase grid through a two-stage converter.The entire scheme was modeled using the Matlab/Simulink platform,and the same was validated by hardware experimentation using Chroma Solar Simulator and NI myRIO controller under varied irradiation,temperature,and reserve fractions.The simulation and hardware results are compared and reported.展开更多
Introduction: With rising global antibiotic resistance, stewardship programs aimed at controlling multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogens have begun to gain acceptance. These programs stress appropriate antibiotic select...Introduction: With rising global antibiotic resistance, stewardship programs aimed at controlling multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogens have begun to gain acceptance. These programs stress appropriate antibiotic selection, dosage and duration. A growing literature suggests serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels may be useful in guiding antibiotic duration and de-escalation. This report sought to evaluate the evidence-based data available from prospective randomized controlled trials (RCT) on the role of PCT in guiding reductions in antibiotic duration in adult sepsis patients. Methods: A comprehensive search of all published prospective RCT(s) on the use of PCT as a tool for guiding antibiotic therapy in adult sepsis patients was conducted using PubMed, Medline Plus and Google Scholar (2007-2013). Keywords searched included, “procalcitonin”, “sepsis-therapy”, “sepsis biomarker”, “antibiotic duration”, “drug de-escalation”, and “antimicrobial stewardship”. Results:?Four RCT(s) involving 826 adult sepsis patients have evaluated the role of serum PCT levels to guide criteria for cessation of antibiotic therapy based either on specific PCT levels or PCT kinetics. Bouadma?et al.?(N = 621) stopped antibiotics when the PCT concentration was <80% of the peak PCT value, or the absolute PCT concentration was <0.5 μg/L. The PCT arm showed a 2.7-day reduction in antibiotics. Schroeder?et al.?(N = 27) discontinued antibiotics if clinical signs of infection improved and the PCT value decreased to <1 ng/mL or to <35% of the initial value within three days. The PCT arm had a 1.7-day reduction in antibiotics. Hochreiter?et al.?(N = 110) ceased antibiotics when the PCT decreased to <1 ng/mL, or to 25% - 35% of the initial value over three days if the value was >1 ng/mL. The PCT arm showed a 2-day reduction in antibiotics. Finally, Nobre?et al.?(N = 68) stopped antibiotics when PCT levels decreased by 90% or more from the initial value, but not prior to Day 3 (if baseline PCT measured <1 μg/L) or Day 5 (if baseli展开更多
Objective: To study the effect of halo substitution on disubstituted aryl semicarbazones on the anticonvulsant potential and model the activity based on quantum mechanics. Methods: A series of twenty-six compounds of ...Objective: To study the effect of halo substitution on disubstituted aryl semicarbazones on the anticonvulsant potential and model the activity based on quantum mechanics. Methods: A series of twenty-six compounds of N4-(4-bromo-3-methylphenyl) semicarbazones were synthesized and evaluated for the anticonvulsant activity in the maximal electroshock seizure (MES) and subcutaneous pentylenetetrazole (scPTZ) seizure threshold tests. Some potential compounds were also tested in the subcutaneous strychnine (scSTY) and subcutaneous picrotoxin (scPIC) seizure threshold tests. The synthesized compounds were tested for behavioral impairment and CNS (central nervous system) depression in mice. Quantum mechanical modelling was carried out on these compounds to gain understanding on the structural features essential for activity. Results: Some compounds possessed broad spectrum anticonvulsant activity as indicated by their effect in pentylenetetrazole, strychnine, picrotoxin and maximal electro- shock seizures models in resemblance to other aryl semicarbazone derivatives reported earlier. The higher the difference in HOMO (highest occupied molecular orbital) and LUMO (lowest unoccupied molecular orbital) energy levels was, the greater was the activity profile. Conclusion: The pharmacophoric requirements for compounds to exhibit anticonvulsant activity that includes one aryl unit in proximity to a hydrogen donor-acceptor domain and an electron donor have been justified with the molecular orbital surface analysis of the synthesized compounds.展开更多
基金Supported by CERN and national agencies:CAPES,CNPq,FAPERJ and FINEP(Brazil)NSFC(China)+17 种基金CNRS/IN2P3(France)BMBF,DFG,HGF and MPG(Germany)INFN(Italy)FOM and NWO(The Netherlands)MNi SW and NCN(Poland)MEN/IFA(Romania)Min ES and FANO(Russia)Min ECo(Spain)SNSF and SER(Switzerland)NASU(Ukraine)STFC(United Kingdom)NSF(USA)supported by IN2P3(France),KIT and BMBF(Germany),INFN(Italy),NWOSURF(The Netherlands),PIC(Spain),Grid PP(United Kingdom)support from EPLANET,Marie Sk lodowska-Curie ActionsERC(European Union),Conseil général de Haute-Savoie,Labex ENIGMASS and OCEVU,RégionAuvergne(France),RFBR(Russia),Xunta GalGENCAT(Spain),Royal Society and Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851(United Kingdom)
文摘The product of the ∧0/b （-B/0） differential production cross-section and the branching fraction of the decay ∧0/b→ J/ψ pK-（-B/0→ J/ψ-K＊（892）0）is measured as a function of the beauty hadron transverse momentum, PT, and rapidity, y. The kinematic region of the measurements is pT〈20 GeV/c and 2.0 〈g〈4.5.The measurements use a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3fb-1 collected by the LHCb detector in pp collisions at centre-of-mass energies √s=7 TeV in 2011 and √s=8 TeV in 2012. Based on previous LHCb results of the fragmentation fraction ratio,f∧0/b/fd,the branching fraction of the decay ∧0/b→ J/ψ pK-is measured to be B（∧0/b→ J/ψ pK-）=（3.17±0.04±0.07±0.34＋0.45/-0.28）×10-4,where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, the third is due to the uncertainty on the branching fraction of the decay -B/0 →J/ψ-K＊（892）0,and the fourth is due to the knowledge of f∧0/b/fd.The sum of the asymmetries in the production and decay between ∧0/b and ∧0/bis also measured as a function of PT and y.The previously published branching fraction of ∧0/b→ J/ψ pπ-,relative to that of ∧0/b→ J/ψ pK-,is updated. The branching fractions of ∧0/b→P＋c（→ J/ψp）K-are determined.
文摘Diabetes mellitus is the most common cause of Charcot neuropathy affecting foot and ankle. Acute Charcot foot(CF) presents with a red and swollen foot in co-ntrast to the painless deformed one of chronic CF. En-hanced osteoclastogenesis plays a central role in the pathogenesis of acute CF. Many studies have shown elevated levels of bone turnover markers in patients with acute CF confirming it. These findings have led cl-inicians to use anti-resorptive agents [bisphosphonates(BP), calcitonin, and denosumab] along with immobi-lization and offloading in acute CF patients. The ma-ximum evidence among all anti-resorptive agents is available for BPs, although its quality is low. Pamidronate has been shown to reduce the markers of activity of CF like raised skin temperature, pain, edema, and bone turnover markers in the majority of studies. Intravenous BPs are known to cause acute phase reactions leading to flu-like illness following their first infusion, which can be ameliorated by oral acetaminophen. Alendronate is the only oral BP used in these patients. It needs to be taken on an empty stomach with a full glass of water to avoid esophagitis. The side-effects and contraindications to BPs should be kept in mind while treating acute CF patients with them.
基金This work was supported by National Heart,Lung,and Blood Institute and Lung Repair and Re generation Consortium(LRRC)U01-110964 to JA.W.and A-K.PLung Map U01-HL122642 to JA.W.,B.R.S..and A-K.P.
文摘The Hippo/Yap pathwayis a wll-conserved signaling cascade that regulates cell proliferation and dfferentiationto control organsize and stem/progenitor cell behavior.Following airway injury,Yap was dynamically regulated in regenerating airway epithelial clls.To deter.mine the role ofHippo signaling in the lung,the mammalian Hippo kinases,Mst1 and Mst2,were deleted in epithelial cells ofthe embry-onic and mature mouse lung.Mst1/2 deletion in the fetal lung enhanced proliferation and inhibited sacculation and epithelial cell differentiation.The transcriptional inhibition of cell proliferation and activation of differentiation during normal perinatal lung maturation were inversely regulated followving embryonic Mst1/2 deletion.Ablation of Mst1/2 from bronchiolar epithelial cells in the adult lung caused airway hyperplasia and altered differentiation.Inhibitory Yap phosphorylation was decreased and Yap nuclear localization and transcriptional targets were increased after Mst1/2 deletion,consistent with canonical Hippo/Yap signaling.YAP potentiated cell prolif-eration and inhibited dfferentiation of human bronchial epithelial cells in vitro.Loss of Mst1/2 and expression ofYAP regulated transcrip-tional targets controlling cell proliferation and diferentiation,including Ajuba LIM protein.Ajuba was required forthe effects ofYAP oncell proliferation in vitro.Hippo/Yapsignaling regulates Ajuba and controls proliferation and diferentiation oflung epithelial progenitor cells.
基金University Grants Commission Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship.
文摘Objective To evaluate the expression and diagnostic value of levels of the microRNAs(miRNAs),miRNA-181a,miRNA-23b,and miRNA-16,in late-onset neonatal sepsis(LOS)and compare them with the diagnostic utility of C-reactive protein(CRP)levels.Methods This was a prospective diagnostic study conducted between January 2021 and March 2023 at a tertiary care center(Sri Ramachandra Hospital)in India.Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to determine miRNA-181a,miRNA-23b,and miRNA-16 expression levels,and CRP was measured by nephelometry.The diagnostic value of miRNA and CRP levels were analyzed using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves.ROC curves were utilized to determine optimal cutoff points,and Mann–Whitney tests were performed using SPSS to ascertain P values,with statistical significance defined as<0.05.Results This study included 100 samples,with 50 cases of culture-proven LOS(27 females,23 males)and 50 healthy controls(31 females,19 males).In LOS,miRNA-181a and miRNA-23b expression levels were significantly downregulated(P<0.001),with area under the curve(AUC)values of 0.83 and 0.92,respectively,whereas those of miRNA-16 were significantly upregulated(P<0.001;AUC=0.97).In comparison,CRP levels had an AUC value of 0.831(P<0.001).Further,miRNA-23b showed the highest sensitivity(98%)of markers tested,whereas miRNA-16 exhibited the highest specificity(96%).Conclusion MiRNA,especially miRNA-16,shows diagnostic potential for neonatal sepsis compared with traditional biomarkers like CRP and procalcitonin,suggesting its use as an early marker for LOS.However,further cohort studies are needed before practical application.
基金Part of the consumables used in the present study was obtained as a part of funding of a research study from College of Medicine and Medical Sciences,Arabian Gulf University(Grant No.G05/AGU-11/19).
文摘Renal transplant patients receive several immunosuppressive drug regimens that are potentially nephrotoxic for treatment.Serum creatinine is the standard for monitoring kidney function;however,cystatin C(Cys C)and kidney injury molecule-1(KIM-1)have been found to indicate kidney injury earlier than serum creatinine and provide a better reflection of kidney function.Here,we assessed Cys C and KIM-1 serum levels in renal transplant patients receiving mycophenolate mofetil,tacrolimus,sirolimus,everolimus,or cyclosporine to evaluate kidney function.We used both the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration(CKD-EPI)2021 equation,which is based on creatinine and combined creatinine with Cys C,and the CKD-EPI 2012 equation,which is based on Cys C alone,to estimate glomerular filtration rate(GFR).Then,we assessed the association between serum KIM-1 and GFR<90 mL per minute per 1.73 m2.We observed significantly higher serum Cys C levels in patients with the elevated serum creatinine,compared with those with normal serum creatinine.The estimated GFRs based on creatinine were significantly higher than those based on the other equations,while a significant positive correlation was observed among all equations.Serum KIM-1 levels were negatively correlated with the estimated GFRs by the CKD-EPI Cys C and the combined creatinine with Cys C equations.A serum KIM-1 level above 0.71 ng/mL is likely to indicate GFR<90 mL per minute per 1.73 m2.We observed a significant correlation between serum creatinine and Cys C in our renal transplant patients.Therefore,serum KIM-1 may be used to monitor renal function when using potentially nephrotoxic drugs in renal transplants.
文摘The rapid increase in the demand for electricity necessitates the power quality improvement for achieving better reliability in smart grids. Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) is the proven technology for reliable monitoring. This paper proposes a system model for the development and implementation of WSN based communication system for the monitoring of distributed generation, loads and transmission lines in the electrical grid and a controller system for automated control on the electrical grid. This work also aims to reduce the carbon footprints by reducing the dependency of electrical grid through the enhancement of distributed generation and grid sharing for avoiding voltage rise problem. To achieve this, a smarter electrical grid has been developed for the validation of smart grid considering a generation substation, a transmission substation and a distributed generation with loads. The occurrence of power quality issue and voltage rise has been controlled by active power control strategy. The communication network and controller has been modeled and tested for the performance of monitoring system and data communication capability on smart grid.
文摘Above-optimal temperatures reduce yield in many crops, including tomato, largely because of the heat-sensitivity of their reproduction process. A full understanding of heat-stress (HS) response and thermotolerance of tomato reproduction is still lacking. Recently, using external application of the plant <span style="font-family:Verdana;">hormone ethylene, it was demonstrated that ethylene plays a role in</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> heat-tolerance of tomato pollen (the male reproductive cells). In order to expand our understanding on involvement of ethylene in tomato pollen thermotolerance, </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">we analyzed the response of wild type and ethylene-related tomato mutant</span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">plants to HS, at physiological and molecular levels. We report that mild</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> chronic </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">HS conditions highly reduce the number of viable and germinating pollen </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">grains as well as the production of seeded fruits in wild type tomato plants, while no significant reduction was detected/observed in pollen quality, number of seeded fruits and seeds per fruit in plants of the ethylene over-producer mutant epinastic. Our findings suggest that ethylene is involved in thermotolerance of tomato reproduction, pointing to an effect on pollen viability and </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">germination potential, highlighting candidate genes involved in pollen re</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">sponse to HS (like </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">SlHSP17</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">SlHSP101</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">SlMBF1</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">) and suggesting directions for further studies.</span>
文摘Technology development in the Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) has paved the way for body area network for remote health monitoring. For this purpose, a message or a data packet should be transmitted from the patient to the medical evaluator without any loss. In this work, Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) algorithm is implemented for Wireless Body Area Networks (WBAN) to deliver the message, based on the criticality of the pa- tient. Finally, we compare the results for both the real-time data and the simulated (random) values in terms of packet-size forwarding for different parameters such as Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR), Delay and Throughput. The result shows better performance in the real time value by using TOPSIS scheme in the WBAN. By improving the quality of service in body area networks, health monitoring system can be automated with good performance.
文摘Power generation becomes the need of developed, developing and under developed countries to meet their increasing power requirements. When affordability increases their requirement of power increases, this happens when increased per capita consumption. The existing power scenario states that highest power is produced using firing of coals called thermal energy. A high efficiency Switched Reluctance Generator (SRG) based high frequency switching scheme to enhance the output for grid connectivity is designed, fabricated and evaluated. This proposed method generates the output for the low wind speed. It provides output at low speed because of multi-level DC-DC converter and storage system. It is an efficient solution for low wind power generation. The real time readings and results are discussed.
文摘Growth hormone(GH)excess is associated with several systemic complications,one of which is the increased risk of neoplastic processes particularly of the gastrointestinal(GI)tract.Among the GI neoplasms,the most reported association is with benign and malignant neoplasms of the colon.In the majority of published literature,an increased incidence of GI neoplasms,both colonic adenomas as well as colorectal carcinoma is reported.However,the studies on colon cancer-specific mortality rate are conflicting with recent studies reporting similar cancer-specific mortality rates in comparison to controls.Many studies have reported an association of colorectal neoplasms with GH levels.Pathogenic mechanisms put forward to explain this association of GH excess and GI neoplasms primarily involve the increased GH-insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF-1)signaling.Both GH and IGF-1 have proliferative,anti-apoptotic,and angiogenic effects on the systemic tissues leading to cellular proliferation.Other contributing factors to the increased risk of GI neoplasms include slow intestinal transit with a redundant large bowel,altered bile acids,deranged local immune response,shared genetic susceptibility factors and hyperinsulinemia.In view of the increased risk association,most guidelines for the care of acromegaly patients recommend an initial screening colonoscopy.Recommendations for further follow-up colonoscopy differ but broadly,the guidelines agree that it depends on the findings at first colonoscopy and state of remission of GH excess.Regarding the concern about the risk of colorectal cancers in patients receiving recombinant GH therapy,most cohort studies do not show an increased risk.
基金Supported by The National Space Biomedical Research Institute(RE03701)through NCC 9-58the National Institutes of Health(CA148679 and P20 GM109005)
文摘Future long-distance space missions will be associated with significant exposures to ionizing radiation,and the health risks of these radiation exposures during manned missions need to be assessed. Recent Earth-based epidemiological studies in survivors of atomic bombs and after occupational and medical low dose radiation exposures have indicated that the cardiovascular system may be more sensitive to ionizing radiation than was previously thought. This has raised the concern of a cardiovascular disease risk from exposure to space radiation during long-distance space travel. Groundbased studies with animal and cell culture models play an important role in estimating health risks from space radiation exposure. Charged particle space radiation has dense ionization characteristics and may induce unique biological responses,appropriate simulation of the space radiation environment and careful consideration of the choice of the experimental model are critical. Recent studies have addressed cardiovascular effects of space radiation using such models and provided first results that aid in estimating cardiovascular disease risk,and several other studies are ongoing. Moreover,astronauts could potentially be administered pharmacological countermeasures against adverse effects of space radiation,and research is focused on the development of such compounds. Because the cardiovascular response to space radiation has not yet been clearly defined,the identification of potential pharmacological countermeasures against cardiovascular effects is still in its infancy.
文摘AIM:To determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus(HCV) and its co-infection with hepatitis B virus(HBV),hepatitis delta agent(HDV) and human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) among liver disease patients of south Tamil Nadu. METHODS:A total of 1012 samples comprising 512 clinically diagnosed cases of liver disease patients and 500 apparently healthy age and sex matched individuals were screened for Hepatitis C virus(anti HCV and HCV RNA) ,Hepatitis B virus(HBsAg),Hepatitis delta agent(anti HDV) and Human immuno virus(antibodies to HIV-1 and HIV-2) using commercially available enzyme linked immunosorbent assay kits.HCV RNA wasdetected by RT-PCR.Liver function tests like ALT,AST,GGT,ALP,bilirubin and albumin were also studied. RESULTS:The seroprevalence of HCV was found to be 5.6%among liver disease patients by ELISA.27/512,49/512 and 12/512 patients were positive for HIV,HBV &HDV respectively.Co-infection of HCV&HBV was found in 8 patients,with 6 for HCV&HIV and 4 for HCV,HBV&HIV co-infections.Sex-wise analysis showed that HIV,HCV&HBV and HCV&HIV co-infection was high among females whereas for HBV it was high in males. The mean ALT and AST in HCV positive cases were 42.1±8.3 and 49±10.1.In people co-infected with HCV&HBV or HCV&HIV or HCV,HBV&HIV the mean ALT of 58.0±03.16,56.78±4.401 and 64.37±4.01 respectively. CONCLUSION:We strongly recommend routine test of the blood for HCV in addition to HBV and HIV.We also recommend individualized counseling to identify those at risk and testing for those who want it.Improved surveillance and periodic epidemiological studies will have to be undertaken to monitor and prevent these blood-borne viruses.
文摘We report atmospheric turbulence parameters, namely atmospheric seeing, tilt-anisoplanatic angle(θ_0) and coherence time(Τ_0), measured under various sky conditions, at Vainu Bappu Observatory in Kavalur. Bursts of short exposure images of selected stars were recorded with a high-speed, frame-transfer CCD mounted on the Cassegrain focus of a newly commissioned 1.3 m telescope. The estimated median seeing is ≈ 1.85 " at wavelength of ～ 600 nm, the image motion correlation between different pairs of stars is ～44% for θ0≈ 36" and mean Τ_0 is ≈ 2.4 ms. This work was motivated by the design considerations and expected performance of an adaptive optics system that is currently being planned for the telescope.
文摘Burkitt's lymphoma(BL) is an aggressive form of nonHodgkin's B-cell lymphoma with three variants namely endemic, sporadic, and immunodeficiency-associated types. It is endemic in Africa and sporadic in other parts of the world. While the endemic form is widely reported to occur in early childhood and commonly involves the jaw bones, the sporadic form typically presents as an abdominal mass. This presentation reports a rare case of sporadic form of BL clinically manifesting as a generalized gingival enlargement in an immunocompetent adult male which demonstrated an aggressive behavior. The patient reported with a prominent anterior gingival swelling of 6 mo duration which slowly enlarged in size and associated with multiple lymph node involvement. Microscopic examination of the lesion using H, E and immunohistochemical diagnosis confirmed the diagnosis as BL. The patient succumbed to the disease before any therapy could be instituted. Since a wide array of causes can be attributed to gingival enlargements, it is necessary to consider malignancies as one of the important differential diagnosis so as to facilitate the need for appropriate diagnosis and prompt treatment.
基金The authors would like to thank Rajagiri College of Social Sciences(Autonomous),Kochi,India for providing extensive research support.This study received funding from Rajagiri College of Social Sciences in the form of seed funding for executing Major Research Projects(Project No.:RCSS/IQAC/BB-S33/2023/133)Two United International College(UIC)research grants provided by BNU-HKBU United International College,Zhuhai,China jointly support this work(Grant Nos.:UICR0200007-23 and UICR202107).
文摘This review aims to identify in vivo studies investigating the potential of plant substances and their natural molecules in managing inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).Specifically,the objective is to examine the impact of these substances on interleukins and other key inflammatory signaling markers.Relevant articles published up to December 2022 were identified through a search of the PubMed,Scopus,Web of Science,and Embase databases.The search used keywords including“inflammatory bowel disease”,“medicinal plants”,“natural molecules”,“anti-inflammatory”,and“ulcerative colitis”,and identified 1,878 potentially relevant articles,of which 89 were included in this review after completion of the selection process.This study provides preclinical data on natural products(NPs)that can potentially treat IBD,including ulcerative colitis.The main actions of these NPs relate to their effects on nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κβ),the Janus kinase(JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription(STAT)signaling pathway,the regulation of T helper 17/regulatory T cells balance,and oxidative stress.The ability of these NPs to inhibit intestinal inflammation appears to be dependent on lowering levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α),interleukin(IL)-1β,and IL-17,via the Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK)1,NF-κβ-p65,and STAT3 pathways.In addition,NPs were shown to reduce oxidative stress and the severity of ulcerative colitis,as well as increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes.These actions suggest that NPs represent a promising treatment for IBD,and potentially have greater efficacy and safety than current treatments.
文摘Background:Most patients of established retinitis pigmentosa(RP)have subnormal peripheral vision and heavily rely on central vision for their daily activities.Central visual acuity is dependent on photoreceptor survival at the macula.Identification of structural changes that precede visual loss is essential.The aim of this study was to correlate the Spectral Domain-Optical Coherence Tomography(SD-OCT)characteristics with visual acuity in patients with typical RP.Methods:This was a retrospective,observational case series of 224 eyes of 113 RP patients conducted a tertiary eye care center.SD-OCT imaging was done for all eyes.Central retinal thickness(CRT),photoreceptor outer segment length(PROS),foveal outer segment pigment epithelial thickness(FOSPET)and ellipsoid zone(EZ)extent were measured.A new variable,FOSPET-PROS ratio(FPR),obtained by dividing FOSPET by PROS is defined and correlated to corrected distance visual acuity(CDVA)in logMAR using linear regression.Results:Out of 113 patients,71 were males and 42 females.Mean age of the patients was 35.4±15.1 years.Mean CDVA was 0.33±0.25 logMAR with no difference between the genders.Mean CRT(218.74±83.5μm)and FPR(1.63±0.22)significantly correlated to CDVA with a correlation coefficient of r=−0.139(p=0.048)and r=0.842(p=0.0001),respectively.FOSPET(mean=71.15±13.8μm)and PROS(mean=44.85±12.5μm)did not show a significant correlation to CDVA,independent of FPR.Conclusions:Retinal microstructural changes on SD-OCT,especially the FPR,can be used as a surrogate marker to monitor disease progression in the central retina in degenerative diseases like RP.
文摘This study focuses on the design and development of a simplified active power regulation scheme for a two-stage single-phase grid-connected solar-PV(SPV)system with maximum power point(MPP)estimation.It aims to formulate and test an improvised new control scheme to estimate the real-time MPP of the PV panel and operate only at either the MPP or on the right-hand side(RHS)of the PV characteristics of the panel.A simple active power regulatory control scheme was formulated to provide frequency control services to a single-phase grid without using an energy storage device.The plant operator provides the reserve fraction as the input for the active power regulation controller.At any time,the reserve fraction is used to determine the magnitude of the reference power to be extracted from the PV panel for injection into the grid.A simple PI controller was used to track the calculated reference power.The different modes of operation of the regulatory scheme are presented in detail.All the above control schemes are integrated and implemented through appropriate switching of the DC-DC converter alone.The DC-AC converter maintains the DC link voltage and unity power factor at the single-phase grid terminals.The proposed control schemes were tested on a 250 Wp solar panel feeding power to a 230 V,50 Hz single-phase grid through a two-stage converter.The entire scheme was modeled using the Matlab/Simulink platform,and the same was validated by hardware experimentation using Chroma Solar Simulator and NI myRIO controller under varied irradiation,temperature,and reserve fractions.The simulation and hardware results are compared and reported.
文摘Introduction: With rising global antibiotic resistance, stewardship programs aimed at controlling multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogens have begun to gain acceptance. These programs stress appropriate antibiotic selection, dosage and duration. A growing literature suggests serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels may be useful in guiding antibiotic duration and de-escalation. This report sought to evaluate the evidence-based data available from prospective randomized controlled trials (RCT) on the role of PCT in guiding reductions in antibiotic duration in adult sepsis patients. Methods: A comprehensive search of all published prospective RCT(s) on the use of PCT as a tool for guiding antibiotic therapy in adult sepsis patients was conducted using PubMed, Medline Plus and Google Scholar (2007-2013). Keywords searched included, “procalcitonin”, “sepsis-therapy”, “sepsis biomarker”, “antibiotic duration”, “drug de-escalation”, and “antimicrobial stewardship”. Results:?Four RCT(s) involving 826 adult sepsis patients have evaluated the role of serum PCT levels to guide criteria for cessation of antibiotic therapy based either on specific PCT levels or PCT kinetics. Bouadma?et al.?(N = 621) stopped antibiotics when the PCT concentration was <80% of the peak PCT value, or the absolute PCT concentration was <0.5 μg/L. The PCT arm showed a 2.7-day reduction in antibiotics. Schroeder?et al.?(N = 27) discontinued antibiotics if clinical signs of infection improved and the PCT value decreased to <1 ng/mL or to <35% of the initial value within three days. The PCT arm had a 1.7-day reduction in antibiotics. Hochreiter?et al.?(N = 110) ceased antibiotics when the PCT decreased to <1 ng/mL, or to 25% - 35% of the initial value over three days if the value was >1 ng/mL. The PCT arm showed a 2-day reduction in antibiotics. Finally, Nobre?et al.?(N = 68) stopped antibiotics when PCT levels decreased by 90% or more from the initial value, but not prior to Day 3 (if baseline PCT measured <1 μg/L) or Day 5 (if baseli
基金Project (No. SR/FT/L-84/2003) supported by the Department of Science and Technology under the Science and Engineering Research Council Fast Track Scheme for Young Scientists, India
文摘Objective: To study the effect of halo substitution on disubstituted aryl semicarbazones on the anticonvulsant potential and model the activity based on quantum mechanics. Methods: A series of twenty-six compounds of N4-(4-bromo-3-methylphenyl) semicarbazones were synthesized and evaluated for the anticonvulsant activity in the maximal electroshock seizure (MES) and subcutaneous pentylenetetrazole (scPTZ) seizure threshold tests. Some potential compounds were also tested in the subcutaneous strychnine (scSTY) and subcutaneous picrotoxin (scPIC) seizure threshold tests. The synthesized compounds were tested for behavioral impairment and CNS (central nervous system) depression in mice. Quantum mechanical modelling was carried out on these compounds to gain understanding on the structural features essential for activity. Results: Some compounds possessed broad spectrum anticonvulsant activity as indicated by their effect in pentylenetetrazole, strychnine, picrotoxin and maximal electro- shock seizures models in resemblance to other aryl semicarbazone derivatives reported earlier. The higher the difference in HOMO (highest occupied molecular orbital) and LUMO (lowest unoccupied molecular orbital) energy levels was, the greater was the activity profile. Conclusion: The pharmacophoric requirements for compounds to exhibit anticonvulsant activity that includes one aryl unit in proximity to a hydrogen donor-acceptor domain and an electron donor have been justified with the molecular orbital surface analysis of the synthesized compounds.
