Pushover analysis is common because of its conceptual simplicity and computational attractiveness in computing seismic demand.Considering that traditional pushover analysis is restricted in underground structures due ...Pushover analysis is common because of its conceptual simplicity and computational attractiveness in computing seismic demand.Considering that traditional pushover analysis is restricted in underground structures due to the stark differences in the seismic response characteristics of surface structures,this paper proposes a pushover analysis method for underground structures and its application in seismic damage assessment.First,three types of force distribution are presented based on ground response analysis.Next,the target displacements and analysis models are established according to force-based and performance-based design.Then,the pushover analysis procedure for underground structures is described.Next,the applicability of pushover analysis to underground structures is verified by comparing the responses of a Chongwenmen subway station determined by the proposed procedure and by nonlinear response history analysis.In addition,two other points are made:that the inverted triangular distribution of effective earthquake acceleration is more practical than the other two distributions,and that performance-based design is more effective than force-based design.Finally,a cyclic reversal loading pattern based on one cycle of reversal loads as an earthquake event is presented and applied to the seismic damage assessment of underground structures.The results show that the proposed pushover analysis can be effectively applied to the seismic design and damage assessment of underground structures.展开更多
All retinoids, which can be natural and synthetic, are chemically related to vitamin A. Both natural and synthetic retinoids use specific nuclear receptors such as retinoic acid receptors and retinoid X receptors to a...All retinoids, which can be natural and synthetic, are chemically related to vitamin A. Both natural and synthetic retinoids use specific nuclear receptors such as retinoic acid receptors and retinoid X receptors to activate specific signaling pathways in the cells. Retinoic acid signaling is extremely important in the central nervous system. Impairment of retinoic acid signaling pathways causes severe pathological processes in the central nervous system, especially in the adult brain. Retinoids have major roles in neural patterning, differentiation, axon outgrowth in normal development, and function of the brain. Impaired retinoic acid signaling results in neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial malfunction, and neurodegeneration leading to progressive Alzheimer’s disease, which is pathologically characterized by extra-neuronal accumulation of amyloid plaques(aggregated amyloid-beta) and intra-neurofibrillary tangles(hyperphosphorylated tau protein) in the temporal lobe of the brain. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia and loss of memory in old adults. Inactive cholinergic neurotransmission is responsible for cognitive deficits in Alzheimer’s disease patients. Deficiency or deprivation of retinoic acid in mice is associated with loss of spatial learning and memory. Retinoids inhibit expression of chemokines and neuroinflammatory cytokines in microglia and astrocytes, which are activated in Alzheimer’s disease. Stimulation of retinoic acid receptors and retinoid X receptors slows down accumulation of amyloids, reduces neurodegeneration, and thereby prevents pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease in mice. In this review, we described chemistry and biochemistry of some natural and synthetic retinoids and potentials of retinoids for prevention of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease.展开更多
In Bangladesh, Enteric fever is a persistent health issue throughout the year, occasionally reaching epidemic levels. The growing antibiotic resistance makes treatment increasingly challenging. Therefore, studying the...In Bangladesh, Enteric fever is a persistent health issue throughout the year, occasionally reaching epidemic levels. The growing antibiotic resistance makes treatment increasingly challenging. Therefore, studying the antibiotic resistance patterns within the population is crucial to ensure a more effective treatment strategy. This study was designed to determine the prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility profile, and factors associated with Salmonella spp. infections among clinically suspected Enteric fever patients in Bangladesh. This study also aimed to investigate whether there has been a re-emergence in the susceptibility of bacterial strains to conventional drugs. Data were collected from February 2024 to July 2024, from patients suspected Enteric fever (fever less than seven days duration) in a Private Diagnostic Center of Bangladesh. A total of 195 blood samples were cultured, where 53.85% came out positive, among which 79.05% Salmonella typhi and 20.95% Salmonella paratyphi A were found. Prevalence of Typhoid fever was observed high among the school-going age group (0 - 15 years) patients. Both these organisms were susceptible to ceftazidime, cefixime, ceftriaxone and cefepime but resistant to nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin. Nalidixic Acid is resistant to all S. paratyphi A and sensitive to few S. typhi. Ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin showed delayed response (36.14% and 22.72% sensitive to S. typhi and S. paratyphi A, respectively) and resistance (63.85% and 77.27% resistant to S. typhi and S. paratyphi A, respectively). In case of S. typhi, the resistance was found against ampicillin (32.53%), chloramphenicol (27.71%), cotrimoxazole (24.09%) and the resistance of S. paratyphi A found against ampicillin (4.54%), chloramphenicol (0%) and cotrimoxazole (0%). This study will provide clinicians with alternative drug options and facilitate the effective treatment of Enteric fever.展开更多
Semiconductor nanowires （NW） possess several beneficial properties for efficient conversion of solar energy into electricity and chemical energy. Due to their efficient absorption of light, short distances for minor...Semiconductor nanowires （NW） possess several beneficial properties for efficient conversion of solar energy into electricity and chemical energy. Due to their efficient absorption of light, short distances for minority carriers to travel, high surface-to-volume ratios, and the availability of scalable synthesis methods, they provide a pathway to address the low cost-to-power requirements for widescale adaptation of solar energy conversion technologies. Here we highlight recent progress in our group towards implementation of NW components as photovoltaic and photoelectrochemical energy conversion devices. An emphasis is placed on the unique properties of these one-dimensional （1D） structures, which enable the use of abundant, low-cost materials and improved energy conversion efficiency compared to bulk devices.展开更多
The seismotectonic characteristics of ten repeated earthquake swarm sequence within a seismic cluster along Jiali Fault in eastern Himalayan Syntaxis(EHS) have been analysed.The swarms are spatially disposed in and ar...The seismotectonic characteristics of ten repeated earthquake swarm sequence within a seismic cluster along Jiali Fault in eastern Himalayan Syntaxis(EHS) have been analysed.The swarms are spatially disposed in and around Yigong Lake(a natural lake formed by blocking of Yigong River by landslide) and are characterized by low magnitude,crustal events with low to moderate b values.Ms:mb discriminant functions though indicate anomalous nature of the earthquakes within swarm but are considered as natural events that occurred under condition of high apparent stress and stress gradients.Composite fault plane solutions of selected swarms indicate strike-slip sense of shear on fault planes;solution parameters show low plunging compression and tensional axes along NW-SE and NE-SW respectively with causative fault plane oriented ENE-WSW.dipping steeply towards south or north.The fault plane is in excellent agreement with the disposition and tectonic movement registered by right lateral Jiali Fault.The process of pore pressure perturbation and resultant ’r—t plot’ with modelled diffusivity(D = 0.12 m^2/s) relates the diffusion of pore pressure to seismic sequence in a fractured poro-elastic fluid saturated medium at average crustal depth of 15-20 km.The low diffusivity depicts a highly fractured interconnected medium that is generated due to high stress activity near the eastern syntaxial bent of Himalaya.It is proposed that hydro fracturing with respect to periodic pore pressure variations is responsible for generation of swarms in the region.The fluid pressure generated due to shearing and infiltrations of surface water within dilated seismogenic fault(Jiali Fault) are causative factors.展开更多
IoT technology has emerged as a valuable tool in modern healthcare, providing real-time monitoring of patients, effective management of healthcare, and proper administration of patient information. The proposed system...IoT technology has emerged as a valuable tool in modern healthcare, providing real-time monitoring of patients, effective management of healthcare, and proper administration of patient information. The proposed system aims to develop a system that can prevent backward blood flow from stopping saline fluid, as well as monitor the temperature, heart rate, and oxygen level of patients by using multiple sensors like weight, temperature and heart rate, etc. Additionally, the proposed system can monitor the room temperature and humidity for contributing to the patient’s overall comfort. In emergency situations, it includes an emergency push button for quick alert medical staff and initiates timely interventions. It is designed to support nurses and doctors in monitoring patients and providing timely interventions to prevent complications.展开更多
Objective:To evaluate the protective effect of benzydamine hydrochloride against ethanol-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in RAW 264.7 macrophages.Methods:RAW 264.7 macrophages were treated with ethanol(100 m...Objective:To evaluate the protective effect of benzydamine hydrochloride against ethanol-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in RAW 264.7 macrophages.Methods:RAW 264.7 macrophages were treated with ethanol(100 mM)and benzydamine hydrochloride(7.5μM).The imflammatory status was confirmed by measuring pro-(TNF-αand IL-6)and anti-inflammatory(IL-10)cytokines through ELISA and RT-PCR assays.Reactive oxygen species generation and mitochondrial membrane potential were investigated to study the protective role of benzydamine hydrochloride against ethanol-induced oxidative stress.Apoptosis detection was also investigated using flow cytometry and acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining.Results:Benzydamine hydrochloride significantly decreased the secretion of TNF-αand IL-6,as well as the generation of reactive oxygen species inside the cells,thereby stabilizing the mitochondrial membrane potential and reducing DNA fragmentation.The ethanol-induced cellular necrosis was also reversed by the administration of benzydamine hydrochloride.Conclusions:Benzydamine hydrochloride ameliorates ethanol-induced cell apoptosis and inflammation in RAW macrophages.展开更多
Unconsolidated siliciclastic sediments can undergo post-burial deformation, which leads to the formation of distinctive sedimentary structures, known as soft-sediment deformation structures(SSDS). The presence of a se...Unconsolidated siliciclastic sediments can undergo post-burial deformation, which leads to the formation of distinctive sedimentary structures, known as soft-sediment deformation structures(SSDS). The presence of a series of sand volcanoes confined to a particular lithostratigraphic horizon can represent a paleoseismic activity and, thereby, exemplifies the concept of “seismite”. The Kutch Basin has been a tectonically active region since the initiation of eastern Gondwana rifting followed by a tectonic inversion during the Cenozoic due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates. A stratum-bound series of sand volcanoes belonging to the Khari Nadi Formation(KNF) is exposed along the banks of Khari River. They separate the shallow marine deposits below and non-marine deposits above with their characteristic marine and paleosol trace fossil suites, respectively. Although a seismogenic origin has been much debated for the SSDS,the ichnofabric analysis of the sand-volcano-bearing stratum unequivocally points toward such an origin under a shallow seafloor condition. In addition to the sedimentary regime change from an open shallow-marine setting to a continental depositional environment concomitant with basinal uplift, the behavior of the burrowing crustaceans testifies to a syn-depositional development of a fault network associated with the fluidization, sand volcanism, and the resilience of the trace-producers in surviving those processes until the sedimentary regime change in the overlying strata. Although the ichno-sedimentological evidence apparently differs from the previous works that proposed a continuous base-level rise from the beginning of deposition of the Khari Nadi Formation up to the middle part of the overlying Chhasra Formation, the paleoseismic activity,its ichnologic signature, and the depositional regime change refer to a higher-resolution(i.e., lower-order)sequence-stratigraphic change causing a short-duration regression within a longer-duration cycle of base-level rise.展开更多
The interaction of naringin with bovine serum albumin has been performed using fluorescence, circular dichroism and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in 20 mM phosphate buffer of pH 7.0 as well as molecular dock...The interaction of naringin with bovine serum albumin has been performed using fluorescence, circular dichroism and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in 20 mM phosphate buffer of pH 7.0 as well as molecular docking studies. The changes in enthalpy (ΔH°) and entropy (ΔS°) of the interaction were found to be +18.73 kJ/mol and +143.64 J mol-1 K-1 respectively, indicating that the interaction of naringin with bovine serum albumin occurred mainly through hydrophobic interactions. Negative values of free energy change (ΔG°) at different temperatures point toward the spontaneity of the interaction. Circular dichroism studies reveal that the helical content of bovine serum albumin decreased after interaction with naringin. According to the F?rster non-radiative energy transfer theory the distance between Trp 213 residue and naringin was found to be 3.25 nm. Displacement studies suggest that naringin binds to site 1 (subdomain IIA) of bovine serum albumin (BSA) which was also substantiated by molecular docking studies.展开更多
In this paper,an optimal secondary control strategy is proposed for islanded AC microgrids considering communi-cation time-delays.The proposed method is designed based on the data-driven principle,which consists of an...In this paper,an optimal secondary control strategy is proposed for islanded AC microgrids considering communi-cation time-delays.The proposed method is designed based on the data-driven principle,which consists of an offine training phase and online application phase.For offline training,each control agent is formulated by a deep neural network(DNN)and trained based on a multi-agent deep reinforcement learning(MA-DRL)framework.A deep deterministic policy gradient(DDPG)algorithm is improved and applied to search for an optimal policy of the secondary control,where a global cost function is developed to evaluate the overall control performance.In addition,the communication time-delay is introduced in the system to enrich training scenarios,which aims to solve the time-delay problem in the secondary control.For the online stage,each controller is deployed in a distributed way which only requires local and neighboring information for each DG.Based on this,the well-trained controllers can provide optimal solutions under load variations,and communication time-delays for online applications.Several case studies are conducted to validate the feasibility and stability of the proposed secondary control.Index Terms-Communication time-delay,global cost function,islanded AC microgrid,multi-agent deep reinforcement learning(MA-DRL),secondary control.展开更多
Carnuba wax consists chiefly of myricyl cerotate (M<sub>W</sub> 817.4) and small quantities of free cerotic acid (C<sub>26</sub>H<sub>52</sub>O<sub>2</sub>, Mw 396.7) an...Carnuba wax consists chiefly of myricyl cerotate (M<sub>W</sub> 817.4) and small quantities of free cerotic acid (C<sub>26</sub>H<sub>52</sub>O<sub>2</sub>, Mw 396.7) and myricyl alcohol (C<sub>30</sub>H<sub>62</sub>O, mp 90°C). Of the two common extraction solvents, ethyl ether or petroleum ether, Lewkowitsch prefers the former. Concerning separation of phases, he advocates addition of small amounts of alcohol or caustic, and he also states that formation of a flocculant layer between the aqueous layer and the solvent does not interfere with the correct estimation of the unsaponifiable matter. These statements were not corroborated in the hands of this chemist. The “Unsaponifiable Matter” in oils or and fats, which consist mainly of hydrocarbons, sterols and aliphatic alcohols of high molecular mass that are not saponifiable by alkali hydroxides but are soluble in the ordinary fat solvents, and to products of saponification that are soluble in such solvents. Carnuba wax, a rather expensive wax, may be adulterated with less expensive paraffin by dishonest merchants. ASTM has a method for determining paraffinic material in carnuba wax. It uses heptanes at its boiling point to dissolve the wax, apply it to a silica gel column, and elute only the nonpolar (i.e. alkane) material. The method has the disadvantage of using a large volume of haptane, nor is it called for by either US Pharmacopeia/National Formulary (USP/NF) or Food Chemicals Codex (FCC). The test for unsaponifiable matter on pure carnuba wax will yield a result of 50.0% - 55.0%, while a higher result will betray the presence of paraffin adulterants.展开更多
The gastrointestinal tract(GIT) is a complex system, which changes in response to requirements of the body. GIT represents a barrier to the external environment. To achieve this, epithelial cells must renew rapidly. T...The gastrointestinal tract(GIT) is a complex system, which changes in response to requirements of the body. GIT represents a barrier to the external environment. To achieve this, epithelial cells must renew rapidly. This renewal of epithelial cells starts in the fetal life under the influence of many GIT peptides by swallowing amniotic fluid(AF). Development and maturation of GIT is a very complex cascade that begins long before birth and continues during infancy and childhood by breastfeeding. Many factors like genetic preprogramming, local and systemic endocrine secretions and many trophic factors(TF) from swallowed AF contribute and modulate the development and growth of the GIT. GIT morphogenesis, differentiation and functional development depend on the activity of various TF in the AF. This manuscript will review the role of AF borne TF in the development of GIT.展开更多
Rich genetic polymorphism is important for plants to adapt to changes because it enables the plant to make anatomical,physiological and biochemical changes in response to abiotic stress.Geomorphologic characteristics,...Rich genetic polymorphism is important for plants to adapt to changes because it enables the plant to make anatomical,physiological and biochemical changes in response to abiotic stress.Geomorphologic characteristics,demographic interference and a cumulative decrease in freshwater influx in the Indian Sundarbans region have proved detrimental to some economically important plants.In this study,genetic polymorphism of three mangrove species,Xylocarpus granatum,Excoecaria agallocha,and Phoenix paludosa,was assessed using RAPD and ISSR molecular markers.X.granatum,already in distress in the Sundarbans,had the least genetic polymorphism,14.56%in the RAPD analysis and 12.92% in the ISSR.Relatively higher genetic polymorphism was recorded for the profusely growing E.agallocha and P.paludosa: 24.66 and26.4% in RAPD; 24.87 and 20.32% in ISSR analysis respectively.A UPGMA dendrogram constructed using the similarity matrix from RAPD,ISSR and combined datashowed that for X.granatum,the least and highest salinity zones clustered together,whereas for E.agallocha and P.paludosa,higher and lower salinity areas clustered in different clades.Nei’s genetic diversity,calculated from RAPD and ISSR data,was also in accordance with 0.0637 and 0.0583 for X.granatum,respectively,much lower than0.0794 and 0.0818 for E.agallocha and 0.0799 and 0.0688 for P.paludosa.This opposing degree of polymorphism might be attributed to the profusely growing E.agallocha and P.paludosa and precarious status of X.granatum throughout the Indian Sundarbans.展开更多
In high seismic zone regions, slender reinforced concrete structural walls are commonly used in high-rise buildings as a main lateral load resisting element. These walls are very effective in limiting the lateral drif...In high seismic zone regions, slender reinforced concrete structural walls are commonly used in high-rise buildings as a main lateral load resisting element. These walls are very effective in limiting the lateral drift of the building due to their large in-plane stiffness. However, the presence of floor slabs influences the behavior of the shear wall. Also, the current design requirements do not account for the presence of floor slabs. To understand the behavior of wall-slab junctions and address the shortcomings of the current design requirements, the influence of two parameters, namely(a) aspect ratio and(b) longitudinal reinforcement ratio on the behavior is studied numerically. It is observed that the presence of floor slabs at different levels tends to partition the wall into squat wall panels between two consecutive floors. The wall-slab junctions show large stress concentrations arising from the strut action in the squat panels. It is also observed that the floor slabs can get significantly damaged near the wall-slab junction for lower vertical reinforcement ratios in the wall. Thus, the current codeprescribed minimum reinforcement in shear walls is not sufficient and needs to be revisited at for improved performance.展开更多
Consumer adoption of Internet of Things devices is increasing rapidly. About 66% of consumers mean to buy an associated home gadget by 2019. Beacon technology helps in providing actionable insights to businesses throu...Consumer adoption of Internet of Things devices is increasing rapidly. About 66% of consumers mean to buy an associated home gadget by 2019. Beacon technology helps in providing actionable insights to businesses through visual heat maps generated by the consumers and these maps are further processed by machine learning algorithms. Google’s open source Eddystone beacon format released in 2015, mitigates the problem of high cost and provides an open source alternative for developers. The aim of the proposed work is to provide a low cost, reliable, flexible, scalable and open source alternative for small and medium scale enterprises. In the proposed work, an Internet of Things platform is configured and developed. The Raspberry Pi is configured as an Eddystone beacon through a NodeJs server. An android app is developed which is the front end of the platform and web services are deployed on the cloud.展开更多
The hadal zone,mostly comprising of deep trenches and constituting of the deepest part of the world’s oceans,represents the least explored habitat but one of the last frontiers on our planet.The present scientific un...The hadal zone,mostly comprising of deep trenches and constituting of the deepest part of the world’s oceans,represents the least explored habitat but one of the last frontiers on our planet.The present scientific understanding of the hadal environment is still relatively rudimentary,particularly in comparison with that of shallower marine environments.In the last 30 years,continuous efforts have been launched in deepening our knowledge regarding the ecology of the hadal trench.However,the geological and environmental processes that potentially affect the sedimentary,geochemical and biological processes in hadal trenches have received less attention.Here,we review recent advances in the geology,biology,and environment of hadal trenches and offer a perspective of the hadal science involved therein.For the first time,we release highdefinition images taken by a new full-ocean-depth manned submersible Fendouzhe that reveal novel species with an unexpectedly high density,outcrops of mantle and basaltic rocks,and anthropogenic pollutants at the deepest point of the world’s ocean.We advocate that the hydration of the hadal lithosphere is a driving force that influences a variety of sedimentary,geochemical,and biological processes in the hadal trench.Hadal lithosphere might host the Earth’s deepest subsurface microbial ecosystem.Future research,combined with technological advances and international cooperation,should focus on establishing the intrinsic linkage of the geology,biology,and environment of the hadal trenches.展开更多
The effects of atropine, diazepam and pralidoxime were studied for their ability to block the pathological lesions induced by sarin. Rats were exposed to an aerosol of sarin at a concentration of 51.2mg-m for 15 min f...The effects of atropine, diazepam and pralidoxime were studied for their ability to block the pathological lesions induced by sarin. Rats were exposed to an aerosol of sarin at a concentration of 51.2mg-m for 15 min following the pretreatment with one of the following combinations: atropine (10 mg/kg, i.m.) and diazepam (0.5 mg/kg, i.m.); atropine and pralidoxime (25 mg/kg, i.m.); diazepam and pralidoxime; atropine, diazepam and pralidoxime. Lung exposed to sarin aerosols revealed an increased cellular proliferation with progressive diffused interstitial thickening on the 4th day following exposure. On the 16th day, loss of alveolar space and consolidation of large areas of all lobes were observed. Sarin also caused damage to the respiratory bronchioles. All the therapy regime blocked the development of lung lesions in the descending orders: atropine, diazepam and pralidoxime, atropine and diazepam > diazepam and pralidoxime > atropine and pralidoxime. The result suggests that diazepam in combination with atropine and pralidoxime could be an effective drug combination regime for the lung lesions.展开更多
Voltage source converter(VSC) based high voltage direct current(HVDC) transmission is most suited for the wind farm as it allows flexibility for reactive power control in multi-terminal transmission lines and transmit...Voltage source converter(VSC) based high voltage direct current(HVDC) transmission is most suited for the wind farm as it allows flexibility for reactive power control in multi-terminal transmission lines and transmits low power over smaller distance. In this work, a new method has been proposed to detect the fault, identify the section of faults and classify the pole of the fault in DC transmission lines fed from onshore wind farm. In the proposed scheme, voltage signal from rectifier end terminal is extracted with sampling frequency of 1 k Hz given as the input to the detection, classification and section discrimi-nation module. In this work, severe AC faults are also considered for section discrimination. Proposed method uses fuzzy inference system(FIS) to carry out all relaying task. The reach setting of the relay is 99.9% of the transmission line. Besides, the protection covers and discriminates the grounding fault with fault resistance up to 300 Ω.Considering the results of the proposed method, it can beused effectively in real power network.展开更多
基金supported by the Tsinghua Initiative Scientific Research Program(Grant No.2012THZ02-2)Beijing Natural Science Foundation(Grant No.8111001)+1 种基金National Basic Research Program of China(Grant No.2011CB013602)Major Research Plan of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.91215301)
文摘Pushover analysis is common because of its conceptual simplicity and computational attractiveness in computing seismic demand.Considering that traditional pushover analysis is restricted in underground structures due to the stark differences in the seismic response characteristics of surface structures,this paper proposes a pushover analysis method for underground structures and its application in seismic damage assessment.First,three types of force distribution are presented based on ground response analysis.Next,the target displacements and analysis models are established according to force-based and performance-based design.Then,the pushover analysis procedure for underground structures is described.Next,the applicability of pushover analysis to underground structures is verified by comparing the responses of a Chongwenmen subway station determined by the proposed procedure and by nonlinear response history analysis.In addition,two other points are made:that the inverted triangular distribution of effective earthquake acceleration is more practical than the other two distributions,and that performance-based design is more effective than force-based design.Finally,a cyclic reversal loading pattern based on one cycle of reversal loads as an earthquake event is presented and applied to the seismic damage assessment of underground structures.The results show that the proposed pushover analysis can be effectively applied to the seismic design and damage assessment of underground structures.
基金supported in part by an award from the Soy Health Research Program(SHRP,United Soybean Board,Chesterfield,MO,USA)(to SKR)a grant(SCIRF-2015-I-01) from South Carolina Spinal Cord Injury Research Fund(Columbia,SC,USA)(to SKR)earlier R01 grants(CA-091460,and NS-057811)(to SKR) from the National Institutes of Health(Bethesda,MD,USA)
文摘All retinoids, which can be natural and synthetic, are chemically related to vitamin A. Both natural and synthetic retinoids use specific nuclear receptors such as retinoic acid receptors and retinoid X receptors to activate specific signaling pathways in the cells. Retinoic acid signaling is extremely important in the central nervous system. Impairment of retinoic acid signaling pathways causes severe pathological processes in the central nervous system, especially in the adult brain. Retinoids have major roles in neural patterning, differentiation, axon outgrowth in normal development, and function of the brain. Impaired retinoic acid signaling results in neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial malfunction, and neurodegeneration leading to progressive Alzheimer’s disease, which is pathologically characterized by extra-neuronal accumulation of amyloid plaques(aggregated amyloid-beta) and intra-neurofibrillary tangles(hyperphosphorylated tau protein) in the temporal lobe of the brain. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia and loss of memory in old adults. Inactive cholinergic neurotransmission is responsible for cognitive deficits in Alzheimer’s disease patients. Deficiency or deprivation of retinoic acid in mice is associated with loss of spatial learning and memory. Retinoids inhibit expression of chemokines and neuroinflammatory cytokines in microglia and astrocytes, which are activated in Alzheimer’s disease. Stimulation of retinoic acid receptors and retinoid X receptors slows down accumulation of amyloids, reduces neurodegeneration, and thereby prevents pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease in mice. In this review, we described chemistry and biochemistry of some natural and synthetic retinoids and potentials of retinoids for prevention of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease.
文摘In Bangladesh, Enteric fever is a persistent health issue throughout the year, occasionally reaching epidemic levels. The growing antibiotic resistance makes treatment increasingly challenging. Therefore, studying the antibiotic resistance patterns within the population is crucial to ensure a more effective treatment strategy. This study was designed to determine the prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility profile, and factors associated with Salmonella spp. infections among clinically suspected Enteric fever patients in Bangladesh. This study also aimed to investigate whether there has been a re-emergence in the susceptibility of bacterial strains to conventional drugs. Data were collected from February 2024 to July 2024, from patients suspected Enteric fever (fever less than seven days duration) in a Private Diagnostic Center of Bangladesh. A total of 195 blood samples were cultured, where 53.85% came out positive, among which 79.05% Salmonella typhi and 20.95% Salmonella paratyphi A were found. Prevalence of Typhoid fever was observed high among the school-going age group (0 - 15 years) patients. Both these organisms were susceptible to ceftazidime, cefixime, ceftriaxone and cefepime but resistant to nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin. Nalidixic Acid is resistant to all S. paratyphi A and sensitive to few S. typhi. Ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin showed delayed response (36.14% and 22.72% sensitive to S. typhi and S. paratyphi A, respectively) and resistance (63.85% and 77.27% resistant to S. typhi and S. paratyphi A, respectively). In case of S. typhi, the resistance was found against ampicillin (32.53%), chloramphenicol (27.71%), cotrimoxazole (24.09%) and the resistance of S. paratyphi A found against ampicillin (4.54%), chloramphenicol (0%) and cotrimoxazole (0%). This study will provide clinicians with alternative drug options and facilitate the effective treatment of Enteric fever.
文摘Semiconductor nanowires （NW） possess several beneficial properties for efficient conversion of solar energy into electricity and chemical energy. Due to their efficient absorption of light, short distances for minority carriers to travel, high surface-to-volume ratios, and the availability of scalable synthesis methods, they provide a pathway to address the low cost-to-power requirements for widescale adaptation of solar energy conversion technologies. Here we highlight recent progress in our group towards implementation of NW components as photovoltaic and photoelectrochemical energy conversion devices. An emphasis is placed on the unique properties of these one-dimensional （1D） structures, which enable the use of abundant, low-cost materials and improved energy conversion efficiency compared to bulk devices.
文摘The seismotectonic characteristics of ten repeated earthquake swarm sequence within a seismic cluster along Jiali Fault in eastern Himalayan Syntaxis(EHS) have been analysed.The swarms are spatially disposed in and around Yigong Lake(a natural lake formed by blocking of Yigong River by landslide) and are characterized by low magnitude,crustal events with low to moderate b values.Ms:mb discriminant functions though indicate anomalous nature of the earthquakes within swarm but are considered as natural events that occurred under condition of high apparent stress and stress gradients.Composite fault plane solutions of selected swarms indicate strike-slip sense of shear on fault planes;solution parameters show low plunging compression and tensional axes along NW-SE and NE-SW respectively with causative fault plane oriented ENE-WSW.dipping steeply towards south or north.The fault plane is in excellent agreement with the disposition and tectonic movement registered by right lateral Jiali Fault.The process of pore pressure perturbation and resultant ’r—t plot’ with modelled diffusivity(D = 0.12 m^2/s) relates the diffusion of pore pressure to seismic sequence in a fractured poro-elastic fluid saturated medium at average crustal depth of 15-20 km.The low diffusivity depicts a highly fractured interconnected medium that is generated due to high stress activity near the eastern syntaxial bent of Himalaya.It is proposed that hydro fracturing with respect to periodic pore pressure variations is responsible for generation of swarms in the region.The fluid pressure generated due to shearing and infiltrations of surface water within dilated seismogenic fault(Jiali Fault) are causative factors.
文摘IoT technology has emerged as a valuable tool in modern healthcare, providing real-time monitoring of patients, effective management of healthcare, and proper administration of patient information. The proposed system aims to develop a system that can prevent backward blood flow from stopping saline fluid, as well as monitor the temperature, heart rate, and oxygen level of patients by using multiple sensors like weight, temperature and heart rate, etc. Additionally, the proposed system can monitor the room temperature and humidity for contributing to the patient’s overall comfort. In emergency situations, it includes an emergency push button for quick alert medical staff and initiates timely interventions. It is designed to support nurses and doctors in monitoring patients and providing timely interventions to prevent complications.
基金supported by Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR),the Government of India agency research grant(F.N.5/9/1328/2020-Nut).
文摘Objective:To evaluate the protective effect of benzydamine hydrochloride against ethanol-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in RAW 264.7 macrophages.Methods:RAW 264.7 macrophages were treated with ethanol(100 mM)and benzydamine hydrochloride(7.5μM).The imflammatory status was confirmed by measuring pro-(TNF-αand IL-6)and anti-inflammatory(IL-10)cytokines through ELISA and RT-PCR assays.Reactive oxygen species generation and mitochondrial membrane potential were investigated to study the protective role of benzydamine hydrochloride against ethanol-induced oxidative stress.Apoptosis detection was also investigated using flow cytometry and acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining.Results:Benzydamine hydrochloride significantly decreased the secretion of TNF-αand IL-6,as well as the generation of reactive oxygen species inside the cells,thereby stabilizing the mitochondrial membrane potential and reducing DNA fragmentation.The ethanol-induced cellular necrosis was also reversed by the administration of benzydamine hydrochloride.Conclusions:Benzydamine hydrochloride ameliorates ethanol-induced cell apoptosis and inflammation in RAW macrophages.
基金Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Government of India (Grant # CRG/2018/000259 to SDG)Industrial Research and Consultancy Centre (IRCC), IIT Bombay (Seed Grant # RD/0517-IRCCSH0-035 to SDG)Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) (doctoral scholarship for AS),University Grants Commission (doctoral scholarship for KC),IIT Bombay and Ministry of Education of India (doctoral scholarship for MD)。
文摘Unconsolidated siliciclastic sediments can undergo post-burial deformation, which leads to the formation of distinctive sedimentary structures, known as soft-sediment deformation structures(SSDS). The presence of a series of sand volcanoes confined to a particular lithostratigraphic horizon can represent a paleoseismic activity and, thereby, exemplifies the concept of “seismite”. The Kutch Basin has been a tectonically active region since the initiation of eastern Gondwana rifting followed by a tectonic inversion during the Cenozoic due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates. A stratum-bound series of sand volcanoes belonging to the Khari Nadi Formation(KNF) is exposed along the banks of Khari River. They separate the shallow marine deposits below and non-marine deposits above with their characteristic marine and paleosol trace fossil suites, respectively. Although a seismogenic origin has been much debated for the SSDS,the ichnofabric analysis of the sand-volcano-bearing stratum unequivocally points toward such an origin under a shallow seafloor condition. In addition to the sedimentary regime change from an open shallow-marine setting to a continental depositional environment concomitant with basinal uplift, the behavior of the burrowing crustaceans testifies to a syn-depositional development of a fault network associated with the fluidization, sand volcanism, and the resilience of the trace-producers in surviving those processes until the sedimentary regime change in the overlying strata. Although the ichno-sedimentological evidence apparently differs from the previous works that proposed a continuous base-level rise from the beginning of deposition of the Khari Nadi Formation up to the middle part of the overlying Chhasra Formation, the paleoseismic activity,its ichnologic signature, and the depositional regime change refer to a higher-resolution(i.e., lower-order)sequence-stratigraphic change causing a short-duration regression within a longer-duration cycle of base-level rise.
文摘The interaction of naringin with bovine serum albumin has been performed using fluorescence, circular dichroism and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in 20 mM phosphate buffer of pH 7.0 as well as molecular docking studies. The changes in enthalpy (ΔH°) and entropy (ΔS°) of the interaction were found to be +18.73 kJ/mol and +143.64 J mol-1 K-1 respectively, indicating that the interaction of naringin with bovine serum albumin occurred mainly through hydrophobic interactions. Negative values of free energy change (ΔG°) at different temperatures point toward the spontaneity of the interaction. Circular dichroism studies reveal that the helical content of bovine serum albumin decreased after interaction with naringin. According to the F?rster non-radiative energy transfer theory the distance between Trp 213 residue and naringin was found to be 3.25 nm. Displacement studies suggest that naringin binds to site 1 (subdomain IIA) of bovine serum albumin (BSA) which was also substantiated by molecular docking studies.
基金supported by the Ministry of Education(MOE),Republic of Singapore,under grant(AcRFTIER-1 RT11/22)。
文摘In this paper,an optimal secondary control strategy is proposed for islanded AC microgrids considering communi-cation time-delays.The proposed method is designed based on the data-driven principle,which consists of an offine training phase and online application phase.For offline training,each control agent is formulated by a deep neural network(DNN)and trained based on a multi-agent deep reinforcement learning(MA-DRL)framework.A deep deterministic policy gradient(DDPG)algorithm is improved and applied to search for an optimal policy of the secondary control,where a global cost function is developed to evaluate the overall control performance.In addition,the communication time-delay is introduced in the system to enrich training scenarios,which aims to solve the time-delay problem in the secondary control.For the online stage,each controller is deployed in a distributed way which only requires local and neighboring information for each DG.Based on this,the well-trained controllers can provide optimal solutions under load variations,and communication time-delays for online applications.Several case studies are conducted to validate the feasibility and stability of the proposed secondary control.Index Terms-Communication time-delay,global cost function,islanded AC microgrid,multi-agent deep reinforcement learning(MA-DRL),secondary control.
文摘Carnuba wax consists chiefly of myricyl cerotate (M<sub>W</sub> 817.4) and small quantities of free cerotic acid (C<sub>26</sub>H<sub>52</sub>O<sub>2</sub>, Mw 396.7) and myricyl alcohol (C<sub>30</sub>H<sub>62</sub>O, mp 90°C). Of the two common extraction solvents, ethyl ether or petroleum ether, Lewkowitsch prefers the former. Concerning separation of phases, he advocates addition of small amounts of alcohol or caustic, and he also states that formation of a flocculant layer between the aqueous layer and the solvent does not interfere with the correct estimation of the unsaponifiable matter. These statements were not corroborated in the hands of this chemist. The “Unsaponifiable Matter” in oils or and fats, which consist mainly of hydrocarbons, sterols and aliphatic alcohols of high molecular mass that are not saponifiable by alkali hydroxides but are soluble in the ordinary fat solvents, and to products of saponification that are soluble in such solvents. Carnuba wax, a rather expensive wax, may be adulterated with less expensive paraffin by dishonest merchants. ASTM has a method for determining paraffinic material in carnuba wax. It uses heptanes at its boiling point to dissolve the wax, apply it to a silica gel column, and elute only the nonpolar (i.e. alkane) material. The method has the disadvantage of using a large volume of haptane, nor is it called for by either US Pharmacopeia/National Formulary (USP/NF) or Food Chemicals Codex (FCC). The test for unsaponifiable matter on pure carnuba wax will yield a result of 50.0% - 55.0%, while a higher result will betray the presence of paraffin adulterants.
文摘The gastrointestinal tract(GIT) is a complex system, which changes in response to requirements of the body. GIT represents a barrier to the external environment. To achieve this, epithelial cells must renew rapidly. This renewal of epithelial cells starts in the fetal life under the influence of many GIT peptides by swallowing amniotic fluid(AF). Development and maturation of GIT is a very complex cascade that begins long before birth and continues during infancy and childhood by breastfeeding. Many factors like genetic preprogramming, local and systemic endocrine secretions and many trophic factors(TF) from swallowed AF contribute and modulate the development and growth of the GIT. GIT morphogenesis, differentiation and functional development depend on the activity of various TF in the AF. This manuscript will review the role of AF borne TF in the development of GIT.
基金funded by the Indian Statistical Institute,Kolkata
文摘Rich genetic polymorphism is important for plants to adapt to changes because it enables the plant to make anatomical,physiological and biochemical changes in response to abiotic stress.Geomorphologic characteristics,demographic interference and a cumulative decrease in freshwater influx in the Indian Sundarbans region have proved detrimental to some economically important plants.In this study,genetic polymorphism of three mangrove species,Xylocarpus granatum,Excoecaria agallocha,and Phoenix paludosa,was assessed using RAPD and ISSR molecular markers.X.granatum,already in distress in the Sundarbans,had the least genetic polymorphism,14.56%in the RAPD analysis and 12.92% in the ISSR.Relatively higher genetic polymorphism was recorded for the profusely growing E.agallocha and P.paludosa: 24.66 and26.4% in RAPD; 24.87 and 20.32% in ISSR analysis respectively.A UPGMA dendrogram constructed using the similarity matrix from RAPD,ISSR and combined datashowed that for X.granatum,the least and highest salinity zones clustered together,whereas for E.agallocha and P.paludosa,higher and lower salinity areas clustered in different clades.Nei’s genetic diversity,calculated from RAPD and ISSR data,was also in accordance with 0.0637 and 0.0583 for X.granatum,respectively,much lower than0.0794 and 0.0818 for E.agallocha and 0.0799 and 0.0688 for P.paludosa.This opposing degree of polymorphism might be attributed to the profusely growing E.agallocha and P.paludosa and precarious status of X.granatum throughout the Indian Sundarbans.
文摘In high seismic zone regions, slender reinforced concrete structural walls are commonly used in high-rise buildings as a main lateral load resisting element. These walls are very effective in limiting the lateral drift of the building due to their large in-plane stiffness. However, the presence of floor slabs influences the behavior of the shear wall. Also, the current design requirements do not account for the presence of floor slabs. To understand the behavior of wall-slab junctions and address the shortcomings of the current design requirements, the influence of two parameters, namely(a) aspect ratio and(b) longitudinal reinforcement ratio on the behavior is studied numerically. It is observed that the presence of floor slabs at different levels tends to partition the wall into squat wall panels between two consecutive floors. The wall-slab junctions show large stress concentrations arising from the strut action in the squat panels. It is also observed that the floor slabs can get significantly damaged near the wall-slab junction for lower vertical reinforcement ratios in the wall. Thus, the current codeprescribed minimum reinforcement in shear walls is not sufficient and needs to be revisited at for improved performance.
文摘Consumer adoption of Internet of Things devices is increasing rapidly. About 66% of consumers mean to buy an associated home gadget by 2019. Beacon technology helps in providing actionable insights to businesses through visual heat maps generated by the consumers and these maps are further processed by machine learning algorithms. Google’s open source Eddystone beacon format released in 2015, mitigates the problem of high cost and provides an open source alternative for developers. The aim of the proposed work is to provide a low cost, reliable, flexible, scalable and open source alternative for small and medium scale enterprises. In the proposed work, an Internet of Things platform is configured and developed. The Raspberry Pi is configured as an Eddystone beacon through a NodeJs server. An android app is developed which is the front end of the platform and web services are deployed on the cloud.
基金This work was financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(grant nos.2016YFC0300503,2016YFC0300600,2016YFC0304900).
文摘The hadal zone,mostly comprising of deep trenches and constituting of the deepest part of the world’s oceans,represents the least explored habitat but one of the last frontiers on our planet.The present scientific understanding of the hadal environment is still relatively rudimentary,particularly in comparison with that of shallower marine environments.In the last 30 years,continuous efforts have been launched in deepening our knowledge regarding the ecology of the hadal trench.However,the geological and environmental processes that potentially affect the sedimentary,geochemical and biological processes in hadal trenches have received less attention.Here,we review recent advances in the geology,biology,and environment of hadal trenches and offer a perspective of the hadal science involved therein.For the first time,we release highdefinition images taken by a new full-ocean-depth manned submersible Fendouzhe that reveal novel species with an unexpectedly high density,outcrops of mantle and basaltic rocks,and anthropogenic pollutants at the deepest point of the world’s ocean.We advocate that the hydration of the hadal lithosphere is a driving force that influences a variety of sedimentary,geochemical,and biological processes in the hadal trench.Hadal lithosphere might host the Earth’s deepest subsurface microbial ecosystem.Future research,combined with technological advances and international cooperation,should focus on establishing the intrinsic linkage of the geology,biology,and environment of the hadal trenches.
文摘The effects of atropine, diazepam and pralidoxime were studied for their ability to block the pathological lesions induced by sarin. Rats were exposed to an aerosol of sarin at a concentration of 51.2mg-m for 15 min following the pretreatment with one of the following combinations: atropine (10 mg/kg, i.m.) and diazepam (0.5 mg/kg, i.m.); atropine and pralidoxime (25 mg/kg, i.m.); diazepam and pralidoxime; atropine, diazepam and pralidoxime. Lung exposed to sarin aerosols revealed an increased cellular proliferation with progressive diffused interstitial thickening on the 4th day following exposure. On the 16th day, loss of alveolar space and consolidation of large areas of all lobes were observed. Sarin also caused damage to the respiratory bronchioles. All the therapy regime blocked the development of lung lesions in the descending orders: atropine, diazepam and pralidoxime, atropine and diazepam > diazepam and pralidoxime > atropine and pralidoxime. The result suggests that diazepam in combination with atropine and pralidoxime could be an effective drug combination regime for the lung lesions.
文摘Voltage source converter(VSC) based high voltage direct current(HVDC) transmission is most suited for the wind farm as it allows flexibility for reactive power control in multi-terminal transmission lines and transmits low power over smaller distance. In this work, a new method has been proposed to detect the fault, identify the section of faults and classify the pole of the fault in DC transmission lines fed from onshore wind farm. In the proposed scheme, voltage signal from rectifier end terminal is extracted with sampling frequency of 1 k Hz given as the input to the detection, classification and section discrimi-nation module. In this work, severe AC faults are also considered for section discrimination. Proposed method uses fuzzy inference system(FIS) to carry out all relaying task. The reach setting of the relay is 99.9% of the transmission line. Besides, the protection covers and discriminates the grounding fault with fault resistance up to 300 Ω.Considering the results of the proposed method, it can beused effectively in real power network.
