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We report the effect of thickness and width on the spin wave transport and dispersion characteristics of permalloy (Py) microstripes using analytical calculations and experiments. Py waveguides with widths ranging from 2 to 4 μm were fabricated for two different thicknesses: 5 and 20 nm. Our results show a notable increase in the group velocity of spin waves with greater thickness, showing a fourfold rise as the thickness increases. Additionally, the accessible frequency range expands from 0.6 to 2.5 GHz as the thickness increases. We find that the spin wave mode frequency is affected by both thickness and width, with a frequency shift of approximately 0.2 GHz observed when the width increases from 2 to 4 μm. Moreover, spin waves decay more rapidly in thinner films, with the decay length of 20 nm-thick waveguides being four times longer than that of 5 nm-thick waveguides. Thicker and wider waveguides provide a longer decay length, facilitating the transmission of information over longer distances without significant energy loss. Our study offers an understanding of the spin wave propagation in microstrip waveguides and its potential in the development of future magnonic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High density polyethylene (HDPE) waste accumulation in the environment is one among the major threats faced globally for the last quarter of century. The current study deals with isolation, characterization and mycodegradation analysis of the HDPE strips by a potential fungus isolated from garbage dump yard. Based on morphological characterization, the isolated strain was identified and designated as Talaromyces liani strain JA2HS. Until now, there have been no reports of HDPE degradation using T. liani. The HDPE strips were subjected to degradation by the fungal isolate JA2HS for 90 days after optimization of growth and environmental parameters. The extent of degradation was confirmed by measuring the weight of the residual strip and the amount of CO2 evolution by Sturm test. A partial 72.7% degradation of the HDPE strip was observed, followed by the evolution of 18.5 g/L CO2. Enzyme studies were conducted to test the presence of ligninolytic enzymes (laccase, manganese peroxidase and lignin peroxidase) responsible for the biodegradation of the plastic strip. The fungal biomass estimation and hydrophobicity test were also performed. Mycodegradation analysis of the HDPE strip was further confirmed using analytical techniques such as FTIR, SEM, and AFM. This is the first study revealing the HDPE degradation using T. liani mediated by ligninolytic enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain–Computer Interface is tested as a successful method in improving human cognitive functions such as attention and memory. Attention plays a significant role in areas ranging from a person's day-to-day life to educational domain and professional activities. When attention is evaluated using camera-based techniques, the users may suffer privacy issues. Using Brain–Computer Interface (BCI) to obtain a measure of attention will be useful in this regard. The paper proposes a Human Attention Recognition System (HARS) in which EEG signal acquisition is used to obtain the attention of the individual, Renyi's entropy-based mutual information method is used for feature selection and a deep learning-based classifier is used to classify the signals. HADS is not camera-based: therefore, faces of the subjects are not revealed. EEG signals were collected using the Ultracortex Mark III dry electrodes and were visualised using OpenBCI GUI (Graphical User Interface). The experiment is validated using the publicly available Confused Student EEG dataset from Kaggle, giving an accuracy of 99.21%. The results indicate that the proposed method can identify attention levels accurately and can be effectively used in educational systems, biofeedback and medical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a rare case of a vesicant-type reaction following intravenous docetaxel infusion in a 47-year-old female patient with breast cancer. The patient developed blisters and linear vesicles along the course of the left cephalic vein after the infusion. Blood investigations revealed anemia, leukocytosis, and high ESR, while skin biopsy showed subepidermal split and dyskeratotic cells. The patient was successfully managed with topical creams, and subsequent infusions were administered with precautions to prevent extravasation. The article highlights the importance of health workers being aware of potential vesicant properties of docetaxel to prevent complications related to extravasation. [Extracted from the article]

The use of seaweed extracts as biostimulants is increasing worldwide to improve agricultural production, since they are natural and environmentally friendly compounds. Seaweeds biosynthesize plant hormones, including cytokinins which play an important role in plant growth and development. Cytokinin-like (CK) activity was analysed in eight species of Rhodophyta, including agarophytes (Gracilaria spp., Gelidium), and carrageenophytes (Chondracanthus, Hypnea). Comparison of CK-activity of different samples of the same species (e.g., field and cultured samples, different color and morphological variants, and reproductive phases) is described. Dried samples were extracted for 24 h at 10ºC in 100 mL 80% ethanol, filtered and rinsed with 80% ethanol. The extracts were purified using C18 Sep-Pak cartridges and Oasis MCX columns and separated into fractions by descending paper chromatography. CK-like activity was determined using the soybean callus bioassay with activity compared to kinetin standards (1, 5, 10 and 50 µg L−1). The green strain of Hypnea psedomusciformis was more active than the brown strain with most activity co-chromatographing with zeatin. Tetrasporophytes and female gametophytes of Gracilaria birdiae had CK-like activity that co-chromatographed with zeatin, and female gametophytes had an additional peak that co-chromatographed with riboside-5'-monophosphate. The highest CK-like activity (equivalent to 50 µg L−1 kinetin) occurred in G. cervicornis which co-chromatographed with isopentenyladenosine. Morphological variants of Hypnea had similar CK-like activity but the "nigrescens" variant had higher activity (equivalent to 10 µg L−1 kinetin) than the "musciformis" variant. These results indicate that Gracilaria cervicornis and Hypnea pseudomusciformis ("nigrescens" variant) have potential as biostimulants in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examined the usage of thermally conductive angled fins within an annular conduit through numerical simulation. Despite the thermally conductive nature of the fins increasing heat transfer surface area, this investigation found that using an optimal fin angle can promote the generation of vortical structures which aid heat transfer. Using ANSYS-Fluent with the SIMPLEC algorithm and the SST κ − ω turbulence model, this research found that heat transfer performance improved considerably when the generated vortices were sufficiently large and robust. However, the type of generated vortex had a profound impact when optimising for higher performance evaluation criterion (PEC) values. Longitudinal vortices improved heat transfer performance with a low impact on pressure drop increase, unlike transverse vortices, which increased pressure drop significantly. The fin angles of 50° and 60° yielded high heat transfer performance without much increase in pressure drop, thus resulting in higher PEC values. Additionally, using fin heights that correlate to 20% to 60% of the gap between the concentric walls was ideal when designing heat exchangers to achieve higher PEC values. The results of this numerical investigation have been validated both theoretically and experimentally to ensure accurate reporting of the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current intensification of aquaculture where the organic loads with toxic compounds like NH3 and H2S shoot up beyond the level where naturally occurring bacteria cannot decompose the wastes has necessitated the use of probiotics. Objective. The objective was to use five different probiotics to treat ammonia and analyze the effects on water quality and changes in it in fishponds. Methods. Five different probiotic compositions were used, and the water quality was measured, mainly for ammonia concentration. Results. 5 different ponds located in the village of Agortha, Volta Region, Ghana, were treated with 5 different products simultaneously for 3 months. The concentration of ammonia has come to zero in 2 ponds with pH equal to 8. Conclusions. The results revealed that probiotics addition was efficient in decreasing the ammonia concentration in fishponds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we report a unique plant‐insect interaction between the leafhopper Aloka depressa (tribe Phlogisini) and the host liana, Diploclisia glaucescens, from a Botanic Garden located at the southern edge of Western Ghats in India.Field observations and SEM micrographs were employed to derive evidences on this rare plant‐insect interaction. 20‐Hydroxyecdysone (20E), insect moulting hormone, was detected and quantified in the host plant D. glaucescens using HPTLC‐densitometry. 20E was isolated and characterized from D. glaucescens using column chromatography, 1H‐, 13C‐NMR and HR‐MS. 20E was also detected in A. depressa excrement using HPTLC‐densitometry.The leafhopper A. depressa is functioning as a 'sharpshooter' drawing nutrients from the host liana, D. glaucescens, and flinging the waste fluid as droplets through their tail ends. SEM micrographs of A. depressa revealed its external morphological features, characteristic of a sharpshooter. We quantified 20E (0.44–1.44%, dry wt.) in various parts of D. glaucescens. 20E (1.47%, dry wt.) was also detected in the excrement of A. depressa.This plant (D. glaucescens)‐insect (A. depressa) association crucially is not damaging the host liana. Considering the diseases caused by sharpshooting leafhoppers in the Americas, this association and the survival of the host plant (D. glaucescens) is illustrating a unique plant‐insect interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anemia schimperiana C.Presl subsp. wightiana (Gardener) Fraser-Jenkins is a rhizomatous fern endemic to south India. Its rhizome and frond (leaf) essential oils (EOs) were isolated and characterized by gas chromatographic techniques. Thirty compounds (99.1%) of the rhizome EO were characterized, with myrtenyl acetate (50.6%), α-pinene (26.0%), myrtenol (7.3%) and trans-pinocarveol (5.6%) as its major constituents. Twenty-four compounds (97.8%), with trans-pinocarveol (43.0%), pinocarvone (17.3%) and myrtenyl acetate (15.8%), were identified in the frond EO. In MTT assay, rhizome EO showed prominent cytotoxicity against C6 (CD50 86.0 µg/mL) and DLA (CD50 6.1 µg/mL) cells. Fluorescent microscopic and caspase-3 activity assays demonstrated apoptotic cell death induced by the rhizome EO in DLA cells. MTT assay of myrtenyl acetate, α-pinene and myrtenol against DLA cells displayed CD50s of 7.4, 0.9 and 20.5 µg/mL, respectively, revealing α-pinene as the prominent constituent causing antiproliferative activity of the rhizome EO. This is the first report on the chemistry and antiproliferative activity of this rare aromatic fern endemic to south India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sialendoscopy is gaining popularity in treating obstructive sialolithiasis as a gland preserving procedure. The study aimed to determine if the salivary glands recovered apart from symptomatic improvement after interventional sialendoscopy for calculus removal. A prospective comparative study was conducted in a tertiary care center on 24 patients diagnosed with sialolithiasis. The eligibility criterion was patients who underwent calculus removal through interventional sialendoscopy. All patients underwent objective and subjective methods of assessments of function of the salivary glands with the help of salivary Technetium (Tc) 99 Scintigraphy, measurement of salivary flow rate, Chronic obstructive sialadenitis symptoms (COSS), and xerostomia index (XI) questionnaires. Assessments were done before the procedure and repeated after 3 months. Categorical variables were expressed using frequency and percentage. Numerical variables were represented using mean and standard deviation. To test the statistical significance of the difference in the mean of the four parameters Wilcoxen sign ranked test was used. According to our study improvement in functionality was noted in all of the subjective and objective parameters assessed namely Tc scintigraphy, salivary flow rate, COSS questionnaire, and XI questionnaire, with a statistically significant p value (< 0.001). Functionality of salivary gland showed improvement within 3 months of calculus removal through sialendoscopy. There was a marked improvement in the symptoms after sialendoscopy. This study demonstrates that removal of obstructing calculus results in rapid recovery of glandular function thereby emphasizing the need for salivary gland preservation. Level of evidence: Level III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A retrospective study was conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital to evaluate the drug utilization pattern in pregnant women. A total of 876 pregnant women were enrolled in the study. Parameters such as demography, gravidity, comorbid illness, neonatal outcome, drugs prescribed and their utilization details were collected. The mean age of the study population was found to be 29.4±4.4 y (mean±standard deviation). Majority of them underwent caesarean section (68.2 %) compared to normal vaginal delivery (31.8 %). Most of the neonates were healthy (94.3 %) whereas 0.8 % of the neonates expired during the postnatal period. Diabetes mellitus (33.6 %) was the most common comorbidity, followed by hypertension (28.3 %) and thyroid disorders (18.3 %). Folic acid (15.7 %) and calcium (15.2 %) were the most prescribed drugs, followed by ferrous fumarate (7.1 %), vitamin B12 (5.3 %) and vitamin B6 (3.4 %). In terms of defined daily dose/100 bed d, levothyroxine (369.3) was the most frequently utilized drug, followed by digoxin (53.6), dydrogesterone (27.4) and salbutamol (20.5). Estradiol was only the food and drug administration pregnancy category X drug prescribed, as estradiol supplement as this was required to improve pregnancy rates after in vitro fertilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deployment of CO2 capture and storage (CCS) and negative emissions technologies (NETs) are crucial to meeting the net-zero emissions target by the year 2050, as emphasised by the Glasgow Climate Pact. Over the years, several energy planning models have been developed to address the temporal aspects of carbon management. However, limited works have incorporated CCS and NETs for bottom-up energy planning at the individual plant scale, which is considered in this work. The novel formulation is implemented in an open-source energy system software that has been developed in this work for optimal decarbonisation planning. The DECarbonation Options Optimisation (DECO2) software considers multiperiod energy planning with a superstructural model and was developed in Python with an integrated user interface in Microsoft Excel. The software application is demonstrated with two scenarios that differ in terms of the availabilities of mitigation technologies. For the more conservative Scenario 1, in which CCS is only available in later years, and other NETs are assumed not to be available, all coal plants were replaced with biomass. Meanwhile, only 38% of natural gas plants are CCS retrofitted. The remaining natural gas plants are replaced with biogas. For the more aggressive Scenario 2, which includes all mitigation technologies, once again, all coal plants undergo fuel substitution. However, close to half of the natural gas plants are CCS retrofitted. The results demonstrated the potential of fuel substitutions for low-carbon alternatives in existing coal and natural gas power plants. Additionally, once NETs are mature and are available for commercial deployment, their deployment is crucial in aiding CO2 removal in minimal investment costs scenarios. However, the results indicate that the deployment of energy-producing NETs (EP-NETs), e.g., biochar and biomass with CCS, are far more beneficial in CO2 removal versus energy-consuming NETs (EC-NETs), e.g., enhanced weathering. The newly developed open-source software demonstrates the importance of determining the optimal deployment of mitigation technologies in meeting climate change targets for each period, as well as driving the achievement of net-zero emissions by mid-century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigated the benefits of having fins that induce swirling flow within an annular passage. The importance of the vortical structures produced using different fin angles and flow velocities in heat transfer was studied. The combination of swirling fluid with recirculation on heat transfer within an annular domain was not fully understood, and this paper aims to address that gap. The 10°, 20°, 30° and 40° angled fins were investigated to understand the changes in heat transfer performance as fluid recirculation becomes more dominant as angles become steeper. The usage of CGNP colloidal suspension was investigated for its potential benefits in heat transfer in a domain with angled fins. The CGNP concentrations of 0.025, 0.075 and 0.1 mass % were used as part of this investigation. Higher concentrations of CGNP increased the overall heat transfer coefficient. A more compact fin spacing improved heat transfer performance at the expense of increased pressure drop. Fin angles of 20° and 30° yielded poor heat transfer performance in the transitional flow regime (2000 < Re < 3000) due to the smaller swirling longitudinal vortices being insufficient in promoting fluid mixing from the thermal boundary layer into the freestream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiperiod carbon-constrained energy planning considers long-term demand variations as well as progressively stringent CO 2 emission limits towards net-zero carbon goals. Previous work on multiperiod energy planning has predominantly focused on the power generation sector. Nevertheless, emissions originating from industries must be mitigated to achieve decarbonisation at different (e.g., corporate, national, or regional) scales. This work develops a multiperiod energy planning model to determine the optimum deployment of energy sources for CO 2 -intensive industries other than the power generation sector. A hybrid approach is employed in this work, making use of the combined automated targeting model (ATM) and superstructure models. The hybrid approach in this work overcomes the non-linearity in the CO 2 intensity calculations. Solving the ATM and superstructure model simultaneously ensures that both demand and CO 2 emission limits for all industries are satisfied in each period. The multiperiod energy planning model is demonstrated with a case study with and without CO 2 load transfer scenarios. The case study is performed for 21 industries across three 5-year periods. For the CO 2 load transfer scenarios, the CO 2 emission limits may be violated in earlier periods, triggering CO 2 debts. The latter are compensated by CO 2 credits in later periods where the total CO 2 load is below the emissions limit due to aggressive mitigation strategies. Alternatively, in the absence of CO 2 load transfer, the CO 2 emission limits for all periods must be satisfied. Results show that the deployment of low-carbon energy sources (e.g., biomass and biogas) is necessary for the satisfaction of the CO 2 emission limits within each period. Once CO 2 capture and storage (CCS) is available, its deployment would complement existing mitigation strategies in later periods. The deployment of CCS on power plants fueled by biomass and biogas make them as negative emissions technologies (NETs) which are useful for CO 2 removal (CDR). The development of the multiperiod energy planning model in this work allows decarbonisation strategies to be simultaneously employed across all industries for a cumulative CO 2 emissions reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Actinomycetes play a significant role in producing bioactive pigments. The present study was performed to screen for pigmented Streptomyces strains from marine environment followed by its extraction and characterization. Strains AJ6 and AJ7 were found to produce yellow color pigment (12.9 and 13.8 g/L, respectively) when subjected to submerged fermentation in optimized ISP2 medium at 28 ± 2°C for 3–7 days. Lambda max for extracellular and intracellular yellow colored pigment was read at 430 and 410 nm, respectively. Biological and chemical characterization of the extracted pigment confirmed the presence of bioactive compounds. Furthermore, the potential strains were identified and designated as Streptomyces maritimus AJ6 and Streptomyces fenghuangensis AJ7 using conventional and molecular techniques. Until now, there are no reports of colored bioactive metabolite extraction, purification and characterization from S. maritimus and S. fenghuangensis from marine ecosystem. The colored pigment showed high bioactivity such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiproteinase and antifouling activity against various clinical pathogenic strains, thereby proving its therapeutic importance which has not been reported previously. These strains can be employed in a variety of pharmaceutical and biotechnological applications as an environmentally safe alternative to synthetic hues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computer-aided decision-making, predictive analytics, and recommendations are the buzz in this era. Concerning this, machine learning and artificial intelligence systems have found as vital and critical concepts. One of the critical domains of human life is farming, which indeed requires precision in decision making in diversified phases of farming. One among them is notifying the germination ability of seeds to cultivate with optimal results in both formats of quantity and quality of the crop. The role of computer-aided methods in farming has significantly increased in the past decade, which often termed as precision farming. The contribution of this manuscript endeavored to define a supervised learning model that includes the method of optimal feature selection and performing binary classification to determine the germination ability of seed samples, which precisely termed as "Supervised Learning-based Seed Germination Ability Prediction for Precision Farming." The diversified features of the microscopic images of both qualified and unqualified seeds shall consider as input corpus to perform the supervised learning in the proposed model. The significance of the model has scaled by performing experiments on the microscopic images of the paddy seeds, which considerably evincing the accuracy of the proposed approach with minimal false alarming. The contribution serves as a decision support tool to identify the quality seeds towards germination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global drive to achieve the climate change mitigation targets set during the Paris Agreement and COP26 necessitates sustainable electricity generation from renewable energy sources. However, renewable energy systems face economic challenges due to unattractive feed‐in‐tariffs (FiT). This paper presents a mathematical programming model to optimise the participation and electricity generation by biomass power plants in a FiT programme. A disjunctive fuzzy optimisation approach is adopted in this work due to the presence of several biomass power plants, thus resulting in a multi‐objective optimisation. The newly developed mixed‐integer linear programming (MILP) model maximises the overall satisfaction extent of biomass power plants in power generation. The optimisation model ensures the satisfaction of all biomass power plants' technical and economic constraints. A base case study of seven power plants utilising various palm biomass is used to demonstrate the disjunctive fuzzy optimisation approach for the MILP model. This is followed by a scenario investigating the impact of demand variation. The optimisation of the case studies favours the utilisation of empty fruit bunch (EFB), palm oil mill effluent (POME), and palm mesocarp fibre (PMF) for sustainable electricity generation. Palm kernel shell (PKS) is the least preferred palm biomass due to its lowest net availability of useful energy from biomass combustion. This work provides a decision tool for the selection of biomass type during electricity generation. The MILP model in this work may be readily extended for any number of power plants, handling a variety of biomass feedstocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raine syndrome is an autosomal recessive condition, characterized by distinctive facial and skeletal features along with intracranial calcification[1]. Raine syndrome: Prenatal diagnosis based on recognizable fetal facial features and characteristic intracranial calcification. The characteristic facies of Raine syndrome comprises exophthalmos, hypertelorism, midfacial hypoplasia, a depressed nasal bridge, micrognathia and low-set ears[[4]]. [Extracted from the article]

Many of the common mimics of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) can be rapidly excluded at initial evaluation with appropriate clinical and investigational tools. More fastidious conditions may be missed on initial evaluation. We aimed to study the clinico-investigational profile and final diagnosis of patients who were initially diagnosed and treated as IIMs and received an alternate diagnosis in follow-up. We screened the medical records of patients with suspected IIM seen in our neuromuscular clinic or wards between January 2019 to December 2023. We included patients who were diagnosed as IIM (in this or an alternate centre) based on clinical, serological or pathological correlation and given immunotherapy, and whose diagnoses were altered in follow up. We excluded patients who were reclassified as infectious or post-viral myositis and Sporadic inclusion body myositis (s-IBM) from this analysis. The data was extracted with a structured proforma, and descriptive analysis was performed. We reviewed 112 records of suspected IIMs. After excluding 35 patients with confirmed IIMs, 9 s-IBM, and 57 with an alternate diagnosis after initial evaluation, we identified 11 patients who fulfilled our inclusion criteria. The male:female ratio was 6:7, and age of onset ranged from 16-64 years. The final diagnosis of IIMs mimics were genetic muscle diseases in 6, Sporadic late onset nemaline myopathy (SLONM) in 2 and Sarcoid myopathy, Scleromyxedema myopathy and Corticosteroid myopathy in one each. The genetic diseases were dysferlinopathy in 2, facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy in 1, GNE myopathy in 1, and GGPS1-associated muscular dystrophy in 1. All patients had a limb-girdle weakness at onset except disto-proximal weakness in GNE myopathy, 2 had early dysphagia. Symptom duration at initiation of immunotherapy was <1 year in 7 patients, <2 years in 3 and 7 years for 1. The latter 4 had a rapid decline of functional status over 3 to 8 months prior to immunotherapy initiation. 8 patients had elevated creatine kinase levels, 4 had myositis-associated or other antibody positivity, 3 had M-band in serum protein electrophoresis and 3 had STIR hyperintensities in muscle MRI. None had myositis-specific antibodies. Muscle biopsy consistent with inflammatory myopathy was reported in patients with FSHD and GNE myopathy while co-existent inflammation was reported in sarcoid myopathy and scleromyxedema myopathy. All patients received immunotherapy with duration of therapy ranging from 3 months to 7 years. The median time to final diagnosis was 27 (range 5-180) months. The most common cause of misdiagnosis was acute or subacute presentation (in 6) or acute worsening (in 4). Muscle biopsy contributed to misdiagnosis in 2 patients while it clinched the final diagnosis in 7 of 11 patients. Genetic studies were diagnostic in 4 patients. Poor immunotherapy responsiveness noted in 7, confirmatory phenotype on follow-up in 3 (FSHD, GNE myopathy, corticosteroid myopathy) and abnormal ancillary tests in 3 (sarcoid myopathy, SLONM, scleromyxedema myopathy) were the main indications for re-evaluation. Careful phenotyping and judicious application of serological, radiological and pathological information could help in the diagnosis of IIM mimics. Poor immunotherapy responsiveness and absence of myositis-specific antibodies warrant evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resistance to chemotherapy and/ or radiation remains a major challenge in pancreatic cancer leading to treatment failure and poor prognosis in patients. Resistance arises due to the adaptive plasticity of cancer cells to escape therapeutic pressure or the expansion of an inherently resistant population of cells. Therefore, there is a need to identify novel genes regulating inherent tumor cell autonomous chemoradioresistance in pancreatic cancer cells. CRISPR based screens are powerful tools that can be used for repressing or inducing activation (CRISPRa) of genes en masse. Screens can be genome-wide or a focused library targeting genes involved in specific pathways or biological processes. We employed a focused CRISPRa library targeting 328 DNA damage repair genes to identify novel targets activated in inherently resistant pancreatic cancer cells in vitro. Two human pancreatic cancer cells lines MIA-PaCa2 (MP2) and PANC-1 were modified to stably express dCas9-VP64, a transcriptional activator. We then optimized and validated dCas9-VP64-mediated gene activation system by transfecting cells with a guide RNA (gRNA) expressing RFP and assessing the increase in RFP expression over 2 weeks by flow cytometry. We further confirmed the ability of dCas9-VP64 to increase endogenous gene activation using gRNAs to target a ubiquitin-specific protease (USP) gene called USP36. Gene activation was confirmed by qPCR and western blotting. To mimic inherent resistance, we optimized conditions by treating cells with varying doses of gemcitabine and radiation. We then transduced a library with gRNAs targeting 328 DNA damage repair genes with a targeting density of 7 gRNAs per gene and 1000x coverage into dCas9 expressing cells; treated them with our chemoradiation regimen, followed by extraction and NextSeq550 sequencing to identify genes regulating chemoradioresistance. With our system, we achieved over 50% increase in RFP levels in MP2 and PANC-1 expressing dCas9-VP64 compared to parental cells. The Cas9 expressing cells also significantly upregulated the expression of USP36 consistently over 14 days. By optimization, we found that treating cells for 24 hours with 5nM of gemcitabine followed by 3 consecutive days of 1Gy irradiation was the best treatment regimen to generate 5% viable cells, which we consider an inherently resistant population to chemoradiotherapy. Finally, we are awaiting results from our high-throughput sequencing. We successfully established two in vitro models capable of activating 328 DNA damage repair genes after transduction of the gRNA library and expect to present the full results from our screening and high-throughput sequencing at the meeting. We anticipate that our current work will identify new targets of synthetic lethality that will help sensitize pancreatic cancer cells to radiation and/or chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Pyrogallol showed direct activity against Staphylococcus aureus carrying the TetK efflux pump. • Pyrogallol showed a synergistic effect when combined with the antibiotic. • This effect was not related to the inhibition of the efflux pump mechanism. • Pyrogallol did not cause direct changes in the membrane, interacting only with the surface. Several pharmacological and biological activities of phenolic compounds have been reported in the literature. Some phenolic compounds have antibacterial properties, either alone or in combination with currently used antibiotics. With an increasing number of cases of bacterial infections caused by resistant bacteria, the search for more effective treatments has become critical. The goal of this study was to assess pyrogallol's ability to reverse bacterial resistance by inhibiting efflux pumps, as well as to validate its mechanism of interaction using computational dynamics. To determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of pyrogallol, broth microdilution tests were performed. The MIC reduction of tetracycline and ethidium bromide confirmed efflux pump inhibition. Pyrogallol showed direct activity against Staphylococcus aureus ; however, the synergistic effect was observed only with the tested antibiotic, reducing its concentration from 128 μg/mL to 45.25 μg/mL, and this effect was not associated with efflux pump inhibition. According to molecular dynamics, this compound interacts with the surface of the bacterial membrane. However, more research is needed to identify potential mechanisms of interaction with existing antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a prologue to the Gaganyaan project, ISRO successfully test fired one of the critical and essential technologies for human space flight, i.e. Crew Escape System (CES) Pad Abort Test on 5 July 2018. This is a strategically important flight as a part of various qualification tests that ensures emergency escape measure to quickly pull the Crew Module (CM) along with the astronauts to a safe distance from the launch vehicle in case of any eventuality. CES along with CM weighing of 12.6 tonnes lifted-off at 07.00 h from the Sounding Rocket Complex Launch Pad, Sriharikota. The vehicle was taken to an altitude of 3 km using a specially developed solid motor with multiple reverse flow and scarfed nozzles with 10 g acceleration. Around 330 sensors on-board were used to measure its performance. The data obtained ensured that the adopted design philosophy and approaches such as CM reorientation, aerodynamic data with jet-on environment, mission sequences, performance of special solid motors, deceleration system, etc. were in order. This provides more confidence to progress to the next level of demonstration as a part of Gaganyaan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Hypnea (Rhodophyta, Gigartinales) has currently 61 accepted species distributed in tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions, growing in different habitats with a wide range of environmental factors and interactions with abiotic and biotic factors. Some Hypnea species are consumed by humans mostly in Asian and Indo-Pacific countries and are also exploited as raw material for kappa-carrageenan production, consequently, have been harvested and/or cultivated in several countries for decades. Hypnea musciformis has the widest geographical distribution around the world and it is the most studied species. However, more molecular studies on H. musciformis from different countries are necessary to understand the phenotypic plasticity and to reveal cryptic species. The present review is a compilation of information on taxonomy, morphology, anatomy, life history, distribution, ecology, physiology, cultivation and harvesting, chemical composition, and biotechnological applications. Although Hypnea species are well known as sources of carrageenans, reports on chemical diversity and biological activities highlight their remarkable potential for biotechnological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on effectiveness of paravertebral blocks (PVB) and novel alternatives. Topics discussed include information on alternative paraspinal techniques involving the erector spinae plane (ESP), retrolaminar, and midpoint transverse process to pleura (MTP); information on thoracic paravertebral space (TPVS), a wedge-shaped space adjacent to the thoracic spine; and evidence base and techniques for PVB.

We consider a single server queueing-inventory system under (s,Q) replenishment strategy with working vacations, vacation interruptions and lost sales. The server provides service at a lower rate during working vacations than while in normal mode of service. If a working vacation realizes while providing service in that mode, then the server continues in the present status until the current service is completed. Upon that it switches to the normal mode of service, provided there is at least one customer waiting. If no customer is waiting at this point of time, it goes for vacation. We also assume that if there are customers in the system at a service completion epoch during a working vacation, the server will come back to the normal working mode, otherwise the server will stay in the working vacation mode. With the system having infinite capacity, the stability condition for the system is obtained, followed by computation of the steady-state probability vector and discussion. Various performance measures are evaluated. In addition, the busy period analysis is provided and the stationary waiting time distribution in the queue is derived. Numerical illustrations are provided to illustrate the system performance, and an optimization problem is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 50-year-old third gravida mother with previous two normal live births. Examinations were suggestive of multiple cardiac rhabdomyomas diagnosed at 28 weeks of gestation, showed cysts in bilateral kidneys, cortical tubers, radial migration bands, and subependymal nodules. The patient was diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis with a TSC2 mutation, and was considered for preventive treatment with electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring.

Lurasidone is used for treatment of bipolar depression in adults and adolescents. Lurasidone-associated manic switch has been reported in adults but not yet in adolescents. We report a case of lurasidone-induced manic switch in a male adolescent treated for bipolar I depression. Five days after adding lurasidone to his regimen (sodium valproate and olanzapine), our patient became manic with psychotic features. After discontinuation of lurasidone, he was stabilised with electroconvulsive therapy, and the medication was switched to a lithium-quetiapine combination. This case highlights the potential risk of lurasidone-induced manic switch in adolescents with bipolar depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In video coding system, block matching algorithms are used to identify the matching blocks in digital video sequence for motion estimation. Motion estimation is used to discover temporal redundancy in the digital video sequence. This paper shows the analysis of popular existing algorithms for motion estimation. The analysis is based on the number of search points/macroblocks and speed-up ratio. The endeavor of this revision is to present the successive researchers with some productive information in design of block matching algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical Fiber Communication is known for its extremely high data-carrying capacity among all the existing transmission technologies. However, its capacity to the fullest is restrained by the effects of nonlinearity, thereby urging nonlinear compensation. In this paper, we have attempted to enhance the performance of Nonlinear Frequency Division multiplexing (NFDM) based nonlinearity compensation, a recent attraction due to its high throughput nature. Here, we design optimal transmit signals, emphasizing lowering the Peak to Average Ratio (PAPR). With appropriate investigation, optimal eigenvalue and Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) constellations for encoding have been procured that aid in constructing low PAPR NFDM signals. To upgrade the optimal QAM design, two novel Spiral QAM models, Model I and Model II are proposed that diversify signal envelopes in addition to lowering the PAPR. This improves the overall fault tolerance of the NFDM system. For a 2-eigenvalue NFDM system, using the proposed constellations, the PAPR is reduced by 0.24 dB (Model I) and 1.42 dB (Model II), compared to the conventional scheme. Thus, we have designed optimum NFDM transmit pulses and subsequently accomplished a high performing 10 Gbps NFDM system using the proposed constellation models. • Realized an enhanced 10 Gbps NFDM transmission system. • Designed optimal NFDM transmit signals with low Peak to Average Ratio. • Proposed novel Spiral QAM constellation models to diversify signal envelopes. • Improvement in the overall fault tolerance of the NFDM system. • Achieved better transmission reach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gracilaria domingensis (Kützing) Sonder ex Dickie is widely distributed in the Brazilian coast and is one of a few Gracilaria species with occurrence in the southern region of the country. Its commercial importance is in the use in human food (in natura) and knowledge of the physiology is fundamental to make its cultivation successful. The objectives of the present work were to determine the limits of tolerance to temperature and irradiance variations and to evaluate comparatively their effects on growth rates and contents of total soluble proteins and pigments in female gametophytes of G. domingensis from Brazilian tropical region (ES strain) and from subtropical region (SC strain). Variations in temperature (from 15 to 35 °C) and irradiance (from 20 to 250 μmol photons m−2 s−1) were tested. Both strains tolerated temperature variation from 15 to 30 °C, but died at 35 °C. The ES strain had higher growth rates (from 3.1 to 6.1% day−1) in relation to the SC strain (from 1.3 to 4.1% day−1), but the two strains had the highest growth rate at 25 °C. The ES strain had higher concentrations of total soluble proteins at low temperature (15 °C), while the SC strain showed higher protein concentrations at high temperatures (25 and 30 °C). In addition, the chlorophyll a concentration of the ES strain was higher at 20 °C and lower at 30 °C. The irradiance variation influenced the growth rates of the two strains (from 2.7 to 6.0% day−1) and the lowest growth rates were observed at irradiance of 20 μmol photons m−2 s−1 and the highest growth rates were observed at a wide range of irradiance variation (from 40 to 250, and from 60 to 250 μmol photons m−2 s−1 for SC and ES strains, respectively). The studied strains of G. domingensis showed higher concentrations of total soluble protein at low irradiances (20, 40, and 80 μmol photons m−2 s−1). The highest concentrations of phycoerythrin (423.0 μg g−1 FW) and phycocyanin (215.3 μg g−1 FW) were observed in the ES strain grown at low irradiance (40 μmol photons m−2 s−1). The chlorophyll a concentration of the two strains decreased with increased irradiance, indicating a photoacclimation. Our results showed that the tropical strain of G. domingensis has higher growth rates over a broader temperature range than the subtropical strain, which could be an advantageous feature for maricultural purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: We studied the changes in mRNA expressions of influx and efflux transporters, blood–testis–barrier proteins (BTB) and key apoptotic genes in the testis of rats coadministered with nicotine and atorvastatin. Rats were divided into four groups: (i) control, (ii) atorvastatin (10 mg/kg b.wt), (iii) nicotine (0.6 mg/kg b.wt) and (iv) atorvastatin (10 mg/kg b.wt) + nicotine (0.6 mg/kg b.wt). Atorvastatin was given by oral intubation and nicotine by intraperitoneal injection. After 60 days of treatment, expressions of key apoptotic genes involved in both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways; solute carrier influx transporters SLCOB1, SLC22A1 and efflux transporter ABCB1 associated with transport of atorvastatin and nicotine, and proteins of BTB were assayed. Nicotine administration activated apoptosis and downregulated SLCOB1, which transport atorvastatin. Atorvastatin administration suppressed apoptotic pathway and downregulated SLC22A1, transporter of nicotine. Coadministration of atorvastatin with nicotine downregulated expressions of apoptotic genes. The combined administration of atorvastatin and nicotine reduced the influx of both atorvastatin and nicotine and enhanced the efflux of these drugs thereby altering the microenvironment of testis and improving testicular function. We conclude that atorvastatin‐mediated alterations of BTB and drug transporters might have played a significant role in ameliorating nicotine‐induced testicular toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work delineates the heat transfer potential of the semiconducting graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4) nanofluid. The paper also discusses the eco-friendly green synthesis of g-C 3 N 4 nanoparticles from the natural carbon precursor portobello mushroom by the hydrothermal method. The nanoparticles synthesised are subjected to structural, morphological, thermal, and optical characterizations. The flower-like laminar structure of the sample revealed through field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) analysis exhibited a semiconducting nature with an optical bandgap of 2.58 eV. The formation of g-C 3 N 4 is confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron (XPS) and Raman spectroscopic analyses. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) reveals good thermal stability up to 500 °C, which suggests possible applications in heat transfer fluids. The concentration-dependent thermal diffusivity variation of the g-C 3 N 4 semiconductor nanofluid, investigated using the sensitive mode mismatched dual beam thermal lens technique, divulges its potential as an organic, metal-free additive in engine coolants for automobile applications. [Display omitted] • Development of an organic semiconducting nanofluid with g-C 3 N 4 in ethylene glycol. • Hydrothermally synthesised g-C 3 N 4 from portobello mushroom as carbon precursor. • g-C 3 N 4 exhibits enhanced thermal diffusivity with the increase in concentration. • The sensitive thermal lens technique is employed for thermal diffusivity study. • Unwraps the potential of g-C 3 N 4 in thermal engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shared motherhood IVF treatment is becoming increasingly accepted among assisted reproductive techique practitioners and patients in Europe, although data on its overall efficiency remain scarce. This 6-year retrospective study from a single, private, UK HFEA-regulated centre included consecutive lesbian couples ( n = 121) undergoing shared motherhood IVF treatment (141 cycles). Recipients were more parous and had undergone more previous intrauterine insemination and IVF treatments than donor partners, who had slightly higher ovarian reserve markers than recipients. Indications in most cycles (60%) were non-medical. Most (79%) egg-providers were stimulated with gonadotrophin releasing hormone antagonist protocol, and no moderate or severe cases of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) arose. A total of 172 fresh and vitrified-warmed embryo transfers were carried out: 70% at the blastocyst-stage and 58% involved a single embryo. Cumulative live birth rate per receiver was 60% (72/120), and twin delivery rate was 14% (10/72). Perinatal outcome parameters were better for singleton than twin pregnancies, although the latter also achieved generally favourable outcomes. No significant difference in cumulative outcomes were found between synchronized and non-synchronized cycles. Shared motherhood IVF combines ovarian stimulation with single blastocyst transfer to provide a safe and effective treatment modality offering reassuring obstetrical and perinatal outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the diagnosis of emergence delirium (ED) after the administration of paediatric anaesthesia in a patient. It discusses how the occurrence of ED could be unexpected to the anaesthetist, behavioural symptoms like motor agitation or confusion, unwillingness of the patient to communicate with the caregiver and the use of total i.v. anaesthesia (TIVA) technique is the most common one to prevent ED.

Drug administration is an unavoidable part of treatment. When a drug is administered orally or intravenously, it gets absorbed into the blood stream. The rate and efficiency of absorption depend on the route of administration. When a drug is administered through the oral route, it penetrates the epithelial cells of the intestinal mucosa. The diffusion of the drug into the blood stream depends on various parameters, such as concentration, temperature and the nature of the mucous membrane. The passive diffusion of drugs is found to obey Fick's law. Water soluble drugs penetrate the cell membrane through aqueous channel or pores. Hence, the study of diffusion of drugs into the water and finally into the blood stream is important. An attempt has been made to study the diffusion of the drug in water as 60% to 80% of human body is water. For the study of drug diffusion in water, a commonly used cough syrup of specific gravity 1.263 is used. It is found that the diffusion rate increases with the concentration of the drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface sediment samples were collected from five stations along the Chitrapuzha River, during the monsoon, post-monsoon and pre-monsoon seasons, and analyzed for biochemical composition, total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), and stable isotopic ratios of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) to identify the major sources of organic matter. Sediment grain size was found to be the key factor influencing the organic matter accumulation in surface sediments. The δ13C values vary between −27.94‰ and −26.05‰ and δ15N values ranges from −1.66‰ to −4.75‰ in surface sediments. The δ13C values indicate terrestrial inputs from higher plants, while δ15N values suggest decomposition processes in the sediments. The fraction of terrestrial organic matter (TrOM) to the total organic matter (TOM) pool ranges from 41 to 84% in the surface sediments as estimated by δ13C-based two end members mixing model. Intermediate values of TOC/TN ratios signal a combined input of both autochthonous and terrestrial organic matter sources, while protein-to-carbohydrate ratios show freshly deposited detritus in the majority of the stations. The threshold levels of protein, biopolymeric carbon, and algal contribution to biopolymeric carbon (BPC) indicate eutrophic conditions prevailing in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Two new binuclear Copper complexes were synthesised. • The complexes show excellent photo catalytic removal activity for Methylene blue. • The complexes have better ease of synthesis, recycling ability and efficiency. • Promising candidate for use as Fenton catalyst for waste water treatment. Two novel thiourea-bridged binuclear complexes [Cu(TL3)Cl] 2 ·5H 2 O and [Cu(PL4)Cl] 2 ·6H 2 OMeCN were synthesised by reacting CuCl 2 ·2H 2 O and 1-(5-bromopyridin-2-yl)-3-phenylthiourea/1-(5-chloropyridin-2-yl)-3-phenylthiourea ligands in 2:1 M ratio. The synthesised ligands and their complexes were physico-chemically characterised using elemental analysis, UV–Visible, FT-IR, NMR, HRMS, and photo luminescent spectroscopic techniques. SEM and TG/DTA were used to analyse the surface morphology and thermal stability of the synthesised complexes. The HOMO-LUMO band gap energy (E g) values at 2.90 eV and 2.95 eV for the complexes 1 and 2 indicate that the complexes are good semiconductors. The photo catalytic degradation of methylene blue (1 × 10-5 M, pH ≈6.4) by the complexes 1 and 2, activated with H 2 O 2 under natural sunlight could also be carried out successfully. Moreover, the degradation efficiency (%D) values at 94.537 ± 0.435 and 94.317 ± 0.856 for complexes 1 and 2 respectively, after reacting for 180 min, indicates excellent photo catalytic activity of the complexes under natural sunlight. On the basis of FTIR and PXRD spectral analysis, taken before and after the photo degradation reaction, both the complexes were found to possess high stability and hence can act as good candidates for the photodecomposition of MB under natural sunlight. In particular, both the photo catalysts can be efficiently reused up to four consecutive degradation cycles with more than 88% efficiency and negligible loss of photo catalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Increased physical activity and functional ability are the goals of total knee replacement surgery. Therefore, adequate rehabilitation is required for the recovery of patients after discharge from hospital following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This systematic literature review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of home telerehabilitation in patients who underwent TKA. Methods Studies published in the English language between 2000 and 2014 were retrieved from Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane databases using relevant search strategies. Two researchers independently reviewed the studies as per the Cochrane methodology for systematic literature review. We considered telerehabilitation sessions as those that were conducted by experienced physiotherapists, using videoconferencing to patients' homes via an internet connection. The outcomes assessed included: knee movement (knee extension and flexion); quadriceps muscle strength; functional assessment (the timed up-and-go test); and assessment of pain, stiffness, and functional capacity using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index and visual analogue scale for pain. Results In total, 160 potentially relevant studies were screened. Following the screening of studies as abstracts and full-text publications, six primary publications (four randomized controlled trials, one non-randomized controlled trial, and one single-arm trial) were included in the review. Patients experienced high levels of satisfaction with the use of telerehabilitation alone. There was no significant difference in change in active knee extension and flexion in the home telerehabilitation group as compared to the control group (mean difference (MD) -0.52, 95% CI -1.39 to 0.35, p = 0.24 and MD 1.14, 95% CI -0.61 to 2.89, p = 0.20, respectively). The patients in the home telerehabilitation group showed improvement in physical activity and functional status similar to patients in the conventional therapy group. Discussion The evidence from this systematic literature review demonstrated that telerehabilitation is a practical alternative to conventional face-to-face rehabilitation therapy in patients who underwent TKA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripheral ossifying fibroma (POF) is a reactive lesion usually arising from the interdental gingiva. The etiology is considered to be secondary to trauma or other local irritating factors. POF is almost always confused with pyogenic granuloma and peripheral giant cell granuloma. It usually shows a predominance of incidence in anterior region of maxilla and among females. Lesions are rarely larger than 2 cms in size. Incidence of peripheral ossifying fibroma in the posterior maxilla is also rare. Here we report a large peripheral ossifying fibroma occurring in a 40 year oldman in the posterior maxillary region which had extended to the occlusal surface of the third molar region causing pain and erythema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In end-stage knee osteoarthritis the treatment of choice is total knee arthroplasty (TKA). An alternative treatment is knee joint distraction (KJD), suggested to postpone TKA. Several studies reported significant and prolonged clinical improvement of KJD. To make an appropriate decision regarding the position of this treatment, a cost-effectiveness and cost-utility analysis from healthcare perspective for different age and gender categories was performed. Methods: A treatment strategy starting with TKA and a strategy starting with KJD for patients of different age and gender was simulated. To extrapolate outcomes to long-term health and economic outcomes a Markov (Health state) model was used. The number of surgeries, QALYs, and treatment costs per strategy were calculated. Costs-effectiveness is expressed using the cost-effectiveness plane and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves. Results: Starting with KJD the number of knee replacing procedures could be reduced, most clearly in the younger age categories; especially revision surgery. This resulted in the KJD strategy being dominant (more effective with cost-savings) in about 80% of simulations (with only inferiority in about 1%) in these age categories when compared to TKA. At a willingness to pay of 20.000 Euro per QALY gained, the probability of starting with KJD to be cost-effective compared to starting with a TKA was already found to be over 75% for all age categories and over 90–95% for the younger age categories. Conclusion: A treatment strategy starting with knee joint distraction for knee osteoarthritis has a large potential for being a cost-effective intervention, especially for the relatively young patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Measurement of MRP8/14 serum levels has shown potential in predicting clinical response to different biological agents in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We aimed to develop a treatment algorithm based on a prediction score using MRP8/14 measurements and clinical parameters predictive for response to different biological agents. Methods: Baseline serum levels of MRP8/14 were measured in 170 patients starting treatment with infliximab, adalimumab or rituximab. We used logistic regression analysis to develop a predictive score for clinical response at 16 weeks. MRP8/14 levels along with clinical variables at baseline were investigated. We also investigated how the predictive effect of MRP8/14 was modified by drug type. A treatment algorithm was developed based on categorizing the expected response per drug type as high, intermediate or low for each patient and optimal treatment was defined. Finally, we present the utility of using this treatment algorithm in clinical practice. Results: The probability of response increased with higher baseline MRP8/14 complex levels (OR = 1.39), differentially between the TNF-blockers and rituximab (OR of interaction term = 0.78), and also increased with higher DAS28 at baseline (OR = 1.28). Rheumatoid factor positivity, functional disability (a higher HAQ), and previous use of a TNF-inhibitor decreased the probability of response. Based on the treatment algorithm 80 patients would have been recommended for anti-TNF treatment, 8 for rituximab, 13 for another biological treatment (other than TNFi or rituximab) and for 69 no recommendation was made. The predicted response rates matched the observed response in the cohort well. On group level the predicted response based on the algorithm resulted in a modest 10% higher response rate in our cohort with much higher differences in response probability in individual patients treated contrary to treatment recommendation. Conclusions: Prediction of response using MRP8/14 levels along with clinical predictors has potential in personalizing treatment for RA patients starting biological anti-rheumatic treatment, and might increase cost-effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extramedullary plasmacytoma represents 3%–5% of all plasma cell neoplasms. Plasmacytomas of the mesentery are extremely rare. We report the case of a 56-year-old man who presented with an abdominal mass and was diagnosed to have plasmacytoma of the mesentery. A literature review was also conducted on publications pertaining to solitary mesenteric plasmacytomas. These patients present late by which time the abdominal mass has reached a significant size. Radiation as a modality for local control has a limited role in treating mesenteric plasmacytomas. Surgery is the preferred modality for local control. Patients must be kept on a regular follow-up as there is a risk of transformation to multiple myeloma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integration of an induction machine based flywheel energy storage system with a wind energy conversion system is implemented in this paper. The nonlinear and linearized models of the flywheel are studied, compared and a reduced order model of the same simulated to analyze the influence of the flywheel inertia and control in system response during a wind power change. A quantification of the relation between the inertia of the flywheel and the controller gain is obtained which allows the system to be considered as a reduced order model that is more controllable in nature. A microgrid setup comprising of the flywheel energy storage system, a two mass model of a DFIG based wind turbine generator and a reduced order model of a diesel generator is utilized to analyse the microgrid dynamics accurately in the event of frequency variations arising due to wind power change. The response of the microgrid with and without the flywheel is studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]