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A compact single feed circularly polarized microstrip patch antenna for RFID applications is proposed. Antenna geometry includes a regular hexagon shaped patch with a polygonal slot embedded at the centre. The slot accounts for circular polarization and an area reduction of 22.5 %. It is fabricated on FR4 substrate with dielectric constant 4.4 and size 50 mm x 50 mm x 1.6 mm. The measured results include 10dB impedance bandwidth of 5.5 % at the center frequency of 2.42 GHz, a return loss of 32 dB, minimum axial ratio of 1.82 dB, axial ratio bandwidth of 7.5%, gain of 4.9 dBi with a broadside radiation characteristic for the RHCP antenna. These results are well in tune with the simulated results and the proposed design is suitable for RFID reader antenna applications.

Abstract This paper proposes the experimental demonstration of an anapole-based cylindrical electromagnetic cloaking scheme. An anapole state is excited by arranging around a cylindrical metallic target vertical split-ring resonators, forming an equivalent surface admittance boundary condition able to suppress the scattering. Using Mie formalism and multipole scattering theory, we identify the actual reason behind the cloaking operation, characterizing the anapole condition by the scattering contributions from toroidal and electric dipole moments. Numerical results are verified using full-wave simulation softwares and subsequently validated with back-scattering measurements inside an anechoic chamber.

Background and Objectives: “Adai” is a traditional South Indian breakfast prepared using the wet ground batter of white rice and pulses. Convenience foods are gaining popularity and owing to the increasing prevalence of noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes, there is a need for food products with lower glycemic index (GI). The current study aimed to develop an instant adai mix using brown rice, millets, pulses, and spices. Materials and Methods: The instant adai mix was prepared by blending pulverized brown rice, sorghum, and pulses (green gram, horse gram, decorticated and split red gram, black gram, and chickpea) along with roasted cumin, red chilies, and salt. The nutritional composition of the instant adai mix was analyzed, and GI of “adai” was evaluated in healthy human volunteers using International organization for standardization protocol. Results: The instant adai mix was rich in whole grains (48%) and pulses (45%). Nutritional profiling of the instant adai mix revealed that it is rich in protein and dietary fiber. One hundred grams of instant adai mix fulfill 27.8% of protein and 29.6% of dietary fiber requirements of recommended dietary allowance of adult male. Likewise, 100 g of instant adai mix fulfill 34.9% of protein requirements of the estimated average requirement of an adult male. The “adai” prepared from the instant mix exhibited medium GI (65.1). Conclusion: The instant “adai” mix was found to be nutritionally superior, and the adai prepared from the mix showed a medium GI. It can be a healthy option compared with instant mixes containing refined grains such as white rice. More formulation trials are needed to prepare an adai mix to achieve a low GI. Reformulation of traditional foods with nutritious ingredients and achieving a lower GI can expand the healthier food choices for this vulnerable population who are at risk for type 2 diabetes.

This paper explores a novel method to achieve negative group delay-assisted anomalous propagation without significant signal attenuation using stacked Split-Ring Resonator (SRR) array in the microwave regime. A sub-wavelength stacking thickness between the SRR layers creates transverse magnetic dipole moments due to the excitation of anti-parallel currents on these layers resulting in increased transmission amplitude. Multipole scattering theory has been utilized to extract the reason behind anomalous propagation by evaluating the scattered power from the principal electric and magnetic dipole moments excited on the structure. Time-domain analysis are performed on the samples, and negative group delay behavior is confirmed by observing the precedence of the output electromagnetic Gaussian pulse within the anomalous dispersion regime. The coupling effects are studied numerically using full-wave solvers and verified in experiments by performing transmission measurements inside an anechoic chamber.

This report details the successful prosthetic rehabilitation of a 25-year-old male patient with Papillon Lefèvre Syndrome (PLS) using an implant-supported hybrid prosthesis. Six implants were placed in the maxilla, and four were placed in the mandibular arch. All implants were inserted axially (non-tilted) and were planned to be loaded after a healing period of 6 months. One implant failed due to graft loss during the healing phase, which was removed and the remaining implants were restored with a hybrid prosthesis after 6 months, using the delayed loading protocol. The patient was followed-up for four years and all the remaining implants successfully integrated and remained fully functional during this period. The prosthesis significantly improved the functional, aesthetic, and psychological well-being of the patient. This case report is the first of its kind to use only four axially placed implants for rehabilitation of a PLS patient with a successful four-year follow-up.

Early detection of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is critical to TB elimination in the current WHO vision of End Tuberculosis Strategy. The study investigates whether detecting plasma cytokines could aid in diagnosing LTBI across household contacts (HHCs) positive for IGRA, HHCs negative for IGRA, and healthy controls. The plasma cytokines were measured using a commercial Bio-Plex Pro Human Cytokine 17-plex assay. Increased plasma CXCL8 and decreased MCP-1, TNF-α, and IFN-γ were associated with LTBI. Regression analysis showed that a combination of CXCL8 and MCP-1 increased the risk of LTBI among HHCs to 14-fold. Our study suggests that CXCL-8 and MCP-1 could serve as the surrogate biomarkers of LTBI, particularly in resource-limited settings. Further laboratory investigations are warranted before extrapolating CXCL8 and MCP-1 for their usefulness as surrogate biomarkers of LTBI in resource-limited settings.

BackgroundAsian Indians have an increased susceptibility to type 2 diabetes and premature coronary artery disease. Nuts, like almonds, are rich in unsaturated fat and micronutrients with known health benefits.ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess the efficacy of almonds for reduction of insulin resistance and improving lipid profile in overweight Asian Indian adults.MethodsThis parallel-arm, randomized, controlled trial was conducted in Chennai, India on 400 participants aged 25–65 years with a body mass index ≥ 23 kg/m2. The intervention group received 43 g of almonds/day for 12 weeks, while the control group was advised to consume a customary diet but to avoid nuts. Anthropometric, clinical, and dietary data were assessed at periodic intervals. Glucose tolerance, serum insulin, glycated hemoglobin, C-peptide and lipid profile were assessed at baseline and end of the study. Insulin resistance (homeostasis assessment model-HOMA IR) and oral insulin disposition index (DIo) were calculated.ResultsA total of 352 participants completed the study. Significant improvement was seen in DIo [mean (95% CI) = + 0.7 mmol/L (0.1, 1.3); p = 0.03], HOMA IR (−0.4 (−0.7, −0.04; p = 0.03) and total cholesterol (−5.4 mg/dl (−10.2, −0.6); p = 0.03) in the intervention group compared to the control group. Incremental area under the curve (IAUC) and mean amplitude of glycemic excursion (MAGE) assessed using continuous glucose monitoring systems were also significantly lower in the intervention group. Dietary 24-h recalls showed a higher significant reduction in carbohydrate and increase in mono unsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) intake in the intervention group compared to the control group.ConclusionDaily consumption of almonds increased the intake of MUFA with decrease in carbohydrate calories and decreases insulin resistance, improves insulin sensitivity and lowers serum cholesterol in Asian Indians with overweight/obesity. These effects in the long run could aid in reducing the risk of diabetes and other cardiometabolic disease.

This paper proposes Inductive Enhanced-Electromagnetic Bandgap (IE-EBG) structure to suppress the Ground Bounce Noise (GBN) for high-speed digital system applications. The GBN excited between the power and ground plane pair could be a source of interference to the adjacent analog IC's on the same PCB (or) nearby devices because of radiated emission from the PCB edges. Hence, it must be suppressed at the PCB level. The proposed two-dimensional IE-EBG patterned power plane suppressed the GBN effectively over a broad frequency range. The four unit-cell IE-EBG provides a -40 dB noise suppression bandwidth of 13.567 GHz. With a substantial increment in the overall area, the nine unit-cell IE-EBG provides a -50 dB bandwidth of 19.02 GHz. The equivalent circuit modeling was developed for nine unit-cell IE-EBG and results are verified with the 3D EM simulation results. In addition, dispersion analysis was performed on the IE-EBG unit-cell to validate the lowest cut-off frequency and bandgap range. The prototype model of the proposed IE-EBG is fabricated and tested. The measured and simulated results are compared; a negligible variation is observed between them. In a multilayer PCB, the solid power plane is replaced with the 1 x 4 IE-EBG power plane and its impact on high-speed data transmission is analyzed with single-ended/differential signaling. The embedded IE-EBG with differential signaling provides optimum MEO and MEW values of 0.928 V, 0.293 ns for a random binary sequence with the 0.1 ns rise-time. Compared to single-ended signaling, embedded IE-EBG with differential signaling maintain good signal integrity and supports high-speed data transmission.

Background and Objectives: Beaten or flattened rice (flakes) is very popular in India for preparing the meal “upma.” Commonly marketed rice flakes are fiber depleted, starchy, and may be nutritionally poor. Hence, this study aimed at preparing brown rice flakes (BRF) for such “upma” preparation and compared the nutritional and glycemic properties of it with those of white rice flakes (WRF). Materials and Methods: Flakes were prepared from brown rice (BR, ADT-45 variety) by steaming and flattening using a roller flaker. The BRF and commercial WRF were analyzed for nutrient composition, and upma prepared from both the flakes was evaluated for glycemic index (GI) in normal healthy volunteers by using a validated protocol. Results: BRF contained significantly higher (6.2 g%) dietary fiber as compared with WRF (1.8 g%, P < 0.001). Stereo-zoom microscopic examination of BRF revealed retention of bran and germ. BRF was thicker, firmer, and had a lower surface area compared with WRF. BRF upma exhibited medium GI (63.3 ± 6.2), whereas WRF upma showed high GI (70.4 ± 5.6), though the GI values were not statistically significant. Interpretation and Conclusions: BRF upma, a medium GI category meal choice, could be considered a healthier option compared to high GI WRF upma considering the nutritional profile. The BRF described in the study is easy to cook and suitable enough to replace WRF. More trials are required to design and devise innovative protocols for the preparation of BRF with significantly lower glycemic properties.

Aim: Diabetes is a chronic progressive disease. A healthy eating pattern is essential to achieve good glycemic control (HbA1c 7%) which aids in delaying and preventing diabetes-related complications. The pivotal role of diet, a modifiable risk factor for type 2 diabetes has not been understood completely especially in India where carbohydrate consumption is high. This study, therefore, aims to identify major dietary patterns associated with uncontrolled diabetes by using data reduction methods. Objective: To study and compare the association of dietary patterns with elevated HbA1c among known diabetic adults using three data reduction methods (principal component analysis (PCA), reduced rank regression (RRR), and partial least-squares (PLS) regression). Materials and Methods: The Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiological followed up study (CURES) was completed in 2410 adults. Adults with diabetes (both genders, aged >20years), 573 were selected for the present analysis. Dietary intake was assessed using food frequency questionnaire. Results: The PCA derived the non-vegetarian and vegetarian pattern. Both showed positive association with the risk of high HbA1c. The first pattern of RRR and PLS showed a positive association with many foods especially those contributing to increased intakes of total calories. Whereas the 2nd pattern of RRR and PLS scores both showed an inverse association with HbA1c especially with the reduction in rice-based recipes and total calories. Conclusions: The low intake of certain foods, especially white rice, directly decreased the total calories, total carbohydrate, glycemic load, and glycemic index which has a beneficial effect on glycemic control among those with diabetes.

The rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants in the global population is indicative of the development of selective advantages in emerging virus strains. Here, we performed a case-control investigation of the clinical and demographic characteristics, clinical history, and virological markers to predict disease progression in hospitalized adults for COVID-19 between December 2021 and January 2022 in Chennai, India. COVID-19 diagnosis was made by a commercial TaqPath COVID-19 RT-PCR, and WGS was performed with the Ion Torrent Next Generation Sequencing System. High-quality (

Cells of the human biological system emerge from various concerted processes of cell growth, differentiation, repair, and regeneration to a degree. Neurotrophins (NTs) and Neurotrophin Receptors (NTRs) have robust effects on proliferation, differentiation, migration, survival, and synapse formation through physiologic regulatory signals. Dysregulation of such neurotrophic factors not only results in various age-related degenerative conditions but also paves the way to oncogenesis in neuronal and non-neuronal tissues. This review aims to highlight the emerging role of neurotrophins (NTs) and Neurotrophin Receptors (NTRs) in Oral Health and Disease and its molecular signaling pathway in physiologic and pathologic conditions. The electronic databases PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched for available data in the present review. A database search yielded more than 100 articles out of which 45 were included based on the core data. The role of NTs and NTRs in dental diseases is less explored and this was the very first attempt to collect the literature data of NTs and NTRs pertaining to head and neck tumors. The results and subsequent conclusions were extracted and reviewed. Expression of NTs and NTRs in neuronal and non-neuronal tissue is a spatial and time-bound event like odontogenesis. Recently NTs and NTRs expressions were detected in a few head and neck tumors. Unraveling the molecular signaling pathway of NTs and NTRs in head and neck tumors will help in elucidating the molecular pathogenesis and the prognosis, therefore, paving a path to expand our knowledge to understand and develop therapies for many pathologic conditions.

Background. Porcelain is brittle and in many situations it requires replacement in fractured or chipped restorations. The prospects exist in improving the strength of feldspathic porcelain to widen its applications. This study evaluated the fracture toughness of feldspathic porcelain after incorporation of silver and titanium nanoparticles at varying concentrations (0.5 wt%, 1 wt%, 1.5 wt% and 2 wt%). Methods. Test specimen dimensions were standardized to ASTM C1421–16 standards and a three-point flexure test was carried out to evaluate fracture toughness. A total of 330 samples were fabricated and broadly divided into three groups. Group I (titanium nanoparticles) and group II (silver nanoparticles) were further subdivided into 5 groups (0 wt%, 0.5 wt%, 1 wt%, 1.5 wt% and 2 wt%) for fracture toughness analysis, with each group consisting of 30 samples. Group III contained the superior concentration of both titanium and silver nanoparticles. The fracture toughness (KIC) was calculated using indentation fracture method and microstructure observations were made using scanning electron microscopy. The KIC values were compared and evaluated using one-way ANOVA. Results. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD post hoc test multiple comparisons. The mean values of group I, group II and group III were 1.949 MPa.m1/2, 2.002 MPa.m1/2 and 1.330 MPa.m1/2 , respectively. Conclusion. The results revealed that the samples reinforced with titanium and silver nanoparticles showed significant increases in fracture toughness. The blending of superior concentration of both titanium and silver nanoparticles decreased fracture resistance.

The problem of laminar to turbulent transition in a boundary layer flow subjected to an adverse pressure gradient is relevant to many engineering applications. Under such conditions, the initially laminar flow within the boundary layer can undergo separation and then become turbulent upon reattachment, as transition is triggered by instabilities within the separated shear layer. In turbomachinery blades with high loading, the transition mechanism is further complicated by the presence of periodic wake disturbances shed by blades that move relatively in the upstream flow. The paper reports an experimental study of the effect of wake disturbances generated upstream on the development of a laminar boundary layer over a flat plate imposed with an adverse pressure gradient that is typical of a highly loaded front-stage compressor blade. Detailed velocity measurements using a hotwire are performed along the plate and the results are analysed both in the time domain and the frequency domain. Description of the major features identified is provided and the leading mechanisms that trigger the transition process are identified to be a possible combination of amplified Tollmien–Schlichting waves and the roll-up of vortices due to the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability of the separated shear layer.

The theory of diffraction limit proposed by H.A Bethe limits the total power transfer through a subwavelength hole. Researchers all over the world have gone through different techniques for boosting the transmission through subwavelength holes resulting in the Extraordinary Transmission (EOT) behavior. We examine computationally and experimentally the concept of EOT nature in the microwave range for enhancing radiation performance of a stacked dipole antenna working in the S band. It is shown that the front to back ratio of the antenna is considerably enhanced without affecting the impedance matching performance of the design. The computational analysis based on Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) method reveals that the excitation of Fabry-Perot resonant modes on the slots is responsible for performance enhancement.

Four neonates presented within 24 hours of birth with stridor, respiratory distress and a weak cry. Clinical examination of the cardiovascular system revealed no abnormality. The transthoracic echocardiogram showed large aneurysm of ductus arteriosus at the aortic isthmus, tapering to a small tortuous channel at the site of pulmonary artery insertion. Computerized tomography scan performed in two of the neonates demonstrated considerable compression of adjacent thoracic structures. One required surgical excision due to persistence of symptoms. Serial echocardiograms in the remaining three babies showed transition through various stages of resolution over a period of 6 weeks to 3 months, resulting in the obliteration of the aneurysm. All babies are doing well during the follow-up.

A newborn baby presented with respiratory distress, cyanosis and shock within 2 hours of birth. The cardiac evaluation showed supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous return with critically obstructed vertical vein. The baby underwent successful stenting of the vertical vein at 12 hours of life.

The yellow-throated bulbul (YTB) is an endemic passerine restricted to scrub forests along hill slopes with exposed rocky outcrops in the Deccan Peninsula, India. It is found in small, discontinuous populations and is vulnerable to extinction due to ongoing habitat loss and subsequent population decline. To assess the genetic connectivity and past demography, we sequenced 1050 nucleotide base pairs of the mitochondrial control region of 60 individuals that represent distinct populations in the geographic range of the species. We recovered 39 haplotypes defined by 81 variable sites. Haplotype diversity was high with low nucleotide diversity, suggesting rapid population growth from a founder population with a small effective population size. The negative values of Tajima’s D and Fu’s Fs and small positive value of Ramos-Onsins and Rozas’ R2 suggest deviation from neutrality and population expansion. The haplotype network and demographic expansion parameters further suggest historical population expansion. Mismatch analysis statistics and Bayesian skyline plots estimate population expansion during the late Pleistocene. Although the species presently occurs in small, disconnected we found no structuring of the population. Dispersal events are the most likely explanation for the absence of genetic structuring in the YTB population. These results represent important data for the design of a conservation plan for this endemic and globally threatened species.