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This article represents a computational approach for the estimation of the characteristics of lithium-ion batteries for a 2D electrochemical model of cylindrical type lithium-ion battery using COMSOL software. Various input parameters used in the model formulation have been obtained from experimental data as well as published work. For the evaluation of battery performance, an electrochemical-thermal mathematical model has been designed to determine the electrochemical parameters such as rate capability, charge/discharge characteristic, ragone curve. Further, the electrochemical characteristics have been characterized with the help of cyclic voltammetry (CV) test which indicates the uniform electrochemical reactivity and transport properties of the designed battery. Two types of electrode pairs in which LiMn2O4 as cathode materials form LiMn2O4 (LMO)/Graphite and LMO/Carbon (MCMB) are designed and these electrode pairs are simulated and evaluated to determine the characteristics of battery material using charge and discharge curve at different current loads (C-rates) as well as ragone curve. The simulation results validate the electrochemical behavior of the proposed 2D model. Also, the LMO/graphite electrode pair shows better discharging and charging capacity, high energy, and power curve as compared to the LMO/Carbon (MCMB) electrode pair.

This study was carried out to determine the effect of dietary supplementation of melon (Citrallus lanatus) seed oil (WMO) on the growth performance and immune response of growing rabbits. Thirty-six (36), 5-6 weeks weaner rabbit of mixed breed and sex with an average weight of 435 g – 438 grams were randomly divided into four (4) treatments of nine rabbits per group and each rabbit served as a replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD). The experiment lasted for 12 weeks and all other management practices were strictly observed. The basal diet was formulated according to the nutrient requirements of the rabbit according to NRC (1977). Treatment (T1) was fed basal diet with 0 % WMO, T2, T3, and T4 were fed basal diet supplemented with WMO at 0.2 %, 0.4 % and 0.6 % respectively. Results obtained were used to examine the average daily weight gain (ADWG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), feed: gain, mortality, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), reduced glutathione (GSH), and malonyl dialdehyde (MLA). ADWG, feed: gain, and mortality were significantly different (P˂0.05) among the treatments. ADFI increased as the level of WMO increases, though not at a significant level (P˃0.05). The highest mortality was recorded among animals in T1 (1.00 %), none was recorded in the other treatments (P˂0.05). Activities of SOD, GST, GSH, and MLA were significantly (P˃0.05) influenced by WMO. It was concluded that dietary supplementation of WMO up to 0.6 % enhanced growth performance, improved feed: gain, and had no negative effect on the antioxidant parameters of rabbits, it is safe and could be used to bridge the gap between food safety and production.

The most conflicting key variables in wireless networks are energy efficiency (EE) and spectral efficiency (SE). In this paper, we propose an energy-efficient allocation algorithm of network resources for multi-input multi-output networks distributed with large-scale antenna systems. We formulate a multiobjective optimization problem (MOOP) to maximize the EE of each distinct user and to show the EE–SE trade-off as a MOOP. To find the Pareto optimal solution, we transform this MOOP into single-objective optimization problem (SOOP) through Tchebycheff scalarization and by exploiting it with Dinkelbach's method. To solve the SOOP, we apply a joint antenna selection and user scheduling (JASUS) algorithm for the joint allocation of antenna scheduled users solved through an iterative approach. The power allocations are applied distinctly for individual cell users by a subgradient iterative method to simplify the SOOP further and improve the EE. The simulation results reveal that our proposed MOOP has a fast convergence, achieving maximum EE after a few iterations. Additionally, our proposed methods unveil an interesting trade-off between EE and SE at a faster speed and demonstrate that an important performance gain is achieved by using the proposed algorithm.

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the most common parasitic disease of the nervous system and is the main cause of acquired epilepsy in developing countries. Clinical manifestations result from inflammatory response to cyst degeneration, mass effect, obstruction of CSF pathway or residual scarring but are related to the numbers, size and location of lesions and the severity of host's immune response. The subarachnoid/cisternal form of NCC and majority of the intraventricular NCC are of racemose type, and differ from more common cysticercus cellulose in that they are larger, appear as multiloculated cysts and lack scolex. Racemose NCC is uncommon in India. We are reporting a patient presenting as chronic meningitis due to racemose NCC.

DNA replication is an extremely complex process, involving thousands of replication forks progressing along chromosomes. These forks are frequently slowed down or stopped by various obstacles, such as secondary DNA structures, chromatin-acting proteins or a lack of nucleotides. This slowing down, known as replicative stress, plays a central role in tumour development. Complex processes, which are not yet fully understood, are set up to respond to this stress. Certain nucleases, such as MRE11 and DNA2, degrade the neo-replicated DNA at the level of blocked forks, allowing the replication to restart. The interferon pathway is a defense mechanism against pathogens that detects the presence of foreign nucleic acids in the cytoplasm and activates the innate immune response. DNA fragments resulting from genomic DNA metabolism (repair, retrotransposition) can diffuse into the cytoplasm and activate this pathway. A pathological manifestation of this process is the Aicardi-Goutières syndrome, a rare disease characterized by chronic inflammation leading to neurodegenerative and developmental problems. In this encephalopathy, it has been suggested that DNA replication may generate cytosolic DNA fragments, but the mechanisms involved have not been characterized. SAMHD1 is frequently mutated in the Aicardi-Goutières syndrome as well as in some cancers, but its role in the etiology of these diseases was largely unknown. We show that cytosolic DNA accumulates in SAMHD1-deficient cells, particularly in the presence of replicative stress, activating the interferon response. SAMHD1 is important for DNA replication under normal conditions and for the processing of stopped forks, independent of its dNTPase activity. In addition, SAMHD1 stimulates the exonuclease activity of MRE11 in vitro. When SAMHD1 is absent, degradation of neosynthesized DNA is inhibited, which prevents activation of the replication checkpoint and leads to failure to restart the replication forks. Resection of the replication forks is performed by an alternative mechanism which releases DNA fragments into the cytosol, activating the interferon response. The results obtained show, for the first time, a direct link between the response to replication stress and the production of interferons. These results have important implications for our understanding of the Aicardi-Goutières syndrome and cancers related to SAMHD1. For example, we have shown that MRE11 and RECQ1 are responsible for the production of DNA fragments that trigger the inflammatory response in cells deficient for SAMHD1. We can therefore imagine that blocking the activity of these enzymes could decrease the production of DNA fragments and, ultimately, the activation of innate immunity in these cells. In addition, the interferon pathway plays an essential role in the therapeutic efficacy of irradiation and certain chemotherapeutic agents such as oxaliplatin. Modulating this response could therefore be of much wider interest in anti-tumour therapy.

Nongmahir reservoir of Meghalaya state of northeast India (NEI), sampled at the littoral and limnetic regions, revealed fairly biodiverse zooplankton of total 56 species with peak consortium (52 species) in January collection from the littoral region. The richness indicated spatial monthly variations and heterogeneity at the two regions mainly influenced by Rotifera. The ‘soft and de-mineralized waters’ resulted in low zooplankton abundance. Copepoda > Rotifera with Cyclopidae > Brachionidae influenced zooplankton, and Mesocyclops leuckarti > Keratella cochlearis > Ascomorpha ovalis > Microcyclops hyalinus are notable species at the littoral region. The limnetic region recorded Rotifera dominance, and importance of Brachionidae > Cyclopidae and K. cochlearis > Conochilus unicornis >M. leuckarti >A. ovalis > Asplanchna priodonta > Polyarthra vulgaris. Zooplankton recorded moderate species diversity and notable differences of evenness and dominance. The spatial monthly differences of richness, abundance and diversity indices of zooplankton, and importance of notable taxa are hypothesised to habitat heterogeneity of the two regions. Our results also indicated limited and differential influence of individual abiotic factors on zooplankton taxa, while the canonical correspondence analysis registered high cumulative influence of 10 abiotic factors on the littoral (80.62%) and limnetic (74.79%) assemblages along axis 1 and 2. This study highlighted distinct temporal variations of different diversity parameters than our preliminary survey of June 1995–May 1996.

Diffusion tractography is a new imaging technique to display the traumatic region for valuable preoperative information with prognostic significance. We present a case of 54 year male with quadriparesis showing reduced FA values and increased ADC in injured segment with depiction of disrupted tracts on tractography.In the near future, DTI will become a part of routine imaging in trauma patients as experience with this novel method gains acceptance.

Portal vein aneurysm is an uncommon anomaly. Both congenital and acquired cases are reported. We report a case of idiopathic probably congenital portal vein aneurysm incidentally detected on contrast CT. There was no evidence of any chronic liver disease or portal hypertension in this patient.

Unusual site metastasis as presenting complaint of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has been reported previously in literature. RCC is a notorious tumor with unpredictable behavior. We present a case of RCC who presented with scrotal mass and on subsequent investigation was found to have metastasis to scrotum and spermatic cord. Both testes were normal with no evidence of metastasis.

Secondary pneumothorax is a very common medical emergency. At times it is associated with pneumomediastinum, which could be fatal at times if not identified. We present a case of a 11 years old sputum positive child who presented with both these conditions and was diagnosed on chest x ray.