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This article presents a four-level inverter fed open-end winding induction motor drive, consisting of coupled motors, for the sugarcane shredding machine of the sugar industry. In the existing two-level inverter-fed variable frequency drive, there are drawbacks such as high harmonic distortions in the input current and inverter output voltage, high common mode voltage, and higher dV/dt stress on inverter switches. The proposed drive addresses these issues with the existing drive. The drive is an 18-pulse ac–dc converter and four-level inverter-based drive with reduced hardware components in comparison to the existing popular topologies for the four-level inverter. Experimental studies are carried out through a prototype and using OPAL-RT as a controller. The simulation is carried out on MATLAB/Simulink platform and the results are validated through the experimental results to check its efficacy for the application in sugar industry.

In this article, a novel multilevel inverter (MLI) fed Open-End Winding Coupled-Induction Motor (OEWCIM) drive is presented for shredding sugarcane in sugar industry. The existing two types of drives have some inherent shortcomings. The wound rotor induction motor (WRIM) drive has huge slip power loss, poor speed regulation and un-equal load sharing, whereas, the 2-level inverter based variable frequency drive (VFD) has drawbacks such as injection of a large harmonics current in the input supply network, high dV/dt stress on the inverter switches and high common mode voltage (CMV). The proposed drive addresses these drawbacks. The drive is a 3-level inverter based drive with an 18-pulse AC-DC converter with reduced hardware components. For the proposed drive a prototype is developed for which OPAL-RT is used as controller. The simulation and the experimental results are presented to validate the efficacy of the proposed drive for the application.

ABSTRACTThe advent of coke dry quenching (CDQ) in coke-making benefited coke plants not only in reducing coke moisture but also in extracting a part of the sensible energy within the hot incandescent coke with a reduction in environmental pollution. In addition to these direct benefits, other advantages include (1) improved coke quality, (2) enablement of higher coke production without compromising quality, (3) online coal-cake bulk density measurement, and (4) improved blast furnace performance. The present study at Tata Steel, Jamshedpur, concentrates on the assessment of these additional benefits when CDQ units were operated at full capacity. Besides, the article also focuses on reviewing the major obstacles faced during CDQ operation, such as clinker formation and coke flotation issues.

Photovoltaic (PV) monitoring systems and diagnosis are becoming progressively more important to maximize power generation, improve efficiency, and extend the life of photovoltaic systems. The performance of the photovoltaic system is mainly affected by irradiation and cell temperature. The presence of partial shading causes low incident irradiation to the solar array, which reduces power generation. Also, during partial shading, multiple power peaks are present in the power–voltage characteristics of the photovoltaic array. So, in such a case, MPPT developer faces many problems while developing global maximum power point tracking techniques. The localized shading also causes the heating issues of that particular photovoltaic cell. Since the output power of PV cells is inversely proportional to cell temperature, the localized shading also affects the output power. This paper proposed a unique and accurate photovoltaic shadow detection technique that detects and diagnoses the shading, including the shaded array having uniform shading, two power peaks, and multiple power peaks.

This study empirically examines the effectiveness of macroprudential policy (MaPP) on bank credit, housing credit, and housing prices in the Indian context. The study uses structural vector autoregression (SVAR) during 2004M04–2020M03 and reveals that MaPP effectively limits bank credit, housing credit, and housing price appreciations. Furthermore, the study provides evidence of the asymmetric effect of MaPP, implying that MaPP tightening considerably affects bank credit and housing prices, whereas MaPP loosening considerably affects housing credit. Finally, our analysis indicates that MaPP effectively limits housing prices across cities in India.

A simple visual colorimetric method based on arsenomolybdic acid-crystal violet ion-associate pair formation is described for the detection of As in groundwater at about 10, 25 and 50 μg L−1levels. The pair exhibits light green coloration at ≤5 μg L−1and blue colorations of distinctly different intensities at about 10, 25 and 50 μg L−1concentrations of arsenic. High sensitivity is achieved by the preconcentration of As that entails simultaneous sorption of both As(iii) and As(v) from groundwater on covellite (CuS) and, later, their elution as As(v), which subsequently participates in the formation of arsenomolybdic acid. The interference in the color development from PO43−ions that are as efficiently sorbed on CuS and eluted as the oxyanions of As is eliminated by their selective removal by Ce4+ions under basic (pH ∼ 8.5) conditions. The removal is caused by the formation of cerium phosphate and its co-precipitation with calcium hydroxide. SiO42−ions do not interfere in the process as they are not sorbed by CuS. Groundwater containing ≤0.5 mg L−1P and ≥200 mg L−1total dissolved solid can be conveniently analysed by the method. The direct sensing of As(iii) as well as As(v), the use of benign and easily available chemicals, the absence of any hazardous by-product, undiminished applicability in sunlight, the testing procedure lasting only for about 30 min, and rapidity are the major advantages of the method. Thus, the method is potentially well-suited for the on-site testing of groundwater potability under different regulations.

Although free-market reforms have spurred foreign investment in India, bureaucratic hurdles continue to shackle foreign investors and impede the flow of investment. From July 1991--when the free-market reform policy started--to [...]

Although a multitude of companies are actively pursuing reengineering, mounting evidence shows that many of the efforts are not meeting original expectations. Recent surveys, in fact, suggest that 60 to [...]

Cataracts occur when progressive degeneration of the lens of the eye results in loss of lens transparency and blurred, distorted vision. The standard procedure for cataract surgery is extracapsular cataract extraction. This technique leaves the posterior lens capsule intact, thereby reducing the incidence of macular edema (swelling of the area of the retina where central vision takes place), and retinal detachment (separation of the inner nervous tunic from the middle vascular tunic of the eye). The most common complication of cataract surgery is late opacification of the posterior capsule, which occurs following 18 to 50 percent of extracapsular cataract operations. Opacification may be treated by capsulotomy (incision into the posterior capsule) performed using short pulsed Nd:YAG laser. Sight-threatening complications from laser treatment include cystoid macular edema, retinal detachment and glaucoma (elevation of intraocular pressure). A review was undertaken of 897 laser capsulotomies to determine the incidence of these complications. Cystoid macular edema occurred in 11 patients (1.23 percent), and retinal detachment was noted in eight patients (0.89 percent). Glaucoma developed in seven patients (0.78 percent), and worsening of pre-existing glaucoma occurred in five patients (0.56 percent). No risk factors for any of these complications were identified. Complications of retinal detachment and macular edema did not occur for many months after laser treatment, while the interval between these complications and cataract surgery was months to years. These findings indicate that patients who undergo laser capsulotomy should be followed closely for a long period of time, so that if these complications occur they can be identified and treated quickly. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Forerunning programmes of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), which were designed as poverty elimination programmes, took notice of geographical pockets of poverty and incorporated formula-based fund allocation mechanisms to poorer states and regions. The MGNREGA programme, in contrast, used a right-based ‘self-selection’ approach— relying on the initiative of households’ demand-driven strengths—to allocate need-based resources to states and regions within states. This article examines how well the demand-driven, right-based programme with self-selection allocated resources to states and regions according to their respective needs, and to what extent the benefits reached the poverty pockets and catered to the poorest, weakest and neediest households. We find that adequate resources did not reach the poorest states and regions, substantial numbers of poor households remained outside the programme or were deemed underserved, and there was a pronounced programme capture by elite states. The article explores causes and consequences of capacity limitations and low absorption pulls among states, and points to policy implications and ways forward.

The study aimed to observe the effect of microplastics (MPs), fluoride (F-), and fungicides Mancozeb (Mz) (both commercial and analytical grade) contamination of soil on the growth and development of tomato plants and metagenomics of rhizosphere soil. A pot experiment was set up in an artificial greenhouse to study the effects of MPs, F-, and Mz. No detrimental effects of MPs, F-, and Mz were detected on the physiological growth parameters of the plants, including the number of leaves, stem diameter, and chlorophyll content. However, a significant change in morphology and metabolites of the roots of treated plants was observed. The addition of MPs, F-, and Mz significantly altered the microbial composition of the rhizosphere soil. Tomato plant roots showed knot and nodulation-type structures, and metabolic profiling showed decreased biochemical compounds in treated plants. Metagenome whole genome sequencing observed the metagenomic analysis in treated plant rhizosphere soil. Results showed that treatment profoundly affected microbial community composition, diversity, gene abundances, and functional gene variations compared to control plants. Treatment affected the abundance of major microbial phyla and genera. Proteobacteria became the dominating microbiome in the plant after the treatment, causing a significant shift in the microbiome. Their abundance soared to 66.7% in B2 and 75.4% in B3, compared to only 35.9% in W2 and 28.9% in W3. On the other hand, Firmicutes had a significant decline, decreasing from their original levels of 55.6% in W2 and 63.8% in W3 to 18% in B2 and 9.6% in B3. This study highlights the microbial shifts due to co-occurring MPs, F-, and Mz, providing evidence for understanding their environmental risks.

A novel hybrid 18-level inverter topology for open-end winding induction motor (OWIM) is presented in this paper. In the proposed topology one end of the open-end winding IM is fed by a conventional two-level inverter, while other end is connected to a nine-level cascade H-bridge (CHB) inverter. The combined effect of these two inverters generates 18 levels in the phase voltage of open-end winding IM. The two-level inverter with higher DC link voltage has lower switching frequency and thereby reduces the switching losses. In addition to that, the proposed topology requires less number of components as compared to conventional multilevel inverter (MLI) topologies. An interesting feature of the proposed topology is that, it can operate in nine-level mode by connecting the motor winding in star in case of failure of the two-level inverter. Similarly, if the fault occurs in CHB inverter the proposed inverter can operate in two-level mode. Thus, the reliability of the system is improved. The proposed topology is experimentally verified on 1.5 kW OWIM. The experimental results have proven an excellent steady-state as well as transient-state performance of the proposed inverter in the entire range of linear modulation.

Poverty is related to, yet distinct from, inequality. Inequality is unevenly distributed across social groups, geography, gender and age cohorts, resulting in regional imbalance across states and regions within states and causing concentration of poverty in certain social groups, gender and age cohorts. National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme is a flagship poverty elimination programme, which should essentially address both poverty and inequality at both interpersonal and regional levels. But does a rights-based, demand-driven, universal workfare programme having self-selection paradigm address poverty and regional imbalance in practice? This question requires to be thoroughly examined to draw policy lessons.

Background & Objective: Comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) of 27 analogues of 2-((pyridin-3-yloxy)methyl)piperazine derivatives was carried out using software Tripos SYBYL X. Optimal r2 (0.854) and q2 (0.541) values were obtained for the developed 3D-QSAR model. The contour plots obtained from CoMFA analysis have shown 13.84% steric contribution and 66.14% electrostatic contribution towards an anti-inflammatory activity. Methods: The homology model of the receptor protein, α7 nicotinic acetylcholine, was generated in SWISS MODELLER using auto template mode and was analysed for the quality using Procheck, QMEAN Z-score, Anolea and GROMOS plots. The QMEAN score for the model was observed to be - 3.862. The generated model of alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor was used for docking study of 27 piperazine analogues using Auto-Dock 4.2.5.1. Results: The dock score obtained from docking analysis was then correlated with experimental pIC50 values for in-silico validation of the developed CoMFA model and a good correlation was obtained with correlation coefficient (r2) value of -0.7378. Conclusion: The present investigation suggests an optimal 3D-QSAR with CoMFA model for further evaluating new chemical entities based on piperazine skeleton.

MGNREGA is a right-based universal, demand-driven workforce programme with self-selection, providing 100 days of guaranteed employment and productive asset to the poor households (HHs). Its universalism assured unlimited resources to satisfy any demand and hard manual labour ensured that only poor would like to access it by design. The programme earmarked 33 per cent share for women but did not as a right or policy incorporate any definite share or affirmative action for the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (SCs/STs) like other flagship programmes of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) or Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY). In the light of the above paradigm, this study explores as to how far this programme had accommodated the interests and requirements of the SCs/STs in Karnataka, providing equitable wage work and productive sustainable assets by building their awareness, providing them equitable space in participatory planning and grassroots monitoring, augmenting their capability to demand work and enabling them to self-select, and in case of breach of their rights approaching accountability through social audit or Ombudsman. The study finds low awareness, low grassroots participation in planning and monitoring, and inequitable participation of SCs/STs in both wage employment and assets. The study finds exclusion of SCs/STs from the assets sharper and more pronounced than their exclusion in wage employment. The study finds evidence that a right-based workfare programme with self-selection alone was incapable of being a substitute for earmarking (reservation, affirmative action) and protecting the interests of SC/ST HHs. The study finds that promotional goals included in the guidelines do not by themselves translate into formal actions, monitorable outputs and outcomes. Our primary data also show that the socio-economic and political predicament of SC/ST HHs justified a case for definite affirmative action for them. The study gathers primary and secondary evidences to show that in Karnataka, the programme failed the test of social justice and inclusion proportionate to the disabilities and need of SCs/STs and required immediate attention and policy responses.

A fuzzy logic based closed-loop V/fcontrol scheme for five-level inverter-fed open-end winding induction motor drive is proposed and experimentally validated in this paper. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, closed-loop V/fcontrol for open-end winding induction motor has not been explored so far. The five-level inversion operation is achieved by feeding one end of the open-end winding induction motor by 3-phase, 3-level cascade inverter and other by 3-phase, 2-level inverter. To achieve the closed-loop V/fspeed control, a fuzzy logic based auto tuned controller is designed. The controller is capable of reducing undesired sustained oscillations under different loading conditions. A hardware prototype model of the drive is developed to investigate the performance of the proposed controller for the full range of speed under light and high loading conditions.

Background: A series of 5-(2-amino-6-(3/4-bromophenyl)pyrimidin-4-yl)benzene-1,3-diol scaffolds was synthesized by Claisen-Schmidt condensation and characterized by NMR, IR, Mass and elemental analyses. Methods: The synthesized pyrimidine scaffolds were screened for their antimicrobial activity by tube dilution method as well for antiproliferative activity (human colorectal (HCT116) cancer cell line) by SRB assay. Results: The antimicrobial screening results demonstrated that compounds, k6, k12, k14 and k20 were found to be the most potent ones against selected microbial species. The anticancer screening results indicated that compounds, k8 and k14 displayed potent anticancer activity against cancer cell line (HCT116). Conclusion: Further, the molecular docking study carried to find out the interaction between active pyrimidine compounds with CDK-8 protein indicated that compound k14 showed best dock score with better potency within the ATP binding pocket and may be used as a lead for rational drug designing of the anticancer molecule.

Background: Pyrimidine is the six membered heterocyclic aromatic compound similar to benzene and pyridine containing two nitrogen atoms at 1st and 3rd positions. Pyrimidine is present throughout nature in various forms and is the building blocks of numerous natural compounds from antibiotics to vitamins and liposacharides. The most commonly recognized pyrimidines are the bases of RNA and DNA, the most abundant being cytosine, thymine or uracil. Results: Pyrimidine is a core structure in a wide variety of compounds that exhibits significant biological activity and also plays an important role in the drug discovery process. Various synthetic aspects indicated that pyrimidine derivatives are easy to synthesize and has diverse biological and chemical applications. The present review article aims to review the work reported on synthesis, anticancer and antiviral potentials of pyrimidine derivatives during new millennium. Conclusion: It may be concluded that the fused pyrimidine derivatives enhanced the anticancer potential against different human cancer cell lines and antiviral potential against different human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) etc, which created interest among the medicinal chemists in the pyrimidine skeleton in medicinal chemistry. Thus, a tremendous scope for research is present in this direction for investigating pyrimidine derivatives as lead molecules.

Background: A series of 6, 6'-(1,4-phenylene)bis(4-(4-bromophenyl)pyrimidin-2-amine) derivatives has been synthesized by Claisen-Schmidt condensation and its chemical structures was confirmed by FT-IR, 1H/13C-NMR spectral and elemental analyses. The molecular docking study was carried out to find the interaction between active bis-pyrimidine compounds with CDK-8 protein. The in vitro antimicrobial potential of the synthesized compounds was determined against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial species as well fungal species by tube dilution technique. Antimicrobial results indicated that compound 11y was found to be most potent one against E. coli (MICec = 0.67 μmol/mL) and C. albicans (MICca = 0.17 μmol/mL) and its activity was comparable to norfloxacin (MIC = 0.47 μmol/mL) and fluconazole (MIC = 0.50 μmol/mL), respectively. Conclusion: Anticancer screening of the synthesized compounds using Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay demonstrated that compounds 2y (IC50 = 0.01 μmol/mL) and 4y (IC50= 0.02 μmol/mL) have high antiproliferative potential against human colorectal carcinoma cancer cell line than the reference drug (5- fluorouracil) and these compounds also showed best dock score with better potency within the ATP binding pocket and may also be used lead for rational drug designing.;

High-fat meal (HFM) consumption can produce acute lipemia and trigger myocardial infarction in patients with atherosclerosis, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. Erythrocytes (red blood cells, RBCs) intimately interact with inflammatory cells and blood vessels and play a complex role in regulating vascular function. Chronic high-fat feeding in mice induces pathological RBC remodeling, suggesting a novel link between HFM, RBCs, and vascular dysfunction. However, whether acute HFM can induce RBC remodeling in humans is unknown. Ten healthy individuals were subjected to biochemical testing and assessment of endothelial-dependent flow-mediated dilation (FMD) before and after a single HFM or iso-caloric meal (ICM). Following the HFM, triglyceride, cholesterol, and free fatty acid levels were all significantly increased, in conjunction with impaired post-prandial FMD. Additionally, peripheral blood smears demonstrated microcytes, remodeled RBCs, and fatty monocytes. Increased intracellular ROS and nitration of protein band 3 was detected in RBCs following the HFM. The HFM elevated plasma and RBC-bound myeloperoxidase (MPO), which was associated with impaired FMD and oxidation of HDL. Monocytic cells exposed to lipid in vitro released MPO, while porcine coronary arteries exposed to fatty acids ex vivo took up MPO. We demonstrate in humans that a single HFM induces pathological RBC remodeling and concurrently elevates MPO, which can potentially enter the blood vessel wall to trigger oxidative stress and destabilize vulnerable plaques. These novel findings may have implications for the short-term risk of HFM consumption and alimentary lipemia in patients with atherosclerosis. A single high fat meal can induce pathological red blood cell (RBC) remodeling and oxidative stress, in conjunction with elevations in plasma, RBC-bound myeloperoxidase (MPO) and MPO-mediated high-density lipoprotein oxidation. These findings demonstrate that consumption of heavy meals enriched in fat may promote destabilization of vulnerable plaques leading to acute myocardial infarction.

Ayurveda is one of the oldest known holistic health care systems recommending diverse medicinal uses of plants for prevention and cure of diseases and illness. World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the holistic system is gaining more popularity due to its easy availability, low cost, congeniality, better accessibility and higher safety than allopathic medicine. Demand of herbal drugs is increasing day-by-day because of increasing popularity of herbal drugs; however market fails to meet this supply due to numerous factors, one of the important factors being the extinction of these plants from local flora. About 560 herbal species of India have been included in the Red List of Threatened species. Hence to overcome problem of non-availability of endangered species, Department of AYUSH, Govt. of India has permitted the substitution of rare herbal drugs with available substitutes on the basis of Ayurvedic concepts. Due to this, herbal drug industry has started exploiting the situation and now Ayurvedic products are suffering from a serious problem of adulteration with addition of spoiled, inferior, spurious drugs that are inferior in therapeutic/chemical properties and used to enhance profits. Adulteration with other plants degrades the quality and credibility of Ayurvedic medicine. Ashtawarga plants being an important part of many Ayurvedic formulations are also available in a very limited amount and likely to be substituted by cheap adulterants. Keeping in view the above situation, a metadata analysis has been conducted to find out types of adulteration/substitutions malpractices going on for Ashtawarga plants.

Ballard Power Systems use CFD-ACE+ proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) module to generate 3-D simulations of fuel cells. Ballard was able to change the geometric parameters that affect transport in their PEMFC's design after verifying the model.

As mortality rates decline, life expectancy increases, and populations age, non-fatal outcomes of diseases and injuries are becoming a larger component of the global burden of disease. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2016 (GBD 2016) provides a comprehensive assessment of prevalence, incidence, and years lived with disability (YLDs) for 328 causes in 195 countries and territories from 1990 to 2016.

Recent evidence has shown that relations between soil moisture and precipitation at spatial and temporal aspect are contrary to each other: afternoon precipitation tends to occur at times in which conditions are overall wet and heterogeneous in the morning, but preferentially over those patches that are relatively drier than the surroundings. This study expands the notion of soil moisture‐precipitation spatial coupling by analyzing the preferred precipitation location over a range of different soil moisture patterns. Using global observations of precipitation and observationally constrained evaporative stress estimates, we confirm that relatively drier patches have more chances of receiving rain, but the preference is weakened under wetter soil conditions. During extremely wet times, wet patches have more chances of receiving rain. Moreover, the preference of precipitation to occur on drier soils is stronger when soil moisture conditions are heterogeneous. Such results indicate that the positive feedback mechanism becomes more positive as soil wetness increases and the negative feedback mechanism becomes more negative as soils become drier and more heterogeneous. The strength of these two feedback mechanisms jointly affects preferential precipitation location. Counterintuitively, analysis from 1 day after‐event soil moisture pattern shows that negative soil moisture‐precipitation coupling may in turn further heterogenize soil moisture patterns, because dry patch gets extremely wet with no or less rain in surrounding. Although results here do not necessarily imply a causal relationship, this work contributes to enhancing our understanding of soil moisture‐precipitation spatial coupling and exposes the complex nuances of these land‐atmosphere interactions. Afternoon rainfall more frequent over drier patches during dry times, but more frequent over wet patches during extremely wet timesHeterogeneity turns negative coupling more negative, and positive less positiveNegative spatial coupling tends to enhance the soil moisture heterogeneity rather than leading to homogenously wetter soils on the next day

In this work, supplementary sub-synchronous damping controllers (SSDC) are proposed for damping sub-synchronous oscillations in power systems with series compensated transmission lines. Series compensation have extensively been used as effective means of increasing the power transfer capability of a transmission lines and improving transient stability limits of power systems. Series compensation with transmission lines may cause sub-synchronous resonance (SSR). The eigenvalue investigation tool is used to ascertain the existence of SSR. It is shown that the addition of supplementary controller is able to stabilize all unstable modes for T-network model. Eigenvalue investigation and time domain transient simulation of detailed nonlinear system are considered to investigate the performance of the controllers. The efficacies of the suggested supplementary controllers are compared on the IEEE first benchmark model for computer simulations of SSR by means of time domain simulation in Matlab/Simulink environment. Supplementary SSDC are considered in order to compare effectiveness of SSDC during higher loading in alleviating the small signal stability problem.

Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine is one of the most potential bicyclic 5–6 heterocyclic rings that is recognized as a “drug prejudice” scaffold due to its broad range of applications in medicinal chemistry such as anticancer, antimycobacterial, antileishmanial, anticonvulsant, antimicrobial, antiviral, antidiabetic, proton pump inhibitor, insecticidal activities. This scaffold has also been represented in various marketed preparations such as zolimidine, zolpidem, alpidem. Therefore, several attempts were made to carry out the structural modifications of this scaffold to discover and develop novel therapeutic agents. This review provides a valuable insight into the research findings of wide range of derivatives of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine scaffold leading to promising heterocyclic compounds which could be explored further for the synthesis of new derivatives as well as construction of potential drug-like chemical libraries for biological screening in search of new therapeutic agents.

Because of the rising prevalence of cancer, many individuals are living with the side effects of cancer and its treatment. One of the possible side effects is chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of lower limb closed kinematic chain exercises on balance in patients with CIPN. The study design was a single group pre–post experimental one. The study was conducted at a tertiary care cancer hospital. A total of 25 individuals with CIPN and aged 30 years and older were recruited using the Modified Total Neuropathy Score higher than 5. Closed kinematic chain exercises were administered for a total of 15 sessions over 3 weeks. Patients were assessed at baseline using the mTNS and Berg Balance Scale and reassessed after 15 sessions. mTNS score decreased from 13.88 at baseline to 6.5 at the end of intervention, and the Berg Balance Scale increased from 26 at baseline to 42 after intervention, with a P-value of 0.00001. Exercises were effective in reducing symptoms in neuropathy and improving balance.

We present a case with left isomerism, interruption of the inferior caval vein, anomalous systemic venous drainage with partially anomalous pulmonary venous drainage, and a sinus venosus type of atrial septal defect in the absence of a right superior caval vein. This report is of interest because of a rare combination of these anomalies, which was accurately diagnosed and successfully repaired.

The twentieth century climate simulations from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 3 (CMIP3) and Phase 5 (CMIP5) are compared to assess the models' ability to capture observed near‐surface air temperature trends at global, continental, and regional scales. We computed trends by using a nonparametric method and considering long‐term persistence in the time series. The role of internal variability is examined by using large ensemble climate simulations from the National Center for Atmospheric Research model Community Earth System Model (CESM). We computed temperature trends for three periods: β=medianxj−xij−iforalli

Hydroclimatic research requires highly intensive resources in terms of computation and data to perform simulations. Setting up complex experiment environment and configurations to submit jobs in computational clusters as well as managing user’s limited storage spaces by transferring big size data into the secondary storage are complicated and time-consuming. As a possible answer to address such issues in hydroclimatic research, new technologies, software-defined storage and containers have been introduced. When the two technologies are combined to support hydroclimatic simulations, we discuss how the software-defined storage data infrastructure strengthens containers in terms of flexibility of data handling and storage scalability.

This study investigates a physical basis for heterogeneity in hydrological changes, which suggests a greater detectability in wet than dry regions. Wet regions are those where atmospheric demand is less than precipitation (energy limited), and dry regions are those where atmospheric demand is greater than precipitation (water limited). Long-term streamflow trends in western North America and an analysis of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) climate models at global scales show geographically heterogeneous detectability of hydrological changes. We apply the Budyko framework and state-of-the-art climate model data from CMIP5 to quantify the sensitivity and detectability of terrestrial hydrological changes. The Budyko framework quantifies the partitioning of precipitation into evapotranspiration and runoff components. We find that the terrestrial hydrological sensitivity is 3 times greater in regions where the hydrological cycle is energy limited rather than water limited. This additional source (the terrestrial part) contributes to 30–40% greater detectability in energy-limited regions. We also quantified the contribution of changes in the catchment efficiency parameter that oppose the effects of increasing evaporative demand in global warming scenarios. Incorporating changes to the catchment efficiency parameter in the Budyko framework reduces dry biases in global runoff change projections by 88% in the 21st century. Terrestrial hydrological sensitivity is 3 times greater in wet regions than dry regionsA greater detectability of hydrological changes in wet regions than dry regionsReduction in catchment efficiency parameter opposes the effects of increasing evaporative demand

Indole and its derivatives are continuously drawing interest of researchers in the field of medicinal chemistry for development of newer significant moieties due to their wide range of biological activities. In recent years, indole nucleus has been used to a greater extent for the development of agents acting on central nervous system (CNS) disorders like epilepsy. Binedaline, Amedalin, Pindolol, Siramesine and Oxypertine are the marketed drugs used in CNS disorders having indole moiety. So, keeping this point in mind, the review is specially focused on pharmacological activities of indole derivatives acting on central nervous system like anticonvulsant, antidepressant and sedative-hypnotic activities. The present study covers updated information on the most potent indole derivatives during the past years and also its recent developments. These results may help the researchers to develop novel ideas for future molecular modifications of indole derivatives with potent pharmacological activities and least side effects may be derived.

Background:Approximately two-thirds of stroke survivors have sequel of neurological impairments. Although all sequels have direct impact on the performance of activities of daily living, motor deficits of the lower limbs have the most important impact on an individual’s functioning. The objective was to study the effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) technique on lower limb performance in subjects with subacute stroke.

The high sensitivity of proton induced γ-ray emission technique to light elements is exploited to determine F, Na, Mg, Al and P in several Indian tea powders. Measurements are performed on black as well as green tea powders before (i.e.made tea) and after their infusion (brewing) in hot aqueous medium. Quantification against a Standard Reference Material (SRM) 1571 (orchard leaves) reveals that made tea, in general, contains these elements in a concentration range of a few tens to several hundred mg kg−1. Although made black or green tea does not have any characteristic elemental profile, green tea, in general, contains Al at elevated levels. The elements are leached from made tea into aqueous medium (liquor) on infusion, as ascertained by analyzing the infused tea powders. The extent of leaching is highest for F and least for Al. These measurements can be used to estimate the concentrations of the elements in liquors. Statistical analysis of the results on solid samples shows that the standard deviation of the measurements is about 4%, while their combined standard uncertainty is 5–20%. The uncertainty in elemental concentrations of SRM is the main contributor to the combined standard uncertainty of the measurements.

In this paper a bus voltage and line current (BVLC) supplementary subsynchronous damping controller (SSDC) is proposed to alleviate subsynchronous resonance (SSR) and damping power system oscillations in a power system. Both eigenvalue investigation and time-domain simulation results verify that the proposed method can damp torsional oscillations of the power system with SVS bus voltage and line current (BVLC) supplementary controller. The results demonstrate that the proposed controller has a successful performance in minimising the SSR. It is shown that the controller is able to stabilise all unstable modes. The study is performed on the system adapted from the IEEE first benchmark model. All the simulations are carried out in MATLAB/Simulink environment.

Pyrimidine and its derivatives are present in many of the bioactive aromatic compounds that are of wide interest because of their diverse biological and clinical applications. The utility of pyrimidines as synthon for various biologically active compounds has given impetus to these studies. The review article aims to review the work reported on pharmacological activities of central nervous system (CNS) such as anticonvulsant and antidepressant, which created interest among researchers to synthesize variety of pyrimidine and their derivatives. The present study shows, objective of the work can be summarized as pyrimidine derivative constitute an important class of compounds for new drug development. These observations have been given novel idea for the development of new pyrimidine derivative that possess varied biological activities. This article aims to review the recent works on pyrimidine moiety together with the biological potential during the past year.

Tension-type headache (TTH) is most frequent among all types of headaches. According to the International Headache Classification Subcommittee of the International Headache Society (2004), TTH occurs in 30–78% of the population. Progressive muscular relaxation exercises have been shown to reduce TTH, and home-based relaxation programmes can result in significant improvement in headaches. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a method of electrical stimulation that primarily aims to provide a degree of symptomatic pain relief by exciting sensory nerves and stimulating either the pain gate mechanisms or the opioid systems. The objective of this study was to compare between the effects of progressive muscular relaxation exercises and TENS on pain intensity and stress in people with TTH. Thirty patients with TTH were allocated to either Group A or Group B. Group A practised progressive muscular relaxation exercise, whereas Group B received TENS. In the latter group, TENS electrodes were placed bilaterally either on the head at the site of pain or on the occiput. The treatment was carried out for 15 minutes a day, for 7 days. Patients were assessed for pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale) and level of stress (Lakaev Academic Stress Response Scale) before and after the intervention period. The results showed that progressive muscular relaxation exercises were effective in reducing pain as well as stress (p < 0.001). TENS, by contrast, reduced stress significantly (p < 0.001), but not pain (p = 0.233). Between-group analysis revealed that there was no statistically significant difference in reduction of pain between the two groups (p = 0.595), but the amount of stress reduction in Group A (p = 0.002) was significantly more than that in Group B. In conclusion, progressive muscular relaxation exercises were more effective in reducing stress level than TENS in patients with TTH. The effect on pain reduction was similar between the two treatment methods.

Trigonella foenum-graecum(fenugreek) belonging to the family Fabaceae, is widely used for both culinary as well as clinical purposes since antiquity. Folkloric medicines across globe particularly use this plant for boosting immunity and combating digestive and reproductive impairments. The plant is rich reservoir of different phytoconstituents attributed to their diverse pharmacological effects. Therefore, the present article is planned on its ethnomedicinal uses, botanical description, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, clinical efficacy, mechanism of action and nanoparticle synthesis. In all pharmacological studies, the dose, major bioactive, type of extract and possible outcomes is also discussed, to establish its specific role against a particular ailment. It was hypothesized that the nanoparticle synthesis will lead to the enhanced pharmacology. Results showed that ethnomedicinal data well supports the different pharmacological aspects of Trigonellaformulations in different countries. Trigonelline (phytoestrogen) renders most of therapeutic potential of Trigonella. The reported therapeutics can also be accounted as the synergistic pharmacology of different bioactives. Nanoparticle synthesis significantly improves its pharmacological efficacy. Clinical studies well validated its antidiabetic and reproductive health improving efficacies. Though no serious toxic effects were observed with the use of this plant but further well-designed placebo trials are still needed to demonstrate its full therapeutic potential.

Despite the accelerated global warming, the central‐eastern U.S. experienced summer daytime cooling during the 20thcentury. A number of studies have attributed various factors responsible for this abnormal regional cooling, termed the “warming hole (WH)”. This study demonstrates that another WH also existed in the south‐central China that shares similar temporal trend and geographical location to the U.S. WH, including the cooling reversal around 1995. Generalizing the two WHs unravels that they both occurred (a) to the east of major mountain ranges, (b) in heavily cultivated agricultural regions, and (c) near the terminus of the low‐level jets. This study further finds that the WH patterns are the leading mode of surface maximum temperature variability in summer of their respective regions. The WH cooling was consistent with reduction in cloud‐forced solar radiation supported by moisture convergence through weakening of low‐level southerly flow downstream of China WH and strengthening of the southerly flow upstream of U.S. WH. The long‐term trends of WH temperature are highly correlated to the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) and WH cooling turned into warming around 1995 when the AMO shifted to the positive phase, which combined with overall regional warming, may explain why the summer WH phenomenon has been in diminution for past two decades or so. Given the AMO's association with global climate trend, the WH phenomenon could also be viewed as a local thermal response to the global warming via AMO modulation of regional dynamic and moisture circulation. Despite the accelerated global warming, the central‐eastern U.S. experienced summer daytime cooling during the 20thcentury. This abnormal regional cooling was termed the “warming hole (WH)”. This study demonstrates that another WH also existed in the south‐central China that shares similar temporal trend and geographical location to the U.S. WH, including the cooling reversal around 1995. Generalizing the two WHs unravels that they both occurred (a) to the east of major mountain ranges, (b) in heavily cultivated agricultural regions, and (c) near the terminus of the low‐level jets. The WH cooling was consistent with reduction in cloud‐forced solar radiation supported by moisture convergence through low‐level southerly flow that is in turn modulated by Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation. Defying global warming, south‐central China and central eastern U.S. has experienced cooling in 2nd half of 20th centuryThe cooling regions are located to the east of major mountain ranges, in heavy agricultural areas, and downstream of low‐level jetsThe cooling is highly correlated with Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation that modulates low‐level jet and thus clouds/radiation/precipitation Defying global warming, south‐central China and central eastern U.S. has experienced cooling in 2nd half of 20th century The cooling regions are located to the east of major mountain ranges, in heavy agricultural areas, and downstream of low‐level jets The cooling is highly correlated with Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation that modulates low‐level jet and thus clouds/radiation/precipitation

This article examines the performance of MGNREGA in select drought-affected talukas of Karnataka during the drought years and crisis situations. Furthermore, drawing from the past comparative performances in the drought- and the non-drought-affected talukas, this study attempts to identify MGNREGA’s strengths, weaknesses and opportunity in view of the unprecedented COVID-19-driven reverse migration. The evidence shows that drought-affected talukas, particularly in the poorest regions, show strong positive responses to MGNREGA and utilise programme funds. However, lack of standing instructions and automatic applicability of enhanced entitlement and the cumbersome process of fund release impose limits on the accelerated benefits to the aspiring households. Funds to meet the increased demand for work during the crisis periods require significant high order grant releases to avoid rationing. But MGNREGA may be an unequal match for humongous calamities like COVID-19 that induced the return of large hordes of migrant workers to some of the poorest regions in the country. Crises of such magnitude require swifter and proportionate responses like the special programme Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan conceived by the central government.

Background:In our model of a congenital heart defect (CHD) with increased pulmonary blood flow (PBF; shunt), we have recently shown a disruption in carnitine homeostasis, associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and decreased endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)/heat shock protein (Hsp)90 interactions that contribute to eNOS uncoupling, increased superoxide levels, and decreased bioavailable nitric oxide (NO). Therefore, we undertook this study to test the hypothesis that L-carnitine therapy would maintain mitochondrial function and NO signaling.Methods:Thirteen fetal lambs underwent in utero placement of an aortopulmonary graft. Immediately after delivery, lambs received daily treatment with oral L-carnitine or its vehicle.Results:L-Carnitine–treated lambs had decreased levels of acylcarnitine and a reduced acylcarnitine:free carnitine ratio as compared with vehicle-treated shunt lambs. These changes correlated with increased carnitine acetyl transferase (CrAT) protein and enzyme activity and decreased levels of nitrated CrAT. The lactate:pyruvate ratio was also decreased in L-carnitine–treated lambs. Hsp70 protein levels were significantly decreased, and this correlated with increases in eNOS/Hsp90 interactions, NOS activity, and NOxlevels, and a significant decrease in eNOS-derived superoxide. Furthermore, acetylcholine significantly decreased left pulmonary vascular resistance only in L-carnitine–treated lambs.Conclusion:L-Carnitine therapy may improve the endothelial dysfunction noted in children with CHDs and has important clinical implications that warrant further investigation.

Background:Pulmonary vascular function is impaired with increased pulmonary blood flow (PBF). We hypothesized that a peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor-? (PPAR-?) agonist would mitigate this effect.Methods:An aorta-to-pulmonary-artery shunt was placed in 11 fetal lambs. Lambs received the PPAR-? agonist rosiglitazone (RG, 3?mg/kg/d, n = 6) or vehicle (n = 5) for 4?wk. Lung tissue from five normal 4-wk-old lambs was used for comparisons.Results:At 4?wk, pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and vascular resistance (PVR) decreased with inhaled nitric oxide (NO) in RG- and vehicle-treated shunt lambs. PAP and PVR decreased with acetylcholine (Ach) in RG-treated, but not vehicle-treated, shunt lambs. In vehicle-treated shunt lambs, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activity, rac1, superoxide, and 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) levels were increased, and Ser1177 endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) protein was decreased as compared with normal lambs. In RG-treated shunt lambs, NOx, Ser1177 eNOS protein, and eNOS activity were increased, and NADPH activity, rac1, superoxide levels, and 3-NT levels were decreased, as compared with vehicle-treated shunt lambs. PPAR-? protein expression was lower in vehicle-treated shunt lambs than in normal and RG-treated shunt lambs.Conclusion:The PPAR-? agonist RG prevents the loss of agonist-induced endothelium-dependent pulmonary vascular relaxation in lambs with increased PBF, in part, due to decreased oxidative stress and/or increased NO production.

Post nondestructive analyses of an all-dielectric multilayer Fabry–Perot interference filter developed through a reactive electron beam deposition process have been carried out through numerical reverse engineering of transmission spectra, Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy and quartz crystal monitoring data to derive multilayer geometry, deposited layer thicknesses, densities, refractive indices, compositions, and stoichiometry. These techniques are collectively used to fulfill the missing links with complementary and some supplementary information to inverse synthesize the multilayer geometry. During this investigation it is distinctly understood that the factors associated with real-time deposition have significantly influenced the microscopic parameters, namely, the densities and refractive indices of TiO_2 and SiO_2 layers. This in turn influenced the layers’ geometric (physical) thicknesses during automated quarter-wave optical layer monitoring and consequently affected the experimental spectral characteristics. The role of oxygen has been observed to be significant in controlling the mass densities of these refractory oxide layers. It is further noticed that the layer density values have been significantly perturbed whether the associated TiO_2 or SiO_2 oxide dielectric films are substoichiometric (oxygen-deficient), stoichiometric, or superstoichiometric (oxygen-enriched).

Predicting the severity of solar eruptive phenomena such as flares and coronal mass ejections remains a great challenge despite concerted efforts to do so over the past several decades. However, the advent of high-quality vector magnetograms obtained from Hinode (SOT/SP) has increased the possibility of meeting this challenge. In particular, the spatially averaged signed shear angle (SASSA) seems to be a unique parameter for quantifying the non-potentiality of active regions. We demonstrate the usefulness of the SASSA for predicting flare severity. For this purpose, we present case studies of the evolution of magnetic non-potentiality using 115 vector magnetograms of four active regions, namely, ARs NOAA 10930, 10960, 10961, and 10963 during 2006 December 8-15, 2007 June 3-10, 2007 June 28-July 5, and 2007 July 10-17, respectively. The NOAA ARs 10930 and 10960 were very active and produced X and M class flares, respectively, along with many smaller X-ray flares. On the other hand, the NOAA ARs 10961 and 10963 were relatively less active and produced only very small (mostly A- and B-class) flares. For this study, we have used a large number of high-resolution vector magnetograms obtained from Hinode (SOT/SP). Our analysis shows that the peak X-ray flux of the most intense solar flare emanating from the active regions depends on the magnitude of the SASSA at the time of the flare. This finding of the existence of a lower limit of the SASSA for a given class of X-ray flares will be very useful for space weather forecasting. We have also studied another non-potentiality parameter called the mean weighted shear angle (MWSA) of the vector magnetograms along with the SASSA. We find that the MWSA does not show such distinction as the SASSA for upper limits of the GOES X-ray flux of solar flares; however, both the quantities show similar trends during the evolution of all active regions studied.

The accuracy of Milne-Eddington (ME) inversions, used to retrieve the magnetic field vector, depends upon the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) of the spectro-polarimetric observations. The S/N in real observations varies from pixel to pixel; therefore the accuracy of the field vector also varies over the map. The aim of this work is to study the effect of polarimetric noise on the inference of the magnetic field vector and the magnetic non-potentiality of a real sunspot. To this end, we use the Hinode SOT/SP vector magnetogram of a real sunspot NOAA 10933 as an input to generate synthetic Stokes profiles under ME model assumptions. We then add normally distributed polarimetric noise of the level 0.5% of continuum intensity to these synthetic profiles and invert them again using the ME code. This process is repeated 100 times with different realizations of noise. It is found that within most of the sunspot areas (>90% area) the spread in the (1) field strength is less than 8 G, (2) field inclination is less than 1deg, and (3) field azimuth is less than 5deg. Further, we determine the uncertainty in the magnetic non-potentiality of a sunspot as determined by the force-free parameter a g and spatially averaged signed shear angle (SASSA). It is found that for the sunspot studied here these parameters are a g = -3.5 +- 0.37(x10-9 m-1) and SASSA = -1.68 +- 0.deg014. This suggests that the SASSA is a less dispersed non-potentiality parameter as compared to a g . Further, we examine the effect of increasing noise levels, viz. 0.01%, 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1% of continuum intensity, and find that SASSA is less vulnerable to noise as compared to the a g parameter.