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Laterites derived from different parent lithologies in the same tropical area and under the same climatic condition are likely to have different engineering properties. In this study, two nearby abandoned laterite quarries at Haripur and Tengara in Dhenkanal district (in the state of Odisha, India) were investigated. The first objective of this study was to evaluate the strength and physical properties of the indurated laterites with reference to the characterization of the selected profiles. The other drive of this work was to demonstrate how different parent lithologies of these two lateritic profiles that share same geographical conditions can be related to the variation of engineering properties of the indurated laterites. In order to address these two objectives, the lateritic profiles were characterized which was followed by the determination of strength and physical properties of the indurated laterites; petrographic study; and XRD analysis. Although the variation patterns of engineering properties (i.e. uniaxial compressive, point load and Brazilian tensile strengths; effective porosity; dry density; vug volumetric percentage; and slake durability indices) of the indurated laterites with profile depths at Haripur and Tengara show prominent differences, such variations depict a good compliance with the characterized horizons of the respective profiles. Based on the analysis of the engineering properties in relation to characterized profiles, it was shown that for construction purposes, the indurated laterites of both areas can be classified based on the point load strength. From the geological investigation, it was ascertained that the difference in engineering properties between the indurated laterites of Haripur and Tengara is very much dependent on the mineralogy such as sesquioxides, clay content and other minerals altered from the parent lithologies.

The present research reports a facile synthesis of bare phase pure CaAl-LDH nanoparticle (sample A) and intercalation of anti-cancer drug etoposide (ETO) into the same via simple anion exchange technique to obtain ETO loaded CaAl-LDH (sample B). The basal spacing (d002) of sample A was increased from 8.5764 A to 17.18 A upon intercalation of ETO. Further ETO loading was found to be 27.72% as estimated by UV–Vis spectrophotometer. The release profile of ETO from sample B in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) at pH 7.4 follows quasi-Fickian diffusion phenomenon in Korsmeyer–Peppas kinetics model. In vitro cell viability was undertaken using A549 (human lung adenocarcinoma) cell line in a dose dependent manner to determine the synergistic anti-cancer potential of sample B. It was observed that at an equivalent dose, the cancer cell viability was substantially reduced, in case of sample B compared to sample A and bare etoposide drug, respectively, which was further corroborated by cell proliferation/migration assay. The cellular uptake using A549 cell line showed an increasing trend with increasing time period (11.67% and 19.30% at 24 h and 72 h) respectively, confirmed by flow cytometry, exhibiting a substantial reduction of CAMKIIα protein for sample A and sample B to 110.52 pg/ml and 95.14 pg/ml respectively. Results also showed significant down regulation of SOD gene activity. All the above results exhibited the synergistic anti-cancer potential of sample B for possible application in the management of non small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC).

An analog current mode programmable Gaussian function generator (GFG) suitable to be used as the nonlinear transfer function in the VLSI implementation of a brain-inspired associative memory model is proposed. It mainly consists of a current absoluter, a translinear loop, a MOS resistor and a PMOS transistor with most of the transistors biased in the subthreshold region for very low voltage and low power operations. The mean, gain, and standard deviation of the Gaussian function are independently and readily programmable. Post-layout simulation results show that the circuit operates well at 0.7 V supply voltage and consumes a maximum power of only 0.6 μW in 0.18 μm CMOS technology. Overall, it is at least 62% more efficient in terms of millions of multiply accumulates per second per milliwatt when compared to other analog GFG circuits or DSP implementations.

We present a neuromorphic spiking neural network, the DELTRON, that can remember and store patterns by changing the delays of every connection as opposed to modifying the weights. The advantage of this architecture over traditional weight-based ones is simpler hardware implementation without multipliers or digital–analog converters (DACs) as well as being suited to time-based computing. The name is derived due to similarity in the learning rule with an earlier architecture called tempotron. The DELTRON can remember more patterns than other delay-based networks by modifying a few delays to remember the most ‘salient’ or synchronous part of every spike pattern. We present simulations of memory capacity and classification ability of the DELTRON for different random spatio-temporal spike patterns. The memory capacity for noisy spike patterns and missing spikes is also shown. Finally, we present SPICE simulation results of the core circuits involved in a reconfigurable mixed signal implementation of this architecture.

Objective Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a disabling entity among stroke survivors (SS). Longitudinal studies on PSD, essential to determine its prognosis, are lacking from developing countries. This prospective study was undertaken to assess the prevalence, natural history, and correlates of depression among SS in an Indian community. Methods From a community based stroke registry, SS were assessed annually for cognition, disability, and depression using Bengali validated scales. PSD was diagnosed if score on geriatric depression scale was greater than or equal to 21. Complex sample strategy was considered when calculating prevalence of post stroke depression. An age- and sex-matched case–control study was undertaken to determine the odds of depression in SS. Results Prevalence of PSD was 36.98% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 31.89%–42.06%) among 241 patients assessed at baseline. About 17% developed depression annually and a similar proportion had spontaneous improvement. Peak rate of PSD was beyond 3 months and continued up to 18 months after stroke. Compared to the non-depressed group, PSD subjects were significantly older, had higher age at first stroke, less education, lower socioeconomic status, and greater cognitive impairment and disability. Education had a protective role. Mortality in PSD was nearly twice that in non-depressed patients, though not significant statistically (hazard ratio: 1.84; 95% CI: 0.90–3.77). Compared with controls, odds ratio of PSD was 19.95 (95% CI: 10.09–39.47). Conclusions Approximately one-third of SS develop PSD, similar to developed countries. Prevalence remains stable annually. Delayed peak of PSD suggested later realization of underlying disability. Predictors of PSD have been described and higher literacy was protective in this study.

In this paper, we propose a silicon implementation of extreme learning machines (ELM) using spiking neural circuits. The major components of a silicon spiking neural network, neuron, synapse and 'Address Event Representation' (AER) for asynchronous spike based communication, are described. The benefits of using this hardware to implement an ELM as opposed to other single layer feedforward networks (SLFN) are explained. Several possible architectures for efficient implementation of ELM using these circuits are presented and their possible impact on ELM performance is discussed.

Electron–positronium scattering has been investigated in the Debye plasma environment employing the close-coupling approximation. Three models, viz. 3-state CCA, 6-state CCA and 9-state CCA, have been employed. The 2s 2 1 S e autodetaching resonant state of the positronium negative ion has been successfully predicted for various plasma environments. The position of the resonance for different Debye lengths are in close agreement with those of Kar and Ho [S. Kar, Y.K. Ho, Phys. Rev. A 71 (2005) 052503].

Cytogenetic biomarkers are essential for assessing environmental exposure that can predict adverse human health effects such as cellular damage. Chromosomal aberrations are the most important cytogenetic end-points successfully used for the cancer risk assessment of populations occupationally or environmentally exposed to different toxic chemicals. Previous reports suggest that, increased frequency of chromosomal aberration (CA), in peripheral blood lymphocytes, is a predictor of cancer. Arsenic is a paradoxical human carcinogen, clastogen and aneugen. Despite of exposure at similar extent, only 15-20% of individuals show arsenic induced skin lesions including Bowen's disease (BD). Previously we have reported the significant increase in CA in the individuals with arsenic induced skin lesions when compared to individuals without any skin lesions, drinking arsenic contaminated water at similar extent. Presently, a matched case-control study was performed to examine whether biomarkers such as chromosomal aberrations can predict the development of arsenic induced Bowen's (in situ carcinoma) diseases. Chromosomal aberrations (both chromosome and chromatid types) and mitotic index were analyzed from the lymphocytes of 25 cases of Bowen's patient which was compared to matched control from the individuals with arsenic induced non-cancerous skin lesions such as raindrop pigmentation, keratosis of palm and sole, hypo and hyper pigmentation. Chromosomal aberrations/cell, chromosome type aberrations and total percentage of aberrant cells were significantly higher in cases compared to control (p

Collisions involving atoms and antiatoms have been investigated at low incident energies using close-coupling approximation (CCA). We investigate ortho -positronium– ortho -positronium ( o -Ps– o -Ps) scattering up to incident energy 3.4 eV. Antihydrogen–hydrogen elastic scattering has been studied in the energy range 10 −10 to 10 −2 a.u., whereas antihydrogen–helium system has been investigated in the range 10 −16 to 10 −2 a.u. The s-wave elastic scattering parameters, viz., scattering length, effective range, phase shift, cross section etc., have been reported. The present predictions have been compared with the other corresponding theoretical predictions wherever available. Usefulness of CCA model to investigate these systems at thermal energies has been emphasized.

Ortho -positronium– ortho -positronium ( o -Ps– o -Ps) scattering is investigated using close coupling model. The following four basis sets have been employed: (1) Ps(1s) + Ps(1s) (2) Ps(1s,2s,2p) + Ps(1s,2s,2p) (3) Ps(1s,2s,2p) + Ps(1s,2s,2p) and (4) Ps(1s,2s,2p, 3d) + Ps(1s,2s,2p, 3d) and convergent s-wave elastic scattering parameters for the spin alignment S =0 and S =2 have been reported up to the incident energy 3.4 eV. The present s-wave phase shifts for both the spin alignments are found to be in fare agreement with the existing elaborate theoretical predictions. In particular our S =2 s-wave scattering length lies in the vicinity of the exact results.

Arsenic contamination in groundwater has become a worldwide problem. Currently an unprecedented number of people in West Bengal, India and Bangladesh are exposed to the ubiquitous toxicant via drinking water in exposure levels far exceeding the maximum recommended limit laid down by WHO. This arsenic epidemic has devastated nine districts of West Bengal encompassing an area of 38,865 km(2) leading to various clinical manifestations of chronic arsenicosis. We conducted a human bio-monitoring study using chromosomal aberrations (CA) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) as end points to explore the cytogenetic effects of chronic arsenic toxicity in the population of North 24 Parganas, one of the arsenic affected districts in West Bengal. Study participants included 59 individuals residing in this district where the mean level (+/-S.E.) of arsenic in drinking water (microg/l) was 211.70+/-15.28. As age matched controls with similar socio-economic status we selected 36 healthy, asymptomatic individuals residing in two unaffected districts--Midnapur and Howrah where the mean arsenic content of water (microg/l) was 6.35+/-0.45. Exposure was assessed by standardized questionnaires and by detecting the levels of arsenic in drinking water, nails, hair and urine samples. In the exposed group the mean arsenic concentrations in nails (microg/g), hair (microg/g) and urine (microg/l) samples were 9.04+/-0.78, 5.63+/-0.38 and 140.52+/-8.82, respectively, which were significantly high (P

In West Bengal, India arsenic in ground water has been found to be above the maximum permissible limit in seven districts covering an area of 37,493km2. In the present study, evaluation of the micronuclei (MN) formation in oral mucosa cells, urothelial cells and peripheral blood lymphocytes was carried out in the symptomatic individuals exposed to arsenic through drinking water. Forty five individuals with cutaneous signs of arsenicism from four affected districts (368.11 microg/l of As in drinking water) were considered as the exposed group and 21 healthy individuals with no symptoms of arsenic poisoning and residing in two unaffected districts (5.49 microg/l of As) were considered as controls. The exposed and control groups had similar age distribution and socioeconomic status. Standardised questionnaires were utilised and medical examination was conducted to ascertain exposure history, sociodemographic characteristics, diet, health, medication, addiction and chief symptoms in the study participants. Arsenic exposure was confirmed by measuring the arsenic content in the drinking water, nails, hair and urine samples from the volunteers. Arsenic contents in the urine, nail and hair in the exposed group were 24.45 microg/l, 12.58 and 6.97 microg/g, respectively which were significantly high in comparison to corresponding control group values of 4.88 microg/l, 0.51 and 0.34 microg/g, respectively. Exposed individuals showed a statistically significant increase in the frequency of MN in oral mucosa, urothelial cells and lymphocytes (5.15, 5.74 and 6.39/1000 cells, respectively) when compared with the controls (0.77, 0.56 and 0.53/1000 cells, respectively). Thus, the above results indicate that the symptomatic individuals exposed to arsenic through drinking water in this region have significant cytogenetic damage.

© 2016 Elsevier Ltd GBD 2015 HIV Collaborators. Estimates of global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and mortality of HIV, 1980–2015: the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015. Lancet HIV 2016; 3: e361–87—In this Article, Kerrie E Doyle and David M Pereira have been added to the list of collaborators and Claudia C Pereira has been removed. These corrections have been made as of Aug 22, 2016.