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Purpose of the study: The study aims to delve into the potential of the graphic novel in the Indian context, for which I have used the works of Amruta Patil and Appupen. The paper investigates the concerns of environment, mythology, and feminine experience and its presentation on a graphic-literary landscape. Methodology: The methodology used in the paper is that of direct observation. The researcher has used the contributions of Pramod K. Nayar and Emma Varughese further to push the boundaries of the graphic novel in India. Main Findings: The paper’s main findings have been to bring to light the complex mesh of interdisciplinary strategies required to scope the medium of the graphic novel. The paper narrows down on the success of the graphic novel as a medium to address the issues of the environment in a much more nuanced manner. Applications of the study: This research can be used to widen the scope of Literary Eco-criticism. It includes the medium of the graphic novel and seeks to examine its operative strategies when raising attention to the issues that pertain to the environment. Novelty/Originality of the study: The terrain of the Indian Graphic Novel is still new and developing. While some studies have been done in this medium around the themes of the concerns of the cosmopolitan Indian, little has been done to look into the mythological roots and environmental concerns that this genre also illuminates. This essay is a significant step in that direction.

The use of multiple carriers in Orthogonal Frequency Division Modulation (OFDM) makes it bandwidth-efficient and suitable for modern communication such as Long-Term Evolution (LTE), Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) internet access, optical fiber communication, digital television, audio broadcasting, etc. In this paper, four modulation formats by using Coherent Optical Orthogonal Frequency Division Modulations (CO-OFDM) have been analyzed. These are Single Port Dual Polarization (SP DP) 16 QAM, Single-Port Single Polarization (SP SP) 16 QAM, Dual Port Single Polarization (DP SP) QPSK 16-QAM, and Single Port Dual Polarization (SP DP) QPSK. Operation characteristics such as Bit Error Rate (BER) versus fiber-length and BER versus bit-rate have been examined. The range of fiber length used for this investigation is from 0 Km to 1000 Km with loop count equal to 2 and the range of bit rate of operation is from 20 Gbps to 200 Gbps. The present investigation helps in determining the relative suitability of CO-OFDM formats at various bit-rates of operation for different fiber lengths.

We previously reported that Indian paediatric patients with atypical haemolytic–uraemic syndrome (aHUS) showed high frequencies of anti‐complement factor H (FH) autoantibodies that are correlated with homozygous deletion of the genes for FH‐related proteins 1 and 3 (FHR1 and FHR3) (FHR1/3 (–/–)). We now report that Indian paediatric aHUS patients without anti‐FH autoantibodies also showed modestly higher frequencies of the FHR1/3 (–/–) genotype. Further, when we characterized epitope specificities and binding avidities of anti‐FH autoantibodies in aHUS patients, most anti‐FH autoantibodies were directed towards the FH cell‐surface anchoring polyanionic binding site‐containing C‐terminal short conservative regions (SCRs) 17–20 with higher binding avidities than for native FH. FH SCR17–20‐binding anti‐FH autoantibodies also bound the other cell‐surface anchoring polyanionic binding site‐containing region FH SCR5–8, at lower binding avidities. Anti‐FH autoantibody avidities correlated with antibody titres. These anti‐FH autoantibody characteristics did not differ between aHUS patients with or without the FHR1/3 (–/–) genotype. Our data suggest a complex matrix of interactions between FHR1‐FHR3 deletion, immunomodulation and anti‐FH autoantibodies in the aetiopathogenesis of aHUS.

Background Mutations in the CD46 gene account for an important proportion of patients with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) who characteristically show multiple relapses, no response to plasma exchange and low recurrence risk in allograft. We screened for mutations in CD46 in patients with and without circulating anti-factor H (FH) antibodies-associated aHUS. Methods We estimated CD46 surface expression by flow cytometry and sequenced the CD46 gene in 23 and 56 patients with and without circulating anti-FH antibodies, respectively. Human Splicing Finder and PolyPhen2 were used for in silico prediction of pathogenicity. Results Two novel and three known (c.286 +2T > G, c.104G > A and c.565T > G) mutations in CD46 were found in nine (11.4%) patients; one patient had a variant of unknown significance and two patients presented during the first year of life. Novel intronic (c.1127 + 46C > G) and exonic (c.911C > T) mutations are proposed to activate cryptic splicing sites or alter protein conformation. Markedly reduced CD46 surface expression was found in homozygous states in five patients. Conclusion Patients with mutations in CD46 present at all ages, including the first year of life. Mutations in intron 2, (c.286 +2T > G) may be a potential hot spot in Indian children. Flow cytometry for CD46 expression is a satisfactory screening tool enabling early diagnosis.

Rituximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting B lymphocytes, effectively sustains remission in steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome (SDNS). We studied its effects on lymphocyte subsets and urinary CD80 excretion (uCD80) in patients with SDNS. Blood and urine samples were collected from 18 SDNS patients before rituximab, and after 1 month and 1 year or at first relapse. T and B lymphocytes and uCD80 were determined by flow cytometry and ELISA, respectively. Treatment was associated with reduction in counts of Th17, Th2, and memory T cells, and increased T-regulatory (Treg) cells. The Th17/Treg ratio declined from baseline (median 0.6) to 1 month (0.2, P = 0.006) and increased during relapse (0.3, P = 0.016). Ratios of Th1/Th2 cells at baseline, 1 month after rituximab, and during relapse were 7.7, 14.0 (P = 0.0102), and 8.7, respectively. uCD80 decreased 1 month following rituximab (45.5 vs. 23.0 ng/g creatinine; P = 0.0039). B lymphocytes recovered earlier in relapsers (60.0 vs.183.0 days; P

The Light-Emitting Diode (LED) driver is an important part of Visible Light Communication (VLC) systems. The main challenge of the VLC LED driver is to offer a high data transmission rate with high power efficiency. This paper presents the design of a white light LED driver that combines the LED lighting with VLC technology. The proposed LED driver uses linear current regulation and controls the AC current signal and the DC current through a single power device for the purposes of high speed, high efficiency and high integration. It also can support the modulation format of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). In addition, this work presents an impedance reduction technique to enhance the bandwidth of the LED driver. And a first-order pre-equalizer is utilized to enhance the electron-optical-electron (E/O/E) bandwidth in the VLC system due to the bandwidth limitation of the phosphor converted LED. The VLC LED driver is fabricated in a standard 0.5_m CMOS technology with chip area 1540_m×1250_m. It is available in a standard SOP-16 pin package. The experimental results show that the optical modulation bandwidth of 10.9 MHz has been achieved with the forward biased LED current of 350 mA. By using the OFDM data modulation scheme, the data rate of 50 Mb/s is demonstrated.

Background Mutations in the CD46 gene account for an important proportion of patients with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) who characteristically show multiple relapses, no response to plasma exchange and low recurrence risk in allograft. We screened for mutations in CD46 in patients with and without circulating anti-factor H (FH) antibodies–associated aHUS. Methods We estimated CD46 surface expression by flow cytometry and sequenced the CD46 gene in 23 and 56 patients with and without circulating anti-FH antibodies, respectively. Human Splicing Finder and PolyPhen2 were used for in silico prediction of pathogenicity. Results Two novel and three known (c.286 +2T > G, c.104G > A and c.565T > G) mutations in CD46 were found in nine (11.4%) patients; one patient had a variant of unknown significance and two patients presented during the first year of life. Novel intronic (c.1127 + 46C > G) and exonic (c.911C > T) mutations are proposed to activate cryptic splicing sites or alter protein conformation. Markedly reduced CD46 surface expression was found in homozygous states in five patients. Conclusion Patients with mutations in CD46 present at all ages, including the first year of life. Mutations in intron 2, (c.286 +2T > G) may be a potential hot spot in Indian children. Flow cytometry for CD46 expression is a satisfactory screening tool enabling early diagnosis.

Antibodies to complement factor H are an uncommon cause of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Information on clinical features and outcomes in children is limited. In order to explore this we studied a multicenter cohort of 138 Indian children with anti-complement factor H antibody associated HUS, constituting 56% of patients with HUS. Antibody titers were high (mean 7054 AU/ml) and correlated inversely with levels of complement C3, but not complement factor H. Homozygous deletion of the CFHR1 gene was found in 60 of 68 patients. Therapies included dialysis in 119 children, 105 receiving plasma exchanges and 26 intravenous immunoglobulin. Induction immunosuppression consisted of 87 children receiving prednisolone with or without intravenous cyclophosphamide or rituximab. Antibody titers fell significantly following plasma exchanges and increased during relapses. Adverse outcome (stage 4-5 CKD or death) was seen in 36 at 3 months and 41 by last follow up, with relapse in 14 of 122 available children. Significant independent risk factors for adverse outcome were an antibody titer over 8000 AU/ml, low C3 and delay in plasma exchange. Combined plasma exchanges and induction immunosuppression resulted in significantly improved renal survival: one adverse outcome prevented for every 2.6 patients treated. Maintenance immunosuppressive therapy, of prednisolone with either mycophenolate mofetil or azathioprine, significantly reduced the risk of relapses. Thus, prompt use of immunosuppressive agents and plasma exchanges are useful for improving outcomes in pediatric patients with anti-complement factor H-associated HUS.