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The work presented in this article evaluates the radiation characteristic of the plasma antenna in its classical state called plasma striation. The plasma antenna is basically a plasma column coupled with an RF signal source. The experimental setup of the plasma antenna has been developed, which includes a plasma and vacuum system, the RF signal source along with the matching network, and an automated radiation measurement system to measure the radiation parameters. The radiation characteristics of the plasma antenna depend on the plasma properties, such as plasma length and plasma density, which are the functions of input RF power and gas pressure. In a column, a single length plasma can be transformed into multiple small striations or blobs by having a critical combination of applied power and pressure. In this experiment, radiation patterns of antenna have been measured for the variable plasma parameters and tuned frequencies. The study reveals that the typical arrangement of blobs forms a collinear plasma antenna array, where the radiation parameters can be reconfigured with the size, number, and spacing between blobs and plasma density. The study outcomes the present useful development in the area of reconfigurable RF antenna that is a research interest in the field of radar for beamsteering applications and communication.

Explosive data rate requirements in the satellite communication for surveillance, military services, and broadcasting have put peer pressure on the optical wireless communication (OWC) systems. Secure data transmission against eavesdropper and performance enhancement at authentic user is major concern these days. In this work, performance and security analysis of spectral amplitude codes (SAC) in mode division multiplexed (MDM) OWC have been carried out and a novel zero cross correlation resultant weight (ZCCRW) code at 100 Gbps capacity has been presented. Random diagonal (RD), Enhanced double weight (EDW), Diagonal double weight (DDW) codes have been compared through simulations and also mathematical expressions are derived under the effects of eavesdropper. Hybrid modulations have been compared to check optimal modulation with combination of Laguerre-Gaussian (LG), and HermiteGaussian (HG) modes. Results have revealed that ZCCRW code with MD-DQPSK using LG modes provide best performance and least susceptibility to eavesdropper.

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the arteries supplying the pancreaticoduodenal (PD) complex. The study was conducted on 15 fresh enbloc pancreatic specimens by latex injection method which enabled the visualization of the peripancreatic arteries and their minute branches. The gastroduodenal (GDA), anterior superior pancreaticoduodenal (ASPD), and anterior inferior pancreaticoduodenal (AIPD) artery was found in all the cases, whereas the posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal (PSPD) and posterior inferior pancreaticoduodenal (PIPD) artery was present in 93.34% cases. The ASPD artery originated from GDA in all the cases. Two types of variations were observed in the origin of PSPD artery and four types each in the origin of AIPD and PIPD artery. Anatomical and numerical variations were observed in both anterior and posterior arches, posterior arch being absent in 20% cases. In the present study, an attempt was made to systematically describe the individual arterial configurations of the PD complex. The information provided here has important implications for preoperative planning of technically challenging surgeries and interventions around the pancreatic head.

Oil palm is continually being improved via controlled crossing of selected palms to ensure sustainable yields and productivity. As such, correct parental assignment is important as the presence of illegitimates will compromise the progress of improvement. In the present study, we determined the optimal number of microsatellite (SSR) markers for detection of illegitimates in selected oil palm crosses with high confidence. Determining the optimal number of markers to assign parentage will ensure that the DNA fingerprinting will be cost effective for routine use as a quality control tool in oil palm improvement programs. Here, we evaluated a wide range of crosses that included a cross derived from wild germplasm palm. The results revealed that markers with high PIC are informative and detect most of the alleles present in a cross, including those exhibited by the illegitimates. A larger number of optimum sets of markers are needed to detect all illegitimates for crosses with higher levels of genetic diversity. The optimal number of polymorphic SSR markers determined in the present study can ensure that appropriate quality control is implemented for oil palm improvement programs.

Background Purulent bacterial pericarditis (PBP) is a highly lethal infection of the pericardial space that arises as a complication of infective illnesses. Purulent bacterial pericarditis remains a diagnostic challenge given its non-specific clinical and investigative features and carries exceedingly high mortality rates due to fulminant sepsis and morbidity including constrictive pericarditis in survivors. We present our management of cardiac tamponade and subsequent constrictive pericarditis due to Actinomyces meyeri PBP. Case summary A 53-year-old Caucasian male presented with acute New York Heart Association Class IV dyspnoea and chest discomfort, in the context of multiple hospital presentations over the preceding 8 weeks due to presumed recurrent viral pericarditis. On this admission, initial transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) demonstrated a large asymmetric pericardial effusion for which he underwent urgent pericardiocentesis. Serial TTE post-pericardiocentesis, however, demonstrated effusion re-accumulation and effusive-constrictive pericarditis, confirmed on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Fluid culture was positive for A. meyeri. He was diagnosed with PBP, but his condition deteriorated despite appropriate intravenous antibiotic therapy, necessitating semi-urgent surgical pericardiectomy. He recovered well and was discharged on Day 10 post-operatively. Discussion Unlike uncomplicated acute viral or idiopathic pericarditis, PBP portends a very poor prognosis if unrecognized and untreated. Diagnostic challenges persist given its rarity in modern clinical practice; however, PBP should be considered in cases of seemingly recurrent pericarditis. Multi-modal cardiac imaging and careful analysis of pericardial fluid including cultures and lactate dehydrogenase/serum ratios may assist in earlier recognition. In this case, source control and symptom relief were achieved only with combined intravenous antibiotics, surgical evacuation, and pericardiectomy.

Using an in-cell AMPK activation assay, we have developed structure-activity relationships around a hit pyridine dicarboxamide 5 that resulted in 40 (R419). A particular focus was to retain the on-target potency while also improving microsomal stability and reducing off-target activities, including hERG inhibition. We were able to show that removing a tertiary amino group from the piperazine unit of hit compound 5 improved microsomal stability while hERG inhibition was improved by modifying the substitution of the central core pyridine ring. The SAR resulted in 40, which continues to maintain on-target potency. Compound 40 was able to activate AMPK in vivo after oral administration and showed efficacy in animal models investigating activation of AMPK as a therapy for glucose control (both db/db and DIO mouse models).

Nucleic acid amplification technique (NAAT)-assisted detection is the primary intervention for pathogen molecular diagnostics. However, NAATs such as quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) require prior purification or extraction of target nucleic acid from the sample of interest since the latter often contains polymerase inhibitors. Similarly, genetic disease screening is also reliant on the successful extraction of pure patient genomic DNA from the clinical sample. However, such extraction techniques traditionally utilize spin-column techniques that in turn require centralized high-speed centrifuges. This hinders any potential deployment of qPCR- or PCR-like NAAT methods in resource-constrained settings. The development of instrument-free nucleic acid extraction methods, especially those utilizing readily available materials would be of great interest and benefit to NAAT-mediated molecular diagnosis workflows in resource-constrained settings. In this report, we screened medical-grade cotton, a readily available over-the-counter biomaterial to extract genomic DNA (gDNA) spiked in 30 %, 45 %, and 60 % serum or cell lysate. The extraction was carried out in a completely instrument-free manner using cotton and a sterilized toothpick and was completed in 30 min (with using chaotropic salt) or 10 min (without using chaotropic salt). The quality of the extracted DNA was then probed using PCR followed by agarose gel analysis for preliminary validation of the study. The qPCR experiments then quantitatively established the extraction efficiency (0.3-27 %, depending on serum composition). Besides, percent similarity score obtained from the Sanger sequencing experiments probed the feasibility of extracted DNA towards polymerase amplification with fluorescent nucleotide incorporation. Overall, our method demonstrated that DNA extraction could be performed utilizing toothpick-mounted cotton both with or without using a chaotropic salt, albeit with a difference in the quality of the extracted DNA.

[Image: see text] IRAK4 kinase plays a key role in TLR/IL-1R signaling pathways that regulate innate immune responses, and if uncontrolled, it is responsible for various inflammatory disorders. By high-throughput screening (HTS) and hit-to-lead optimization, compounds with a 5-aryl-2,4-diaminopyrimidine core structure have been identified as potent IRAK4 inhibitors. A cocrystal structure of IRAK4 protein with an early lead molecule helped with understanding the structure–activity relationship and the design of the new compounds. Initial HTS hits from this series of compounds were also found to inhibit TAK1 kinase, which would cause liver toxicity and potentially bone marrow failure. Optimization of this series resulted in improved selectivity over TAK1 kinase. The TAK1 selectivity was found to be closely associated with different sizes and types of substituents at the 5-position of the pyrimidine. The impact of other pyrimidine substituents on the potency and selectivity was also explored. A few representative compounds were evaluated in IL-1β-induced IL-6 inhibition animal model studies and showed modest efficacy.

Vermilion (sindoor) is considered sacred in the Hindu religion, and it is used routinely throughout the world by married Hindu women along the line of hair parting during marriage ceremonies, religious rituals, and festivals. Owing to its esthetic appeal, it is sometimes illegally used as a food additive; leading to potential health risks. Therefore, due to the aforementioned reasons, vermilion can likely be encountered as trace evidentiary material during crime investigations, particularly in cases of sexual and physical offenses against women. Analysis of such evidence can provide a link between the criminal, the victim, and the crime scene and thereby be utilized as associative evidence in the court of law. In the present study, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy has been used for the examination of 37 different manufacturers of vermilion. Chemometric methods such as principal component analysis (PCA) and PCA-LDA were performed on the obtained spectra for objective interpretation of results. PCA delivered 99.06% discrimination of samples while PCA-LDA employed for classification purpose delivered 95.25% calibration accuracy and 88% validation accuracy. Afterward, the validity of the chemometric methods employed was tested by blind testing of samples. A preliminary study on the effect of selected substrates (cotton cloth, tissue paper, glass, and plastic) on sample analysis indicates that while sample stain on substrates could be linked to its parent source even after a month, linking an aged samples (after 8 months) could be hindered due to evaporation of components present in vermilion. Overall, the current methodology utilized has a potential prospect in future forensic-casework.

Transcript profiling during the early induction phase of oil palm tissue culture and RNAi studies in a model somatic embryogenesis system showed that EgENOD93 expression is essential for somatic embryogenesis. Micropropagation of oil palm through tissue culture is vital for the generation of superior and uniform elite planting materials. Studies were carried out to identify genes to distinguish between leaf explants with the potential to develop into embryogenic or non-embryogenic callus. Oil palm cDNA microarrays were co-hybridized with cDNA probes of reference tissue, separately with embryo forming (media T527) and non-embryo (media T694) forming leaf explants sampled at Day 7, Day 14 and Day 21. Analysis of the normalized datasets has identified 77, 115 and 127 significantly differentially expressed genes at Day 7, Day 14, and Day 21, respectively. An early nodulin 93 protein gene (ENOD93), was highly expressed at Day 7, Day 14, and Day 21 and in callus (media T527), as assessed by RT-qPCR. Validation of EgENOD93 across tissue culture lines of different genetic background and media composition showed the potential of this gene as an embryogenic marker. In situ RNA hybridization and functional characterization in Medicago truncatula provided additional evidence that ENOD93 is essential for somatic embryogenesis. This study supports the suitability of EgENOD93 as a marker to predict the potential of leaf explants to produce embryogenic callus. Crosstalk among stresses, auxin, and Nod-factor like signalling molecules likely induces the expression of EgENOD93 for embryogenic callus formation.

The present study searched for candidate genes in five linkage groups (LGs) - T2, T3, OT4, OT6 and T9 hosting the QTLs associated with iodine value (IV) and fatty acid composition (FAC) in an oil palm interspecific hybrid population. Each of the five LGs was successfully anchored to its corresponding chromosomal segment where, a wider repertoire of candidate genes was identified. This study further revealed a total of 19 candidate genes and four transcription factors involved in biosynthesis of fatty acids, lipids (including triacylglycerol) and acetyl-CoA, glycosylation and degradation of fatty acids. Their possible involvement in regulating the levels of saturation are discussed. In addition, 22 candidate genes located outside the QTL intervals were also identified across the interspecific hybrid genome. A total of 92 SSR markers were developed to tag the presence of these candidate genes and 50 were successfully mapped onto their respective positions on the genome. The data obtained here complements the previous studies, and collectively, these QTL-linked candidate gene markers could help breeders in more precisely selecting palms with the desired FAC.

The present investigation was carried out to characterize the eighty one carrot genotypes through variability, heritability and genetic gain for different characters. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among the genotypes for all the characters. Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance were estimated for marketable and its component yield traits in 81 lines of carrot (Daucus carota var. sativa L.). The study showed high ranges for total yield (4.9-9.3 kg plot-1), marketable yield (4.6-9.2 kg plot-1), root length (13.8-30.8 cm) and root weight (101.4-127.2 g). Genotypes PC-161, PC-15, PC-173 (red), PCO-30, PCO-5, PCO-7 (Orange) PCP-2, PCP-1 and PCP-17B (Purple) were superior with respect to total and marketable yield per plot along with various horticultural traits. Magnitude of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than corresponding genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the characters which indicated the role of environment on the character expression. Quantitative traits like Anthocyanin content (mg 100 g-1), Total sugar content (%), Carotene content (mg 100g-1) and Dry matter content (%) have higher values of GCV, heritability, genetic advance and genetic gain hence these were the most important traits for applying selection in carrot for crop improvement.

The genetic structure and variability was described among 52 oil palm inter-population crosses after two selection cycles using simple sequence repeats markers (SRR). The 10 sets of SSR markers covering 62.5% of the oil palm genome showed a high level of polymorphism (average number of alleles per locus = 6.7; unbiased expected heterozygosity = 0.655; G”st = 0.346) across the oil palm samples. On the basis of allelic variability indices, three genetically diverse progenies (P1, P2 and P5) with estimates higher than the overall mean values were identified. Analysis of molecular variance revealed that partitioning of variance was higher (82%) among palms within each progeny than among the progenies (18%). High pairwise fixation index (FST > 0.150) among progenies was evident, particularly between progeny P4 and progenies P1, P2 and P3. Crossing of selected palms from highly differentiated progenies could generate offsprings with more genetic variation. The mean Nei's standard genetic distance across progenies was 0.364. The lowest genetic distance was observed between progeny P2 and P5 (0.090) and the highest was found between progeny P1 and P4 (0.653). Based on the results, there is ample variation among the inter-population progenies for maximum exploitation of heterosis and further gains in future breeding programme. Key words: Elaeis guineensis Jacq., microsatellite markers, NIFOR, reciprocal recurrent selection.

The study compares the steady state creep response of rotating Al-SiC discs having constant, linear, hyperbolic and exponential thickness with different thickness profiles. All the discs are assumed to have equal volume with the same average thickness. The creep behaviour of the disc material is described by threshold stress based law while the yielding is assumed to follow Tresca criterion. The variable thickness disc is observed to have superior creep response, expressed in terms of stresses and strain rates, to a constant thickness disc. Amongst variable thickness discs, the creep response is observed to be superior for linear thickness disc, when the inner thickness of all the discs is kept the same. However, for the same outer thickness, the disc having hyperbolic thickness profile exhibits the best creep response.

This research aims to identify the critical challenges associated with restarting manufacturing organizations post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The authors conducted an expert-based survey among various industry leaders of manufacturing organizations to capture a holistic view of business continuity plans and the associated challenges. The selected individuals are responsible for making business continuity policies and plans at their respective organizations. They were asked to reflect on their experience of the present-day challenges in managing business continuity in their organizations. Expert interviews were reflective and provided candid inputs. Consequently, the keywords of the experts' feedback were synthesized by using the mind map qualitative approach, which helps in the visualization of the critical challenges at an abstract level. Further, the interrelation between them and the significance of each critical challenge is evaluated using fuzzy theory with the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) technique. The findings of these evaluations will help to assess the existing policies/practices and to strengthen business continuity plans post-COVID-19. This study is a pioneering work that will help organizations to prepare action plans for kick-starting their broken-down economic engines.

A carbon fiber microstrip patch antenna is presented, constructed entirely from fiber-reinforced plastic materials, and fabricated directly into carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) composites as part of the composite manufacturing process. Fabrication of antennas as part of the composite manufacturing process provides numerous benefits, such as conformation to complex curvatures, reduced weight, and reduced aerodynamic impact. Modification of the localized conductivity of the carbon fiber using materials such as copper meshes is shown to improve the gain of the antenna by as much as 5 dB, while also improving the interlaminar shear strength of the composite by 22%.