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The high-power radio frequency source for ion cyclotron heating and current drive of ITER tokamak consists of two identical 1.5 MW amplifier chains. These two chains will be combined using a wideband hybrid combiner with adequate coupling flatness, phase balance, return loss, and isolation response to generate 2.5 MW radio frequency (RF) power in the frequency range of 36 to 60 MHz. As part of the in-house development program at ITER-India, a wideband hybrid combiner with coupling flatness and return loss/isolation better than 0.4 and -25 dB, respectively, has been simulated. A detailed analysis for matched load performance of the hybrid combiner for the output power level of 3 MW as well as mismatched load performance for load power of 2.5 MW with voltage standing wave ratio 2.0 and 3.0 MW with voltage standing wave ratio 1.5 has been performed. Based on the simulation, a prototype model was in-house fabricated, and the simulated results have been validated experimentally in splitter and combiner mode. To evaluate performance as a combiner, two solid-state power amplifiers were combined through the prototype combiner for input power levels up to 2.5 kW on matched and mismatched load conditions. In the power splitter experiment, the RF power level up to 1.5 MW from a single amplifier chain was split through the prototype combiner to be dumped in the high power loads in the frequency range of 36 to 60 MHz.

Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

There is growing evidence that less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) is a better alternative to the standard Intubate-surfactant-extubate (InSurE) procedure in spontaneously breathing preterm infants with RDS. The infant feeding tube is easily available and cost-effective in comparison to special catheters used for surfactant administration in various studies on LISA and cost-effective health care is the need of the hour for countries like ours which are Low and middle-income countries(LMICs).The present study was planned to compare the total duration of respiratory support in preterm babies between 26 to 34 weeks of gestation with RDS requiring surfactant therapy administered by LISA technique using an infant feeding tube or InSurE method. In this unblinded randomised controlled trial, 150 infants were allocated to LISA (n = 74) or InSurE group (n = 76). An 8F feeding tube was used for surfactant delivery in the LISA group. The primary outcome was the total duration of respiratory support required and secondary outcomes included the proportion of babies developing BPD, IVH, PDA, NEC, ROP, air leaks, CPAP failure, and those requiring a repeat dose of surfactant along with the duration of hospitalization, time to regain birth weight and Death. The baseline variables including birth weight and gestation age were similar in the two groups. Nearly 27% of the mothers did not receive any dose of antenatal steroids (ANS) while around 37% of the mothers received complete course of ANS. A high proportion of babies (57%) were delivered by cesarean section. Intrapharyngeal reflux was significantly more in babies who received surfactant with the LISA method in comparison to InSurE technique (32% v/s 3%, p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in the primary outcome of the total duration of respiratory support in both groups with a median duration of 120 h, 95% CI (69-235), and p = 0.618. The need for invasive mechanical ventilation was significantly lower in the LISA group (p = 0.017) with RR (95% CI) 0.498 (0.259-0.958). The rate of CPAP failure was significantly lower in the LISA group (p = 0.005) with RR (95% CI) 0.55 (0.34-0.89). In this study, the total duration of hospital stay was reduced in the LISA group (19 days) compared to InSurE group (26 days), although the same was not statistically significant. LISA with an 8F feeding tube is feasible and an effective strategy for surfactant administration which resulted in a significant reduction in CPAP failure and the need for invasive mechanical ventilation.Trial registration: www.ctri.nic.in id CTRI/2020/05/025360. Trial was registered at CTRI on 26/05/2020. First case of trial was enrolled on 28/05/2020., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

We apply on-the-fly machine learning potentials (MLPs) using the sparse Gaussian process regression (SGPR) algorithm for fast optimization of atomic structures. Great acceleration is achieved even in the context of a single local optimization. Although for finding the exact local minimum, due to limited accuracy of MLPs, switching to another algorithm may be needed. For random gold clusters, the forces are reduced to ∼0.1 eV Å -1 within less than ten first-principles (FP) calculations. Because of highly transferable MLPs, this algorithm is specially suitable for global optimization methods such as random or evolutionary structure searching or basin hopping. This is demonstrated by sequential optimization of random gold clusters for which, after only a few optimizations, FP calculations were rarely needed., (© 2022 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

To tune single-atom catalysts (SACs) for effective nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR), we investigate various transition metals implanted on boron-arsenide (BAs), boron-phosphide (BP), and boron-antimony (BSb) using density functional theory (DFT). Interestingly, W-BAs shows high catalytic activity and excellent selectivity with an insignificant barrier of only 0.05 eV along the distal pathway and a surmountable kinetic barrier of 0.34 eV. The W-BSb and Mo-BSb exhibit high performances with limiting potentials of -0.19 and -0.34 V. The Bader-charge descriptor reveals that the charge transfers from substrate to *NNH in the first protonation step and from *NH 3 to substrate in the last protonation step, circumventing a big hurdle in NRR by achieving negative free energy change of *NH 2 to *NH 3 . Furthermore, machine learning (ML) descriptors are introduced to reduce computational cost. Our rational design meets the three critical prerequisites of chemisorbing N 2 molecules, stabilizing *NNH, and destabilizing *NH 2 adsorbates for high-efficiency NRR.

Objectives: |The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of volumetric HRCT measurements in the diagnosis of enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome (EVAS) and describe the association of this novel radiographic approach with clinical hearing outcomes. We hypothesized that volumetric measurements may have stronger correlation to hearing loss given the anatomic variability of the vestibular aqueduct in linear measurements., Methods: A retrospective study design was used, including 51 patients that fit the inclusion criteria for the study for a total of 81 ears. 3D volumes were calculated using the MIM Software platform (MIM Software Inc.) from semiautomatic segmentation of the VA across individual slices on CT scan. Air and bone conduction data was collected from medical records with the air-bone gap being calculated from these data. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine if volumetric VA size correlated with hearing loss outcomes., Results: Out of the study population, 30 subjects (58.8%) demonstrated bilateral EVA. Average VA size estimated by volumetric CT methodology was 0.035 mm 3 ; sd = 0.025 mm 3 . Volumetric measurements significantly correlated to both midpoint length and operculum size. Multivariate analysis adjusting for age, race, and gender demonstrated significant correlation between volumetric VA size and both low and high frequencies for PTA Air (p = 0.009; 0.010) and PTA Bone (p = 0.027; 0.002), respectively. Of note, the coefficient values for volumetric data were higher than linear measurements showing a potentially stronger correlation, albeit with high variability. Volumetric size was not significantly correlated to air-bone gap at either low or high frequency (p = 0.335; 0.062)., Conclusion: Our results indicate that volumetric CT measurements of the VA may be a valid and viable new method for assessing EVAS patients. In our study, volumetric VA measurements demonstrated a strong correlation across both air and bone conduction at both frequency ranges measured, with potentially greater correlative strength than linear measurements., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The drones can be used to detect a group of people who are unmasked and do not maintain social distance. In this paper, a deep learning-enabled drone is designed for mask detection and social distance monitoring. A drone is one of the unmanned systems that can be automated. This system mainly focuses on Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) monitoring using Raspberry Pi 4. This drone automation system sends alerts to the people via speaker for maintaining the social distance. This system captures images and detects unmasked persons using faster regions with convolutional neural network (faster R-CNN) model. When the system detects unmasked persons, it sends their details to respective authorities and the nearest police station. The built model covers the majority of face detection using different benchmark datasets. OpenCV camera utilizes 24/7 service reports on a daily basis using Raspberry Pi 4 and a faster R-CNN algorithm., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 S. Meivel et al.)

Valproic acid (VPA) has been reported to inhibit cancer cell growth and has therapeutic use in retinal diseases. However, the mechanism of this action remains unclear. In order to explore this mechanism, primary human retinal pigment epithelial (hRPE) cell cultures were established. Cell viability was assessed by the trypan blue exclusion method (T), and the cell proliferation was measured by 3 H-thymidine incorporation (3H-thy). P38 synthesis was quantitated by using 14C-methionine-labeled P38 (14C-P38) by using P38-specific antibody. SB203580 (SB), a selective inhibitor of p38 MAPK, was also used to test the specificity of P38 stimulation. Antinuclear staining (NS) studies were performed by DAPI. Statistical significance was established by student's t-test. We observed that VPA (1 mM) inhibited 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS)-stimulated cell proliferation (1.75 ± 0.37 vs. 3.25 ± 0.68 cells per 1 μl ± SEM, p < 0.05, n = 4). VPA also stimulated 14C-P38 synthesis in a dose-dependent manner. SB (30 μM) inhibited VPA (4 mM)-stimulated 14C-P38 synthesis (197.74 ± 41.17 vs. 425.89 ± 59.17, CPM ± SEM, p < 0.05, n = 4) and increased hRPE cell proliferation (1.79 ± 0.45 vs. 4.93 ± 1.12 cells per 1 μl ± SEM, p < 0.05, n = 4); NS demonstrated VPA-induced cell damage. We conclude that VPA inhibits hRPE cell growth via P38 MAP mechanism and may be of therapeutic value in treating or preventing proliferative eye diseases.

Aim: To design and validate Hindi-language parent self-report developmental screening questionnaires for 9-month and 18-month-old Indian children., Design: Cross-sectional study., Setting: Tertiary-care pediatric hospital from April 2014 to March 2016., Participants: In each age group (9-month and 18-month), 45 children were enrolled for designing of questionnaires (30 for obtaining parental observations of current development and 15 for pre-testing). For validation of tool, 100 children (60 low risk and 40 high risk) were enrolled in each age group., Methods: For designing, observations regarding current developmental milestones were obtained from parents and a list of all enumerated milestones was prepared. After detailed discussion by a team of developmental pediatricians, pediatric resident, clinical psychologist and language specialist, milestones were chosen for drafting of questionnaires. In each age group, drafts were pre-tested and required modifications were done. The final questionnaires contained 20 items each to be scored on a Likert scale (total score ranging from 20 to 60, a lower score indicating a higher risk of developmental delay). These questionnaires were validated against Developmental Assessment Scale for Indian Infants (DASII), a gold standard instrument., Results: On ROC analysis, the 9-month and 18-month screening tool had area under curve of 0.988 and 0.953, respectively, for detecting developmental delay. Score ≤50 on the 9-months questionnaire had sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 87.2%. Score ≤49 on the 18-months questionnaire had sensitivity of 91.4% and specificity of 88.7%., Conclusion: The new questionnaires have a promising role in developmental screening of children at the time of routine immunizations in our country.

Background: Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is emerging as an effective therapy for the treatment of recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (RCDI). Selecting an appropriate donor is vital to the success of FMT. However, the relationship between age of donors and the efficacy of FMT has not been examined to date. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of age of healthy donors on their fecal microbiota and assess the impact of these changes on the clinical efficacy of FMT., Materials and Methods: This IRB-approved prospective study enrolled donors who were deemed healthy for FMT after careful detailed screening for infectious diseases per institutional protocol. The study was conducted between January 2011 and October 2014. Fecal samples were processed and analyzed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Differences in relative abundance and diversity of the donor fecal microbiota were analyzed in donors above and below 60 years of age. Effect of fecal microbiota from donors of different age groups on the efficacy of FMT was also evaluated., Results: Twenty-eight healthy human subjects from ages 20-82 years were enrolled as donors for FMT. All patients receiving FMT from their respective donors had resolution of RCDI symptoms and had a negative C. difficile toxin test 4-12 weeks after FMT. Genomic analysis showed that the relative abundance of phylum Actinobacteria and family Bifidobacteriaceae was reduced in the donors ≥60 years of age (p < 0.05). However, Bacteroidetes-to-Fermicutes ratio did not demonstrate a significant change between the two groups. Furthermore, microbial diversity did not change significantly with advancing age., Conclusion: These observations suggest that aging in healthy donors is associated with compositional alterations in the fecal microbiome without change in the overall microbial diversity. These changes do not seem to affect the clinical efficacy of FMT in RCDI patients over 12 months.

The Hemangiopericytoma is a malignant vascular tumor arising from mesenchymal cells with pericytic differentiation. Hemangiopericytoma is most commonly seen in adults, and only 5% to 10% of cases occur in children. The tumor is extremely rare in the head and neck region (16%)1. Cytogenic abnormalities have been present in some hemangiopericytoma cases. Surgical resection remains the mainstay treatment. Adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy is appropriate for cases of incomplete resections and life-threatening tumors particularly in children. Late relapses may occur and require long-term follow-up. A 4-year-old child patient with hemangiopericytoma of the maxilla presented with firm, recurrent, but painless jaw mass. Radiographic investigations revealed a poorly circumscribed radiolucency. The lesion biopsy showed well-circumscribed multiple lobules of tumor mass consisting of tightly packed, spindle-shaped cells. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy of the lesion was conducted. The role of the pediatric dental team is extensive in children with hemangiopericytoma, who require a regular dental review. The patient's oncologist should be immediately contacted if there is any suspicion of recurrence.