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The effect of heat treatment on the mechanical properties of two high-carbon-containing (1.5 and 3 at%) single-phase face-centered cubic (fcc) Fe40.4Ni11.3Mn34.8Al7.5Cr6 high-entropy alloys is reported in this study. In the cold-rolled (CR) condition, the 1.5 and 3 at% C-containing alloys, referred to as CR1 and CR2, respectively, demonstrated yield strength values of 1,423 and 1,197 MPa, respectively. The corresponding values of elongation to failure was noted to be 4.05 and 4.46%, respectively. Upon heat treatment at 1,050°C, the CR1 and CR2 samples, referred to as HT1 and HT2 in the heat-treated (HT) condition, demonstrated yield strength values of 358 and 327 MPa, respectively. The elongation to failure of HT1 and HT2 was found to be 37.2 and 26.4%, respectively. The change in mechanical properties brought about by heat treatment was understood by studying the phase composition, microstructure, and crystallographic texture of the material in the CR and HT conditions. Despite the high-temperature heat treatment, the Fe40.4Ni11.3Mn34.8Al7.5Cr6 alloy retained a single-phase structure, indicating good phase stability. However, heat treatment caused a change in the grain structure. The CR materials exhibited an elongated grain structure, whereas the HT materials had an equiaxed microstructure. The CR and HT samples were found to exhibit a weak crystallographic texture although heat treatment had caused the {111} poles to orient themselves parallel to the rolling plane, whereas the CR material had a distribution of {200} poles at 45° to the rolling plane.

Introduction: Dental caries is one of the major widespread health issues that continue to negatively affect the oral health of children globally., Aim: To estimate the prevalence of dental caries and its risk factors among preschool children of Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India., Materials and Methods: The study was a community-based cross-sectional one among preschool children with (N = 425) participants recruited from the Anganwadi centers (AWCs) of Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. By using a cross-sectional study design, dental caries was assessed using the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, and other socioeconomic and risk factors data were collected through parental interview using questionnaires. Caries was identified at both tooth and surface levels through visual dental examinations by trained and calibrated dentists. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify associations among variables and caries., Results: The proportion of preschool children suffering from dental caries was found to be 47.29%. The multivariable-adjusted model depicted that longer duration of breastfeeding was a significant predictor as follows: Those who had breastfed for more than 36 months [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 5.41; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.97-9.85; p = 0.001], 12 to 24 months (AOR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.04-4.36; p = 0.037), followed by increase in age 61 to 72 months (AOR: 5.39; 95% CI: 2.72-10.67; p = 0.001), 49 to 60 months (AOR: 2.53; 95% CI: 1.41-4.52; p = 0.002), more than two children in the family (AOR: 2.70; 95% CI: 1.55-4.69; p = 0.001), and children who did not brush the teeth under the parent's supervision (AOR: 2.70; 95% CI: 1.55-4.69; p = 0.001)., Conclusion: The study highlights the need to increase awareness about the oral health and hygiene among parents of preschool children in India. How to cite this article: Chugh VK, Sahu KK, Chugh A. Prevalence and Risk Factors for Dental Caries among Preschool Children: A Cross-sectional Study in Eastern India. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2018;11(3):238-243., Competing Interests: Source of support: Nil Conflict of interest: None

We report the results of a study carried out to investigate the potential of optical techniques such as optical coherence tomography, Mueller matrix spectroscopy, and cross-polarization imaging for noninvasive monitoring of the ionizing radiation exposure-induced alterations in cutaneous tissue of mice. Radiation dose-dependent changes were observed in tissue microvasculature and tissue optical parameters like retardance and depolarization as early as 1 h post radiation exposure. Results suggest that these optical techniques may allow early detection of radiation dose-dependent alterations which could help in screening of population exposed to radiation.

Background/purpose: Bacterial infection is one of the main predisposing factors for the delay in wound healing. To facilitate a timely decision for correct therapy, it is important to accurately monitor the morphological changes in the infected wounds using noninvasive tools. In the present study, we have explored the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for monitoring the healing of superficial wounds infected with Staphylococcus aureus in mice under in vitro and in vivo conditions and studied the changes in collagen birefringence in the infected wounds., Methods: The tape stripping method was used for generating superficial skin wounds in mice and wounds were infected with S. aureus. For in vitro studies, infected and uninfected wound tissues were resected, back scattered intensity and birefringence changes in collagen during wound healing were studied on the 2, 4 and 10th day of postinfection using polarization-sensitive (PS) OCT and images were compared with histology. Real-time OCT was used for studying the kinetics of healing of infected wounds under in vivo conditions., Results: From the PS-OCT images, different phases of wound healing such as inflammation, reepithelialization and collagen remodeling could be identified. The edematic regions appeared prominent in infected wounds. Compared with uninfected wounds, reepithelization and collagen remodeling phases of wound healing were delayed significantly in the infected wounds. These changes were comparable with the different stages of wound healing observed under in vivo conditions., Conclusion: OCT imaging can provide a rapid assessment of the morphological changes associated with bacteria-infected and uninfected wounds and thereby aid in timely treatment planning., (© 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.)

We report the results of a study carried out to investigate the effect of helium-neon (He-Ne) laser (632.8 nm) irradiation on the hair follicle growth cycle of testosterone-treated and untreated mice. Both histology and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were used for the measurement of hair follicle length and the relative percentage of hair follicles in different growth phases. A positive correlation (R = 0.96) was observed for the lengths of hair follicles measured by both methods. Further, the ratios of the lengths of hair follicles in the anagen and catagen phases obtained by both methods were nearly the same. However, the length of the hair follicles measured by both methods differed by a factor of 1.6, with histology showing smaller lengths. He-Ne laser irradiation (at approximately 1 J/cm(2)) of the skin of both the control and the testosterone-treated mice was observed to lead to a significant increase (p < 0.05) in % anagen, indicating stimulation of hair growth. The study also demonstrates that OCT can be used to monitor the hair follicle growth cycle, and thus hair follicle disorders or treatment efficacy during alopecia., ((c) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

In the favoured core-accretion model of formation of planetary systems, solid planetesimals accumulate to build up planetary cores, which then accrete nebular gas if they are sufficiently massive. Around M-dwarf stars (the most common stars in our Galaxy), this model favours the formation of Earth-mass (M(o)) to Neptune-mass planets with orbital radii of 1 to 10 astronomical units (au), which is consistent with the small number of gas giant planets known to orbit M-dwarf host stars. More than 170 extrasolar planets have been discovered with a wide range of masses and orbital periods, but planets of Neptune's mass or less have not hitherto been detected at separations of more than 0.15 au from normal stars. Here we report the discovery of a 5.5(+5.5)(-2.7) M(o) planetary companion at a separation of 2.6+1.5-0.6 au from a 0.22+0.21-0.11 M(o) M-dwarf star, where M(o) refers to a solar mass. (We propose to name it OGLE-2005-BLG-390Lb, indicating a planetary mass companion to the lens star of the microlensing event.) The mass is lower than that of GJ876d (ref. 5), although the error bars overlap. Our detection suggests that such cool, sub-Neptune-mass planets may be more common than gas giant planets, as predicted by the core accretion theory.

To study the possible codon usage and base composition variation in the bacteriophages, fourteen mycobacteriophages were used as a model system here and both the parameters in all these phages and their plating bacteria, M. smegmatis had been determined and compared. As all the organisms are GC-rich, the GC contents at third codon positions were found in fact higher than the second codon positions as well as the first + second codon positions in all the organisms indicating that directional mutational pressure is strongly operative at the synonymous third codon positions. Nc plot indicates that codon usage variation in all these organisms are governed by the forces other than compositional constraints. Correspondence analysis suggests that: (i) there are codon usage variation among the genes and genomes of the fourteen mycobacteriophages and M. smegmatis, i.e., codon usage patterns in the mycobacteriophages is phage-specific but not the M. smegmatis-specific; (ii) synonymous codon usage patterns of Barnyard, Che8, Che9d, and Omega are more similar than the rest mycobacteriophages and M. smegmatis; (iii) codon usage bias in the mycobacteriophages are mainly determined by mutational pressure; and (iv) the genes of comparatively GC rich genomes are more biased than the GC poor genomes. Translational selection in determining the codon usage variation in highly expressed genes can be invoked from the predominant occurrences of C ending codons in the highly expressed genes. Cluster analysis based on codon usage data also shows that there are two distinct branches for the fourteen mycobacteriophages and there is codon usage variation even among the phages of each branch.

Codon usage studies have been carried out on the coding sequences of Thermoplasma acidophilum, which is an archaeon and grows at very low pH and high temperature. Overall codon usage data analysis indicates that all the four bases are almost equifrequent at the third position of codons, which is expected (since genomic GC % of this genome is about 46%). However, multivariate statistical analysis indicates that there are two major trends in the codon usage variation among the genes in this organism. In the first major trend it is observed that genes having G and C ending codons are clustered at one end while, A and T ending ones are clustered at the other end. We have also found a significant positive correlation between the expressivities of genes and GC contents at the synonymous third codon positions. In the second major trend, it is seen that the genes are clustered into three distinct parts. A comparative analyses of codon usage data of T. acidophilum and Sulfolobus solfataricus reveals that one of the three clusters of genes of T. acidophilum is very similar to a considerable number of S. solfataricus genes, suggesting possible occurrences of lateral gene transfer between these two microorganisms as reported by earlier workers., ((c) 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Renal cell carcinoma is a rare but serious complication in ESRD patients. In these patients the incidence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is 20-40 times higher than in the general population. We performed a retrospective study to measure the incidence rate, prevalence, characteristics and survival among our peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma. The study was carried out among 607 patients who were on the PD program from January 1997 to June 2002. RCC was detected in eight patients (four males and four females) with mean age of 52.1 +/- 10.6 years. Among these eight patients four were new cases that were diagnosed before the patients were started on dialysis (three in native kidneys and one in a transplanted kidney). In the other four patients the RCC was diagnosed after they had been on dialysis for 33-204 months (mean 60.75 +/- 50.48). We found an incidence rate of 1.3 per 1000 patients per year and a prevalence of 1.3%. Six of the eight patients had renal cysts. Tumor size was less than 7 cm in seven patients and in the other patient it was 8.5 cm. Seven of eight patients were alive at the time of study with a survival time ranging from 3-138 months (mean 122.25 +/- 88.2) months. In one patient, the RCC metastasised to the scalp, and, in two other patients, the tumors subsequently involved the second kidney. A cardiovascular complication was the cause of one death. Two patients received a renal transplant 36 and 66 months after diagnosis. We conclude that despite the low rate of metastases and mortality in our study, regular ultrasonography should be added to the follow-up of PD patients. Renal transplantation can be considered in these ESRD patients with RCC; however, close follow-up for metastases is recommended.

3-Hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitors are established anti-lipidemic agents. They also exert immunomodulatory effects. Two recent reports suggest that pravastatin may be useful in decreasing the incidence and severity of acute rejections (ARs) in heart and kidney transplant recipients. We undertook this prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind trial to investigate the effect of lovastatin on acute renal allograft rejection. Sixty-five consecutive, one-haplotype-matched, living related first renal transplant recipients were randomized to receive either lovastatin 20 mg/d or placebo for 3 months, in addition to cyclosporine, azathioprine, and steroids. Lipid levels, AR episodes, and liver and muscle enzymes were followed for 3 months post-transplant. At the end of the study period, lovastatin had successfully controlled lipid levels. However, there was no effect on AR episodes (15.15% in the treatment group vs. 18.75% in the placebo group).

Objective: To study the cytomorphologic features of the Ewing's sarcoma (ES) family of tumors., Study Design: During a period of eight years (1990-1997), 123 soft tissue tumors and 65 bone tumors were evaluated by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC); 14 cases were diagnosed as in the ES family of tumors. The ages of the patients ranged from 8 to 30 years. All the cases were histologically confirmed., Results: Of 14 cases of the ES family of tumors, 7 were ES, 3 extraosseous ES (EOE), 2 peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PPNET) and 2 Askin tumor. Cytologically, smears from all the cases showed round tumor cells with a high nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio. On detailed examination, subtle differentiating features were observed. The cells in ES had finer nuclear chromatin in comparison to those of PPNET and Askin tumor, and punched-out clear cytoplasmic vacuoles were present. PPNET showed nuclear molding, unipolar cytoplasmic tags and Homer-Wright rosettes. Histologically, all cases of ES and EOE and one case of Askin tumor showed periodic acid-Schiff-positive inclusions., Conclusion: FNAC features coupled with clinical findings enable a rapid diagnosis of the ES family of tumors, from which treatment modalities can be determined.

A simple and short-term micronucleus (MN) test in pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAMs) of rats has been developed to assess potential genotoxic effects of gaseous environmental agents. The protocol has been tested in model experiments with indoor air pollutants like mosquito coil smoke (MCS) and mosquito mat vapour (MMV). Smears of pulmonary lavage fluid collected in hypotonic (0.56%) KCl solution were fixed in absolute methanol and stained in Giemsa (10%). Characteristically the large size of the PAMs facilitates easy scoring of MN. An interval of 32 h post exposure seems to be suitable for MN preparation. A comparison of the concentration-response data on CAs (at 24 h post exposure) and MN (at 32 h post exposure) clearly reveals the validity of the MN assay in PAMs.

Clofazimine (CLF), an antileprosy drug, has earlier been proved to be clastogenic in mice in vivo. It is an important constituent of the triple-drug regimen recommended by WHO for the treatment of leprosy. In this study the protective role of vitamins A and C (vit A and vit C) against the clastogenic effect of CLF in mouse bone marrow cells has been evaluated. Two doses (20 and 40 mg/kg) of vit C and two doses (2500 and 5000 IU/kg) of vit A were tested against a dose of 40 mg CLF/kg. The drug alone induced chromosomal aberrations of about 8 times the control value. Neither of the doses of vit C exhibited any clastogenic effect and, when administered simultaneously with CLF, both reduced the effect of CLF very significantly, the higher dose reducing chromosomal aberrations almost to the control value. Conversely, both doses of vit A, when administered alone, brought about significant increases in chromosome aberrations over the control value; the higher, but not the lower dose, given simultaneously with CLF, minimized the effect of CLF significantly but not as greatly as vit C. A scavenging effect of the vitamins, removing free radicals produced by CLF, is assumed to be responsible for modulation of the clastogenic effect of CLF.

The genotoxic potential of inhalation of mosquito coil (MC) smoke was evaluated by using metaphase chromosome aberration and micronucleus assays in pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAMs) of rats following short-term as well as long-term whole body intermittent exposure. For short-term exposure, the animals were exposed for 15 min/h, 8 h/day to smoke collected for 1, 5 or 10 min, and they were killed 16 or 24 h after the final exposure. For long-term exposure, they were exposed for 15 min/h, 8 h/day, 7 days/week to smoke collected for 10 min and then they were killed 24 h after the final exposure. Each time before exposure, fresh smoke was collected by burning a mosquito coil. Pulmonary lavage was collected, and conventional flame-drying preparation was done for metaphase chromosome analysis and micronuclei (MN) were analyzed from smear preparations. Significantly higher frequencies of chromosome aberrations, including as well as excluding gaps, and micronucleated PAMs in smoke-exposed animals, compared to controls, indicated genotoxic capacity of MC smoke. The increases significantly correlated with the "concentration" of the gas. Mitotic indices also showed a significant and concentration-dependent increase. The frequencies of chromosome aberrations and MN following 7-day exposure were very similar to those for 1-day exposure. This was probably due to the transient nature of PAMs. A post-exposure gap of 24 h, compared to the 16-h gap, yielded a higher incidence of both mitoses and chromosome aberrations.

A nosocomial outbreak of neonatal septicemia due to K. pneumoniae occurred in nursery during June-July, 1991. Klebsiella pneumoniae (Klebocin type 314) was recovered from blood of 33 (70.2%) of 47 neonates with septicemia. Multiple drug resistance was observed in all the cases. The same strain of K. pneumoniae was recovered from the neonates and environment of nursery and labour room as well. The outbreak was attributable to environmental dissemination.