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This paper describes a comprehensive approach to improved lithofacies characterization using the simultaneous pre-stack inversion, Bayesian classification, and multiple-point geostatistics. This integrated workflow provides an enhanced lithofacies characterization by reproducing the continuity of geological facies in the meandering-fluvial sandstone reservoir from Upper Assam, India. The simultaneous pre-stack inversion provides the rock elastic properties of the reservoir, such as P- impedance, s-impedance, density, and VP/VS ratio. Next, the probabilistic modeling approach of Baye's theorem is used to integrates seismic elastic properties with well log lithofacies identified from the cross-plot analysis for probability volumes of lithofacies. Finally, the multiple-point geostatistics based on the Single Normal equation Simulation algorithm is used to generate the improved lithofacies model by constraining of the lithofacies probability volumes (soft data) and well logging data (hard data). These results were compared with the Bayesian lithofacies classification and proved that the adopted method had successfully improved the continuation of the reservoir lithofacies by reproducing the lithofacies, hence an improvement in the reservoir characterization.

The microscale characteristics of gray and black shale samples collected from two different locations of Singrauli coalfield, Madhya Pradesh, India were investigated using scratch tester and Raman stress mapping. The failure events were analyzed for the entire scratch track. The areas of critical point were identified based on the acoustic emission, tangential force measurement along with characterization methods Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy. The SEM studies at the critical points indicate the failure in black and gray shale are completely different. The critical points are analyzed by confocal Raman spectroscopy for measuring the Raman spectral shifts and Raman stress mapping. The Raman spectra of disordered D band are used for quantifying the stress in the entire scratch track. Micro scratch test performed in different directions along with critical point regions of black and gray shale is compared. Raman spectral shifts of D band are measured and compared for the strained regions. This reveals the 2D Raman imaging of black and gray shale as a proxy for characterizing the stress inversion. Correspondingly the Raman peak intensity ratios along with full width at half maximum (FWHM) were calculated for the critical regions.

The present study contributes new constraints on, and definitions of, the reconstructed plate margins of India and Madagascar based on flexural isostasy along the Western Continental Margin of India (WCMI) and the Eastern Continental Margin of Madagascar (ECMM). We have estimated the nature of isostasy and crustal geometry along the two margins, and have examined their possible conjugate structure. Here we utilize elastic thickness (Te) and Moho depth data as the primary basis for the correlation of these passive margins. We employ the flexure inversion technique that operates in spatial domain in order to estimate the spatial variation of effective elastic thickness. Gravity inversion and flexure inversion techniques are used to estimate the configuration of the Moho/Crust-Mantle Interface that reveals regional correlations with the elastic thickness variations. These results correlate well with the continental and oceanic segments of the Indian and African plates. The present study has found a linear zone of anomalously low-Te (1-5 km) along the WCMI (similar to 1680 km), which correlates well with the low-Te patterns obtained all along the ECMM. We suggest that the low-Te zones along the WCMI and ECMM represent paleo-rift inception points of lithosphere thermally and mechanically weakened by the combined effects of the Marion hotspot and lithospheric extension due to rifting. We have produced an India-Madagascar paleo-fit representing the initial phase of separation based on the Te estimates of the rifted conjugate margins, which is confirmed by a close-fit correlation of Moho geometry and bathymetry of the shelf margins. The matching of tectonic lineaments, lithologies and geochronological belts between India and Madagascar provide an additional support for the present plate reconstruction. (C) 2014 International Association for Gondwana Research. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The microscale interfacial characteristics of coal are studied based on the analysis of mechanical behavior of individual elements contributing to coal heterogeneity with respect to high volatile bituminous A of coal, from Singrauli coal field, Madhya Pradesh, India. Micro-scale delineation of elastic plastic properties of coal by grid micro-indentation test and fracture toughness was accomplished by micro-scratch test on collotenite maceral. Micro-scratch test was performed in different directions on and critical points of failure were diagnosed by measuring acoustic emissions and tangential force. The 3D heterogeneity of coal is studied based on the damages at certain point of loads known as critical points with respect to distribution of macerals derived from coal petrography. Damages were observed at higher critical loads on samples collected from 332.9–335.6 m depth compared to 329.7–330.9 m depth samples owing to less heterogeneity and increased compaction. Raman stress mapping at critical points of scratch track revealed a spectral shift due to stress inversion. Shift from 1576–1593 cm− 1 for graphite band (G), and from 1344–1357 cm− 1 for disordered Carbon (D) band indicate the nature of stress and the deformation occurred for coal bulk sample. Raman spectra variation for maceral collotelinite is studied and compared with coal bulk samples behaviour a shift from 1574–1597 cm− 1 for G, and from 1346–1356 cm− 1 for D.

In this study, we show that conditioned media (CM) generated from bone marrow (BM)-derived mesenchymal stromal cells lead to BCR-ABL independent STAT3 activation. Activation of STAT3 is important not only for survival of CML cells but also for its protection against Nilotinib (NI), within the BM microenvironment. Reducing the expression of both JAK2 and TYK2 or utilizing a pan-JAK inhibitor blocked CM-mediated STAT3 activation and sensitized CML cells to NI-mediated cell death. Finally, we demonstrate that in patient-derived primitive leukemic cells, co-cultured with BM stromal cells, inhibition of BCR-ABL and JAK activity was a successful strategy to potentiate their elimination.

We seek to determine the strain field which has accumulated in the Indian Shield due to the continental drift of Gondwanaland. We have used a method which involves the calculation of the 2D isostatic coherence response function between Bouguer gravity and topography as a function of azimuth by way of multispectrogram analysis. The average coherence is maximum consistently in the Indian Shield in a direction, which is at an angle of 45° to the major trend of suture zones within the shield, a result which is in good agreement with the strain inferred from absolute plate motion (APM) in a hot spot reference frame. This directionality of mechanical plate weakness suggests that all paleostress fields were erased due to the movement of the Indian plate during the Himalayan orogeny.

We estimate the mechanical strength of the Indonesian active continental margin. Values of effective elastic thickness (Te) were obtained for azimuthally averaged coherence measurements γ 2 ( | k | ) between Bouguer gravity and topography using a multitaper method with Hermite tapers. The T e estimates reveal uniform low strength (4–7 km) beneath the entire Indonesian continental margin. The 2D coherence function γ 2 ( | k | ) estimated with the help of MTM reveals varying anisotropy in the Indonesian margin and illustrates how the results correlate with the maximum horizontal stress orientations (SH max ), heat flow measurements, sediment thickness and shear wave speed measurements. The sediment thickness and heat flow in these regions do not appear to influence the strength of the Indonesian margin. We have inferred that low effective elastic thickness could have been fossilized on a much younger oceanic plate at the time of loading.

The 92-kDa gelatinase (MMP-9) expression is prerequisite for tissue remodeling in physiology and cancer. However, there are few known regulators of MMP-9 expression. Using an expression cloning strategy, we identified transgelin (SM22), a 22-25-kDa actin-binding protein localized to the cell membrane and cytoplasm, as a novel regulator of MMP-9 expression. Overexpression of a SM22 cDNA in HT1080 cells decreased MMP-9 mRNA/protein levels and diminished in vitro invasion of the latter rescued with exogenous MMP-9. Conversely, small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of SM22 elevated MMP-9 synthesis, and uterus from SM22-null mice showed strong MMP-9 immunoreactivity compared with wild type animals. The ability of SM22 to repress MMP-9 expression required an intact amino terminus calponin homology domain. MMP-9 expression is driven by ERK signaling and SM22 targeted this pathway as evidenced by (a) the transience in MAPK activation and (b) blunted stimulation of the MMP-9 promoter by a constitutively active MEK expression vector. Progressive deletion analysis located the SM22 responsive region of the MMP-9 promoter to the proximal 90-bp region harboring an AP-1 motif subsequently implicated by site-directed mutagenesis. Furthermore, nuclear extract from the SM22 transfectants showed diminished c-Fos binding to this motif and SM22 expression reduced the activity of an AP-1-driven reporter by 75%. Thus, SM22 adds to a short list of repressors of MMP-9 expression, achieving this by reducing AP-1-dependent trans-activation of the gene by way of compromised ERK activation. Diminished transgelin expression in several cancers may thus partly account for the elevated MMP-9 expression evident in these tumors.

Selenomabs are engineered monoclonal antibodies with one or more translationally incorporated selenocysteine residues. The unique reactivity of the selenol group of selenocysteine permits site-specific conjugation of drugs. Compared with other natural and unnatural amino acid and carbohydrate residues that have been used for the generation of site-specific antibody-drug conjugates, selenocysteine is particularly reactive, permitting fast, single-step, and efficient reactions under near physiological conditions. Using a tailored conjugation chemistry, we generated highly stable selenomab-drug conjugates and demonstrated their potency and selectivity in vitro and in vivo. These site-specific antibody-drug conjugates built on a selenocysteine interface revealed broad therapeutic utility in liquid and solid malignancy models.