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The study envisaged the development of cinnarizine (CIN)-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) in situ gel, for intranasal delivery to the brain, for migraine treatment. The formulation was prepared and optimized by the solvent-evaporation method and central composite designs. The total lipid concentration (X1), surfactant concentration (X2), and sonication time (X3) were selected as critical material attributes, and the effects of variables were characterized for parameters like zeta potential, particle size, percent entrapment, and in vitro release. Furthermore, the optimized NLCs (OPT-NLCs) were incorporated into Pluronic F-127:Pluronic F-68:Chitosan (19:0.5:0.1) % w/v to form the NLCs loaded in situ gel. The prepared gel (CIN-NLC gel) was evaluated for texture analysis, in vitro profile, and antinociceptive activity in vivo. The optimized NLCs possessed a particle size of 108.9 ± 4.3 nm, a zeta potential of − 39.3 ± 2.12 mV, and entrapment efficiency of 97.7 ± 4.31%. NLCs showed an in vitro release of 87.72 ± 3.29% for 6 h. The gel displayed a mucoadhesive strength of 147 ± 2 g. A significant enhancement in antinociceptive activity was observed via intranasal administration with the gel in both phases (neurogenic pain and inflammatory pain) when compared with pure CIN. The pharmacokinetic parameters revealed an approximately twofold increase in the concentration of CIN in the brain with the CIN-NLC gel (7.63 ± 0.073 μg/ml) when compared with pure CIN (3.78 ± 0.023 μg/ml). The results indicate that intranasal administration of CIN-NLCs in situ gel (CIN-NLC gel) may be a step forward in developing safe, effective, and enhanced drug delivery to overcome the challenges encountered during drug delivery to the brain.

India has committed to increase carbon sequestration by forests under the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). However, the CO2 carbon exchange characteristics (Gross Primary Productivity, Net Ecosystem Exchange, and Ecosystem respiration) of Indian forests are poorly understood. Immense carbon sequestration opportunities exist with the natural as well as planted forests. Therefore, it becomes vital to assess the potential of existing forests (natural and planted) by means of the most accurate and reliable methods of eddy covariance (EC). It is also important to know the eco-physiological response of the forests towards diurnal, seasonal, and yearly changes in the prevailing environmental conditions. We analyzed CO2 carbon exchange characteristics of a mature moist deciduous forest and a young mixed deciduous plantation located in the sub-tropical climate regime in the western Himalayan foothills of India with the help of co-located EC measurements (2016 to 2018). The study reveals that both the mature forest (− 719.43 gCm− 2year− 1) and young plantation (− 467.49 gC m− 2 year− 1) are absorbing a significant amount of atmospheric CO2 carbon. The maximum uptake of atmospheric CO2 occurred during the post-monsoon season in both the forests. The minimum NEE of the mixed deciduous plantation was observed during the leaf fall period while the NEE of the moist deciduous forest was the lowest in monsoon due to a higher respiration rate during monsoon. Among the environmental factors, soil moisture showed maximum control on the productivity of both the forest ecosystems. The value reported in this study can help Forest Survey of India in establishing/assessing emission factor for these particular forest types. This study can also help forest managers in carbon assessment of plantation under NDC.

We report a unique experience with stage 1 palliation of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) using the hybrid approach. The tortuous anatomy of the ductus arteriosus precluded stenting. Persistent ductal patency and ability to support the systemic circulation adequately after prolonged prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) infusion and its subsequent discontinuation presented us with a novel approach to hybrid palliation of hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Our experience offers a tempting approach, but it should not be considered a standard alternative management option to stage I hybrid palliation based on a single case report. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12055-020-01088-8.

Object detection is an important problem in computer vision attracting researchers from various domains. It deals with separating objects of interest from their background. Image-related low-level features are used to detect salient objects from images, however these features vary from image to image. There is no single feature that can clearly identify salient objects in all the images. Rather, a linear combination of these features may be useful for detection of salient objects. The computation of optimal weights of these features in a learning algorithm is an NP-Hard problem and requires an approximation of an optimization problem. So in the first phase, three low-level features capturing the edge and color information are extracted from the image. In the second phase, these features are integrated to form the saliency map. The linear weights are used for the combination which guides the dominance of feature(s). Thereafter, a threshold is applied over the saliency map to extract the salient objects. We use a linear weight vector and threshold that play a vital role in increasing the detection accuracy of the model. Identification of these parameters can be mapped to an optimization problem to identify the optimal linear weights best suited for the image. The problem is solved using an improved environmental adaptation method. There are three contributions of the paper. First being the identification of weight vector so that important feature(s) for an image are selected where the salient object is highlighted. The second is posing the salient object detection as an optimization problem with a relevant fitness function. Finally the third is utilization of Environment Adaptation Method (EAM) to solve the optimization problem pointed in the paper. The model is extensively validated over six complex datasets and achieves good results on standard performance measures used in comparison to twenty six related works. Four variants of the optimization algorithm are also presented. The EAM optimizer outperforms the GA, PSO and GWO optimizers.

Present work is focused on development of methodology involving utilization of cost effective, highly effective heterogeneous catalyst prepared from wood ash for carbonyl exchange reaction between long chain alcohols and diethyl carbonate to produce long-chain dialkyl carbonates. Whereas long-chain dialkyl carbonates are being explored as value added compounds as they are environmentally safe and non-corrosive in nature and useful in diesel as cetane improvers, lubricants and used in cosmetics. Thermal treatment (calcination) of wood ash was carried out at 500 and 800 °C temperatures and studied the activity of resulted catalyst towards the synthesis of long-chain dialkyl carbonates through carbonyl exchange reaction. The prepared catalyst was characterized by analytical techniques for surface morphology, crystalline phases and textural characteristics. In the present study, maximum yield of long-chain dialkyl carbonates (81%) was achieved using heterogeneous wood ash catalyst at 10 wt% of reactants and at temperature of 120 °C. The synthesized products were characterized by analytical techniques like infrared (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy respectively. Applications of prepared long-chain dialkyl carbonates in ultra low sulphur diesel (ULSD) have been explored as lubricity improvers and cetane number improvers.

The clinical benefit of early extubation following congenital heart surgery has been demonstrated; however, its effect on resource utilization has not been rigorously evaluated. We sought to determine the cost savings of implementing an early extubation pathway for children undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease. We performed a cost savings analysis after implementation of an early extubation strategy among children undergoing congenital heart surgery at British Columbia Children's Hospital (BCCH) over a 2.5-year period. All patients undergoing one of the eight Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) benchmark operations, ASD repair, or bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis were included in the analysis (n = 370). We compared our data to aggregate STS multi-institutional data from a contemporary cohort. We estimated daily costs for ICU care, ward care, medications, imaging, additional procedures, and allied health care using an administrative database. Direct costs, indirect costs, and cost savings were estimated. Simulation methods, Monte Carlo, and bootstrapping were used to calculate the 95% credible intervals for all estimates. The mean cost savings per procedure was $12,976 and the total estimated cost savings over the study period at BCCH was $4.8 million with direct costs accounting for 91% of cost savings. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated a mean cost savings range of $11,934-$14,059 per procedure. Early extubation is associated with substantial cost savings due to reduced hospital resource utilization. Implementation of an early extubation strategy following congenital heart surgery may contribute to improved resource utilization.

The third flight of the High-Resolution Coronal Imager (Hi-C 2.1) occurred on May 29, 2018, the Sounding Rocket was launched from White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The instrument has been modified from its original configuration (Hi-C 1) to observe the solar corona in a passband that peaks near 172 Angstrom and uses a new, custom-built low-noise camera. The instrument targeted Active Region 12712, and captured 78 images at a cadence of 4.4 sec (18:56:22 - 19:01:57 UT; 5 min and 35 sec observing time). The image spatial resolution varies due to quasi-periodic motion blur from the rocket; sharp images contain resolved features of at least 0.47 arcsec. There are coordinated observations from multiple ground- and space-based telescopes providing an unprecedented opportunity to observe the mass and energy coupling between the chromosphere and the corona. Details of the instrument and the data set are presented in this paper., Comment: 26 pages, 15 figures, submitted to Solar Physics

The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) is a new powerful tool for observing the Sun at high spatial, temporal, and spectral resolution. These capabilities can address a broad range of fundamental scientific questions in solar physics. The radiation observed by ALMA originates mostly from the chromosphere - a complex and dynamic region between the photosphere and corona, which plays a crucial role in the transport of energy and matter and, ultimately, the heating of the outer layers of the solar atmosphere. Based on first solar test observations, strategies for regular solar campaigns are currently being developed. State-of-the-art numerical simulations of the solar atmosphere and modeling of instrumental effects can help constrain and optimize future observing modes for ALMA. Here we present a short technical description of ALMA and an overview of past efforts and future possibilities for solar observations at submillimeter and millimeter wavelengths. In addition, selected numerical simulations and observations at other wavelengths demonstrate ALMA's scientific potential for studying the Sun for a large range of science cases., Comment: 73 pages, 21 figures ; Space Science Reviews (accepted December 10th, 2015); accepted version

In a patient suspected clinically to have Weaver syndrome, we ruled out mutations in EZH2 and NSD1, then identified a previously undescribed de novo mutation in EZH2's partner protein EED. Both proteins are members of the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 that maintains gene silencing. On the basis of the similarities of the patient's phenotype to Weaver syndrome, which is caused by de novo mutations in EZH2, and on other lines of evidence including mouse Eed hypomorphs, we characterize this mutation as probably pathogenic for a Weaver-like overgrowth syndrome. This is the first report of overgrowth and related phenotypes associated with a constitutional mutation in human EED.

Phycocyanin is a highly valuable pigmented protein synthesized by several species of cyanobacteria and red alga. In this study we demonstrate the production of thermostable phycocyanin from the unicellular red alga Galdieria sulphuraria. Phycocyanin was extracted by repeated freeze-thaw cycles and purified in a two-step process using ammonium sulfate fractionation, at 25% and 50% concentrations. Purified phycocyanin exhibited maximum absorbance at 620 nm, and the purity ratio (A620/A280) was found to be greater than 4. The recovery efficiency of phycocyanin from the crude extract was above 80%. In total, approximately 19 milligram pure phycocyanin was obtained from 3 g of wet cell mass of Galdieria sp. Subunits α and β of the protein were separated by SDS-PAGE and analyzed by MALDITOF mass spectrometry for identification, which confirmed that the isolated protein is phycocyanin. The molecular weight of α and β subunits of phycocyanin was found to be 17.6 and 18.4 kDa, respectively.

Multispectral scanners (MSS) such as IKONOS have very high spatial resolution and therefore, provide excel- lent source of information about terrestrial features. The im- agesfromthesescannersmaycontainshadowsthatcanleadto partial or complete loss of radiometric information, leading to misinterpretation or inaccurate classification. In addition, the identification of shadows is critical for several applications. The goal of this study is to develop computer-based algo- rithms to detect shadows from IKONOS panchromatic (1× 1 m) and MSS bands (4×4 m). We converted subsets of IKONOS pan and MSS images over New York City to HSV color space, and used histogram analysis to determine an intensity threshold. Potential sunlit and shadow areas were demarcated and edge detection techniques were employed to eliminate the non-shadow, low-intensity areas and identify shadow areas on the image subsets. We tested the results on a time series of datasets to develop a robust model that has the capability to detect shadows and extract them from high- resolution satellite imagery.

The Solar Vector Magnetograph (SVM) at Udaipur Solar Observatory saw its first light in April 2005. The retrieval of vector fields from the imaging spectro-polarimetric observational data requires a substantial amount of computer post-processing. The GUI-based data reduction and analysis software have been developed to make the data processing pipeline user-friendly and less time-consuming. In this paper we describe these software packages.

Primary cardiac tumors are rare in pediatrics. Their clinical presentation differs among the various age groups (fetus to the young adult). Our discussion focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of rhabdomyomas, fibromas, myxomas, and pericardial teratomas in the fetus and neonatal stages. Fetal diagnosis has been described in association with rhabdomyomas, fibromas, and pericardial teratomas. It is made by echocardiography prompted by fetal dysrhythmias, nonimmune hydrops, intrauterine growth restriction, and familial tuberous sclerosis. Based on our experience, it is of the utmost importance to refer these patients to a tertiary center for detailed evaluation, follow-up, and delivery. Tumor diagnosis in the neonatal age group may be prompted by a murmur, dysrhythmia, conduction block, and hemodynamic compromise or hypoxemia due to right or left inflow or outflow tract obstruction. Prenatal diagnosis of a hemodynamically significant mass mandates the presence of a neonatal intensivist in the delivery room for prompt initiation of advanced life support (intubation, mechanical ventilation, and central venous access), and early initiation of prostaglandin E(1) to establish ductus arteriosus patency. Severe inflow obstruction associated with a restrictive atrial septum may require balloon atrial septostomy. Emergent transvenous pacing is indicated in the face of high-degree atrioventricular block. Early surgical removal of the mass after initial stabilization in the neonatal or cardiac intensive care unit may be indicated.

Correction to: Journal of Human Genetics (2015) 60, 339–342; doi:10.1038/jhg.2015.26; published online 19 March 2015 Since the publication of the above article, the authors of the above paper have noticed an error in Figure 1. In the pedigree presented (Figure 1i), vertical connectors to individualsII-1 and II-2 were incorrectly omitted.

A conformal mapping technique is used for predicting the width of the separation zone at a diverging open channel flow. The Schwarz-Christoffel transformation is used to transform the physical boundaries of the flow into a complex plane and the flow field is solved using modified boundary conditions utilizing a complex velocity potential in the resulting hodograph plane. The final solution gives the width of the separation zone in nondimensionalized form and provides an inviscid solution for comparative study.

In this paper, we advance a technique to develop a user profile for information retrieval through knowledge acquisition techniques. The profile bridges the discrepancy between user-expressed keywords and system-recognizable index terms. The approach presented in this paper is based on the application of personal construct theory to determine a user's vocabulary and his/her view of different documents in a training set. The elicited knowledge is used to develop a model for each phrase/concept given by the user by employing machine learning techniques. Our model correlates the concepts in a user's vocabulary to the index terms present in the documents in the training set. Computation of dependence between the user phrases also contributes in the development of the user profile and in creating a classification of documents. The resulting system is capable of automatically identifying the user concepts and query translation to index terms computed by the conventional indexing process. The system is evaluated by using the standard measures of precision and recall by comparing its performance against the performance of the smart system for different queries.