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The solar radiation is a critical metric for design and optimal operation of the solar energy system. Most of the locations available solar radiation records are not available due to high cost for buying and maintaining the measuring instruments. Aim of this paper is building an efficient neural network model that can reliably estimate solar radiation. In this work, different ANN models with three popular algorithms admired from the literature are investigated. The models were trained using meteorological data collected over a year from six different places from the hot area locations of Tamil Nadu, India. Based on minimal Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD), Mean Square Error (MSE), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE), the optimum ANN algorithm and model are determined (R). Furthermore, the research illustrates that the ANN model’s prediction performance is dependent on the entire set of data utilised to train the network. Also, this article aims at finding out the accurate number of hidden layer neurons for the developed model. The proposed ANN model offers improved accuracy and applicability for estimating hourly average global radiation for the purpose of designing or evaluating photovoltaic (PV) installations in areas without meteorological data collection facilities.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional APCs that play a crucial role in initiating robust immune responses against invading pathogens while inducing regulatory responses to the body's tissues and commensal microorganisms. A breakdown of DC-mediated immunological tolerance leads to chronic inflammation and autoimmune disorders. However, cell-intrinsic molecular regulators that are critical for programming DCs to a regulatory state rather than to an inflammatory state are not known. In this study, we show that the activation of the TCF4 transcription factor in DCs is critical for controlling the magnitude of inflammatory responses and limiting neuroinflammation. DC-specific deletion of TCF4 in mice increased Th1/Th17 responses and exacerbated experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis pathology. Mechanistically, loss of TCF4 in DCs led to heightened activation of p38 MAPK and increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-23, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-12p40. Consistent with these findings, pharmacological blocking of p38 MAPK activation delayed experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis onset and diminished CNS pathology in TCF4ΔDC mice. Thus, manipulation of the TCF4 pathway in DCs could provide novel opportunities for regulating chronic inflammation and represents a potential therapeutic approach to control autoimmune neuroinflammation.

Purpose Higher education is uncertain which sustainability-related education targets should be sought and monitored. Accepting that something needs to be measurable to be systematically improved, the authors explored how measures relate to potential targets. This paper aims to focus on dispositions to think critically (active open-minded thinking and fair-minded thinking in appraising reasoning) as measures and explored how they related to sustainability concern as an indicative educational target. Design/methodology/approach This research included the development and testing of research instruments (scales) that explored dispositions to critical thinking and sustainability concern. Authors researched these instruments within their own correspondence groups and tested them with university students and staff in Pakistan, the USA, Austria, India and New Zealand. The authors also asked a range of contextualising questions. Findings Respondents’ disposition to aspects of active, open-minded thinking and fair-minded thinking do predict their concern about facets of sustainability but their strength of religious belief was an important factor in these relationships and in their measurement. Practical implications This research demonstrates the complexity of monitoring dispositions to think critically and sustainability concern in educational systems, particularly in circumstances where the roles of religious beliefs are of interest; and suggests ways to address this complexity. Originality/value This research integrates and expands discourses on ESD and on critical thinking in diverse disciplines and cultures. It investigates measurement approaches and targets that could help higher education institutions to educate for sustainable development and to monitor their progress, in ways that are compatible with their culture and values.

Background/aims Menopause can cause drastic changes that trigger severe symptoms in women and, in turn, influence their quality of life. Many women no longer prefer hormone replacement therapy because of its potential adverse effects. Hence, it is crucial to establish alternate interventions to alleviate menopausal symptoms. The aim of this study was to estimate the relationship between quality of life and level of physical activity in menopausal women. Methods A total of 260 postmenopausal women were recruited in this cross-sectional study. The Menopause Rating Scale and International Physical Activity Questionnaire – Short Form were used to assess quality of life and physical activity respectively. Results Women with higher levels of physical activity had fewer total menopausal, somato-vegetative and psychological symptoms (PConclusions Women with low physical activity levels presented with greater menopausal symptoms. Regular physical activity can be recommended to alleviate symptoms following menopause, thereby improving quality of life.

Background: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic in India is generally considered to be more concentrated, with the focus on high-risk groups including female sex workers (FSWs). The Integrated Biological and Behavioral Surveillance (IBBS), the first nationwide surveillance conducted during 2014-2015, collected many key indicators, including indicators related to HIV/STI transmission. The purpose of this study was to develop an index score for each domain surveyed and to identify focus areas for interventions among FSWs. Methods: The study population consisted of 27,007 FSWs. Forty high-risk related covariates of HIV/STI transmission, demographic characteristics, sexual history, condom practices, knowledge of HIV/STI and biological variables were considered. The original data set was examined using the correlation matrix and was reduced to 15 highly-correlated factors using principal component analysis. The factors were further improved using varimax rotation and the percentage of variation was used as weights to obtain the initial score for each domain, which were then standardized for comparison. Bartlett’s test of sphericity was examined before the factor extraction. Results: Six factors were extracted, which together explained about 73% of the total variation. The factors were: (1) more number of clients; (2) younger FSW and started selling sex at younger age; (3) experiencing condom breakage; (4) having occasional clients and poor HIV/AIDS knowledge; (5) illiteracy; and (6) a longer period of sex work. Six domains with an index score of above 80, from the states of Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand need greater intervention. Conclusion and Implications for Translation: FSWs’ current age, age at commencement of sex work, and the number of clients were the indicators most-associated with HIV infection. Therefore, program and policy interventions should focus on FSWs who are younger than 10 clients. Key words: • Female Sex Worker • Kriged Map • Factor Analysis • Principle Component Analysis • HIV • Sexually Transmitted Infections Copyright © 2021 Elangovan et al. Published by Global Health and Education Projects, Inc. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0) which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, first published in this journal, is properly cited.

Tandem solar cells have spurred much interest among the researchers because they provide an efficient way to harvest an extensive spectrum of solar emission by integrating two or more subcells with varying bandgap. However, the understanding related to working phenomenon of the interfacial layer integrating the absorption layers in a tandem solar cell lags and these interlayer plays a significant role in achieving higher efficiency. In this manuscript, we inquire the aspect of the p-type and n-type conducting region creating an interlayer and several significant factors of the tandem cell-like interfacial engineering, optical optimisation and incident photon to current efficiency and PCE characteristics. Closer investigation of the interlayer, consisting of the n-type nanocrystalline semiconductor materials like TiO2/ZnO/SnO2 and a p-type hole mobility layer explains the ohmic contact phenomenon through the metal/semiconductor interface. Here, we determine that a higher efficiency tandem solar cells with a power conversion efficiency of about 8.2% can be attained through an effective interlayer attribute and different absorption bands for electron generation. The understanding experienced in this manuscript can be constructive in enhancing the efficiency of the tandem solar cells further with wider bandgap polymers.

Introduction HIV Sentinel Surveillance (HSS) among pregnant women is a key indicator to estimate the HIV prevalence in the general population, as nearly 85% of HIV transmission in India is linked to the heterosexual route. Tracking the levels and trends of the HIV prevalence at state, regional, and district levels help to prioritize and facilitate a tailor-made intervention. Here, we analyze the region and district-wise levels and trends of HIV prevalence among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinics (ANC) from 2003 to 2019 in Tamil Nadu. Methods Eleven rounds of HSS data collected from pregnant women in Tamil Nadu, from 2003 to 2019 were analysed. Consistent sites were grouped into four geographical regions (North, Central, West and South), a total of 67 sites including 33 urban 31 rural, and 3 private sites. Chi-square trend test used to find linear trends and spatial analysis used to understand the geographical distribution of HIV prevalence over the years. Results In total, 2,77,444 blood samples were collected during HSS from 2003 to 2019. In 2019, the state HIV prevalence was 0.18 (95% CI: 0.13–0.23); region-wise prevalence was 0.21, 0.07, 0.32 and 0.12 in North, Central, West and South respectively. HIV prevalence in Tamil Nadu had significantly declined since 2003, which however, was not significant in all districts; with inter-district fluctuations. Conclusion HIV interventions have to be strengthened in the districts with inconsistent trends, specifically the West region. This requires a more detailed analysis of region-specific contextual factors associated with the transmission risk.

Background HIV Sentinel Surveillance among pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics, ANC-HSS, is used to estimate HIV prevalence among the general population. Despite the declining trend, HIV prevalence among the general population in Karnataka is still higher than the national average (0.22%), with a recent, noticeable stabilization. Demographic analysis on concentrated HIV infection among pregnant women could be potential indicators for targeted HIV interventions among general population as well as and prevention of parent to child transmission (PPTCT). Objectives To analyse the demographics of HIV-positive pregnant mothers in Karnataka, thereby identifying the most-at-risk populations (MARP) within the general population. Methods In total, 24800 eligible pregnant women aged 15–49 attending the ANC clinic for the first time during the surveillance period (Jan–Mar, 2017) were enrolled. Demographic data and blood samples were collected, recorded and tested for HIV. Age-specific factors associated with HIV prevalence, besides the demographics of the HIV positive pregnant women, were analysed to identify the MARP for targeted HIV interventions. Results Comprehensively, none of the demographic factors was significantly associated with HIV prevalence. Nevertheless, analysis of demographics, HIV test history and ART status of HIV-positive pregnant women reveals prominent prevalence patterns. The epidemic was majorly confined within young, less educated, primigravida and rural mothers of low economic status. Conclusion ANC-HSS is designed to estimate the HIV prevalence among general population at national, state and district levels and is not reflective of the concentrated epidemic confined to MARP. Identifying the disease pattern specific to MARP is essential for effective targeted interventions and disease management.

BACKGROUND Hearing loss is a chronic condition, and many cases can be detected in the neonatal period. Recognizing it early is of crucial importance as early auditory rehabilitation would help in child’s comprehensive development. We wanted to assess the prevalence of hearing impairment among high risk newborns admitted to inborn unit of tertiary care centre in Central Kerala and screen for the associated risk factors in these newborns. METHODS Thousand consecutive inborn neonates from Neonatal ICU, Department of Paediatrics, tertiary care centre in Thrissur, Kerala, detected as high risk by Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) criteria were enrolled for the study from December 2011 to November 2012 after the approval by Institute’s Ethics Review Board. Risk factor assessment was done before enrolment. A qualified audiologist conducted the test on babies in soundproof chamber. DPOAEs (Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions) were used for initial testing after checking ears for debris. Those who failed in the first test were asked to come for a retest after 2 weeks. Those who failed in the retest were asked to report for Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry (BERA). Those who were diagnosed as having hearing impairment were advised auditory rehabilitation as well as auditory verbal therapy. RESULTS Of the 1000 eligible neonates born in our hospital during the study period (December 2011 to November 2012) 69 were lost to follow up. Among the remaining 931 babies the frequency of hearing impairment was 0.8 %. Among the 931 neonates, 130 had absent response with the first OAE test contributing to 13.9 %. Twenty-one neonates had absent response to second OAE test out of 130 contributing to 16.1 %. The failure rate for second test is 2.2 % of the total population of 931 newborns. Eight of the 21 neonates who were subjected to BERA had severe hearing loss. The prevalence of hearing impairment was 8 per 1000. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence (percentage) of hearing impairment by two staged screening protocol is 0.8 %. Risk factors which were present in these babies were prematurity, low birth weight, low Apgar score, history of exanthematous fever in mother, neonatal jaundice, ototoxic medication history, craniofacial anomalies, and family history of deafness, meningitis and mechanical ventilation. KEYWORDS Otoacoustic Emissions, Brain Stem Evoked Response Audiometry, Risk Factors, Hearing Impairment, Neonates

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a heterogeneous inflammation-driven malignancy, which, despite significant advances in management, continues to portend a poor prognosis. Recent advances in basic and translational research have increasingly defined the role of the tumor microenvironment in the development and progression of HCC and facilitated the development of novel molecular targets. The hepatoma microenvironment is characterised by an immunosuppressive milieu of immune cells and tumor vasculature that is both structurally and functionally abnormal. Normalising the tumor microenvironment by adopting a multipronged approach that targets both carcinogenic processes and the immunosuppressive milieu has been supported by pre-clinical and clinical data. In this review, we summarise the current understanding of the hepatoma microenvironment, its influences and dynamic interactions with tumor cells, the vasculature and the gut. Finally, we discuss how manipulating the tumor microenvironment continues to shape the evolving landscape of HCC therapy.

Background and Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze trends in HIV prevalence and risk factors associated with HIV infection among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Odisha State, India. Methods: Data were from the HIV Sentinel Surveillance (HSS) among pregnant women, a descriptive cross-sectional study using consecutive sampling method and conducted in India. Data and samples were collected from pregnant women attending select antenatal clinics that act as designated sentinel sites in Odisha State, India, during the three months surveillance period and in three surveillance years: 2013, 2015, and 2017. All eligible pregnant women aged between 15 and 49 years, attending the sentinel sites for the first time during the surveillance period, were included. Information on their socio-demographic characteristics and blood samples were also collected. Results: In total, 38,384 eligible pregnant women were included in the survey. Of these, 107 women were HIV positive, with an overall prevalence of 0.28%. HIV prevalence indicated a stabilizing trend between 2013 and 2017. However, pregnant women whose spouses were non-agricultural laborers, truck drivers, or migrants were significantly at higher risk of being infected. Likewise, HIV prevalence significantly increased over the years among pregnant women whose spouses were in the service sector (government or private). District-wise fluctuations in HIV prevalence was observed, with the district of Cuttack recording the highest prevalence among the districts. Conclusion and Global Health Implications: Women who are spouses of non-agricultural laborers, truck drivers or migrants need focused interventions, such as creating awareness on HIV and its prevention. Migration, due to poverty and its impact on sexually transmitted diseases among migrants from low and middle-income countries, have been documented globally. Single male migrant specific interventions are recommended to halt the disease progression among pregnant women and general population in Odisha, India. Key words: • HIV sentinel surveillance • Pregnant women • HIV prevalence • Socio-demographic factor • Odisha • India Copyright © 2020 Santhakumar et al. Published by Global Health and Education Projects, Inc. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0) which permits unre-stricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, first published in this journal, is properly cited.

The classification of cancers is one of the most vital functions of Microarray data analysis. The classification of the gene expression profile is treated as a NP-Hard problem since it is a very demanding job. Compared to the individual search utilized by conventional algorithms, the population search utilized by Evolutionary Algorithm (EA) is visibly more beneficial. In feasible search areas, EA algorithms also are more likely to detect various optimums instantly. Evolutionary techniques which are inspired by nature perform exceptionally well and are extensively used for Microarray data analysis. Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) is a distinct intelligent optimization algorithm based on iterative optimization which uses ideas like evolution and group. ACO algorithm was developed by studying how ants identify paths while food foraging. Ant Lion Optimization (ALO) algorithm is proposed and employed as muted selection process and the ant lions to hunt process is simulated. A hybrid ant lion mutated ant colony optimizer technique is proposed in this work.

Purpose The asymmetric effect of conservatism on earnings and its other components serves as a contrivance to incorporate transparency and timeliness in financial reporting. This study aims to explore cash flow-return association, which provides insight into the accruals’ contribution that traverses through conservatism-earnings persistence liaison and its associated effects on stock returns. Design/methodology/approach The study used asymmetric timeliness (AT) model and two firm-year measures, namely, C-Score and conservatism ratio, to capture conservatism. The firm-year measures of conservatism, in addition to the AT measure, facilitate a better understanding of the persistence of reported earnings that branch out the study from the existing literature. Further, the study used panel regression analysis to evaluate the timeliness and persistence of earnings under the conservative approach with a sample of Indian corporate data from 2000 to 2017. Findings The findings of the study reveal that conservative earnings are less persistent and the accruals recognize bad news timelier than good news. The unfavorable change in earnings shows a lower earnings response coefficient in contrast to favorable earnings variations. However, the appropriate loss recognition nature of conservative reporting has little or no influence on stock returns in an emerging market such as India. Research limitations/implications Accounting conservatism is a captivating feature accounting information, especially pertinent to many decision-makers. Thus, the study has implications for the investors while evaluating the adverse and positive changes in accounting earnings; also, the results are helpful for the standard setters in ongoing debate related to accounting conservatism vs fair evaluation. The present study focuses exclusively on ex-post conservatism, while the ex post and ex ante conservatism are having a significant role in accounting practices. Future research on the differential effects of ex post and ex ante conservatism on accounting information in an emerging market, is worth promising. Originality/value The study reveals the first Indian evidence on accounting conservatism and earnings persistence relationship, which would bring a different dimension to investors’ perception in evaluating the characteristic variations of reported earnings. The findings add value to the accounting standard setters concerning the asymmetric verification as Indian Accounting standards are on the verge of convergence with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

Cortical ependymomas are uncommon lesions. We report a cortical ependymoma displaying an unusual imaging pattern. The lesion demonstrated a T1 hyperintense rim and limited perilesional edema but lacked contrast enhancement. T1 hyperintense rim and stalk-like ventricular extension of FLAIR hyperintensity have previously been considered pathognomonic of angiocentric glioma. Hence, we conclude that the radiologists should be aware of this uncommon imaging pattern of cortical ependymoma. The condition warrants prompt surgical management in view of the increased potential for higher grade transformation, unlike grade I roman numeral may be given angiocentric gliomas.

The adaptive immune response could play a major role in the resolution of lung injury. Although regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been implicated in promoting the resolution of lung injury, therapeutic strategies to enhance Treg quantity and activity at the site of injury need further exploration. In the current study, Akt inhibition using triciribine (TCBN), given 48 h after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration, increased Tregs-promoted resolution of acute lung injury (ALI). TCBN treatment enhanced the resolution of LPS-induced ALI on day 7 by reducing pulmonary edema and neutrophil activity associated with an increased number of CD4+/FoxP3+/CD103+ and CTLA4+ effector Tregs, specifically in the injured lungs and not in the spleen. Treatment of EL-4 T-lymphocytes with two Akt inhibitors (TCBN and MK-2206) for 72 h resulted in increased FoxP3 expression in vitro. On the other end, Treg-specific PTEN knockout (PTENTreg KO) mice that have a higher Akt activity in its Tregs exhibited a significant impairment in ALI resolution, increased edema, and neutrophil activity associated with a reduced number of CD4+/FoxP3+/CD103+ and CTLA4+ effector Tregs as compared with the control group. In conclusion, our study identifies a potential target for the treatment of late-stage ALI by promoting resolution through effector Treg-mediated suppression of inflammation.

The clinical phenotype of autism spectrum disorder and epilepsy (ASD-E) is a common neurological presentation in various genetic disorders, irrespective of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Here we describe the demographic and clinical profiles, coexistent neurological conditions, type of seizures, epilepsy syndrome, and EEG findings in 11 patients with ASD-E phenotype with proven genetic etiology. The commonest genetic abnormality noted was CDKL5 mutation (3), MECP2 mutation (2), and 1p36 deletion (2). The median age of onset of clinical seizures was 6 months (range, 10 days to 11 years). The most common seizure type was focal onset seizures with impaired awareness, observed in 7 (63.6%) patients followed by epileptic spasms in 4 (30.8%), generalized tonic-clonic and atonic seizures in 3 (27.3%) patients each and tonic seizures in 2 (18.2%) patients and myoclonic seizures in 1 (9.1%) patient. Focal and multifocal interictal epileptiform abnormalities were seen in 6 (54.6%) and 5 (45.5%) patients, respectively. Epileptic encephalopathy and focal epilepsy were seen in 7 (63.6%) and 4 (36.4%) patients, respectively. The diagnostic yield of genetic testing was 44% (11 of 25 patients) and when variants of unknown significance and metabolic defects were included, the yield increased to 60% (15 of 25 patients). We conclude that in patients with ASD-E phenotype with an underlying genetic basis, the clinical seizure type, epilepsy syndrome, and EEG patterns are variable. Next-generation exome sequencing and chromosomal microarray need to be considered in clinical practice as part of evaluation of children with ASD-E phenotype.

The study examines the troika of financial liberalisation–volatility–information asymmetry to explore the linkage between financial liberalisation and return volatility across the globe. The financial liberalisation phenomenon was studied across three phases: liberalisation, post-liberalisation, and liberalisation plus post-liberalisation. The results indicate that volatility surged during the liberalisation phase for emerging economies, whereas it significantly declined during the post-liberalisation period. A declining pattern of volatility was observed during the post-liberalisation phase for developed economies. The conditional and unconditional volatility measures were highest during the liberalisation phase for emerging economies, whereas both the volatility measures were higher during the combined liberalisation phase for developed economies. There was evidence of negative asymmetric shock that lowered the volatility in emerging economies, in developed economies, and at the aggregate level.

Objective Traumatic brain injury is a major risk factor for acquired epilepsies, and understanding the mechanisms underlying the early pathophysiology could yield viable therapeutic targets. Growing evidence indicates a role for inflammatory signaling in modifying neuronal excitability and promoting epileptogenesis. Here we examined the effect of innate immune receptor Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) on excitability of the hippocampal dentate gyrus and epileptogenesis after brain injury. Methods Slice and in vivo electrophysiology and Western blots were conducted in rats subject to fluid percussion brain injury or sham injury. Results The studies identify that TLR4 signaling in neurons augments dentate granule cell calcium-permeable α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor (CP-AMPAR) currents after brain injury. Blocking TLR4 signaling in vivo shortly after brain injury reduced dentate network excitability and seizure susceptibility. When blocking of TLR4 signaling after injury was delayed, however, this treatment failed to reduce postinjury seizure susceptibility. Furthermore, TLR4 signal blocking was less efficacious in limiting seizure susceptibility when AMPAR currents, downstream targets of TLR4 signaling, were transiently enhanced. Paradoxically, blocking TLR4 signaling augmented both network excitability and seizure susceptibility in uninjured controls. Despite the differential effect on seizure susceptibility, TLR4 antagonism suppressed cellular inflammatory responses after injury without impacting sham controls. Interpretation These findings demonstrate that independently of glia, the immune receptor TLR4 directly regulates post-traumatic neuronal excitability. Moreover, the TLR4-dependent early increase in dentate excitability is causally associated with epileptogenesis. Identification and selective targeting of the mechanisms underlying the aberrant TLR4-mediated increase in CP-AMPAR signaling after injury may prevent epileptogenesis after brain trauma. ANN NEUROL 2020;87:497-515.

The reformulated Zagreb index (or) RZ-invariant of a connected graph 𝒢 is defined as where d (a ) is the degree of a vertex a in 𝒢. In this paper, we study the RZ-invariants for vertex version of -...

Strong plasmon absorption in the near-infrared (NIR) region renders gold nanorods (GNRs) amenable for biomedical applications, particularly for photothermal therapy. However, these nanostructures have not been explored for their imaging potential because of their weak emission profile. In this study, the weak fluorescence emission of GNRs is tuned to match that of the absorption of a photosensitizer (PS) molecule, and energy transfer from the GNR to PS enhances the emission profile of the GNR-PS combination. GNR complexes generally quench the fluorescence emission of nearby chromophores. However, herein, the complex retains or rather enhances the fluorescence through competition in energy transfer. Excitation-dependent energy transfer has been explained experimentally and theoretically by using DFT calculations, the CIE chromaticity diagram, and power spectrum. The final GNR-PS complex modified for tumor specificity serves as an excellent organ-specific theranostic probe for bioimaging and dual therapy both in vitro and in vivo. Principal component analysis designates photodynamic therapy a better candidate than that of photothermal therapy for long-term efficacy in vivo.

Background: The proximity of Northeast India to the Golden Triangle facilitates easy accessibility to illicit drugs, resulting in a higher proportion of injecting drug users (IDUs) in the states of Northeast India. The estimated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence among IDU in Manipur which is 1.43% is higher than that of the national figure. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to find the factors associated with HIV infection and correlate the association between HIV status and self-assessed risk to HIV among IDUs in Manipur. Methods: National Integrated Biological and Behavioral Surveillance (2014–2015) data were used for the study; all analyses done were weighted. In Manipur, information was collected from 1594 IDUs during the surveillance between 2014 and 2015 across four domains, namely Chandel (396), Imphal East (397), Thoubal (401), and Senapati (400). Chi-square test was performed to test the association between the independent and dependent variables. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify risk factors associated with HIV positivity. Results: Higher age, unsafe injecting practice, low education status, and low-income status were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with HIV infection among IDUs in Manipur. Self-assessed risk of HIV infection by IDU was significantly associated with HIV positivity. Conclusion: Interventions among IDUs in Manipur should focus on emphasizing safe injecting practices along with creating awareness on HIV prevention and management.

Altered Synaptic Drive Onto Birthdated Dentate Granule Cells in Experimental Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Althaus AL, Moore SJ, Zhang H, Du Plummer X, Murphy GG, Parent JM. J Neurosci. 2019;39(38):7604-7614. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0654-18.2019.Dysregulated adult hippocampal neurogenesis occurs in many temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) models. Most dentate granule cells (DGCs) generated in response to an epileptic insult develop features that promote increased excitability, including ectopic location, persistent hilar basal dendrites (HBDs), and mossy fiber sprouting. However, some appear to integrate normally and even exhibit reduced excitability compared to other DGCs. To examine the relationship between DGC birthdate, morphology, and network integration in a model of TLE, we retrovirally birth-dated either early-born (postnatal day 7) or adult-born (postnatal day 60) DGCs. Male rats underwent pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (SE) or sham treatment at postnatal day 56. Three to six months after SE or sham treatment, we used whole-cell patch clamp and fluorescence microscopy to record spontaneous excitatory and inhibitory currents from birth-dated DGCs. We found that both adult-born and early-born populations of DGCs recorded from epileptic rats received increased excitatory input compared with age-matched controls. Interestingly, when adult-born populations were separated into normally integrated (normotopic) and aberrant (ectopic or HBD containing) subpopulations, only the aberrant populations exhibited a relative increase in excitatory input (amplitude, frequency, and charge transfer). The ratio of excitatory to inhibitory input was most dramatically upregulated for ectopically localized DGCs. These data provide definitive physiological evidence that aberrant integration of post-SE, adult-born DGCs contributes to increased synaptic drive and supports the idea that ectopic DGCs serve as putative hub cells to promote seizures.Significance Statement:Adult DGC neurogenesis is altered in rodent models of TLE. Some of the new neurons show abnormal morphology and integration, but whether adult-generated DGCs contribute to the development of epilepsy is controversial. We examined the synaptic inputs of age-defined populations of DGCs using electrophysiological recordings and fluorescent retroviral reporter birth-dating. Dentate granule cells generated neonatally were compared with those generated in adulthood, and adult-born neurons with normal versus aberrant morphology or integration were examined. We found that adult-born, ectopically located DGCs exhibit the most pro-excitatory physiological changes, implicating this population in seizure generation or progression. Targeting Seizure-Induced Neurogenesis in a Clinically Relevant Time Period Leads to Transient But Not Persistent Seizure Reduction Varma P, Brulet R, Zhang L, Hsieh J. J Neurosci. 2019;39(35):7019-7028. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0920-19.2019.Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE), the most common form of medically refractory epilepsy in adults, is usually associated with hippocampal pathophysiology. Using rodent models of mTLE, many studies including work from our laboratory have shown that new neurons born around the onset of severe acute seizures known as status epilepticus (SE) are crucial for the process of epileptogenesis and targeting seizure-induced neurogenesis either genetically or pharmacologically can impact the frequency of chronic seizures. However, these studies are limited in their clinical relevance as none of them determines the potential of blocking new neurons generated after the epileptogenic insult to alleviate the development of chronic seizures. Therefore, using a pilocarpine-induced SE model of mTLE in mice of either sex, we show that >4 weeks of continuous and concurrent ablation of seizure-induced neurogenesis after SE can reduce the formation of spontaneous recurrent seizures by 65%. We also found that blocking post-SE neurogenesis does not lead to long-term seizure reduction as the effect was observed only transiently for 10 days with >4 weeks of continuous and concurrent ablation of seizure-induced neurogenesis. Thus, these findings provide evidence that seizure-induced neurogenesis when adequately reduced in a clinically relevant time period has the potential to transiently suppress recurrent seizures, but additional mechanisms need to be targeted to permanently prevent epilepsy development.Significance Statement:Consistent with morphological and electrophysiological studies suggesting aberrant adult-generated neurons contribute to epilepsy development, ablation of seizure-induced new neurons at the time of the initial insult reduces the frequency of recurrent seizures. In this study, we show that continuous targeting of post-insult new neurons in a therapeutically relevant time period reduces chronic seizures; however, this effect does not persist suggesting possible additional mechanisms.

Background and Objective: Periodic tracking of the trends and the levels of HIV prevalence at regional and district levels helps to strengthen a state’s HIV/AIDS response. HIV prevalence among pregnant women is crucial for the HIV prevalence estimation of the general population. Karnataka is one of the high HIV prevalence states in India. Probing regional and district levels and trends of HIV prevalence provides critical insights into district-level epidemic patterns. This paper analyzes the region- and district-wise levels and trends of HIV prevalence among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinics (ANC) from 2003 to 2019 in Karnataka, South India. Methods: HIV prevalence data collected from pregnant women in Karnataka during HIV Sentinel Surveillance (HSS) between 2003 and 2019 was used for trend analysis. The consistent sites were grouped into four zones (Bangalore, Belgaum, Gulbarga and Mysore regions), totaling 60 sites, including 30 urban and 30 rural sites. Regional and district-level HIV prevalence was calculated; trend analysis using Chi-square trend test and spatial analysis using QGIS software was done. For the last three HSS rounds, HIV prevalence based on sociodemographic variables was calculated to understand the factors contributing to HIV positivity in each region. Results: In total, 254,563 pregnant women were recruited. HIV prevalence in Karnataka was 0.22 (OR: 0.15 95% CI: 0.16 - 0.28) in 2019. The prevalence was 0.24, 0.32, 0.17 and 0.14 in Bangalore, Belgaum, Gulbarga, and Mysore regions, respectively. HIV prevalence had significantly (P< 0.05) declined in 26 districts. Conclusion and Global Health Implications: HIV prevalence among pregnant women was comparatively higher in Bangalore and Belgaum regions. Analysis of contextual factors associated with the transmission risk and evidence-based targeted interventions will strengthen HIV management in Karnataka. Regionalized, disaggregated, sub-national analyses will help identify emerging pockets of infections, concentrated epidemic zones and contextual factors driving the disease transmission. Copyright © 2021. Arumugam et al. Published by Global Health and Education Projects, Inc. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0.

Background and aim Data are limited on whether Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in the first year after liver transplantation (LT) is associated with increased mortality. In an Australian setting without hypervirulent strain of C.difficile we investigated the prevalence, risk factors and patient survival associated with CDI in LT METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent deceased-donor LT from 2007-2017 were studied retrospectively. Prevalence and long-term outcomes of LT recipients with and without CDI were examined in the entire LT cohort. A case-control study was performed to investigate risk-factors associated with CDI. Results 649 patients underwent LT, of which 32 (4.9%) were diagnosed with CDI within the first 12 months post-LT. There was no difference in patient survival in the overall LT cohort on Kaplan-Meier analysis when stratified by CDI status (log-rank test p = 0.08). Furthermore, age was the only predictor of mortality on Cox Regression (HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.00 -1.13 p = 0.03). On multivariable logistic regression, rifaximin pre-LT reduced risk (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.65 - 0.74 p = 0.01) whereas antibiotics pre-LT (OR 7.02, 95% CI 1.26 - 39.01, p = 0.03) and length of hospital stay after LT (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01 - 1.06, p = 0.02) were associated with increased risk of CDI. Conclusions Within the local setting of our study, CDI within 12 months post-LT is of low severity, associated with pre-LT antibiotic exposure and longer hospital stay but no survival impact after LT. Rifaximin use pre-LT reduced the risk of CDI post-LT. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has forced every radiology set-up to evolve and formulate guidelines for day-to-day functioning. The sub-speciality of neuroradiology, both diagnostic and neuro-intervention, forms a very important part of any radiology or ‘neuro-care’ set-up. The present document is a consensus statement of the Indian Society of Neuroradiology, prepared after reviewing the available data and working experience. It scientifically tries to answer many questions faced by neuroradiologists everyday in practice. It encompasses simple things such as which patients need to be imaged, what precautions are essential, the work-flows, cleaning of radiology equipment, how to carry out neuro-interventions in COVID-suspect patients, and what procedures/tests to avoid, or their alternatives, to minimise the spread of COVID infection both to the patients and health care personnel. As radiology set-ups can be large, every sub-speciality may have certain precautions which will not be covered in general guidelines, and this document tries to answer those for neuroradiologists. Carefully evolved Standards of Operating Procedure (SOPs) and guidelines are the need of the hour to guide in providing uninterrupted and adequate services to the needy without compromising the safety of the specialised work force and facilities involved.

Progressive physiological changes in the hippocampal dentate gyrus circuits following traumatic brain injury contribute to temporal evolution of neurological sequelae. Although early posttraumatic changes in dentate synaptic and extrasynaptic GABA currents have been reported, whether they evolve over time and remain distinct between the two projection neuron classes, granule cells and semilunar granule cells, has not been evaluated. We examined changes in tonic GABA currents and spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) and in dentate projection neurons one and three month after moderate concussive fluid percussion injury (FPI) in adolescent rats. Granule cell tonic GABA current amplitude remained elevated up to one month after FPI, but decreased to levels comparable to age-matched controls by three months postinjury. Granule cell sIPSC frequency, which we previously reported to be increased one week after FPI, remained higher than in age-matched controls at one month and was significantly reduced three months after FPI. In contrast to the early decrease, tonic GABA current amplitude and sIPSC frequency in semilunar granule cell was not different from controls three months after FPI. The switch in granule cell inhibitory inputs from early increase to subsequent decrease could contribute to the delayed emergence of cognitive deficits and seizure susceptibility after brain injury.

Environmental toxins are harmful substances detrimental to humans. Constant exposure to these fatal neurotoxins can cause various neurodegenerative disorders. Although poisonous, specific neurotoxins at optimal concentrations mimic the clinical features of neurodegenerative diseases in several animal models. Such chemically-induced model systems are beneficial in deciphering the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration and drug screening for these disorders. One such neurotoxin is 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), a widely used chemical that recapitulates Parkinsonian features in various animal models. Apart from MPTP, other neurotoxins like 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), paraquat, rotenone also induce specific clinical features of Parkinson's disease in animal models. These chemically-induced Parkinson's disease models are playing a crucial role in understanding Parkinson's disease onset, pathology, and novel therapeutics. In this review, we provide a concise overview of various neurotoxins that can recapitulate Parkinsonian features in different in vivo and in vitro model systems specifically focusing on the different treatment methodologies of neurotoxins.

Since WWII, the urban underworlds have become a web of utility lines, including telecommunication lines, buried electricity lines, gas mains, watermains, cable TV, fiber optic cables, street lighting, and storm and sanitary sewers. From preliminary design stages to breaking ground on new construction projects; owners, designers, engineers, and contractors rely on existing underground utility records as an initial source of information. There is a constant need for underground utility information and most of the city's existing utility records are not only irretrievable, but are also out-of-date. According to research done in the past, records and visible feature surveys by site are a significant percentage off the mark and, in some cases, considerably worse. This study focuses on the evaluation of the positional accuracy of subsurface utilities within seven projects, within the City of Toronto, using an offset approach. It also aims to reveal the magnitude of the problem surrounding the obtainment, analyzation, and interpretation of information with respect to underground infrastructure facilities. None of the projects show any relationship or correlation with positional accuracy and the factors that are thought to affect the accuracy of underground utility information (e.g. type of soil, type of utility, date of installation, right-of-way, etc.). The analysis indicates a clear indication of no systematic patterns between the right-of-way parameters and utility type parameters. Based on the results of this study it can be stated that the process of obtaining subsurface utility information is still a time-consuming, inefficient, costly, and difficult process.

The proposed design named as the hybrid propulsion underwater robotic vehicle (HPURV) is a novel underwater vehicle with a hybridized propulsion for minimum energy consumption in ocean observations. This development is aimed at the comparison of different types of propulsion techniques in both vertical and horizontal directions of the motion to choose an optimum strategy for propulsion. The horizontal motion is achieved using the bio-inspired method of fish propulsion using caudal fin or a pair of pectoral fins or both. The tail design is made modular such that the caudal fin can be replaced by a conventional miniature thruster to understand the performance characteristics of the vehicle under similar operating conditions. The diving/climbing, pitching and rolling motions are achieved using three different mechanisms for, viz., (1) pitch and dive using pectoral fins, (2) pitch and dive by varying buoyancy of the vehicle and (3) pitch, dive, and roll by using a moving mass and a rolling mass mechanisms, respectively. All these mechanisms are assembled in the same vehicle and controlled independently or using a combination of two or more different mechanisms for the performance comparison of the vehicle in similar operating conditions. This paper also presents a dynamic model of the HPURV and a motion control scheme using a conventional Proportional-Derivative (PD) control technique to track a given complex spatial trajectory.

Dengue fever is a common viral infection in the tropical areas, especially in India. However, dengue infection presenting as hemorrhagic encephalitis is rare. A 10-year-old girl presented with fever, headache, vomiting, and seizures followed by altered sensorium. Her blood serum was positive for antidengue immunoglobulin M enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and NS1Ag, and cerebrospinal fluid study showed lymphocytic pleocytosis. Magnetic resonance imaging T2-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images showed hyperintensities involving the bilateral thalami, pons, and midbrain with patchy hemorrhage. Despite all supportive measures, she expired 3 days after admission. Our case highlights that dengue encephalitis may present even in the absence of other classical signs.

This paper discusses the Truss Model proposed by Panagiotou et al. (ACI Struct J 109(2):205–214, 2012) for modeling reinforced concrete coupled structural walls. The model is validated with the landmark seismic testing of two 1:4 scale seven-story test specimens reported in Santhakumar (The ductility of coupled shear walls. Dissertation, University of Canterbury 1974) and in Paulay and Santhakumar (J Struct Div 102(1):93–108, 1976). The first specimen, Wall A, incorporated conventionally reinforced coupling beams whereas the second specimen, Wall B, incorporated diagonally reinforced coupling beams. These two specimens attained roof drift ratios of at least 1.7% before initiation of lateral strength degradation. Coupling beams in specimen Wall A exhibited significant strength degradation due to sliding shear, whereas coupling beams in specimen Wall B maintained the capacity throughout. We compare key overall and local responses reported for the two specimens with those computed with the Truss Models, as well as responses that could be only computed. In the latter, we show that when the beams effectively coupled the walls, the shear force at the wall base was mainly resisted by the wall being compressed. Moreover, the analysis shows that the first level coupling beams develop greater shear forces than the other beams despite all beams were identically reinforced. This is caused by the restraint provided by the fixed-base walls and by the kinematics of the strongly coupled walls. The Truss Model captures these responses because it explicitly considers the axial-flexure-shear interaction of RC walls and beams.

Internet of things (IoT) is a very unique platform which is getting very popular day by day. The very reason for this to happen is the advancement in technology and its ability to get linked to everything. This feature of getting linked has in itself provided multiple opportunities and a vast scope of development. The fact that technology in various fields has evolved through the years, is the reason why we observe a rapid change in the shape, size and capacity of various instruments, components and the products used in daily life. And this benefit of simplified technology when accompanied by a platform like IoT eases the work as well as benefits both the manufacturer and the end user. The Internet of Things gives us an opportunity to construct effective administrations, applications for manufacturing, lifesaving solutions, proper cultivation and more. This paper proposes an extensive overview of the IoT technology and its varied applications in life saving, smart cities, agricultural, industrial etc. by reviewing the recent research works and its related technologies. It also accounts the comparison of IoT with M2M, points out some disadvantages of IoT. Furthermore, a detailed exploration of the existing protocols and security issues that would enable such applications is elaborated. Potential future research directions, open areas and challenges faced in the IoT framework are also summarized.

Oxidative energy metabolism is depressed after mild/moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) during early development, accompanied by behavioral debilitation and secondary neuronal death. A TBI metabolome analysis revealed broad effects with a striking impact on energy metabolism. Our studies on mitochondrial modulators and their effects on brain function have shown that kaempferol, a stimulator of the mitochondrial Ca(2+) uniporter channel (mCU), enhanced neural and neurovascular activity in the normal brain and improved stimulus-induced brain activation and behavior after TBI during early development. Because kaempferol enhances mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake and cycling, with protective effects after TBI, we tested the hypothesis that kaempferol treatment during the acute/subacute stage after TBI (0–72 h) acted on mitochondria in improving TBI outcome. Developmental age rats (P31) underwent TBI and were treated with vehicle or kaempferol (1 mg/kg intraperitoneally) in three doses at 1, 24, and 48 h after TBI. Brains were harvested at 72 h and subjected to liquid chromatography mass spectrometric measurements. Decrease in pyruvate and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle flux were observed in the untreated and vehicle-treated group, consistent with previously established energy metabolic decline after TBI. Kaempferol improved TCA cycle flux, maintained mitochondrial functional integrity as observed by decreased acyl carnitines, improved neural viability as evidenced by higher N-acetyl aspartate levels. The positive outcomes of kaempferol on metabolic profile corresponded with improved sensorimotor behavior.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of morbidity in children. To investigate outcome of early developmental TBI during adolescence, a rat model of fluid percussion injury was developed, where previous work reported deficits in sensorimotor behavior and cortical blood flow at adolescence.(1) Based on the nonlocalized outcome, we hypothesized that multiple neurophysiological components of brain function, namely neuronal connectivity, synapse/axonal microstructural integrity, and neurovascular function, are altered and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods could be used to determine regional alterations. Adolescent outcomes of developmental TBI were studied 2 months after injury, using functional MRI (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). fMRI-based resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC), representing neural connectivity, was significantly altered between sham and TBI. RSFC strength decreased in the cortex, hippocampus, and thalamus, accompanied by decrease in spatial extent of their corresponding RSFC networks and interhemispheric asymmetry. Cerebrovascular reactivity to arterial CO(2) changes diminished after TBI across both hemispheres, with a more pronounced decrease in the ipsilateral hippocampus, thalamus, and motor cortex. DTI measures of fractional anisotropy and apparent diffusion coefficient, reporting on axonal and microstructural integrity of the brain, indicated similar interhemispheric asymmetry, with highest change in the ipsilateral hippocampus and regions adjoining the ipsilateral thalamus, hypothalamus, and amygdala. TBI-induced corpus callosal microstructural alterations indicated measurable changes in interhemispheric structural connectivity. Hippocampus, thalamus, and select cortical regions were most consistently affected in multiple imaging markers. The multi-modal MRI results demonstrate cortical and subcortical alterations in neural connectivity, cerebrovascular resistance, and parenchymal microstructure in the adolescent brain, indicating the highly diffuse and persistent nature of the lateral fluid percussion TBI early in development.

The development of lifestyle diseases in the obese has been attributed to higher levels of inflammation and free radical mediated oxidative stress. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of polyphenols in pigmented rice varieties could have potential to neutralize oxidative stress and modulate inflammatory responses in the obese. A cross-over dietary intervention human clinical trial was conducted with three pigmented rice varieties chosen from previous chemical and in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory screening. Obese (n = 22, BMI > 30) sedentary participants consumed one cup of pigmented rice (Reiziq (brown), Purple (purple) and Yunlu29 (red)). Blood samples were collected prior consumption (baseline) and at set time points of 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours and 4 hours post rice consumption. The collected blood samples were analysed for antioxidant and inflammatory biomarkers. Total antioxidant activity increased (p < 0.001) at the 1 hour time point by 40.3% post purple rice consumption. The red rice variety, Yunlu29 increased antioxidant activity at the 30 minute (p < 0.001) and 1 hour (p < 0.01) time point by 29.5% and 21.2% respectively. Lipid peroxidation biomarker, malondialdehyde (MDA), decreased (p < 0.05) at the 30 minute time point by 6.8% post purple rice consumption. At the 4 hour time point MDA levels was significantly reduced (p < 0.001) by the red rice variety Yunlu29, by 9.6%. Pro-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-10 (IL-10), was significantly (p < 0.0001) reduced by 3.1% 30 minutes post purple rice consumption. In contrast, Yunlu29 (red) reduced interleukin-6 levels by 13.6% and 11.0% at the 30 minute and 1 hour time points respectively. Both the purple (p < 0.01) and red (p < 0.001) varieties significantly reduced interleukin-12p70 concentrations at 30 minutes by 8.7% and 10.3% respectively. Reiziq (brown) did not affect any of the biomarkers analysed in this study. The outcomes of this study highlight that polyphenols found in pigmented rice may play a key role in targeting specific therapeutic pathways in obesity-related oxidative stress and inflammation.

Competent transportation infrastructure is one of the prominent factors influencing sustainable economic growth and appreciable living standard in a country. Urban cities habitually equipped with multi-modal traffic flows which encompass various modes of transportation mechanisms such as walking, skating, cycling, motorcycles, three wheelers, private passenger cars, public transport modes like buses or trains, etc. Efficient urban traffic planning has become an exigent task involving complex behavioural analysis of multi-modal traffic scenarios. One possible way of enhancing the travel experience of commuters is by revolutionizing the vehicular communication strategies to devise intelligent routing approaches. Vehicular ad-hoc networks (VANETs) are a special type of mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs) which can be used to define intelligent conciliator interfaces for vehicle to vehicle (V2V) or vehicle to infrastructure (V2I) communication needs. In this paper, we propose an approach for equilibrating multi-modal traffic environments after road block situations occur through VANET scenario simulations. For this research, we have used OMNeT++ network simulator to simulate the mobile network involved and SUMO microscopic traffic simulator to simulate vehicular movements in parallel and Veins framework as a bridging interface between OMNeT++ and SUMO. We have validated our solution with two heterogeneous metropolitan areas located in the cities of Kandy and Colombo in Sri Lanka. Our solution achieved lower values for waiting time and trip duration of vehicles and qualitatively improving the traffic flow when comparing against the absence of equilibrating module.

Platelets Promote Epileptic Seizures by Modulating Brain Serotonin Level, Enhancing Neuronal Electric Activity, and Contributing to Neuroinflammation and Oxidative Stress Kopeikina E, Dukhinova M, Yung AWY, Veremeyko T, Kuznetsova IS, Lau TYB, Levchuk K, Ponomarev ED. Prog Neurobiol. 2020;188:101783. doi:10.1016/j.pneurobio.2020.101783.The drugs currently available for treating epilepsy are only partially effective in managing this condition. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate new pathways that induce and promote epilepsy development. Previously, we found that platelets interact with neuronal glycolipids and actively secrete pro-inflammatory mediators during central nervous system (CNS) pathological conditions such as neuroinflammation and traumatic brain injury (TBI). These factors increase the permeability of the blood–brain barrier (BBB), which may create a predisposition to epileptic seizures. In this study, we demonstrated that platelets substantially enhanced epileptic seizures in a mouse model of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures. We found that platelets actively secreted serotonin, contributed to increased BBB permeability, and were present in the CNS parenchyma during epileptic seizures. Furthermore, platelets directly stimulated neuronal electric activity and induced the expression of specific genes related to early neuronal response, neuroinflammation, and oxidative phosphorylation, leading to oxidative stress in neurons. The intracranial injection of physiological numbers of platelets that mimicked TBI-associated bleeding was sufficient to induce severe seizures, which resembled conventional PTZ-induced epileptic activity. These findings highlight a conceptually new role of platelets in the development of epileptic seizures and indicate a potential new therapeutic approach targeting platelets to prevent and treat epilepsy.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative etiology of ‘Corona Virus Disease-2019' (COVID-19); formerly referred as ‘novel-Coronavirus-2019'. It was originated in Wuhan city, Hubei province, China in early December 2019. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared it as ‘Public Health Emergency of International Concern' due to their rapid transmission and causing public and health-care-related casualties worldwide. This review provides an updated overview of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), in comparison with the etiologies of the same group viz. SARS and MERS and also its future perspectives for planning appropriate strategies for prevention, control and treatment modalities to avert similar catastrophe in near future.

The proposed antenna operates at mm-Wave frequency, 77 - 81GHz frequency band which supports the Short-Range Radar (SRR). The design consists of a substrate sandwiched between two PEC layers. The substrate material used is silicon with a thickness of 0.2mm. The radiating element patch has a single complementary circular split ring resonator (CSRR) at its center and the feedline is slightly shifted from the center of patch for a better impedance matching. The SIW plated-through-holes (PTH) which is rectangular, is introduced on three edges of the square patch to suppress the surface waves. The simulated results obtain a s11 below -10dB at 78GHz and gain of above 5dB.

In India, development foresees a fundamental half for food production movement. Company enterprise in our country is relying on a destructive storm that is not a pleasant source of water. As a consequence, the water structure is used in the commercial world. Bush gets aquatic irrigation in Irrigation structure, which is based on world type. The nursery built mostly current husbandry adventures area unit the new would like taking all things along components of business enterprise in Bharat. during this advancement, the wetness and leaf soundness of plants area unit all controlled. as a result of the variable measuring system conditions these conditions each therefore typically might move by and huge in mammoth house, that makes implausibly arduous to stay up the consistency in any respect the spots within the house very. it’s seen that startlingly Associate in Nursing humanoid phonephone management the Irrigation structure, that might offer the operating environments of maintaining uniform natural conditions area unit projected. the elemental goal of this paper is to make up a pointy distant device affiliation (WSN) for Associate in Nursing farming climate. Checking developing climate for various parts, as an example, soil wetness, Leaf Health and diligence close totally different parts are often of importance. A customary technique to manage live these parts during a common climate projected individual very taking evaluations and checking them at totally different occasions. This paper researches a faraway seeing framework utilizing RF part. These focuses conduct information remotely to a focal employee, what accumulates the knowledge, vittles it and can agree to it to be examined by then showed unsteady and may besides be enraptured off the punter versatile.

Stroke is a significant source of morbidity and mortality within the United States. The current standard of care for treatment of acute ischemic stroke is intravenous recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (IV r-tPA). However, IV r-tPA is contraindicated within 3 months of a previous stroke due to concern for symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH). We describe the case of a 77-year-old female who developed aphasia and right-sided quadrantanopsia and was found to have a calcified embolus in the M3 branch of her left middle cerebral artery. She was given IV r-tPA with subsequent symptom resolution and no MRI evidence of acute or subacute infarct. 4 days after index stroke, she had recurrence of her symptoms, receiving a second dose of IV r-tPA. She improved clinically. Non-contrast CT 24 hours afterwards showed minimal foci of intraparenchymal hemorrhage without midline shift or mass effect. She remained neurologically stable and improved significantly with inpatient rehabilitation.

Electronic devices comprising bonded organic compounds are getting advanced at a tremendous speed as a result of their distinguished electrical behaviour and photonics tendency along with simple processing conditions. In this regard, here we report on the fabrication of an efficient solution-processed small molecule solar cells based on the combination of DTS[PTTH2]2 as a donor and PC71BM as an acceptor. The active layer configurations were framed through solvent engineering concepts implementing a blend of different additive concentrations through the spray-coating technique. The optical absorption phenomenon was investigated through the UV–visible spectrum for the wavelength sweep ranging from 300 to 900 nm. Studies related to the surface pattern, phase separation and morphology were carried out through Scanning electron microscopy and Atomic force microscopy. JV values were analysed through solar simulator under illumination mode. IPCE analysis and ageing studies were performed for better device analysis. The efficiency of about 8.16% is achieved for the particular active layer configuration holding 0.3% DIO additive with improved stability and photovoltaic parameters. These results provoke the progression of organic solar cells and also explain that the cells fabricated through small molecule-based donors using the spray-coating method can contend readily with the polymeric counterparts.

Mitochondrial disorders have been an enigma for a long time due to the varied clinical presentations. Although a genetic confirmation will be mandatory most of the time, half the number of Leigh syndrome would be negative for genetic mutations. There are a growing number of mutations in clinical practice, which escape detection on routine clinical exome sequencing. Imaging would render help in pointing towards a mitochondrial disorder. There are a few case reports which brief about specific mitochondrial mutations and their specific imaging appearance. This article tries to provide a comprehensive review on the imaging-genomic correlation of mitochondrial disorders with an objective of performing a specific genetic testing to arrive at an accurate diagnosis.