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Abstract Background Dental caries (DC) is a multifaceted oral condition influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Recent advancements in genotyping and sequencing technologies, such as Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) have helped researchers to identify numerous genetic variants associated with DC, but their prevalence and significance across diverse global populations remain poorly understood as most of the studies were conducted in European populations, and very few were conducted in Asians specifically in Indians. Aim This study aimed to evaluate the genetic affinity of effect alleles associated with DC to understand the genetic relationship between global populations with respect to the Indian context. Methodology This present study used an empirical approach in which variants associated with DC susceptibility were selected. These variants were identified and annotated using the GWAS summary. The genetic affinity was evaluated using Fst. Results The effect of allele frequencies among different populations was examined, revealing variations in allele distribution. African populations exhibited higher frequencies of specific risk alleles, whereas East Asian and European populations displayed distinct profiles. South Asian populations showed a unique genetic cluster. Conclusion Our study emphasises the complex genetic landscape of DC and highlights the need for population-specific research as well as validation of GWAS-identified markers in Indians before defining them as established candidate genes.

Aim: The genetic polymorphism of CYP2C19 influences clopidogrel metabolism and resistance. Aim was to assess the association between CYP2C19 loss of function variation, clopidogrel resistance based on platelet reactivity units and clinical outcomes. Methods: A total of 668 patients of Acute Coronary Sundrome (ACS) who underwent Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) were subjected to genetic screening and 143 patients undrewent platelet function test to study the association between drug metabolization and its effects based on platelet reactivity unit values. Results: Clopidogrel resistance with CYP2C 19 loss of function variation was noted in 54.64% of patients. Clinical outcomes, such as target vessel revascularization, target lesion revascularization, in-stent restenosis, and stent thrombosis, were also studied. Conclusion: CYP2C19 loss of function variation is strongly associated with clopidogrel resistance and adverse clinical outcomes.

Abstract Background Varicose vein is a chronic condition that affects the lower extremities of the human body. Several factors have been implicated in the development of this disease, viz age, gender, weight, height and prolonged standing. Recently, genome-wide studies have identified genetic biomarkers that are associated with varicose veins in different ethnic groups. Such genetic studies are lacking in South Asians specifically in Indians where the prevalence of varicose veins is high, and it is important to replicate these variants in the stated population. The study aimed to replicate the association of genetic variants associated with varicose veins in this target population, which were found to be associated with the other ethnic groups. Methodology The studied cohort is of the Indian population comprising unrelated 104 varicose veins cases and 448 non-varicose vein controls. The samples were genotyped using the Illumina Global Screening Array. Using the genomic data from UK BioBank and 23andMe studied cohorts; eight genetic variants were selected to replicate in our dataset. The allelic association was performed to identify the effective allele and risk was estimated using odds ratio and p-value as level of significance. Multifactor Dimensionality Reduction was used to estimate the cumulative effect of variants in Indians. Result Variant rs3791679 of EFEMP1 was found to be associated with varicose veins in Indians. After observing the association of the EFEMP1 with varicose veins, we further ensued to identify all genetic variants within EFEMP1 to uncover the additional variants associated with this trait. Interestingly, we identified six new variants of EFEMP1 gene that have shown association. Moreover, the cumulative effect of all associated variations was estimated and the risk was 2.7 times higher in cases than controls whereas independently their effect ranges from 0.37–1.58. Conclusion This study identifies EFEMP1 as a potential gene related to the risk of varicose veins in Indians. It also highlights that evaluating the maximum number of variants of a gene rather than focusing solely on replicating single variations offers a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the genetic factors contributing to a complex trait like varicose veins.

The fast-growing species of Populus deltoides is of significant commercial importance to the Indian wood merchants. Despite its abundant availability and better treatability, the use of P. deltoides is limited due to its perishable nature. Heat treated and chemically modified Populus deltoides L. was thus explored for dimensional stability and biological durability to commercialise its use. Chemical modification was performed using a combination of citric acid and sodium hypophosphite. Heat treatment was done in a laboratory oven in air at 140 °C for 8h. Both chemically modified and heat-treated samples exhibited improvements in dimensional stability and biological durability in comparison to the untreated control sets. Chemical modification resulted in better dimensional stability. Anti-swelling efficiency of Populus deltoides was 2-2.5 times more for the chemically modified set compared to heat treatment in both radial and tangential directions. Chemically modified set became significantly more resistant to biodeterioration showing 5 times less mass loss by termites, whereas controls and heat-treated sets returned loss percentages which were comparable. Soil block bioassay with Trametes versicolor (TV) exhibited mass loss of 9.46 % for chemically modified samples, 40.26 % for heat treated samples and 50.02 % for the untreated controls, respectively. Rhodonia placenta (OP) followed a similar trend with mass loss of chemically modified set being 5.72 % and heat-treated set being 37 %, respectively, with the controls showing 43.85 % mass loss. Mass loss exhibited by the heat-treated samples were less than the controls, but the values suggested that heat treatment at 140 °C for 8 h failed to impart any substantial resistance against rotting fungi and termites.

Network intrusion detection systems work on huge data sets, with large feature sets dominated by noisy data and irrelevant features, resulting in steep degradation in detection accuracy and a steep proliferation in model training and computation time. This work presents a novel method to optimize the feature selection process in machine learning algorithms for accurate detection of intrusion attacks in communication networks. The proposed method targets features with a high impact on the target variable to optimize feature selection and reduction. The CICIDS-2017 data set is used to test the performance of the proposed approach. Results prove the dexterity of the proposed method as it is able to achieve an almost 51% reduction in irrelevant features and increases the detection accuracy of the tuned random forest classifier to 99.9% with an almost 50% reduced model computation time.

Abstract Introduction Poor sleep health is associated with increased asthma morbidity and mortality. Accelerometers have been validated to assess sleep parameters though studies using this method in patients with asthma are sparse and none have compared mild to difficult-to-treat asthma populations. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis from two recent in-house trials comparing sleep metrics between patients with mild and difficult-to-treat asthma. Participants wore accelerometers for 24-hours/day for seven days. Results Of 124 participants (44 mild, 80 difficult-to-treat), no between-group differences were observed in sleep-window, sleep-time, sleep efficiency or wake time. Sleep-onset time was ~ 40 min later in the difficult-to-treat group (p = 0.019). Discussion Broadly, we observed no difference in accelerometer-derived sleep-metrics between mild and difficult-to-treat asthma. This is the largest analysis of accelerometer-derived sleep parameters in asthma and the first comparing groups by asthma severity. Sleep-onset initiation may be delayed in difficult-to-treat asthma but a dedicated study is needed to confirm.

Abstract Integrated photonic devices are pivotal elements across research fields that involve light-based applications. Particularly versatile platforms are programmable photonic integrated processors, which are employed in applications like communication or photonic computing. Free-space distributions of light can be coupled to such processors, which subsequently control the coupled light on-chip within meshes of programmable optical gates. This enables access to the spatial properties of free-space light, particularly its relative phase, which is usually challenging to measure. Here, we discuss and show the detection of amplitude and phase distributions of structured higher-order light beams using a multipurpose photonic processor. This can be used to directly distinguish light’s orbital angular momentum without including additional elements interacting with the free-space light. We envision applications in a range of fields that rely on the spatial distributions of light’s properties, such as microscopy or communications.

Abstract A muon collider would enable the big jump ahead in energy reach that is needed for a fruitful exploration of fundamental interactions. The challenges of producing muon collisions at high luminosity and 10 TeV centre of mass energy are being investigated by the recently-formed International Muon Collider Collaboration. This Review summarises the status and the recent advances on muon colliders design, physics and detector studies. The aim is to provide a global perspective of the field and to outline directions for future work.

Abstract Buckwheat (Fagopyrum spp.) is an important nutritional and nutraceutical‐rich pseudo‐cereal crop. Despite its obvious potential as a functional food, buckwheat has not been fully harnessed due to its low yield, self‐incompatibility, increased seed cracking, limited seed set, lodging, and frost susceptibility. The inadequate availability of genomics resources in buckwheat is one of the major reasons for this. In the present study, genome‐wide association mapping (GWAS) was conducted to identify loci associated with various morphological and yield‐related traits in buckwheat. High throughput genotyping by sequencing led to the identification of 34,978 single nucleotide polymorphisms that were distributed across eight chromosomes. Population structure analysis grouped the genotypes into three sub‐populations. The genotypes were also characterized for various qualitative and quantitative traits at two diverse locations, the analysis of which revealed a significant difference in the mean values. The association analysis revealed a total of 71 significant marker–trait associations across eight chromosomes. The candidate genes were identified near 100 Kb of quantitative trait loci (QTLs), providing insights into several metabolic and biosynthetic pathways. The integration of phenology and GWAS in the present study is useful to uncover the consistent genomic regions, related markers associated with various yield‐related traits, and potential candidate genes having implications for being utilized in molecular breeding for the improvement of economically important traits in buckwheat. Moreover, the identified QTLs will assist in tracking the desirable alleles of target genes within the buckwheat breeding populations/germplasm.

IntroductionVibrational spectroscopy (VS) is a new and rapidly evolving technology in cancer diagnostics. Originating from analytical chemistry, VS evaluates vibrations of nuclei to produce a unique “biological fingerprint.” While multiple studies have been published on this technology and physician awareness has increased, no systematic review has evaluated the role of VS in bladder cancer (BCa) tissue diagnosis. MethodsTo conduct this systematic review, we searched the MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases for studies that used Raman spectroscopy (RS), surface-enhanced RS (SERS), infrared spectroscopy (IR) or near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to analyze human BCa specimens. Studies using animal tissue or liquid biopsies were excluded. We synthesized the evidence by comparing modalities, study design, data analysis techniques, and diagnostic accuracy. The quality of evidence was evaluated by the QUADAS-2 tool. ResultsOut of 362 results, 20 studies met our inclusion criteria. There has been growing interest in VS use in BCa, with 50% of the studies published in the past 5 years. RS was the most commonly used modality (65%), followed by IR (20%) and SERS (10%). Only one study compared RS to IR (5%). The mean sample size was 44 patients (range, 6–214). To date, there have been only 2 in vivo studies, with the remaining ex vivo studies performed with large variation in tissue preparation, data analysis, and reporting. Advancements in fiber optic probes and machine-learning data analysis techniques, and increased computational power have improved diagnostic accuracy up to 98% sensitivity and 100% specificity. ConclusionsVS shows high potential for BCa diagnosis, but there is a need for uniform reporting methods and studies with adequate sample sizes to validate the models. RS has shown promising results, with ongoing improvements in fiber optic probes allowing its integration into conventional cystoscopes. While no single VS modality has proven to be perfect, a multimodal approach is likely required to establish its value in clinical practice.

Abstract Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a multisystemic hereditary disorder associated with an increased risk of benign and malignant tumor formation predominantly on the skin, bone, and peripheral nervous system. It has been reported that out of all the NF1 cases, more than 95% cases develop the disease due to heterozygous loss-of-function variants in Neurofibromin (NF1) gene. However, identification of NF1 causative variants by presently recommended method of gene-targeted Sanger sequencing is challenging and cost-intensive due to the large size of the NF1gene with 60 exons spanning about 350 kb. Further, conducting the genetic studies is difficult in low resource regions and among families with the limited financial capabilities, restricting them from availing diagnostic as well as proper disease management measures. Here, we studied a three-generation family from Jammu and Kashmir state in India, with multiple affected family members showing clinical indications of NF1. We combinedly used two applications, Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) and Sanger sequencing, for this study and discovered a nonsense variant NM_000267.3:c.2041C>T (NP_000258.1:p.Arg681Ter*) in exon 18 of NF1 gene in a cost effective manner. In silico analyses further substantiated the pathogenicity of this novel variant. The study also emphasized on the role of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) as a cost-effective method for the discovery of pathogenic variants in disorders with known phenotypes found in large sized candidate genes. The current study is the first study based on the genetic characterization of NF1 from Jammu and Kashmir–India, highlighting the importance of the described methodology adopted for the identification and understanding of the disease in low resource region. The early diagnosis of genetic disorders would open the door to appropriate genetic counseling, reducing the disease burden in the affected families and the general population at large.

The effects of the gut microbiome on the brain and the mechanisms of gut-brain communication have been popular research topics for the past few decades. The term gut-brain axis (GBA) evolved to illustrate how the gut and gut microbiota communicate with the brain. The gut-brain axis is an interplay of the neural, endocrine, immune, and metabolic pathways that help to maintain the brain's homeostasis. Several groups have reported that gut dysbiosis is significantly associated with neuroinflammation, aggregation of amyloid beta, and an increase in oxidative stress during Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Understanding the exact mechanism of how the gut microbiome influences brain function may help develop new therapeutic modalities for AD. This review highlights the functioning of the gut microbiome in AD pathogenesis, the potential beneficial effects of probiotic exopolysaccharides as therapeutic molecules, and the potential benefits of probiotic exopolysaccharides (EPS) as a ray of hope in treating AD.

The present study emphasizes the seismic characteristics of earthquake swarm activity of the Palghar region that occurred in the hard strata of Deccan traps of the Indian peninsula. This activity is well monitored by National Centre for Seismology (NCS) from December 2018 to October 2020. The related data inferred that initially before the swarm activation there was a barricade to stop the entry of fluids into the permeable zone. Later the fluids are injected into the fault zone at a feasible place may be near the surface at the time of swarm initiation. Further the associated fluids percolated through several channels in many directions forming a multi-dimensional system of cracks and fissures at the level of swarm progression through two distinctive clusters during the time of present study along normal fault orientations. During this process, the heterogeneous material within the subsurface layers might have experienced a decrease in the effective stress due to the increase in the pore pressure which is the resultant of the percolation of fluids within the permeable zone. The outcome of the results shows a comparable strategic increase in the seismicity after the soil saturation during and after the rainfall in the affected zone. Also, the study of the seismicity accompanying fluid injections indicates that the fluid triggering seismicity is demonstrated by the increased slope of the magnitude frequency distribution in the form of spatial b-value which has been found reliable for a catalogue for Palghar swarm activity. The coulomb stress change is also examined to find out the consistency of stress patterns with the earthquake occurrences in the Palghar region which gives the characteristics of swarm sequence. The study emphasized the fundamental and geo-mechanical behavior of fluid migration through multi-directional cracks and fissures as the cause for the evolution and further growth of the Palghar swarm activity.

IntroductionKombucha is a popular fermented tea that has attracted considerable attention due, in part, to its suggested health benefits. Previous results from animal models led us to hypothesize kombucha may reduce blood sugar levels in humans with diabetes. The objective of this pilot clinical study was to evaluate kombucha for its anti-hyperglycemic activities in adults with diabetes mellitus type II.MethodsThe study was organized as a prospective randomized double-blinded crossover study at a single-center urban hospital system. Participants (n = 12) were instructed to consume either a kombucha product or a placebo control (each 240 mL) for 4 weeks. After an 8-week washout period, participants consumed the alternate product. Fasting blood glucose levels were self-determined at baseline and at 1 and 4 weeks during each treatment period. Secondary health outcomes, including overall health, insulin requirement, gut health, skin health, mental health, and vulvovaginal health were measured by questionnaire at the same time points. The kombucha microbiota was assessed by selective culturing and 16S rRNA gene (bacteria) and ITS (fungi) sequencing. Fermentation end products were assessed by HPLC. Statistical significance of changes in fasting blood glucose was determined using paired, two-tailed student’s t-tests.ResultsKombucha lowered average fasting blood glucose levels at 4 weeks compared to baseline (164 vs. 116 mg/dL, p = 0.035), whereas the placebo did not (162 vs. 141 mg/dL, p = 0.078). The kombucha microbiota, as assessed by cultural enumeration, was mainly comprised of lactic acid bacteria, acetic acid bacteria, and yeast, with each group present at about 106 colony forming units (CFU)/mL. Likewise, 16S rRNA gene sequencing confirmed that lactic acid and acetic acid bacteria were the most abundant bacteria, and ITS sequencing showed Dekkera was the most abundant yeast. The primary fermentation end products were lactic and acetic acids, both less than 1%. Ethanol was present at 1.5%.DiscussionAlthough this pilot study was limited by a small sample size, kombucha was associated with reduced blood glucose levels in humans with diabetes. Larger follow-up studies are warranted.Clinical trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT04107207.

Abstract Background Difficult-to-control asthma associated with elevated body mass index (BMI) is challenging with limited treatment options. The effects of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in this population are uncertain. Methods This is a randomised controlled trial of an eight-week asthma-tailored PR programme versus usual care (UC) in participants with difficult-to-control asthma and BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2. PR comprised two hours of education and supervised exercise per week, with encouragement for two individual exercise sessions. Primary outcome was difference in change in Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) in PR versus UC groups between visits. Secondary outcomes included difference in change in Asthma Control Questionnaire-6 (ACQ6), and a responder analysis comparing proportion reaching minimum clinically important difference for AQLQ and ACQ6. Results 95 participants were randomised 1:1 to PR or UC. Median age was 54 years, 60% were female and median BMI was 33.8 kg/m2. Mean (SD) AQLQ was 3.9 (+/-1.2) and median (IQR) ACQ6 2.8(1.8–3.6). 77 participants attended a second visit and had results analysed. Median (IQR) change in AQLQ was not significantly different: 0.3 (− 0.2 to 0.6) in PR and − 0.1 (− 0.5 to 0.4) in UC, p = 0.139. Mean change in ACQ6 was significantly different: − 0.4 (95% CI − 0.6 to − 0.2) in PR and 0 (− 0.3 to + 0.3) in UC, p = 0.015, but below minimum clinically important difference. In ACQ6 responder analysis, minimum clinically important difference was reached by 18 PR participants (54.5%) versus 10 UC (22.7%), p = 0.009. Dropout rate was 31% between visits in PR group, and time to completion was significantly prolonged in PR group at 94 (70–107) days versus 63 (56–73) in UC, p

We know little about mammalian anemotaxis or wind sensing. Recently, however, Hartmann and colleagues showed whisker-based anemotaxis in rats. To investigate how whiskers sense airflow, we first tracked whisker tips in anesthetized rats under low (0.5 m/s) and high (1.5 m/s) airflow. Whisker tips showed increasing movement from low to high airflow conditions, with all whisker tips moving during high airflow. Low airflow conditions-most similar to naturally occurring wind stimuli-engaged whisker tips differentially. Most whiskers moved little, but the long supra-orbital (lSO) whisker showed maximal displacement, followed by the α, β, and A1 whiskers. The lSO whisker differs from other whiskers in its exposed dorsal position, upward bending, length and thin diameter. Ex vivo extracted lSO whiskers also showed exceptional airflow displacement, suggesting whisker-intrinsic biomechanics mediate the unique airflow-sensitivity. Micro computed tomography (micro-CT) revealed that the ring-wulst-the follicle structure receiving the most sensitive afferents-was more complete/closed in the lSO, and other wind-sensitive whiskers, than in non-wind-sensitive whiskers, suggesting specialization of the supra-orbital for omni-directional sensing. We localized and targeted the cortical supra-orbital whisker representation in simultaneous Neuropixels recordings with D/E-row whisker barrels. Responses to wind-stimuli were stronger in the supra-orbital whisker representation than in D/E-row barrel cortex. We assessed the behavioral significance of whiskers in an airflow-sensing paradigm. We observed that rats spontaneously turn towards airflow stimuli in complete darkness. Selective trimming of wind-responsive whiskers diminished airflow turning responses more than trimming of non-wind-responsive whiskers. Lidocaine injections targeted to supra-orbital whisker follicles also diminished airflow turning responses compared to control injections. We conclude that supra-orbital whiskers act as wind antennae.

The use of bioactive compounds and probiotic bacteria against the viral diseases in human is known for a long time. Anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties of bioactive compounds and bacteria with probiotic properties in respiratory viral diseases may have significance to enhance immunity. This review highlights some of the important bioactive compounds and probiotic bacteria, suggesting them as a ray of hope in the milieu of the COVID-19 management.

Background Human mitochondrial DNA presents several interesting characteristics, making it a favourable tool in the field of molecular anthropology, medical genetics, population history, and forensic science. Aim The present study investigated the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region variations in diverse ethnic groups of North-West India for which population data is insufficient. Subjects and methods The complete mtDNA control regions of 197 unrelated (for up to three generations) healthy individuals belonging to different ethnic groups of North-West India were sequenced. The haplotype frequencies, haplogroup distribution, and pairwise FST values between the studied and other worldwide populations were generated to study patterns of variation in human mtDNA. Results The results ascertained high gene diversity (0.998) in the studied maternal lineages, identifying 166 distinct haplotypes, of which 158 were unique and characterised by 117 variable sites. Three haplogroups: M3, M30, and U7 were observed to be the most prevalent, and phylogeographically a total of 55.86% of sequences were characterised into South Asian, followed by West Eurasian (40.18%) and East Asian (3.96%), ancestry haplogroups. Pairwise genetic differentiation comparisons revealed maternal homogeneity in the studied groups. No population substructure was detected within the North-West Indian populations. Conclusion The results of this preliminary study will contribute to an existing database of mtDNA variations of the Indian population and facilitate prospective studies investigating population genetics and human diseases.

Abstract Background Breast Cancer (BC) is associated with inherited gene mutations. High throughput genotyping of BC samples has led to the identification and characterization of biomarkers for the diagnosis of BC. The most common genetic variants studied are SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) that determine susceptibility to an array of diseases thus serving as a potential tool for identifying the underlying causes of breast carcinogenesis. Methods SNP genotyping employing the Agena MassARRAY offers a robust, sensitive, cost-effective method to assess multiple SNPs and samples simultaneously. In this present study, we analyzed 15 SNPs of 14 genes in 550 samples (150 cases and 400 controls). We identified four SNPs of genes TCF21, SLC19A1, DCC, and ERCC1 showing significant association with BC in the population under study. Results The SNPs were rs12190287 (TCF21) having OR 1.713 (1.08–2.716 at 95% CI) p-value 0.022 (dominant), rs1051266 (SLC19A1) having OR 3.461 (2.136–5.609 at 95% CI) p-value 0.000000466 (dominant), rs2229080 (DCC) having OR 0.6867 (0.5123–0.9205 at 95% CI) p-value 0.0116 (allelic) and rs2298881 (ERCC1) having OR 0.669 (0.46–0.973 at 95% CI), p-value 0.035 (additive) respectively. The in-silico analysis was further used to fortify the above findings. Conclusion It is further anticipated that the variants should be evaluated in other population groups that may aid in understanding the genetic complexity and bridge the missing heritability.

Abstract Background MassARRAY (Agena Bioscience™) combines competitive PCR with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MS) analysis that gives highly accurate, sensitive, and high-throughput methods for the quantitative analysis of variation of gene expression in multiple samples. SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) have a very high potential of discovering disease-gene relationships. SNP-genotyping through MassARRAY is not only a cost-effective genotyping method but also provides a platform to validate variants observed through a high-throughput Next-generation sequencing (NGS). Methods In the present study, we have incorporated the use of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight, mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) as a tool for differentiating genotypes based on the mass of variant. We have performed multiplex PCR and genotyped 12 SNPs in 758 samples (166 cases and 592 controls). The 12 studied SNPs were chosen with a rationale for their association with multiple cancers in literature. Results This is the first study to explore these SNPs with esophageal cancer within the J&K population. Out of 12 SNPs, two SNPs rs12190287 of TCF21 and rs10046 of CYP19A1 were significantly associated with esophageal cancer with Odds Ratio (OR) 1.412 (1.09–1.8 at 95% CI, p = 0.008) and 1.54 (1.21–2.072 at 95% CI, p = 0.0007) within the population of Jammu and Kashmir. Conclusion We explored 12 SNPs that were found to be associated with multiple cancers in literature with esophageal cancer within the population of J&K. This is the first study to find the relation of these SNPs with ESCC within the studied population. This study explores the relation of genetic and environmental factors with the ESCC susceptibility.

Spatially distributed meteorological information at the slope scale is relevant for many processes in complex terrain, yet information at this sub-km spatial resolution is difficult to obtain. While downscaling to kilometer resolutions is well described in literature, moving beyond the kilometer scale is not. In this work, we present a methodical comparison of three downscaling methods of varying complexity, that are used to downscale data from the Numerical Weather Prediction model COSMO-1 at 1.1 km horizontal resolution to 250 and 50 m over a domain of highly complex terrain in the Swiss Alps. We compare WRF, a dynamical atmospheric model; ICAR, a model of intermediate complexity; and TopoSCALE, an efficient topography-based downscaling scheme. Point-scale comparisons show similar results amongst all three models w.r.t. mean-error statistics, but underlying dynamics are different. Ridge-flow interactions show reasonable agreement between WRF and ICAR at 250 m model resolution. However, at 50 m resolution WRF is able to simulate complex flow patterns that ICAR cannot. Validation against Lidar data suggests that only WRF is able to capture preferential deposition of snow. Based on these findings and the significant reduction in computational costs, ICAR is a cost efficient alternative to WRF at the 250 m resolution. TopoScale performs very well in point-scale comparisons, but it is unclear if this can be attributed to the model itself or to the forcing data and the observations assimilated therein. Further study is required to quantify this effect.

Abstract Background Narrow genetic base, complex allo-tetraploid genome and presence of repetitive elements have led the discovery of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Brassica juncea (AABB; 2n = 4x = 36) at a slower pace. Double digest RAD (ddRAD) - a genome complexity reduction technique followed by NGS was used to generate a total of 23 million paired-end reads from three genotypes each of Indian (Pusa Tarak, RSPR-01 and Urvashi) and Exotic (Donskaja IV, Zem 1 and EC287711) genepools. Results Sequence data analysis led to the identification of 10,399 SNPs in six genotypes at a read depth of 10x coverage among the genotypes of two genepools. A total of 44 hyper-variable regions (nucleotide variation hotspots) were also found in the genome, of which 93% were found to be a part of coding genes/regions. The functionality of the identified SNPs was estimated by genotyping a subset of SNPs on MassARRAY® platform among a diverse set of B. juncea genotypes. SNP genotyping-based genetic diversity and population studies placed the genotypes into two distinct clusters based mostly on the place of origin. The genotypes were also characterized for six morphological traits, analysis of which revealed a significant difference in the mean values between Indian and Exotic genepools for six traits. The association analysis for six traits identified a total of 45 significant marker-trait associations on 11 chromosomes of A- and B- group of progenitor genomes. Conclusions Despite narrow diversity, the ddRAD sequencing was able to identify large number of nucleotide polymorphisms between the two genepools. Association analysis led to the identification of common SNPs/genomic regions associated between flowering and maturity traits, thereby underscoring the possible role of common chromosomal regions-harboring genes controlling flowering and maturity in Brassica juncea.

This paper describes the theory of the dependence of the tribological characteristics of the material (coefficient of friction and wear) and the mechanical properties of the material (Poisson's ratio and modulus of elasticity). A special focus is placed on the characteristics of composite materials which are difficult to predict by mechanical and tribological characteristics. Relationship between effective values of friction coefficient and wear and modulus of elasticity is given for composites. Mori-Tanaka homogenization method is applied in calculation of modulus of elasticity and Poisson's ratio, and their dependencies, for composites with spherical particles.

Orthogonal three-dimensional textile composite was evaluated by using numerical simulation. Three-dimensional (3D) geometry models were created (angle interlock and layer to layer), with 48 % and 53 % overall volume fractions. Warp, weft and binder were adjusted according to the yarn spacing, width, and height. Finite element numerical simulation was realised by using multistep linear static test for general behaviour. Both models were evaluated based on the calculated stress and strain values. Internal yarn architecture and overall volume fractions both have significant influence on the mechanical behaviour of the composite.

Abstract Background Telomere genetics has recently been emerged as an important field in molecular oncology. Various genome-wide association studies in different population groups have revealed that polymorphisms in Telomere maintenance gene (TERT) gene located on 5p15.33 is associated with susceptibility to leukemia and lung cancer risk. However, association of TERT with leukemia and lung cancer risk in north Indian population groups is still unknown. This study observed the association between genetic variant rs2853677 of TERT and leukemia and lung cancer in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Methods A total of 781 subjects, out of which 381 cases (203 leukemic patients and 178 non-small cell lung cancer patients NSCLC) and 400 healthy controls were recruited for the study. Genetic variant rs2853677of TERT was detected using the real-time and Taqman Chemistry. Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium was assessed using the chi square test. The allele and genotype- specific risks were estimated as odds ratio with 95% confidence interval. Results We observed that variant rs2853677 was strongly associated with lung cancer and leukemia risk with an odds ratio (OR) =1.8 (1.03–3.2 at 95% CI); p value (adjusted) = 0.03; odds ratio (OR) =2.9 (1.4–5.5.at 95% CI); p value (adjusted) = 0.002, respectively. Conclusion The results of this study suggested that rs2853677 of TERT signifies association in multiple cancers and suggests that it can become potential marker for diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer and leukemia. The study will provide an insight in understanding the genetic etiology and highlights the role of telomere-associated pathways in non-small cell lung cancer and leukemia. However, it would be quite interesting to explore the contribution of this variant in other cancers as well.

Non-syndromic hearing loss (NSHL) is one of the most frequent auditory deficits in humans characterized by high clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Very few studies have reported the relationship between OTOF (Locus: DFNB9) and hereditary hearing loss in India. We aimed to decipher the genetic cause of prelingual NSHL in a large affected Muslim consanguineous families using whole-exome sequencing (WES). The study was performed following the guidelines and regulations of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi. The population was identified from Jammu and Kashmir, the Northernmost part of India. Near about 100 individuals were born deaf-mute in the village of 3,000 inhabitants. A total of 103 individuals (with 52 cases and 51 controls) agreed to participate in this study. Our study revealed a rare non-sense homozygous mutation NC_000002.11:g.2:26702224G>A; NM_001287489.2:c.2122C>T; NP_001274418.1:p.(Arg708∗) in the 18th exon of the OTOF gene. Our study provides the first insight into this homozygous condition, which has not been previously reported in ExAC, 1,000 Genome and genomAD databases. Furthermore, the variant was confirmed in the population cohort (n = 103) using Sanger sequencing. In addition to the pathogenic OTOF variant, the WES data also revealed novel and recurrent mutations in CDH23, GJB2, MYO15A, OTOG, and SLC26A4 genes. The rare pathogenic and the novel variants observed in this study have been submitted to the ClinVar database and are publicly available online with the accessions SCV001448680.1, SCV001448682.1 and SCV001448681.1. We conclude that OTOF-related NSHL hearing loss is prevalent in the region due to successive inbreeding in its generations. We recommend premarital genetic testing and genetic counseling strategies to minimize and control the disease risk in future generations.

Background There are limited data describing the long-term outcomes of severe COVID-19. We aimed to evaluate the long-term psychosocial and physical consequences of severe COVID-19 for patients.Methods We conducted a multicentre observational cohort study; between 3 and 7 months posthospital discharge, patients who had been admitted to critical care due to severe COVID-19 were invited to an established recovery service. Standardised questionnaires concerning emotional, physical and social recovery, including information on employment, were completed by patients. Using propensity score matching, we explored outcomes between patients admitted to critical care with and without COVID-19, using data from the same recovery programme.Results Between July 2020 and December 2020, 93 patients who had been admitted to critical with COVID-19 participated. Emotional dysfunction was common: 46.2% of patients had symptoms of anxiety and 34.4% symptoms of depression. At follow-up 53.7% of previously employed patients had returned to employment; there was a significant difference in return to employment across the socio-economic gradient, with lower numbers of patients from the most deprived areas returning to employment (p=0.03). 91 (97.8%) COVID-19 patients were matched with 91 non-COVID-19 patients. There were no significant differences in any measured outcomes between the two cohorts.Interpretation Emotional and social problems are common in survivors of severe COVID-19 infection. Coordinated rehabilitation is required to ensure patients make an optimal recovery.

Water vapor transport has been highlighted as a critical process in Arctic snowpacks, shaping the snow cover structure in terms of density, thermal conductivity, and temperature profile among others. Here, we present an attempt to describe the thermally-induced vertical diffusion of water vapor in the snow cover and its effects of the snowpack structure using the SNOWPACK model. Convection, that may also constitute a significant part of vapor transport, is not addressed. Assuming saturated conditions at the upper boundary of the snowpack and as initial condition, the vapor flux between snow layers is expressed by a 1-dimensional transient diffusion equation, which is solved with a finite difference routine. The implications on the snowpack of this vertical diffusive flux, are analyzed using metrics such as the cumulative density change due to diffusive vapor transport, the degree of over- or undersaturation, the instantaneous snow density change rate, and the percentage of snow density change. We present results for four different regions sampling the space of natural snow cover variability: Alpine, Subarctic, Arctic, and Antarctic sea ice. The largest impact of diffusive water vapor transport is observed in snow on sea ice in the Weddell Sea and the shallow Arctic snowpack. The simulations show significant density reductions upon inclusion of diffusive water vapor transport: cumulative density changes from diffusive vapor transport can reach −62 and −66 kg m−3 for the bottom layer in the shallow Arctic snowpack and snow on sea ice, respectively. For comparison, in deeper snow covers, they rarely exceed −40 kg m−3. This leads to changes in density for shallow snowpacks at the soil-snow interface in the range of −5 to −21%. Mirroring the density decease at depth is a thicker deposition layer above it with increase in density around 7.5%. Similarly, for the sea ice, the density decreased at the sea ice-snow interface by −20%. We acknowledge that vapor transport by diffusion may in some snow covers—such as in thin tundra snow—be small compared to convective transport, which will have to be addressed in future work.

Acute myeloid leukemia is a heterogeneous disease with a 5-year survival rate of 28.3%, and current treatment options constrained by dose-limiting toxicities. One of the key signaling pathways known to be frequently activated and dysregulated in AML is PI3K/AKT. Its dysregulation is associated with aggressive cell growth and drug resistance. We investigated the activity of Phenybutyl isoselenocyanate (ISC-4) in primary cells obtained from newly diagnosed AML patients, diverse AML cell lines, and normal cord blood cells. ISC-4 significantly inhibited survival and clonogenicity of primary human AML cells without affecting normal cells. We demonstrated that ISC-4-mediated p-Akt inhibition caused apoptosis in primary AML (CD34+) stem cells and enhanced efficacy of cytarabine. ISC-4 impeded leukemia progression with improved overall survival in a syngeneic C1498 mouse model with no obvious toxic effects on normal myelopoiesis. In U937 xenograft model, bone marrow cells exhibited significant reduction in human CD45+ cells in ISC-4 (~87%) or AraC (~89%) monotherapy groups compared to control. Notably, combination treatment suppressed the leukemic infiltration significantly higher than the single-drug treatments (~94%). Together, the present findings suggest that ISC-4 might be a promising agent for AML treatment.

Abstract Background Adverse effects of antileishmanial drugs can affect patients’ quality of life and adherence to therapy for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL). In Bangladesh, there are 26 treatment centers that manage leishmaniasis cases coming from 100 endemic upazilas (subdistricts) of 26 districts (these include VL, PKDL, treatment failure, and relapse VL and cutaneous leishmaniasis cases). This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of using focused pharmacovigilance for VL (VLPV) in Bangladesh’s National Kala-azar Elimination Programme for the early detection and prevention of expected and unexpected adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Methods This activity has been going on since December 2014. Activity area includes secondary public hospital or Upazila health complex (UHC) in hundred sub districts and Surya Kanta Kala-azar Research Center (SKKRC) in Mymensingh District, a specialized center for management of complicated VL and PKDL cases. Communicable Disease Control (CDC) of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) assigned twenty five of hundred UHCs and SKKRC (total 26) as treatment centers depending on their suitable geographical location. This was implemented for better management of VL cases with Liposomal Amphotericin B (AmBisome®) to ensure patient convenience and proper utilization of this expensive donated drug. A VLPV expert committee and a UHC VLPV team were established, an operational manual and pharmacovigilance report forms were developed, training and refresher training of health personnel took place at UHCs and at the central level, collected information such as patient data including demographics, treatment history and response, adverse events were analyzed. This report includes information for the period from December 2014 to December 2016. Results From December 2014 to December 2016, 1327 leishmaniasis patients were treated and 1066 (80%) were available for VLPV. Out of these, 57, 33, 9, and 1% were new VL, PKDL, VL relapse, and other cases, respectively. Liposomal amphotericin B was mostly used (82%) for case management, followed by miltefosine (20%) and paromomycin (3%). Out of the 1066 patients, 26% experienced ADRs. The most frequent ADR was fever (17%, 176/1066), followed by vomiting (5%, 51/1066). Thirteen serious adverse events (SAEs) (eight deaths and five unexpected SAEs) were observed. The expert committee assessed that three of the deaths and all unexpected SAEs were possibly related to treatment. Out of the five unexpected SAEs, four were miltefosine-induced ophthalmic complications and the other was an AmBisome®-induced avascular necrosis of the nasal alae. The Directorate General of the Drug Administration entered the ADRs into the World Health Organization Uppsala Monitoring Centre (WHO-UMC) VigiFlow database. Conclusions This study found that VLPV through NKEP is feasible and should be continued as a routine activity into the public health system of Bangladesh to ensure patient safety against anti-leishmanial drugs.

There is a unique microbial community in the female lower genital tract known as the vaginal microbiota, which varies in composition and density and provides significant benefits during pregnancy, reproductive cyclicity, healthy newborn delivery, protection from preterm birth, infections such as UTIs, bacterial vaginosis, and so on, and improves the efficacy of treatments for vaginal cancers. Methods: It is necessary to know how the vaginal microbiome is composed in order to make an accurate diagnosis of the diseases listed above. A microbiome’s members are difficult to classify, and the way microbial communities function and influence host–pathogen interactions are difficult to understand. More and more metagenomic studies are able to unravel such complexities due to advances in high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics. When it comes to vaginal microbiota research, we’ll be looking at the use of modern techniques and strategies that can be used to investigate variations in vaginal microbiota in order to detect diseases earlier, better treat vaginal disorders, and boost women’s health. Discussion: The discussed techniques and strategies may improve the treatment of vaginal disorders and may be beneficial for women’s overall health.

Background: The anti-inflammatory and immune enhancing effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and hyaluronic acid are well established in medical literature. The present study was undertaken to evaluate their role in chronic periodontitis. Materials and Methods: One hundred twenty sites in 24 patients with clinically confirmed periodontitis were included in the study. A split-mouth design was used for intrasulcular application of CoQ10as adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP), 0.8% hyaluronic acid as adjunct to SRP and SRP alone. Clinical parameters such as plaque index (PI), gingival color change index (GCCI), Eastman interdental bleeding index (EIBI), pocket depth (PD), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded. All the clinical parameters PI, EIBI, GCCI, PD, and CAL were recorded at baseline before SRP. Only PI, EIBI, and GCCI were recorded at 1st and 2nd week. Twenty-one days post 2nd week, i.e., 6th week all the clinical parameters were recorded again. Results: Intragroup analysis of all the clinical parameters showed clinical significant results between baseline and 6th week. However, on intergroup analysis, the results were not significant. Conclusion: The local application of CoQ10and hyaluronic acid gel in conjunction with SRP may have a beneficial effect on periodontal health in patients with chronic periodontitis.

Cerebro-tendinous xanthomatosis is a very rare autosomal recessive disorder. An 18-year-old male presented to us with swellings of both tendoachilles, proved to be xanthomas. The diagnosis was confirmed by biochemical, clinical, and radiological studies. Such a rare and perplexing case of tendon xanthomas in this disorder should be kept as a differential diagnosis for the more common tendon swellings of this region as the conditions are treated differently. The mere postoperative recurrence in this case clearly proves that surgical excision is not the right treatment option for cerebro-tendinous xanthomatosis, which can be the primary tempting option.

The concerns of the present paper emerge from the single basic question of whether the available histories of the tiger are comprehensive enough to enable an understanding of how this nodular species comprises/contests the power dynamics of the present. Starting with this basic premise, this paper retells a series of events which go to clarify that a nuanced understanding of the manner in which a species serves certain political purposes is not possible by tracking the animal alone. A discourse on endangerment has beginnings in the body and being of species that are remarkably cut off from the tiger-the elephant, birds, and the rhino (and man if we might add)-and develops with serious implications for power, resource appropriation, and criminality, over a period of time, before more directly recruiting the tiger itself. If we can refer to this as the intermittent making and unmaking of the endangered, it is by turning to the enunciations of Michel Foucault that we try to canvas a series of events that can be described as animal-criminal processes. The role of such processes in the construction of endangerment, the structuring of space, and shared ideas of man-animal relations is further discussed in this paper.

In order to meet the stringent environmental obligations, the research in the recent past has been focused on adopting sustainable techniques in industrial sector. Ultrasonic assisted turning (UAT) process has been developed in this regard to machine difficult to cut materials like alloys of nickel, titanium and composite materials. The present paper presents a thorough literature review to highlight the advantages in terms of low cutting forces and stress levels developed in UAT as compared to conventional turning process. In UAT, the cutting tool is imparted ultrasonic vibrations and hence an intermittent cutting mechanism is dominant. A decreased tool wear accompanied with compressive residual stresses in the machined part has made UAT a viable alternative to machine the advanced materials. The chip analysis has been shown to indicate that there occurs less plastic deformation in the material during UAT. The main objective of the present review article is to highlight advantages of UAT and to encourage the same by discussing a way forward to make it cost effective and environment friendly by reducing the carbon footprints of machining.

In the present study, we provide a checklist of the vascular plants of Kinnaur district situated in the Himachal Pradesh state of India in the western Himalaya. This checklist includes 893 taxa (viz., species, subspecies and varieties) belonging to 881 species of angiosperms and gymnosperms distributed among 102 families and 433 genera, and 30 species of pteridophytes. Information about the growth habit, threat and endemicity status is also provided. Our results show that family Compositae is by far the most species rich family with 122 species, followed by Poaceae (69), Rosaceae (58), Leguminosae (49) and Lamiaceae (38). Among the genera, Artemisia is the most diverse genus with 19 species, followed by Potentilla (14), Saussurea (13), Polygonum (11), Astragalus (10), Lonicera (10) and Nepeta (10). Similar to other regions in the western Himalayan range, family-to-genera ratio was 1:4.25 and the genera-to-species ratio was 1:2.04. Out of 893 taxa, our checklist includes 606 herb species, 63 trees, 108 shrubs, 28 climbers, 67 graminoids and 21 sedges and rushes. Of all the species recorded, 108 (12.2%) are endemic to western Himalaya and 27 (3%) are placed under IUCN threatened categories. The present checklist on the flora of Kinnaur provides an important baseline data for further quantitative studies on the characteristics of plant communities in this region and will help in the identification of priority conservation areas.

Post-authorization pharmacovigilance refers to all the activities relating to the detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of adverse effects or any other drug-related problems, from the time a product gets the authorization to be marketed in a territory. The ultimate objective of pharmacovigilance is patient safety. To ensure this, any responsible pharmaceutical company will readily vouch for the importance of all these activities, each requiring specific training for efficient and effective execution. Having a well planned job specific training curriculum can help the organization realize its goals and objectives by covering the gaps between current and desired job performance levels and existing competencies of its employees. Apart from this, trainings can help in problem solving, increasing productivity and prepare for and respond to future changes in the organization or job duties. As the pharmaceutical business continues to grow, increasing numbers of skilled people are required to manage resultant increase in pharmacovigilance activities to remain compliant. Thus, the need for training qualified resources to develop into highly skilled pharmacovigilance professionals is the need of the hour. Currently, the supply-demand situation for skilled manpower is highly skewed in favor of the demand, as this field is relatively new in India and elsewhere. It is interesting to note that not many resources, be it internet, literature or books, are available specifically addressing the need of the industry to guide them on training requirements to set up and maintain a competent pharmacovigilance department. This article aims to present a comprehensive perspective on the trainings required in the post authorization scenario pertaining to pharmacovigilance activities and suggest ways to manage these in an efficient way so as to be compliant with the global norms and best practices.

Eosinophilic cystitis (EC) is a rare disease. It is a transmural inflammation of the bladder, predominantly with eosinophils. High index of suspicion is needed for timely intervention. EC should be kept as a differential diagnosis in patients presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms due to small capacity bladder with a negative workup for urinary tuberculosis and in patients having hematuria and negative cytology, or incidentally found bladder lesions with known risk factors. Initial treatment is conservative with removal of risk factor, anti-histaminics and steroids. Augmentation cystoplasty should be considered in patients with a small capacity bladder. These patients need a strict and long term follow-up.

Giant cell tumour (GCT) is an uncommon primary bone tumour, and its multicentric presentation is exceedingly rare. We report a case of a 45-year-old female who presented to us with GCT of left distal radius. On the skeletal survey, osteolytic lesion was noted in her right sacral ala. Biopsy confirmed both lesions as GCT. Pulmonary metastasis was also present. Resection-reconstruction arthroplasty for distal radius and thorough curettage and bone grafting of the sacral lesion were done. Multicentric GCT involving distal radius and sacrum with primary sacral involvement is not reported so far to our knowledge.

Background. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a poorly understood disease with few effective treatments. Psychosocial factors are believed to contribute to the pathogenesis of IBS. Objective. To evaluate the evidence for psychological therapies in IBS treatment. Methods. We searched six medical databases through February 6, 2014, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of psychological therapies for the treatment of IBS. Two independent reviewers identified the RCTs, extracted the data, and assessed trial quality. We used the random-effect model to pool standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) across trials. Results. 15 RCTs that mostly evaluated cognitive behavioral therapy were included. Psychological therapies were associated with improvement in IBS symptoms severity scales (SMD −0.618; 95% CI: −0.853 to −0.383), IBS-Quality of Life (SMD 0.604; 95% CI: 0.440 to 0.768), and abdominal pain (SMD −0.282; 95% CI: −0.562 to −0.001). No statistically significant effect was observed on diarrhea or constipation. Limitations. The trials were at increased risk of bias and the overall sample size was small leading to imprecision. Conclusion. Psychological therapies may improve the quality of life and symptom severity in IBS. The effect size noted is moderate to large and is clinically meaningful.

Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is a complex disease and genetic is one of factor contributing to its pathogenesis. Both decreased body sensitivity to insulin and defects in insulin production are involved in T2D development. ND3 is one of the subunit of complex I which is located in inner mitochondrial membrane of mitochondria. Mitochondrial activity can regulate insulin sensitivity and insulin production. Further, variations in mitochondrial DNA have been shown to raise the risk of T2D. In this study, we replicated the association of ND3 rs2853826 with T2D in a total of 1759 samples (684 T2D cases and 1075 healthy controls) belonging to North India. We observed that ND3 rs2853826 is significantly associated with TD in the studied population and the estimated odds ratio (OR) is 1.65 (1.33 - 2.05 at 95% CI). Thus, our findings replicate and support earlier studies implicating the association of ND3 gene with T2D in Indian population.

Microtubule Actin Cross linking Factor 1 (MACF1) gene variant rs2296172 has been associated with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). However, this variant has never been evaluated as such in Indian populations. We replicated this variant in pooled population of Northwest India and specifically in an endogamous caste group, Bania of Punjab, India. We genotyped variant rs2296172 by Taqman allele discrimination assay in 651 T2D patients and in 568 healthy controls from Northwest India. The association of the SNP with T2D was evaluated by case - control association study design. The SNP rs2296172 of MACF1 was found to be significantly associated with T2D with p value = 0.009 in Northwest Indian population but allelic distribution was observed to be deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). Assuming population stratification the most plausible cause, we further evaluated the samples belonging to Bania caste group from Punjab, India. We observed significant association of this SNP with T2D with OR = 1.71 (1.03-2.83) at 95%CI, (p =0.03) and sample set following HWE. MACF1 variant rs2296172 was found to be associated with T2D in endogamous ethnic population group (Bania) of Punjab, India. Deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in the pooled population group from Northwest India, underlines that Indian population sub structure exists and may have implications in association studies. Thus, ideal case - control association study design in Indian populations is to evaluate endogamous population groups rather than the conventional practice of pooling samples based on geography or linguistic affinities only.

India is a country with 4,635 different population groups [1]. Jammu and Kashmir is located on the crossroads of Eurasia, bound by China and Tibet from North-East, Afghanistan and Pakistan from North-West. Diversity in Indian population is anticipated as a result of multiple waves of migration and gene flow that occurred in the past [2]. Y chromosomal variations have been documented as markers to represent deep rooted lineage haplogroups and many of these exist among Indian populations, indicating the early habitation of humans in the Indian subcontinent [3]. To find out the distribution of Y chromosome haplogroup in J&K, we genotyped 133 markers of non-recombining region of Y chromosome (NRY) in 384 males of J&K. Genotyping was done by Agena Massarray Platform. Our analysis showed distribution allocated the studied samples into thirteen major haplogroups R, H, J, P, L, K, IJK, C, F, Q, E, G and O highlighting the genetic diversity in the region.

Rupture of tibialis anterior tendons is infrequently described in literature, and those described were around the ankle, either at the origin or in the tendon substance. To our known knowledge only very few cases of rupture of the tibialis anterior at musculotendinous junction were reported. We highlight the occurrence of rupture at the musculotendinous junction in tibialis anterior muscle after trauma, presenting as a soft tissue mass, the need to differentiate it from traumatic muscle hernia, mechanism of injury and its ultrasound and MRI findings.

With the growing need for technology, the tendency for errors has increased many times, which often results in loss of human lives. Our main aim of this paper is to show the implementation of a coaxial rotor aerial vehicle that can be controlled by a radio frequency transmitter. The helicopter is capable of manoeuvring in an area where real helicopters cannot. The area could be a flooded region, a place hit by an earthquake, or a building on fire. The main aim is to transmit video of that place to a base station by the camera attached to the helicopter. Various factors required to make a safe and successful coaxial helicopter are discussed and extensive flight testing proves that this flying machine is better in efficiency and performance than a traditional single rotor aerial vehicle. The relation of flight parameters like torque, induced power, rpm, pitch, and total power are discussed. A piezoelectric sensor is used to determine the vibrations occurring in the body so that they can be minimised. A successful attempt to convert the vibrations into a charge by piezoelectric energy harvesters is made.