Optimizing fault tolerance of RAM cell through MUX based modeling and design using symmetries of QCA cells.

Extensive research is now being conducted on the design and construction of logic circuits utilizing quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA) technology. This area of study is of great interest due to the inherent advantages it offers, such as its compact size, high speed, low power dissipation, and enhanced switching frequency in the nanoscale domain. This work presents a design of a highly efficient RAM cell in QCA, utilizing a combination of a 3-input and 5-input Majority Voter (MV) gate, together with a 2 × 1 Multiplexer (MUX). The proposed design is also investigated for various faults such as single cell deletion, single cell addition and single cell displacement or misalignment defects. The circuit under consideration has a high degree of fault tolerance. The functionality of the suggested design is showcased and verified through the utilization of the QCADesigner tool. Based on the observed performance correlation, it is evident that the proposed design demonstrates effectiveness in terms of cell count, area, and latency. Furthermore, it achieves a notable improvement of up to 76.72% compared to the present configuration in terms of quantum cost. The analysis of energy dissipation, conducted using the QCAPro tool, is also shown for various scenarios. It is seen that this design exhibits the lowest energy dispersion, hence enabling the development of ultra-low power designs for diverse microprocessors and microcontrollers.

Estimation of economic benefits associated with the reduction in the CO2 emission due to COVID-19.

Since World War-II, the COVID-19 pandemic is considered the most serious challenge faced by the mankind. This pandemic has not only adversely affected the health systems but has also disrupted the manufacturing and industrial sectors and thus leading to low CO2 emissions. Reduction in the carbon dioxide (CO2) gas emission has been noticed nearly everywhere in the world due to shutdown of industries and lockdown imposed by governments as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the year 2019, around 37 billion tons of CO2 emitted globally that has been reduced by 9% in the same period (January to July) for the year 2020 as consequence of COVID-19 pandemic. The Social Cost of Carbon (SCC) of a country reflects the economic damages caused by per ton increase in the CO2 emissions. Economic and environmental benefits are associated with the reduction of CO2 emissions as a result of COVID-19 and their estimation is the main theme of the study. Coupling reduction in the CO2 emissions to the Social Cost of Carbon gives economic benefit for a country. The research presented investigates the long term economic and environmental benefits associated with the reduction in the CO2 emissions for various regions of the world. The economic benefit due to the reduction in the of the CO2 emissions as consequence of the COVID-19 to global economy is estimated as 650 billion US Dollars for the period of 6 months (from January to July). The study mainly focuses on the countries that contribute the high percentage of CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. The first half of year 2020 (from January 2020 to July 2020) is taken into consideration because lockdown was mainly followed in that period. Further, within the country the sectors that contribute the high percentage of CO2 emissions are also taken into account.

Effect of ß-cyfluthrin (synthetic pyrethroid) on learning, muscular coordination and oxidative stress in Swiss albino mice.

The present study was planned to evaluate neurotoxic effects of ß-cyfluthrin in female Swiss albino mice. Two doses of ß-cyfluthrin, specifically, one-tenth of median lethal dose (LD50) and one-twentieth of LD50, were selected for the study. Open-field behaviour, exploratory behaviour and emotional status were affected, and animals showed anxiety-like behaviour after ß-cyfluthrin administration. Spatial learning was decreased using the Hebb-Wiliams maze. Acetylcholinesterase enzyme activity significantly decreased in the treated animals. The administration of ß-cyfluthrin caused increased lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde) and decreased superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activity in brain tissue. In conclusion, ß-cyfluthrin caused neurotoxicity as well as oxidative damage in the brain of Swiss albino mice at the tested dose levels.

Bifenthrin-induced neurotoxicity in rats: involvement of oxidative stress.

Extensive use of synthetic pyrethroids has resulted in serious human health issues. Induction of oxidative stress is an important mechanism of action of most pesticides including pyrethroids. In the present study, we have elucidated the possible role of oxidative stress in bifenthrin-induced neurotoxicity. Adult male Wistar rats were administered bifenthrin (3.5 and 7 mg per kg body weight p.o.) for 30 days. Behavioral studies were conducted on a set of randomly selected rats from each treatment group after completion of treatment. Neurochemical parameters were assessed 24 h after the last dose was administered. The selected behavioral and neurochemical endpoints were also assessed 15 days after cessation of exposure to reveal whether the neurobehavioral changes produced by bifenthrin were temporary or permanent. Deficits in motor activity, motor incoordination, and cognitive impairment were observed after exposure to bifenthrin. Levels of biogenic amines viz. dopamine (DA) and its metabolites, i.e. 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA), epinephrine (EPN), norepinephrine (NE), and serotonin (5-HT) altered in the frontal cortex, corpus striatum, and hippocampus of bifenthrin-treated rats. A decrease in the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) occurred in all regions of the brain. Both doses of bifenthrin significantly induced lipid peroxidation (LPO) and increased protein carbonyl levels in the frontal cortex, corpus striatum, and hippocampus of rats. The activities of antioxidant enzymes, i.e. catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase, were also suppressed in all selected regions of the brain. A trend of recovery was, however, observed in all the behavioral and neurochemical endpoints 15 days after withdrawal of exposure. Oxidative stress seems to play an important role in bifenthrin-induced neurotoxicity. Our study suggests that long-term exposure to these compounds can produce detrimental effects.

Beta-cyfluthrin induced neurobehavioral impairments in adult rats.

Beta-cyfluthrin (CYF) is a commonly used synthetic pyrethroid having both agricultural and domestic applications. The present study aimed to evaluate the neurobehavioural effects of beta-cyfluthrin in adult rats administered at doses 25 mg/kg body weight/day and 12.5 mg/kg body weight/day for a period of 30 days. Motor coordination and spatial memory were found to be impaired by beta-cyfluthrin. Levels of dopamine (DA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), epinephrine (EPN), and serotonin (5-HT) decreased in frontal cortex, corpus striatum and hippocampus of treated rats. At the same time, significantly elevated levels of homovanillic acid (HVA) and nor-epinephrine (NE) were measured. Beta-cyfluthrin inhibited the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in all the regions of the brain. Hippocampal choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) expression was reduced 3.1 and 4.7 fold by the two doses respectively. Impairment of the antioxidant defense system, evident by decrease in the levels of antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) was seen in the treated rats. The neurochemical alterations manifested were more pronounced in the high dose group as the effects persisted even after withdrawal of exposure.

Neurodevelopmental consequences of gestational and lactational exposure to pyrethroids in rats.

Indiscriminate use of pyrethroids has raised serious health related concerns, especially about their effects on children. The present study was designed to assess the developmental neurotoxicity of two pyrethroids; bifenthrin (BIF) and ß-cyfluthrin (CYF) administered at 1/15 of LD50 in rats. Pregnant females were exposed to the test compounds orally throughout gestation and lactation periods. Neonates were weighed and sexed at birth and were observed for any gross abnormality. Growth, viability and weaning indices were calculated during the lactation period. Exposure to both the compounds did not alter the physical developmental parameters viz. eye opening, pinna detachment, and fur appearance. CYF significantly impaired growth and survivability of pups. Behavioral endpoints assessed in neonates (surface righting, pivoting, and negative geotaxis reflex) as well as adults (motor activity and motor coordination) exhibited marked effect of CYF treatment. Administration of BIF to pregnant dams impaired pivoting in neonates. Decreased locomotion in the open-field and impaired rota-rod performance were also witnessed in BIF-exposed animals. Enhanced oxidative stress was seen in corpus striatum, cerebellum, and hippocampus regions of the brain; reduced catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase activities were measured in BIF and CYF treated weanlings. Acetylcholinesterase activity was also found to be lowered following administration of both compounds at PND 21. The present results suggest that exposure to pyrethroids during critical periods of growth can induce long term effects on the behavior of animals. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 1761-1770, 2016.

Foreign bodies in the abdomen: self-harm and personality disorders.

A 52-year-old woman presented to the accident and emergency department 5 h after deliberately stabbing herself with two pens through her midline laparotomy scar. Her medical history included an emotionally unstable (borderline) personality disorder and she was currently an inpatient in a psychiatric hospital. She had multiple accident and emergency attendances with previous episodes of self-harm. Clinical examination revealed evidence of trauma to her midline laparotomy scar with congealed blood covering the puncture site. Her abdomen was soft and non-tender on palpation. A chest radiograph revealed no air beneath her diaphragm and her abdominal radiograph identified a radiopacity in her upper right abdomen and dilated loops of small bowel. CT of the abdomen and pelvis confirmed two pens, with the lower pen tip reaching the pancreas. A midline laparotomy was performed and both foreign bodies were extricated unremarkably. The patient's postoperative recovery was uneventful. The second case involves a 22-year-old woman, a psychiatric hospital resident, presenting to the accident and emergency department 5 h after deliberately inserting the metal nib and inner plastic ink containing tube of a pen through her umbilicus. Her medical history included an emotionally unstable (borderline) personality disorder and paranoid schizophrenia. She had multiple accident and emergency department attendances with previous episodes of self-harm. Clinical examination revealed a soft, non-tender abdomen. Her chest radiograph was unremarkable and her abdominal radiograph identified a radiopaque foreign body at the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. CT of the abdomen and pelvis confirmed a metallic foreign body in the small bowel mesentery. An exploratory laparotomy converted to a midline laparotomy was performed and the foreign body was extricated. The patient's postoperative recovery was uneventful.

Evaluation of teratogenic potential of cyfluthrin, a synthetic pyrethroid in Swiss albino mice.

A toxicity study was planned to assess the teratogenic potential of cyfluthrin that is widely used as a household insecticide to control mosquitoes, flies and cockroaches. Pregnant Swiss albino mice of one group were orally administered two doses of the pesticide (16 mg/kg and 32 mg/kg body weight) daily during the organogenetic phase (days 5-14) of gestation. The second group received the same two doses daily during the maturation phase (days 14-18) of gestation. The animals receiving the higher dose exhibited burrowing behaviour, which is a characteristic symptom of pyrethroid poisoning. The autopsies were performed on the 18th day of gestation and routine teratological observations were made. No external malformations occurred in any of the fetus. The higher dose significantly reduced the number of live fetuses, litter size and increased the resorption of embryos when administered during organogenesis, while exposure to the pesticide during the maturation phase did not significantly affect the reproductive parameters. During both the phases, the higher dose reduced the maternal weight gain and the average weight of the fetuses. The fetal anomalies observed were reduced ossification of skull bones, widened cranial sutures, short or absent ribs, hydrocephaly of the ventricles, microphthalmia, anophthalmia, pulmonary edema and subcutaneous edema.