Monolithic integration of a 10 µm cut-off wavelength InAs/GaSb type-II superlattice diode on GaAs platform.

At room temperature, a 10 µm cut-off wavelength coincides with an infrared spectral window and the peak emission of blackbody objects. We report a 10 µm cut-off wavelength InAs/GaSb T2SL p-i-n diode on a GaAs substrate with an intentional interfacial misfit (IMF) array between the GaSb buffer layer and GaAs substrate. Transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed that the heterostructure on GaSb-on-GaAs is epitaxial, single-crystalline but with a reduced material homogeneity, extended lattice defects and atomic segregation/intermixing in comparison to that on the GaSb substrate. Strain-induced degradation of the material quality is observed by temperature-dependent current-voltage measurements. The T2SL with the IMF array appears as a potentially effective route to mitigate the impact of the lattice mismatch once its fabrication is fully optimized for these systems, but additional strain compensating measures can enable a low cost, scalable manufacturing of focal plane arrays (FPA) for thermal imaging cameras for spectroscopy, dynamic scene projection, thermometry, and remote gas sensing.

Hydrogen sulphide-mediated alleviation and its interplay with other signalling molecules during temperature stress.

The sessile habit of plants does not provide choices to escape the environmental constraints, leading to negative impacts on their growth and development. This causes significant losses in the agriculture sector and raises serious issues on global food security. Extreme temperatures (high or low) influence several aspects of plant life and can cause reproduction malfunction. Therefore, a strategy for temperature amelioration is necessary for the management of agricultural productivity. Supplementation with various chemicals (e.g. phytohormones, gasotransmitters, osmolytes) is considered a good choice to manage plant stress. Gasotransmitters are well-recognized for stress mitigation in plants, among which hydrogen sulphide (H2 S) has proved promising to alleviate stress. Temperature (heat/cold) stress can stimulate the endogenous production of H2 S in plants, and many studies have reported the significance of H2 S for temperature stress amelioration. Here, H2 S led to positive changes in plant physiological, biochemical and molecular responses, which are usually compromised during stress. Further, H2 S also coordinate with other signalling components that act either upstream or downstream during stress mitigation. This review focuses on the significance of H2 S for mitigation of temperature stress, with a comprehensive discussion on cross-talk with other signalling components or supplements (e.g. NO, H2 O2 , salicylic acid, trehalose, proline). Finally, the review provides a rational assessment and holistic understanding of H2 S-mediated mitigation of extreme temperature stress and addresses the prospects for development of an effective strategy to manage temperature stress.

Management of Psoriatic Erythroderma with Ayurvedic herbomineral preparations: A case report.

Psoriatic Erythroderma (PsE) is a presentation of Erythroderma due to a history of psoriasis showing inflammation and exfoliation of epidermal skin characterized by erythema and scaling. There is no definite treatment in contemporary medical science but the principle-based Ayurvedic approach has been proved to be effective. We present a case of PsE treated for 3 months with Ayurvedic herbomineral preparations and dietary restrictions for non-vegetarian and dairy items. As per the Ayurvedic diagnostic view, the presented case is correlated with Audumbara Kushtha and Ekakushtha due to their intricate features. Thus, Ayurvedic approaches were directed to eliminate vitiated doshas responsible for acute exacerbation of Kushtha (∼dermatitis) and to maintain equilibrium among them. The patient was initially considered as a case of Saam stage of Kushtha with Pitta-Rakta-Vata predominance. Thus, management was planned into different domains-treatment of Saam stage of Kushtha, Vyadhipratyanika chikitsa (∼disease antagonistic treatment), Rasayana intervention (∼Immunomodulation therapy) and Ayurvedic drugs were given accordingly. The assessment was done based on subjective parameters and PASI score. The patient was followed for about one and half year without any complication and relapse. This case study shows PsE can be managed with an Ayurvedic approach and proper diet planning.

A novel method to identify and correct asymmetry of dumbbells in a multi-cell elliptical superconducting cavity.

Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT) has an ongoing program to develop 650 MHz, 5-cell elliptical superconducting RF (SCRF) cavities under the Indian Institutes and Fermilab Collaboration. The elliptical multi-cell SCRF cavity fabrication process involves forming of half-cells and their precise machining and joining by electron beam welding to form end groups and dumbbells, which are then joined to make the final cavity. To ensure that the final welded cavity achieves physical lengths and resonant frequencies within design tolerance and has good field flatness, the measurement and correction of resonant frequency are carried out for dumbbells and end groups. A novel method to identify the frequency of individual half-cells in a dumbbell cavity and a dedicated tuning fixture to correct them had been developed. The paper details the RF characterization and correction procedure employed during fabrication of the first six 650 MHz cavities at RRCAT.

Micro/nano-machines for spilled-oil cleanup and recovery: A review.

High-efficiency, safe and economically viable nano-engineered platforms for oil spill cleanup and recovery are of great importance. This review takes account of the concept of nanomotors and micromotors and their most advancements in use for oil spill treatment. The fundamental facets of artificial micro- and nano-machines/nanobots/nanomotors (MNMs) are first documented, followed by the most recent influencing developments in chemical engineering approaches toward their specific utilizations. The surface chemistry of these MNMs, their behaviors in different water matrices and their roles in the removal of oil are examined, revealing great rooms for improvement. The strategies for surface and structural modification of these tiny machines toward enhancing their reactivity in the removal of oil and coupled tasking are discussed in details, highlighting the significance of fit-for-duty design and tailored fabrication. The engineering limitations and practical implementation barriers of this emerging technology and how it can be overcome are also considered. Finally, some engineering boundaries and perspectives of this fast-evolving field are proposed at the end.

Functional role of iNOS-Rac2 interaction in neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) induced cytotoxicity in sepsis.

BACKGROUND: Recent reports from this lab have demonstrated a higher incidence of NETs, nitrosative, as well as oxidative stress, and have a direct correlation with the severity of sepsis and organ damage. However, the mechanistic perspective of NETs induced organ damage has not been understood at the cellular and molecular level. Interaction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) with Rac2 in regulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) generation and its implications in microbial killing has been reported. This study was, therefore, undertaken in neutrophils of sepsis patients to investigate the functional importance of iNOS-Rac2 interaction in ROS/ RNS, peroxynitrite generation, NETs generation, and NETs mediated cell death. METHODS: The study was conducted on 100 patients with sepsis and 50 healthy volunteers. Interaction between iNOS and Rac2 was performed using co-immunoprecipitation and co-immunolabeling assay. Free radicals involving ROS and RNS were evaluated using cytochrome c reduction assay. NETs formation was evaluated by fluorescence microscopy. The cytotoxic effect of NETs was assessed on lung carcinoma cell line (A549) using colorimetric Alamar blue assay. RESULTS: Enhanced interaction between iNOS and Rac2 was found in sepsis neutrophils in comparison with control. This was accompanied by an increased level of superoxide (O2.-), nitric oxide (NO), and peroxynitrite (ONOO-) which were decreased in the presence of NAC, DPI, and 1400 W, signifying the role of iNOS-Rac2 interaction. Enhanced NETs release from activated sepsis neutrophils were abrogated in the presence of DPI. NETs from sepsis neutrophils exert a cytotoxic effect on lung epithelial cells (A549) in a concentration-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: Our findings exhibit the functional role of iNOS-Rac2 interaction in ROS/RNS, peroxynitrite generation, NETs generation, and NETs mediated cell death.

Reduced rotavirus vaccine efficacy in protein malnourished human-faecal-microbiota-transplanted gnotobiotic pig model is in part attributed to the gut microbiota.

The low efficacy of human rotavirus (HRV) vaccines in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) remains a major challenge for global health. Protein-calorie malnutrition (kwashiorkor) affects the gut microbiota and compromises immune development, leading to environmental enteropathy, vaccine failures, and increased susceptibility to enteric diseases in young children. Relationship between diet and reduced vaccine efficacy in developing countries is not well established; therefore, we investigated the interconnections between the host-microbiota-nutrition-HRV vaccine using HRV-vaccinated, human infant faecal microbiota (HIFM)-transplanted neonatal gnotobiotic pigs fed with a protein deficient or sufficient diet. The microbiota from faecal, intestinal (duodenum, ileum, jejunum, and colon), and systemic tissue (liver, spleen, and mesenteric lymph node [MLN]) samples was analysed before and after HRV challenge using MiSeq 16S rRNA sequencing. Overall, microbiota from deficient fed HIFM pigs displayed, compared to the sufficient group, significantly higher Shannon index, especially in the faeces and lower intestines; higher level of Proteus and Enterococcus, and lower level of Bifidobacterium, Clostridium, and Streptococcus in the three types of samples collected (P<0.05); and higher unique operational taxonomic units (OTUs), especially in the systemic tissues. Further, the multivariate analysis between microbiota and immunologic data showed that 38 OTUs at the genus level correlated (r2≤0.5 or ≥-0.5; P<0.05) with at least one host immune response parameter (regulatory [Tregs and transforming growth factor-ß], effectors [interferon (IFN)-γ+ CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, IFN-γ and interleukin (IL)-12], and inflammatory [tumour necrosis factor-α, IL-17 and IL-22]) and with opposite trends between diet groups. Differences described above were increased after HRV challenge. We demonstrated that a protein deficient diet affects the composition of the gut microbiota and those changes may further correlate with immune responses induced by HRV and perturbed by the deficient diet. Thus, our findings suggest that the reduced efficacy of HRV vaccine observed in Gn pig model is in part attributed to the altered microbiota composition.

Unusual behavior of MgFe2O4 during regeneration: desorption versus specific adsorption.

The reusability of spent adsorbents is the most important characteristic for their practical application. The process of MgFe2O4 regeneration after methylene blue (MB) adsorption was studied. The effect of the nature (HCl, HNO3, and MgCl2) and the concentration (10-3-10-1 M) of regeneration agents was established. All the regeneration agents at 10-3 and 10-2 M had high efficiency and adsorption capacity recovery reached 80-90%, whereas for 10-1 M concentration the adsorption efficiency was in the range of 4.5-36.2%. It was shown that the concentration of desorbed MB was much less than what had been previously adsorbed and did not correlate with regeneration efficiency. The unusual behavior of MgFe2O4 during regeneration could be due to different mechanisms of regeneration by OH3 + and Mg2+ ions: (i) for acidic regeneration the main process was the non-specific adsorption of OH3 + ions in a diffusion layer and the substitution of adsorbed MB due to electrostatic forces; (ii) in the case of Mg2+ as a regeneration agent, there was specific adsorption due to the completion of a crystal lattice of MgFe2O4 nanoparticles by Mg2+ ions (according to the rules of Fayans-Pannet) with the formation of new Mg-OH adsorption sites and the super-equivalent adsorption of Mg2+ ions (according to DLVO (Derjaguin, Landau, Verwey, and Overbeek) theory) accompanied by a recharge of the MgFe2O4 surface. These phenomena of MgFe2O4 regeneration using Mg2+ ions must be taken into account in the theory and practice of adsorption.

Nanochitin/manganese oxide-biodegradable hybrid sorbent for heavy metal ions.

The article presents the results of the synthesis and research of a new biodegradable hybrid nanosized polymer-inorganic system possessing the double nature of heavy metal ions extraction from solutions. Firstly, the sorption of metal ions takes place by the ion-exchange properties of porous manganese oxide and, secondly, due to specific interaction and chelating with functional groups of polysaccharides in terms of nanochitin (ChNC). The synthesis is based on the colloid-chemical processes of interaction between polysaccharide and manganese oxide nanosized particles. Using the mathematical model of the Derjaguin, Landau, Verwey, and Overbeek (DLVO) theory, it has been shown that this interaction occurs due to the formation of hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions of oppositely charged particles. Hybrid sorbents were characterised by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Transmission electron and Atomic force microscopy. The highest value of sorption capacity for hybrid materials was obtained for Ni2+ extraction and reached 114.0 ± 1.1 mg/g. It was shown that biodegradation of hybrid sorbents increases with the concentration of manganese oxide nanoparticles and almost complete degradation of the organic part can be performed within 6 days. The obtained biodegradable sorbents were designed to address ecological problems connected with the pollution of natural waters by toxic metallic ions.

Nitrosative stress and cytokines are linked with the severity of sepsis and organ dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: An imbalance in oxidant-antioxidant status may impact the severity of sepsis. We hypothesised links between nitrosative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines and their correlation with the severity of sepsis and associated organ dysfunction. METHODS: The hypothesis was tested in 110 patients with sepsis (in whom a disease severity score (APACHE II) and assessment of organ failure score (SOFA) were determined) and 55 healthy volunteers. Neutrophil inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expressions at mRNA and protein levels were estimated by real-time PCR and immuno-precipitation followed by Western blotting, respectively. Nitric oxide (NO) content was assessed in neutrophils by confocal microscopy, plasma nitrite by the Griess reaction and inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-8) by ELISA (in plasma) and real-time PCR (in neutrophils). Serum bilirubin and creatinine were determined by routine methods and lung function by the PaO2/FiO2 ratio. RESULTS: Increased neutrophil iNOS expression and NO content, plasma total nitrite content and pro-inflammatory cytokines were present in sepsis patients (all P < 0.001). Plasma nitrite correlated with cytokines, APACHE II, SOFA, PaO2/FiO2 ratio, serum bilirubin and creatinine clearance (all r2 0.63-0.85, P < 0.001). Cytokines correlated with nitrite, APACHE II, SOFA, PaO2/FiO2 ratio, serum bilirubin and creatinine clearance (all r2 0.35-0.85, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Neutrophils iNOS expression, NO content, plasma nitrite and cytokines have a role in the assessment of the severity of sepsis and organ toxicity.

Determination of organochlorine compounds in fish liver by ultrasound-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction based on solidification of organic droplet coupled with gas chromatography-electron capture detection.

A simple and rapid method for the extraction of organochlorine compounds (OCs) including poly-chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in fish liver using ultrasound assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction based on the solidification of floating organic droplet (US-DLLME-SFO) was developed. For reducing the complexity of the matrix, the sample was pre-treated prior to microextraction. Factors affecting US-DLLME-SFO were optimized by using statistical design of experiment (DoE). The analysis was carried out by Gas Chromatography (GC) equipped with micro electron capture detector (µ-ECD). The optimized parameters were 4.8 min of ultrasound, 3.0 mL of Milli-Q and 24 µL of 1-undecanol as an extraction solvent as determined by DoE. US-DLLME-SFO was validated in terms of limit of detection, limit of quantification, dynamic linearity range, coefficient of determination (linearity) and extraction recovery in fish liver for OCs, and the respective values were (1.06-3.84 ng g-1), (3.50-12.67 ng g-1), (1.0-500 ng g-1), (R2 = 0.994-0.999), (88.5-108.4%). Interday and intraday precisions were evaluated as relative standard deviation (% RSD) and the values were ≤10%.

Evaluation of oxidative stress and antioxidant status: Correlation with the severity of sepsis.

Sepsis is a condition caused by infection followed by unregulated inflammatory response which may lead to the organ dysfunction. During such condition, over-production of oxidants is one of the factors which contribute cellular toxicity and ultimately organ failure and mortality. Antioxidants having free radicals scavenging activity exert protective role in various diseases. This study has been designed to evaluate the levels of oxidative and antioxidative activity in sepsis patients and their correlation with the severity of the sepsis. A total of 100 sepsis patients and 50 healthy controls subjects were enrolled in this study from the period October 2016 to June 2017. The investigation included measurements of oxidative enzyme, myeloperoxidase (MPO), antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) and catalase activity (CAT) and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-8 and IFN-γ). Furthermore, the level of these activities was correlated with severity of sepsis. Augmented levels of oxidants were found in sepsis as demonstrated by DMPO nitrone adduct formation and plasma MPO level activity (1.37 ± 0.51 in sepsis vs 0.405 ± 0.16 in control subjects). Cytokines were also found to be increased in sepsis patients. However, plasma SOD and CAT activities were significantly attenuated (P < .001) in the sepsis patients compared with controls subjects. Moreover, inverse relation between antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) and organ failure assessment (SOFA), physiological score (APACHE II), organ toxicity specific markers have been observed as demonstrated by Pearson's correlation coefficient. This study suggests that imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant plays key role in the severity of sepsis.

Kinetic and thermodynamic studies of the Co(II) and Ni(II) ions removal from aqueous solutions by Ca-Mg phosphates.

The aim of this work was to study the sorption kinetics and thermodynamics of Co(II) and Ni(II) from aqueous solutions by sorbents on the basis of hydrogen (PD-1) and tertiary (PD-2) Ca-Mg phosphates depending on the solution temperature and sorbents chemical composition. Kinetic studies of adsorption of Co(II) and Ni(II) ions onto samples of phosphate sorbents were performed in batch experiment at the temperatures 288, 303, 318 and 333 K. The sorbent dose was fixed at 10 g L-1, initial pH value 2.6, and contact time varied from 5 to 600 min. The kinetics of Co(II) and Ni(II) adsorption were analyzed by using pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and intraparticle diffusion models. Thermodynamic parameters (ΔG°, ΔH° and ΔS°) for the sorption of Co(II) and Ni(II) were determined using the Gibbs-Helmholtz equation. The calculated kinetic parameters and corresponding correlation coefficients revealed that Co(II) and Ni(II) uptake process followed the pseudo-second order rate expression. Thermodynamic studies confirmed the spontaneous and endothermic nature of removal process which indicate that sorption of Co(II) and Ni(II) ions onto both phosphate sorbents is favoured at higher temperatures and has the chemisorptive mechanism. The data thus obtained would be useful for practical application of the low cost and highly effective Ca-Mg phosphate sorbents.

Frequency of rare BCR-ABL1 fusion transcripts in chronic myeloid leukemia patients.

INTRODUCTION: The hallmark of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is the presence of Philadelphia chromosome, its resultant fusion transcript (BCR-ABL1), and fusion protein (p210). Alternate breakpoints in BCR (m-bcr, µ-bcr, and others) or ABL1 result in the expression of few rare fusion transcripts (e19a2, e1a2, e13a3, e14a3) and fusion proteins (p190, p200, p225) whose exact clinical significance remains to be determined. METHODS: Our study was designed to determine the type and frequency of BCR-ABL1 fusion transcripts in 1260 CML patients and to analyze the prognosis and treatment response in patients harboring rare BCR-ABL1 fusion transcripts. RESULTS: The frequency of various BCR-ABL1 fusion transcripts was as follows: e14a2 (60%), e13a2 (34.3%), e1a2 (1.2%), e1a2 + e13a2 (2.0%), e1a2 + e14a2 (1.8%), e19a2 (0.3%), and e14a3 (0.3%). CML patients with e1a2 transcripts had higher rates of disease progression, resistance, or suboptimal response to imatinib and failed to achieve major molecular response. CONCLUSION: Characterization of the specific fusion transcript in CML patients is important owing to the difference in prognosis and response to therapy in addition to the conventional need for monitoring treatment response. CML patients with e1a2 transcripts have to be closely monitored due to the high incidence of disease progression and treatment resistance/failure.

Land-use and land-cover change in Western Ghats of India.

The Western Ghats (WG) of India, one of the hottest biodiversity hotspots in the world, has witnessed major land-use and land-cover (LULC) change in recent times. The present research was aimed at studying the patterns of LULC change in WG during 1985-1995-2005, understanding the major drivers that caused such change, and projecting the future (2025) spatial distribution of forest using coupled logistic regression and Markov model. The International Geosphere Biosphere Program (IGBP) classification scheme was mainly followed in LULC characterization and change analysis. The single-step Markov model was used to project the forest demand. The spatial allocation of such forest demand was based on the predicted probabilities derived through logistic regression model. The R statistical package was used to set the allocation rules. The projection model was selected based on Akaike information criterion (AIC) and area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The actual and projected areas of forest in 2005 were compared before making projection for 2025. It was observed that forest degradation has reduced from 1985-1995 to 1995-2005. The study obtained important insights about the drivers and their impacts on LULC simulations. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt where projection of future state of forest in entire WG is made based on decadal LULC and socio-economic datasets at the Taluka (sub-district) level.

Mitotic phosphorylation of Bloom helicase at Thr182 is required for its proteasomal degradation and maintenance of chromosomal stability.

Mutations in Bloom helicase (BLM) lead to Bloom Syndrome (BS). BS is characterized by multiple clinical manifestations including predisposition to a wide spectrum of cancers. Studies have revealed the mechanism of BLM recruitment after stalled replication and its role during the repair of DNA damage. We now provide evidence that BLM undergoes K48-linked ubiquitylation and subsequent degradation during mitosis due to the E3 ligase, Fbw7α. Fbw7α carries out its function after GSK3ß- and CDK2/cyclin A2-dependent phosphorylation events on Thr171 and Ser175 of BLM which lies within a well-defined phosphodegron, a sequence which is conserved in all primates. Phosphorylation on BLM Thr171 and Ser175 depends on prior phosphorylation at Thr182 by Chk1/Chk2. Thr182 phosphorylation not only controls BLM ubiquitylation and degradation during mitosis but is also a determinant for its localization on the ultrafine bridges. Consequently lack of Thr182 phosphorylation leads to multiple manifestations of chromosomal instability including increased levels of DNA damage, lagging chromatin, micronuclei formation, breaks and quadriradials. Hence Thr182 phosphorylation on BLM has two functions-it regulates BLM turnover during mitosis and also helps to maintain the chromosomal stability.

Anesthetic Management of a Patient with Myasthenia Gravis for Meningioma Surgery - A Case Report.

Myasthenia gravis is a disease of great challenge to the anesthesiologist, because it affects the neuromuscular junction. Anesthetic management involves either muscle relaxant or non-muscle relaxant techniques. This case report documents the safe use of fentanyl, propofol and sevoflurane combination guided by bispectral index, without the use of muscle relaxants in a patient with myasthenia gravis who presented for meningioma surgery.