Manipulating the duration of picoinjection controls the injected volume of individual droplets.

The ability to add reagents into droplets is required in many microfluidic workflows. Picoinjection can address this need; however, it is unable to control the injection volume for each individual droplet. Here, we present an improved picoinjection method that can inject controlled volumes into individual droplets. We achieve this by adjusting the injection duration for each picoinjection event. This improved picoinjection method can be used to create complex microfluidic workflows that are able to control the biochemical composition of individual droplets.

Wideband Direct Detection Constraints on Hidden Photon Dark Matter with the QUALIPHIDE Experiment.

We report direction detection constraints on the presence of hidden photon dark matter with masses between 20-30 µeV c^{-2}, using a cryogenic emitter-receiver-amplifier spectroscopy setup designed as the first iteration of QUALIPHIDE (quantum limited photons in the dark experiment). A metallic dish sources conversion photons, from hidden photon kinetic mixing, onto a horn antenna which is coupled to a C band kinetic inductance traveling wave parametric amplifier, providing for near quantum-limited noise performance. We demonstrate a first probing of the kinetic mixing parameter χ to the 10^{-12} level for the majority of hidden photon masses in this region. These results not only represent stringent constraints on new dark matter parameter space, but are also the first demonstrated use of wideband quantum-limited amplification for astroparticle applications.

Deformation Adjustment with Single Real Signature Image for Biometric Verification Using CNN.

Signature verification is the widely used biometric verification method for maintaining individual privacy. It is generally used in legal documents and in financial transactions. A vast range of research has been done so far to tackle different system issues, but there are various hot issues that remain unaddressed. The scale and orientation of the signatures are some issues to address, and the deformation of the signature within the genuine examples is the most critical for the verification system. The extent of this deformation is the basis for verifying a given sample as a genuine or forgery signature, but in the case of only a single signature sample for a class, the intra-class variation is not available for decision-making, making the task difficult. Besides this, most real-world signature verification repositories have only one genuine sample, and the verification system is abiding to verify the query signature with a single target sample. In this work, we utilize a two-phase system requiring only one target signature image to verify a query signature image. It takes care of the target signature's scaling, orientation, and spatial translation in the first phase. It creates a transformed signature image utilizing the affine transformation matrix predicted by a deep neural network. The second phase uses this transformed sample image and verifies the given sample as the target signature with the help of another deep neural network. The GPDS synthetic and MCYT datasets are used for the experimental analysis. The performance analysis of the proposed method is carried out on FAR, FRR, and AER measures. The proposed method obtained leading performance with 3.56 average error rate (AER) on GPDS synthetic, 4.15 AER on CEDAR, and 3.51 AER on MCYT-75 datasets.

Seroprevalence and risk factor investigation for the exposure of Toxoplasma gondii among veterinary personnel in Punjab, India.

Toxoplasma gondii, a globally important food borne zoonotic parasite, infects most of the warm-blooded animals as well as people. Veterinarians and para vets are considered at risk of T. gondii exposure. We determined the seroprevalence of T. gondii in veterinary personnel and investigated the associated risk factors in Punjab, India. Two hundred and five blood samples collected from veterinary personnel were tested for the presence of Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies using ELISA. The apparent and true seroprevalence of T. gondii with 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated. Information about participant demographics, and possible routes of exposure was collected using a self-completed questionnaire at the time of blood collection. For risk factor investigation, a veterinary person was considered Toxoplasma seropositive using a combination of tests in parallel, i.e. if it was positive in either IgG or IgM ELISA. A mixed effects logistic regression model was constructed to evaluate the association of demography, occupational and non-occupational factors with Toxoplasma seropositive status. The apparent and estimated true seroprevalence of T. gondii antibodies using Toxoplasma IgG ELISA was 8.78% (95% CI 5.63-13.45%) and 7.36% (95% CI 4.04-12.29%), respectively. The apparent and estimated true seroprevalence using Toxoplasma IgM ELISA was 0.49% (95% CI inestimable - 2.71%) and 0.51% (95% CI inestimable - 2.83%), respectively. After adjusting other variables in the final model, consuming mutton and owning a cat were associated with large odds of being Toxoplasma seropositive. In this study occupational exposure does not seem to play an important role for the exposure of T. gondii in veterinary personnel in Punjab state of India. The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in veterinary personnel is comparatively low in occupationally exposed veterinary personnel in Punjab, India.

A Rare Case of Simultaneous Fracture Neck of Femur on One Side and Contralateral Intertrochanteric Fracture Femur in a 41-Year-Old Female - A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: Simultaneous fractures in the neck of femur on the one side and contralateral intertrochanteric fracture of the femur with only trivial injury are among rarest injuries. Fracture neck of femur or intertrochanteric fracture either isolated or in combination such as simultaneous bilateral fracture neck of femur and simultaneous bilateral intertrochanteric fractures are relatively commonly reported in literature. Herein, we report a very rare case of a young female with chronic kidney disease who presented with simultaneous fractures neck of femur on the one side and contralateral intertrochanteric fracture of femur after a fall from standing height. CASE REPORT: A 41-year-old female with chronic kidney disease from the past 5 years presented to us with severe pain at both hip and inability to stand after a fall from standing height. Clinical examination and investigations were done. She suffered fracture neck of femur on the right side and intertrochanteric fracture femur on the left side. Single stage fixation of both these fractures by two different methods was done successfully after optimization of her medical condition with multidisciplinary approach. She was advised weight bearing according to fixation method used and progress of fracture union. She regained her preoperative walking status gradually in 6 months. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous fractures in the neck of femur on the one side and intertrochanteric fracture of the femur on the other side are very rare presentation and can happen in patients with primary or secondary bone disease. Multidisciplinary team effort is needed for overall effective management and prompt surgical treatment can help achieve favorable outcome.

Improved Constraints on Primordial Gravitational Waves using Planck, WMAP, and BICEP/Keck Observations through the 2018 Observing Season.

We present results from an analysis of all data taken by the BICEP2, Keck Array, and BICEP3 CMB polarization experiments up to and including the 2018 observing season. We add additional Keck Array observations at 220 GHz and BICEP3 observations at 95 GHz to the previous 95/150/220 GHz dataset. The Q/U maps now reach depths of 2.8, 2.8, and 8.8 µK_{CMB} arcmin at 95, 150, and 220 GHz, respectively, over an effective area of ≈600 square degrees at 95 GHz and ≈400 square degrees at 150 and 220 GHz. The 220 GHz maps now achieve a signal-to-noise ratio on polarized dust emission exceeding that of Planck at 353 GHz. We take auto- and cross-spectra between these maps and publicly available WMAP and Planck maps at frequencies from 23 to 353 GHz and evaluate the joint likelihood of the spectra versus a multicomponent model of lensed ΛCDM+r+dust+synchrotron+noise. The foreground model has seven parameters, and no longer requires a prior on the frequency spectral index of the dust emission taken from measurements on other regions of the sky. This model is an adequate description of the data at the current noise levels. The likelihood analysis yields the constraint r_{0.05}<0.036 at 95% confidence. Running maximum likelihood search on simulations we obtain unbiased results and find that σ(r)=0.009. These are the strongest constraints to date on primordial gravitational waves.

Physiologic Specialization and Genetic Differentiation of Puccinia triticina Causing Leaf Rust of Wheat on the Indian Subcontinent During 2016 to 2019.

Wheat is the second most cultivated cereal crop in the world and is an important crop in India. Leaf (brown) rust, caused by Puccinia triticina, was the most prevalent among the three rusts found in all the wheat-growing areas of India, Bhutan, and Nepal during 2016 to 2019. Leaf rust samples from wheat crops in these countries were pathotyped using the wheat differential genotypes and binomial Indian system of nomenclature. To facilitate international communication, each pathotype identified was also tested using the North American differentials. A total of 33 pathotypes were identified from 1,086 samples, including three new pathotypes: 61R47 (162-5 = KHTPM) and 93R49 (49 = NHKTN) from India and 93R57 (20-1 = NHKTN) from Nepal. Two pathotypes, 121R60-1 (77-9/52 = MHTKL) and 121R63-1 (77-5 = THTTM), accounted for 79.46% of the population. Virulence on Lr19 was identified in 0.27% of the samples from Nepal only. The proportion of pathotype 121R60-1 (77-9 = MHTKL) increased to 57.55% during these years. Virulence was not observed on Lr9, Lr24, Lr25, Lr28, Lr32, Lr39, Lr45, and Lr47 in the population of the Indian subcontinent. Eighteen polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) primer pairs tested on the isolates amplified 48 alleles with an average of 2.66 alleles per primer pair. Based on SSR genotyping, these pathotypes could be grouped into two clades with another two subclades each. Many of the Lr genes present in Indian wheat germplasm (Lr1, Lr3a, Lr10, Lr11, Lr14a, Lr15, Lr16, Lr17, Lr20, Lr23, and Lr26) were ineffective for a majority of pathotypes. Most of these varieties possessed a high degree of leaf rust resistance. The field resistance of wheat varieties could be attributed to the interaction of genes, unknown resistance, or adult plant resistance.

Broadband, millimeter-wave antireflection coatings for large-format, cryogenic aluminum oxide optics.

We present two prescriptions for broadband ($ {\sim} 77 - 252\;{\rm GHz} $), millimeter-wave antireflection coatings for cryogenic, sintered polycrystalline aluminum oxide optics: one for large-format (700 mm diameter) planar and plano-convex elements, the other for densely packed arrays of quasi-optical elements-in our case, 5 mm diameter half-spheres (called "lenslets"). The coatings comprise three layers of commercially available, polytetrafluoroethylene-based, dielectric sheet material. The lenslet coating is molded to fit the 150 mm diameter arrays directly, while the large-diameter lenses are coated using a tiled approach. We review the fabrication processes for both prescriptions, then discuss laboratory measurements of their transmittance and reflectance. In addition, we present the inferred refractive indices and loss tangents for the coating materials and the aluminum oxide substrate. We find that at 150 GHz and 300 K the large-format coating sample achieves $ (97 \pm 2)\% $ transmittance, and the lenslet coating sample achieves $ (94 \pm 3)\% $ transmittance.

Poloxamer-based in situ gelling thermoresponsive systems for ocular drug delivery applications.

In situ gels have recently received interest as ocular drug delivery vehicles because they combine the merits of easy instillation and sustained drug release. In this review, we focus on the use of poloxamers as in situ gelling systems in ocular drug delivery because of their thermoresponsive gelling behaviour, biocompatibility, and ease of sterilisation. Furthermore, the sol-gel transition temperature, mucoadhesive properties, and drug release profiles of poloxamer-based in situ gels can be finely tuned, enabling them to be used as vehicles for the delivery of small and large drug molecules to treat diseases of the anterior and posterior segments of the eye. Poloxamer-based ocular products have already found their way to the pharmaceutical market, but remain a potential arena for further investigation and commercial exploitation.

Fabrication of a Self-Curling Cuff with a Soft, Ionically Conducting Neural Interface.

Direct current (DC) has the potential not only to excite but also to inhibit neurons. This property of DC stimulus has been used for generating peripheral nerve blocks. One translational challenge of DC-based neuromodulation technologies, especially for pain suppression, is that the commercially available cuff electrodes have metal-tissue interfaces that are incapable of delivering DC safely. Passing DC through any metal-tissue interface generates harmful electrochemical products which can damage the target nerve. To address this issue, we present a fabrication process for making self-curling silicone cuffs with paper/agar based, ionically conducting neural interface. We fabricate monopolar as well as bipolar cuffs and demonstrate that the electrode impedances can be easily controlled by modulating the paper/agar channel dimensions. Further, we perform in-vivo implantation of these electrodes on a rat sciatic nerve to qualitatively validate the self-curling action.

Quantifying the burden of out-of-pocket health expenditure in India.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims at analyzing the dimensions of the burden of out-of-pocket (OOP) health expenditure in rural and urban India between 1999-2000 and 2011-2012. STUDY DESIGN: Consumer Expenditure Survey data of the National Sample Survey for the period of 1999-2000 (55th round), 2004-2005 (61st round), and 2011-2012 (68th round) have been used in this study. METHODS: To analyze the dimension of OOP healthcare expenditure, this study has used headcount measure, which includes change in the percentage of population paying OOP health expenditure, concentration index of headcount, rank-weighted headcount, and gap measures, which includes average per capita gap (health expenditure), mean positive gap, concentration index, and rank-weighted gap for rural, urban, and all India level between 1999-2000 and 2011-2012. RESULTS: The authors have found that a large percentage of the population in rural and urban India is still not reporting health expenditure. There is a huge difference between per capita health expenditure in rural and urban areas during the study period. The percentage of the population that reported OOP health expenditure has increased at the bottom level, but the expenditure got more concentrated toward better-off people in both rural and urban areas of the country in this time period. It is also clear from the results that the concentration of average per capita gap (Co) in rural areas leans towards better-off people more than in urban areas. CONCLUSION: This study advocates for health sector reforms to protect households from the significant burden of expenditure on critical health care.

Results from the Super Cryogenic Dark Matter Search Experiment at Soudan.

We report the result of a blinded search for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) using the majority of the SuperCDMS Soudan data set. With an exposure of 1690 kg d, a single candidate event is observed, consistent with expected backgrounds. This analysis (combined with previous Ge results) sets an upper limit on the spin-independent WIMP-nucleon cross section of 1.4×10^{-44} (1.0×10^{-44}) cm^{2} at 46 GeV/c^{2}. These results set the strongest limits for WIMP-germanium-nucleus interactions for masses >12 GeV/c^{2}.

Intradural Eosinophilic Granuloma Invading Skull: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Eosinophilic granuloma is a localized form of Langerhans cell histiocytosis, most commonly involving the skeletal system. Their origin from the dura is rare with only a handful of cases on record. We present one such rare case of an eosinophilic granuloma originating from the dura mater with secondary osseous invasion in an 11-year-old female child who presented with a swelling in the right parietal region. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an enhancing mass with a wide dural attachment with a lytic lesion in the overlying skull. Right parietal extended craniotomy was done with the excision of mass from the dura. Histopathological features of mass were characteristic of eosinophilic granuloma which was confirmed by positive immunohistochemical staining for CD1a.

New Results from the Search for Low-Mass Weakly Interacting Massive Particles with the CDMS Low Ionization Threshold Experiment.

The CDMS low ionization threshold experiment (CDMSlite) uses cryogenic germanium detectors operated at a relatively high bias voltage to amplify the phonon signal in the search for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs). Results are presented from the second CDMSlite run with an exposure of 70 kg day, which reached an energy threshold for electron recoils as low as 56 eV. A fiducialization cut reduces backgrounds below those previously reported by CDMSlite. New parameter space for the WIMP-nucleon spin-independent cross section is excluded for WIMP masses between 1.6 and 5.5 GeV/c^{2}.