Role of pinch in Argon impurity transport in ohmic discharges of Aditya-U Tokamak.

We present experimental results of the trace argon impurity puffing in the ohmic plasmas of Aditya-U tokamak performed to study the argon transport behaviour. Argon line emissions in visible and Vacuum Ultra Violet (VUV) spectral ranges arising from the plasma edge and core respectively are measured simultaneously. During the experiments, space resolved brightness profile of Ar1+ line emissions at 472.69 nm (3p44s 2P3/2-3p44p 2D3/2), 473.59 nm (3p44s 4P5/2-3p44p 4P3/2), 476.49 nm (3p44s 2P1/2-3p44p 2P3/2), 480.60 nm (3p44s 4P5/2-3p44p 4P5/2) are recorded using a high resolution visible spectrometer. Also, a VUV spectrometer has been used to simultaneously observe Ar13+ line emission at 18.79 nm (2s22p 2P3/2-2s2p2 2P3/2) and Ar14+ line emission at 22.11 nm (2s2 1S0-2s2p 1P1). The diffusivity and convective velocity of Ar are obtained by comparing the measured radial emissivity profile of Ar1+ emission and the line intensity ratio of Ar13+ and Ar14+ ions, with those simulated using the impurity transport code, STRAHL. Argon diffusivities ~ 12 m2/s and ~ 0.3 m2/s have been observed in the edge (ρ > 0.85) and core region of the Aditya-U, respectively. The diffusivity values both in the edge and core region are found to be higher than the neo-classical values suggesting that the argon impurity transport is mainly anomalous in the Aditya-U tokamak. Also, an inward pinch of ~ 10 m/s mainly driven by Ware pinch is required to match the measured and simulated data. The measured peaked profile of Ar density suggests impurity accumulation in these discharges.

Initial results from time-resolved LaBr based hard x-ray spectrometer for ADITYA-U tokamak.

Runaway electrons (REs) are passively studied by hard x-ray (HX) emissions generated by REs. A LaBr3(Ce) detector-based HX spectroscopic diagnostic (operational within ∼75 keV to 3.5 MeV) has been set up on the ADITYA-U. The diagnostic acquisition software utility is upgraded to obtain the temporal evolution of the HX spectrum to understand the RE energy distribution in plasma during its various phases. The peak position moves to lower energy for Ohmically heated discharges (200-80 keV), indicating a relative increase in the thermal particle content in the plasma. The peak position of RE energy shows a decreasing tendency with increasing ne with Ne gas puffing and termination of the electron cyclotron resonance pulse.

An integrated 3D fluidic device with bubble guidance mechanism for long-term primary and secondary cell recordings on multi-electrode array platform.

A 3D fluidic device (3D-FD) is designed and developed with the capability of auto bubble guidance via a helical pathway in a 3D geometry. This assembly is integrated to a multi-electrode array (MEA) to maintain secondary cell lines, primary cells and primary retinal tissue explants of chick embryos for continuous monitoring of the growth and electrophysiology recording. The ability to maintain the retinal tissue explant, extracted from day 14 (E-14) and day 21 (E-21) chick embryos in an integrated 3D-FD MEA for long duration (>100 h) and study the development is demonstrated. The enhanced duration of monitoring offered by this device is due to the controlled laminar flow and the maintenance of a stable microenvironment. The spontaneous electrical activity of the retina, including the spike recordings from the retinal ganglion layer, was monitored over a long duration. Specifically, the spiking activity in embryonic chick retinas of different days (E-14 to 21) is studied, and the presence of light-stimulated firings along with a distinct electroretinogram for E-21 mature retina provides the evidence of a stable microenvironment over a sustained period.

A nonlinear epidemiological model considering asymptotic and quarantine classes for SARS CoV-2 virus.

In this article, we develop a mathematical model considering susceptible, exposed, infected, asymptotic, quarantine/isolation and recovered classes as in case of COVID-19 disease. The facility of quarantine/isolation have been provided to both exposed and infected classes. Asymptotic individuals either recovered without undergo treatment or moved to infected class after some duration. We have formulated the reproduction number for the proposed model. Elasticity and sensitivity analysis indicates that model is more sensitive towards the transmission rate from exposed to infected classes rather than transmission rate from susceptible to exposed class. Analysis of global stability for the proposed model is studied through Lyapunov's function.

Blocking FcRn in humans reduces circulating IgG levels and inhibits IgG immune complex-mediated immune responses.

The neonatal crystallizable fragment receptor (FcRn) functions as an intracellular protection receptor for immunoglobulin G (IgG). Recently, several clinical studies have reported the lowering of circulating monomeric IgG levels through FcRn blockade for the potential treatment of autoimmune diseases. Many autoimmune diseases, however, are derived from the effects of IgG immune complexes (ICs). We generated, characterized, and assessed the effects of SYNT001, a FcRn-blocking monoclonal antibody, in mice, nonhuman primates (NHPs), and humans. SYNT001 decreased all IgG subtypes and IgG ICs in the circulation of humans, as we show in a first-in-human phase 1, single ascending dose study. In addition, IgG IC induction of inflammatory pathways was dependent on FcRn and inhibited by SYNT001. These studies expand the role of FcRn in humans by showing that it controls not only IgG protection from catabolism but also inflammatory pathways associated with IgG ICs involved in a variety of autoimmune diseases.

Improved design for Heliotron J soft X-ray diagnostic for tomographic reconstruction studies.

Identifications of the plasma boundary shape and mode structure are important problems for the studies of the magnetohydrodynamics equilibrium and stability studies. Imaging diagnostics have the possibility to measure the plasma boundary shape and mode structure directly. The soft X-ray (SX) tomography is an imaging diagnostic for offering these direct measurements. However, SX tomography is by nature a limited angle tomography and provides a challenge as an ill-condition inverse problem. The reconstructed profiles depend heavily on the quality of measurements along with the employed inversion algorithm. This paper provides a detailed description of tomographic reconstruction of simulated SX measurements from the current SX diagnostic design of Heliotron J (H-J), which is a medium size heliotron device. Heliotron J has a unique magnetic geometry, and the quantitative identification of the plasma boundary and mode structure is a critical problem. The Phillip-Tikhonov regularization is employed to address the inversion problem. Finally, a new design for Heliotron J soft X-ray diagnostic is discussed which holds enhanced capabilities for tomographic reconstructions especially for the high poloidal number perturbations.

Vulnerabilities and risks of HIV infection among migrants in the Thane district, India.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the vulnerabilities and risks of HIV infection among female migrants compared with male migrants in the Thane district of Maharashtra, India. STUDY DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional epidemiological study. METHODS: Data from 35,841 migrants (men 96.2% and women 3.8%) were collected using the web-based 'Migrant Service Delivery System.' The data were then analysed in SPSS, version 23.0. Statistical analysis, including Chi-squared test and multivariate logistic regression, was used to identify factors influencing HIV infection for both male and female migrants. RESULTS: It was observed that 2.96% of female migrants had HIV infection compared with 0.77% of male migrants. We found that 12.1% of women consumed alcohol compared with 41.9% of men, and access to bars was 1.5% among women and 3.5% in men. We observed an even larger difference between men and women in their previous history of using brothels for sex; only 5.9% of female migrants reported previously having used brothels for sex, compared with 62.9% of male migrants. Approximately 12.3% of married women and 93.6% of married men had sex with someone other than their spouse. We found that 67.0% of married women and 73.9% of married men reported using a condom during their last sexual act compared with 60.9% of unmarried women and 68.1% of unmarried men. CONCLUSIONS: In Thane, female migrants faced higher vulnerabilities and risks of HIV infection than male migrants. Consequently, innovative strategies are required to address these particular needs of female migrants.

Practical consensus recommendations on management of HR + ve early breast cancer with specific reference to genomic profiling.

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease and patients are managed clinically based on ER, PR, HER2 expression, and key risk factors. The use of gene expression assays for early stage disease is already common practice. These tests have found a place in risk stratifying the heterogeneous group of stage I-II breast cancers for recurrence, for predicting chemotherapy response, and for predicting breast cancer-related mortality. Most guidelines for hormone receptor (HR)-positive early breast cancer recommend addition of adjuvant chemotherapy for most women, leading to overtreatment, which causes considerable morbidity and cost. Expert oncologist discussed about strategies of gene expression assays and aid in chemotherapy recommendations for treatment of HR + ve EBC and the expert group used data from published literature, practical experience and opinion of a large group of academic oncologists to arrive at this practical consensus recommendations for the benefit of community oncologists.

Retro-bulbar cyst of Coenurus gaigeri in Barbari goats.

Two adult Barbari goats were presented to the Division of Animal Health of the Institute with the history of unilateral protrusion of the left eye ball, blepharitis and congestion of the conjunctival membrane. Physical and ultrasonographical examination revealed large fluctuating fluid filled bladder with distinct dimensions. The cysts were successfully removed along with its membrane and parasitological examination revealed it as a Coenurus gaigeri, the intermediate stage of T. multiceps gaigeri. The present report describes the retro-bulbar cyst of Coenurus gaigeri in two Barbari goats. This is the first report of retro-bulbar cyst of Coenurus gaigeri in goats.

Quantification and localization of mast cells in periapical lesions.

BACKGROUND: Periapical lesions occur in response to chronic irritation in periapical tissue, generally resulting from an infected root canal. Specific etiological agents of induction, participating cell population and growth factors associated with maintenance and resolution of periapical lesions are incompletely understood. Among the cells found in periapical lesions, mast cells have been implicated in the inflammatory mechanism. AIM: Quantifications and the possible role played by mast cells in the periapical granuloma and radicular cyst. Hence, this study is to emphasize the presence (localization) and quantification of mast cells in periapical granuloma and radicular cyst. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 30 cases and out of which 15 of periapical granuloma and 15 radicular cyst, each along with the case details from the previously diagnosed cases in the department of oral pathology were selected for the study. The gender distribution showed male 8 (53.3%) and females 7 (46.7%) in periapical granuloma cases and male 10 (66.7%) and females 5 (33.3%) in radicular cyst cases. The statistical analysis used was unpaired t-test. RESULTS: Mean mast cell count in periapical granuloma subepithelial and deeper connective tissue, was 12.40 (0.99%) and 7.13 (0.83%), respectively. The mean mast cell counts in subepithelial and deeper connective tissue of radicular cyst were 17.64 (1.59%) and 12.06 (1.33%) respectively, which was statistically significant. No statistical significant difference was noted among males and females. CONCLUSION: Mast cells were more in number in radicular cyst. Based on the concept that mast cells play a critical role in the induction of inflammation, it is logical to use therapeutic agents to alter mast cell function and secretion, to thwart inflammation at its earliest phases. These findings may suggest the possible role of mast cells in the pathogenesis of periapical lesions.

Silicon drift detector based X-ray spectroscopy diagnostic system for the study of non-thermal electrons at Aditya tokamak.

Silicon drift detector based X-ray spectrometer diagnostic was developed to study the non-thermal electron for Aditya tokamak plasma. The diagnostic was mounted on a radial mid plane port at the Aditya. The objective of diagnostic includes the estimation of the non-thermal electron temperature for the ohmically heated plasma. Bi-Maxwellian plasma model was adopted for the temperature estimation. Along with that the study of high Z impurity line radiation from the ECR pre-ionization experiments was also aimed. The performance and first experimental results from the new X-ray spectrometer system are presented.

Certain fractional integral formulas involving the product of generalized Bessel functions.

We apply generalized operators of fractional integration involving Appell's function F 3(·) due to Marichev-Saigo-Maeda, to the product of the generalized Bessel function of the first kind due to Baricz. The results are expressed in terms of the multivariable generalized Lauricella functions. Corresponding assertions in terms of Saigo, Erdélyi-Kober, Riemann-Liouville, and Weyl type of fractional integrals are also presented. Some interesting special cases of our two main results are presented. We also point out that the results presented here, being of general character, are easily reducible to yield many diverse new and known integral formulas involving simpler functions.

Hordeum vulgare hull in the design of fast disintegrating tablets.

In the present study, fast disintegrating tablets were designed with a view to enhance patient compliance. In this method, the hull of Hordeum vulgare, cross carmellose sodium, and sodium starch glycolate were used as superdisintegrants (4 and 6%), along with microcrystalline cellulose and mannitol, to enhance mouth feel. The prepared batches of tablets were evaluated for hardness, friability, drug content uniformity, wetting time, water absorption ratio and in vitro dispersion time. Based on the in vitro dispersion time, the formulations were tested for the in vitro drug release pattern. Tablets having H. vulgare hull showed the release profile comparable to those tablets having sodium starch glycolate and cross carmellose sodium.

Metagenomic study of single-nucleotide polymorphism within candidate genes associated with type 2 diabetes in an Indian population.

A population-based study was undertaken to evaluate linkage between single-nucleotide polymorphisms known as risk factors and type 2 diabetes in an Indian population. The study population was comprised of 40 normal glucose-tolerant individuals (21 males and 19 females) and 40 type 2 diabetes patients (21 males and 19 females). The genes and their corresponding single-nucleotide polymorphisms that we screened were VDR (rs 731236 and rs 1544410), IL-6 (rs 1800795), TCF7L2 (rs 7903146) and TNF-α (rs 1800629). The risk alleles were more frequent in the subjects with type 2 diabetes, except for the TNF-α gene, which was very infrequent in the population; the normal allele occurred at high and similar frequencies in both normal and diabetic individuals.

Role of PGrs and inhibitors in induction and control of somatic embryogenesis in Themeda quadrivalvis.

Somatic embryogenesis could be achieved in Themeda quadrivalvis (Linn.) O. Ktze -fodder grass species on MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D. Incorporation of putrescine in the medium stimulated embryogenesis, however its lower concentration stimulated production of non-regenerative callus. Other polyamines such as spermine and spermidine could not evoke similar response. Ascorbic acid used as antioxidant could not prevent browning in embryogenic cultures, however it stimulated embryogenesis. Inhibition of auxin polar transport by use of TIBA and HFCA reduced the embryogenic response significantly and produced distorted or abnormal embryos. Antiethylene substances such as AgNO3 and CoCl2 added in the medium adversely affected the process of embryogenesis and counteracting the stimulatory role of ethylene.

In vitro growth and shoot multiplication in Terminalia bellerica roxB. under controlled carbon dioxide environment.

The shoot cultures of Terminalia bellerica Roxb. were grown on Murashige and Skoog's medium containing 1.5 mg 1(-1) BAP (6- benzyl aminopurine), and supplemented with or without sucrose (3%). A range of CO2 concentrations (0.0, 0.6, 10, 40 g(-3)) was provided in small acrylic chambers by using different concentrations and combinations of NaHCO3 (sodium bicarbonate), Na2CO3 (sodium carbonate), KHCO3 (potassium bicarbonate) and K2CO3 (potassium carbonate). To obtain a CO2-free environment, a saturated solution of 10% of KOH (potassium hydroxide) was kept in the chamber. Complete absence of carbon source caused death of shoots within 20 days. Under controlled and enriched CO2, the shoots grew fully photoautotropically on sucrose-free medium. The growth of cultures was better with carbon dioxide (40 g(-3)) than sucrose (3%) in the medium. Maximum number of shoots, number of leaves per cluster, fresh and dry weight and chlorophyll contents were recorded when both sucrose and CO2 (40 g(-3)) were provided to the culture.

Distribution of N- and O-linked oligosaccharides on surface of spermatozoa from normal and infertile subjects.

Sperm glycocalyx modifications are very important for gamete recognition and fertilisation in mammals. These processes may be associated with specific changes in the content and distribution of surface carbohydrates. The purpose of this study was to determine the distribution of surface carbohydrates in human spermatozoa from normal and oligospermic subjects. Fifteen ejaculates each from normal fertile and oligospermic individuals were analysed. N-linked and O-linked surface carbohydrates were detected by fluorescence microscopy using fluorescein isothiocynate-conjugated lectins. Triticum vulgaris agglutinin (WGA)-binding sites were found to be decreased on acrosomal domain in spermatozoa from oligospermic individuals, while no changes were observed in the binding sites of Concanavalin ensiformis, Peanut agglutinin and Lens clunaris agglutinin. A reduction in binding sites for soybean agglutinin and Ricinus communis agglutinin was observed on the acrosomal domains in spermatozoa from oligospermic individuals. Changes in sperm glycocalyx observed in this study provide new insights into molecular rearrangement of sperm membrane in infertility.

Hospital-based case series of 175 cases of serologically confirmed brucellosis in Bikaner.

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical spectrum of brucellosis in Bikaner (Northwest India). METHODS: A total of 175 cases were diagnosed as brucellosis during the period of six year (June 1997 to May 2003). They were studied for clinical profile and treated by rifampicin and doxycyclin and additionally streptomycin for initial 14 days in patients of neurobrucellosis. These patients were followed up to 3 months. RESULTS: Patients of brucellosis presented with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. Out of 175 cases 155 were from rural area. Age ranged between 12-60 years (124 males, 51 females). Analysis of risk factors revealed history of raw milk ingestion (86.86%), occupational contact with animals (81.14%), handling of infected material (62.28%), household contact (16%) and 2 patients were veterinarian. Joint pain (83.43%) and fever (77.71%) were the commonest presenting feature. Sacroiliac joint was most commonly involved (46.86%). 31 cases had involvement of multiple joints. Other mode of presentation were neurobrucellosis (18.86%), manifested as polyradiculoneuropathy, myeloradiculopathy, meningoencephalopathy and polyradiculomyeloencephalopathy; predominant pulmonary involvement (4.0%) presented as bronchitis, pneumonia and pleural effusion; epididymoorchitis, infective endocarditis, nephrotic syndrome and recurrent abortion. All patients responded well to the treatment. CONCLUSION: Brucellosis is an important emerging zoonotic disease but it is often under-diagnosed due to lack of suspicion and diagnostic facilities despite the fact that cattle farming (an important high risk group) is one of the main occupation in rural area. This report should infuse the awareness about this reemerging disease specifically in high-risk group.