Explaining demand patterns during COVID-19 using opportunistic data: a case study of the city of Munich.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is a new phenomenon and has affected the population's lifestyle in many ways, such as panic buying (the so-called "hamster shopping"), adoption of home-office, and decline in retail shopping. For transportation planners and operators, it is interesting to analyze the spatial factors' role in the demand patterns at a POI (Point of Interest) during the COVID-19 lockdown viz-a-viz before lockdown. Data and Methods: This study illustrates a use-case of the POI visitation rate or popularity data and other publicly available data to analyze demand patterns and spatial factors during a highly dynamic and disruptive event like COVID-19. We develop regression models to analyze the correlation of the spatial and non-spatial attributes with the POI popularity before and during COVID-19 lockdown in Munich by using lockdown (treatment) as a dummy variable, with main and interaction effects. Results: In our case-study for Munich, we find consistent behavior of features like stop distance and day-of-the-week in explaining the popularity. The parking area is found to be correlated only in the non-linear models. Interactions of lockdown with POI type, stop-distance, and day-of-the-week are found to be strongly significant. The results might not be transferable to other cities due to the presence of different city-specific factors. Conclusion: The findings from our case-study provide evidence of the impact of the restrictions on POIs and show the significant correlation of POI-type and stop distance with POI popularity. These results suggest local and temporal variability in the impact due to the restrictions, which can impact how cities adapt their transport services to the distinct demand and resulting mobility patterns during future disruptive events.

Histopathological and immunohistochemical approaches for the diagnosis of Pasteurellosis in swine population of Punjab.

AIM: Infectious porcine bronchopneumonia, caused by Pasteurella multocida, is a widespread disease of major economic significance. Thus, the aim of the present study was to diagnose swine Pasteurellosis using gross, histopathological, and immunopathological approaches in the swine population of Punjab and to compare the efficacy of immunohistochemical (IHC) techniques with conventional diagnostic techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 71 adult swine lung samples showing gross pneumonic changes were collected along with the associated lymph nodes to carry out the study. The collected samples were then processed for histopathological and IHC studies. RESULTS: Out of the total 71 lung samples, 26 samples were found to be suspected for Pasteurellosis as per the microscopic changes observed, and out of these 26 samples, 16 cases were confirmed to be positive for Pasteurellosis by IHC. Varied macroscopic changes noted in lungs were pneumonic patches with consolidation of many lobes, congestion, and focal hemorrhages. Main lesions associated with lymph nodes were its enlargement and hemorrhages. Histologically, the lung showed fibrinous and suppurative bronchopneumonia, multifocal suppuration, thickening of septa with fibrin combined with cellular infiltration and edema. The higher IHC expression of P. multocida was seen in the bronchial epithelium besides in alveolar and bronchial exudate. Moreover, on comparing the histopathological and IHC scores which were calculated on the basis of characteristic microscopic lesions and number of antigen positive cells, respectively, a significant positive correlation (r=0.4234) was found. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that swine population of Punjab is having P. multocida infection. The gross and histopathological lesions can be helpful in the preliminary diagnosis of Pasteurellosis but needs to be supplemented by other immunodiagnostic tests. Moreover, IHC technique proved to be a specific, reliable, precise, and rapid technique to supplement these conventional methods of diagnosis for Pasteurellosis.

Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis in Sahiwal cattle from an organized farm using ante-mortem techniques.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis (TB) and detection of Mycobacterium bovis in cattle from an organized dairy farm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 121 animals (93 females and 28 males) of 1 year and above were studied for the prevalence of bovine TB using single intradermal comparative cervical tuberculin (SICCT) test, bovine gamma-interferon (γ-IFN) enzyme immunoassay, and polymerase chain reactions (PCRs). RESULTS: Out of total 121 animals, 17 (14.04%) animals were positive reactors to SICCT test while only one (0.82%) animal for γ-IFN assay. By PCR, Mycobacterium TB complex was detected in 19 (15.70%) animals out of which 4 (3.30%) animal were also positive for M. bovis. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis of bovine TB can be done in early stage in live animals with multiple approaches like skin test followed by a molecular technique like PCR which showed promising results.

Modification of Ni-Rich FCG NMC and NCA Cathodes by Atomic Layer Deposition: Preventing Surface Phase Transitions for High-Voltage Lithium-Ion Batteries.

The energy density of current lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) based on layered LiMO2 cathodes (M = Ni, Mn, Co: NMC; M = Ni, Co, Al: NCA) needs to be improved significantly in order to compete with internal combustion engines and allow for widespread implementation of electric vehicles (EVs). In this report, we show that atomic layer deposition (ALD) of titania (TiO2) and alumina (Al2O3) on Ni-rich FCG NMC and NCA active material particles could substantially improve LIB performance and allow for increased upper cutoff voltage (UCV) during charging, which delivers significantly increased specific energy utilization. Our results show that Al2O3 coating improved the NMC cycling performance by 40% and the NCA cycling performance by 34% at 1 C/-1 C with respectively 4.35 V and 4.4 V UCV in 2 Ah pouch cells. High resolution TEM/SAED structural characterization revealed that Al2O3 coatings prevented surface-initiated layered-to-spinel phase transitions in coated materials which were prevalent in uncoated materials. EIS confirmed that Al2O3-coated materials had significantly lower increase in the charge transfer component of impedance during cycling. The ability to mitigate degradation mechanisms for Ni-rich NMC and NCA illustrated in this report provides insight into a method to enable the performance of high-voltage LIBs.

Diagnosis and management of bovine babesiosis outbreaks in cattle in Punjab state.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to diagnose severe outbreaks of bovine babesiosis in Punjab state, in the year 2015 and to suggest control and preventive measures to animal owners. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mortality of animals was recorded in two cattle herd comprising a total of 465 cattle in Sangrur (n=125) and Faridkot (n=340) districts. There was a history of purchase of animals at one farm. 23 blood samples were collected from diseased (n=15) and healthy animals (n=8) for hematological analysis, parasitological, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based diagnosis. Ticks were also collected from animals for identification. RESULTS: Out of 465 cattle at risk, 28 were critically ill and 14 died of disease with morbidity, mortality, and case fatality rate of 6.02%, 3.01%, and 50.00%, respectively. Clinical signs and necropsy findings were suggestive of babesiosis. Ticks collected from both the outbreaks were identified as Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. Thin blood smears from infected animals (especially with clinical sign of hemoglobinuria) were found positive for Babesia bigemina organisms; however, molecular diagnosis (PCR) further confirmed the disease. Animals were successfully treated with diminazene aceturate, hematinics, and antipyretics. CONCLUSIONS: Two fatal outbreaks of babesiosis in cattle were diagnosed with application of conventional parasitological, hematological, and molecular diagnostic techniques. PCR was found to be far more sensitive in detecting the disease, especially in latent infections. Animal owners were advised to follow quarantine measures before mixing new animals in the herd and strategic acaricidal treatments for effective tick control.

Toxicological and pathological review of concurrent occurrence of nitrite toxicity and Swine Fever in pigs.

BACKGROUND: Plant associated nitrate/nitrite poisoning in buffalo, cattle, goat and sheep had been reported from various parts of the world. Horses and pigs are considered less susceptible to nitrate poisoning. In this study epidemiology of rare outbreak of nitrate poisoning in combination with classical swine fever in a small pig farm was investigated for development of strategies to control and prevent such incidents in future. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Concurrent infection of nitrate toxicity and classical swine fever were recorded in district Nawanshahar, Punjab. Eight pigs suddenly fell sick and died 2 days after feeding barseem + oats and marriage waste food. Twelve pigs were sick exhibiting symptoms of anorexia, fever (104-105(o)F), depression, constipation followed by diarrhea, respiratory difficulty, tremors and staggering gait with recumbency in four completely off-feed pigs. Blotchy discolorations of the skin of extremities (ears and snout) were observed in three pigs. RESULTS: Hematological examination revealed marked leucopenia. Postmortem examination revealed dark brown colored blood evident on opening the carcass and presence of barseem, oats in stomach and intestines. Lymph nodes were swollen and hemorrhagic. Serosal surface of spleen show various infarcts and button ulcers were recorded in cecum and colon, pathognomic lesion of classical swine fever. Nitrate toxicity was confirmed on the basis of quantitative determination of nitrate in the biological material of sick and dead animals. Fodder samples were (barseem + oats) positive for diphenylamine blue (DPB) test, Nitrate concentration in offended barseem and oats were found to be 2612 ppm and 3344 ppm as nitrate nitrogen (No3-N), respectively. Excessive amount of nitrate in stomach contents (924-1365 ppm), liver (22-48 ppm) and kidney (17-22 ppm) of dead animals (n = 8) confirmed that death of pigs was due to toxicity induced by nitrate/nitrite. CONCLUSION: The green fodder should be used cautiously in pigs and screening of fodder with DPB test prior offering to animals is strongly recommended to contain the nitrate/nitrite toxicity risk.

Claw lesions causing clinical lameness in lactating holstein frisian crossbred cows.

The objective of this study was to identify claw lesions causing clinical lameness in lactating Holstein Frisian (HF) crossbred cows in dairy cattle. Seventy dairy farmers were interviewed at the monthly meetings of Progressive Dairy Farmers Association of Ludhiana, Punjab, India. Ten dairy farms were randomly selected as per probability proportional to size and a total of 450 lactating HF crossbred cows were taken into the study. All the lactating cows were scored for locomotion and rear leg view index. Trimming was done in all the clinically lame animals (animals with locomotion scores 2 and 3) and equal number of animals selected randomly from those with locomotion scores 0 and 1. Various claw lesions were evaluated in both the groups. There was a significant relationship between locomotion score and rear leg view index to identify lameness. Sole ulcers and white line fissures were the lesions responsible for clinical lameness. Other lesions did not cause clinical lameness but increased the asymmetry in lactating HF crossbred cows. Both locomotion score and rear leg view index could be reliably used to identify clinical lameness in lactating cattle.

Ring-closing metathesis of sulfoximine-substituted N-tethered trienes: modular asymmetric synthesis of medium-ring nitrogen heterocycles.

A synthesis of sulfoximine-substituted medium-ring nitrogen heterocycles (MRNHs) having a high degree of substitution has been developed. Its key steps are the modular asymmetric synthesis of sulfoximine-substituted N-tethered trienes and their Ru-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction. The highly substituted N-tethered trienes were obtained enantio- and diastereopure through 1) the diastereoselective aminoalkylation of sulfoximine-substituted allyltitanium complexes with N-tert-butylsulfonyliminoester, 2) N-allylation of homoallylic N-sulfonyl amines, 3) allylation, hydroxylalkylation, and formylation of α-lithioalkenylsulfoximines, and 4) allylation of α-formylalkenylsulfoximines. The Ru-catalyzed RCM reaction of the sulfoximine-substituted 1,7,10- and 1,7,12-trienes stereoselectively afforded the corresponding nine-, ten-, and eleven-membered MRNHs in good yields. An interesting difference in reactivity was noted in the case of a sulfoximine-substituted 1,7,10-triene and its corresponding 1,10-diene. While the triene readily underwent a RCM reaction, the diene reacted only in the presence of Ti(OiPr)(4) under formation of the corresponding MRNH. The feasibility of a removal of the sulfoximine auxiliary and the N-sulfonyl protecting group from the MRNHs were demonstrated through reduction and cleavage, respectively, of a nine-membered heterocycle, both of which proceeded readily and gave the corresponding cyclic alkene and amine, respectively.

Enhancement of the photoelectrochemical conversion efficiency of nanotubular TiO2 photoanodes using nitrogen plasma assisted surface modification.

A synergistic combination of nanostructure synthesis and plasma surface modification was used to enhance the photoelectrochemical activity of titania (TiO(2)) anodes. Titania nanotubular photoanodes were synthesized by electrochemical anodization of Ti thin foils. Nitrogen plasma was used to dope N at the surface of the photoanodes while removing chemisorbed species. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis showed an increase in the surface concentration of nitrogen. The photocurrent density of plasma treated samples was approximately 80% higher than that of the control. The open circuit potential of the plasma treated samples was more negative compared to that of the control, implying a favorable energetics for water splitting. This increase in photoactivity could be ascribed to: (1) increased absorption of visible light due to bandgap reduction, (2) minimization of charge carrier traps, (3) optimal oxygen vacancies, and (4) increased surface area for enhanced optical absorption and improved charge carrier generation.

Synthesis and evaluation of 4/5-hydroxy-2,3-diaryl(substituted)-cyclopent-2-en-1-ones as cis-restricted analogues of combretastatin A-4 as novel anticancer agents.

A new series of 2,3-diaryl-4/5-hydroxy-cyclopent-2-en-1-one analogues replacing the cis double bond of combretastatin A-4 (CA-4) by 4/5-hydroxy cyclopentenone moieties was designed and synthesized. The analogues displayed potent cytotoxic activity (IC50<1 microg/mL) against a panel of human cancer cell lines and endothelial cells. The most potent analogues 11 and 42 belonging to the 5-hydroxy cyclopentenone class were further evaluated for their mechanism of action. Both of the analogues led to cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and induced apoptosis in endothelial cells. Antitubulin property of 42 was superior to 11 and comparable to CA-4. The compound 42 had better aqueous solubility, metabolic stability, and pharmacokinetic profile than CA-4 and also demonstrated significant tumor regression in the human colon xenograft model. Our data suggests that cis-restricted analogues of CA-4 are a new class of molecules that have the potential to be developed as novel agents for the treatment of cancer.