Iron deficiency in the fetal and neonatal period (perinatal iron deficiency) bodes poorly for neurodevelopment. Given its common occurrence and the negative impact on brain development, a screening ...and treatment strategy that is focused on optimizing brain development in perinatal iron deficiency is necessary. Pediatric societies currently recommend a universal iron supplementation strategy for full-term and preterm infants that does not consider individual variation in body iron status and thus could lead to undertreatment or overtreatment. Moreover, the focus is on hematological normalcy and not optimal brain development. Several serum iron indices and hematological parameters in the perinatal period are associated with a risk of abnormal neurodevelopment, suggesting their potential use as biomarkers for screening and monitoring treatment in infants at risk for perinatal iron deficiency. A biomarker-based screening and treatment strategy that is focused on optimizing brain development will likely improve outcomes in perinatal iron deficiency.
Under partial shading conditions, photovoltaic (PV) systems exhibit multiple peaks in their power-voltage (<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">\mathbf{P-V}</tex-math></inline-formula>) ...characteristics. It is essential to extract maximum energy from the PV system. The global maximum power point tracking (GMPPT) algorithms presented in the literature, track the global peak using different methods. It is imperative to have minimal convergence time for GMPPT process. This paper proposes a novel algorithm to track the global peak using voltage and current perturbation. The new GMPPT algorithm operates in a current perturbation or voltage perturbation mode, based on the value of a control variable. In either mode, the proposed technique generates reference current or reference voltage, for navigating the operating point to GMPP location. The proposed algorithm is compared with two GMPPT algorithms, namely, modified maximum power trapezium (M-MPT) and high-performance GMPPT algorithms. The simulation studies are performed in MATLAB and is validated using a laboratory prototype, with dSPACE 1202 MicroLabBox controller for implementing GMPPT methods. Simulation and experimental results show that the new technique exhibits superior performance in terms of tracking time. Also, the energy efficiency is improved by 40% while using the proposed GMPPT algorithm for the irradiance profiles considered in this paper compared to the other two techniques.
Secured software development must employ a security mindset across software engineering practices. Software security must be considered during the requirements phase so that it is included throughout ...the development phase. Do the requirements gathering team get the proper input from the technical team? This paper unearths some of the data sources buried within software development phases and describes the potential approaches to understand them. Concepts such as machine learning and deep learning are explored to understand the data sources and explore how these learnings can be provided to the requirements gathering team. This knowledge system will help bring objectivity in the conversations between the requirements gathering team and the customer's business team. A literature review is also done to secure requirements management and identify the possible gaps in providing future research direction to enhance our understanding. Feature engineering in the landscape of software development is explored to understand the data sources. Experts offer their insight on the root cause of the lack of security focus in requirements gathering practices. The core theme is statistical modeling of all the software artifacts that hold information related to the software development life cycle. Strengthening of some traditional methods like threat modeling is also a key area explored. Subjectivity involved in these approaches can be made more objective.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Considerable progress in carotenoids research has been made to understand the carotenoid metabolism in animals including human. Epidemiological and clinical studies have correlated with dietary ...intake of carotenoids on reduction of vitamin A deficiency, age-related macular degeneration, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Recent findings demonstrate the existence of carotenoid metabolites in vivo and their efficacy have made greater insight on prospecting carotenoid metabolites. Owing to their biological activity, exploration of analytical methods for the characterization of carotenoid metabolites is considered to be important before addressing the stability and bioactivity. Although few studies are available on carotenoid metabolites, their structural characterization in biological samples require a substantial refining of analytical protocols like isolation, purification, prerequisite of equipment parameters and robustness in hyphenated techniques. Recently, researchers have focused on biotransformation of carotenoids and made an attempt to screen their metabolites by high-throughput analytical strategies. However, till date there is no detailed analytical techniques available to fingerprint carotenoid metabolites, due to interference with complex biological matrices. This review highlights the carotenoid metabolism, possible bioconversion and available bio-analytical techniques to characterize metabolites in vivo. Further, advancement in sensitivity, mode of ionization and fragmentation patterns of metabolites were also discussed. The identification of carotenoid metabolites in system specific will have further insight in the emerging field of nutritional metabolomics.
•Metabolomics of carotenoids.•Metabolism of hydrocarbon carotenoids.•Metabolism of oxygenated carotenoids.•Hyphenated techniques to characterize carotenoids and their metabolites.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Perfusion index (PI) is a new parameter tried for predicting hypotension during spinal anaesthesia for the lower segment caesarean section (LSCS). This study aimed at investigating the correlation ...between baseline perfusion index and incidence of hypotension following SAB in LSCS.
In this prospective observational study, 126 parturients were divided into two groups on the basis of baseline PI. Group I included parturients with PI of ≤3.5 and Group II, parturients with PI values >3.5. Spinal anaesthesia was performed with 10 mg of injection bupivacaine 0.5% (hyperbaric) at L3-L4 or L2-L3 interspace. Hypotension was defined as mean arterial pressure <65 mmHg. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square test, independent sample
-test and Mann-Whitney U-test. Regression analysis with Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was done to assess the correlation between baseline PI and hypotension. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted for PI and occurrence of hypotension.
The incidence of hypotension in Group I was 10.5% compared to 71.42% in Group II (
< 0.001). There was significant correlation between baseline PI >3.5 and number of episodes of hypotension (
0.416,
< 0.001) and total dose of ephedrine (
0.567,
< 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of baseline PI of 3.5 to predict hypotension was 69.84% and 89.29%, respectively. The area under the ROC curve for PI to predict hypotension was 0.848.
Baseline perfusion index >3.5 is associated with a higher incidence of hypotension following spinal anesthesia in elective LSCS.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Toward a method for direct conversion of alkenes to cyclic guanidines, we report that 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of 2-amido-1,3-diamino allylic cations with alkenes provide a new method for direct ...cyclic guanidine annulation. Generated under oxidative conditions, the 2-amido-1,3-diaminoallyl cations react as 1,3-dipoles providing rapid access to 2-amino imidazolines through net (3 + 2) cycloadditions. The utility is demonstrated through a concise synthesis of the oroidin alkaloid, phakellin. The described 1,3-dipole also participates in net (4 + 3) cycloadditions with dienes.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to extend a sensitivity-based reliability technique for the processors deployed in industrial drive (ID).
Design/methodology/approach
The processor provides ...flexible operation, re-configurability, and adaptable compatibility in industrial motor drive system. A sensitivity-based model allows a robust tool for validating the system design. Sensitivity is the probability of a partial failure rate for a distributed variable; sensitivity and failure rates are also complementary. Conversely, traditional power electronic components reliability estimating standards have overlooked it, and it is essential to update them to account for the sensitivity parameter. A new sensitivity-based reliability prediction methodology for a typical 32-bit microprocessor operating at 30ºC deployed in ID is presented to fill this gap. The proposed techniques are compared with the estimated processor reliability values obtained from various reliability standards using the validated advanced logistics development tool. The main contribution of this work is to provide a sensitivity extended reliability method over the conventional method directing toward improving reliability, availability, and maintainability in the design of ID.
Findings
The analysis shows that the sensitivity of the processor’s circuit increases due to increases in complexity of the system by reducing the overall mean time between failure upon comparing among conventional reliability standards.
Originality/value
The significance of this paper lies in the overall, sensitivity-based reliability technique for processors in comparison to the traditional reliability complexity in IDs.
Background Endogenous erythropoietin (EPO) concentrations vary widely in preterm infants and may be associated with perinatal risk factors and neurological outcomes. Erythropoietin is elevated in ...fetal hypoxia but is also a potential neuroprotectant. Methods In a prospective study of 27 infants less than or equal to 30 weeks gestation, serum erythropoietin concentrations were measured during the first month of life, on day 1 and weeks 1, 2, and 4, and related to perinatal risk factors and outcomes including retinopathy of prematurity and cerebral injury evaluated near term-equivalent post menstrual age using magnetic resonance imaging with quantitative scoring. Results Lower birth weight was associated with higher EPO concentrations throughout the first 2 weeks of life (r = -0.6, p < 0.01). Higher day 1 and week 1 EPO concentrations were associated with lower Apgar score at 1 minute (r = - 0.5) and 5 minutes (r = -0.7), respectively (p < 0.01). Higher day 1 EPO concentrations and 2-week area under the curve were associated with increased risk (p = 0.01) and severity (r = 0.5, p < 0.02) of retinopathy of prematurity. Higher EPO concentrations at 2 weeks were associated with increased total brain injury score (r = 0.5, p < 0.05). Conclusion Elevated endogenous erythropoietin concentrations in the first two weeks of life are associated with lower birth weight and increased risk of adverse outcomes.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (NHB) can lead to brain injury in newborn infants by affecting specific regions including the cerebellum and hippocampus. Extremely preterm infants are more vulnerable to ...bilirubin neurotoxicity, but the mechanism and extent of injury is not well understood. A preterm version of the Gunn rat model was utilized to investigate severe preterm NHB. Homozygous/jaundiced Gunn rat pups were injected (i.p.) on postnatal day (P) 5 with sulfadimethoxine, which increases serum free bilirubin capable of crossing the blood–brain barrier and causing brain injury. The neurochemical profiles of the cerebellum and hippocampus were determined using in vivo 1H MRS at 9.4 T on P30 and compared with those of heterozygous/non‐jaundiced control rats. Transcript expression of related genes was determined by real‐time quantitative PCR. MRI revealed significant morphological changes in the cerebellum of jaundiced rats. The concentrations of myo‐inositol (+54%), glucose (+51%), N‐acetylaspartylglutamate (+21%), and the sum of glycerophosphocholine and phosphocholine (+17%) were significantly higher in the cerebellum of the jaundiced group compared with the control group. Despite the lack of morphologic changes in the hippocampus, the concentration of myo‐inositol (+9%) was higher and the concentrations of creatine (−8%) and of total creatine (−3%) were lower in the jaundiced group. In the hippocampus, expression of calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II alpha (Camk2a), glucose transporter 1 (Glut1), and Glut3 transcripts were downregulated in the jaundiced group. In the cerebellum, glial fibrillary acidic protein (Gfap), myelin basic protein (Mbp), and Glut1 transcript expression was upregulated in the jaundiced group. These results indicate osmotic imbalance, gliosis, and changes in energy utilization and myelination, and demonstrate that preterm NHB critically affects brain development in a region‐specific manner, with the cerebellum more severely impacted than the hippocampus.
A preterm Gunn rat model of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia was employed to study the regional effects of bilirubin on the developing brain regions using 1H MRS of the cerebellum and hippocampus. MRI demonstrated marked reduction in cerebellar volume in the jaundiced group and significant neurochemical changes compared with the control group (higher myo‐inositol, glucose, NAAG, and GPC + PC). While morphologic changes in the hippocampus were not observed, 1H MRS revealed small but significant neurochemical changes.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to propose an extended reliability method for an industrial motor drive by integrating the physics of failure (PoF).
Design/methodology/approach
Industrial motor ...drive systems (IMDS) are currently expected to perform beyond the desired operating conditions to meet the demand. The PoF of the subsystem affects its reliability under such harsh operating circumstances. It is crucial to estimate reliability by integrating PoF, which helps in understanding its impact and to develop a fault-tolerant design, particularly in such an integrated drive system. An integrated PoF extended reliability method for industrial drive system is proposed to address this issue. In research, the numerical failure rate of each component of industrial drive is obtained first with the help of the MIL-HDBK-217 military handbook. Furthermore, the mathematically deduced proposed approach is modeled in the GoldSim Monte Carlo reliability workbench.
Findings
From the results, for a 15% rise in integrated PoF, the reliability and availability of the entire IMDS dropped by 23%, resulting in an impact on mean time to failure (MTTF).
Originality/value
The integrated PoF of the motor and motor controller affects industrial drive reliability, which falls to 0.18 with the least MTTF (2.27 years); whose overall reliability of industrial drive drops to 0.06 if it is additionally integrated with communication protocol.