BackgroundDengue, the mosquito-borne febrile disease caused by the dengue virus, has become one of the major concerns of public health. It may present with only fever, or there may be a hemorrhagic ...manifestation or septic shock. As there is no specific treatment for dengue, early detection of the disease, assessment of progression, and prediction of outcome by studying the laboratory markers will help guide the management of cases and lower morbidity and mortality.MethodologyThis clinico-observational study was conducted at the Department of Microbiology in a tertiary care hospital in Kolkata, India, from February 2020 to August 2022 to determine the outcome of dengue patients in correlation with viral load, NS1 antigen, IgM and IgG antibodies, ferritin level, platelet count, and other laboratory parameters.ResultsOut of 316 samples from fever patients, 103 (32.5%) were NS1 antigen reactive. We followed up the dengue patients (n = 103) for 15 days and divided them into three groups according to their duration of symptoms (group A suffered for ≤5 days, group B for 5 to 10 days, and group C for >10 days) and per the WHO classification of disease severity, namely dengue without warning signs (DOS), dengue with warning signs (DWS), and severe dengue (SD). Based on severity, 65 (63.1%) patients had DOS, whereas 31 (30.09%) patients had DWS, and seven (6.79%) patients had SD. Secondary infection was present in 83.33% of patients in group C, 71% of DWS cases, and 57% of SD cases, which positively correlates with liver enzymes, viral load (mean value 102195 in secondary infection vs. 1195 copies/10 µl in primary infection), and negatively correlates with platelet counts (mean value 60,213 in secondary infection vs. 1,25,516 in primary infection). Patients in group C had higher liver enzymes, a lower platelet count, and a higher initial viral load than groups A and B. Similarly, SD cases had a higher ferritin level (9215 ug/l), a lower platelet count (mean value 23,250), and a higher initial viral load (mean value 2,74,257 copies/10 µl). An increase in hematocrit value considering the peak value and its baseline value is an important marker for disease severity rather than its absolute value.ConclusionPoor outcome of dengue infection, i.e., an increase in the duration of symptoms and disease severity depends on concurrent associations between high serum ferritin, increased hematocrit level, thrombocytopenia, secondary infection, increasing liver enzymes, and increased initial viral load.
Abstract
Major part of the Earth's continental crust is evolved during the Archean, however, the mechanism for its formation is controversial. It could have formed either through horizontal accretion ...similar to the modern plate tectonic processes or by vertical accretion by plume activity. Here, we present the results of a new deep crustal seismic reflection Profiling, the DHARSEIS experiment conducted along a 200 km long Perur-Chikmagalur profile across the Archean Dharwar craton, to understand the crustal evolutionary processes during the Neoarchean. The data were processed using the Common Reflection Surface (CRS) stack method. Seismic images show distinctly different reflectivity patterns in the Mesoarchean Western and Neoarchean Eastern Dharwar Cratons (WDC and EDC), the two crustal blocks of the composite Dharwar craton. The WDC consists of a simple structure with a major part of the crust from 6 to 28 km displaying a gently dipping reflection fabric and a subhorizontal reflection fabric from 28 to 40 km except beneath the Chitradurga schist belt. On the other hand the EDC displays a complex reflectivity pattern, contrary to the simple crustal structure suggested by various other studies. A dipping Moho, oppositely dipping reflection fabric and a thrust fault are the major crustal features in the EDC. The present seismic study imaged a west-dipping reflection fabric extending from 34 to 43 km in the EDC, which is interpreted to represent an upper-mantle subduction zone. During this process the EDC was thrusted obliquely against the pre-existing proto-continent WDC and accreted to it. Oppositely dipping reflection fabrics with a crustal root at the convergence boundary suggest accretion of WDC and EDC during the Neoarchean orogeny. The collisional boundary coincides with the location of ∼2.5 Ga Closepet granite. Seismic images suggest the Moho as a detachment boundary. The present study reveals a likely two-stage subduction-accretion process for the evolution of continental crust during the Neoarchean. Plate tectonic processes were responsible for the Neoarchean crustal growth in the region.
•Neoarchean accretion in the Dharwar Craton.•Crustal thickness varies from 38km to 42km across CSZ.•Variation in crustal thickness is gradational without any sharp offset in Moho.•High-velocity ...(7.1kms−1) lower-crustal-layer represents magmatic underplating.•Archean cratons are susceptible to reworking.
The Dharwar Craton in the southern part of the Indian shield comprises two distinct blocks viz. the Meso-Neoarchean western and the predominantly Neoarchean eastern blocks, which are popularly referred to as Western Dharwar Craton (WDC) and Eastern Dharwar Craton (EDC). The boundary between the WDC and EDC is marked by a prominent shear zone, the Chitradurga eastern margin shear zone (CSZ). Several studies suggested Neoarchean convergence between the EDC and WDC, although there is diversity of opinion on the tectonic process. We present here the results of a new seismic refraction/wide-angle reflection experiment along a 200km long profile across the WDC and EDC encompassing the CSZ to elucidate the crustal velocity structure of the convergence zone. Travel time inversion and amplitude modeling of the seismic data delineate a five-layered crustal velocity model for the Dharwar Craton with a 42km (minimum) thick crust in the WDC grading to a distinctly thinner crust up to 38km, in the EDC. The transect is also characterized by a high-velocity (7.0–7.1kms−1) mafic lower-crustal layer, but with distinctly variable thickness, 10km in WDC and 8km in EDC. The transition from thick to thinner crust coincides with the CSZ. The thick crust with a high-velocity basal layer is atypical of Archean cratons, but more akin to Proterozoic terrains. The crustal velocity structure across the EDC–WDC boundary zone is consistent with the Neoarchean plate convergence model that invoke tectonic scenarios, such as accretion of a hot orogen, the EDC and/or westward subduction of the latter beneath the WDC. Spatial variation in the high-velocity lower-crustal layer across the craton is ascribed to post-accretional mafic magmatism and underplating mainly during the Paleoproterozoic and Phanerozoic.
Parallelising transformations of Kahn process networks (KPNs) are important mechanisms for achieving speedup for deployment on heterogeneous multiprocessor systems particularly in the domain of ...signal processing applications. Correctness of such parallelising transformations is crucial for their reliable applications. In this study, verification frameworks for checking correctness of sequential to KPN behavioural transformation and KPN level transformations are presented. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, these are the first such approaches for verification problems. The sequential behaviour and the KPN behaviours are both modelled as array data dependence graphs (ADDGs) and the verification problem is posed as the problem of checking of equivalence between the two ADDGs. The key aspect of the proposed scheme is to model a KPN behaviour as an ADDG. Correctness of KPN to ADDG construction method is proved. Experimental results supporting usability of this scheme are also provided.
There are different places in India where natural stone aggregates are not available for constructional work. Plastic coated OBBA can solve the problem of shortage of stone aggregate to some extent. ...The engineers are always encouraged to use locally available materials. The present investigation is carried out to evaluate the plastic coated OBBA as an alternative material for bituminous road construction. Shredded waste plastics are mixed with OBBA in different percentages as 0.38, 0.42, 0.46, 0.50, 0.54, and 0.60 of the weight of brick aggregates. Marshall Method of mix design is carried out to find the optimum bitumen content of such bituminous concrete mix prepared by plastic coated OBBA. Bulk density, Marshall Stability, flow, Marshall Quotient, ITS, TSR, stripping, fatigue life, and deformations have been determined accordingly. Marshall Stability value of 0.54 percent of plastic mix is comparatively higher than the other mixes except 0.60 percent of plastic mix. Test results are within the prescribed limit for 0.54 percent of plastic mix. There is a significant reduction in rutting characteristics of the same plastic mix. The fatigue life of the mix is also significantly higher. Thus plastic coated OBBA is found suitable in construction of bituminous concrete road.
The paper describes an investigation into mechanical properties of brick-stone bituminous concrete mix. The effect of brick-stone mix on various mechanical properties of the bituminous concrete such ...as Marshall stability, flow, Marshall Quotient (stability to flow ratio), Indirect Tensile Strength, stripping, rutting, and fatigue life of bituminous concrete overlay has been evaluated. In this study over-burnt brick aggregate (OBBA) and stone aggregate (SA) have been mixed in different ratios (by weight) such as 20 : 80, 40 : 60, 60 : 40, and 80 : 20, respectively. The laboratory results indicate that bituminous concrete, prepared by 20% brick aggregate and 80% stone aggregate, gives the highest Marshall stability. This bituminous concrete mix shows considerable improvement in various mechanical properties of the mix as compared to the other mixes.
Renal involvement in tuberculosis occurs due to lympho-hematogenous dissemination. However, glomerular involvement is an uncommon event. Crescentic nephritis complicating tuberculosis is a ...therapeutic dilemma and weighs the risk of worsening the infection after immunosuppressive therapy. We present here a case of miliary tuberculosis with immune complex crescentic nephritis with advanced renal injury requiring renal replacement therapy. A diagnosis of miliary tuberculosis was made on the basis of positive sputum AFB, lymph node biopsy showing caseating granulomas and urinary polymerase chain reaction being positive for mycobacterial antigens. The patient recovered renal function with anti-tuberculous therapy with-out requiring immunosuppressive therapy.
Steroids have been the cornerstone of first-line therapy in adult-onset minimal change disease (MCD). The period of exposure to high dose steroids may be longer in adult MCD patients and would result ...in higher rates of steroid-related side effects. Although tacrolimus (TAC) is known to be effective in steroid-dependent/resistant MCD as well as in nephrotic syndrome due to other causes, there are minimal data available for assessing the effectiveness of TAC as the first-line agent in adult MCD. This is a prospective, open-label, randomized controlled study conducted from April 2014 to March 2016. Patients were randomized into two groups A and B which received TAC for 12 months and oral steroids for six months, respectively. Primary outcomes were remission rates, drug resistance was measured at 6, 12,and 18 months in each group and secondary outcomes were relapse rates, sustained remission rates, dependency, and adverse effects were measured at 18 months in both groups. At six months, total response (TR, i.e., complete and partial remission) was achieved in 80% in the TAC group and 78.26% in the steroid group (P = 1.000). At 12 months, TR was 60% in the TAC group and 43.48% in the steroid group (P = 0.386). At 18 months, TR rate was 44% in the TAC group and 43.48% in the steroid group (P = 1.000). About 32% in the TAC group and 39.13% in steroid group had relapsed by 18 months. Serious adverse effects were similar in the two groups, but overall adverse effects were more in the steroid group. TAC as a primary agent is not inferior to steroids in inducing remission. TAC may be considered as an alternative agent to steroid in high-risk groups such as elderly patients, uncontrolled diabetes and young females as a primary agent in the management of adult MCD.
The present investigation deals with Pd NPs casted over Fe2O3 support in formulating Pd/Fe2O3 catalyst with a complete non-Pt and non-carbon approach toward accomplishing the electrocatalysis of ...ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) at the anode and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the cathode in alkaline media for low-temperature fuel cell. The high electrochemical surface area (ECSA) for Pd/Fe2O3 with smart intervention of Fe2O3 directly/indirectly in EOR and ORR sequences makes this distinct catalyst a highly preferred choice in direct ethanol fuel cell with respect to reduced polarization loss, substantial current density output, and greater stability compared to the usual Pt or Pd nano-catalysts supported over carbon. Studies involved morphology, which was determined through electron microscopy and electrochemical characterization with the help of potentiodynamic polarization and RDE-RRDE techniques. The catalytic pre-eminence of the nanostructured Pd/Fe2O3 was manifested by the facile electrode kinetics at the anode and the cathode, low yield of H2O2 in ORR, and appreciable power density output of 36.01 mW cm−2 of the complete cell bearing enormous mass activity for both EOR and ORR. This novel attempt of introducing the same robust catalyst at both ends ensures better catalyst utilization, imparts affordability, and avoids carbon corrosion in the fuel cell environment.
The growing urbanization needs a good road network. A durable subgrade always supports a road for a longer period to perform better. The serviceability of roads largely depends on the flexibility of ...the highways to withstand heavy cyclic loads appearing in a repeated manner. The prolonged application of such important roads was improved using chemical and industrial wastes, by-products, and costly geosynthetic fibers in various proportions varying from site to site requirement. Laboratory condition fits the chemical and synthetic additives to enhance the strength of soil in controlled temperature and humidity used in the subgrade. A problem arises in rapid and low-budget road construction in an open exposure field condition which includes abrasiveness, temperature fluctuations, lubrication due to water, erosion, chemical and biological degradation, etc. Due to high cost and high-quality control requirements in the field, Geosynthetics are not always the first choice for road engineers. As alternative natural fibers are getting popularity for increasing the tensile load carrying capacity of subgrade soil and to reducing the application of industrial by-products which causes green house gas emission during production and also synthetic fibers. The cellulose of natural fibers mainly provided the rupture strength which enhances by removing lignin and pectin from fibers using lime (NaOH) treatment soaked for 4 days. The surfaces of the fibers (Cocnut + Areca) are coated with low viscous bituminous emulsion tar to increase the durability of the fiber-reinforced soil matrix. After pre-treatment, natural fibers are thoroughly mixed with soil in two separate ratios of 0.3% and 0.6% having two different lengths of 30 mm and 60 mm were taken to observe the modifications in the physical and mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced soil matrix using the same curing time. The compaction properties, workability, strength, and permeability properties were taken into consideration. Among four different combinations, 0.3%-0.6% dosage having the equal contribution of 30 mm coconut fiber and 30 mm areca tree fiber was found to be an optimum choice in sub-grade construction.
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