Double filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) was historically used for blood group incompatible renal transplantation. Very few studies are available worldwide regarding its efficiency in removing ...specific plasma components, and safety. We conducted a prospective observational cohort study over 1 year on patients undergoing DFPP for various renal indications. There were 15 patients with 39 sessions. The pre- and post-procedure plasma samples of serum IgG, IgA, IgM, fibrinogen, calcium, phosphate, potassium, and magnesium were analyzed. The effluent albumin concentration was also measured, and complications during the hospital stay were recorded. Cumulative removal of serum IgG, IgA, IgM, fibrinogen, and albumin at the end of four sessions were 72%, 89%, 96%, 88.5%, and 21.3%, respectively and effluent albumin concentration was 1.75 - 2.0 times (range: 6.3 g/dl - 7.2 g/dl; mean ± standard deviation (SD) - 7 g/dl ± 0.3 g/dl) the preprocedural serum albumin (mean ± SD - 3.5 g/dl ± 0.5 g/dl). Removal of other plasma components were not statistically significant. Hypotensive episodes were observed only 16.6%, with the usage of effluent concentration albumin as replacement fluid despite an average 2.4 (mean ± SD - 2.4 ± 0.4 l) liters of plasma volume processing each session. DFPP removes IgG, IgA, IgM, fibrinogen, and albumin. The cumulative removal IgG (72%) is suboptimal, whereas IgA (89%) and IgM (96%) are comparable to historical controls. We observed lesser episodes (12.5%) of hypotension with effluent albumin concentration as replacement fluid, and all bleeding complications were observed when serum fibrinogen level was <50 mg/dl.
Warfarin-dosing algorithms combine clinical factors and dosing history with the current international normalized ratio (INR) to estimate the therapeutic warfarin dose. Unfortunately, these approaches ...can result in an overdose if the INR is spuriously low. Our goal was to develop an alert mechanism based on prior INRs in addition to the current INR. Using data from the Genetics InFormatics Trial (GIFT) of Warfarin to Prevent DVT, we analyzed warfarin dose estimates for days 3 through 11 that were ≥10 % higher than an average of the previous two dose estimates. We fit a stepwise mixed model to current and prior dose estimates, and subsequently compared the root-mean-square-error (RMSE) in predicting the final therapeutic dose using the GIFT algorithm versus the mixed model. From 861 dosing records (obtain from 556 patients), 646 dosing records (75 %) were randomly selected for the derivation cohort and 215 dosing records (25 %) for the validation cohort. Using one prior dose estimate improved the accuracy of the warfarin dose estimate. Compared to a dose estimate based on current INR (GIFT algorithm), the mixed model reduced the RMSE in the derivation cohort by 0.0015 mg/day (RMSE 0.2079 vs. 0.2094; p = 0.039). In the validation cohort, the RMSE reduction was not significant. A mixed model of dose estimates based on the current and most recent INRs shows potential to improve the safety of warfarin dosing. Clinicians should be cautious about aggressively escalating the warfarin dose after an INR that is lower than expected.
In this paper, we report the dielectric relaxation behavior and electrical conduction mechanism of Sr modified Barium Zirconium Titanate, (Ba
1-x
Sr
x
Zr
0.1
Ti
0.9
O
3
(
x
= 0.1, 0.2, 0.3)) (BSZT) ...ceramic in the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix. The single phase BSZT ceramics are prepared by the conventional solid state route and are added to the polymer matrix at 25:75 volume percentage. Surface morphology of polymer ceramic composite identifies the uniform distribution of the ceramic particles in the polymer matrix. Dielectric and tangent loss spectrum of the composites indicates the distribution of relaxation time. Electric modulus analysis shows the relaxation peaks of bulk and interface properties, which follows the Arrhenius law. The ac conductivity spectrum of pure PVA obeys Jonchers power law and polymer composites obey the double power law which conduction mechanisms are explained by Jump Relaxation Model. The activation energy varies from the relaxation to conduction mechanism indicates that the different charge contributions are involved in both the processes.
The connection of diverse and sometimes non-Grid enabled resource types to the CMS Global Pool, which is based on HTCondor and glideinWMS, has been a major goal of CMS. These resources range in type ...from a high-availability, low latency facility at CERN for urgent calibration studies, called the CAF, to a local user facility at the Fermilab LPC, allocation-based computing resources at NERSC and SDSC, opportunistic resources provided through the Open Science Grid, commercial clouds, and others, as well as access to opportunistic cycles on the CMS High Level Trigger farm. In addition, we have provided the capability to give priority to local users of beyond WLCG pledged resources at CMS sites. Many of the solutions employed to bring these diverse resource types into the Global Pool have common elements, while some are very specific to a particular project. This paper details some of the strategies and solutions used to access these resources through the Global Pool in a seamless manner.
For the past few decades, the drastic increase in the installed capacity of wind farms (WFs) has necessitated a computationally efficient dynamic equivalent model of a WF, which can be used for ...accurate power network simulations. Various doubly-fed induction generators (DFIGs) with sophisticated power control, rotor, and grid side converter control based models for wind turbine (WT) exist in the literature. However, these models are computationally burdensome and restrict their application for modeling large WFs. Thus, an equivalent DFIG based model of a WF, with the rotor circuit modeled as a constant current source, is proposed in this paper. The proposed model is simple and computationally efficient as no rotor measurements are required, and voltage and current measurements at the point of common coupling (PCC) of the WF are used in extended Kalman filter (EKF) to evaluate the dynamic parameters of the equivalent DFIG. A Ybus based reduction is also proposed for the equivalent collector system’s impedance. Simulation results on a test WF in MATLAB Simulink and DIgSILENT prove the proposed model’s efficacy over the existing equivalent models for different operating conditions like wake effect and contingencies in the interconnected power system network.
•An equivalent DFIG based single and multi machine model of a WF, with the rotor circuit modeled as a constant current source is proposed.•EKF based parameter estimation of an equivalent model of DFIG, utilizing only stator measurements is explained.•An accurate Ybus based aggregation technique for the WF collector system is proposed.
This paper considers the degrees of freedom (DOF) for a K user multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) M × N interference channel using interference alignment (IA). A new performance metric for ...evaluating the efficacy of IA algorithms is proposed, which measures the extent to which the desired signal dimensionality is preserved after zero-forcing the interference at the receiver. Inspired by the metric, two algorithms are proposed for designing the linear precoders and receive filters for IA in the constant MIMO interference channel with a finite number of symbol extensions. The first algorithm uses an eigenbeamforming method to align sub-streams of the interference to reduce the dimensionality of the interference at all the receivers. The second algorithm is iterative, and is based on minimizing the interference leakage power while preserving the dimensionality of the desired signal space at the intended receivers. The improved performance of the algorithms is illustrated by comparing them with existing algorithms for IA using Monte Carlo simulations.
The degraded state of the fragile ecosystem of Chilika lagoon on the east coast of India caused by natural changes and anthropogenic pressure was in the process of restoration through an effective ...hydrological intervention during 2000 after thorough scientific investigation including EIA study. The rich fisheries of Chilika lagoon that support livelihood of 0.2 million local fisherfolk was in dwindling state during the eco-degradation phase. Studies on fisheries and fish biodiversity of the lagoon for 4 years before and 4 years after the intervention showed the stark and rapid recovery of fishery immediately after opening of the new mouth with sixfold increase in average annual landing. The average productivity (11.3 t km-²) and CPUE (6.2 kg boat-day-¹) during post intervention phase registered 528 and 464% increase, as compared to Pre-intervention years. In total, 277 species of fish and shell fish were documented as occurring in Chilika lagoon before the hydrological intervention. Inventory survey for fish and shell fish species diversity during and after hydrological intervention documented 68 and 97 species, respectively. New records of 56 species of fish and shell fish (7 freshwater, 20 brackishwater and 29 marine) were documented from Chilika lagoon after the hydrological intervention. Analysis of commercial catches showed that the migratory species contributed to the bulk of catches (75% by species and 68% by catch weight). Fish yield and biodiversity seemed to be very sensitive to salinity and hydrologic dynamics of the lagoon. Correlation analysis indicated inverse relationship between water transparency and fish catch (R ² = 0.715; d.f. = 25; P < 0.01). Positive correlation between salinity and prawn landing (R ² = 0.542; d.f. = 25; P < 0.01) and salinity and mud crab landing (R ² = 0.628; d.f. = 25; P < 0.001). Average salinity for the whole lagoon was significantly increased by 42.7% (P < 0.007) as compared to pre-intervention situation. Maintenance of estuarine character of Chilika's ecosystem particularly the salinity gradient, un-hindered auto-recruitment of fish and shell fish and prevention of destructive fishing are the key factors for fisheries enhancement. Unless carefully planned conservation and regulation measures are ensured with the active participation of local communities during the early phase of restoration, the present scenario of fisheries enhancement may not sustain for longer time.
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