Outcomes of pallidal stimulation in KMT2B dystonia have been infrequently reported prospectively. We report the six-month outcomes of bilateral GPi DBS in an Asian Indian patient with early-onset ...generalized dystonia associated with a novel heterozygous variant in the KMT2B gene.
We have analyzed identified particle transverse momentum spectra in high multiplicity events in pp collisions at LHC energies s=0.9–13 TeV published by the CMS Collaboration using the color string ...percolation model (CSPM). In CSPM color strings are formed after the collision, which decay into new strings through color neutral q−q¯ pairs production. With the increase in the pp collisions energy number of strings grow and randomly statistically overlap producing higher string tension of the composite strings. The net color in the overlap string area is a vector sum of the randomly oriented strings. The Schwinger color string breaking mechanism produces these color neutral q−q¯ pairs at time ∼1 fm/c, which subsequently hadronize. The initial temperature is extracted both in low and high multiplicity events.The shear viscosity to entropy density ratios η/s are obtained as a function of temperature. For the higher multiplicity events at s=7 and 13 TeV the initial temperature is above the universal hadronization temperature and is consistent with the creation of deconfined matter. The η/s is similar to that in Au+Au collisions at sNN=200 GeV. The small value of η/s above the universal hadronization temperature suggested that the matter is a strongly coupled quark gluon plasma. In these small systems it can be argued that the thermalization is a consequence of the quantum tunneling through the event horizon introduced by the quarks confined in the colliding nucleons and their deceleration due to string formation, in analogy to the Hawking-Unruh radiation which provides a stochastic approach to equilibrium. The disk areas cluster on the nucleon transverse collision area. At the 2D percolation threshold a macroscopic spanning cluster suddenly occurs at the temperature Ti=Th, representing a small connected droplet of q−q¯ pairs, the quark-gluon plasma (QGP). Th is the universal hadronization temperature ∼167.7 MeV. The collision energy dependent buildup of the 2D percolation clusters defines the temperature range 159±9 MeV of the crossover transition between hadrons to the QGP in reasonable agreement with the lattice quantum chromodynamics (LQCD) pseudocritical temperature value of 155±9 MeV. Color string percolation model is the new initial stage paradigm for the study of the high density matter produced in pp and A+A collisions. With CSPM we can directly explore the thermodynamics of the QGP above the universal hadronization temperature.
Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan), an important food legume crop in the semi-arid regions of the world and the second most important pulse crop in India, has an average crop productivity of 780 kg/ha. The ...relatively low crop yields may be attributed to non-availability of improved cultivars, poor crop husbandry and exposure to a number of biotic and abiotic stresses in pigeonpea growing regions. Narrow genetic diversity in cultivated germplasm has further hampered the effective utilization of conventional breeding as well as development and utilization of genomic tools, resulting in pigeonpea being often referred to as an ‘orphan crop legume'. To enable genomics-assisted breeding in this crop, the pigeonpea genomics initiative (PGI) was initiated in late 2006 with funding from Indian Council of Agricultural Research under the umbrella of Indo-US agricultural knowledge initiative, which was further expanded with financial support from the US National Science Foundation's Plant Genome Research Program and the Generation Challenge Program. As a result of the PGI, the last 3 years have witnessed significant progress in development of both genetic as well as genomic resources in this crop through effective collaborations and coordination of genomics activities across several institutes and countries. For instance, 25 mapping populations segregating for a number of biotic and abiotic stresses have been developed or are under development. An 11X-genome coverage bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library comprising of 69,120 clones have been developed of which 50,000 clones were end sequenced to generate 87,590 BAC-end sequences (BESs). About 10,000 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from Sanger sequencing and ca. 2 million short ESTs by 454/FLX sequencing have been generated. A variety of molecular markers have been developed from BESs, microsatellite or simple sequence repeat (SSR)-enriched libraries and mining of ESTs and genomic amplicon sequencing. Of about 21,000 SSRs identified, 6,698 SSRs are under analysis along with 670 orthologous genes using a GoldenGate SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) genotyping platform, with large scale SNP discovery using Solexa, a next generation sequencing technology, is in progress. Similarly a diversity array technology array comprising of ca. 15,000 features has been developed. In addition, >600 unique nucleotide binding site (NBS) domain containing members of the NBS-leucine rich repeat disease resistance homologs were cloned in pigeonpea; 960 BACs containing these sequences were identified by filter hybridization, BES physical maps developed using high information content fingerprinting. To enrich the genomic resources further, sequenced soybean genome is being analyzed to establish the anchor points between pigeonpea and soybean genomes. In addition, Solexa sequencing is being used to explore the feasibility of generating whole genome sequence. In summary, the collaborative efforts of several research groups under the umbrella of PGI are making significant progress in improving molecular tools in pigeonpea and should significantly benefit pigeonpea genetics and breeding. As these efforts come to fruition, and expanded (depending on funding), pigeonpea would move from an ‘orphan legume crop' to one where genomics-assisted breeding approaches for a sustainable crop improvement are routine.
Chronic diseases have been treated using the phytochemical concepts of ethnomedicinal plant-derived herbal products. Terminalia arjuna, a significant ethnomedicinal plant, was revisited and ...reconnoitred for antioxidant, free radical scavenging, and DNA nicking inhibiting activity under H
conditions using 21 solvent extracts. Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid, and nitrous oxide scavenging (%) were found to have a strong positive association and interaction (PCA 1 explains 84.54% variation) with ethanol bark (Etoh-AB) (Meoh-AF). TPC (144.67-1794 µg/mL GAE) and TFC (2.5-34 µM Fe(II)/g were highest in Etoh-AB. In a pattern of combined solvent extracts, Etoh-AB had the highest antioxidant capacity, accompanied by Etoh-AL ≥ Meoh-AB ≥ Dw-AF. With R
= 0.94, the DNA nicking inhibition behaviour parameters relative front, relative quantity, band (%), and lane (%) formed a positive significant (p < 0.01) connection. For the first time, we show that Etoh-AB nicks supercoiled, circular plasmid DNA in a way that is comparable to normal antioxidants. Normal antioxidants with the ability to prevent DNA nicking include Butylated hydroxy anisole < Butylated hydroxy toluene < ascorbic acid < and Gallic acid. Gallic acid (m/z 170.0208 g/mol) and Ellagic acid (m/z 302.0063 g/mol were present in high concentrations in solvent extracts. 0.48 mg was found to be the effective concentration for inhibiting relative DNA nicking. The current study is the first of its kind to show that steroid concentrations are higher in bark fractions of acetone, ethanol, and methanol. Furthermore, T. arjuna solvent extracts provide a wealth of information on phytochemical profiling, antioxidant ability, and DNA nicking inhibition, which may be useful for exploring the natural way and further research to develop a remedy against geriatric chronic disease. Despite the fact that ethanol is very close to methanol in terms of solvent toxicity, the current study identified it as the preferred solvent. Thus, the current research revisits previous studies and explores the potentiality of non-polar and polar aprotic and polar protic solvent systems, which lend credence to bioactive compounds that may be useful in isolating and formulating safe and cost effective herbal medicament for livestocks and aquaculture, and drugs for deoxygenerative human diseases, and can also be investigated further to instil environmental frugality.
Advances in computed tomography (CT) hardware have propelled the development of novel CT contrast agents. In particular, the spectral capabilities of x-ray CT can facilitate simultaneous imaging of ...multiple contrast agents. This approach is particularly useful for functional imaging of solid tumors by simultaneous visualization of multiple targets or architectural features that govern cancer development and progression. Nanoparticles are a promising platform for contrast agent development. While several novel imaging moieties based on high atomic number elements are being explored, iodine (I) and gadolinium (Gd) are particularly attractive because of their existing approval for clinical use. In this work, we investigate the in vivo discrimination of I and Gd nanoparticle contrast agents using both dual energy micro-CT with energy integrating detectors (DE-EID) and photon counting detector (PCD)-based spectral micro-CT. Simulations and phantom experiments were performed using varying concentrations of I and Gd to determine the imaging performance with optimized acquisition parameters. Quantitative spectral micro-CT imaging using liposomal-iodine (Lip-I) and liposomal-Gd (Lip-Gd) nanoparticle contrast agents was performed in sarcoma bearing mice for anatomical and functional imaging of tumor vasculature. Iterative reconstruction provided high sensitivity to detect and discriminate relatively low I and Gd concentrations. According to the Rose criterion applied to the experimental results, the detectability limits for I and Gd were approximately 2.5 mg ml
for both DE-EID CT and PCD micro-CT, even if the radiation dose was approximately 3.8 times lower with PCD micro-CT. The material concentration maps confirmed expected biodistributions of contrast agents in the blood, liver, spleen and kidneys. The PCD provided lower background signal and better simultaneous visualization of tumor vasculature and intratumoral distribution patterns of nanoparticle contrast agent compared to DE-EID decompositions. Preclinical spectral CT systems such as this could be useful for functional characterization of solid tumors, simultaneous quantitative imaging of multiple targets and for identifying clinically-relevant applications that benefit from the use of spectral imaging. Additionally, it could aid in the development nanoparticles that show promise in the developing field of cancer theranostics (therapy and diagnostics) by measuring vascular tumor biomarkers such as fractional blood volume and the delivery of liposomal chemotherapeutics.
Gratitude is essential in positive organizational scholarship and is said to flourish and prosper organization members. This article aims to investigate the role of gratitude in transforming a toxic ...workplace into a collaborative work environment by exploring the mediating role of psychological capital (Psycap). The results reveal that gratitude practiced by the employees at the workplace can counter workplace toxicity and enhance a collaborative work environment, creating harmony in society. The study proposes the institutionalization of a gratitude-based organizational culture that prevents workplace toxicity and supports a collaborative work environment. The study is one of the pioneer studies that tried to unlock the “black box” through which dispositional gratitude can help build workplace harmony and collaboration.
In the first few microseconds after the Big Bang, the hot dense matter was in the form of quark–gluon plasma consisting of free quarks and gluons. By colliding heavy nuclei at RHIC and LHC at a ...velocity close to the speed of light, we were able to recreate primordial matter and observe that matter after expansion and cooling. In the present work, we have analyzed the transverse-momentum spectra of charged particles in high-multiplicity pp collisions at LHC energies s= 5.02 and 13 TeV, published by the ALICE Collaboration, using the Color-String Percolation Model. For heavy ions, Pb–Pb at sNN= 2.76 and 5.02 TeV along with Xe–Xe at sNN= 5.44 TeV have been analyzed. The initial temperature was extracted both in low- and high-multiplicity events in pp collisions. For A−A collisions, the temperature was obtained as a function of centrality. A universal scaling in the temperature from pp and A−A collisions was obtained when multiplicity was scaled by the transverse interaction area. For the higher-multiplicity events in pp collisions at s= 5.02 and 13 TeV, the initial temperature was above the universal hadronization temperature and was consistent with the creation of deconfined matter. From the measured energy density ε and the temperature, the dimensionless quantity ε/T4 was obtained, to obtain the degree of freedom of the deconfined matter.
The present study delves into the interaction of the monomer of glucosamine with uracil and thymine in vacuum and in different phases by density functional theory (DFT). Both the molecular geometries ...were optimized at B3LYP with a 6-31G(d,p) basis set. The binding energy, interaction energy, and solubility were calculated from the optimized molecular geometry. The dipole moment and the electronic energies were found of the optimized product in different solvents (water, ethanol, methanol, heptane, cyclohexane, and CCl
4
) which describes the solubility of the interactive molecule in polar and non-polar solvents. The electronic energies are nearly the same for all the solvents. Observed theoretical results are expected to guide future relevant experimental research on gene delivery by glucosamine. This will also help in enhancing pharmaceutical research as carrier drug delivery, tissue repair, gene delivery, spermicidal activity, anti-tumor, and anti-microbial resistance.
The present study investigates the antimicrobial activity of various solvent extracts of
Eruca sativa (aerial and root) and seed oil against-antibiotic resistant Gram-negative (
Escherichia coli, ...Pseudomoms aeruginosa and
Shigella flexneri) and Gram-positive (
Staphylococcus aureus and
Bacillus subtilis) bacteria. Among the various preparations, seed oil was the most active, exhibiting a maximum zone inhibition of 97% for Gram-positive bacteria and of 74–97% for Gram-negative bacteria. The MIC of the seed oil was found to be 65–75 and 60–70
μg/ml for Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, respectively. Analytical investigation on main volatile and non-volatile components was performed on seed oil. Among the formers allyl isothiocyanate (40
μg/g), 3-butenyl isothiocyanate (260
μg/g), 4-methylsulfinybutyl isothiocyanate (sulforaphane 743
μg/g), 2-phenylethyl isothiocyanate (159
μg/g) and bis(isothiocyanatobutyl)disulphide (∼5000
μg/g) were determined by head space/SPME/GC–MS analysis. Free fatty acids were 1.6% w/w of the oil and overall 25 fatty acids were identified. Erucic and oleic acids were the main fatty acids both in the free (7.8 and 2.1
mg/ml) and esterified forms (50.6% w/w and 14.9% w/w of total fatty acids). Unsaponifiable fraction was 1.8% w/w.
Seed oil of
E. sativa has promising pharmacological efficacies and ensures the presence of bio-active components responsible for the observed beneficial effects. Our findings support its use in traditional medicine as antimicrobial bioagent and highlight the potential of this food plant for its possible clinical use.
Comparison of diagnostic capability of macular ganglion cell complex thickness vs. retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in patients of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).
This cross-sectional ...observational study was carried out between June 2021 and October 2022 at a tertiary care hospital in North India.
A total of 118 eyes were included in the study with 30 control and the rest 88 eyes with POAG were divided into three groups based on visual field loss Group 1 (30 eyes): early field loss with mean deviation (MD) < -6 dB; Group 2 (30 eyes): moderate field loss with MD -6 to -12 dB; and Group 3 (28 eyes): severe field loss with MD > -12 dB. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans to measure RNFL loss and ganglion cell inferior plexiform layer (GCIPL) loss were taken for each patient.
Categorical variables were analyzed using either the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. A receiver operating characteristics analysis was calculated to determine optimal cut-off values of superior, inferior, and average GCIPL and RNFL for determining the severity of field loss as compared to controls (30 normal eyes).
In the mild field loss group the sensitivity of superior, inferior, and average GCIPL was 86.7, 96.7, and 96.7%, respectively. Similarly, the specificity was 96.7, 93.3, and 100%, respectively. In the same group, the sensitivity of superior, inferior, and average RNFL was 70, 93, and 66%, respectively. Similarly, the specificity was 46.7, 83.3, and 70%, respectively. In the moderate and severe groups, the results were comparable.
The sensitivity and specificity of GCIPL loss are significantly better than that of RNFL parameters in the mild field loss group.
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