Flipped learning is a blended learning method based on academic engagement of students online (outside class) and offline (inside class). In this learning pedagogy, students receive lesson any time ...from lecture videos pre-loaded on digital platform at their convenience places and it is followed by in-classroom activities such as doubt clearing, problem solving,
etc.
However, students are constantly exposed to high levels of distraction in this age of the Internet. Therefore, it is hard for an instructor to know whether a student has paid attention while watching pre-loaded lecture video. In order to analyze attention level of individual students, captured brain signal or electroencephalogram (EEG) of students can be utilized. In this study, we utilize a popular feature extraction technique called Local Binary Pattern (LBP) and improvise it to develop an enhanced feature selection method. The adapted feature selection method termed as 1D Multi-Point Local Ternary Pattern (1D MP-LTP) is used to extract unique features from collected electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. Standard classification techniques are exploited to classify the attention level of students. Experiments are conducted with the data captured at Intelligent Data Analysis Lab, NIT Rourkela, to show effectiveness of the proposed feature extraction technique. The proposed 1D Multi-Point Local Ternary Pattern (1D MP-LTP)-based classification techniques outperform traditional and state-of-the-art classification techniques using LBP. This research can be helpful for instructors to identify students who need special care for improving their learning ability. Researchers in educational technology can extend this work by adopting this methodology in other online teaching pedagogy such as Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC).
•cMET and ABCG2 interacts with each other under hypoxia.•Interaction between cMET and ABCG2 upregulates HIF-1α/VEGF-A axis.•VEGF-A binds to VEGFR2 and activates PI3K/AKT/mTOR/eNOS pathway.•QC ...disrupts the interaction between cMET and ABCG2 and reduce the VEGF-A-mediated angiogenesis.
Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) have a critical role in progression of breast cancer by inducing angiogenesis. Several therapeutic strategies have been designed for the treatment of breast cancer by specifically preventing angiogenesis. But there is a dearth of study regarding the treatment procedure which can specifically target and kill the BCSCs and cause lesser harm to healthy cells of the body. A plant-based bioactive compound Quinacrine (QC) specifically kills cancer stem cells (CSCs) without harming healthy cells and also inhibits cancer angiogenesis but the detailed mechanistic study of its anti-CSCs and anti-angiogenic activity is yet to explore.
Earlier report showed that both cMET and ABCG2 play an essential role in cancer angiogenesis. Both are present on the cell surface of CSCs and share an identical ATP-binding domain. Interestingly, QC a plant based and bioactive compound which was found to inhibit the function of CSCs marker cMET and ABCG2. These relevant evidence led us to hypothesize that cMET and ABCG2 may interact with each other and induce the production of angiogenic factors, resulting in activation of cancer angiogenesis and QC might disrupt the interaction between them to stop this phenomena.
Co-immunoprecipitation assay, immunofluorescence assay, and western blotting were performed by using ex vivo patient-derived breast cancer-stem-cells (PDBCSCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In silico study was carried out to check the interaction between cMET and ABCG2 in presence or absence of QC. Tube formation assay using HUVECs and in ovo Chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay using chick fertilized eggs were performed to monitor angiogenesis. In vivo patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mice model was used to validate in silico and ex vivo results.
Data revealed that in a hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME), cMET and ABCG2 interact with each other and upregulate HIF-1α/VEGF-A axis to induce breast cancer angiogenesis. In silico and ex vivo study showed that QC disrupted the interaction between cMET and ABCG2 to inhibit the angiogenic response in endothelial cells by reducing the secretion of VEGF-A from PDBCSCs within the TME. Knockdown of cMET, ABCG2 or both, significantly downregulated the expression of HIF-1α and reduced the secretion of pro-angiogenic factor VEGF-A in the TME of PDBCSCs. Additionally, when PDBCSCs were treated with QC, similar experimental results were obtained.
In silico, in ovo, ex vivo and in vivo data confirmed that QC inhibited the HIF-1α/VEGF-A mediated angiogenesis in breast cancer by disrupting the interaction between cMET and ABCG2.
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The rapid development of transport infrastructure is a major threat to endangered species worldwide. Roads and railways can increase animal mortality, fragment habitats, and exacerbate other threats ...to biodiversity. Predictive models that forecast the future impacts to endangered species can guide land-use planning in ways that proactively reduce the negative effects of transport infrastructure. Agent-based models are well suited for predictive scenario testing, yet their application to endangered species conservation is rare. Here, we developed a spatially explicit, agent-based model to forecast the effects of transport infrastructure on an isolated tiger (
) population in Nepal's Chitwan National Park-a global biodiversity hotspot. Specifically, our model evaluated the independent and interactive effects of two mechanisms by which transport infrastructure may affect tigers: (a) increasing tiger mortality,
, via collisions with vehicles, and (b) depleting prey near infrastructure. We projected potential impacts on tiger population dynamics based on the: (i) existing transportation network in and near the park, and (ii) the inclusion of a proposed railway intersecting through the park's buffer zone. Our model predicted that existing roads would kill 46 tigers over 20 years via increased mortality, and reduced the adult tiger population by 39% (133 to 81). Adding the proposed railway directly killed 10 more tigers over those 20 years; deaths that reduced the overall tiger population by 30 more individuals (81 to 51). Road-induced mortality also decreased the proportion of time a tiger occupied a given site by 5 years in the 20-year simulation. Interestingly, we found that transportation-induced depletion of prey decreased tiger occupancy by nearly 20% in sites close to roads and the railway, thereby reducing tiger exposure to transportation-induced mortality. The results of our model constitute a strong argument for taking into account prey distributions into the planning of roads and railways. Our model can promote tiger-friendly transportation development, for example, by improving Environmental Impact Assessments, identifying "no go" zones where transport infrastructure should be prohibited, and recommending alternative placement of roads and railways.
Recently, we reported that a combination of a natural, bioactive compound Resveratrol (RES) and a PARP inhibitor Olaparib (OLA) deregulated the homologous recombination (HR) pathway, and enhanced ...apoptosis in BRCA1-wild-type, HR-proficient breast cancer cells. Upon DNA damage, chromatin relaxation takes place, which allows the DNA repair proteins to access the DNA lesion. But whether chromatin remodeling has any role in RES + OLA-mediated HR inhibition is not known. By using in vitro and ex vivo model systems of breast cancer, we have investigated whether RES + OLA inhibits chromatin relaxation and thereby blocks the HR pathway. It was found that RES + OLA inhibited PARP1 activity, terminated PARP1-BRCA1 interaction, and deregulated the HR pathway only in the chromatin fraction of MCF-7 cells. DR-GFP reporter plasmid-based HR assay demonstrated marked reduction in HR efficiency in I-SceI endonuclease-transfected cells treated with OLA. RES + OLA efficiently trapped PARP1 at the DNA damage site in the chromatin of MCF-7 cells. Unaltered expressions of HR proteins were found in the chromatin of PARP1-silenced MCF-7 cells, which confirmed that RES + OLA-mediated DNA damage response was PARP1-dependent.
H
istone
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cetyl
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ransferase (HAT) activity and histone H4 acetylation assays showed reduction in HAT activity and H4 acetylation in RES + OLA-treated chromatin fraction of cells. Western blot analysis showed that the HAT enzyme TIP60, P400 and acetylated H4 were downregulated after RES + OLA exposure. In the co-immunoprecipitation assay, it was observed that RES + OLA caused abolition of PARP1-TIP60-BRCA1 interaction, which suggested the PARP1-dependent TIP60-BRCA1 association. Unaltered expressions of PAR, BRCA1, P400, and acetylated H4 in the chromatin of TIP60-silenced MCF-7 cells further confirmed the role of TIP60 in PARP1-mediated HR activation in the chromatin. Similar results were obtained in ex vivo patient-derived primary breast cancer cells. Thus, the present study revealed that RES + OLA treatment inhibited PARP1 activity in the chromatin, and blocked TIP60-mediated chromatin relaxation, which, in turn, affected PARP1-dependent TIP60-BRCA1 association, resulting in deregulation of HR pathway in breast cancer cells.
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Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a rare inborn error of immunity characterized by recurrent fungal and bacterial infections due to defective nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) ...oxidase activity. This case report describes an 11-month-old female who was initially diagnosed with tubercular lymphadenitis and presented with fever and bilateral neck swelling. Despite receiving anti-tubercular treatment (ATT) and intravenous antibiotics, the patient experienced recurrent infections and abscesses, prompting further investigation. Laboratory tests revealed normal immunoglobulin levels but abnormal nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) and dihydrorhodamine (DHR) tests, indicating CGD. Genetic analysis (clinical exome by next-generation sequencing) confirmed a novel NCF2 gene mutation associated with autosomal recessive CGD. This patient was treated with prophylactic antibiotics and antifungals and subsequently underwent successful hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). This highlights the diagnostic challenges associated with CGD, particularly in tuberculosis-endemic regions such as India, emphasizing the importance of considering primary immunodeficiency disorders in patients with recurrent infections. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, including HSCT, can significantly improve patient outcomes. The patient remained infection-free on prophylactic antimicrobials for 1.5 years post-discharge, demonstrating the potential for a favorable prognosis with timely intervention and comprehensive management.
In the present work, various 10 nm FD-SOI FinFET structures utilizing promising design elements like raised source and drain extensions, hybrid air spacer, and interfacial silicide have been analysed ...and the corresponding responses are being reported in a comparative manner by vertically striking the heavy-ion at the centre of the channel. Detailed transient analysis has been performed by evaluating full width at half maxima and rise time. Gradient plots for electron density, heavy-ion charge density, and generation rate have also been investigated in the presence of traps with gaussian distribution for better insight. The single event transient response for each device at different linear energy transfer values is compared and analysed in depth. The overall radiation tolerance capabilities have been determined by comparing bipolar amplification values.
The study of spatial and temporal distribution of Holocene terminal/inland fans in the Indo-Gangetic foreland basin suggests that the segmentation of the basin was initiated at 9.3Ka and continued up ...to 0.75Ka in three distinct episodes. The earliest episode (9.3–7.3Ka) was exclusively confined in the upper Gangetic plain. This episode covers 29% of total time span and contributes 13% of total faults including their reactivations. Development of six faults associated with terminal fans having large age gaps indicate relatively slow rate of faulting activities in the early Holocene. The second faulting episode was started at 6.4Ka and continued up to 2.3Ka covering 60% time of the total time span and contributed 69% of total faults (including their reactivations). Though in most of the time the faulting events were confined in the upper Gangetic plain, but development of few faults in the middle Gangetic plain in the middle of this episode shows a transitional shift of tectonic front from the upper to the middle Gangetic plain. The third faulting episode (1.5–0.75Ka) is mainly confined in the middle Gangetic plain. This episode covers 11% time of the total time span and contributes 18% of faults. Out of the eight faults, seven of them are in the middle Gangetic plains. Though these three episodes have contributed in segmentation of the Gangetic plains, but the second episode was responsible for major segmentation of the region. Two major tectonically stable periods (7.3–6.4Ka and 2.3–1.5Ka) and three minor periods (in duration of 0.5Ka) have been observed in the region. Episodic development of faults in individual tectonic blocks indicates that the stress distribution along the plains is non-uniform which can also be correlated to the adjacent corresponding segments of the Himalayan tectonics. It has been observed that, in each fault-bounded block the faulting events start slowly and later becomes more frequent. Previous work pointed out four tectonically active episodes between the Ghaghara and Kosi rivers with the oldest faulting event at 7.89Ka. However, the region west of it (i.e., between the Ghaghara and Ghaggar rivers which includes rest of the upper Gangetic plain) shows that neotectonic activities are earlier than 7.89Ka (the oldest faulting event observed by previous study). The youngest faulting episode of the present study coincides with that of previous study and suggests that the region between the Gandak and Kosi rivers is tectonically most active at present. The tectonically stable periods pointed out in the previous study between the Ghaghara–Kosi region is occupied by the faulting events in the upper Gangetic plains. Hence, instead of four tectonically active episodes, the whole Ganga plain witnesses three segmentation episodes with two major intervening stable periods. The change of orientation of the faults in the plain may be correlated to directional change of Indian plate motion, differential convergence, and upliftment rates along the Himalayan front and the spatial extension of subsurface Precambrian basement ridges into the plains.
FinFET structures of 10 nm technology node with promising design enhancements like hybrid spacer, raised source and drain extensions, and silicide interfaces have been analysed and compared. Analog ...figures of merit like drain current, transconductance, intrinsic gain, and transconductance generation factor are determined here. Furthermore, RF figures of merit like cut-off frequency, intrinsic delay, and gate capacitance are analysed. These parameters have been determined at three different temperatures (200 K, 300 K, 400 K) to study the effect of temperature on device performance.
The rapid evolution of science compels renewal of a knowledge-based policy, particularly in cold regions. In the Arctic and Himalayas, which have undergone a significant climate change, there is a ...disconnect between scientific knowledge and the practices of policy. The rising air temperatures, decreasing ice and snow, increasing precipitation and plastic waste pollutants and the Atlantification of the Arctic Ocean by receiving warmer and saltier water from the Atlantic Ocean call for scientific research questions to strengthen the linkage between science and policy. The Arctic amplification can have remote impacts on other parts of the globe through oceanic and atmospheric teleconnections. Hence, researchers need to push the frontiers of scientific discoveries through multidisciplinary and collaborative approaches in the Arctic Ocean along with connections to the Third Pole - Himalayas. The overall objectives of this paper are to explore how a comparison of the Arctic and the Third Pole is valuable for understanding the Arctic and global biogeophysical processes in this epoch of anthropogenic climate change; provide a strong linkage between the Arctic scientific research and its relevance to society; and help advance a more sustainable future for the Arctic, the Third Pole and the globe.
