Physics-based basis functions for low-dimensional representation of the refractive index in the high energy limit

The relationship between the refractive index decrement, $\delta$, and the real part of the atomic form factor, $f^\prime$, is used to derive a simple polynomial functional form for $\delta(E)$ far from the K-edge of the element. The functional form, motivated by the underlying physics, follows an infinite power sum, with most of the energy dependence captured by a single term, $1/E^2$. The derived functional form shows excellent agreement with theoretical and experimentally recorded values. This work helps reduce the dimensionality of the refractive index across the energy range of x-ray radiation for efficient forward modeling and formulation of a well-posed inverse problem in propagation-based polychromatic phase-contrast computed tomography

Blasting technique for stabilizing accidentprone slope for sustainable railway route

Konkan Railway has many unstable slopes along the 741 km long route from Roha to Thokur in the states of Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka in India. Frequent cases of boulder fall, slope failure and landslide used to occur on the track during the rainy season. Such cases have resulted in several severe train accidents, traffic interruptions, loss of lives and assets. Hence the Konkan Railway Corporation deployed several geotechnical measures such as wire-netting, retaining wall, rock bolting and shotcreting for stability enhancement. However, none of these measures proved effective and accidents continued. Finally, the Konkan Railway Corporation decided to redesign the cut-slopes using blasting. Excavation of hard rock for its removal without damaging the existing track (2– 3 m away from the slope) and disrupting the traffic, was a daunting task. An unplanned blast would have resulted in the closure of the route for hours. The present study explains the method in which entire cutting was redesigned by formation of 5 to 2 m wide berms at an interval of 6 m bench height from rail track level using novel direction controlled blasting technique. Further, stability of the cut-slope, before and after exacavation, has been determined using kinematic analysis and 3D numerical modelling. Similar technique can be adopted to widen or stabilize an active transportation route in hills

Assessment of quality of life of type-2 diabetes mellitus patients in tertiary care teaching hospital in North India

Background: Quality of life (QoL) is a standard indicating a person’s life in better condition as compared to a diseased person or patient. Diabetes itself is not a dangerous disease if managed properly, but it becomes life-threatening after a certain time period because of the patient’s poor interest in disease management and treatment adherence. Diabetes mellitus is an endocrine system disorder that invokes lack of insulin secretion in the bloodstream. The study was conducted to assess the QoL of type-2 diabetes mellitus patients with QoL instrument.Methods: Questionnaire based cross-sectional, prospective study was conducted at Teerthanker Mahaveer Hospital, Moradabad, for a duration of 6 months from January - June 2019, on 196 patients of type-2 diabetes mellitus.Results: On an average 56.5% people have accepted that due to the diabetic condition their working proficiency is decreased. 80.3% of patients have accepted that they were facing problems due to diabetic symptoms. Similarly, 84% of patients have accepted that the ongoing treatment was quite expensive than their expectations. Finally, the last section of the patient’s emotional/mental satisfaction showed that 49.7% of patients were very satisfied with their family support while 13.7% of patients were not satisfied.Conclusions: QOL instrument for Indian diabetes patient’s instrument helped to evaluate the patient’s physical strength, psychological strength of the patient during disease condition, the response provided from the family members and relatives, the economical status of the patient and its effects on their living

Role of dynamic hip screw with locking side plate in intertrochanteric fractures in elderly patients

Background: Dynamic hip screw (DHS) is a vital mainstay implant in managing intertrochanteric fractures. While most of the modifications of implant have been done in screw design, this study evaluates the role of employing locking side plate with DHS to increase the screw hold and avoid plate pull out in trochanteric fractures of elderly patients.Methods: A prospective study was conducted from August 2012 to August 2014 on 30 patients having trochanteric fractures. The fixation, fracture consequences, functional outcome and complications were assessed clinically and radiologically in immediate post-operative period and on follow-ups at six weeks, three months, six months and one year. Young patients (<55 years), fractures with subtrochanteric extension and pathological fractures were excluded from study. Fractures in elderly patients from AO 31A1.1 to AO 31A3.1 were included in study. Evaluation of the clinical outcome was done by modified Harris hip score at the last follow-up.Results: Average age of the patients in study was 64 years; males had better outcome scores, which was statistically significant. The mean trauma-surgery interval was four days. Trauma surgery interval and functional outcome by Harris hip score was statistically significant and was inversely proportional. Union was achieved in all patients with delayed union noted in four cases; the average time to union was 12.2 weeks with no major complications and good functional outcome by Harris hip score.Conclusions: This study suggests that locking side plate with DHS would make a stronger bone implant construct and a valuable modification to prevent sliding, screw cut-out and side plate pull-out with low infection rates

Characterizing artificial socio-cognitive technical systems

This paper is an invitation to examine a class of socio-technical systems - artificial socio-cognitive (ASCS) - whose distinctive nature is that they may involve humans as well as artificial agents who interact in a regulated milieu. We propose a characterization of these ASCS and build on that characterization to describe how these systems evolve

Predicting Blast-Induced Ground Vibrations in Some Indian Tunnels: a Comparison of Decision Tree, Artificial Neural Network and Multivariate Regression Methods

The present study compares three different techniques (decision tree, artificial neural network and multivariate regression analysis) for predicting blast-induced ground vibrations in some Indian tunnelling projects. The performance of these models was also compared to site-specific conventional predictor equations. A database consisting of 137 vibration records was randomly divided into training and testing sets for model generation. Eight input parameters (total charge, tunnel cross-section, maximum charge per delay, number of holes, hole diameter, distance from blasting face, hole depth and charge per hole) were selected for model development using bivariate correlation analysis. Results indicated that the decision tree is best suited for predicting vibrations. The decision tree further suggested that the intensity of near-field ground vibrations is mainly affected by total charge fired in a round, whereas the intensity of far-field vibrations is governed by maximum charge per delay and charge per hole. Conventional ground vibration predictors and machine learning techniques such as neural networks do not depict the relationship between input and output parameters. However, the present study substantiates that the decision tree can be a good tool for precise prediction of ground vibrations. Further, the decision tree can classify and relate different blast design parametersfor refining blast designs to control ground vibrations on site

Structure of the Catalytic Chain of Methanococcus Jannaschii Aspartate Transcarbamoylase in a Hexagonal Crystal Form: Insights into the Path of Carbamoyl Phosphate to the Active Site of the Enzyme

Crystals of the catalytic chain of Methanococcus jannaschii aspartate transcarbamoylase (ATCase) grew in the presence of the regulatory chain in the hexagonal space group P6322, with one monomer per asymmetric unit. This is the first time that crystals with only one monomer in the asymmetric unit have been obtained; all known structures of the catalytic subunit contain several crystallographically independent monomers. The symmetry-related chains form the staggered dimer of trimers observed in the other known structures of the catalytic subunit. The central channel of the catalytic subunit contains a sulfate ion and a K+ ion as well as a glycerol molecule at its entrance. It is possible that it is involved in channeling carbamoyl phosphate (CP) to the active site of the enzyme. A second sulfate ion near Arg164 is near the second CP position in the wild-type Escherichia coli ATCase structure complexed with CP. It is suggested that this position may also be in the path that CP takes when binding to the active site in a partial diffusion process at 310 K. Additional biochemical studies of carbamoylation and the molecular organization of this enzyme in M. jannaschii will provide further insight into these points

Serine/threonine protein phosphatase PstP of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is necessary for accurate cell division and survival of pathogen

Protein phosphatases play vital roles in phosphorylation-mediated cellular signaling. While there are 11 serine/threonine protein kinases in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, only one serine/threonine phosphatase, PstP, has been identified. Although PstP has been biochemically characterized and multiple in vitro substrates identified, its physiological role has not yet been elucidated. In this study we have investigated the impact of PstP on cell growth and survival of the pathogen in the host. Overexpression of PstP led to elongated cells and partially compromised survival. We find that depletion of PstP is detrimental to cell survival, eventually leading to cell death. PstP depletion results in elongated multiseptate cells, suggesting a role for PstP in regulating cell division events. Complementation experiments performed with PstP deletion mutants revealed marginally compromised survival, suggesting that all the domains including extracellular domain are necessary for complete rescue. On the other hand, the catalytic activity of PstP is absolutely essential for the in vitro growth. Mice infection experiments establish a definitive role for PstP in pathogen survival within the host. Depletion of PstP from established infections causes pathogen clearance, indicating the continued presence of PstP is necessary for pathogen survival. Taken together, our data suggests an important role for PstP in establishing and maintaining infection, possibly via the modulation of cell division events