Genetic variability in trait-specific rice germplasm groups based on coefficient of parentage, SSR markers and fertility restoration

To maximize heterosis, it is important to understand the genetic diversity of germplasm and associate useful phenotypic traits such as fertility restoration for hybrid rice breeding. The objectives of the present study were to characterize genetic diversity within a set of rice germplasm groups using coefficient of parentage (COP) values and 58 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers for 124 genotypes having different attributes such as resistance/tolerance to various biotic and abiotic stresses. These lines were also used for identifying prospective restorers and maintainers for wild abortive-cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) line. The mean COP value for all the lines was 0.11, indicating that the genotypes do not share common ancestry. The SSR analysis generated a total of 268 alleles with an average of 4.62 alleles per locus. The mean polymorphism information content value was 0.53, indicating that the markers selected were highly polymorphic. Grouping based on COP analysis revealed three major clusters pertaining to the indica, tropical japonica and japonica lines. A similar grouping pattern with some variation was also observed for the SSR markers. Fertility restoration phenotype based on the test cross of the 124 genotypes with a CMS line helped identify 23 maintainers, 58 restorers and 43 genotypes as either partial maintainers or partial restorers. This study demonstrates that COP analysis along with molecular marker analysis might encourage better organization of germplasm diversity and its use in hybrid rice breeding. Potential restorers identified in the study can be used for breeding high-yielding stress-tolerant medium-duration rice hybrids, while maintainers would prove useful for developing new rice CMS lines

Risk profiles and one-year outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation in India: Insights from the GARFIELD-AF Registry.

BACKGROUND: The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF) is an ongoing prospective noninterventional registry, which is providing important information on the baseline characteristics, treatment patterns, and 1-year outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This report describes data from Indian patients recruited in this registry. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 52,014 patients with newly diagnosed AF were enrolled globally; of these, 1388 patients were recruited from 26 sites within India (2012-2016). In India, the mean age was 65.8 years at diagnosis of NVAF. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor for AF, present in 68.5% of patients from India and in 76.3% of patients globally (P < 0.001). Diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) were prevalent in 36.2% and 28.1% of patients as compared with global prevalence of 22.2% and 21.6%, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). Antiplatelet therapy was the most common antithrombotic treatment in India. With increasing stroke risk, however, patients were more likely to receive oral anticoagulant therapy [mainly vitamin K antagonist (VKA)], but average international normalized ratio (INR) was lower among Indian patients [median INR value 1.6 (interquartile range {IQR}: 1.3-2.3) versus 2.3 (IQR 1.8-2.8) (P < 0.001)]. Compared with other countries, patients from India had markedly higher rates of all-cause mortality [7.68 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 6.32-9.35) vs 4.34 (4.16-4.53), P < 0.0001], while rates of stroke/systemic embolism and major bleeding were lower after 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Compared to previously published registries from India, the GARFIELD-AF registry describes clinical profiles and outcomes in Indian patients with AF of a different etiology. The registry data show that compared to the rest of the world, Indian AF patients are younger in age and have more diabetes and CAD. Patients with a higher stroke risk are more likely to receive anticoagulation therapy with VKA but are underdosed compared with the global average in the GARFIELD-AF. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01090362

Risk profiles and one-year outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation in India: Insights from the GARFIELD-AF Registry

BACKGROUND: The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD–Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF) is an ongoing prospective noninterventional registry, which is providing important information on the baseline characteristics, treatment patterns, and 1-year outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This report describes data from Indian patients recruited in this registry. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 52,014 patients with newly diagnosed AF were enrolled globally; of these, 1388 patients were recruited from 26 sites within India (2012–2016). In India, the mean age was 65.8 years at diagnosis of NVAF. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor for AF, present in 68.5% of patients from India and in 76.3% of patients globally (P < 0.001). Diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) were prevalent in 36.2% and 28.1% of patients as compared with global prevalence of 22.2% and 21.6%, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). Antiplatelet therapy was the most common antithrombotic treatment in India. With increasing stroke risk, however, patients were more likely to receive oral anticoagulant therapy [mainly vitamin K antagonist (VKA)], but average international normalized ratio (INR) was lower among Indian patients [median INR value 1.6 (interquartile range {IQR}: 1.3–2.3) versus 2.3 (IQR 1.8–2.8) (P < 0.001)]. Compared with other countries, patients from India had markedly higher rates of all-cause mortality [7.68 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 6.32–9.35) vs 4.34 (4.16–4.53), P < 0.0001], while rates of stroke/systemic embolism and major bleeding were lower after 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Compared to previously published registries from India, the GARFIELD-AF registry describes clinical profiles and outcomes in Indian patients with AF of a different etiology. The registry data show that compared to the rest of the world, Indian AF patients are younger in age and have more diabetes and CAD. Patients with a higher stroke risk are more likely to receive anticoagulation therapy with VKA but are underdosed compared with the global average in the GARFIELD-AF

Electrical and mechanical properties of Na2.8Ca0.1Al2Ga0.5P2.7O12 glass based electrolyte materials: Influence of Ag+ ion-exchange

Sodium super ionic conductor (NASICON) based glass is emerging as solid electrolyte material for Na-ion batteries. In the present study, we report the influence of Ag+ -> Na+ ion-exchange process on the electrical, optical, structural and mechanical properties of NASICON type glass with a chemical formula of Na2.8Ca0.3Al2Ga0.5P2.7O12 (NCAGP). Ag+ ion exchange process was carried out by dipping NCAGP glass in AgNO3 molten salt at 300 degrees C for 15 min (IE15min) and 30 min (IE30min). The diffusion depth of Ag+ ions was measured to be about similar to 7 mu rn and similar to 25 mu m for IE15min and IE30min samples, respectively. The dc conductivity values were obtained from base (NCAGP), IE15min and IE30min bulk glass samples through the complex impedance plots at a temperature range of 75 degrees C-200 degrees C. With the increase in ion-exchange time, the dc conductivity slightly diminished on account of marginally increase in activation energy (Ea) values. Optical absorption spectra for 30 min ion-exchanged glass revealed the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) band, confirming the reduction of Ag+ ion to Ag-0 metal with an increase in ion-exchange time from 15 min to 30 min. Presence of Raman vibrational peak at 233 cm(-1) has also confirmed the formation of Ag-O bonds. The mechanical hardness values obtained through Vickers indentation method reveal enhanced hardness and crack resistance of bulk glasses with the ion-exchange treatment by causing compressive stress on the surface of NCAGP glass. The threshold load for the crack generation is increased from 0.5 kgf (4.9 N) to 2 kgf (19.6 N) after the ion-exchange treatment. Overall, improved mechanical and good electrical properties reveal the applicability of IE15min NCAGP glass as an electrolyte material for Na-ion batteries

Elevated factor VIII and mesenteric vein thrombosis

Elevated concentrations of factor VIII have recently been associated with de novo development of deep vein thrombosisand its recurrence Occurrence of mesenteric vein thrombosis in patients with elevated factor VIII has been rarely described but not well characterized. We describe in this article a young patient who developed superior mesenteric vein thrombosis and on evaluation was found to have abnormally elevated factor VIII

Structure and Conductivity Correlation in NASICON Based Na3Al2P3O12 Glass: Effect of Na2SO4

Identifying the factors influencing the movement of sodium cations (Na+) in glasses accelerates the possible options of glass-based solid electrolyte materials for their applications as a promising electrolyte material in sodium-ion batteries. Nevertheless, due to the poor correlation between the structure and conductivity in glass materials, identifying the factors governing the conductivity still exists as a challenging task. Herein, we have investigated the DC-conductivity variations by correlating the structure and conductivity in sodium superionic conductor (NASICON) based Na3Al2P3O12 (NAP) glass (mol%: 37.5 P2O5-25.0 Al2O3-37.5 Na2O) due to the successive substitution of Na2SO4 for Al2O3. Structural variations have been identified using the Raman and magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS-NMR) (for P-31, Na-23, and Al-27 nuclei) and conductivity measurements have been done using the impedance spectroscopy. From the ac-conductivity spectra, the correlations between mean square displacement (MSD) and dc-conductivity and between the Na+ concentration and dc-conductivity have also been evaluated. Raman spectra reveal that the increase in the Na2SO4 concentration increases the number of isolated SO42- sulfate groups that are charge compensated by the Na+ cations in the NAP glass. MAS-NMR spectra reveal that the increase in Na2SO4 concentration increases the concentration of non-bridging oxygens and further neither S-O-P nor S-O-Al bonds are formed. Impedance spectroscopy reveals that, at 373 K, the DC conductivity of the NAP glass increases with increasing the Na2SO4 up to 7.5 mol% and then decreases with the further increase. In the present study, we have shown that the mobility of sodium cations played a significant role in enhancing the ionic-conductivity. Further, we have shown that inter-ionic Coulombic interactions and the structural modification with the formation of SO42- units significantly influence the critical hopping length of the sodium cations and consequently the mobility and the ionic conductivity. The present study clearly indicates that, based on the compositions, glass materials can also be treated as strong-electrolyte materials

Bandwidth enhancement of MIR emission in Yb3+/Er3+/Dy3+ triply doped fluoro-tellurite glass

Enhanced bandwidth of MIR emission from Yb3+/Er3+/Dy3+ triply doped low phonon oxide glass system has been reported in this work. With considerable gain cross-section, the MIR emission bandwidth can be stretched from similar to 2600 to 3100 nm (similar to 500 nm) which is practically not possible to obtain from Er3+ or Dy3+ ions singly doped systems. Co-doping of Dy3+ ions not only quenches the unfavourable visible up-converted emissions from Er3+ ions but also mitigates the prominent similar to 1.5 mu m emission. A broad MIR emission on superimposition of Er3+ similar to 2.76 mu m and Dy3+ similar to 2.95 mu m emissions was obtained owing to the efficient energy transfer (ET) Yb3+ -> Er3+ -> Dy3+ upon similar to 980 nm excitation. The present glasses can be fiberized to develop compact and tunable MIR solid state fiber laser sources

Understanding the sodium-ion dynamics in NASICON (Na3Al2P3O12) glass containing NaF: Scaling of electrical conductivity spectra

Quest for high ion-conducting solid electrolyte materials for sodium-ion batteries has been tremendously increasing. Glass materials are a potential solid electrolyte for high-energy Na-ion batteries. Nevertheless, the effective research on glass materials for their applications in Na-ion batteries is dawdling due to its low ionic DC-conductivity and poor understanding of the dynamics of mobile cations. Herein, we have attempted to address the effect of substitution of NaF for Al2O3 on the conductivity of Na3Al2P3O12 (NAP) glass (mol%: 37.5P(2)O(5)-25.0Al(2)O(3)-37.5 Na2O). Raman spectra reveal that the increase in the substituent NaF concentration significantly affects the coordination of Al3+ and the distribution of sodium cations in the network structure of NAP glass. Impedance spectra reveal that the change in conductivity of NAP glass with an increase in the NaF concentration is highly dependent on a specific temperature range. At a lower temperature range, (10 mol%) have deviated from Summerfield scaling and further indicate that the fraction of sodium-ions responsible for the ionic conductivity is decreasing with an increase in the temperature. Scaling of AC-conductivity curves for all the glass samples using the Ghosh procedure suggests that the number density along with the hopping distance of sodium ions changes with increasing temperature. The Modified random network structural model has been further utilized to explain the variation in the NAP glass conductivity with an increase in the NaF concentrations. The outcome of this work will certainly aid in designing the chemical compositions of glasses for the development of solid electrolyte materials for their applications in Na-ion batteries. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Correlation of structure and ionic-conductivity in phosphate glass using MAS-NMR and impedance spectroscopy: Influence of sodium salt

In the process of diminishing the safety concerns of sodium-ion batteries, the development of glass-based solid electrolyte materials has received adequate interest. Nevertheless, achieving a high ionic-conductivity at room temperature for glass materials remains a challenging task because of the poor correlation between the conductivity and the glass structure. Here, we attempt to understand the effective influence of NaC1 on the structure and ionic-conductivity of the phosphate-based glass network. For this study, xNaCl-(100-x) (31.725 Na2O-12.69 Al2O3-31.725 P2O5-8.46 NaF-5.40 Na2SO4-10 MoO3) glass systems (mol %) were selected, where x = 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 mol %. To investigate structural changes with the addition of different NaCl concentrations, Al-27, Na-23, P-31 magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS-NMR), P-31 two-dimensional (2D) phase-adjusted spinning sideband (PASS), and P-31 2D J-resolved NMR techniques and Raman spectroscopic techniques were utilized. Impedance spectroscopy and ac conductivity spectra were used to assess ionic-conductivity and sodium-ion dynamics, respectively. Impedance spectral analysis reveals that the ionic-conductivity of the base glass is increased by 2.4 times (from 1.85 x 10(-7) to 4.44 x 10(-7) S/cm at 373 K) with the addition of 20 mol % of NaCl. Raman spectra confirm the presence of P-O-Mo and the absence of Mo-O-Mo bonds in these glass systems, and P-31 2D J-resolved spectra indicate the absence of P-O-P bonds. Upon increasing the NaCl concentration, significant changes in the shapes of P-31 and Al-27 MAS-NMR spectra were observed, indicating the effective influence of NaCl on the distribution of alumina and phosphorus structural units. Irrespective of the temperature, sodium-ion dynamic studies show that the mean-square displacement decreases with increasing NaCl concentration up to 10 mol % and then increases with a further increase in NaCl concentration. This investigation aids in understanding the sodium-ion dynamics and the structural information of a multicomponent glass system to enhance the room-temperature conductivity