Automated detection of amperometric spikes resulting from quantal exocytosis and estimation of spike and pre-spike foot signal parameters

Electrochemical microelectrodes can detect single-vesicle release events as "spikes" of amperometric current. We developed a template based "matched-filter" approach that performs least squares fit of a library of templates to the data and identifies a spike when a detection criterion score given by the ratio of amplitude to the standard error exceeds a minimum threshold. This method outperformed existing approaches and detected >95% of true spikes for a mere 2% false positive rate as evidenced by receiver operating characteristic plots of sensitivity vs specificity. The next step is estimation of spike parameters like peak amplitude (Imax), half-maximal width (t50) and area under the curve (Q) which inform maximal flux, flux duration and charge respectively. Closely successive overlapping spikes are ambiguous to estimate as they may not decay back to baseline and should be rejected. Matched filter approach not only provided robust spike detection but also parameter seed values to reject overlapping spikes and also perform iterative curve fitting of spikes. The remaining well-separated spikes were iteratively fit in two phases, first by fitting rising and decaying phases separately and second by fitting the entire time course using seed values from the matched filter template parameters. Using curve-fit parameters, Imax, t50 and Q were calculated. Histograms of these parameters had bi-modal Gaussian distributions with centers and spreads within 12% and 4% of histograms created using manually analyzed data. The pre-spike baseline was estimated using a novel application of the matched-filter criterion scores and the estimation of pre-spike foot signal parameters such as charge (Qfoot) and duration (tfoot) yielded means, and medians within 10% of manually computed parameters.Includes bibliographical reference

Total Quality Management in Passenger Transport

The present prerequisites for transport benefit providers are consistency and unwavering quality. Cost has no importance without a measure of value. Without satisfactory measures of value, business floats to the most reduced bidder, low quality and high cost being the inescapable outcomes. Rather, the association should look for the best quality in a long haul association with a solitary provider for just a single thing. The aftereffects of actualizing this system are longer enduring things and more prominent quality administration at no extra cost. Transport organizations should choose providers that can give factual proof of value. Since transport associations tend to think about their providers as "accomplices" in their operations, they should consider joint getting ready for change and joint change exercises to serve clients superior to their rivals

IN-SILICO ANALYSIS OF PHYTOCOMPOUNDS FOR INHIBITION OF NICOTINE ACETYL- COA RECEPTOR (NACHR) MEDIATED LUNG CANCER

Objective: Lung cancer is mostly found in cigarette smokers. Nicotine Acetyl-CoA receptor (nAChR) is found to be responsible for this cancerous activity. When cigarette containing nicotine binds with this receptor of lung cells the carcinogenic activity is initiated. Hence, there is a possibility for the prevention of lung cancer formation when the nicotine is competitively inhibited by an interfering molecule preferably from natural products. This will add additional support in the management of lung cancer. This study was planned to identify the natural compounds which have more affinity to the nicotine Acetyl-CoA receptor (nAChR) than the nicotine by in silico evaluation using Auto dock software.Methods: About six compounds were subjected and proved with preclinical studies were obtained from a literature survey and were computed for docking and characterization.Results: Results showed that Taxol had minimum energy level of -11.54 kcal/mol to the nicotine Acetyl-CoA receptor (nAChR) compared to the nicotine energy level of -7.01. Other molecules are having the activity in the following order Combretastatins < Camptothecin < Liriodenine < Curcumin and Podophyllotoxin < Taxol.Conclusion: It is concluded that these data may be useful for the preparation of different combinations and formulations for the management of lung cancer.Â

OAM beam generation using all-fiber fused couplers

We demonstrate the orbital angular momentum (OAM) beam generation using an all-fiber fused coupler based on single mode fiber (SMF) and air-core fiber. The fabricated device is directly SMF compatible with ~80% power coupling efficiency

OAM Generation in optical fibre and free space devices

Orbital angular momentum (OAM) beam generation has been investigated using all-fibre and free space configurations. In the first approach, the composite fused coupler is based on a single mode fibre (SMF) and an air-core fibre. The second approach exploits geometrical phase introduced by nanostructuring of silica glass. Both approaches are demonstrated to achieve power coupling efficiencies in excess of 80% at telecom wavelengths

Evaluation of the feasibility and acceptability of ReWin—A digital therapeutic rehabilitation innovation for people with stroke-related disabilities in India

Background: Developing culturally appropriate, scalable interventions to meet the growing needs for stroke rehabilitation is a significant problem of public health concern. Therefore, systematic development and evaluation of a scalable, inclusive, technology-driven solution for community-based stroke care are of immense public health importance in India. ReWin is a digital therapeutics platform that was developed systematically. This study aimed to evaluate its feasibility and acceptability in an Indian context. Objectives: Phase–1: To pilot the intervention for identifying operational issues and finalize the intervention. Phase–2: To assess the feasibility and acceptability of ReWin intervention in an Indian context. Methods: Design: Mixed-methods research design. Setting: Participant's home and rehabilitation centers. Participants were selected from rehabilitation centers in South India. Participants: Ten stroke survivors and their caregivers, as well as four rehabilitation service providers were recruited for phase 1. Thirty stroke survivors who were treated and discharged from the hospital, and their caregivers as well as 10 rehabilitation service providers were recruited for Phase 2. Intervention: ReWin a digital therapeutic platform with the provider and patient app for the rehabilitation of physical disabilities following stroke was piloted. Process: Evaluation of the intervention was completed in two phases. In the first phase, the preliminary intervention was field-tested with 10 stroke survivors and four rehabilitation service providers for 2 weeks. In the second phase, the finalized intervention was provided to a further 30 stroke survivors to be used in their homes with support from their carers as well as to 10 rehabilitation service providers for 4 weeks. Outcome measures: Primary outcomes: (1) operational difficulties in using the ReWin intervention; (2) feasibility and acceptability of the ReWin intervention in an Indian setting. Results: Field-testing identified operational difficulties related to 1. Therapeutic content; 2. Format; 3. Navigation; 4. Connectivity, 5. Video-streaming, 6. Language; and 7. Comprehensibility of the animated content. The intervention was reviewed, revised and finalized before pilot testing. Findings from the pilot testing showed that the ReWin intervention was feasible and acceptable. About 76% of the participants had used ReWin for more than half of the intervention period of 4 weeks. Ninety percentage of the stroke care providers and about 60% of the stroke survivors and caregivers felt that the content of ReWin was very relevant to the needs of the stroke survivors. Forty percentage of the stroke survivors and caregivers rated ReWin intervention as excellent. Another 45% of the stroke survivors and caregivers as well as 90% of the stroke care providers rated ReWin intervention as very good based on its overall credibility, usability, and user-friendliness. Conclusions: ReWin has all the essential components to connect care providers and consumers not just for stroke rehabilitation but for several other health conditions with the use of several other technological features that support rehabilitation of persons with disabilities and strengthen rehabilitation in health systems worldwide. It is critical to amalgamate ReWin and other evidence-based interventions for rehabilitation to innovate scalable solutions and promote universal health coverage for stroke care worldwide

Discussion on a possible neutrino detector located in India

We have identified some important and worthwhile physics opportunitites with a possible neutrino detector located in India. Particular emphasis is placed on the geographical advantage with a stress on the complimentary aspects with respect to other neutrino detectors already in operation.Comment: 9 pages; arXiv copy of published proceedings contributio

Application of new science tools in integrated watershed management for enhancing impacts

Insufficient scientific inputs in terms of research and development are responsible for low productivity of rainfed systems in the semi-arid tropics (SAT), in addition to biophysical and social constraints such as poor infrastructure, inherent low soil fertility, frequent occurrence of drought, severe degradation of natural resource base, and poor social and institutional networks (Wani et al., 2003, 2009). Researchers and development workers apply high science tools mostly in well endowed areas.............

The burden of diabetes mellitus during pregnancy in low- and middle-income countries : a systematic review

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