An Embedded Auto-Calibrated Offset Current Compensation Technique for PPG/fNIRS System

Usually, the current generated by the photodiode proportional to the oxygenated blood in the photoplethysmography (PPG) and functional infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) based recording systems is small as compared to the offset-current. The offset current is the combination of the dark current of the photodiode, the current due to ambient light, and the current due to the reflected light from fat and skull . The relatively large value of the offset current limits the amplification of the signal current and affects the overall performance of the PPG/fNIRS recording systems. In this paper, we present a mixed-signal auto-calibrated offset current compensation technique for PPG and fNIRS recording systems. The system auto-calibrates the offset current, compensates using a dual discrete loop technique, and amplifies the signal current. Thanks to the amplification, the system provides better sensitivity. A prototype of the system is built and tested for PPG signal recording. The prototype is developed for a 3.3 V single supply. The results show that the proposed system is able to effectively compensate for the offset current

Metabolic engineering of the chloroplast genome reveals that the yeast ArDH gene confers enhanced tolerance to salinity and drought in plants

Osmoprotectants stabilize proteins and membranes against the denaturing effect of high concentrations of salts and other harmful solutes. In yeast, arabitol dehydrogenase (ArDH) reduces D-ribulose to D-arabitol where D-ribulose is derived by dephosphorylating D-ribulose-5-PO4 in the oxidized pentose pathway. Osmotolerance in plants could be developed through metabolic engineering of chloroplast genome by introducing genes encoding polyols. Here, we report that ArDH expression in chloroplasts confers tolerance to NaCl (up to 400 mM). Transgenic plants compared to wild type survived for four to five weeks on 400 mM NaCl. Nevertheless, plants remained green and grew normal on concentrations up to 350 mM NaCl. Further, a-week-old seedlings were also challenged with poly ethylene glycol (PEG, up to 6%) in the liquid medium, considering that membranes and proteins are protected under stress conditions due to accumulation of arabitol in chloroplasts. Seedlings were tolerant to 6% PEG, suggesting that ARDH enzyme maintains integrity of membranes in chloroplasts under drought conditions via metabolic engineering. Hence, the gene could be expressed in agronomic plants to withstand abiotic stresses

Corporate Social Responsibility Moderates the Relationship of Corporate Governance and Investment Decisions: New Insight from Emerging Markets

Purpose: This paper examines the relationship between Corporate Governance, Corporate Investment, and Financial Performance of firms with moderating relationship of Corporate Social Responsibility in emerging markets of Asia (Pakistan, China, Malaysia, and India).   Design/Methodology/Approach: To examine the impact, the panel data of 214 non-financial listed firms from 2014–to 2019 was collected. Findings: We documented a new insight that CSR and CG are significantly associated with CI and FP. Results also show that the quality of CG and CSR enriches the CI decisions that improved FP. Findings also show that CSR moderates the relationship between CG and CI decisions, and between CG and firms’ FP. The board directors and ownership concentration have a positive relationship with CI decisions and FP. Overall CSR moderates the relationship between CI and CP.   Implications/Originality/Value: These findings are beneficial to the management of corporations working in emerging markets to improve CSR activities.  This research also contributes to existing literature, on how CSR moderates the relationship between CG and CI decisions in the given contexts. &nbsp

Effects of Decompression Therapy in Leg Pain and Straight Leg Rise in Patient with Lumbar Radiculopathy Due to Disc Protrusion

One among many disc problems is disc protrusion, which has more prevalence in outpatient department physical therapy management Centre globally. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of lumbar spine decompression therapy and standard physical therapy treatment in patients with lumbar radiculopathy due to disc protrusion. The single-blind randomized control trial of 71 patients was conducted at Max Rehab & Physical Therapy Centre Islamabad, Pakistan. After setting inclusion criteria all the patients were randomly allocated into treatment and control group. Both group received standard physical therapy treatment including, Moist Hot pack, Lumbar Mobilization, Stretching & strengthening exercises. The only difference was that Decompression Group received additional Decompression therapy. The data included demographics and Numeric Pain Rating Scale score in supine lying position for the painful leg and Straight Leg Raise Range for the painful side. The values for leg pain for control group decreased from 6 to 3 and the value for straight leg raise increased from 15° to 49°. The values for leg pain for the Decompression Group decreased from 6 to 2 and the value for the straight leg raise increased from 10° to 48°, the p value for both the variables was <.001 showing statistically significant difference between pre and post values in treating patients leg pain and straight leg raise range of motion. It is concluded that decompression therapy is more effective in managing lumbar radiculopathy