Performance Evaluation of wide Bandwidth RF Signal Generator Chip

The work in this paper is to give an overview of the compact wide band RF signal generator board design, emphasizing on the analyses and evaluation of the performance characteristics corresponding to the output signal purity and stability. The paper describes the design aspects involved in developing a reliable RF generating source which includes details regarding the factors that have taken care for optimum output power, spectral purity and noise performance. The simulation results obtained from the tool given by Maxim integrated are used as reference to evaluate the actual board when it is realised. These results are shown here for reference. Design aspects such as the power supply, noise filtering, loop filter component selection board layout consideration along with easy and compact form factor is considered. The board contains not only the signal generator device but also an FPGA from Xilinx to control the device, to make the board more useful for future applications; the board also has an SDRAM and an USB controller. This paper mainly concentrates on to MAX2870 signal generator and simulation results obtained by EE-Sim tool. Since the actual board is still in the process of being developed, the comparison of the actual performance to the simulation performance may not be possible at this point of time but definitely is in pipeline

3D-QSAR studija afiniteta vezanja na receptor za (R,S)-2-amino-3-(3-hidroksi-5-metilizoksazol-4-il)-propansku kiselinu

An approach for binding affinity evaluation is suggested and exemplified using a set of triazolo [1,5-a] quinoxaline for the (R,S)-2-amino-3-(3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazol-4-yl)-propionic acid (AMPA) receptor. Biological activity toward the AMPA receptor (expressed as -log IC5O) was taken as a dependent variable for building Comparative Molecular Field Analysis (CoMFA) and Comparative Molecular Similarity Indices Analysis (CoMSIA) models. The resulting models show the ways of increasing the binding affinity to the AMPA receptor as a potential target for epilepsy. The statistically significant results show that the cross-validated r2CV value (0.766) for the CoMFA model is greater than (0.758) for the CoMSIA model. The non-cross validated run giving the coefficient of determination r2 values of 0.944 and 0.919 for CoMFA and CoMSIA, respectively, provided good correlation between the observed and computed affinities of the training set compounds. The resulting CoMFA and CoMSIA models indicate that steric, electrostatic, hydrophobic (lipophilic), hydrogen bond donor and acceptor substituents play a significant role in increasing the binding affinity and selectivity of the compounds toward the AMPA receptor.U radu je vrednovan afinitet vezanja serije triazolo[1,5-a]kinoksalina na receptor za (R,S)-2-amino-3-(3-hidroksi-5-metilizoksazol-4-il)-propansku kiselinu (AMPA). Djelovanje na AMPA receptor (izraženo kao log IC5O) uzeta je kao zavisna varijabla u modelima usporedne analize molekulskih polja (Comparative Molecular Field Analysis, CoMFA) i usporedne analize molekulske sličnosti (Comparative Molecular Similarity Indices Analysis, CoMSIA). Ti modeli pokazuju kako povećati afinitet vezanja na AMPA receptor, što može biti korisno u terapiji epilepsije. Statistički značajni rezultati ukazuju da je križno validirana r2CV vrijednost za CoMFA model (0,766) veća nego za CoMSIA model (0,758). Koeficijenti r2 za CoMFA model (0,944) i CoMSIA (0,919) ukazuju na dobru korelaciju između izračunatih i eksperimentalno određanih afiniteta vezanja proučavane serije spojeva. Prema oba modela za povećanje afiniteta vezanja i selektivnost spojeva za AMPA receptor značajna su sterička, elektrostatska, hidrofobna (lipofilni) svojstva, te sposobnost stvaranja vodikovih veza

Bilateral Vestibular Dysfunction Associated With Chronic Exposure to Military Jet Propellant Type-Eight Jet Fuel.

We describe three patients diagnosed with bilateral vestibular dysfunction associated with the jet propellant type-eight (JP-8) fuel exposure. Chronic exposure to aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, which are the main constituents of JP-8 military aircraft jet fuel, occurred over 3-5 years\u27 duration while working on or near the flight line. Exposure to toxic hydrocarbons was substantiated by the presence of JP-8 metabolit

Seroprevalence of syphilis in human immunodeficiency virus patients

Background: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by, Treponema pallidum. Syphilis facilitates the transmission and acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and causes transient increase in the viral load. Sexually transmitted infections (STI) are 3-5 times more likely to acquire HIV infection, if exposed to the virus through sexual contact. Aim of the study was to estimate the seroprevalence of Syphilis in HIV patients.Methods: A total of 920 blood samples were collected from HIV patients attending ART (Antiretroviral therapy) centre and were tested for Syphilis by using Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) and Treponema pallidum Hemagglutination Assay (TPHA). A total of 100 HIV non-reactive individuals were taken as a control group.Results: Out of 920 samples, 102 (11.1%) were positive for Syphilis. Out of 102 Syphilis seropositive patients, males (76.5%) were more commonly affected in age group of 21-40 years. Both RPR and TPHA were reactive in 46% of cases and only TPHA reactive in 53.9% of cases. Out of 100 HIV non-reactive patients, 5% of patients are reactive for Syphilis.Conclusions: In the present study, prevalence of Syphilis was more in HIV patients compared to HIV non-reactive persons. Persons with HIV infection acquired through sexual route should be screened for Syphilis by one nonspecific test along with specific test to confirm the diagnosis. This will help in proper management of the patients having Syphilis and HIV co-infection

2-{Hy­droxy[1-(4-meth­oxy­phen­yl)-4-oxo-3-phenyl­azetidin-2-yl]meth­yl}acrylonitrile

In the title compound, C20H18N2O3, the β-lactam ring is essentially planar, having a maximum deviation of 0.0291 (15) Å for the N atom, and perpendicular to the phenyl ring [dihedral angle = 85.55 (11)°]. The carbonitrile side chain is almost linear, the C—C—N angle being 176.8 (2)°. The crystal packing is stabilized by inter­molecular O—H⋯O and C—H⋯O inter­actions

Wild relatives of sorghum as sources of resistance to sorghum shoot fly, Atherigona soccata

The levels of resistance to shoot fly, Atherigona soccata in sorghum germplasm are low to moderate and therefore, we evaluated 17 wild relatives of sorghum under field and greenhouse conditions as an alternate source of genes for resistance to this pest. Thirty-two accessions belonging to Parasorghum, Stiposorghum and Heterosorghum did not suffer any shoot fly damage under multi-choice conditions in the field, while one accession each of Heterosorghum (Sorghum laxiflorum) and Chaetosorghum (S. macrospermum) suffered very low shoot fly damage. Accessions belonging to S. exstans (TRC 243601), S. stipoideum (TRC 243399) and S. matarankense (TRC 243576) showed absolute non-preference for oviposition under no-choice conditions. Accessions belonging to Heterosorghum, Parasorghum and Stiposorghum were preferred for oviposition, but suffered low deadheart formation. Manual infestation of seedlings with shoot fly eggs did not result in deadheart formation in some of the accessions belonging to S. exstans (TRC 243601), S. stipoideum (TRC 243399), S. matarankense (TRC 243576) and S. purpureosericeum (IS 18944). Larval mortality was recorded in main stems of the Parasorghums. Within section Sorghum, accessions belonging to S. bicolor ssp. verticilliflorum were highly susceptible to shoot fly, as were those of S. halepense. However, a few accessions such as IS 18226 (race arundinaceum) and IS 14212 (S. halepense) resulted in reduced survival and fecundity. Wild relatives of sorghum exhibited very high levels of antibiosis to A. soccata, while only low levels of antibiosis have been observed in the cultivated germplasm. Therefore, wild relatives with different mechanisms of resistance can be used as a source of alternate genes to increase the levels and diversify the basis of resistance to shoot fly, A. soccata

Potential of Wild relatives in Sorghum Improvement through Molecular Approaches

Wild relatives of crops play a key role in the development of high performing cultivars. Of the 22 species comprising the highly variable genus, Sorghum, only one, S. bicolor, is commercially cultivated for food, feed, and bioenergy production. Profitable utilization of wild species however, demands an interdisciplinary, multi-pronged approach to increase the probability of achieving the desired genetic improvement. In the past, plant breeders selected breeding material based on morphological characteristics that were readily observable and co-inherited with the desired traits. However, a combination of morphological and molecular analyses on large samples and smaller samples, respectively, would maximize both information and usefulness. Molecular diversity data can potentially bridge conservation and use when employed as a tool for mining germplasm collections for genomic regions associated with adaptive or agronomically-important traits (i.e., genes that have been important in adaptation to local environments or are associated with phenotypes selected by farmers or breeders. For sorghum, which is constrained by over 40 diseases and 150 insect pests, host plant resistance offers an effective, economical and environment friendly method of pest/pathogen control since it does not involve any additional investments by the resource poor farmers..

Prevalence and correlates of depressive disorders in people with Type 2 diabetes: results from the International Prevalence and Treatment of Diabetes and Depression (INTERPRET‐DD) study, a collaborative study carried out in 14 countries

Aims To assess the prevalence and management of depressive disorders in people with Type 2 diabetes in different countries. Methods People with diabetes aged 18–65 years and treated in outpatient settings were recruited in 14 countries and underwent a psychiatric interview. Participants completed the Patient Health Questionnaire and the Problem Areas in Diabetes scale. Demographic and medical record data were collected. Results A total of 2783 people with Type 2 diabetes (45.3% men, mean duration of diabetes 8.8 years) participated. Overall, 10.6% were diagnosed with current major depressive disorder and 17.0% reported moderate to severe levels of depressive symptomatology (Patient Health Questionnaire scores >9). Multivariable analyses showed that, after controlling for country, current major depressive disorder was significantly associated with gender (women) (PPPPP<0.0001). The proportion of those with either current major depressive disorder or moderate to severe levels of depressive symptomatology who had a diagnosis or any treatment for their depression recorded in their medical records was extremely low and non-existent in many countries (0–29.6%). Conclusions Our international study, the largest of this type ever undertaken, shows that people with diabetes frequently have depressive disorders and also significant levels of depressive symptoms. Our findings indicate that the identification and appropriate care for psychological and psychiatric problems is not the norm and suggest a lack of the comprehensive approach to diabetes management that is needed to improve clinical outcomes

Patient-Specific Metrics of Invasiveness Reveal Significant Prognostic Benefit of Resection in a Predictable Subset of Gliomas

Object Malignant gliomas are incurable, primary brain neoplasms noted for their potential to extensively invade brain parenchyma. Current methods of clinical imaging do not elucidate the full extent of brain invasion, making it difficult to predict which, if any, patients are likely to benefit from gross total resection. Our goal was to apply a mathematical modeling approach to estimate the overall tumor invasiveness on a patient-by-patient basis and determine whether gross total resection would improve survival in patients with relatively less invasive gliomas. Methods In 243 patients presenting with contrast-enhancing gliomas, estimates of the relative invasiveness of each patient's tumor, in terms of the ratio of net proliferation rate of the glioma cells to their net dispersal rate, were derived by applying a patient-specific mathematical model to routine pretreatment MR imaging. The effect of varying degrees of extent of resection on overall survival was assessed for cohorts of patients grouped by tumor invasiveness. Results We demonstrate that patients with more diffuse tumors showed no survival benefit (P = 0.532) from gross total resection over subtotal/biopsy, while those with nodular (less diffuse) tumors showed a significant benefit (P = 0.00142) with a striking median survival benefit of over eight months compared to sub-totally resected tumors in the same cohort (an 80% improvement in survival time for GTR only seen for nodular tumors). Conclusions These results suggest that our patient-specific, model-based estimates of tumor invasiveness have clinical utility in surgical decision making. Quantification of relative invasiveness assessed from routinely obtained pre-operative imaging provides a practical predictor of the benefit of gross total resection