Diet-dependent depletion of queuosine in tRNAs in Caenorhabditis elegans does not lead to a developmental block

Queuosine (Q), a hypermodified nucleoside, occurs at the wobble position of transfer RNAs (tRNAs) with GUN anticodons. In eubacteria, absence of Q affects messenger RNA (mRNA) translation and reduces the virulence of certain pathogenic strains. In animal cells, changes in the abundance of Q have been shown to correlate with diverse phenomena including stress tolerance, cell proliferation and tumour growth but the function of Q in animals is poorly understood. Animals are thought to obtain Q (or its analogues) as a micronutrient from dietary sources such as gut microflora. However, the difficulty of maintaining animals under bacteria-free conditions on Q-deficient diets has severely hampered the study of Q metabolism and function in animals. In this study, we show that as in higher animals, tRNAs in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans are modified by Q and its sugar derivatives. When the worms were fed on Q-deficient Escherichia coli, Q modification was absent from the worm tRNAs suggesting that C. elegans lacks a de novo pathway of Q biosynthesis. The inherent advantages of C. elegans as a model organism, and the simplicity of conferring a Q-deficient phenotype on it make it an ideal system to investigate the function of Q modification in tRNA

Clinical study of chemotherapy induced febrile neutropenia: talcott’s versus multinational association for supportive care in cancer risk assessment scoring systems

Background: Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 8.2 million deaths in 2012. Febrile neutropenia (FN) is fever associated with abnormally low neutrophil count signifying an immunocompromised state secondary to malignancy or its treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical outcome of chemotherapy induced febrile neutropenia.Methods: This was a hospital based prospective, descriptive observational study. Patients of either sex, age (18-90 years), with cancer on chemotherapy, single oral temperature ≥101°Fahrenheit (38.3°C) or a temperature ≥100.4° Fahrenheit (38.0° C) for ≥ one hour with absolute neutrophil counts <500 cells/mm3 or <1000 cells/mm3 with a predicted decrease to less than 500 cells/mm3 in the next 24 hours, only with first febrile episode occurring during study period and prior or concurrent radiation therapy were included in this study.Results: Among 87 patients, 70 (80.5%) were less than 60 years and 17 (19.5%) were ≥60 years. The mean age of study patients was 44.46±15 years, (range 18 to 77 years), 31(35.6%) were male and 56 (64.4%) were female. Talcott’s and MASCC risk predicting tool versus outcome, p values for Talcott’s and MASCC were significant (<0.05).Conclusions: Neutropenic fever is a potentially life-threatening complication of cancer chemotherapy. MASCC and Talcott’s model can be used to identify low and high risk patients. MASCC risk index may have a better performance than the Talcott’s model in risk classification

Electromagnetic Design of \beta_g= 0.9, 650 MHz Superconducting Radiofrequency Cavity

We present the electromagnetic design study of a multi cell, \beta_g= 0.9, 650 MHz elliptic superconducting radiofrequency cavity, which can be used for accelerating H- particles in the linear accelerator part of a Spallation Neutron source. The design has been optimized for maximum achievable acceleration gradient by varying the geometry parameters of the cavity, for which a simple and general procedure is evolved that we describe in the paper. For the optimized geometry, we have studied the higher order modes supported by the cavity, and the threshold current for the excitation of the regenerative beam break up instability due to dipole modes has been estimated. Lorentz force detuning studies have also been performed for the optimized design and the calculations are presented to find the optimum location of the stiffener ring to compensate for the Lorentz force detuning.Comment: 43 pages, 25 figure

Curse of the technology-computer related musculoskeletal disorders and vision syndrome: a study

Background: Computer Related Musculoskeletal disorders and Vision Syndrome (CRMSKVS) is defined as symptoms due to prolonged use of Visual Display Terminal (VDT).Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was done among office-workers working on computer terminal. A self-reported questionnaire was distributed and Musculoskeletal (MSK) and visual symptoms in the preceding 12 months (01 October 2017 to 30 September 2018) were taken as dependent variable. Multivariate analysis was done to identify the determinants of CRMSKVS.Results: Responses from 1193 subjects were included in the study. CRMSKVS was present in 489 cases (40.98%; males - 37.5%, females - 58.29%).  The main MSK symptoms were pain/stiffness in neck (40.98%), shoulder (38.99%), lower back (35.6%) and elbow/wrist/hand/fingers (23.1%). The ocular symptoms were excessive watering (39.6%), pain (24.99), irritation (18.6%), burning/itching sensation (29.8%), redness (40.7%), blurring of vision (13.2%) and headache (40.9%). Female gender (OR-1.498(1.262-1.778)), long duration of working hours (OR-2.77(2.399-3.214)), poor break duration (OR-2.59(2.172-3.089)), excessive smart phone use (OR-2.071(1.834-2.338)), poor posture (OR-3.883(3.282-4.592)), inappropriate distance of computer screen (OR-2.173(1.829-2.582)), low height of screen (OR-1.936(1.527-2.454)), distance of keyboard (OR-3.161(2.528-3.953)) and distance of mouse (OR-5.785(3.932-8.512)) were identified as significant determinants of CRMSKVS.Conclusions: CRMSKVS is an emerging pandemic which needs urgent attention by medical and administrative authorities. The device factors, personal factors, environmental and ergonomic factors are the modifiable risk factors for CRMSKVS

Microstability of β∼1\beta \sim 1 tokamak equilibria

High-power-density tokamaks offer a potential solution to design cost-effective fusion devices. One way to achieve high power density is to operate at a high $\beta$ value (the ratio of thermal to magnetic pressure), i.e., $\beta \sim 1$. However, a $\beta \sim 1$ state may be unstable to various pressure- and current-driven instabilities or have unfavorable microstability properties. To explore these possibilities, we generate $\beta \sim 1$ equilibria and investigate their stability. Initially, we study an analytical technique that was used in the past to generate $\beta \sim 1$ equilibria and outline its limitations. Hence, we demonstrate the generation of high-$\beta$ equilibria with the computer code $\texttt{VMEC}$. We then analyze these equilibria to determine their stability against the infinite-$n$ ideal ballooning mode. We follow that by engaging in a detailed microstability study, beginning with assessments of electrostatic ITG and TEM instabilities. We observe interesting behavior for the high-$\beta$ equilibria -- stabilization of these modes through two distinct mechanisms. Finally, we perform electromagnetic gyrokinetic simulations and again observe stabilizing trends in the equilibria at high $\beta$. These trends are different from their lower $\beta$ counterparts and offer an alternative, potentially favorable regime of tokamak operation.Comment: 39 pages, 23 figure

Graphical Password Scheme Resistant to Shoulder Surfing

We propose another graphical secret key plan. It is characterized as test reaction distinguishing proof. Henceforth, a secret word in our plan is time-variation. Client who knows the secret key can meet the test and to react effectively. As a result, our graphical secret key plan is shoulder-surfing safe. An assailant still can't tell what the secret key is, regardless of the possibility that he/she has taped a client's login procedure. Essential investigations on our graphical secret key plan demonstrated the plan is promising