Managing Waste in India with Foresight

With rising prosperity and urbanisation in emerging anddeveloping economies there has been a rapid expansion of wastegeneration. India, with an urban population of 377 million that is expectedto reach 590 million by 2030, is also facing an unprecedented challenge ofwaste management. Significant uncertainties about the future trajectoriesof waste management exist, including the concept of waste as a resource and the role of the informal sector. This article describes an analytical framework that combines foresight and political economy methods used in a multi-stakeholder workshop setting to develop future scenarios for the sector. The process provides insights to increase participation in waste management policymaking in India by opening up the process beyond expert committees. The use of foresight tools with political economy analysis has the potential to democratise the policymaking process of waste management in India for the inclusion of all stakeholders and particularly the informal sector

Alteration in Serum Lipid Profile Pattern in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Potentially Malignant Disorders

Objective: To evaluate and compare lipid profile level in oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), oral leukoplakia (OL) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients. Material and Methods: Thirty histopathologically diagnosed subjects each of OL, OSMF, OSCC were recruited along with 30 healthy controls. 5ml of venous blood is collected and estimated using standard diagnostic kits. Results: The mean of Total cholesterol level in controls was 219.03 mg%, in OSCC, OL and OSMF was 142.89 ± 10.21mg%, 155.44 ± 17.63 mg% and 180.60 ± 13.25 mg%, respectively. The mean low-density lipid level in controls was 137.24 mg and in OSCC, OL and OSMF groups were 109.28 ± 2.16 mg%, 126.63 ± 0.85 mg% and 119.15 ± 0.93 mg%, respectively. The mean of high-density lipid level in controls, OSCC, OL and OSMF was 42.87 ± 0.42 mg%, 36.50 ± 2.31 mg%, 21.13 ± 0.77 mg% and 28.37 ± 1.11mg%, respectively. The mean of very low density lipids level in controls, OSCC, OL and OSMF was 30.12 ± 1.51 mg%, 17.24 ± 0.80 mg%, 22.25 ± 0.93 mg% and 25.89 ± 0.43 mg%, respectively. The mean triglyceride level in controls, OSCC, OL and OSMF was 118.80 ± 9.47 mg%, 91.2 ± 3.03 mg%, 105.05 ± 2.96 mg% and 106.19 ± 3.09 mg%, respectively. Conclusion: Lipid profile levels could be early indicators of precancer and cancer

Implementation of High Efficiency, High Lifetime and Low Cost Converter for an Automatic Photovoltaic Water Pumping Station

A novel idea of photovoltaic (PV) energy based converter for water pumping system without the USAge of fuel cells or batteries. In proposed system, the design of a three phase induction motor drive is directly supplied by using photovoltaic system energy. Presence of a three phase induction motor has better performance with optimized efficiency compared to the commercial water pumping system of DC motor. The developed resonant of Two Inductor Boost Converter (TIBC) and voltage quadruple with three phase Voltage Source Inverter (VSI) are based on the current fed multi resonant converter. Low input current ripple and high voltage gain are the features of TIBC. So the classical topology used to improve the system with a constant duty cycle control and a non dissipative snubber circuit along with a hysteresis controller to improve its efficiency. Due to the non existence of electrolytic capacitors the system is required to have a high lifetime and total system cost is low. As a result, in isolated locations the system has an optimistic solution and it provide water to poor societies

Pancytopenia and transient synovitis of hip joint in a SARS CoV-2 positive pregnant female: a case report

Pregnant women are at an increased risk for severe COVID-19 illness. Apart from the typical clinical manifestations, atypical presenting features of COVID-19 are also being found. We report the case of a 20 years old COVID positive antenatal patient with pancytopenia. The patient presented with scar tenderness and was taken up for emergency caesarean section at a platelet count of 5860 per microlitre. She was managed with intraoperative and postoperative transfusion of blood products. She developed chronic persistent hip pain and was diagnosed to have transient synovitis of the hip joint, which was managed conservatively. COVID-19 is a new disease with evolving clinical presentation. Pancytopenia and synovitis of hip are a rare manifestation of COVID-19 and has never been reported in a pregnant woman with COVID-19

Aggressive angiomyxoma of the vulva - a rare entity: case report and review of literature

Aggressive angiomyxoma (AA) is an extremely rare locally invasive mesenchymal tumor with a high risk of recurrence. Till date, only about 350 cases reported worldwide. Because of the rarity it should be considered as differential diagnosis whenever patient present with vulvovaginal growth. The diagnosis is clinched on histopathology. These are hormone-dependent and have estrogen and progesterone receptors. Hence sometimes GnRH agonists are used for ovarian estrogen secretion suppression but long-term use is not advocated due to side effects. A 45-year-old P4 L4 perimenopausal female presented to the GOPD with a 4×4×3 cms pedunculated painless globular mass on right labia majora. On palpation, the globular mass was firm, non-tender and with a smooth surface. Mass was excised and on gross histopathology, cut sections showed white myxoid areas. On microscopy epidermal lined tissue with stellate and spindle-shaped mesenchymal cells was found, embedded in a loose myxoid stroma with few collagen fibers. The cells were small and bland and lacked nuclear atypia. Small to medium-sized blood vessels were present with the thickened wall. Entrapped nerves and adipocytes were also present. No necrosis or mitosis was identified. All these features were suggestive of an aggressive angiomyxoma. Immunohistochemistry markers ER, PR, CD34, desmin, SMA were all positive. Imaging was done to rule out metastatic lesions and wide local excision was done around the stump with laparoscopic bilateral oophorectomy. Aggressive angiomyxoma is a rare disease. In women with asymptomatic growth in the vulvovaginal region, perineum or pelvis, aggressive angiomyxoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis. Ideal treatment is a wide local excision to prevent local recurrences, which are common and a hypoestrogenic milieu is created by either GnRH Agonists or by bilateral oophorectomy due to their hormone-sensitive nature

Incidentally diagnosed placenta accreta managed conservatively in a primigravida: case report and review of literature

Placenta accrete spectrum (PAS) disorder is rarely reported in primigravida woman without recognisable risk factors. It can be encountered intraoperatively without prior suspicion. Massive obstetric haemorrhage and increased maternal morbidity and mortality is often associated with emergency caesarean hysterectomy. We presented a 26-year-old primigravida who was presented to our institute as post-dated pregnancy in labour with no other comorbidities. She was taken up for cesarean section in view of prolonged labor. After birth of the baby, the placenta failed to separate on its own and could not be delivered with gentle controlled cord traction and uterine massage. Placenta was seen bulging out at left cornuo-fundal site as boggy mass in serosa of uterus as bluish distended placental bulge suggestive of placenta accreta. Placenta was left in situ and postoperatively uterine artery embolisation was done. Post-operatively patient did not develop any complications and follow up period of 6 months was uneventful. Conservative management of PAS can be judiciously contemplated in primiparous women desirous of fertility preservation and uterus conservation. The woman needs to be emphasised upon need for close follow up and risk of haemorrhage and sepsis till complete resorption of placenta occurs

Solution Structure of the MAPK Phosphatase PAC-1 Catalytic Domain Insights into Substrate-Induced Enzymatic Activation of MKP

AbstractInactivation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) by MAPK phosphatases (MKPs) is accomplished via substrate-induced activation of the latter enzymes; however, the structural basis for the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here, we report the three-dimensional solution structure of the C-terminal phosphatase domain of the prototypical MKP PAC-1, determined when bound to phosphate. Structural and biochemical analyses reveal unique active site geometry of the enzyme important for binding to phosphorylated threonine and tyrosine of MAPK ERK2. Our study further demonstrates that the dynamic interaction between the N-terminal kinase binding domain and the C-terminal phosphatase domain of an MKP is directly coupled to MAPK-induced conformational change of the phosphatase active site, which is essential for eliciting its full enzymatic activity