High risk of tuberculosis during infliximab therapy despite tuberculosis screening in inflammatory bowel disease patients in India

Background/Aims The data on the risk of tuberculosis (TB) reactivation with infliximab (IFX) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) from TB endemic countries, like India, is limited. The risk of TB reactivation on IFX and its predictors in patients with IBD was assessed. Methods This retrospective review included consecutive patients with IBD who received IFX, and were on follow-up from January 2005 to November 2017. The data was recorded on age/disease duration, indications for IFX, screening for latent tuberculosis (LTB) before IFX, response to IFX, incidence and duration when TB developed after IFX, and type of TB (pulmonary [PTB]/extra-pulmonary [EPTB]/disseminated). Results Of 69 patients (22 ulcerative colitis/47 Crohn’s disease; mean age, 35.6±14.5 years; 50.7% males; median follow-up duration after IFX, 19 months [interquartile range, 5.5–48.7 months]), primary non-response at 8 weeks and secondary loss of response at 26 and 52 weeks were seen in 14.5%, 6% and 15% patients respectively. Prior to IFX, all patients were screened for LTB, 8 (11.6%) developed active TB (disseminated, 62.5%; EPTB, 25%; PTB, 12.5%) after a median of 19 weeks (interquartile range, 14.0–84.5 weeks) of IFX. Of these 8 patients’ none had LTB, even when 7 of 8 were additionally screened with contrast-enhanced chest tomography. Though not statistically significant, more patients with Crohn’s disease than ulcerative colitis (14.9% vs. 4.5%, P=0.21), and those with past history of TB (25% vs. 9.8%, P=0.21), developed TB. Age, gender, disease duration, or extraintestinal manifestations could not predict TB reactivation. Conclusions There is an extremely high rate of TB with IFX in Indian patients with IBD. Current screening techniques are ineffective and it is difficult to predict TB after IFX

Predictive modelling of directed evolution for de-novo design of solid binding peptides

Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2021Genetically Engineered Polypeptides for Inorganics are the solid binding polypeptides designed to exploit their molecular specificity and binding affinity towards certain inorganic material surfaces. These solid binding polypeptides are selected using combinatorial methods such as phage display. These selections need to be optimized using directed evolution. Directed evolution involves the application of the molecular insights gained from the previous methods to evolve the activities of extant peptides and proteins. In the current thesis, we have identified quantitative amino acid properties from the biopanning data for predicting directed evolution trends. We have also trained machine learning models for the modelling of the binding behaviours of 12 amino acid length MoS2 binding peptides, and for the de-novo design of sequences. Overall, we have developed a simple and efficient methodology for the predictive modelling of directed evolution for de-novo design of solid binding peptides. The protocols developed are expected to impact the technological applications on the peptide-single layer solid based bio/nano soft interfaces such as biosensors, bioelectronics, and potentially also medical applications

Cognition Influencing Auditory Perception in SLD Children: Revisiting the Models of Auditory Processing

The study assessed the auditory processing abilities and the cognitive skills in children with specific learning disability. It investigates the top-down or bottom-up influence on auditory processing. Using a test battery approach, the association between cognitive skills (verbal working memory and attention) and auditory processing abilities (auditory closure, binaural integration and temporal processing skills) has been measured. The results revealed that cognitive processes significantly affect the bottom-up auditory perception. The effect of cognition was more evident in speech processing than non-speech signal processing. These findings may be useful in designing appropriate therapeutic protocol for children with specific learning disability

Debond Detection and Load Estimation Using Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors on a Composite Test Box – Part II (Algorithm Development)

This study explores damage identification and load estimation in composite structures using Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and its application to a composite test box. The test box contains a debond between its spar and skin. The box was loaded and strains were captured at several locations using Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors as well as strain gages. The difference in strains between healthy and unhealthy box is indicative of the presence of damage, as well as its extent and the loads seen by the box. ANNs were trained using data generated from finite element (FE) analyses of the test box. These trained ANNs were then used to estimate the applied load, debond size and location on the box. Damage and load predicted by the ANNs were verified using tests on the box

Structural Health Monitoring of Composite Aircraft Structures Using Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors

Aircraft industry is continually striving towards reducing the acquisition, operation and maintenance costs. Usage of advanced composite materials in primary aircraft structures have resulted in significant weight savings owing to their higher specific strength and specific stiffness. Composite structures, in spite of their inherent advantages, are prone to various damages. To detect and repair various structural damages that can occur during the service life of the aircraft, a thorough inspection schedule is implemented through conventional visual and Non Destructive Evaluation methods. Such scheduled inspections lead to considerable increase in maintenance cost & down-time of the aircraft. An online structural health monitoring (SHM) system consisting of well-designed sensor networks incorporated in the structure along with necessary hardware and software can provide information about the structure, thereby leading to reporting of flaws or damages in real time. Such a system can provide inputs for condition based maintenance which can result in reduced maintenance cost. This paper presents the work carried out at CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories towards developing a flight-worthy SHM system and its demonstration on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Sensor selection, characterization, instrumentation design, algorithm development towards damage detection & load estimation at lab level and implementation of the technology on a UAV are discussed in this paper

Categorical perception of pitch: Influence of language tone, linguistic meaning, and pitch contour

Pitch is important for perception of speech. It is an imperative acoustic cue for differentiating gender, age, emotion and culture, etc. In certain languages, pitch also changes the linguistic meaning of the word. Mandarin, Cantonese, Thai, etc. (tonal languages) are few such languages where the pitch contour varies the meaning of the word. Researchers reported that language tone and pitch contour influence the pitch perception, but the results were inconclusive. The role of linguistic meaning was also sparsely investigated in the context of pitch perception. Thus, the present study was designed to assess the influence of language tone, linguistic meaning, and pitch contour on the perception of pitch. Methods: Fifty adult Mandarin and Kannada speaking individuals were selected, and their pitch perception abilities were measured using a 15-step categorical perception paradigm. The stimuli were Mandarin meaningful and nonmeaningful syllables varying in their pitch contour from rising to falling fundamental frequency in one set and falling to rising fundamental frequency in another set of continuum. Results: Univariate ANOVA was used to compare the effect of language background, linguistic meaning, and pitch contour on the perception of pitch. Results indicate no significant effect of linguistic background (P > 0.05) and linguistic meaning (P > 0.05), but the mean values were significantly different across pitch contour (P = 0.001). Conclusion: The language tone and linguistic meaning have no significant influence on the pitch perception, but the categorical boundary was wider for Kannada language participants and for nonmeaningful stimuli. Pitch contour significantly affects the perception of pitch. There are differential perceptual processes which are dependent on the native languages