The Advent Of Cytomegalovirus Infection In HIV Infected Patients: A review

Cytomegalovirus is considered as one among the long list of latent infections in humans that although normally controlled by the cellular immune response, gets activated after HIV infection takes its role on infecting the T4 lymphocytes. Clinical disease due to Cytomegalovirus has been recognized in up to 40% of patients with advanced HIV disease. The clinical syndromes most commonly associated include chorioretinitis, esophagitis, colitis, pneumonitis, adrenalitis and neurological disorders. Cytomegalovirus infections are usually diagnosed clinically and by serological tests for CMV immunoglobulin. Chemotherapy using systemic agents, including ganciclovir, intravenous foscarnet and intravenous cidofovir is effective. New agents, as for example an anti-sense agent against cytomegalovirus, appear promising

Genomiske analyser av populasjonstruktur og kjønnbestemmelse hos Atlantisk torsk (Gadus morhua)

Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) is a benthopelagic cold-water marine species found across the North Atlantic Ocean. Thanks to its historical and current significance as an important food resource it is one of the most well-known and well-studied teleost fish species. Genetic studies of Atlantic cod have been conducted since the 1930s, but with the advent of highthroughput DNA sequencing technologies investigations have been reinvigorated with highresolution data allowing us to address previously unanswerable questions. This thesis explores the genome biology of Atlantic cod with the specific goals of; i) understanding the genomics underlying population divergence between cod populations in Norwegian waters, ii) using long-read sequencing technology to build a genome assembly representing the southern cod populations, and iii) characterizing genomic regions associated with sex determination. The knowledge generated in this thesis can enhance the understanding on how genomic architecture influence genome-wide variations contributing to population structures and sex determination. Atlantic cod in the Norwegian Sea are classified into one of two different populations; migratory Northeast Arctic cod (NEAC) and stationary Norwegian coastal cod (NCC). In Paper I, we sought to understand how phenotypic and genetic differences are maintained despite interbreeding between NEAC and NCC. Utilizing genotype data from 192 parents of farmed families of NEAC, NCC or NEACxNCC crosses, we identified extended linkage disequilibrium (LD) in a 17.4Mb region on linkage group 1 (LG01). Furthermore, linkage analysis revealed two adjacent inversions within the region that repress meiotic recombination in NEACxNCC crosses. The haplotype block harbours 763 genes, including candidates regulating swim bladder pressure, heme synthesis and skeletal muscle organization conferring NEAC adaptation to long-distance migration and vertical movements to large depths. Our results document that inversion is the genetic mechanism that maintains the genetic differentiation despite interbreeding and we hypothesize the cooccurrence of possibly multiple adaptive genes forming a ‘supergene’ advantageous to NEAC. The public reference genomes for Atlantic cod have all been derived from NEAC samples and therefore representing the northernmost cod population, adapted to near freezing temperatures. Several studies have demonstrated regions of genomic differentiation on linkage groups (LGs) 1, 2, 7 and 12 associated with adaptation to temperature along the 4 north-south gradient (Bradbury et al. 2010; 2013). In paper II, we generated a highly contiguous genome assembly representing the southern Celtic population of Atlantic cod using long-read nanopore sequencing data. By comparing this to the latest NEAC assembly gadMor3 we were able to characterize in detail the rearrangements creating the ‘islands of genomic divergence’ on LGs 1, 2, 7, and 12. The long contiguous genome assembly also facilitated the identification of a putative centromere-specific repeat. In paper III, by comparing and contrasting whole genome short-read sequencing data from 49 male and 53 female cod, we detected a male specific region of 9,149 bp on LG11. A diagnostic PCR test was developed and confirmed the sex-specific nature of this mal

Embedded Reconfigurable Techniques in Wireless Sensor Network Applications

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Impact of environmental pollution on health: A sociological study in Tuticorin industrial town, TN, India

The paper highlights impact of environmental pollution on Health. The present study has been taken up in Tuticorin industrial town area. Major industries numbering 12 established in the district. They are engaged in the production of cotton, staple yarn, caustic soda, PVC Resin, fertilizers, soda ash, carbon-di-oxide gas in liquid etc., The important major industries are sterlite, SPIC, Tuticorin Alkali Chemicals, Dharangadhra chemicals work, Madura coats, Kilburn chemicals industries. The public sector undertakings are the  Thermal power unit (620mm), Heavy water plant, and port trust. The district contributes 70% of the total salt production of Tamil Nadu and meets 30% of salt requirement of our country. Aside from deficiencies in the life support system, men is subjected to a variety of environmental Hazards. Some of these are natural, but increasingly environmental hazards result from mans activities and numbers. Some times manmade hazards are direct in their impact on other man. But they may be indirect in their influence, acting through other biological systems or overburdening the capacity of natural systems for renewal, dispersion, or assimilation. The following factors can be used in categorizing environmental hazards. (1) Biological (2) chemical (3) Physical (4) Psychological and (5) Sociological. Hence more than 12 major industries have established in and around Tuticorin. This becomes one of the source of air pollution, water pollution, Noice pollution, in this area. Air pollution may be broadly defined as the presence of one or more contaminants like dust, smoke, must and odour. The atmosphere which are injurious to human beings, plants and animals which unreasonably interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property. Air pollution seriously damages human beings. ---------------------------------------------------------------------Department of Sociology, DDE, Annamalai University.  Annamalai Nagar, Tamilnadu, India*Corresponding Author , Email: [email protected] This Article As: K. Maharajan, Kirubakaran Samual. 2010. Impact of environmental pollution on health: A sociological study in Tuticorin industrial town, TN, India. J. Ecobiotechnol. 2(2): 51-5

Solar energy based impedance-source inverter for grid system

In this work, the fickleness of solar energy can be overcome by using Maximum Power Point Tracking algorithm (MPPT). Perturb and Observation (P&O) MPPT algorithm accomplish fast the maximum power point for rapid change of environmental conditions such as irradiance intensity and temperature. The MPPT algorithm applied to solar PV system keep the boost converter output constant. Output from boost converter is taken to three phase impedance-source inverter with RL load and grid system. Impedance-source inverter performs the transformation of variable DC output of the solar PV system in to near sinusoidal AC output. This near sinusoidal AC output consecutively is served to the RL load first and then to grid system. The simulation is carried out in matlab/simulink platform both for RL load and grid system and the simulation results are experimentally validated for RL load arrangement only

Global Major Stock Market Crashesincluding Causes and Their Effects of 2016 Chinese Stock Market Crash

There were eight major Stock Market crashes including the Chinese ,in the past thirty years.Only three only three of the seven crises can be considered as genuine turning points.The beginning of 2016 was very worst for Chinese Stock Market. Chinese stock market was heavily affected and faced a drop nearly 8 per cent. Fundamentals will see the market struggle is the belief of Investors.This paper reviews the major stock market crashes including the recent Chinese crash and the causes and effects of the Chinese stock Market Crash

Food Waste to Biogas: A Performance Evaluation

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is implementing the National Biogas and Manure Management Programme (NBMMP) in all the States and UTs of the country. About 47.5 Lakh biogas plants have already been installed in the country upto 31st March, 2014. During the year 2014-15, a target of setting up 1, 10,000biogas plants has been set. In India, approximately 5 million small scale biogas plants are currently in operation. The Biogas plant is the best option for households having feed material, to become self- dependent for cooking gas and highly organic enriched bio-manure. It provides the solution to protect the households from the problems of indoor air pollution and while saving on cost of refilling of LPG cylinders.Bio gas -a source from the waste is an excellent form of renewable energy. The waste fromfood, plant and animal is effectively processed & evolved in the form of energy which is a green &clean. By implementing Bio gas plants, greater benefits to the society and mankind is achieved. Spectrum of benefits could be achieved in Bio Gas plant such as reduced GHG emissions, reduced dependency on imported fossil fuels, reduced carbon foot print, waste reduction, utilisation of waste to good, job creation, low water inputs, flexible and efficient use of bio-gas,benefits to farmers such as additional income to the farmers involved, use of digestate as excellent fertilizer and a Closed nutrient cycle.Biogas implementation using kitchen waste allows it to safe disposal of the waste & also reduces Landfills. The concept of our plant is based on Digestion, which is a biological process that occurs in the presence of anaerobic organisms at ambient pressures and temperature 35 � 70�C.Anaerobic Digestion is a microbial process for the production of biogas which consists of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Bio gas is a clean & slow burning gas which has a calorific value of 5000- 5500kcal/kg (20935- 23028 kJ/kg)& the process involves the following steps: Pulverising the waste, Hydrolysis, Moisture removal, Pre Digestion, Main Digestion & Production of Methane Bio Gas. Biogas thus produced, is being utilised as a cooking fuel in Ladies hostel at GRI. (Foran approximate strength of 1000 Nos and for one partial meal per day). The Digestate, thus produced as slurry is collected and used as manure for plants in campus. GRI is glad to submit this paper as a real time project, which is based on sustainable development& could open avenues to rural economy and effective use of waste management � a mantra for all developing & developed countries

Individualising tacrolimus therapy in adult heart transplant recipients

Tacrolimus is the key immunosuppressant used in most solid-organ transplant recipients, including heart transplants, to prevent graft rejection. However, tacrolimus dosing strategies are complicated by the narrow therapeutic window and considerable pharmacokinetic variability. Individualising lifelong tacrolimus therapy to avoid graft rejection and minimise adverse effects is essential for heart transplant recipients. This thesis aimed to investigate the individualisation of tacrolimus therapy in adult heart transplant recipients using the pharmacokinetic modelling approach. In Chapter 1, I present an overview of tacrolimus clinical pharmacology, including clinical factors influencing tacrolimus pharmacokinetics (e.g., concomitant azole antifungal therapy). In Chapter 2, I explore tacrolimus dosing and monitoring practices in heart transplant recipients (n=87) at St. Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, a major heart transplant centre in Australia. Additionally, I assess the ability of a Bayesian dosing software, approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration to predict tacrolimus concentrations in heart transplant recipients. Tacrolimus dosing and monitoring practices were discordant with the hospital guidelines. The population pharmacokinetic model integrated within the software was suitable in guiding tacrolimus dosing only after 11 days of therapy. This finding necessitated the identification of other model(s) that might be more suitable for use in heart transplant recipients, particularly for the immediate post-transplantation phase. In Chapter 3, I conduct a systematic review summarising published population pharmacokinetic models of tacrolimus (n=69) developed from various organ transplant recipient populations. In Chapter 4, I select relevant tacrolimus models (n=17) from the systematic review and evaluated their predictive performance in heart transplant recipients (n=85). The evaluated models displayed poor predictive performances. This finding complements the work from Chapters 2 and 3 highlighting a tacrolimus model for heart transplant recipients is required. In Chapter 5, I successfully develop a tacrolimus population pharmacokinetic model for heart transplant recipients. The model incorporated the effects of concomitant azole antifungal use, haematocrit, and body weight on tacrolimus pharmacokinetics. Model evaluation in an independent heart transplant recipient cohort displayed good model performance. The model can be implemented in clinical practice to individualise tacrolimus dosing in heart transplant recipients. In Chapter 6, I discuss the clinical implication of this work and recommendations for future research

MAINTENANCE STRATEGY EVALUATION BASED ON AHP – TOPSIS

This paper presents an application of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) is combined with Technique for Order Preference by Similarly to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) model for selection of the best maintenance strategy for pump in paper industry. AHP is used to compute the criteria weights whereas TOPSIS is used to ranking the maintenance strategy alternatives. This study focuses on four maintenance strategies such as Corrective Maintenance (CM), Predictive maintenance (PM), Time based preventive Maintenance (TM) & Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) and four main criteria such as safety, cost, added value and feasibility are used to evaluate the optimum maintenance strategy