Effect of grey zone sample testing of transfusion transmissible infectious diseases on safety of blood-experience of a tertiary care referral teaching hospital blood bank from South India

Background: Grey zone samples with optical density (OD) lying between cut-off OD and 10% below the cut-off OD (cut-off OD × 0.9) were identified during routine transfusion transmissible infectious disease (TTIs) screening. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) used for this purpose can sometimes fail to detect blood donors who are recently infected or possessing the low viremia. Estimation of a grey zone in ELISA testing and repeat testing of grey zone samples can further help in reducing the risks of TTI in countries where nucleic acid amplification testing for TTIs is not feasible.Methods: On performing repeat ELISA testing on grey zone samples in duplicate, the samples showing both OD values below grey zone were marked nonreactive, and samples showing one or both OD value in the grey zone were marked indeterminate. The samples on repeat testing showing one or both OD above cut-off value were labelled reactive.Results: Of the 21,908 blood donors screened during the study period, a total of 144 blood donors were found to be in grey zone. On repeat testing of these grey zone samples, 35 (24.30%) were found to be reactive for TTIs.Conclusions: Estimation of grey zone samples with repeat testing can further enhance the safety of blood transfusion in resource poor developing nations where more sophisticated and sensitive methods such as nucleic acid amplification test (NAT) is not available in all the blood banks

Short-Term Multi-Cell Dynamic Resource Allocation in Future Cellular Networks

ABSTRACT In future cellular system, it is becoming more challenging to optimize the radio resource management and maximize the system capacity whilst meeting the required quality of service from user's point of view. Traditional schemes have approached this problem mainly focusing on resources within a cell and to large extent ignoring effects of multi-cell architecture. For multi-cell systems employing intra-cell orthogonal communication channels, inter-cell interference mitigation techniques are expected to be one of the key radio resource management functions. In this paper, we propose a multi-cell coordinated and un-coordinated dynamic resource sharing algorithms and reuse techniques among base station/ relay station cells. The sub carrier allocation and power allocation are performed on the basic of sum-rate maximization, by considering the load over the cell (3-sector cell). The simulation results show the performance comparison between both coordinated and un-coordinated resource allocation schemes with different sum-rate maximization algorithms. KEYWORDS Sum-rate maximization, Coordinated radio resource allocation, Un-coordinated radio resource allocation, Multi-cell interference and Inter-cell interference

Robust detection of real-time power quality disturbances under noisy condition using FTDD features

To improve power quality (PQ), detecting the particular type of disturbance is the foremost thing before mitigation. So monitoring is needed to detect the PQ disturbance that occurs in a short duration of time. Classification of real-time PQ disturbances under noisy environment is investigated in this method by selecting an appropriate signal processing tool called fusion of time domain descriptors (FTDD) at the feature extraction stage. It’s a method of extracting power spectrum characteristics of various PQ disturbances. Few advantages like algorithmic simplicity and local time-based unique features makes the FTDD algorithm ahead of other techniques. PQ events like voltage sag, voltage swell, interruption, healthy, transient and harmonics mixed with different noise conditions are analysed. multiclass support vector machine and Naïves Bayes (NB) classifiers are applied to analyse the performance of the proposed method. As a result, NB classifier performs better in noiseless signal with 99.66%, wherein noise added signals both NB and SVM are showing better accuracy at different signal to noise ratios. Finally, Arduino controller-based hardware tool involved in the acquisition of real-time signals shows how our proposed system is applicable for industries that make detection simple

Conceptual Design of Fuel Dumping System in Aircraft

Airlines release the unburned jet fuel into the atmosphere to reduce the weight of aircraft before landing. Sometimes, aircraft reach a weight more than takeoff weight while departing from the airport. Therefore, the pilot follows the ATC comment to dump fuel into the atmosphere to reduce the aircraft\u27s weight to avoid accidents. Due to fuel dumping, an airline faces fuel consumption, loss, and several diseases affect environmental pollutants, and living things. The total fuel consumption of commercial airlines worldwide in 2021 is 57 billion gallons. If jet fuel routinely hit the ground, it would pollute water and land and damage crops and biodiversity. With this, we have worked on the project to rescue fuel dumping into the atmosphere and save living things from various diseases

First report on induced spawning of Siganus vermiculatus in India

Siganids are widely distributed to Indo-West Pacific region and the Siganus vermiculatus (Maze rabbit fish/Vermiculated spinefoot) can reach sizes that weigh up 2.3 kg each. It is a species of great aquaculture importance and hence breeding and seed production protocols are necessary. A major breakthrough in the seed production of Siganus vermiculatus by inducing the fishes to spawn under controlled conditions with Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) during the first quarter of the lunar cycle is reported. The hatchery processes and early larval stages are described

Impact of duration of stunting on compensatory growth and biometrics of snubnose pompano, Trachinotus blochii (Lacepede,1801) in low saline conditions

Compensatory growth (CG) pattern in snubnose pompano, Trachinotus blochii, stunted in low saline condition (< 15 ppt) was evaluated for its field level application. The fish were stunted for 30, 60 and 90 days by stocking 100 fish m− 3 providing a commercial feed (45% crude protein, 0.8 to 1.2 mm size) at sub-optimal level [3% of average body weight (ABW)]. Post-stunting rearing was carried out in triplicates for 30, 60 or 90 days at a stocking density of 20 fish m− 3 providing the same feed approximately 15% of ABW. Normal fish were maintained in triplicate at 20 fish m− 3 providing feed at optimum level (10% of ABW) throughout the experiment. Parameters such as weight gain pattern, final ABW and specific growth rate (%) per day (SGR/day) indicated near complete CG in 30 days stunted fish. A partial CG in 60 days stunted fish and no CG in 90 days stunted fish compared to corresponding normal fish was observed. The 60 days stunted fish was found ideal for field adoption with longer stunting period with better CG and survival. A field trial was conducted in circular cage by stunting the fish at 40 fish m− 3 (ABW = 5.4 g) feeding at 3% of ABW for 60 days. During post stunting, the stunted fish (10 fish m− 3) were reared in two cages feeding approximately 15% of ABW for 190 days. Parallely, normal fish (10 fish m− 3) were reared by feeding at 10% of ABW for 250 days. During stunting phase, the experimental fish exhibited a retarded growth (ABW = 18.9 g; SGR/day = 2.1) compared to normal (ABW = 27.9 ± 0.5 g; SGR/day = 2.7). In contrast, in post stunting phase, stunted fish exhibited partial CG (ABW = 116.23 ± 2.1 g; SGR/day = 0.71) compared to normal (ABW = 139.5 ± 15. 7 g; SGR/day = 0.8) with similar production (28.9 ± 1.8 g for stunted and 30.36 ± 4.3 g for normal) and higher survival (88.7%) than normal (77.5%). Biometric characteristics such as length - weight relationship (b value near 3) and condition factor (above 1) indicate natural growth in both stunted and normal fish. But size variation was higher in normal fish than stunted fish. Over all the experiments suggests that 60 days stunting in low saline conditions is ideal for ensuring good quality seed for farming of snubnose pompano

Compensatory growth and production economics of Silver pompano, Trachinotus blochii (Lacepede, 1801), fingerlings stunted by feed and space deprivation

The effect of stunting by feed and space deprivation on compensatory growth (CG) in Silver pompano, Trachinotus blochii, was investigated. A commercial pellet feed (45% protein and 10% fat) was fed two times a day, throughout the entire experiment. The 270-day experiment consisted of an initial 60-day stunting phase and a 60-day post-stunting phase carried out in 4 × 2 × 2 m3 galvanized iron (GI) rectangular cages, and a 150-day grow-out phase carried out in 3-m diameter circular GI cages. During the stunting phase, the normal fish (in triplicates) were stocked at lower stocking density (17 fish/m3) and fed at 10% of body weight (BW), while stunted fish (one replication) were stocked at about three times higher stocking density (56 fish/m3) and fed at a three times lower feeding rate (3% of BW). The stunted and normal fish were reared in triplicates during the post-stunting phase, at uniform stocking density (15 fish/m3) with feeding at a higher rate (10% of BW) for stunted fish and normal feeding rate (8% of BW) was adopted for normal fish. During the grow-out stage, each replication from the post-stunting phase was shifted to 3-m circular cages with the same feeding rates. The lag in growth in stunted fish (5.56 g against 9.43 ± 0.13 g of normal) during the stunting phase was compensated during the post-stunting phase (36.88 ± 2.23 g against 38.13 ± 1.48 g of normal) by higher feeding rate. There were no significant (p &gt; 0.05) differences in final harvest, biometry, morphometry, dressing yield, carcass nutritional composition, and serum biochemical markers at the end of grow-out stage. Because of the significant difference (p &lt; 0.05) in the total feed provided (5.2 kg for stunted fish against 22.8 kg for normal fish) and the lesser unit cost for the production of stunted fingerling (USD 0.087 for stunted fish against USD 0.106 for normal), the farming of stunted fish brought about a higher net operational revenue and benefit:cost ratio

Antiinflammatory Therapy with Canakinumab for Atherosclerotic Disease

Background: Experimental and clinical data suggest that reducing inflammation without affecting lipid levels may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Yet, the inflammatory hypothesis of atherothrombosis has remained unproved. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind trial of canakinumab, a therapeutic monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-1β, involving 10,061 patients with previous myocardial infarction and a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level of 2 mg or more per liter. The trial compared three doses of canakinumab (50 mg, 150 mg, and 300 mg, administered subcutaneously every 3 months) with placebo. The primary efficacy end point was nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or cardiovascular death. RESULTS: At 48 months, the median reduction from baseline in the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level was 26 percentage points greater in the group that received the 50-mg dose of canakinumab, 37 percentage points greater in the 150-mg group, and 41 percentage points greater in the 300-mg group than in the placebo group. Canakinumab did not reduce lipid levels from baseline. At a median follow-up of 3.7 years, the incidence rate for the primary end point was 4.50 events per 100 person-years in the placebo group, 4.11 events per 100 person-years in the 50-mg group, 3.86 events per 100 person-years in the 150-mg group, and 3.90 events per 100 person-years in the 300-mg group. The hazard ratios as compared with placebo were as follows: in the 50-mg group, 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80 to 1.07; P = 0.30); in the 150-mg group, 0.85 (95% CI, 0.74 to 0.98; P = 0.021); and in the 300-mg group, 0.86 (95% CI, 0.75 to 0.99; P = 0.031). The 150-mg dose, but not the other doses, met the prespecified multiplicity-adjusted threshold for statistical significance for the primary end point and the secondary end point that additionally included hospitalization for unstable angina that led to urgent revascularization (hazard ratio vs. placebo, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.95; P = 0.005). Canakinumab was associated with a higher incidence of fatal infection than was placebo. There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio for all canakinumab doses vs. placebo, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.06; P = 0.31). Conclusions: Antiinflammatory therapy targeting the interleukin-1β innate immunity pathway with canakinumab at a dose of 150 mg every 3 months led to a significantly lower rate of recurrent cardiovascular events than placebo, independent of lipid-level lowering. (Funded by Novartis; CANTOS ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01327846.

Neurodevelopmental disorders in children aged 2-9 years: Population-based burden estimates across five regions in India.

BACKGROUND: Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) compromise the development and attainment of full social and economic potential at individual, family, community, and country levels. Paucity of data on NDDs slows down policy and programmatic action in most developing countries despite perceived high burden. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We assessed 3,964 children (with almost equal number of boys and girls distributed in 2-<6 and 6-9 year age categories) identified from five geographically diverse populations in India using cluster sampling technique (probability proportionate to population size). These were from the North-Central, i.e., Palwal (N = 998; all rural, 16.4% non-Hindu, 25.3% from scheduled caste/tribe [SC-ST] [these are considered underserved communities who are eligible for affirmative action]); North, i.e., Kangra (N = 997; 91.6% rural, 3.7% non-Hindu, 25.3% SC-ST); East, i.e., Dhenkanal (N = 981; 89.8% rural, 1.2% non-Hindu, 38.0% SC-ST); South, i.e., Hyderabad (N = 495; all urban, 25.7% non-Hindu, 27.3% SC-ST) and West, i.e., North Goa (N = 493; 68.0% rural, 11.4% non-Hindu, 18.5% SC-ST). All children were assessed for vision impairment (VI), epilepsy (Epi), neuromotor impairments including cerebral palsy (NMI-CP), hearing impairment (HI), speech and language disorders, autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), and intellectual disability (ID). Furthermore, 6-9-year-old children were also assessed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning disorders (LDs). We standardized sample characteristics as per Census of India 2011 to arrive at district level and all-sites-pooled estimates. Site-specific prevalence of any of seven NDDs in 2-<6 year olds ranged from 2.9% (95% CI 1.6-5.5) to 18.7% (95% CI 14.7-23.6), and for any of nine NDDs in the 6-9-year-old children, from 6.5% (95% CI 4.6-9.1) to 18.5% (95% CI 15.3-22.3). Two or more NDDs were present in 0.4% (95% CI 0.1-1.7) to 4.3% (95% CI 2.2-8.2) in the younger age category and 0.7% (95% CI 0.2-2.0) to 5.3% (95% CI 3.3-8.2) in the older age category. All-site-pooled estimates for NDDs were 9.2% (95% CI 7.5-11.2) and 13.6% (95% CI 11.3-16.2) in children of 2-<6 and 6-9 year age categories, respectively, without significant difference according to gender, rural/urban residence, or religion; almost one-fifth of these children had more than one NDD. The pooled estimates for prevalence increased by up to three percentage points when these were adjusted for national rates of stunting or low birth weight (LBW). HI, ID, speech and language disorders, Epi, and LDs were the common NDDs across sites. Upon risk modelling, noninstitutional delivery, history of perinatal asphyxia, neonatal illness, postnatal neurological/brain infections, stunting, LBW/prematurity, and older age category (6-9 year) were significantly associated with NDDs. The study sample was underrepresentative of stunting and LBW and had a 15.6% refusal. These factors could be contributing to underestimation of the true NDD burden in our population. CONCLUSIONS: The study identifies NDDs in children aged 2-9 years as a significant public health burden for India. HI was higher than and ASD prevalence comparable to the published global literature. Most risk factors of NDDs were modifiable and amenable to public health interventions