Structurally Embedded Electrical Systems Using Ultrasonic Consolidation (UC)

Current research has demonstrated the use of Ultrasonic Consolidation (UC) to embed several USB-based sensors into aluminum, and is working toward embedding suites of sensors, heaters and other devices, connected via USB hubs, which can be monitored and controlled using an embedded USB capable processor. Additionally, the research has shown that electronics can be embedded at room temperature, but with some inter-layer delamination between the ultrasonically bonded aluminum layers. Embedding sensors and electronics at 300o F to overcome the delamination issues resulted in optimal bonding, and the sensors used thus far have functioned normally. Future investigation will explore other UC parameter combinations to ascertain the quality of embedding at lower temperatures.Mechanical Engineerin

Elucidation of the antioxidant status in response to non surgical periodontal therapy and post Vitamin E supplementation in patients with chronic periodontitis: A Randomised Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: Chronic Periodontitis is an infectious disease resulting in inflammation within the supporting tissues of the teeth leading to progressive attachment loss and bone loss. It is characterized by the liberation of reactive oxygen species, that has deleterious effects on these tissues and is eliminated by various protective antioxidant mechanisms. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is known to be one of the most prominent antioxidant enzymes in the body and its levels are considered to be of clinical significance in detecting the varying degrees of tissue destruction. Vitamin E is a group of naturally occurring tocopherols that possesses antioxidant properties. Therefore it will be informative to evaluate the cumulative effect of Chronic Periodontitis with and without Vitamin E supplementation on the levels of SOD in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). AIM: To elucidate the levels of Superoxide Dismutase in response to Non Surgical Periodontal Therapy with and without Vitamin E supplementation in patients with Chronic Periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was performed on 46 participants which included 17 patients with chronic periodontitis supplemented without Vitamin E (Group II), 17 patients with chronic periodontitis supplemented with Vitamin E (Group III) and 12 systemically healthy individuals with clinically healthy periodontium who served as controls (Group I). The clinical parameters [Plaque Index (PI), Probing Depth (PD), Clinical Attachment Level (CAL), Modified Sulcus bleeding index (mSBI%)] and biochemical parameters like the GCF- SOD levels were measured at baseline. All the patients except healthy controls were treated with scaling and root planing followed by evaluation of the above mentioned clinical and biochemical parameters after 6 weeks. RESULTS: Results showed that all the clinical parameters improved after scaling and root planing in Group II and Group III, with the patients in Group III showing a greater reduction in PI (p<0.05), PD (p<0.05), mSBI% (p<0.05) and greater gain in clinical attachment level (p<0.05) when compared to Group II patients and healthy controls and, this difference was statistically significant. With respect to the levels of Superoxide dismutase in gingival crevicular fluid, patients in Group III showed a greater reduction, 6 weeks post scaling and root planing when compared to Group II patients and this difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: From the results obtained, it was concluded that scaling and root planning reduces Superoxide dismutase levels in the gingival crevicular fluid of patients with chronic periodontitis with significant reduction appreciated in Group III patients. The group being subjected to Vitamin E supplementation exhibited better improvement clinically and biochemically, 6 weeks post scaling and root planing

Comparative morphology and phenetics of Nymphoides species in Kerala

Aquatic plants play an important role in maintaining the ecosystem balance. Nymphoides Seguier (Menyanthaceae) is an emergent, rhizomatous or stoloniferous genus, commonly known as “floating hearts”, identified by its rounded or cordate, floating leaves, petiole like branches and unique floral characters. The present study deals with the comparative morphology and the phenetics of Nymphoides spp. in Kerala. These species are classified into two groups with the help of the dendrogram, which showed 66% dissimilarities among the two groups. N. parvifolia and N. balakrishnanii are closely related species in one group and N. krishnakesara and N. macrosperma are closely related species in other group

A physical mechanism for North Atlantic SST influence on the Indian summer monsoon

A link between the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) and multidecadal variability of the Indian summer monsoon rainfall is unraveled and a long sought physical mechanism linking Atlantic climate and monsoon has been identified. The AMO produces persistent weakening (strengthening) of the meridional gradient of tropospheric temperature (TT) by setting up negative (positive) TT anomaly over Eurasia during northern late summer/autumn resulting in early (late) withdrawal of the south west monsoon and persistent decrease (increase) of seasonal monsoon rainfall. On inter-annual time scales, strong North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) or North Annular mode (NAM) influences the monsoon by producing similar TT anomaly over Eurasia. The AMO achieves the interdecadal modulation of the monsoon by modulating the frequency of occurrence of strong NAO/NAM events. This mechanism also provides a basis for explaining the observed teleconnection between North Atlantic temperature and the Asian monsoon in paleoclimatic proxies

Hyponatremia Associated with Bupropion

Bupropion is widely used for the treatment of depressive disorder and smoking cessation. Hyponatremia, including a syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH), is not rare complication of treatment with antipsychotic drugs. We report a 60-year-old man who experienced severe hyponatremia after a treatment with bupropion for depressive disorder for the first time in the Korea

Esc2 promotes Mus81 complex-activity via its SUMO-like and DNA binding domains

Replication across damaged DNA templates is accompanied by transient formation of sister chromatid junctions (SCJs). Cells lacking Esc2, an adaptor protein containing no known enzymatic domains, are defective in the metabolism of these SCJs. However, how Esc2 is involved in the metabolism of SCJs remains elusive. Here we show interaction between Esc2 and a structure-specific endonuclease Mus81-Mms4 (the Mus81 complex), their involvement in the metabolism of SCJs, and the effects Esc2 has on the enzymatic activity of the Mus81 complex. We found that Esc2 specifically interacts with the Mus81 complex via its SUMO-like domains, stimulates enzymatic activity of the Mus81 complex in vitro, and is involved in the Mus81 complex-dependent resolution of SCJs in vivo. Collectively, our data point to the possibility that the involvement of Esc2 in the metabolism of SCJs is, in part, via modulation of the activity of the Mus81 complex

Full-length VP2 gene analysis of canine parvovirus reveals emergence of newer variants in India

The canine parvovirus (CPV) infection is a highly contagious and serious enteric disease of dogs with high fatality rate. The present study was taken up to characterize the full-length viral polypeptide 2 (VP2) gene of CPV of Indian origin along with the commercially available vaccines. The faecal samples from parvovirus suspected dogs were collected from various states of India for screening by PCR assay and 66.29% of samples were found positive. Six CPV-2a, three CPV-2b, and one CPV-2c types were identified by sequence analysis. Several unique and existing mutations have been noticed in CPV types analyzed indicating emergence of newer variants of CPV in India. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that all the field CPV types were grouped in different subclades within two main clades, but away from the commercial vaccine strains. CPV-2b and CPV-2c types with unique mutations were found to be establishing in India apart from the prevailing CPV-2a type. Mutations and the positive selection of the mutants were found to be the major mechanism of emergence and evolution of parvovirus. Therefore, the incorporation of local strain in the vaccine formulation may be considered for effective control of CPV infections in India