Novel Gene Discovery in Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia

Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) is one of the ‘ciliopathies’, genetic disorders affecting either cilia structure or function. PCD is a rare recessive disease caused by defective motile cilia. Affected individuals manifest with neonatal respiratory distress, chronic wet cough, upper respiratory tract problems, progressive lung disease resulting in bronchiectasis, laterality problems including heart defects and adult infertility. Early diagnosis and management are essential for better respiratory disease prognosis. PCD is a highly genetically heterogeneous disorder with causal mutations identified in 36 genes that account for the disease in about 70% of PCD cases, suggesting that additional genes remain to be discovered. Targeted next generation sequencing was used for genetic screening of a cohort of patients with confirmed or suggestive PCD diagnosis. The use of multi-gene panel sequencing yielded a high diagnostic output (> 70%) with mutations identified in known PCD genes. Over half of these mutations were novel alleles, expanding the mutation spectrum in PCD genes. The inclusion of patients from various ethnic backgrounds revealed a striking impact of ethnicity on the composition of disease alleles uncovering a significant genetic stratification of PCD in different populations. Pathogenic mutations were also identified in several new candidate genes not previously linked to PCD. Molecular and cell biology techniques were coupled with model organism studies to characterize the involvement of the new candidate genes in cilia motility and PCD. Paramecium was proven to be a good model for functional characterization of PCD potential candidate genes. The previously uncharacterized C11orf70 was identified to play a highly conserved role in dynein assembly and intraflagellar transport (IFT)-related cilia cargo trafficking. Mutations identified in DNAH9 resulted in a distinct motile cilia defect with mild respiratory symptoms, unusual in PCD. Mutations identified in two intraflagellar transport genes, IFT74 and WDR19, linked together primary and motile ciliopathy phenotypes observed in the affected individuals

A Laboratory Study on the Use of Seawater in Crosslinked-Gels Used In Hydraulic Fracturing

As unconventional reservoirs continue to dominate the current economic climate, there is a great demand for developing innovative and efficient fracture treatment methodologies. Traditionally, the vast majority of hydraulic fracturing systems incorporate a freshwater-based fracturing fluid. However, freshwater is considered an expensive and valuable resource, particularly in the Middle East and for offshore completions. This research discusses the potential of seawater, a more cost-effective and accessible resource, as an acceptable replacement for current water sources. To develop a successful fracturing fluid system, the chemical composition of seawater, particularly the presence of high concentration cations and anions, must be considered. The primary purpose of this study is to understand how 1) changing temperature, 2) additive concentration, 3) water source, and 4) introducing an oxidizer breaker can affect the gel stability of two types of guar derivative gelling agents: hydroxyl propyl guar (HPG) and carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl guar gum (CMHPG), using High Temperature/High Pressure Chandler Rheometer. Arabian Gulf seawater was used to design and test a seawater-based fracturing fluid in the laboratory. To simulate fracking environments, a dynamic scale loop was used. The seawater sample and formation water mixture were mixed at a 50/50 ratio. Phosphonate type scale inhibitor was then tested at various concentrations, starting at 3,000 ppm, at a temperature range from 270 to 330ºF. Scale buildup is represented by a dramatic change in pressure. Results confirmed that seawater fluid stability at greater than 500 cP at a shear rate of 40 s^-1 for temperatures ranging from 270 to 330°F was feasible. The stability time varied with the given temperature constraint. Additionally, scale loop analysis depicts that scale can be mitigated at temperatures ranging from 270 to 330°F depending on the scale inhibitor concentration used. This work contributes to understanding how seawater based fracturing fluid can be formulated, and potential applications in hydraulic fracturing treatments. Maximizing the use of seawater could help rule out dependency on the scarce freshwater resources

Desarrollo de estrategias para reducir la producción de metano a nivel ruminal por el ganado bovino en México

Se ha demostrado que los taninos en el follaje de los árboles y arbustos pueden reducir la producción de metano (CH4) en el rumen de los bovinos. Se evaluó el potencial de diez especies de arbustivas, nativas del área templada de México, para reducir la producción de metano a nivel ruminal. Se utilizó la técnica de producción de gas in vitro para evaluar el efecto de la inclusión de estas plantas a tres niveles (10, 20 y 30%) en una dieta experimental. Dos experimentos independientes se hicieron para controlar la producción de gas metano a lo largo de 24 y 72 h de incubación, la producción de metano se registró después de 24 h. Los resultados mostraron una disminución significativa (P <0,05) en la producción de metano con la inclusión de todas las plantas, se observó la mayor disminución cuando Amaranthus spinosus, Commelina coelestis, Tagetes erecta y Senna hirsuta fueron incluidos en comparación con la dieta control. La digestibilidad de la fibra detergente neutra (FDN) después de la incubación no se vio afectada por Tagetes erecta, Amaranthus spinosus, Commelina coelestis mientras Senna hirsuta la aumentó (P <0.05). Los resultados sugieren que Amaranthus spinosus, Commelina coelestis, Tagetes erecta y Senna hirsuta tienen potencial para reducir las emisiones de metano del ganado bovino

人間とロボット間の知的協調に関する研究

博士(工学)大阪市立大

A Laboratory Study on the Use of Seawater in Crosslinked-Gels Used In Hydraulic Fracturing

As unconventional reservoirs continue to dominate the current economic climate, there is a great demand for developing innovative and efficient fracture treatment methodologies. Traditionally, the vast majority of hydraulic fracturing systems incorporate a freshwater-based fracturing fluid. However, freshwater is considered an expensive and valuable resource, particularly in the Middle East and for offshore completions. This research discusses the potential of seawater, a more cost-effective and accessible resource, as an acceptable replacement for current water sources. To develop a successful fracturing fluid system, the chemical composition of seawater, particularly the presence of high concentration cations and anions, must be considered. The primary purpose of this study is to understand how 1) changing temperature, 2) additive concentration, 3) water source, and 4) introducing an oxidizer breaker can affect the gel stability of two types of guar derivative gelling agents: hydroxyl propyl guar (HPG) and carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl guar gum (CMHPG), using High Temperature/High Pressure Chandler Rheometer. Arabian Gulf seawater was used to design and test a seawater-based fracturing fluid in the laboratory. To simulate fracking environments, a dynamic scale loop was used. The seawater sample and formation water mixture were mixed at a 50/50 ratio. Phosphonate type scale inhibitor was then tested at various concentrations, starting at 3,000 ppm, at a temperature range from 270 to 330ºF. Scale buildup is represented by a dramatic change in pressure. Results confirmed that seawater fluid stability at greater than 500 cP at a shear rate of 40 s^-1 for temperatures ranging from 270 to 330°F was feasible. The stability time varied with the given temperature constraint. Additionally, scale loop analysis depicts that scale can be mitigated at temperatures ranging from 270 to 330°F depending on the scale inhibitor concentration used. This work contributes to understanding how seawater based fracturing fluid can be formulated, and potential applications in hydraulic fracturing treatments. Maximizing the use of seawater could help rule out dependency on the scarce freshwater resources

Robust Multiple Model Adaptive Control for Dynamic Positioning of Quadrotor Helicopter System

The quadrotor control has been one of the benchmark control problems. It is considered as an under-actuated, multivariable and high nonlinear system due to its dynamics, having strong coupling between translation and angular motion and affected by external disturbances associated with flight environment. Therefore, there is a need to design a robust control that can keep up with sudden changes and find better tracking performance against modeling error and uncertainties. In this work, an adaptive state feedback control method denoted as Classical Multiple Model Adaptive Control (CMMAC) has been implemented. This method embodies in its structure a bank of filters. Kalman filter (KF) has been used where each filter has been designed for a specific value of an equilibrium point and set of controllers, which was provided by the LQ-servo design. Comparisons of the performance of a quadrotor system between control designs for single Kalman filter with CMMAC for the same value of uncertainty in terms of Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) have been presented. CMMAC meets better performance of tracking design for all variations; the performance of the controlled quadrotor has been improved for the linear and angular coordinates 100%, as compared to the performance when using one Kalman filter

Role of SARS-COV2 Antigen as a diagnostic test for COVID-19

Background:&nbsp;Successive waves of SARS-CoV-2 infections with increasing transmission rates may burden the laboratories performing molecular diagnostic testing. Alternative diagnostic methods may provide additional diagnostic capacity. Chemiluminescent totally automated antigen detection test for SARS-CoV-2 (Ortho VITROS SARS-CoV-2 antigen test) could be satisfactory replacement for reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) for mass screening during outbreaks.&nbsp;Methods:&nbsp;RT- qPCR and the VITROS® SARS-CoV-2 antigen were compared. Antigen detection test was assessed using clinical samples (nasopharyngeal swabs in viral transport medium) withdrawn from 668 patients suspected to have SARS-CoV-2 infection.&nbsp;Results:&nbsp;From 668 samples, 303 showed SARS-CoV-2 antigens positive and 365 SARS-CoV-2 antigens negative in comparison with RT-qPCR, the sensitivity was 89.11% and the specificity was 100.0% (PPV 100.0 and NPV 91.7). Ct value of 16.0 was the limit of detection of the assay.&nbsp;Conclusion:&nbsp;The given results show that VITROS® assay was acceptable for the detection of patients having contagious COVID-19 in the clinical setting. This test showed high sensitivity and specificity in the SARS-CoV-2 detection in samples with a Ct value of 32 or less. Chemiluminescent full automated antigen detection test for SARS-CoV-2 is a feasible substitute to (RT-qPCR) for mass screenin

Design and Simulation of a Nanoscale Threshold-Logic Multiplier

Multiplication is one of the most important operations in microprocessors and digital signal processing systems. Different multiplier architectures have been proposed in the literature. One of the most widely used architecture is the Wallace tree multiplier. This multiplier is known for its high speed. However, it occupies a large area. In this paper, we used Threshold Logic Gates instead of conventional logic gates to reduce the area. The multiplier was designed in 65nm CMOS technology, and achieved 28% reduction in the number of transistors compared to the one with conventional logic gates. It also achieved a lower power-delay-product

Evaluation of Cerebral Hemodynamics in Cirrhotic Patients by Transcranial Doppler Ultrasonography and its Relation to Hepatic Encephalopathy

The study aimed at Aim evaluation the cerebral hemodynamics in cirrhotic patients by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography and its relation to hepatic encephalopathy. This study is a prospective study , 50 subjects attended El Hussein university hospital, inpatient and outpatient clinic are classified into three groups, group I(10 subjects as a healthy control),group II (20 subjects with liver cirrhosis without hepatic encephalopathy) and group III(20 subjects with liver cirrhosis with hepatic encephalopathy). All patients included in the study underwent a full history taking,complete physical examination, liver functions tests,blood ammonia level,C.B.C,blood urea and serum creatinine and pelvi-abdominal ultarasonography. Transcranial Doppler done for all patients participated in the study using a 2 MHz transducer. The results showed that as regard Trans cranial Doppler ultrasound parameters, we found a statistical significant difference between the three groups as regard Pulsatility Index (P ˂ 0.001), Breath-Holding Index (P ˂ 0.001) ) , Maximum Flow Velocity(P ˂ 0.001) and Mean (P ˂ 0.001), whereas Pulsatility Index, , Maximum Flow Velocity and Mean are higher in patient with Hepatic Encephalopathy, but Breath-holding index is low, there is no statistical significant difference (P > 0.05) between them as regard Minimum Flow Velocity. Conclusion: Transcranial doppler ultrasonography is easy, rapidly done not invasive method for evaluation of cerebral hemodynamic in cirrhotic patient and predection of hepatic encephalopathy. Keywords: Transcranial doppler, Hepatic encephalopathy, Cirrhosis