Dynamic Stability Enhancement of Power Systems Using Neural-Network Controlled Static-Compensator

This paper aims at enhancement of dynamic stability of power systems using artificial neural network (ANN) controlled static VAR compensator (SVC). SVC is proven the fact that it improves the dynamic stability of power systems apart from reactive power compensation; it has multiple roles in the operation of power systems. The auxiliary control signals to SVC play a very important role in mitigating the rotor electro-mechanical low frequency oscillations. Artificial neural network based controller is designed using the generator speed deviation, as a modulated signal to SVC, to generate the desired damping, is proposed in this paper. The ANN is trained using conventional controlled data and hence replaces the conventional controller. The ANN controlled SVC is used to improve the dynamic performance of power system by reducing the steady-state error and for its fast settling. The simulations are carried out for multi-machine power system (MMPS) at different operating conditions

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease presenting as pyrexia of unknown origin

Background: Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, a benign self-limited lymphadenopathy is an uncommon cause of pyrexia of unknown origin (PUO). Methods: We retrospectively studied the case-records of 13 patients presenting with PUO who were diagnosed to have Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease on peripheral lymph node excision biopsy and report the salient clinical manifestations and histopathological findings in them. All of them received symptomatic treatment. Results: Their median age was 28 [interquartile range (IQR) 18.5-38.0] years. Women (11/13, 84.6%) were more frequently affected. All of them were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seronegative. Prior to presenting to us, two were being treated for lymph node tuberculosis with DOTS. Cervical lymph nodes were predominantly involved, the distribution being: right cervical (n=10, 76.9%); left cervical (n=4); and bilateral cervical (n=2). Axillary and generalized lymphadenopathy were rare being seen in 2 and 1 patient respectively. The median (IQR) erythrocyte sedimentation rate (n=11) was 53 (35-89) mm at the end of first hour. Salient histopathological features were paracortical patchy zones of eosinophilic fibrinoid necrosis with karyorrhectic debris, large numbers of histiocytes, including histiocytes with peripherally placed “crescentic” nuclei. Spontaneous regression of fever and lymphadenopathy was observed over a median (IQR) period of 8 (6.75-10.25) months in all of them. Conclusions: Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease is a rare but important cause of PUO presenting with peripheral lymphadenopathy. Women are most often affected and cervical lymph nodes are the most frequently involved site. Clinical suspicion and thoughtful collaboration between clinicians and pathologists are essential for accurate diagnosis, and to minimize unnecessary investigations and inappropriate aggressive treatment

Millimetric Wave Seeker for Third Generation Antitank Guided Missiles

For the third generation antitank guided missiles (ATGMs) with fire-and-forget and top attack capabilities, a noncoherent millimetric wave (MMW) active radar seeker has been configured with all weather capabilities. To meet the stringent dimensional and weight constraints and beamwidth requirements of ATGM, a W-band system has been designed with trans-twist antenna with a compact comparator. The paper covers the system description and critical design issues, and presents the performance results achieved so far. Areas for improvements, especially for achieving a higher range, have also been pointed out

Assessment of marker-trait associations for drought and heat tolerance in bread wheat

Abiotic stresses are major constraints to wheat productivity in many parts of the world. Tolerance to abiotic stresses can be achieved indirectly by selection for morpho-physiological traits. Physiological trait based breeding has been associated with improved performance under stress; and hence can combat and adapt wheat to drought and heat stress. Therefore, in the present study, phenotyping was carried out for agro-physiological traits in 52 diverse wheat germplasm lines under timely sown, rainfed and late sown environments for two years. Mean yield of the genotypes over the six environments were positively correlated with NDVI, days to maturity and negatively correlated with canopy temperature. The phenotypic data validated marker-trait associations of a number of meta-QTLs identified earlier for different physiological and agronomic traits. Six and seven meta-QTL genomic regions were found to be consistent in their expression for two years under rainfed/restricted irrigation and late sown environments, respectively. Expression analysis of the underlying candidate gene AK248593.1 in meta-QTL26 region revealed two folds higher expression in the NILs carrying the co-localized SSR markers. The linked markers of the thirteen meta-QTL regions associated with different traits can be used for effective transfer of the QTLs through marker assisted selection in wheat breeding programmes

Death effector domain-containing protein induces vulnerability to cell cycle inhibition in triple-negative breast cancer

Lacking targetable molecular drivers, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most clinically challenging subtype of breast cancer. In this study, we reveal that Death Effector Domain-containing DNA-binding protein (DEDD), which is overexpressed in > 60% of TNBCs, drives a mitogen-independent G1/S cell cycle transition through cytoplasm localization. The gain of cytosolic DEDD enhances cyclin D1 expression by interacting with heat shock 71 kDa protein 8 (HSC70). Concurrently, DEDD interacts with Rb family proteins and promotes their proteasome-mediated degradation. DEDD overexpression renders TNBCs vulnerable to cell cycle inhibition. Patients with TNBC have been excluded from CDK 4/6 inhibitor clinical trials due to the perceived high frequency of Rb-loss in TNBCs. Interestingly, our study demonstrated that, irrespective of Rb status, TNBCs with DEDD overexpression exhibit a DEDD-dependent vulnerability to combinatorial treatment with CDK4/6 inhibitor and EGFR inhibitor in vitro and in vivo. Thus, our study provided a rationale for the clinical application of CDK4/6 inhibitor combinatorial regimens for patients with TNBC

Synthesis of a soluble flag-tagged single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody targeting Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV) coat protein

Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) is a serious pathogen of many economically important commercial fruit and vegetable crops worldwide. It is a particular problem in warmer climates, where plants are not grown under cover thus necessitating undesirably high use of agrochemicals for the control of insect vectors. Efforts towards controlling of this virus would include the development of improved methods of virus detection including the ability to produce cost effective and specific reagents. In this study the production of recombinant antibodies provides one such approach. A single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody, targeted to CMV coat protein, was constructed with mRNA from the spleen of a CMV coat protein-immunized mouse. The nucleotide sequence of the variable heavy (VH) and variable light (VL) framework regions of the mouse spleen cDNA were used to design and construct primers for scFv library construction via RT-PCR. Three rounds of panning of the scFv library with the coat protein of a local isolate of a chilli strain CMV resulted in the cloning of a novel soluble Flag-tagged scFv antibody that suitable for use as a diagnostic reagent with the further potential of in situ application in the development of transgenic plants with novel resistance

Marine ornamental fish culture: Means for economic growth

The marine ornamental fish trade is a sunrise industry that has been expanding in recent years and has grown into a multimillion-dollar enterprise mainly due to the emergence of technologies for captive breeding of fishes, modern aquarium gadgets, setting and maintenance of miniature reef aquaria. Aquarium keeping is amongst the most popular of hobbies with millions of enthusiasts worldwide and the trade of marine ornamentals has been expanding in recent years and has grown into a multimillion-dollar enterprise. The recent emergence of modern aquarium gadgets and technologies for setting and maintenance of miniature reef aquaria made aquarium keeping much easier than previous. Since the marine ornamental trade is operated throughout the tropics, the global marine ornamental trade is estimated at US$ 200-330 million. India is endowed with a vast resource potential of marine ornamentals distributed in the coral seas and rocky coasts with patchy coral formations. In the context of the expanding global scenario and the increasing demand for domestic trade, it appears very lucrative for India to venture into this industr