Metabolic and transcriptomic analysis of Huntington's disease model reveal changes in intracellular glucose levels and related genes.

Huntington's Disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expansion in a CAG-tri-nucleotide repeat that introduces a poly-glutamine stretch into the huntingtin protein (mHTT). Mutant huntingtin (mHTT) has been associated with several phenotypes including mood disorders and depression. Additionally, HD patients are known to be more susceptible to type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and HD mice model develops diabetes. However, the mechanism and pathways that link Huntington's disease and diabetes have not been well established. Understanding the underlying mechanisms can reveal potential targets for drug development in HD. In this study, we investigated the transcriptome of mHTT cell populations alongside intracellular glucose measurements using a functionalized nanopipette. Several genes related to glucose uptake and glucose homeostasis are affected. We observed changes in intracellular glucose concentrations and identified altered transcript levels of certain genes including Sorcs1, Hh-II and Vldlr. Our data suggest that these can be used as markers for HD progression. Sorcs1 may not only have a role in glucose metabolism and trafficking but also in glutamatergic pathways affecting trafficking of synaptic components

A Review on Implementation of Real Time Image Processing for a Human Eye Computer Interaction System

People with physical disabilities cannot fully enjoy the benefits provided by computer System .This is because the conventional mouse and keyboard were designed to be used by those who are able bodied. Due to reducing the communication barriers between man and machine human eye computer interaction is important. The main aim of this proposed system is to design and implement a human computer interaction system that tracks the direction of the human gaze. The pupil detection and tracking is an important step for developing a human-computer interaction system. To identify the gaze direction of the user’s eye (right, left, up and down). Human eye uses contactless type devices. This work can develop a human computer interaction system that is based on iris tracking. The iris is widely used as the starting point for detection and tracking. It is an important eye feature that is circular in shape and that can be detected easily

A comparative study of maternal and fetal outcome in trial of labour after caesarean delivery and elective repeat caesarean delivery

Background: Globally, high rates of caesarean section (CS) are an issue of public health concern. For women who have had a previous caesarean, choices for mode of birth in their next pregnancy are either a trial of vaginal birth after caesarean (TOLAC) or an elective repeat caesarean delivery (ERCD). Both ERCD and TOLAC have benefits and risks associated.Methods: A prospective comparative study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at SDM college of medical science and hospital, Dharwad, Karnataka, India. The study included 80 women with one previous lower segment caesarean section over a period of 1 year. A 40 women underwent TOLAC and 40 women had a repeat caesarean section. The maternal and fetal outcomes in trial of labour after caesarean delivery and repeat caesarean delivery were compared.Results: In this study maternal morbidity was more common in ERCD group than in the TOLAC group. Neonatal outcome was the same in both the study groups. Conclusions: In our study the TOLAC success rate was 70-80%, pregnant woman with one previous lower segment Caesarean section should be given the option of TOLAC, unless contraindicated.

Field Pattern computation using 2 - D FFT for Microstrip Reflectarray Antenna

A Microstrip Reflectarray antenna as a planar array antenna is examined in this study effort. The basic original design requires that the phase of the field reflected from a Microstrip Reflectarray element be set so that the overall phase delay from the feed to a fixed aperture plane in front of the Reflectarray is constant for all elements. The array factor and element pattern product are displayed in the overall electric field pattern expression. The arrangement of Microstrip Reflectarray antenna and feed has been placed in prime focal axis. Amplitude tapering is used to improve the main beam's field strength by lowering the side lobe levels. The comparative numerical analysis of computing field pattern normally as well as using 2-D FFT of n x n elements of the Microstrip reflectarray antenna is carried out using MATLAB codes. It is shown that MATLAB simulation time with FFT is much shorter than simulation time without FFT

Designing an Experimentally Feasible Selective Emitter For a Thermophotovoltaic System

More than 60% of the raw energy used in the US is dissipated as waste heat. Thermophotovoltaics (TPV) provide a means to capture this waste heat into electricity. Inefficiencies in TPV systems are due to various loss mechanisms, particularly a lack of spectral matching between the emission spectrum of the emitter and the absorption spectrum of the photovoltaic cell. This study aims to design a simple structure emitting thermal photons mostly at high energies, which could allow for efficient generation of electricity through a photovoltaic cell. Optical data for the different materials obtained using ellipsometry and previous research is incorporated into a nanoHUB tool, known as the Thermophotonic Selective Emitter Simulator (TPXsim), to compute the expected enhancement of the TPV system efficiency. Changes have been made to the TPXsim tool to incorporate customized top dielectric mirror layers, samarium doped glass cavity and bottom metallic back reflectors. It is seen that a TPV system consisting of a rare-earth wafer emitter at 1573 K plus a cold-side rugate filter at 300 K shows an overall efficiency of around 18%. Previous research on emitter designs with top and bottom layers of dielectric mirror is seen to increase this efficiency at a large number of layers while degrading the performance for a small number of layers. Our research shows that using aperiodic customized multilayer structures and metallic back reflectors improves the efficiency over a bare wafer while maintaining the ease of fabrication of the selective emitter

Implementation of Real Time Image Processing for a Human Eye Computer Interaction System

People with physical disabilities cannot fully enjoy the benefits provided by computer System. This is because the conventional mouse and keyboard were designed to be used by those who are able bodied. A number of barriers have stood in the way of the integration of eye tracking into everyday applications, including the intrusiveness, robustness, availability, and price of eye-tracking systems. Due to reducing the communication barriers between man and machine human eye computer interaction is important. The goal of this thesis is to lower these barriers so that eye tracking can be used to enhance current human computer interfaces.The main aim of this proposed system is to design and implement a human computer interaction system that tracks the direction of the human gaze. The pupil detection and tracking is an important step for developing a human-computer interaction system. To identify the gaze direction of the user’s eye (right, left, up and down).This work can develop a human computer interaction system that is based on iris tracking.A novel idea to control computer mouse cursor movement with human eyes it controls mouse-moving by automatically affecting the position where eyesight focuses on, and simulates mouse-click by affecting blinking action

Interventional study to find out effect of human chorionic gonadotropin and antioxidants on idiopathic male infertility

Background: Male contributes about 50% for cases with combined male and female infertility. When the cause is not known, it is term as idiopathic infertility. It affects 25% of men. Many advances have been made in reproductive medicine which provides great opportunities, couples which were considered untreatable now have got chance to have their own babies. Various ART procedures like ICSI have been proven as an efficient therapy in severe male factor infertility. However, the cost per cycle and complications such as multiple gestations cannot be ignored. Medical management of infertility can be specific or empirical depending on etiology. Specific medical management is use when certain etiology is identified. However, in absence of specific etiology use of empirical medical treatment can be attempted in order to improve treatment results. In this study our aim is to evaluate the effect of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and antioxidants on semen parameters in men with idiopathic male infertility.Methods: Thirty men with abnormal semen parameters were included in study. Patients were treated with injection hCG-2000 IU three times a week for three months along with the antioxidants. After 3 months of treatment repeat semen analysis were performed and results were compared with pre-treated seminal parameters.Results: Results showed significant increase in sperm count (p value ≤ 0.001), total motility (p value=<0.001), and progressive forward motility (p value = <0.001), while no significant difference is seen in rest of the parameters.Conclusions: Use of hCG and antioxidants in idiopathic male infertility can significantly improve seminal parameters in idiopathic male infertility

Knowing a cross-talk between embryo and endometrium can help to achieve successful pregnancy outcome in recurrent implantation failure

Recurrent implantation failure is most distressing condition to both couple as well as doctor in the field of reproductive medicine. Patients have already undergone various ART treatments with no favourable outcome and are drained emotionally as well as economically. To overcome this obstacle a comprehensive approach is needed. In this case report, we are addressing a couple who came to us with primary infertility of 15 yrs, with recurrent IVF failures (four cycles of IUI, seven cycles of ICSI both fresh and frozen and with ovum donation in last two cycle), with poor ovarian reserve and male factor infertility for surrogacy as a last option. After complete evaluation of couple, recurrent Implantation failure is thought to be due to poor endometrium and bad embryo quality, and we counselled couple to go for ovum donation and ICSI before considering surrogacy. To improve endometrial receptivity we performed local endometrial injury, oral estradiol therapy, intrauterine G-CSF instillation and IVIG etc. Simultaneously for better quality of embryo we decided to choose ovum donation due to poor ovarian reserve and advance age of the patient and ICSI was done with husband sperm after treatment of male factor infertility and ET was performed. Patient conceived in first cycle with single live intrauterine pregnancy, her antenatal course was uneventful and delivered a healthy baby at term without any complication

Evaluation of anti-inflammatory potential of ayurvedic formulation Rheumacure in animal model of rheumatoid arthritis

Background: Rheumacure (RC) is a herbomineral preparation recommended by Ayurvedic medical practitioners for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of oral treatment with the herbomineral formulation in animal model of Freund's adjuvant induced arthritis to develop scientific evidence to the efficacious claim of the use of ayurvedic proprietary medicine in the management of rheumatoid arthritis in folklore medicine.Methods: Arthritis was induced by sub plantar injection of 0.1ml of complete Freund’s adjuvant. Treatment with RC 100 mg/kg and dexamethasone 2 mg/kg was given to rats orally once a day from day 1 to day 21 and after which estimation of physical, biochemical, and haematological parameters were carried out.Results: Treatment of RC to arthritic animal showed statistically significant (p<0.05) improvement in physical parameters like arthritic index, paw edema, paw thickness, splenomegaly and thymus index of the animal. The treatment also showed significantly (p <0.05) reduction in inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein, serum rheumatoid factor, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and increase in % haemoglobin. The histopathological examination showed protective effect against hyperplasia of synovium, pannus formation and destruction of the joint space.Conclusions: The results obtained in experiments indicated significant anti-inflammatory effect comparable to dexamethasone and without significant side effect. Thus the RC may be a potential preventive or therapeutic candidate for the treatment of chronic inflammation and arthritis