Integration of Mini Blast Furnace with Existing Electric Arc Furnace for Modernisation & Expansion of Usha Martin Mini Steel Complex at Jamshedpur

Steel production through electric arc furnace has achieved substantial growth in the last decade . The adventof UHF electric arc furnaces , eccentric bottom tapping,secondary refining, continuous casting machine etc., has increased the flexibility of operating practices for manufacturing of various grades of steel with consistent quality and reduced cost

Raman Signatures of Strong Kitaev Exchange Correlations in (Na1−x_{1-x}Lix_x)2_2IrO3_3 : Experiments and Theory

Inelastic light scattering studies on single crystals of (Na$_{1-x}$Li$_x$)$_2$IrO$_3$ ($x = 0, 0.05$ and $0.15$) show a polarization independent broad band at $\sim$~2750 cm$^{-1}$ with a large band-width $\sim 1800$~cm$^{-1}$. For Na$_2$IrO$_3$ the broad band is seen for temperatures $\leq 200$~K and persists inside the magnetically ordered state. For Li doped samples, the intensity of this mode increases, shifts to lower wave-numbers and persists to higher temperatures. Such a mode has recently been predicted (Knolle et.al.) as a signature of the Kitaev spin liquid. We assign the observation of the broad band to be a signature of strong Kitaev-exchange correlations. The fact that the broad band persists even inside the magnetically ordered state suggests that dynamically fluctuating moments survive even below $T_{N}$. This is further supported by our mean field calculations. The Raman response calculated in mean field theory shows that the broad band predicted for the spin liquid state survives in the magnetically ordered state near the zigzag-spin liquid phase boundary. A comparison with the theoretical model gives an estimate of the Kitaev exchange interaction parameter to be $J_K\approx 57$~meV.Comment: 14pages 4 figure

Reinforcement learning in ophthalmology: potential applications and challenges to implementation

Reinforcement learning is a subtype of machine learning in which a virtual agent, functioning within a set of predefined rules, aims to maximise a specified outcome or reward. This agent can consider multiple variables and many parallel actions at once to optimise its reward, thereby solving complex, sequential problems. Clinical decision making requires physicians to optimise patient outcomes within a set practice framework and, thus, presents considerable opportunity for the implementation of reinforcement learning-driven solutions. We provide an overview of reinforcement learning, and focus on potential applications within ophthalmology. We also explore the challenges associated with development and implementation of reinforcement learning solutions and discuss possible approaches to address them

Association of MBL2 gene polymorphisms with pulmonary tuberculosis susceptibility: Trial sequence meta-analysis as evidence

© 2019 Mandal et al. Background: Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) or mannose-binding protein (MBP), encoded by MBL2 gene and secreted by the liver, activates complement system through lectin pathway in innate immunity against the host’s infection. Conflictingly, a number of MBL2 variants, rs1800450 (A\u3eB), rs1800451 (A\u3eC), rs5030737 (A\u3eD), rs7096206 (Y\u3eX), rs11003125 (H\u3eL), and rs7095891 (P\u3eQ) allele, have been found to be associated with compromised serum levels and pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) susceptibility. The present meta-analysis study was performed to evaluate the potential association of these MBL2 gene variants with PTB susceptibility. Materials and methods: A quantitative synthesis was performed on PubMed (Medline), EMBASE, and Google Scholar web database searches. A meta-analysis was performed to calculate the pooled odds ratios and 95% CIs for all the genetic models. Results: A total of 14 eligible studies were included to analyze their pooled data for associations between alleles, genotypes, and minor allele carriers. The statistical analysis revealed the significant reduced PTB risk with homozygous variant genotype of rs1800451 polymorphism (CC vs AA: P=0.043; OR =0.828, 95% CI =0.689–0.994). Contrary to this, the variant allele of rs5030737 polymorphism showed association with increased PTB risk (D vs A: P=0.026; OR =1.563, 95% CI =1.054–2.317). However, the other genetic models of rs1800450 (A\u3eB), rs7096206 (Y\u3eX), and rs11003125 (H\u3eL) MBL2 gene polymorphisms did not divulge any association with PTB susceptibility. Conclusion: The current meta-analysis concludes that rs1800451 (A\u3eC) and rs5030737 (A\u3eD) polymorphisms of MBL2 gene play a significant role in PTB susceptibility. Further, well-designed epidemiological studies with larger sample size including consideration of environmental factors are warranted for the future

Preparation and evaluation of the ZnO NP-Ampicillin/Sulbactam nanoantibiotic: Optimization of formulation variables using RSM coupled GA method and antibacterial activities

Nanoparticles (NPs) possessing antibacterial activity represent an effective way of overcoming bacterial resistance. In the present work, we report a novel formulation of a nanoantibiotic formed using Ampicillin/sulbactam (Ams) and a zinc oxide nanoparticle (ZnO NP). ‘ZnO NP–Ams’ nanoantibiotic formulation is optimized using response surface methodology coupled genetic algorithm approach. The optimized formulation of nanoantibiotic (ZnO NP: 49.9 μg/mL; Ams: 33.6 μg/mL; incubation time: 27 h) demonstrated 15% enhanced activity compared to the unoptimized formulation against K. pneumoniae. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was directly proportional to the interaction time of nanoantibiotic and K. pneumoniae after the initial lag phase of ~18 h as evident from 2'-7'-Dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate assay. A low minimum inhibitory concentration (6.25 μg/mL) of nanoantibiotic formulation reveals that even a low concentration of nanoantibiotic can prove to be effective against K. pneumoniae. The importance of nanoantibiotic formulation is also evident by the fact that the 100 μg/mL of Ams and 25 μg of ZnO NP was required individually to inhibit the growth of K. pneumonia, whereas only 6.25 μg/mL of optimized nanoantibiotic formulation (ZnO NP and Ams in the ratio of 49.9: 33.6 in μg/mL and conjugation time of 27 h) was needed for the same

Integrated multisectoral strategy to improve girls' and women's nutrition before conception, during pregnancy and after birth in India (Swabhimaan): protocol for a prospective, non-randomised controlled evaluation

INTRODUCTION: Swabhimaan is a community-based programme to improve adolescent girls’ and women’s nutrition in the rural areas of three Indian states—Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Odisha with high prevalence of undernutrition. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Swabhimaan has a nested prospective, non-randomised controlled evaluation. Since 2017, five intervention sites receive community-led interventions through national government’s livelihood mission supported women’s self-help group federations and five control sites will initiate these activities 36 months later, in 2020. Community-led activities aim to improve coverage of 18 interventions including adequacy of food consumed, prevention of micronutrient deficiencies, access to basic health services and special care of nutritionally ‘at risk’ girls and women, improving hygiene and access to water and sanitation services and access to family planning services. The evaluation includes baseline (2016–2017), midline (2018–2019) and endline (2020–2021) surveys covering 6638 adolescent girls, 2992 pregnant women and 8755 mothers of children under 2. The final impact analysis will be by intention to treat, comparing primary and secondary outcomes in five intervention areas and five control areas. The primary outcomes are: (1) a 15% reduction in the proportion of adolescent girls with a body mass index (BMI) <18.5 kg/m2; (2) a 15% reduction in the proportion of mothers of children under two with a BMI <18.5 kg/m2 and (3) and a 0.4 cm improvement in mean mid-upper arm circumference among pregnant women. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: All procedures involving human subjects were approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Odisha and in compliance with guidelines laid down in the Declaration of Helsinki. Evidence will inform maternal and preconception nutrition policy at national and state level. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: 58261b2f46876 and CTRI/2016/11/007482; Pre-results

Ticarcillin degradation product thiophene acetic acid is a novel auxin analog that promotes organogenesis in tomato

Efficient regeneration of transgenic plants from explants after transformation is one of the crucial steps in developing genetically modified plants with desirable traits. Identification of novel plant growth regulators and developmental regulators will assist to enhance organogenesis in culture. In this study, we observed enhanced shoot regeneration from tomato cotyledon explants in culture media containing timentin, an antibiotic frequently used to prevent Agrobacterium overgrowth after transformation. Comparative transcriptome analysis of explants grown in the presence and absence of timentin revealed several genes previously reported to play important roles in plant growth and development, including Auxin Response Factors (ARFs), GRF Interacting Factors (GIFs), Flowering Locus T (SP5G), Small auxin up-regulated RNAs (SAUR) etc. Some of the differentially expressed genes were validated by quantitative real-time PCR. We showed that ticarcillin, the main component of timentin, degrades into thiophene acetic acid (TAA) over time. TAA was detected in plant tissue grown in media containing timentin. Our results showed that TAA is indeed a plant growth regulator that promotes root organogenesis from tomato cotyledons in a manner similar to the well-known auxins, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). In combination with the cytokinin 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), TAA was shown to promote shoot organogenesis from tomato cotyledon in a concentration-dependent manner. To the best of our knowledge, the present study reports for the first time demonstrating the function of TAA as a growth regulator in a plant species. Our work will pave the way for future studies involving different combinations of TAA with other plant hormones which may play an important role in in vitro organogenesis of recalcitrant species. Moreover, the differentially expressed genes and long noncoding RNAs identified in our transcriptome studies may serve as contender genes for studying molecular mechanisms of shoot organogenesis