208 research outputs found

    Radar Target Characteristics Extraction using Polarization Scattering Matrix

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    Now a day’s characterization of targets using radar is very important in Air Traffic Control, Defense, and Stealth etc.  In order to know the characteristics of the target it is very essential to know the polarization properties of that particular target which depends upon scattering nature of the target.  The polarization properties are important for radar target besides amplitude, phase and frequency. The polarization may be potentially used to improve target detection, anti-interference, and radar target recognition. Polarization properties of a target can be obtained using polarization scattering matrix (PSM). In this paper the polarization matrix of various geometrical shapes are derived.  For radar target recognition (RTR), a method using properties of the polarization scattering matrix (PPSM) is presented in this paper. A dipole has been considered to calculate the polarization matrix and polarization properties. The properties of the polarization scattering matrix: the determinant, Trace of Power Scattering Matrix, Depolation, Eigen polarization angle and Module of Polarization Ellipticity are analyzed. These properties are analyzed for different orientation angles of the targets

    IEEHR: Improved Energy Efficient Honeycomb based Routing in MANET for Improving Network Performance and Longevity

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    In present scenario, efficient energy conservation has been the greatest focus in Mobile Adhoc Networks (MANETs). Typically, the energy consumption rate of dense networks is to be reduced by proper topological management. Honeycomb based model is an efficient parallel computing technique, which can manage the topological structures in a promising manner.  Moreover, discovering optimal routes in MANET is the most significant task, to be considered with energy efficiency. With that motive, this paper presents a model called Improved Energy Efficient Honeycomb based Routing (IEEHR) in MANET. The model combines the Honeycomb based area coverage with Location-Aided Routing (LAR), thereby reducing the broadcasting range during the process of path finding. In addition to optimal routing, energy has to be effectively utilized in MANET, since the mobile nodes have energy constraints. When the energy is effectively consumed in a network, the network performance and the network longevity will be increased in respective manner. Here, more amount of energy is preserved during the sleeping state of the mobile nodes, which are further consumed during the process of optimal routing. The designed model has been implemented and analyzed with NS-2 Network Simulator based on the performance factors such as Energy Efficiency, Transmission Delay, Packet Delivery Ratio and Network Lifetime

    Proteomic analysis of heparin-binding proteins from human seminal plasma: a step towards identification of molecular markers of male fertility

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    Glycosaminoglycans, especially heparin, are involved in various cell processes such as apoptosis, cell cycle control, platelet activation, capacitation, acrosome reaction and sperm decondensation. Heparin-binding proteins (HBPs) are essential constituents of human seminal fluid, which bind to sperm lipids containing the phosphorylcholine group and mediate the fertilization process. We utilized a proteomic set-up consisting of affinity chromatography, isoelectric focusing (IEF) coupled with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF/MS) for protein analysis of human HBPs. We resolved 70 different spots on two-dimensional (2-D) gel and subsequently identified these proteins. Forty different types of proteins were identified. Functional analysis revealed that 38% of the proteins belonged to the enzyme category, 20% were involved in RNA processing and transcription, 18% in structure and transport function, and 16% in cell recognition and signal transduction. We also identified 8% of proteins with unknown functions, although their expression in seminal fluid has been documented. Proteins of seminal fluid that bind heparin may be directly involved in sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction (AR), which are the two critical steps for fertilization. This information on HBPs would be useful for identifying potential biomarkers of fertility in the near future

    99mTc-DMSA (V) in Evaluation of Osteosarcoma: Comparative Studies with 18F-FDG PET/CT in Detection of Primary and Malignant Lesions

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    To evaluate the role of 99mTc-DMSA (V) and [18F]FDG PET-CT in management of patients with osteosarcoma, 22 patients were included in our study. All patients underwent both 99mTc-DMSA (V) and whole-body [18F]FDG PET-CT scans within an interval of 1 week. 555–740 MBq of 99mTc-DMSA (V) was injected i.v. the whole-body planar, SPECT images of primary site and chest were performed after 3-4 hours. [18F]FDG PET-CT images were obtained 60 minutes after i.v. injection of 370 MBq of F-18 FDG. Both FDG PET-CT (mean SUVmax = 7.1) and DMSA (V) scans showed abnormal uptake at primary site in all the 22 patients (100% sensitivity for both). Whole-body PET-CT detected metastasis in 11 pts (lung mets in 10 and lung + bone mets in 1 patient). Whole-body planar DMSA (V) and SPECT detected bone metastasis in one patient, lung mets in 7 patients and LN in 1 patient. HRCT of chest confirmed lung mets in 10 patients and inflammatory lesion in one patient. 7 patients positive for mets on DMSA (V) scan had higher uptake in lung lesions as compared to FDG uptake on PET-CT. Three patients who did not show any DMSA uptake had subcentimeter lung nodule. Resuts of both 99mTc-DMSA (V) (whole-body planar and SPECT imaging) and [18F]FDG PET-CT were comparable in evaluation of primary site lesions and metastatic lesions greater than 1 cm. Though 99mTc-DMSA (V) had higher uptake in the lesions as compared to [18F]FDG PET-CT, the only advantage [18F]FDG PET-CT had was that it could also detect subcentimeter lesions

    UTILISATION OF NEAT RICEBRAN METHYL ESTER AND IT’S BLENDS AS FUEL FOR THE CI ENGINE

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    To meet increasing energy requirements, there has been growing interest in alternate fuels like biodiesel to provide a suitable diesel oil substitute for internal combustion engines. Biodiesel offer a very promising alternate to diesel oil since they are renewable and have similar properties. It is an oxygenated fuel and emissions of carbon monoxide are less unlike fossil fuels, the use of biodiesel does not contribute to global warming as CO2 emitted is once again absorbed by the plants grown for vegetable oil/biodiesel production, thus CO2 balance is maintained. In this paper the Rice bran methyl ester (RBME) in the neat form and various blends is used with pure diesel to study load test of the engine. The performance of the engine under different operating conditions and blends are compared by calculating the brake thermal efficiency, total fuel consumption and brake specific fuel consumption by using pure diesel and adding various blends of Rice bran methyl ester with diesel

    Determination of ethambutol MICs for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium isolates by resazurin microtitre assay

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    Objectives: To test susceptibilities of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) isolates to ethambutol by the Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) proportion method and resazurin microtitre assay (REMA) and to evaluate REMA for the determination of ethambutol MICs for MTB and Mycobacterium avium isolates. Methods: A total of 50 MTB and 20 M. avium isolates were tested to determine the MICs of ethambutol by REMA and agar dilution method. MTB isolates were also tested by the LJ proportion method. Results: REMA provided ethambutol susceptibility results for all the isolates within 8-9 days. For MTB isolates, REMA showed 96.7% sensitivity, 100.0% specificity and 98.0% accuracy when LJ proportion results were taken as 'gold standard'. For both MTB and M. avium isolates, the MICs determined by REMA were lower than those determined in agar medium, indicating that MIC values determined by REMA are closer to the actual MICs for the isolates. Conclusions: REMA can be used as a rapid and inexpensive method for mycobacterial drug susceptibility testing against ethambutol. In comparison with the agar method, the MICs determined by REMA can more accurately be correlated with achievable plasma concentrations of antimycobacterial agents

    The Cost of Universal Health Care in India: A Model Based Estimate

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    Introduction: As high out-of-pocket healthcare expenses pose heavy financial burden on the families, Government of India is considering a variety of financing and delivery options to universalize health care services. Hence, an estimate of the cost of delivering universal health care services is needed. Methods: We developed a model to estimate recurrent and annual costs for providing health services through a mix of public and private providers in Chandigarh located in northern India. Necessary health services required to deliver goo

    Appropriate DevR (DosR)-Mediated Signaling Determines Transcriptional Response, Hypoxic Viability and Virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

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    Background: The DevR(DosR) regulon is implicated in hypoxic adaptation and virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The present study was designed to decipher the impact of perturbation in DevR-mediated signaling on these properties. Methodology/Principal Findings: M. tb complemented (Comp) strains expressing different levels of DevR were constructed in Mut1 * background (expressing DevR N-terminal domain in fusion with AphI (DevRN-Kan) and in Mut2DdevR background (deletion mutant). They were compared for their hypoxia adaptation and virulence properties. Diverse phenotypes were noted; basal level expression (,5.362.3 mM) when induced to levels equivalent to WT levels (,25.869.3 mM) was associated with robust DevR regulon induction and hypoxic adaptation (Comp 9 * and 10*), whereas low-level expression (detectable at transcript level) as in Comp 11 * and Comp15 was associated with an adaptation defect. Intermediate-level expression (,3.361.2 mM) partially restored hypoxic adaptation functions in Comp2, but not in Comp1 * bacteria that coexpressed DevRN-Kan. Comp * strains in Mut1 * background also exhibited diverse virulence phenotypes; high/very low-level DevR expression was associated with virulence whereas intermediate-level expression was associated with low virulence. Transcription profiling and gene expression analysis revealed up-regulation of the phosphate starvation response (PSR) in Mut1 * and Comp11 * bacteria, but not in WT/Mut2DdevR/other Comp strains, indicating a plasticity in expression pathways that is determined by the magnitude of signaling perturbation through DevRN-Kan

    Mycobacterium tuberculosis Transcriptional Adaptation, Growth Arrest and Dormancy Phenotype Development Is Triggered by Vitamin C

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    BACKGROUND: Tubercle bacilli are thought to persist in a dormant state during latent tuberculosis (TB) infection. Although little is known about the host factors that induce and maintain Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) within latent lesions, O(2) depletion, nutrient limitation and acidification are some of the stresses implicated in bacterial dormancy development/growth arrest. Adaptation to hypoxia and exposure to NO/CO is implemented through the DevRS/DosT two-component system which induces the dormancy regulon. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here we show that vitamin C (ascorbic acid/AA) can serve as an additional signal to induce the DevR regulon. Physiological levels of AA scavenge O(2) and rapidly induce the DevR regulon at an estimated O(2) saturation of <30%. The kinetics and magnitude of the response suggests an initial involvement of DosT and a sustained DevS-mediated response during bacterial adaptation to increasing hypoxia. In addition to inducing DevR regulon mechanisms, vitamin C induces the expression of selected genes previously shown to be responsive to low pH and oxidative stress, triggers bacterial growth arrest and promotes dormancy phenotype development in M. tb grown in axenic culture and intracellularly in THP-1 cells. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Vitamin C mimics multiple intracellular stresses and has wide-ranging regulatory effects on gene expression and physiology of M. tb which leads to growth arrest and a 'dormant' drug-tolerant phenotype, but in a manner independent of the DevRS/DosT system. The 'AA-dormancy infection model' offers a potential alternative to other models of non-replicating persistence of M. tb and may be useful for investigating host-'dormant' M. tb interactions. Our findings offer a new perspective on the role of nutritional factors in TB and suggest a possible role for vitamin C in TB
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