Emerging Technologies

Phenomenal advancements have taken place in the field of Information and communication technologies in the last decade. Spectacular and innovative changes are expected to take place in these fields in coming decade. Networking technologies are going through a sea change. This paper enumerates the likely networking technologies which are emerging, particularly WLANs. Most of the personal communication in the country will be through cellular/ mobile technologies, which are also covered in the paper. Impact of mobile communication on possible wireless libraries is brought out. Economic and social changes are bound to give a fillip to online or e-education using Web based technologies. The need for correlation and comparison of data from distributed sources is giving rise to new discipline of virtual data warehousing. These topics too are briefly covered in this paper

Effect of sample storage conditions on the molecular assessment of MIC

Microbiological surveys play a fundamental role in diagnosing and monitoring microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) in oil and gas production systems. Currently, microbiological characterization is being carried out by the implementation of molecular microbiological methods (MMMs) such as the 16S rRNA gene diversity profiling. Molecular characterization of microorganisms provides information to assess the risk of MIC in the production facilities. Even though MMMs have been included in NACE standards, standardized protocols for collection, storage and preservation of oilfield samples have not been written. In this study, the effect of sample storage conditions on the microbial composition, community structure, alpha diversity and functional capability of oilfield samples was investigated. The effect of storage samples at room temperature or refrigeration on the molecular MIC assessment was statistically evaluated by comparison with samples preprocessed and preserved on-site straight upon collection. Sample storage resulted in changes in the relative abundance of the microbial populations, which had a significant impact on the alpha diversity and structure of the community. Likewise, the functional capability of the microbial community in oilfield samples was affected by storage conditions. Abundances of genes associated with corrosive pathways such as sulphate reduction, iron utilization and methanogenesis decreased under conditions evaluated. Results of this research provide evidence of the importance of sample handling for an accurate microbial characterization and subsequent assessment of the MIC risk in industrial systems. Thereby, on-site pre-processing of the samples and addition of nucleic acids preservation solutions is recommended for an optimal microbiological survey, and in cases where this is not feasible, refrigeration is preferred over room temperature storage conditions

Infusion of donor leukocytes to induce tolerance in organ allograft recipients

To further enhance chimerism, 229 primary allograft recipients have received perioperative intravenous infusion of a single dose of 3 to 6 x 108 unmodified donor bone marrow (BM) cells/kg body weight. In addition, 42 patients have been accrued in a concurrent protocol involving multiple (up to three) sequential perioperative infusions of 2 x 108 BM cells/kg/day from day 0-2 posttransplantation (PTx). Organ recipients (n = 133) for whom BM was not available were monitored as controls. The infusion of BM was safe and except for 50 (18%), all study patients have optimal graft function. Of the control patients, allografts in 30 (23%) have been lost during the course of follow-up. The cumulative risk of acute cellular rejection (ACR) was statistically lower in the study patients compared with that of controls. It is interesting that, 62% of BM-augmented heart recipients were free of ACR (Grade ≥ 3A) in the first 6 months PTx compared to controls. The incidence of obliterative bronchiolitis was also statistically lower in study lung recipients (3.8%) compared with the contemporaneously acquired controls (31%). The levels of donor cell chimerism were at least a log higher in the peripheral blood of majority of the study patients compared with that of controls. The incidence of donor-specific hyporeactivity, as determined by one-way mixed leukocyte reaction, was also higher in those BM-augmented liver, kidney, and lung recipients that could be evaluated compared to controls

Expression Profiling of Major Histocompatibility and Natural Killer Complex Genes Reveals Candidates for Controlling Risk of Graft versus Host Disease

Background: The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is the most important genomic region that contributes to the risk of graft versus host disease (GVHD) after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Matching of MHC class I and II genes is essential for the success of transplantation. However, the MHC contains additional genes that also contribute to the risk of developing acute GVHD. It is difficult to identify these genes by genetic association studies alone due to linkage disequilibrium in this region. Therefore, we aimed to identify MHC genes and other genes involved in the pathophysiology of GVHD by mRNA expression profiling. Methodology/Principal Findings: To reduce the complexity of the task, we used genetically well-defined rat inbred strains and a rat skin explant assay, an in-vitro-model of the graft versus host reaction (GVHR), to analyze the expression of MHC, natural killer complex (NKC), and other genes in cutaneous GVHR. We observed a statistically significant and strong up or down regulation of 11 MHC, 6 NKC, and 168 genes encoded in other genomic regions, i.e. 4.9%, 14.0%, and 2.6% of the tested genes respectively. The regulation of 7 selected MHC and 3 NKC genes was confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR and in independent skin explant assays. In addition, similar regulations of most of the selected genes were observed in GVHD-affected skin lesions of transplanted rats and in human skin explant assays. Conclusions/Significance: We identified rat and human MHC and NKC genes that are regulated during GVHR in skin explant assays and could therefore serve as biomarkers for GVHD. Several of the respective human genes, including HLA-DMB, C2, AIF1, SPR1, UBD, and OLR1, are polymorphic. These candidates may therefore contribute to the genetic risk of GVHD in patients

Emerging Technologies

Phenomenal advancements have taken place in the field of Information and communication technologies in the last decade. Spectacular and innovative changes are expected to take place in these fields in coming decade. Networking technologies are going through a sea change. This paper enumerates the likely networking technologies which are emerging, particularly WLANs. Most of the personal communication in the country will be through cellular/ mobile technologies, which are also covered in the paper. Impact of mobile communication on possible wireless libraries is brought out. Economic and social changes are bound to give a fillip to online or e-education using Web based technologies. The need for correlation and comparison of data from distributed sources is giving rise to new discipline of virtual data warehousing. These topics too are briefly covered in this paper

Characterisation of indoles

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Latest Trends in Contingency Analysis of Power System

Contingency plans based on N - 1 and N - 2 contingencies are already very much used by utilities . Artificial intelligent methods are new trends for analysing the contingency scenario along with state of art congestion management. This gives extra backup and b oost to reliable operation under contingent scenario of power system. This paper envisages the summary of all those efforts