Optimal Placement of Actuators in Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite Shell Structures using Genetic Algorithm

Active vibration control of smart FRP composite structures finds use in high performance structures especially in light weight composite structures. Proper implementation of such smart structure systems demands complete understanding of their responses, optimal placement of sensors and actuators, and design of an appropriate control system. In the present work, an improved genetic algorithm (GA) based optimal collocated sensors and actuators of smart fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite shell structures has been presented. Layered shell finite elements have been formulated and the formulation has been validated for coupled electromechanical analysis of curved smart FRP composite structures having piezoelectric sensors and actuators patches. Modal analysis has been performed to transfer the coupled finite element equation to state space equation. An integer-coded GA-based open-loop procedure has been implemented for optimal placement of actuators for maximizing controllability index. This type of GA with uniform crossover and mutation technique has been developed to efficiently search for optimal locations of sensors/actuators.In this project, we have used integer coded GA to find optimal placement of actuators on spherical shell structures and semi-circular ring

Breast cancer management pathways during the COVID-19 pandemic: outcomes from the UK ‘Alert Level 4’ phase of the B-MaP-C study

Abstract: Background: The B-MaP-C study aimed to determine alterations to breast cancer (BC) management during the peak transmission period of the UK COVID-19 pandemic and the potential impact of these treatment decisions. Methods: This was a national cohort study of patients with early BC undergoing multidisciplinary team (MDT)-guided treatment recommendations during the pandemic, designated ‘standard’ or ‘COVID-altered’, in the preoperative, operative and post-operative setting. Findings: Of 3776 patients (from 64 UK units) in the study, 2246 (59%) had ‘COVID-altered’ management. ‘Bridging’ endocrine therapy was used (n = 951) where theatre capacity was reduced. There was increasing access to COVID-19 low-risk theatres during the study period (59%). In line with national guidance, immediate breast reconstruction was avoided (n = 299). Where adjuvant chemotherapy was omitted (n = 81), the median benefit was only 3% (IQR 2–9%) using ‘NHS Predict’. There was the rapid adoption of new evidence-based hypofractionated radiotherapy (n = 781, from 46 units). Only 14 patients (1%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 during their treatment journey. Conclusions: The majority of ‘COVID-altered’ management decisions were largely in line with pre-COVID evidence-based guidelines, implying that breast cancer survival outcomes are unlikely to be negatively impacted by the pandemic. However, in this study, the potential impact of delays to BC presentation or diagnosis remains unknown

Microbiological study of neonatal conjunctivitis with special reference to chlamydia trachomatis.

PURPOSE: To study the microbial agents, chiefly Chlamydia trachomatis and other bacteria, in neonatal conjunctivitis. METHODS: Conjunctival specimens from 70 newborns with conjunctivitis were subjected to bacterial culture and sensitivity testing, monoclonal antibody based C. trachomatis antigen detection test and species-specific Chlamydia antibody detection in the sera of babies and their mothers, by micro-immunofluorescence assay. RESULTS: Bacteria were isolated from 35 (50%) babies; the majority (20, 57.14%) were Staphylococcus epidermidis. C. trachomatis antigen was detected in conjunctival smears of 17 (24%) babies, and 6 (35.29%) of them were positive for other bacteria. Six babies and their mothers tested positive for C. trachomatis Ig G antibodies. At follow-up after 14 weeks, 6 (35.29%) of the Chlamydia antigen-positive babies were found to have developed recurrent conjunctivitis. CONCLUSION: C. trachomatis is responsible for almost a quarter of all cases of neonatal conjunctivitis, with recurrences in 35% of cases. Bacteria could be isolated from 50% of the patients though the exact role of Staphylococcus epidermidis, isolated from 28.65% of the neonatal conjunctivitis cases, remains unclear

C. trachomatis in Female Reproductive Tract Infections and RFLP-Based Genotyping: A 16-Year Study from a Tertiary Care Hospital

Presence of Chlamydia trachomatis in endocervix was determined in 2466 women attending a tertiary care hospital in New Delhi, India over a period of 16 years, using a monoclonal-based direct immunofluorescence assay, tissue culture isolation, and a conventional PCR assay. Chlamydia antigen could be detected in 391 out of 2466 (15.85%) of patients studied; in 27.27% women with PID, 16.74% women with cervicitis, 16.03% women with infertility, and 12.06% women with adverse pregnancy outcomes, respectively. There was a statistically significant decreasing trend in Chlamydia antigen positivity between the years 1994–1999 and 2000–2004; the apparent decline in antigen positivity between the years 2000–2004 and 2005–2010 was not statistically significant. Antigen detection assay detected equal number of positives as the PCR assay; tissue culture isolation demonstrated lower positivity. In a few representative specimens from cervicitis patients, genotyping was done using RFLP pattern analysis of C. trachomatis MOMP gene amplified by PCR assay, all of these belonged to Chlamydia trachomatis serovar E

Chlamydia trachomatis Antigen Positivity in Patients with Different Ocular Manifestations over 8 Years

Laboratory confirmation of chlamydial antigen in clinically suspected cases of chlamydial eye infections is important, as similar clinical picture can be presented by different infective or noninfective causes. We retrospectively analyzed the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis antigen in 690 clinically suspected patients over the last 8 years (2009–2016). The chlamydial antigen was detected using direct immunofluorescence assay. Overall, Chlamydia-specific antigen positivity was 45.5%. The highest positivity was seen in 2014 (68.6%) and the least in 2016 (9.4%). The antigen positivity in years 2015 (13.4%) and 2016 (9.4%) was significantly less than in all the previous study years (P < 0.0001). Antigen positivity in patients having clinical diagnosis of trachoma was significantly higher than those having other eye manifestations suggestive of chlamydial infections (P = 0.0274). Stringent surveillance both at community level and in hospital attendees is required to know the actual load of this pathogen

<i>Chlamydia</i> and ocular adnexal lymphomas: an Indian experience

Ocular adnexal lymphomas (OALs) are a heterogeneous group of malignancies, majority being extranodal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) type. Different geographical regions have reported association of <i>Chlamydia</i> with OALs (MALT type). In India, role of <i>Chlamydia</i> in OALs remains unexplored. The aim of this study was to detect <i>Chlamydia</i> and to correlate with clinicopathological features of OALs in India. The clinicopathological features of 41 OAL cases were studied prospectively. <i>Chlamydia</i> DNA was detected by genus specific PCR amplifying major outer membrane protein (MOMP) gene followed by DNA sequencing. <i>Chlamydia</i> immunoexpression was evaluated by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. The results were correlated with clinicopathological features including follow-up and survival. <i>Chlamydia</i> genome was detected in 3/41 (7.3%) OAL cases by PCR. Direct sequencing revealed C. trachomatis in 3 positive cases. Immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry showed <i>Chlamydia</i> antigen in 5/41 and 1/41 cases respectively. Immunofluorescence demonstrated higher sensitivity than immunohistochemistry. A significant association was observed between <i>Chlamydia</i> positivity and orbital location (P = 0.05). Follow-up revealed relapse in 2 <i>Chlamydia</i> positive cases (P = 0.056). Our results demonstrate for the first time presence of C. trachomatis genome in 7.3% OAL cases in India. As no other reports are documented, more detailed studies from different regions within India are needed to explore status of <i>Chlamydia</i> in OALs