Modeling of Six Pulse Voltage Source Inverter based STATCOM with PWM and Conventional Triggering

In the present study, a six pulse inverter is triggered using conventional sequential and pulse width modulation (PWM) technique simultaneously for comparing their results. FACTS devices such as STATCOM are the most emerging areas in today’s power system. This STATCOM is a power electronic based converter circuit in which inverter circuit is fabricated for the purpose of voltage control and reactive power compensation through its current flow. A six pulse inverter is developed that can be generalized for developing any number of multiple of six pulse inverters by cascading them in parallel using transformers connection. Voltage source Inverter (VSI) is the most commonly used inverter that can be modeled for electrical system based studies. A methodology is presented to trigger the STATCOM inverter circuit using conventional and PWM techniques, and then the results are compared using MATLAB Simulink mode

Cumulative effect of systemic inflammation and oxidative stress in 40 known cases of active rheumatoid arthritis

Background: Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathophysiology of a number of diseases such as cancer, hypertension and inflammatory diseases. Although previous evidences provided extensive literature about the biological role of antioxidant enzymes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), there is a paucity of satisfactory explanation regarding the alteration in the level of antioxidant enzymes along with marker of systemic inflammation in RA. The objective of present study was to estimate the level of C-reactive protein (CRP), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) and Ceruloplasmin in active RA patients.Methods: 40 patients of either sex (30-50 years age group) suffering from active RA and 40 normal healthy individuals served as control; were included in the study. Above mentioned parameters were estimated using standard methods and data from patients and controls were compared by using Student’s t-test.Results: Erythrocyte SOD, CAT and GSHPx activity were significantly low in RA subjects (P<0.001) whereas plasma Ceruloplasmin level was found to be significantly high (P<0.001) as compared to healthy controls.Conclusions: These findings suggest that combined effect of inflammation and free radical generation is involved in the pathogenesis of active RA, characterized by imbalance in antioxidant enzyme status and enhanced CRP levels, which served as an excellent marker of oxidative stress and systemic inflammation in active RA

Leiomyoma of the vulva: a diagnostic challenge

Smooth muscle tumours of vulva are rare and therefore can be missed clinically. Our patient, 48-year-old lady presented with lump in the left vulva that was clinically diagnosed as Bartholin duct cyst. The lumpectomy was done under local anaesthesia and the lesion was sent for pathological examination. On gross examination the mass was 3.5 cm in diameter. The microscopic examination revealed the lump to be leiomyoma and no necrosis or atypia was present. The final diagnosis of “vulval leiomyoma” was given. Postoperative period was uneventful, and the patient is on regular follow up and there has been no recurrence. Leiomyoma should be kept as a differential diagnosis when a lady presents in late reproductive age group with unilateral swelling in vulvar region which is firm in consistency and the lump must be sent for histopathological examination for definitive diagnosis and rule out malignancy. The pathologists play a critical role in recognition and management of smooth muscle tumors of the vulva and to rule out leiomyosarcoma

Histone deacetylase inhibitors: pharmacotherapeutic implications as epigenetic modifier

Epigenetic modifications such as acetylation and deacetylation of histone proteins play a decisive role in transcriptional alteration and expression of genes. Acetylation is catalysed by the histone acetyl transferases enzymes and activates expression of genes by converting chromatin into a less compact, transcriptionally active state. Histone deacetylases enzymes catalyze deacetylation that condenses chromatin into a closed structure .Consequently transcriptional factors are unable to access DNA and gene expression is suppressed. Balanced activity of HATs and HDACS is essential for normal gene expression. Increased HDAC activity can lead to imbalance in protein acetylation resulting in hypoacetylation, tight chromatin structure and suppression of various genes. This aberrant suppression of genes is the hallmark of several malignant and other diseases including neurodegenerative disorders. Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors (HDACIs) have potential to restore the balance of histone acetylation that reverses the silencing of pathological genes. Thus HDACIs modify expression of genes without affecting sequence of DNA and act as epigenetic modifiers. Vorinostat and romidepsin are FDA approved HDACIs. Valproic acid, belinostat and many others are in different phases of clinical trials. This review article explores the target based epigenetic mechanisms as well as existing and potential therapeutic role of HDACIs in various malignant and non-malignant diseases. Data sources were articles published in medical journals and bibliographic database Medline

State-of-the-art preclinical evaluation of COVID-19 vaccine candidates

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Electrical Discharge Coating a Potential Surface Engineering Technique: A State of the Art

Electrical discharge coating (EDC) process is used to deposit material on workpiece surface from sacrificial or green compact tool electrode in an electrical discharge machine. The paper presents the mechanism of EDC using green compact electrode and powder mixed dielectric methods. The tool electrode material, electrode size, process parameters, and type of dielectrics can directly affect the surface integrity of workpiece. Here, a process map of EDC as a function of process parameters, its classification, advantages, and applications for a wide range of engineering materials offers a proper template for the evaluation of coating phenomena. This study shows that EDC is an economic process as compared to other costlier techniques. Additionally, the effect of various EDM and EDC parameters on surface integrity and tribological behavior of deposited coatings is studied with their pros and cons. Finally, the current research trends of EDC and its challenges are elaborated.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Deciphering Azadirachta indica (Neem) Gum Microbiome using Metagenomic Approaches

Indian lilac or neem (Azadirachta indica) is found in tropical and subtropical regions of the Indian subcontinent. Each part of the tree is a source of various phytochemicals. Neem gum is an exudate from mature parts of the plant stem. Biochemically, it has an acidic pH range (5–6) and is composed of monosaccharides, saponins, phenols, and tannins. This study aimed to elucidate the diversity of neem gum-associated microflora through high throughput metagenomics approach using 16S rRNA variable region sequencing. The bacterial community of neem gum was dominated by Firmicutes (~82%), Proteobacteria (~18%), and Actinobacteria (~0.02%). Among the genera, Lactococcus was found to be the most dominant bacterium. The predominance of Lactococcus in neem gum is probably due to its acidic nature, which provides a suitable microenvironment for its proliferation. In addition, Lactococcus and beneficial microorganisms such as Pseudomonas, Burkholderia, Pantoea, Klebsiella, and Methylobacterium were also present in the gum. This study highlights the fact that neem gum can be exploited as a unique source of microorganisms for biotechnological and agricultural applications

Genome-wide association study for type 2 diabetes in Indians identifies a new susceptibility locus at 2q21.

Indians undergoing socioeconomic and lifestyle transitions will be maximally affected by epidemic of type 2 diabetes (T2D). We conducted a two-stage genome-wide association study of T2D in 12,535 Indians, a less explored but high-risk group. We identified a new type 2 diabetes-associated locus at 2q21, with the lead signal being rs6723108 (odds ratio 1.31; P = 3.32 × 10⁻⁹). Imputation analysis refined the signal to rs998451 (odds ratio 1.56; P = 6.3 × 10⁻¹²) within TMEM163 that encodes a probable vesicular transporter in nerve terminals. TMEM163 variants also showed association with decreased fasting plasma insulin and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, indicating a plausible effect through impaired insulin secretion. The 2q21 region also harbors RAB3GAP1 and ACMSD; those are involved in neurologic disorders. Forty-nine of 56 previously reported signals showed consistency in direction with similar effect sizes in Indians and previous studies, and 25 of them were also associated (P < 0.05). Known loci and the newly identified 2q21 locus altogether explained 7.65% variance in the risk of T2D in Indians. Our study suggests that common susceptibility variants for T2D are largely the same across populations, but also reveals a population-specific locus and provides further insights into genetic architecture and etiology of T2D

Modulation of Host miRNAs Transcriptome in Lung and Spleen of Peste des Petits Ruminants Virus Infected Sheep and Goats

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is one of the highly contagious viral disease, characterized by fever, sore mouth, conjunctivitis, gastroenteritis, and pneumonia, primarily affecting sheep and goats. Reports suggested variable host response in goats and sheep and this host response vis-a-vis the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) has not been investigated. Here, miRNAs were sequenced and proteomics data were generated to identify the role of differentially expressed miRNA (DEmiRNA) in PPR virus (PPRV) infected lung and spleen tissues of sheep and goats. In lungs, 67 and 37 DEmiRNAs have been identified in goats and sheep, respectively. Similarly, in spleen, 50 and 56 DEmiRNAs were identified in goats and sheep, respectively. A total of 20 and 11 miRNAs were found to be common differentially expressed in both the species in PPRV infected spleen and lung, respectively. Six DEmiRNAs—miR-21-3p, miR-1246, miR-27a-5p, miR-760-3p, miR-320a, and miR-363 were selected based on their role in viral infections, apoptosis, and fold change. The target prediction analysis of these six selected DEmiRNAs from the proteome data generated, revealed involvement of more number of genes in lung and spleen of goats than in sheep. On gene ontology analysis of host target genes these DEmiRNAs were found to regulate several immune response signaling pathways. It was observed that the pathways viz. T cell receptor signaling, Rap1 signaling, Toll-like receptor signaling, and B cell receptor signaling governed by DEmiRNAs were more perturbed in goats than in sheep. The data suggests that PPRV-induced miR-21-3p, miR-320a, and miR-363 might act cooperatively to enhance viral pathogenesis in the lung and spleen of sheep by downregulating several immune response genes. The study gives an important insight into the molecular pathogenesis of PPR by identifying that the PPRV—Izatnagar/94 isolate elicits a strong host response in goats than in sheep

Dysregulated miRNAome and Proteome of PPRV Infected Goat PBMCs Reveal a Coordinated Immune Response

In this study, the miRNAome and proteome of virulent Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) infected goat peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were analyzed. The identified differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) were found to govern genes that modulate immune response based on the proteome data. The top 10 significantly enriched immune response processes were found to be governed by 98 genes. The top 10 DEmiRNAs governing these 98 genes were identified based on the number of genes governed by them. Out of these 10 DEmiRNAs, 7 were upregulated, and 3 were downregulated. These include miR-664, miR-2311, miR-2897, miR-484, miR-2440, miR-3533, miR-574, miR-210, miR-21-5p, and miR-30. miR-664 and miR-484 with proviral and antiviral activities, respectively, were upregulated in PPRV infected PBMCs. miR-210 that inhibits apoptosis was downregulated. miR-21-5p that decreases the sensitivity of cells to the antiviral activity of IFNs and miR-30b that inhibits antigen processing and presentation by primary macrophages were downregulated, indicative of a strong host response to PPRV infection. miR-21-5p was found to be inhibited on IPA upstream regulatory analysis of RNA-sequencing data. This miRNA that was also highly downregulated and was found to govern 16 immune response genes in the proteome data was selected for functional validation vis-a-vis TGFBR2 (TGF-beta receptor type-2). TGFBR2 that regulates cell differentiation and is involved in several immune response pathways was found to be governed by most of the identified immune modulating DEmiRNAs. The decreased luciferase activity in Dual Luciferase Reporter Assay indicated specific binding of miR-21-5p and miR-484 to their target thus establishing specific binding of the miRNAs to their targets.This is the first report on the miRNAome and proteome of virulent PPRV infected goat PBMCs