Power Loss Minimization in a Radial Distribution Network by Optimal Sizing and Placement of Energy Storage Units

It is possible to reduce distribution losses by strategically placing and sizing DG and BESS sources. Assuring low loss requires strategically placing the aforementioned devices; otherwise, the system may experience either under- or overvoltage. It is preferable to choose bus stations with less risk for loss. The proposed approach tries to pinpoint the optimal BESS size and placement to cut down on investment and operating expenses while still achieving the desired level of energy reduction. The development of optimisation algorithms for finding and scaling BESS units is the fundamental focus of this study. Two such strategies are being explored here: the Genetic Algorithm (GA) and the Ant Colony Optimization Algorithm (ACOA). The goal function, like the original issue, seeks to minimise system-wide power losses while adhering to specified levels of equality and inequality. This article explores the appropriate capacity and placement of the DGs in a 33-bus radial distribution grid to reduce power dissipations. Matlab code is used to perform a simulation, and the results are put to use gauging the method's sturdiness

SURVEY, ISOLATION, BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION, AND IDENTIFICATION OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI FROM GASTRIC PATIENT BIOPSY

Objective: This study was to isolate and identify the Helicobacter pylori from the biopsy samples of the gastric patient.Methods: Gastric biopsies were collected from the antral region of the gastric patient. Out of 96 patients, 59 males and 37 females in the age group between 11 and 70 years old were selected. A serial dilution of the sample was made. The bacterial colonies were examined on the basis of Gram staining, colony morphology, and biochemical reactions such as catalase, urease, oxidase, nitrate reduction, glycine utilization, growth (different media, different temperature, and salt tolerance), and antibiotic sensitivityResult: From the findings, it was found that 75% (65% of male and 35% of female) have H. pylori infection remaining 25% were not infected. The rate of infection was found to be more in age group 55-65 and less in age group below 25. Among 75% of H. pylori infected patients, 72% are affected with ulcer, 19% with gastric cancer, and 8.3% found to be non-gastric inflammated. Gram staining result declared that the isolated bacteria from the biopsy sample observed to be Gram-negative, spiral shaped rod. Biochemical reports produced positive indication to all the tests.Conclusion: Based on the morphological, staining and biochemical test result, it was confirmed that the isolated bacteria was found to be H. pylori.Gastric cancer is the fourth most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related to death worldwide. In 1994, the international agencyfor research on cancer classified H. pylori as a Class I (definite) carcinogen, as H. pylori infection is considered as an important trigger in the processof carcinogenesis of both types of distal gastric cancer.Â

Zoning of groundwater potential in Amaravathy river basin, south India, by integrating remote sensing and GIS

1686-1692In the present study, an integrated approach of remote sensing and GIS is used to delineate the groundwater potential regions of Amaravathy river basin, Tamil Nadu, India. The thematic maps were prepared for delineating ground water potential regions, with relevant data of the basin on geomorphology, geology, slope, density of lineament and drainage, soils and land use patterns. The weighted overlay technique in spatial analysis tool of Arc GIS 10.3 was used to obtain and discuss the groundwater potential zones. According to the influence and movement of ground water, all parameters of thematic map were assigned with a ranking. Thirty five percent of the basin area has good groundwater potential, 45 % of the basin area is with moderate groundwater potential and 20 % of the basin area bear low groundwater potential

Structural and Functional Characteristics of miRNAs in Five Strategic Millet Species and Their Utility in Drought Tolerance

Millets are the strategic food crops in arid and drought-prone ecologies. Millets, by virtue of nature, are very well-adapted to drought conditions and able to produce sustainable yield.Millets have important nutrients that can help preventmicro-nutrientmalnutrition. As a result of the adverse effect of climate change and widespread malnutrition, millets have attained a strategic position to sustain food and nutritional security. Although millets can adapt well to the drought ecologies where other cereals fail completely, the yield level is very low under stress. There is a tremendous opportunity to increase the genetic potential of millet crops in dry lands when the genetics of the drought-tolerance mechanism is fully explained. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are the class of small RNAs that control trait expression. They are part of the gene regulation but little studied in millets. In the present study, novel miRNAs and gene targets were identified from the genomic resources of pearl millet, sorghum, foxtail millet, finger millet, and proso millet through in silico approaches. A total of 1,002 miRNAs from 280 families regulating 23,158 targets were identified using different filtration criteria in five millet species. The unique as well as conserved structural features and functional characteristics of miRNA across millets were explained. About 84miRNAs were conserved acrossmillets in different species combinations, which explained the evolutionary relationship of the millets. Further, 215 miRNAs controlling 155 unique major drought-responsive genes, transcription factors, and protein families revealed the genetics of drought tolerance that are accumulated in the millet genomes. The miRNAs regulating the drought stress through specific targets or multiple targets showed through a network analysis. The identified genes regulated by miRNA genes could be useful in developing functional markers and used for yield improvement under drought in millets as well as in other crops

Genetic analyses of kernel carotenoids in novel maize genotypes possessing rare allele of β-carotene hydroxylase gene

Carotenoids are important micronutrients required by humans for growth and development. Yellow maize among cereals possesses sufficient carotenoids, and thus, it is important to genetically dissect such traits for proper utilization in breeding programme. Twenty-one maize hybrids generated using novel inbreds with rare allele of β-carotene hydroxylase (crtRB1) that enhances kernel β-carotene, were evaluated at two diverse maize growing locations. Lutein, zeaxanthin and β-cryptoxanthin were positively correlated, while β-carotene showed negative correlation with other carotenoids. Grain yield did not show association with carotenoids. Preponderance of additive gene action was observed for lutein, zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin and β-carotene. Experimental hybrids were much superior for kernel β-carotene compared to commercial hybrids. Based on SCA effects, high yielding experimental hybrids were identified for provitamin A and non-provitamin A carotenoids. These novel hybrid combinations of maize possessing rare allele of crtRB1 hold promise in maize biofortification programme to alleviate vitamin A deficiency and degenerative diseases in humans

Presence of exon 5-deleted oestrogen receptor in human breast cancer: functional analysis and clinical significance.

A variant form of the human oestrogen receptor (ER) mRNA lacking sequences encoded within exon 5 has been described (Fuqua SAW, Fitzgerald SD, Chamness GC, Tandon AK, McDonnell DP, Nawaz Z, O'Malloy BW, McGuire WL 1991, Cancer Res 51: 105-109). We have examined the expression of the exon 5-deleted ER (HE delta5) mRNA variant in breast biopsies using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT - PCR). HE delta5 mRNA was present in only 13% of non-malignant breast tissues compared with 32% of carcinomas (95% CI, P=0.05). Presence of the HE delta5 mRNA was associated with the presence of immunohistochemically detected ER (P=0.015) and progesterone receptor (PR) (P=0.02). There was a positive correlation between the presence of HE delta5 and disease-free survival (P=0.05), suggesting that the presence of HE delta5 may be an indicator of better prognosis. We have raised a monoclonal antibody specific to the C-terminal amino acids of HE delta5. This antibody recognized the variant but not the wild-type ER protein. We show that HE delta5 protein is present in breast cancer using immunohistochemical techniques. We also analysed trans-activation by HE delta5 in mammalian cells and showed that, in MCF-7 cells, HE delta5 competes with wild-type ER to inhibit ERE-dependent trans-activation. Our results indicate that this variant is unlikely to be responsible for endocrine resistance of breast cancer, but its presence at both the mRNA and protein level suggest that it may, nevertheless, be involved in regulating the expression of oestrogen-responsive genes in breast cancer

Effect of early vasopressin vs norepinephrine on kidney failure in patients with septic shock. The VANISH Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE: Norepinephrine is currently recommended as the first-line vasopressor in septic shock; however, early vasopressin use has been proposed as an alternative. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of early vasopressin vs norepinephrine on kidney failure in patients with septic shock. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A factorial (2×2), double-blind, randomized clinical trial conducted in 18 general adult intensive care units in the United Kingdom between February 2013 and May 2015, enrolling adult patients who had septic shock requiring vasopressors despite fluid resuscitation within a maximum of 6 hours after the onset of shock. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly allocated to vasopressin (titrated up to 0.06 U/min) and hydrocortisone (n = 101), vasopressin and placebo (n = 104), norepinephrine and hydrocortisone (n = 101), or norepinephrine and placebo (n = 103). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was kidney failure-free days during the 28-day period after randomization, measured as (1) the proportion of patients who never developed kidney failure and (2) median number of days alive and free of kidney failure for patients who did not survive, who experienced kidney failure, or both. Rates of renal replacement therapy, mortality, and serious adverse events were secondary outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 409 patients (median age, 66 years; men, 58.2%) were included in the study, with a median time to study drug administration of 3.5 hours after diagnosis of shock. The number of survivors who never developed kidney failure was 94 of 165 patients (57.0%) in the vasopressin group and 93 of 157 patients (59.2%) in the norepinephrine group (difference, -2.3% [95% CI, -13.0% to 8.5%]). The median number of kidney failure-free days for patients who did not survive, who experienced kidney failure, or both was 9 days (interquartile range [IQR], 1 to -24) in the vasopressin group and 13 days (IQR, 1 to -25) in the norepinephrine group (difference, -4 days [95% CI, -11 to 5]). There was less use of renal replacement therapy in the vasopressin group than in the norepinephrine group (25.4% for vasopressin vs 35.3% for norepinephrine; difference, -9.9% [95% CI, -19.3% to -0.6%]). There was no significant difference in mortality rates between groups. In total, 22 of 205 patients (10.7%) had a serious adverse event in the vasopressin group vs 17 of 204 patients (8.3%) in the norepinephrine group (difference, 2.5% [95% CI, -3.3% to 8.2%]). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Among adults with septic shock, the early use of vasopressin compared with norepinephrine did not improve the number of kidney failure-free days. Although these findings do not support the use of vasopressin to replace norepinephrine as initial treatment in this situation, the confidence interval included a potential clinically important benefit for vasopressin, and larger trials may be warranted to assess this further. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: ISRCTN 20769191

Coadministration of Adenoviral Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Angiopoietin-1 Enhances Vascularization and Reduces Ventricular Remodeling in the Infarcted Myocardium of Type 1 Diabetic Rats

OBJECTIVE - Hyperglycemia impairs angiogenesis in response to ischemia, leading to ventricular remodeling. Although the effects of overexpressing angiogenic growth factors have been studied in inducing angiogenesis, the formation of functional vessels remains a challenge. The present study evaluates the reversal of diabetes-mediated impairment of angiogenesis in the infarcted diabetic rat myocardium by proangiogenic gene therapy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - Ad.VEGF and Ad.Ang1 were intramyocardially administered in combination immediately after myocardial infarction to nondiabetic and diabetic rats. Ad.LacZ was similarly administered to the respective control groups. The hearts were excised for molecular and immunohistochemical analysis at predetermined time points. The myocardial function was measured by echocardiography 30 days after the intervention. RESULTS - We observed reduced fibrosis and increased capillary/arteriolar density along with reduced ventricular remodeling, as assessed by echocardiography in the treated diabetic animals compared with the nontreated diabetic controls. We also observed increased phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase-2, 2 days after the treatment and increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Flk-1, angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), Tie-2, and survivin, 4 days after treatment in the diabetic animals. Gel shift analysis revealed that the combination gene therapy stimulated the DNA binding activity of nuclear factor-κB in the diabetic animals. CONCLUSIONS - Our preclinical data demonstrate the efficacy of coadministration of adenoviral VEGF and Ang-1 in increasing angiogenesis and reducing ventricular remodeling in the infarcted diabetic myocardium. These unique results call for the initiation of a clinical trial to assess the efficacy of this therapeutic strategy in the treatment of diabetes-related human heart failure

Resveratrol enhances GLUT-4 translocation to the caveolar lipid raft fractions through AMPK/Akt/eNOS signalling pathway in diabetic myocardium

Homeostasis of blood glucose by insulin involves stimulation of glucose uptake by translocation of glucose transporter Glut-4 from intracellular pool to the caveolar membrane system. In this study we examined resveratrol (RSV)-mediated Glut-4 translocation in the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic myocardium. The rats were randomized into three groups: Control (Con), Diabetes Mellitus (DM) (STZ 65 mg/kg b.w., i.p.) & DM + RSV (2.5 mg/kg b.wt. for 2 weeks orally) (RSV). Isolated rat hearts were used as per the experimental model. RSV induced glucose uptake was observed in vitro with H9c2 cardiac myoblast cells. Decreased blood glucose level was observed after 30 days (375 mg/dl) in RSV-treated rats when compared to DM (587 mg/dl). Treatment with RSV demonstrated increased Adenosine Mono Phosphate Kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation compared to DM. Lipid raft fractions demonstrated decreased expression of Glut-4, Cav-3 (0.4, 0.6-fold) in DM which was increased to 0.75-and 1.1-fold on RSV treatment as compared to control. Increased Cav-1 expression (1.4-fold) in DM was reduced to 0.7-fold on RSV treatment. Increased phosphorylation of endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase (eNOS) & Akt was also observed in RSV compared to DM (P< 0.05). Confocal microscopy and co-immunoprecipitation studies demonstrated decreased association of Glut-4/Cav-3 and increased association of Cav-1/eNOS in DM as compared to control and converse results were obtained on RSV treatment. Our results suggests that the effect of RSV is non-insulin dependent and triggers some of the similar intracellular insulin signalling components in myocardium such as eNOS, Akt through AMPK pathway and also by regulating the caveolin-1 and caveolin-3 status that might play an essential role in Glut-4 translocation and glucose uptake in STZ- induced type-1 diabetic myocardium

Genetic variability and inter-relationship of kernel carotenoids among indigenous and exotic maize (Zea mays L.) inbreds

Carotenoids play vital role in growth and development of human beings. Yellow maize kernel contains carotenoids that possess provitamin A and antioxidant activity. Multilocation based analyses of 105 maize inbreds of indigenous and exotic origin revealed wide genetic variation for lutein (0.2–11.3 μg/g), zeaxanthin (0.2–20.0 μg/g) and β-carotene (0.0–15.0 μg/g). For β-cryptoxanthin, low variation (0.1–3.3 μg/g) was observed. Carotenoids were quite stable over environments that played minor role in causing variation. The heritability (>90%) and genetic advance (>75%) were high for all the carotenoid components. Zeaxanthin showed positive correlation with lutein and β-cryptoxanthin, while β-carotene, the major provitamin A carotenoid, did not show correlation with other carotenoids. Kernel colour was positively correlated with lutein (0.25), zeaxanthin (0.47) and β-cryptoxanthin (0.44), but not with β-carotene (0.04). This suggested that visual selection based on kernel colour will be misleading in selecting provitamin A-rich genotypes. Inbreds with provitamin A and non-provitamin A carotenoids identified in the present study will help in development of biofortified maize hybrids