Revitalization of thiazolidinedione the optimum agents to be combined with SGLT 2 inhibitors to optimize glycemic control and reduce cardiovascular mortality: randomized control trial

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) significantly increases morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease. The present study was conducted to know the effect of thiazolidinedione and SGLT2 inhibitor on glycemic control, blood pressure and lipid profile and effect on cardiovascular mortality in T2DM. Methods: A total 80 patients of aged ≥40 years with T2DM were included and divided into 4 groups based on ongoing treatment i.e., (lifestyle modification + Tab metformin 500mg BD) + 1) Tab metformin 500mg; 2) Tab dapagliflozin 10mg OD; 3) Tab pioglitazone 15mg OD; 4) Tab pioglitazone 15mg OD + Tab Dapagliflozin 10mg OD. Results: The change in FBS, PLBS and HbA1C from pre-intervention to post-intervention was highest in the patients with DAPA + pioglitazone group followed by patients with pioglitazone group then the patients with DAPA group and lowest in patients with metformin group. There was a statistically significant difference between them, (p<0.001). The weight reduction was highest in the patients with DAPA 10mg group followed by patients with metformin group, (p<0.001). The change in SBP, DBP and change in lipid profile (triglyceride and cholesterol, LDL and HDL) from pre-intervention to post-intervention was highest in the patients with DAPA+ pioglitazone group. This change was statistically significant (p<0.001). Conclusions: The combination of pioglitazone and dapagliflozin not only helped in glycemic control but also had reduction in blood pressures, improvement in the lipid profile and caused slight weight reduction. There were no major adverse drug reactions, and no MACE was observed during the study. Hence this combination of pioglitazone and dapagliflozin may reduce the cardiovascular mortality (which needs longer duration study)

New Approximability Results for the Robust k-Median Problem

We consider a robust variant of the classical $k$-median problem, introduced by Anthony et al. \cite{AnthonyGGN10}. In the \emph{Robust $k$-Median problem}, we are given an $n$-vertex metric space $(V,d)$ and $m$ client sets $\set{S_i \subseteq V}_{i=1}^m$. The objective is to open a set $F \subseteq V$ of $k$ facilities such that the worst case connection cost over all client sets is minimized; in other words, minimize $\max_{i} \sum_{v \in S_i} d(F,v)$. Anthony et al.\ showed an $O(\log m)$ approximation algorithm for any metric and APX-hardness even in the case of uniform metric. In this paper, we show that their algorithm is nearly tight by providing $\Omega(\log m/ \log \log m)$ approximation hardness, unless ${\sf NP} \subseteq \bigcap_{\delta >0} {\sf DTIME}(2^{n^{\delta}})$. This hardness result holds even for uniform and line metrics. To our knowledge, this is one of the rare cases in which a problem on a line metric is hard to approximate to within logarithmic factor. We complement the hardness result by an experimental evaluation of different heuristics that shows that very simple heuristics achieve good approximations for realistic classes of instances.Comment: 19 page

Min-max graph partitioning and small set expansion

We study graph partitioning problems from a min-max perspective, in which an input graph on n vertices should be partitioned into k parts, and the objective is to minimize the maximum number of edges leaving a single part. The two main versions we consider are where the k parts need to be of equal-size, and where they must separate a set of k given terminals. We consider a common generalization of these two problems, and design for it an $O(\sqrt{\log n\log k})$-approximation algorithm. This improves over an $O(\log^2 n)$ approximation for the second version, and roughly $O(k\log n)$ approximation for the first version that follows from other previous work. We also give an improved O(1)-approximation algorithm for graphs that exclude any fixed minor. Our algorithm uses a new procedure for solving the Small-Set Expansion problem. In this problem, we are given a graph G and the goal is to find a non-empty set $S\subseteq V$ of size $|S| \leq \rho n$ with minimum edge-expansion. We give an $O(\sqrt{\log{n}\log{(1/\rho)}})$ bicriteria approximation algorithm for the general case of Small-Set Expansion, and O(1) approximation algorithm for graphs that exclude any fixed minor

Gated Spin Transport through an Individual Single Wall Carbon Nanotube

Hysteretic switching in the magnetoresistance of short-channel, ferromagnetically contacted individual single wall carbon nanotubes is observed, providing strong evidence for nanotube spin transport. By varying the voltage on a capacitively coupled gate, the magnetoresistance can be reproducibly modified between +10% and -15%. The results are explained in terms of wave vector matching of the spin polarized electron states at the ferromagnetic / nanotube interfaces.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figure

Photophysical and structural characterisation of in situ formed quantum dots

Conjugated polymer–semiconductor quantum dot (QD) composites are attracting increasing attention due to the complementary properties of the two classes of materials. We report a convenient method for in situ formation of QDs, and explore the conditions required for light emission of nanocomposite blends. In particular we explore the properties of nanocomposites of the blue emitting polymer poly[9,9-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)-9H-fluorene] together with cadmium sulphide (CdS) and cadmium selenide (CdSe) precursors. We show the formation of emissive quantum dots of CdSe from thermally decomposed precursor. The dots are formed inside the polymer matrix and have a photoluminescence quantum yield of 7.5%. Our results show the importance of appropriate energy level alignment, and are relevant to the application of organic–inorganic systems in optoelectronic devices

Development of Quantum Dot (QD) Based Color Converters for Multicolor Display.

Many displays involve the use of color conversion layers. QDs are attractive candidates as color converters because of their easy processability, tuneable optical properties, high photoluminescence quantum yield, and good stability. Here, we show that emissive QDs with narrow emission range can be made in-situ in a polymer matrix, with properties useful for color conversion. This was achieved by blending the blue-emitting pyridine based polymer with a cadmium selenide precursor and baking their films at different temperatures. To achieve efficient color conversion, blend ratio and baking temperature/time were varied. We found that thermal decomposition of the precursor leads to highly emissive QDs whose final size and emission can be controlled using baking temperature/time. The formation of the QDs inside the polymer matrix was confirmed through morphological studies using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Hence, our approach provides a cost-effective route to making highly emissive color converters for multi-color displays

Synthetic Nitrogen Fertiliser in South Asia: Production, Import, Export, and Use for Crops, South Asia Nitrogen Hub (SANH) Policy Brief

This policy brief is produced by the UKRI GCRF South Asian Nitrogen Hub (SANH). It provides an overview of the patterns and trends in synthetic nitrogen (N) fertiliser use in crop production, import, export and emission in the South Asian Region (SAR) and its member countries; Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. In summary, reactive nitrogen (Nr) in fertilisers is essential for meeting global food and animal feed demands, but Nr pollution has become a major environmental issue across all scales. For SAR, inefficient use of synthetic N fertiliser is a key factor contributing to water pollution, air pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss and soil degradation. Further insights are provided on major fertiliser products, as well as in crop production, import and export. These data are essential for informing and promoting sustainable nitrogen management. Evidence based policy is more important than ever. The SANH is supported by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through its Global Challenge Research Fund (GCRF) to gather evidence on nitrogen issues to support countries in the South Asian Region (SAR) comprising eight countries (Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Maldives) to identify solutions and reduce nitrogen waste. SANH is pioneering a UK-SAR research partnership to catalyse transformational change in SAR to tackle the nitrogen challenge, benefi ting the economy, people’s health and the environment. SANH brings together 32 leading research organisations with governments and other partners. This policy brief provides key insights into national fertiliser trends for all eight SAR countries

Conductivity of dielectric and thermal atom-wall interaction

We compare the experimental data of the first measurement of a temperature dependence of the Casimir-Polder force by Obrecht et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 98}, 063201 (2007)] with the theory taking into account small, but physically real, static conductivity of the dielectric substrate. The theory is found to be inconsistent with the data. The conclusion is drawn that the conductivity of dielectric materials should not be included in the model of the dielectric response in the Lifshitz theory. This conclusion obtained from the long separation measurement is consistent with related but different results obtained for semiconductors and metals at short separations.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures; page size is correcte