Fine Scale Simulation of Fractured Reservoirs: Applications and Comparison

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Voriconazole is a safe and effective anti-fungal prophylactic agent during induction therapy of acute myeloid leukemia

Abstract Background: Antifungal prophylaxis (AFP) reduces the incidence of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) during induction therapy of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Posaconazole is considered the standard of care. Voriconazole, a generic cheaper alternative is a newer generation azole with broad anti-fungal activity. There is limited data on the use of voriconazole as a prophylactic drug. Materials and Methods: A single-center, prospective study was performed during which patients with AML undergoing induction chemotherapy received voriconazole as AFP (April 2012 to February 2014). Outcomes were compared with historical patients who received fluconazole as AFP (January 2011-March 2012, n = 66). Results: Seventy-five patients with AML (median age: 17 years [range: 1-75]; male:female 1.6:1) received voriconazole as AFP. The incidence of proven/probable/possible (ppp) IFI was 6.6% (5/75). Voriconazole and fluconazole cohorts were well-matched with respect to baseline characteristics. Voriconazole (when compared to fluconazole) reduced the incidence of pppIFI (5/75, 6.6% vs. 19/66, 29%; P &lt; 0.001), need to start therapeutic (empiric + pppIFI) antifungals (26/75, 34% vs. 51/66, 48%; P &lt; 0.001) and delayed the start of therapeutic antifungals in those who needed it (day 16 vs. day 10; P &lt; 0.001). Mortality due to IFI was also reduced with the use of voriconazole (1/75, 1.3% vs. 6/66, 9%; P = 0.0507), but this was not significant. Three patients discontinued voriconazole due to side-effects. Conclusion: Voriconazole is an effective and safe oral agent for IFI prophylaxis during induction therapy of AML. Availability of generic equivalents makes this a more economical alternative to posaconazole.</jats:p

Design of the third eye for the blind personnels

This paper highlights the design of the third eye for the blind personnels. One of the biggest problems that people who are blind face on a daily basis is movement. The loss of their eyesight severely limits their quality of life and activities. In their long-term exploration, they typically use a blind navigation system or their stored recollections. The major goal of the current effort is to provide a strong, dependable, user-friendly, portable, low-power, low-cost solution for efficient navigation. As stated in this study (Smart Glasses for Blind People), the intended audience is those who are visually handicapped. It includes a built-in sensor that emits ultrasonic waves in the direction the user is moving while scanning a maximum of 5–6 metres over a 30 degree angle. The sensor recognises the impediment and transmits a signal to the buzzer, which alerts the user with a beeping sound. The work given here is a mini-project that is taken up as a part of the curriculum completed by electronics and communication engineering students in the second year of the electronics &amp; communication engineering department at Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering in Bangalore.</jats:p

Insights from a Pan India Sero-Epidemiological survey (Phenome-India Cohort) for SARS-CoV-2

SummaryTo understand the spread of SARS-CoV2, in August and September 2020, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (India), conducted a sero-survey across its constituent laboratories and centers across India. Of 10,427 volunteers, 1058 (10.14%) tested positive for SARS CoV2 anti-nucleocapsid (anti-NC) antibodies; 95% with surrogate neutralization activity. Three-fourth recalled no symptoms. Repeat serology tests at 3 (n=346) and 6 (n=35) months confirmed stability of antibody response and neutralization potential. Local sero-positivity was higher in densely populated cities and was inversely correlated with a 30 day change in regional test positivity rates (TPR). Regional seropositivity above 10% was associated with declining TPR. Personal factors associated with higher odds of sero-positivity were high-exposure work (Odds Ratio, 95% CI, p value; 2·23, 1·92–2·59, 6·5E-26), use of public transport (1·79, 1·43–2·24, 2·8E-06), not smoking (1·52, 1·16–1·99, 0·02), non-vegetarian diet (1·67, 1·41–1·99, 3·0E-08), and B blood group (1·36,1·15-1·61, 0·001).Impact StatementWidespread asymptomatic and undetected SARS-CoV2 infection affected more than a 100 million Indians by September 2020. Declining new cases thereafter may be due to persisting humoral immunity amongst sub-communities with high exposure.FundingCouncil of Scientific and Industrial Research, India (CSIR)</jats:sec