Application of graphite rods in producing Inconel 625 (UNS N06625) joints through the use of microwave radiation energy

Microwave energy is very efficiently being harnessed to join metallic materials these days. Although, use of microwaveenergy to join metallic materials is in its initial stage but, it has led to an outstanding development in the field of manufacturing. In this research work, joining of Inconel 625 (UNS N06625) without any filler material has been performed with the help of a novel process by harnessing microwave energy from a 900 W microwave applicator. Major novelty of thiswork is the application of graphite rods in accelerating the joining process based on the use of microwave radiation energydue to which it could become possible to join the Inconel specimens without using any filler powder. Selective microwave hybrid heating has been performed using six graphite rods and the process time taken for successful joining of Inconel625 specimens has been 360s. Three repetitions have been done using the mentioned process parameters. Mechanical characterization of the developed joints has been done with the help of Vickers micro-hardness tester and tensile testingmachine. The mean microhardness of the joints has been observed to be 325.1 HV at the joint region which came out to be 10.32 % more than that of the base alloy. The mean ultimate tensile strength has been observed to be 319.9 MPa with mean elongation of 5.3% which has been observed to be less than that of the base alloy

Oral fenofibrate in neonatal hyperbilirubinemia: A randomized controlled trial

Objective: To evaluate the role of oral fenofibrate for lowering neonatal hyperbilirubinemia as compared to placebo. Design: Doubleblind,randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Setting: NICU of tertiary care hospital of North India. Subjects: 50 neonates with neonatalhyperbilirubinemia. Neonates (≥35 weeks of gestation), birth weight (1.5-3.5 kg), jaundice beginning at day 3-11 after birth, totalbilirubin level between 15 and 21 mg/dl, and clinically stable vital signs. Intervention: Neonates were assigned randomly to receiveeither single dose of oral fenofibrate at 10 mg/kg/dose on day 1 of admission and distilled water on the following next day or a singledose of oral glucose solution on day 1 and distilled water on the following next day. Malloy-Evelyn method was used to estimatethe serum total bilirubin levels. All newborns enrolled in this study, received phototherapy. The cases were divided into two groups,i.e. study (fenofibrate) group and control group. Measurement of Primary Outcome: Duration of phototherapy. Results: Mean valuesfor total serum bilirubin in fenofibrate group at 36 and 48 h after starting of phototherapy were significantly lower in the study groupthan those in the control group (p<0.00001). The mean time needed for phototherapy was also shorter in the study group than controlgroup (p<0.0002). No side effects of fenofibrate were observed after a single dose administration. Conclusion: Fenofibrate appears tobe an effective and safe drug for the treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. This decreases the duration of phototherapy and thusshortens the length of hospital stay

C2 Superior Facetal Osteotomy: A Novel Technique in Complex Craniovertebral Junction Surgery for C1 Lateral Mass Screw Placement

Complex craniovertebral junction (CVJ) defects account for a considerable proportion of CVJ diseases. Given the heavily assimilated C1, an unfavorable C1–C2 joint orientation, an overriding C2 superior facet, a low-hanging occiput, and an abnormal vertebral artery course with a high-riding vertebral artery, placement of C1 lateral mass screws might be difficult. To address this, a novel technique for placing C1 lateral mass screws that avoid vertebral artery injury, low-hanging occiput, and overriding C2 superior facet was developed in this study. This approach enables firm fixation of C1–C2 even in difficult situations where the placement of the C1 lateral mass is challenging

DNA-dependent protein kinase: Epigenetic alterations and the role in genomic stability of cancer

DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), a member of phosphatidylinositol-kinase family, is a key protein in mammalian DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair that helps to maintain genomic integrity. DNA-PK also plays a central role in immune cell development and protects telomerase during cellular aging. Epigenetic deregulation due to endogenous and exogenous factors may affect the normal function of DNA-PK, which in turn could impair DNA repair and contribute to genomic instability. Recent studies implicate a role for epigenetics in the regulation of DNA-PK expression in normal and cancer cells, which may impact cancer progression and metastasis as well as provide opportunities for treatment and use of DNA-PK as a novel cancer biomarker. In addition, several small molecules and biological agents have been recently identified that can inhibit DNA-PK function or expression, and thus hold promise for cancer treatments. This review discusses the impact of epigenetic alterations and the expression of DNA-PK in relation to the DNA repair mechanisms with a focus on its differential levels in normal and cancer cells

The First Global Integrated Marine Assessment: World Ocean Assessment I

We used satellite-derived sea-surface-temperature (SST) data along with in-situ data collected along a meridional transect between 18.85 and 20.25°N along 69.2°E to describe the evolution of an SST filament and front during 25 November to 1 December in the northeastern Arabian Sea (NEAS). Both features were ∼ 100 km long, lasted about a week and were associated with weak temperature gradients (∼ 0.07°C km⁻¹). The in-situ data were collected first using a suite of surface sensors during a north–south mapping of this transect and showed the existence of a chlorophyll maximum within the filament. This surface data acquisition was followed by a high-resolution south–north CTD (conductivity–temperature–depth) sampling along the transect. In the two days that elapsed between the two in-situ measurements, the filament had shrunk in size and moved northward. In general, the current direction was northwestward and advected these mesoscale features. The CTD data also showed an SST front towards the northern end of the transect. In both these features, the chlorophyll concentration was higher than in the surrounding waters. The temperature and salinity data from the CTD suggest upward mixing or pumping of water from the base of the mixed layer, where a chlorophyll maximum was present, into the mixed layer that was about 60 m thick. A striking diurnal cycle was evident in the chlorophyll concentration, with higher values tending to occur closer to the surface during the night. The in-situ data from both surface sensors and CTD, and so also satellite-derived chlorophyll data, showed higher chlorophyll concentration, particularly at sub-surface levels, between the filament and the front, but there was no corresponding signature in the temperature and salinity data. Analysis of the SST fronts in the satellite data shows that fronts weaker than those associated with the filament and the front had crossed the transect in this region a day or two preceding the sampling of the front

Analysis of the unexplored features of rrs (16S rDNA) of the Genus Clostridium

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Bacterial taxonomy and phylogeny based on <it>rrs </it>(16S rDNA) sequencing is being vigorously pursued. In fact, it has been stated that novel biological findings are driven by comparison and integration of massive data sets. In spite of a large reservoir of <it>rrs </it>sequencing data of 1,237,963 entries, this analysis invariably needs supplementation with other genes. The need is to divide the genetic variability within a taxa or genus at their <it>rrs </it>phylogenetic boundaries and to discover those fundamental features, which will enable the bacteria to naturally fall within them. Within the large bacterial community, <it>Clostridium </it>represents a large genus of around 110 species of significant biotechnological and medical importance. Certain <it>Clostridium </it>strains produce some of the deadliest toxins, which cause heavy economic losses. We have targeted this genus because of its high genetic diversity, which does not allow accurate typing with the available molecular methods.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Seven hundred sixty five <it>rrs </it>sequences (> 1200 nucleotides, nts) belonging to 110 <it>Clostridium </it>species were analyzed. On the basis of 404 <it>rrs </it>sequences belonging to 15 <it>Clostridium </it>species, we have developed species specific: (i) phylogenetic framework, (ii) signatures (30 nts) and (iii) <it>in silico </it>restriction enzyme (14 Type II REs) digestion patterns. These tools allowed: (i) species level identification of 95 <it>Clostridium </it>sp. which are presently classified up to genus level, (ii) identification of 84 novel <it>Clostridium </it>spp. and (iii) potential reduction in the number of <it>Clostridium </it>species represented by small populations.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This integrated approach is quite sensitive and can be easily extended as a molecular tool for diagnostic and taxonomic identification of any microbe of importance to food industries and health services. Since rapid and correct identification allows quicker diagnosis and consequently treatment as well, it is likely to lead to reduction in economic losses and mortality rates.</p

Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Secretome Up-Regulates 47 kDa CXCR4 Expression, and Induce Invasiveness in Neuroblastoma Cell Lines

application/pdf内容の要旨・審査結果の要旨 / 三重大学大学院医学系研究科 生命医科学専攻病態解明医学講座 小児科学分

Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Secretome Up-Regulates 47kDa CXCR4 Expression, and Induce Invasiveness in Neuroblastoma Cell Lines

application/pdfNeuroblastoma accounts for 15% of childhood cancer deaths and presents with metastatic disease of the bone and the bone marrow at diagnosis in 70% of the cases. Previous studies have shown that the Mesenchymal Stromal Cell (MSC) secretome, triggers metastases in several cancer types such as breast and prostate cancer, but the specific role of the MSC factors in neuroblastoma metastasis is unclear. To better understand the effect of MSC secretome on chemokine receptors in neuroblastoma, and its role in metastasis, we studied a panel of 20 neuroblastoma cell lines, and compared their invasive potential to wards MSC-conditioned-RPM I(mRPMI) and their cytokine receptor expression profiles. Western blot analysis revealed the expression of multiple CXCR4 isoforms in neuroblastoma cells. Among the five major isoforms, the expression of the 47kDa isoform showed significant correlation with high invasiveness. Pretreatment with mRPMI up-regulated the expression of the 47kDa CXCR4 isoform and also increased MMP-9 secretion, expression of integrin α3 and integrin β1 , and the invasive potential of the cell; while blocking CXCR4 either with AMD3100, a CXCR4 antagonist ,or with an anti-47kDa CXCR4 neutralizing antibody decreased the secretion of MMP-9, the expression of integrin α3 and integrin β1, and the invasive potential of the cell. Pretreatment with mRPMI also protected the 47kDa CXCR4 isoform from ubiquitination and subsequent degradation. Our data suggest a modulatory role of the MSC secretome on the expression of the 47kDa CXCR4 isoform and invasion potential of the neuroblastoma cells to the bone marrow.本文/Department of Pediatrics, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine21

Application of graphite rods in producing Inconel 625 (UNS N06625) joints through the use of microwave radiation energy

378-384Microwave energy is very efficiently being harnessed to join metallic materials these days. Although, use of microwave energy to join metallic materials is in its initial stage but, it has led to an outstanding development in the field of manufacturing. In this research work, joining of Inconel 625 (UNS N06625) without any filler material has been performed with the help of a novel process by harnessing microwave energy from a 900 W microwave applicator. Major novelty of this work is the application of graphite rods in accelerating the joining process based on the use of microwave radiation energy due to which it could become possible to join the Inconel specimens without using any filler powder. Selective microwave hybrid heating has been performed using six graphite rods and the process time taken for successful joining of Inconel 625 specimens has been 360s. Three repetitions have been done using the mentioned process parameters. Mechanical characterization of the developed joints has been done with the help of Vickers micro-hardness tester and tensile testing machine. The mean microhardness of the joints has been observed to be 325.1 HV at the joint region which came out to be 10.32 % more than that of the base alloy. The mean ultimate tensile strength has been observed to be 319.9 MPa with mean elongation of 5.3% which has been observed to be less than that of the base alloy