PERFORMANCE OF WEARABLE CIRCULARLY POLARIZED ANTENNA ON DIFFERENT HIGH FREQUENCY SUBSTRATES FOR DUAL-BAND WIRELESS APPLICATIONS

This paper proposes the effect of different dielectric constants to construct a microstrip patch antenna deployed on Jean's textile covering military wireless applications. Initially, the structure is designed with double L-shaped slits inserted on both sides of the patch with an FR4 dielectric constant of 4.4. Antenna dimensions are 40 × 25 mm2, which is miniature compared to the wave's length (λ) at the desired operating frequency. The proposed antenna performance in terms of simulated parameters such as gain in dBi, reflection loss (S11), directivity, and patch antenna radiation efficiency are executed by the CST MW EM simulator. However, the conventional way of this design with FR4 may not be so reliable when it is designed on Jean's substrate. Besides all the above parameters extracted from the simulator should hold a low value to implement a high-performance deployed wearable antenna. The paper's outcome shows the importance of simulations and measurements undertaken for the proposed antenna assuming both the dielectric constants of FR4 and Jeans cloth material (with ℇr of 1.7). The main contribution of the antenna is to resonate at the frequencies of 3.17 GHz with circular polarization and 5.04 GHz with linear polarization. The antenna prototype is described, and its performance is validated using measurements. The proposed structure also provides a better enhancement in terms of 10-dB impedance bandwidth, with an average gain of 5 dBi

Constraints in dry chilli cultivation practices and mechanization of harvesting in Southern India

Dry chilli production in India condition faces many challenges apart from adverse weather conditions, labor-intensive production practices and higher overall production costs are limiting profitable dry chilli cultivation. Therefore, a study was carried to know the key constraints in current chilli production practices in eight major production districts of three states. A systematic research and development approach is essential to know the range of constraints and farmers preferences over technological options for field operations. The harvesting operation alone demands 43% of labour 360.5 man-days/ha. So, red chilli harvesting mechanization is a definite immediate requirement to reduce labour input. Farmers (47%) prefer small size self-propelled chilli harvester over tractor operated equipment. In the production catchments, farmer also inferred to change the cultivation practices to mechanize chilli production operations, but 18% of farmers hesitant to adopt one-timeharvesting chilli varieties due to suspicion about the yield potentials

BOBMEX: the Bay of Bengal monsoon experiment

The first observational experiment under the Indian Climate Research Programme, called the Bay of Bengal Monsoon Experiment (BOBMEX), was carried out during July-August 1999. BOBMEX was aimed at measurements of important variables of the atmosphere, ocean, and their interface to gain deeper insight into some of the processes that govern the variability of organized convection over the bay. Simultaneous time series observations were carried out in the northern and southern Bay of Bengal from ships and moored buoys. About 80 scientists from 15 different institutions in India collaborated during BOBMEX to make observations in most-hostile conditions of the raging monsoon. In this paper, the objectives and the design of BOBMEX are described and some initial results presented. During the BOBMEX field phase there were several active spells of convection over the bay, separated by weak spells. Observation with high-resolution radiosondes, launched for the first time over the northern bay, showed that the magnitudes of the convective available potential energy (CAPE) and the convective inhibition energy were comparable to those for the atmosphere over the west Pacific warm pool. CAPE decreased by 2-3 kJ kg-1 following convection, and recovered in a time period of 1-2 days. The surface wind speed was generally higher than 8 m s-1. The thermohaline structure as well as its time evolution during the BOBMEX field phase were found to be different in the northern bay than in the southern bay. Over both the regions, the SST decreased during rain events and increased in cloud-free conditions. Over the season as a whole, the upper-layer salinity decreased for the north bay and increased for the south bay. The variation in SST during 1999 was found to be of smaller amplitude than in 1998. Further analysis of the surface fluxes and currents is expected to give insight into the nature of coupling

Comprehensive analysis of temporal alterations in cellular proteome of bacillus subtilis under curcumin treatment

Curcumin is a natural dietary compound with antimicrobial activity against various gram positive and negative bacteria. This study aims to investigate the proteome level alterations in Bacillus subtilis due to curcumin treatment and identification of its molecular/cellular targets to understand the mechanism of action. We have performed a comprehensive proteomic analysis of B. subtilis AH75 strain at different time intervals of curcumin treatment (20, 60 and 120 min after the drug exposure, three replicates) to compare the protein expression profiles using two complementary quantitative proteomic techniques, 2D-DIGE and iTRAQ. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive longitudinal investigation describing the effect of curcumin treatment on B. subtilis proteome. The proteomics analysis revealed several interesting targets such UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 1-carboxyvinyltransferase 1, putative septation protein SpoVG and ATP-dependent Clp protease proteolytic subunit. Further, in silico pathway analysis using DAVID and KOBAS has revealed modulation of pathways related to the fatty acid metabolism and cell wall synthesis, which are crucial for cell viability. Our findings revealed that curcumin treatment lead to inhibition of the cell wall and fatty acid synthesis in addition to differential expression of many crucial proteins involved in modulation of bacterial metabolism. Findings obtained from proteomics analysis were further validated using 5-cyano-2,3-ditolyl tetrazolium chloride (CTC) assay for respiratory activity, resazurin assay for metabolic activity and membrane integrity assay by potassium and inorganic phosphate leakage measurement. The gene expression analysis of selected cell wall biosynthesis enzymes has strengthened the proteomics findings and indicated the major effect of curcumin on cell division

Global Retinoblastoma Presentation and Analysis by National Income Level.

Importance: Early diagnosis of retinoblastoma, the most common intraocular cancer, can save both a child's life and vision. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that many children across the world are diagnosed late. To our knowledge, the clinical presentation of retinoblastoma has never been assessed on a global scale. Objectives: To report the retinoblastoma stage at diagnosis in patients across the world during a single year, to investigate associations between clinical variables and national income level, and to investigate risk factors for advanced disease at diagnosis. Design, Setting, and Participants: A total of 278 retinoblastoma treatment centers were recruited from June 2017 through December 2018 to participate in a cross-sectional analysis of treatment-naive patients with retinoblastoma who were diagnosed in 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures: Age at presentation, proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma, and tumor stage and metastasis. Results: The cohort included 4351 new patients from 153 countries; the median age at diagnosis was 30.5 (interquartile range, 18.3-45.9) months, and 1976 patients (45.4%) were female. Most patients (n = 3685 [84.7%]) were from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Globally, the most common indication for referral was leukocoria (n = 2638 [62.8%]), followed by strabismus (n = 429 [10.2%]) and proptosis (n = 309 [7.4%]). Patients from high-income countries (HICs) were diagnosed at a median age of 14.1 months, with 656 of 666 (98.5%) patients having intraocular retinoblastoma and 2 (0.3%) having metastasis. Patients from low-income countries were diagnosed at a median age of 30.5 months, with 256 of 521 (49.1%) having extraocular retinoblastoma and 94 of 498 (18.9%) having metastasis. Lower national income level was associated with older presentation age, higher proportion of locally advanced disease and distant metastasis, and smaller proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma. Advanced disease at diagnosis was more common in LMICs even after adjusting for age (odds ratio for low-income countries vs upper-middle-income countries and HICs, 17.92 [95% CI, 12.94-24.80], and for lower-middle-income countries vs upper-middle-income countries and HICs, 5.74 [95% CI, 4.30-7.68]). Conclusions and Relevance: This study is estimated to have included more than half of all new retinoblastoma cases worldwide in 2017. Children from LMICs, where the main global retinoblastoma burden lies, presented at an older age with more advanced disease and demonstrated a smaller proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma, likely because many do not reach a childbearing age. Given that retinoblastoma is curable, these data are concerning and mandate intervention at national and international levels. Further studies are needed to investigate factors, other than age at presentation, that may be associated with advanced disease in LMICs

The global retinoblastoma outcome study : a prospective, cluster-based analysis of 4064 patients from 149 countries

DATA SHARING : The study data will become available online once all analyses are complete.BACKGROUND : Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular cancer worldwide. There is some evidence to suggest that major differences exist in treatment outcomes for children with retinoblastoma from different regions, but these differences have not been assessed on a global scale. We aimed to report 3-year outcomes for children with retinoblastoma globally and to investigate factors associated with survival. METHODS : We did a prospective cluster-based analysis of treatment-naive patients with retinoblastoma who were diagnosed between Jan 1, 2017, and Dec 31, 2017, then treated and followed up for 3 years. Patients were recruited from 260 specialised treatment centres worldwide. Data were obtained from participating centres on primary and additional treatments, duration of follow-up, metastasis, eye globe salvage, and survival outcome. We analysed time to death and time to enucleation with Cox regression models. FINDINGS : The cohort included 4064 children from 149 countries. The median age at diagnosis was 23·2 months (IQR 11·0–36·5). Extraocular tumour spread (cT4 of the cTNMH classification) at diagnosis was reported in five (0·8%) of 636 children from high-income countries, 55 (5·4%) of 1027 children from upper-middle-income countries, 342 (19·7%) of 1738 children from lower-middle-income countries, and 196 (42·9%) of 457 children from low-income countries. Enucleation surgery was available for all children and intravenous chemotherapy was available for 4014 (98·8%) of 4064 children. The 3-year survival rate was 99·5% (95% CI 98·8–100·0) for children from high-income countries, 91·2% (89·5–93·0) for children from upper-middle-income countries, 80·3% (78·3–82·3) for children from lower-middle-income countries, and 57·3% (52·1-63·0) for children from low-income countries. On analysis, independent factors for worse survival were residence in low-income countries compared to high-income countries (hazard ratio 16·67; 95% CI 4·76–50·00), cT4 advanced tumour compared to cT1 (8·98; 4·44–18·18), and older age at diagnosis in children up to 3 years (1·38 per year; 1·23–1·56). For children aged 3–7 years, the mortality risk decreased slightly (p=0·0104 for the change in slope). INTERPRETATION : This study, estimated to include approximately half of all new retinoblastoma cases worldwide in 2017, shows profound inequity in survival of children depending on the national income level of their country of residence. In high-income countries, death from retinoblastoma is rare, whereas in low-income countries estimated 3-year survival is just over 50%. Although essential treatments are available in nearly all countries, early diagnosis and treatment in low-income countries are key to improving survival outcomes.The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust and the Wellcome Trust.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/homeam2023Paediatrics and Child Healt

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Value Addition to Crop Residues: An Indigenous Resource Conserving and Soil Fertility Enhancing Technology of IndiaA two-year field experitnenl was conductcd luring thc rainy seasons ol' 2004 and 2005 in the farnicrs• fields or Viahbubnagar district in Andhra Pradesh; India, to lest .the practicc ol' caltlc shed bedding with. groundnut (A rachis hypogaca L.) shells by preparing Groundnut Shell' iVianure (GSM) and •its application along with Farmers' practicc (FP) and in cotnparison with, live u•cattncnts nanlely, FP only, FP and GSlNi, FP and coinposti rc2cncrativc (only organics) and Reconuncndcd Dose ol' Fertilizers (RDF), FP and RDF being lhc checks,on rainy season Taint-ed groundnut and castor Ricinus- conununis crops. Thc results indicated that crops receiving GSM and compost perfonncd well during the deficit rainl'all year (2004) as well as during the nortnal rainfall year (2005) and recorded 12-16% hi2her yields or grounclnut and 9-14% highcr -yields in castor over the FP. Duling 2004 which was,a deficit rainfall year, GSM and conipost application cnhanccd soil ,moisture by 14-40%, percentagc of filled poclé by 59 L 65% and 100 seed weight by Il 8% in groundnut while ill castor 6-33% improved soil moisture enhanced cap sulcs per plånL from 45 to 57% without any significant cft•ecl on 100 sccd weight. Thesc tteatlncnts were •rollowcd by groundnut shell applied crop, RDF and rcgcncralive (organics only) -trcatmcnts. However, during 2005 the order •in. which highcr yiclds achieved. by treatments were GSM application, compost followed by RDF due to well-distributed rainrall. Therefore to sustain yields in rainfcd groundnut and castor crops; present experirnentation envhasized application of organics to •improve soil fertility and drought management ability recycling crop Fesidues through a simple process of cattle shed bedding. This was an attetnpt to introduce the practicc of cattle shed bedding as value addition -to process other locally available crop residues to the practitioners of farming (es pecially parts of Africa and Latin America).Not Availabl

Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Activities of Amorphophallus bulbifer (Roxb) Kunth Whole Plant

Purpose: To investigate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of the Amorphophallus bulbifer in Wistar rats and mice. Methods: The anti-inflammatory activity of the hydroalcohol extract of A. bulbifer whole plant at dose levels of 100 and 200 mg/kg p.o. in rats was determined with a plethysmograph paw volume difference of the animals pre- and post-treatment. Ibuprofen (10 mg/kg) was employed as reference standard. Analgesic activity was evaluated using tail flick and tail immersion techniques, by measuring the reaction time of the animals treated with either standard or extract. Pentazocin (30 mg/kg) was used as reference standard. Results: The extract showed significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities at the two test dose levels at the 4th hour (p < 0.001). The extract exhibited anti inflammatory activity of 56.5 (p < 0.001) and 57.1 % (p < 0.001) inhibition compared to the control group in the carrageenan and histamine-induced inflammation model at a dose of 200 mg/kg. For analgesic activity, the extract showed reaction times of 7.33 (p < 0.001) and 7.83 (p < 0.001) min in the tail flick and tail immersion models, respectively, at a dose of 200 mg/kg while the normal and reference groups exhibited reaction times of 2.16, 2.66 and 8.16 (p < 0.001) and 8.5 (p < 0.001) in the tail flick and tail immersion methods, respectively. Conclusion: Based on the findings, it can be concluded that Amorphophallus bulbifer possesses antiinflammatory and analgesic properties and this lends some support for its use in traditional medical practice

Montmorillonite clay: a novel reagent for the chemoselective hydrolysis of t-butyl esters

A mild and highly selective hydrolysis of t-butyl esters has been achieved in high yields using montmorillonite KSF in refluxing acetonitrile. The method is compatible with a variety of protecting and functional groups such as BOC, Cbz, propargyl, allyl, benzyl, t-butyl ethers, allyl, methyl and benzyl esters present in the molecule

Performance of reconfigurable antenna fabricated on flexible and non-flexible materials for band switching applications

In this article, a novel frequency slot-based switchable antenna fabricated on flexible and nonflexible materials is presented for suitable reconfigurable radiations of Bluetooth, WiMAX, and upper WLAN applications. Initially, the performance of this structure was simulated using a CSTTM simulator and evaluated experimentally using a nonflexible FR4 structure. The same antenna was implemented on a flexible (jean) substrate with a relative permittivity of 1.7. The proposed textile antenna prototypes were fabricated by optimal dimensions of an E-shaped slot with a variation on the shape of the ground layer, integrated using a crossed T-shaped strip with ON/OFF switchable state operations. The proposed antenna prototype is compact (20 × 20 mm2), providing switchable radiations with tri bands, has frequencies ranged at 2.36–2.5 GHz for Bluetooth, 3.51–3.79 GHz and 5.47–5.98 GHz for the distinct bands of WiMAX and WLAN, respectively, as well as part of UWB operations