Development and Validation of Quality of Life Tool among Chemotherapy Patients: A Pilot Trial

Introduction: Quality of Life (QoL) is a main alarm of patients with life-threatening cancer. Symptoms have an effect on their QoL. There are many standardised tools which measure the QoL among cancer patients. But there is no specific questionnaire or tool available to evaluate the chemotherapy patients in Indian context. Aim: To develop and validate a QoL tool for chemotherapy patients. Materials and Methods: This mixed method pilot study with sequential exploratory design was led at Outpatient Department (OPD) and Inpatient Department (IPD) of S. N. Shah Cancer Hospital, Nadiad city, Gujarat, India, from April to May 2020. In qualitative stage, the data was gathered by involving in detail interview of 15 chemotherapy patients. Interview data were analysed by utilising conventional content analysis method and themes and subthemes were formed. Based on it, a pool of items for the questionnaire was prepared. In quantitative stage, psychometric properties of the questionnaire were assessed by using face, content and construct validity. The reliability of the tool was evaluated by internal consistency and Cronbach’s alpha. Overall 15 patients participated in qualitative and quantitative phase separately. Results: At the end of phase I, a draft of 104 questionnaires was formed. In phase 2, a specialist panel reviewed 84 items relevant with the domains and 20 items were erased on the basis of expert opinion, Item Content Validity Index (I-CVI) and Scale Content Validity Index (S-CVI). At this time, 84 item tool were given to 15 chemotherapy patients. In view of the patient’s opinion, researcher drew a screen plot based on eigen value of above 1. These four domains showed 53.846% of the total variance. Last 84 items were scrutinised as per specific domain. The end draft had a Cronbach’s alpha value of 0.932. Conclusion: The newly develop tool will help the chemotherapy patients and healthcare team to evaluate the QoL. This QoL tool will also impact the cancer treatment and implement strategies accordingly

Modern Control Approaches for a Wind Energy Conversion System based on a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator (PMSG) Fed by a Matrix Converter

This “paper proposes a super-twisting adaptive Control Approaches for a Wind Energy Conversion System Based on a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator (PMSG) Fed by a matrix sliding mode for tracking the maximum power point of wind energy conversion systems using permanent magnet synchronous generators (PMSGs). As the adaptive control algorithm employed retains the robustness properties of classical wind energy conversion system control methods when perturbations and parameter uncertainties are present, it can be considered an effective solution; at the same time, it reduces chattering by adjusting gain and generating second-order adaptive control methods. The Egyptian power system (EPS), a three-zone interconnected microgrid (MG), and a single machine linked to the grid are only a few examples of the power systems for which this article introduces the concept of direct adaptive control (SMIB).The goal of our work is to maximize the captured power by solving a multi-input multi-output tracking control problem. In the presence of variations in stator resistance, stator inductance, and magnetic flux linkage, simulation results are presented using real wind speed data and discussed for the proposed controller and four other sliding mode control solutions for the same problem. The proposed controller achieves the best trade-off between tracking performance and chattering reduction among the five considered solutions: compared to a standard sliding mode control algorithm, it reduces chattering by two to five orders of magnitude, and steadystate errors on PMSG rotor velocity by one order of magnitude”. The purpose of this article is to examine wind turbine control system techniques and controller trends related to permanent magnet synchronous generators. The article presents an overview of the most popular control strategies for PMSG wind power conversion systems. There are several kinds of nonlinear sliding modes, such as direct power, backstepping, and predictive currents. To determine the performance of each control under variable wind conditions, a description of each control is presented, followed by a simulation performed in MATLAB /Simulink. This simulation evaluates the performance of each control in terms of reference tracking, response times, stability, and signal quality. Finally, this work was concluded with a comparison of the four controls to gain a better understanding of their effects. “Moreover, it reduces the above-mentioned steady-state error by four orders of magnitude compared to a previously-proposed linear quadratic regulator based integral sliding mode control law.  A dynamic model is simulated under both variable step and random wind speeds using the DEV-C++ software, and the results are plotted using MATLAB. The obtained results demonstrate the robustness of the proposed controller in spite of the presence of different uncertainties when compared to the classical direct torque control technique

Effects of different plant growth regulators on in vitro callus induction in physic nut (Jatropha curcus L.)

Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.) is an oil bearing crop growing in tropical and subtropical parts of the world. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of different plant growth regulators on in vitro callus induction in physic nut (J. curcus). In the present study, it was observed that all the explants viz., leaf lamina, petioles, nodal segments and cotyledonary nodes showed good callus induction responses on various culture media thus tried. Leaf lamina and petioles showed 100.0% callus induction responses on different MS media supplemented with auxins and cytokinins alone or in combinations whereas, nodal segments and cotyledonary nodes showed maximum 89.6% and 83.9% callus induction respectively. The presence of 2, 4-D in culture media with auxins or cytokinins was essential for good callus growth. Among different explants tried, leaf lamina was the best responding explants and MS-13 media supplemented with 5×10-6 M NAA and 10-5 M 2, 4-D is the best callusing and growth supporting medium. However, the regenerative competence of the callus tissues can differ depending on the type of explants used because certain types of plant tissues have more favorable regeneration responses than others. Callus induction rate from all explant types was highest than other reports. The results obtained in the present study would facilitate the high callus induction and regeneration responses in J. curcus for its improvement using biotechnological tools

Role of free radical scavengers in oral malignancies treated with radiotherapy

Background: Radiotherapy has an important role in treatment of oral cancer, but it causes some deleterious effect on healthy cells. Radiation produces free radicals which cause lipo-peroxidation, alteration of protein, and DNA damage, and eventually cell death. This study is designed to evaluate protective role of antioxidants in oral malignancies treated with radiotherapy.Methods: This study is conducted in patients of oral cancer treated with radiotherapy. Patients were divided into two groups, control (n=7) and test (n=9). Patients in control group treated with radiotherapy alone and in test group were supplemented with oral antioxidants throughout the radiotherapy course. Pre and post radiotherapy levels of MDA, SOD and Glutathione reductase were measured in blood and cancerous tissue in both groups and statistically compared. TNM staging before and after radiotherapy and side effects of radiotherapy were also compared in both groups.Results: On statistical comparison of mean difference values of MDA, SOD & GR of control v/s test group, it was noticed that there was a significant reduction in MDA (p0.05) in test group in comparison to control group for both blood and tissue levels. TNM status of patients improved significantly after radiotherapy in test group. Comparison of side effects between both groups indicated that there was reduction in side effects in test group after radiotherapy.Conclusion: These findings indicated the protective role of antioxidants against free radicals produced in oral malignancies treated with radiotherapy

Identification of brain regions associated with working memory deficit in schizophrenia [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]

Background: Schizophrenia, a severe psychological disorder, shows symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions. In addition, patients with schizophrenia often exhibit a deficit in working memory which adversely impacts the attentiveness and the behavioral characteristics of a person. Although several clinical efforts have already been made to study working memory deficit in schizophrenia, in this paper, we investigate the applicability of a machine learning approach for identification of the brain regions that get affected by schizophrenia leading to the dysfunction of the working memory. Methods: We propose a novel scheme for identification of the affected brain regions from functional magnetic resonance imaging data by deploying group independent component analysis in conjunction with feature extraction based on statistical measures, followed by sequential forward feature selection. The features that show highest accuracy during the classification between healthy and schizophrenia subjects are selected. Results: This study reveals several brain regions like cerebellum, inferior temporal gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, superior frontal gyrus, insula, and amygdala that have been reported in the existing literature, thus validating the proposed approach. We are also able to identify some functional changes in the brain regions, such as Heschl gyrus and the vermian area, which have not been reported in the literature involving working memory studies amongst schizophrenia patients. Conclusions: As our study confirms the results obtained in earlier studies, in addition to pointing out some brain regions not reported in earlier studies, the findings are likely to serve as a cue for clinical investigation, leading to better medical intervention

Insertion of a small peptide of six amino acids into the β7–β8 loop of the p51 subunit of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase perturbs the heterodimer and affects its activities

BACKGROUND: HIV-1 RT is a heterodimeric enzyme, comprising of the p66 and p51 subunits. Earlier, we have shown that the β7-β8 loop of p51 is a key structural element for RT dimerization (Pandey et al., Biochemistry 40: 9505, 2001). Deletion or alanine substitution of four amino acid residues of this loop in the p51 subunit severely impaired DNA binding and catalytic activities of the enzyme. To further examine the role of this loop in HIV-1 RT, we have increased its size such that the six amino acids loop sequences are repeated in tandem and examined its impact on the dimerization process and catalytic function of the enzyme. RESULTS: The polymerase and the RNase H activities of HIV-1 RT carrying insertion in the β7-β8 loop of both the subunits (p66(INS)/p51(INS)) were severely impaired with substantial loss of DNA binding ability. These enzymatic activities were restored when the mutant p66(INS) subunit was dimerized with the wild type p51. Glycerol gradient sedimentation analysis revealed that the mutant p51(INS) subunit was unable to form stable dimer either with the wild type p66 or mutant p66(INS). Furthermore, the p66(INS)/p66(INS) mutant sedimented as a monomeric species, suggesting its inability to form stable homodimer. CONCLUSION: The data presented herein indicates that any perturbation in the β7-β8 loop of the p51 subunit of HIV-1 RT affects the dimerization process resulting in substantial loss of DNA binding ability and catalytic function of the enzyme

Full-scale testing of a damaged reinforced concrete frame in fire

Fires are a relatively likely event following earthquakes in urban locations and in general are an integral part of the emergency response strategies, which are focused on life safety in most developed economies. Similarly, building regulations in most countries require engineers to consider the effect of seismic and fire loading on structures to provide an adequate level of resistance to these hazards; however, this is only on a separate basis. To the authors' knowledge there are no current regulations that require buildings to consider these hazards in a sequential manner to quantify the compound loading and design for the required resistance. This paper provides a first and early report from a novel set of tests on a full-scale reinforced concrete frame subjected to simulated earthquake and fire loads. The results from the first test indicate that the test frame could withstand a pre-damage corresponding to a seismic performance level and subsequent 1 h fire exposure without collapse. Important observations have been made about the development of temperatures and displacements in the various structural elements during the mechanical loading and subsequent fire excursion

Prevalence and Genotypes of Mycobacterium Avium Subspecies Paratuberculosis in Large Ruminants of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, North India

Uttar Pradesh is the fourth largest, most populous and leading milk and meat producing state in India. Despite the huge livestock population, information on the status of paratuberculosis homogeneity and heterogeneity of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) isolates of eastern Uttar Pradesh is non-existent. Present study was aimed to estimate the presence of MAP in large ruminants (Cattle and Buffaloes) of eastern Uttar Pradesh. A total 108 fecal samples were collected from farmer's herds of large ruminants (cattle and buffaloes) from different geographical regions (Chandauli, Mughalsarai, Gazipur, and Naugarh) of eastern Uttar Pradesh and screened for the presence of MAP infection using microscopic examination, direct IS900 PCR and culture on Herrold egg yolk (HEY) medium. The isolates recovered on HEY medium were subjected to molecular identification and genotyping using IS900 PCR and IS1311 PCR-REA method, respectively. Of the 108 fecal samples, 25 (23.14%) and 11 (10.18%) samples were positive for the presence of acid-fast bacilli and growth on HEY medium, respectively. Species-wise, 17.5, 7.5% and 26.5, 11.7% fecal samples from cattle and buffaloes were found positive for the presence of acid-fast bacilli and growth on HEY medium, respectively. Isolates recovered on HEY medium with mycobactin J were positive for IS900 sequence and genotyped as Bison Type using IS1311 PCR-REA method. Present study is the first report on the presence of MAP infection and ‘Bison Type' genotype of MAP in eastern Uttar Pradesh. These findings will be useful for the intervention of effective control measures in order to reduce the prevalence of MAP infection in domestic livestock species and prevent its spread to the human population in the regions

Full-scale fire test on an earthquake-damaged reinforced concrete frame

Fire, in the aftermath of an earthquake has evolved as a severely destructive force since the last century [1]. Codes and regulations exist in countries situated in seismically active regions of the world in order to ensure safety of buildings and their occupants in the event of an earthquake; it is however rare to find regulations that also require the consideration of fire following an earthquake, thereby leaving this possibility to be dealt with entirely by emergency responders on an ad-hoc basis with little preparedness. Fire following earthquake (FFE) events in the past, although rare, have sometimes been as destructive as the original earthquake. The aim of this study was to carry out a set of full-scale loading tests on an earthquake damaged, reinforced concrete frame subsequently exposed to fire. The sequential loading was devised in the form of a three phase testing procedure - simulated earthquake loading facilitated by cyclic quasi-static lateral loads; followed by a compartment fire; and finally by subjecting the earthquake and fire damaged frame to a monotonic pushover loading to assess its residual capacity. The reinforced concrete frame was well instrumented with numerous sensors, consisting of thermocouples, strain gauges, linear variable differential transducers (LVDTs) and pressure sensors. A large database of results consisting of temperature profiles, displacements and strains has been generated and salient observations have been made during each stage of loading. This paper describes the experimental investigation and serves as a vehicle for dissemination of the key findings and all the important test data to the engineering community which could be used for validating numerical simulations for further advancing the knowledge and understanding in this relatively poorly researched area