Long-term variability of trace gases over the Indian Western Himalayan Region

The four-year continuous measurements of CO, NOx, NH₃, SO_2, and O₃ were carried at a high altitude site (32.12°N, 76.56°E at 1347 m AMSL) of the Indian Western Himalayan area to study the mixing ratios of these gases for understanding the changing trends of these trace gases over the region. Each of these trace gases showed significant daily and monthly variabilities. The highest variability was recorded in the monthly mean values of O₃ as it varied from 10 to 63 ppb during the study period. All the trace gases except CO showed maximum variability in the pre-monsoon seasons due to the strong advection and vertical circulation of air masses at the site. The seasonal mean maxima of CO were recorded during the monsoon season, while the mean maxima of NH₃ were recorded during the post-monsoon seasons. The meteorological parameters have been found to influence the mixing ratios of trace gases. The least variability in the mean seasonal mixing ratios of SO₂ during the study period indicated the constant point source of SO₂ near the site. The trajectories analysis revealed that the area receives maximum air masses from the southeast to the west directions where a number of the coal-based thermal power plants, industries, cement plants, and agricultural fields are also located. The influence of valley-to-mountain circulations was also observed at the site, resulting in the transport of pollutant-rich air masses from local and distant sources to the site. A comparison of the mixing ratios of different trace gases obtained in the present study is also made with the values reported for other high altitude stations in the world.

Measurement of Differential Branching Fractions of Inclusive B→X_{u}ℓ^{+}ν_{ℓ} Decays

The first measurements of differential branching fractions of inclusive semileptonic B→X_{u}ℓ^{+}ν_{ℓ} decays are performed using the full Belle data set of 711  fb^{-1} of integrated luminosity at the ϒ(4S) resonance and for ℓ=e, μ. With the availability of these measurements, new avenues for future shape-function model-independent determinations of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element |V_{ub}| can be pursued to gain new insights in the existing tension with respect to exclusive determinations. The differential branching fractions are reported as a function of the lepton energy, the four-momentum-transfer squared, light-cone momenta, the hadronic mass, and the hadronic mass squared. They are obtained by subtracting the backgrounds from semileptonic B→X_{c}ℓ^{+}ν_{ℓ} decays and other processes, and corrected for resolution and acceptance effects.

Advances in the analytical methods for the determination of fluorinated aromatic carboxylic acids in aqueous matrices: A review

Fluorobenzoic acids are critically important chemical tracers in hydrothermal, geothermal, leaching, and oilfield applications. Particularly in oilfield applications, these tracers are used to investigate fluid flow paths between injector wells and producer wells, providing valuable information about the enhanced oil recovery process of the oil reservoirs. The detection limit of tracers is a vital subject in field reservoir work because the amount of chemical tracer that must be injected into the injector well is directly related to the amount detected at the producer well after migration and diffusion. The popularity of fluorinated benzoic acids as the tracers is due to their non-toxicity over radioactive tracers and low detection limit, which is determined using analytical techniques. This review focuses on the improvements/developments in extraction techniques such as solid-phase extraction and determination techniques such as gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry, isotope dilution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, high-performance liquid chromatography, ion chromatography coupled with electrospray mass spectrometry, and so on for the analysis of fluorinated benzoic acids to achieve the lowest possible limit of concentration.

Particle composition and morphology over urban environment (New Delhi): Plausible effects on wheat leaves

Particulate matter (PM) deposition on leaves adversely affects physical, chemical and biological nature of agricultural crops resulting in their loss of productivity and yield. Wheat being a staple food in major parts of Northern India and around the World, has been selected for research purpose by designing a study to explore the probable effects of PM deposition on wheat leaves and wheat crops to ensure the food security. PM₅ (Particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <5 μm) and Dry Deposited Particulate Matter (DDPM) on wheat leaves (Leaf_DDPM) were collected from the wheat crop field in Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi for growing and harvesting season of wheat crops (i.e. December 2014 to April 2015). The EDS (Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy) analysis was used for this study and the individual particle analysis revealed the presence of both acidic and alkaline components like C, Al, Si, Fe, Ca, K, S and Mg. The offline characterization tool i.e. SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) was utilized for obtaining the micrographs which clearly showed the presence of some angular, sharp-edged and spherical particles consisting of both smooth and rough texture. Apart from that, prevalence of slightly non-spherical particles with aspect ratio of range (>1.20-1.40) and CIR (>0.70-0.80) for both PM₅ and leaf_DDPM were observed. The size distribution of individual particles for both PM₅(#194 particles) and Leaf_DDPM(#657 particles) revealed that Surface Equivalent Radius (SER) and Volume Equivalent Radius (VER) of particles observed to be 0.40-0.80 μm while surface area to be 0-1 μm². These particles may easily block stomatal openings (with typical diameter range: 42-51 μm) of wheat leaves and damage internal leaf tissues while particle VER determines the interaction of incoming solar radiation with leaf surfaces. Average PM₅ concentrations ± Standard deviations (μg/m³) were reported to be 231.05 ± 113.03. The XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence) spectrometer analysis of bulk PM₅ revealed the concentrations of non-carbonaceous elements (μg/m³) as N (67.34 ± 16.09), Si (27.44 ± 11.01), Al (7.79 ± 3.37), S (3.88 ± 2.24), Na (2.29 ± 0.94), Mg (1.65 ± 0.62), K (0.51 ± 0.26), Ca (0.60 ± 0.26), Fe (0.54 ± 0.26), Cr (1.10 ± 0.70), Zn (0.05 ± 0.03), P (0.10 ± 0.03), Cu (0.07 ± 0.06). The dominant elemental oxides were calculated as SiO₂, Al₂O₃, SO₄^2-, Na₂O, MgO, K₂O, CaO, Fe₂O₃, Cr₂O₃, ZnO, P₂O₅, Cu₂O with variable concentrations. In high humid conditions, with relative humidity (~85%) during the vegetative and flowering growth stages of wheat crops, presence of C and S rich acidic and hygroscopic particles may cause the corrosion of wheat leaves that ultimately affect the wheat crops.

Measurements of the Branching Fractions of the Semileptonic Decays Ξ_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}ℓ^{+}ν_{ℓ} and the Asymmetry Parameter of Ξ_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}π^{+}

Using data samples of 89.5 and 711  fb^{-1} recorded at energies of sqrt[s]=10.52 and 10.58 GeV, respectively, with the Belle detector at the KEKB e^{+}e^{-} collider, we report measurements of branching fractions of semileptonic decays Ξ_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}ℓ^{+}ν_{ℓ} (ℓ=e or μ) and the CP-asymmetry parameter of Ξ_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}π^{+} decay. The branching fractions are measured to be B(Ξ_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}e^{+}ν_{e})=(1.31±0.04±0.07±0.38)% and B(Ξ_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}μ^{+}ν_{μ})=(1.27±0.06±0.10±0.37)%, and the decay parameter α_{Ξπ} is measured to be 0.63±0.03±0.01 with much improved precision compared with the current world average. The corresponding ratio B(Ξ_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}e^{+}ν_{e})/B(Ξ_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}μ^{+}ν_{μ}) is 1.03±0.05±0.07, which is consistent with the expectation of lepton flavor universality. The first measured asymmetry parameter A_{CP}=(α_{Ξ^{-}π^{+}}+α_{Ξ[over ¯]^{+}π^{-}})/(α_{Ξ^{-}π^{+}}-α_{Ξ[over ¯]^{+}π^{-}})=0.024±0.052±0.014 is found to be consistent with zero. The first and the second uncertainties above are statistical and systematic, respectively, while the third ones arise due to the uncertainty of the Ξ_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}π^{+} branching fraction.

Chemical and isotopic characteristics of PM2.5 over New Delhi from September 2014 to May 2015: Evidences for synergy between air-pollution and meteorological changes

The capital city of India, New Delhi, is experiencing serious PM_2.5 pollution in the form of recurrent hazy skies and smoky fog (SMOG) episodes in recent years. Besides source-emission strengths, frequency and time-spans of these air-pollution episodes are uncertain due to variable urban meteorological influences, preventing the formation of a cohesive policy to tackle air-quality degradation. About 70% mass of PM_2.5 particle is composed of Carbon (C), Nitrogen (N), and Sulphur (S) and, hence, their mass concentrations along with their stable isotopic imprints (viz. δ¹³C_PM2.5, δ¹⁵N_PM2.5 and δ³⁴S_PM2.5) provide powerful tools to gain insights into complex aerosol chemistry. This study presents the aforementioned data generated for PM_2.5 collected from New Delhi covering full post-monsoon, winter, and summer months of 2014-15. Temporal variability in the generated dataset was analyzed with variabilities in atmospheric concentrations of key gaseous species (NH₃, NO_x, and SO₂) and meteorological indices. The highest PM_2.5 concentrations were observed in winter months with enhanced aerosol N and S concentrations. Active biomass (crop-residue) burning in the northwest Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) appears to be the major source of aerosol TC for post-monsoon and winter months in addition to emission sources from the combustion of bio- and fossil- fuels. Aerosol TN contents appear to be largely impacted by ambient ammonia emissions, especially during winter. Aerosol TS contents could be manifested by emissions from coal combustion, road dust, and biogenic sulphur. Total C + N + S contents of PM_2.5 showed significant negative correlations with surface solar radiation and air-visibility. Both δ¹⁵N_PM2.5 and δ³⁴S_PM2.5 values show remarkable correlations with air-quality and meteorological parameters during winter months demonstrating considerable secondary cycling. Cluster analysis and concentrated weighted wind trajectories over New Delhi for the study-period showed ~64% and ~58% of air mass trajectories from the northwest (Punjab-Haryana) region during post-monsoon and winter months respectively.

Measurements of circulating progesterone and estrone sulfate concentrations as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in porcine pregnancy revisited

The main goal of this study was to examine the utility of measuring systemic concentrations of steroid hormones, namely progesterone (P₄) and estrone sulfate (E₁S), for monitoring the progression of porcine pregnancy and predicting sow fertility. There were 3 subsets of artificially inseminated (AI'd) sows used in the present experiments: (i) animals sacrificed on gestational day 20 (gd20; n = 16) or (ii) gd50 (n = 16; Experiment 1), and (iii) animals maintained throughout pregnancy (n = 24; Experiment 2). Blood samples (10 mL) were drawn from the orbital sinus and the endocrine data determined at different time points around ovulation/artificial insemination (gd0 (first AI), gd1 (second AI), and gd2) and maternal recognition of pregnancy (gd11), as well as on gd20 and gd50 (during 2 periods of increased embryonic/fetal mortality in swine) were examined for correlations with the numbers of healthy, arrested, and reabsorbing embryos (Experiment 1) or with the number of live, stillborn, and mummified piglets recorded at farrowing (Experiment 2). No correlations were recorded between circulating concentrations of both steroids and the numbers of healthy, arresting, or reabsorbing conceptuses on gd20 or 50 (Experiment 1). The number of corpora lutea (CL) was directly related to the number of healthy embryos/conceptuses on gd20 and 50 (r = 0.71, P = 0.007 and r = 0.76, P = 0.0007, respectively) and the number of arresting embryos on gd20 (r = 0.54, P = 0.05), and negatively correlated with the number of reabsorbing embryos on gd20 (r = -0.53, P = 0.05). In Experiment 2, circulating P₄ concentrations on gd11 related directly to the number of live-born piglets (r = 0.46, P < 0.04). Systemic E₁S concentrations on gd0, gd1, gd2 and gd50 were correlated with the number of mummified conceptuses recorded at farrowing (r = 0.50, P = 0.03; r = 0.59, P = 0.01; r = 0.48, P = 0.04; and r = 0.56, P = 0.01, respectively) and plasma concentrations of E₁S on gd20 related directly to the number of stillborn piglets (r = 0.60, P = 0.02). In summary, the number of CL on gd20 and 50 is a reliable marker of embryonic/fetal pig status. Measurements of P₄ and E₁S on gd20 and 50 showed limited diagnostic value (ie, were not indicative of the number of healthy and abnormally developing embryos/fetuses). However, measurements of circulating P₄ and E₁S concentrations during the periconceptional period and in the early/mid-pregnancy of sows have the makings of a practical method to predict gestational outcomes.

Performance evaluation of light weight gas sensor system suitable for airborne applications against co-location gas analysers over Delhi

In the present work, we discuss the light-weight gas sensor system (LWGSS) [350 g, 7″ ∗ 3″] originally developed at CSIR-National Physical Laboratory. This instrument is equipped with low-cost electrolytic gas sensors for quantifying major gaseous pollutants present in the atmosphere. Alphasense electrochemical gas sensors were used to measure gas pollutant species such as CO, SO₂, NO₂, O₃ and H₂S. In our experiment, we focus on the observation of CO, SO₂, NO₂, O₃ using this system. LWGSS has been designed for vertical observations using balloons or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to study the gaseous concentration in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL). But, before using such instruments in field campaigns, there is a strong need for the inter-comparison of these instruments with that of the collocated high-end gas analysers. Thus, the inter-comparisons were performed between LWGSS and other high-end analysers during 6-7, March 2017 and 26-27, April 2017. The LWGSS system comprising all the sensors was compared against high-end analyser present at CSIR-NPL for ozone and other gas analysers present at IMD, New Delhi. The ozone sensor deployed in LWGSS showed good correlation (i.e. R² = 0.83, slope = 0.93) against the high-end ozone gas analyser, which was calibrated with primary ozone facility (SRP43) available at CSIR-NPL. Inter-comparisons performed for NO₂, SO₂ and CO showed different results. While the NO₂ gas sensor showed medium correlation (R² = 0.75; slope = 0.49), the SO₂ and CO gas sensor showed a poor correlation (and R² = 0.44; slope = 0.98; R² = 0.28, slope = 0.79) respectively, when compared with co-location gas analysers present at IMD, New Delhi. Comparisons were performed for LWGSS data during 1-28 February 2018 with data collected at CPCB station (Shadipur, Delhi) and IMD station (Pusa, Delhi). The comparison results showed variations in LWGSS CO and SO₂ data whereas LWGSS O₃ and NO₂ results were in accordance with data collected at aforementioned monitoring stations.

Molecular Dynamics Simulations for Deciphering the Structural Basis of Recognition of Pre-let-7 miRNAs by LIN28

LIN28 protein inhibits biogenesis of miRNAs belonging to the let-7 family by binding to precursor forms of miRNAs. Overexpression of LIN28 and low levels of let-7 miRNAs are associated with several forms of cancer cells. We have performed multiple explicit solvent molecular dynamics simulations ranging from 200 to 500 ns in length on different isoforms of preE-let-7 in complex with LIN28 and also in isolation to identify structural features and key specificity-determining residues (SDRs) that are important for the inhibitory role of LIN28. Our simulations suggest that a conserved structural feature of the loop regions of preE-let-7 miRNAs is more important for LIN28 recognition than sequence conservation among members of the let-7 family or the presence of the GGAG motif in the 3' region. The loop region consisting of a minimum of five nucleotides helps pre-miRNAs to acquire a conformation ideal for binding to LIN28, but pre-let-7c-2 prefers a conformation with a three-nucleotide loop. Thus, our simulations provide a theoretical rationale for the recent experimental observation of the escape of LIN28-mediated repression by pre-let-7c-2. The essential structural and sequence features highlighted in this study might aid in designing synthetic small molecule inhibitors for modulating LIN28-let-7 interaction in malignant cells. We have also identified crucial SDRs of the LIN28-preE-let-7 complex involving 13 residues of LIN28 and 10 residues of the pre-miRNA. On the basis of the conservation profile of these 13 SDRs, we have identified 10 novel proteins that are not annotated as LIN28 like but are similar in sequence, domain, or fold level to LIN28.

Whole genome sequencing of emerging multidrug resistant Candida auris isolates in India demonstrates low genetic variation

Candida auris is an emerging multidrug resistant yeast that causes nosocomial fungaemia and deep-seated infections. Notably, the emergence of this yeast is alarming as it exhibits resistance to azoles, amphotericin B and caspofungin, which may lead to clinical failure in patients. The multigene phylogeny and amplified fragment length polymorphism typing methods report the C. auris population as clonal. Here, using whole genome sequencing analysis, we decipher for the first time that C. auris strains from four Indian hospitals were highly related, suggesting clonal transmission. Further, all C. auris isolates originated from cases of fungaemia and were resistant to fluconazole (MIC >64 mg/L).

Phytocannabinoids for Cancer Therapeutics: Recent Updates and Future Prospects

Phytocannabinoids (pCBs) are lipid-soluble phytochemicals present in the plant, Cannabis sativa L. and non-cannabis plants which have a long history in recreation and traditional medicine. The plant and the constituents isolated were central in the discovery of the endocannabinoid system (ECS), the most new target for drug discovery. The ECS includes two G-protein-coupled receptors; the cannabinoid receptors-1 and -2 (CB1 and CB2) for marijuana's psychoactive principle Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ(9)-THC), their endogenous small lipid ligands; namely anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), also known as endocannabinoids and the enzymes for endocannabinoid biosynthesis and degradation such as fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL). The ECS has been suggested as a pro-homeostatic and pleiotropic signaling system activated in a time- and tissue-specific way during pathological conditions including cancer. Targeting the CB1 receptors becomes a concern because of adverse psychotropic reactions. Hence, targeting the CB2 receptors or the endocannabinoid metabolizing enzymes by pCBs obtained from plants lacking psychotropic adverse reactions has garnered interest in drug discovery. These pCBs derived from plants appear safe and effective with a wider access and availability. In the recent years, several pCBs derived other than non-cannabinoid plants have been reported to bind to and functionally interact with cannabinoid receptors and appear promising candidate for drug development including cancer therapeutics. Several of them also targets the endocannabinoid metabolizing enzymes that control endocannabinoid levels. In this article, we summarize and critically discuss the updates and future prospects of the pCBs as novel and promising candidates for cancer therapeutics.

'Simplicity' radiofrequency neurotomy of sacroiliac joint: a real life 1-year follow-up UK data

BACKGROUND

Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain is considered to be the third most common cause of low back pain with the prevalence of 13-25% in all low back pain patients. Its diagnosis and treatment remain a challenge with the poor evidence base for interventional procedures. Patients with SIJ pain experience a low quality of life, worse than some of the chronic health conditions. Simplicity radiofrequency (RF) neurotomy is a novel technique which tackles some of the problems faced by conventional RF neurotomy and may offer better results in managing pain arising from SIJ.

AIM

The purpose of this retrospective review of practice was to look into the effectiveness of Simplicity RF neurotomy in terms of pain relief, quality of health improvement in patients suffering from SIJ pain and complications associated with the procedure.

METHODOLOGY

Retrospective review of the patients undergoing Simplicity RF neurotomy at a tertiary hospital (April 2012 to June 2013). Pain scores and responses to SF (Short Form) 12 questionnaire before and at 12 months after treatment were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

RESULTS

Out of 26 patients, 16 were considered for analysis. There was statistically significant reduction in both mean pain score (Numerical Rating Scale, NRS from 8.8 pre-intervention to 4.3 post-intervention) and median pain score (NRS from 9 pre-intervention to 5 post-intervention) with a p-value of <0.001 at 12 months. Reduction in the inter-quartile range of pain score was observed from 8-10 to 2.25-6 (p-value of <0.001). Global health as per SF12 scores showed statistically significant improvement, except in some of the psychological subcategories. The procedure-related pain was the only complication noted.

CONCLUSION

From our data, we can conclude that Simplicity RF neurotomy of lateral branches of S1-S3 along with conventional RF denervation of L5 dorsal ramus may improve pain scores and many components of global health in carefully selected patients.