Investigation of emission characteristics of NMVOCs over urban site of western India

This is the first study to characterize the variation and emission of C₂-C₅ non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) in a semi-urban site of western India based on measurements during February-December 2015. Anthropogenic NMVOCs show clear seasonal dependence with highest in winter and lowest in monsoon season. Biogenic NMVOCs likes isoprene show highest mixing ratios in the pre-monsoon season. The diurnal variation of NMVOC species can be described by elevated values from night till morning and lower values in the afternoon hours. The elevated levels of NMVOCs during night and early morning hours were caused mainly by weaker winds, temperature inversion and reduced chemical loss. The correlations between NMVOCs, CO and NOx indicate the dominant role of various local emission sources. Use and leakage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) contributed to the elevated levels of propane and butanes. Mixing ratios of ethylene, propylene, CO, NOx, etc. show predominant emissions from combustion of fuels in automobiles and industries. The Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) source apportionments were performed for the seven major emission sectors (i.e. Vehicular exhaust, Mixed industrial emissions, Biomass/Fired brick kilns/Bio-fuel, Petrochem, LPG, Gas evaporation, Biogenic). Emissions from vehicle exhaust and industry-related sources contributed to about 19% and 40% of the NMVOCs, respectively. And the rest (41%) was attributed to the emissions from biogenic sources, LPG, gasoline evaporation and biomass burning. Diurnal and seasonal variations of NMVOCs were controlled by local emissions, meteorology, OH concentrations, long-range transport and planetary boundary layer height. This study provides a good reference for framing environmental policies to improve the air quality in western region of India.

Beam Energy and Centrality Dependence of Direct-Photon Emission from Ultrarelativistic Heavy-Ion Collisions

The PHENIX collaboration presents first measurements of low-momentum (0.4<p_{T}<3  GeV/c) direct-photon yields from Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=39 and 62.4 GeV. For both beam energies the direct-photon yields are substantially enhanced with respect to expectations from prompt processes, similar to the yields observed in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200. Analyzing the photon yield as a function of the experimental observable dN_{ch}/dη reveals that the low-momentum (>1  GeV/c) direct-photon yield dN_{γ}^{dir}/dη is a smooth function of dN_{ch}/dη and can be well described as proportional to (dN_{ch}/dη)^{α} with α≈1.25. This scaling behavior holds for a wide range of beam energies at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider and the Large Hadron Collider, for centrality selected samples, as well as for different A+A collision systems. At a given beam energy, the scaling also holds for high p_{T} (>5  GeV/c), but when results from different collision energies are compared, an additional sqrt[s_{NN}]-dependent multiplicative factor is needed to describe the integrated-direct-photon yield.

Predicting gas phase entropy of select hydrocarbon classes through specific information-theoretical molecular descriptors

The usefulness of five specific information-theoretical molecular descriptors was investigated for predicting the gas phase entropy of selected classes of acyclic and cyclic compounds. Among them, total information on atomic number (TI^Z), graph vertex complexity (H^V) and total information on bonds (TIB^AT), considered together showed the best correlation along with a low standard deviation (r² = 0.97, s = 21.14) with gas phase entropy values of 130 compounds. The multiple regression equation treating these three indices as independent variables was statistically highly significant which was evident from the F-statistics. In particular, very small difference between r² and r²-pred values indicates that the regression model is not overfitted and is, therefore, suitable for prediction purposes. When truly used as a training set to predict (from regression equation) 40 additional compounds we get a very high correlation (r² = 0.975), which remains almost identical (r² = 0.97) for the combined data set of 170 compounds. The three indices appear to be useful descriptors producing correlation that remains stable with the change in the size of the data set. Also, the information-theoretical measures appear to capture an additive-cum-constitutive nature of gas phase entropy yielding an acceptable statistical fit.

P76 Skip laminectomy versus cervical laminectomy, an analysis of patient reported outcomes, spinal alignment and re-operation rates: the leeds spinal unit experience (2008–2016)

Objectives

To compare clinical, radiological and complication results between skip laminectomy and cervical laminectomy for posterior cervical decompression for cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Design

Retrospective single institution cohort study.

Subjects

Subjects underwent primary skip or cervical laminectomy between 2008–2016.

Methods

Statistical analysis compared pre- and post-operative differences in Visual Analogue Scale, Neck Disability Index and radiological differences in sagittal alignment of the vertebral bodies. Analysis of re-operation rates was performed.

Results

A total of 42 and 29 patients had skip and cervical laminectomy respectively. Median follow up was 32±23.1 (Range: 1–325) weeks. Post-operatively there was no difference in patient reported outcomes namely Visual Analogue Scale and Neck Disability Index between skip laminectomy and cervical laminectomy groups compared to pre-operatively (p=0.64, p=0.75). No difference was seen in sagittal alignment between both groups following surgery (p=0.65). Three patients (7.1%) in the skip laminectomy group and two patients (6.9%) in the cervical laminectomy group required revision surgery to the cervical spinal region at a different level to the original surgery. No patients needed further instrumentation.

Conclusions

Both skip laminectomy and cervical laminectomy appear to deliver similar outcomes with regards to patient reported outcomes, preserving sagittal alignment and re-operation rates over this short follow-up period.

Preparation and characterization of CuO catalyst for the thermolysis treatment of distillery wastewater

CuO catalyst was prepared from copper sulfate by alkali precipitation method followed by drying and calcination. Characterization of CuO catalyst using X-ray diffraction, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, and Barrett-Joyner-Halenda surface area analysis envisaged the effectiveness of CuO as a catalyst for the treatment of biodigester effluent (BDE) emanated from distilleries. The catalytic thermolysis is an efficient advance treatment method for distillery biodigester effluent (BDE). CT treatment of BDE was carried out in a 0.5 dm³ thermolytic batch reactor using CuO as a catalyst at different pH (1-9), temperatures (80-110°C), and catalyst loadings (1-4 kg/m³). With CuO catalyst, a temperature of 110°C, catalyst loading of 4 kg/m³, and pH of 2 was found to be optimal, providing a maximum reduction in chemical oxygen demand of 65%. The settling characteristics at different temperatures of CT-treated sludge were also presented.

Abundant and equipotent founder cells establish and maintain acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

High frequencies of blasts in primary acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) samples have the potential to induce leukaemia and to engraft mice. However, it is unclear how individual ALL cells each contribute to drive leukaemic development in a bulk transplant and the extent to which these blasts vary functionally. We used cellular barcoding as a fate mapping tool to track primograft ALL blasts in vivo. Our results show that high numbers of ALL founder cells contribute at similar frequencies to leukaemic propagation over serial transplants, without any clear evidence of clonal succession. These founder cells also exhibit equal capacity to home and engraft to different organs, although stochastic processes may alter the composition in restrictive niches. Our findings enhance the stochastic stem cell model of ALL by demonstrating equal functional abilities of singular ALL blasts and show that successful treatment strategies must eradicate the entire leukaemic cell population.

Parameter uncertainty in biomathematical model described by one-prey two-predator system with mutualism

In this paper, a three-species system consisting of two predators which are in mutualism with each other and preying on the same single prey is considered. Also, the prey and first predator are harvested under optimal conditions. The values of the biological parameters depend on the collection of data from the experts as well as on the nature of the environment in which prey–predator system are considered. So the biological parameters are not precise in reality. This paper presents a different approach to study the prey–predator model with imprecise biological parameters. All the possible equilibrium points are identified and the local as well as global stability criteria under impreciseness are discussed. The possibility of existence of bionomic equilibrium is discussed. The optimal harvesting policy is studied using Pontryagin’s maximum principle. Numerical examples are provided to support the proposed approach.

Eucalyptol, sabinene and cinnamaldehyde: potent inhibitors of salmonella target protein L-asparaginase

Salmonella typhimurium is a severe threat to human life. The treatment became more difficult with the emergence of multidrug resistance. In the present in silico study, a novel drug target L-asparaginase was tested against three ligands eucalyptol, sabinene, and cinnamaldehyde, major components of cardamom, nutmeg, and cinnamon, respectively. The lowest docking score was obtained for sabinene followed by eucalyptol and cinnamaldehyde i.e. -5.648, -3.939 and -3.469. The docking score of sabinene is also better than the standard drug, Ciprofloxacin (-4.661) and natural substrate L-asparagine (-5.497). The amino acid residues involved in interactions inside the binding pocket are threonine 115 and threonine 35. The ADMET profile studied, also suggests the potency of the test ligands as a drug candidate. The results suggest they could be safe alternatives of chemical compounds to treat infections and combat multidrug-resistant bacteria.

Recovery of copper from synthetic solution by efficient technology: Membrane separation with response surface methodology

Heavy metals are toxic in nature as declared by theWorld Health Organisation. Excess concentration of heavy metals causes harmful affect andalters the physicochemical characteristics of surrounding environmental parameters. Copper is an important heavy metal present in the aquaticenvironment, including wide industrial applications, and is an essential factor in animal metabolism. To recover and reduce copper concentrationfrom aqueous medium an attempted has been made with membrane technology. In this research work ultra filtration, nano filtration and reserveosmosis have been used. At optimum conditions 4.49 g/L initial concentration, 0.72 m3/h inlet flow rate, 40 bar working pressure were obtainedfor maximum recovery (40.977 g/min) of copper at pH 6.8 with reverse osmosis. To achieve this, 27 experimental runs were developed accordingto central composite design and analysed. The value of R2 > 0.91 for the obtained quadratic model indicates the high correlation between observedor the experimental value of response and response value predicted by the mathematical model. This implies that the experimental data correlatedvery well with the quadratic model chosen for the analysis.

Study of the sign change of exchange bias across the spin reorientation transition in Co(Cr1-x Fe x )2O4 (x = 0.00-0.125)

We present the evolution of novel phenomena of magnetic compensation effect, exchange bias (EB) effect and the field induced anomalies in '[Formula: see text]' substituted multiferroic compound [Formula: see text]. A few percent of '[Formula: see text]' substitution for '[Formula: see text]' in [Formula: see text] results in the reversal of field cooled magnetization under low applied fields below compensation temperature T _comp. Further, increase in the field leads to the spin reorientation transition (T _SR). Signature of EB in a narrow temperature window in the vicinity of T _SR and its sign change across T _SR is observed. Magnitude of EB depends on the amount of compensation and rigidity of the spin reorientation. We also notice the appearance of positive EB below the lock-in transition (T _L). Presence of unidirectional anisotropy developed in the commensurate spin-spiral below T _L could be responsible for the appearance of EB below T _L.

Putative Drug and Vaccine Target Identification in Leishmania donovani Membrane Proteins Using Naïve Bayes Probabilistic Classifier

Predicting the role of protein is one of the most challenging problems. There are few approaches available for the prediction of role of unknown protein in terms of drug target or vaccine candidate. We propose here Naïve Bayes probabilistic classifier, a promising method for reliable predictions. This method is tested on the proteins identified in our mass spectrometry based membrane protemics study of Leishmania donovani parasite that causes a fatal disease (Visceral Leishmaniasis) in humans all around the world. Most of the vaccine/drug targets belonging to membrane proteins are represented as key players in the pathogenesis of Leishmania infection. Analyses of our previous results, using Naïve Bayes probabilistic classifier, indicate that this method predicts the role of unknown/hypothetical protein (as drug target/vaccine candidate) significantly with higher precision. We have employed this method in order to provide probabilistic predictions of unknown/hypothetical proteins as targets. This study reports the unknown/hypothetical proteins of Leishmania membrane fraction as a potential drug targets and vaccine candidate which is vital information for this parasite. Future molecular studies and characterization of these potent targets may produce a recombinant therapeutic/prophylactic tool against Visceral Leishmaniasis. These unknown/hypothetical proteins may open a vast research field to be exploited for novel treatment strategies.

Stability and Bionomic Analysis of Fuzzy Prey-Predator Harvesting Model in Presence of Toxicity: A Dynamic Approach

This paper deals with a prey-predator model in which both the species are infected by some toxicants which are released by some other species or source with fuzzy biological parameters. The application of fuzzy differential equation in the modeling of prey-predator populations with the effect of toxicants is presented. The dynamical behavior and harvesting of the fuzzy exploited system are studied by using the utility function method. Sufficient conditions for the local stability of the positive equilibrium are obtained by analyzing the characteristic equation. Furthermore, the possibility of the existence of bionomic equilibrium is studied under imprecise biological parameters. The study of the presence of toxic substance and harvesting in the modeling system can have significant impact on the existence of both the species, which is in line with reality. Numerical simulation results are presented to validate the theoretical analysis.

Long-term in vitro maintenance of clonal abundance and leukaemia-initiating potential in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Lack of suitable in vitro culture conditions for primary acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) cells severely impairs their experimental accessibility and the testing of new drugs on cell material reflecting clonal heterogeneity in patients. We show that Nestin-positive human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) support expansion of a range of biologically and clinically distinct patient-derived ALL samples. Adherent ALL cells showed an increased accumulation in the S phase of the cell cycle and diminished apoptosis when compared with cells in the suspension fraction. Moreover, surface expression of adhesion molecules CD34, CDH2 and CD10 increased several fold. Approximately 20% of the ALL cells were in G0 phase of the cell cycle, suggesting that MSCs may support quiescent ALL cells. Cellular barcoding demonstrated long-term preservation of clonal abundance. Expansion of ALL cells for >3 months compromised neither feeder dependence nor cancer initiating ability as judged by their engraftment potential in immunocompromised mice. Finally, we demonstrate the suitability of this co-culture approach for the investigation of drug combinations with luciferase-expressing primograft ALL cells. Taken together, we have developed a preclinical platform with patient-derived material that will facilitate the development of clinically effective combination therapies for ALL.