A lattice Boltzmann model for reactive mixtures

A new lattice Boltzmann model for reactive ideal gas mixtures is presented. The model is an extension to reactive flows of the recently proposed multi-component lattice Boltzmann model for compressible ideal gas mixtures with Stefan-Maxwell diffusion for species interaction. First, the kinetic model for the Stefan-Maxwell diffusion is enhanced to accommodate a source term accounting for the change in the mixture composition due to chemical reaction. Second, by including the heat of formation in the energy equation, the thermodynamic consistency of the underlying compressible lattice Boltzmann model for momentum and energy allows a realization of the energy and temperature change due to chemical reactions. This obviates the need for ad-hoc modelling with source terms for temperature or heat. Both parts remain consistently coupled through mixture composition, momentum, pressure, energy and enthalpy. The proposed model uses the standard three-dimensional lattices and is validated with a set of benchmarks including laminar burning speed in the hydrogen-air mixture and circular expanding premixed flame. This article is part of the theme issue 'Progress in mesoscale methods for fluid dynamics simulation'.

Adenovirus 36 improves glycemic control and markers of Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder worldwide. While the causes of AD are unclear, several risk factors have been identified, including impaired glycemic control, which significantly increases the risk of cognitive decline and AD. In vitro and in vivo studies show that human adenovirus 36 (Ad36) improves glycemic control by increasing cellular glucose uptake in cells, experimental animal models and in humans who are naturally exposed to the virus. This study, tested improvement in glycemic control by Ad36 and delay in onset of cognitive decline in APPswe transgenic mice (Tg2576 line), a model of genetic predisposition to impaired glycemic control and AD. Three-month old APPswe mice were divided into Ad36 infected (Ad36) or mock infected (control) groups and baseline glycemic control measured by glucose tolerance test (GTT) prior to infection. Changes in glycemic control were determined 10- and 24-week post infection. Serum insulin was also measured during GTT. Cognition was determined by Y-maze test, while motor coordination and skill acquisition by rotarod test. Glycemic control as determined by GTT showed less deterioration in Ad36 infected mice over time, accompanied by a significant attenuation of cognitive decline. Analysis of brain tissue lysate showed significantly reduced levels of amyloid beta 42 in Ad36 mice relative to control mice. Golgi-Cox staining analysis also revealed reduced dendritic spines and synaptic gene expression in control mice compared to Ad36 infected mice. This proof of concept study shows that in a mouse model of AD, Ad36 improves glycemic control and ameliorates cognitive decline.

Effect of a planned training session on good clinical practice knowledge in research professionals: A pilot study

Context

Adherence to good clinical practice (GCP) guidelines by the researcher provides public confidence that the rights, safety and well-being of human participants involved in research are protected. It has been observed that researchers require basic GCP training. Considering this, we had decided to conduct a training session on overview of GCP.

Aims

To strengthen the knowledge and awareness regarding GCP.

Settings and Design

The design of the study was quasi-experimental one group, pre-test and post-test design and the study was conducted at ACTREC among healthcare professionals at Tata Memorial Centre.

Methods and Material

A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the data in pre and post-test. A total of 138 participants were participated in the study. The training session was pre-planned which included a lecture followed by the question-answer session.

Statistical Analysis Used

Wilcoxon Signed Rank test was used to assess the effect of the planned teaching programme. Macnemar test was used for item wise comparison of pre and post-test scores. Mann Whitney test was used to determine the significant difference between knowledge scores and selected demographic variables.

Results

This study has resulted in overall improvement of knowledge with a median difference of 5 with P-value <0.001. There was a statistically significant improvement of knowledge between pre and post-test of those having GCP training in the past, working group and education.

Conclusions

The exercise of holding training program was found to be significant in improving the knowledge base of participants, especially investigators and study coordinators.

Outcome following conservative treatment of metacarpophalangeal collateral ligament avulsion fractures of the finger

Avulsion fractures of the metacarpophalangeal joints are uncommon and there are few reports on their outcome after conservative treatment. We treated seven such patients with fracture fragment sizes between 10% and 25% of the width of the articular surface on the radiograph by early active mobilisation in neighbour strapping. The outcome of treatment was assessed at a mean follow-up of 57 (range 8-94) months. The mean visual analogue pain score was 0.6 (range 0-2) and the mean visual analogue function score was 9 out of 10 (range 6-10). The mean DASH score was 3.1 (range 0-12.5). All but one patient had normal grip strength and a full range of finger movement. We believe that the majority of avulsion fractures of the metacarpophalangeal joint can be managed successfully without surgery.

Human obese gene: molecular screening in Japanese and Asian Indian NIDDM patients associated with obesity

The mouse obese (ob) gene has recently been isolated through the positional cloning technique and has been proved to result in the obese and NIDDM phenotype in mice when mutated (Nature 372:425-432, 1994). More recently, it has been demonstrated, by experiments with recombinant ob protein, that ob gene product can cause mice, including ob/ob mice, diet-induced obesity mice, and normal mice, to lower their food intake and body weight (Science 269:540-549, 1995). To investigate the genetic and/or environmental influences underlying the development of NIDDM associated with obesity, we isolated and partially sequenced the human obese (OB) gene. The human OB gene isolated in this study encoded 167 amino acids and its open reading frame was revealed to be divided into two parts with an intermediate intron of approximately 2.4 kb. Using the single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) technique, we screened Japanese and Asian Indian subjects for mutations in the protein coding regions of the OB gene. A total of 75 NIDDM patients with obesity (54 Japanese and 21 Asian Indians), 40 NIDDM patients without obesity (34 Japanese and 6 Asian Indians), and 34 Japanese patients with simple obesity showed no abnormal SSCP patterns in either component of the coding sequences. These results suggested that mutations in the coding regions of the OB gene are not likely to be commonly identifiable and that there would likely be a kind of obesity-associated NIDDM not caused by mutations of the OB gene.