41 research outputs found
Network spectra for drug-target identification in complex diseases: new guns against old foes
No full textThe fundamental understanding of altered complex molecular interactions in a diseased condition is the key to its cure. The overall functioning of these molecules is kind of jugglers play in the cell orchestra and to anticipate these relationships among the molecules is one of the greatest challenges in modern biology and medicine. Network science turned out to be providing a successful and simple platform to understand complex interactions among healthy and diseased tissues. Furthermore, much information about the structure and dynamics of a network is concealed in the eigenvalues of its adjacency matrix. In this review, we illustrate rapid advancements in the field of network science in combination with spectral graph theory that enables us to uncover the complexities of various diseases. Interpretations laid by network science approach have solicited insights into molecular relationships and have reported novel drug targets and biomarkers in various complex diseases. © 2018, The Author(s)
Chloris montana Roxburgh 1832
No full textChloris montana Roxburgh (1832: 329). Lectotype (hic designatus):—[Illustration] Roxburgh Icon (inedit.) No. 882 [Figure 1 in the middle and its dissected spikelet on the lower left-hand-side], (https://archive.bsi.gov.in/botanical-details?link=549T3936S79423IX, CAL icon!) (Fig. 1). Notes on lectotypification:— Roxburgh (1832), for his new species Chloris montana, merely cited the locality as “This is a native of mountainous tracts only”; he neither cited nor indicated any collection or illustration. In order to typify the preceding species name, searches for the specimen(s) used by him were made in several herbaria, viz., A, B, BM, BR, C, E, G, K, FI, G, LIV, NY, OXF, P, PH, TCD, and UPS in which many of Roxburgh’s collections are housed (Stapfleu & Cowan 1983, Robinson 2008). However, no suitable specimen was located. Alternatively, since Roxburgh’s Flora Indica drawings housed at CAL and K can serve as the original materials for the typification of Roxburgh species names, we looked for an appropriate uncited drawing. In this regard, we located Roxburgh’s icon No. 882 (inedit.) at CAL. The drawing of floral parts with annotations by the author certainly agrees well with the description of C. montana and depicts the species characters adequately. The (Fig. 1) shows characteristic villous peduncle (albeit in the field some forms also exhibit completely glabrous peduncle), non-spherical and non-inflated glabrous sterile florets—are in combination constitute distinguishing features of this species. Since no known original specimen seems to exist, this illustration (No. 882) is perfectly agreeing with the protologue is selected as the lectotype of C. montana in conformity with an Art. 9.12, Schenzen Code (Turland et al. 2018).Published as part of Landge, Shahid Nawaz & Shinde, Rajendra D., 2022, Lectotypification of Chloris montana (Poaceae: Chloridoideae) and taxonomic notes on a few species from India, pp. 243-252 in Phytotaxa 550 (3) on page 244, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.550.3.4, http://zenodo.org/record/665099
Live Transitioning of two Series-Parallel-Output Dual Active Bridge Converters
No full textThe transportation sector is moving towards a green future with a rapidly growing EV market and consequently, the demand for EV chargers is rising too. With the increased interest in 800V batteries and the current presence of 400V and 600V batteries, the voltage range for EV chargers is wide (150V-1000V). In this thesis, a wide-output EV charger based on two DAB converters with series-parallel output is proposed. A novel method of reconfiguration is introduced to allow live transitioning between series and parallel mode. The circuit of a 25kW converter is optimized to achieve optimal efficiency during a charging cycle. A comparison between advanced DAB modulation strategies is made and Triple Phase Shift (TPS) modulation in combination with Minimum Current Stress Optimization (MCSO) improves the efficiency of the DAB at low voltage and low power operation. The converter operates at >97.6% efficiency in the full range of 150V-1000V with a peak efficiency of 98.8%. A 25kW converter is modelled and simulated in PLECS, and a 200W hardware prototype is built to verify the new method for live transitioning.Electrical Engineerin
Ischaemum flumineum Bor. A. Habit. B. Sessile 1949
No full text<i>Ischaemum flumineum</i> Bor (1949: 572) [Fig. 1]. <p> <b>Lectotype</b> (hic designatus):— INDIA. Bombay [erstwhile Bombay Presidency], Jog [Gersoppa], 28 April 1937, <i>N. L. Bor</i> 11390 (K barcode K000245740 [digital image!]); syntype: Madras, Coimbatore, Top slip, November 1937, <i>N. L. Bor</i> 77265 (DD [digital image!]).</p> <p> <b>Note</b>: Bor (1949) described <i>Ischaemum flumineum</i> based on the collections he cited as follows: “ INDIA. Bombay: Jog, 28 April 1939, <i>N. L. Bor</i> 11390 (Typus in Herb. Kew. et in Herb. Dehra Dun.); Madras: Coimbatore, Top Slip, Nov. 1937, <i>N. L. Bor</i> s.n.” Apparently, he did not intend to designate a holotype, as he indicated the type to be in two different herbaria, i.e., K and DD. We also checked the CAL and MH herbaria for the presence of the type specimens, but they did not have the type specimens. However, when we consulted the concerned authority at the DD herbarium, they denied the presence of any specimen belonging to “ <i>N. L. Bor</i> 11390”. Instead, the specimen they had was labeled as “ <i>N. L. Bor</i> 77265” from Top Slip, Coimbatore, collected in November 1937. In the protologue, Bor’s cited specimen from Coimbatore lacked a collection number, which seems to be an error during typing, because based on the original information, no specimen was found at CAL, DD, K, and MH herbaria. This error of erroneous type citation may be corrected under the Art. 9.2 (Turland <i>et al.</i> 2018). Thus, the material from DD labeled as “ <i>N. L. Bor</i> 77265” is an original type specimen.</p> <p> In the absence of any holotype designation by the original author, all the cited specimens that are from two different gatherings are considered syntypes, according to Art. 9.6 (Turland <i>et al.</i> 2018). From these specimens, a lectotype may be designated by following the Art. 9.3 (Turland <i>et al.</i> 2018). Here, we have selected a specimen “ <i>N. L. Bor</i> 11390” at K as a lectotype for the name <i>Ischaemum flumineum</i>, but its duplicate at DD could not be traced or is perhaps lost, if it is traced in future should to be called an isolectotype. The other cited material, “ <i>N. L. Bor</i> 77265”, from a different gathering which is housed at the DD herbarium, is a syntype.</p> <p> <b>Distrbution</b>:— Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, South India (Fig. 3). Hitherto, endemic to Peninsular India.</p>Published as part of <i>Landge, Shahid Nawaz & Shinde, Rajendra D., 2023, On the identity and distribution of Ischaemum flumineum (Poaceae: Andropogoneae) in India, pp. 182-188 in Phytotaxa 619 (2)</i> on pages 183-184, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.619.2.6, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/8425930">http://zenodo.org/record/8425930</a>
Review of 'Hidden hands and divided landscapes: a penal history of Singapore's plural history' Author: Anoma Pieries
No full textThere has been a growing body of literature that, by using postcolonial conceptual frameworks, has attempted to deconstruct and reinterpret forces that have shaped urbanism of colonial cities. Extending this interest further, Pieries presents an alternative analysis of Singapore's evolution from a penal settlement in the Straits Settlements through to a global city that continues to thrive on a plural society and a "polyglot environment" (p 220). Unlike singular or binary interpretations common to most postcolonial studies (such as the colonized and colonizing), she conceptualizes the history of urbanism in Singapore as a dialogic encounter – an engagement of different ethnic groups and the racialised convict labor resulting from penal policies and their articulation of the social and the spatial along a temporal scale
An <i>In vitro</i> Assessment of Antibacterial Activity of Three Self-etching Primers Against Oral Microflora
No full text
Aims
This study aims to evaluate and compare the antibacterial activity of three self-etching primers (SEP), namely, Transbond plus, Reliance, and Gluma against commonly encountered oral microflora (Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Actinomyces viscosus).
Subjects and Methods
The antibacterial activity of the three SEPs was examined against microorganisms using agar diffusion test (ADT) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). In ADT, Whatman’s filter paper disc of 5 mm was loaded with primer and polymerized. This was placed on previously inoculated brain heart infusion and blood agar plates and was incubated for 48– 72 h at 37°C according to the microorganism. For assessing MIC serial dilution method was used.
Statistical Analysis Used
Data were analyzed with Kruskal–Wallis (P < 0.001) and Mann–Whitney tests.
Results
Only Transbond plus SEP and Reliance SEP produced a clear growth inhibition halo against S. mutans, L. acidophilus and A. viscosus. Gluma SEP did not show any growth inhibition halo against S. mutans, L. acidophilus, and A. viscosus.
Conclusions
TSEP and Reliance SEP did show antibacterial activity in an in vitro environment. Therefore, this study concludes that the use of these SEPs may contribute to a reduction in bacterial colonization.
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Effects of tDCS dose and electrode montage on regional cerebral blood flow and motor behavior
No full textWe used three dose levels (Sham, 2 mA, and 4 mA) and two different electrode montages (unihemispheric and bihemispheric) to examine DOSE and MONTAGE effects on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) as a surrogate marker of neural activity, and on a finger sequence task, as a surrogate behavioral measure drawing on brain regions targeted by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). We placed the anodal electrode over the right motor region (C4) while the cathodal or return electrode was placed either over a left supraorbital region (unihemispheric montage) or over the left motor region (C3 in the bihemispheric montage). Performance changes in the finger sequence task for both hands (left hand: p = 0.0026, and right hand: p = 0.0002) showed a linear tDCS dose response but no montage effect. rCBF in the right hemispheric perirolandic area increased with dose under the anodal electrode (p = 0.027). In contrast, in the perirolandic ROI in the left hemisphere, rCBF showed a trend to increase with dose (p = 0.053) and a significant effect of montage (p = 0.00004). The bihemispheric montage showed additional rCBF increases in frontomesial regions in the 4mA condition but not in the 2 mA condition. Furthermore, we found strong correlations between simulated current density in the left and right perirolandic region and improvements in the finger sequence task performance (FSP) for the contralateral hand. Our data support not only a strong direct tDCS dose effect for rCBF and FSP as surrogate measures of targeted brain regions but also indirect effects on rCBF in functionally connected regions (e.g., frontomesial regions), particularly in the higher dose condition and on FSP of the ipsilateral hand (to the anodal electrode). At a higher dose and irrespective of polarity, a wider network of sensorimotor regions is positively affected by tDCS. © 2021 The Author(s) Author keywords Arterial spin labeling; Bihemispheric electrical stimulation; Motor learning; Neural excitability; rCBF change; Sensorimotor network; tDC
