183 research outputs found
In vitro characterization and in vivo assessment of equine tendon-derived progenitor cells
Get PDFTendinitis is a common cause of breakdown injury in equine athletes and accounts for 30% to 50% of all racing injuries. The last decade has seen significant development in mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapies in tendon repair. The focus on tendon-derived progenitor cells (TDPCs) for tendon healing is based on the rationale that stem cells obtained from tendons are more phenotypically-committed or ‘primed’ for tenogenesis than cells from other tissues. The overall objective of this body of research is to characterize and evaluate equine tendon-derived progenitor cells for tendon healing in horses.
TDPCs were isolated via a differential adhesion preplating screen that has been successfully used to isolate skeletal muscle-derived stem cells. Cell suspensions obtained via collagenase digestion of equine lateral digital extensor tendon (n=4) were serially transferred into adherent plates every 12 hrs for 4 days. TDPCs obtained from the initial, third and seventh preplates were used for subsequent analyses. Growth/proliferation and basal tenogenic gene expression of the three TDPC fractions were largely similar. Preplating and subsequent monolayer expansion did not alter the immunophenotype (CD29+, CD44+, CD90+, and CD45−) and trilineage differentiation capacity of TDPC fractions. Overall, TDPCs were robustly osteogenic but exhibited comparatively weak adipogenic and chondrogenic capacities. These outcomes indicate that preplating does not enrich for tendon-derived progenitors during in vitro culture, and ‘whole tendon digest’-derived cells are as appropriate for cell-based therapies.
In vitro growth characteristics of matched equine TDPCs and bone marrow MSCs (BM-MSCs) during monolayer expansion were assessed (n=6). Subsequently, third passage TDPCs and BM-MSCs were cultured on acellular tendon matrices for 7 days with or without insulin-like growth factor supplementation. Matrix production and matrix gene expression were analyzed at the end of in vitro culture. During monolayer expansion, at each passage, the yield of TDPCs was 3-fold higher than the matched BM-MSCs. The viability of TDPCs on acellular tendon matrices was 1.6-2.8 fold higher than BM-MSCs. New collagen and glycosaminoglycan syntheses were significantly greater in TDPC groups and in IGF-I–supplemented groups. The mRNA concentrations of collagen type I and III, and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) were not significantly different between TDPC and BM-MSC groups. These in vitro results demonstrated that TDPCs may offer a useful resource for cell-based therapies for tendon healing.
Lastly, the efficacy of TDPCs in an in-vivo equine flexor tendinitis model was evaluated. Collagenase-induced tendinitis was created in both front superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendons (n=8). Four weeks later, the forelimb tendon lesions were treated with 1 x 107 autogenous TDPCs or saline. Twelve weeks after forelimb TDPC injections, tendons were harvested for assessment of matrix gene expression, biochemical, biomechanical and histological characteristics. Collagen I and III, COMP and tenomodulin mRNA levels were similar in both TDPC and saline groups and higher than normal tendon. Yield and maximal stresses of the TDPC group were significantly greater than the saline group’s and similar to normal tendon. However, the elastic modulus of the TDPC and saline groups were not significantly different. Histological assessment of the repair tissues with Fourier transform-Second Harmonic generation imaging demonstrated that collagen alignment was significantly better in TDPC group than in the saline controls. In summary, TDPC administration improved the histological and biomechanical properties of collagenase-induced tendinitis lesions.Submission original under an indefinite embargo labeled 'Open Access'. The submission was exported from vireo on 2017-02-28 without embargo termsThe student, Sushmitha Durgam, accepted the attached license on 2016-08-14 at 12:21.The student, Sushmitha Durgam, submitted this Dissertation for approval on 2016-08-14 at 12:32.This Dissertation was approved for publication on 2016-08-30 at 08:51.DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #10112 on 2017-02-28 at 14:45:13Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-01T15:45:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 3
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Previous issue date: 2016-08-3
Impact of introducing a metro line on urban bus services
No full textMany cities have introduced metro rail systems over the past two decades, particularly in developing countries. However, there is lack of knowledge on the impacts of new lines on the service and ridership for the related urban bus lines, and in particular those directly affected by the opening of the new service(s). We undertake a comprehensive analysis of service supply and travel demand patterns of the newly introduced metro rail and the existing urban bus services for the city of Bengaluru, India. We analyse network configuration, service schedule and passenger demand ticketing data to establish the relative travel characteristics of the two modes and the impact of the metro on bus service supply and demand. Additionally, the travel characteristics before and after the first wave of Coronavirus pandemic were analysed to establish its impact on the users of both the modes. Demand for bus services has proven to be more resilient than for metro services while other travel characteristics of users remained similar before and after the pandemic. The travel demand, bus network and service supply characteristics were used to identify a framework for bus service rationalisation for improved integration with the metro. The two systems were observed to be inherently complimentary due to users’ preference of buses for shorter trips and metro for the longer trips, even on bus routes operating parallel to the metro. Hence attempts for network rationalisation need to identify routes with high share of bus demand parallel to the metro before selecting them for rationalisation.Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.Transport and Plannin
The People-side of Implementing Business Model Innovation: A study on the role of employee motivation, development & readiness to change in implementing business model innovation
No full textThe concept of business model innovation (BMI) has taken off significantly over the last decade in the academic as well as the business environment. It is seen as an important source of competitive advantage and is increasingly being used to achieve superior firm performance. Nevertheless, the field is yet to embrace the organizational dimension, especially in the BMI implementation phase. There is more focus given towards the technical aspect than the people aspect of BM implementation. Therefore, this research draws attention towards the people-side of implementing BMI, more specifically the role of employee motivation, development and readiness to change during BM implementation and how it influences the link between BMI and firm performance. First, a set of propositions, based on literature review, are used to develop a conceptual model that depicts the role of employee’s motivation, development and readiness to change in the BMI process. Thereafter, this model is used to analyze two cases of BMI in SMEs using a semi-structured interview method, to attest and refine the propositions. Besides obtaining a better understanding of the role of employees during BM implementation, this research provides empirical evidence that explains how certain employee characteristics influence the link between BMI and firm performance. Finally, the insights obtained has practical relevance as it stimulates better organizational practices when it comes to the people-side of implementing BMI.Management of Technology (MoT
Clinical manifestations, diagnostic indicators and prognostic indicators of ocular sarcoidosis
Get PDFINTRODUCTION:
Sarcoidosis is a chronic multisystemic granulomatous disorder with protean ocular and systemic manifestations due to exaggerated immune response to variety of self and non self-antigens. Manifestations of sarcoidosis are predomintantly intra thorasic with pulmonary infiltration and hilar lymphadenopathy, but other sites such as eyes, skin, bones & joints are also affected6. The clinical course of sarcoidosis varies from acute, self-limited process to a chronic progressive one, leading to severe functional impairment.
Ocular sarcoidosis can be considered as an example of chronic granulomatous non infectious pan uveitis.
AIM OF THE STUDY:
To study the clinical manifestations, diagnostic indicators and prognostic indicators of ocular sarcoidosis.
OBJECTIVES:
1. To study the clinical pattern of ocular sarcoidosis.
2. To study the various parameters that are used for the diagnosis of ocular sarcoidosis.
3. To study the prognosticators of ocular sarcoidosis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Setting: University affiliated teaching centre attatched to a community based eye hospital offering primary to tertiary care Centre: Aravind Eye Hospitals, Madurai.
Department: Uvea clinic and Uveitis services, Aravind Eye Hospitals, Madurai.
Period of study: May 2009 to December 2010.
Sample size: 50 patients, 73 eyes.
Procedure for data collection: case selection, clinical examination and filling up of proforma. Data was entered into microsoft excel spreadsheets and analysed using STATA software.
Patients and uveitis workup:
Inclusion criteria:
All patients who presented to uvea clinic of Aravind Eye Hospital between April 2009 to December 2010 with definitive signs of intraocular inflammation compatible with a diagnosis of ocular sarcoidosis 42 were included in the study.
Exclusion criteria:
Patients with classical systemic features pointing to other differentials, those with established histological or serological evidence of other entities, patients with no follow up, patients with other co existing, comorbid conditions.
RESULTS:
73 eyes of 50 patients with a probable diagnosis of ocular sarcoidosis, who fitted into our inclusion criteria were studied. The mean duration of follow up for these patients was 6 months. Demographic charecteristics studied have been summarised in tables 1. The mean age of presentation was 38 years ranging from 12 to 67 years. The mean age of presentation among males was 32 years and among females was 46 years. There was a predilection for female gender with 62% and males attributing to 38%. These values have also been represented in terms of pie chart (fig 5). On evaluating the systemic features associated, no exact symptomatic presentation was noted. Findings of bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy and elevated liver enzymes were noticed in 18 (out of 50) and 1 (out of 7) of patients respectively.
CONCLUSION:
Sarcoidosis is a chronic granulomatous inflammation having various systemic and ocular manifestations. In our study we have analsed the different clinical manifestations, diagnostic parameters and prognosticators relating to ocular sarcoidosis in our population. From our results we find that the commonest clinical presentation of ocular sarcoidosis was of chronic anterior uveitis with intermediate uveitis.
Significant diagnostic indicators were cutaneous anergy to tuberculoprotein, radiological evidence of hilar lymphadenopathy and elevated serum ACE levels. Favourable prognosticators were location of the uveitis as anterior and intermediate uveitis, absence of sight threatening complications in the initial visit, absence of multiple recurrences over the course of disease.
Treatable complications like complicated cataract and glaucoma also had a favourable outcome. But no statistically significant correlation could be drawn between these parameters as the initial presenting visual acuity was good in majority of the cases. These results seem to correlate well with the results drawn from Japanese and European population studies that were conducted
A Prospective Comparative study on the Outcome of Trendelenburg Procedure combined with Multiple Stab Avulsion of Perforators and Radio-Frequency Ablation combined with Multiple Stab Avulsion of Perforators in the Treatment of Varicose Veins
No full textRole of Hippo Pathway Effector Tafazzin Protein in Maintaining Stemness of Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (UC-MSC)
Get PDFTafazzin (TAZ) protein has been upregulated in various types of human cancers, although the basis for elevation is uncertain, it has been made definite that the effect of mutation in the hippo pathway, particularly when it is switched off, considerably activates tafazzin transcriptionally and thus this results in tissue or tumor overgrowth. Recent perceptions into the activity of tafazzin, have ascribed to it, a role as stem cell factor in mouse mesenchymal and as well as in neural stem cells. Being a downstream molecule in Hippo signalling, phosphorylation or dephosphorylation of tafazzin gene regulates its transcriptional activity and the stemness of mesenchymal stem cells. Commonly, extracellular matrix controls the stem cell fate commitment and perhaps tafazzin controls stemness through altering the extra cellular matrix. Extracellular matrix is generally made up of prime proteoglycans and the fate stabilization of the resulting lineages is surveilled by engineering these glycans. Tafazzin degradation and addition of proteoglycans affect physical attributes of the extracellular matrix that drives cell differentiation into various lineages. Thus, tafazzin along with major glycans present in the extracellular matrix is involved in imparting stemness. However, there are incoherent molecular events, wherein both tafazzin and the extracellular matrix components, together either activate or inhibit differentiation of stem cells. This review discusses about the role of tafazzin oncoprotein as a stemness factor
Design of an Efficient Design for Test (DFT) Architecture and it\u27s Verification Using Universal Verification Methodology
Get PDFThe complexity of the circuit design has been significantly increased from 1980’s till date, and until 80’s, due to less complexity and technology node being down to 180nm, the need for Design for Test (DFT) equipment was not as important. The few System on Chips (SoC) were tested using test patterns sent from the external test equipment. As the technology node shrunk further, the devices became faster and the complexity of S0C’s increased as the chip could accommodate more transistors. The SoC’s have become more vulnerable to physical defects. Quality factor became a major issue, which pushed the industry standard of the test coverage very high i.e. between 98% to 100%. To achieve such a high test coverage, testing the SoC’s by external test equipment demands high test time and test cost. Due to this reason, the DFT architectures within the chip have become popular demand in the industry. With the DFT architectures like Memory-Built In Self Test (MBIST) and Logic- Built In Self Test (LBIST), the memories and core logic embedded in the chip will undergo self test at the speed of functional clock and hence saving test time and test cost. Introducing DFT into the chip implies increase in area due to overhead and increase in power consumption due to additional pins. So, the DFT architectures need to be efficient. This project paper discusses about designing an efficient DFT architecture on SoC by integrating MBIST and LBIST with Joint Test Action Group-Test Access Port (JTAG-TAP) Controller and verifying using SysteVerilog (SV) and Universal Verification Methodologies (UVM) libraries. Detailed discussion of the design architecture and verification plan is included in the upcoming sections
Bi2S3/PVDF/Ppy-Based Freestanding Wearable, Transient Nanomembrane for Ultrasensitive Pressure, Strain and Temperature Sensing
No full textFlexible nanofiber-based composites have been widely explored because of their light weight, high surface area, scalability, and tunable physical and mechanical properties. In this work, we report electrospun 2D-Bi2S3 incorporated PVDF/PPy nanofibers as a versatile platform for ultrasensitive pressure, strain, and temperature sensing. Detailed characterization studies revealed the formation of ultrathin nanofibers and characteristic Raman and IR vibration modes of PPy, 2D-Bi2S3, β-phased PVDF. The fabricated pressure sensor exhibited a sensitivity of 1.51 kPa-1 in the wide linear range of 1-50 kPa and a response time of 0.04 s. The practical ability of pressure sensor was tested by successfully detecting pulse rate of human radial arteries. Further, the BS- PVDF/PPy composite was employed as a strain sensor in the range of 3.1-61.5%, displayed a gauge factor (GF) of 45.45 and a response time of 0.1 s. The wearable sensor was capable of detecting minute changes in hand gestures by recognizing the microstrains applied to the device. The sensing mechanism can be attributed to the excellent piezoelectric property of β- phase PVDF, electron transport property of PPy nanoparticles and tensile strength of the BS nanoparticles embedded in the polymer matrix. When used as a wearable temperature sensor, the versatile device demonstrated a linear range of detection 24- 48 °C with a response time of 0.33 s and Temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of -0.1117 °C-1 that can be attributed to the phonon-assisted hoping mechanism. The nanofiber composite dissolved in volatile organic solvent acetone in 5 days with the least impact on the surrounding environment thus making this a promising strategy to develop transient technologies aimed at zero-waste, green electronics
A REVIEW ON ROLE OF PANCHAMABHUTA IN GARBHA UTPATTI
Get PDFIn present days of globalizations all are concentrated in finding basics of transformations or existence. The concept of Panchamahabhuta (five basic elements) has been scientifically explained in Ayurveda. Panchamahabhuta are important components of the body. It is the five basic constituents which exist in the universe and human beings; they are Akasha, Vayu, Agni, Jala and Prithvi. The union of Shukra (sperm) and Shonitha (ovum) and Atma (soul) in the Kukshi (uterus) is designated as Garbha (embryo). The five Mahabhuta (basic elements) play a important role in formation, development and maintenance of Garbha (embryo). The five elements refer to etheric, gaseous, radiant, fluid and solid states of matter. Mahabhutha plays an important role in Garbhautpatti (embryogenesis). It helps in separation and segregation of cell mass, nourishment, structural development etc. The present work is to study the concept of these five elements in embryogenesis
Prospective study on Various Decisive Factors for Non Operative Management of Blunt Trauma Abdomen with Solid Organ Injury
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