BER evaluation of post-meter PLC services in CENELEC-C band

Low voltage, in-home power-line communications (PLC) networks allow direct communication between smart meters (SM) and in-home devices (IHD). In order to minimize security issues, in many deployment scenarios transmission takes place only towards the IHD to display consumption data, with no backwards channel. As a result, channel estimation is difficult and it is necessary to use robust transmission techniques to mitigate the effect of the impulsive noise within the PLC channel. Performance of such system must be evaluated by taking into account realistic interference and channel models for a broad range of configurations. In this work we focus on performance in terms of bit error rate (BER) of a narrowband PLC (NB-PLC) operating in the CENELEC-C band (125–140 kHz) taking into account realistic noise models. Our system is based on binary phase shift keying (BPSK) and quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) modulation

BRICS: Is the Group Really Creating Impact?

In 2001, Jim O'Neill coined the acronym for Brazil, Russia, India and China as the largest emerging markets economies. He expected them to grow faster than the developed countries and to play an increasingly important role in the world. In 2009, BRIC countries held their first summit which in its 3rd summit turned into BRICS with the addition of South Africa. The BRICS now represent 3 billion people and a combined GDP of $16 trillion. The group is the third giant after the EU and the US. Analysts predict that the BRICS will overtake US in terms of GDP this year and the G7 by 2030. In the summit in July 2014, BRICS leaders have approved creating the BRICS New Development Bank which would fund long-term investment in infrastructure and more sustainable development. The economics projections show that till 2040, the BRICS is expected to rule the world market

Differential MicroRNA Expression Levels in Cutaneous Acute Graft-versus Host Disease

Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a curative treatment for numerous haematological malignancies. However, acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD) is a major complication affecting 40-70% of all transplant patients, whereby the earliest and most frequent presentation is in the skin. MicroRNAs play a role in varied biological process and have been reported as potential biomarkers for aGvHD. More recently, microRNAs have received added attention as circulatory biomarkers that can be detected in biofluids. In the present study we performed global microRNA expression profiling using a discovery cohort of diagnostic cutaneous aGvHD biopsies (n=5, stage 1-3) and healthy volunteers (n=4), in order to identify a signature list of microRNAs that could be used as diagnostic biomarkers for cutaneous aGvHD. Candidate microRNAs (n=8) were then further investigated in a validation cohort of post-HSCT skin biopsies (n=17) for their association with aGvHD. Expression of miR-34a-5p (p<0.001), miR-34a-3p (p=0.013), miR-503-5p (p=0.021) and let-7c-5p (p=0.037) was elevated in cutaneous aGvHD and significantly associated with survival outcome (miR-34a-3p ROC AUC=0.93, p=0.003, Log Rank p=0.004; miR-503-5p ROC AUC=0.83 p=0.021, Log Rank p=0.003). There was no association with relapse. A statistical interaction between miR-34a-3p and miR-503-5p (p=0.016) was diagnostic for aGvHD. Expression levels of the miR-34a-5p protein target p53 were assessed in the epidermis of the skin, and an inverse correlation was identified (r2=0.44, p=0.039). Expression of the validated candidate microRNAs was also assessed at day 28 post-HSCT in the sera of transplant recipients, in order to investigate their potential as circulatory microRNA biomarkers. Expression of miR-503-5p (p=0.001), miR-34a-5p (p=0.005) and miR-34a-3p (p=0.004) were significantly elevated in the sera of patients who developed aGvHD vs. no-aGvHD (n=30) and miR-503-5p was associated with overall survival (ROC AUC=0.80, p=0.04, Log Rank p=0.041). In conclusion, this investigation reports that microRNA expression levels in clinical skin biopsies, obtained at the time of cutaneous aGvHD onset, show potential as diagnostic biomarkers for aGvHD and as predictive biomarkers for overall survival. Additionally, the same microRNAs can be detected in the circulation and show predictive association with post-HSCT outcomes

Targeting the D-series resolvin receptor system for the treatment of osteoarthritic pain

Objective: Pain is a major symptom of osteoarthritis (OA); current analgesics either do not offer adequate pain relief or are associated with serious side effects. Herein we have investigated the therapeutic potential of targeting the resolvin receptor system to modify OA pain and pathology. Methods: Gene expression of two resolvin receptors (ALX and ChemR23) was quantified in synovia and medial tibial plateau collected from patients at joint replacement for OA. Two models of OA joint pain were used for mechanistic studies. Gene expression in the periphery and CNS were quantified. Effects of exogenous administration of the D-series resolvin precursor 17(R)-hydroxy Docosahexaenoic Acid (17(R)-HDoHE on pain behaviour, joint pathology, spinal microglia and astroglyosis were quantified. Plasma levels of relevant lipids, resolvin D2, 17R-HDoHE and arachidonic acid was determined in rats using LC-MS-MS. Results: There was a positive correlation between resolvin receptor and IL6 expression in human OA synovia and medial tibial plateau. In the rat, synovia gene expression of ALX was positively correlated with IL1β, TNFα and COX2. Treatment with 17(R)-HDoHE reversed established pain behaviour in two models of OA pain, but not joint pathology. This was associated with a significant elevation in plasma levels of resolvin D2 and a significant reduction in astrogliosis in the spinal cord in the MIA model. Conclusion: Our preclinical data demonstrate robust analgesics effects of activating the D series resolvin pathways in two different animal models of OA. Our data support a predominant central mechanism of action in this clinically relevant model of OA pain

Obesity-associated melanocortin-4 receptor mutations are associated with changes in the brain response to food cues.

CONTEXT: Mutations in the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) represent the commonest genetic form of obesity and are associated with hyperphagia. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether melanocortin signaling modulates anticipatory food reward by studying the brain activation response to food cues in individuals with MC4R mutations. Design/Setting/Participants/Main Outcome Measure: We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to measure blood oxygen level-dependent responses to images of highly palatable, appetizing foods, bland foods, and non-food objects in eight obese individuals with MC4R mutations, 10 equally obese controls, and eight lean controls with normal MC4R genotypes. Based on previous evidence, we performed a region-of-interest analysis centered on the caudate/putamen (dorsal striatum) and ventral striatum. RESULTS: Compared to non-foods, appetizing foods were associated with activation in the dorsal and ventral striatum in lean controls and in MC4R-deficient individuals. Surprisingly, we observed reduced activation of the dorsal and ventral striatum in obese controls relative to MC4R-deficient patients and lean controls. There were no group differences for the contrast of disgusting foods with bland foods or non-foods, suggesting that the effects observed in response to appetizing foods were not related to arousal. CONCLUSION: We identified differences in the striatal response to food cues between two groups of obese individuals, those with and those without MC4R mutations. These findings are consistent with a role for central melanocortinergic circuits in the neural response to visual food cues.This is the final published version. It first appeared at http://press.endocrine.org/doi/abs/10.1210/jc.2014-1651

Islet‐2 Is Required for the Survival of Islet‐Expressing Retinal Ganglion Cells but Not for Their Pathfinding to the Contralateral Dorsal Lateral Geniculate Nucleus

Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) exhibit remarkable diversity owing to their expression of developmentally expressed transcription factors. Many transcription factors are expressed in unique RGC populations, but their roles within these populations remain undiscovered. The transcription factor Islet-2 (Isl2) is expressed in approximately 30%-40% of contralateral projecting RGCs. Previous work by others found increased ipsilateral innervation of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) in Isl2 mutant mice, implicating Isl2 in promoting a contralateral RGC axon trajectory. Since Isl2 mutant mice suffer early neonatal lethality, the role of Isl2 in RGC specification has not been fully explored. To test the role of Isl2 in RGC development, two lines of retina-specific Isl2 mutant mice were generated. Contrary to the findings in Isl2 null mice, Isl2 retinal deletion does not lead to early postnatal lethality or increased ipsilateral projections to the dLGN. Instead, there is a significant reduction in the size of the dLGN and a mild reduction in the size of the ipsilateral projection to the dLGN. Retinal Isl2 mutants also exhibit diminished expression of genes characteristic of Isl2-expressing RGCs, along with increased retinal cell death during development. These findings suggest that Isl2 is required for the development and survival of Isl2-expressing RGC subtypes

Helping rural women in Pakistan to prevent postpartum hemorrhage: A quasi experimental study

BACKGROUND: According to the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey from 2006–2007, the maternal mortality ratio in rural areas is 319 per 100,000 live births. Postpartum hemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal deaths in Pakistan. The objectives of the study were to document the feasibility of distribution of misoprostol tablets by community-based providers mainly traditional birth attendants and acceptability and use of misoprostol by women who gave birth at home. METHODS: A quasi-experimental design, comprising intervention and comparison areas, was used to document the acceptability of providing misoprostol tablets to pregnant women to prevent postpartum hemorrhage in the rural community setting in Pakistan. Data were collected using structured questionnaires administered to women before and after delivery at home and their birth attendants. RESULTS: Out of 770 women who delivered at home, 678 (88%) ingested misoprostol tablets and 647 (84%) ingested the tablets after the birth of the neonate but prior to the delivery of the placenta. The remaining women took misoprostol tablets after delivery of the placenta. Side effects were experienced by 40% of women and were transitory in nature. Among women who delivered at home, 80% said that they would use misoprostol tablets in the future and 74% were willing to purchase them in the future. CONCLUSIONS: Self-administration of misoprostol in the home setting is feasible. Community-based providers, such as traditional birth attendants and community midwives with proper training and counseling, play an important role in reducing postpartum hemorrhage. Proper counseling and information exchange are helpful for introducing new practices in resource-constrained rural communities. Until such a time that skilled birth attendance is made more universally available in the rural setting, alternative strategies, such as training and using the services of traditional birth attendants to provide safe pregnancy care, must be considered

Divergent effects of central melanocortin signalling on fat and sucrose preference in humans.

Melanocortin-4-receptor (MC4R)-expressing neurons modulate food intake and preference in rodents but their role in human food preference is unknown. Here we show that compared with lean and weight-matched controls, MC4R deficient individuals exhibited a markedly increased preference for high fat, but a significantly reduced preference for high sucrose food. These effects mirror those in Mc4r null rodents and provide evidence for a central molecular circuit influencing human macronutrient preference.This work was supported by the Wellcome Trust (to A.A.v.d.K., P.C.F., I.S.F.), the National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre (to S.O’R., I.S.F.), the Bernard Wolfe Health Neuroscience Fund (to A.A.v.d.K., I.S.F., P.C.F.) and the European Research Council (I.S.F.). This work was supported by the NeuroFAST consortium which is funded by the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement no 245009.This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from Nature Publishing Group via http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms1305

In-silico studies of HMG-Co A reductase inhibitors present in fruits of Withania coagulans Dunal (Solanaceae)

Purpose: To evaluate the antihypercholesterolemic effect of chemical constituents of W. coagulans by determining inhibitory effect of the compounds against HMG-CoA reductase, using in-silico methods. Method: Docking simulations of twenty-one chemical constituents, found in the fruits of W. coagulans were performed against HMGCR(PDB ID: 2Q1L) using Molegro Virtual Docker software. The best docked poses were then selected, based on the docking score and amino acids involved in the interaction within the ligand and active site of protein. Results: Five compounds viz. Coagulin D (comp no. 11), Ergosta-5,25-diene-3β,24ε-diol (comp no. 13), Withacoagulin (comp no. 15), and Withaferin (comp no. 16), showed the highest MolDock scores. These compounds with highest docking score, also formed hydrogen bond interactions with His (752), Lys (692, 735), Asp (690), Glu (559) within the binding site of HMG-CoA reductase, thus, halting enzyme activity. Whereas, Withanolide D (comp no. 17) with high MolDock score did not show hydrogen bonding interactions. Conclusion: The high MolDock score and maximum binding with catalytic region of the enzyme indicate that compounds selected from the fruits of W. coagulans are potential blockers of HMG-CoA reductase. Thus, the compounds may be useful for the management of hypercholesterolemia, which untreated, often leads to coronary artery disease. Keywords: Withania coagulans, Coronary artery disease, HMG-CoA reductase, Molegro virtual docker, Hypercholesterolemia, In silico studie

Obscure Gastrointestinal Bleed from a Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor in a Jejunal Diverticulum: A Rare Case Report

We present a case of small bowel diverticulum with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). This GIST in the diverticulum was confirmed by immunohistochemistry and was of low-grade malignant potential