Root Extraction in Finite Abelian Groups

We formulate the Root Extraction problem in finite Abelian $p$-groups and then extend it to generic finite Abelian groups. We provide algorithms to solve them. We also give the bounds on the number of group operations required for these algorithms. We observe that once a basis is computed and the discrete logarithm relative to the basis is solved, root extraction takes relatively fewer "bookkeeping" steps. Thus, we conclude that root extraction in finite Abelian groups is no harder than solving discrete logarithms and computing basis

Effect of Torrefaction on Water Vapor Adsorption Properties and Resistance to Microbial Degradation of Corn Stover

The equilibrium moisture content (EMC) of biomass affects transportation, storage, downstream feedstock processing, and the overall economy of biorenewables production. Torrefaction is a thermochemical process conducted in the temperature regime between 200 and 300 °C under an inert atmosphere that, among other benefits, aims to reduce the innate hydrophilicity and susceptibility to microbial degradation of biomass. The objective of this study was to examine water sorption properties of torrefied corn stover. The EMC of raw corn stover, along with corn stover thermally pretreated at three temperatures, was measured using the static gravimetric method at equilibrium relative humidity (ERH) and temperatures ranging from 10 to 98% and from 10 to 40 °C, respectively. Five isotherms were fitted to the experimental data to obtain the prediction equation that best describes the relationship between the ERH and the EMC of lignocellulosic biomass. Microbial degradation of the samples was tested at 97% ERH and 30 °C. Fiber analyses were conducted on all samples. In general, torrefied biomass showed an EMC lower than that of raw biomass, which implied an increase in hydrophobicity. The modified Oswin model performed best in describing the correlation between ERH and EMC. Corn stover torrefied at 250 and 300 °C had negligible dry matter mass loss due to microbial degradation. Fiber analysis showed a significant decrease in hemicellulose content with the increase in pretreatment temperature, which might be the reason for the hydrophobic nature of the torrefied biomass. The outcomes of this work can be used for torrefaction process optimization, and decision-making regarding raw and torrefied biomass storage and downstream processing

Day One Cell-Free DNA Levels as an Objective Prognostic Marker of Mortality in Major Burns Patients

Background: Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) released during tissue damage has attracted interest as a marker of patient outcomes. However, limited research has examined its predictive utility in thermally injured patients. Methods: This study measured cfDNA concentrations across days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 post-burn in a total cohort of 98 adult patients with total body surface area (TBSA) burns ≥ 15% and healthy controls (HC). CfDNA concentrations in survivors (n = 79) versus non-survivors (n = 16) were compared and area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC) models generated to evaluate cfDNA as a predictor of mortality. Results: Patient cfDNA levels were significantly elevated at all time points compared to HC. Positive correlations were identified between day 1 cfDNA concentrations (n = 95) and %TBSA (r = 0.413, p < 0.0005), rBAUX (r = 0.365, p = 0.0005) and SOFA (r = 0.391, p = 0.0002). On day one, cfDNA levels showed good discriminatory ability for distinguishing between survivors and non-survivors (AUROC 0.778), with an optimal cut-off value of 446.37 pg/mL exhibiting a sensitivity of 0.80 and specificity of 0.70. Predictive models built on rBAUX, SOFA, interleukin(IL)-6 and IL-10 generated AUROC values of 0.733, 0.743, 0.472, and 0.688 respectively. Conclusions: Major burns result in immediate and persistent cfDNA elevation, with concentrations on day one higher in non-survivors. Plasma cfDNA concentrations on day one post-burn showed good performance as a prognostic marker for mortality. CfDNA therefore represents a rapid objective measure that may be useful during acute burn assessments to aid mortality predictions

Chickpea: Crop Improvement under Changing Environment Conditions

Chickpea, Cicer arietinum, is the second most important food legume in Asia after dry beans. Chickpea is an important source of protein, minerals, fiber, and vitamins in the diets of millions of people in Asia and Africa. Chickpea is also rich in essential amino acid lysine and deficient in sulfur-containing amino acids, methionine, and cysteine. Chickpea is mainly used for human consumption and only a small proportion is used as feed. It meets 80% of its N requirement from symbiotic nitrogen fixation and leaves substantial amount of residual nitrogen for the subsequent crops. It is a hardy crop well adapted to stress environments and a boon to the resource-poor marginal farmers in the tropics and subtropics. Average yields of chickpea are nearly 780 kg/ha, although farmers can harvest more than 2.5 tons/ha. The crop potential is nearly 5 tons/ha. Abiotic (drought, heat, and cold stress) and biotic (pod borers – Helicoverpa armigera and Spodoptera exigua, aphids – Aphis craccivora, leaf miner – Liriomyza cicerina, and bruchid – Callosobruchus chinensis) and diseases (Fusarium wilt, Ascochyta blight, Botrytis gray mold, and root rots) are the major stresses that constrain chickpea production in farmers fields. The major challenge is to reduce the losses due to biotic and abiotic constraints, and close the yield gap through crop improvement and crop management in future. A combination of productivity enhancement through varietal improvement, including biotechnological interventions, and integrated crop management is needed to realize the yield potential of this crop for improving food and nutritional security. Considerable progress has been made in developing high-yielding chickpea varieties to increase the productivity of this crop, while conventional breeding has been successfully used to breed disease-resistant varieties, little progress has been made in developing pod borer and drought-tolerant varieties, as the levels of resistance available in the cultivated germplasm are quite low. Wild relatives of chickpea have high levels of resistance to pod borer. Marker-assisted selection and genetic engineering of chickpea are being exploited to increase the levels of resistance/tolerance to these constraints and in future

Defected Ground Structure toward Cross Polarization Reduction of Microstrip Patch Antenna with Improved Impedance Matching

A new approach based on the incorporation of Z-shaped defected ground structure (DGS) in microstrip antenna (MSA) for improving impedance matching and cross polarization (XP) performances is proposed in this paper. Through detail analysis of the surface current densities, and input impedance, the proposed DGS is integrated into a rectangular MSA (RMSA) to realize flat relative XP reduction of 22 dB in the H-plane around broadside angular range of ±60 degrees. Further, an equivalent circuit model (ECM) for the proposed antenna is introduced by considering the mutual coupling in between the DGS and patch and the model is verified using circuit-system-EM co-simulation software, Advanced Design System (ADS). A prototype has been fabricated and tested for the validation of simulated results and it shows good agreement with each other. The antenna operates over 2.32-2.58 GHz with good far-field radiation characteristics and a peak gain of 2.8 dBi at the resonating frequency 2.4 GHz. Hence, the proposed design can be useful for the IEEE 802.11b applications

Insights into solvation effects, spectroscopic, Hirshfeld surface Analysis, reactivity analysis and anti-Covid-19 ability of doxylamine succinate: Experimental, DFT, MD and docking simulations

In the present work, the experimental and theoretical reports on electronic and vibrational features of doxylamine succinate (DXS) are presented. The vibrational spectra were documented and wavenumbers were obtained theoretically assigned by means of potential energy distribution. In DXS, N-H…O and C-H…O intermolecular hydrogen bonding contacts are associated with O…H/H…O interactions. Solvation free energy (SFE) for DXS in water, methanol and DMSO, are −10.67, −10.95 and −10.61 eV/mol respectively. Interpretation of electrostatic potential, electron localization function (ELF), localized orbital locator (LOL) as well as atoms-in-molecules (AIM) analysis is also performed. Presence of non-covalent interactions is evident from the non-covalent interaction (NCI) isosurface. Molecular docking and simulations were used to determine the binding energy of DXS in order to investigate its potential activity against the SARS-CoV-2 protease

Case Report Common Iliac Artery Thrombosis following Pelvic Surgery Resulting in Kidney Allograft Failure Successfully Treated by Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty with Balloon-Expandable Covered Stent

We report the case of a 66-year-old woman who developed acute kidney allograft failure due to thrombotic occlusion of the common iliac artery after hysterectomy requiring emergent allograft rescue. She underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with endovascular balloon expandable covered stent graft placement in the right common iliac artery. Although there are a handful of case reports of acute limb ischemia secondary to acute common iliac artery thrombosis, this is the first case reported in the literature resulting in successful kidney allograft rescue following pelvic surgery. Background Arterial thrombosis causing late acute kidney allograft failure is extremely rare. Pelvic or abdominal surgeries may place kidney allografts implanted in the pelvis at risk for injury Case Presentation A 66-year-old woman with end-stage renal disease in the setting of type-2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, kidney stones, and renal artery stenosis had received an unrelated living-donor kidney transplant 7 years earlier. She also had a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary artery disease, heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction, and atrial fibrillation (on rivaroxaban, an orally active direct factor Xa inhibitor) for which she had undergone atrioventricular nodal ablation and insertion of a permanent pacemaker. She presented with excessive uterine bleeding. The workup demonstrated a pelvic mass and fluidfilled uterus. She underwent an elective hysteroscopy with dilation and curettage, which revealed pyometra. The intraoperative course was complicated by bleeding and uterine perforation requiring total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingooophorectomy. She lost 300 mL of blood and received intraoperatively 3.2 liters of crystalloids. There was no documented intraoperative hypotension. Pulses were equally palpable in both lower extremities before and after surgery. The patient developed anuria in the immediate postoperative period, and furosemide (40 mg) was administered intravenously with no response. The patient was reintubated for acute respiratory failure, and her anuria persisted. Investigations The urology service was initially consulted, and the patient underwent a cystoscopy with retrograde ureterogram, which revealed normal iodinated contrast filling and caliber o