Mutual information based weighted variance approach for uncertainty quantification of climate projections.

Future climate projections are a vital source of information that aid in deriving effective mitigation and adaptation measures. Due to the inherent uncertainty in these climate projections, quantification of uncertainty is essential for increasing its credibility in policymaking. While quantifying the uncertainty, often the possible dependency between the General Circulation Models (GCMs) due to their shared common model code, literature, ideas of representation processes, parameterization schemes, evaluation datasets etc.

Aptamer-siRNA chimeras: Promising tools for targeting HER2 signaling in cancer.

RNA interference is a transformative approach and has great potential in the development of novel and more efficient cancer therapeutics. Immense prospects exist in the silencing of HER2 and its downstream genes which are overexpressed in many cancers, through exogenously delivered siRNA. However, there is still a long way to exploit the full potential and versatility of siRNA therapeutics due to the challenges associated with the stability and delivery of siRNA targeted to specific sites.

RNA Viruses, Pregnancy and Vaccination: Emerging Lessons from COVID-19 and Ebola Virus Disease.

Pathogenic viruses with an RNA genome represent a challenge for global human health since they have the tremendous potential to develop into devastating pandemics/epidemics. The management of the recent COVID-19 pandemic was possible to a certain extent only because of the strong foundations laid by the research on previous viral outbreaks, especially Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). A clear understanding of the mechanisms of the host immune response generated upon viral infections is a prime requisite for the development of new therapeutic strategies.

Long-term sequelae of herpes simplex virus encephalitis-related white matter injury: correlation of neuropsychological outcome and diffusion tensor imaging.

The pathophysiology of the memory impairment following Herpes Simplex virus encephalitis is not yet established and understood. This study attempts to elucidate the role of white matter injury and its impact on neuropsychological outcome in patients with history of Herpes Simplex virus encephalitis. This is a single-institution prospective study assessing 9 patients and 15 matched controls utilizing a combination of MRI with diffusion tensor imaging and neuropsychological testing.

Comparative analysis of predictability and accuracy of American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery online calculator with Haigis-L formula in post-myopic laser-assisted keratomileusis refractive surgery eyes.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the predictability and accuracy of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) online calculator with the Haigis-L formula for intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation in post myopic laser-assisted in-situ keratomileuses (LASIK) eyes undergoing cataract surgery and also to analyze the postoperative refractive outcome among the ASCRS average, maximum and minimum values.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on post myopic LASIK eyes which underwent cataract surgery between June 2017 and December 2019. IOL power was calculated using both Haigis-L & ASCRS methods.

Socio-Demographic and Clinical Correlates of Exclusive Breastfeeding practices up to Six Months of Age.

Background: According to the recommendations from The World Health Organization, exclusive breast feeding (EBF) should be given to infants for the first six months for healthy growth and development. However, developing countries have a wide range of variation in the practice of EBF. From this study, we aim to estimate the duration of EBF and find the impact of socio-demographic characteristics on EBF.

Unravelling Diurnal Asymmetry of Surface Temperature in Different Climate Zones.

Understanding the evolution of Diurnal Temperature Range (DTR), which has contradicting global and regional trends, is crucial because it influences environmental and human health. Here, we analyse the regional evolution of DTR trend over different climatic zones in India using a non-stationary approach known as the Multidimensional Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (MEEMD) method, to explore the generalized influence of regional climate on DTR, if any. We report a 0.

Increasing probability of mortality during Indian heat waves.

Rising global temperatures are causing increases in the frequency and severity of extreme climatic events, such as floods, droughts, and heat waves. We analyze changes in summer temperatures, the frequency, severity, and duration of heat waves, and heat-related mortality in India between 1960 and 2009 using data from the India Meteorological Department. Mean temperatures across India have risen by more than 0.

Estimation of environmental flow incorporating water quality and hypothetical climate change scenarios.

Environmental flows (Eflow, hereafter) are the flows to be maintained in the river for its healthy functioning and the sustenance and protection of aquatic ecosystems. Estimation of Eflow in any river stretch demands consideration of various factors such as flow regime, ecosystem, and health of river. However, most of the Eflow estimation studies have neglected the water quality factor.

Microfilariae, a Common Parasite in an Unusual Site: A Case Report with Literature Review.

Filariasis is common in tropical countries. Wuchereria bancrofti is the most common parasite which causes lymphatic filariasis in India. This paper reports the finding of microfilariae in cervicovaginal smear of a 61-year-old post menopausal woman with a brief review of literature.

Robinin modulates TLR/NF-κB signaling pathway in oxidized LDL induced human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

This study was designed to investigate whether robinin administration modulates toll-like receptor (TLR) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway in oxidized LDL induced human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs). The hPBMCs were isolated from healthy human volunteers and the cells were cultured in collagen coated plates at 37°C with 5% CO2 and RPMI as culture medium and were grouped as follows: Group I - control, group II - OxLDL treated and group III - OxLDL+robinin (6μg/ml). We measured mRNA expression of TLR2 and TLR4 by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and NF-κB transcription factor assay (ELISA), and western blotting studies were done for knowing expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP 1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) interleukin-6 (IL-6) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1).

Vitamin E prevents deleterious effects of di (2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate, a plasticizer used in PVC blood storage bags.

Vitamin E administration prevented DEHP induced deleterious effects like (i) degenerative changes in the brain and thyroid, (ii) decrease in the activity of neuronal membrane Na+ - K+ ATPase, (iii) decrease in the concentration of insulin, cortisol and TSH, and (iv) the increase in T3 and T4 in female Albino rats. The results suggest use of vitamin E to prevent harmful effects of repeated transfusion of DEHP containing blood as in thalassemia patient. The possibility of using vitamin E to prevent the harmful effects of repeated transfusion of DEHP containing blood, as in thalassemia patients, is discussed.

Inhibition of membrane Na(+)-K+ Atpase of the brain, liver and RBC in rats administered di(2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate (DEHP) a plasticizer used in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) blood storage bags.

Significant amounts of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) leach out into blood stored in DEHP plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) bags resulting in the exposure of recipients of blood transfusion to this compound. The aim of this study was to find out whether DEHP at these low levels has any effect on the activity of membrane Na(+)-K+ ATPase, since a decrease in this enzyme activity has been reported to take place in a number of disorders like neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders, coronary artery disease and stroke, syndrome-X, tumours etc. DEHP was administered (ip) at a low dose of 750 microg/100 g body weight to rats and the activity of membrane Na(+)-K+ ATPase in liver, brain and RBC was estimated.

Changes in some hormones by low doses of di (2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a commonly used plasticizer in PVC blood storage bags & medical tubing.

Background & Objectives: Di (2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a plasticizer commonly used in PVC blood storage bags leaches out in significant amounts into blood during storage. In view of many reports on the toxicity of this compound, it was considered necessary to investigate the effect of DEHP at the low level solubilized in blood on some important hormones in rats and in human blood stored in DEHP plasticized blood bags.

Methods: Rats were administered DEHP at a low level of 750 microg/100 g body weight on alternate days for 14 days.

Modified formulation of CPDA for storage of whole blood, and of SAGM for storage of red blood cells, to maintain the concentration of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate.

Background And Objectives: A dramatic decrease in the level of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) takes place during the storage of whole blood (WB) in CPDA (citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine) and a similar decrease occurs during the storage of red blood cells (RBCs) in SAGM (saline-adenine-glucose-mannitol). The aim of the present study was to prevent this decrease by modifying CPDA and SAGM.

Materials And Methods: The pH of WB anticoagulant or RBC preservative solution was maintained at 7.