Using a combination of simulated data and pyrite isotopic reference materials, we have refined a methodology to obtain quantitative δ34S measurements from atom probe tomography (APT) datasets. This study builds on previous attempts to characterize relative 34S/32S ratios in gold-containing pyrite using APT. We have also improved our understanding of the artifacts inherent in laser-pulsed APT of insulators. Specifically, we find the probability of multi-hit detection events increases during the APT experiment, which can have a detrimental effect on the accuracy of the analysis. We demonstrate the use of standardized corrected time-of-flight single-hit data for our isotopic analysis. Additionally, we identify issues with the standard methods of extracting background-corrected counts from APT mass spectra. These lead to inaccurate and inconsistent isotopic analyses due to human variability in peak ranging and issues with background correction algorithms. In this study, we use the corrected time-of-flight single-hit data, an adaptive peak fitting algorithm, and an improved deconvolution algorithm to extract 34S/32S ratios from the S2+ peaks. By analyzing against a standard material, acquired under similar conditions, we have extracted δ34S values to within ±5‰ (1‰ = 1 part per thousand) of the published values of our standards.

Background: There are no recommendations regarding endovascular treatment (EVT) for patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to primary medium vessel occlusion (MeVO). The aim of this study was to examine the willingness to perform EVT among stroke physicians in patients with mild, yet personally-disabling deficits due to MeVO. Methods: In an international survey consisting of 4 cases of primary MeVOs, participants were asked whether the presence of personally-disabling deficits would influence their decision-making for EVT despite the patients having low NIHSS scores. Decision rates were calculated based on physician characteristics. Clustered univariable logistic regression was performed. Results: 366 participants from 44 countries provided 2562 answers. 56.9% opted to perform EVT in scenarios in which the deficit was relevant to the patient’s profession versus 41.0% in which no information regarding patient profession was provided (RR1.39, p<0.001). The largest effect sizes were seen for female participants (RR1.68, 95%CI:1.35-2.09), participants >60 years (RR1.61, 95%CI:1.23-2.10), with more neurointervention experience (RR1.60, 95%CI:1.24-2.06), and who personally performed >100 EVTs per year (RR1.63, 95%CI:1.22-2.17). Conclusions: The presence of a patient-relevant deficit in low NIHSS AIS due to MeVO is an important factor for EVT decision-making. This may have relevance for the conduct and interpretation of low NIHSS EVT randomized trials.

Background: Thrombus embolization during endovascular treatment (EVT) occurs in up to 9% of cases, making secondary medium-vessel occlusions (MeVOs) of particular interest to neurointerventionalists. We sought to gain insight into the current EVT approaches for secondary MeVO stroke in an international case-based survey as there are currently no clear recommendations for EVT in these patients. Methods: Participants were presented with three secondary MeVO cases, each consisting of three case-vignettes with changes in patient neurological status (improvement, no change, unable to assess). Clustered multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to assess factors influencing the decision to treat. Results: 366 physicians from 44 countries took part. The majority (54.1%) were in favor of EVT. Participants were more likely to treat occlusions in the anterior M2/3 (74.3%; risk ratio [RR]2.62, 95%CI:2.27-3.03) or A3 (59.7%; RR2.11, 95%CI:1.83-2.42) segment, compared to the M3/4 segment (28.3%;reference). Physicians were less likely to pursue EVT in patients with neurological improvement (49.9% versus 57.0%; RR0.88, 95%CI:0.83-0.92). Interventionalists and more experienced physicians were more likely to treat secondary MeVOs. Conclusions: Physician’s willingness to treat secondary MeVOs endovascularly is limited and varies per occlusion location and change in neurological status. More evidence on the safety and efficacy of EVT for secondary MeVO stroke is needed.

The onset of magnetic reconnection in space, astrophysical and laboratory plasmas is reviewed discussing results from theory, numerical simulations and observations. After a brief introduction on magnetic reconnection and approach to the question of onset, we first discuss recent theoretical models and numerical simulations, followed by observations of reconnection and its effects in space and astrophysical plasmas from satellites and ground-based detectors, as well as measurements of reconnection in laboratory plasma experiments. Mechanisms allowing reconnection spanning from collisional resistivity to kinetic effects as well as partial ionization are described, providing a description valid over a wide range of plasma parameters, and therefore applicable in principle to many different astrophysical and laboratory environments. Finally, we summarize the implications of reconnection onset physics for plasma dynamics throughout the Universe and illustrate how capturing the dynamics correctly is important to understanding particle acceleration. The goal of this review is to give a view on the present status of this topic and future interesting investigations, offering a unified approach.

A new optimized quasi-helically symmetric configuration is described that has the desirable properties of improved energetic particle confinement, reduced turbulent transport by three-dimensional shaping and non-resonant divertor capabilities. The configuration presented in this paper is explicitly optimized for quasi-helical symmetry, energetic particle confinement, neoclassical confinement and stability near the axis. Post optimization, the configuration was evaluated for its performance with regard to energetic particle transport, ideal magnetohydrodynamic stability at various values of plasma pressure and ion temperature gradient instability induced turbulent transport. The effects of discrete coils on various confinement figures of merit, including energetic particle confinement, are determined by generating single-filament coils for the configuration. Preliminary divertor analysis shows that coils can be created that do not interfere with expansion of the vessel volume near the regions of outgoing heat flux, thus demonstrating the possibility of operating a non-resonant divertor.

We present a detailed analysis of the radio galaxy PKS $2250{-}351$ , a giant of 1.2 Mpc projected size, its host galaxy, and its environment. We use radio data from the Murchison Widefield Array, the upgraded Giant Metre-wavelength Radio Telescope, the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder, and the Australia Telescope Compact Array to model the jet power and age. Optical and IR data come from the Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) survey and provide information on the host galaxy and environment. GAMA spectroscopy confirms that PKS $2250{-}351$ lies at $z=0.2115$ in the irregular, and likely unrelaxed, cluster Abell 3936. We find its host is a massive, ‘red and dead’ elliptical galaxy with negligible star formation but with a highly obscured active galactic nucleus dominating the mid-IR emission. Assuming it lies on the local M– $\sigma$ relation, it has an Eddington accretion rate of $\lambda_{\rm EDD}\sim 0.014$ . We find that the lobe-derived jet power (a time-averaged measure) is an order of magnitude greater than the hotspot-derived jet power (an instantaneous measure). We propose that over the lifetime of the observed radio emission ( ${\sim} 300\,$ Myr), the accretion has switched from an inefficient advection-dominated mode to a thin disc efficient mode, consistent with the decrease in jet power. We also suggest that the asymmetric radio morphology is due to its environment, with the host of PKS $2250{-}351$ lying to the west of the densest concentration of galaxies in Abell 3936.

Sheath blight caused by soil borne necrotrophic fungus Rhizoctonia solani [teleomorph-Thanatephorus cucumeris (Frank) Donk.] is a major disease of rice. The disease is increasing over the year in India and cause up to 69% yield loss under favourable conditions. A total of 67 accessions of Oryza nivara were screened to identify resistance against sheath blight during 2015. Out of these, 16 accessions were found moderately resistant (MR) which were further evaluated during the year 2016 and 2017. After three years of screening, 12 of them were found to have a consistent moderate resistant reaction whereas four of the O. nivara accessions namely, IRGC81941, IRGC102463C, CR100097 and CR100110A have shown moderately susceptible to susceptible reaction against sheath blight. A correlation study revealed that different disease variables measured were significantly (P < 0.05) correlated. All the genotypes and genotype × environment interaction had a significant (P < 0.001) effect on all the disease variables. Cluster analysis showed that all the accessions were clustered into four groups which showed resistant, MR, moderately susceptible and susceptible reactions. Among all the O. nivara accessions IRGC81941A showed the maximum potential against sheath blight due to a least relative lesion height of 22.80%. None of the accession had complete resistance to the disease. The identified promising accessions such as IRGC81835, IRGC81941A, CR100008 and CR100111B can be utilized in a sheath blight resistance breeding program.

Grewia tenax locally known as ‘Gangerun’, is an important multipurpose underutilized shrub and potentially threaten species of the Thar Desert of India. Owing to its importance, naturally available germplasm was collected and evaluated for its sustainable utilization in future. Data on individual mother plant, seed characters and soil profile were investigated. Habitat occurrence of G. tenax was found in patches with dominant association of Euphorbia caducifolia across the four districts of western Rajasthan. Individual plant on unprotected area portrayed far lower average height (0.95 m) and canopy area (1.75 m2) than protected area (2.63 m and 13.89 m2) signifying level of browsing pressure on this species in Jaisalmer. Soil samples belonging to Pali region have high organic carbon and low electrical conductivity content than Jaisalmer and Jodhpur. The statistical analysis of seed characters revealed the presence of high coefficient of variation (%) in 100-seed weight (HSW; 27.36) followed by seed length (SL; 8.06) and least in seed breadth (SB; 5.85). The range and mean values of HSW, SL, SB and length:breadth ratio (LBR) were (2.02–7.00 and 3.34 g), (4.36–6.15 and 5.36 mm), (3.73–4.68 and 4.25 mm) and (1.11–1.44 and 1.27), respectively. Significantly positive correlation was observed between SL and LBR (0.73) followed by HSW and SL (0.66). Along with these findings, its economic importance, utilization and conservation are detailed in this paper as to hasten further research on its various aspects for its successful conservation and utilization.

BACKGROUND: Metabolomics technology has the potential to revolutionize how we screen, diagnose, and treat cancer, as well as improve upon existing cancer molecular tests that may not sufficiently capture the complexity of most malignancies. In this study, we explore the clinical potential of metabolomics analysis in the diagnosis and risk-stratification of brain tumors. METHODS: To test the hypothesis that brain tumor type and survival could be predicted with metabolomics, we analyzed the pre-operative serum and urine samples of patients with glioblastoma (GBM), oligoastrocytoma (OA2), meningioma (M1) and compared them to healthy controls. (HC). Sera from immune-deficient NOD-SCID mice xenografted with human GBM brain tumor initiating cells were also studied. RESULTS: Metabolomics analysis of patient samples was able to accurately differentiate GBM, OA2, M1 and HC (p = 2.3 x 10-26). Subsequently, a prediction model developed and validated internally was able to diagnose GBM with a sensitivity of 86.7% and specificity of 93.8%, and distinguish whether a GBM patient possess O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation (p = 7.4 x 10-10). Within the MGMT methylated group, the model was able to predict longevity (p = 3.25 x 10-4). The model was also able to predict survival irrespective of MGMT methylation status (p = 2.9 x 10-6). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we demonstrate that metabolomic analysis of patient biofluids can identify brain tumors, distinguish brain tumor subtypes, and independently predict MGMT status as well as longevity among GBM patients. Metabolomics analysis may facilitate non-invasive diagnosis of aggressive brain tumours.

Influenza A(H1N1) viruses of the 2009 pandemic (A(H1N1)pdm09) continue to cause outbreaks in the post-pandemic period. During January to May 2015, an upsurge of influenza was recorded that resulted in high fatality in central India. Genetic lineage, mutations in the hemagglutinin (HA) gene and infection by quasi-species are reported to affect disease severity. The objective of this study is to present the molecular and epidemiological trends during the 2015 influenza outbreak in central India. All the referred samples were subjected to qRT–PCR for diagnosis. HA gene sequencing (23 survivors and 24 non-survivors) and cloning were performed and analyzed using Molecular Evolutionary Genomic Analyzer (MEGA 5·05). Of the 3625 tested samples, 1607 (44·3%) were positive for influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, of which 228 (14·2%) individuals succumbed to death. A significant trend was observed in positivity (P = 0·003) and mortality (P < 0·0001) with increasing age. The circulating A(H1N1)pdm09 virus was characterized as belonging to clade-6B. Clinically significant mutations were detected. Patients infected with the quasi-species of the virus had a greater risk of death (P = 0·009). This study proposes a robust molecular and clinical surveillance program for the detection and characterization of the virus, along with prompt treatment protocols to prevent outbreaks.

In the present study, unsteady MHD boundary layer flow of a rotating Walters’-B fluid (viscoelastic fluid) over an infinite vertical porous plate embedded in a uniform porous medium with fluctuating wall temperature and concentration taking Hall and ion-slip effects into consideration is discussed. The MHD flow in the rotating fluid system is induced due to the non-torsional oscillations of the plate in its own plane and the buoyancy forces arises from temperature and concentration differences in field of gravity. The partial differential equations governing the fluid motion are solved analytically by using regular perturbation and variable separable methods by assuming very small viscoelastic parameter. Solution for velocity field in the case when natural frequency due to rotation and Hall current is equals to the frequency of oscillations i.e. in the case of resonance is also obtained. In order to note the influences of various system parameters and to discuss the important flow characteristics, the numerical results for fluid velocity in the non-resonance case, temperature and species concentration are computed and depicted graphically versus boundary layer parameter whereas skin friction, Nusselt number and Sherwood number at the plate are computed and presented in tabular form. An interesting observation recorded that there arises flow reversal in the primary flow direction due to high rotation. When natural frequency is greater than the frequency of oscillations the fluid velocity in the primary flow direction is maximum at the plate whereas incase when natural frequency is smaller than the frequency of oscillations, it is maximum in the neighborhood of the plate.