Background: The promise of neuroprotection for stroke remains elusive. Common medications in endovascular stroke thrombectomy have putative neuroprotective mechanisms in basic science literature. We evaluated our stroke registry for evidence that these medications have any impact on clinically meaningful outcome. Methods: A retrospective stroke thrombectomy database was evaluated for clinical and angiographic outcomes of patients receiving IV or IA tPA, Heparin, or Verapamil during procedure. Univariate analysis evaluated associations with periprocedure hemorrhage, recanalization, and functional outcomes. Results: 284 patients underwent mechanical thrombectomy over 2.75 years. For periprocedural hemorrhage, IV tPA (OR 0.457, CI 0.261-0.811, p=0.008) and Heparin (1.897, CI 1.112-3.205, p=0.019) had significant relationships. No medication had impact on favorable recanalization (TICI 2b/3). Heparin had a negative impact on 90day mRS 0-2 (OR 0.563, CI 0.348-0.901, p=0.023). Favorable recanalization remains associated with favorable outcomes at 90days (OR 2.066, CI 1.063-4.069, p=0.0361). Conclusions: While the adjunctive use of 3 commonly used periprocedural medications have a logical role in the mechanical thrombectomy eg IA tPA for clot lysis, they do not have clinical benefit that represents neuroprotection. Multivariate analysis may show more effect. A role for intraarterial neuroprotective agents exists given only 45% of patients in this series achieved functional independence.

The current study was undertaken to identify the sources of tolerance to bruchid in cowpea, by screening a set of germplasm accessions as a source for natural resistance. A total of 103 diverse accessions of cowpea were evaluated for resistance to Callosobruchus maculatus Fab. under no-choice artificial infestation conditions. Significant differences among the cowpea accessions were observed for oviposition, adult emergence, exit holes and per cent seed weight loss (PSWL) caused by the bruchid infestation. The accessions showed variation in physical seed parameters viz., colour, shape, testa texture, length, width and seed hardness. Among the seed biochemical parameters studied, per cent sugar content ranged from 0.322 (IC330950) to 1.493 (IC249137), and per cent phenol content ranged from 0.0326 (EC390261) to 1.081 (EC528423). Correlation studies indicated that PSWL had significant positive correlation (r = 0.335) with exit holes, oviposition (r = 0.219), adult emergence (r = 0.534) and seed roundness (r = 0.219). Adult emergence had a significant negative correlation with seed hardness (r = −0.332). Correlation with biochemical parameters indicated that PSWL had a significant positive correlation (r = 0.231) with sugar content and a significant negative correlation with phenol content (r = −0.219). None of the accessions were found to be immune to bruchid infestation. However, out of studied accessions, EC528425 and EC528387 were identified as resistant based on PSWL and moderately resistant based on adult emergence. These resistance sources of cowpea germplasm can be used as potential donors for development of bruchid tolerant/resistant cultivars.

Solvency II came into force on 1 January 2016 and included a transitional measure on technical provisions (“TMTP”) designed to help smooth in the capital impact of Solvency II over a 16-year period. The working party’s view is that the main intention of the TMTP is to mitigate the impact of the introduction of the risk margin, which significantly increases the technical provisions of firms, relative to their Solvency I Pillar 2 liabilities.

The majority of firms who hold a TMTP have now had at least one recalculation approved by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA); or are in the process of applying for a recalculation. Despite this large number of approved recalculations, there remains significant uncertainty in the industry around the approach and triggers for recalculation.

This paper considers aspects of TMTP recalculation for regulated UK life firms, for example practicalities of the calculation, asset and liability considerations, and communications/announcements.

In this paper, we outline the need for pragmatism when considering the approach to recalculation of a measure originally intended to serve as the bridge between two regimes. We call for an allowance for doing what is sensible in a principles-based regime balancing what might be more theoretically correct with what is practical and possible to support effective management of the business.

The north-western Himalaya is one of the rich repositories of wheat genetic resources because of the preponderance of locally developed traditional crop varieties owing to high agro-climatic heterogeneity and local socio-cultural diversity. In the present study, 100 wheat landraces of this diversity rich region were evaluated for variability in physical parameters of seed to understand the basis of resistance against rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae. The evaluation was based on the parameter of growth index (GI) of S. oryzae in different landraces. GI was correlated with different quantitative physical seed parameters, viz. hardness, length, width, length × width, test weight and qualitative parameter seed colour were studied to work out if these were related to resistance/susceptibility. Based on the parameter of GI, the six landraces viz. IC266831, IC266872, IC393109, IC392578, IC444217 and IC589276 were identified as resistant. Correlation coefficients between GI of S. oryzae and physical parameters of wheat landraces indicated that GI had significant positive relation with length × width (r = +0.573) and test weight (r = +0.549) indicated that small seeds confer resistance to S. oryzae. Also significant negative relation (r = −0.457) with GI of S. oryzae and seed hardness, indicated that hard seeds were relatively more resistant to S. oryzae.

Lead strontium titanate (PbxSr1-xTiO3) (x=0.3–1.0) ceramic targets were prepared by the conventional powder-processing method. Thin films of these compositions were deposited on platinized silicon substrates by pulsed laser deposition technique. X-ray diffraction studies of the ceramic targets showed that the lattice structure changes from tetragonal to cubic phase with the increase of Sr content in PbTiO3. Raman spectroscopic studies of PbxSr1-xTiO3 (PST) ceramics and thin films showed that the soft mode decreases to lower frequency and finally disappear at around 60–70 at% Sr content, which confirms the tetragonal to cubic phase transition at room temperature. Dielectric constant measured for PST thin films was in the range of 900–1500 at 1 MHz, with maximum value obtained for PST30 thin film. The loss tangents at room temperature were in the range of 0.07–0.1 for PST thin films with different compositions.

Ferroelectric thin films of BaZrxTi1-xO3 (BZT) were deposited on platinum (Pt) and platinized silicon (Pt/Si) substrates by sol-gel and pulse laser deposition technique respectively. The structure and preferred orientation of the films were examined by x-ray diffraction measurements. The phase formation of sol-gel derived BZT films were found to be at high temperature (1100°C) compare to the pulse laser deposited BZT films ∼ 700°C. Polycrystalline films were observed by both techniques. Ferroelectric nature of the films was confirmed by hysteresis and capacitance-voltage characteristics using platinum top electrodes. Dielectric constant as well as loss was found to decrease by increasing Zr contents. Surface morphology predicted smooth crack free surface.

The results of the development and characterization of a new relaxor ceramic with nominal composition (x)Pb2(In,Nb)O6(1 − x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 solid solution with x = 0.4 are reported. The structural characteristics, including the long-range and short-range order, forbidden reflections, and the existence of mixed ordering, were studied by transmission electron microscopy. The most prominent microstructural feature of this compound, which has composition variations in the micro- and nano-regions, was investigated. The presence of the pyrochlore phase and the complex arrangement of inclusions that originate from processing are illustrated. The electrical characteristics of the compound including pyroelectric, piezoelectric, electrostrictive and hysteresis properties are reported. Notable properties of the compound include a reduced hysteresis loop and nonlinear behavior at high field.

In this work we present the structural, and vibrational properties of ferroelectric Pb1-xSrxTiO3 (PST). Thin films of PST were prepared by using sol-gel technique for various compositions with x values ranging from 0.0–1.0. Respective compositions were also prepared in ceramic and powder forms using sol-gel and solid-state reaction methods. X-ray diffraction was used for the structural characterization of these materials. Raman spectroscopy was utilized to study the phases and lattice vibrational modes, especially the soft mode in PST compositions. The temperature dependence of the soft mode frequency for different PST compositions revealed that the phase transition temperatures increased with increasing Pb contents in PST system. Ferroelectric properties of the films were correlated with the substitution-induced changes in the material.

In the present work we have deposited MgO and Ba0.5Sr0.5TiO3 (BST50) thin layers in different sequences to make MgO:BST50 hetero-structured thin films. These films were characterized by X-ray diffraction and found to be highly (100) textured. The figure of merit {(C0-Cv)/(C0.tand)} of the hetero-structured films was found to be higher as compared to pure BST50 films measured at 1 MHz frequency with electric field of 25.3 kV/cm. These films were used to make eight element coupled micro-strip phase shifter and characterized in a frequency range of 13–15 GHz. The high frequency figure of merit (k factor, defined as the ratio of degree of phase shift per dB loss) measured at around 14 GHz with electric field of 333 kV/cm has been markedly improved (around 64.28 °/dB for hetero-structured film as compared to 24.65 °/dB for pure film). Improvement in dielectric properties in a wide frequency range in the MgO:BST are believed to be due to the higher densification of the hetero-structured films.

Relaxor ferroelectrics are one of the important classes of self-assembled nanostructure composite materials. Interesting features associated with the nanoregions give rise to the most interesting device related characteristics and unusual properties in these materials. Besides, they possess the largest property coefficients by themselves or when modified with lead titanate (PT). In this report, a detailed temperature dependent study has been carried out on (1-x)PZN-xPT relaxors with compositions x = 0.05 and 0.085 using polarized Raman scattering under optical and E-field variables and inferred the structure-property relations in order to obtain information to characterize the material for matching the application criteria. In addition, phase transitions associated with the relaxors have also been investigated to understand the polarization mechanism(s) for the unpoled and poled specimens.