Rescue haploidentical peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for engraftment failure: a single-centre case series

Graft failure affects approximately 5% of allogeneic stem cell transplants, with a poor prognosis. Salvage second allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT2) is limited by high rates of transplant-related mortality from infection and graft-versus-host disease. We report on five adult patients receiving rescue alloSCT2 using haploidentical peripheral blood stem cells. All patients achieved neutrophil engraftment, two subsequently died from sepsis and disease relapse, respectively. Three patients remain alive up to 2 years post-transplant. We suggest consideration of haploidentical alloSCT2 for patients with graft failure.

Magnetic structure and field-dependent magnetic phase diagram of Ni2In-type PrCuSi

The magnetic structure of the ternary equiatomic intermetallic compound PrCuSi is investigated using neutron powder diffraction experiments in 0 T as well as in external magnetic fields up to 2 T. The PrCuSi compound crystallizes in the hexagonal Ni₂In-type structure, in the space group P6₃/mmc. In this structure, cationic ordering of Cu and Si takes place. The antiferromagnetic phase transition in the Pr sublattice takes place at [Formula: see text] K in 0 T. Under an external magnetic field of 2 T, a field-induced ferromagnetic phase is observed. Magnetoelastic coupling is evidenced by an increase in the unit cell volume. Clear signatures of a mixed antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic phase in weak, intermediate fields, 0.4-0.8 T, are obtained from the present study. Using the present set of experimental data, we construct the H  -  T phase diagram of PrCuSi.

Effect of dietary manipulation and vaccination of turkey breeder hens on immunoglobulin levels of yolk, yolk sac and neonate poults

Two hundred turkey breeder hens and 24 viable toms of 30-35 weeks age of small white variety were distributed into two treatment groups having four replicates of 25 hens and three toms in each treatment. First four replicates were offered a turkey breeder diet (Diet A) (Nutrient requirements of poultry, 1994, National Academic Press, Washington, DC) and the rest four replicates were maintained on a higher plane of nutrition (Diet B) for 8-week duration. After 6 weeks of experimental feeding, two replicates from each treatment groups were vaccinated with ND (R₂ B) vaccine. Yolk sac of embryo from birds fed Diet B had a significantly higher (p < .05) IgG, IgM level and HI titre (log 2) than those fed Diet A. HI titre values of embryonic yolk sac from the vaccinated birds fed Diet B were significantly higher (p < .05) than that of the control groups. In addition, HI titre values were significantly higher (p < .05) in the day-old poults of the birds fed Diet B than that of those fed Diet A. There was significantly (p < .01) positive correlation between serum IgG and IgM of the breeder birds and day-old chicks. Similarly, there was significantly (p < .05) positive correlation between yolk IgG and IgM after 1-month experimental feeding and yolk sac IgG and IgM. Positive correlation (p < .05) also existed between yolk sac IgM and day-old chick serum IgM. Furthermore, the HI titres of breeder birds' serum at 14 days post-vaccination were positively correlated with their egg yolk after 10 and 15 days post-vaccination, yolk sac and day-old chicks. Thus, the study envisaged that a higher immunity in neonate poults from turkey breeders maintained on a higher plane of nutrition may be elicited as there was maternal transfer of antibodies from the serum of breeder birds to their offsprings through their yolk sac.

Structural investigations on uranium(vi) and thorium(iv) complexation with TBP and DHOA: a spectroscopic study

Spectroscopic studies were carried out to understand the complexation of U(vi) and Th(iv) with tri-butyl phosphate (TBP) and N,N-dihexyl octanamide (DHOA) in different non-aqueous solvents.

Microbial acceleration of aerobic pyrite oxidation at circumneutral pH

Pyrite (FeS₂ ) is the most abundant sulfide mineral on Earth and represents a significant reservoir of reduced iron and sulfur both today and in the geologic past. In modern environments, oxidative transformations of pyrite and other metal sulfides play a key role in terrestrial element partitioning with broad impacts to contaminant mobility and the formation of acid mine drainage systems. Although the role of aerobic micro-organisms in pyrite oxidation under acidic-pH conditions is well known, to date there is very little known about the capacity for aerobic micro-organisms to oxidize pyrite at circumneutral pH. Here, we describe two enrichment cultures, obtained from pyrite-bearing subsurface sediments, that were capable of sustained cell growth linked to pyrite oxidation and sulfate generation at neutral pH. The cultures were dominated by two Rhizobiales species (Bradyrhizobium sp. and Mesorhizobium sp.) and a Ralstonia species. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing and genome reconstruction indicated the presence of Fe and S oxidation pathways in these organisms, and the presence of a complete Calvin-Benson-Bassham CO₂ fixation system in the Bradyrhizobium sp. Oxidation of pyrite resulted in thin (30-50 nm) coatings of amorphous Fe(III) oxide on the pyrite surface, with no other secondary Fe or S phases detected by electron microscopy or X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Rates of microbial pyrite oxidation were approximately one order of magnitude higher than abiotic rates. These results demonstrate the ability of aerobic microbial activity to accelerate pyrite oxidation and expand the potential contribution of micro-organisms to continental sulfide mineral weathering around the time of the Great Oxidation Event to include neutral-pH environments. In addition, our findings have direct implications for the geochemistry of modern sedimentary environments, including stimulation of the early stages of acid mine drainage formation and mobilization of pyrite-associated metals.

Superconducting gap structure in the electron doped BiS2-based superconductor

The influence of electron doping on semimetallic SrFBiS₂ has been investigated by means of resistivity, zero and transverse  -  field (ZF/TF) muon spin relaxation/rotation (μSR) experiments. SrFBiS₂ is semimetallic in its normal state and small amounts of La doping results in bulk superconductivity at 2.8 K, at ambient pressure. The temperature dependence of the superfluid density as determined by TF-μSR can be best modelled by an isotropic s  -  wave type superconducting gap. We have estimated the magnetic penetration depth [Formula: see text] nm, superconducting carrier density [Formula: see text] carriers m^-3 and effective-mass enhancement m ^*  =  1.558 m _e. Additionally, there is no clear sign of the occurrence of spontaneous internal magnetic fields below [Formula: see text], which implies that the superconducting state in this material can not be categorized by the broken time-reversal symmetry which is in agreement with the previous theoretical prediction.

Kondo lattice heavy fermion behavior in CeRh2Ga2

The physical properties of an intermetallic compound CeRh₂Ga₂ have been investigated by magnetic susceptibility [Formula: see text], isothermal magnetization M(H), heat capacity [Formula: see text], electrical resistivity [Formula: see text], thermal conductivity [Formula: see text] and thermopower S(T) measurements. CeRh₂Ga₂ is found to crystallize with CaBe₂Ge₂-type primitive tetragonal structure (space group P4/nmm). No evidence of long range magnetic order is seen down to 1.8 K. The [Formula: see text] data show paramagnetic behavior with an effective moment [Formula: see text]/Ce indicating Ce³⁺ valence state of Ce ions. The [Formula: see text] data exhibit Kondo lattice behavior with a metallic ground state. The low-T [Formula: see text] data yield an enhanced Sommerfeld coefficient [Formula: see text] mJ/mol K² characterizing CeRh₂Ga₂ as a moderate heavy fermion system. The high-T [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] show an anomaly near 255 K, reflecting a phase transition. The [Formula: see text] suggests phonon dominated thermal transport with considerably higher values of Lorenz number L(T) compared to the theoretical Sommerfeld value L ₀.

Interface phonon modes in the [AlN/GaN]20 and [Al0.35Ga0.65N/Al0.55Ga0.45N]20 2D multi-quantum well structures

The observation of interface (IF) phonon modes in the recorded Raman spectra of c-plane oriented [AlN/GaN]₂₀ and [Al_0.35Ga_0.65N/Al_0.55Ga_0.45N]₂₀ multi-quantum well (MQW) structures grown via plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy is reported. The nominal shift in the IF phonon mode of E₁ symmetry for [Al_0.35Ga_0.65N/Al_0.55Ga_0.45N]₂₀ compared to that of the [AlN/GaN]₂₀ MQW structure is understood on the basis of change in dielectric constants (ε_m) of the surrounding medium. The presence of buffer layers in [Al_0.35Ga_0.65N/Al_0.55Ga_0.45N]₂₀ MQW over a sapphire substrate is also understood by characterizing the IF phonon mode of A₁ symmetry. The observed IF phonon modes in the spectra are attributed to the relaxation of Raman selection rules away from the Brillouin zone centre because of the breakdown of the translational symmetry of surface potential due to the presence of the periodic interfaces and surface modulations in the superlattice structures of MQWs. The corresponding required edge lengths (L) of 2D plates, for the observation of the breakdown of the surface potential, are computed from the simulated dispersion relation curve of IF modes. The integral multiples of uniformly distributed platelets, originated due to the horizontal uneven irregularities on the surface of superlattices, are matched with the calculated L values.

Outcome Analysis of Fernandez Osteotomy in Malunited Extra-Articular Fractures of Distal Radius

Deformity of wrist is very common after mal union of extra articular fractures over distal end of Radius. It causes limitation of movements too in different directions with or without pain. Deformity may be treated by different types of corrective osteotomy. We treated cases of this type of malunion with Fernandez osteotomy. This study is to observe the amount of correction and recovery of functional status in patients with malunited distal radius fractures treated with Fernandez osteotomy. This is a prospective study. We treated 10 cases of malunited radius with Fernandez osteotomy from February 2013 to October 2014 in the Departments of Orthopaedics, Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, India. There were six males and four females with mean age of thirty years (with range from twenty to forty years. Indications for surgical intervention include pain and functional deficit severe enough to interfere significantly with daily activities. Radius is exposed through distal dorsal radial incision and radial osteotomy done two and half centimetre proximal to the wrist joint and after achieving correction; gap is filled with iliac bone graft and fixed with contoured distal radius T-plate. Follow up was for an average one year and three months. Results were excellent in one, satisfactory in four cases, good in four cases and bad in one case. Fernandez osteotomy is valuable option for correction of malunited distal radius fracture especially in young demanding patients.

Complexation thermodynamics of diglycolamide with f-elements: solvent extraction and density functional theory analysis

Optimized complexes of Lu³⁺ with TMDGA in 1 : 1, 1 : 2 and 1 : 3 stoichiometric ratios and plots of theoretically calculated stepwise binding energy.

YnfA , a SMR family efflux pump is abundant in Escherichia coli isolates from urinary infection

A quantitative study was undertaken to determine the expression level of different efflux pumps in multi-drug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli isolates from urinary infection. We have determined the presence of different efflux pumps and measured the expression level of tolC, mdfA, norE and ynfA genes among 48 isolates by quantitative real-time PCR. The expression level of tolC and ynfA was constantly high and observed among 75-80% of isolates, whereas mdfA and norE were expressed occasionally. Our findings suggest that ynfA, a new SMR efflux pump gene family member increases the antibiotics' resistance in E. coli.

Two dimensional magnetic correlation in the unconventional corrugated layered oxides (Ba,Sr)₄Mn₃O₁₀

Both Ba4Mn3O10 and Sr4Mn3O10 crystallize in an orthorhombic crystal structure consisting of corrugated layers containing Mn3O12 polydedra. The thermal variation of magnetic susceptibility of the compositions consists of a broad hump like feature indicating the presence of low dimensional magnetic correlation. We have systematically investigated the magnetic data of these compounds and found that the experimental results match quite well with the two dimensional Heisenberg model of spin-spin interaction. The two dimensional nature of the magnetic spin-spin interaction is supported by the low temperature heat capacity data of Ba4Mn3O10. Interestingly, both the samples show dielectric anomaly near the magnetic ordering temperature indicating multiferroic behavior.