Free-Will Arbitrary Time Consensus for Multiagent Systems.

In this article, the free-will arbitrary time consensus is formulated for multiagent systems. This consensus protocol is independent of initial conditions and any other system parameters. With such a protocol, the multiagent system is shown to attain consensus as well as average consensus within the prespecified arbitrary time. Agents rendezvous can also be accomplished with the given protocol. Communication imperfections are easily handled with the designed protocol. Robust free-will arbitrary time consensus protocol is also designed. The stability of such nonlinear nonautonomous protocols is established using suitable Lyapunov functions. Simulation examples confirm the theoretical findings.

A Self-Referenced Diffraction-Based Optical Leaky Waveguide Biosensor Using Photofunctionalised Hydrogels.

We report a novel self-referenced diffraction-based leaky waveguide (LW) comprising a thin (~2 µm) film of a photofunctionalisable hydrogel created by covalent attachment of a biotinylated photocleavable linker to chitosan. Streptavidin attached to the chitosan via the photocleavable linker was selectively removed by shining 365 nm light through a photomask to create an array of strips with high and low loading of the protein, which served as sensor and reference regions respectively. The differential measurements between sensor and reference regions were used for measuring analytes (i.e., biotin protein A and IgG) while reducing environmental and non-specific effects. These include changes in temperature and sample composition caused by non-adsorbing and adsorbing species, leading to reduction in effects by ~98%, ~99%, and ~97% respectively compared to the absolute measurements. The novelty of this work lies in combining photofunctionalisable hydrogels with diffraction-based LWs for referencing. This is needed to realise the full potential of label-free optical biosensors to measure analyte concentrations in real samples that are complex mixtures, and to allow for sample analysis outside of laboratories where drifts and fluctuations in temperature are observed.

Study and Comparison of Metabolic Profile of Lean and Obese Subjects with Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is conventionally considered to be a disease of obese subjects. Recent data suggests increasing incidence of NAFLD among lean subjects also. The aim of this study was to evaluate the metabolic profile of lean subjects with NAFLD and compare it with obese subjects with NAFLD. We also aimed to compare the same with lean subjects without NAFLD. METHODS: This study included 250 subjects with NAFLD and 500 non-NAFLD controls. Clinical, anthropological and biochemical data were collected. Subjects with body mass index (BMI) >= 25 kg/m2 were taken as obese and subjects with BMI <25 kg/m2 were taken as lean. Study population was divided into four groups i.e. lean subjects with NAFLD (LN), obese subjects with NAFLD (ON), lean subjects without NAFLD (LNN) and obese subjects without NAFLD (ONN). RESULTS: Out of 250 NAFLD subjects, 69 (27.6%) were lean. Out of 69 lean subjects with NAFLD, 54 (78.3%) were having diabetes mellitus. Metabolic profile (including lipid profile, diabetic profile) of lean subjects with NAFLD was significantly abnormal in comparison to lean non-NAFLD subjects. Proportion of subjects with metabolic syndrome was also comparable in both lean and obese NAFLD groups. Despite having comparable BMI, LN groups had significantly higher waist circumference (WC) than LNN. Mean total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL were significantly higher in obese NAFLD in comparison to lean NAFLD. Mean HDL and VLDL were comparable among both groups. Mean FBS, HbA1c, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR were significantly higher among lean NAFLD group in comparison to obese NAFLD group. Obese NAFLD group had significantly higher levels of SGPT and SGOT as compared to lean NAFLD group. CONCLUSION: Lean NAFLD has significantly higher WC in comparison to non-NAFLD counterparts suggesting possible association with central adiposity. Lean and obese NAFLD share common set of metabolic abnormalities, albeit with varying intensity. Lean NAFLD has more severe insulin resistance in comparison to obese NAFLD. Lean NAFLD subjects appeared to have less severe transaminasemia.

The Outcome of Primary Hepatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Primary hepatic neuroendocrine tumor is an extremely rare entity. Only case reports are available in the literature. The aim of the study was to analyze the symptoms, diagnosis, management, and the outcome of patients with primary liver neuroendocrine tumors. METHODS: In the study, a total of eight patients were diagnosed with primary liver neuroendocrine tumors between 2001 and 2017 in our center. Data were analyzed from the records available including the presentation, diagnosis, treatment received, and follow-up. RESULTS: Of eight patients, five were males and three were females. The age of presentation was between 35 and 70 years. Two patients had pain in the right side of the abdomen, while it was accidentally detected in two patients in routine checkup. One patient presented with carcinoid syndrome, while two had ascites and one patient presented only with loose motions. Of eight patients, two patients with poorly differentiated neuroendocrine tumor died within 1 month of follow-up. Four patients are still being followed up, while 10-12 years of follow-up data are available for the remaining two patients. Four patients underwent surgery, and three patients received Sandostatin LAR for tumor recurrence after procedure. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) of the tumor was performed in two patients for whom resection was not possible. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the prognosis of the tumor seems favorable. Surgical resection is the curative treatment. TACE is a favorable option in unresectable tumors.

Multi-angle ZnO microstructures grown on Ag nanorods array for plasmon-enhanced near-UV-blue light emitter.

Metal enhanced ultraviolet light emission has been explored in ZnO/Ag hybrid structures prepared by hydrothermal growth of multi-angled ZnO nanorods on slanted Ag nanorods array fabricated by the thermal evaporation technique. Slanted Ag nanorods are realized to be the stacking of non-spherical Ag nanoparticles, resulting in asymmetric surface plasmon resonance spectra. The surface roughness of Ag nanorod array films significantly influences the growth mechanism of ZnO nanorods, leading to the formation of multi-angled ZnO microflowers. ZnO/Ag hybrid structures facilitate the interfacial charge transfer from Ag to ZnO with the realization of negative shift in binding energy of Ag 3d orbitals by ∼0.8 eV. These high quality ZnO nanorods in ZnO/Ag hybrid nanostructures exhibit strong ultraviolet emission in the 383-396 nm region without broad deep level emission, which can be explained by a suitable band diagram. The metal enhanced photoluminescence is witnessed mainly due to interfacial charge transfer with its dependence on surface roughness of bottom layer Ag nanorods, number density of ZnO nanorods and diversity in the interfacial area between Ag and ZnO nanorods. The existence of strong ultraviolet light with minor blue light emission and appearance of CIE shade in strong violet-blue region by ZnO/Ag hybrid structures depict exciting possibilities towards near UV-blue light emitting devices.

Parathyroid Cancer Causing Acute Severe Pancreatitis.

Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare disease and accounts for less than 1% of all cases of primary hyperparathyroidism. Many times, parathyroid carcinoma is detected only after surgery. Parathyroid carcinoma as a cause of acute pancreatitis is uncommon. We report this case of acute severe pancreatitis associated with parathyroid carcinoma. Hypercalcemia was found during workup for acute pancreatitis which was due to primary hyperparathyroidism. During surgery, there was a suspicion of parathyroid carcinoma and en bloc resection was done followed by adjuvant radiation therapy. It is important to treat the precipitating factor for acute pancreatitis. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment for parathyroid carcinoma.