A Quaternionic Wavelet Transform-based Approach for Object Recognition

Recognizing the objects in complex natural scenes is the challenging task as the object may be occluded, may vary in shape, position and in size. In this paper a method to recognize objects from different categories of images using quaternionic wavelet transform (QWT) is presented. This transform separates the information contained in the image better than a traditional Discrete wavelet transform and provides a multiscale image analysis whose coefficients are 2D analytic, with one near-shift invariant magnitude and three phases. The two phases encode local image shifts and the third one contains texture information. In the domain of object recognition, it is often to classify objects from images that make only limited part of the image. Hence to identify local features and certain region of images, patches are extracted over the interest points detected from the original image using Wavelet based interest point detector. Here QWT magnitude and phase features are computed for every patch. Then these features are trained, tested and classified using SVM classifier in order to have supervised learning model. In order to compare the performance of local feature with global feature, the transform is applied to the entire image and the global features are derived. The performance of QWT is compared with discrete wavelet transform (DWT) and dual tree discrete wavelet transform (DTDWT). Observations revealed that QWT outperforms the DWT and shift invariant DTDWT with lesser equal error rate. The experimental evaluation is done using the complex Graz databases.Defence Science Journal, Vol. 64, No. 4, July 2014, pp. 350-357, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.64.450

Wilson Disease: Uncommon but Not to Be Forgotten

Wilson disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder caused by mutations of ATP7B, a copper transporter, which results in impaired copper clearance. Its clinical manifestations are varied and can result in a mix of hepatic and neuropsychiatric symptoms. We present the case of a 26-year-old female with a past medical history of alcohol use who presented with right upper quadrant abdominal pain with associated vomiting, jaundice, and fatigue. She was found to have signs and symptoms of decompensated cirrhosis and was initially concerned about superimposed alcoholic hepatitis. With low ceruloplasmin and alkaline phosphatase, the suspicion for WD remained, and the patient underwent liver transplantation due to her worsening clinical status. The quantitative hepatic copper content of the explanted liver was elevated, and genetic testing confirmed the diagnosis of WD. Our case highlights the importance of including WD in the differential of a young patient with severe liver disease, and it highlights the utility of the phosphatidyl ethanol (PEth) test as a marker for chronic severe alcohol use. In patients with a significant alcohol use history, the diagnosis of WD should still be considered for those with reasonable clinical suspicion

Kanta-asiakasjärjestelmän ja liikeidean päivittäminen asiakastyytyväisyyskyselyn avulla : case: Kauneuskeskus Eleganssi

Opinnäytetyön toimeksiantajana toimi Kauneuskeskus Eleganssi, jolla on kolme toimipistettä Keski-Suomen alueella. Toimeksiantajan toiveena oli selvittää asiakastyytyväisyys, pääasiassa kanta-asiakkailta, sillä aiemmin asiakastyytyväisyyskyselyä ei ole tehty. Pääasiassa toimeksiantaja halusi saada selville, mitä palveluita sekä tuotteita käytetään ja kuinka tyytyväisiä niihin ollaan sekä selvittää mahdolliset kehitysehdotukset. Opinnäytetyön tarkoituksena oli saada luotettavia ja käyttökelpoisia tuloksia asiakastyytyväisyydestä. Tulosten avulla haluttiin toteuttamiskelpoisia kehitysehdotuksia tyytyväisyyden parantamiseksi ja ylläpitämiseksi, kanta-asiakasjärjestelmän kehittämiseksi ja liikeidean täsmentämiseksi. Asiakastyytyväisyyden selvittämiseksi suoritettiin asiakastyytyväisyystutkimus. Tutkimus pohjautui kirjallisuuteen ja Kauneuskeskus Eleganssin toiveisiin. Tutkimuksessa otettiin huomioon tuotteet, palvelut, ulkoinen ja sisäinen ympäristö sekä kanta-asiakkuus. Tutkimus toimitettiin kaikille kanta-asiakkaille sähköpostilla, ja muilla asiakkailla oli mahdollisuus vastata kyselyyn toimipisteissä paperiversiona. Asiakastyytyväisyyskyselyn otos oli yhteensä 606 lomaketta. Verkkokyselyyn vastasi 70 asiakasta ja vastausprosentti oli 14,7. Liikkeistä saatiin yhteensä 25 vastausta ja vastausprosentti oli 19,2. Tuloksista selvisi, että asiakkaat ovat yleensä tyytyväisiä tai erittäin tyytyväisiä Kauneuskeskus Eleganssin toimintaan ja tarjontaan. Negatiiviset tulokset olivat suurimmaksi osaksi yksittäisiä eivätkä vastanneet yleistä näkemystä. Suurimmiksi ongelmiksi tutkimuksessa osoittautuivat epäselvyys kanta-asiakkuudesta ja kanta-asiakkaiden hallinta. Kyselyn tulosten perusteella kanta-asiakasjärjestelmään liittyen tehtiin muutama kehitysehdotus, joiden avulla Kauneuskeskus Eleganssin olisi helppoa aloittaa kanta-asiakkaiden hallinta. Lisäksi kehitysideoissa käsiteltiin palautteenantoa ja liikeidea päivitettiin tutkimustulosten pohjalta ajan tasalle.The assigner of the bachelor’s thesis, Kauneuskeskus Eleganssi, is located in three places in Central Finland. Kauneuskeskus Eleganssi wished to find out their customers’, mainly regular customers’, satisfaction, with the services, which had not been studied before. The assigner wished to find out what products and services the customers preferred, the overall customer satisfaction and possible development proposals. The idea of the bachelor’s thesis was to gain reliable and useful results of customer satisfaction. The aim was to create realizable development proposals which create and sustain customer satisfaction, improve the regular customer system and define the business idea. The sample of customer satisfaction survey was 606. To find out the customer satisfaction, a customer satisfaction survey was conducted. The survey was based on literature and the assigner’s wishes. The survey included questions of the products, services, staff, business environment and regular customer system. The survey was distributed to all regular customers via email. The survey was also available as a paper version in all three places. The whole sample was 606 questionnaires. 70 customers responded the online questionnaire and the response rate was 14,7. 25 responses were received from stores and the response rate was 19,2. The results indicated that customers were either satisfied or extremely satisfied with the services and products provided by Kauneuskeskus Eleganssi. The negative feedback was mostly single and they did not represent the overall opinion. The main problem, as the survey indicated, was the vagueness of the regular customer system and the maintenance of the relationship with the regular customers. The bachelor’s thesis provides a few development proposals of how to improve the regular customer system and customers’ feedback system. Furthermore the business idea was upgraded based on the results of the survey

Comparison of Induction and Recovery characteristics of Propofol and Sevoflurane in Day Care Adult Tonsillectomies

INTRODUCTION: Ambulatory anaesthesia is one administered for elective surgical procedure performed on carefully selected patients, which is undertaken with all its constituent elements (admission, surgery and discharge home) on the same day. It is also referred to as day case, day care or outpatient anaesthesia and more recently office - based anaesthesia. Ambulatory anaesthesia is a rapidly growing subspecialty. Although its history is as old as the history of general anaesthesia itself, it has emerged as a recognized concept and is evolving over the past couple of decades. In the US, it comprises 70 percent of anaesthesia services provided. In the UK, the NHS plan, published recently predicts that 75 percent of elective surgical procedures will soon be conducted as day cases. Back home, 70 percent of elective surgeries that qualify the criteria are performed as day cases in Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai. Anaesthetic agents today have been designed and marketed to meet specific niche criteria for ambulatory anaesthesia. Among the agents available in India, propofol and sevoflurane have increased the ability of the anaesthesiologist to provide a successful day case experience. The present study compares the induction and recovery characteristics of these two anaesthetic drugs and their usefulness in ambulatory anaesthesia. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study is to compare the induction and recovery characteristics of propofol and sevoflurane by the time to loss of consciousness, incidence of apnoea, induction complications, recovery times and incidence of postoperative nausea,vomiting & pain when they are used as sole induction and maintenance anaesthetic agent in adult tonsillectomies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was carried out in the ENT theatre, Government General Hospital, Chennai after obtaining ethical committee and institutional approval. The aim of the study was to compare the induction and recovery characteristics of propofol and sevoflurane when they are used as single induction and maintenance anaesthetic agent in adult day care tonsillectomies. STUDY DESIGN: The study was a randomized prospective study. SELECTION OF CASES: Forty patients undergoing tonsillectomy were selected for the study. Their age ranged from 13 to 40 years. All the patients were assessed and those with normal clinical, biochemical, radiological and haematological parameters were selected. Informed written consent was obtained from all the patients and parents in case of minor. Each patient was randomly allocated to either the propofol or the sevoflurane group by lots. The groups were named ‘P’ for propofol and ‘S’ for sevoflurane. INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Assessed patients of ASA physical status I & II. 2.Normal biochemical and haematological parameters. 3. Age group between 13 to 40 years. 4. No known hypersensitivity to egg or drugs. 5. Airway – MPC I & II. 6. Undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. 7. Surgery lasting around one hour. 8. Patients normally able to ambulate well. 9. Educated attender who can understand and carryout instructions. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Patient not willing, 2. ASA class III and above, 3. Patients with H/O drug or egg allergy, 4. Anticipated difficult airway, 5. H/O serious adverse experience with anaesthesia, 6. Severe CVS/RS/CNS/ Metabolic disease. MATERIALS: 1. Anaesthesia machine with sevoflurane vaporizer. 2. Appropriate drugs in labeled, preloaded syringes. 3. functioning Laryngoscope with appropriate size blades 4. Appropriate sized endotracheal tubes, 5. Equipments and drugs for resuscitation. METHODS: Patients were assessed pre-operatively. Procedure was explained to the patient and informed consent obtained. They were assessed with particular attention to any contraindications. The tests for recovery and the importance of strictly following instructions were emphasized. SUMMARY: Despite the low blood: gas solubility of sevoflurane, the inhalation induction of anaesthesia was slower than intravenous induction with propofol. Though the incidence of induction complications was more with sevoflurane group, they did not compromise tracheal intubation or haemadynamics except severe bradycardia observed in one patient. The increased incidence of apnoea in both groups is attributable to the enhancement of the ventilatory depressant effect of propofol and sevoflurane by the opioid fentanyl. The shorter emergence time in the sevoflurane group did not translate into a shorter hospital study. And the increased incidence of PONV and pain did not affect the time for home readiness. Though the small sample size in our study precludes drawing statistical conclusions, sevoflurane is found to be a useful alternative for elective procedures of short duration. CONCLUSION: On comparing the induction and recovery characteristics of propofol and sevoflurane in adult tonsillectomies, it was found that:- · Induction with sevoflurane is slower and with more complications. · Incidence of apnoea is equal in both groups. · Phase I & II recovery times were comparable between both groups. · Sevoflurane anaesthesia was associated with high PONV and postoperative pain rate which is statiscally not significant. · The smoother induction and less post operative PONV and pain with propofol make it more ideal for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia in adult outpatient surgeries

Evaluation of the Proliferative and Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition Characteristics in Oral Epithelial Dysplasia: A Case Control study

BACKGROUND: Abnormal proliferations, presence of cancer stem cells and epithelial mesenchymal transition have been hypothesized to play a vital role in the malignant transformation of dysplastic epithelium. The evaluation of these characteristics using molecular markers is been carried out in this study. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To study and compare the expression of the proliferative marker Ki-67, cancer stem cell marker Oct-4, cell to cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin in oral epithelial dysplasia cases compared to controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissue sections of Oral epithelial dysplasia (n= 30) with equal representation from each grade which were histopathologicaly diagnosed were used in this study. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed with the antibodies against Ki-67, Oct-4 and E-cadherin and scoring was done based on the scoring criteria. RESULTS: Ki-67 expression between cases and controls was statistically significant, Oct-4 expression between cases and controls was not statistically significant and the expression of E-cadherin between cases and controls was statistically significant between cases and controls. CONCLUSION: The significant difference in the expression of the proliferative marker Ki67 and cell to cell adhesion molecule E cadherin between cases and controls suggest that these markers may play a vital role in transformation to malignancy

Designand Development of Novel Multilayer Chitosaninserts containing Doxycycline Hyclate

Periodontal diseases are recognized as the major public health problem throughout the world. Daily oral hygiene plays a vital role in maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Periodontal disease can do occur in all age groups, ethnicities, races, genders and socioeconomic levels. Novel multilayer inserts of doxycycline hyclate can be formulated by solvent casting method technique. Evaluation parameters like thickness, tensile strength and folding endurance indicates that inserts were mechanically stable in all the inserts formulations. Percentage weight variation and drug content uniformity found to be uniform in all the formulations. The FT-IR and DSC spectra revealed that, there was no interaction between polymer and drug. Hence, Polymer used was compatible with the drug. In-vitro drug release showed an abrupt release in the first day in single layer whereas this initial burst release was controlled by formulating in to bilayer and trilayer which was controlled the release uniformity in a specified period of time. In-vitro antibacterial activity showed good correlation with respective in-vitro drug release. Release kinetics from all the inserts follows diffusion rate controlled mechanism, all the inserts were found to be stable over the storage period of 90 days and condition tested. From this study it can be concluded that bilayer and trilayer were developed which can be delivered drug up to 13 and 17 days respectively

Comparative Evaluation of the effects of addition of Intrathecal Fentanyl and Clonidine added to 0.5% Hyperbaric Bupivacaine for Lower Segment Caesarean Section: A Study of 120 Cases

INTRODUCTION: Relief of Pain is purchased always at a price – Ralph Waters. “For all the happiness mankind can gain is not in pleasure but in rest from pain”. – John Dyrden. The aim of anesthesiology as a science is the removal of pain temporarily started initially with pain relief for surgeries, extending now to post operative pain relief, relief of chronic pain and cancer pain. Spinalanesthesia plays in important role of alleviating pain intraoperatively, extending sometime into postoperative period also. The entry of Corning’s needle in 1885-into the subarachnoid space paved the way for the greatest leap into spinal anaesthesia. His words “Be the density of this observation, what it may have seemed to me on the whole, worth recording. This opened the prologue for the word “spinal anaesthesia”. Cocaine was the drug first used experimentally in dogs. In men the first spinal anaesthesia was conducted by “August Bier” on 16.8.1898 with cocaine 3 ml as 0.5% solution followed by Matas in America and Tuffier in France. Spinal anesthesia for caesarean section has always enjoyed popularity as it eliminates the complication of pulmonary aspiration and avoids the problem of difficult tracheal intubation observed with general anaesthesia. Other advantages of this technique are its simplicity, rapid onset and dependability. The demonstration of opiate receptors in substantia gelatinosa of spinal cord (Yaksh and Rudy 1976) has created interest in the intrathecal administration of opiates. The use of intrathecal morphine for providing postoperative pain relief in caesarean section was started in the year 1988 by EzzazAboulesish et.al. The advantages of neuraxial opioids over neuraxial local anesthetics are that it produces prolonged, intense, selective, segmental analgesia without motor blockade and sympathetic dysfunction. Opiods and local anesthetics administered together have a potent synergistic analgesic effect. Intrathecal opiods enhance analgesia from subtherapeutic dose of local anesthetic and make it possible to achieve successful spinal anaesthesia using otherwise inadequate doses of local anesthetic. The α2 adrenergicmechanism have been exploited for more than 100 yrs. Vetenarians have used α2 agonist for many years for regional analgesia, but the experience with these agents in humans, dates back only slightly more than 10 years. In 1984 Tamsen, Gordh after testing neurotoxicity in animals and then injected a parenteral preparation of α2 agonist clonidine, epidurally intwo patients with chronic pain. Since then the complete toxicologic assessment in animal studies has suggested that clonidine is safe for Intrathecal use. AIM OF THE STUDY: 1. To evaluate the effects of fentanyl and clonidineadded to Bupivacaine, for caesarean section in spinal Anaesthesia 2. To evaluate the duration of analgesia by comparing two groups. 3. To evaluate the hemodynamic effects, post-operative sedation and neonatal outcome between the two groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Following approval by the institutions ethical committee, this prospective study was done at Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital, Tirunelveli in 120 patients undergoing elective or emergency caesarean section after getting informed consent from each patient and explaining the procedure. This is a randomized prospective comparative study. Inclusion Exclusion Criteria: Term, parturient, ASA I an ASA IE who were fit to undergo spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section, age between 18-35 yrs., are selected. Patients with medical and obstetrical complications and impaired placental function were excluded; patients who were converted to general Anaesthesia were also excluded from the study. Preoperative Preparation: Preoperatively all patients were seen by the anesthetist. The procedure was explained in detail and informed consent was obtained. No premedication was given. Patients were randomly allocated into 3 groups of 40 each. A- Control Group - Injection (0.5%) Bupivacaine 1.8 ml + 0.4 ml NS, B- Study group 1 inj. (0.5%) Bupivacaine 1.8 ml + Clonidine 30 μg) + 0.2 ml NS, C- Study group 2 Inj (0.5%) Bupivacaine 1.8 ml + Clonidine (30 μg) +fentanyl (10μg). OBSERVATIONS: Statistical Analysis: The Randomization of three groups was done by matching their age, height, and weight of their demographic factors and base Physiological factors such as pulse rate, SBP, respiration rate and SPO2 by ANOVA (Analysis of Variance). The differences between them were interpreted by the Post hoc test of Bonferroni. Similarly, the time for maximum loss of sensation, the 2 segment regression time, pain free time and Apgar score at 1 minute and 5 minutes were compared between groups by ANOVA. The intra and post-operative pulse rate and SBP at different intervals were compared between groups by ANOVA and interpreted the difference by Post hoc test of Bonferroni.The sensation level and sedation score were analyzed and interpreted by χ2 test (Chi- square). The above statistical procedures were performed by the statistical package IBM SPSS statistics 20. The P - values less than 0.05 (P<0.05) were treated as significant in two tail condition. CONCLUSION: The above study bears out the following facts. 1. Intrathecal clonidine and the clonidine fentanyl combination, both improved quality of Intra Operative analgesia. 2. Combination of clonidine with fentanyl increased the intra operative analgesic efficacy and significantly prolonged postoperative analgesia compared with clonidine alone. 3. Stable Intra Operative hemodynamics was obtained. 4. Duration of analgesia was prolonged. 5. The incidence of side effects due to additive effects of the drugs was minimal. 6. Fetal outcome was not altered