Employing VLC technology for transmitting data in biological tissue

Abstract. With the development in wireless communication methods, visible light communication (VLC), a subset of Optical Wireless Communication (OWC) has garnered much attention to employ the technology for a secure short-range wireless communication. We present a feasibility study to determine the performance of VLC in short range wireless transmission of data through biological tissue. VLC is a cost efficient and secure means of transmitting high volume of data wirelessly which can considerably reduce the interference issues caused by electromagnetic pulses and external electric fields. We present a simple measurement approach based on Monte Carlo simulation of photon propagation in tissue to estimate the strength of wireless communication with body implant devices. Using light for communication brings inherent security against unauthorized access of digital data which could be acquired from the low energy body implant devices used for medical diagnosis and other studies. This thesis discusses the typical components required to establish VLC such as, transmitter, receiver and the channel mediums. Furthermore, two cases of Monte Carlo simulation of photon-tissue interaction are studied to determine a possibility if VLC is a suitable substitute to radio frequency (RF) for a more wireless communication with the body implants. The process of theoretical measurement begins with conversion of light intensity into an electrical signal and an estimation of achievable data rate through a complex heterogeneous biological tissue model. The theoretically achieved data rates of the communication were found to be in the order of megabits per second (Mbps), ensuring a possibility to utilize this technology for short range reliable wireless communication with a wider range and application of implant medical devices. Biophotonics.fi presents a computational simulation of light propagation in different types of computational tissue models comprehensively validated by comparison with the team’s practical implementation of the same setup. This simulation is also used in this thesis (5.2.2) to approximate more accurate data rates of communication in case of a practical implementation

Frequency and associated factors for anxiety and depression in pregnant women: a hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Antepartum anxiety and/or depression is a major public health problem globally. The aim of this study was to estimate the frequency of antepartum anxiety and/or depression among pregnant women. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in a tertiary care hospital among pregnant women. A total of 165 pregnant women were interviewed by a clinical psychologist using HADS for assessing anxiety and/or depression and also collected information regarding sociodemographic, obstetric, family relationships, and home environment. Out of the total of 165 pregnant women about 70 percent of them were either anxious and/or depressed. The increasing age of women (P-value = 0.073), not having any live birth (P-value = 0.036), adverse pregnancy outcome in past including death of a child, stillbirth or abortion (P-value = 0.013), participant\u27s role in household decision making (P-value = 0.013), and domestic violence (verbal or physical abuse towards mother or children by any family member) (P-value = 0.123). Our study highlights that anxiety and/or depression is quite common among pregnant women. Therefore, there is a need to incorporate screening for anxiety and depression in the existing antenatal programs and development of strategies to provide practical support to those identified

Evaluation of Anomalous Coronary Arteries on 64 Slice Multidetector Computerized Tomographic Angiography

Introduction: Anomalous Coronary arteries is a well-known congenital entity with variable effects. The majority of such patients are asymptomatic but some can have adverse effects like ischemia and arrhythmia. Its association with Sudden Cardiac Death in young is established. Objective: To determine the frequency of   ACA on MDCT in patients referred for coronary artery disease assessment and to determine the origin, course, and morphological variable of SCD of ACA on MDCT. Materials and Methods: The study was done in the Department of Cardiovascular Imaging at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology. A retrospective data of patients undergoing CTA for CAD between a  period of Jan 2009 and Dec 2017 were analyzed for the presence of  Anomalous Coronary Artery (ACA). All patients having anomalous origin from opposite coronary cusp and its course were included. The patients with myocardial bridging and coronary artery fistula were excluded. Results: Total patients analyzed with MDCT for CAD and graft assessment between Jan 2009 and December 2017 were 8028. Fifty-three patients were excluded because of poor image quality. Among these ACA were found in 166 (2.08%). Gender distributions were 126 (75.9%) males and 40 (24.09%) females, the mean age in years was 49.31 ± 13.23. The most common ACA was Right coronary artery 83 followed by Left Circumflex 44 (26.50%), Left Anterior Descending Artery 22 (13.25%), and Left Main Stem 17 (10.24%) respectively. Fifty-three (31.92%) patients had previously unknown ACA and were found to have ACA on MDCT and 82 (49.39%) patients were referred following ICA for the confirmation of ACA. The Inter-arterial course was predominant in RCA and Left Coronary Artery 97% and 77% respectively. A retro artic course was predominant (100%) in LCx. Seven patients had associated cyanotic heart disease with ACA. Two patients(one LAD and one RCA) had origin from the Main Pulmonary artery. Conclusion: MDCT is the imaging modality of choice for the evaluation of ACA. It can identify the origin of ACA from opposite coronary cusp and defines the malignant course of ACA for the potential risk of sudden cardiac death

Total Quality Management System in an Education Environment: The Case of a Private University in Bahrain

The study aims to analyze and explain the effectiveness and efficiency of implementing total quality management principles in private educational institutions. The context of the study narrowed down the areas of comparisons to tutorial conducts, student affairs and infrastructure. A detailed analysis of the existing total quality management currently in place at the selected university was duly comprehended. This resulted in finding the flaws/weaknesses in the system of universities in the kingdom of Bahrain generally. Findings through a survey and interview sessions indicated that teachers were not consulted for any changes in curriculum which leads to a lack of co-operation between management and teachers. Another problem in regards to the total quality management implementation was that students perceived the university as not being concerned with maintenance of the premises. Moreover, student affairs/services section was seriously lacking sport facilities, limited training sessions, poor equipment maintenance

Influence of Ansoff Matrix on Food Production Entities in KSA

The focus of the study is to find out the strong influence of Saudi food stuff marketing performance. To obtain the target objective a comprehensive questionnaire was designed and distributed to 300 selected employees of Saudi food stuff companies. Out of 300 questionnaires 223 were recollected which reflect the 75% of the sample. The finding showed that applying Ansoff Model have a strong impact on marketing performance in Saudi food stuff companies. On the basis of these findings  some good recommendation are mad that will be helpful for decision makers to use the model in the effective way to enhance the marketing performance ,as well as to gain their desired goals, objectives, profits and benefits. Keywords: KSA, Ansoff matrix, Questionnaires, Marketing development, Food entities

A study on the association of diabetes and semen quality in and around Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Background: Globally prevalence of diabetes is gradually increasing in individual at reproductive stage. Uncontrolled blood sugar affects biological systems including reproductive. Thus, this study was aimed to analyze the association of diabetes and male infertility in and around Chennai. Methods: Fifty-four male participants who visited the fertility clinic was grouped in two based on the sugar value. An anthropometric measurement, clinical, blood, seminal parameters and life style behaviors was analyzed. All study variables was analyzed to examine the association of diabetes and semen quality. Results: Study results shows that people with diabetes had abnormal semen parameters as compared to non- diabetic study participants. Pearson’s correlation between the semen parameters and blood sugar value of the study participants showed semen parameters: volume (r=-0.28, p<0.05), count (r=-0.22, p<0.05), and motility (r=-0.23, p<0.05), has a significantly week negative correlation with blood sugar level.  Scatter plots also showed semen parameters:  volume (r2=-0.079), count (r2=-0.048), and motility (r2=-0.053), had a significantly week negative linear correlation with blood sugar level. Conclusions: From the study it was concluded that the uncontrolled blood sugar levels affect the reproductive health of the study participants.

ADVENT OF AUGMENTED REALITY EXPERIENCE IN RETAIL AND ONLINE SHOPPING AND ITS INFLUENCING SIGNIFICANCE IN FUTURE

Augmented Reality (AR) is a trending technology that augments or superimposes an image generated by a computer system virtually into the real world environment for the user’s viewpoint using a smart phone or other hand held devices. AR shows recent advancements in the shopping domain with various implementation trails and refinement. The simplicity and flexibility in online shopping where people stay in their own place and do shopping brought a great challenge to retail shopping environment today. Retail stores are now struggling a lot to bring in the customers and the foot traffic has been greatly reduced due to which online sales are boosting and retail sales are stalling. This necessitates to bring new technological innovations to offline shopping to attract people. With the use of AR, it is possible to merge digital component to physical products in the store to stimulate the engagement of the shopping experience with more fun and joy. On the other hand, in the online shopping, though user reviews and product showcase aids the customers to analyze the quality, look and feel of diverse products, the buyer still cannot see how exactly the product fits in a real environment or how it works. Here plays AR a vital role in online shopping where it uses animations and visualization techniques to offer more value to their shoppers virtually aiding to see exactly the look of the product in user environment. This paper explains the advancement of AR in both retail and online shopping of various product domains with an implementation model of ShopAR for Online shopping and AR significance in near future

Serum Visfatin: A Novel Marker in Chronic Kidney Disease

BACKGROUND: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is defined as Glomerular Filteration Rate < 60ml/min/1.73m2 for a minimum of 3 months irrespective of the cause. Accelerated atherosclerosis is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in CKD patients. Visfatin is a 52KDa protein predominantly secreted by the visceral adipose tissue which has anti-inflammatory, Insulin-mimetic and antiapoptotic activities. AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: To estimate the levels of serum Visfatin in patients with CKD and to compare it with serum hsCRP (high sensitive C reactive protein), Ccr(Creatinine clearance) and lipid profile. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted at Thanjavur Medical College Hospital. 50 patients of CKD as cases and 50 age and gender matched healthy individuals were selected as cases and controls respectively.Serum Visfatin and Serum hsCRP were estimated by Enzyme Immune Assay and Immunoturbidimetric method respectively. Serum Total Cholesterol (TC), Triglycerides (TGL), Very Low Density Lipoprotein(VLDL-C), High Density Lipoprotein (HDL-C) were estimated by enzymatic method. Creatinine Clearance (Ccr)and Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL-C) were calculated using formula. RESULTS: The mean value of Visfatin in cases and controls were 27.42±8.92 and 10.62±1.57 ng/ml (t=13.11; p<0.05 significant) respectively. The level of serum visfatin is inversely correlated with Ccr (r= -0.898; p< 0.01). Serum hsCRP, TGL and VLDL-C were significantly increased and HDL-C was significantly decreased in cases when compared to controls (p < 0.05). There is no significant difference of TC between cases and controls. CONCLUSION: 1. The present study demonstrated that serum Visfatin levels are significantly increased in patients with CKD. This increase in serum Visfatin level is progressive from the early stages to the late stages of CKD . 2. Visfatin may be considered as the novel marker of mortality predictor in CKD patients. Higher the visfatin level, higher the mortality of CKD patients