Compositional Feasibility Analysis for Conditional Real-Time Task Models

Conditional real-time task models, which are generalizations of periodic, sporadic, and multi-frame tasks, represent real world applications more accurately. These models can be classified based on a tradeoff in two dimensions – expressivity and hardness of schedulability analysis. In this work, we introduce a class of conditional task models and derive efficient schedulability analysis techniques for them. These models are more expressive than existing models for which efficient analysis techniques are known. In this work, we also lay the groundwork for schedulability analysis of hierarchical scheduling frameworks with conditional task models. We propose techniques that abstract timing requirements of conditional task models, and support compositional analysis using these abstractions

Imaging mechanisms analysis of compact digital holographic microscope for microparticles measurement

AbstractConventional optical microscopy suffers from small depth of focus due to its high numerical aperture and magnification of the microscope objective. In comparison, digital in-line holographic microscopy (DIHM) provides information about the entire 3D volume through numerical reconstruction of the single hologram at several depths. This advantage makes DIHM an effective tool for the measurement of microparticles in suspension. Recently, our group has demonstrated the potential of DIHM for accurate measurement of particles with sizes ranging from 40 microns to a few millimetres. In this paper, the applicability of DIHM is extended for measurement of near-micron sized particles. A compact digital holographic microscope with a single microscope objective is presented. The system imaging mechanisms of the microscope is analyzed first and the recording distance of digital hologram is calculated using spatial frequency analysis. Then the system magnification, lateral resolution and depth resolution are analyzed in terms of the hologram recording distance. Finally, the characterization of microparticles with a diameter of 1 micron and 10 microns is demonstrated with the compact setup. The experimental results show the efficiency and accuracy of this method with a measured error less than 1.55% in the diameter of certified particles

Brucellosis - A major differential for juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Brucellosis is a Gram-negative, aerobic zoonotic infection acquired by Brucella species and transmitted from animals to humansthrough the ingestion of infected food products, direct contact with an infected animal, or inhalation of aerosols. Usually, thedisease remains undiagnosed due to lack of awareness and inadequate reporting and is a challenging health problem in tropicalcountries. We report a case of 16-year-old male presenting to us with chronic inflammatory symmetric polyarthritis misdiagnosedas juvenile idiopathic arthritis but later found to be suffering from brucellosis on reevaluation. Through this case report, we wouldlike to highlight the possibility and advantage of the high degree of suspicion for an infectious etiology responsible for arthritis inthe background of autoimmunity and would also like to emphasize on the possibility of Brucella inducing a false-positive responsefor young patients presenting with arthritis

Biomarkers in Bladder Cancer Survellance

© 2021 Sugeeta, Sharma, Ng, Nayak and Vasdev. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). https://doi.org/10.3389/fsurg.2021.735868Aim: This is a narrative review with an aim to summarise and describe urinary biomarkers in the surveillance of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). It provides a summary of FDA-approved protein biomarkers along with emerging ones which utilise genetic, epigenetic and exosomal markers. We discuss the current limitations of the available assays. Background: Current guidelines advice a combination of cystoscopy, imaging, and urine cytology in diagnosis and surveillance. Although cytology has a high specificity, it is limited by low sensitivity particularly in low grade tumours. There are six FDA-approved urinary assays for diagnosis and surveillance of bladder cancer. They have shown to improve sensitivity and specificity to be used alongside cytology and cystoscopy but have a lower specificity in comparison to cytology and false positives often occur in benign conditions. Recent developments in laboratory techniques has allowed for use of markers which are RNA-, DNA-based as well as extracellular vesicles in the past decade. Methods: Using the PubMed/Medline search engines as well as Google Scholar, we performed an online search using the terms “bladder cancer,” “non-muscle invasive bladder cancer,” and “urine biomarkers” with filter for articles in English published up to May 2021. Systematic reviews and original data of clinical trials or observational studies which contributed to the development of the biomarkers were collated. Results: Biomarkers identified were divided into FDA-approved molecular biomarkers, protein biomarkers and gene-related biomarker with a table summarising the findings of each marker with the most relevant studies. The studies conducted were mainly retrospective. Due to the early stages of development, only a few prospective studies have been done for more recently developed biomarkers and limited meta-analyses are available. Therefore a detailed evaluation of these markers are still required to decide on their clinical use. Conclusion: Advancements of analytical methods in BC has driven the research towards non-invasive liquid-based biomarkers in adjunct to urine cytology. Further large prospective studies are required to determine its feasibility in a clinical setting as they are not effective when used in isolation as they have their limitation. With the ongoing pandemic, other than reduction in costs and increased accuracy, the need for biomarkers to cope with delay in cystoscopies in diagnosis and surveillance is crucial. Thus clinical trials with direct comparison is required to improve patient care.Peer reviewe