FogGIS: Fog Computing for Geospatial Big Data Analytics

Cloud Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has emerged as a tool for analysis, processing and transmission of geospatial data. The Fog computing is a paradigm where Fog devices help to increase throughput and reduce latency at the edge of the client. This paper developed a Fog-based framework named Fog GIS for mining analytics from geospatial data. We built a prototype using Intel Edison, an embedded microprocessor. We validated the FogGIS by doing preliminary analysis. including compression, and overlay analysis. Results showed that Fog computing hold a great promise for analysis of geospatial data. We used several open source compression techniques for reducing the transmission to the cloud.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, 3rd IEEE Uttar Pradesh Section International Conference on Electrical, Computer and Electronics (09-11 December, 2016) Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University) Varanasi, Indi

Mechanisms of L-Triiodothyronine-Induced Inhibition of Synaptosomal Na + -K + -ATPase Activity in Young Adult Rat Brain Cerebral Cortex

The role of thyroid hormones (TH) in the normal functioning of adult mammalian brain is unclear. Our studies have identified synaptosomal Na + -K + -ATPase as a TH-responsive physiological parameter in adult rat cerebral cortex. L-triiodothyronine (T 3 ) and L-thyroxine (T 4 ) both inhibited Na + -K + -ATPase activity (but not Mg 2+ -ATPase activity) in similar dose-dependent fashions, while other metabolites of TH were less effective. Although both T 3 and the -adrenergic agonist isoproterenol inhibited Na + -K + -ATPase activity in cerebrocortical synaptosomes in similar ways, the -adrenergic receptor blocker propranolol did not counteract the effect of T 3 . Instead, propranolol further inhibited Na + -K + -ATPase activity in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that the effect of T 3 on synaptosomal Na + -K + -ATPase activity was independent of -adrenergic receptor activation. The effect of T 3 on synaptosomal Na + -K + -ATPase activity was inhibited by the 2 -adrenergic agonist clonidine and by glutamate. Notably, both clonidine and glutamate activate G i -proteins of the membrane second messenger system, suggesting a potential mechanism for the inhibition of the effects of TH. In this paper, we provide support for a nongenomic mechanism of action of TH in a neuronal membrane-related energy-linked process for signal transduction in the adult condition

Evaluation of antidiabetic efficacy of Murraya koenigii on Streptozotocin induced diabetes in experimental rats

Background: The medicinal plant Murraya koenigii shown to have a wide variety of pharmacological activities (hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic). Objective of this study is the present study was designed to evaluate Antidiabetic and Hypolipidemic property of Murraya koenigii in experimentally induced diabetes in rats.Methods: Experimental diabetes was produced with single dose of Streptozotocin (STZ): 45 mg/kg IP. The rats were randomly allocated in various groups for 37 days. After the confirmation of diabetes on 7th day (>200 mg/dl), hydroalcoholic extract of Murraya koenigii (500 mg/kg) was administered orally to experimental rats from day 7th day and continued for 37 days thereafter. Various antidiabetic (Glucose, HbA1C), metabolic (Lipid profile), safety (pancreatic lipase, Creatinine, SGPT, Histopathology of Liver and Kidney) were evaluated in various group.Results: Efficacy of Murraya koenigii was observed on various parameter of diabetes. Administration of STZ resulted in a significant decrease in diabetic changes (increase in blood glucose, HbA1C), altered lipid profile (p<0.01) in the Control group rats as compared to sham group. Murraya koenigii treatment demonstrated significant antidiabetic indicated by restoration of blood glucose, HbA1C level (p<0.01) compared to Control group. In addition, Murraya koenigii also documented hypolipidemic property of test drug. As per biochemical assessment of Pancreatic lipase, Serum creatinine, SGPT and Histopathological report, the test drug reduce the pancreatic, liver and renal marker and also showed safe to pancreas, Liver and kidney. The histopathological assessment of the liver and kidney confirmed the biochemical findings.Conclusions: The study concluded that the Murraya koenigii possess antidiabetic efficacy

Evaluation of the OPTC gene in primary open angle glaucoma: functional significance of a silent change

BACKGROUND: We investigated the molecular basis of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) using Opticin (OPTC) as a candidate gene on the basis of its expression in the trabecular meshwork cells involved in the disease pathogenesis. Two hundred POAG patients and 100 controls were enrolled in this study. The coding sequence of OPTC was amplified by PCR from genomic DNA of POAG patients, followed by SSCP, DHPLC and DNA sequencing. Subsequent bioinformatic analysis, site-directed mutagenesis, quantitative RT-PCR and western blot experiments were performed to address the functional significance of a 'silent' change in the OPTC coding region while screening for mutations in POAG patients. RESULTS: We detected two missense (p.Glu66Gly & p.Ile89Thr) and one silent change (p.Phe162Phe; c.602 C>T) that was present in 3 different patients but in none of the 100 controls screened. The mutant (c.602T) mRNA was predicted to have remarkably different secondary structure compared to the wild-type transcript by in silico approaches. Subsequent wet-lab experiments showed lower expression of the gene both at the mRNA and protein levels. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests OPTC as a candidate gene for POAG. Further, it highlights the importance of investigating the 'silent' variations for functional implication that might not be apparent from only in silico analysis

Unveiling the nongenomic actions of thyroid hormones in adult mammalian brain: The legacy of Mary B. Dratman

A comprehensive review was conducted to compile the contributions of Mary B. Dratman and studies by other researchers in the field of nongenomic actions of thyroid hormones in adult mammalian brain. Dratman and her collaborators authored roughly half of the papers in this area. It has been almost fifty years since Dratman introduced the novel concept of thyroid hormones as neurotransmitters for the first time. The characterization of unique brain-region specific accumulation of thyroid hormones within the nerve terminals in adult mammals was a remarkable contribution by Dratman. It suggested a neurotransmitter- or neuromodulator-like role of thyroid hormone and/or its derivative, 3-iodothyronamine within adrenergic systems in adult mammalian brain. Several studies by other researchers using synaptosomes as a model system, have contributed to the concept of direct nongenomic actions of thyroid hormones at synaptic regions by establishing that thyroid hormones or their derivatives can bind to synaptosomal membranes, alter membrane functions including enzymatic activities and ion transport, elicit Ca2+/NO-dependent signaling pathways and induce substrate-protein phosphorylation. Such findings can help to explain the physiological and pathophysiological roles of thyroid hormone in psychobehavioral control in adult mammalian brain. However, the exact mode of nongenomic actions of thyroid hormones at nerve terminals in adult mammalian brain awaits further study

Gender, Obesity and Repeated Elevation of C-Reactive Protein: Data from the CARDIA Cohort

C-reactive Protein (CRP) measurements above 10 mg/L have been conventionally treated as acute inflammation and excluded from epidemiologic studies of chronic inflammation. However, recent evidence suggest that such CRP elevations can be seen even with chronic inflammation. The authors assessed 3,300 participants in The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study, who had two or more CRP measurements between 1992/3 and 2005/6 to a) investigate characteristics associated with repeated CRP elevation above 10 mg/L; b) identify subgroups at high risk of repeated elevation; and c) investigate the effect of different CRP thresholds on the probability of an elevation being one-time rather than repeated. 225 participants (6.8%) had one-time and 103 (3.1%) had repeated CRP elevation above 10 mg/L. Repeated elevation was associated with obesity, female gender, low income, and sex hormone use. The probability of an elevation above 10 mg/L being one-time rather than repeated was lowest (51%) in women with body mass index above 31 kg/m2, compared to 82% in others. These findings suggest that CRP elevations above 10 mg/L in obese women are likely to be from chronic rather than acute inflammation, and that CRP thresholds above 10 mg/L may be warranted to distinguish acute from chronic inflammation in obese women

Clinical practice guidelines for BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic testing

BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene pathogenic variants account for most hereditary breast cancer and are increasingly used to determine eligibility for PARP inhibitor (PARPi) therapy of BRCA-related cancer. Because issues of BRCA testing in clinical practice now overlap with both preventive and therapeutic management, updated and comprehensive practice guidelines for BRCA genotyping are needed. The integrative recommendations for BRCA testing presented here aim to (1) identify individuals who may benefit from genetic counselling and risk-reducing strategies; (2) update germline and tumour-testing indications for PARPi-approved therapies; (3) provide testing recommendations for personalised management of early and metastatic breast cancer; and (4) address the issues of rapid process and tumour analysis. An international group of experts, including geneticists, medical and surgical oncologists, pathologists, ethicists and patient representatives, was commissioned by the French Society of Predictive and Personalised Medicine (SFMPP). The group followed a methodology based on specific formal guidelines development, including (1) evaluating the likelihood of BRCAm from a combined systematic review of the literature, risk assessment models and expert quotations, and (2) therapeutic values of BRCAm status for PARPi therapy in BRCA-related cancer and for management of early and advanced breast cancer. These international guidelines may help clinicians comprehensively update and standardise BRCA testing practices