Nesting Depth of Operators in Graph Database Queries: Expressiveness Vs. Evaluation Complexity

Designing query languages for graph structured data is an active field of research, where expressiveness and efficient algorithms for query evaluation are conflicting goals. To better handle dynamically changing data, recent work has been done on designing query languages that can compare values stored in the graph database, without hard coding the values in the query. The main idea is to allow variables in the query and bind the variables to values when evaluating the query. For query languages that bind variables only once, query evaluation is usually NP-complete. There are query languages that allow binding inside the scope of Kleene star operators, which can themselves be in the scope of bindings and so on. Uncontrolled nesting of binding and iteration within one another results in query evaluation being PSPACE-complete. We define a way to syntactically control the nesting depth of iterated bindings, and study how this affects expressiveness and efficiency of query evaluation. The result is an infinite, syntactically defined hierarchy of expressions. We prove that the corresponding language hierarchy is strict. Given an expression in the hierarchy, we prove that it is undecidable to check if there is a language equivalent expression at lower levels. We prove that evaluating a query based on an expression at level i can be done in $\Sigma_i$ in the polynomial time hierarchy. Satisfiability of quantified Boolean formulas can be reduced to query evaluation; we study the relationship between alternations in Boolean quantifiers and the depth of nesting of iterated bindings.Comment: Improvements from ICALP 2016 review comment

Effective Capital Budgeting Decisions By Firms

Finance is the life blood of business. Finance is said to be the circulatory system of the economy body, making possible the required cooperation between the innumerable units of activity. Finance guides and regulates investment decisions and expenditure of administers economic activities. Capital budgeting means planning for capital assets. Capital budgeting decisions are complex process of paramount importance in financial decisions, because efficient allocation of capital resources is one of the most crucial decisions of financial management. Capital budgeting is budgeting for capital projects.Because the long-term profitability of most enterprises depends on the nature and quality of their capital project investments, appropriate planning, evaluation, and implementation of high-return capital projects are imperative. Capital budgeting helps managers plan for the acquisition of capital projects that promise high returns. It is a managerial technique of meeting capital expenditure with the overall objectives of the firm. The research findings are expected to be useful to the financial institutions, managers as well as practitioners in the area of investment decision-making. As there are various methods and criteria available, the research studies undertaken so far suggest that by and large decision-makers tend to select methods ignoring time value of money

Antibacterial Activity of a Mushroom - Stereum ostrea

The antimicrobial activity of crude culture filtrate and methanol extract of Stereum ostrea was evaluated by disc diffusion method against two Gram-negative bacteria- Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and three Gram-positive bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus sps. To determine the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) we studied concentrations of 10-50 µl of crude and methanol extract of Stereum ostrea against selected bacteria. Crude culture filtrate was highly inhibitory when compared to methanol extract, which were evident through the increased zones of inhibition against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Crude culture filtrate of Stereum ostrea showed highest and lowest percent of inhibition zone against Bacillus subtilis (15.9 mm) and Klebsiella pneumonia (9.1mm). These results indicate that crude culture filtrate of Stereum ostrea possesses potential broad spectrum antimicrobial activity. Keywords: Stereum ostrea, Crude culture filtrate, Methanol extract, Antimicrobial activity, MI

A PROSPECTIVE SINGLE-BLINDED STUDY ON THE SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF ZINC SUPPLEMENTATION IN PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS

Aim and Objectives: The aim of the study was to study the serum zinc (Zn) levels, safety, and efficacy of Zn supplementation in pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients.Methods: A randomized single-blinded study of two groups: Group A received conventional TB therapy while Group B received conventional TB therapy along with 15 mg of Zn tablet. 40 patients were assigned in each group by randomized permuted blocks.Results: After 8 weeks of treatment in Group A 27 patients and Group B 36 patients were found to be sputum negative with p=0.0421 and 0.0629. After 24 weeks of treatment in Group A 37 patients and Group B 40 patients were found to be sputum negative with p=0.00976 and 0.00971. By this, the given treatment was effective in the patients with PTB.Conclusion: Zn supplementation improves the effect of TB medication treatment and results in earlier sputum smear conversion

A review on the genus Calophyllum (Clusiaceae): a potential medicinal tree species

Calophyllum is the genus of evergreen tropical flowering plants in the Clusiaceae family. They are predominantly located in Asia with some of its genus distributed in the Pacific Islands, Americas, Australasia and Africa. Plants of the genus are well known for their chemical properties with lots of secondary metabolites such as triterpenes, flavonoids, coumarins and xanthones. Compounds from Calophyllum have been reported to have cytoprotective, anti-HIV, anti-secretory, cytotoxic, antinociceptive, molluscicidal and antimicrobial properties. Some of the plants in Calophyllum are used in folk medicine to treat conditions like peptic ulcers, tumours, inflammation, infections and pain. Calophyllum genus is important with respect to their ecological as well as their medicinal properties. But in India, some species located in Western Ghats are in vulnerable stage. Even so, there is no remarkable studies carried out about this genus. So, for a sustainable environment, we should focus on the conservation, restoration and rehabilitation of the genus that makes huge differences in their population. This article reviews the genus Calophyllum of Western Ghats as a potential medicinal tree species

CT imaging and staging of carcinoma oesophagus

Background: Over the past decades, computerized tomography (CT) technology has led to an early detection of cancers and thereby decreasing mortality rate. The objective was to demonstrate usefulness of Toshiba Activion 16 slice multi detector computerized tomography (MDCT) scan in staging of oesophageal cancer.Methods: The study was carried out in the Department of Radio diagnosis, Bapuji Hospital and Chigateri Government Hospital attached to Jagadguru Jayadeva Murugarajendra Medical College, Davangere, Karnataka, India over a period of 24 months. After taking a properly informed written consent, complete history and thorough clinical examination was done and these patients were subjected to CT scan.Results: The total numbers of patients studied in present study were 25. Out of which 10 were males and 15 were females. There were 6 patients upto the age of 54 years and 8 patients equal to or greater than 65 years of age, there were 11 patients between 55-64 years of age. Dysphagia was the most common symptom in patients and was present in all the 25 patients of present study. Other common symptoms were weight loss followed by pain in throat. Two different types of wall thickenings of the involved portion have been reported. The most common asymmetrical wall thickening was observed in maximum number of patients 18 (72%) and circumferential wall thickening was observed only in 7 number (28%) of patients out of 25 total patients showing heterogeneous/homogeneous enhancement. Lower third (40%) and middle third (40%) of the esophagus was the most common site of involvement with regards to location of oesophageal cancer followed by upper third (20%) of the esophagus. Homogeneous wall attenuation was observed in most of the cases accounting for (64%). The other type of wall attenuation noted were heterogeneous (36%).Conclusions: By performing endoscopy uncertainty lies in discrimination of muscular layer from serosal layer in most parts of esophagus. However, by employing MDCT technique separation of 2 layers of esophagus can be better judged.  Therefore, MDCT has been found to be the most valuable and preferential technique for planning operational strategy

Management of late-preterm and term infants with hyperbilirubinaemia in resource-constrained settings.

Hyperbilirubinaemia is a ubiquitous transitional morbidity in the vast majority of newborns and a leading cause of hospitalisation in the first week of life worldwide. While timely and effective phototherapy and exchange transfusion are well proven treatments for severe neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia, inappropriate or ineffective treatment of hyperbilirubinaemia, at secondary and tertiary hospitals, still prevails in many poorly-resourced countries accounting for a disproportionately high burden of bilirubin-induced mortality and long-term morbidity. As part of the efforts to curtail the widely reported risks of frequent but avoidable bilirubin-induced neurologic dysfunction (acute bilirubin encephalopathy (ABE) and kernicterus) in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) with significant resource constraints, this article presents a practical framework for the management of late-preterm and term infants (≥ 35 weeks of gestation) with clinically significant hyperbilirubinaemia in these countries particularly where local practice guidelines are lacking. Standard and validated protocols were followed in adapting available evidence-based national guidelines on the management of hyperbilirubinaemia through a collaboration among clinicians and experts on newborn jaundice from different world regions. Tasks and resources required for the comprehensive management of infants with or at risk of severe hyperbilirubinaemia at all levels of healthcare delivery are proposed, covering primary prevention, early detection, diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, and follow-up. Additionally, actionable treatment or referral levels for phototherapy and exchange transfusion are proposed within the context of several confounding factors such as widespread exclusive breastfeeding, infections, blood group incompatibilities and G6PD deficiency, which place infants at high risk of severe hyperbilirubinaemia and bilirubin-induced neurologic dysfunction in LMICs, as well as the limited facilities for clinical investigations and inconsistent functionality of available phototherapy devices. The need to adjust these levels as appropriate depending on the available facilities in each clinical setting and the risk profile of the infant is emphasised with a view to avoiding over-treatment or under-treatment. These recommendations should serve as a valuable reference material for health workers, guide the development of contextually-relevant national guidelines in each LMIC, as well as facilitate effective advocacy and mobilisation of requisite resources for the optimal care of infants with hyperbilirubinaemia at all levels

Radiographic imaging of metabolic bone disorders and their relative management

Background: Bone is a strong dynamic organ of the endoskeleton playing a vital role in structural integrity envisaging to keep proper shape and maintenance of the body, mineral reservoirs, blood production, coagulation and immunity. Metabolic bone diseases are a heterogeneous group of disorders that interrupt the normal homeostasis of bone formation and resorption. Bone regulates as well as acts as a host for hematopoiesis by providing niche for proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cell. Bone is a dynamic tissue but metabolically active as it is being constantly formed (modelling) and reformed (remodelling). Metabolic bone diseases comprise of a broad spectrum of inherited and acquired disorders characterized by abnormalities in calcium metabolism and bone cell physiology- that lead to an altered serum calcium concentration and skeletal failure.Methods: After taking a properly informed written consent and complete history, thorough clinical examination was done and these patients were subjected to radiographic imaging and biochemical analysis.Results: Serum alkaline phosphatase is a good marker in rickets and osteomalacia, ICTP in osteoporosis, pyridinoline, deoxypyridinoline in primary hyperparathyroidism, serum PICP in renal osteodystrophy.Conclusions: In cases of rickets and osteomalacia either decreased or normal values of serum calcium and serum phosphorus were obtained. But the cases pertaining to renal failure with rickets values of serum phosphorous were found to be raised. However, in all cases of rickets and osteomalacia values of serum alkaline phosphatase were also found to be raised

Radiographic imaging of metabolic bone disorders in consonance with biochemical parameters

Background: Bone is a strong dynamic organ of the endoskeleton playing a vital role in structural integrity envisaging keeping proper shape and maintenance of the body, mineral reservoirs, blood production, coagulation and immunity. Metabolic bone diseases are a heterogeneous group of disorders that interrupt the normal homeostasis of bone formation and resorption. Bone regulates as well as acts as a host for hematopoiesis by providing niche for proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cell. Bone is a dynamic tissue but metabolically active as it is being constantly formed (modelling) and reformed (remodelling). Metabolic bone diseases comprise of a broad spectrum of inherited and acquired disorders characterized by abnormalities in calcium metabolism and bone cell physiology- that lead to an altered serum calcium concentration and skeletal failure.Methods: After taking a properly informed written consent and complete history, thorough clinical examination was done and these patients were subjected to radiographic imaging and biochemical analysis.Results: With regards to fracture relating to different skeletal structures frequency was more in vertebra (38%), the maximum to be reported in 38 cases followed by hip fractures (17%) in 17 cases. Pelvis fractures were reported as (11%) in 11 cases and tibia fractures were reported to be only (7%) in meagre population of 7 cases, while remaining skeletal organs had (27%) fractures with subject to realisation in other 27 cases.Conclusions: In all the osteoporotic cases irrespective to age of patients, values of serum calcium, serum alkaline phosphatase, serum phosphorus, serum potassium, serum sodium, serum calcidiol were within normal limits