Efficient Hardware Implementation of Probabilistic Gradient Descent Bit Flipping

This paper presents a new Bit Flipping (BF) decoder, called Probabilistic Parallel Bit Flipping (PPBF) for Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) codes on the Binary Symmetric Channel. In PPBF, the flipping operation is preceded with a probabilistic behavior which is shown to improve significantly the error correction performance. The advantage of PPBF comes from the fact that, no global computation is required during the decoding process and from that, all the computations can be executed in the local computing units and in-parallel. PPBF provides a considerable improvement of the decoding frequency and complexity, compared to other known BF decoders, while obtaining a significant gain in error correction. One improved version of PPBF, called non-syndrome PPBF (NS-PPBF) is also introduced, in which the global syndrome check is moved out of the critical path and a new terminating mechanism is proposed. In order to show the superiority of the new decoders in terms of hardware efficiency and decoding throughput, the corresponding hardware architectures are presented in the second part of the paper. The ASIC synthesis results confirm that, the decoding frequency of the proposed decoders is significantly improved, much higher than the BF decoders of literature while requiring lower complexity to be efficiently implemented

ACUTE TOXICITY OF CHLORANTRANILIPROLE TO FRESH WATER FISH CTENOPHARINGODON IDELLA (VALENCIENNES, 1844)

Pesticidal pollution constitutes the most dangerous health hazard apart from creating adverse effects on fish production .The aim of the present study was to determine the acute toxicity of chlorantraniliprole to the fresh water fish Grass carp (Ctenopharingodon idella), experimental fish were exposed to different concentrations of chlorantraniliprole. The 96h LC50 value of chlorantraniliprole on the fish was found to be 11.008mg/l. The variation in the LC values is due to its dependence upon various factors viz., sensitivity to the toxicant, its concentration and duration of exposure. Increase in opercular movement was initially observed but later decreased with increase of exposure period. They slowly became lethargic, restless, and secreted excess mucus all over the body. Intermittently some of the fish were hyper excited resulting in erratic movements. An excess secretion of mucous in fish forms a non-specific response against toxicants, thereby probably reducing toxicant contact. Further study needs the processes by which these chemicals affect physiology and pathological changes and of fish and their bio-concentration and bio- accumulation in fish tissues.   Key words: Health hazard, concentration, LC values, bioconcentration and physiolog

Optimized and validated spectrophotometric methods for the determination of hydroxyzine hydrochloride in pharmaceuticals and urine using iodine and picric acid

Two simple, rapid, cost-effective and sensitive spectrophotometric procedures are proposed for the determination of hydroxyzine dihydrochloride (HDH) in pharmaceuticals and in spiked human urine. The methods are based on the charge transfer complexation reaction of the drug with either iodine (I2) as a σ-acceptor (method A) in dichloromethane or picric acid (PA) as a π-acceptor (method B) in chloroform. The coloured products exhibit absorption maxima at 380 and 400 nm for I2 and PA, respectively. The Beer Law was obeyed over the concentration ranges of 1.25-15 and 3.75-45 μg mL-1 for method A and method B, respectively. The molar absorptivity values, Sandell sensitivities, limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) are reported. The accuracy and precision of the methods were evaluated on intra-day and inter-day basis. The proposed methods were successfully applied for the determination of HDH in tablets and spiked human urine

Titrimetric and Spectrophotometric Assay of Oxcarbazepine in Pharmaceuticals Using N-Bromosuccinimide and Bromopyrogallol Red

Titrimetric and spectrophotometric methods are described for the determination of oxcarbazepine (OXC) in bulk drug and in tablets. The methods use N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) and bromopyrogallol red (BPR) as reagents. In titrimetry (method A), an acidified solution of OXC is titrated directly with NBS using methyl orange as indicator. Spectrophotometry (method B) involves the addition of known excess of NBS to an acidified solution of OXC followed by the determination of the unreacted NBS by reacting with BPR and measuring the absorbance of the unreacted dye at 460 nm. Titrimetry allows the determination of 6–18 mg of OXC and follows a reaction stoichiometry of 1 : 1 (OXC : NBS), whereas spectrophotometry is applicable over the concentration range of 0.8–8.0 μg mL−1. Method B with a calculated molar absorptivity of 2.52 × 104 L mol−1 cm−1 is the most sensitive spectrophotometric method ever developed for OXC. The optical characteristics such as limits of detection (LOD), quantification (LOQ), and Sandell's sensitivity values are also reported for the spectrophotometric method. The accuracy and precision of the methods were studied on intraday and interday basis. The methods described could usefully be applied to routine quality control of tablets containing OXC. No interference was observed from common pharmaceutical adjuvants. Statistical comparison of the results with a reference method shows an excellent agreement and indicates no significant difference in accuracy and precision. The reliability of the methods was further ascertained by recovery studies in standard addition procedure

A GATA-binding protein expressed predominantly in the pupal ovary of the silkworm, Bombyx mori

Preferential localization of Bkm (Banded krait minor-satellite) DNA sequences on Y/W chromosomes of higher eukaryotes, which remain highly condensed in somatic cells but undergo extensive decondensation in the germ cells during early stages of development, led to the postulation for the existence of a sex- and tissue-specific Bkm-binding protein (BBP). Accordingly, we purified and characterized a BmBBP expressed predominantly in pupal ovary of the silkworm (Bombyx mori). 2D-PAGE revealed BmBBP as moderately basic (pI 7.8-8, in the range expected for DNA-binding proteins) and Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Flight exhibited a value of 37.5-kDa. BmBBP neither contains nor requires divalent metal ions for its DNA-binding activity, suggesting that it does not belong to the well-studied GATA-family of transcription factors. BmBBP is unusually strong in its DNA-binding characteristics to Bkm (GATA-repeats), which suggests its probable role in bringing about coordinated chromatin conformational changes to activate genes present in associated chromosomal domains. Fluorescence immuno-localization studies employing specific anti-BmBBP antibodies revealed its presence in the follicle cells and in the ooplasm, as well as the nucleus of different developmental stages of oocytes

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: Pathogenic mechanisms of muscle weakness

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) are a heterogenous group of complex muscle diseases of unknown etiology. These diseases are characterized by progressive muscle weakness and damage, together with involvement of other organ systems. It is generally believed that the autoimmune response (autoreactive lymphocytes and autoantibodies) to skeletal muscle-derived antigens is responsible for the muscle fiber damage and muscle weakness in this group of disorders. Therefore, most of the current therapeutic strategies are directed at either suppressing or modifying immune cell activity. Recent studies have indicated that the underlying mechanisms that mediate muscle damage and dysfunction are multiple and complex. Emerging evidence indicates that not only autoimmune responses but also innate immune and non-immune metabolic pathways contribute to disease pathogenesis. However, the relative contributions of each of these mechanisms to disease pathogenesis are currently unknown. Here we discuss some of these complex pathways, their inter-relationships and their relation to muscle damage in myositis. Understanding the relative contributions of each of these pathways to disease pathogenesis would help us to identify suitable drug targets to alleviate muscle damage and also improve muscle weakness and quality of life for patients suffering from these debilitating muscle diseases

Dual Role of Electron-Accepting Metal-Carboxylate Ligands: Reversible Expansion of Exciton Delocalization and Passivation of Nonradiative Trap-States in Molecule-like CdSe Nanocrystals

This paper reports large bathochromic shifts of up to 260 meV in both the excitonic absorption and emission peaks of oleylamine (OLA)-passivated molecule-like (CdSe)34 nanocrystals caused by postsynthetic treatment with the electron accepting Cd(O2CPh)2 complex at room temperature. These shifts are found to be reversible upon removal of Cd(O2CPh)2 by N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylene-1,2-diamine. 1H NMR and FTIR characterizations of the nanocrystals demonstrate that the OLA remained attached to the surface of the nanocrystals during the reversible removal of Cd(O2CPh)2. On the basis of surface ligand characterization, X-ray powder diffraction measurements, and additional control experiments, we propose that these peak red shifts are a consequence of the delocalization of confined exciton wave functions into the interfacial electronic states that are formed from interaction of the LUMO of the nanocrystals and the LUMO of Cd(O2CPh)2, as opposed to originating from a change in size or reorganization of the inorganic core. Furthermore, attachment of Cd(O2CPh)2 to the OLA-passivated (CdSe)34 nanocrystal surface increases the photoluminescence quantum yield from 5% to an unprecedentedly high 70% and causes a 3-fold increase of the photoluminescence lifetime, which are attributed to a combination of passivation of nonradiative surface trap states and relaxation of exciton confinement. Taken together, our work demonstrates the unique aspects of surface ligand chemistry in controlling the excitonic absorption and emission properties of ultrasmall (CdSe)34 nanocrystals, which could expedite their potential applications in solid-state device fabrication

A prospective comparative study of functional outcome of distal extra articular tibia fracture fixed with intramedullary nail versus locking compression plate

Background: Distal tibia fractures are one of the most common long bone fractures and their management presents with a series of problems due to the soft tissue surroundings and even more at risk due to their proximity to ankle joint. In our paper we showed functional outcome of distal extra articular tibia fracture while comparing its management between intramedullary nailing and locking compression plate.Methods: There were 40 patients from November 2019 to November 2020 with distal extra articular tibia fracture. Patients were divided into 2 groups, first group included 20 patients managed with intramedullary nail and the second group included 20 patients managed with locking compression plate. Patients were followed preoperatively, intraoperatively and postoperatively for functional outcome and assessed clinically using AOFAS score and radiologically using X-ray.Results: Out of the 40 cases treated in this manner, all cases were available for the follow up for a period of 1 year. Overall results by 1 year follow up showed excellent in 7 cases (35%) good in 13 cases (65%) in nailing group and in plating group showed excellent in 4 cases (20%), good in 12 cases (60%), fair in 3 cases (15%) and poor in 1 case (5%).Conclusions: All fractures united well. Complications were encountered in 4 patients, 2 patients had superficial wound infections,1 patient had deep infection and another had persistent ankle pain in plating group and 2 patients had superficial wound infection in nailing group. No cases showed malunion or nonunion in both plating as well as nailing group