A high performance real-time packet capturing architecture for network management systems

In a network management system, software sensors (agents) collect system information and notify the central control system utilizing UDP/IP packets. When the network suffers a failure, the packet receiver encounters a flood of messages from a large number of agents. In such a situation, the receiver has to capture all these messages and process them in real-time. The thesis addresses this problem about how to design and develop a receiver that can capture large volume of packets while consuming minimum CPU resources. Linux network stack, contemporary related research work and some high capacity packet capturing solutions like NAPI and PFRING were studied to expose their limitations. Issues that limit the performance of these architectures have been identified and addressed in this thesis. Based on this analysis, a few design principles have been identified which can be applied to design and implement a high capacity, efficient packet capturing solutio

Awareness and Knowledge of Cochlear Implants among Speech-Language Pathologists

Speech-Language Pathologists work closely with individuals who have received cochlear implants across a multitude of settings which include early childhood education centers, schools, hospitals and skilled nursing facilities. However, previous research suggests that Speech-Language Pathologists do not have the adequate skills or knowledge to work with clients who have received cochlear implants. To assess whether Speech-Language Pathologists in the state of Mississippi had similar results as in the previous studies, a questionnaire was used to assess knowledge on cochlear implants. The results are consistent with previous studies which suggest that there is an overall lack in cochlear implant competency, specifically on identification of the components of a cochlear implant and knowledge of cochlear implant resources

Semantic Routed Network for Distributed Search Engines

Searching for textual information has become an important activity on the web. To satisfy the rising demand and user expectations, search systems should be fast, scalable and deliver relevant results. To decide which objects should be retrieved, search systems should compare holistic meanings of queries and text document objects, as perceived by humans. Existing techniques do not enable correct comparison of composite holistic meanings like: "evidences on role of DR2 gene in development of diabetes in Caucasian population", which is composed of multiple elementary meanings: "evidence", "DR2 gene", etc. Thus these techniques can not discern objects that have a common set of keywords but convey different meanings. Hence we need new methods to compare composite meanings for superior search quality. In distributed search engines, for scalability, speed and efficiency, index entries should be systematically distributed across multiple index-server nodes based on the meaning of the objects. Furthermore, queries should be selectively sent to those index nodes which have relevant entries. This requires an overlay Semantic Routed Network which will route messages, based on meaning. This network will consist of fast response networking appliances called semantic routers. These appliances need to: (a) carry out sophisticated meaning comparison computations at high speed; and (b) have the right kind of behavior to automatically organize an optimal index system. This dissertation presents the following artifacts that enable the above requirements: (1) An algebraic theory, a design of a data structure and related techniques to efficiently compare composite meanings. (2) Algorithms and accelerator architectures for high speed meaning comparisons inside semantic routers and index-server nodes. (3) An overlay network to deliver search queries to the index nodes based on meanings. (4) Algorithms to construct a self-organizing, distributed meaning based index system. The proposed techniques can compare composite meanings ~105 times faster than an equivalent software code and existing hardware designs. Whereas, the proposed index organization approach can lead to 33% savings in number of servers and power consumption in a model search engine having 700,000 servers. Therefore, using all these techniques, it is possible to design a Semantic Routed Network which has a potential to improve search results and response time, while saving resources

FORMULATION OF ORAL MUCOADHESIVE TABLETS OF TERBUTALINE SULPHATE USING SOME NATURAL MATERIALS AND IN VITRO-IN VIVO EVALUATION

Mucoadhesive polymers that bind to the gastric mucin or epithelial cell surface are useful in drug delivery for the purpose of increasing the intimacy and duration of contact of drug with the absorbing membrane. Several synthetic polymers are in use for this purpose. Since the biodegradability of the synthetic polymers are questionable, in this investigation an oral mucoadhesive controlled delivery system has been developed for terbutaline sulphate (TS) using natural mucoadhesive materials extracted from the edible fruits like Zizyphus mauritiana (ZM) and Aegle marmelos (Linn.) Cor. (AM) that have better mucoadhesive property than synthetic polymer hydroxypropylmethylcellulose K4M (HPMC K4M). The in vitro adhesive and mucoadhesive strength of mucoadhesive materials extracted from the fruits of ZM and AM were evaluated and compared with HPMCK4M using both Share Stress and Wilhelmy Plate. Different formulations of oral mucoadhesive coated TS tablets were prepared using these natural materials and compared with tablets prepared with HPMCK4M and hardness, thickness, friability, weight variation and drug content of tablets were tested. The in vitro release of TS was studied in buffer pH 7.2 at 370C 0.50C. Tablets were orally administered to rabbits and blood plasma concentration of TS was determined using HPLC. It was found that mucoadhesive materials extracted from the fruits of ZM and AM exhibited better adhesiveness and mucoadhesiveness as compared with the HPMC- K4M. The in vitro study of TS exhibited showed greater drug release profile for tablets prepared with natural materials than synthetic polymers and confirmed with in vivo study. In vitro and in vivo correlation showed the same release profile

A new (k,n) verifiable secret image sharing scheme (VSISS)

AbstractIn this paper, a new (k,n) verifiable secret image sharing scheme (VSISS) is proposed in which third order LFSR (linear-feedback shift register)-based public key cryptosystem is applied for the cheating prevention and preview before decryption. In the proposed scheme the secret image is first partitioned into several non-overlapping blocks of k pixels. Every k pixel is then used to form m=⌈k/4⌉+1 pixels of one encrypted share. The original secret image can be reconstructed by gathering any k or more encrypted shared images. The experimental results show that the proposed VSISS is an efficient and safe method

Prevalence and predictors of metabolic syndrome with comparison of myoinositol and metformin in PCOS women

Background: The objective is to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MBS) and the effects of insulin sensitizers to improve the clinical and hormonal milieu for better reproductive outcome in PCOS women.Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 PCOS women and 50 age matched control to determine the prevalence of the MBS in two tertiary hospitals over one year. Diagnosis of PCOS was based on at least two of ESHRE/ASRM criteria and diagnosis of MBS was based on at least three of NCEPATPIII criteria. Patients already diagnosed as PCOS were treated with insulin sensitizers myoionositol and metformin which were compared.Results: The study revealed that the prevalence of MBS was 40 % (20/50) nearly 4-fold higher than that of control groups. Among PCOS women, the most prevalent MBS factors were high BMI (52%) and low serum HDL-C (42%). The least prevalent factor was high fasting serum glucose level (16%). The resumption of spontaneous regular menstrual cycle and pregnancy rate in infertile groups of PCOS patients with myoionositol and metformin were 61% vs. 26% and 50% vs.91% respectively. The myoionositol group did not require any extra ovulating agents for pregnancy, while 7 out of 11 patients in metfromin group needed clomiphen citrate for ovulation induction to achieve pregnancy.  With myoinositol there is significant reduction of weight, BMI, LH/FSH ratio and fasting insulin level; whereas metformin shows decrement of weight and BMI only.Conclusions: The prevalence of MBS in PCOS is nearly 4 times in present study and there is significant improvement of symptom profile, weight, BMI and change of hormonal pattern in myoinositol group

Domestic Violence and its Determinants: A cross-sectional study among women in a slum of Kolkata

Background: Violence against women is one of the major public health and human rights issue in the world today which is prevalent in all human societies irrespective of religion, socioeconomic status, and culture. Therefore, recognized as a significant barrier to women empowerment and their health. Aims & Objectives: The aim of this study was to find out the extent of different type of domestic violence and to identify various risk factors for domestic violence against married women. Material & Methods: The present study is a community based cross-sectional study carried out in a slum of Kolkata. Simple random sampling technique was used for the selection of the samples. The study participants were interviewed using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Result: 97 married women participated in the study. 32.9% of the study population reported some form of domestic violence. In a logistic regression analysis, significant association was found between domestic violence and alcohol abuse by the spouse, level of education of the spouse, per capita income and occupation of the women. Conclusion: This study confirms, high prevalence of all forms of violence against women, which underscores the need for policy makers to increase their recognition of domestic violence as a critical target in public health concern

C(naphthyl)-H Bond Activation by Rhodium: Isolation, Characterization and TD-DFT Study of the Cyclometallates

The C1(naphthyl)-H, C2(naphthyl)-H, C3(naphthyl)-H and C8(naphthyl)-H bonds of the naphthyl group present in a group of naphthylazo-2\u27-hydroxyarenes (H 2L) have been activated by [Rh(PPh 3) 3Cl] in a toluene medium. Here the cyclometallation is accompanied by metal centered oxidation [Rh(i)?Rh(iii)]. All the resulting cyclometallates [Rh(PPh 3) 2(L)Cl] (2-5) have been isolated in a pure form. The characterization of the cyclometallates [Rh(PPh 3) 2(L)Cl] have been done on the basis of spectral (IR, UV-vis, and FAB mass) data. The structures of the representative cyclometallates 2a, 3a, 4a, 4b and 5b have been determined by X-ray diffraction. In all the cyclometallates, rhodium(iii) is coordinated to naphthylazo-2\u27-hydroxyarenes via terdentate C(naphthyl), N(diazene), O(phenolato/ naphtholato) donor centers & one chloride ion in a plane along with two axial trans PPh 3 molecules. Intermolecular association in the solid state is observed due to C-H...p and p...p interactions. Compounds show an oxidative response within 0.93 to 1.11 V (vs. SCE) and a reductive response at ~ -1.0 V (vs. SCE). Both the responses are based on the coordinated diazene function and are irreversible in nature, indicating limited stability of the oxidized and reduced species. The electronic structures of selected cyclometallates have been calculated using a TD-DFT model and the simulated spectra are consistent with the observed spectra of those cyclometallates