A Generalized Log-Weibull Distribution with Bio-Medical Applications

Here we consider a generalized log-transformed version of the Weibull distribution and investigate some of its important properties like expressions for the cumulative distribution function hazard rate function, quantile function, characteristic function, raw moments, incomplete moments, etc. The distribution and moments of order statistics are obtained along with some results on certain structural properties of the distribution. The maximum likelihood estimation of the parameters of the distribution is attempted for both complete and censored data sets and the usefulness of the distribution is illustrated with the help of real-life data sets from biomedical fields

A Comparative Study of HARR Feature Extraction and Machine Learning Algorithms for Covid-19 X-Ray Image Classification

In this study, we investigated how effectively COVID-19 image categorization using Harr feature extraction and machine learning algorithms. We were particularly interested in the effectiveness of these algorithms. A dataset of 500 X-ray scans, equally split between 250 COVID-19-positive cases and 250 healthy controls, served as the basis for our study.  K-nearest neighbors,decision tree,  Linear regression, support vector machine, regression, classification, naive Bayes,random forest,  as well as linear discriminant analysis were among the seven machine-learning approaches used to categorize the photos. With the use of Harr feature extraction, the features of the pictures were extracted. We studied the efficacy of COVID-19 X-ray images for classification utilizing the combination of machine learning as well as the Harr feature extraction methods in the present investigation due to their effectiveness. We searched a database of 500 X-rays for this investigation, dividing them equally between groups of 250 patients with COVID-19-positive cases and 250 healthy people. Following that, the images were examined using seven various machine learning approaches for recognition. These methods included naive Bayes, linear discriminant analysis, random forests, classification,k-nearest neighbors,  and regression trees. The information from the photos was gathered using the Harr feature extraction method. The effectiveness of the algorithms was evaluated with the help of a variety of metrics, such asF1 score, precision,accuracy, recall, the area under the ROC curve, and the region of interest curve. According to our research, the Support Vector Machine algorithm had the highest accuracy, at 77%, while the Naive Bayes approach had the lowest accuracy, at 58%. By using machine learning and Harr feature extraction approaches, the Random Forest method yields the best results, based on our research. The development of future COVID-19 X-ray image-based automated diagnostic systems may be influenced by these findings. Results from the suggested model were comparable to those of cutting-edge models trained using transfer learning techniques. The proposed model's main advantage is that it has ten times fewer parameters than the most advanced models.A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve's F1 score, and the algorithms' accuracy, precision, the area under the curve,  and recall were all used as metrics. According to our findings, the Naive Bayes method gained the least accuracy (58%) and the Support Vector Machine method produced the highest accuracy (77%) when used. Our results reveal that employing Harr feature extraction and machine learning techniques, the Random Forest strategy is the most successful way to recognize COVID-19 X-ray pictures. These findings may be pertinent to the development of automated COVID-19 diagnosis tools relying on X-ray images. The recommended model produced results that were competitive when measured against cutting-edge models trained using transfer learning techniques. The suggested model employs 10 times fewer parameters than the most advanced models, which is its key selling point.&nbsp

Osteopontin stimulates tumor growth and activation of promatrix metalloproteinase-2 through nuclear factor-κB-mediated induction of membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase in murine melanoma cells

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) degrade the extracellular matrix (ECM) and play critical roles in tissue repair, tumor invasion, and metastasis. MMPs are regulated by different cytokines, ECM proteins, and other factors. However, the molecular mechanisms by which osteopontin (OPN), an ECM protein, regulates ECM invasion and tumor growth and modulates MMP activation in B16F10 cells are not well defined. We have purified OPN from human milk and shown that OPN induces pro-MMP-2 production and activation in these cells. Moreover, our data revealed that OPN-induced membrane type 1 (MT1) MMP expression correlates with translocation of p65 (nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)) into the nucleus. However, when the super-repressor form of IκBα (inhibitor of NF-κB) was transfected into cells followed by treatment with OPN, no induction of MT1-MMP expression was observed, indicating that OPN activates pro-MMP-2 via an NF-κB-mediated pathway. OPN also enhanced cell migration and ECM invasion by interacting with α vβ3 integrin, but these effects were reduced drastically when the MMP-2-specific antisense S-oligonucleotide was used to suppress MMP-2 expression. Interestingly, when the OPN-treated cells were injected into nude mice, the mice developed larger tumors, and the MMP-2 levels in the tumors were significantly higher than in controls. The proliferation data indicate that OPN increases the growth rate in these cells. Both tumor size and MMP-2 expression were reduced dramatically when anti-MMP-2 antibody or antisenseS-oligonucleotide-transfected cells were injected into the nude mice. To our knowledge, this is the first report that MMP-2 plays a direct role in OPN-induced cell migration, invasion, and tumor growth and that demonstrates that OPN-stimulated MMP-2 activation occurs through NF-κB-mediated induction of MT1-MMP

A study to assess the effectiveness of lady’s finger juice in reducing the blood glucose level among clients with type II diabetes mellitus in selected villages at Kanyakumari district

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic multisystem disease related to abnormal insulin production, impaired insulin utilization, or both. Type II diabetes mellitus is defined as a heterogeneous disorder involving both genetic and environmental factors and it previously called non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus or adult-onset diabetes. STATEMENT A study to assess the effectiveness of lady’s finger juice in reducing the blood glucose level among clients with type II diabetes mellitus in selected villages at Kanyakumari district. OBJECTIVES: 1. To assess the pre and post test blood glucose level among clients with Type II diabetes mellitus in experimental and control group. 2. To determine the effectiveness of lady’s finger juice on blood glucose level among clients with Type II diabetes mellitus in experimental and control group. 3. To find out the association between the pre test blood glucose level among clients with Type II diabetes mellitus with their selected demographic variables such as age, sex, occupation, food pattern and duration of diabetes mellitus. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: The research design adopted for this study was true experimental design. The sample size was 60 and was drawn through simple random sampling technique. The feasibility of the study and the refinement of the tool were assessed through pilot study. The blood glucose level among Type II diabetes mellitus clients was assessed by using glucometer. The data collection for the main study was done from 01-04-2016 to 30-04-2016. Lady’s finger juice was given for experimental group. Post test was done after intervention period. The data gathered were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistical method. FINDINGS OF THE STUDY: In Experimental group the mean score on blood glucose level among clients with Type II diabetes mellitus was 153 in pre test and 128.20 in post test. The paired ‘t’ value was 13.76 which is significant at p > 0.05. In Control group the mean score on blood glucose level among clients with Type II diabetes mellitus was 147.63 in pre test and 154.06 in post test. The paired ‘t’ value was 3.99 which is significant at p > 0.05. It shows that lady’s finger juice was effective in reducing the blood glucose level. The mean score on blood glucose level among clients with Type II diabetes mellitus in Experimental group was 128.20 in post test and 154.06 in Control group post test. The estimated value was 6.93 which is significant at P> 0.05. It shows that lady’s finger juice was effective in reducing the blood glucose level. There is no association between the pre test blood glucose level among clients with Type II diabetes mellitus in experimental group and control group with their selected demographic variables such as age, sex, occupation, food pattern and duration of diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSION: This study inference revealed that regular practice of lady’s finger juice could bring about desired reduction in the blood glucose level among clients with Type II diabetes mellitus

Adult acute epiglottitis

Acute epiglottitis is a disease of rapid onset and progression of symptoms and has been well described in children. The importance of being aware of this diagnosis is to prevent an acute upper airway obstruction that can be potentially fatal. Here we describe two cases of adult acute epiglottitis where the patients had severe symptoms of sorethroat but a normal looking oropharynx

Photorefractive polymeric solitons

We show the existence of photorefractive polymeric solitons in a bulk photorefractive polymer. We also show the existence of incoherently coupled two dimensional soliton pairs under steady state condition. The soliton pairs can exist under the condition that the two beams are mutually incoherent and have the same wavelength and polarization. The system was studied using the variational method and the result so obtained was analyzed using the finite-difference Beam Propagation method. Stable propagation of the soliton beam through the medium was observed

Echocardiographic evaluation of left atrial performance by using left atrial appendage flow velocity

Background:  Left atrial (LA) functional Study has a traditional role in evaluation of left ventricular diastolic function. The widely accepted echocardiographic parameters used in routine clinical practice to assess left ventricular diastolic function include pulsed-wave doppler mitral inflow analysis, tissue doppler imaging measurements, and LA dimension estimation. Left atrial appendage doppler studies using early diastolic emptying velocity, late diastolic emptying velocity and LAA filling velocity imaging to assess LA function were validated in patients with valvular atrial fibrillation (AF). Currently, there is no evidence regarding the Left atrial appendage doppler studies used in identifying the performance of left atrium and diastolic function in patients with Normal Sinus Rhythm. Objectives: This study aimed to identify the performance of left atrial function in patients with normal sinus rhythm using Left atrial appendage doppler studies. Methods: In a study population of 63 patients aged >18 years old who undergone routine echocardiographic study for Cardiac evaluation between Jan 2017 to Jan 2018, among which 40 (64%) were males and 23 (36%) were females. For those Patient’s, left atrial appendage flow velocity and diastolic doppler parameters are noted from G E echocardiography machine by the single observer. Results: The Mean Left Atrial Appendage (late-diastolic emptying velocity) in diastolic dysfunction patients (39.74) associated with impaired left atrial function, when compared with the mean Left Atrial Appendage (late-diastolic emptying velocity) in patients without diastolic dysfunction (54.76) respectively. Conclusion: In this study, we founded that Patient with diastolic dysfunction had an impaired left atrial function that was measured by left atrial appendage flow velocity

Synthesis and Characterization of Co (Ii) And Ni (Ii) Complexes of 2, 5- Substituted 1, 3, 4-Oxadiazole Derivatives

Abstract Eight new Co(II

Preoperative Assessment of Anomalous Right Coronary Artery Arising from the Main Pulmonary Artery

Anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the pulmonary artery is a rare condition. Two cases are presented in this paper. One case was treated by ligation and coronary artery bypass. The other was treated by direct reimplantation of the anomalous coronary artery into the aorta

FABRICATION OF DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLED RELEASE OF CURCUMIN, INTERCALATED WITH MAGNETITE NANOPARTICLES THROUGH SODIUM ALGINATE/POLYVINYLPYRROLIDONE-CO-VINYL ACETATE SEMI IPN MICROBEADS

Objective: The aim of the present work is to fabricate curcumin (CUR) encapsulated microbeads in the polymer matrix of sodium alginate (SA)/poly(vinylpyrrolidone)-co-vinyl acetate (PVP-co-VAc) intercalated with magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) using glutaraldehyde (GA)/calcium chloride CaCl2 as the crosslinker. Methods: Magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) were synthesized by a modified co-precipitation method. Curcumin encapsulated SA/PVP-co-VAc microbeads, intercalated with MNPs were prepared by simple ionotropic gelation technique. The formation of microbeads and uniform distribution of curcumin were characterized using spectroscopic methods. In addition, swelling and drug release kinetic studies of the microbeads were performed in simulated intestinal fluid (pH 7.4) and simulated gastric fluid (pH 1.2) at 37 °C. Results: Microbeads formation was confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR). Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) studies reveal that the peak at 181 °C of CUR was not observed in CUR loaded microbeads, which confirms that CUR was encapsulated at the molecular level in the polymer matrix. The X-Ray diffraction (X-RD) diffractograms of CUR shows 2Ө peaks between 12-28 °, which indicated the crystalline nature of CUR, these peaks are not found in CUR loaded microbeads, suggesting that the drug has been molecularly dispersed in the polymer matrix. The X-RD 2Ө peaks of MNPs are observed in the MNPs loaded microbeads, which confirms that MNPs are successfully loaded in the microbeads. The swelling studies and in vitro release studies were performed at pH 1.2 and 7.4. The results reveal that at pH 7.4 highest swelling and release was observed, which confirms that the developed microbeads are pH sensitive and are suitable for intestinal drug delivery. The drug release kinetics fit into the Korsmeyer-Peppas equation, indicating non-Fickian diffusion. Conclusion: The results concluded that the present system as dependent on pH of the test medium and hence suggest suitability for intestinal drug delivery