Spoof detection using time-delay shallow neural network and feature switching

Detecting spoofed utterances is a fundamental problem in voice-based biometrics. Spoofing can be performed either by logical accesses like speech synthesis, voice conversion or by physical accesses such as replaying the pre-recorded utterance. Inspired by the state-of-the-art \emph{x}-vector based speaker verification approach, this paper proposes a time-delay shallow neural network (TD-SNN) for spoof detection for both logical and physical access. The novelty of the proposed TD-SNN system vis-a-vis conventional DNN systems is that it can handle variable length utterances during testing. Performance of the proposed TD-SNN systems and the baseline Gaussian mixture models (GMMs) is analyzed on the ASV-spoof-2019 dataset. The performance of the systems is measured in terms of the minimum normalized tandem detection cost function (min-t-DCF). When studied with individual features, the TD-SNN system consistently outperforms the GMM system for physical access. For logical access, GMM surpasses TD-SNN systems for certain individual features. When combined with the decision-level feature switching (DLFS) paradigm, the best TD-SNN system outperforms the best baseline GMM system on evaluation data with a relative improvement of 48.03\% and 49.47\% for both logical and physical access, respectively

Antibiotic susceptibility pattern of organisms causing surgical site infection

Background: Approximately 30-50% of antibiotic use in hospitals is now for pre-surgical prophylaxis. Selection of antibiotics for prophylaxis should be based on its activity against expected bacteria at the desired surgical site. Appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis can reduce the risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality. Abuse of antimicrobials increases the cost of treatment and supports the emergence of resistant bacteria. This study was undertaken with the primary objective of to test the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of organisms causing SSIs.Methods: A descriptive study was carried out in general surgical wards of KR hospital, Mysore for a period of 18 months (2015-2016). The relevant data was collected from the case sheets of patients who were diagnosed with SSI. Pus samples were collected, and culture-sensitivity was done. Collected data were analysed using appropriate statistical tests.Results: A total of 263 study subjects including both males and females were enrolled in the study. Out of 263 pus samples 92% were culture positive. The most common organisms causing SSI were E. Coli-ESBL (n=73) and MRSA (n=44). Gram-negative organisms were highly resistant to β-lactam antibiotics and Gram-positive organisms were resistant to cotrimoxazole, erythromycin, clindamycin, cefoxitin and ciprofloxacin.Conclusions: Good hygienic measures should be followed by the patients and health-workers. A revision of hospital antibiotic policy according to the local antibiotic susceptibility pattern is recommended

A study of drug utilization trends in acute coronary syndrome in intensive cardiac care unit at a tertiary care hospital, Mysore

Background: Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) is an emergency condition where usage of many drugs during its management in ICCU is common. This could be a potential cause for Polypharmacy, Potential Drug-Drug Interactions and increased Cost Burden on patients. The objective of the study was WHO criteria for prescription like, 1) Average number of drugs per prescription, 2) Percentage of drugs prescribed by Generic name, 3) Percentage of drugs with Injections prescribed, 4) Percentage of prescriptions with Antibiotics and 5) Percentage of drugs prescribed from the WHO Essential Drugs List.Methods: After obtaining approval from Institutional Ethics Committee, an observational study was carried out among 125 patients in a tertiary care hospital, Mysore. Patients diagnosed with ACS admitted in Intensive Cardiac Care Unit (ICCU) for initial 48 hrs were included in the study. The prescriptions were analyzed for WHO criteria for prescription. The results were analyzed using Descriptive Statistics and T- test.Results: In our present study the most common diagnoses were found to be ACS- Anterior wall myocardial infarction (36.8%) and ACS-Inferior wall myocardial infarction (32.8%). Hypertension (35.2%) and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (29.6%) were the frequently associated co-morbid conditions. Antiplatelet drugs (100%) and Hypolipidemic drugs (100%) were the most commonly prescribed, followed by Anti coagulants (94.4%). The average number of drugs per prescription was 9.09±2.17. Percentage of drugs prescribed by generic names was 37.29%. The percentage of drugs prescribed from essential drug list was 50.84%.Conclusions: The present study provides valuable insight about the overall pattern of drugs used in Acute Coronary syndrome. Physician should be encouraged to prescribe drugs with generic name

Antagonistic Effects of Lactobacilli on Gram-Negative Bacteria

Three lactobacilli strains were examined for the inhibitory activity against some gram-negative bacteria with a well diffusion method. Lactobacilli have strongest antagonistic activity against P. aeruginosa in well diffusion method; it was the least sensitive tested bacteria. In spite of E. coli is inhibited secondly in well diffusion method (16mm), the value of the inhibition is lower than spot on lawn method (26mm). These results showed that spot on lawn method is a better method than the well diffusion method

Insecticidal Property of Plumeria obtusa L. (Apocynaceae) Leaf Extracts Against Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

Mosquitoes are one of the most lethal animals in the world and transmit many dangerous human pathogens, causing millions of deaths each year. Aedes aegypti is generally known to be a vector of dengue, chikungunya and zika. Mosquito control is a major challenge nowadays when they became resistant against commonly available insecticides. To reduce this, it is important to look for alternative that are easily biodegradable. One such alternative could be bioactive products from phytochemicals by systematically exploring the global floral biodiversity. Therefore the present study was to evaluate the ovipositional deterrent activity of the ethanol, hexane leaf extracts of Plumeria obtusa against Aedes aegypti and also observe various types of sensilla located on the antennae, maxillary palp, tarsi and ovipositor of the Ae. aegypti using scanning electron microscope. The effect of ethanol and hexane leaf extracts of P. obtusa on oviposition of Ae. aegypti was determined under two sets of conditions (Choice and no choice oviposition assay). Among the total number of eggs laid 33.83% (ethanol), 38.15(hexane) was present in control medium when placed along with ovitraps with 0.1, 0.3, 0.7, 0.010 and 0.013% ethanol and hexane leaf extracts of P. obtusa in which appeared 27.88, 23.27, 11.79, 9.371 and 0.038 % (ethanol), 26.09, 18.14, 13.19, 4.357 and 0.042% (hexane) of eggs respectively. This was also indicated by ODI values (9.649, 18.48, 48.30, 82.86 and 99.77) (ethanol) and (18.76, 35.53, 48.59, 79.50 and 99.77) (hexane) (choice oviposition assay). Percent oviposition in 0.1, 0.3, 0.7, 0.010 and 0.013 % ethanol and hexane of leaf extracts of P. obtusa was 43.11, 28.77, 19.51, 3.875 and 0.090% (ethanol), 36.36, 26.21, 18.03, 8.888 and 0.181% (hexane) which were less compared to their control counterparts 56.88, 71.22, 80.48, 96.12 and 99.90 (ethanol), 63.63, 73.78 , 81.96 , 91.11 and 99.81 (hexane) respectively (no choice oviposition assay). The findings also revealed that both extracts (ethanol, hexane) showed promising ovipositional deterrent activity against adult Ae. aegypti

Protocol for measuring interorganelle contact sites in primary cells using a modified proximity ligation assay

Summary: Interorganelle contact sites regulate lipid metabolism, organelle dynamics and positioning, as well as apoptosis and autophagy. Here, we present a proximity ligation assay (PLA) protocol for measuring the association of two organelles in fixed cells. We describe steps for primary cell culture, primary cell transfection, and the assay itself. We then detail procedures for manual and image J-based analysis of PLA foci. This protocol optimizes the use of assay products and improves the identification of PLA foci labeling actual contact sites.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Ilamathi et al. (2023).1 : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics

A Power System Stabilizer for Multi-Machine Power Based on Hybrid BF0A-PSO

Bacterial Swarm Optimization (BSO) is used to design Power System Stabilizers in a multi machine power system. In BSO, the search directions of tumble behavior for each bacterium are oriented by the individual’s best location and the global best location of PSO. The hybrid BFOA-PSO algorithm has been applied to IEEE 14 bus test system under normal, light and heavy load conditions. Simulations results have revealed the strength of the BSO in tuning Power System Stabilizers under normal, light and heavy load conditions. The results present the effectiveness of the controller to improve the power system stability over a different range of loading conditions