QoS in Body Area Networks: A survey

Body Area Networks (BANs) are becoming increasingly popular and have shown great potential in real-time monitoring of the human body. With the promise of being cost-effective and unobtrusive and facilitating continuous monitoring, BANs have attracted a wide range of monitoring applications, including medical and healthcare, sports, and rehabilitation systems. Most of these applications are real time and life critical and require a strict guarantee of Quality of Service (QoS) in terms of timeliness, reliability, and so on. Recently, there has been a number of proposals describing diverse approaches or frameworks to achieve QoS in BANs (i.e., for different layers or tiers and different protocols). This survey put these individual efforts into perspective and presents a more holistic view of the area. In this regard, this article identifies a set of QoS requirements for BAN applications and shows how these requirements are linked in a three-tier BAN system and presents a comprehensive review of the existing proposals against those requirements. In addition, open research issues, challenges, and future research directions in achieving these QoS in BANs are highlighted.</jats:p

Ovarian Cancer Data Analysis using Deep Learning: A Systematic Review from the Perspectives of Key Features of Data Analysis and AI Assurance

Background and objectives: By extracting this information, Machine or Deep Learning (ML/DL)-based autonomous data analysis tools can assist clinicians and cancer researchers in discovering patterns and relationships from complex data sets. Many DL-based analyses on ovarian cancer (OC) data have recently been published. These analyses are highly diverse in various aspects of cancer (e.g., subdomain(s) and cancer type they address) and data analysis features. However, a comprehensive understanding of these analyses in terms of these features and AI assurance (AIA) is currently lacking. This systematic review aims to fill this gap by examining the existing literature and identifying important aspects of OC data analysis using DL, explicitly focusing on the key features and AI assurance perspectives. Methods: The PRISMA framework was used to conduct comprehensive searches in three journal databases. Only studies published between 2015 and 2023 in peer-reviewed journals were included in the analysis. Results: In the review, a total of 96 DL-driven analyses were examined. The findings reveal several important insights regarding DL-driven ovarian cancer data analysis: - Most studies 71% (68 out of 96) focused on detection and diagnosis, while no study addressed the prediction and prevention of OC. - The analyses were predominantly based on samples from a non-diverse population (75% (72/96 studies)), limited to a geographic location or country. - Only a small proportion of studies (only 33% (32/96)) performed integrated analyses, most of which used homogeneous data (clinical or omics). - Notably, a mere 8.3% (8/96) of the studies validated their models using external and diverse data sets, highlighting the need for enhanced model validation, and - The inclusion of AIA in cancer data analysis is in a very early stage; only 2.1% (2/96) explicitly addressed AIA through explainability

Occurrence and diversity of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris in vegetable brassica fields in Nepal

Black rot caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris was found in 28 sampled cabbage fields in five major cabbage-growing districts in Nepal in 2001 and in four cauliflower fields in two districts and a leaf mustard seed bed in 2003. Pathogenic X. campestris pv. campestris strains were obtained from 39 cabbage plants, 4 cauliflower plants, and 1 leaf mustard plant with typical lesions. Repetitive DNA polymerase chain reaction-based fingerprinting (rep-PCR) using repetitive extragenic palindromic, enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus, and BOX primers was used to assess the genetic diversity. Strains were also race typed using a differential series of Brassica spp. Cabbage strains belonged to five races (races 1, 4, 5, 6, and 7), with races 4, 1, and 6 the most common. All cauliflower strains were race 4 and the leaf mustard strain was race 6. A dendrogram derived from the combined rep-PCR profiles showed that the Nepalese X. campestris pv. campestris strains clustered separately from other Xanthomonas spp. and pathovars. Race 1 strains clustered together and strains of races 4, 5, and 6 were each split into at least two clusters. The presence of different races and the genetic variability of the pathogen should be considered when resistant cultivars are bred and introduced into regions in Nepal to control black rot of brassicas

Indução, fortificação e primazia do inglês como meio de instrução na primária

Having influenced by the British linguistic superiority, English bequeathed to people of India. Consequently, it got into some of the elite class. Due to the frequent use of English in science and technology and military elites it ran into higher education first then it was considered as medium of instruction at school level too. The current study investigated into the perceptions of the primary school teachers about induction, fortification and primacy of the English language as a medium of instruction in Vehari district. The population of the study were all the primary school teachers of Vehari region while sample of the study selected from all the city schools as well as from surrounding villages. Now a days, English is one of the main and compulsory subjects in Pakistan and was declared as a medium of instruction at school level officially in 2009 and college levels. But teachers at most of the schools practice code-switching while teaching English in the classrooms. For the last five years, English medium of instruction is now in practice, so keeping all the reviewed in the literature ahead, the current study attempted to examine the teachers’ reflections about effects of English language as a medium of instruction at elementary level by surveying about the use of English language as medium of instruction at primary level. The earlier studies reviewed mostly about the implementation of English as a medium of instruction particularly regarding the hurdles and obstacles. As linguists working in&nbsp;language teaching in the classroom setting have meaningfully extended the scope of their research to redress the fundamental areas of classroom practices connected with teaching/learning of English as a medium of instruction. Moreover, the current study has significant suggestions for educational research for pointing out the loopholes and drawbacks in terms of English language implementation as instructional goal. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 21. The study concluded with some suggestions and pedagogical implication to the Policy makers, higher authorities and National accreditation for teacher education in Vehari and Pakistan.Habiendo influido por la superioridad lingüística británica, el inglés legó a la gente de la India. En consecuencia, entró en parte de la clase de élite. Debido al uso frecuente del inglés en la ciencia y la tecnología y en las élites militares, primero se introdujo en la educación superior y luego se consideró también como medio de instrucción en el nivel escolar. El estudio actual investigó las percepciones de los maestros de escuelas primarias sobre la inducción, el enriquecimiento y la primacía del idioma inglés como medio de instrucción en el distrito de Vehari. La población del estudio fueron todos los maestros de escuela primaria de la región de Vehari, mientras que la muestra del estudio se seleccionó de todas las escuelas de la ciudad, así como de las aldeas vecinas. Hoy en día, el inglés es una de las materias principales y obligatorias en Pakistán y se declaró oficialmente como un medio de instrucción en el nivel escolar en 2009 y en el nivel universitario. Pero los maestros en la mayoría de las escuelas practican el cambio de código mientras enseñan inglés en las aulas. Durante los últimos cinco años, el medio de instrucción en inglés está ahora en práctica, por lo que manteniendo todo lo revisado en la literatura a continuación, el estudio actual intentó examinar las reflexiones de los maestros sobre los efectos del idioma inglés como medio de instrucción a nivel elemental mediante una encuesta sobre el uso del idioma inglés como medio de instrucción en el nivel primario. Los&nbsp;estudios anteriores revisaron principalmente sobre la implementación del inglés como medio de instrucción, particularmente en relación con los obstáculos y obstáculos. A medida que los lingüistas que trabajan en la enseñanza de idiomas en el aula, han ampliado significativamente el alcance de su investigación para corregir las áreas fundamentales de las prácticas en el aula relacionadas con la enseñanza / aprendizaje del inglés como medio de instrucción. Además, el estudio actual tiene sugerencias importantes para la investigación educativa para señalar las lagunas e inconvenientes en términos de la implementación del idioma inglés como objetivo educativo. Los datos se analizaron utilizando la versión 21 de SPSS. El estudio concluyó con algunas sugerencias e implicaciones pedagógicas para los responsables de las políticas, las autoridades superiores y la acreditación nacional para la formación docente en Vehari y Pakistán.Tendo influenciado pela superioridade lingüística britânica, o inglês legou a pessoas da Índia. Consequentemente, entrou em algumas das classes de elite. Devido ao uso frequente de inglês em ciência e tecnologia e elites militares, o ensino superior foi o primeiro a ser considerado como meio de instrução também na escola. O presente estudo investigou as percepções dos professores do ensino fundamental sobre indução, fortalecimento e primazia do idioma inglês como meio de instrução no distrito de Vehari. A população do estudo foram todos os professores primários da região de Vehari, enquanto a amostra do estudo foi selecionada de todas as escolas da cidade, bem como das aldeias vizinhas. Hoje em dia, o inglês é um dos assuntos principais e obrigatórios no Paquistão e foi declarado oficialmente como meio de instrução a nível escolar em 2009 e nos níveis universitários. Mas os professores na maioria das escolas praticam a troca de código enquanto ensinam inglês nas salas de aula. Nos últimos cinco anos, o meio inglês de instrução está agora em prática, então mantendo todos os revisados na literatura, o presente estudo tentou examinar as reflexões dos professores sobre os efeitos da língua inglesa como um meio de instrução em nível elementar sobre o uso da língua inglesa como meio de instrução no nível primário. Os estudos anteriores revisaram principalmente sobre a implementação do inglês como meio de instrução, particularmente em relação aos obstáculos e obstáculos. Como linguistas que trabalham no ensino de línguas em sala de aula, ampliaram significativamente o escopo de suas pesquisas para corrigir as áreas fundamentais das práticas de sala de aula ligadas ao ensino / aprendizagem do inglês como meio de instrução. Além disso, o presente estudo tem sugestões significativas para a pesquisa educacional para apontar as lacunas e desvantagens em termos de implementação da língua inglesa como meta instrucional. Os dados foram analisados usando SPSS versão 21. O estudo concluiu com algumas sugestões e implicações pedagógicas para os decisores políticos, autoridades superiores e acreditação nacional para a formação de professores em Vehari e no Paquistão

N,N′-[1,3-Phenylenebis(methyl­ene)]dibenzene­sulfonamide

The complete mol­ecule of the title compound, C20H20N2O4S2, is generated by crystallographic twofold symmetry, with two C atoms lying on the rotation axis. The dihedral angle between the central benzene ring and the pendant ring is 68.42 (6)° and the dihedral angle between the pendant rings is 45.11 (5)°. The torsion angles for the C—S—N—C and S—N—C—C fragments are −73.22 (15) and −150.45 (13)°, respectively. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked by N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, generating corrugated (001) sheets. Aromatic π–π stacking [centroid–centroid separation = 3.8925 (12) and 3.9777 (12) Å] and weak C—H⋯O inter­actions also occur

Antimicrobial Activity of N-hexane Extracts of Red Frangipani (Plumeria Rocea)

Antimicrobial assay of n-hexane plant extracts against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus had been done. Extraction with n-Hexane of the flowers yielded 2,08% of extract, while leaves and stems yielded 3,21% and 2,19% of n-hexane extracts, respectively. The extracts showed different activity against both bioindicators. The leaves extracts showed the strongest activity indicated by wider diameters of inhibition zone, 19,7 mm against E. coli and 13,3 mm against S. aureus at 10% of the extracts' concentration. At the same concentration (10%), the steam and flower extracts showed less inhibitory activities with 11,3 mm and 8,3 mm against E. coli, and 12,0 mm and 11,0 mm against S. aureus. At the lowest concentration of the extracts, the leaves extracts showed the strongest activity against E. coli (14,3 mm) while the steam extracts showed highest inhibitory activity against S. aureus ( 7,7 mm). Based on antimicrobial assay, it was suggested that the leaves extracts demonstrated strongest activity than other extracts. It was assumed that leaves extracts contained more secondary metabolite than flowers and steams, and the leaves have phenol compounds which are not present in other extracts

A NATURAL PRODUCT DECURSIN ENHANCES THE RADIOSENSITIZATION OF IONIZING RADIATION AGAINST DMBA-INDUCED TUMOR

Objective: Radiation therapy has gained significant attention for the treatment and prevention of solid and malignant human tumors. However, after periodical exposures, radiation therapy losses its efficacy against cancer cells displaying radio-resistant phenotypes. Therefore, decursin might improve the efficiency of radiotherapy against a variety of human cancers. Methods: The chemopreventive efficacy of decursin was evaluated against B16F10 cancer cell lines and DMBA/croton oil-induced skin carcinogenesis in BALB/c mice. Decursin was administered intraperitoneal at the dose of 20 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks following exposure to 5 Gy of ionizing radiation (IR) after 1 month of DMBA application. Western blot was performed for underlying mechanism of radioresistance. Results: Decursin suppressed the proliferation and viability of melanoma cancer cell lines in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The in vivo data collected from mice model revealed that decursin reduced the precancerous skin lesions and the incidence of tumor bearing in radiation-exposed mice. Decursin also enhanced the effect of IR by downregulation of Akt/NFκB pathway through activation of IκBα. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the activation of Akt/NFκB establishes a pro-survival response to radiation that may account for the development of radioresistance. Decursin blocks the abnormal expression of these proteins and potentiates the radiotherapeutic effect

SNR Improvement and Bandwidth Optimization Technique Using PCM-DSSS Encryption Scheme

Cryptography, the scheme of information stashing and verification, entirely deals with protocols, algorithms and strategies to ensure the precise security facility of the signal consistently by hindering unauthorized access to the confidential information. Albeit in most of the encryption schemes, certain impediments are faced by the service providers such as the expansion of required bandwidth, the fragile encryption technique, the consumption of maximum bandwidth in security purpose, less priority to improvement of SNR of the system, the complexity in decryption and so forth.  This paper illustrates the SNR enhancement &amp; bandwidth optimization technique in security purpose using PCM- DSSS sample by sample encryption scheme. For this purpose, after sampling of a signal, simple mathematical operation is performed in each sample with a time varying arbitrary weights. This arbitrary weight can be obtained from D/A conversion of pseudo noise sequence. Since the bandwidth consumption in security purpose can be minimized in this scheme, a significant portion of unused bandwidth can be used to improve the SNR of the system by reducing quantization noise of encrypted samples. By the same token, the possibility of SNR improvement is demonstrated by reckoning the quantization noise while introducing additional quantization step