Optimization Based Liver Contour Extraction of Abdominal CT Images

This paper introduces computer aided analysis system for diagnosis of liver abnormality in abdominal CT images. Segmenting the liver and visualizing the region of interest is a most challenging task in the field of cancer imaging, due to small observable changes between healthy and unhealthy liver. In this paper, hybrid approach for automatic extraction of liver contour is proposed. To obtain optimal threshold, the proposed work integrates segmentation method with optimization technique in order to provide better accuracy. This method uses bilateral filter for preprocessing and Fuzzy C means clustering (FCM) for segmentation. Mean Grey Wolf Optimization technique (mGWO) has been used to get the optimal threshold. This threshold is used for segmenting the region of interest. From the segmented output, largest connected region are identified using Label Connected Component (LCC) algorithm. The effectiveness of proposed method is quantitatively evaluated by comparing with ground truth obtained from radiologists. The performance criteria like dice coefficient, true positive error and misclassification rate are taken for evaluation

EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF STINGLESS BEE PROPOLIS (TETRAGONULA IRIDIPENNIS) OF TAMILNADU, INDIA

Objective: Propolis is a mixture of plant resins and bee secretions. This study is to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of stingless bee propolis (Tetragonulairidipennis), rearedfromPudukottai region of Tamilnadu, India and also to determine the total phenol and total flavonoid contents of the sample responsible for these properties. Methods: Stingless bee propolis was extracted by ultra sonication method and was characterized by UV-Visible, FT-IR and SEM analysis. Total Phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined by using Folin-Ciocalteu spectrophotometric method and Aluminium chloride colorimetric method respectively. DPPH radical scavenging assay was used to find the antioxidant activity of the sample. Antibacterial activity was determined by using standard agar well diffusion method. Results: Total polyphenol content of the sample was 150µg/ml of Gallic acid equivalent (GAE) and the flavonoid content was 6mg/g of Quercetin equivalent (QE). The antioxidant potential of stingless bee propolis is found to be 83 %. The sample showed significant antimicrobial activity against various human pathogens. Conclusion: Stingless bee propolis (Tetragonulairidipennis) collected from Pudukottairegion, Tamilnadu is a potential natural antioxidant source and is a promising antimicrobial drug for various bacterial infections

An Analytical Study on Greenhouse Gases Emission and Control

Introduction: The study is based on the emission of the greenhouse gases and the control measuresassociated with it. It has been observed from the collected information that the emission levels increased at analarming rate over the last decades for India. The most important greenhouse gases are CO2, Methane, Nitrousoxide, and other gases. Therefore, greenhouse gas emissions impact the atmosphere largely.Purpose: The purpose of the study is to find out ways to control greenhouse gas emissions. The main reason behindthis is termed as the rapid industrial development along with mass consumption of various fossil fuels.Findings: It is found that greenhouse gas emissions impact not only the environment but also humans. Mostly,humans are responsible for the increase of greenhouse gases emissions in the environment. A secondary qualitativeanalysis is used in this study to discuss suitable methods of estimating the concentration level of greenhouse gases inthe atmosphere.Conclusion: In conclusion, it can be said that humans have to ensure that they adopt all the possible ways to reducethe greenhouse gases emissions from the environment. Time based variation of CO2 and CH4 is mainly depicted inthis study along with the concentration of O3 and NOX in the atmospheric air

Double Bootstrap Confidence Interval Estimates with Censored and Truncated Data

Traditional inferential procedures often fail with censored and truncated data, especially when sample sizes are small. In this paper we evaluate the performances of the double and single bootstrap interval estimates by comparing the double percentile (DB-p), double percentile-t (DB-t), single percentile (B-p), and percentile-t (B-t) bootstrap interval estimation methods via a coverage probability study when the data is censored using the log logistic model. We then apply the double bootstrap intervals to real right censored lifetime data on 32 women with breast cancer and failure data on 98 brake pads where all the observations were left truncated

Management of Eulophid Seed Borer, Anselmella kerrichi (Narayanan et al.) (Hymenoptera : Chalcidoidea : Eulophidae) on Jamun

A field experiment was conducted at ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru during 2019 to evaluate certain insecticides and botanicals against jamun seed borer, Anselmella keriichi (Naryananet al.). The results revealed that the seed borer infestation was significantly low in –λ cyhalothrin (4.20%) and cypermethrin (5.77%) treatments followed by spinosad (6.36%), deltamethrin (6.40%) and imidacloprid (6.71%) (F=7.9; df=11; P<0.0001). Among the organic insecticides viz., spinosad @ 0.2 mL/L showed significant reduction in jamun seed borer infestation

Comparison of self-medication practice for dysmenorrhoea in medical, nursing and dental students

Background: Dysmenorrhea is common in adolescent and young adult females and is responsible for impaired daily activities and significant absenteeism from college among female students. The self-treatment strategy varies among the students. Hence, the present study was done to analyse and compare the self-medication practice for dysmenorrhoea among medical, nursing and dental students.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 188 female students with dysmenorrhoea in M. S. Ramaiah College Campus, Bangalore which included 62 medical, 63 nursing and 63 dental students. Data was collected with prevalidated questionnaire related to various aspects like demographic data, severity and duration of dysmenorrhoea and pattern of management in the three groups. Data collected was analysed using SPSS version 20.Results: The mean age of female students with dysmenorrhoea was 19.12±0.87 years. 28% students perceived hormonal changes as causative factor for dysmenorrhoea. About 92 (48.9%) were on self-medication and 46 (24.5%) of students used home remedies for dysmenorrhoea. Among 92 students drugscommonly used for self-medication were mefenemic acid+dicyclomine  (67.4%) followed by paracetamol (20.7%), ibuprofen (5.4%), dicyclomine (4.3%), and diclofenac (2.2%). NSAIDS such as mefenamic acid, paracetamol, ibuprofen, diclofenac were used commonly by students in the three groups.Conclusions: Dysmenorrhoea is a common cause for self-medication among young females. Self-medication practice for dysmenorrhoea was seen more in medical students where as non-pharmacological remedies in nursing and dental female students. NSAIDS like mefenamic acid and paracetamol are the mainstay of self-medication for dysmenorrhoea

Assimilation of GPM-Retrieved Marine Surface Meteorology Variables for Two Winter Storms

No abstract availabl

FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF CHRONOMODULATED DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM BY ZAFIRLUKAST

Objective: The main objective of the present study was to formulate and evaluate a time-controlled single-unit oral pulsatile drug delivery system containing Zafirlukast for the prevention of nocturnal asthma attacks. To provide time-scheduled drug release for Asthma disease. It is used for preventing asthmatic attacks at early morning. Pulsatile release dosage form is increasing patient compliance by reducing the dosing frequency, especially in the early morning. Methods: Core tablets were prepared by incorporating different concentrations of natural and synthetic super disintegrants. Drug-containing core tablets (ZC1-ZC15) with different compositions of natural super disintegrants (Plantago ovata seed powder, Locust bean gum) synthetic super disintegrants (Sodium starch glycolate (SSG), Cross carmellose sodium (CCS), Crospovidone (CP)) were prepared by direct compression technique. The core tablets were subjected to pre-formulation, physicochemical and In vitro drug release studies. The fast disintegrating core tablet formulation was selected and press-coated tablets (P1-P11) were prepared with different compositions of hydrophobic polymers Eudragit RS100, Eudragit RL 100, Ethylcellulose and hydrophilic polymers Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose K4M, K100M. The optimized formulation was selected and quantified based on in vitro drug release profile in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids. Results: The pre and post-compression parameters of tablets were also found to be within limits. Formulation ZC5 with 16 mg of Locust bean gum showed the least disintegrating time, i.e., 22.13 sec, and was selected as the best immediate release core tablet. The press-coated tablet formulation P8 having 62.5 mg Eudragit RS100 and 62.5 mg of HPMC K4M in ratio 1:1 over the core tablet ZC5 showed rapid and drug release nearly after 4 h lag time and 98.86 % up to 12 h. Accelerated stability studies of the optimized formulation P8 indicated no significant difference in release profile after 3 mo. Conclusion: The in vitro dissolution study showed that lag time before drug release was highly affected by the coating amount level and nature of coating polymer used. Time-controlled pulsatile release tablets can be prepared using press-coating techniques