Breast Tumor Recognition by Semantic Segmentation of Multiclass Ultrasound Images

Objectives: The main purpose of this paper is to suggest a semantic segmentation model to reduce training time in ultrasound breast cancer images. This is achieved by employing a smaller network with fewer trainable parameters, resulting in faster training while maintaining maximum accuracy. Methods: This paper proposes a modified U-Net model, which we call the V model, for the subdivision of breast tumors. The proposed V architecture is applied explicitly to ultrasound breast cancer datasets for semantic segmentation. Our proposed model achieves semantic segmentation by employing an encoder and decoder on real and mask image datasets. Findings: Therefore, developing a proposed system, namely a V-Net computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system, is imperative. This CAD system aims to minimize human errors while enhancing accuracy and speed in the premature finding of breast tumors. The proposed model utilizes minimal layers and parameters while maintaining superior results regarding correctness, speed, and computational proficiency. Novelty: The proposed V-net model applies to analysing any medical image for detecting disease and finding more accuracy than other U-net models

Antifungal activity of Leptadenia reticulata Wight and Arn. aerial parts

The petroleum ether, chloroform, acetone, methanol and aqueous extracts of the aerial parts of Leptadenia reticulata Wight and Arn. (Asclepiadaceae) were studied for in vitro antifungal activity against Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus ruantti, Candida tropicalis, Candida albicans, Trichodermata viride and Trichodermata koningii respectively. The methanolic extract exhibited prominent antifungal activity against all the selected strains. Minimum inhibitory concentration of the extracts was performed by broth dilution method and the zone of inhibition was studied by agar disc diffusion method at concentrations of 2, 5 and 10mg/ml in DMSO. Cotrimazole (25μg/ml) was used as reference control for antifungal studies. Results of MIC study revealed the antifungal activities of the extracts against the tested strains in between concentration ranges 50-400μg/ml. The present study indicates the potential usefulness of L. reticulata aerial parts as antifungal agent.Keywords: Leptadenia reticulata Wight and Arn., Antifungal activity, Minimum inhibitory concentration, Zone of inhibition, Clotrimazol

Significance of weather forecasting on oilseeds crop production in India: A-review.

Not AvailableOilseed production in India is on cross-roads and has major dependency on the imports. The majority of oilseeds were introduced in India since ages and well-adopted by the farmers. Like other crops oilseed production also invariably depends on weather variables as major oilseeds are grown in rainfed situation. Therefore, an accurate weather forecast for the sowing time, growing season and pest-disease situation is need of hour to overcome the weather vagaries. In this review we have tried to mention important environment factors which affect oilseed production vis-a-vis disease situation in the oilseed crops and to measure the changing scenario.Not Availabl

Specificity of Incident Diagnostic Outcomes in Patients at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis

It is not well established whether the incident outcomes of the clinical high-risk (CHR) syndrome for psychosis are diagnostically specific for psychosis or whether CHR patients also are at elevated risk for a variety of nonpsychotic disorders. We collected 2 samples (NAPLS-1, PREDICT) that contained CHR patients and a control group who responded to CHR recruitment efforts but did not meet CHR criteria on interview (help-seeking comparison patients [HSC]). Incident diagnostic outcomes were defined as the occurrence of a SIPS-defined psychosis or a structured interview diagnosis from 1 of 3 nonpsychotic Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) groups (anxiety, bipolar, or nonbipolar mood disorder), when no diagnosis in that group was present at baseline. Logistic regression revealed that the CHR vs HSC effect did not vary significantly across study for any emergent diagnostic outcome; data from the 2 studies were therefore combined. CHR (n = 271) vs HSC (n = 171) emergent outcomes were: psychosis 19.6% vs 1.8%, bipolar disorders 1.1% vs 1.2%, nonbipolar mood disorders 4.4% vs 5.3%, and anxiety disorders 5.2% vs 5.3%. The main effect of CHR vs HSC was statistically significant (OR = 13.8, 95% CI 4.2–45.0, df = 1, P < .001) for emergent psychosis but not for any emergent nonpsychotic disorder. Sensitivity analyses confirmed these findings. Within the CHR group emergent psychosis was significantly more likely than each nonpsychotic DSM-IV emergent disorder, and within the HSC group emergent psychosis was significantly less likely than most emergent nonpsychotic disorders. The CHR syndrome is specific as a marker for research on predictors and mechanisms of developing psychosis

Oral abstracts 1: SpondyloarthropathiesO1. Detecting axial spondyloarthritis amongst primary care back pain referrals

Background: Inflammatory back pain (IBP) is an early feature of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and its detection offers the prospect of early diagnosis of AS. However, since back pain is very common but only a very small minority of back pain sufferers have ASpA or AS, screening of back pain sufferers for AS is problematic. In early disease radiographs are often normal so that fulfilment of diagnostic criteria for AS is impossible though a diagnosis of axial SpA can be made if MRI evidence of sacroiliitis is present. This pilot study was designed to indicate whether a cost-effective pick up rate for ASpA/early AS could be achieved by identifying adults with IBP stratified on the basis of age. Methods: Patients aged between 18 and 45 years who were referred to a hospital physiotherapy service with back pain of more than 3 months duration were assessed for IBP. All were asked to complete a questionnaire based on the Berlin IBP criteria. Those who fulfilled IBP criteria were also asked to complete a second short questionnaire enquiring about SpA comorbidities, to have a blood test for HLA-B27 and CRP level and to undergo an MRI scan of the sacroiliac joints. This was a limited scan, using STIR, diffusion-weighted, T1 and T2 sequences of the sacroiliac joints to minimize time in the scanner and cost. The study was funded by a research grant from Abbott Laboratories Ltd. Results: 50 sequential patients agreed to participate in the study and completed the IBP questionnaire. Of these 27 (54%) fulfilled criteria for IBP. Of these, 2 patients reported a history of an SpA comorbidity - 1 psoriasis; 1 ulcerative colitis - and 3 reported a family history of an SpA comorbidity - 2 psoriasis; 1 Crohn's disease. 4 were HLA-B27 positive, though results were not available for 7. Two patients had marginally raised CRP levels (6, 10 -NR ≤ 5). 19 agreed to undergo MRI scanning of the sacroiliac joints and lumbar spine; 4 scans were abnormal, showing evidence of bilateral sacroiliitis on STIR sequences. In all cases the changes met ASAS criteria but were limited. Of these 4 patients 3 were HLA-B27 positive but none gave a personal or family history of an SpA-associated comorbidity and all had normal CRP levels. Conclusions: This was a pilot study yielding only limited conclusions. However, it is clear that: Screening of patients referred for physiotherapy for IBP is straightforward, inexpensive and quick. It appears that IBP is more prevalent in young adults than overall population data suggest so that targeting this population may be efficient. IBP questionnaires could be administered routinely during a physiotherapy assessment. HLA-B27 testing in this group of patients with IBP is a suitable screening tool. The sacroiliac joint changes identified were mild and their prognostic significance is not yet clear so that the value of early screening needs further evaluation. Disclosure statement: C.H. received research funding for this study from Abbott. A.K. received research funding for this study, and speaker and consultancy fees, from Abbott. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interes

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Not AvailableA potential Trichoderma viride strain CZTV-1 was screened against 15 fungal plant pathogens of which nine pathogens Diaporthe sp., Nectria haematococca, Fusarium sp., Aspergillus flavus, Lasidiplodia theobromae, Pseudofusicoccum adansoniae, Fusarium solani, Aspergillus niger and Fusarium brachygibbosum were isolated from groundnut; three pathogens viz., Alternaria alternata, Fusarium equiseti and Fusarium oxysporum were isolated from cumin; and three pathogens viz., Alternaria tenuissima, Chaetomium atrobrunnem and Alternaria porri were isolated from castor. In dual culture, T. viride (CZTV-1) significantly reduced the mycelial growth of pathogenic fungi which was the least (29.0%) for Fusarium sp. (CZC- 3) and which was the maximum (82.2%) for Aspergillus niger (CZGN-12) which was statistically on par with Fusarium solani CZGN-9 (80.7%). This Trichoderma viride isolate (CZTV-1) can be further exploited for commercial scale up as a biocontrol agent under localized climatic conditions of western Rajasthan.Not Availabl

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