Cognitive Experiments and Features for Computing Mental Stress

In this paper, mental stress is computed through cognitive experiments that induce stress. In a controlled laboratory environment, a group of students are involved in a series of mental challenges. While performing the cognitive tasks, stress is induced on the participants. Deep breathing exercise is performed in the start of experiments and then in between each activity to make the conditions normal and a participant feels relaxed. Various physiological features are recorded during experimental activities. Also, cerebral features are recorded that provide improved classification results. The severity of stress is different on each participant but the purpose of experimental protocol is to separate stressful conditions from relaxed environment. Support Vector machine (SVM) is used to identify relax or normal class from a number of stressed classes. It is shown that cerebral features improve the classification accuracy with a satisfactory margin and designed protocol system is able to compute the severity of induced stress

Spectral Analysis of Catalytic Oxidation and Degradation of Bromophenol Blue at Low pH with Potassium Dichromate

AbstractThis research investigated the efficacy of potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7), ultraviolet (UV) solar irradiation and UV in combination with two diprotic acid i-e sulphuric and oxalic acid (UV chromate/carbonate), for decolorizing bromophenol blue (BPB). The results suggested that alone UV and solar exposure was the poor decolorizer of the dye waste water. Up to 10% color removal with alone UV and solar treatment were achieved which indicated that, only solar and UV were not effective for dye removal even though UV was slightly more effective as compared to solar one. The decline reaction rate was observed as a result of increased concentration of dye. Increase in concentration of dichromate showed two peaks at 592 and 515 which showed that bromophenol degraded into two smaller components through complex formation. Addition of sodium carbonate as a catalyst in dye chromate-oxalate system found to be effective in degradation of BPB with reduced time period. The reaction was rapid and almost maximum of the dye converted into CO2. Research outcome suggests that chromate-oxalate system is very effective techniques for reducing color of dye waste water for safety of aquatic environment. Reaction pathway of oxidation of BPB is discussed in the relevant section of the paper

Compression Techniques for Different Applications of Real-Time Communication.

Real-time communication, is important and its usage is explained with through compression techniques. The application with compression techniques are applied discussed in this article. There is special focus on audio, video and image compression. Matlab is used as a simulation tool image compression is performed. The results are sometimes lossy and sometimes lossless, both types for compression is applied of image. The difference can be seen clearly in results

CUT-OFF VALUES OF PROSTATE SPECIFIC ANTIGEN DENSITY– AN EFFECTIVE SCREENING MARKER BEFORE PROSTATE BIOPSY

OBJECTIVE: To determine cut-off values for prostate specific antigen density (PSAD) in diagnosing prostate carcinoma in symptomatic patients. METHODS: This cross sectional, observational study conducted at Department of Chemical Pathology and Endocrinology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan from June 2020 to May 2021. Symptomatic patients (309) having prostatic enlargement on ultrasound were selected through consecutive sampling. All the patients underwent prostate biopsy for histopathological diagnosis. Prostate specific antigen density was calculated and compared between different age groups and different diseases. ROC curve was constructed and area under the curve was calculated to find out cut-off values value for PSAD. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were calculated at the cut-off values. RESULTS: Among 309 patients of median age was 68 years (IQR 43 – 75). There was a significant difference of PSAD in different age groups (p<0.001) and diseases like prostate carcinoma, benign prostatic hyperplasia and other prostatic disorders. PSAD had AUC of 0.878 at cut-off value of 0.135 ng/ml where sensitivity was 100%. A higher cut-off 0.20 ng/ml was suggested in younger age group as compared to the old age group where cut-off was found 0.135. CONCLUSION: Using PSAD as part of evaluation profile for prostate lesion, number of unnecessary biopsies can be significantly decreased. PSAD cut-off to aid in decision of invasive prostate biopsy is suggested to be 0.135 ng/ml with close biochemical follow up afterwards

Effect of Cyclodextrin Derivatization on Solubility and Efficacy of Drugs

Cyclodextrins (CDs) possess cyclic structure having (α-1,4)-linked glucopyranose units making them less vulnerable to enzymatic degradation as than the linear dextrins. Commonly used natural CDs are α-CD, β-CD, and ɣ-CD with truncated cone-like appearance having lipophilic central cavity and hydrophilic exterior surface. The problem of low aqueous solubility of natural CDs can be addressed by reacting them with various reagents to produce water-soluble derivatives. CD derivatives can be categorized in many ways depending upon their substituents, biological activity, polarity, and size. The derivatization of natural CDs produces noncrystalline and amorphous forms with higher water solubility that are physically and microbiologically stable for prolonged time period. Variety of methods can be used to determine average degree of substitution for a modified CD. Dissociation by dilution is considered as major release mechanism of drugs from complex. It is essential to optimize the amount of CDs for a given preparation because they can either retard or promote drug delivery through biological membrane

Comparative Analysis of Trace Elements Found in Commonly Used Vegetables Irrigated By Fresh And Waste Water in Karachi, Pakistan

Use of municipal waste water (both treated and untreated) has now become a common practice in urban and peri-urban areas. Mostly vegetables in urban cities like Karachi are being irrigated by sewerage water. In this study a comparison of sewage and fresh water-irrigated vegetables has been made with respect to trace metals. Among commonly used vegetables, green onion, cabbage, pumpkin, eggplant, bird’s eye chili and okra were selected. Two sets of these vegetables were collected, one from local farm where irrigation was done with well water and other set of samples was collected from Malir, Karachi where irrigation was done with waste water. Samples were analyzed for heavy metals i.e. K, Na, Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, Fe, and As by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. It showed that both sets of samples were found to contain metal concentrations beyond the limits set by WHO/EU. Apart from tomato, the concentration of only Cd was near the standard value for both sets. Similar results were obtained for K except for pumpkin in which the concentration for waste water irrigated samples was fairly high. Amount of Cu and Fe were moderately higher than the standard in both samples. Arsenic in all the samples was considerably high while maximum concentration was obtained for Pd against the limits. These findings suggest waste water irrigated vegetables pose high risk to human health. The concentrations of As and Pb were high in fresh water samples possibly, the well water may contain metals, therefore it is important to know the source