Performance Analysis of Hierarchical Routing Protocols in Wireless Sensor Networks

This work focusses on analyzing the optimization strategies of routing protocols with respect to energy utilization of sensor nodes in Wireless Sensor Network (WSNs). Different routing mechanisms have been proposed to address energy optimization problem in sensor nodes. Clustering mechanism is one of the popular WSNs routing mechanisms. In this paper, we first address energy limitation constraints with respect to maximizing network life time using linear programming formulation technique. To check the efficiency of different clustering scheme against modeled constraints, we select four cluster based routing protocols; Low Energy Adaptive Clustering Hierarchy (LEACH), Threshold Sensitive Energy Efficient sensor Network (TEEN), Stable Election Protocol (SEP), and Distributed Energy Efficient Clustering (DEEC). To validate our mathematical framework, we perform analytical simulations in MATLAB by choosing number of alive nodes, number of dead nodes, number of packets and number of CHs, as performance metrics.Comment: NGWMN with 7th IEEE International Conference on Broadband and Wireless Computing, Communication and Applications (BWCCA 2012), Victoria, Canada, 201

Gut microbiota in obesity of different aetiology: cause or effect?

No abstract available

Endostatin concentration in plasma of healthy human volunteers

Background: Angiogenesis is involved in many cardiovascular and cancerous diseases, including atherosclerosis and is controlled by a fine balance between angiogenic and angiostatic mediators. Endostatin is one of the main angiostatic mediators, and inhibits angiogenesis and prevents progression of atherosclerosis. The available literature shows a broad range of concentrations in relatively small samples of healthy controls and is calculated by using different techniques. This study was aimed to determine the basal endostatin concentration in plasma of healthy volunteers, to fully understand its physiological role. Methods: Fifty healthy adult volunteers were recruited to the study. Participants were advised not to participate in any physical activity on the day before the blood sampling. The volunteers’ physical activity, height, weight, heart rate and blood pressure were recorded. The samples were analysed for plasma endostatin concentration, using ELISA. The participants were divided by gender and ethnic groups to calculate any difference. Results: Endostatin and other variables were normally distributed. Most of the participants had a moderate level of physical activity with no gender related difference (p=0.370). The mean value for plasma endostatin in all samples was 105±12 ng/ml with range of 81–132 ng/ml. For males, it was 107±13 ng/ml, while for females; 102±12 ng/ml. There were no significant gender or ethnicity related differences in endostatin concentration. Moreover, endostatin was not significantly related with any anthropometric and physical variable. Conclusion: This study gives endostatin levels in normal healthy people and show no gender and ethnicity related differences in endostatin levels. Endostatin was not related with any anthropometric and physical variable

Morphology of the human hard palate:a study on dry skulls

To determine morphological variations of the hard palate in dry human skulls, 85 skulls of unknown age and sex from nine medical schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan were examined. The transverse diameter, number, shape and position of the greater (GPF) and lesser (LPF) palatine foramina; canine to canine inter-socket distance; distance between greater palatine foramen medial margins; on each side, the distances between greater palatine foramen and base of the pterygoid hamulus, median maxillary suture and posterior border of the hard palate; palatal length, breadth and height; maximum width and height of the incisive foramen; and the angle between the median maxillary suture and a line between the orale and greater palatine foramen were determined. Palatine index and palatal height index were also calculated. An oval greater palatine foramen was present in all skulls, while a mainly oval lesser palatine foramen was present in 95.8% on the right and 97.2% on the left. Single and multiple lesser palatine foramina were observed on the right/left sides: single 44.1%/50.7%; double 41.2%/34.8%; triple 10.2%/11.6%. The greater palatine foramen was located above the third molar in 74.7% (right)/87.8% (left), between the second and third molars in 25.3%/9.5%, and above the second molar in 2.7% (left). A single oval-shaped incisive foramen was observed in 87.1%. The median maxillary suture angle was 13.74±1.58° on the right and 13.14±1.68° on the left. In conclusion, no significant differences were observed in any distances on the right and left side related to greater palatine foramen; however a significant difference (p <0.05) was observed between the right and left sides for median maxillary suture angle

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Induced Colitis Presenting As Lymphocytic Colitis

Checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) are a new class of drugs that have changed the treatment and prognosis of several malignancies, even in their advanced stages. These drugs have increased patient survival rates. CPIs stimulate the immune system and include cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 inhibitors (ipilimumab), programmed cell death inhibitors such as pembrolizumab, nivolumab, and avelumab, and programmed cell death protein ligand-1 inhibitors such as atezolizumab. Herein, we present a case of CPI-induced colitis in a 45-year-old woman with a history of melanoma. The melanoma was BRAF-positive with a V600 mutation. She had metastasis to the brain and the right 10th rib, which underwent surgery and radiation treatment, respectively. She was treated with nivolumab and denosumab. The patient presented with chronic watery diarrhea. Biopsy revealed lymphocytic colitis-like changes in the colon and terminal ileum. Thus, given the history of CPIs, a diagnosis of CPIS-induced colitis was made

Primary Neuroendocrine Tumor of the Liver With Papillary Features in a Multivisceral Transplant Patient

Primary neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) of the liver are rare and difficult to distinguish from other liver tumors such as cholangiocarcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. The patient was initially diagnosed with a NET of the liver in 2007. However, the origin of the cancer was not clear, that is, whether it was primary or originated from the gastrointestinal tract. Although the patient underwent partial hepatectomy, he suffered hepatic artery injury, resulting in biliary strictures. The patient eventually became untreatable and developed cirrhosis, a frozen abdomen. He received multivisceral transplantation in May 2019 and received the liver, duodenal-pancreatic complex, spleen, small bowel, and right colon. After the transplantation, the patient did well overall. More recently, he presented with food poisoning and underwent evaluation, and was found to have a mass in the liver. The liver mass was biopsied and revealed a poorly differentiated primary NET (grade 2) with ciliated papillary structures

Association of clinical characteristics of patients presenting with influenza like illness or severe acute respiratory illness with development of acute respiratory distress syndrome

Clinical judgement and suspicion of influenza based on signs and symptoms of influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory illness are critical for better patient outcome. Whether clinical characteristics of patients are associated with the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome and PCR positivity of samples was the aim of this study. We included all patients (n=37) presenting with influenza like illness (ILI) or severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) to a tertiary care hospital in northwest Pakistan during December 2015 until the end of January 2016. Each patient was assessed for signs and symptoms, clinical features, treatment, complications and outcome of ILI and SARI. Throat or nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained from 36 patient and analyzed for the presence of Influenza virus by quantitative PCR. Patients presenting with ILI or SARI were febrile (p<0.001, one sample t-test), significantly tachypneic (p<0.001) and had critically lower oxygen saturation (p<0.001). Nasal congestion at presentation (p=0.006, chi-square test for association) and infiltrates on chest radiographs (p=0.025) were significantly associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Likelihood of the occurrence of ARDS was significantly increased with decrease in oxygen saturation (Odds ratio; 0.75, 95% CI; 0.46, 1.21, p=0.048) and marginally significantly increased in lower age (Odds ratio; 0.82, 95% CI; 0.58, 1.15, p=0.055) and higher white cell count (Odds ratio; 1.001, 95% CI; 0.99, 1.002, p=0.054). The presence of Influenza type A/H1N1pdm09 strains was confirmed in 7/11 patients. However no significant difference was observed in the clinical features and complications of PCR positive and negative patients. Clinical signs and symptoms of influenza-like illness or severe acute respiratory illness significantly predict the development of complications irrespective of the positivity or negativity of laboratory qPCR reports

The psychological impact of COVID-19 and the subsequent social isolation on the general population of Karnataka, India

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has various unfavorable effects on individuals and the community. This study aims to assess the psychological impact of the COVID-19 epidemic and the subsequent social isolation on the general population of Karnataka, India.&nbsp; Methods: A web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in Karnataka from 8 to 14 April 2020 using the snowball technique. The psychological impact was assessed with the help of the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and seven-item General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaires. IBM SPSS Statistics Subscription version 16.0 was recruited to analyze the data. Descriptive (Mean + Standard Deviation) and bivariate (Pearson chi-square and ANOVA tests) analysis used to present data with the significance level set at less than 0.05. Results:&nbsp; This study included 1537 participants from 26 cities in Karnataka. About two-thirds of the respondents were undergraduate students (951, 61.9%), females (768, 50.0%), and 40.1% stayed about 15-20 days in social isolation. The prevalence of depression was 47.0%, and anxiety was 41.5%, respectively, among the surveyed sample. After the analysis, the age group 21-30 year old (P &lt; 0.001), females P &lt; 0.001), urban residents (P = 0.021), and the students (P p &lt; 0.001) were significant for depression. However, only the age group 31-40 years was found to be more susceptible to anxiety. Conclusion: As important as addressing the psychological effects, knowing people at risk of developing mental illnesses will contribute effectively to providing appropriate psychological rehabilitation programs at the right time. &nbsp; References World Health Organization, Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Situation Report –1, 21 January 2020. 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