National and international agricultural research and rural poverty: the case of rice research in India and China

The study attempts to measure the total benefits from rice varietal improvement research in China and India using variety adoption and performance data over the last two decades. It then uses genetic or pedigree information to partition the total benefits between these two countries and IRRI. Finally, the study uses reported elasticity of poverty reduction with respect to agricultural output growth to assess the effects of national and international research on poverty reduction in rural India and China. The results indicate that rice varietal improvement research has contributed tremendously to increase in rice production, accounting for 14-23 percent of total production value over the last two decades in both countries. Rice research has also helped reduce large numbers of rural poor. IRRI played a crucial role in these successes. In 1999, for every $1 million invested at IRRI, more than 800 and 15,000 rural poor were lifted above the poverty line in China and India, respectively. These poverty-reduction effects were even larger in the earlier years." Authors' AbstractRice Asia., Rice Research., Rice Varieties., Rice Yields., Poverty alleviation., genetically modified organisms,

Modelling of Metallurgical Processes Using Chaos Theory and Hybrid Computational Intelligence

The main objective of the present work is to develop a framework for modelling and controlling of a real world multi-input and multi-output (MIMO) continuously drifting metallurgical process, which is shown to be a complex system. A small change in the properties of the charge composition may lead to entirely different outcome of the process. The newly emerging paradigm of soft-computing or Hybrid Computational Intelligence Systems approach which is based on neural networks, fuzzy sets, genetic algorithms and chaos theory has been applied to tackle this problem In this framework first a feed-forward neuro-model has been developed based on the data collected from a working Submerged Arc Furnace (SAF). Then the process is analysed for the existence of the chaos with the chaos theory (calculating indices like embedding dimension, Lyapunov exponent etc). After that an effort is made to evolve a fuzzy logic controller for the dynamical process using combination of genetic algorithms and the neural networks based forward model to predict the system’s behaviour or conditions in advance and to further suggest modifications to be made to achieve the desired results

Knowledge, attitude and perception of suspected adverse drug reactions in consumers: a prospective observational study in a tertiary care hospital

Background: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are the main leading causes of hospitalization which leads to morbidity and mortality worldwide. Reporting of ADRs to national databases is necessary. To strengthen this system, consumers apart from health-care professionals have also been empowered to report any ADRs directly to the regulatory agencies. Direct and spontaneous patient or consumer reporting offers various benefits beyond pharmacovigilance (PV). Consumer reporting of ADRs has existed in several countries for decades, but in India, with the inclusion of consumer reporting of ADR, the data on the same is valuable and limited. Hence the present study is taken up. The aim of this study was to explore the knowledge, perceptions and practice of ADR reporting among consumers in KIMS hospital and research center, Bangalore.Methods: The data was collected from Patients attending OPD’s, admitted in wards and at pharmacy in KIMS Hospital and Research Center, Bangalore. It is a cross sectional descriptive study. Study period is for six months from 1st April to 31st September 2018 and sample size is 200. A structured questionnaire in English and Kannada was used as a tool.Results: Of the 200 patients from the surveyed, in males the knowledge scores were better when compared to females and attitude, perception scores were same (statistically not significant). Most of the patients opined for the establishment of consumer pharmacovigilance system at hospitals and local pharmacies.Conclusions: Knowledge about ADR reporting and pharmacovigilance is less in consumers. So that there is a need to increase awareness in consumers

A STUDY ON THE EFFICACY OF PATOLADI KASHAYA AND KARANJADI LEPA IN VICHARCHIKA W.S.R. TO ECZEMA

Background: Eczema is most common chronic relapsing skin disease seen in infancy and childhood. It is slightly more common in boys than girls. According to Ayurveda, Vicharchika is a major problem in skin diseases. Despite of great advance in dermatology and the advent of powerful antibiotics, antifungal as well as steroids, Eczema continues to defy the best effect of dermatologists. These modern medicines also have serious side effects like liver and kidney failure, bone marrow depletion etc. Long term use of tropical steroids may result in skin atrophy, stria, and telangiectasia. Hence it is the need of the hour to find out safe and effective medicine for Vicharchika and here comes the role of Ayurveda. The special treatment therapy of Ayurveda provides long lasting results by treating the disease and preventing reoccurrence. Finally gives a better quality of life. In Ayurveda, Shodhana, Shamana and Nidana parivarjana are the principle treatment for any disease. Shaman chikitsa is more preferable than Shodhana chikitsa in pediatrics age group, because children’s have mridu and sukumar body constitution. The selected drug compounds, i.e. Patoladi kashaya and Karanjadi lepa are well indicated for Kushta and both act as Shaman dravyas in Kustha. Aims and objectives: To study the efficacy of Patoladi kashaya, Karanjadi lepa and Placebo in Vicharchika. To find out economical therapy for Vicharchika with minimum or no side effects. Material and methods: Total 60 patients having signs and symptoms of Vicharchika were selected randomly from OPD and IPD of Kaumarbhritya, S. V. Ayurvedic hospital, Tirupati and enrolled equally in two groups (n=30). Patients of Group A were administered with Patoladi Kashaya and Karanjadi lepa (according to age), Group B were with Placebo Kashaya and Lepa for 1 month. Patients were assessed at 15th day, 30th day, 45th day and 60th day. ANOVA test was applied for significance. Results: Group A shows better result than Group B in both subjective and objective parameters especially in Kandu, Rukshata, Vaivarnya and Pidika. Conclusion: Patoladi kashaya orally and Karanjadi Lepa externally is very effective management of Vicharchika

IDRCNN: A Novel Deep Learning Network Model for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Detection on Computed Tomography

Early identification of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) improves prognosis. Still, it is difficult since lesions are generally smaller and difficult to define on contrast-enhanced computed tomography images (CE-CT). Ineffective PDAC diagnosis has recently been achieved using deep learning models, but the output localized and identified images are of poor quality. This research focuses on small lesions and presents a new, efficient automatic deep-learning network model for PDAC detection. The Improved Deep Residual Convolutional Neural Network (IDRCNN) detects PDAC. The hyperparameter is optimized using the Tunicate Swarm Optimization Algorithm (TSOA) algorithm. A better diagnosis is made due to segmenting the surrounding anatomy structure effects, such as PD. We train a proposed IDRCNN model for segmenting and detecting lesions automatically using CE-CT images. Two more IDRCNN models are trained with the aim of investigating the effects of anatomy integration: (i) segmentation of tumor and pancreas (IDRCNN_TP), and (ii) segmentation of pancreatic Duct (IDRCNN_PD). The three networks\u27 performance was assessed using an external, publicly available test set. Due to its effective classification results, the proposed method produces improved identification results for automated preliminary diagnosis of PDAC in cervical cancer clinics and hospitals. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated using a publicly assessable CT image dataset. It outperforms the existing state-of-the-art methods and achieved 98.67% accuracy, 97.26% recall, 98.52% precision, 97.65% sensitivity, and 98.45% specificity for pancreatic tumor detection

An overview of Engineering Aspects of Solid State Fermentation

Solid substrate cultivation (SSC) or solid state fermentation (SSF) is envisioned as a prominent bio conversion technique to transform natural raw materials into a wide variety of chemical as well as bio-chemical products. This process involves the fermentation of solid substrate medium with microorganism in the absence of free flowing water. Recent developments and concerted focus on SSF enabled it to evolve as a potential bio- technology as an alternative to thetraditional chemical synthesis. SSF is being successfully exploited for food production, fuels, enzymes, antibiotics, animal feeds and also for dye degradation. This paper discusses the various micro and macro level engineering problems associated with SSF and some possible solutions for its full commercial realization

Preliminary Phytochemical Evaluation of Certain Anticancer Crude Drugs Used by Adivasis of Rayalaseema Region, Andhra Pradesh, India

The present paper deals with preliminary phytochemical evaluation of certain crude drugs used for cancer. Based on the folklore data obtained from adivasis of Rayalaseema region, Andhra Pradesh, 15 species were collected in the forests of Eastern Ghats in the region. Three species were recorded as new formulations, which are hither to not reported earlier. The preliminary phytochemical screening was conducted on the drug samples, and composition of various groups of constituents was discussed

6-Bromo-2-(4-nitro­phen­oxy)-3-(1-phenyl­ethyl)-3,4-dihydro-1,3,2-benzoxaza­phosphinine 2-oxide

In the title compound, C21H18BrN2O5P, the six-membered oxaza­phosphinine ring is in a twist-boat conformation. One of the phosphoryl O atoms is in an equatorial configuation while the other is axial with respect to the oxaza­phosphinine ring. The mean planes of the benzene ring to which the nitro group is attached and the phenyl ring form a dihedral angle of 83.5 (1)°. In the crystal structure, weak inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into chains along [100]

MEDICAL IMAGE FUSION USING WAVELET TRANSFORM VARIANTS

Fusion of Medical images derives useful information from medical images containing the data which has important clinical significance for doctors during their analysis. The idea behind the concept of image fusion is to improve the image content by fusing two images like MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) & CT (Computerised Tomography) images to provide useful &precise information for doctor for their clinical treatment. In this paper Discrete Wavelet Transforms (DWT) method has been used to fuse two medical images to decompose the functional & anatomical images. The fused image contains both functional information and more spatial characteristics with no color distortion. In the proposed work different fusion experiments are performed on Medical images by using seven wavelet transform methods - Bior, coif, db, dmey, haar, rbio and sym. Further explores the comparison between all fused image using the measuring parameters Entropy & standard deviation. Experimental results show the best fusion performance is given by theSymlets (sym) wavelet transforms