Uncertain Query Processing using Vague Set or Fuzzy Set: Which One Is Better?

In this paper we attempt to make a theoretical comparison between fuzzy sets and vague sets in processing uncertain queries. We have designed an architecture to process uncertain i.e. fuzzy or vague queries. In the architecture we have presented an algorithm to find the membership value that generates the fuzzy or vague representation of the attributes with respect to the given uncertain query. Next, a similarity measure is used to get each tuples similarity value with the uncertain query for both fuzzy and vague sets. Finally, a decision maker will supply a threshold or α-cut value based on which a corresponding SQL statement is generated for the given uncertain query. This SQL retrieves different result sets from the database for fuzzy or vague data. It has been shown with examples that vague sets give more accurate  result in comparison with fuzzy sets for any uncertain query

Probing defect induced room temperature ferromagnetism in CVD grown MoO3 flakes: A correlation with electronic structure and first principle-based calculations

In this paper, we report the growth of pure {\alpha}-MoO3 micro-flakes by CVD technique and their structural, electronic, optical, and magnetic properties. Samples are annealed at various temperatures in an H2 atmosphere to induce ferromagnetism. All the samples exhibit ferromagnetism at room temperature, and 250oC annealed sample shows the highest magnetic moment of 0.087 emu/g. It is evident from PL data that pristine as well as annealed samples contain different types of defects like oxygen vacancies, surface defects, interstitial oxygen, etc. It is deduced from the analysis of Mo3d and O1s core-level XPS spectra that oxygen vacancies increase up to an annealing temperature of 250oC that correlates with the magnetic moment. Significant changes in the total density of states and also in the magnetic moment for two and three oxygen vacancies are noticed through first-principle-based calculations. It is concluded that the magnetic moment is produced by oxygen vacancies or vacancy clusters, which is consistent with our experimental findings

A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF THE CLINICAL PREVALENCE OF RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY IN PRETERM INFANTS AT A HOSPITAL IN ODISHA.

Background  Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), the scar tissue behind the neonate lens associated with retinal detachment, has been responsible for the two largest ‘epidemics’ of blindness in neonates in modern times. There is a rise in such cases reported around the world. However, ROP is preventable with advanced techniques. This study is carried out to determine the epidemiological profile of ROP  Method This was a prospective observational study carried out at the Department of Ophthalmology and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Burla, Sambalpur, Odisha for a period of two. Infants with lesser birth weight and preterm were considered for the study. The demography of the infants, along with oxygen therapy and the other required treatments were recorded. The eyes of the infants were examined with RetCam. Retinopathy was graded into Zone and Stages as per ICROP classification. Those infants with retinopathy were further examined and those with proper vascularization were not examined.  Results Overall 268 infants were included in this study. The occurrence of ROP was 45.9%. The infants with less than 1000 grams, gestational age between 26-30 weeks, had sepsis, had RDS, were IVH, had anemia, and received supplemental oxygen were prone to ROP. Zone II was the most affected zone and the ROP was at stage I and II IN most of the infants.  Conclusion The risk factors associated with the occurrence of ROP include gestational age, birth weight, RDS, anemia, sepsis, IVH, RDS, and supplemental oxygen. Proper screening is required for diagnosis of occurrence ROP.  Recommendation The risk factors discussed in the study should be considered for preterm babies and necessary screening should be done. Early diagnosis can prevent blindness in infant

Impact of High-Risk Sex and Focused Interventions in Heterosexual HIV Epidemics: A Systematic Review of Mathematical Models

Background: The core-group theory of sexually transmitted infections suggests that targeting prevention to high-risk groups (HRG) could be very effective. We aimed to quantify the contribution of heterosexual HRGs and the potential impact of focused interventions to HIV transmission in the wider community. Methods: We systematically identified studies published between 1980 and 2011. Studies were included if they used dynamical models of heterosexual HIV transmission, incorporated behavioural heterogeneity in risk, and provided at least one of the following primary estimates in the wider community (a) the population attributable fraction (PAF) of HIV infections due to HRGs, or (b) the number per capita or fraction of HIV infections averted, or change in HIV prevalence/incidence due to focused interventions. Findings: Of 267 selected articles, 22 were included. Four studies measured the PAF, and 20 studies measured intervention impact across 265 scenarios. In low-prevalence epidemics (≤5% HIV prevalen

Modulation of inhibitory activity of xylanase - α-amylase inhibitor protein (XAIP): binding studies and crystal structure determination of XAIP- II from Scadoxus multiflorus at 1.2 Å resolution

Background: Plants produce a wide range of proteinaceous inhibitors to protect themselves against hydrolytic enzymes. Recently a novel protein XAIP belonging to a new sub-family (GH18C) was reported to inhibit two structurally unrelated enzymes xylanase GH11 and α -amylase GH13. It was shown to inhibit xylanase GH11 with greater potency than that of α-amylase GH13. A new form of XAIP (XAIP-II) that inhibits α-amylase GH13 with a greater potency than that of XAIP and xylanase GH11 with a lower potency than that of XAIP, has been identified in the extracts of underground bulbs of Scadoxus multiflorus. This kind of occurrence of isoforms of inhibitor proteins is a rare observation and offers new opportunities for understanding the principles of protein engineering by nature. Results: In order to determine the structural basis of the enhanced potency of XAIP-II against α-amylase GH13 and its reduced potency against xylanase GH11 as compared to that of XAIP, we have purified XAIP-II to homogeneity and obtained its complete amino acid sequence using cloning procedure. It has been crystallized with 0.1 M ammonium sulphate as the precipitating agent and the three-dimensional structure has been determined at 1.2 Å resolution. The binding studies of XAIP-II with xylanase GH11 and α-amylase GH13 have been carried out with surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Conclusion: The structure determination revealed that XAIP-II adopts the well known TIM barrel fold. The xylanase GH11 binding site in XAIP-II is formed mainly with loop α3-β3 (residues, 102 - 118) which has acquired a stereochemically less favorable conformation for binding to xylanase GH11 because of the addition of an extra residue, Ala105 and due to replacements of two important residues, His106 and Asn109 by Thr107 and Ser110. On the other hand, the α-amylase binding site, which consists of α-helices α6 (residues, 193 - 206), α7 (residues, 230 - 243) and loop β6-α6 (residues, 180 - 192) adopts a stereochemically more favorable conformation due to replacements of residues, Ser190, Gly191 and Glu194 by Ala191, Ser192 and Ser195 respectively in α-helix α6, Glu231 and His236 by Thr232 and Ser237 respectively in α-helix α7. As a result, XAIP-II binds to xylanase GH11 less favorably while it interacts more strongly with α-amylase GH13 as compared to XAIP. These observations correlate well with the values of 4.2 × 10-6 M and 3.4 × 10-8 M for the dissociation constants of XAIP-II with xylanase GH11 and α-amylase GH13 respectively and those of 4.5 × 10-7 M and 3.6 × 10-6 M of XAIP with xylanase GH11 and α-amylase GH13 respectively

The nuclear pore protein NUP98 impedes LTR-driven basal gene expression of HIV-1, viral propagation, and infectivity

Nucleoporins (NUPs) are cellular effectors of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) replication that support nucleocytoplasmic trafficking of viral components. However, these also non-canonically function as positive effectors, promoting proviral DNA integration into the host genome and viral gene transcription, or as negative effectors by associating with HIV-1 restriction factors, such as MX2, inhibiting the replication of HIV-1. Here, we investigated the regulatory role of NUP98 on HIV-1 as we observed a lowering of its endogenous levels upon HIV-1 infection in CD4+ T cells. Using complementary experiments in NUP98 overexpression and knockdown backgrounds, we deciphered that NUP98 negatively affected HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR) promoter activity and lowered released virus levels. The negative effect on promoter activity was independent of HIV-1 Tat, suggesting that NUP98 prevents the basal viral gene expression. ChIP-qPCR showed NUP98 to be associated with HIV-1 LTR, with the negative regulatory element (NRE) of HIV-1 LTR playing a dominant role in NUP98-mediated lowering of viral gene transcription. Truncated mutants of NUP98 showed that the attenuation of HIV-1 LTR-driven transcription is primarily contributed by its N-terminal region. Interestingly, the virus generated from the producer cells transiently expressing NUP98 showed lower infectivity, while the virus generated from NUP98 knockdown CD4+ T cells showed higher infectivity as assayed in TZM-bl cells, corroborating the anti-HIV-1 properties of NUP98. Collectively, we show a new non-canonical function of a nucleoporin adding to the list of moonlighting host factors regulating viral infections. Downregulation of NUP98 in a host cell upon HIV-1 infection supports the concept of evolutionary conflicts between viruses and host antiviral factors