Prediction of neurodegenerative diseases from functional brain imaging data

Neurodegenerative diseases are a challenge, especially in the developed society where life expectancy is high. Since these diseases progress slowly, they are not easy to diagnose at an early stage. Moreover, they portray similar disease features, which makes them hard to differentiate. In this thesis, the objective was to devise techniques to extract biomarkers from brain data for the prediction and classification of neurodegenerative diseases, in particular parkinsonian syndromes. We used principal component analysis in combination with the scaled subprofile model to extract features from the brain data to classify these disorders. Thereafter, the features were provided to several classifiers, i.e., decision trees, generalized matrix learning vector quantization, and support vector machine to classify the parkinsonian syndromes. A validation of the classifiers was performed. The decision tree method was compared to the stepwise regression method which aims at linearly combining a few good principal components. The stepwise regression method performed better than the decision tree method in the classification of the parkinsonian syndromes. Combining the two methods is feasible. The decision trees helped us to visualize the classification results, hence providing an insight into the distribution of features. Both generalized matrix learning vector quantization and support vector machine are better than the decision tree method in the classification of early-stage parkinsonian syndromes. All the classification methods used in this thesis performed well with later disease stage data. We conclude that generalized matrix learning vector quantization and decision tree methods can be recommended for further research on neurodegenerative disease classification and prediction

Trends in Legionnaires\u27 Disease-Associated Hospitalizations, United States, 2006-2010

Background: Legionella pneumophila is a waterborne cause of both healthcare-associated and community-acquired pneumonia. Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 is responsible for 80% of infections. There is currently limited published disease burden data on Legionnaires\u27 disease-associated hospitalization in the United States. Methods: In this study, we estimated the annual incidence of Legionnaires\u27 disease-associated hospitalizations in United States and identified demographic, temporal, and regional characteristics of individuals hospitalized for Legionnaires\u27 disease. A retrospective study was conducted using the National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) data from 2006 to 2010. The NHDS is a nationally representative US survey, which includes estimates of inpatient stays in short-stay hospitals in the United States, excluding federal, military, and Veterans Administration hospitals. All discharges assigned with the Legionnaires\u27 disease International Classification of Diseases 9th Clinical Modification discharge diagnostic code (482.84) were included in this study. Results: We observed the annual incidence and number of Legionnaires\u27 disease-associated hospitalizations (per 100 000 population) in the United States by year, age, sex, race, and region. Over a 5-year period, 14 574 individuals experienced Legionnaires\u27 disease-associated hospitalizations in the United States The annual population-adjusted incidence (per 100 000 population) of Legionnaires\u27 disease-associated hospitalizations was 5.37 (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.12-5.64) in 2006, 7.06 (95% CI, 6.80-7.40) in 2007, 8.77 (95% CI, 8.44-9.11) in 2008, 17.07 (95% CI, 16.62-17.54) in 2009, and 9.66 (95% CI, 9.32-10.01) in 2010. A summer peak of Legionnaires\u27 disease-associated hospitalizations occurred from June through September in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2010. Conclusions: Legionnaires\u27 disease-associated hospitalizations significantly increased over the 5-year study period. The increasing disease burden of Legionnaires\u27 disease suggests that large segments of the US population are at risk for exposure to this waterborne pathogen

Meeting the challenges related to material issues in chemical industries

Reliable performance and profitability are two important requirements for any chemical industry. In order to achieve high level of reliability and excellent performance, several issues related to design, materials selection, fabrication, quality assurance, transport, storage, inputs from condition monitoring, failure analysis etc. have to be adequately addressed and implemented. Technology related to nondestructive testing and monitoring of the plant is also essential for precise identification of defect sites and to take appropriate remedial decision regarding repair, replacement or modification of process conditions. The interdisciplinary holistic approach enhances the life of critical engineering components in chemical plants. Further, understanding the failure modes of the components through the analysis of failed components throws light on the choice of appropriate preventive measures to be taken well in advance, to have a control over the overall health of the plant. The failure analysis also leads to better design modification and condition monitoring methodologies, for the next generation components and plants. At the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam, a unique combination of the expertise in design, materials selection, fabrication, NDT development, condition monitoring, life prediction and failure analysis exists to obtain desired results for achieving high levels of reliability and performance assessment of critical engineering components in chemical industries. Case studies related to design, materials selection and fabrication aspects of critical components in nuclear fuel reprocessing plants, NDT development and condition monitoring of various components of nuclear power plants, and important failure investigations on critical engineering components in chemical and allied industries are discussed in this paper. Future directions are identified and planned approaches are briefly described

Gallium-assisted diffusion bonding of stainless steel to titanium; microstructural evolution and bond strength

Strong joints between stainless steel 304L and pure titanium (grade-2) were made using the novel method of “gallium-assisted diffusion bonding”. The microstructural evolution and interfacial reactions were investigated in detail. The possible mechanisms of phase changes at the joint interface when bonding with and without a nickel interlayer were identified. Layers of FeTi and (Fe,Cr)2Ti intermetallic compounds were found at the reaction zone in the case of direct bonding, whereas (Fe,Ni)Ti and Fe2Ti phases were identified in the reaction zone of the samples bonded using nickel interlayers. A layer of αFe was observed on the steel side of the reaction zone in both the cases, probably due to the enrichment of Cr at the interface. The diffusion of gallium led to formation of a layer of αTi, while the diffusion of Fe and Ni assisted in the formation of a duplex (α+β)Ti phase in the inter-diffusion zone. The joints fractured along the intermetallic layers at the interface, during tensile testing, with limited ductility. The maximum tensile strengths of the bonded samples were 280 and 313 MPa with and without nickel interlayer, respectively. The latter equals 92% of the tensile strength of the pure grade-2 titanium used in this work (i.e. 340 MPa)

Solvent Extraction Studies of Gadolinium in Tri-Butyl Phosphate

AbstractFast reactor spent fuel reprocessing plants should be designed for inherent criticality safety due to high plutonium content. Addition of soluble neutron poison is one way to do that. Gadolinium is the best choice based on neutron absorption cross section and chemical compatibility. In this work, using classical thermodynamic approach, the distribution coefficient of gadolinium in tributyl phosphate has been calculated and compared with the experimental data. The influence of acidity and uranium at equilibrium on gadolinium distribution in tributyl phosphate has been investigated. The result establishes the feasibility of employing gadolinium as soluble neutron poison in fast fuel reprocessing

The Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotizing Fasciitis (LRINEC) Scoring: the Diagnostic and Potential Prognostic Role

BACKGROUND: Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a devastating soft tissue infection associated with potentially poor outcomes. The Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotizing Fasciitis (LRINEC) score has been introduced as a diagnostic tool for NF. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of LRINEC scoring in NF patients. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted for patients who were admitted with NF between 2000 and 2013. Based on LRINEC points, patients were classified into (Group 1: LRINEC /= 6). The 2 groups were analyzed and compared. Primary outcomes were hospital length of stay, septic shock and hospital death. RESULTS: A total of 294 NF cases were identified with a mean age 50.9 +/- 15 years. When compared to Group1, patients in Group 2 were 5 years older (p = 0.009), more likely to have diabetes mellitus (61 vs 41%, p \u3c 0.001), Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection (p = 0.004), greater Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (11.5 +/- 3 vs 8 +/- 2, p = 0.001), and prolonged intensive care (median 7 vs 5 days) and hospital length of stay (22 vs 11 days, p = 0.001). Septic shock (37 vs. 15%, p = 0.001) and mortality (28.8 vs. 15.0%, p = 0.005) were also significantly higher in Group 2 patients. Using Receiver operating curve, cutoff LRINEC point for mortality was 8.5 with area under the curve of 0.64. Pearson correlation analysis showed a significant correlation between LRINEC and SOFA scorings (r = 0.51, p \u3c 0.002). DISCUSSION: Early diagnosis, simplified risk stratification and on-time management are vital to achieve better outcomes in patients with NF. CONCLUSIONS: Beside its diagnostic role, LRINEC scoring could predict worse hospital outcomes in patients with NF and simply identify the high-risk patients. However, further prospective studies are needed to support this finding

PENGARUH MEDIA KOKAMI (KOTAK DAN KARTU MISTERIUS) TERHADAP KETERAMPILAN BERPIKIR KRITIS DAN MOTIVASI BELAJAR SISWA KELAS VIII SMP NEGERI 19 MATARAM TAHUN PELAJARAN 2017/2018

Tujuan penelitan ini adalah mengetahui pengaruh media Kokami (Kotak dan Kartu Misterius) terhadap keterampilan berpikir kritis dan meningkatkan motivasi belajar siswa di SMP Negeri 19 Mataram Kelas VIII tahun pelajaran 2017/2018. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian pre-eksperimen, dengan desainone-group pretest-posttest design. Subjek dalam penelitian ini adalah seluruh siswa kelas VIII SMP Negeri 19 Mataram. Sampel penelitian diambil secara purposive sampling dan kelas VIIID ditentukan sebagai sampel. Instrumen yang digunakan berupa tes soal dan angket yang telah diuji kelayakannya.Dalam pengukuran motivasi digunakan teknik analisis data berupa kualitatif, diperoleh peningkatan untuk perhatian, relevansi, percaya diri dan kepuasan dengan menggunakan N-Gain masing – masing sebesar 0,83, 0,68, 0,86 dan 0,82 dengan kategori tinggi kecuali relevansi kategori sedang . Data yang terkumpul sebelumnya di uji normalitasnya. Pada uji normalitas pre test diperoleh x2 hitung 1,096 dengan x 2 tabel 11,07 sedangkan data post test di peroleh x2 hitung 10,14 dengan x2 tabel 11,07 (x hitung x tabel 2 2 ) maka data dinyatakan terdistribusi normal pada taraf signifikan 5%. Pengujian hipotesis dengan menggunakan uji-t diperoleh nilai 14,6 hitung t dan 2,03 tabel t ( thitung > ttabel ) menunjukan bahwa hipotesis nol (Ho) ditolak dan hipotesis alternatif (Ha) diterima menyatakan ada perbedaanketerampilan berpikir kritis dan motivasi belajar siswa sebelum dan setelah diajarkan menggunakan media kokami (kotak dan kartu misterius). Berdasarkan beberapa analisis yang telah dilakukan dapat disimpulkan bahwa media pembelajaran menggunakan kokami (kotak dan kartu misterius) dapatmeningkatkan motivasi dan keterampilan berpikir kritis IPA fisika siswa SMP Negeri 19 Mataram Tahun Pelajaran 2017/2018

Impregnation of S-layer protein isolated from extremophilic Bacillus Licheniformis NARW 02 onto titanium phosphate ceramic enhances uranium removal from aqueous solution

In the present study, bioceramic was prepared by impregnating surface layer protein (S-layer) isolated from extremophilic bacteria Bacillus licheniformis NARW 02 onto sol–gel-derived titanium phosphate (TiP) ceramic. The prepared bioceramic was used for adsorption of uranium ions from aqueous solution and compared with control lacking S-layer protein. The distribution coefficient value of TiP and bioceramic for uranium adsorption was 100.65 and 432.48 ml/g respectively. This study indicates that the bacterial S-layer can be potentially used to enhance the adsorption efficiency of the ceramics used in separation of uranium from waste water