Investigations of the Non-Linear LMC Cepheid Period-Luminosity Relation with Testimator and Schwarz Information Criterion Methods

In this paper, we investigate the linearity versus non-linearity of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) Cepheid period-luminosity (P-L) relation using two statistical approaches not previously applied to this problem: the testimator method and the Schwarz Information Criterion (SIC). The testimator method is extended to multiple stages for the first time, shown to be unbiased and the variance of the estimated slope can be proved to be smaller than the standard slope estimated from linear regression theory. The Schwarz Information Criterion (also known as the Bayesian Information Criterion) is more conservative than the Akaike Information Criterion and tends to choose lower order models. By using simulated data sets, we verify that these statistical techniques can be used to detect intrinsically linear and/or non-linear P-L relations. These methods are then applied to independent LMC Cepheid data sets from the OGLE project and the MACHO project, respectively. Our results imply that there is a change of slope in longer period ranges for all of the data sets. This strongly supports previous results, obtained from independent statistical tests, that the observed LMC P-L relation is non-linear with a break period at/around 10 days.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures and 3 tables, PASP accepte

An Analytical study on Nonoperative Management of Liver Injury in Blunt Trauma to the Abdomen: A Prospective study

INTRODUCTION: The trend from operative management has shifted towards conservative management in liver injuries. The present study was done to evaluate the efficacy of conservative management in patients with blunt trauma to abdomen with liver injury, to form a guideline to help decide when to abandon conservative line of treatment and opt for surgical intervention and to study the complications arising due to conservative management of blunt injury liver. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To evaluate the efficacy of conservative management in patients with blunt trauma to abdomen with liver injury. 2. To form a guideline to help decide when to abandon conservative line of treatment and opt for surgical intervention. 3. To study the complications arising due to conservative management of blunt injury liver. METHODS: From July 2017 to June 2019, a prospective Single Center Study was done in patients admitted to department of surgery GMKMCH, who were diagnosed to have blunt injury abdomen. Data was collected with regards to age, demographic characteristics, socio economic status, detailed history and type of injuries including patient’s complaints and duration of complaints. A detailed general examination was done and hemodynamic stability was ensured. The results were analyzed statistically using IBM SPSS v 23.0 RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 35.80 years, out of 50 patients, the males were in majority (n=44, 88%). Majority of the cases were due to road traffic accidents (62%, n=31). The mean latent period is 2.7 hours, mean pulse rate reduced from 95.64/ minute on day of admission to 77.64/minute on 7th day. The mean haemoglobin reduced from 95.64/ minute on day of admission to 77.64/minute on 7th day. The liver function tests shows that on the day of admission, the liver function tests were within normal limits for all patients. On 3rd day, the liver parameters were elevated for 10% (n=5) of the patients. On 7th day, the liver parameters were elevated for 20% (n=10) of the patients. The patients presented with mild hemoperitoneum in 60% (n=30) of the cases. The grading of liver injury shows that majority of them were in Grade I (n=17, 34%). Grade II (n=13, 26%), Grade III (n=12, 24%) and Grade IV (n=8, 16%). Out of 50 patients, 48 (96%) of them were managed conservatively while two of them (4%) were chosen for emergency laparotomy. Out of 48 patients in conservative group, three of them died while in the emergency laparotomy group, one of them died. CONCLUSION: Grading of hepatic injury severity does not correlate with the management practices. This brings in the necessity of grading patients based on their hemodynamic status. One of the positive aspects of this nonoperative management is the impact on isolated liver trauma, optimisation of resources and it is highly economical

Effectiveness and safety of cemented and uncemented hemiarthroplasty for the treatment of intracapsular hip fractures:a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Aims We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the mortality, morbidity, and functional outcomes of cemented versus uncemented hemiarthroplasty in the treatment of intracapsular hip fractures, analyzing contemporary and non-contemporary implants separately. Methods PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library were searched to 2 February 2020 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the primary outcome, mortality, and secondary outcomes of function, quality of life, reoperation, postoperative complications, perioperative outcomes, pain, and length of hospital stay. Relative risks (RRs) and mean differences (with 95% confidence intervals (CIs)) were used as summary association measures. Results A total of 18 studies corresponding to 16 non-overlapping RCTs with a total of 2,819 intracapsular hip fractures were included. Comparing contemporary cemented versus uncemented hemiarthroplasty, RRs (95% CIs) for mortality were 1.32 (0.44 to 3.99) perioperatively, 1.01 (0.48 to 2.10) at 30 days, and 0.90 (0.71 to 1.15) at one year. The use of contemporary cemented hemiarthroplasty reduced the risk of intra- and postoperative periprosthetic fracture. There were no significant differences in the risk of other complications, function, pain, and quality of life. There were no significant differences in perioperative outcomes except for increases in operating time and overall anaesthesia for contemporary cemented hemiarthroplasty with mean differences (95% CIs) of 6.67 (2.65 to 10.68) and 4.90 (2.02 to 7.78) minutes, respectively. The morbidity and mortality outcomes were not significantly different between non-contemporary cemented and uncemented hemiarthroplasty. Conclusion There are no differences in the risk of mortality when comparing the use of contemporary cemented with uncemented hemiarthroplasty in the management of intracapsular hip fractures. Contemporary cemented hemiarthroplasty is associated with a substantially lower risk of intraoperative and periprosthetic fractures

Estimating process capability index Cpm using a bootstrap sequential sampling procedure

Construction of a confidence interval for process capability index CPM is often based on a normal approximation with fixed sample size. In this article, we describe a different approach in constructing a fixed-width confidence interval for process capability index CPM with a preassigned accuracy by using a combination of bootstrap and sequential sampling schemes. The optimal sample size required to achieve a preassigned confidence level is obtained using both two-stage and modified two-stage sequential procedures. The procedure developed is also validated using an extensive simulation study.<br /

A Precise Review on the Pharmacognostical and Pharmacological Imputes of Bermuda Grass: Cynodon Dactylon Linn

The World Health Organization estimates that about 80% of the world\u27s population uses herbs to meet their basic healthcare needs. Cynodon Dactylon (Doob grass),&nbsp; is a sacred grass belongs to the Poaceae family. It is a weed and has been found to possess various potential medicinal with diverse pharmacological activity spectrum.&nbsp; It is a perennial herb found in all tropics and sub tropics regions. The plant can reach upto a feet height. The plant possess number of medicinal properties, such as antiviral, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory etc.,. Bermuda grass is rich in proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, and other substances like terpenoids, vitamin C, palmitic acid, and alkaloids. The present study focusses on the updates of pharmacognostical and pharmacological properties of the Cynodon dactylon Linn

Perception of Community Pharmacist on self-medication in Erode, India

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of community pharmacists towards the concept of self-medication Erode, India. A cross-sectional study was carried out in Erode between august2010and December, 2010. A 20-item self-completion questionnaire was administered to randomly selected sample of 50 community pharmacists from Erode. Main outcome measures included understanding of self-medication, reasons for why patients practice self-medication, source for drug of choice, attitude towards Patient counseling, barriers to implementation of patient counseling. Data&apos;s were analyzed. Descriptive results were expressed as frequency and percentage. Most patients were seeking self medication for headache 14.72%, Fever 14.29%, urinary tract infections 10.13% etc. The drugs most commonly dispensed or purchased on a self medication basis were NSAIDS 33.7%. Pharmacists 56% and previous prescription 24% were the common sources from where patients get information about drug of choice. Simplicity of the disease 44% was the reason why patients prefer selfmedication. Lack of time 60% and lack of interest of the patients 36% were the reasons that pharmacists mentioned for not counselling the patients. Main reason for practicing self-medication irrational self-medication is due to their lack of knowledge about the complications that can occur by practicing self-medication without proper diagnosis. These barriers could be overcome through participation in effective continuing educational programs and creating awareness to the public about the complication of self-medication without proper diagnosis. Patient health awareness programs and pharmacist continuing education are necessary in Erode

Author Correction: The mTORC1/4E-BP1 axis represents a critical signaling node during fibrogenesis

Correction to: Nature Communications https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-07858-8, published online 2 January 2019