SSOPS based Solution to Improve QoS in VANET

Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks (VANETs) is an emerging network technology derived from ad-hoc networks. This paper provides the state-of-the-art of VANETs and provides optimum proposal by improving Quality of Service (QoS.) Today, wireless systems are preferred over wired systems and these are gaining popularity as it provides wireless connectivity to the users irrespective of their geographic position, VANET is one of them. VANETs are installed to minimize the risk of road accidents and to improve passenger comfort by permitting the vehicles to exchange various types of data. In this paper, the Signal Strength based Optimum Path Selection (SSOPS) based solution on how to mitigate the QoS issues that exists while using the existing methods are discussed. Moreover, the solution has been tested using NS2 software using various parameters

Giant mesenteric lymphatic malformation presenting as small bowel volvulus

Abdominal pain with bilious emesis is an ominous clinical presentation with many possible causes. We describe a previously healthy 4-year-old boy who presented with these symptoms and ultrasound findings of fluid throughout most of the abdominal cavity. Computed tomography imaging revealed a large cystic mass (21-by-13 cm) associated with a small bowel obstruction due to volvulus. A laparoscopic exploration was undertaken, revealing a large mass arising from the small intestinal mesentery and causing a segmental volvulus of the small bowel. Conversion to mini-laparotomy allowed reduction of the volvulus and segmental resection of the small bowel associated with a giant mesenteric lymphatic malformation. This case describes a rare cause of intestinal volvulus due to a mesenteric lymphatic malformation

Serum malondialdehyde in different stages of chronic renal disorder

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a widespread public health problem, which may have several adverse consequences such as renal failure, cardiovascular disease, and premature death. Kidney-related pathologies have increasing prevalence rates, produce a considerable financial burden, and are characterized by elevated levels of oxidative stress (OS). Several markers emerged as well-suited indicators of OS such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and lipid hydroperoxides. The reduced activities of antioxidant enzymes status and increased production of MDA in the CKD patients confirm the presence of OS. The alteration in antioxidant status and MDA in CKD patients supports the role of OS in CKD patient. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare serum MDA in different stages of CKD with that of control. It is well known that inflammation has an important role in CKD and MDA is an oxidant biomarker. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study having 400 participants with 300 known cases of CKD and 100 healthy controls. Serum MDA levels were measured by thiobarbituric acid assay. Results: There was a significant difference between the groups regarding the MDA values (P<0.001) with that of control. The mean MDA value in Stage III (5.64±1.93 Umol/L), Stage IV (6.14±1.584 Umol/L), and Stage V (10.761±3.347 U moL/L) of CKD patients were high in comparison to healthy control (1.88±0.181 U mol/L). Conclusion: We concluded that MDA is a useful biomarker in CKD patients. The correlations of serum MDA among different stages of CKD patients were significant. Larger studies focused on CKD severity and antioxidant/oxidant biomarkers are required

Challenge of Inclusive Federalism in Nepal: A Political Settlements Analysis of Madhesh Province

Nepal’s federal constitution marked the end of a long conflict. Despite its limitations, it is hugely successful in one respect: peace has endured. The political settlements framework looks at how changes in the distribution of power in the years preceding the conflict made earlier institutions unworkable. However, the new constitution did not fully reflect the emergent distribution of power nor is it established that the way in which the constitution is being implemented will fully support economic development and political inclusion. Constitutions everywhere are works in progress and Nepal is no exception. However, in the face of challenges, this evolution can proceed in different directions. The interdependent evolution of the distribution of power (the political settlement) on the one hand, and the constitutional, institutional and policy rules that satisfy these groups on the other is important to track. This is what our political settlement studies contribute to. Madhesh province and the broader Terai were critical contributors to the mobilizations that led to the new constitution. However, unlike other parts of Nepal where inclusion was also strongly demanded, in the Terai, mobilizations were often organized around ethnic identity and ethnic exclusion issues. The demand for strong provinces based around ethnic identity was also a particularly strong demand in Madhesh province. Irrespective of the motivations behind the demands for strong provinces, the province is an essential coordinating body for making federalism work in an inclusive rather than centralizing way. Otherwise, with a federal sphere and 753 local governments, evolution is likely to revert back to centralization. Unfortunately, because the demand for powerful provinces was initially interlocked with ethnic identity issues, the balance of forces that put together the current constitution ensured that the powers of the provincial sphere were severely limited. Moreover, many of even these constitutional powers are not fully implemented. Looking at the implementation problem using the political settlements lens allows us to understand this paradox and the problems it generates. It also helps to identify the forces pushing in different directions. For Nepali policymakers and development partners wishing to ensure that future policies and interventions support the broadening of inclusion and economic opportunities, these underlying forces are important to understand. This can help to ensure that policies work to strengthen the embedding of inclusion rather than inadvertently supporting organizational interests seeking a reversion to excessive centralization

Systematizing the approach to air quality measurement and analysis in low and middle income countries

Peer reviewe

Similarity of chest X-ray and thermal imaging of focal pneumonia: a randomised proof of concept study at a large urban teaching hospital

OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of thermal imaging (TI) in the setting of focal consolidative pneumonia with chest X-ray (CXR) as the gold standard. SETTING: A large, 973-bed teaching hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. PARTICIPANTS: 47 patients enrolled, 15 in a training set, 32 in a test set. Age range 10 months to 82 years (median=50 years). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects received CXR with subsequent TI within 4 hours of each other. CXR and TI were assessed in blinded random order. Presence of focal opacity (pneumonia) on CXR, the outcome parameter, was recorded. For TI, presence of area(s) of increased heat (pneumonia) was recorded. Fisher\u27s exact test was used to assess the significance of the correlations of positive findings in the same anatomical region. RESULTS: With TI compared with the CXR (the outcome parameter), sensitivity was 80.0% (95% CIs 29.9% to 98.9%), specificity was 57.7% (95% CI 37.2% to 76.0%). Positive predictive value of TI was 26.7% (95% CI 8.9% to 55.2%) and its negative predictive value was 93.8% (95% CI 67.7% to 99.7%). CONCLUSIONS: This feasibility study confirms proof of concept that chest TI is consistent with CXR in suggesting similarly localised focal pneumonia with high sensitivity and negative predictive value. Further investigation of TI as a point-of-care imaging modality is warranted

Nations within a nation: variations in epidemiological transition across the states of India, 1990–2016 in the Global Burden of Disease Study

18% of the world's population lives in India, and many states of India have populations similar to those of large countries. Action to effectively improve population health in India requires availability of reliable and comprehensive state-level estimates of disease burden and risk factors over time. Such comprehensive estimates have not been available so far for all major diseases and risk factors. Thus, we aimed to estimate the disease burden and risk factors in every state of India as part of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2016

Giant mesenteric lymphatic malformation presenting as small bowel volvulus.

Abdominal pain with bilious emesis is an ominous clinical presentation with many possible causes. We describe a previously healthy 4-year-old boy who presented with these symptoms and ultrasound findings of fluid throughout most of the abdominal cavity. Computed tomography imaging revealed a large cystic mass (21-by-13 cm) associated with a small bowel obstruction due to volvulus. A laparoscopic exploration was undertaken, revealing a large mass arising from the small intestinal mesentery and causing a segmental volvulus of the small bowel. Conversion to mini-laparotomy allowed reduction of the volvulus and segmental resection of the small bowel associated with a giant mesenteric lymphatic malformation. This case describes a rare cause of intestinal volvulus due to a mesenteric lymphatic malformation

A validated stability indicating HPTLC method for estimation of acyclovir in tablets in presence of its alkaline hydrolysis degradation product

A sensitive stability indicating high-performance thin-layer chromatographic method was developed and validated for quantitative determination of Acyclovir in tablets. Chromatographic separation was performed on a precoated silica gel 60F254 HPTLC plates using Toluene: n-Butanol: Methanol: Water (5.0:3.0:1.0:1.0 v/v/v/v) as a mobile phase. A TLC scanner set at 259 nm was used for direct evaluation of the chromatograms in reflectance/absorbance mode. Acyclovir and degradant were satisfactorily resolved with Rf values of 0.62 ± 0.05, 0.78 ± 0.05, respectively. Calibration curve was a polynomial in the concentration range of 200–1000 ng/band. The high correlation coefficient (r2 > 0.9991) values indicated clear correlations between the investigated compound concentrations and their peak areas within the test ranges. The method was validated according to ICH guidelines. The repeatability and intermediate precision, expressed by the RSD, were less than 2.0%. The accuracy and validity of the method were further ascertained by performing recovery studies via a standard addition method. The accuracy of the method expressed as percent recovery was satisfactory (99.85%). The drug was subjected to the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH)-prescribed hydrolytic, oxidative, photolytic and thermal stress conditions. The method was validated according to ICH guidelines. The drug showed instability in alkaline and oxide while it remained stable in heat and UV radiation conditions. The proposed HPTLC method was utilized to investigate the alkaline degradation of Acyclovir (ACY). The performance of the method was validated according to the present ICH guidelines for specificity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, linearity, accuracy, precision, ruggedness and robustness