The ICT Induced Business Reconfiguration from Evolution to Revolution (A Case Study of Public Sector Banks in Sri Lanka)

This paper explores the recent revolutionary levels ofBusiness Reconfiguration in the Public Sector Banks in SriLanka through a Case Study exploratory analysis. This study hascompared the five levels of Business Reconfiguration introducedby Venkatraman (1991) with the Sri Lankan Public SectorBanks. Findings show that rather than evolutionary levels, thesebanks have achieved the revolutionary levels of businessReconfiguration within a short period of time and it is believedthat they will achieve the optimum capability of level five in nearfuture

Microbial Infections and Male Infertility

Microbial infections can happen on a daily basis. There are specific microbial infections that are associated with the reproductive health. Infertility is a devastating health problem. It is estimated that out of 15% of infertility worldwide, around 50% is due to male partner. Infections due to Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, hepatitis B virus, tuberculosis, Streptococcus faecalis, and mumps are found to be associated with male infertility. Although most of the life-threatening microbial infections have dramatically declined since the introduction of the childhood vaccination program, there are concerns about few outbreaks and the associated risk of male infertility. This chapter deals with few microbial infections, their association with male infertility, prevention, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and control measures

Mental Depression Deduction Using Modified Regression Model to Prevent Suicidal Attempt

This study explores a novel approach for predicting depression using association-based multilevel linear regression. The suggested approach, known as association-based multilevel linear regression, uses data on mental depression to predict the prevalence of depression. Several statistical techniques can be used to forecast depression. Several statistical methods, including Linear Regression (LR), Multilevel Linear Regression (MLR), Naïve Bayes algorithm and Decision Tree (DT) were used in this investigation. Because these algorithms are able to predict mental depression based on certain characteristics such as precision and efficiency, their performance reduces. The results of these algorithms' predictions vary significantly, especially in terms of accuracy. The mental health data is fed into a developed model that has been trained to make predictions in order to address the aforementioned problem. Depression is the subject of conversation. A great degree of accuracy is shown by the association-based multilevel linear regression technique and the evaluation of prediction of accuracy in relation to other statistical methods. This study used association-based multilevel linear regression technique.  When compared to traditional methods, the method exhibits a substantially greater level of accuracy, almost 99%

ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITES OF COW DUNG EXTRACTS AGAINST HUMAN PATHOGENS

Objective: For control of microbial infections and diseases, various synthetic drugs and chemical formulations are currently in use. But due to the problem of microbial drug resistance, new alternative synthetic drugs have been explored. Similarly, antimicrobial activities of so many natural products have also been explored. Methods: In this various study extracts of cow dung possessed antimicrobial property against human pathogens like Klebsiella pneumonia and Escherichia coli. Results: The Indian cow dung extracted possessed superior antimicrobial activity than other cow dung types and showed antimicrobial property against all the test microorganisms. Since cow dung and buffalo dung are abundant in nature, which make the process cost effective with processing ease and thus are a promising solution for a variety of health problems in the near future. Conclusion: The medicinal properties of these cow dung and buffalo dung can be exploited to formulate drugs for several diseases caused by antibiotic resistant pathogenic microorganisms

Immunohistochemical Expression of Bcl-2 in Endometrial Carcinoma and Its Correlation with Hormone Receptor Status and Transforming Growth Factor

Endometrial carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor of the female genital tract with increasing incidence in developed countries. In the era of targeted therapy immunohistochemical markers plays an important role in the treatment and prognosis of endometrial carcinoma. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES : To study the immunohistochemical expression of Bcl-2 in endometrial carcinoma. To study the correlation of Bcl-2 expression with hormone receptor status and transforming growth factor receptor in endometrial carcinoma. METHODS: 59 cases of endometrial carcinoma reported between the period from January 2010 to December 2014 in the department of pathology of this institute were considered in the study. Immunohistochemical staining for Bcl- 2, ER, PR, Her 2/neu were done.Bcl-2 expression was correlated with ER, PR and Her 2/ neu receptor expression. RESULTS : Bcl-2 expression was seen in 38 out of 59 cases ( 64.4%) . Bcl-2 was mostly expressed in 85.71% of grade I tumors and 75.75% of stage I tumors . Estrogen receptor was positive in 33 cases ( 55.9%) and Progesterone receptor was positive in 44 cases ( 74.57%) .Grade I tumors showed 71.4% and 94.28% positivity of estrogen and progesterone receptor respectively. ER, PR were positive in 63.3% and 84.8% of stage I tumors respectively. Both ER, PR negative in high grade , non- endometrioid and advanced stage of endometrial carcinomas .Her 2 neu receptor was positive in 6 cases ( 10.1%) , all four type II tumors were showed Her2/new expression. 100 % of grade III tumors , 80 % of stage III and all stage IV tumors were Her 2 neu receptor positive. Conclusion : From our study we inferred estrogen , progesterone receptor and Bcl-2 were positive in grade I and stage I tumors . Bcl-2 expression is directly proportional to estrogen and progesterone receptors. Her 2 neu receptors were expressed in high grade and advanced stage tumors . There was an inverse correlation between ER, PR , Bcl-2 and Her 2 neu receptors expression in endometrial carcinomas included in the study

Reliability and Validity of a Modified PHQ-9 Item Inventory (PHQ-12) as a Screening Instrument for Assessing Depression in Asian Indians (CURES - 65)

Abstract Objectives: To evaluate the validity and reliability of the modified Patient Health Questionnaire(PHQ) 12 item instrument as a screening tool for assessing depression compared to the PHQ -9 in a representative south Indian urban population. Methods: The Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study [CURES] is a large cross-sectional study conducted in Chennai, South India. In Phase 1 of CURES(urban component), 26,001 individuals aged ≥ 20 years individuals were selected by a systematic sampling technique of whom one hundred subjects were randomly selected, using computer-generated numbers, for this validation study. Two self-reported questionnaires (modified PHQ-12 item and PHQ 9 item) were administered to the subjects to compare their effectiveness in detecting depression. Reliability and validity were assessed and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted. Pearson’s correlation was used to compare the two questionnaires. Results: The mean age of the study was 38.6±11.6 years and 48% were males. Pearson’s correlation coefficient between the modified PHQ-12 and the PHQ-9 item was 0.913 [p<0.0001]. Factor Analysis revealed that the modified PHQ 12 item scale can be used as a unidimensional scale and had excellent internal consistency(Cronbach’s alpha:0.88). A cut point of >4 calculated using the ROC curves for the modified PHQ- 12 item had the highest sensitivity (92.0%) and specificity (90.7%) using PHQ-9 as the gold standard. The positive predictive value was 76.7%, and the negative predictive value, 97.1% and the area under the ROC curve, 0.979 (95% Confidence Interval: 0.929 - 0.997, p<0.0001). Conclusion: The modified PHQ-12 item is a valid and reliable instrument for large scale population based screening of depression in Asian Indians and a cut point score of 4 or greater gave the highest sensitivity and specificity.

PRODUCTION AND PARTIAL PURIFICATION OF L-ASPARAGINASE ENZYME FROM BACTERIA

L-asparaginase is a potential anti-leukemic enzyme. It does not affect normal cells in the human body but target only cancerous cells. L- asparaginase had been isolated from many different microbial sources. The demand for the enzyme worldwide especially in health sector had driven researches focusing on enzyme yield per substrate quantity by applying optimization techniques. In the current study soil microbial isolates were screened for potential producers of L-asparaginase using phenol red indicator growth medium. The isolate was characterized by biochemical tests and was found to belong to Bacillus sp. The enzyme was mass produced by submerged fermentation method. Different concentrations of nitrogen and carbon sources, like peptone and lactose were used for optimizing the enzyme production. The enzyme was partially purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation. Dialysis was carried out to remove the excess salt. The dialysis purified enzyme exhibited maximal enzyme activity at a pH of 7 and temperature of 38°C. The activity was found to be 75% greater than the activity of crude enzyme in broth culture. Protein profiling by SDS-PAGE revealed the molecular weight of the protein to be 42 kDa. Keywords: Bacillus sp, Enzyme, L-asparaginase, partial purification

Evaluation of one touch horizon - a highly affordable glucose monitor

Background and Objective: Despite the growing evidence on the benefits of self-monitoring in diabetes, the use of these meters has been low in developing countries, particularly India. Cost seems to be the major constraint. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the accuracy of One Touch HORIZON an affordable glucose meter with laboratory assessment of blood glucose. Methods: 100 subjects with diabetes over the age of 18 years were recruited from the MV Diabetes Specialities Centre, Chennai. All the study subjects had their fasting blood tested for glucose in One Touch HORIZON by finger prick. Fasting blood glucose was also assessed in YSI 2300 STATPLUS (Yellow Springs Instruments, Ohio, USA) glucose analyzer. The Parke's Error Grid model was used to assess the accuracy of the meter against YSI plasma glucose values. Results: Of the total 100 study subjects, 97 were Type 2 diabetic subjects and three were Type 1 diabetic subjects. 62% of the study subjects were males. 89% did not perform SMBG and only 2% of the diabetic subjects performed SMBG daily. The Parke's Error Grid analysis revealed 97% of results to be in Zone A when patient performed the test, 99 - 100% in Zone A when clinical staff performed the test indicating excellent accuracy and precision. Conclusion: One Touch HORIZON meter is an affordable meter with good accuracy and precision, specifically designed to cater to the needs of diabetic patients in developing countries

Performance Analysis of a Retrial Queueing System with Optional Service, Unreliable Server, Balking and Feedback

This paper considers a Markovian retrial queueing system with an optional service, unreliable server, balking and feedback. An arriving customer can avail of immediate service if the server is free. If the potential customer encounters a busy server, it may either join the orbit or balk the system. The customers may retry their request for service from the orbit after a random amount of time. Each customer gets the First Essential Service (FES). After the completion of FES, the customers may seek the Second Optional Service (SOS) or leave the system. In the event of unforeseen circumstances, the server may encounter a breakdown, at which point an immediate repair process will be initiated. After the service completion, the customer may leave the system or re-join the orbit if not satisfied and demand regular service as feedback. In this investigation, the stationary queue size distributions are framed using a recursive approach. Various system performance measures are derived. The effects induced by the system parameters on the performance metrics are numerically and graphically analysed

Association of depression with complications of type 2 diabetes - the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study (CURES - 102)

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between depression and diabetic complications among urban south Indian type 2 diabetic subjects [T2DM]. Methods: T2DM subjects [n= 847] were recruited from the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study [CURES], a population based study in Chennai (formerly Madras) in South India. A previously validated depression questionnaire [PHQ-12 item] was administered. Four field stereo retinal colour photography was done and diabetic retinopathy [DR] was classified according to the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study grading system. Neuropathy was diagnosed if the vibratory perception threshold of the right great toe, measured by biothesiometry, was &#8805;20. Nephropathy was diagnosed if urinary albumin excretion was &#8805;300 &#956;g/mg creatinine. Peripheral vascular disease [PVD] was diagnosed if an ankle-brachial index was &lt;0.9. Coronary artery disease [CAD] was diagnosed based on a past history of documented myocardial infarction and/or electrocardiographic evidence of Q wave and/or ST segment changes. Results: Of the 847 T2DM studied, 198 (23.4%) were found have depression. The prevalence of depression was significantly higher among diabetic subjects with DR (35.0% vs 21.1%,p&lt;0.001), neuropathy (28.4% vs15.9%,p=0.023), nephropathy (35.6% vs 24.5%,p=0.04) and PVD (48.0% vs 27.4%,p&lt;0.001) as compared to subjects without these complications. DR, neuropathy, nephropathy, and PVD were associated with depression even after adjusting for age, gender, duration of diabetes and glycated haemoglobin. DR (Odds ratio [OR] =2.19, Confidence interval [CI]:1.45-3.51,p&lt;0.001) was associated with depression even after adjusting for neuropathy and nephropathy. There was also a significant association between depression and neuropathy, after adjusting for retinopathy and nephropathy (OR=2.07,CI:1.41-3.04,p&lt;0.001). There was a significant association of depression with nephropathy but this was lost (OR=1.71, CI: 0.87-3.35,p=0.119) after adjustment for retinopathy. PVD (OR=3.52,CI:1.94- 6.40,p&lt;0.001) remained significantly associated with depression even after adjusting for CAD. However, there was no significant association of depression with CAD (OR=0.73, CI:0.42 -1.27, p=0.264). Conclusion: Among Asian Indians, the prevalence of depression is higher in T2DM subjects with retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy and PVD compared to those without the respective complications