Adaptive Display Intensity Control Using Digital Signal Processor

One of the major cause of eye strain and other problems caused while watching video displays is the relative illumination between screen and its surrounding. This can be overcome by adjusting the brightness of screen with respect to surrounding light. The display systems with the human eye features like automatic intensity control under varying background luminance conditions add more challenge to design of display systems. The Adaptive Intensity Control can be achieved by varying the display intensity according to the background intensity level taking into account the comfort level of the user. In this paper, various parameters important for automatic intensity control design have been discussed and a new methodology based on look up table generated using experimental values has been devised by which the display intensity can be adaptively varied maintaining an adequate contrast ratio in real time mode. In this paper, Signal Processor based adaptive display intensity control of display intensity has been proposed

Efficacy and safety of ormeloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator in management of dysfunctional uterine bleeding in perimenopausal patients: a prospective interventional study

Background: Dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB) is one of the most common menstrual disorder of women in any age group and is a diagnosis of exclusion. Medical management of menorrhagia is a difficult task as there are wide variations in the available drugs and a lot of different regimes are available. Present study evaluates efficacy and safety of ormeloxifene a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERMs) in treatment of dysfunctional uterine bleeding in perimenopausal women. Methods: The study was conducted on 120 patients in the age group of 40-55 years who were treated with 60 mg ormeloxifene twice a week for first 12 weeks and once weekly for next 12 weeks. The primary outcome measures were menstrual blood loss (assessed by pictorial blood assessment chart score), hemoglobin concentration and endometrial thickness. The secondary outcome measures were aceptability and side effects of ormeloxifene. Results: 86.66% of women showed marked improvement in symptoms. Mean endometrial thickness decreased significantly from 9.825 mm to 6.25 mm after 6 months of treatment (p value <0.001). A significant decrease in median PBAC score (p value <0.001) was observed. Also, the mean haemoglobin level increased significantly from 8.03 g/dl to 9.60 g/dl (p value <0.001). Most common side effect reported was amenorrhoea (16%). 4% patient not relieved underwent hysterectomy. Conclusions: Ormeloxifene could be the drug of choice in patients with DUB. It is safe, cost-effective with manageable side effects. The therapy has facilitated compliance, tolerability and reduction of symptoms resulting in adherence towards the treatment

Assessing the Immediate Effect of Covid-19 Lockdown on Air Quality: A Case Study of Delhi, India

In India, a nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19 has been implemented on 25 March 2020. The lockdown restrictions on more than 1.3 billion people have brought exceptional changes in the air quality all over the country. This study aims to analyze the levels of three major pollutants: particulate matter sized 2.5 μm (PM2.5) and 10 μm (PM10), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) before and during the lockdown in Delhi, one of the world’s most polluted cities. The data for PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 concentrations are derived from 38 ground stations dispersed within the city. The spatial interpolation maps of pollutants for two times are generated using Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) model. The results indicate decreasing levels of PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 concentrations in the city by 93%, 83%, and 70% from 25 February 2020 to 21 April 2020 respectively. It is found that one month before the lockdown the levels of air pollution in Delhi were critical and much higher than the guideline values set by the World Health Organization. The levels of air pollution became historically low after the lockdown. Considering the critically degraded air quality for decades and higher morbidity and mortality rate due to unhealthy air in Delhi, the improvement in air quality due to lockdown may result as a boon for the better health of the city’s population

Impact of Mental Health on Personal Growth Initiative (PGI) among University Postgraduates

This study intends to explore the impact of mental health on personal growth initiative among university postgraduates. Personal Growth Initiative (PGI) is an active and intentional engagement in growth process and changing and developing as a better person. Mental health is defined as a syndrome of symptoms of both positive feelings and positive functioning in life. The study was conducted on a sample of 960 postgraduates from three state universities of Haryana state in India i.e. Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak and Chaudhary Devi Lal University, Sirsa. The data was collected through two research instruments i.e.  Personal Growth Initiative Scale-II by Robitschek et al (2009) and Mental Health Continuum-Short Form by Keyes et al (2009). The response rate of filled in questionnaire was 85% (out of 960, 818 questionnaires were completely filled in). The reliability and validity of the two instruments were established in Indian context. The Cronbach alpha coefficients for PGIS-II and MHC-SF were 0.741 and 0.771 respectively and both the scales were found to have valid factor structure in Indian context.  Findings indicated that overall personal growth initiative and its three domains except ‘using resources’ had significant positive relationship with mental health.  Further mental health found to have significant impact on total PGI through its psychological well-being dimension by explaining 9.7% of variance in overall PGI. Moreover, it was examined that psychological well-being dimension of mental health had significant impact on three dimensions of PGI i.e. ‘readiness for change’, ‘planfulness’ and ‘intentional behaviour’.  Further, it was revealed that 3.2%, 8.1% and 12% variance in  ‘readiness for change’, ‘planfulness’ and ‘intentional behaviour’ was accounted for by psychological well-being dimension of mental health. From the findings, it can be concluded that psychological well-being domain of mental health was the most powerful predictor of total PGI and its three aspects viz. Readiness for Change, Planfulness and Intentional Behaviour. Social and Emotional well-being domains of mental health did not have any significant impact on total PGI as well as its different aspects. Thus, it can be said that psychological well being or fitness inspires an individual to get ready for change in the behviour through appropriate planning and intentional engagement in the self-change process and capitalizes on opportunities for this personal development. The implications of the study were discussed later on. Key Words- Personal growth initiative, Mental health, University postgraduates

Relationship of Personal Growth Initiative with Self-Efficacy among University Postgraduate Students

The purpose of this study is to verify the relationship between Personal Growth Initiative (PGI) and Self-Efficacy. Personal growth initiative is active and intentional engagement in the process of self-change. Self-efficacy is a person’s belief in his/her ability to succeed in a particular situation. In the present paper, relationship of personal growth initiative with self-efficacy was found and PGI was predicted on the basis of self-efficacy. Descriptive Survey Method with Ex-Post Facto design was used. Personal Growth Initiative was measures by using PGIS-II by Robitschek et al (2009) and Self-Efficacy was assessed by using Turkish Version of GSES by Yildrim and Ilhan(2010). Both the scales were adapted in Indian condition. The Cronbach Alphas for the PGIS-II and GSES were 0.741 and 0.714 respectively. Results of the study revealed the positive relationship between PGI and Self-Efficacy. It was also investigated that Self-Efficacy has significant impact on total PGI as well as its dimensions. The implications of the study are discussed in this paper later on. Keywords: Personal growth initiative, Self-efficacy and University postgraduate student

Isolation, characterization and optimization of bacterial isolate SARR1 for biodegradation of pretreated low density polyethylene

Accumulation of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) has caused a threat to the environment because of its stable and inert nature as it cannot be degraded easily by microorganisms. Its lightweight, low cost, strength, durability, and its various other applications, have led to the wide usage of the polymer, which is exerting a negative effect on both marine and land biota. The development of an eco-friendly or a promising strategy is needed to reduce LDPE waste from both land and water. In the present study, observations have been made to isolate highly efficient LDPE degrading bacteria. The response surface methodology (RSM) was used to predict the best optimization of media for the degradation of LDPE by isolate SARR1. The isolate SARR1 was selected through primary screening by weight loss method and secondary screening using CO2 evolution test, TTC and MATH Test. The isolate SARR1 showed 6.30 ± 0.25 g/L CO2 evolution. The microbial adhesion hydrophobicity (MATH) was observed during log phase (100 to 56.89 ± 0.97 %) and stationary phase (100 to 82.92 ± 1.24 %). An isolate SARR1 converted the TTC into red coloured insoluble triphenyl formazan (TPF) after incubation of 7 days. The isolated bacteria SARR1 showed 38.3 ± 1.27 % biodegradation efficiency in the pretreated LDPE strips at 37 °C and pH 7.0 under optimized conditions within 30 days of incubation. This bioremediation and biodegradation approach is eco-friendly and safe for the environment. The results of treatment with isolate SARR1 had a potential hope to degrade LDPE at higher rate than natural degradation. 

MORONIC ACID: A REVIEW

Moronic acid is a pentacyclic triterpenoid made up of olean-18-ene with an oxo group at position 3 and a carboxy group at position 28. It's made from an oleanane hydride. A few investigations have demonstrated that Moronic acid a wide scope of pharmacological effects such as Antidiabetic activity, Anti-AIDS agents, Chemotherapeutic agents, Virus lytic, Anti-HIV, Cytotoxic activity, Anti-herpes, Antimicrobial activity, Ribosome-loaded mRNAs

A Comparative Study to assess the Opinion and Level of Satisfaction of the Student Nurses regarding Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) and Traditional Method of Clinical Skills Assessment related to Antenatal Examination

Objective: The objective of the study was to assess and compare the opinion and level of satisfaction of student nurses regarding objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) and traditional method of clinical skills assessment.Methodology: By using a comparative descriptive design, the study was conducted in the Rufaida College of Nursing and National Skills Training Centre-DAKSH, Delhi. A total of 68 student nurses were selected using purposive sampling technique and were randomly divided into OSCE group (n1 =34) and traditional group (n2 =34). Self-structured observation checklist and evaluation proforma were used to obtain the skills score of OSCE and traditional method respectively. Opinionnaire and satisfaction scale were used to assess the opinion and satisfaction of the subjects regarding OSCE and traditional method of clinical skills assessment.Result: Findings revealed that the mean skills scores of OSCE group (56.67) were higher than the traditional group (35.40) with (z=39.09, p<0.05). Other findings showed that both the groups were having positive opinion 33 (97%), 31 (91%) and highest level of satisfaction 33 (97%), 32 (94%) regarding OSCE and traditional method respectively. Conclusion: There was no significant difference in the opinion and satisfaction scores among the students related to OSCE and traditional method of clinical skills, although students scored higher when evaluated by OSCE than traditional method.

Effect of slow breathing training on heart rate, spontaneous respiratory rate and pattern of breathing

Background: The study was performed to see the effect of slow breathing (6 breaths/minute) training on spontaneous respiratory rate, heart rate and pattern of breathing.Methods: Sixty subjects between the ages 20-50 years were included in the study. After the rest of 10 -15 minutes in a comfortable sitting posture their baseline heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) and pattern of breathing were recorded on digital polygraph. Then they were guided to do slow breathing maintaining rate of around 6 per minute. Subjects were then instructed to do slow breathing exercise for 8-10 minutes twice daily for next three months. Subjects reported back after three months of practicing slow breathing and their HR, RR, and pattern of breathing were again assessed by digital polygraph.Results: After three months of practicing slow breathing there was statistically significant reduction in heart rate and spontaneous respiratory rate. Shifting of pattern of breathing from thoracic pattern to abdominal pattern of breathing was also very highly significant.Conclusions: The study showed that slow breathing technique causes comprehensive change in body physiology by controlling autonomic nervous system. It regularizes rate and pattern of breathing.

Wavelet Based Color Image Denoising through a Bivariate Pearson Distribution

In this paper we proposed an efficient algorithm for Colo r Image Denoising through a Bivariate Pearson Distribution using Wavelet Which is based on Bayesian denoising and if Bayesian denoising is used for recovering image from the noisy image the performance is strictly depend on the correctness of the distribution that is used to describe the data. In the denoising process we require a selection of p roper model for distribution. To describe the image data bivariate pearson distribution is used and Gaussian distribution is used to describe the noise particles in this paper. For gray scale image lots of extensive works has been don e in this field but fo r colour image denoising using bivariate pearson distribution based on bayesian denoising gives us tremendous result for analy sing coloured images which can be used in several advanced applications. The bivariate probability density function (pdf) takes in t o account the Gaussian dependency among wavelet coefficients. The experimental results show that the proposed technique outperforms sev eral exiting methods both visually and in terms of peak signal - to - noise ratio (PSNR)