Role of Citation Databases in Research: A Study

This study attempts to overview the awareness and use of citations databases by researches and faculty members of MIT, MAHE, Manipal. The survey reveals that most of the research scholars are aware of the citation databases and largely use them for their research work and to update subject knowledge. Many of the respondents use the citation databases to select good journals for publishing their papers and to prepare the exhaustive bibliography at the end of their work easily. It is found that nearly 50% of respondents are satisfied with the search features and functionality of citation databases subscribed by MIT library

User Perception Of Technologies in Libraries

Information Technology is the collective term for various technologies involved in the processing and transmission of information. The various technologies like computer technology, barcode technology, RFID technology, CCTV technology, remote access technology etc. can be adopted in libraries to provide better services to the users. Manipal Academy of Higher Education, a premier higher education institute is striving hard to provide excellent library services to its stake holders. The adoption of various technologies to provide better library services is explained in the paper. An attempt is made to capture the user perception on IT applications in libraries

Awareness and Use of Research Support Tools by Researchers of Manipal Institute of Technology, MAHE, Manipal: An Analytical Study

Research tools and data play an increasingly important role in research. The research tool can save time and add depth to qualitative work. Researchers need scholarly publications to read, study and to write a research article. As it is well known that the internet through the research tools has made this process more fruitful. Therefore it is necessary to think more critically about sources and more effectively organize all the different kinds of digital research tools they find. There are many different research support tools that are available to help and to select proper information for research. This study highlights the awareness and use of various research support tools subscribed by MIT library i.e. OPAC, bibliographical databases, discovery tool, spelling checker, Journal Citation Report (JCR), anti-plagiarism software, reference management tool, remote access facility, institutional repository etc. After the survey it is found that some of the researchers are not aware about the availability of some new research support tools available in the library like discovery service, remote access facility etc. But the tools like bibliographical databases and anti-plagiarism software are more used and appreciated by the research scholars. Usage of resources can be improved by conducting literacy programmes, by publishing research support guides etc

Static Race Detection for RTOS Applications

We present a static analysis technique for detecting data races in Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) applications. These applications are often employed in safety-critical tasks and the presence of races may lead to erroneous behaviour with serious consequences. Analyzing these applications is challenging due to the variety of non-standard synchronization mechanisms they use. We propose a technique based on the notion of an "occurs-in-between" relation between statements. This notion enables us to capture the interplay of various synchronization mechanisms. We use a pre-analysis and a small set of not-occurs-in-between patterns to detect whether two statements may race with each other. Our experimental evaluation shows that the technique is efficient and effective in identifying races with high precision

Successful maternal and fetal outcome in patients with Takayasu arteritis: two case reports of Type I and Type IV in stage 2

Takayasu's arteritis, is a rare, chronic, idiopathic, inflammatory disease of the large arteries, primarily involves the aorta, its main branches as well as the coronary and pulmonary arteries. It is mostly seen among women with child bearing age group (80%). During pregnancy, the increased intravascular volume impair circulation and exacerbate aortic regurgitation, hypertension, and congestive heart failure. Hypertension is one of the serious complication that can develop, leading to intrauterine growth restriction, maternal heart failure, and fetal haemorrhage and during postpartum period

Selective cauterization of supporting ligaments at Non Descent Vaginal Hysterectomy (NDVH)

Background: The objective of the study was to study the use of electrocautery selectively for cardinal uterosacral ligament complex during NDVH.Methods: We performed a series of NDVH where electrocautery was used selectively for the uterosacral cardinal ligament complex. Rest all stumps were clamped, divided and ligated.Results: We did a series of 21 cases using this technique and found this as a very effective method of doing NDVH. There were no major complications.Conclusion: Selective use of electrocautery for uterosacral and cardinal ligament complex makes NDVH easy

Epithelioid leiomyosarcoma: a rare uterine cancer

A uterine epithelioid leiomyosarcoma is a rare malignant tumour that arises from the smooth muscle lining the walls of the uterus. The exact cause of leiomyosarcoma, including uterine leiomyosarcoma accounting for 5 to 10% is unknown. Leiomyosarcoma is the most common subtype of uterine sarcoma, accounts for 1-2% of uterine malignancies. Malignancy should be suspected in menopausal women with tumour growth who are not on hormonal replacement therapy. A 64-year-old female had attained menopause 16 year back and developed postmenopausal bleeding since 2 months, with palpable mass, of 16 weeks size. Ultrasonography showed whorled mass lesions, endometrium and myometrium could not be seen separately. Uterus with both ovaries removed. Intra-operative findings showed 16 weeks uterine mass with size 15×10.5×10cm and weight 1kg with intramural fibroid. Necrotic and haemorrhagic areas with degenerative changes seen on cut section suggestive of malignancy. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry reported epithelioid leiomyosarcoma

Transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy: A case report

AbstractIntroductionEndoscopic thyroidectomy, initially an experimental procedure, is now being performed in increasing frequency. It aims to provide patients undergoing thyroidectomy with a ‘scar-free’ surgery. Transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy is one such novel procedure that is based on the principles of natural orifice translumenal surgery (NOTES) and allows for a truly scar-free surgery with minimal dissection.Presentation of caseA 21-year-old female presented with a swelling over the left side of her neck. Ultrasound revealed a solitary nodule and FNAC showed features suggestive of a follicular adenoma.DiscussionThe patient underwent transoral endoscopic hemi-thyroidectomy. The procedure lasted for 2h and is one of the few documented cases of transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy performed on live patients.ConclusionTransoral endoscopic thyroidectomy is proving to be a feasible technique with little or no complications as compared to other endoscopic thyroid surgeries. It provides surgeons with easy access to the thyroid gland and patients with aesthetically pleasing results

Vaccine Escape Recombinants Emerge after Pneumococcal Vaccination in the United States

The heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) was introduced in the United States (US) in 2000 and has significantly reduced invasive pneumococcal disease; however, the incidence of nonvaccine serotype invasive disease, particularly due to serotype 19A, has increased. The serotype 19A increase can be explained in part by expansion of a genotype that has been circulating in the US prior to vaccine implementation (and other countries since at least 1990), but also by the emergence of a novel “vaccine escape recombinant” pneumococcal strain. This strain has a genotype that previously was only associated with vaccine serotype 4, but now expresses a nonvaccine serotype 19A capsule. Based on prior evidence for capsular switching by recombination at the capsular locus, the genetic event that resulted in this novel serotype/genotype combination might be identifiable from the DNA sequence of individual pneumococcal strains. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterise the putative recombinational event(s) at the capsular locus that resulted in the change from a vaccine to a nonvaccine capsular type. Sequencing the capsular locus flanking regions of 51 vaccine escape (progeny), recipient, and putative donor pneumococci revealed a 39 kb recombinational fragment, which included the capsular locus, flanking regions, and two adjacent penicillin-binding proteins, and thus resulted in a capsular switch and penicillin nonsusceptibility in a single genetic event. Since 2003, 37 such vaccine escape strains have been detected, some of which had evolved further. Furthermore, two new types of serotype 19A vaccine escape strains emerged in 2005. To our knowledge, this is the first time a single recombinational event has been documented in vivo that resulted in both a change of serotype and penicillin nonsusceptibility. Vaccine escape by genetic recombination at the capsular locus has the potential to reduce PCV7 effectiveness in the longer term