Satisfiability Modulo Theory based Methodology for Floorplanning in VLSI Circuits

This paper proposes a Satisfiability Modulo Theory based formulation for floorplanning in VLSI circuits. The proposed approach allows a number of fixed blocks to be placed within a layout region without overlapping and at the same time minimizing the area of the layout region. The proposed approach is extended to allow a number of fixed blocks with ability to rotate and flexible blocks (with variable width and height) to be placed within a layout without overlap. Our target in all cases is reduction in area occupied on a chip which is of vital importance in obtaining a good circuit design. Satisfiability Modulo Theory combines the problem of Boolean satisfiability with domains such as convex optimization. Satisfiability Modulo Theory provides a richer modeling language than is possible with pure Boolean SAT formulas. We have conducted our experiments on MCNC and GSRC benchmark circuits to calculate the total area occupied, amount of deadspace and the total CPU time consumed while placing the blocks without overlapping. The results obtained shows clearly that the amount of dead space or wasted space is reduced if rotation is applied to the blocks.Comment: 8 pages,5 figure

Goal-conflict detection based on temporal satisfiability checking

Goal-oriented requirements engineering approaches propose capturing how a system should behave through the speci ca- tion of high-level goals, from which requirements can then be systematically derived. Goals may however admit subtle situations that make them diverge, i.e., not be satis able as a whole under speci c circumstances feasible within the domain, called boundary conditions . While previous work al- lows one to identify boundary conditions for con icting goals written in LTL, it does so through a pattern-based approach, that supports a limited set of patterns, and only produces pre-determined formulations of boundary conditions. We present a novel automated approach to compute bound- ary conditions for general classes of con icting goals expressed in LTL, using a tableaux-based LTL satis ability procedure. A tableau for an LTL formula is a nite representation of all its satisfying models, which we process to produce boundary conditions that violate the formula, indicating divergence situations. We show that our technique can automatically produce boundary conditions that are more general than those obtainable through existing previous pattern-based approaches, and can also generate boundary conditions for goals that are not captured by these patterns

A study on correlation of histopathological grade with hormone receptor and HER2/neu status in invasive breast carcinoma at a tertiary care centre of Barak valley

Background: Breast carcinoma is the most common malignancy occurring in females worldwide while in India it is the 2nd most common malignancy occurring after cervical cancer in females. The treatment modalities and prognosis of breast carcinoma depend largely on their hormone receptors (estrogen and progesterone receptors) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/neu) status. The aim of this study was to correlate the receptor status in invasive breast carcinoma with histopathological grading of the tumor.Methods: This is a retrospective study carried out in the department of pathology, Silchar medical college and hospital, Cachar from January 2019 to December 2020. A total of 69 cases were considered for the study, selected on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Histomorphology grading in invasive ductal breast carcinomas was done along with the status of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2/neu.Results: The present study comprised of total of 69 infiltrating breast carcinoma cases. Out of all 51% cases were found to be in 4th decade of life. The most common type found in the study was invasive ductal carcinoma (not otherwise specified) seen in 86.96% cases. Maximum 41.67% of cases were histologically classified as grade III. A positive correlation was found between histological grading and immunohistochemistry of hormone receptors (ER, PR) and HER2/neu status.Conclusions: From the present study, it can be concluded that there is a positive correlation between histopathological grade and hormone receptors status and HER2/neu.The estrogen receptor and progestrone receptor were found negative in high grade disease on histological evaluation. Triple negative breast carcinomas have poorer prognosis as they tend to be of high grade

NEPHRO-PROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF ISOLATED METHANOL FRACTIONS PHYTO-COMPOUND FROM BARK OF TERMINALIA ARJUNA

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant property of the isolated phytocompounds from TA (Terminalia arjuna) bark and in vivo study for nephro-protective and oxidative stress reducing activity in experimentally induced albino male rats.Methods: Fractions from methanol crude TA extract were collected by column chromatography and F27, F28, F29 fractions were selected on the basis of antioxidant property by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay. The in vivo study performed by 30 albino male rats which were randomly divided into five groups: Group I (control)were taken normal food and water, Groups II (uremic) were injected acetaminophen intraperitoneally at the dose of 500 mg/kg/d for 10 d, Group III, IV and V(extract treatment) acetaminophen intraperitoneally at the dose of 500 mg/kg/d for 10 d with co-administered orally of methanol fraction F27, F28, F29 at the dose of 100 mg/kg/d for 15 d respectively.Results: After scarification of rats, the uremic marker plasma urea (80%), creatinine (85%) were elevated and antioxidant enzyme marker such as plasma SOD and catalase level were significantly increased (p<0.05)in Group IV compared to Group II. The total phenolic content of the F28 methanolic fraction was (815.48±8.11) mg gallic acid equivalent/g of extract. For isolation of available compound by 1H NMR study in F28 methanol fraction of TA bark was arjunoside IV which contained olefinic proton (a pair of carbon atom linked with double bond).Conclusion: Among the three methanolic fraction of TA bark, F28 was shown best antioxidative, nephron-protective and oxidative stress reducing property.Â

Nephroprotective efficacy of Asparagus racemosus root extract on acetaminophen-induced renal injury in rats

Acetaminophen-induced renal necrosis and insufficiency occurs in patients with acetaminophen overdose. Renal failure is rapidly assuming epidemic proportions globally. In absence of reliable and effective nephroprotective drugs, strategies towards exploring alternative therapies for treatment of kidney diseases are essential. Asparagus racemosus is a medicinal plant used for treatment of various ailments. This research was undertaken to investigate the protective effect of ethanol fraction of A. racemosus roots extract in acetaminophen-induced uraemia and renal failure in rats. Rats were co-administered with acetaminophen injection and oral administration of A. racemosus roots extract in an attempt of protection against renal failure. Uremic biomarkers significantly decreased, and elevated levels of antioxidant enzymes were found, in the animals treated with ethanol fraction of A. racemosus when compared with acetaminophen treated uremic animals. Also, histology of kidneys showed control like structure in animals treated with this extract but severe damage in the uremic animals. HPLC analysis of the ethanol fraction of A. racemosus roots extract revealed eight compounds out of which one had a retention time near to the quercetin standard. It may be concluded that this extract of A. racemosus has therapeutically useful nephroprotective potential

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF GRAPHENE GRAFTED CHITOSAN/POLYANILINE NANOCOMPOSITES FOR CONTROLLED RELEASE OF ANTICANCER DRUG DOXORUBICIN

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to functionalized graphene (f-GE) grafted chitosan (CS)/Polyaniline (PANI) with Montmorillonite (MMT) was different feed ratio known as f-GE-g-(CS/MMT-PANI). Methods: The prepared f-GE-g-(CS/MMT-PANI) was formulated using the solvent casting method. The prepared nanocomposites were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), thermogravimetric (DTG) and swelling in stimulated in the different biological fluid. The model drug Doxorubicin (DOX) was used for controlled drug delivery purpose. Results: From FTIR result was clearly demonstrated that the model drug DOX did not change in any molecular level at f-GE-(CS/MMT-PANI) (i.e. at<10 nm scale). Additionally, in DSC result, DOX was interacted with nanocomposites at scale>100 nm level. With CS as the carrier, 60% of the drug was released in SIF for the initial 120 min and this increased to 80–82% with f-GE-g-CS/MMT/PANI matrix. But in SGF, CS as the carrier, 46% of the drug was released in 140 min and this increased to 78% with f-GE-g-CS/MMT/PANI. In vitro drug release system was carried out by Korsmeyer Peppas’s power law. DOX and other drugs like Doxorubicin (DOX) was presented an exceptional higher drug result in different pH medium. Conclusion: It was observed that CS/MMT was decreasing less drug release rate compared to f-GE-g-(CS/MMT-PANI). So that it can be clearly understood that f-GE-g-(CS/MMT-PANI) grafted nanocomposites have enhanced drug release activity in different pH medium

Unraveling the Epigenetic Landscape for Salt Tolerance in Plants

In every organism, the expression of genes is regulated in response to the changes in the surrounding environment. The study of epigenetics in plants is essential in view of the improvement of agricultural productivity. Epigenetic modifications can enhance crops’ yield and stress tolerance without making any alteration within their genomic sequences. The routes of epigenetic modifications include processes such as methylation of DNA, modifications of histone proteins, chromatin remodeling, and non-coding RNA-mediated regulation of genes. Genome-wide epigenetic profiles, coined as the epigenome, of several plants have been identified in recent years. In the scope of this review, we are going to discuss progress made in the field of plant epigenomics under the limelight of stress tolerance, especially saline conditions

Proficient Novel Biomarkers Guide Early Detection of Acute Kidney Injury: A Review

The definition of acute kidney injury (AKI), despite improvements in criteria, continues to be based on the level of serum creatinine and urinary output that do not specifically indicate tubular function or injury, or glomerular function or injury that is not significant enough to warrant acute hospitalization of the patient. Finding novel biomarkers of AKI has become a major focus nowadays in nephrology to overcome the further complications of end stage renal disease (ESRD). Many compounds, such as KIM 1, IL 18, NGAL, uromodulin, calprotectin, vanin 1, galactin 3, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), urinary Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 3 (NHE3), retinol binding protein (RBP) and Cystatin C, are released from the renal tubules and thus any alterations in tubular function can be detected by measuring these parameters in urine. Additionally, glomerular injury can be detected by measuring immunoglobulin G, nephrin, podocalyxin, podocin, transferrin, netrin-1, pyruvate kinase M2, etc. in urine. These novel biomarkers will be useful for timing the initial insult and assessing the duration of AKI. According to available research, these biomarkers could be applied to assess the onset of AKI, distinguishing between kidney injury and dysfunction, directing the management of AKI, and enhancing disease diagnosis. Therefore, we intend to present recent developments in our understanding of significant biomarkers implicated in various aspects of renal damage. Numerous biomarkers are implicated in various pathophysiological processes that follow renal injury, and can improve prognosis and risk classification

Event propagation for accurate circuit delay calculation using SAT

A SAT-based modeling for event propagation in gate-level digital circuits, which is used for accurate calculation of critical delay in combinational and sequential circuits, is presented in this article. The accuracy of the critical delay estimation process depends on the accuracy with which the circuit in operation is modeled. A high level of precision in the modeling of the internal events in a circuit for the sake of greater accuracy causes a combinatorial blowup in the size of the problem, resulting in a scalability bottleneck for which most existing techniques effect a trade-off by restricting themselves to less precise models. SAT based techniques have a good track record in efficiency and scalability when the problem sizes become too large for most other methods. This article proposes a SAT-based technique for symbolic event propagation within a circuit which facilitates the estimation of the critical delay of circuits with a greater degree of accuracy, while at the same time scaling efficiently to large circuits. We report very encouraging results on the ISCAS85 and ISCAS89 benchmark circuits using the proposed technique