User centric web search using ontology

Semantic information retrieval systems query the World Wide Web based on context information, and are intended to provide more pertinent search results. However, most of the existing systems overlook one important aspect ‘the user’. They are more focused on eliminating the obscure results that a conventional or non-semantic search engine would throw up and hence, they are pretty much static. On the other hand, our effort would channel its focus more towards providing a more user-centric service using ontology and involving learning and prediction. By studying the usage statistics of the user, context information can be built and used effectively to produce better search results. Such an approach also entails that the knowledge that is accrued, be organized such that the relationships between the data elements can be elicited easily and unambiguously. The ontology would be described using OWL. Latent semantic indexing algorithm is used for context analysis and retrieva

Mean platelet volume as a novel marker for increased cardiovascular risk in patients with non alcoholic fatty liver disease

INTRODUCTION: Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a disease characterized by excessive deposition of fat (steatosis) within the hepatocytes. This disease comprises a wide range of pathological changes ranging from steatosis to Non Alcoholic Steatohepatitis(NASH) with inflammation of the liver.The most common cause of death in patients with NAFLD is cardiovascular death accounting for 48% of mortality while liver related deaths occur only in 7% of the patients. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are associated with cardiovascular events and Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). NAFLD is considered to be a hepatic manifestation of MetS and has become an important public health issue because of its high prevalence. It is currently being considered an independent Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor. Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) is an indicator of platelet function and activation. Platelets play a vital role in hemostasis and mean platelet volume (MPV) is a measure of average size and platelet activity. Larger platelets are more thrombogenic and contribute to atherosclerosis.The cause of increased MPV in patients with NAFLD is due to low grade inflammatory state induced by hepatic steatosis leading to platelet activation.Increase in MPV is also well documented in metabolic syndrome, stroke and diabetes mellitus .It is a simple test that can be done during routine Complete Blood Count. Hence, MPV can be used as simple and cost-effective hematological parameter for predicting cardiovascular events. Thus this study is done to compare MPV values of the patients with NAFLD and of to investigate whether this increased MPV is associated with increased cardiovascular disease in patients with NAFLD. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To assess the association of MPV in NAFLD patients. 2. To investigate whether this increased MPV is associated with increased cardiovascular disease in patients with NAFLD. MATERIALS & METHOD: The present study is going to be conducted on patients admitted in MGE/Medicine wards or attending outpatient departments of Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai during the period of March2016 to August2016. The study included 100 cases of NAFLD patients. All subjects fulfilled eligibility criteria, and none of the exclusion criteria were included in the study. METHODOLOGY: A previously designed proforma was used to collect the demographic and clinical details of the patients. All the patients will undergo detailed clinical evaluation, appropriate investigations. History was taken on details of alcohol consumption, blood transfusion, IV drug abuse, diabetes mellitus, and use of medications. Fasting blood sugar, liver function tests including serum bilirubin, serum transaminases, viral markers, fasting lipid profile was estimated.. Degree of hepatosteatosis was evaluated by ultrasound scan and from laboratory data of patients with NAFLD obtained at the time of diagnosis Mean platelet volume and ECG was done to all patients and MPV was compared with ECG changes to determine cardiovascular risk. RESULTS: Among 100 patients, NAFLD are more common in age group of 40 to 50 years (56%). NAFLD is more common among males (72%) when compared to female (28%). NAFLD is common among obese individuals with BMI 26 to 30 (61%). Among NAFLD patients 68 % of the patients had TGL >150 mg/dl and 66 % of patients have HDL cholesterol 100mg/dl. This indicates diabetes mellitus plays role in the pathology of NAFLD. In our study, among NAFLD patients 44% had increased enzyme activity. This indicates the NAFLD patients have chronic inflammation of the liver. Also in our study in NAFLD patients whose ALT was high, MPV was also tend to be high. This shows the positive correlation between ALT and MPV. The mean MPV was 10.2 in elevated ALT patients. Mean platelet volume is increased in 70% patients in NAFLD. This indicates platelet volume and atherosclerosis is common among NAFLD patients. Obese patients had increased MPV. The mean MPV for BMI >30 was 11.6 which was significant .This indicates that obese individuals have platelet dysfunction and they are more prone to early atherosclerosis and cardiac morbidity. In our study, 53% NAFLD patients had electrocardiographic changes. This indicates NAFLD is associated with cardiovascular disease. Also these ECG changes were associated with NAFLD patients with high MPV ( 11.6 fL). This association shows that MPV can be used to assess cardiovascular risk in NAFLD patients. CONCLUSION: NAFLD patients with ECG changes had mean MPV value increased and thus MPV can be used as novel marker to assess cardiovascular risk. Also MPV showed a positive correlation with ALT which also indicates that MPV is an inflammatory marker. This study also demonstrates significant correlation between MPV and metabolic syndrome. Although MPV is a cheap and simple test, it is usually neglected by clinicians. Its importance in patients with NAFLD is not only in the prediction of the disease but also in the prediction of cardiovascular mortality in patients with already diagnosed NAFLD

Sleep Dysfunction in Parkinson’s Disease

INTRODUCTION: Sleep is defined as a periodic reversible physiological state of loss of consciousness from which a person can be aroused by adequate sensory stimuli and it is necessary for the recoupment and well being of the individual. We spend around 8 hours per day for sleep which means 56 hours per week, 224 hours per month and 2688 hours per year (ie) almost nearly 1/3 of our lives we spent for sleep. Sleep helps in energy conservation, physical restoration, memory reinforcement and consolidation, thermoregulation, preserving synaptic efficiency and brain plasticity, immune function, brain growth and development. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with a loss of dopaminergic nigrostriatal neurons. It is named after James Parkinson, the English physician who in an “Essay on the Shaking Palsy” in 1817 described Parkinson’s disease as “involuntary tremulous motion, with lessened muscular power, in parts not in action and even when supported, with a propensity to bend the trunk forward, and to pass from a walking to a running pace, the sense and intellect being uninjured.” Sleep disorders have been mentioned since the first description of the extra-pyramidal diseases in James Parkinson’s Essay on the Shaking Palsy, but only recently they have become the subject of attention, thanks to new acquisitions in clinical knowledge and polysomnography technology. AIMS & OBJECTIVES: 1. To evaluate the frequency and the nature of the sleep abnormalities in Idiopathic parkinson’s disease. 2. To analyse the sleep architecture in Parkinson’s disease using polysomnography and to correlate the results with the disease parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: STUDY DESIGN: Cross sectional study. STUDY SITE: This study was carried out in the Department of Neurology, Madras Institute of Neurology, Chennai. STUDY PERIOD: December 2011 to December 2012. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Patients who fulfill the “UK Parkinson’s Disease Society- Brain Bank Clinical Diagnostic Criteria” admitted in Neurology ward/consulting in Neurology outpatient clinic in Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Patients who are bedridden associated with co-morbidities which affects the sleep like uncontrolled diabetes, LV dysfunction, Bronchial Asthma, Chronic obstructive Pulmonary disease, vascular Parkinsonism, head injury, dementia, Parkinson plus syndromes. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: 1) Detailed history and neurological examination. 2) Assessment of severity of Parkinsons disease using Unified Parkinsons Disease Rating Scale(UPDRS). 3) Sleep assessment using Parkinsons disease sleepiness scale (PDSS) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale(ESS). 4) Polysomnography. SAMPLE SIZE: 50 patients suffering from Idiopathic Parkinsons Disease STASTITICAL DATA ANALYSIS: Pearson’s Correlation Analysis and logistic regression, SPSS16. RESULTS: Fifty patients of Idiopathic Parkinson’s disease were recruited based on United Kingdom Parkinson’s Disease Society brain bank Criteria for the sleep study. All of them underwent clinical assessment. Their staging and severity was scored using Hoehn and Yahr staging system and Unified Parkinsons Disease Rating Scale part III respectively. Subjective sleep disturbance was assessed using standard sleep related questionnaire (Parkinsons Disease sleepiness scale). They were asked about their nature of sleep disturbance. Disturbed sleep was reported by 35 patients. Of them 30 have difficulty in falling sleep and 24 have difficulty in maintaining the sleep due to frequent awakenings. Most of the patients told that they woke up in the night mainly for passing urine. Objective sleep analysis was done using overnight polysomnography. The day time disturbance was assessed using Epworth sleepiness scale. ESS Score more than ten was considered significant. Day time somnolence was reported by 15 patients. CONCLUSION: 1. Sleep disturbance occurred in 80% of the patients with Idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. 2. Total sleep time is significantly decreased in patients with increased severity, staging and duration of the disease. 3. There is a significant prolongation in the sleep latency and the sleep efficiency is also markedly diminished. 4. Patients spent less time in slow wave sleep (N3) and there is significant prolongation of N1/N2 stages of sleep. 5. The mean REM sleep duration is also reduced. 6. REM sleep behaviour disorder is seen in 20% of the patients which did not correlate with the disease parameters. 7. Periodic limb movements in sleep is noted in 36% of patients and Restless leg syndrome is noted in 20% of our patients. They showed a significant positive correlation with the progression of the disease and higher staging and severity. 8. Sleep disordered breathing is noted in 42% of the patients which did not correlate with the disease parameters and sleep scores. 9. Snoring is noted in 28% of patients and it correlated well with the Epworth sleepiness score. Sleep architecture is markedly affected in patients with Parkinson’s disease. The latency of sleep is prolonged causing difficulty in falling asleep. The sleep efficiency is grossly diminished as there is defect in the maintenance of sleep due to frequent awakenings. Periodic limb movements in sleep, restless leg syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnoea also contribute to the sleep fragmentation resulting in defective day time functioning. It is essential that all the patients with Parkinson’s disease should be evaluated for sleep disorders so that appropriate intervention can be taken to improve their quality of life

Determination of expected time to recruitment in manpower planning

            Manpower planning in a sense, according to Barthlomew [1], is concerned with matching the supply of people with the jobs available. Recruitment is required to compensate the wastage of manpower; wastage refers to the loss of manpower in the organization. Recruitment cannot be made frequently since it involves cost. The threshold level is the maximum amount of wastage that can be permitted in the organization beyond which the organization reaches a point of breakdown. It is similar to the concept of shock model and cumulative damage discussed by Esary et al. [2]. In this paper we made an attempt to determine the expected time to recruitment, assuming that the threshold as exponentiated exponential distribution which introduced by Gupta and Kundu [3]

Hybrid Sine-Cosine Black Widow Spider Optimization based Route Selection Protocol for Multihop Communication in IoT Assisted WSN

In the modern era, Internet of Things (IoT) has been a popular research topic and it focuses on interconnecting numerous sensor-based devices primarily for tracking applications and collecting data. Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) becomes a significant element in IoT platforms since its inception and turns out to be the most ideal platform for deploying various smart city application zones namely disaster management, home automation, intelligent transportation, smart buildings, and other IoT-enabled applications. Clustering techniques were commonly used energy-efficient methods with the main purpose that is to balance the energy between Sensor Nodes (SN). Routing and clustering are Non-Polynomial (NP) hard issues where bio-inspired approaches were used for a known time to solve these issues. This study introduces a Hybrid Sine-Cosine Black Widow Spider Optimization based Route Selection Protocol (HSBWSO-RSP) for Mulithop Communication in IoT assisted WSN. The presented HSBWSO-RSP technique aims to properly determine the routes to destination for multihop communication. Moreover, the HSBWSO-RSP approach enables the integration of variance perturbation mechanism into the traditional BWSO algorithm. Furthermore, the selection of routes takes place by a fitness function comprising Residual Energy (RE) and distance (DIST). The experimental result analysis of the HSBWSO-RSP technique is tested using a series of experimentations and the results are studied under different measures. The proposed methodology achieves 100% packet delivery ratio, no packet loss and 2.33 secs end to end delay. The comparison study revealed the betterment of the HSBWSO-RSP technique over existing routing techniques

Phytochemical analysis of red alga Champia parvula (C. Agardh) collected from Mandapam coast of Tamil Nadu, India

The marine red alga Champia parvula showed the phytochemical constituents like sterols, glycosides, anthroquinones, phenols, alkaloids, triterpenoids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, steroids. Flavonoid compounds have rutin, quercetin, kamferol and phenol compounds have gallic acid and cinnamic acid. Similarly, the fatty acids have palmitic acid, margaric acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linolenic acid, alpha linolenic acid, moroctic acid were also present. Among the phytochemical contents the triterpenoids and glycosides are present in high. Among the seven fatty acid, stearic acid (6.03 0.012%) and moroctic acid (5.58 0.004%) were identified. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the phytochemical constituents of the marine red alga Champia parvula

Structural modification of phloic rays in Hevea brasiliensis with reference to tapping panel dryness and stimulation

Hevea brasiliensis, the prime source of natural rubber, when tapped intensively showed the symptoms of gradual cessation of latex flow from the tapping wound and this phenomenon is termed as tapping panel dryness (TPD), leading to a number of structural deformations in the bark tissues. The unproductive bark thus formed due to TPD is subjected to ethephon stimulation resume latex flow for a period. The study was initiated to trace the structural modifications occurred in phloic rays as an alternative route for translocation under necessity. The dimension of phloic rays also showed significant variation in TPD trees in comparison with both healthy stimulated trees. A decrease in length and an increase in width of phloic rays were evident in TPD affected trees over healthy trees. Average height of ray (µm) in the bark of healthy, TPD affected, unaffected zone above the TPD affected area and TPD panel under ethephon was 495, 259, 416 and 285 respectively. In healthy trees, 57 per cent of the rays fall in the stratified height class of 300-500 µm but in TPD trees, 78 per cent of the phloic rays is having a height less than 300 µm. The average width of the ray measured 56.81 and 74.25 µm respectively for healthy and TPD trees. In healthy trees 61 per cent of the ray falls under width strata of 40-60 µm and in TPD trees 68 per cent is in the 60-80 and 24 per cent in 80-100 µm width strata. For the production of latex from unproductive bark of TPD tree on stimulation, adequate nourishments is being mobilized to the site of action by strengthening radial transport system in the affected area

In vitro antibacterial effects of red alga Champia parvula (C. Agardh) of various solvents against human pathogenic bacteria

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the antimicrobial inhibitory effect of Champia parvula (red alga) of various solvents at the concentration 100 g/mL, on pathogenic bacteria like Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus cerus, Bacillus subtilius, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella typhii were studied by the disc diffusion method. The present study reveals that a higher zone of inhibition against Salmonella typhii (15.4 0.2), Bacillus subtilius (13.8 0.1) , Staphylococcus aureus (10.7 0.2) and Proteus vulgaris (10.6 0.1) in the methanol extract alone, followed by acetone, benzene, chloroform, and ethyl acetate extracts showed moderate activity against most of the pathogens, whereas chloroform extract is inactive only against Bacillus cerus. The positive control streptomycin shows inhibitory action against all the pathogens studied. This study shows the potential of marine active compounds from Champia parvula as an antimicrobial agent for a disease free environment

Speech Forgery Detection Based On Complementary Behavior of Ears

Abstract: The following paper is a implementation of speech forgery detection by our two ear system seen in human species