A Survey of Data Mining Tasks

Data Mining is the process of discovering patterns in large data sets and establish relationships to solve problems through data analysis. The main goal of data mining is to identifynbsp patterns and to transform them into a more understandable structure for further analysis. Data mining process pares the overall task of finding patterns from data into a set of well defined subtasks. Data mining uses sophisticated algorithms to find patterns and evaluate the possibility of a future event. There are fundamentally different types of tasks these algorithms address. In this paper we make an effort to briefly explain these funadamental tasks

Formaldehyde tracking in a histopathology laboratory in a medical college

Background: Formalin 10% is a fixative agent used in pathology laboratories. Formaldehyde released from formalin is a strong irritant and a carcinogen. The lab personnel are exposed to 10% formalin preserved surgical and post-mortem tissue samples during the visual examination and grossing. The present study aims to assess the exposure to formaldehyde in a histopathology laboratory unit as well as the effectiveness of existing engineering/ventilation systems. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. Formalin levels were measured using portable air quality/pollution meter which measures formaldehyde (HCHO) in terms of mg/m3 in the morning, noon, and evening in different areas for one month. Areas of rooms and ventilation were mapped. The level of formalin was noted before, during, and after the grossing procedure and compared with the reference values given in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and World Health Organisation (WHO). Results: Formaldehyde concentration ranged from 0.005 to 0.48 ppm (parts per million) in the grossing room and 0.002-0.010 ppm in the museum. Formaldehyde levels were highest in the morning and during grossing without using exhaust/ventilation and the levels reached minimum value within 15-20 minutes of switching on the existing control methods (exhaust fan of grossing station and opening of window panes). Conclusions: Formalin from the histology laboratories cannot be removed entirely but can be reduced sufficiently to lessen the risks to health by educating lab personnel and adopting appropriate control techniques

Evaluation of blood donor deferrals in a government teaching hospital

Background: Blood transfusion is a life-saving intervention. Blood should be accepted from non-remunerated and healthy donors. Proper donor screening procedure minimizes the risk of transfusion transmitted Infections and also wastage of blood and blood products and thus screening of donors is a prerequisite for blood donation. Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted in blood bank center in the Department of Pathology in a Government teaching hospital, Shivamogga from January 2022 to June 2022. All the voluntary and replacement donors were evaluated by the standard questionnaire and medical examination including demographic profile, anthropometry, blood group, vital signs and hemoglobin estimated by cyanmethemoglobin method were collected from the donation requisition forms and online deferred list. The data were represented in the form of percentage, descriptive statistics and analysed. Results: Out of 3,449 blood donors, 252 were deferred. The deferral rate was 7.31%. Among the ineligible donors, males 245 (97.22%) outnumbered females 7 (2.8%). 242 donors (96.03%) were temporarily rejected among which high blood pressure constituted to 23.02% followed by alcohol consumption (11.11%) whereas 10 donors (3.96%) were deferred permanently. 9 donors (3.57%) had low haemoglobin level. Conclusions: Temporary deferrals are more than permanent deferrals thus temporarily deferred donors should be instructed to return for blood donation after their period of deferral days to retain the pool of blood donors

USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY BY THE MEDICAL STUDENTS

Background: Usage of information technology   is increasing among university students. The extent of usage among medical students is not studied well. The aim of the study is to assess the usage pattern of information technology by first year and second year medical students of government Kilpauk medical college. Chennai. Method : 200 students of first year and second year students were participated in this study. They were interviewed using pretested questionnaire to bring out the different pattern of the internet use and application knowledge of information technology in medical field. Results: Among 200 students 84% of second years and43% of first years access the internet using their mobile phones .The application knowledge of information technology (IT) is 97% in second year students when compared to first year student45%.Majority of students(97%) prefers computer classes to be included in medical curriculum. Conclusion: The usage of information technology by the second year medical students are increasing when compared to the newly admitted students  and also the purpose of using IT  and knowledge of  IT in medical field  also improving when they are entering second year. Key words: computer, internet , information technology

Development and evaluation of an illustrated paediatric leaflet ‘Coming to Hospital: a guide to what goes on’

Background: A paediatric information leaflet was produced to better prepare patients for time spent in hospital and to improve experience by informing them what to expect. Methods: The ‘Coming to Hospital’ leaflet was designed with input from paediatric research groups, and in collaboration with a children’s author and publishing company. A questionnaire to evaluate the leaflet was developed; face validity was established in a pilot. The real-time patient experience of these leaflets was evaluated on paediatric wards in a university hospital. Results: The evaluation revealed that a significant majority of children ‘really liked’ the leaflet and found it helpful. 53 out of 72 of children reported that the leaflet made them feel ‘happy’ or ‘calm’, with no children responding that it made them feel ‘very worried’. The leaflet was found to be informative, well presented and reassuring. Many parents stated that they wished they had received the leaflet prior to their child’s first hospital visit. Suggestions for changes to the leaflet were minimal; it was considered to include all relevant information. Conclusion: A leaflet designed by clinical staff, patients and a publishing company was welcomed by paediatric patients and their parents. Patients reported it made them feel calmer. Such a leaflet should be available widely to improve children’s experience of coming to hospital. Collaborations between clinicians, academics and publishing companies can produce positive results for the paediatric population

ENHANCEMENT OF SOLUBILITY AND DISSOLUTION RATE OF ACETYLSALICYLIC ACID VIA CO-CRYSTALLIZATION TECHNIQUE: A NOVEL ASA-VALINE COCRYSTAL

Objective: This study aims to synthesize acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) cocrystals using valine as a coformer via a co-crystallization technique to increase the solubility and dissolution rate of ASA. Methods: The ASA-valine cocrystal (1:1 molar ratio) was prepared using the solvent evaporation technique with ethanol: water (50:50). The cocrystal was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), melting point to confirm the formation of cocrystal. The evaluation of cocrystal was done by drug content determination, solubility and dissolution studies. Results: The prepared cocrystal was successfully confirmed for the formation of a hydrogen bond. The melting point of prepared cocrystal was decreased compared to pure ASA and valine, which indicated the formation of a new crystalline form. The FT-IR studies showed the formation of a new hydrogen bond by shifting the-O-H,-C=O and-N-H functional groups. SEM studies ensured that the prepared cocrystals were in needle-like appearance. Finally, DSC and PXRD studies were also indicated the successful formation of ASA-valine cocrystal. The drug release of cocrystal was found to be 100% at 60th min. Where in the case of pure ASA and marketed product of ASA exhibited the dissolution rate of 59% and 69% at 60th min respectively. Conclusion: The co-crystallization technique can be adopted as the best strategy to increase the solubility and dissolution rate of BCS class 2 drugs. Therefore the prepared ASA-valine cocrystal can be a greater alternative to increase the solubility and dissolution rate compared with pure and marketed ASA

Phenotypic stability for grain mold resistance, grain yield and its components in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.)

A total of 203 genotypes of grain sorghum including 8 lines and 21 testers and their 168 hybrids with 6 checks were evaluated for grain mold resistance, grain yield and its components in 2 locations in 2 years. Significant genotype and environmental interactions for Panicle Grain Mold Rate (PGMR), Threshed Grain Mold Rate (TGMR) and days to 50% flowering indicating differential behavior of genotypes under different environments for these characters. The hybrids are classified into 3 groups based on stability performance. Forty-six hybrids exhibited stable performance across environments in which top 5 hybrids (ICSA 384 × GD 65028, ICSA 370 × GD 65028, ICSA 384 × GD 65055, ICSA 369 × GD 65028 and ICSA 370 × GD 65055) with low PGMR scores. None of the resistant hybrids were adaptable to favorable environments. Two hybrids, ICSA 369 × GD 65055 and ICSA 369 × ICSR 89058, were suitable for unfavorable environments with low PGMR scores

study of gene effects for stalk sugar yield and its component traits in sweet sorghum [sorghum bicolor (l.) moench] using generation mean analysis

Generation mean analysis was carried out to estimate the nature and magnitude of gene effects for sugar yield and its component traits in sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. Six basic generations, namely P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1P1, BC1P2 of four crosses involving seven diverse parents were evaluated in rainy 2009. The mean performance of the F1 in all the crosses indicated dominant gene effect for all the characters. Simple additive-dominance model indicated presence of epistatic interaction. High positive additive × additive interaction effects were found in all the crosses. Higher magnitude of dominance and dominance × dominance gene interactions which were found minimizes the expression of heterosis leading to non-exploitation of crosses with duplicate epistasis. Reciprocal recurrent selection and/or biparental mating in early segregating generations has been suggested for development of high sugar yielding genotypes in view of the genotypes studied

Diagnostic efficiency of single source dual energy CT in differentiating adrenal adenoma from adrenal metastasis

Background: The distinction between incidental adrenal lesions is still difficult in diagnostic imaging whereas Dual energy CT has not been thoroughly tested for its ability to diagnose adrenal lesions. This study utilizes dual energy CT to identify between the two most prevalent adrenal neoplasms, adrenal metastasis and adrenal adenomas.Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of non-enhanced single-source dualenergy computed tomography (ssDECT) in differentiating metastases from adenomas in adrenal glands Materials and methods :This is a retrospective study conducted in the department of radio diagnosis of Mysore medical college and research institute after receiving the approval from our institutional ethical committee.A total of fifty six patients (32 men,24 women) with 31 adrenal metastases (AMs) and 32 adrenal adenomas (AAs) underwent a plain dual-energy CT imaging from March 2021 to October 2022 were included. The CT number from the virtual monochromatic spectral (VMS) image sets were measured for the AMs and AAs. The difference of CT numbers between AMs and AAs was statistically compared by P value and the box plot curve. Results: The CT number (medium, range) of metastases (50.47, 29.93 HU at 40 keV and 29.00, 9.36 HU at 140 keV) was significantly higher than that of adenomas (0.76, 33.04 to 13.73, 18.96 HU) at each energy level from 40 to 140 keV (P <.05).Conclusion: Using CT numbers obtained from virtual monochromatic images of single source dual energy CT can be used to differentiate adenomas from adrenal metastasis. The Median CT number of metastases was higher than that of adenomas at 40 Kev and 140 Kev. The median CT number of metastases decreased with increase in incident photon energy in Kev and median CT number of adenomas increased with increase in incident photon energy in Kev

Hypoxia as a therapy for mitochondrial disease

Defects in the mitochondrial respiratory chain (RC) underlie a spectrum of human conditions, ranging from devastating inborn errors of metabolism to aging. We performed a genome-wide Cas9-mediated screen to identify factors that are protective during RC inhibition. Our results highlight the hypoxia response, an endogenous program evolved to adapt to limited oxygen availability. Genetic or small-molecule activation of the hypoxia response is protective against mitochondrial toxicity in cultured cells and zebrafish models. Chronic hypoxia leads to a marked improvement in survival, body weight, body temperature, behavior, neuropathology, and disease biomarkers in a genetic mouse model of Leigh syndrome, the most common pediatric manifestation of mitochondrial disease. Further preclinical studies are required to assess whether hypoxic exposure can be developed into a safe and effective treatment for human diseases associated with mitochondrial dysfunction.National Institute of Mental Health (U.S.) (Grant 5DP1-MH100706)National Institute of Mental Health (U.S.) (Grant 1R01-MH110049)National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (U.S.) (Grant 5R01DK097768-03