Automated Brain Tumor Detection from MRI Scans using Deep Convolutional Neural Networks

The brain, as the central nervous system's most critical part, can develop abnormal growths of cells known as tumors. Cancer is the term used to describe malignant tumors. Medical imaging modalities, such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are commonly used to detect cancerous regions in the brain. Other techniques, such as positron emission tomography (PET), cerebral arteriography, lumbar puncture, and molecular testing, are also utilized for brain tumor detection. MRI scans provide detailed information concerning delicate tissue, which aids in diagnosing brain tumors. MRI scan images are analyzed to assess the disease condition objectively. The proposed system aims to identify abnormal brain images from MRI scans accurately. The segmented mask can estimate the tumor's density, which is helpful in therapy. Deep learning techniques are employed to automatically extract features and detect abnormalities from MRI images. The proposed system utilizes a convolutional neural network (CNN), a popular deep learning technique, to analyze MRI images and identify abnormal brain scans with high accuracy. The system's training process involves feeding the CNN with large datasets of normal and abnormal MRI images to learn how to differentiate between the two. During testing, the system classifies MRI images as either normal or abnormal based on the learned features. The system's ability to accurately identify abnormal brain scans can aid medical practitioners in making informed decisions and providing better patient care. Additionally, the system's ability to estimate tumor density from the segmented mask provides additional information to guide therapy. The proposed system offers a promising solution for improving the accuracy and efficiency of brain tumor detection from MRI images, which is critical for early detection and treatment

DESIGN AND SIMULATION OF THREE PHASE FIVE LEVEL AND SEVEN LEVEL INVERTER FED INDUCTION MOTOR DRIVE WITH TWO CASCADED H-BRIDGE CONFIGURATION

This paper deals with study of Three phase Five Level and Seven Level inverter fed induction motor drive . Both five level and seven level are realized by cascading two H- bridges. The poor quality of voltage and current of a conventional inverter fed induction machine is due to the presence of harmonics and hence there is significant level of energy losses. The Multilevel inverter is used to reduce the harmonics. The inverters with a large number of steps can generate high quality voltage waveforms. The higher levels can follow a voltage reference with accuracy and with the advantage that the generated voltage can be modulated in amplitude instead of pulse-width modulation. An active harmonic elimination method is applied to eliminate any number of specific higher order harmonics of multilevel converters with unequal dc voltages. The simulation of three phase five and seven level inverter fed induction motor model is done using Matlab/Simulink. The FFT spectrums for the outputs are analyzed to study the reduction in the harmonics

Antibacterial Potential of Cashew Apple (Anacardium occidentale L.) Juice Against Clinical Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans

The aim of the present study was to determine antibacterial potential of cashew apple juice against clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans. Agar well diffusion assay was employed to screen the antibacterial efficacy of the condensed cashew apple juice. Clinical isolates of S. aureus were more susceptible than that of S. mutans isolates. It is  concluded that cashew apple juice contain antibacterial principles having  potential to inhibit human pathogens. Further studies are under progress to isolate bioactive components and determine their antibacterial activity

Bleomycin induced skin rashes- a case report

Bleomycin is a cytotoxic glycopeptide derived from Streptomyces verticillus and is used in ABVD         (Adriamycin, Bleomycin, Vinblastine, Dacarbazine) chemotherapy regimen. Bleomycin is effective against several human cancers particularly lymphomas, testicular and ovarian germ cell tumors and squamous cell carcinoma. Pulmonary toxicity and skin toxicity are the major toxicities of bleomycin. The various dermatological adverse effects of bleomycin include flagellate dermatitis, erythema, hyperpigmentation, hyperkeratosis, palmoplantar desquamation, Raynaud’s phenomenon. The development of rash is independent of dose and route of administration. This is a case of 68 years male patient diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma who developed rashes after receiving bleomycin based chemotherapy. The patient responded well to the antihistamines, aloe Vera-calamine lotion and bleomycin was withheld from the subsequent chemotherapy cycles. Keywords: Bleomycin, Skin toxicity, Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Assessment on awareness of rational prescribing practices among medical interns in a tertiary care hospital: a questionnaire based study

Background: Awareness about rational use of Medicines is required to improve the quality of health care system. Attitude towards rational drug use is also an utmost importance as they constitute the future generation doctors.Methods: A set of 13 questionnaire is given to the interns through an online link to their e-mail which contains informed consent and questionnaires. Respondents has to select the best suitable option and after which the data will be compiled and statistically analyzed.Results: Age of the study participants range from 22-26yrs. Half of them have finished major postings. Almost 96.1 % of them were aware of the term essential drugs. Only 25% of them said that they have NLEMI at work place, 75% of them were aware of the term Rational use of Medicines. Only 32% of them were aware of the term P drugs. 44% of them were aware of STEP criteria for selection of drug and 47% of them were aware of the updated prescribing format. 8% knew the difference between old and new prescription format, 25% of them always prescribe. Almost 82% of them narrate regarding the disease and drug therapy, 31% of them prescribe only generic name.Conclusions: Educational intervention like CME and practical hands on training in Rational use of Medicines would help them in better understanding of the subject and its clinical implications thereby decreasing the prescribing errors

Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Potential of Streptomyces sp. RAMPP- 065 isolated from Kudremukh soil, Karnataka, India

Actinomycetes are among the industrially and therapeutically relevant microorganisms and are known to produce useful products such as antibiotics, enzymes, vitamins etc.  Among actinomycetes, genus  Streptomyces is known to produce a great array of products. In the present study, we have recovered a Streptomyces species RAMPP-065 from Western ghats soil of Kudremukh, Karnataka, India and determined its  antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. The isolate was recovered on Starch  casein agar and identified as Streptomyces species on the basis of  cultural, microscopic, staining and biochemical characteristics. Fermentation was carried out in Starch casein broth for 7 days and filtered. The culture filtrate was extracted with ethyl acetate and the solvent was evaporated to get the extract. Antimicrobial activity of extract was tested against 8 bacteria and 2 fungi by agar well diffusion method. Gram positive bacteria were more sensitive to extract than Gram negative bacteria. Among fungi, susceptibility to extract was higher in Candida albicans than Cryptococcus neoformans. The extract showed a dose dependent scavenging of DPPH free radical as revealed by bleaching of DPPH radical color with increase in concentration of extract. In ferric reducing assay, the absorbance was  found to increase with increase in extract concentration. Total phenolic content of extract, as estimated by Folin-Ciocalteau method, was 59mg Gallic acid equivalents/gram. The scavenging and reducing activity of extract were lesser when compared to reference compounds. The soils of Western ghats are rich sources for microorganisms with potent biological activities. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on  bioactivity of Streptomyces species from Kudremukh soil. Further studiesare to be carried out to characterize the Streptomyces isolate and the active principles present in the extract

Inhibitory Activity of Polyalthia longifolia, Anaphalis lawii and Gnidia glauca against Colletotrichum capsici and Urinary Tract Pathogens

The present study was conducted with an aim of determining inhibitory effect of extracts from different parts of Polyalthia longifolia (leaf, ripe and unripe pericarp), Anaphalis lawii (leaf and flower), Gnidia glauca (leaf, bark and flower) against Colletotrichum capsici and urinary tract pathogens. The shade dried plant materials were extracted using methanol. Antifungal effect of extracts was evaluated against Colletotrichum capsici isolated from anthracnose of chilli by Poisoned food technique. Antibacterial activity of extracts was determined against five antibiotic resistant bacteria isolated from urinary tract infections by Agar well diffusion assay. The extracts caused marked inhibition of mycelial growth of C. capsici as indicated by reduced diameter of fungal colonies on poisoned plates. Extracts of P. longifolia inhibited C. capsici to higher extent followed by A. lawii and G. glauca. All extracts from selected plants inhibited test bacteria but to varied extent. Susceptibility was higher in case of Gram positive when compared to Gram negative bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were inhibited to higher extent among Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria respectively. Among plants, P. longifolia caused higher inhibition of test bacteria. The extracts from the selected plants can be considered as promising sources of bioactive agents which can be used to treat urinary tract infections caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria and to control anthracnose of chilli. Further studies are to be carried in order to isolate and characterize bioactive principles from extracts and to determine their inhibitory potential against C. capsici and uropathogens

Micronutrients and phytochemicals content in various rice (Oryza sativa Linn.) samples control carbohydrate digestion variedly and present differential antioxidant activities: an in vitro appraisal

821-831High starch and carbohydrate content in rice (Oryza sativa Linn.) disparages this food responsible for postprandial hyperglycemic excursions. However, rice is an Asian food synonym. Additionally, in traditional Indian healing practices, rice is used for treatment of various disorders. In this research, we analyzed micronutrient and phytochemical contents in different rice samples available in market. Effect of aqueous-ethanol extract of each type of rice was evaluated against intestinal α-glucosidase to examine extract’s influence on carbohydrate digestion. Free-radicals scavenging activities as a measure of antioxidant potential in different rice were also examined. Brown-rice presented highest (54%) α-glucosidase inhibition followed by parboiled-rice (52%), idly-rice (48%), hand-pounded rice (42%), dosa-rice (40%) and basmati-rice (39%). Polished white sona-masoori rice presented least enzyme inhibitory (31%) activity. Presence of higher α-glucosidase inhibitory activity was regarded as slow digesting rice that would impart lesser postprandial glycemic excursion. Brown and parboiled-rice presented highest ABTS֗+ radical scavenging (74%) activity whereas; idly-rice displayed highest DPPH scavenging (50%) activity. Higher polyphenol and niacin contents in rice were found significantly (p+ radical scavenging activity

Micronutrients and phytochemicals content in various rice (Oryza sativa Linn.) samples control carbohydrate digestion variedly and present differential antioxidant activities: an in vitro appraisal

High starch and carbohydrate content in rice (Oryza sativa Linn.) disparages this food responsible for postprandial hyperglycemic excursions. However, rice is an Asian food synonym. Additionally, in traditional Indian healing practices, rice is used for treatment of various disorders. In this research, we analyzed micronutrient and phytochemical contents in different rice samples available in market. Effect of aqueous-ethanol extract of each type of rice was evaluated against intestinal α-glucosidase to examine extract’s influence on carbohydrate digestion. Free-radicals scavenging activities as a measure of antioxidant potential in different rice were also examined. Brown-rice presented highest (54%) α-glucosidase inhibition followed by parboiled-rice (52%), idly-rice (48%), hand-pounded rice (42%), dosa-rice (40%) and basmati-rice (39%). Polished white sona-masoori rice presented least enzyme inhibitory (31%) activity. Presence of higher α-glucosidase inhibitory activity was regarded as slow digesting rice that would impart lesser postprandial glycemic excursion. Brown and parboiled-rice presented highest ABTS֗+ radical scavenging (74%) activity whereas; idly-rice displayed highest DPPH scavenging (50%) activity. Higher polyphenol and niacin contents in rice were found significantly (p<0.0001 and p<0.01 respectively) correlated with enzyme inhibitory activity. Higher polyphenol content was found responsible for enhanced free-radicals scavenging activity. Increasing concentrations of niacin and pantothenic acid correlated with ABTS֗+ radical scavenging activity

Tectono-Thermal History of the Neoarchean Balehonnur Shear Zone, Western Dharwar Craton (Southern India)

AbstractA widely spaced Neoarchean shear zone network traverses the granite-greenstone terrains of the Western Dharwar craton (WDC). The NNW-SSE trending Balehonnur shear zone traverses the largest part of the preserved tilted Archean crustal ensemble in the Western Dharwar craton (WDC) from the amphibolite-granulite transition in the south to greenschist facies in the north and eventually concealed under Deccan lava flows. Published tectonic fabrics data and kinematic analysis, with our data reveal a sinistral sense of shearing that effectuate greenstone sequences, Tonalite-Trondhjemite-Granodiorite Gneisses (TTG), and Koppa granite as reflected in variable deformation and strain localization. A profound increase of strain towards the core of the shear zone in the ca. 2610 Ma Koppa granite is marked by a transition from weak foliation outside the shear zone through the development of C-S structures and C-prime fabrics, mylonite to ultramylonite. The mineral assemblages in the Koppa granite and adjoining greenstone indicate near peak P-T conditions of 1.2 Gpa, 775-800°C following a slow cooling path of 1.0 GPa and 650°C. Field-based tectonic fabrics data together with U-Pb zircon ages reveal that the Koppa granite emplaced along the contact zone of Shimoga-Bababudan basin ca. 2610 Ma, coinciding with the emplacement of ca. 2600 Ma Arsikere-Banavara, Pandavpura, and Chitradurga granites further east which mark the stabilization of WDC. Significant variation in major element oxide (SiO2 = 56-69 wt.%) together with high content of incompatible elements (REE, Nb, Zr, and Y) and high zircon crystallization temperatures (~1000°C) of Koppa granite suggests derivation by partial melting of composite sources involving enriched uppermost mantle and lower crust. The development of widely spaced shear zones is probably linked to the assembly of eastern and western blocks through westward convergence of hot oceanic lithosphere against already cratonized thick colder western block leading to the development of strain heterogeneities between greenstone and TTGs due to their different mineral assemblages leading to rheological contrast in the cratonic lithologies