A Window-Oriented User-Interface for Image Processing Systems on UNIX based workstations.

The advent of digital image processing has led to the availability of a very large number of software systems. However there is an absence of a cohesive general-purpose image processing environment isolated from hardware or the underlying operating system. The trend in computing in science and engineering, is towards distributed workstations, especially with the availability of high-performance microprocessors. Hence there is a need for a unified software environment on workstations for use in scientific applications. This thesis describes the design and implementation of a window oriented user-interface. The interface runs on top of a Image Processing system, running on workstations under the UNIX † environment and uses the network transparent X window system ‡. The visual shell-like environment is targeted at the end-user with a scientific background needing image processing capabilities, but not necessarily with a computer background. The User-Interface is primarily a tool for use by a single user, although the underlying system operates in a multiuser multitasking environment. The objective of this exercise is aimed at providing rapid, easy and visual capability in processing images at a session level. It integrates graphics capabilities with high speed computing. All processing capabilities provided at the command line level, are available via dialog boxes, buttons & multi-level menus

Evaluation of different teaching-learning methods according to students’ preference and perception

Background: Improved teaching methodology is prerequisite for education systems so that students learn effectively. The present study was done with the objectives of evaluation of different teaching-learning methods according to students’ preference and perception.Methods: It was observational, non-interventional questionnaire based study. Total 100 students were selected randomly from second MBBS as participants of it. They filled questionnaires with 11 questions, by selecting appropriate options.Results: All students were interested in Pharmacology. Cardio-Vascular System and autocoids were the most interesting topics according to 40% of students. Total 53% of students preferred combination of chalk and board with PowerPoint presentation for understanding, while chalk and board alone (65%) as more interactive teaching method. Total 80% of students preferred interactive lecture session. Clinical case/bed side study was preferred by 89% of students. Total 40% of students preferred combination of teachers’ note and standard textbooks as reading materials. Total 80% of students mentioned that revision at the end of lecture is necessary. One and half year as ideal time to learn second MBBS, has been selected by 60% of students. Teaching with more clinical orientation is one of the changes suggested by 28% of students.Conclusions: Combination of traditional chalk and board method with modern powerpoint method, wherever necessary, is ideal for interactive and understandable lecture session. Integration/correlation of clinical cases with clinical Pharmacology will be more helpful in understanding and learning. Proper and effective management of time is essential for maximum utilization of MBBS duration with optimum output for students

IMACULAT - an open access package for the quantitative analysis of chromosome localization in the nucleus

The alteration in the location of the chromosomes within the nucleus upon action of internal or external stimuli has been implicated in altering genome function. The effect of stimuli at a whole genome level is studied by using two-dimensional fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to delineate whole chromosome territories within a cell nucleus, followed by a quantitative analysis of the spatial distribution of the chromosome. However, to the best of our knowledge, open access software capable of quantifying spatial distribution of whole chromosomes within cell nucleus is not available. In the current work, we present a software package that computes localization of whole chromosomes - Image Analysis of Chromosomes for computing localization (IMACULAT). We partition the nucleus into concentric elliptical compartments of equal area and the variance in the quantity of any chromosome in these shells is used to determine its localization in the nucleus. The images are pre-processed to remove the smudges outside the cell boundary. Automation allows high throughput analysis for deriving statistics. Proliferating normal human dermal fibroblasts were subjected to standard a two-dimensional FISH to delineate territories for all human chromosomes. Approximately 100 images from each chromosome were analyzed using IMACULAT. The analysis corroborated that these chromosome territories have non-random gene density based organization within the interphase nuclei of human fibroblasts. The ImageMagick Perl API has been used for pre-processing the images

Matrix elasticity of void-forming hydrogels controls transplanted-stem-cell-mediated bone formation

The effectiveness of stem cell therapies has been hampered by cell death and limited control over fate. These problems can be partially circumvented by using macroporous biomaterials that improve the survival of transplanted stem cells and provide molecular cues to direct cell phenotype. Stem cell behaviour can also be controlled in vitro by manipulating the elasticity of both porous and non-porous materials, yet translation to therapeutic processes in vivo remains elusive. Here, by developing injectable, void-forming hydrogels that decouple pore formation from elasticity, we show that mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) osteogenesis in vitro, and cell deployment in vitro and in vivo, can be controlled by modifying, respectively, the hydrogel’s elastic modulus or its chemistry. When the hydrogels were used to transplant MSCs, the hydrogel’s elasticity regulated bone regeneration, with optimal bone formation at 60 kPa. Our findings show that biophysical cues can be harnessed to direct therapeutic stem cell behaviours in situ

Intention to use and Adoption of IT Innovations in Organizations: A Meta-Analytic Examination of the Moderating Role of Innovation Type and Socio-Economic Context

Present paper conducts a meta-analysis of the innovation features that influence the intention to use and adoption of information technology (IT) innovation in the organizations. Previous studies that assessed the influence of innovation features on intention to use and adoption have found inconsistent results and thus created confusion among academicians and practitioners. Present study consolidates the findings of previous studies using meta-analysis to reveal the key factors behind organizations’ intention to use and adoption of IT innovations. The study takes a step further by also determining the moderating role of innovation type (product vs. service innovations) and socio-economic context (developing vs. developed countries) on the relationships of innovation features with intention to use and adoption of IT innovations. It also provides multiple insightful theoretical and practical implications

A STUDY TO EVALUATE THE EFFECT OF ADDING CLONIDINE TO ROPIVACAINE FOR AXILLARY PLEXUS BLOCKADE

Aims and objectives- The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of adding Clonidine to Ropivacaine for axillary plexus blockade. Material and methods- A total of 60 adult patients having physical status grade I or II according to American Society of Anaesthesiologists ( ASA ) undergoing hand or forearm surgery under axillary plexus blockade using nerve stimulator were included in the study. Patients were randomly allocated to one of the two groups. Each group consisted of 30 patients. Group 1 patients received 35 ml of Ropivacaine 0.5 % + 1 ml of normal saline.Group 2 patients received 35 ml of Ropivacaine + 1 ml of clonidine ( 150 µg). Sensory block, motor block and sedation were assessed every 5 minutes for 30 minutes. Postoperatively assessment was done every 15 minutes till complete regression of sensory and motor block. Results- Mean sensory onset time in patients of group 1 was 26.48 ± 7.88 min and in patients of group 2 was 26.55 ± 8.06 min, which was insignificant statistically. Patients of group 1 had a mean motor onset time 35.51 ± 10.4 min and patients of group 2 had a mean motor onset time 37.06 ± 14.19min, the difference being statistically comparable. Mean duration of sensory block in patients of group 1 was 422 ± 163.10 min and in patients of group 2 was 438 ± 133.93 min, which was statistically comparable. Patients belonging to group 1 had a mean duration of motor block 404 ± 160.60 min and patients belonging to group 2 had a mean duration of motor block 388 ± 151.63 min, which was statistically comparable. Conclusion- Addition of Clonidine ( 150 µg) is of no benefit in the onset and duration of axillary plexus block

Hypoglycemia in carbon monoxide poisoning: A case report

Carbon monoxide poisoning is a common presentation in the Emergency Department. The clinical presentation runs a spectrum, ranging from headache and dizziness to coma and death, with a mortality rate ranging from 1 to 3 %. Administration of normobaric 100% oxygen is the therapy of choice for most cases, while hyperbaric oxygen therapy is reserved for severe poisoning. Hyperglycemia is commonly seen with this poisoning but the association of hypoglycemia is not well described in human studies. Here, we present the case of hypoglycemia in carbon monoxide poisoning with good clinical outcome in a 22-year-old male

"Beware of deception": Detecting Half-Truth and Debunking it through Controlled Claim Editing

The prevalence of half-truths, which are statements containing some truth but that are ultimately deceptive, has risen with the increasing use of the internet. To help combat this problem, we have created a comprehensive pipeline consisting of a half-truth detection model and a claim editing model. Our approach utilizes the T5 model for controlled claim editing; "controlled" here means precise adjustments to select parts of a claim. Our methodology achieves an average BLEU score of 0.88 (on a scale of 0-1) and a disinfo-debunk score of 85% on edited claims. Significantly, our T5-based approach outperforms other Language Models such as GPT2, RoBERTa, PEGASUS, and Tailor, with average improvements of 82%, 57%, 42%, and 23% in disinfo-debunk scores, respectively. By extending the LIAR PLUS dataset, we achieve an F1 score of 82% for the half-truth detection model, setting a new benchmark in the field. While previous attempts have been made at half-truth detection, our approach is, to the best of our knowledge, the first to attempt to debunk half-truths