AUTOMATED TIMETABLE GENERATOR USING PARTICLE SWARM OPTIMIZATION

The timetabling problem at universities is an NP - hard problem un der multiple constraints and limited resources. Thus a technique that can handle constraints is needed to optimize the problem. Thi s pape r focuses on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) for findin g optimal solution s t o th e proble m of course Timetabling a t a Punjabi U niversity Patiala . PSO is a promising scheme for solving NP - hard problems due to its fast convergence and fewer parameter settings . There are tw o objective s i n this . First provide a detaile d introductio n t o the topic of timetabling, Particle Swa rm Optimization thei r metho d an d thei r variations . Th e se c ond objective i s t o appl y the m t o th e proble m o f Course Timetabling . The proposed algorithm is tested using the timetabling data from Department of Computer Science, Punjabi University , Patiala

How software size influence productivity and project duration

To make a perfect project plan, the software size of the order from the customer is the most important factor. The biggest challenge for the project manager is to estimate the project end date in the beginning of the project i.e. in project planning phase with realistic accuracy. Apart from other major inputs to estimate the project end date, expected team capability (productivity) and estimated software size are the major inputs that may influence the project end date. Software size is one of the most significant independent metric available in the planning phase and project manager has to estimate the other metrics based on the initial estimated software size. There is no direct relationship available between software size and project duration or software size and team productivity, however, there are industry data published by Quantitative Software Management and ISBSG that shows how these metrics influence each other. In this paper, using the data published by ISBSG and Quantitative Software Management, we try to statistically establish how productivity and project duration are influenced by software size. We have done linear regression analysis by generating the secondary data based on the data published by ISBSG and Quantitative Software Management. Linear regression equation validated with the actual project data and experimental results suggest that that productivity is significantly dependent on software size, however, project duration does not significantly depend on software size but may also be dependent on other metrics like team size, apart from software size

Tibialis anterior muscle hernia : a case of chronic, dull pain and swelling in leg diagnosed by dynamic ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Symptomatic muscle hernias are not uncommon in the lower extremities and are a rare cause of chronic leg pain. They are most commonly seen in the tibialis anterior muscle, occurring through fascial defects, usually after trauma. There are about 200 cases of muscle hernias described in the literature. The diagnosis is challenging as most of the patients present with non-specific chronic leg pain. Dynamic muscle ultrasonography at rest and at stress is often used for the diagnosis. CASE REPORT: We describe a case of tibialis anterior muscle hernia presenting with persistent dull pain and swelling along the anterior aspect of the leg on straining the leg muscles. Dynamic ultrasonography was performed, which showed a defect in the fascial sheath of the muscle through which the tibialis anterior muscle herniated and produced a focal bulge along the anterior aspect of the leg. Based upon physical examination and dynamic ultrasonographic findings, a diagnosis of tibialis anterior muscle hernia was made. CONCLUSIONS: Tibialis anterior muscle hernia is a rare diagnosis and should be included in the differential diagnosis in a patient with chronic leg pain and swelling. Dynamic ultrasound is crucial in confirming the diagnosis and should be done on straining the muscles of the affected limb

A NOVEL CLASS OF PHOTOTRIGGERABLE LIPOSOMES CONTAINING PACLITAXEL FOR THE TREATMENT OF SKIN CANCER

Success of nanocarriers-mediated drug delivery solely depends on delivery of therapeutics to a specified target. Secondly therapeutically active amount of drug should be released within defined space and time (triggered release). Recently, we formulated a novel class of photo-triggerable liposomes prepared from soy lecithin (SPC), cholesterol (CHOL) and photosensitive agent ketoprofen that can efficiently released entrapped paclitaxel upon UV light treatment. To explore these formulations for in vivo applications, we have examined the effect of released anticancer drugs on cellular toxicity. Liposomes were loaded with paclitaxel and biophysical properties (including liposome size and stability) and paclitaxel encapsulation efficiency of the liposomes were determined. Subsequently, the effect of UV light treatment on paclitaxel release, and cellular toxicity by released paclitaxel were examined. Since liposomes using the 5:1 molar ratio of SPC and CHOL, showed highest encapsulation of paclitaxel, these formulations were investigated further. UV light treatment of co-cultures containing paclitaxel loaded liposomes and cells (SK-MEL-2) resulted in improved cell killing as compared to untreated samples. These phototriggerable liposomes described here may provide a platform for future drug delivery applications.Â

Metabolic fingerprinting of joint tissue of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease whose major characteristics persistent joint inflammation that results in joint destruction and failure of the function. Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat is an autoimmune disease model and in many ways shares features with RA. The CIA is associated with systemic manifestations, including alterations in the metabolism. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy-based metabolomics has been successfully applied to the perchloric acid extract of the joint tissue of CIA rat and control rat for the analysis of aqueous metabolites. GPC (Glycerophosphocholine), carnitine, acetate, and creatinine were important discriminators of CIA rats as compared to control rats. Level of lactate (significance; p = 0.004), alanine (p = 0.025), BCA (Branched-chain amino acids) (p = 0.006) and creatinine (p = 0.023) was significantly higher in CIA rats as compared to control rats. Choline (p = 0.038) and GPC (p = 0.009) were significantly reduced in CIA rats as compared to control rats. Choline to GPC correlation was good and negative (Pearson correlation = -0.63) for CIA rats as well as for control rats (Pearson correlation = -0.79). All these analyses collectively considered as metabolic fingerprinting of the joint tissue of CIA rat as compared to control rat. The metabolic fingerprinting of joint tissue of CIA rats was different as compared to control rats. The metabolic fingerprinting reflects inflammatory disease activity in CIA rats with synovitis, demonstrating that underlying inflammatory process drives significant changes in metabolism that can be measured in the joint tissue. Therefore, the outcome of this study may be helpful for understanding the mechanism of metabolic processes in RA. This may be also helpful for the development of advanced diagnostic methods and therapy for RA

A RANDOMIZED CONTROLL TRIAL TO COMPARE THE EFFICACY OF SACCHAROMYCES BOULARDII, BACILLUS CLAUSII, AND LACTOBACILLUS RHAMNOSUS GG PREPARATION IN THE TREATMENT OF ACUTE DIARRHEA IN CHILDREN

Objective: Probiotics have been recommended as an adjunct to standard treatment of acute diarrhea but the choice of probiotics is unclear. The aim of study is to compare the efficacy of Saccharomyces boulardii, Bacillus clausii versus Lactobacillus rhamnosus in children with acute diarrhea and to expand the tolerability of S. boulardii, B. clausii versus L. rhamnosus GG in acute diarrhea. Methods: Hospital based Randomized Controlled Clinical trial (chit in box) carried out at the Department of Pediatrics, Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, Jaipur Rajasthan from January 2020 to June 2021. 120 Children were enrolled in the study and randomized to either Group A or Group B or Group C. Group A received S. boulardii, Group B received B. clausii and Group C received L. rhamnosus GG. Sample size was 40 samples for each group. Statistical analysis was done with the SPSS software. Results: There was statistically significant improvement in consistency observed in Group C as compared to Group A an Group B (p<0.001). Significant higher cases (87.5%) were improved in Group C compare to Group B (67.5%), followed by Group A (65%). While all patients were observed well tolerated and accepted during the study. Conclusions: In our study, L. rhamnosus GG significantly reduce the frequency, improve the consistency of stools in diarrhea as compared to B. clausii and S. boulardii while tolerability of S. boulardii, B. clausii and L. rhamnosus GG was good with no adverse effect