Survey on Heuristic Search Techniques to Solve Artificial Intelligence Problems

Artificial intelligence (AI) is an area of computer science that highlights the creation of machines that are intelligent, also they work and react like humans. Since AI problems are complex and cannot be solved with direct techniques we resort to heuristic search techniques. Heuristic search technique is any approach to problem solving, learning, or discovery which uses a practical methodology which is not guaranteed to be optimal or perfect, but it is sufficient for the immediate goals. This paper surveys some of the heuristic techniques which is used for searching an optimal solution among multiprocessor environment, followed by and method which enhances the search by doing a search in bidirection and also a method for task scheduling in multiprocessor environment. The paper also discuses about how heuristic is used to solve binary quadratic program and also how it is used in 3G (3rd Generation) Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) network. DOI: 10.17762/ijritcc2321-8169.15058

Clinical features, predisposing factors and radiological study of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis: experience from a tertiary care center in Southern India

Background: Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a less common cause of stroke with a wide range of clinical presentations, predisposing factors, radiological features and outcomes. A high index of suspicion is absolutely essential to diagnose cerebral venous thrombosis. In this article, we have reviewed the clinical spectrum and radiological profile of patients with cerebral venous thrombosis and attempted to identify the specific predisposing factors for developing cerebral venous thrombosis particularly in this region of India.Methods: 116 patients hospitalized from January 2015 to March 2017 with a final diagnosis of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis which was confirmed by imaging (MRI/MRV or CT angiography) were included. Patients who were initially diagnosed as CVT but imaging were not suggestive of the same were excluded.Results: The mean age of the study population was 35.21 years, with most patients aged between 21-30 years. 18.1% of the study population were puerperal women, much lower than earlier series. 54.54% of the men had a significant history of alcohol consumption and 10.34% of the non-puerperal women revealed a history of consuming oral contraceptive pills. Among men, seizures were the most common presenting symptom followed by headache. Women presented with headache followed by vomiting. Superior sagittal sinus, transverse sinus, cortical veins and sigmoid sinus involvement were quite common in comparison to the other sinuses.Conclusions: Accurate and prompt diagnosis of CVT is crucial because timely and appropriate therapy can reverse the disease process and significantly reduce the risk of acute complications and long-term sequelae. In this article, we have reviewed the epidemiology, causative factors, clinical features and as well as radiological pattern of CVT from an Indian perspective. Over the last decade, a relatively high incidence of CVT in fairly young individuals warrants further evaluation towards genetic predisposition for pro-thrombotic states particularly in this region of India

Concept of Saara with special reference to Twaksaara

Saara is considered to be an important concept of Ayurveda. It helps in assessing Bala and Sthiramsha of an individual. Saara Pareeksha comes under Dashavidha Pareeksha which is performed to understand the Bala of an individual. Saara is the purest form of Dhatus. The purest form of Rasa Dhatu is Rasasaara, which is known as Twaksaara. As Rasa is assessed through Twak, this Saara is considerd as Twaksaara. The physical features of Twaksaara like Snigdha, Shlakshna, Mrudu, Prasanna Sookshma, Alpa, Gambheera Loma, Saprabha of Twak, will help to analyze the present status of Rasasaara in individual.The knowledge of Saarata of a person will therefore help in understanding physiology, psychology and susceptibility to diseases of an individual. The concept of Saara is a good mirror to assess properties and function of Dhatu

Assessing methanogenic archaeal community in full scale anaerobic sludge digester systems in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

© 2018 Khan et al. Introduction: Anaerobic digestion for methane production comprises of an exceptionally diverse microbial consortium, a profound understanding about which is still constrained. In this study, the methanogenic archaeal communities in three full-scale anaerobic digesters of a Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant were analyzed by Fluorescence in situ hybridization and quantitative real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) technique. Methods & Materials: Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed to detect and quantify the methanogenic Archaea in the sludge samples whereas qPCR was carried out to support the FISH analysis. Multiple probes targeting domain archaea, different orders and families of Archaea were used for the studies. Results and Discussion: In general, the aceticlastic organisms (Methanosarcinaceae & Methanosaetaceae) were more abundant than the hydrogenotrophic organisms (Methanobacteriales, Methanomicrobiales, Methanobacteriaceae & Methanococcales). Both FISH and qPCR indicated that family Methanosaetaceae was the most abundant suggesting that aceticlastic methanogenesis is probably the dominant methane production pathway in these digesters. Conclusion: Future work involving high-throughput sequencing methods and correlating archaeal communities with the main operational parameters of anaerobic digesters will help to obtain a better understanding of the dynamics of the methanogenic archaeal community in wastewater treatment plants in United Arab Emirates (UAE) which in turn would lead to improved performance of anaerobic sludge digesters

Bacterial community structure in anaerobic digesters of a full scale municipal wastewater treatment plant - Case study of dubai, united arab emirates

© 2019, International Centre for Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems SDEWES. All rights reserved. A highly complex microbial community involved in anaerobic sludge digesters plays vital roles in sludge treatment. The data on microbial ecology is important to accomplish efficient operation of the anaerobic digesters. This study is aimed at monitoring the bacterial community of three full-scale anaerobic digesters of a full-scale municipal wastewater treatment Plant in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Fluorescent in-situ hybridization technique was applied to identify the bacterial groups and quantitative polymerase chain reaction to compare the richness of bacterial and archaeal domain. Results of the fluorescent in-situ hybridization technique analysis showed that the phylum Proteobacteria was most abundant followed by cytophage-Flavobacterium group of Bacteroides, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria. Among proteobacterial subclass Delta- and Alpha- were dominating than Gamma- and Beta-proteobacteria. The genus Desulfobacter and Desulfobacterium were the dominant groups hybridizing 70-76% of total 4\u27, 6\u27- diamidino - 2 phenylindole stained cells. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction results showed that Bacterial domain was dominating in all three digesters compared to the archaeal domain

Bacterial Community Structure in Anaerobic Digesters of a Full Scale Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant ‒ Case Study of Dubai, United Arab Emirates

A highly complex microbial community involved in anaerobic sludge digesters plays vital roles in sludge treatment. The data on microbial ecology is important to accomplish efficient operation of the anaerobic digesters. This study is aimed at monitoring the bacterial community of three full-scale anaerobic digesters of a full-scale municipal wastewater treatment Plant in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Fluorescent in-situ hybridization technique was applied to identify the bacterial groups and quantitative polymerase chain reaction to compare the richness of bacterial and archaeal domain. Results of the fluorescent in-situ hybridization technique analysis showed that the phylum Proteobacteria was most abundant followed by cytophage-Flavobacterium group of Bacteroides, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria. Among proteobacterial subclass Delta- and Alpha- were dominating than Gamma- and Beta-proteobacteria. The genus Desulfobacter and Desulfobacterium were the dominant groups hybridizing 70-76% of total 4’, 6’‒ diamidino – 2 phenylindole stained cells. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction results showed that Bacterial domain was dominating in all three digesters compared to the archaeal domain

Retinal vascular tortuosity in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

\u3cp\u3eThe micro-vasculature of retina and brain share common morphological, physiological, and pathological properties. Retina being easily accessible, retinal vascular examination provides an indirect assessment of cerebral vasculature. Considering the high prevalence of vascular morbidity in SCZ and BD a few studies have examined retinal vascular caliber and have reported increased retinal venular caliber in schizophrenia (SCZ). Retinal vascular tortuosity could serve as a better structural measure than caliber as it is static and less susceptible to pulse period variations. However, to date, no study has examined retinal vascular tortuosity in SCZ and bipolar disorder (BD). Hence, we examined retinal vascular tortuosity in comparison with healthy volunteers (HV). We included 255 subjects (78 HV, 79 SCZ, and 86 BD) in the age range of 18 to 50 years. Trained personnel acquired images using a non-mydriatic fundus camera. To measure the average retinal arteriolar tortuosity index (RATI) and retinal venular tortuosity index (RVTI), we used a previously validated, semi-automatic algorithm. The results showed significant differences across the three groups in RATI but not in RVTI; both BD and SCZ had significantly increased RATI compared to HV. There was also a significant difference between SCZ and BD, with BD having higher RATI. If shown to be of predictive utility in future longitudinal studies, it has the potential to identify patients at risk of development of adverse vascular events. As retinal vascular imaging is non-invasive and inexpensive, it could serve as a proxy marker and window to cerebral vasculature.\u3c/p\u3

Utility and Impact of Agromet Advisory Services among Farmers in Mandya District, Karnataka

Weather is one of the foremost factors affecting the agriculture production and crop productivity. The effective weather information and advisory services to the farmers aid in decision-making of day-to-day agricultural operations right from the selection of crops to post harvest in order to avoid crop losses. Total 105 AAS bulletins were prepared and disseminated to the farmers in 2021 by District Agromet Unit (DAMU) established at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, V C farm, Mandya. A random sample survey was conducted for 175 farmers (25 per block) in 2021 to assess the effectiveness, impact and usefulness of Agromet Advisory Services from each block in Mandya District, Karnataka and analyzed the data using the Dynamic Feedback System of IMD. The study revealed that 48 percent of farmers preferred weather forecast before going for fertilizer application, 65 percent for spraying operations and 75 percent for harvesting operations.  A total of 69 percent farmers were satisfied, 18 percent were partially satisfied and 13 percent were not satisfied with the advisory. The study indicated that the farmers focused more on the weather forecast for spraying & harvesting operations compared to other activities of farming

Torpedo Retinopathy

Purpose: Torpedo lesions in the retina are rare. This study aimed to investigate torpedoshaped lesions in the retina in an adult population and to determine the spectrum and features of the disease. Methods: The review of a database for clinical diagnosis identified nine patients who were diagnosed with torpedo-shaped lesions in the retina between June 2017 and February 2019. Fundus photography and optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging were used to analyze the cases. Multicolor imaging was also performed. Results: Nine patients with torpedo-shaped lesions in the fundus were identified. Fundus images revealed that the lesion involved the macula in six eyes; in the remaining three eyes, the lesion was present outside the macula. OCT identified six patients with type 1 torpedo lesions, one with type 2, and two with type 3. On multicolor imaging, the lesion was visualized as a region of increased reflectance in blue, green, and infrared light in all eyes, with notably increased infrared reflectance in eyes with focal choroidal excavation. Choroidal neovascular membrane was evident in one patient on OCT angiography. Conclusion: Torpedo lesions in the retina can occur away from the macula and exhibit features similar to those of torpedo maculopathy. As such, the authors propose a change in the nomenclature for torpedo lesions in the retina from “torpedo maculopathy” to “torpedo retinopathy.