Differentiation among Basal Cell Carcinoma, Benign Lesions, and Normal Skin using Electric Impedance

This paper presents a preliminary study showing the diagnostic potential of electrical impedance to detect basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Electrical impedance was measured in vivo from 1 kHz to 1 MHz on 24 human subjects over BCC (19 lesions), over benign tumors (11 lesions), and over normal skin (all 24 patients). Lesions ranged from 2-15 mm in diameter. Indexes based on the magnitude (MIX), phase (PIX), real-part (RIX) and imaginary-part (IMIX) of impedance were calculated for each measurement. Significant differences were found between measurements over BCC, benign lesions and normal skin for indexes MIX, PIX, and IMIX (P = 0.04 to P = 7 x 107. Indexes were generally smaller for measurements of BCC than for benign lesions or normal skin. Differences were not a result of differences in the patient\u27\u27s age or the measurement location. The large size of our measurement electrode (10 mm) probably limited our ability to differentiate lesions because significant amounts of normal skin were included in each lesion measurement. A linear regression fit of data with tumor size suggests that a smaller probe or more sophisticated analysis techniques may improve differentiation. Results suggest that electrical impedance could be used to provide rapid and noninvasive differentiation of BCC from similar looking benign lesions

Beyond Breathless: Unravelling The Enigma Of Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformations

Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs) are abnormal connections between the pulmonary arteries and veins, leading to a direct shunting of blood without passing through the normal capillary bed. These AVMs can be associated with a rare genetic disorder called Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT), also known as Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome. HHT is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by the development of fragile telangiectasias in various organs, including the skin and mucous membranes. These telangiectasias are prone to bleeding, leading to recurrent nosebleeds and mucocutaneous bleeding. In patients with HHT, the most common site of AVMs is in the lungs. Pulmonary AVMs can cause significant health risks due to the right-to-left shunting of blood, leading to hypoxemia and possible complications like stroke, cerebral abscesses, and heart failure

Structural, Morphological and 1/f noise Properties of ITO/TiO2 thin Films by e-beam Evaporation System for Optoelectronic Device Applications

In the present research study, ITO/TiO2 thin films were prepared on a glass substrate by using an electron beam (e-beam) evaporation system at different annealing temperatures (300, 350, 400 and 450 °C). The amorphous and crystalline natures of ITO/TiO2 structure were analyzed by X-ray diffraction study. As the grain size becomes larger, indirectly it will develop the crystalline quality of the TiO2 films studied from AFM. The surface of TiO2 films and the crystalline size of the sample were increased gradually with respect to a temperature that is observed in SEM. The elemental composition determined by the energy dispersive analysis of EDAX showed that TiO2 thin films were highly stoichiometric. Further, the higher optical transmittance (93%) was obtained with 450 °C annealed ITO/TiO2 film. The optical band gap increased along with annealing temperatures (300, 350, 400 and 450 °C). All the above results of this present work can be utilized for solar cell and optoelectronic device applications. © 2020 Author(s)

A framework for evaluating automatic image annotation algorithms

Several Automatic Image Annotation (AIA) algorithms have been introduced recently, which have been found to outperform previous models. However, each one of them has been evaluated using either different descriptors, collections or parts of collections, or "easy" settings. This fact renders their results non-comparable, while we show that collection-specific properties are responsible for the high reported performance measures, and not the actual models. In this paper we introduce a framework for the evaluation of image annotation models, which we use to evaluate two state-of-the-art AIA algorithms. Our findings reveal that a simple Support Vector Machine (SVM) approach using Global MPEG-7 Features outperforms state-of-the-art AIA models across several collection settings. It seems that these models heavily depend on the set of features and the data used, while it is easy to exploit collection-specific properties, such as tag popularity especially in the commonly used Corel 5K dataset and still achieve good performance

Adaptive response to low dose of EMS or MMS in human peripheral blood lymphocytes

Human peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated in vitro for 6 hr were exposed to a low (conditioning) dose of ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS; 1.5 x 10(-4) M) or methyl methanesulfonate (MMS; 1.5 x 10(-5) M). After 6 hr, the cells were treated with a high (challenging) concentration of the same agent (1.5 x 10(-3) M EMS or 1.5 x 10(-4) M MMS). The cells that received both conditioning and challenging doses became less sensitive to the induction of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) than those which did not receive the pretreatment with EMS or MMS. They responded with lower frequencies of SCEs. This suggests that conditioning dose of EMS or MMS has offered the lymphocytes to have decreased SCEs. This led to the realization that pre-exposure of lymphocytes to low dose can cause the induction of repair activity. This is a clear indication of the existence of adaptive response induced by alkylating agents whether it is ethylating or methylating in human lymphocytes in vitro

Assessment of crop loss in Arabica coffee due to white stem borer, Xylotrechus quadripes Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) infestation

The coffee white stem borer (CWSB) is the most dreaded pest of Arabica coffee in India. Due to the concealed nature of this pest, the management measures are difficult and require the timely implementation of control measures. The recommended practices for the management of CWSB mainly targets on eggs and early instar larvae, apart from tracing and uprooting of infested plants before the commencement of flight periods (April-May and Oct-Dec). In general, youngArabica coffee plants infested by CWSB die within a year, whereas aged plants withstand the attack for few more years. However, such plants become less productive, susceptible to diseases and also serve as inoculum for further spreading of the infestation. A study was undertaken to assess the crop loss due to CWSB infestation on established Arabica plantation in Tamil Nadu. The result indicated a significant difference between healthy and infested plants and the crop loss was to the tune of 17.7 per cent. Further, quantitative data on out-turn percentages recorded at different stages of coffee processing (right from harvesting of fruits to marketable green coffee bean) are discussed in this paper

Structural, morphological and 1/f noise properties of ITO/TiO2thin films by e-beam evaporation system for optoelectronic device applications

In the present research study, ITO/TiO2 thin films were prepared on a glass substrate by using an electron beam (e-beam) evaporation system at different annealing temperatures (300, 350, 400 and 450 °C). The amorphous and crystalline natures of ITO/TiO2 structure were analyzed by X-ray diffraction study. As the grain size becomes larger, indirectly it will develop the crystalline quality of the TiO2 films studied from AFM. The surface of TiO2 films and the crystalline size of the sample were increased gradually with respect to a temperature that is observed in SEM. The elemental composition determined by the energy dispersive analysis of EDAX showed that TiO2 thin films were highly stoichiometric. Further, the higher optical transmittance (93%) was obtained with 450 °C annealed ITO/TiO2 film. The optical band gap increased along with annealing temperatures (300, 350, 400 and 450 °C). All the above results of this present work can be utilized for solar cell and optoelectronic device applications. © 2020 Author(s)

Statistical models to identify significant crop-logging parameters influencing crop-yield across various growth stages in brinjal (Solanum melongena)

Crop-logging models developed showed that brinjal (Solamun melogena L.) crop yield could be predicted well in advance as early as 26 DAP using three biometrical traits (plant height, plant girth and plant spread north south ) to an extent of 71 %. As the DAP increases prediction of yield could be possible to an extent of 88%. Identification and removal of outliers in data set increased the prediction of models in the range of 31%, 33%, 34 and 8% respectively across four crop growth stages

Novel insights into the cardio-protective effects of FGF21 in lean and obese rat hearts

Aims: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a hepatic metabolic regulator with pleotropic actions. Its plasma concentrations are increased in obesity and diabetes; states associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease. We therefore investigated the direct effect of FGF21 on cardio-protection in obese and lean hearts in response to ischemia. Methods and Results: FGF21, FGF21-receptor 1 (FGFR1) and beta-Klotho (βKlotho) were expressed in rodent, human hearts and primary rat cardiomyocytes. Cardiac FGF21 was expressed and secreted (real time RT-PCR/western blot and ELISA) in an autocrine-paracrine manner, in response to obesity and hypoxia, involving FGFR1-βKlotho components. Cardiac-FGF21 expression and secretion were increased in response to global ischemia. In contrast βKlotho was reduced in obese hearts. In isolated adult rat cardiomyocytes, FGF21 activated PI3K/Akt (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt), ERK1/2(extracellular signal-regulated kinase) and AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) pathways. In Langendorff perfused rat [adult male wild-type wistar] hearts, FGF21 administration induced significant cardio-protection and restoration of function following global ischemia. Inhibition of PI3K/Akt, AMPK, ERK1/2 and ROR-α (retinoic-acid receptor alpha) pathway led to significant decrease of FGF21 induced cardio-protection and restoration of cardiac function in response to global ischemia. More importantly, this cardio-protective response induced by FGF21 was reduced in obesity, although the cardiac expression profiles and circulating FGF21 levels were increased. Conclusion: In an ex vivo Langendorff system, we show that FGF21 induced cardiac protection and restoration of cardiac function involving autocrine-paracrine pathways, with reduced effect in obesity. Collectively, our findings provide novel insights into FGF21-induced cardiac effects in obesity and ischemia

An assessment of vulnerability to HIV infection of boatmen in Teknaf, Bangladesh

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mobile population groups are at high risk for contracting HIV infection. Many factors contribute to this risk including high prevalence of risky behavior and increased risk of violence due to conflict and war. The Naf River serves as the primary border crossing point between Teknaf, Bangladesh and Mynamar [Burma] for both official and unofficial travel of people and goods. Little is known about the risk behavior of boatmen who travel back and forth between Teknaf and Myanmar. However, we hypothesize that boatmen may act as a bridging population for HIV/AIDS between the high-prevalence country of Myanmar and the low-prevalence country of Bangladesh.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Methods included initial rapport building with community members, mapping of boatmen communities, and in-depth qualitative interviews with key informants and members from other vulnerable groups such as spouses of boatmen, commercial female sex workers, and injecting drug users. Information from the first three stages was used to create a cross-sectional survey that was administered to 433 boatmen.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Over 40% of the boatmen had visited Myanmar during the course of their work. 17% of these boatmen had sex with CSW while abroad. There was a significant correlation found between the number of nights spent in Myanmar and sex with commercial sex workers.</p> <p>In the past year, 19% of all boatmen surveyed had sex with another man. 14% of boatmen had participated in group sex, with groups ranging in size from three to fourteen people. Condom use was rare {0 to 4.7% during the last month}, irrespective of types of sex partners. Regression analysis showed that boatmen who were 25 years and older were statistically less likely to have sexual intercourse with non- marital female partners in the last year compared to the boatmen aged less than 25 years. Similarly deep-sea fishing boatmen and non-fishing boatmen were statistically less likely to have sexual intercourse with non- marital female partners in the last year compared to the day long fishing boatmen adjusting for all other variables. Boatmen's knowledge regarding HIV transmission and personal risk perception for contracting HIV was low.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Boatmen in Teknaf are an integral part of a high-risk sexual behaviour network between Myanmar and Bangladesh. They are at risk of obtaining HIV infection due to cross border mobility and unsafe sexual practices. There is an urgent need for designing interventions targeting boatmen in Teknaf to combat an impending epidemic of HIV among this group. They could be included in the serological surveillance as a vulnerable group. Interventions need to address issues on both sides of the border, other vulnerable groups, and refugees. Strong political will and cross border collaboration is mandatory for such interventions.</p