Affective Computing in the Area of Autism

The prevalence rate of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is increasing at an alarming rate (1 in 68 children). With this increase comes the need of early diagnosis of ASD, timely intervention, and understanding the conditions that could be comorbid to ASD. Understanding co-morbid anxiety and its interaction with emotion comprehension and production in ASD is a growing and multifaceted area of research. Recognizing and producing contingent emotional expressions is a complex task, which is even more difficult for individuals with ASD. First, I investigate the arousal experienced by adolescents with ASD in a group therapy setting. In this study I identify the instances in which the physiological arousal is experienced by adolescents with ASD ( have-it ), see if the facial expressions of these adolescents indicate their arousal ( show-it ), and determine if the adolescents are self-aware of this arousal or not ( know-it ). In order to establish a relationship across these three components of emotion expression and recognition, a multi-modal approach for data collection is utilized. Machine learning techniques are used to determine whether still video images of facial expressions could be used to predict Electrodermal Activity (EDA) data. Implications for the understanding of emotion and social communication difficulties in ASD, as well as future targets for intervention, are discussed. Second, it is hypothesized that a well-designed intervention technique helps in the overall development of children with ASD by improving their level of functioning. I designed and validated a mobile-based intervention designed for teaching social skills to children with ASD. I also evaluated the social skill intervention. Last, I present the research goals behind an mHealth-based screening tool for early diagnosis of ASD in toddlers. The design purpose of this tool is to help people from low-income group, who have limited access to resources. This goal is achieved without burdening the physicians, their staff, and the insurance companies

Clinical Applications of 980 nm Diode Laser for Soft Tissue Procedures in Prosthetic Restorative Dentistry

The purpose of these case reports is to analyze the results of gingivectomy and gingival troughing to determine the evidence on the effectiveness of laser-assisted soft tissue procedures and soft tissue management in aesthetic dentistry.The patients in these case reports underwent 980 nm diode laser assisted gingivectomy and gingival troughing to achieve immediate hemostasis and moisture control, adjunctive to the aesthetic restoration of the carious lesion and prosthetic rehabilitation of the posterior tooth.Successful healing of gingival tissues has been observed after 15 days in both cases. Also, laser assisted gingival tissue management allowed the operator to finish and polish the restoration on the same day.The ability of soft tissue lasers to control moisture and facilitate hemostasis appears particularly promising for clinicians excising gingival tissue, and using resective techniques for gingival troughing. Treatment with a dental laser ensures a successful aesthetic procedure with proper tissue form, function and biocompatibility

Can Mohalla Clinics be a Catalyst for Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna to achieve Universal Health Coverage in India?

BACKGROUND: Expenditure on health sector in India is one of the lowest public health expenditures in the world at just over 1% of GDP, with substantial disparities in population, infrastructure, availability and provision of services that define the Indian health care system. In a reform of Indian health systems approved by the Indian Government in March 2018, Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) was launched on 23rd September, 2018 to provide financial health insurance coverage of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalizations to more than 10.74 million poor families that form the bottom 40% of population in India. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this paper is to discuss and analyze the benefits and weaknesses of the AB-PMJAY model and investigating the position that these clinics can play in (I) improving the provision of urban health facilities (II) resolving health inequities (III) and enhancing primary health care.MATERIALS AND METHOD: The authors explored different databases. Government portals, research publications on AB-PMJAY and Mohalla clinics (MC) to do in-depth analysis of various parameters.RESULTS: Although there are significant obstacles to the programme, by building impetus for program reform, AB-PMJAY offers an opportunity for the nation to resolve long-standing and ingrained shortcomings in governance, quality control and stewardship, and to accelerate India's development towards the stated UHC supply goal. The main achievement of these facilities in the last 18 months has been to introduce wellness to civic and political dialogue. CONCLUSION: Mohalla Clinics can prove as a major catalyst for Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna for health reforms and progress towards universal health coverage in India

Reporting trends, practices, and resource utilization in neuroendocrine tumors of the prostate gland: a survey among thirty-nine genitourinary pathologists

Background: Neuroendocrine differentiation in the prostate gland ranges from clinically insignificant neuroendocrine differentiation detected with markers in an otherwise conventional prostatic adenocarcinoma to a lethal high-grade small/large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. The concept of neuroendocrine differentiation in prostatic adenocarcinoma has gained considerable importance due to its prognostic and therapeutic ramifications and pathologists play a pivotal role in its recognition. However, its awareness, reporting, and resource utilization practice patterns among pathologists are largely unknown. Methods: Representative examples of different spectrums of neuroendocrine differentiation along with a detailed questionnaire were shared among 39 urologic pathologists using the survey monkey software. Participants were specifically questioned about the use and awareness of the 2016 WHO classification of neuroendocrine tumors of the prostate, understanding of the clinical significance of each entity, and use of different immunohistochemical (IHC) markers. De-identified respondent data were analyzed. Results: A vast majority (90%) of the participants utilize IHC markers to confirm the diagnosis of small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. A majority (87%) of the respondents were in agreement regarding the utilization of type of IHC markers for small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma for which 85% of the pathologists agreed that determination of the site of origin of a high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma is not critical, as these are treated similarly. In the setting of mixed carcinomas, 62% of respondents indicated that they provide quantification and grading of the acinar component. There were varied responses regarding the prognostic implication of focal neuroendocrine cells in an otherwise conventional acinar adenocarcinoma and for Paneth cell-like differentiation. The classification of large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma was highly varied, with only 38% agreement in the illustrated case. Finally, despite the recommendation not to perform neuroendocrine markers in the absence of morphologic evidence of neuroendocrine differentiation, 62% would routinely utilize IHC in the work-up of a Gleason score 5 + 5 = 10 acinar adenocarcinoma and its differentiation from high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma. Conclusion: There is a disparity in the practice utilization patterns among the urologic pathologists with regard to diagnosing high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma and in understanding the clinical significance of focal neuroendocrine cells in an otherwise conventional acinar adenocarcinoma and Paneth cell-like neuroendocrine differentiation. There seems to have a trend towards overutilization of IHC to determine neuroendocrine differentiation in the absence of neuroendocrine features on morphology. The survey results suggest a need for further refinement and development of standardized guidelines for the classification and reporting of neuroendocrine differentiation in the prostate gland

Options for Dentin Bonding - Total Etch Or Self Etch?

Adhesive dentistry has revolutionized restorative dental practiceduring the past thirty years. Improved adhesive materials havemade resin-based composite restorations a very reliablealternatives to silver amalgam restorations. In recent years,numerous techniques have evolved in support of “self-etching” oftooth structure, which uses weaker acids and does not requirewashing of tooth surface after acid application. The dentalliterature holds conflicting views with respect to phosphoric acidetching or etching with weaker acids. It is apparent thatpractitioners are confused about when to use etch and rinsesystem or self-etch system and when not to etch at all.This article describes the type of etchant and techniqueappropriate to the clinical situation, keeping in view currentresearch and practice around the world.Keywords: composite restorations; self-etc

Pharmacognostical, Phytochemical and In-Vitro Anthelmintic Activity of Cassia roxburghii Seed and Boerhaavia diffusa Root against Pheritima posthuma Model

Plants have served human beings as a natural source for treatments and therapies from ancient times, amongst them medicinal herbs have gain attention because of its wide use and less side effects. In the recent years plant research has increased throughout the world and a huge amount of evidences have been collected to show immense potential of medicinal plants used in various traditional systems. The objective of this study was to investigate pharmacognostical, phytochemical features and anthelmintic action of Cassia roxburghii (seeds) and Boerhaavia diffusa (roots). The different pharmacognostical parameters were evaluated as per standard protocols with some modifications. Qualitative analysis of various phytochemical constituents was determined by the well-known test protocol available in the literature.  Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, steroids, saponins, triterpenoits and carbohydrate. Three different doses (10, 25, & 50 mg/ml) of each extracts were studied, which involves the determination of time of paralysis and time of death of worm. All the extracts showed a dose dependent increase in the anthelmintic action. Out of all the extracts, the methanol extracts showed highest activity in both plants followed by ethyl and aqueous extracts. At the concentration of 50 mg/ml the methanol showed a remarkable anthelmintic activity which was even greater than the standard drug (Albendazole) at the same concentration. Keywords: Cassia roxburghii, Boerhaavia diffusa, Pheretima posthuma, Anthelmintic action, Paralysis, Albendazole

Evaluation of Diuretic and Antinephrolithiatic Activity of Cucurbita pepo Seed in Experimental Rats

This study was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the cucurbita pepo seed on albino rats as a preventive agent against the development of kidney stones. The seeds of cucurbita pepo were collected from the local market of Lalitpur, district (UP). Activity of cucurbita pepo seed was studied using the ethylene glycol-induced nephrolithiasis model. Standard drug used was cystone. Several parameters were used including urinary volume, urine analysis and serum analysis to assess the activity. The results indicated that the administration of cucurbita pepo to rats with ethylene glycol-induced lithiasis significantly reduced and prevented the growth of urinary stones (P < 0.01). Also, the treatment of lithiasis-induced rats by cucurbita pepo seed restored all the elevated biochemical parameters (calcium, creatinine, uric acid and urea), increased the urine volume significantly (P < 0.01) when compared to the model control drug. This study supports the usage of cucurbita pepo seed in nephrolithiasis and the utility could further be confirmed in other animal models. Keywords: Antinephrolithiatic Activity, Ethylene glycol, Cucurbita pepo, Renal calculi