Research Proposal: Preference Acquisition through Reconciliation of Inconsistencies

The quality of performance of a decision-support system (or an expert system) is determined to a large extent by its underlying preference model (or knowledge base). The difficulties in preference and knowledge acquisition make them a major focus of current research in decision-support and expert systems. Researchers have used various concepts to develop promising acquisition techniques. One of the concepts used is knowledge maintenence where the knowledge base is changed in response to incorrect or inadequate performance by the expert system. This dissertation investigates a preference acquisition technique based on the reconciliation of inconsistencies between the preference model and the decision maker by allowing the decision maker to modify the preference model interactively. The technique can be used in the class of decision-support systems which objectively evaluate competing plans and select the best plan. The technique will be implemented in the domain of evaluating three-dimensional (3-D) radiation treatment plans. Another major aim of the dissertation is to develop a clinically-relevant objective plan-evaluation model for 3-D radiation treatment plans, and to build a clinical decision-support system to assist in that task using the new preference acquisition method

Pole Placement Control Technique for Tracking Path Control of UAV by Longitudinal and Lateral Parameters Control

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is an autonomous flight and to obtained desired flight path and trajectory, it is necessary to control its various parameters. This paper presents a flight path control of fixed wing UAV by the control of Lateral and Longitudinal parameters using MATLAB platform. In this paper, simple mathematical model of 6 degrees of freedom (DOF) UAV having three linear and three rotational motions is presented. For simplicity and to obtained desired path and trajectory control, mathematical model of fixed wing 6 DOF UAV is divided into two subsystems. One subsystem is used to control Longitudinal Parameter such as vehicle speed and height without any change in direction of motion while the other sub system is used for the control of lateral parameters such as control of angular speed along x-axis, for yaw and roll control and control of angular speed along z-axis. Both sub-systems are Multi Input Multi Output (MIMO) in nature, the desired input output combinations are extracted for the effective control of UAV. In this paper open loop behaviour of these system are plotted and analysed. It has been observed that open loop systems are not able to follow the desired trajectory. Further, these sub-systems are controlled by Pole Placement technique so that the vehicle can follow the desired path. The implementation and simulation of pole placement controllers on UAV is done using MATLAB software

Abnormal uterine bleeding: a study of menstrual patterns and histopathological patterns in perimenopausal females

Background: In gynecology out-patient department there is a large group of patients especially in perimenopausal age group who present with various menstrual disorders. These can be as such caused due to various etiologies, which need to be investigated as line of management is thereupon decided. This study is undertaken to know the various abnormal uterine bleeding in perimenopausal women, and their histopathological pattern.Methods: This study is done at PDU medical college hospital, Rajkot, Gujarat which is a tertiary care centre. A retrospective analysis of 268 cases clinically presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding is done. They are further posted for dilatation & curettage after thorough investigation to rule out other pathologies. The endometrial samplings from the D& C material are collected and sent for histopathological assessment. The data is recorded and further analysed. Women between 40-55 years age group are included in this study. Women with diagnosed pelvic pathology, endocrinal cause and bleeding tendencies are excluded from the study.Results: In our study almost all menstrual disorders are found, commonest being menorrhagia in 42.16%. Other patterns reported are metrorrhagia in 3.35%, oligomenorrhea in 14.80%, polymenorrhea and polymenorrhagia in 5.22% and 5.59% cases. Post-menopausal bleeding is found in one case. The histopathological diagnoses reported in this study are proliferative and secretory phase in 26.49% and 19.77% respectively. Other endometrial hyperplasias reported are Swiss cheese in 1.86%, simple cystic hyperplasia in 12.31%, complex hyperplasia with or without atypia in 7% and 4.10% respectively. Malignancy is found in 2 cases.Conclusions: From this study it is well established that endometrial sampling from D&C material still remains the gold standard in diagnosis of various endometrial pathologies in low resource set-up. Thereby the further line of management can also be decided for a rational approach in the treatment of perimenopausal women with abnormal uterine bleeding.

Formulation and Evaluation of Protein Bound Paclitaxel Nanoparticles for Injectable Suspension

Aims: The aim of present study is to develop Paclitaxel nanoparticles for injectable suspension, an anti-neoplastic drug formulation. Study design:  Mention the design of the study here. Place and Duration of Study: Sagar Institute of Research & Technology- Pharmacy, Ayodhya Bypass Road, Bhopal, between June 2017 and June2018. Methodology: The Human serum albumin (HSA) is the most abundant plasma protein in the human blood with a half-life of 19 days. It can reversibly bind hydrophobic drug substances, transport them in the body and release drugs at cell surface. The formulation is prepared by homogenization at high-pressure of paclitaxel in the presence of human serum albumin into a nanoparticle colloidal suspension. Paclitaxel nano particles have been stabilized by human albumin and maintain the average size of 100 nm Results: The particle size of the reconstituted solution is checked using the laser diffraction Technique the particle is White to yellow lyophilized after reconstitution the particle become homogeneous milky suspension without visible particulates. Reconstitution time NMT 25 minutes 20.45 sec. The assay was performed by HPLC and found to be 90.0% to 110.0% of label. The retention time of Paclitaxel peak obtained in sample corresponds to the respective standards obtained from standards the pH NLT 6.00 to NMT 8.00 Particle size NLT 100 nm – NMT 200 nm. Sterility test was comply as per USP <71> Conclusion: The nano-delivery systems could have the potential to be free of Cremophor EL and ethanol, enhance Paclitaxel solubility, improve Paclitaxel pharmacokinetic profiles in vivo, decrease its side effects, passively or actively target to tumor sites due to the EPR (Enhanced Permeability and Retention) effect and the use of targeting ligands, respectively, nanotechnology is a very active research area in both academic and industrial settings. Keywords: paclitaxel, Anti-cancer, nanotechnology, Injectable, Suspensio

SARS – COV-2 (COVID-19) Pandemic: A Critical Review on Novel Coronavirus Pathogenesis, Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment

The 2019-nCoV is officially called SARS-CoV-2 and the disease is named COVID-19. The Novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) caused pneumonia in Wuhan, China in December 2019 is a highly contagious disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared it as a global public health emergency. This is the third serious Coronavirus outbreak in less than 20 years, following SARS in 2002–2003 and MERS in 2012. Currently, the research on novel coronavirus is still in the primary stage. It is currently believed that this deadly Coronavirus strain originated from wild animals at the Huanan market in Wuhan by Bats, snakes and pangolins have been cited as potential carriers. On the basis of current published evidence, we systematically summarize the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of COVID-19. This review in the hope of helping the public effectively recognize and deal with the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and providing a reference for future studies. Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, Coronavirus, pneumonia, Respiratory infectio

Exact Dominance without Search in Decision Trees

In order to improve understanding of how planning and decision analysis relate, we propose a hybrid model containing concepts from both. This model is comparable to [Hartman90], with slightly more detail. Dominance is simple concept in decision theory. In a restricted version of our model, we give conditions under which dominance can be detected without search: that is, it can be used as a pruning strategy to avoid growing large trees. This investigation follows the lead of [Wellman87]. The conditions seem hard to meet, but may nevertheless be useful in forward-chaining situations without focus, such as [Breese87]. It may be possible to extend this work to produce better heuristic pruning based on inexact dominance and heuristic ability. Mainly, we contribute a detailed study of particular concept in a hybrid model that is the most detailed to date, further clarifying the relation between the two main paradigms for reasoning about preference among actions

Prevalence of nutritional deficiencies other than anaemia among students of government commerce college of Gandhinagar, Gujarat: a cross sectional study

Background: Adolescence and young adulthood are periods of critical development and transition. Adolescent constitutes over 23% of the population in India. Nutrition and health needs of the adolescent are more because of more requirements for growth spurt and increase in physical activity. The aim was to study prevalence of nutritional deficiencies other than anaemia among students of Government Commerce College.Methods: The study was carried by Medicine Department, GMERS Medical College, Gandhinagar, India during period from July 2016 to August 2016 in purposively selected government college of Gandhinagar city. After taking the permission of principal of college and consent of the students, 421 students were examined for signs of various nutritional deficiencies other than anaemia. The data was collected by predesigned, pretested proforma and analyzed using SPSS 17.0 (Trial Version).Results: Out of total 421 students 205 (48.6%) were female. Mean age of the study students was 19.8±1.66 years. Maximum numbers of the students were in the age group of 18-21 years (60.5%). Mean age of female and male students was 19.7±1.79 years and 19.9±2.01 years respectively. The study revealed that vitamin A deficiency was present in 28 (7.0%) students. Vitamin B complex deficiency signs were seen in 96 (23.1%) students. Vitamin C deficiency signs were seen in 44 (10.5%) students. PEM was observed in 55 (13.2%) students. Essential fatty acid deficiency was observed in 60 (14.4%) students.Conclusions: High prevalence of nutritional deficiencies among these students needs great attention and health education

Impact of educational intervention regarding hazards of obesity and its preventive measures among students of commerce colleges of Ahmedabad city, Gujarat, India

Background: The prevalence of obesity has increased worldwide in almost every country in all the age groups. A college is a key location for educating students about health, hygiene and nutrition, and for putting in place interventions to promote the health of them. Objective of the study was to know the prevalence of obesity and overweight among students of commerce colleges of Ahmedabad city and to assess knowledge of these students regarding hazards of obesity and its preventive measures before and after educational interventional training.Methods: The present interventional study was undertaken during September 2011 to December 2011 in randomly selected 3 commerce colleges of Ahmedabad city, Gujarat. Total 627 students between the age group of 18 to 23 years were examined after taking written informed consent of their parents using pre-designed, pre-tested, semi-structured proforma. Anthropometric measurements were taken and BMI were calculated. The prevalence of overweight and obesity were determined based on the IOTF (International Obesity Task Force) criteria. Single educational training for 45 minutes was given to the students and their post-intervention knowledge for same was assessed after the training. Thus collected data was analyzed using SPSS 17 (Trial version).Results: Overall, the total number of obese adults identified in whole study population was 64 (10.2%) and numbers of overweight adults were 65 (10.3%). Baseline knowledge of the students regarding hazards of obesity like hypertension, cancer, heart attack and diabetes mellitus was 19.7%, 16.1%, 16.5% and 24.5% respectively which was significantly increased to 93.6%, 94.5%, 96.0% and 94.1% respectively after the intervention. Baseline knowledge of the students regarding preventive measure of obesity like avoiding junk food/ healthy diet, exercise and meditation was 23.6%, 24.4% and 25.9% respectively which was significantly increased to 95.3%, 96.9 and 97.4% respectively after the intervention.Conclusions: There was significant improvement in the knowledge regarding hazards of obesity and its preventive measures among college students after our single educational session

Type 4 congenital proximal radio-ulnar synostosis mimicking as malunited radial neck and deformed radial head with insidious onset extension block: a case report and results after excision

Proximal radio ulnar synostosis is a rare entity presenting with restriction of supination and pronation. Among the various types, type 4 variety is even more-rare and its presentation, can pose a diagnostic challenge specially, if with history of trauma. Radiologically, it is usually overlooked as a malunited radial neck and therefore needs thorough evaluation. We presented a case of a 15-year-old male who complains of new onset extension block following trauma, with chronically restricted supination and pronation. History suggested the restriction in supination and pronation since birth, and the extension block occurring de novo. Radiographs and CT scan of the elbow revealed proximal radio-ulnar synostosis and anteriorly dislocated, mushroom-shaped radial head, misleading and mimicking like an old, neglected and malunited radial neck fracture with a deformed radial head.  The family insisted to not address the restriction of supination pronation but, asked for solution to more disabling extension block. Thus, patient was managed with open procedure, involving radial head-neck excision and removal of malformed radial head. At 1-year follow-up, the child has a well-reduced and stable elbow joint with a functional range of flexion and extension movements with restricted supination and pronation. Type 4 congenital radio ulnar synostosis not only leads to conventionally known restriction of supination pronation but also give rise to extension block de novo as presented in this case. Excision of the deformed head and neck can treat the restriction in extension, however the synostosis will require various other augmented procedures