Cooperative Lattice Coding and Decoding

A novel lattice coding framework is proposed for outage-limited cooperative channels. This framework provides practical implementations for the optimal cooperation protocols proposed by Azarian et al. In particular, for the relay channel we implement a variant of the dynamic decode and forward protocol, which uses orthogonal constellations to reduce the channel seen by the destination to a single-input single-output time-selective one, while inheriting the same diversity-multiplexing tradeoff. This simplification allows for building the receiver using traditional belief propagation or tree search architectures. Our framework also generalizes the coding scheme of Yang and Belfiore in the context of amplify and forward cooperation. For the cooperative multiple access channel, a tree coding approach, matched to the optimal linear cooperation protocol of Azarain et al, is developed. For this scenario, the MMSE-DFE Fano decoder is shown to enjoy an excellent tradeoff between performance and complexity. Finally, the utility of the proposed schemes is established via a comprehensive simulation study.Comment: 25 pages, 8 figure

Antiulcer, wound healing and hepatoprotective activities of the seaweeds Gracilaria crassa, Turbinaria ornata and Laurencia papillosa from the southeast coast of India

Seaweeds have bioactive compounds of interest in the pharmaceutical industry. In India, seaweeds are used exclusively for phycocolloids production and have not yet received consideration as a dietary supplement. So, it has become imperative to explore the biomedical potential of seaweeds and promote their utilization as a functional food. The seaweeds Turbinaria ornata, Gracillaria crassa and Laurencia papillosa, collected from the Tuticorin coast of the Southeast coast of India and selected based on preliminary screening, were extracted with acetone and evaluated for antiulcer, wound healing and hepatoprotective activities. L. papillosa showed the highest level of gastric protection activity (81%) at 200 mg/kg, comparable to the standard drug ranitidine (90%). G. crassa followed with 76%. G. crassa and L. papillosa, showed marked wound-healing activity. G. crassa at 200 mg/kg, showed a marked effect on the serum marker enzymes indicating prominent hepatoprotective activity. The noteworthy wound-healing and hepato-protective properties of G. crassa besides anti-ulcer activity next to L. papillosa were indicative of its potential for further consideration.Algas marinhas possuem compostos bioativos de interesse para a indústria farmacêutica. Na Índia, as algas marinhas são usadas exclusivamente para a produção de ficocolóides e ainda não receberam a consideração como um suplemento dietético. Assim, tornou-se imperativo explorar o potencial biomédico de algas e promover a sua utilização como alimento funcional. As algas marinhas Turbinaria ornata, Gracillaria crassa e Laurencia papillosa, coletadas de Tuticorin, na costa sudeste da Índia, e selecionadas com base em triagem preliminar, foram extraídas com acetona e avaliadas quanto à atividade antiúlcera, de cicatrização de feridas e de hepatoproteção. L. papillosa mostrou o mais alto nível da atividade de proteção gástrica (81%) na dose de 200 mg/kg, comparável ao fármaco padrão, ranitidina (90%). G. crassa mostrou atividade de 76%. G. crassa e L. papillosa mostrou atividade martcante na cicatrização de feridas. G. Crassa, a 200 mg/kg, mostrou efeito alto sobre o marcador sérico das enzimas, indicando atividade hepatoprotetora proeminente. A notável cura de feridas e as propriedades hepatoprotetoras de G. Crassa, além da atividade antiúlcera, próxima da L. Papillosa, foram indicativos do seu potencial para uma análise mais aprofundada

Iron-containing perovskite materials for stable hydrogen production by chemical looping water splitting

The purpose of this thesis is to investigate „chemical looping water splitting‟ processes for hydrogen production which involves reducing a solid oxygen carrier material (such as iron oxide) by a reducing agent such as carbon monoxide, syngas or methane. Following this, a second step can be performed where water is used to oxidise the metal, thereby producing free hydrogen (without requiring any separation steps). These two steps (reduction and oxidation) can be repeated to perform redox cycles which would continuously utilise the solid oxygen carrier material. Initial experiments were performed using temperature programmed redox cycles to perform chemical looping water-gas shift and compare the performance of two perovskites (La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-δ and La0.7Sr0.3FeO3-δ) against two supported metal oxides (60% Fe2O3/Al2O3 and 20% NiO/Al2O3). The best performing materials of the perovskites (La0.7Sr0.3FeO3-δ) and support metal oxides (60% Fe2O3/Al2O3) were further tested in isothermal chemical looping water-gas shift cycles over 150 redox cycles to assess material lifetime. The results showed that 60% Fe2O3/Al2O3 under these conditions had deactivated due to the formation of FeAl2O4 which led to lower hydrogen production. La0.7Sr0.3FeO3-δ gave high material stability and steady hydrogen production over more than 100 redox cycles. A nickel-containing perovskite La0.7Sr0.3Fe0.9Ni0.1O3-δ was synthesised and subjected to the same experimental conditions but this material showed no improvement compared to La0.7Sr0.3FeO3-δ in terms of hydrogen production, hydrogen purity and material stability. In an additional experiment 60% Fe2O3/Al2O3 and La0.7Sr0.3FeO3-δ were used as oxygen carrier materials in a three-step chemical looping process involving reduction by methane (to form syngas), water oxidation and air oxidation (to provide heat). 60% Fe2O3/Al2O3 gave good hydrogen purities during water oxidation but showed low material stability, whereas La0.7Sr0.3FeO3-δ showed no loss in material stability but gave low hydrogen purity, possibly due to carbon deposition during the reduction step.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

A retrospective study of snake bite envenomation in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Southern India

Background: Snake bite is an important occupational and rural hazard because India has always been a land of poisonous snakes. In southern India common poisonous snakes are Russell’s viper, Cobra, Krait and Saw Scaled Viper. It is a fact that despite of significant morbidity and mortality, very little attention is paid by the clinicians to this occupational hazard. The objective of the present study was undertaken with the objectives of assessing poisonous snake envenomation, ASV use, Dosage of ASV and clinical outcomes in snake bite victims.Methods: This is a Retrospective study of snakebite victims from November 2013 to April 2015 in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Tamil-Nadu.Results: A Total of 82 cases were studied in our hospital. Out of these 82 Poisonous bites, 42 (51.22%) cases were viper bites, 20 (24.39%) cases were unidentified poisonous bites, 16 (19.51%) cases were Krait, and 4 (4.88%) cases were Cobra. Coagulopathy, cellulitis, wound infection, renal failure and respiratory paralysis were the common complications. Average dose of ASV administered range from 8.57 (± 0.98) to 20.78 (± 4.18) Vials. An increase in mortality, ASV dose and complications were directly proportional to the Bite to ASV Administration time.Conclusions: Delay in hospitalization is associated with poor prognosis and increased mortality rate due to complications. There is an emergent need of awareness among the community for avoidance of traditional form of treatment and delay in early medical interventions.

Retrospective and prospective outcome analysis of segmental fractures of tibia

BACKGROUND: A segmental fracture of the tibial shaft is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with lower extremity injuries. Aim of the study was to evaluate the Functional and Radiological outcome following open / closed reamed interlocking intramedullary nailing for segmental fractures of tibia. METHODS: From July 2015 to September 2017, Twenty one patients (18 males and 3 females) with segmental tibial fractures were recruited from Emergency and outpatient department and functional outcome of these fractures were evaluated after interlocking nailing for tibia. In follow-up, we determined the time to union, delayed and nonunion and overall complication rates and functional outcome by Knee Society Score and Johner and Wruchs criteria. All patients were followed for eighteen months. RESULTS: Majority of the patients had a union in 19 weeks to 28 weeks. 16 (76%) patients had excellent outcome, 2 (9%) patients had good outcome, 2 (9%) patients fair outcome and 1(4.5%) patient had poor outcome which was evaluated by knee society score. 4.8 % (1/21) of our patients was labeled as nonunion and was treated by bone graft and dynamization. Insignificant limb shortening of less than 1.5 cm was found in 50% of the study group. CONCLUSION: Majority of the segmental tibial fractures had severe soft tissue injuries and demanded prolonged treatment and with an uncertain clinical and functional outcome

Metabolic factors and their impact on prognosis and short term complications of Acute Myocardial Infarction in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (Serum Uric Acid, Sugar & Total Cholesterol)

INTRODUCTION : Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of mortality in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Type 2 diabetes is also increasing in epidemic proportions in south Indian population. Despite the development of modern coronary care unit, acute myocardial infarction diabetes mellitus is still challenge to physicians because of atypical presentation of AMI in diabetes, too many variables predicting the outcome of treatment. Acute Myocardial Infarction is the leading cause of mortality in both developed and developing countries. Factors contributing to death in diabetics following Acute Myocardial Infarction are many. These factors relate mainly to electrical disturbances in the form of Arrhythmia (Carmeliet E, Thompson CA) and mechanical disturbances in the form of pump failure (Hochman et. al., Bertrand M et. al.). Most sudden deaths in Acute Myocardial Infarction occur within one hour due to ventricular fibrillation and also due to left ventricular failure when there is an extensive injury (Lewis EF et. al.). Rest of the deaths following Myocardial Infarction occur within first one week and death cannot be predicted and occurs suddenly. Hence many trials have been conducted to identify markers that would be helpful to predict the risk of such adverse cardiac events. Thus it is evident that elevated Uric acid levels is a good marker of oxidative stress and useful to assess the prognostic events in AMI. This forms the basis of the study. Hyperglycemia on admission is a well known predictor of mortality after myocardial infarction even among without known type 2 diabetes mellitus as evidenced by journal of American college of cardiology (J Am Coll Cardiol, 2002; 40:1748-1754). This study is one to validate prognostic role of uric acid along with blood sugar & total cholesterol after myocardial infarction in type 2 diabetes mellitus. AIMS OF THE STUDY : 1. To know about serum uric acid level and impact on short term mortality. 2. On admission glucose and total cholesterol levels and their impact on severity of AMI along with serum uric acid elevation. 3. To study the atypical presentations in DM presenting with acute myocardial infarction 4. To assess the prognostic significance of serum Uric acid level in Acute Myocardial Infarction in type 2 diabetics. 5. To evaluate serum Uric acid levels with incidence of cardiac failure in diabetes with AMI. 6. To validate the relation between Quantitative serum Uric acid level on admission and Killip’s class status on AMI in type 2 DM. 7. To know whether the incidence of Arrhythmias bears a relation with serum Uric acid level in Acute Myocardial Infarction. MATERIALS AND METHODS : The study was conducted at Coimbatore medical college hospital, Coimbatore during the period of AUGUST 2008 – JULY 2010. 100 known type 2 diabetics on treatment who were presenting with AMI were included in the study and serially followed up in the intensive care units. Out of 100 patients 54 were males, 46 were female diabetics. Study Design : This is a prospective study design, This study is aimed to assess the prognostic role of metabolic factors serum uric acid,total cholesterol & blood sugar levels following Acute Myocardial Infarction in type 2 DM & correlating their levels with short term complications. This study included 100 known type 2 diabetics on medications presented with Acute myocardial infarction. This study included 100 type 2 DM patients of Acute Myocardial Infarction of which patient who had a normal Uric acid level were taken as a control and the rest who had elevated Uric acid level were taken up as study population. In both groups the complications and short term outcome were compared. Inclusion Criteria : Patients with previous history of type 2 diabetes with Acute ST ELEVATION Myocardial Infarction were entered into the study. A definite diagnosis of Acute ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction was made if the patients satisfied the following criteria: 1. A History of typical retrosternal compressive chest pain or atypical presentations in type 2 diabetes lasting for more than 30 minutes, not relieved by rest or nitrates. 2. Atypical symptoms, 3. Typical ECG changes of Acute ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (ST,T changes in two contiguous leads) Exclusion Criteria : 1. Patients with elevated renal parameters. 2. Patients with Gout. 3. Patients with History of chronic alcoholism. 4. Patients with previous History of IHD & on Aspirin therapy. 5. Patients with newly diagnosed Diabetes mellitus. 6. Patients with hypertension and patients on Diuretics therapy. 7. Patients with hematological malignancy, hypothyroidism. CONCLUSION : 1. Measuring serum Uric acid level along with sugar & cholesterol is one of the predictable prognostic indicators in Acute Myocardial Infarction and one of the early and short term predictor. 2. A high serum Uric acid level associated with short term mortality in Acute Myocardial Infarction. 3. Atypical presentation in myocardial infarction were much more common in diabetic patients. 4. Elevated serum Uric acid is strongly associated with cardiac Arrhythmias as against controls and can be used as an immediate prognostic indicator in Acute Myocardial Infarction. 5. Elevated serum Uric acid level may be Arrhythmogenic. Further studies require to confirm and to treat. 6. There is a strong association of elevated serum Uric acid and cardiac failure. 7. Patients with high Uric acid level belonged to higher Killip class status (III & IV)

TABLE FREE FORWARDING FOR INTERNET PROTOCOL VERSION 6 SEGMENT ROUTING

Techniques are described herein to forward IPv6 packets without performing table lookup using IPv6 Segment Routing (SRv6). The forwarding pipeline may forward the packet without performing route lookup by parsing the IPv6 Segment Identifier (SID) from the Segment Routing Header (SRH). The next-hop Media Access Control (MAC) address, outgoing interface and outgoing Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) may be embedded as part of the SID

Bacterial foraging optimization based adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system

Life of human being and animals depend on the environment which is surrounded by plants. Like human beings, plants also suffer from lot of diseases. Plant gets affected by completely including leaf, stem, root, fruit and flower; this affects the normal growth of the plant. Manual identification and diagnosis of plant diseases is very difficult. This method is costly as well as time-consuming so it is inefficient to be highly specific. Plant pathology deals with the progress in developing classification of plant diseases and their identification. This work clarifies the identification of plant diseases using leaf images caused by bacteria, viruses and fungus. By this method it can be identified and control the diseases. To identify the plant leaf disease Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) was proposed. The proposed method shows more refined results than the existing works

Isolation, Identification, Morphological Studies and Lipid Granules Staining (Nile red) of Different Micro-Algae for Biodiesel Production from Fresh Water and Saline Water

In the present study, the algal samples were collected from temple tanks, saline water in Chennai, Mahapaliburam and Kovallam. Collections were carried out during the month of September 2010 and February 2011. Samples were studied in the laboratory and identified. In their surveyed the population, identification, morphological, and examined the Nile red method with microalgae genus of various classes. Various physical and chemical treatments were applied to the existing Nile red method to improve the effectiveness and efficiency. The following algae were present Chlorella vulgaris, Nannnochloropsis, Dunaliella tertiolecta, Tetraselmis suecica, Chlorococcum humicolo, Scenedesmus acuminatus, Amphora coffeaformis, and Nitzschia longissima. Algae are described with photographs