A Comparative study on Handoff Algorithms for GSM and CDMA Cellular Networks

The GSM, CDMA cellular systems are most trendy 2G and 3G digital cellular telecommunications systems, which is widely used throughout the world. These systems have many advantages such as high security, higher quality of call transmission over the long distances, low transmitted power, and enhanced capacity with more efficient utilization of the frequency spectrum. With these advantages these cellular systems have attracted more subscribers with more attention in the field of mobile communications. One of the most attractive features of cellular system is handoff which is a continuation of an active call when the mobile is moving from one cell to another without disconnecting the call. Usually, continuous service is achieved by efficiently designed handoff algorithms. So, efficient handoff algorithms are necessary for enhancing the capacity and QoS of cellular system. In this paper, the handoff analysis for GSM, CDMA cellular networks are done under various propagation models. Various handoff algorithms of GSM are described and also a novel received signal strength (RSS) based GSM handoff algorithm with adaptive hysteresis is analyzed. CDMA Soft handoff algorithm is analyzed and effective soft handoff parameters are estimated for better performance. The Comparison of handoff algorithms is studied based on results

A comparative study of early postoperative feeding versus conventional feeding for patients undergoing caesarean section

Background: Early alimentation after caesarean delivery probably has limited clinical significance in terms of improved energy and protein intake. Decreasing the post-operative ileus is possible with early feeding. Objective of this study was to study efficacy of early postoperative feeding versus conventional feeding for patients undergoing caesarean section.Methods: Present study was hospital based comparative study carried out among 200 women who fulfilled the selection criteria. The cases were divided into 2 groups of 100 each by suitable random sampling technique. Group A included 100 cases who were given early feeding within 6 hours of caesarean delivery. Group B included 100 control who were given the feeding after 24 hours of caesarean delivery.Results: The mean duration of postoperative hospital stay in Group A and Group B was 4.59±0.65 and 4.81±0.81 days respectively (p <0.05). The mean time to return of bowel sounds in Group A and Group B was 2.79±1.36 and 3.55±1.49 hours respectively (p <0.01). 2(2%) cases in group A had postoperative ileus symptoms, whereas 3 (3%) cases in Group B had the same. Statistically significant difference (p <0.05) was seen in terms of vomiting 1% versus 17%, nausea 5% versus 16%, abdominal distention 2% versus 7%, diarrhea 4% versus 90% in the early feeding versus conventional feeding groups.Conclusions: It can be concluded from present study that fast return to the normal diet is possible with early feeding among women undergoing cesarean section compared to the conventional feeding among women undergoing cesarean section

Study of intrapartum fetal distress with the help of cardiotocography and its correlation with umbilical cord blood sampling

Background: Even in low risk mothers, fetal acidosis occurs as in high risk groups. Aim of fetal monitoring is to detect early response to intrauterine hypoxia and prevent irreversible neurological damage and death. Objective of this study was to correlate the intrapartum fetal distress with the help of cardiotocography CTG with umbilical cord blood sampling.Methods: A total 100 consecutive patients attending the labor ward were studied. Immediately at birth, before the baby’s first breath and before delivery of the placenta, the umbilical cord blood was collected as per the standard guidelines laid down in the standard textbooks. Fetal acidosis was assessed by umbilical cord arterial blood pH. Fetal acidosis was considered when umbilical artery pH <7.2. Cardiotocography features were used to clinically diagnose fetal distress.Results: Most of the mothers were multigravida. They belonged to the age group of 20-25 years. Only 18% had abnormal CTG. Out of 50 mothers with normal vaginal delivery, all had normal CTG. Out of 43 mothers who were delivered by LSCS, no one had normal CTG, 25 had indeterminate CTG and 18 had abnormal CTG. As CTG became abnormal, proportion of mothers with the thick meconium increased. NICU admission proportion increased as CTG changed from normal to the abnormal. There was a significant association between the abnormal CTG and the umbilical cord blood pH being acidic.Conclusions: CTG is a simple test, easy to perform and can alert obstetrician for necessary interventions in case of an abnormal CTG. It can detect fetal distress in labor thus helping to reduce neonatal morbidity by early intervention in cases of abnormal tracing

INTEGRATING PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING SESSIONS WITH DIDACTIC LECTURES IN ANATOMY: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Background:  Anatomy is a very essential science. Knowledge of anatomy is significantly associated in situations with nearly every characteristic of medical modules. Therefore, it is required to be educated and mastered competently by medical students. Aim: The chief objective of this research is to note and examine the outcome of teaching methods for example problem-based learning and seminars when integrated with educational lectures by first-year UG students. Materials and Methods:  This is a cross-sectional study carried out at Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India in which 150 students from the first year were included. They were divided into 2 categories, 75 students in each category. Categories 1 and 2 are again subdivided into three categories. Both of the categories undergo seminar and problem-based learning in four chosen topics in the anatomy of the abdomen. An autonomous assessment was done to acknowledge the desired methods. Results:  In topic 1 the average difference between the case-based learning and lecture in both categories is 4 ± 1.18 and 3.4 ± 1.4 respectively. In topic 2, the average difference between the case-based learning and lecture in both categories is 3.9 ± 1.7 and 1.8 ± 1.3 respectively. Conclusion:  In this study, it was evaluated that problem-based learning is more efficacious in relating to critical thinking. However, problem-based learning and seminars both are required with didactic lectures. Recommendation:  Problem-based learning and tuition classes along with conventional lecture sessions are very effective in helping students understand anatomy in a better manner

Stimuli for assessment

Researchers have been asking questions about questions for nearly a century. A plethora of papers can be found on the subject of questioning and assessment. In their work with teachers, David A. Shiman and Robert J. Nash have reported that the questions teachers usually ask seem to fall into three broad categories: factual, conceptual and contextual

Mutagenesis of Trichoderma reesei endoglucanase I: impact of expression host on activity and stability at elevated temperatures.

BackgroundTrichoderma reesei is a key cellulase source for economically saccharifying cellulosic biomass for the production of biofuels. Lignocellulose hydrolysis at temperatures above the optimum temperature of T. reesei cellulases (~50°C) could provide many significant advantages, including reduced viscosity at high-solids loadings, lower risk of microbial contamination during saccharification, greater compatibility with high-temperature biomass pretreatment, and faster rates of hydrolysis. These potential advantages motivate efforts to engineer T. reesei cellulases that can hydrolyze lignocellulose at temperatures ranging from 60-70°C.ResultsA B-factor guided approach for improving thermostability was used to engineer variants of endoglucanase I (Cel7B) from T. reesei (TrEGI) that are able to hydrolyze cellulosic substrates more rapidly than the recombinant wild-type TrEGI at temperatures ranging from 50-70°C. When expressed in T. reesei, TrEGI variant G230A/D113S/D115T (G230A/D113S/D115T Tr_TrEGI) had a higher apparent melting temperature (3°C increase in Tm) and improved half-life at 60°C (t1/2 = 161 hr) than the recombinant (T. reesei host) wild-type TrEGI (t1/2 = 74 hr at 60°C, Tr_TrEGI). Furthermore, G230A/D113S/D115T Tr_TrEGI showed 2-fold improved activity compared to Tr_TrEGI at 65°C on solid cellulosic substrates, and was as efficient in hydrolyzing cellulose at 60°C as Tr_TrEGI was at 50°C. The activities and stabilities of the recombinant TrEGI enzymes followed similar trends but differed significantly in magnitude depending on the expression host (Escherichia coli cell-free, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Neurospora crassa, or T. reesei). Compared to N.crassa-expressed TrEGI, S. cerevisiae-expressed TrEGI showed inferior activity and stability, which was attributed to the lack of cyclization of the N-terminal glutamine in Sc_TrEGI and not to differences in glycosylation. N-terminal pyroglutamate formation in TrEGI expressed in S. cerevisiae was found to be essential in elevating its activity and stability to levels similar to the T. reesei or N. crassa-expressed enzyme, highlighting the importance of this ubiquitous modification in GH7 enzymes.ConclusionStructure-guided evolution of T. reesei EGI was used to engineer enzymes with increased thermal stability and activity on solid cellulosic substrates. Production of TrEGI enzymes in four hosts highlighted the impact of the expression host and the role of N-terminal pyroglutamate formation on the activity and stability of TrEGI enzymes

Choroidopathy and kidney disease: a case report and review of the literature

The patient was a 41 year-old Mexican American women who presented with a decrease in visual acuity along with periorbital and peripheral edema. She was diagnosed with bilateral serous retinal detachment and diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis. She improved considerably in hospital after treatment with corticosteroids

Seroprevalence of transfusion transmitted infections in voluntary and replacement blood donors in a tertiary care hospital blood bank of Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, India: 5 years retrospective study

Background: Critical part of transfusion is effective screening of TTI, to reduce the risk of transmission is as safe as possible. The present study has undertaken to focus on seroprevalence of TTIs among both voluntary and replacement donors and also to project epidemiological data of TTIs in this community.Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted from January 2014 to December 2018. All blood samples collected from donors were screened for HIV, HBV, HCV, Syphilis and malaria according to blood bank policy. Before drawing blood, donors were asked to fill pre structured Blood bank questionnaire and consent form.Results: In this present 5-year study, total number of blood donor population was 54937, among them voluntary donors were 33891 and replacement donors were 21046. Out of 33891 voluntary donors, 33486(98.8%) were males and remaining 405(1.19%) were females. All replacement donors (21046) were males. The seroprevalence of HBV was highest, 1.82% (1003/54937) followed by HCV 0.31% (175/54937) in all the donors. The seropositivity for HIV is 0.23% (129/54937), for syphilis 0.04% (24/54937) and for malaria 0.01% (6/54937).Conclusions: National blood transfusion policy should be strengthening the standards and quality of screening across the country. For blood screening, resources and appropriate screening assays must be available at all health centres

Identification of alternate dwarfing gene sources to widely used Dee-Gee-Woo-Gen allele of sd1 gene by molecular and biochemical assays in rice ( Oryza sativa L.)

After the success of IR8 and TN1, breeders depended heavily on these two rice cultivars for source of short stature led to the narrow genetic base to majority of present day rice varieties, as far as sd1 (semi-dwarf1) gene is concerned. In addition, analysis of genetic lineage of the majority of the cultivated rice varieties in tropical Asia reveals that sd1 from DGWG (Dee-Gee-Woo-Gen) is the source of dwarfing gene. Such high amount of genetic homogeneity renders rice plants vulnerable to epidemic of diseases and insect pests. In the current study, we made an attempt to identify the alternate sources of DGWG allele of sd1 gene by characterizing 29 induced and 3 spontaneous dwarf accessions employing marker for DGWG allele of sd1 gene and exogenous application of gibberellic acid (GA3). When occurrence of DGWG allele of sd1 gene and GA3 response were analyzed together, existence of two kinds of dwarfs was noticed viz., dwarf accessions with DGWG allele and dwarf accessions without DGWG allele of sd1 allele exhibiting varying responses to GA3. As many as 22 of 32 dwarf accessions showed absence of DGWG allele of sd1 gene with varying response to GA3 could be used as excellent alternate sources for DGWG allele of sd1 gene. These dwarf accessions could be used for broadening the genetic base for the plant height and thereby minimize the risk of genetic vulnerability. Our strategy of combining molecular and biochemical assays can be efficiently used for identifying alternate dwarfing gene sources to the Green Revolution gene sd1