Analysis of Tuberculosis using Smear Image

An automatic method for the detection of Tuberculosis (TB) bacilli from microscopic sputum smear images is presented in this paper. According to WHO, TB is the ninth leading cause of death all over the world. There are various techniques to diagnose TB, of which conventional microscopic sputum smear examination is considered. However, the mentioned method of diagnosis is time intensive and error prone, even in experienced hands. The proposed method performs detection of TB, by image binarization and subsequent classification of detected regions using a convolutional neural network. We have evaluated our gist algorithm using a dataset of sputum smear microscopic images with different backgrounds (high density and low-density images). Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm achieves for the TB detection. The proposed method automatically detects whether the sputum smear images is infected with TB or not. This method will aid clinicians to predict the disease accurately in a short span of time, thereby helping in improving the clinical outcome

Multiple Content Adaptive Intelligent Watermarking Schemes for the Protection of Blocks of a Document Image

Most of the documents contain different types of information such as white space, static information and dynamic information or mix of static and dynamic information. In this paper, multiple watermarking schemes are proposed for protection of the information content. The proposed approach comprises of three phases. In Phase-1, the edges of the source document image are extracted and the edge image is decomposed into blocks of uniform size. In Phase-2, GLCM features like energy, homogeneity, contrast and correlation are extracted from each block and the blocks are classified as no-information, static, dynamic and mix of static and dynamic information content blocks. The adjacent blocks of same type are merged together into a single block. Each block is watermarked in Phase-3. The type and amount of watermarking applied is decided intelligently and adaptively based on the classification of the blocks which results in improving embedding capacity and reducing time complexity incurred during watermarking. Experiments are conducted exhaustively on all the images in the corpus. The experimental evaluations exhibit better classification of segments based on information content in the block. The proposed technique also outperforms the existing watermarking schemes on document images in terms of robustness, accuracy of tamper detection and recovery

Concept of Rasayana for a Better Health - A Review

Rasayana, or rejuvenation therapy, is one of the eight main branches of Ayurveda and is recommended to increase Ojas (life force) after detoxification programmes. The Rasayana drugs and formulations provides longevity, memory, intelligence, freedom from diseases, youthful age, excellence of luster, complexion and voice, optimum strength of physique and sense organs, respectability and brilliance. It is good for all age groups for the elderly, pregnant women, children. Rasayana therapy prevents the effects of early ageing on both, and increases the body’s resistance to disease. Tonic food and herbs that nurture Ojas tend to be heavy and nourishing, and can be hard to digest, so that the state of Agni (digestive fire) needs to be considered first. Rasayana therapy is particulary good for Vata types during the autumn, to give them weight and strength and help them endure the long, cold winter. It is contraindicated in any condition associated with Ama (toxins), for obese people, and during colds and flu, congestive disorders, fevers, infectious diseases and allergies. For 5,000 years or so, the wisdom of Ayurveda has provided guidelines for slowing down the ageing process (Jara) by increasing Ojas. Modern scientific evaluation of Rasayana plants and other treatments used in Ayurveda have borne out the fact that rejuvenative tonics have the ability to protect the body against the ravages of age and the damaging effects of the environment in which we live, by enhancing the body’s ability to fight off disease-carrying organisms through non-specifically activating the immune system. Use of rejuvenative foods, oils, herbs and behavioral rejuvenation is very important in making a life longer, disease free and happy

English Language Acquisition of the Secondary School Students Belonging to Tribal Area of Nanded District: An Investigation

Being an International language English holds an important position in school curriculum of India. It is introduced as a second or third language. The students not only study it as language but as a subject. However the performance of the students in English is a matter of discussion. There are some issues regarding English language acquisition at secondary level of school education. These issues are much intense in Tribal area of the country in general and Maharashtra in special. The remote, backward, notified tribal areas of the Maharashtra are known for the diversity of sociolinguistic factors. Nanded district located to south east part of Maharashtra state has the tribal region covering Kinwat and Mahoor tehsils. Most of the people in this area are the people from Scheduled Tribe and Nomadic Tribe social categories. The schools located in this tribal area are mostly in vernacular language i.e. in Marathi. Despite of the strenuous, Himalayan efforts undertaken by the state government, a sorry state of affairs is still rampant to exist in the achievement of English and the acquisition of English language of secondary school students belonging to tribal area of Nanded district in Maharashtra state is not satisfactory.  The dialects, social background, weaker economic condition, aloofness from the advanced world, lack of amenities, health issues, ignorance are some of the social issues. Poor infrastructure, lack of teaching aids and competent teachers in tribal schools are some causes behind poor performance in English language. Students commit mistakes in spellings, sentence formation in addition to wrong pronunciation.&nbsp

Identification of Metals Found in the Leaves of Tabernaemontana alternifolia

Abstract: Tabernaemontana alternifolia, an Ayurvedic medicinal plant is found in the western ghats of Maharashtra. The leaves, roots, bark-stem are used in Ayurvedic system of medicines. Leaves are used in the form of churna/extract or in combination with the other plant materials in their formulations. It is administered orally. Metal analysis of the leaves of Tabernaemontana alternifolia shows a high percentage of metals like magnesium, calcium, iron, copper and manganese. The present results will prove to be useful in understanding the role of metal ions in the biogenesis of the secondary metabolites of the medicinally important plant

Ethnic Differences in Survival after Breast Cancer in South East Asia

Background: The burden of breast cancer in Asia is escalating. We evaluated the impact of ethnicity on survival after breast cancer in the multi-ethnic region of South East Asia. Methodology/Principal Findings Using the Singapore-Malaysia hospital-based breast cancer registry, we analyzed the association between ethnicity and mortality following breast cancer in 5,264 patients diagnosed between 1990 and 2007 (Chinese: 71.6%, Malay: 18.4%, Indian: 10.0%). We compared survival rates between ethnic groups and calculated adjusted hazard ratios (HR) to estimate the independent effect of ethnicity on survival. Malays (n = 968) presented at a significantly younger age, with larger tumors, and at later stages than the Chinese and Indians. Malays were also more likely to have axillary lymph node metastasis at similar tumor sizes and to have hormone receptor negative and poorly differentiated tumors. Five year overall survival was highest in the Chinese women (75.8%; 95%CI: 74.4%–77.3%) followed by Indians (68.0%; 95%CI: 63.8%–72.2%), and Malays (58.5%; 95%CI: 55.2%–61.7%). Compared to the Chinese, Malay ethnicity was associated with significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 1.34; 95%CI: 1.19–1.51), independent of age, stage, tumor characteristics and treatment. Indian ethnicity was not significantly associated with risk of mortality after breast cancer compared to the Chinese (HR: 1.14; 95%CI: 0.98–1.34). Conclusion: In South East Asia, Malay ethnicity is independently associated with poorer survival after breast cancer. Research into underlying reasons, potentially including variations in tumor biology, psychosocial factors, treatment responsiveness and lifestyle after diagnosis, is warranted

Unravelling the evolution of the Allatostatin-Type A, KISS and Galanin Peptide-Receptor gene families in Bilaterians: insights from Anopheles Mosquitoes

Allatostatin type A receptors (AST-ARs) are a group of G-protein coupled receptors activated by members of the FGL-amide (AST-A) peptide family that inhibit food intake and development in arthropods. Despite their physiological importance the evolution of the AST-A system is poorly described and relatively few receptors have been isolated and functionally characterised in insects. The present study provides a comprehensive analysis of the origin and comparative evolution of the AST-A system. To determine how evolution and feeding modified the function of AST-AR the duplicate receptors in Anopheles mosquitoes, were characterised. Phylogeny and gene synteny suggested that invertebrate AST-A receptors and peptide genes shared a common evolutionary origin with KISS/GAL receptors and ligands. AST-ARs and KISSR emerged from a common gene ancestor after the divergence of GALRs in the bilaterian genome. In arthropods, the AST-A system evolved through lineage-specific events and the maintenance of two receptors in the flies and mosquitoes (Diptera) was the result of a gene duplication event. Speciation of Anophelesmosquitoes affected receptor gene organisation and characterisation of AST-AR duplicates (GPRALS1 and 2) revealed that in common with other insects, the mosquito receptors were activated by insect AST-A peptides and the iCa(2+)-signalling pathway was stimulated. GPRALS1 and 2 were expressed mainly in mosquito midgut and ovaries and transcript abundance of both receptors was modified by feeding. A blood meal strongly up-regulated expression of both GPRALS in the midgut (p < 0.05) compared to glucose fed females. Based on the results we hypothesise that the AST-A system in insects shared a common origin with the vertebrate KISS system and may also share a common function as an integrator of metabolism and reproduction. Highlights: AST-A and KISS/GAL receptors and ligands shared common ancestry prior to the protostome-deuterostome divergence. Phylogeny and gene synteny revealed that AST-AR and KISSR emerged after GALR gene divergence. AST-AR genes were present in the hemichordates but were lost from the chordates. In protostomes, AST-ARs persisted and evolved through lineage-specific events and duplicated in the arthropod radiation. Diptera acquired and maintained functionally divergent duplicate AST-AR genes.Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal (FCT) [PTDC/BIA-BCM/114395/2009]; European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) COMPETE - Operational Competitiveness Programme; Portuguese funds through FCT Foundation for Science and Technology [PEst-C/MAR/LA0015/2013, UID/Multi/04326/2013, PEst-OE/SAU/LA0018/2013]; FCT [SFRH/BPD/89811/2012, SFRH/BPD/80447/2011, SFRH/BPD/66742/2009]; auxiliary research contract FCT Pluriannual funds [PEst-C/MAR/LA0015/2013, UID/Multi/04326/2013]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio