Estimating wheat yield: an approach for estimating number of grains using cross-polarised ENVISAT-1 ASAR data

In this paper an attempt to model wheat yield is made by exploiting characteristic interaction of cross-polarised SAR with wheat crop. SAR backscatter from a crop field is affected by the density, structure, volume and the moisture content of various components of plant (viz. head, stem, leaf) alongwith soil moisture. Hence, to effectively handle the influence of each of these components of the plant on SAR backscatter, a plant parameter, termed as Interaction Factor (IF) is conceptualised by combining volume, moisture, height for each of the component and density of plant. For this purpose, detailed experiment over farmers' fields was carried out in synchrony with SAR acquisition involving in-depth measurements on volume, moisture content and height of various components of wheat plant, number of grains, plant density and soil moisture. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that IFHead significantly affects the shallow incidence angle, cross-polarised C-band SAR backscatter. IFHead is also highly correlated to the number of grains. This is attributed to the fact that parameters of the wheat head from which IFHead is calculated, namely moisture, volume and height, determine eventual number of grains. The study offers an approach for estimating wheat yield by retrieving number of grains from shallow incidence angle cross-polarised SAR data

Enhancing Network Security Using Ant Colony Optimization

Security of the information in the computer networks has been one of the most important research area. To preserve the secure condition it is essential to be aware of the behavior of the incoming data. Network Security is becoming an important issue for all the organizations, and with the increase in knowledge of hackers and intruders they have made many successful attempts to bring down high-pro le company networks and web service. The technology of artificial intelligence breaks a new way in the area of network security. Ant-colony optimization algorithm is an evolutionary learning algorithm which could be applied to solve the complex problems. Applying the idea of ant colony optimization into network vulnerability detection and enhancing security can improve the performance of network security management. This paper attempts to apply ACO Algorithm to find out vulnerabilities in the network and ensure its security

An Investigation into the Use of Dried Blood Spot Analysis in Pharmacokinetic Studies

The ethical and practical issues of obtaining a blood sample pose a significant challenge to performing pharmacokinetic studies in children, infants and neonates. Dried blood spot analysis, based on the collection of a micro blood sample has potential to overcome these difficulties. There are at present a limited number of reports on the utility of dried blood spot analysis in clinical pharmacokinetic studies. The studies described in this thesis were undertaken to investigate the accuracy and precision of dried blood spot sampling coupled with mass spectrometry detection for drug quantification, and clinically validate the robustness and feasibility of this technique for pharmacokinetic studies in preterm neonates. Dried blood spot methods were developed for application to pharmacokinetic studies of test drugs dexamethasone and caffeine. Investigations were focused on the blood collection system, analyte recovery and optimisation of the detection system. In-vitro validation results indicated developed methods were precise, accurate and selective in accordance with the Food and Drug Administration regulatory guidelines on the assessment of bioanalytical methods. Results were not significantly affected by small variations in the blood volume spotted or the presence of petroleum jelly, which is often used on the sampling site during capillary blood collection in neonates. Variability in haematocrit was determined to be the single most important factor affecting assay accuracy. Stability assessments by comparison with freshly prepared samples verified the suitability of sample drying, storage and post sample extraction conditions. An investigation of method transferability between different analytical instruments was undertaken with caffeine to provide an assessment of the robustness of dried blood spot analysis. Results generated from a single and triple quadrupole mass spectrometer were comparable with an expected lower limit of quantification with the latter technique most likely due to a greater ionisation and detection efficiency. Intravenous dexamethasone pharmacokinetics was determined in 5 preterm neonates receiving treatment for chronic lung disease. Individual pharmacokinetic analyses were performed using a one compartment model to estimate primary pharmacokinetic parameters, clearance (mean, 0.18 l/h/kg) and volume of distribution (mean, 1.33 l/kg). The whole blood derived mean estimates were similar to previous plasma clearance and volume estimates of 0.14 l/h/kg and 1.91 l/kg, respectively reported in neonates (n=7). This highlights the potential for dried blood spot analysis as an alternative to conventional plasma based methods for dexamethasone dose optimisation studies in neonates. The population pharmacokinetics of oral / intravenous caffeine was determined in 67 preterm neonates. A one compartment model was used to describe the blood concentration-time data. Model evaluation using a bootstrapping technique confirmed the robustness and stability of the developed model. Pharmacokinetic parameters derived from dried blood spot drug measurements were estimated with precision (relative standard error < 10%) and were comparable to estimates of plasma clearance (mean, 7.3 vs. 7.0 ml/h/kg) and volume of distribution (mean, 593 vs. 851 ml/kg) from a previous population study in neonates (n=110). Weight and postnatal age were the most influential covariates in the clearance model which is in agreement with previous population studies. These results demonstrate that dried blood spot analysis is a practical technique, with significant potential as a robust method for use in clinical pharmacokinetic studies in vulnerable populations such as preterms. Haematocrit related effects on paper will need to be accounted for if this potential is to be realised. Further investigations to determine the reproducibility of capillary blood sampling in neonates and the impact of using blood drug measurements on pharmacokinetic parameter estimation will be necessary before widespread use of the technique is possible

Role of amino acids in the lyophilization of RBC

Transfusion of RBCs saves millions of life worldwide each year. To cater the emergency need, preservation of blood is necessary. In addition, it is performed by two methods either by storing at Low temperature (at 4°C for 42 days) or by Lyophilization. Low temperature preservation usually means preservation at 4°C,-20°C,-80°C,-150°C or-196°C.Storing below 0°C involves ice related injury. So normally in clinical scenario, blood is stored at 4°C.Cells stabilizer ADSOL, CPDA need to added to prevent the storage lesion associated with low temperature storage. Also, transportation in the liquid form at low temperature is also a problem. The shortcomings of low temperature storage is overcome by Lyophilization of the blood which convert RBCs in to dry form lyophilization involves sublimation of ice at low temperature and low pressure. But it also involves dessication and low temperature related injury .HES and Trehalose has shown good efficacy in protecting the RBCs against those injury. The present study tried to find out the relative efficacy of HES and TREHALOSE. Different amino acid has shown good biostablizing property in the cryopreservation. The study also tried to find out the relative efficacy of different amino acids in the lyophilization of RBCs

Study of role of blood transfusion in obstetric emergencies

Background: Blood Transfusion is recognized as one of the eight essential component of comprehensive emergency obstetric care which has been shown to reduce the maternal mortality.1,2 In developing country like India, efforts should be done to make blood and transfusion services well maintained and quickly available to reduce maternal morbidity from haemorrhage and thus decrease the incidence of maternal mortality. Aims & objectives: (1) To study clinical status of the patients at time of admission. (2) To study the role of antenatal visits in all patients required blood transfusion. (3) To study the effect of blood components on the patients’ health. (4) To screen out the patients of high risk pregnancy and treat them safely. (5) To study causes of maternal mortality.Methods: Retrospective study of requirement of blood transfusion in antenatal and postnatal patients who came in labour room during last 3 month period at tertiary care Centre, Ahmedabad.Results: during the whole study out of 2200 patients 440 patients required blood transfusion among which 70% required due to obstetric hemorrhage and 30% due to severe anemia (less than 7 gm/dl). Major associated complications in the transfused patients were anemia (34%) and PPH (36%). 4 patients expired among them 2 were due to development of DIC and septicemia, 1 due to severe anemia and 1 due to severe PPH.Conclusions: Ensuring a safe supply of blood and blood products and the appropriate and rational clinical use of blood. Strategies made to maximize the haemoglobin (Hb) level at the time of delivery as well as to minimize blood loss. Active management of the third stage of labour is required to prevent avoidable morbidities, such as PPH, Retained product of conception, and vaginal lacerations.

Importance of parenteral iron sucrose therapy in correction of iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy

Background: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is described as decrease in the hemoglobin and/or the amount of red blood cells in the blood due to iron insufficiency in the body. The aim of the study was to measure the efficacy and tolerability of iron sucrose   in iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women.Methods: This was the prospective study of 50 pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia (Hb- 5 g/dl to 8 g/dl) between 20-34 weeks of gestation, who were given intravenous iron sucrose as per their requirements and follow up measurement of Hb was done.Results: Mean rise in Hb was seen by 2.2 g/dl. Minor side effects were seen in 6 out of 50 participants.        Conclusions: Parenteral iron sucrose therapy can be used effectively and safely in pregnant women with iron deficiency anemi

A study on Instinctive Feelings, Perceived Stressors and Factors that helped in reducing Stress during COVID 19 pandemic among Health Care Workers

Background: Healthcare workers at the forefront of the battle against COVID 19 are not only putting their own health and lives at risk but are also fighting to keep their own worries and emotional stress at bay. Aim &amp; Objective: To evaluate emotions, perceived stressors, and factors that helped in reducing stress of healthcare workers who worked during a COVID19 pandemic. Settings and Design: This cross sectional study was conducted among Health Care staff involved in COVID 19 duty in tertiary care hospital of Gujarat. Methods and Material: Google form link was shared though what’s up and mail. The questionnaire was completed online. Consent for voluntarily participation was also obtained through online Google form. Statistical analysis used: Data was entered and analysed through Microsoft Excel 2010. Results: Total 106 participants responded to the questionnaire. It was extremely stressful for health care workers to see their colleagues getting infection, as well as the fear that they could transmit the disease to their families or friends. Main factors that helped to reduce the stress were positive attitude from colleagues, improvement of patients conditions and availability of protective equipment. Conclusions: Personal safety, the protection of family members and unpredictability of pandemic were the main concerns. Hospitals should prioritise stress monitoring for health care workers and provide targeted psychological guidance for HCWs during the pandemic

Application potentials of synthetic aperture radar interferometry for land-cover mapping and crop-height estimation

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) interferometry is widely used for applications like digital elevation map generation and studies related to surface movement. However, SAR interferometry can also be exploited in many other areas. Here a few of the potential applications of SAR interferometry have been demonstrated by exploring its use in delineation and density mapping of forested areas, delineation of surface water extent under adverse weather conditions, which is useful during flood-mapping; detection of human settlement and crop-height estimation. This has been achieved by exploiting interferometric coherence, which is inversely related to the magnitude of random dislocation of scatterers between the two passes. The study indicated that interferometric coherence decreases with increase in forest density or increase in crop height. It was also observed that interferometric coherence over stable targets like settlement is quite high compared to other land-cover classes. In contrast, interferometric coherence is always low for unstable surfaces like the water surface. The study suggested that interferometric coherence is a parameter that provides valuable information, which is completely different from that of SAR backscatter. It was also observed that synergic use of SAR backscatter with InSAR coherence enhances the application potential of a SAR system as a whole towards many land-cover features