Generalization of Renyi’s Entropy and its Application in Source Coding

In this paper, we introduce a new generalization of Renyis entropy β(P) and the most important feature of this generalized entropy Rαβ (P) is that it derives most important entropies that are well known and influence information theory and applied mathematics. Some significant properties of Rαβ (P) has been undertaken in this article. In addition, we introduce a new generalized exponentiated mean codeword length Lβα (P) in this article then determine how Rβα (P) and Lβα (P) are related in terms of source coding theorem

Kala-azar elimination in a highly-endemic district of Bihar, India: A success story.

BACKGROUND:Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) or Kala-azar has been a major public health problem in Bihar, India, for several decades. A few VL infected districts including Vaishali have reported >600 cases annually. Hence, in 2015, the Government of India entrusted ICMR-Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, to implement an integrated control strategy for achieving the VL elimination target (<1 case per 10,000 people at the block level) in the Vaishali District of Bihar. METHODOLOGY:This study was conducted between January 2015 and December 2016. An integrated control strategy including the spatio-temporal mapping of VL-case distribution, active case detection, chemical-based vector control using indoor residual spraying (IRS), community awareness campaigns, the training of IRS members, the training of medical doctors for effective treatment, daily monitoring and the supervision of IRS activities, logistic management, post-IRS quality assurance, epidemiological surveillance, and entomological monitoring was performed. An insecticide quantification test was performed for evaluating the IRS quality on sprayed walls. A modern compression pump was used to maintain spray quality on different wall surfaces. The impact of IRS was assessed through sand fly collection in human dwellings and cattle sheds in pre- and post-IRS. The insecticide susceptibility of local P. argentipes was performed before each IRS round (in February and June) during 2015-2016. Statistical analysis such as the mean, percentage, and 95% CI were used to summarize the results. FINDINGS:All 16 blocks of the Vaishali District achieved the VL elimination target in 2016. The integrated VL control strategy helped reduce the number of VL cases from 664 in 2014 to 163 in 2016 and the number of endemic villages from 282 in 2014 to 142 in 2016. The case reduction rate was increased from 22.6% in 2014 to 58.8% in 2016. On average, 74 VL infected villages became Kala-azar free each year from 2015 to 2016. CONCLUSIONS:The results of this study suggest that the elimination of VL is possible from all endemic blocks of Bihar if the integrated Vaishali VL control strategy is applied under strong monitoring and supervision

Phase 4 trial of miltefosine for the treatment of Indian visceral leishmaniasis

Background. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a major public health problem in Bihar, accounting for 90% of all cases in India. Development of high levels of resistance to various existing drugs necessitated the search for alternative orally administered drugs. Hospital-based studies have shown that oral miltefosine is a highly effective treatment for VL both in adults and in children. Methods. An open, single-arm trial was designed to investigate the feasibility of treatment of VL patients with miltefosine in field conditions in 13 centers in Bihar. Results. The phase 4 study was conducted among 1132 adult and pediatric VL patients. Compliance was good, with 1084 (95.5%) patients completing the full 28-day treatment course. Nine hundred and seventy-one (85.8%) patients returned for the final cure assessment at 6 months after treatment. The final cure rate was 82% by intention to treat analysis and 95% by per protocol analysis (similar to the 94% cure rate in hospitalized patients). Treatment-related adverse events of common toxicity criteria grade 3 occurred in ~3% of patients, including gastrointestinal toxicity and rise in aspertate amino transferase, alanine amino transferase, or serum creatinine levels, similar to previous clinical experience. Conclusion. This study supports the use of miltefosine in an outpatient setting in an area where VL is endemic