A Simulation of Land Use / Cover Change for Urbanization on Chennai Metropolitan area, India

Remote sensing and GIS technologies are very much useful for finding the Land Use/Cover maps. This is the paper which deals with the Land Use/Cover Change (LUCC) especially to urbanization in Chennai metropolitan area, India for past two decades till present. Chennai is the fourth largest metropolitan city in India with area of 1189 km2 with 4.68 million of population, which is developing rapidly into urban in past few decades. There is heavy need of urban planning for future in Chennai. This research will be a support for urban planning of the future. The Land satellite data for three decades (1989, 2000 and 2012) and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) for present were collected with 30 meter resolution. Preprocessing of all images was completed. Image classification for mapping LUCC was performed by supervised classification through the maximum likelihood classification for four classes: Water, Rough land, Crop land and Urban. An accuracy assessment has been checked to find the accuracy of the Classification and the overall accuracy is about 87%. Transition probability matrices were calculated for all three time points and compared with each other (1989 with 2000, 2000 with 2012). The result shows that the increase in Urban and decrease in Rough land. Slope map has been created from DEM. Analyses of neighborhood effects were done to find the probability of land changes due to existing urban cells, which is calculated for each cells surrounded by its three neighborhood cells. Analyses of slope effects for urbanization was done by comparing the slope and the possibilities of change from Rough land and Crop land to Urban. A simple model structure for simulation was created using VBA and GIS. The model applies the neighborhood effects which are similar to Cellular Automata but in this model it is modified by slope effects. Using the simulation urban map was predicted for future trends. These predicted urban maps will provide critical input to resource management and planning support applications, and have substantial social and economic benefit for metropolitan planning and development

High-risk corneal allografts : A therapeutic challenge

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

A study on haloperidol and risperidone induced metabolic derangements in patients with newly diagnosed schizophrenia

Background: The occurrence of metabolic abnormalities in schizophrenic patients has been increased with the rampant use of second-generation antipsychotics. The aim and objective of this study is to compare the metabolic derangements induced by a typical antipsychotic: haloperidol and an atypical antipsychotic, risperidone in patients with newly diagnosed schizophrenia in a tertiary care hospital.Methods: Out of 60 newly diagnosed schizophrenic patients, 30 patients received tablet haloperidol and the remaining 30 patients received tablet risperidone orally. The anthropometric measurements like height, weight, waist circumference was measured and blood investigations like fasting blood glucose level and fasting lipid profile were taken at baseline and at the end of 3 and 6 months of drug therapy. The metabolic derangements induced by the two antipsychotics were compared and analyzed at end of 3rd and 6th month using SPSS software version 16.Results: At the end of 6th month statistically significant differences (p<0.05) were observed in weight, waist circumference, fasting blood sugar, fasting triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein level between the haloperidol and risperidone group on following the International Diabetic Federation (IDF) criteria of metabolic syndrome. Risperidone caused metabolic abnormalities in 13.3%, 4 patients whereas none of the patients in haloperidol group developed metabolic syndrome.Conclusions: Hence it is concluded that the atypical antipsychotic risperidone has been associated with an increased risk of causing metabolic abnormalities than the typical antipsychotic haloperidol. Regular and periodic monitoring of the anthropometric and metabolic parameters in schizophrenic patients on antipsychotics especially the atypical antipsychotics is mandatory to prevent further complications

High Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome among Outpatients in a Tertiary Care Centre, Tamil Nadu, India

Background: Metabolic Syndrome (MetS), a constellation of specific cardiometabolic risk factors increases the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. These risk factors can be largely reversed through lifestyle changes. To develop individualized lifestyle therapeutic interventions among patients attending non-communicable disease specialty departments, there is a need for identification of people with high risk of developing MetS. Aim and Objectives: To determine the prevalence of MetS, it's associated demographic and clinical characteristics among patients attending specialty Outpatient Department (OPD) in a tertiary care centre. Material and Methods: In this hospital-based cross-sectional study, randomly selected adults (aged 20 years or more) attending the diabetology or cardiology OPD were included. Using pretested interview tool, demographic details, height, weight and waist circumference were measured as per standard guidelines. Blood pressure, fasting blood sugar and fasting lipid profile were assessed. MetS was classified based on the modified Adult Treatment Panel (ATP-III) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. Results: A total of 668 patients were included and the mean age was 50.1 ± 9.7 years. Of the total, 72.6% and 64.5% of patients had MetS. Patients aged 60 years or more had 1.8 times [Adjusted PR 95% CI:1.05-3.16] higher prevalence of MetS compared to 20-30 years. Patients who were doing at least 30 minutes of regular moderate physical activity had 17% less occurrence of MetS [Adj PR: 0.71-0.96] compared to those who did less than 15 minutes of physical activity. Gender, literacy, type of diet and amount of visible fat intake were not significantly associated with MetS. Conclusion: MetS is highly prevalent among patients attending diabetology and cardiology OPD. Across several subgroups, around two-thirds had MetS and low high-density lipoprotein was the major contributing factor for MetS

Predictors of mortality among hospitalized COVID-19 patients and risk score formulation for prioritizing tertiary care—An experience from South India

BACKGROUND: We retrospectively data-mined the case records of Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) confirmed COVID-19 patients hospitalized to a tertiary care centre to derive mortality predictors and formulate a risk score, for prioritizing admission. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Data on clinical manifestations, comorbidities, vital signs, and basic lab investigations collected as part of routine medical management at admission to a COVID-19 tertiary care centre in Chengalpattu, South India between May and November 2020 were retrospectively analysed to ascertain predictors of mortality in the univariate analysis using their relative difference in distribution among ‘survivors’ and ‘non-survivors’. The regression coefficients of those factors remaining significant in the multivariable logistic regression were utilised for risk score formulation and validated in 1000 bootstrap datasets. Among 746 COVID-19 patients hospitalised [487 “survivors” and 259 “non-survivors” (deaths)], there was a slight male predilection [62.5%, (466/746)], with a higher mortality rate observed among 40–70 years age group [59.1%, (441/746)] and highest among diabetic patients with elevated urea levels [65.4% (68/104)]. The adjusted odds ratios of factors [OR (95% CI)] significant in the multivariable logistic regression were SaO(2)3; 3.01 (1.61–5.83), Age ≥50 years;2.52 (1.45–4.43), Pulse Rate ≥100/min: 2.02 (1.19–3.47) and coexisting Diabetes Mellitus; 1.73 (1.02–2.95) with hypertension and gender not retaining their significance. The individual risk scores for SaO(2)3–11, Age ≥50 years-9, Pulse Rate ≥100/min-7 and coexisting diabetes mellitus-6, acronymed collectively as ‘OUR-ARDs score’ showed that the sum of scores ≥ 25 predicted mortality with a sensitivity-90%, specificity-64% and AUC of 0.85. CONCLUSIONS: The ‘OUR ARDs’ risk score, derived from easily assessable factors predicting mortality, offered a tangible solution for prioritizing admission to COVID-19 tertiary care centre, that enhanced patient care but without unduly straining the health system

Development of Organ-Specific Progenitor Cell Cultures as Efficacy Test Platforms for Electron-Spun Fibre Meshes in Regenerative Medicine Applications

The nervous and cardiovascular system plays the most complex and vital role in all organisms. Any damage or injury to these essential organs in our body results in long term irreversible impairment or death. The main goal of the regenerative medicine is to repair or recreate tissues using stem cells to restore the vital function of the targeted organ. Along with organ specific stem/progenitor cells, non-toxic, biodegradable synthetic polymers are also needed for an effective reparative therapy. The effect of PCL materials and surface modified (PEDOT coated) PCL materials of different topology with neural progenitor cells as test platforms are evaluated for cytotoxicity and neuron differentiation. The stem cells from heart are isolated and characterized as cardiac stem cells by Fluorescence activated cell sorting through specific antigen expression. The cardiac stem cells are used to establish effective proliferation and differentiation system. Hence, developing cardiac and neural progenitor cell cultures as an efficacy test platforms for biomaterials of different diameter and orientation benefits respective tissue engineering with proper restoration of function. Further, the nerve and cardiac tissue rejuvenation would serve as a regenerative therapy for numerous neurodegenerative disorders and cardiovascular disorders like myocardial infarction respectively

Effect of Reaction Temperature on Size and Optical Properties of NiTiO 3 Nanoparticles

Abstract: Nickel titanate (NiTiO 3 ) nanoparticles were successfully prepared by wet-chemical method, using nickel acetate and titanium(IV) isopropoxide as Ni, Ti sources and citric acid as complexing reagent. The gel was calcined at different temperatures from 500-700 °C. Results of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) are given. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM),transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) were used to characterize the crystallization process, particle size, morphology, optical and magnetic properties of the calcined nanoparticles. TEM result reveals that the NiTiO 3 was homogeneous and hexagon morphology with the grain size of 30-70 nm. The band gap values of the NiTiO 3 nanoparticles were calculated to be 3.43, 3.39 and 3.31 eV. The magnetic property was confirmed that the NiTiO 3 nanoparticles of super paramagnetic behavior in nature. Our results suggested that the temperature plays an important role in the particle size effect of nanocrystalline NiTiO 3

Effect of Reaction Temperature on Size and Optical Properties of NiTiO3 Nanoparticles

Nickel titanate (NiTiO3) nanoparticles were successfully prepared by wet-chemical method, using nickel acetate and titanium(IV) isopropoxide as Ni, Ti sources and citric acid as complexing reagent. The gel was calcined at different temperatures from 500-700 °C. Results of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) are given. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM),transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) were used to characterize the crystallization process, particle size, morphology, optical and magnetic properties of the calcined nanoparticles. TEM result reveals that the NiTiO3 was homogeneous and hexagon morphology with the grain size of 30-70 nm. The band gap values of the NiTiO3 nanoparticles were calculated to be 3.43, 3.39 and 3.31 eV. The magnetic property was confirmed that the NiTiO3 nanoparticles of super paramagnetic behavior in nature. Our results suggested that the temperature plays an important role in the particle size effect of nanocrystalline NiTiO3

In vitro tumorigenic assay : colony forming assay for cancer stem cells

Colony forming or clonogenic assay is an in vitro quantitative technique to examine the capability of a single cell to grow into a large colony through clonal expansion. Clonogenic activity is a sensitive indicator of undifferentiated cancer stem cells. Here, we described the colony forming ability of the isolated breast cancer stem cells from the total population of cancer cells using double-layered, soft agarose-based assay. This method demonstrates that cancer stem cells can survive and generate colony growth in an anchorage-independent culture model. The 0.005% crystal violet solution is used in this assay to visualize the generated colonies