Key individual identification using dimensional relevance in the stratum of networks

Different aspects of social networks have increasingly been under investigation from last decades. The social network studies range in various viewpoints from the structural and node measures to the information diffusion processes. The key node identification has been one of the limelight topics of social network analysis (SNA) specifically in a discipline like politics, criminology, marketing and etc. This research uses multiple networks constructed from the different social sites and real-life relationships to cover the multi-dimensional aspects of human relations. In the multi-relationship system, the different dimensions may differ in terms of relevance and weight. One of the most intriguing aspects of key node identification in the multi-dimensional system can be the consideration of dimensions relevance. This research covers the methodology to optimise the weights of dimensions using a number of centrality measures from each network layer covering multiple different objectives of interest. The study formulates the novel weighted feature set pertaining to layer relevance calculated based on layer relative importance through particle swarm optimization techniques. The framework applied ensemble-based approach on the weighted feature set along with node characteristics to predict key nodes in a network. The results are validated against ground truth data and accuracy achieved is promising

Deployment of social nets in multilayer model to identify key individuals using majority voting

Social web and social media are evidenced to be a rich source of user-generated social content. Social media includes multiple numbers of social dimensions represented by different social networks. The identification of important player in these real-world social networks has been in high emphasis due to its effectiveness in multiple disciplines, especially in law enforcement areas working on dark networks. Many algorithms have been proposed to identify key players according to the objective of interest using suitable network centrality measures. This paper proposes a new perspective of dealing with key player identification by redefining it as a problem of “Key Individual Identification,” across multiple social dimensions. Research deals with each social dimension as a layer in the multiple-layer social network model. The proposed technique extracts a number of features from each network based on social network analysis. The features are assembled to formulate a global feature set representing the behaviors of individuals in all networks individually. The technique then attempts to find key individuals using hybrid classifiers. The results from all classifiers are formulated, and the final decision of an individual to be part of the individual key set is based on majority voting. This novel technique gives good results on a number of known networks

Lipid Profiles and Its Association with Pre-Eclampsia and Eclampsia in Nulliparous Pregnant Women

Objectives: To access the lipid profiles and its association with pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in nulliparous pregnant women. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 234 nulliparous pregnant women with gestation period of  > 20 weeks and aged 15-45 years, from March to October 2014, in Institute of Basic Medical Sciences (IBMS), Khyber Medical University (KMU), Peshawar, Pakistan with cooperation from gynecology and obstetrics departments of three tertiary-care hospitals of Peshawar & Khyber Medical College, Peshawar,  Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. Subjects were assigned to three groups i.e., group A, group B and group C. For performing biochemical assays and lipid profiling, through ELISA, blood samples were collected from already subjects both with the disease and the controls. Results: Both subjects having pre-eclampsia and eclampsia showed significant elevated levels (p < 0.001) for low density lipoproteins cholesterols (LDL-c), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), total cholesterol (TC)/HDL-c and LDL-c/HDL-c ratio. But TC of pre-eclampsia subjects were found significantly elevated (p < 0.001) in relation to controls. LDL-c/HDL-c and TC/HDL-c also revealed an elevated significant change (p < 0.001) both for pre-eclamptic and eclamptic subjects. On the other hand, only TG/HDL-c in pre-eclamptic patients was found significantly higher (p<0.004) when compared to control group.  Conclusion: Serum lipid levels were observed higher in pre-eclampsia and eclampsia patients hence an early assessment is necessary to prevent complications in such patients

Efficacy of resomal versus low osmolar ORS in severe acute malnutrition children with diarrhea age 6 months to 59 months

Objective: To compare the efficacy of Resomal versus low Osmolar ORS in severe acute malnutrition in children with diarrhea age 6 months To 59 months.Methodology: This Randomized Control Trial was carried out at Nutrition stabilization Centre pediatrics Department, Liaquat university hospital, Hyderabad, with duration of one year from 1st April-2016- to 31st March-2017. All the children having severe acute Malnutrition were included. After admission, severity of diarrhea was assessed on clinical basis. After informed consent, patients of Severe Acute Malnutrition were divided into two groups i.e Group-A and Group-B on randomized selection. Group A was given Resomal and Group–B was given low Osmolar ORS. Electrolytes were sent on admission then again after 12 hours of giving rehydration solution, response of diarrhea was assessed on the basis of Laboratory investigations and clinical assessment.Results:  Mean age of the children was 20.83 months and standard deviation was 3.52 months. Female children were in the majority 172 as compared to males 152 out of 324 cases. No significant difference was found in Z-score of both groups, P-value 0.07. Acute diarrhea was the most common in both groups, Diarrhea frequency-1 was found significantly more in both groups, having p-value 0.001, while frequency 2 and 3 were found without significant difference in both groups.  Statistically there was a significant difference in pre rehydration electrolytes in both groups, having p-value 0.001.  After rehydration no significant difference was found in electrolytes in both groups.Conclusion: It was concluded that resomal and low osmolar ORS were similarly efficacious in the rehydration of severely malnourished children with diarrhea and dehydration after rehydration

Gene expression profiles of mouse spermatogenesis during recovery from irradiation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Irradiation or chemotherapy that suspend normal spermatogenesis is commonly used to treat various cancers. Fortunately, spermatogenesis in many cases can be restored after such treatments but knowledge is limited about the re-initiation process. Earlier studies have described the cellular changes that happen during recovery from irradiation by means of histology. We have earlier generated gene expression profiles during induction of spermatogenesis in mouse postnatal developing testes and found a correlation between profiles and the expressing cell types. The aim of the present work was to utilize the link between expression profile and cell types to follow the cellular changes that occur during post-irradiation recovery of spermatogenesis in order to describe recovery by means of gene expression.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Adult mouse testes were subjected to irradiation with 1 Gy or a fractionated radiation of two times 1 Gy. Testes were sampled every third or fourth day to follow the recovery of spermatogenesis and gene expression profiles generated by means of differential display RT-PCR. In situ hybridization was in addition performed to verify cell-type specific gene expression patterns.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Irradiation of mice testis created a gap in spermatogenesis, which was initiated by loss of A1 to B-spermatogonia and lasted for approximately 10 days. Irradiation with 2 times 1 Gy showed a more pronounced effect on germ cell elimination than with 1 Gy, but spermatogenesis was in both cases completely reconstituted 42 days after irradiation. Comparison of expression profiles indicated that the cellular reconstitution appeared equivalent to what is observed during induction of normal spermatogenesis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The data indicates that recovery of spermatogenesis can be monitored by means of gene expression, which could aid in designing radiation treatment regimes for cancer patients leading to better restoration of spermatogenesis.</p

Učinak faktora rasta i antioksidanta na in vitro dozrijevanje i diobu oocita in vitro proizvedenih embrija indijskog bivola (Bubalus bubalis).

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of growth factor in combination with antioxidant on the in vitro maturation (IVM) rate of oocytes and cleavage rates of in vitro fertilized (IVF) Indian Bubalus bubalis embryos. The cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) were collected from slaughterhouse ovaries by aspirating follicles, and kept in maturation media (MM) for 24 h. The MM consisted of Group-1 (Control MM) - TCM 199 + 10% FBS + PMSG (20 IU/mL) + hCG (10 IU/mL) + Sodium pyruvate (0.80 mM) + L-glutamine (2 mM) + Gentamicin (50 μg/mL), Group-2 - Control MM + Epidermal growth factor (EGF) (10 ng/mL) + β-mercaptoethanol (β-ME) (25 μM), Group -3 - Control MM + EGF (20 ng/mL) + β-ME (100 μM), Group-4 - Control MM + EGF (100 ng/mL) + β-ME (500 μM). After maturation in diverse maturation media, the media used for IVF and the subsequent development of embryos was the same in all groups. The present results revealed that 20 ng/mL EGF + 100 μM β-ME concentrations were optimum and showed a significant effect on oocyte maturation and further development. Also high concentrations of EGF + β-ME (100 ng/mL + 500 μM), showed a decrease in the cumulus expansion rate, polar body formation rate and cleavage rates. A significant improvement in cleavage rate was observed when oocytes were matured in maturation medium with 20 ng/mL EGF + 100 μM β-ME and capacitation and fertilization was carried out in BO medium compared with TALP medium (64.8 ± 3.8 vs 44.1 ± 2.9). No significant difference in cleavage rate was observed for oocytes matured in the control group, control group + 10 ng/mL EGF + 25 μM β-ME and control group + 100 ng/mL EGF + 500 μM β-ME, between BO and TALP medium, indicating the beneficial effect of the addition of 20 ng/mL EGF + 100 μM β-ME to the maturation media for improved Bubalus bubalis embryo production under in vitro culture.Istraživanje je poduzeto s ciljem da se procijeni učinak kombinacije čimbenika rasta i antioksidanta na in vitro dozrijevanje oocita i diobu in vitro proizvedenih zametaka indijskog bivola (Bubalus bubalis). Kompleksi kumulus oocita bili su prikupljeni s jajnika na klaonici aspiracijom folikula i držani u mediju za dozrijevanje tijekom 24 sata. Medij za dozrijevanje 1. skupine (kontrolne) sadržavao je TCM 199, 10% FBS, PMSG (20 IJ/mL), hCG (10 IJ/mL), natrijev piruvat (0,80 mM), L-glutamin (2 mM) i gentamicin (50 μg/mL). Mediji za dozrijevanje pokusnih skupina bili su sljedećeg sastava: 2. skupina, isto kao kontrolna uz dodatak epidermalnog faktora rasta EGF (10 ng/mL) i β-merkaptoetanola (β-ME) (25 μM); 3. skupina, kao i medij u kontrolnoj skupini s dodatkom EGF (20 ng/mL) i β-ME (100 μM) i 4. skupina, kao i kontrolna uz dodatak EGF (100 ng/mL) i β-ME (500 μM). Nakon dozrijevanja u različitim medijima, za in vitro oplodnju i razvoj embrija u svim skupinama korišten je isti medij. Rezultati pokazuju da su koncntracije od 20 ng/mL EGF i 100 μM β-ME bile optimalne i pokazivale značajan učinak na dozrijevanje oocita i budući razvoj. Također, visoke koncentracije EGF i β-ME (100 ng/mL + 500 μM) pokazale su smanjenje stupnja ekspanzije kumulusa, stupnja formiranja polarnog tijela i stupnja diobe. Signifikantno poboljšanje stupnja diobe opaženo je kod dozrijevanja oocita u mediju kojem je dodano 20 ng/mL EGF i 100 μM β-ME, a kapacitacija i oplodnja provedena je u BO mediju u usporedbi s TALP medijem (64,8 ± 3,8 prema 44,1 ± 2,9). Signifikantna razlika nije utvrđena za stupanj diobe kod oocita koje su dozrijevale u kontrolnoj skupini, u skupini s dodatkom 10 ng/mL EGF i 25 μM β-ME, skupini s dodatkom 100 ng/mL EGF i 500 μM β-ME, kao i između BO and TALP medija. Navedeno ukazuje na povoljan učinak dodavanja 20 ng/mL EGF i 100 μM β-ME u medij za dozrijevanje embrija indijskog bivola (Bubalus bubalis) koji su proizvedeni uz pomoć in vitro kulture

A compact multifunctional microfluidic platform for exploring cellular dynamics in real-time using electrochemical detection

Downscaling of microfluidic cell culture and detection devices for electrochemical monitoring has mostly focused on miniaturization of the microfluidic chips which are often designed for specific applications and therefore lack functional flexibility. We present a compact microfluidic cell culture and electrochemical analysis platform with in-built fluid handling and detection, enabling complete cell based assays comprising on-line electrode cleaning, sterilization, surface functionalization, cell seeding, cultivation and electrochemical real-time monitoring of cellular dynamics. To demonstrate the versatility and multifunctionality of the platform, we explored amperometric monitoring of intracellular redox activity in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and detection of exocytotically released dopamine from rat pheochromocytoma cells (PC12). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used in both applications for monitoring cell sedimentation and adhesion as well as proliferation in the case of PC12 cells. The influence of flow rate on the signal amplitude in the detection of redox metabolism as well as the effect of mechanical stimulation on dopamine release were demonstrated using the programmable fluid handling capability. The here presented platform is aimed at applications utilizing cell based assays, ranging from e.g. monitoring of drug effects in pharmacological studies, characterization of neural stem cell differentiation, and screening of genetically modified microorganisms to environmental monitoring