Load Balancing Scheduling Algorithm for Concurrent Workflow

Concurrent workflow scheduling algorithm works in three phases, namely rank computation, tasks selection, and resource selection. In this paper, we introduce a new ranking algorithm that computes the rank of a task, based on its successor rank and its predecessors average communication time, instead of its successors rank. The advantage of this ranking algorithm is that two dependent tasks are assigned to the same machine and as a result the scheduled length is reduced. The task selection phase selects a ready task from each workflow and creates a task pool. The resource selection phase initially assigns tasks using min-min heuristic, after initial assignment, tasks are moved from the highly loaded machines to the lightly loaded machines. Our resource selection algorithm increases the load balance among the resources due to tasks assignment heuristic and reassignment of tasks from the highly loaded machines. The simulation results show that our proposed scheduling algorithm performs better over existing approaches in terms of load balance, makespan and turnaround time

Metastatic sweat gland adenocarcinoma: A clinico-pathological dilemma

BACKGROUND: Sweat gland adenocarcinoma is a rare malignancy with high metastatic potential seen more commonly in later years of life. Scalp is the most common site of occurrence and it usually spreads to lymph nodes. Liver, lung and bones are the distant sites of metastasis with fatal results. The differentiation between apocrine and eccrine metastatic sweat gland carcinoma is often difficult. The criteria's are inadequate to be of any practical utility. CASE REPORT: Two cases of metastatic sweat gland adenocarcinoma (one of eccrine and the other one of apocrine origin) are being reported on account of the rarity and different outcome. CONCLUSION: Sweat gland carcinomas are rare cancers with a poor prognosis often presenting as histological surprises. Surgery in the form of wide local excision and lymph node dissection is the mainstay of treatment. Chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy has limited role

A case-control study to evaluate risk factors for ectopic pregnancy

Background: Morbidity and mortality associated with ectopic pregnancy are directly related to the length of time required for diagnosis. Knowledge of risk factors for ectopic pregnancy will help an obstetrician to suspect and diagnose the condition early. Therefore, the present study was designed to identify potential risk factors and to evaluate the contribution of the risk factors in ectopic pregnancy.Methods: Study population consists of 65 women with ectopic pregnancy and for each ectopic case one woman with first trimester intrauterine pregnancy was recruited as control. Data were retrieved from all through a structured proforma. Data were analyzed statistically.Results: Various significant risk factors for ectopic pregnancy found were pelvic inflammatory disease, tubal ligation, age above 30 yrs, previous use of IUCD, low socio-economic status, tubal infertility and genital tuberculosis while no significant association was seen with smoking, age below 30 years, history of prior induced abortion, oral contraceptive pills and clomiphene citrate.Conclusions: Increase awareness and knowledge of risk factors will help obstetricians to suspect and diagnose ectopic pregnancy early and accurately and enable them to plan medical treatment. Surgical treatment will be reserved for ruptured ectopic pregnancy and haemodynamically unstable patients

Hybrid JAYA algorithm for workflow scheduling in cloud

Workflow scheduling and resource provisioning are two of the most critical issues in cloud computing. Developing an optimal workflow scheduling strategy in the heterogeneous cloud environment is extremely difficult due to its NP-complete nature. Various optimization algorithms have been used to schedule the workflow so that users can receive Quality of Service (QoS) from cloud service providers as well as service providers can achieve maximum gain but there is no such model that can simultaneously minimize execution time and cost while balancing the load among virtual machines in a heterogeneous environment using JAYA approach. In this article, we employed the hybrid JAYA algorithm to minimize the computation cost and completion time during workflow scheduling. We considered the heterogeneous cloud computing environment and made an effort to evenly distribute the load among the virtual machines. To achieve our goals, we used the Task Duplication Heterogeneous Earliest Finish Time (HEFT-TD) and Predict Earliest Finish Time (PEFT). The makespan is greatly shortened by HEFT-TD which is based on the Optimistic Cost Table. We used a greedy technique to distribute the workload among Virtual Machines (VMs) in a heterogeneous environment. Greedy approach assigns the upcoming task to a VM which have lowest load. In addition, we also considered performance variation, termination delay, and booting time of virtual machines to achieve our objectives in our proposed model. We used Montage, LIGO, Cybershake, and Epigenomics datasets to experimentally analyze the suggested model in order to validate the concept. Our meticulous experiments show that our hybrid approach outperforms other recent algorithms in minimizing the execution cost and makespan, such as the Cost Effective Genetic Algorithm (CEGA), Cost-effective Load-balanced Genetic Algorithm (CLGA), Cost effective Hybrid Genetic Algorithm (CHGA), and Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm (ABC)

Comparative assessment of fetomaternal outcome in twin pregnancy with singleton pregnancy at tertiary care centre

Background: Multiple pregnancy remains one of the highest risk situations for the mother, foetus and neonate despite recent advances in obstetrics, perinatal and neonatal care. Twin pregnancies have increased rates of obstetric and perinatal complications compared to singletons Objective of present study was comparative assessment of fetomaternal outcome in twin pregnancy with singleton pregnancy in Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of S.M.S. Medical College, Jaipur.Methods: This was a hospital based, prospective observational study done in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. S.M.S. Medical College, Jaipur from April 2015 to March 2016. 150 women with twin pregnancy and 150 women with singleton pregnancies at gestation age of 28 weeks and above coming for delivery and consented for the study were included in the study. Women with chronic medical disorder or chronic hypertension were excluded from the study. Maternal and neonatal outcome recorded and analysed.Results: Occurrence of twin in our study was 2.82%. Risk of preterm labour was about nine times higher in twin pregnancies than the singleton (OR: 2.74, 95% CI; 1.4494-5.1884, P value 0.001). The risk of premature rupture of membrane was increased by 2.74 times in twin pregnancies (OR:2.74; 95% CI: 1.4494-5.1884, p value .001). There was 3-time increased risk of malpresentation (OR 3.14; CI:1.7184-5.7480, p value .00002) and 2.28 times increase in hypertensive disorder (OR 2.28; 95% CI: 1.0727-4.8823, p value .03) in twin pregnancies. The risk of asphyxia and septicaemia was 2.5 times more in twins.Conclusions: Twin pregnancy is a high-risk pregnancy with more complications in mother and foetus and is a great challenge for obstetrician. So, it should be managed carefully at tertiary care centre to reduce the maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity

Risk of malignancy index 4 in preoperative evaluation of patients with ovarian tumours

Background: Ovarian tumors usually presents as adnexal masses which may be benign or malignant. Accurate and timely diagnosis of an adnexal mass is a challenge for the gynecologists. Currently clinical examination, ultrasonographic assessment and ovarian tumour markers (CA 125, beta hCG, AFP, LDH) are routinely done at our centre to evaluate patients with ovarian tumours. The study was designed to evaluate the ability of RMI 4 to discriminate benign ovarian tumor from malignant ovarian tumor in patients attending Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, S.M.S. Medical College, Jaipur.Methods: 200 patients diagnosed to have ovarian tumours were included in the study after obtaining written consent. Ultrasonographic characteristic, menopausal status and serum CA 125 levels were documented preoperatively. Risk of malignancy index 4 was calculated and correlated with histopathological diagnosis.Results: At a cut-off point of 450, RMI 4 had a sensitivity of 67.5% (95% CI: 50.87-81.43%), specificity of 98.75% (95.56-99.85%), positive likelyhood ratio of 54, negative likelyhood ratio of 0.33, a positive predictive value of 93.1%, negative predictive value of 92.4% and diagnostic accuracy of 92.5%.Conclusions: RMI 4 is a simple, cost effective, reliable scoring system that is easily applicable method in primary evaluation of patients with ovarian tumours with a sensitivity of 67.5% and specificity of 98.75%

Evidence-based decision making and covid-19: what a posteriori probability distributions speak

Background: In the absence of any pharmaceutical interventions, the management of the COVID-19 pandemic is based on public health measures. The present study fosters evidence-based decision making by estimating various “a posteriori probability distributions" from COVID-19 patients.  Methods: In this retrospective observational study, 987 RT-PCR positive COVID-19 patients from SMS Medical College, Jaipur, India, were enrolled after approval of the institutional ethics committee. The data regarding age, gender, and outcome were collected. The univariate and bivariate distributions of COVID-19 cases with respect to age, gender, and outcome were estimated. The age distribution of COVID-19 cases was compared with the general population's age distribution using the goodness of fit c2 test. The independence of attributes in bivariate distributions was evaluated using the chi-square test for independence. Results: The age group ‘25-29’ has shown highest probability of COVID-19 cases (P [25-29] = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.12- 0.16). The men (P [Male] = 0.62, 95%CI: 0.59-0.65) were dominant sufferers. The most common outcome was recovery (P [Recovered] = 0.79, 95%CI: 0.76-0.81) followed by admitted cases (P [Active]= 0.13, 95%CI: 0.11-0.15) and death (P [Death] = 0.08, 95%CI: 0.06-0.10). The age distribution of COVID-19 cases differs significantly from the age distribution of the general population (c2  =399.04, P < 0.001). The bivariate distribution of COVID-19 across age and outcome was not independent (c2 =106.21, df = 32, P < 0.001). Conclusion: The knowledge of disease frequency patterns helps in the optimum allocation of limited resources and manpower. The study provides information to various epidemiological models for further analysis

Evidence-based decision making and covid-19: what a posteriori probability distributions speak

Background: In the absence of any pharmaceutical interventions, the management of the COVID-19 pandemic is based on public health measures. The present study fosters evidence-based decision making by estimating various “a posteriori probability distributions" from COVID-19 patients.  Methods: In this retrospective observational study, 987 RT-PCR positive COVID-19 patients from SMS Medical College, Jaipur, India, were enrolled after approval of the institutional ethics committee. The data regarding age, gender, and outcome were collected. The univariate and bivariate distributions of COVID-19 cases with respect to age, gender, and outcome were estimated. The age distribution of COVID-19 cases was compared with the general population's age distribution using the goodness of fit c2 test. The independence of attributes in bivariate distributions was evaluated using the chi-square test for independence. Results: The age group ‘25-29’ has shown highest probability of COVID-19 cases (P [25-29] = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.12- 0.16). The men (P [Male] = 0.62, 95%CI: 0.59-0.65) were dominant sufferers. The most common outcome was recovery (P [Recovered] = 0.79, 95%CI: 0.76-0.81) followed by admitted cases (P [Active]= 0.13, 95%CI: 0.11-0.15) and death (P [Death] = 0.08, 95%CI: 0.06-0.10). The age distribution of COVID-19 cases differs significantly from the age distribution of the general population (c2  =399.04, P < 0.001). The bivariate distribution of COVID-19 across age and outcome was not independent (c2 =106.21, df = 32, P < 0.001). Conclusion: The knowledge of disease frequency patterns helps in the optimum allocation of limited resources and manpower. The study provides information to various epidemiological models for further analysis

Isolated colostomy site recurrence in rectal cancer-two cases with review of literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Colostomy site carcinomas are rare with only eight cases reported in the world literature. Various etiological factors like adenoma-cancer sequence, bile acids, recurrent and persistent physical damage at the colostomy site by faecal matter due to associated stomal stenosis have been considered responsible. Two such cases are being reported and in both cases there was no evidence of any local recurrence in the pelvis or liver and distant metastasis. Both patients had received adjuvant chemotherapy following surgery.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>First case was a 30-year-old male that had reported with large bowel obstruction due to an obstructing ulcero-proliferative growth (poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma) at the colostomy site after abdomino-perineal resection, performed for low rectal cancer six years previously. Wide local excision with microscopically free margins was performed with a satisfactory outcome. Four years later he presented with massive malignant ascites, cachexia and multiple liver metastasis and succumbed to his disease.</p> <p>Second case was a 47-year-old male that presented with acute large bowel obstruction due to an annular growth (well differentiated adenocarcinoma) in the upper rectum. He was managed by Hartmann's operation and the sigmoid colostomy was closed six months later. Five years following closure of colostomy, he presented with two parietal masses at the previous colostomy site scar, which, on fine needle aspiration cytology were found to be well-differentiated adenocarcinomas of colorectal type. Surgery in the form of wide local resection with free margins was performed. He presented again after five years with recurrence along the previous surgery scar and an incisional hernia and was managed by wide local excision along with hernioplasty. Follow-up of nine years following first surgery is satisfactory.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Colostomy site/scar recurrence of rectal carcinoma is rare and could be due to various etiological factors, although the exact causative mechanism is not known. Surgery with microscopically free margins is recommended in the absence of metastatic disease. Stenosis of the stoma is considered as one of the most important contributory factors and should be followed carefully.</p

Swift Heavy Ion Irradiation as a Tool for Homogeneous Dispersion of Nanographite Platelets within the Polymer Matrices: Toward Tailoring the Properties of PEDOT:PSS/Nanographite Nanocomposites

Performance of the polymer nanocomposites is dependent to a great extent on efficient and homogeneous dispersion of nanoparticles in polymeric matrices. The dispersion of nanographite platelets (NGPs) in polymer matrix is a great challenge because of the inherent inert nature of the NGPs, poor wettability toward polymer matrices, and easy agglomeration due to van der Waals interactions. In the present study, attempts have been made to use a new approach involving the irradiation of polymer nanocomposites through swift heavy ion (SHI) to homogeneously disperse the NGPs within the polymer matrices. Poly­(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly­(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)/nanographite nanocomposite (NC) films prepared by the solution blending method were irradiated with SHI (Ni ion beam, 80 MeV) at a fluence range of 1 × 10¹⁰ to 1 × 10¹² ions/cm². XRD studies revealed that ion irradiation results in delamination and better dispersion of NGPs in the irradiated nanocomposite films compared to unirradiated films, which is also depicted through SEM, AFM, TEM, and Raman studies. In the irradiated polymer nanocomposite films, the conformation of PEDOT chains changes from coiled to extended coiled structure, which, along with homogeneously dispersed NGPs in irradiated NCs, shows an excellent synergistic effect facilitating charge transport. The remarkable improvement in conductivity from 1.9 × 10^–2 in unirradiated NCs to 0.45 S/cm in irradiated NCs is observed with marked improvement in sensing the response toward nitroaromatic vapors at room temperature. The temperature induced conductivity studies have been carried out for PEDOT:PSS/nanographite NCs to comprehend the charge transport mechanism in NC films using the 3D Mott variable range hopping model also. The study reveals SHI as a novel method, addressing the challenge associated with the dispersion of NGPs within the polymer matrix for their enhanced performance toward various applications