TOPOLOGY CONTROL ALGORITHMS FOR RULE-BASED ROUTING

In this dissertation, we introduce a new topology control problem for rule- based link-state routing in autonomous networks. In this context, topology control is a mechanism to reduce the broadcast storm problem associated with link-state broadcasts. We focus on a class of topology control mechanisms called local-pruning mechanisms. Topology control by local pruning is an interesting multi-agent graph optimization problem, where every agent/router/station has access to only its local neighborhood information. Every agent selects a subset of its incident link-state in- formation for broadcast. This constitutes the pruned link-state information (pruned graph) for routing. The objective for every agent is to select a minimal subset of the local link-state information while guaranteeing that the pruned graph preserves desired paths for routing. In topology control for rule-based link-state routing, the pruned link-state information must preserve desired paths that satisfy the rules of routing. The non- triviality in these problems arises from the fact that the pruning agents have access to only their local link-state information. Consequently, rules of routing must have some property, which allows specifying the global properties of the routes from the local properties of the graph. In this dissertation, we illustrate that rules described as algebraic path problem in idempotent semirings have these necessary properties. The primary contribution of this dissertation is identifying a policy for pruning, which depends only on the local neighborhood, but guarantees that required global routing paths are preserved in the pruned graph. We show that for this local policy to ensure loop-free pruning, it is sufficient to have what is called an inflatory arc composition property. To prove the sufficiency, we prove a version of Bellman's optimality principle that extends to path-sets and minimal elements of partially ordered sets. As a motivating example, we present a stable path topology control mecha- nism, which ensures that the stable paths for routing are preserved after pruning. We show, using other examples, that the generic pruning works for many other rules of routing that are suitably described using idempotent semirings

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Not AvailableSoil physical quality is one of the three important aspects of soil quality, besides biological and chemical quality. Decline in soil physical quality may have serious consequences on biological and chemical properties thereby making it relevant to study soil physical quality for maintaining soil health in long run. In this investigation, Dexter S theory was applied to evaluate the soil physical environment under different tillage and nutrient treatments in rice-wheat (R-W) system. Two tillage treatments viz. puddling and direct sowing and nine nutrient treatments viz. (i) T1-Control (No fertilizer + crop), (ii) T2-100% recommended dose of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K), (iii) T3-100% NPK (25% N substituted by farmyard manure (FYM)), (iv) T4-100% NPK+ green manure (Sesbania), (v) T5-100% NPK (25% N substituted by biofertilizer), (vi) T6-100% NPK (25% N substituted by sewage sludge), (vii) T7 100% NPK+ crop residue (from previous crop), (viii) T8-100% organic source (50% FYM + 25% biofertilizer+25% crop residue), and (ix) T9-Blank plot; were identified for this study. The soil physical environment significantly improves under the direct sowing when compared to puddled soil. Within nutrient treatments, value of S index was highest in T4 whereas lowest was observed in T1. There is high and significant correlation observed between S index, soil physical parameter and crop yield which shows that S index can be used for quantifying soil physical quality under diverse environments.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableSoil physical quality is one of the three important aspects of soil quality, besides biological and chemical quality. Decline in soil physical quality may have serious consequences on biological and chemical properties thereby making it relevant to study soil physical quality for maintaining soil health in long run. In this investigation, Dexter S theory was applied to evaluate the soil physical environment under different tillage and nutrient treatments in rice-wheat (R-W) system. Two tillage treatments viz. puddling and direct sowing and nine nutrient treatments viz. (i) T1-Control (No fertilizer + crop), (ii) T2-100% recommended dose of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K), (iii) T3-100% NPK (25% N substituted by farmyard manure (FYM)), (iv) T4-100% NPK+ green manure (Sesbania), (v) T5-100% NPK (25% N substituted by biofertilizer), (vi) T6-100% NPK (25% N substituted by sewage sludge), (vii) T7 100% NPK+ crop residue (from previous crop), (viii) T8-100% organic source (50% FYM + 25% biofertilizer+25% crop residue), and (ix) T9-Blank plot; were identified for this study. The soil physical environment significantly improves under the direct sowing when compared to puddled soil. Within nutrient treatments, value of S index was highest in T4 whereas lowest was observed in T1. There is high and significant correlation observed between S index, soil physical parameter and crop yield which shows that S index can be used for quantifying soil physical quality under diverse environments.Not Availabl

Inhibition of microRNA-34c reduces detrusor ROCK2 expression and urinary bladder inflammation in experimental cystitis

Interstitial cystitis (IC), also called painful bladder syndrome (PBS), is 2 to 5 times more common in women than in men, yet its cause and pathogenesis remain unclear. In our study using the cyclophosphamide (CYP)-induced mouse model of cystitis, histological evaluation of the urinary bladder (UB) lamina propria (LP) showed immune cell infiltrations, indicating moderate to severe inflammation. In this study, we noticed a differential expression of a subset of microRNAs (miRs) in the UB cells (UBs) of CYP-induced cystitis as compared to the control. UB inflammatory scores and inflammatory signaling were also elevated in CYP-induced cystitis as compared to control. We identified eight UBs miRs that exhibited altered expression after CYP induction and are predicted to have a role in inflammation and smooth muscle function (miRs-34c-5p, -34b-3p, -212-3p, -449a-5p, -21a-3p, -376b-3p, -376b-5p and - 409-5p). Further analysis using ELISA for inflammatory markers and real-time PCR (RT-PCR) for differentially enriched miRs identified miR-34c as a potential target for the suppression of UB inflammation in cystitis. Blocking miR-34c by antagomir ex vivo reduced STAT3, TGF-β1, and VEGF expression in the UBs, which was induced during cystitis as compared to control. Interestingly, miR-34c inhibition also downregulated ROCK2 but elevated ROCK1 expression in bladder and detrusor cells. Thus, the present study shows that targeting miR-34c can mitigate the STAT3, TGF-β, and VEGF, inflammatory signaling in UB, and suppress ROCK2 expression in UBs to effectively suppress the inflammatory response in cystitis. This study highlights miR-34c as a potential biomarker and/or serves as the basis for new therapies for the treatment of cystitis

The surgical safety checklist and patient outcomes after surgery: a prospective observational cohort study, systematic review and meta-analysis

© 2017 British Journal of Anaesthesia Background: The surgical safety checklist is widely used to improve the quality of perioperative care. However, clinicians continue to debate the clinical effectiveness of this tool. Methods: Prospective analysis of data from the International Surgical Outcomes Study (ISOS), an international observational study of elective in-patient surgery, accompanied by a systematic review and meta-analysis of published literature. The exposure was surgical safety checklist use. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality and the secondary outcome was postoperative complications. In the ISOS cohort, a multivariable multi-level generalized linear model was used to test associations. To further contextualise these findings, we included the results from the ISOS cohort in a meta-analysis. Results are reported as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals. Results: We included 44 814 patients from 497 hospitals in 27 countries in the ISOS analysis. There were 40 245 (89.8%) patients exposed to the checklist, whilst 7508 (16.8%) sustained ≥1 postoperative complications and 207 (0.5%) died before hospital discharge. Checklist exposure was associated with reduced mortality [odds ratio (OR) 0.49 (0.32–0.77); P\u3c0.01], but no difference in complication rates [OR 1.02 (0.88–1.19); P=0.75]. In a systematic review, we screened 3732 records and identified 11 eligible studies of 453 292 patients including the ISOS cohort. Checklist exposure was associated with both reduced postoperative mortality [OR 0.75 (0.62–0.92); P\u3c0.01; I2=87%] and reduced complication rates [OR 0.73 (0.61–0.88); P\u3c0.01; I2=89%). Conclusions: Patients exposed to a surgical safety checklist experience better postoperative outcomes, but this could simply reflect wider quality of care in hospitals where checklist use is routine

Prospective observational cohort study on grading the severity of postoperative complications in global surgery research

Background The Clavien–Dindo classification is perhaps the most widely used approach for reporting postoperative complications in clinical trials. This system classifies complication severity by the treatment provided. However, it is unclear whether the Clavien–Dindo system can be used internationally in studies across differing healthcare systems in high- (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods This was a secondary analysis of the International Surgical Outcomes Study (ISOS), a prospective observational cohort study of elective surgery in adults. Data collection occurred over a 7-day period. Severity of complications was graded using Clavien–Dindo and the simpler ISOS grading (mild, moderate or severe, based on guided investigator judgement). Severity grading was compared using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Data are presented as frequencies and ICC values (with 95 per cent c.i.). The analysis was stratified by income status of the country, comparing HICs with LMICs. Results A total of 44 814 patients were recruited from 474 hospitals in 27 countries (19 HICs and 8 LMICs). Some 7508 patients (16·8 per cent) experienced at least one postoperative complication, equivalent to 11 664 complications in total. Using the ISOS classification, 5504 of 11 664 complications (47·2 per cent) were graded as mild, 4244 (36·4 per cent) as moderate and 1916 (16·4 per cent) as severe. Using Clavien–Dindo, 6781 of 11 664 complications (58·1 per cent) were graded as I or II, 1740 (14·9 per cent) as III, 2408 (20·6 per cent) as IV and 735 (6·3 per cent) as V. Agreement between classification systems was poor overall (ICC 0·41, 95 per cent c.i. 0·20 to 0·55), and in LMICs (ICC 0·23, 0·05 to 0·38) and HICs (ICC 0·46, 0·25 to 0·59). Conclusion Caution is recommended when using a treatment approach to grade complications in global surgery studies, as this may introduce bias unintentionally

Critical care admission following elective surgery was not associated with survival benefit: prospective analysis of data from 27 countries

This was an investigator initiated study funded by Nestle Health Sciences through an unrestricted research grant, and by a National Institute for Health Research (UK) Professorship held by RP. The study was sponsored by Queen Mary University of London