Automated Deployment of an End-to-End Pipeline on Amazon Web Services for Real-Time Visual Inspection using Fast Streaming High-Definition Images

This thesis investigates various degrees of freedom and deployment challenges of building an end-to-end intelligent visual inspection system for use in automotive manufacturing. Current methods of fault detection in automotive assembly are highly manual and labor intensive, and thus prone to errors. An automated process can potentially be fast enough to operate within the real-time constraints of the assembly line and can reduce errors. In automotive manufacturing, components of the end-to-end pipeline include capturing a large set of high definition images from a camera setup at the assembly location, transferring and storing the images as needed, executing object detection within a given time frame before the next car arrives in the assembly line, and notifying a human operator when a fault is detected. As inference of object detection models are typically very computing- and memory-intensive, meeting the time, memory and resource constraints requires careful consideration of the choice of object detection model and model parameters, along with adequate hardware and environmental support. Some automotive manufacturing plants lack floor space to set up the entire pipeline on an edge platform. Thus, we have developed a template for Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Python using the BOTO3 libraries that can deploy the entire end-to-end scalable infrastructure in any region in AWS. In this thesis, we design, develop, and experimentally evaluate the performance of system components, including the throughput and latency to upload high definition images to an AWS cloud server, the time required by AWS components in the pipeline, and the tradeoffs of inference time, memory and accuracy for twenty-four popular object detection models on four hardware platforms

Tele-Neurorehabilitation During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for Practice in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

The importance of neurorehabilitation services for people with disabilities is getting well-recognized in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) recently. However, accessibility to the same has remained the most significant challenge, in these contexts. This is especially because of the non-availability of trained specialists and the availability of neurorehabilitation centers only in urban cities owned predominantly by private healthcare organizations. In the current COVID-19 pandemic, the members of the Task Force for research at the Indian Federation of Neurorehabilitation (IFNR) reviewed the context for tele-neurorehabilitation (TNR) and have provided the contemporary implications for practicing TNR during COVID-19 for people with neurological disabilities (PWNDs) in LMICs. Neurorehabilitation is a science that is driven by rigorous research-based evidence. The current pandemic implies the need for systematically developed TNR interventions that is evaluated for its feasibility and acceptability and that is informed by available evidence from LMICs. Given the lack of organized systems in place for the provision of neurorehabilitation services in general, there needs to be sufficient budgetary allocations and a sector-wide approach to developing policies and systems for the provision of TNR services for PWNDs. The pandemic situation provides an opportunity to optimize the technological innovations in health and scale up these innovations to meet the growing burden of neurological disability in LMICs. Thus, this immense opportunity must be tapped to build capacity for safe and effective TNR services provision for PWNDs in these settings

miR29b regulates aberrant methylation in In-Vitro diabetic nephropathy model of renal proximal tubular cells.

The role of DNA methylation has not been enough explored in pathophysiology of diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, according to recent reports it has been inferred that hypermethylation could be one of the principle cause associated with the enhancement of DN. An interrelationship between miR29b and DNA methylation has been studied via in-silico analysis. We have validated that miR29b prominently targets DNA methyl transferase (DNMT), specifically DNMT1, DNMT3A and DNMT3B. We have developed in vitro DN model using renal proximal tubule epithelial cells (RPTECs), contributed to a significant alleviation in RNA and protein expression levels of DNMT3A, DNMT3B and DNMT1. The developed model has also demonstrated downregulation in expression of miR29b. Our studies have also suggested that miR29b targets DNMT1 via targeting its transcription factor SP1. In addition to this, downregulation of a specific biomarker for kidney injury, tubular kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) and fibrosis causing glycoprotein i.e. fibronectin, was also demonstrated. Hence, the developed model revealed that hypermethylation is a key factor incorporated in DN, and miR29b could effectively ameliorate defensive actions in DN pathogenesis

Correction: miR29b regulates aberrant methylation in In-Vitro diabetic nephropathy model of renal proximal tubular cells.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0208044.]

Comparative evaluation of effect of diode laser as an adjunct to scaling and root planing and scaling and root planing alone on clinical parameters and gingival crevicular fluid interlukin-10 level in chronic periodontitis

The aim of the study was to compare and evaluate the effect of diode laser as an adjunct to scaling and root planing and scaling and root planing alone on clinical parameters and Gingival Crevicular Fluid (GCF) interlukin-10 level in chronic periodontitis. Ten chronic periodontitis patients were selected. As it was a split mouth study, two sites with deepest pocket one in each quadrant were randomly assigned for scaling and root planing (SRP) and SRP+ diode laser treatment. Plaque index, gingival index, probing depth, and clinical attachment level were measured at baseline and at 3months after treatment. The GCF levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10) were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Test group showed significantly better outcome compared to the control group in all clinical parameters (PI, GI, PD and CAL). The total amount of IL-10 increased after treatment in both test and control groups. From baseline to three months, the SRP with Diode laser group demonstrated a substantial rise in IL-10 levels, demonstrating how lasers can improve nonsurgical periodontal treatment results. Thus, diode laser when used in adjunct to SRP, the levels of IL-10 which is an anti-inflammatory cytokine, significantly increased which indicated reduced inflammation of the tissues

Planning and learning for Non-Markovian negative side effects using finite state controllers

National Research Foundation (NRF) Singapore under AI Singapore Programm