Pilot Study Validation of Hear Mobile Hearing Screening Application in the General Population

The purpose of this pilot study was to test the quality of data collected by a mobile hearing screening application (hEAR) against the gold standard of pure tone audiometry administered by a certified audiologist. hEAR used 7 pre-set frequencies (125 Hz, 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, 4000 Hz and 8000 Hz), which were the independent variables, and recorded measurements as sound pressure levels in decibels (dB) during three trials. In total, 30 subjects were recruited from the general population at Texas A&M University. Subjects were randomly assigned and counterbalanced in their assignment to a “quiet” room and a “noisy” room. Subjects used the hEAR mobile hearing screening application to self-administer hearing screening tests. Subjects also had hearing screening examinations performed by a certified audiologist at the identified pre-set frequencies. Data were analyzed using a mixed effect model and testing for repeated measures at 95% confidence intervals, results were separated by room. It was found that the hEAR trials differed from the audiologist trial at almost all frequencies in a noisy environment, but only at 2000 Hz and 8000 Hz for the quiet environment. It was also found that the app trials were very similar to one another (trials 1&2, trials 1&3 and trials 2&3 similar to each other) in the noisy environment; while they statistically differed from one another at almost all frequencies except 125 Hz in a quiet environment. Further research is needed so as to develop hEAR as an effective alternative to an audiologist-administered pure tone hearing test, which can consequently be used for better compliance with OSHA’s hearing screening requirements

Isolation and Characterization of Bioactive Terpenoids from the Leaves of Ceriops tagal Linn

Plants have been used for medicine from time immemorial because they have fitted the immediate personal need and are easily accessible. These are inexpensive too. In the recent past there has been a tremendous increase in the use of plant based health products in developing as well as developed countries, resulting in an exponential growth of herbal products globally. Herbal medicines have a strong traditional or conceptual base and the potential to be useful as drugs in terms of safety and effectiveness leads for treating different diseases. There are not much chemical investigations on this plant. Ceriops tagal Linn. is a mangrove plant. The leaves of the plant were air dried and dried leaves were used for the detailed chemical and biological investigation. The leaves were extracted with ethanol and the ethanol extract showed promising antidiabetic activity (PTPase inhibitory activity). This prompted us to take up detailed chemical investigation on this plant. We have isolated 12 chemical molecules from the bioassay guided fraction for the location of biological activity. Four molecules [(Stearic acid (94.2%) Betulin (94.4%) (β-hydroxy betulinic acid 90.5%) and (ursolic acid 91.6%)] showed promising PTPase activity at 100 μg/ml

A CASE STUDY OF VARIOUS WIRELESS NETWORK SIMULATION TOOLS

4G is the fastest developing system in the history of mobile communication networks. Network connectivity is paramount for all kinds of big enterprises.  4G not only provides super-fast connectivity to millions of users, but can also act as an enterprise network connectivity enabler and it has inherent advantages such as higher bandwidth, low latency, higher spectrum efficiency along with backward compatibility and future proofing. The design of the 4G based Long Term Evolution physical network provides the required flexibility for optimization during the development phase. In this paper LTE Network related supporting simulation tools is presented to demonstrate the need of Hardware co-simulation of the LTE system. After the feasibility analysis, the importance of the model is to be ported Field Programmable Gate Array platform is examined in survey in detail with the supporting inferences along with the comparison of different wireless network simulators suitable for LTE

The properties of Bessel-type fractional derivatives and integrals

The fractional integrals of Bessel-type Fractional Integrals from left-sided and right-sided integrals of fractional order is established on finite and infinite interval of the real-line, half axis and real axis. The Bessel-type fractional derivatives are also established. The properties of Fractional derivatives and integrals are studied. The fractional derivatives of Bessel-type of fractional order on finite of the real-line are studied by graphical representation. Results are direct output of the computer algebra system coded from MATLAB R2011b

Finite-Generalized-Laplace-Hankel-Clifford-Transformation

In this paper, finite-generalized-Laplace-Hankel-Clifford-transformation is established. The relation of the conventional Laplace transformation is applied over finite-generalized-Hankel-Clifford and derived further results. Analyticity and boundedness condition is established. The Operation transform and an inversion formula for a distributional finite-generalized-Laplace-Hankel-Clifford-transformation is developed. A problem is solved in the text to support development of the finite-generalized-Laplace-Hankel-Clifford-transformation

Role of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in determining the outcomes of preterm premature rupture of membranes

Background: Premature Rupture of Membranes (PROM) is a significant obstetric problem. Evaluation of neutorphil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is expected to throw light on the potential scope of early prediction of PPROM. With this background, the present study was carried out to compare the NLR among preterm PROM and healthy controls to evaluate the predictive role of NLR and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR).Methods: This case control study was carried out among 101 pregnant women 44 pregnant women diagnosed with Preterm PROM and 55 term gestation matched healthy controls. Laboratory parameters (including complete blood count were measured. PLR was calculated as the number of platelets divided by the lymphocyte count, and NLR was calculated by dividing the neutrophil Count by the lymphocyte count, both of which were obtained from the same blood samples.Results: All the inflammatory markers including total count, neutrophil count, NLR and PLR ratios were elevated among PPROM group compared to the controls. The observed differences in the mean levels of these parameters were statistically significant (p<0.05).Conclusions: It may be considered that monitoring of NLR during second and early third trimesters as a routine practice among high risk mothers can significantly help in early prediction of PPROM and help in minimizing adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes

A cadaveric study for structural variations of the stomach

Background: The morphology of the stomach taken for the study for its clinical interventions like gastro-oesophagial reflux disorders (GERD) which are very common nowadays because of unusual timing of eating food, stress related jobs, eating of junk foods etc. The obesity now considered to be the 2nd leading cause of death, which can be prevented by gastric reconstructive procedures i.e., the bariatric surgeries.  Methods: The study includes 70 adult cadavers, 28 obtained from the formalin fixed specimens kept for anatomy dissection for 1st year MBBS students from 2009 batch to 2015 batch. The remaining 42 specimens obtained from the postpartum bodies in the Forensic department of Guntur Medical College, Guntur. The abdominal cavity opened according to the incisions in the Cunninghams manual of anatomy. Stomach identified by reflecting anterior abdominal wall. Location noted, shape observed, Length taken, relations blood supply noted, results tabulated.Results: 71.4% specimens are “J” shaped, 14.2% are reverse “L” shaped, 7.2% are cresentic shaped, 7.2% are cylindrical shaped observed. The length is more in “J” shaped specimens. The lower extent of greater curvature at L3 in 71.4% specimens, at L2 in 21.4% specimens, at L4 in 7.2% specimens.Conclusions: The present study discussed about the shape of the stomach and the majority of specimens shown “J” shape. Remaining are reverse “L” shape; cresentic and cylindrical shaped.