CDFIR:Cummulative distribution function based image retrieval

Content Based Image Retrieval is a well-known retrieval process in the field of Image processing. CBIR is a special way of finding similar images from huge database. CBIR utilizes three rudimentary features like color, texture and shape which plays an essential role in image retrieval. The effective image retrieval process is the need and number of computations along with the rate of retrieval should be less and high respectively. Thus a simple function using cumulative distribution function is involved in the retrieval process. In this work, we propose a new method to determine similar images from large database with the use of shape feature. The Morphological processing is applied to an image to get shape feature i.e. boundary of the image. For the boundary extracted image a simple basic cumulative distribution function is applied and it results in similar intensity distribution for an image. The similarity measurement is performed using Euclidean distance. The retrieval process is compared with shape extracted feature, CDF applied feature and with edge detection algorithms. The outcome would be a less computation and good accuracy in finding the similar images. © 2017 IEEE

HPCIR: Histogram positional centroid for image retrieval

Content Based Image Retrival has wide application in the field of communication via internet. There exists various methods for retriving an image from the vast set of data present in the desktop, laptop, workstations and internet. The proposed Histogram positional centroid for image retrival technique uses histogrm feature extraction and position centroid. The Histogram Positional Centroid for Image Retrieval uses three feature vectors, namely histogram feature, positional centroid of each bin feature and average colour of each bin feature, for retrieval of images. Further, in the proposed method adding location and average colour description of each bin in colour histogram are incorporated. This results in speedy computation in retriving the image from the huge data base. © 2016 IEEE

Occupational exposure to unburnt bidi tobacco elevates mutagenic burden among tobacco processors

The nature of mutagenic burden due to occupational exposure to tobacco flakes and dust was determined among 20 female tobacco processors (TP) and 20 matched controls (C) by testing urinary mutagenicity in the Ames assay. In addition, urinary cotinine mutagenicity in the Ames assay. In addition, urinary continine was estimated as a marker of tobacco absorption. Workers and controls were sub-divided into those with no tobacco habit (NH) and those habituated to use of masheri (a pyrolysed form of tobacco) as a dentifrice (MH). Cotinine was not detected in samples from C-NH while the mean urinary cotinine levels in TP-NH and TP-MH were significantly higer than that in C-MH (3.46 ± 0.95 and 3.57 ± 0.46 versus 1.80 ± 0.58 mM/M creatinine; P < 0.02). The majority of the urine samples from C-NH were non-mutagenic in the presence or absence of rat liver S9 while those from C-MH were mutagenic to TA98,TA100 and TA102 strains upon metabolic activation. On the other hand, direct mutagenicity to TA98, TA100 and TA102 strains respectively was noted in 6/10, 5/10 and 8/10 samples from TP-NH and 7/10, 4/10, and 3/10 samples from TP-MH. Generally, ß-glucuronidase treatment reduced or abolished the mutagenic potential of workers' urine samples indicating that glucuronide conjugates may have partially contributed to direct mutagenicity. Experiments using scavengers of reactive oxygen species revealed mainly via hydroxyl radicals. The results clearly demonstrate that tobacco processors are exposed to a wide spectrum of mutagens that cause frame-shift, base pair substitution and oxidative damage

THE EFFECT OF CHAVYADI CHURNAM AND MUSTAKARISHTA IN MANAGEMENT OF GRAHANI W.S.R. TO IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME

Grahani roga described in classical text books of Ayurveda represents a group of disorders of digestive system caused by impairment of Agni. Imbalance of Agni and Samanavata are the most predominant factors involved in the pathogenesis of Grahani roga. The cardinal features of Grahani explained in the clinical text books of Ayurveda, have at most similarities with the clinical features of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) explained in western medicine.The study “A clinical study to evaluate the combined effect of Chavyadi Churnam Mustakarishta in Grahani w.s.r.to IBS” was undertaken to evaluate the combined effect of Mustakarishta and Chavyadichurnam in Grahani, with a stipulated time period of 40 days. One more observation after 3 months completion of treatment was made without any intervention to check the relapses if any.In this study 30 patients were incidentally selected and assigned under a single group by confirming the clinical features of Grahani along with Rome II criteria. In the intervention Chavyadi Churna was administered 3 gms twice in a day with Takra as Anupana and Mustakarishta, 15ml twice daily after food with equal water. Overall 26 patients (86.6%) got complete relief, 4 patients (13.3%) got moderate relief. The results obtained on the parameters of study were highly significant with p< 0.001. At the end with these obtained results it can be concluded that the combination of Chavyadi Churnam and Mustakarishta are very effective in the management of Vataja Grahani i.e. IBS

A Clinical Study on the efficacy of Ashvagandha Ksheerapaka in Stree Vandhyatva w.s.r. to Anovulation

Fertility is an existential necessity and as such has assumed over whelming importance from time immemorial. However, not all couples who desire a pregnancy will achieve one spontaneously and a proportion of couples will need medical help to resolve underlying fertility problems. Infertility has been recognized as a public health issue world wide by the World Health Organization. Infertility severely affects the couples psychologically, sexually and socially. Anovulation accounts for 25 - 40% of the female infertility. Ayurveda offers several potent combinations in such a condition. The aim of the present paper is to address this problem by studying the efficacy of Ashvagandha Ksheerapaka in the induction of ovulation

Adherence of popular smoking cessation mobile applications to evidence-based guidelines

Background Smoking remains one of the major preventable causes of chronic diseases. Considering the promising evidence on the effectiveness of mobile technology for health behaviour change, along with the increasing adoption of smartphones, this review aims to systematically assess the adherence of popular mobile apps for smoking cessation to evidence-based guidelines. Methods The United Kingdom Android and iOS markets were searched in February 2018 to identify smoking cessation apps. After screening, 125 Android and 15 iOS apps were tested independently by two reviewers for adherence to the National Institute of Care and Excellence (NICE) Smoking Cessation Guidelines for Self-Help Materials and the Five A Guidelines for Smoking Cessation. Pearson chi square tests were run to examine differences between the two operating systems. Results A majority of apps across both operating systems had low adherence (fulfils 1–2 out of 5 guidelines) to the Five A Guidelines (65.7%) and low adherence (fulfils 1–3 out of 9 guidelines) to the NICE Smoking Cessation Guidelines for Self-Help Materials (63.6%). Only 15% of mobile apps provided information about the benefits of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), and even fewer provided information regarding types of NRT products (7.1%) or how to use them (2.1%). In addition, only a minority of apps arrange follow-up appointments or provide additional support to help smokers quit. Conclusion Similar to previous mobile app reviews dating back to 2014, our findings show that most mobile apps do not follow existing smoking cessation treatment guidelines, indicating little change regarding the availability of evidence-based mobile apps for smoking cessation in the UK market. Smokers seeking to quit, tobacco control policy makers and software developers need to work together to develop apps that are in line with the latest clinical guidelines and strategies to maximise effectiveness

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of gastroretentive floating drug delivery system of ofloxacin

AbstractThis study aimed to develop hydrophilic matrix based controlled release gastroretentive drug delivery system of ofloxacin and conducting its in vitro and in vivo evaluations. Effervescent floating gastroretentive drug delivery system of ofloxacin was prepared utilizing Box–Behnken statistical design with 3 factors, 3 levels and 15 experimental trials. Formulation optimization was done by setting targets on selected responses. In vivo studies were carried out for the optimized formulation with 12 healthy human volunteers and obtained pharmacokinetic parameters were compared with the marketed once daily formulation, “Zanocin OD”. Optimized formulation showed satisfactory controlled in vitro drug release for more than 12 h with excellent buoyancy properties (floating lag time <1 min, floating duration >16 h). Optimized and marketed formulations were found to have similar in vitro release profile (f2 = 79.22) and also were found to be bioequivalent. Serum ofloxacin concentration was well maintained above its reported minimum inhibitory concentrations for most of the pathogens for sufficiently longer duration. Cmax and AUC values of optimized formulation were found to be significantly higher than of marketed product despite their bioequivalence. Bettertherapeutic effect can be expected since ofloxacin exhibits concentration dependent killing. Hence, gastroretention can be a promising approach to enhance bioavailability of ofloxacin with narrow absorption window in upper GIT

Mutagenic potential of Indian tobacco products

The mutagenic potential of aqueous extracts of masheri (ME), chewing tobacco alone (CTE) and a mixture of chewing tobacco plus lime (CTLE) was tested using the Ames assay. ME exhibited mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium TA98 upon metabolic activation with aroclor-1254-induced rat liver S9, while nitrosation rendered it mutagenic in TA100 and TA102. CTE exhibited borderline mutagenicity in the absence or presence of S9 in TA98 and TA100 and after nitrosation in TA102, while nitrosation led to doubling of TA98 and TA100 revertants. In contrast, CTLE exhibited direct mutagenicity in TA98, TA100 and TA102, was mutagenic to TA98 upon S9 addition and induced mutagenic responses in all three tester strains after nitrosation. Experiments using scavengers of reactive oxygen species (ROS) suggested that CTLE-induced oxidat-ive damage in TA102 was mediated by a variety of ROS. The high mutagenic potency of CTLE vis a vis that of CTE may be attributed to changes in the pH leading to differences in the amount and nature of compounds extracted from tobacco. Thus, exposure to a wide spectrum of tobacco-derived mutagcns and promutagens may play a critical role in the development of oral cancer among users of tobacco plus lime

Process Personalization Framework for Service-Driven Enterprises

Service functions and service activities are integral part of enterprises. Although technologies have improved for developing service functions, errors persist in service activities. Noted computer scientist Ramamoorthy describes personalization, customization, and humanization of service functions as an effective approach for reducing error in service activities. This paper argues that current personalization approaches does not effectively address the entire spectrum of service functions. The proposed personalization framework can advance current state of personalization through enabling tools as services and services as tools. We discuss the framework utilizing biological research as a service-driven enterprise example. The proposed framework is based on our enterprise process personalization patent