A study on effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on peri operative complications and outcome in patients under-going radical cystectomy for muscle invasive bladder cancer

Background: To compare the peri-operative complications, related to radical cystectomy and to compare peri operative outcomes between patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy and those treated with radical cystectomy alone.Methods: This was prospective observational study. The study was conducted at ‘The Department of Urosurgery, R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata’. Study period was between March 2016 to March 2018. Total 36 patients were included in present study. Patients after clinical diagnosis and risk factor profile analysis were divided into two groups: (1) radical cystectomy alone (n=24) (2) patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (gemcitabine and cisplatin regime) followed by radical cystectomy (n=12). Different parameters were compared.Results: Total 36 patients were underwent radical cystectomy. In group 1, 96% (n=23) were having T2 stage while 4% (n=1) were having T3stage. In group 2 25% (n=3) patients were having T2stage while 75% (n=9) were having T3 stage as per CECT staging. There were no significant difference noted in perioperative complications in both groups except perioperative adhesions (group 2, 47% vs group 1, 8.3%). There was significant time delay in radical cystectomy in group 2 (patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy).Conclusions: We found there were no significant increase in perioperative morbidity and mortality with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy. Most of the complications were comparable to previous studies

Analysis and performance of edge filtering interrogation scheme for FBG sensor using SMS fiber and OTDR

Abstract An interrogation technique for fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor is devised with customized in-line edge filtering single-multi-single mode fiber (SMS) component and optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR). The performance of the proposed SMS-OTDR interrogation is established by temperature and strain sensing analysis of a standard FBG. The temperature and strain sensitivity values which are verified by theoretical analysis are estimated as 1.01 × 10−2 dB/℃ and 3.9 × 10−4 dB/µɛ respectively. Furthermore, we have optimized and achieved controlled etching on FBG and tested it for hiking the sensitivity. Using the etched FBG, an enhanced temperature and strain sensitivity of 6.7 × 10−2 dB/℃ and 3.2 × 10−3 dB/µɛ covering the range of 20–200 °C and 100–2015 µɛ respectively are also recorded and analysed by this integration method. Eventually, the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the proposed method are compared with various reported techniques and presented here

Encryption and Decryption of Images with Pixel Data Modification Using Hand Gesture Passcodes

To ensure data security and safeguard sensitive information in society, image encryption and decryption as well as pixel data modifications, are essential. To avoid misuse and preserve trust in our digital environment, it is crucial to use these technologies responsibly and ethically. So, to overcome some of the issues, the authors designed a way to modify pixel data that would hold the hidden information. The objective of this work is to change the pixel values in a way that can be used to store information about black and white image pixel data. Prior to encryption and decryption, by using Python we were able to construct a passcode with hand gestures in the air, then encrypt it without any data loss. It concentrates on keeping track of simply two pixel values. Thus, pixel values are slightly changed to ensure the masked image is not misleading. Considering that the RGB values are at their border values of 254, 255 the test cases of masking overcome issues with the corner values susceptibility

Neutrosophic Shortest Path Problem

Neutrosophic set theory provides a new tool to handle the uncertainties in shortest path problem (SPP). This paper introduces the SPP from a source node to a destination node on a neutrosophic graph in which a positive neutrosophic number is assigned to each edge as its edge cost. We define this problem as neutrosophic shortest path problem (NSSPP). A simple algorithm is also introduced to solve the NSSPP. The proposed algorithm finds the neutrosophic shortest path (NSSP) and its corresponding neutrosophic shortest path length (NSSPL) between source node and destination node. Our proposed algorithm is also capable to find crisp shortest path length (CrSPL) of the corresponding neutrosophic shortest path length (NSSPL) which helps the decision maker to choose the shortest path easily. We also compare our proposed algorithm with some existing methods to show efficiency of our proposed algorithm. Finally, some numerical experiments are given to show the effectiveness and robustness of the new model. Numerical and graphical results demonstrate that the novel methods are superior to the existing method

Shortest path problem using Bellman algorithm under neutrosophic environment

An elongation of the single-valued neutrosophic set is an interval-valued neutrosophic set. It has been demonstrated to deal indeterminacy in a decision-making problem. Real-world problems have some kind of uncertainty in nature and among them; one of the influential problems is solving the shortest path problem (SPP) in interconnections

A Multi Objective Programming Approach to Solve Integer Valued Neutrosophic Shortest Path Problems

Neutrosophic (NS) set hypothesis gives another way to deal with the vulnerabilities of the shortest path problems (SPP). Several researchers have worked on fuzzy shortest path problem (FSPP) in a fuzzy graph with vulnerability data and completely different applications in real world eventualities. However, the uncertainty related to the inconsistent information and indeterminate information isn't properly expressed by fuzzy set. The neutrosophic set deals these forms of uncertainty. This paper presents a model for shortest path problem with various arrangements of integer-valued trapezoidal neutrosophic (INVTpNS) and integer-valued triangular neutrosophic (INVTrNS). We characterized this issue as Neutrosophic Shortest way problem (NSSPP). The established linear programming (LP) model solves the classical SPP that consists of crisp parameters

Industrial heat island: a case study of Angul-Talcher region in India

Most of the urban heat island (UHI) studies are carried out in densely populated cities but core industrial areas are also potential sites of heat island effect despite having a comparatively lower population. In the present study, heat island assessment has been carried out for Angul-Talcher industrial area (ATIA) which is one of the oldest industrial areas of India and is still undergoing a transformation to accommodate more industries and mining operations. As the major contributors towards influencing local meteorology were expected to be industrial (and mining) activities, the heat island was studied as "industrial heat island" (IHI) rather than urban heat island. Industrial and mining sites were the most frequent nighttime canopy-layer heat island intensity (HIN) hotspots due to anthropogenic heat of associated industrial processes as well as built structures. During the daytime, croplands experienced the most frequent canopy-layer HIN hotspots which could be attributed to low moisture of the soils during the non-farming period of the field campaign. Hourly maximum atmospheric heat island intensities were observed in the range of 7-9 degrees C. Monthly maximum HINs ranged from 2.97 to 4.04 degrees C while 3-month mean HINs varied from 1.45 to 2.74 degrees C. Amongst different land use/land cover classes, the highest mean canopy-layer heat island intensity for the entire 3-month-long duration of field campaign during nighttime was assessed at the mining sites (3-month mean 2.74 degrees C) followed in decreasing order by the industrial sites (2.52 degrees C), rural and urban settlements (2.13 degrees C), and croplands (2.06 degrees C). Corresponding daytime canopy-layer heat island intensity was highest for the croplands (2.07 degrees C) followed in decreasing order by the mining sites (1.70 degrees C), rural and urban settlements (1.68 degrees C), and industry (1.45 degrees C)

SARS-CoV-2 emerging Omicron subvariants with a special focus on BF.7 and XBB.1.5 recently posing fears of rising cases amid ongoing COVID-19 pandemic

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron versions have been the sole one circulating for quite some time. Subvariants BA.1, BA.2, BA.3, BA.4, and BA.5 of the Omicron emerged over time and through mutation, with BA.1 responsible for the most severe global pandemic between December 2021 and January 2022. Other Omicron subvariants such as BQ.1, BQ.1.1, BA.4.6, BF.7, BA.2.75.2, XBB.1 appeared recently and could cause a new wave of increased cases amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. There is evidence that certain Omicron subvariants have increased transmissibility, extra spike mutations, and ability to overcome protective effects of COVID-19 neutralizing antibodies through immunological evasion. In recent months, the Omicron BF.7 subvariant has been in the news due to its spread in China and a small number of other countries, raising concerns about a possible rebound in COVID-19 cases. More recently, the Omicron XBB.1.5 subvariant has captured international attention due to an increase in cases in the United States. As a highly transmissible sublineage of Omicron BA.5, as well as having a shorter incubation time and the potential to reinfect or infect immune population, BF.7 has stronger infection ability. It appears that the regional immunological landscape is affected by the amount and timing of previous Omicron waves, as well as the COVID-19 vaccination coverage, which in turn determines whether the increased immune escape of BF.7 and XBB.1.5 subvariants is sufficient to drive new infection waves. Expanding our understanding of the transmission and efficacy of vaccines, immunotherapeutics, and antiviral drugs against newly emerging Omicron subvariants and lineages, as well as bolstering genomic facilities for tracking their spread and maintaining a constant vigilance, and shedding more light on their evolution and mutational events, would help in the development of effective mitigation strategies. Importantly, reducing the occurrence of mutations and recombination in the virus can be aided by bolstering One health approach and emphasizing its significance in combating zoonosis and reversal zoonosis linked with COVID-19. This article provides a brief overview on Omicron variant, its recently emerging lineages and subvairants with a special focus on BF.7 and XBB.1.5 as much more infectious and highly transmissible variations that may once again threaten a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases globally amid the currently ongoing pandemic, along with presenting salient mitigation measures

Molecular heterogeneity of plpE gene in Indian isolates of Pasteurella multocida and expression of recombinant PlpE in vaccine strain of P. multocida serotype B: 2

Outer membrane proteins of Pasteurella (P.) multocida have been known to be protective immunogens. Pasteurella lipoprotein E (PlpE) has been reported to be an important cross reactive outer membrane protein in P. multocida. The gene encoding the PlpE of P. multocida serotypes A: 3, B: 2 and D: 1 was amplified from the genomic DNA. The amplified products were cloned and the nucleotide sequence was determined. Sequence analysis of the recombinant clones revealed a single open reading frame of 1,011 bp, 1,008 bp and 1,017 bp encoding a protein with a calculated molecular mass of 37.829 kDa, 37.389 kDa and 37.965 kDa for serotypes A: 3, B: 2 and D: 1 respectively. The comparison of the plpE sequence in different capsular types revealed a high degree (>90%) of homology. Furthermore, the plpE gene of Haemorhhagic septicaemia causing serotype (B: 2) was expressed in E. coli and recombinant PlpE was strongly immunostained by antiserum against whole cell antigen, indicating that the protein is expressed in vivo

Knowledge and practices related to antibiotics among poultry producers and veterinarians in two Indian states

Background Antibiotics are frequently utilized in livestock, particularly poultry, for therapy and growth promotion, resulting in antimicrobial resistance. Multidrug-resistant bacteria are frequent in poultry samples from India. The purpose of this study was to better understand main antibiotic consumption patterns in poultry value chains, as well as antibiotic knowledge and practices among the stakeholders. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Assam and Karnataka, India. The poultry farmers were interviewed on antibiotic usage, antibiotic knowledge, feeding practices, and preventive measures on the farm. Poultry farmers reported their veterinarians, and we also interviewed them on knowledge and practices related to antimicrobial use in poultry and antimicrobial resistance. Item response theory (IRT) was used to assess the association between the answers and demographic factors. Results This survey interviewed 62 poultry farmers and 11 veterinarians. Small poultry farms with fewer than 4000 birds were owned by 51.6% of farmers. Most poultry farmers had heard about antibiotics, and 62.9% thought they cured all diseases. If one chicken is sick, 72.6% said others should be given antibiotics to prevent the disease. All veterinarians utilized tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, and cephalexin on the poultry farms. Over half (54.5%) stated antibiotics prevent diseases, and 72.7% said they treat and prevent diseases. Some (45.5%) said antibiotics boost growth. IRT analysis showed that 8 questions assessed a knowledge scale well. Univariable analysis showed that Assam farmers and women were likely to have have more knowledge. Conclusion The poultry farmers were mostly unaware of the relation between antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance. Despite being aware, the veterinarians agreed with use antibiotics as a prophylactic measure. It is vital that these stakeholders understand the repercussions of such widespread antibiotic use. In order to increase knowledge, frequent trainings and antimicrobial stewardship programmes with effective communication and incentives for behaviour change should be conducted