InfiNet: Fully Convolutional Networks for Infant Brain MRI Segmentation

We present a novel, parameter-efficient and practical fully convolutional neural network architecture, termed InfiNet, aimed at voxel-wise semantic segmentation of infant brain MRI images at iso-intense stage, which can be easily extended for other segmentation tasks involving multi-modalities. InfiNet consists of double encoder arms for T1 and T2 input scans that feed into a joint-decoder arm that terminates in the classification layer. The novelty of InfiNet lies in the manner in which the decoder upsamples lower resolution input feature map(s) from multiple encoder arms. Specifically, the pooled indices computed in the max-pooling layers of each of the encoder blocks are related to the corresponding decoder block to perform non-linear learning-free upsampling. The sparse maps are concatenated with intermediate encoder representations (skip connections) and convolved with trainable filters to produce dense feature maps. InfiNet is trained end-to-end to optimize for the Generalized Dice Loss, which is well-suited for high class imbalance. InfiNet achieves the whole-volume segmentation in under 50 seconds and we demonstrate competitive performance against multiple state-of-the art deep architectures and their multi-modal variants.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, conference, IEEE ISBI, 201

An Ensemble-based approach for assigning text to correct Harmonized system code

Industries must follow government rules and regulations around the world to classify products when assessing duties and taxes for international shipment. Harmonized System (HS) is the most standardized numerical method of classifying traded products among industry classification systems. A hierarchical ensemble model comprising of Bert-transformer, NER, distance-based approaches, and knowledge-graphs have been developed to address scalability, coverage, ability to capture nuances, automation and auditing requirements when classifying unknown text-descriptions as per HS method

FORMULATION AND IN VITRO CHARACTERISATION OF SOYBEAN OIL-HPMCK4M BASED BIGEL MATRIX FOR TOPICAL DRUG DELIVERY

Objective: Hydrogels with scope for utilization in numerous fields possess limited applications due to problems in incorporating wide range of drugs and crossing the lipophilic barrier of the skin. Attempts to overcome these problems by developing organogel hold drawbacks. Challenges posed by drug lipophilicity or skin permeation can be solved by developing bigel formed via combination of lipophilic and hydrophilic gel phases in a definite proportion. The objective of the present study is to formulate and characterize matrix type bigel of soybean oil and HPMCK4M for topical drug delivery. Methods: Four batches of bigels were developed with two organogel formulations of soybean oil containing 20 and 22% w/v Span 60. Both organogels and bigels were examined for compatibility by FTIR spectroscopy, hemocompatibility and characterized for physical appearance, pH, rheological behavior and in vitro drug release pattern. Results: FTIR study confirmed compatibility between paracetamol and components of organogel or bigel. The oily feel of organogels disappeared with bigels which possessed a creamy and smooth texture. Pseudoplastic behaviour was confirmed by Ostwald-de wale power-law model in both organogels and bigels. Improved drug release was observed in bigel (BG1) formulation containing 3%w/v HPMCK4M and soybean oil based organogel with 20% w/v Span 60 as compared to the corresponding organogel (OG1). Organogels were foundto follow either zero-order kinetics (OG1) or Korsmeyer-Peppasmodel (OG2) while the formation of matrix was exhibited in bigels with drug diffusion predominantly of non-Fickian type. Conclusion: Therefore, bigels of soybean oil based organogel with HPMCK4M hydrogel formed gel matrix demonstrating improved drug release for topical application compared to organogel

BIOCOMPUTATIONAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF PHYTOCHEMICALS FROM ZINGIBER OFFICINALE (GINGER), ALLIUM SATIVUM (GARLIC), AND MURRAYAKOENIGII (CURRY LEAF) IN CONTRAST TO TYPE 2-DIABETES

Objective: This study was aimed to analyze the inhibitory effect of the flavonoid class of phytochemicals present in ginger (Zingiber Officinale), garlic (Allium sativum), and curry leaf (Murrayakoenigii) against some receptors of type-2 diabetes such as human aldose reductase receptor, mitogen synthase kinase receptor, as well as dipeptidyl peptidase receptor by implementing several in silico analysis techniques. Methods: The 3D structures of the flavonoid class of phytochemicals of all the three plants were retrieved from the PubChem database in 3D SDF format and were converted to PDB format using PyMol software. These phytochemicals were subjected to in silico tools such as SwissADME,  Pre-ADMET, and iMODS web server. The PDB-IDs of the targeted receptors human aldose reductase, dipeptidyl peptidase-IV, and mitogen synthase kinase were retrieved from Protein Data Bank in PDB format. All these receptors were then prepared for docking procedure using Autodock Tools. Now, both the prepared proteins and ligands were subjected to docking analysis using Pyrex (AutodockVina). Results: Naringenin and kaempferol showed excellent docking results with the aldose reductase receptor. On the other hand, rutin showed the best docking score with dipeptidyl peptidase receptor-IV, whereas, epigallocatechin showed the best docking results with mitogen synthase kinase receptor. The ADME analysis showed that resveratrol had the best gastrointestinal absorption as well as high blood-brain barrier permeability. Conclusion: Overall, the molecular docking results when analyzed showed a good binding affinity with the targeted receptors of diabetes. The ADME analysis and molecular docking results of the phytochemicals concluded that these compounds can be used as a potential cure for treating diabetes

Blue Energy and Its Potential: The Membrane Based Energy Harvesting

The present energy generation is largely dependent on fossil fuels which results in the emission of greenhouse gases and is also characterized by vulnerability and eminent scarcity. In order to meet the respective concerns, the energy supply should be based on (i) an environmental-friendly non-combustion energy conversion, (ii) a freely available alternative energy source, and (iii) a renewable energy source. In this chapter, the authors want to explore an alternative and the hardly known renewable energy source, i.e. salinity gradient energy. It is the most promising renewable energy source and also termed as ‘blue energy’. Estimates from literature predicted coverage of over 80% of the current global electricity demand when applied in all river mouths. From thermodynamic calculations, it can be derived that each m3 of river water can yield 1.4 MJ when mixed with the same amount of seawater. Two membrane-based processes are available to convert blue energy into electricity: Pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) and Reverse electrodialysis (RED). Blue energy along with its technical and economic potential would be the major focus of this chapter

The GMRT High Resolution Southern Sky Survey for pulsars and transients -- VI: Discovery of nulling, localisation and timing of PSR J1244-4708

Many pulsars in the known population exhibit nulling, which is characterised by a sudden cessation and subsequent restoration of radio emission. In this work, we present the localization, timing, and emission properties of a GHRSS discovered pulsar J1244-4708. Moreover, we find that this pulsar shows nulling with a nulling fraction close to 60%. A quasi-periodicity is also seen in the nulling from this pulsar with two timescales. We demonstrate the broadband nature of nulling in this pulsar using simultaneous observations in band-3 (300-500 MHz) and band-4 (550-750 MHz) with the uGMRT. We also present a comparison of the efficiency of various search approaches such as single pulse search, Fast Folding Algorithm (FFA) based search, and Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) based search to search for nulling pulsars. We demonstrated that the FFA search is advantageous for detecting extreme nulling pulsars, which is also confirmed with multiple epochs of observations for the nulling pulsars using the GMRT.Comment: 13 pages, 11 figures, 1 table, Under minor revision in Astrophysical Journa

PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL CHARACTERISATION OF MUCILAGE FROM SWEET BASIL SEED

Objective: Gums and mucilages are of immense significance as excipients owing to their renewable natural sources, cheapness, ready availability, biodegradability, non-toxicity, ability to undergo hydration and swelling rapidly. To satisfy the ever-increasing demand for highly specific and functional excipients, sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) has been selected for the purpose of isolation of mucilage from its seeds and its physicochemical and pharmaceutical characterisation. Methods: Physicochemical characterisation of sweet basil seed mucilage was carried out by FTIR spectroscopy, HPTLC, phytochemical tests, X-ray diffractometry, studies on mucilage hydration, water holding capacity and swelling behaviour. Determination of compressibility index, Hausner ratio and angle of repose was done as part of pharmaceutical characterisation of mucilage. Results: The geometric diameter, sphericity and surface area of the seed have been found to be 1.24±0.31 mm, 0.62±0.01 and 4.83±0.5 mm2 respectively. From microscopy, mucilage from seeds was seen to emerge as spiral filaments as soon as they were placed in water. The FTIR study reveals the mucilage to be a carbohydrate containing–OH groups with intermolecular hydrogen bonding as in polysaccharides, with 1→4 glycosidic bonds. Qualitative phytochemical screening of Ocimum basilicum L. seed mucilage (BSM) revealed the presence of non-reducing sugars, gums and mucilage. X-ray diffractogram presented its amorphous structure. The HPTLC profiles of BSM in n-butanol: acetic acid: water (4:1:1) at 254 nm and at 366 nm (before and after spraying with p-anisidine) revealed several bands with Rf values ranging from<0.1 to 0.5. The water-holding capacity of the mucilage has been found to be 97.5±2.4 g/g mucilage and swelling index values (0.1-0.5% w/v) were in the range of 100±10 to 200±13 at 25 °C. BSM was found to possess fair to passable flow property with Hausner’s ratio of 1.247 and angle of repose of 37.57°. Conclusion: Therefore, mucilage from sweet basil seed can be employed as an excipient in manufacture of tablets by wet granulation after addition of suitable lubricants and also in development of liquid dosage forms