“Quo Vadis Diagnosis”: Application of Informatics in Early Detection of Pneumothorax

A pneumothorax is a condition that occurs in the lung region when air enters the pleural space—the area between the lung and chest wall—causing the lung to collapse and making it difficult to breathe. This can happen spontaneously or as a result of an injury. The symptoms of a pneumothorax may include chest pain, shortness of breath, and rapid breathing. Although chest X-rays are commonly used to detect a pneumothorax, locating the affected area visually in X-ray images can be time-consuming and prone to errors. Existing computer technology for detecting this disease from X-rays is limited by three major issues, including class disparity, which causes overfitting, difficulty in detecting dark portions of the images, and vanishing gradient. To address these issues, we propose an ensemble deep learning model called PneumoNet, which uses synthetic images from data augmentation to address the class disparity issue and a segmentation system to identify dark areas. Finally, the issue of the vanishing gradient, which becomes very small during back propagation, can be addressed by hyperparameter optimization techniques that prevent the model from slowly converging and poorly performing. Our model achieved an accuracy of 98.41% on the Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine pneumothorax dataset, outperforming other deep learning models and reducing the computation complexities in detecting the disease.

Optimal energy management system for the design of off grid hybrid renewable energy systems: A hybrid technique

This manuscript proposes an efficient hybrid strategy to obtain the optimal solution of operational cost reduction, size reduction of hybrid renewable energy sources and optimal power flow control for off-grid system. Here, off-grid is incorporated with photovoltaic array, wind turbine, Diesel generator, and battery energy storage system. The hybrid method is joint execution of Giza Pyramids Construction (GPC) and Billiards-inspired optimization algorithm (BOA) hence it is named GPC-BOA technique. The major purpose of proposed method is minimizing the operational cost as well as size of hybrid renewable energy sources and improves the power flow of system. In this energy management system of off-grid provides cost reduction which includes the generation, replacement, operating and maintenance, cost of fuel consumption, cost of exchanged power with grid, and the penalty for emissions. Here, the GPC method is employed for forecasting the load requirement of system. The BOA technique optimizes the off-grid system through the deliberation of forecasted load requirement. At last, the proposed approach is performed on MATLAB platform and the performance is assessed using existing techniques.

Optimally detecting and classifying the transmission line fault in power system using hybrid technique

In this paper, a hybrid system is proposed to predict and classifies the power system transmission line faults. The proposed technique is the consolidation of both the truncated singular value decomposition (TSVD) and Human urbanization algorithm (HUA) based Recurrent Perceptron Neural Network (RPNN), and hence it is named as TSVD-HUARPNN technique. TSVD is matrix decomposition, this technique qualify the outcome it as fast or not. In the proposed work, the qualification of the results from the TSVD is improved by a lemma theorem; it is a proven proposition which is used to obtain a larger and optimal result. For that reason, it is also known as a "helping theorem" or an "auxiliary theorem". Here, it has two modules for power system fault analysis: (i) fault detection, (ii) fault classification. The first process of the proposed system is the generation of the dataset of normal and abnormal conditions of transmission line parameters of power system using TSVD. The extracted dataset is assessed by HUA-based RPNN system to classify the fault analysis that occurs in transmission system. The TSVD-HUARPNN system is used to predict and classify the fault present in the transmission line. The proposed TSVD-HUARPNN system ensures the system with less complexity for the detection and classification of the fault, therefore the accuracy of the system is increased. By then, the proposed model is activated in MATLAB/Simulink, its performance is evaluated with the existing models. The performance with noise at 20 dB of the proposed technique is 99.77%.

Diagnosis of COVID-19 patients by adapting hyper parametertuned deep belief network using hosted cuckoo optimization algorithm

COVID-19 is an infection caused by recently discovered corona virus. The symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough and dumpiness of breathing. A quick and accurate identification is essential for an efficient fight against COVID-19. A machine learning technique is initiated for categorizing the chest x-ray images into two cases: COVID-19 positive case or negative case. In this manuscript, the categorization of COVID-19 can be determined by hyper parameter tuned deep belief network using hosted cuckoo optimization algorithm. At first, the input chest x-ray images are pre-processed for removing noises. In this manuscript, the deep belief network method is enhanced by hosted cuckoo optimization approach for getting optimum hyper tuning parameters. By this, exact categorization of COVID-19 is attained effectively. The proposed methodology is stimulated at MATLAB. The proposed approach attains 28.3% and 23.5% higher accuracy for Normal and 32.3% and 31.5% higher accuracy for COVID-19, 19.3% and 28.5% higher precision for Normal and 45.3% and 28.5% higher precision for COVID-19, 20.3% and 21.5% higher F-score for Normal and 40.3% and 21.5% higher F-score for COVID-19. The proposed methodology is analyzed using two existing methodologies, as Convolutional Neural Network with Social Mimic Optimization (CNN-SMO) and Support Vector Machine classifier using Bayesian Optimization algorithm (SVM-BOA).

Regiospecific formal [3 + 2] annulation of tert-propargyl alcohols with acyclic 1,3-diketones via the cycloisomerization of homoallenyl ketones

A one-pot, regiospecific synthesis of dihydrofurans bearing a quaternary centre is developed from the formal [3 + 2] annulation of tert-propargyl alcohols and 1,3-diketones through the S_N2^I mechanism to form homoallenyl ketone and a subsequent cycloisomerization reaction.

Carbon: Nitrogen (C:N) ratio level variation influences microbial community of the system and growth as well as immunity of shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in biofloc based culture system

Biofloc technology (BFT) is a novel modern aquaculture farming technique used to reduce toxic nitrogen concentration, act as in situ food source and eradicate pollutants using carbon and therefore to control C:N ratio in an aquaculture system. In this study, effect of different C:N ratios of a biofloc based system on water quality such as the level of Total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) nitrite-nitrogen (NO₂^--N) and nitrate nitrogen (NO₃^--N) were explored. Further, the growth and immunity status of shrimp L. vannamei under the influence of different C:N ratios were evaluated. Two of the C:N ratios (15 and 20) could significantly (P < 0.05) reduce TAN, NO₂-N and NO₃-N levels (0.456 ± 0.01, 0.145 ± 0.09, and 0.102 ± 0.02 ppm) compared to control (1.45 ± 0.1, 0.749 ± 0.14 and 0.675 ± 0.16 ppm). Large variations in the frequency distribution of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) for the bacterial community in water with different C:N ration (BFT) and control were observed. Vibrios often considered as opportunistic pathogens, where the most dominant bacterial flora of water in control (79%) and C:N5 (37%) group. In C:N10, Thauera (62%) was most represented genus. Similarly, Attheyaceae (56%), followed by Peridiniaceae (30%) were the most dominant groups in C:N15 treatment. The diversity of bacterial flora was more spread in C:N20 treatments with Psychrobacter (26%), Proteobacteria (25%) and Peridiniaceae (20%) as the major groups. The trend of Vibrio dominance decreased with the increase in C:N ratios and thus confirming the dominance of heterotrophic bacteria in high C:N ratio groups. Upon challenge with pathogens, shrimps from C:N10, C:N15 and C:N20 groups showed significantly higher survival (P < 0.05) compared to the C:N5 and control group. Similarly, better growth rate was also observed in BFT tanks compared to control both during the culture and at harvest. Comparatively higher expression of four immune-related genes (ras-related nuclear gene (RAN), serine proteinase gene (SP), prophenoloxidase activating enzyme (PPAE), and crustin were observed in different C:N ratio ponds than control and these were in increasing trend with the C:N ratio. Gene expression analysis showed that the transcripts of those immune genes were significantly increased among all C:N treatments than that of control. Overall, these findings demonstrated that with optimum C:N ratio, BFT can be used to optimize the bacterial community composition for both optimal water quality and optimal shrimp health. This study thus indicates the possibility of obtaining better performance of L. vannamei culture with proper adjustment of C:N ratio in a biofloc based system.

Positron Annihilation Studies on Chemically Synthesized FeCo Alloy

Equiatomic flower-like FeCo magnetic nanoparticles are synthesized through a modified one-pot polyol technique. The as-prepared samples are annealed at 700 and 800 °C under reducing atmosphere. The saturation magnetization and coercivity of the flower-like FeCo are found to be 198 (1) emu/g and 243 (10) Oe respectively. The magnetic properties of FeCo approach the bulk behavior with annealing. Positron lifetime studies on the chemically synthesized equiatomic FeCo magnetic nanoparticles with flower-like morphology are reported and compared with Fe, Co and FeCo annealed at various temperatures. The FeCo is characterized by different lifetime components corresponding to positron annihilation events in vacancies and various open volume defects due to their unique morphology. The studies suggest defects arising out of cluster vacancies and interpetal gap that reduce on annealing. The average pore size obtained from positron annihilation studies closely matches with the interpetal distance obtained from the electron microscopic analysis for the flower-like FeCo.

Correction to "Highly Regioselective Synthesis of Oxindolyl-Pyrroles and Quinolines via a One-Pot, Sequential Meyer-Schuster Rearrangement, Anti-Michael Addition/C(sp3)-H Functionalization, and Azacyclization"

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.8b00147.].

Hybrid Analysis Technique to detect Advanced Persistent Threats

Advanced persistent threats (APT) are major threats in the field of system and network security. They are extremely stealthy and use advanced evasion techniques like packing and behaviour obfuscation to hide their malicious behaviour and evade the detection methods. Existing behavior-based detection technique fails to detect the APTs due to its high persistence mechanism and sophisticated code nature. Hence, a novel hybrid analysis technique using Behavior based Sandboxing approach is proposed. The proposed technique consists of four phases namely, Static, Dynamic, Memory and System state analysis. Initially, static analysis is performed on the sample which involves packer detection and signature verification. If the sample is found stealthy and remains undetected, then it is executed inside a sandbox environment to analyze its behavior. Further, memory analysis is performed to extract memory artefacts of the current system state. Finally, system state analysis is performed by correlating clean system state and infected system state to determine whether the system is compromised

Highly Regioselective Synthesis of Oxindolyl-Pyrroles and Quinolines via a One-Pot, Sequential Meyer-Schuster Rearrangement, Anti-Michael Addition/C(sp3)-H Functionalization, and Azacyclization

A one-pot, sequential Meyer-Schuster (MS) rearrangement of oxindole-derived propargyl alcohols to the corresponding α,β-unsaturated enones and their anti-Michael addition, followed by intramolecular azacyclization is described in a highly regioselective manner using Ca(OTf)₂ as the promoter. Further, we described the one-pot MS rearrangement, followed by C_(sp³)-H functionalization of 2-methyl azaarenes at α-carbon of these doubly activated alkenes. Control experiments and computational calculations were performed to propose the reaction mechanism.

The Biological Potentialsof Indian Traditional Medicine, Curcumin for Treating Human Diseases

Curcumin is an active compound extracted from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa L. (Turmeric). It possesses a di phenolic structure and there are three important fractions of curcumin namely curcumin, mono-desmethoxycurcumin and bis-desmethoxycurcumin. Curcumin is having high medicinal value. It is widely in Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani medicine formulations to treat various diseases. It is effective against microbial pathogens like bacteria, virus and fungi. It is highly potent and kills cancerous cells. Curcumin exhibits antioxidant activity and reduces lipoperoxidation. Cardioprotective nature of curcumin is also reported. It can protect the brain from neurodegenerative disorders caused by oxidative stress. It is safe to use in humans and animals. In addition to its medicinal value, it is also having numerous commercial applications like dyeing, cooking purposes and antiseptics etc. The cultivation of turmeric by means of inorganic inputs makes it contaminated with heavy metals is reported. Improving the biological use of curcumin provides healthy humankind and increases the economic status of a country.

Estimation of serum lactate dehydrogenase in smokeless tobacco consumers

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Salivary and serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels have been correlated with potentially malignant lesions. Salivary LDH levels require special testing and can be expensive. The need for a simple and cost-effective analysis tool is essential to detect the oral malignant lesions to benefit rural populations.

AIM

The aim of this study is to estimate the serum LDH in patients with oral lesions due to the consumption of smokeless tobacco.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-five patients with lesions were selected for this study while twenty patients served as a control. Levels of serum LDH were assessed. Age- and sex-matched controls (n = 10) with no smokeless consumption habit and with the habit but without lesion (n = 10) also had their blood drawn to assess the basal level of LDH. The results were then analyzed through the two-tailed t-test and Chi-square analysis using the SPSS statistics software.

RESULTS

The mean LDH value of patients with habit and lesion is 446.8 U/L; the mean LDH value for patients with habit but without the presence of a lesion is 421.2 U/L, and the mean LDH value for patients without a habit or lesion is 269.4 U/L. The patients having the habit of using smokeless tobacco had higher LDH values compared to the other two groups, and it is found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Serum LDH values increased in patients with the habit of chewing smokeless tobacco.

Comparative evaluation of natural curcumin and synthetic chlorhexidine in the management of chronic periodontitis as a local drug delivery: a clinical and microbiological study

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of natural curcumin in the management of chronic periodontitis as local drug delivery in comparison to synthetic chlorhexidine, which is the gold standard.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty chronic periodontitis patients with an age range of 20-50 years with probing pocket depth (PPD) of 4-6 mm were included. Curcumin and chlorhexidine gel was applied in the contralateral disease sites at baseline and day 15. The clinical parameters like PPD, clinical attachment level (CAL), gingival index (Loe and Silness) and plaque index (Turesky Gillmore modification of Quigley Hein) were recorded and colony forming units (CFU) were assessed microbiologically at baseline, 15 and 30 days.

RESULTS

There was a significant reduction of the clinical parameters (PPD, CAL) and microbiological parameters CFU at 15 and 30 days for both the groups. Curcumin group showed a greater reduction in the clinical parameters when compared with chlorhexidine group. Both groups had a significant reduction in parameters when compared with baseline.

CONCLUSION

Although curcumin has equivalent benefit to chlorhexidine, curcumin being an ayurvedic herb is an excellent alternative to chlorhexidine due to minimal side-effects.

Investigation on the structural, linear/nonlinear optical and electrical characteristics of Cd- and Mn-doped polar lithium sulfate monohydrate crystals

Doped LSMH single crystals exhibited good transmittance percentage, lower birefringence, enhanced SHG efficiency and good piezoelectric response compared to undoped LSMH crystals.

Beneficial Effects of Yogasanas and Pranayama in limiting the Cognitive decline in Type 2 Diabetes

BACKGROUND

Out of many complications that were observed in type 2 diabetes, cognitive impairment is the most neglected.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of the present study is to assess the cognitive decline in type 2 diabetes and to observe the role of yogasanas and pranayama in ameliorating the cognitive decline.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixty eight type 2 diabetic subjects were recruited in the study, 34 of them did specific yogasanas and pranayama (test group) for six months and the remaining age and sex matched 34 subjects were recruited as (control group) who were not on any specific exercise regimen. Glycaemic index was estimated by measuring the glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA_1c) concentration with Bio-Rad apparatus and cognition was assessed by using Addenbrook's Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R), which is a neuropsychological battery.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Data was analysed with unpaired student t test. P value<0.05 is considered as statistically significant. Validity was assessed by receiver operating characteristics.

RESULTS

Analysis of data indicated more cognitive scores in the test group when compared with the control group. In test group six months practice of yogasanas and pranayama has also significantly brought down the high glycaemic values which were observed in the control group.

CONCLUSION

These findings allow the study to conclude that regular practice of yogasanas and pranayama has a beneficial effect on cognitive performance in type 2 diabetic subjects by stabilizing blood glucose.

Estimation of high sensitivity C-reactive protein in patients with periodontal disease and without coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND

HsCRP (Highly sensitive C reactive protein) is a global indicator for future vascular events in adults detected in blood stream 48 hours before the cardiovascular event. Periodontal disease may increase blood levels of inflammatory markers like IL-6, CRP and HsCRP. Hence the aim of the present study is to evaluate the presence of elevated HsCRP levels in chronic periodontitis patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

100 patients who reported for cardiac master health check up were enrolled in the study. The periodontal status was assessed using periodontal probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level. The decayed, missing and filled tooth was recorded using DMFT index. The venous samples of these patients were obtained for recording HsCRP levels.

RESULTS

Pearson correlation was used to analyze the relationship between HsCRP level and probing pocket depth, clinical attachment loss and DMFT. The correlation value was 0.051, 0.025 and 0.101 respectively, the correlation is statistically significant for probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level (P>0.05). Chi-square test was performed to study the association between gender and HsCRP, Diabetes Mellitus and HsCRP and Hypertension and HsCRP; the results showed that there is no significant association between any of the above mentioned factors and HsCRP level in blood.

CONCLUSIONS

We found an increased level of HsCRP in patients with chronic periodontitis which revealed the susceptibility of these patients to cardiac diseases like myocardial infarction and stroke. Hence present day focus in the line of management of cardiac patient has changed from the periodontal perspective.

Chest wall mechanics before and after diaphragm plication

Background

Following diaphragmatic plication for unilateral paralysis, the effect on global chest wall function are unknown. Our hypothesis was that chest wall function would improve in both sides of the chest after plication of the paralysed side.

Case Presentation

Using Optoelectronic Plethysmography, total and regional chest wall volumes were measured in one patient before and after left diaphragmatic plication. Volumes were recorded at quiet breathing.

Respiratory capacity improved during quiet breathing when measured before and 6 months after surgery. These improvements occur at the abdominal-rib cage level in both operated and contralateral. Prior to surgery the abdominal rib cage motion was out of phase to the upper rib cage and abdominal compartment in both sides of the chest. Synchrony of all three compartments was restored after plication.

Conclusion

This physiological study is the first published data in humans to show improvement in chest wall motion both in operated and contralateral side following diaphragmatic plication for unilateral paralysis.

Experimental and theoretical study of ornidazole

The Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and the Fourier transform Raman (FT-Raman) spectra of the title molecule in solid phase were recorded in the region 4000-400 cm(-1) and 4000-100 cm(-1) respectively. The geometrical parameters and energies were investigated with the help of Density Functional Theory (DFT) employing B3LYP method and 6-31G (d, p) basis set. The analysis was supported by electrostatic potential maps and calculation of HOMO-LUMO. UV, FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra of ornidazole were calculated and compared with experimental results. Thermodynamic properties like entropy, heat capacity, have been calculated for the molecule. The predicted first hyperpolarizability also shows that the molecule might have a reasonably good non-linear optical (NLO) behavior. The intramolecular contacts have been interpreted using natural bond orbital (NBO) and natural localized molecular orbital (NLMO) analysis.

Growth and characterization of organic NLO material: clobetasol propionate

Single crystals of clobetasol propionate (CP) have been grown by slow evaporation solution technique using mixed solvent of methanol-acetone. The grown crystals were subjected to single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis to confirm their lattice parameter and space group. The powder X-ray diffraction pattern of the grown CP has been indexed. Thermal analysis was performed to study the thermal stability of the grown crystals. Photoluminescence spectrum shows broad emission peak observed at 421 nm. Nonlinear optical studies were carried out for the grown crystal and second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency was found in the crystal.

Molecular structure and vibrational analysis of Trifluoperazine by FT-IR, FT-Raman and UV-Vis spectroscopies combined with DFT calculations

The complete vibrational assignment and analysis of the fundamental vibrational modes of Trifluoperazine (TFZ) was carried out using the experimental FT-IR, FT-Raman and UV-Vis data and quantum chemical studies. The observed vibrational data were compared with the wavenumbers derived theoretically for the optimized geometry of the compound from the DFT-B3LYP gradient calculations employing 6-31G (d,p) basis set. Thermodynamic properties like entropy, heat capacity and enthalpy have been calculated for the molecule. The HOMO-LUMO energy gap has been calculated. The intramolecular contacts have been interpreted using natural bond orbital (NBO) and natural localized molecular orbital (NLMO) analysis. Important non-linear properties such as first hyperpolarizability of TFZ have been computed using B3LYP quantum chemical calculation.

Experimental, quantum chemical and NBO/NLMO investigations of pantoprazole

The complete vibrational assignment and analysis of the fundamental modes of pantoprazole (PPZ) was carried out using the experimental FT-IR, FT-Raman and UV-Vis data and quantum chemical studies. The observed vibrational data were compared with the wavenumbers derived theoretically for the optimized geometry of the compound from the DFT-B3LYP gradient calculations employing 6-31G (d, p) basis set. Thermodynamic properties like entropy, heat capacity and enthalpy have been calculated for the molecule. HOMO-LUMO energy gap has been calculated. The intramolecular contacts have been interpreted using natural bond orbital (NBO) and natural localized molecular orbital (NLMO) analysis. Important non-linear properties such as electric dipole moment and first hyperpolarizability of PPZ have been computed using B3LYP quantum chemical calculation. Finally, the Mulliken population analysis on atomic charges of the title compound has been calculated.

Study on structural, morphological, optical and thermal properties of guanidine carbonate doped nickel sulfate hexahydrate crystal

The single crystal of guanidine carbonate doped nickel sulfate hexahydrate was grown from solution for ultraviolet filters. The single crystal XRD confirms that the grown single crystal belongs to the tetragonal system with the space group of P4₁2₁2. The crystallinity of the grown crystal was estimated by powder X-ray diffraction studies. The optical transmission and thermal stability of as-grown guanidine carbonate doped nickel sulfate single crystals have been studied. The optical transmission spectrum demonstrates the characteristics of ultraviolet filters. The TG/DTA studies confirm the thermal properties of grown crystals. Thermo-gravimetric analysis showed that the dehydration temperature of the guanidine carbonate doped nickel sulfate crystal is about 100 °C, which is much higher than that of pure nickel sulfate hexahydrate (NSH) crystals which is 72 °C. The growth behaviors and dislocation density were detected under the high resolution XRD and etching studies respectively.