Deep Learning based Lung Segmentation Prior for Robust COVID-19 Classification

Independent of a person's race, COVID-19 is one of the most contagious diseases in the world. The World Health Organization classified the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic after noting its global distribution. By using (i) sample-supported analysis and (ii) image-assisted diagnosis, COVID-19 is examined and verified. Our goal is to use CT scan images to identify the COVID-19 infiltrates. The followings steps are used to carry out the suggested work: (i) Automated segmentation with CNN;(ii) Feature mining;(iii) Principal feature selection with Bat-Algorithm;(iv) Classifier implementation using mobile framework and (v) Performance evaluation. We used a variety of automatic segmentation algorithms in our experiment, and the VGG-16 produced better results. This study is evaluated using benchmark datasets gathered, and SVM based RBF kernal classifier system resulted in superior COVID-19 abnormality identification. © 2023 IEEE.

SARS-CoV-2 spike protein induces monocyte apoptosis and interleukin-8 production

Background: In the setting of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 illness, a subset of symptomatic patients has been reported to experience severe leukopenia. Viral proteins have been described to have the capacity to induce cell death in peripheral blood cells in infections such as HIV. Given the expression of the cognate receptor, ACE-2, on the surface of Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), we hypothesized that SARS-CoV-2 may induce leukopenia via spike protein ligand-receptor interaction. Methods: PBMCs were isolated from the fresh blood of normal donors and were treated with 1ug/ml of recombinant spike protein, and analyzed for cell death via the Incucyte Live/Cell imaging system. To measure subset specific cell death, PBMCs treated with recombinant spike protein for 48 hours were analyzed by flow cytometry for the expression of cell specific surface receptors and concomitant active caspase 3 expression. Culture supernatant was analyzed by multiplex cytokine analysis to evaluate the presence of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Similar assays were carried out in the presence of a spike- binding domain-antagonistic antibody in order to determine the specific role of spike- ACE2 interaction in causing cell death. Finally, cells from COVID positive patients were analyzed to determine if similar results were observable in-vivo. Results: The treatment of PBMCs with recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike resulted in significant cell death over time in 2 out of three donors tested (p<0.05) by IncuCyte live imaging analysis. When analyzed for subset specific cell death, a significant increase in cell death (p<0.01), as measured by Caspase 3, was observed in CD14+CD3- cells, correlating with the monocyte population. Supernatants from these cultures demonstrated markedly increased IL-8 production (p=0.0536). Cultures carried out in the presence of a spike antagonistic antibody abrogated the effects of spike protein, indicating a direct relationship between spike-ACE2 interaction and cell death in this sub-population. Similar flow cytometric analysis from 5 febrile patients with COVID-19 demonstrated significantly increased monocyte apoptosis (p<0.05), compared to CD3+ lymphocytes from the same donors;whereas significantly increased monocyte apoptosis was not observed in 5 afebrile COVID-19 patients. Conclusion: These results indicate that SARS-CoV-2 spike protein may induce apoptosis specifically in Monocytes, in an ACE2 dependent manner, in some but not all patients.

Supervised regression modelling for mitigation of four-wave mixing in dense wavelength-division multiplexing systems

A recent global crisis associated with COVID-19 has encouraged millions of people to work from home, thus causing a drastic increase in overall network traffic, data-rate requirements and end network capabilities. This has also produced more noise, cross-talk and undesirable optical-fibre nonlinearities, especially a four-wave mixing (FWM) effect that deteriorates performance of dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) systems. A presence of FWM in the DWDM systems imposes increasing complexity and latency of networks, and decreases their spectral efficiency. In its turn, this degrades efficient utilization of optical bandwidth. To mitigate the above problems, we suggest a supervised regression modelling (SRM). A relevant SRM-DWDM approach performs self-parametric optimization of the DWDM systems with machine-learning techniques and finds real trade-offs among various factors that affect the FWM. Our model reduces complexity of modelling and computational time, resulting in accurate and reliable prediction of parameter values. We also evaluate the performance of our SRM-DWDM technique by comparing its data with the iterative results obtained for different parameters (e.g., output signal-to-noise ratio, Q-factor, signal power and noise power). Finally, we specify the procedures necessary for global optimization of DWDM systems. © 2021, Institute of Physical Optics. All rights reserved.

Detection and care of gestational diabetes mellitus in the present scenario

All efforts should be made in planning appropriate and possible methods of delivering health care for pregnant woman in the pandemic ocean of COVID-19,with limited medical facilities.Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) may play a crucial role in the increasing prevalence of diabetes and obesity and also may be the Origin of Cardio Metabolic Diseases. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India expects health care providers to screen all pregnant woman for glucose intolerance by a feasible, do able, economical and evidence-based test. “A Single Test Procedure” which is also followed by Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group India. This test is ideal in the pandemic times.For a better perinatal outcome, the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) has to be maintained between 80 mg/dl (4.4 mmol/dl) and 90 mg/dl (5.0 mmol/dl) and 2hr Post Prandial Plasma Glucose (PPPG)110 mg/dl (6.1 mmol/dl) and 120 mg/ dl (6.7 mmol/dl) and mean plasma glucose 105 mg/dl (5.9 mmol/dl).Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) and life style modifications are recommended as an initial step to maintain normal maternal glucose, failing which insulin or Oral Hypoglycemic Agent (OHA) may be advised. Both small for gestational age and large for gestational age babies are prone to develop diabetes in the future. Hence, the aim in the treatment is to obtain newborn babies birth weight appropriate for gestational age of 2.5 to 3.5 kg.