Radio antipodal number of honeycomb derived networks.

The communication in a wireless network mainly depends on the frequencies or channels assigned to them. The channels must be assigned to all the transmitters in the network without interference for effective communication. This problem is said to be a channel (frequency) assignment problem (CAP). With the limited availability of channels, CAP has become a challenging problem. This problem is modeled as a graph, where each transmitter is represented by a vertex, and two vertices are adjacent when their corresponding transmitters are close. The labelling technique in graph theory has played an important role in solving CAP, thereby the time and cost will be saved. In radio antipodal labeling, the channels were reused again for the antipodal vertices. It will reduce the usage of the number of channels, with minimum interference. Hence it is a better labeling compared to other labelings. It is a mapping [Formula: see text] from the vertex set of a graph T to the set of natural numbers such that the condition [Formula: see text], is satisfied. The span of the antipodal labeling [Formula: see text] is the maximum label allotted in a graph and is given by [Formula: see text]. The lowest value of all the spans of the antipodal labeling of graph T is said to be radio antipodal number. It is denoted by an(T). The value of the minimum span gives the bandwidth or spectrum of the channels. The honeycomb network plays an important role in communication engineering because of its structure. In this paper, the bounds of the antipodal number of honeycomb derived networks-triangular and rhombic honeycomb were obtained and represented graphically. These bounds give the optimum number of channels (bandwidth) needed for these honeycomb derived networks for effective communication without interference.

Dense Convolutional Neural Network for Detection of Cancer from CT Images.

In this paper, we develop a detection module with strong training testing to develop a dense convolutional neural network model. The model is designed in such a way that it is trained with necessary features for optimal modelling of the cancer detection. The method involves preprocessing of computerized tomography (CT) images for optimal classification at the testing stages. A 10-fold cross-validation is conducted to test the reliability of the model for cancer detection. The experimental validation is conducted in python to validate the effectiveness of the model. The result shows that the model offers robust detection of cancer instances that novel approaches on large image datasets. The simulation result shows that the proposed method provides analyzes with 94% accuracy than other methods. Also, it helps to reduce the detection errors while classifying the cancer instances than other methods the several existing methods.

Crystallographic investigation, Hirshfeld surface analysis, NLO characterization and experimental spectral (UV and NMR) studies with DFT probe on(R)-9-(2-hydroxy propyl)adenine.

In this study, (R)-9-(2-hydroxy propyl)adenine (HPA) is the molecule of interest for investigation. The XRD from single crystal of HPA has been used to extract its structural features. Since HPA crystallised in a non-centro symmetric space group P212121, its NLO property was studied and it was found to exhibit very good SHG activity. To explore the intermolecular interactions the generated Hirshfeld surface has been investigated along with 2D-fingerprint plots. The experimental electronic and NMR spectra taken in the UV-visible and radio frequency regions respectively for HPA have been corroborated in correlation with theoretical predictions at Density Function Theory using 6-311++g (d, p) basis set. The experimental XRD geometrical parameters, chemical shifts of 13C and 1H and λmax values of HPA fit satisfactorily with the corresponding theoretically obtained numerical values as well as the stimulated spectrograms with the experimental ones. Further to explore the electronic structure, the MESP surface has been generated and investigated. The thermodynamic, kinetic and chemical reactivity features have been explored by means of frontier molecular orbitals of HPA.

Crystallographic, spectral and computational studies on (S)-4-(4-aminobenzyl) oxazolidin-2-one.

The experimental geometry (XRD), vibrational (IR and Raman), electronic (UV-visible) and NMR spectra of (S)-4-(4-Amino-benzyl)-oxazolidin-2-one (ABO) have been corroborated with the corresponding first principle calculated values at DFT using hybrid B3LYP exchange correlation functional invoking 6-311++g(d, p) basis set. The optimized geometrical parameters were found to be in satisfactory agreement with the experimental values obtained from the X-ray diffraction structural features of ABO. The scaled down computed vibrational frequencies with appropriate scaling factors were in good correspondence with the experimental observations. Room-temperature 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies were supported by advanced density functional theory calculations. The theoretical spectrograms of FT-IR, FT-Raman, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and UV of the title compound have been constructed and compared with experimental spectra and Hirshfeld surface analysis has also been made to study the intermolecular interactions. The electronic structure of the title compound has also been studied in terms of HOMO, LUMO and MESP diagrams.

Risk factors of chronic kidney disease influencing cardiac calcification.

We sought to determine the influence of risk factors of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on cardiac calcification. We studied the correlation between coronary artery calcium score (CACS) and the type and duration of dialysis as well as the presence of diabetes mellitus and hypertension. The relation between calcium score and mortality was also analyzed. Patients with CKD attending the outpatient department or admitted in our hospital were included. They were subjected to high-resolution computerized tomography of the thorax to determine their CACS. Serum levels of intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hCRP), homocysteine, calcium, phosphorus, and calcium × phosphorus product were measured. Out of the 50 patients studied, 39 were hypertensive (78%), 32 were diabetic (64.4%), 20 were on hemodialysis, and 13 were on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. The mean CACS was 388.6. Twenty-nine patients had high iPTH levels and 92.9% of them had calcium score >400 (P = 0.013). Twenty-eight patients had high hCRP and 85.7% of these patients had calcium score >400 (P = 0.048). Patients on dialysis for more than two years had higher calcium score >400 (P = 0.035). 43% of diabetics had calcium score >400 (P = 0.008). All the six patients who died had calcium score >400 (P = 0). There was statistically no significant association noted between hypertension, high calcium x phosphorus product, and high homocysteine levels, and high calcium score. Our study suggests that higher values of iPTH, hCRP, and longer duration on dialysis are associated with accelerated cardiac calcification. Calcification scores >400 are associated with increased mortality.

In vitro degradation of oxalate by recombinant Lactobacillus plantarum expressing heterologous oxalate decarboxylase.

AIM: The aim of the present study is to constitutively express heterologous oxalate decarboxylase (OxdC) in Lactobacillus plantarum and to examine its ability to degrade oxalate in vitro for their future therapy against enteric hyperoxaluria. METHOD AND RESULTS: In this study, we generated a recombinant strain of Lb. plantarum to constitutively overexpress B. subtilis oxalate decarboxylase (oxdC) using a host lactate dehydrogenase promoter (PldhL ). The recombinant Lb. plantarum was able to degrade more than 90% oxalate compared to 15% by the wild type. In addition, the recombinant strain also had higher tolerance up to 500 mmol l(-1) oxalate. CONCLUSION: We developed a recombinant Lb. plantarum NC8 that constitutively expressed heterologous oxalate decarboxylase and degraded oxalate efficiently under in vitro conditions. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY: The long-term aim is to develop an efficient strain for future therapy against oxalosis.

64 slice computed tomography-a novel diagnostic method for evaluation of patients after coronary artery bypass grafts.

OBJECTIVE: Multislice computed tomography (CT) is widely used in analysing the native coronary arteries. The usefulness of 64 slice CT in patients with coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG) is analysed in the present study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-five patients (59 [92%] males and 6 [8%] females with the mean age of 59 ± 9.1 years) underwent 64 slice CT and a total of 186 bypass grafts (62 arterial and 124 venous grafts) were analysed using 64 slice CT. Bypass grafts and native vessels with the diameter of >1.5 mm were evaluated for the presence of significant stenosis of >70%. In all patients invasive coronary angiogram was done. RESULTS: On the whole 43 venous grafts and 3 arterial grafts were found to be occluded. Majority of the grafts were occluded at the ostium. It was observed that the 64 slice CT was 90% sensitive and 96% specific for the evaluation of bypass grafts. It had 95% positive predictive value and 93% negative predictive value for predicting the luminal narrowing of grafts. For the assessment of arterial graft, it was 80% sensitive, 100% specific with a positive predictive value of 100% and negative predictive value of 93%. For the evaluation of venous grafts, the sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive value were 94%, 94%, 93%, and 94%, respectively. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the 64 slice CT is a highly reliable diagnostic tool with a very high negative predictive value for evaluating patients following CABG.

Brainstem infarct presenting as torsades de pointes.

Hypokalemia, as an adverse consequence of severe alkalosis, can prolong QT interval and cause torsades de pointes. This report describes a rare case of central neurogenic hyperventilation as a result of brainstem infarct, presenting primarily with refractory ventricular tachyarrhythmia due to secondary hypokalemia.

An unusual case of isolated non-compacted right ventricular myocardium.

Isolated ventricular non-compaction is a rare type of cardiomyopathy resulting from arrested myocardial development during embryogenesis. This rare entity can be easily diagnosed by characteristic appearance of prominent myocardial trabeculations and deep inter-trabecular spaces. The clinical manifestations include heart failure signs, ventricular arrhythmias, and cardio-embolic events. Although the usual site of involvement is the left ventricle, the right ventricle (RV) can rarely be affected. Here, we report a case of 23-year-old male patient with isolated RV non-compaction.

Outcomes of carotid artery stenting in patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: Carotid endarterectomy is superior to medical therapy in patients with significant extracranial carotid artery stenosis. This modality of treatment has its own complications. The principal objective of this study is to assess efficacy, feasibility and outcomes of carotid artery stenting in both symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis. METHODS: Our study is a retrospective analysis of 45 consecutive patients with 56 lesions who underwent carotid angioplasty with stenting from January 2000 to June 2007 for carotid artery stenosis of more than 70%. All patients underwent detailed neurological examination and carotid Doppler evaluation by using Sonos 5500. Computed tomography of brain was done in those patients who were symptomatic in the past. RESULTS: The mean age of the study population was 65 +/- 9.2 years. There were 34 (79%) patients with coronary artery disease and out of them 31 (68%) patients had undergone coronary artery bypass grafting. All patients with common carotid artery, 13 (81%) patients with right internal carotid stenosis and 12 (66%) patients with left internal carotid artery stenosis had ostioproximal stenosis. Contralateral lesion was found in 9 patients and 2 patients had total occlusion. There were no post-procedural neurological events. Only one patient died in our study population due to non-cerebral cause. CONCLUSION: Carotid artery stenting is a safe procedure. The 30 days' outcomes are similar in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with significant carotid artery stenosis.

A standard screening test for the early and rapid diagnosis of leptospirosis.

PURPOSE: To perform dark field microscopy (DFM) for detection of Leptospira and to validate the results using Leptospira IgM antibody SERION ELISA test. METHODS: After differential centrifugation of Ruys, DFM was done to demonstrate Leptospira in the blood and SERION ELISA was done for Leptospira IgM antibody in single or paired serum samples. One hundred and eleven cases (39 adults and 72 children) of suspected leptospirosis were included in the study. RESULTS: Anicteric cases accounted for 66.7% (26/39) of adults and complications involving brain, liver, kidney and eyes were seen in 33.3% (13/39). In children, 90.3% (65/72) were anicteric and involvement of brain and liver was seen in 9.7% (7/72) cases. On testing 60 single samples of blood from 23 adults and 37 children, DFM exhibited greater sensitivity of 93.3% (56/60) than that of SERION ELISA for Leptospira IgM antibody (33.3%, 20/60). It was observed that the positivity of DFM decreased from 100% (15/15) to 90.9% (10/11) with increase in the duration of infection for more than one week. ELISA for Leptospira IgM, done on 51 paired blood samples, was positive in 64.7% (33/51) cases when both (first and second) samples were tested while in 45.1% (23/51) cases was positive with first sample alone. 58.8%(30/51) cases were positive by testing second sample. DFM results on paired blood samples showed persistence of Leptospira in 92.9% of cases. CONCLUSION: This study shows the validation of DFM results by SERION ELISA for Leptospira IgM antibody, based on which we recommend that DFM can serve as a standard screening test for early and rapid diagnosis of leptospirosis.

Pre-operative short-term pulmonary rehabilitation for patients of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

The role of pre-operative short-term pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who undergo coronary artery bypass graft surgery has been assessed for the first time prospectively. Forty-five patients posted for coronary artery bypass graft surgery were randomised to receive either short-term pulmonary rehabilitation (group I) or no such programme (group II). Patients of both the groups were evenly matched with respect to age, sex, body surface area, duration and severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and coronary artery disease. Normal individuals who evenly matched with the study group were assessed for normal respiratory function parameters. Pre-operative and post-operative peak expiratory flow rate, inspiratory capacity, post-operative ventilation time, post-operative pulmonary complication and hospital stay were determined in both the groups. Peak expiratory flow rate (220.0 +/- 12.9 and 324.3 +/- 84.3 in group I, 218.0 +/- 16.4 and 260.5 +/- 35.2 in group II) and inspiratory capacity (844.0 +/- 147.4 and 1100.0 +/- 158.1 in group I, 830.0 +/- 117.4 and 1090 +/- 137 in group II) were significantly lower before and after surgery respectively in both groups compared to normal values. Even though both groups showed a significant rise in post-operative peak expiratory flow rate and inspiratory capacity after surgery, the post-operative peak expiratory flow rate and inspiratory capacity in group I was significantly higher than in group II. In group I, the post-operative ventilation time (24.5 +/- 6.00 hours), post-operative complications (n = 4) and hospital stay (12.4 +/- 3.6 days) were significantly lower than in group II (35.2 +/- 22.3 hours, n = 11, 18.8 +/- 6.6 days respectively). These data suggest that short-term pulmonary rehabilitation is feasible and effective in improving pulmonary functions before and after surgery and in reducing surgical morbidity and cost of medical care significantly.

Epidemiology of endemic cretinism in Sikkim, India.

A survey was conducted in Sikkim to determine the prevalence of endemic cretinism in the state. A household was the basic sampling unit. Villages were selected randomly in the state and from these households were selected randomly using the electoral lists. All members of the households were studied. Total of 17,837 individuals from 3,197 households from 249 villages were studied. There were 8,953 males and 8,884 females. A total of 617 endemic cretins were identified: 316 males and 301 females. The overall prevalence of endemic cretinism was 3.46%: (males 3.53% and females 3.39%). Endemic cretinism was observed in 194 (77.9%) villages studied. Neurological cretinism was the predominant form (98.7%). Deaf-mutism was the most salient neurological feature seen in 472 (76.5%) subjects. Motor system examination revealed proximal spasticity and brisk reflexes, both more marked in the lower limbs. Recording of daily life activities revealed 14.1% of the cretins to be totally dependent and another 23% to be requiring considerable assistance for their daily routine activities. The overall prevalence of goitre found in this survey was 54%. Urinary iodine concentration was estimated from a representative sample of the population; mean 4 micrograms/dl (SD 2.68). This survey shows the existence of severe iodine deficiency in Sikkim.

Clinical study of neurological cretinism in Sikkim.

Sikkim is a small hilly state in the eastern Himalayas. Iodine deficiency disorders constitute a major public health problem for the state. High prevalence of endemic goitre (54.7) and endemic cretinism (3.7) exist in the state. A total of 119 neurological cretins were studied to define the pattern and extent of neurological involvement in endimic cretinism. There were 65 men (54.6) and 54 women (45.4). Goitre was seen in 57 (47.9). Grade-I goitre was the most frequent type of goitre seen in 52.6 of the goitrous cretins. All the endemic cretins had moderate to severe neurological deficits. The most salient neurological feature was deaf-mutism which was seen in 91 cases (76.5). Examination of motor system revealed rigidity,more marked in lower limbs, patellar hyper-reflexia in 106 (89.2) and Babinnski's sign in 40 hypothyroidism. Audiometry done in a subset of 38 cretins revealed that only two cretins had normal hearing. The hearing loss was found to be bilateral and equal and was sever toprofound in 22 cretins; mild to moderate in 9 cretins and was bilateral but unequal in 5 cretins. Neurological cretinism is a distinct and easily identifiable clinical entity. It is an important indicator of severity of iodine deficiency in a community.

Thyroid function in a goitre endemia.

A study was conducted to determine the thyroid function in a goitre endemia. Sadam is small village in the south district of Sikkim. Severe iodine deficiency exist in this village (prevalence of goitre 73.5%, cretinism prevalence 4%; mean urinary iodine exeretion 4.13 ng/dl - SD 3.1). Total of 72 out pf 142 households were randomly selected. All the inmates of the households above 14 years of age were examined for goitre and blood samples were collected from them for estimation of concentration of thyroid stimulating hormones (triiodothyroine T-3, thyroixe T-4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Total of 244 subjects were examined, (137 males and 107 females). Goitre was detected in 149 (61.1%) individuals. The mean T-3, T-4 and TSH concentrations in the non-goitrous groups were (SD in parenthesis) 110.13 ng/dl (26.19), 10.12 ug/dl (2.38) and 1.01 uu/ml (0.52). The corresponding values for the goitrous group were, 132.22 ng/dl (46.25), 9.06 ug/dl (2.04) and 1.33 uu/ml (1.19). The differences in the mean concentrations between the goitrous and non-goitrous groups were statistically significant. An inverse correlation between the goitre size and T-4 on the one hand, and TSH and T-4 on the other hand was noticed. The result of the study show that functional decompensation of the thyroid occur in the majority of goitrous subjects.

Iodine deficiency disorders in school children of Sikkim.

Sikkim is a small state in the eastern Himalayas. A survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of iodine deficiency disorders in the state. A two stage sampling procedure was adopted. In stage one, all villages in the state were listed and 249 were randomly selected for the survey. In stage two, households, were randomly selected from the selected villages using the electoral lists. The basic sampling unit was a household and all members of the households were studied. A total of 17,837 subjects were studied from 3,197 households of 249 villages. Overall prevalence of goitre and cretinism in the community as a whole, were 54.03% and 3.46% respectively. Of the population studied, 5939 were children in the age group of 5 to 16 years. There were 3,005 boys and 2,934 girls. Goitre was detected in 3,381 (56.9%). Goitre prevalence in the boys was 55.4% and in girls it was 58.5% (p = < 0.05). Grade I goitre was seen in 2,472 (73.1%), grade II in 888 (26.3%) and grade III in 21 (0.6%). Endemic cretinism was diagnosed in 175 subjects (2.9%). Cretinism prevalence in the boys was 3.1%, and in girls in was 2.8% and this difference was not significant. Neurological; cretinism was the predominant form (98.3%). Estimation of urinary iodine concentration in 167 subjects revealed the mean concentration to be 3.64 u/dl (SD 2.47). The median value was ug/dl indicating the skewed distribution of the urinary iodine concentration. The study shows the existence of severe iodine deficiency in the school-aged children of Sikkim.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)