Magnetic tunnel junction random number generators applied to dynamically tuned probability trees driven by spin orbit torque.

Perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction (pMTJ)-based true-random number generators (RNGs) can consume orders of magnitude less energy per bit than CMOS pseudo-RNGs. Here, we numerically investigate with a macrospin Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation solver the use of pMTJs driven by spin-orbit torque to directly sample numbers from arbitrary probability distributions with the help of a tunable probability tree. The tree operates by dynamically biasing sequences of pMTJ relaxation events, called 'coinflips', via an additional applied spin-transfer-torque current. Specifically, using a single, ideal pMTJ device we successfully draw integer samples on the interval [0, 255] from an exponential distribution based onp-value distribution analysis. In order to investigate device-to-device variations, the thermal stability of the pMTJs are varied based on manufactured device data. It is found that while repeatedly using a varied device inhibits ability to recover the probability distribution, the device variations average out when considering the entire set of devices as a 'bucket' to agnostically draw random numbers from. Further, it is noted that the device variations most significantly impact the highest level of the probability tree, with diminishing errors at lower levels. The devices are then used to draw both uniformly and exponentially distributed numbers for the Monte Carlo computation of a problem from particle transport, showing excellent data fit with the analytical solution. Finally, the devices are benchmarked against CMOS and memristor RNGs, showing faster bit generation and significantly lower energy use.

Probabilistic Neural Computing with Stochastic Devices.

The brain has effectively proven a powerful inspiration for the development of computing architectures in which processing is tightly integrated with memory, communication is event-driven, and analog computation can be performed at scale. These neuromorphic systems increasingly show an ability to improve the efficiency and speed of scientific computing and artificial intelligence applications. Herein, it is proposed that the brain's ubiquitous stochasticity represents an additional source of inspiration for expanding the reach of neuromorphic computing to probabilistic applications. To date, many efforts exploring probabilistic computing have focused primarily on one scale of the microelectronics stack, such as implementing probabilistic algorithms on deterministic hardware or developing probabilistic devices and circuits with the expectation that they will be leveraged by eventual probabilistic architectures. A co-design vision is described by which large numbers of devices, such as magnetic tunnel junctions and tunnel diodes, can be operated in a stochastic regime and incorporated into a scalable neuromorphic architecture that can impact a number of probabilistic computing applications, such as Monte Carlo simulations and Bayesian neural networks. Finally, a framework is presented to categorize increasingly advanced hardware-based probabilistic computing technologies.

Assessment of Oral Health Status in Epileptic Children and Healthy Children in Bengaluru City: A Comparative Study.

INTRODUCTION: Epilepsy is a neurological disorder, which is identified by repeated episodes of abnormal synchronous discharge of brain, resulting in several types of deficits. A percentage of them also have mental and motor deficits. Both the epileptic conditions and their medical management can influence oral health. OBJECTIVE: To assess and to compare the oral health status of epileptic children and the healthy children in Bengaluru city. MATERIAL AND METHODOLOGY: Data was collected from the study group, which included 100 children between age-group 5 and 16 years registered under the Department of Neurology, Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH). Data collected from healthy children as control group and they visited Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, VS Dental College & Hospital (VSDCH) for routine dental check-up. All subjects were examined by single qualified examiner. Gingival Index, plaque index, decayed missing filled teeth for primary teeth (dmft) and for permanent teeth (DMFT) were recorded for both study and control group. Other findings were also recorded such as injury to dentition or oral soft tissues and gingival hyperplasia as side effect of antiepileptic drug therapy. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference found in dmft and DMFT between control group and study group. But, there was significant difference present in dmft and DMFT on gender basis between control and study group. CONCLUSION: The group of children with epilepsy suffer from several oral health problems such as dental caries, gingival enlargement, periodontal disease, and injuries of the oral cavity, which are associated with seizure-related trauma. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Tiwari S, Verma RK, Dhull KS, et al. Assessment of Oral Health Status in Epileptic Children and Healthy Children in Bengaluru City: A Comparative Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(6):768-773.

Stem cell therapy: A novel treatment approach for oral mucosal lesions.

Stem cells have enormous potential to alleviate sufferings of many diseases that currently have no effective therapy. The research in this field is growing at an exponential rate. Stem cells are master cells that have specialized capability for self-renewal, potency and capability to differentiate to many cell types. At present, the adult mesenchymal stem cells are being used in the head and neck region for orofacial regeneration (including enamel, dentin, pulp and alveolar bone) in lieu of their proliferative and regenerative properties, their use in the treatment of oral mucosal lesions is still in budding stages. Moreover, there is scanty literature available regarding role of stem cell therapy in the treatment of commonly seen oral mucosal lesions like oral submucous fibrosis, oral lichen planus, oral ulcers and oral mucositis. The present review will focus on the current knowledge about the role of stem cell therapies in oral mucosal lesions and could facilitate new advancements in this area (articles were obtained from electronic media like PubMed, EBSCO, Cochrane and Medline etc., from year 2000 to 2014 to review the role of stem cell therapy in oral mucosal lesions).

The role of time-resolved imaging of contrast kinetics (TRICKS) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in the evaluation of head-neck vascular anomalies: a preliminary experience.

OBJECTIVES: In this preliminary report, we describe our experience with time-resolved imaging of contrast kinetics-MR angiography (TRICKS-MRA) in the assessment of head-neck vascular anomalies (HNVAs). METHODS: We prospectively studied six consecutive patients with clinically suspected or diagnosed HNVAs. All of them underwent TRICKS-MRA of the head and neck as part of the routine for treatment planning. A digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was also performed. RESULTS: TRICKS-MRA could be achieved in all cases. Three subjects were treated based on TRICKS-MRA imaging findings and subsequent DSA examination. In all of them, DSA confirmed the vascular architecture of HNVAs shown by TRICKS-MRA. In the other three patients, a close follow up to assess the evolution of the suspected haemangioma was preferred. CONCLUSIONS: TRICKS sequences add important diagnostic information in cases of HNVAs, helpful for therapeutic decisions and post-treatment follow up. We recommend TRICKS-MRA use (if technically possible) as part of routine MRI protocol for HNVAs, representing a possible alternative imaging tool to conventional DSA.

Post LASIK progressive astigmatism in a child with partially accommodative esotropia.

INTRODUCTION: Refractive surgery is considered a safe and effective method for correction of refractive errors in adults. OBJECTIVE: To report an unusual case of a young child with partially accommodative esotropia presenting with deterioration of vision and worsening of esotropia following refractive surgery. CASE REPORT: Unanticipated and progressive irregular corneal astigmatism along with deterioration of visual acuity and loss of stereopsis developed post- LASIK in a seven-year-old Indian child with partially accommodative esotropia. CONCLUSION: Keratorefractive surgery in young children has to be undertaken with caution, especially in such cases where there is no medical indication for refractive surgery and waiting beyond teenage years is a viable option.

Comparative study of 2 palatoplasty techniques to assess speech and fistula in primary cleft palate patients.

PURPOSE: To assess the Quality of speech and the incidence of post operative fistula in each technique after 6 months follow up study. METHODS: This prospective study consists of 24 patients in the age group of 18 to 36 months, male 12 and female 12. All the patients were divided into two groups-Group I-12 patients for two layer closure, Group II-12 patients for three layer closure. Exclusion criteria was submucous clefts, any identified syndrome and patients with hearing loss. All the patients have undergone pre-operative speech assessment by the speech therapist. At end of 6 months, speech analysis was done based on three parameters, i.e. nasality (A), Articulation (B) and intelligibility (C). RESULTS: Patients with radical muscle dissection (three layer) group had statistically significant (P=0.023) improvement in nasal resonance compared to the conservative technique (two layer) in the younger age group. But there was no statistically significant difference in the articulation and the intelligibility of speech. CONCLUSION: Radical dissection and palatal muscle reconstruction confers better functional results regarding nasal resonanace, especially in younger age group. Quality of speech in the elder group, patients 25-36 months old in both the technique groups was almost the same. The incidence of fistula was slightly more in the radical dissection group.

Oral health status of normal children and those affiliated with cardiac diseases.

UNLABELLED: If a child's general health is compromised, care for his/her oral and dental health becomes an absolute necessity. Children with heart diseases require special dental care because of the risk of developing infective endocarditis. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Was to evaluate the oral health status, parental oral health care knowledge of the pediatric cardiac patients and non cardiac group and infective endocarditis awareness among the parents of the cardiac group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Include a total of 50 children with heart diseases and 50 non-cardiac children aged 2-12 years were examined for dental caries index and simplified debris index. A structured, administered questionnaire for parents/caregivers about knowledge of infective endocarditis and oral health were used for data collection. RESULTS: Showed no statistically significant differences between the caries experience score for the two groups and oral health knowledge. Knowledge about Infective Endocarditis in parents of study group was very poor. Simplified Debris Index of age group 6-12 years was higher in study groups compared to the controls. CONCLUSION: Improvements should be made in educating parents and children on the importance of caries prevention and maintaining a good oral hygiene in prevention of infective endocarditis.

Cowden syndrome.

Cowden syndrome or multiple hamartoma syndrome is an autosomal dominant condition with variable expressions that result mainly from mutation in the PTEN gene on arm 10q. It is characterized by multiple hamartomatous neoplasms of the skin, oral mucosa, gastrointestinal tract, bones, CNS, eyes, and genitourinary tract. Mucocutaneous features include trichilemmomas, oral mucosal papillomatosis, acral keratosis, and palmoplantar keratosis. Here we present a case of Cowden syndrome in a 14-year-old female patient with the chief complaint of multiple oral papillomatous lesions.

Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome: prominent oral findings.

Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by multiple cutaneous venous malformations in association with visceral lesions, most commonly affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Oral cavity lesions occur in 59 to 64% of cases. We report a unique presentation of this syndrome in a 25-year-old male patient with prominent oral findings. This is a sporadic case, started during early childhood, progressively increasing in number and size. Oral vascular lesions were part of gastrointestinal involvement. Associated cardiac abnormalities were also observed. An early diagnosis of this syndrome is required as it gets complicated with bleeding, anemia and other systemic complications.

Pachydermoperiostosis or primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy: A rare clinicoradiologic case.

Pachydermoperiostosis (PDP) or primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy is a rare syndrome with diverse radiological and clinical features. Though the diagnosis can be made on the basis of the classic clinical and radiological features, it is often missed due to variable presentations. A case of PDP that presented with dental complaints and had almost all the clinical and radiological features described in literature is reported. We also discuss the differential diagnosis.

Synthesis of esculentin-1 antibacterial peptide fragments on 1,4-butanediol dimethacrylate cross-linked polystyrene support.

Peptide segments corresponding to antibacterial esculentin-1 (1-15), (3344), (9-27), and their modified forms were synthesized on 1,4-butanediol dimethacrylate cross-linked polystyrene (PS-BDODMA) support. Hydroxymethyl and aminomethyl 2% PS-BDODMA supports were used for the synthesis. The HMPB linker was appended to the aminomethyl resin using HBTU in presence of HOBt and the first amino acid was incorporated using MSNT. The conventional Fmoc synthetic protocol was used for the synthesis of peptides. The peptides were cleaved from the support using TFA. The peptides were purified by HPLC, and characterized by amino acid analysis and MALDI TOF MS. The secondary structures of the peptides were revealed by CD measurements. The synthesis of these peptides illustrates the utility of the new support for the synthesis of long-chain bioactive peptides. The synthetic peptides were tested for antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli Mos blue, E. coli 2, Bacillus brevis, B. megaterium, Pseudomonas HTL, and Vibrio mimicus. The antibacterial activity of the peptides was explained on the basis of the helicity and charged nature of the sequences.

[Magnetic resonance angiography of the portal vein in liver transplant recipients]. / Studio con angiografia con risonanza magnetica della vena porta nei pazienti sottoposti a trapianto del fegato.

This work was aimed at investigating the diagnostic accuracy of Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) in the study of the portal vein in liver transplant recipients. Ten patients (7 men and 3 women; mean age: 45 years) were examined 7-180 days after transplantation. The indications to liver transplant follow: post-infective active chronic hepatitis (4 patients), post-alcoholic chronic hepatitis (2 patients), HCC (2 patients), sclerosing cholangitis (1 patient) and primary biliary cirrhosis (1 patient). MRA images were acquired with the 2D TOF technique (TR 50 ms, TE 6.9 ms; FA 30 degrees, 40 slices; 6-mm thickness with 1-mm overlapping; 2 averages; 7.06 TA; matrix: 192 x 256). Axial scans were reconstructed with the MIP technique. Phase contrast sequences with retrospective cardiac triggering were also acquired for flow quantitation (TR/TE/FA: 26/9.3/20 degrees; FOV 150; matrix: 96 x 128; 4 averages, VENC = 20 cm/s). MRA yielded good quality images of the anatomy of the main portal vein and of the bifurcation in all cases, while a signal loss was observed in the peripheral branches. In all cases, the anastomosis could be studied at the portal vein. On MIP reconstructed images, the anastomosis appeared as a relative stenosis (4), while on 2D images it appeared as a small hypodense area on the vessel margin, because of the slight paramagnetic effect of the vascular suture. No thrombi were depicted in any patient and flow was hepatopetal in all cases. In conclusion, MRA is a useful tool for portal system studies in liver transplant recipients, because it permits the panoramic depiction of the portal system and the quantitation of flow (10).