Segmentation of Optic Disc and Cup Using Modified Recurrent Neural Network

Glaucoma is one of the leading factors of vision loss, where the people tends to lose their vision quickly. The examination of cup-to-disc ratio is considered essential in diagnosing glaucoma. It is hence regarded that the segmentation of optic disc and cup is useful in finding the ratio. In this paper, we develop an extraction and segmentation of optic disc and cup from an input eye image using modified recurrent neural networks (mRNN). The mRNN use the combination of recurrent neural network (RNN) with fully convolutional network (FCN) that exploits the intra- and interslice contexts. The FCN extracts the contents from an input image by constructing a feature map for the intra- and interslice contexts. This is carried out to extract the relevant information, where RNN concentrates more on interslice context. The simulation is conducted to test the efficacy of the model that integrates the contextual information for optimal segmentation of optical cup and disc. The results of simulation show that the proposed method mRNN is efficient in improving the rate of segmentation than the other deep learning models like Drive, STARE, MESSIDOR, ORIGA, and DIARETDB.

Healthcare Biclustering-Based Prediction on Gene Expression Dataset

In this paper, we develop a healthcare biclustering model in the field of healthcare to reduce the inconveniences linked to the data clustering on gene expression. The present study uses two separate healthcare biclustering approaches to identify specific gene activity in certain environments and remove the duplication of broad gene information components. Moreover, because of its adequacy in the problem where populations of potential solutions allow exploration of a greater portion of the research area, machine learning or heuristic algorithm has become extensively used for healthcare biclustering in the field of healthcare. The study is evaluated in terms of average match score for nonoverlapping modules, overlapping modules through the influence of noise for constant bicluster and additive bicluster, and the run time. The results show that proposed FCM blustering method has higher average match score, and reduced run time proposed FCM than the existing PSO-SA and fuzzy logic healthcare biclustering methods.

Blockchain-Based Deep Learning to Process IoT Data Acquisition in Cognitive Data

Remote health monitoring can help prevent disease at the earlier stages. The Internet of Things (IoT) concepts have recently advanced, enabling omnipresent monitoring. Easily accessible biomarkers for neurodegenerative disorders, namely, Alzheimer's disease (AD) are needed urgently to assist the diagnoses at its early stages. Due to the severe situations, these systems demand high-quality qualities including availability and accuracy. Deep learning algorithms are promising in such health applications when a large amount of data is available. These solutions are ideal for a distributed blockchain-based IoT system. A good Internet connection is critical to the speed of these system responses. Due to their limited processing capabilities, smart gateway devices cannot implement deep learning algorithms. In this paper, we investigate the use of blockchain-based deep neural networks for higher speed and delivery of healthcare data in a healthcare management system. The study exhibits a real-time health monitoring for classification and assesses the response time and accuracy. The deep learning model classifies the brain diseases as benign or malignant. The study takes into account three different classes to predict the brain disease as benign or malignant that includes AD, mild cognitive impairment, and normal cognitive level. The study involves a series of processing where most of the data are utilized for training these classifiers and ensemble model with a metaclassifier classifying the resultant class. The simulation is conducted to test the efficacy of the model over that of the OASIS-3 dataset, which is a longitudinal neuroimaging, cognitive, clinical, and biomarker dataset for normal aging and AD, and it is further trained and tested on the UDS dataset from ADNI. The results show that the proposed method accurately (98%) responds to the query with high speed retrieval of classified results with an increased training accuracy of 0.539 and testing accuracy of 0.559.

Electrified liquid-liquid interface as an electrochemical tool for the sensing of putrescine and cadaverine

Putrescine and cadaverine are biogenic amines that serve as potential biomarkers for several types of cancers and monitoring food quality. Electrochemical sensing of putrescine and cadaverine by non-enzymatic routes remains a challenge because of their inertness at unmodified electrode surfaces and hence a liquid-liquid interface strategy has been employed for their detection. In the present study, electrochemical sensing of cadaverine and putrescine has been demonstrated by simple and facilitated ion-transfer processes using a liquid-liquid microinterface supported by a microcapillary. A microinterface was constructed in different configurations by varying the aqueous phase composition in the absence and presence of dibenzo-18-crown-6, and the ion-transfer ability of putrescine and cadaverine was studied in these configurations. A peak shaped voltammogram was observed in the backward scan, due to the linear diffusion of putrescine and cadaverine from the organic to the aqueous phase. The detection ability in the presence of dibenzo-18-crown-6 was observed in the concentration ranges of 0.25-25 μM and 0.25-40 μM for putrescine and cadaverine with detection limits of 0.11 and 0.17 μM respectively. In the presence of dibenzo-18-crown-6, the electrochemical sensing of putrescine and cadaverine was more pronounced compared to the simple ion-transfer process.

Amperometric determination of hydrazine using a CuS-ordered mesoporous carbon electrode

An electrocatalytic sensor for hydrazine using copper sulfide-ordered mesoporous carbon (CuS-OMC) is described. A facile solvothermal synthetic strategy was adopted for CuS-OMC and the ordered mesoporous carbon was obtained through nanocasting method. The synthesized CuS-OMC was characterized using microscopic and spectrochemical techniques. CuS-OMC was immobilized on GCE and evaluated for its electrochemical sensing of hydrazine using cyclic voltammetry and amperometry. CuS-OMC modified GCE exhibited better hydrazine sensing at an optimized pH 7.4 in terms of oxidation potential and current compared with that of GCE, CuS, and OMC. The observed sensing performance of CuS-OMC was attributed to the presence of Cu (I/II) in CuS dispersed in OMC which acts as an electrocatalytic center for the sensing of hydrazine. Amperometry under optimized experimental condition with an applied potential of 270 mV was employed to obtain a linear calibration plot in the range 0.25 to 40 μM (R² = 0.9908) with a detection limit of 0.10 μM with a sensitivity of 0.915 (± 0.02) μA cm^-2 μM^-1. Real sample analyses were carried out by spiking of hydrazine in different water samples and the recoveries were in the range of 97 ± 2.1% (n = 3). Graphical abstract.

Disintegration of Flower-Like MoS₂ to Limply Allied Layers on Spherical Nanoporous TiO₂: Enhanced Visible-Light Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue

MoS₂/TiO₂ heterostructure with enhanced photocatalytic activity was successfully synthesized by hydrothermal method. The segmentation of flower-like MoS₂ structure resulted, during the hydrothermal condition in the presence of spherical nanoporous TiO₂ as a growing matrix. A pool of larger spherical TiO₂ particle induces a strain effect, which restricted the size of MoS₂. Meanwhile, the applied hydrothermal pressure leads the segmentation of the bundle-like structure of MoS₂ to individual layer. The obtained heterostructure was characterized by X-ray diffraction, Scanning, and Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, DRS-UV Visible spectra, Photoluminescence, Raman spectroscopy and BET surface area analysis. The photocatalytic activity of these synthesized materials was evaluated for the decomposition of methylene blue (MB) under visible light. The results indicated that MoS₂/TiO₂ heterostructure had higher photocatalytic activity than pristine MoS₂ and TiO₂ materials. After irradiation, the photocatalytic efficiency towards MB degradation was calculated as 67.4, 80.2 and 99.5% for MoS₂, TiO₂, and MoS₂/TiO₂, respectively. The formation of unique, distinct layers of MoS₂ over TiO₂ surface created more active sites for a photocatalytic response. These whole phenomena could enhance the absorption characteristics of dyestuff on the heterostructure and enhance the charge transport after conjugation, which improves MB degradation efficiency.

A comparison study between V-SBA-15 and V-KIT-6 catalysts for selective oxidation of diphenylmethane

Vanadium incorporated mesoporous SBA-15 and KIT-6 catalysts were prepared by a direct hydrothermal method under mild acidic reaction conditions.

Effectiveness of reflexology on anxiety of patients undergoing cardiovascular interventional procedures: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

AIM

To appraise the evidence concerning the effect of reflexology on the anxiety in patients undergoing cardiovascular interventional procedures.

BACKGROUND

Anxiety, fear, and other unpleasant emotional experiences are common among patients before and after cardiovascular interventional procedures. The higher anxiety may affect prognosis and recovery of patients.

DESIGN

A systematic review and meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES

The MEDLINE, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Cochrane Library), EMBASE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science were searched between 2001-2017.

REVIEW METHODS

Randomized controlled trials evaluated the effectiveness of reflexology on anxiety among patients undergoing cardiovascular interventional procedures were included. Meta-analysis was done using Revman 5.3.

RESULTS

Ten trials, representing 760 patients with the mean age of 59, fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Reflexology significantly decreased the anxiety of patients undergoing cardiovascular interventional procedures in the treatment group compared with the control group.

CONCLUSION

Reflexology has some positive effects on anxiety among patients undergoing cardiovascular procedures. It may be a useful complementary therapy and further research is necessary to create reliable evidence.

SiO2@LaOF:Eu3+ core-shell functional nanomaterials for sensitive visualization of latent fingerprints and WLED applications

For the first time, intense red color composite of SiO₂@LaOF:Eu³⁺ core-shell nanostructures (NS) were fabricated via facile solvothermal method followed by thermal treatment. The obtained core-shell particles display better spherical shape and non-agglomeration with a narrow size distribution. Photoluminescence (PL) emission spectra exhibits intense peaks at ∼593 nm, 611 nm, 650 nm corresponds to ⁵D₀ → ⁷F_J (J = 0, 1 and 2) Eu³⁺ transitions respectively. The spectral intensity parameters and Eu-O ligand behaviors are estimated by means of Judd-Ofelt (J-O) theory. CIE co-ordinates are found to be (x = 0.63, y = 0.36) which is very close to standard NTSC values (x = 0.67, y = 0.33). CCT value is ∼3475 K which is less than 5000 K, as a result this phosphor is suitable for warm light emitting diodes. The optimized core-shell SiO₂ (coat III)@LaOF:Eu³⁺ (5 mol%) was used as a fluorescent labeling marker for the visualization of latent fingerprints on both porous and non-porous surfaces. Obtained fingerprints are highly sensitive and selective also no background hindrance which enables level-I to level-III fingerprint ridge characteristics. Observed results indicate that the significant improvement in luminescence of coreshell NS can be explored as a sensitive functional nanopowder for advanced forensic and solid state lightning applications.

Outcome of Surgical Treatment for Displaced Acetabular Fractures

The aim of this study was to assess the outcome of surgical treatment in displaced acetabular fractures in our local facilities. Previous studies reveal good outcome via open reduction method with achievement of congruent joint. We note that studies in this respect have not been conducted in our region. We retrospectively analyzed thirty patients with acetabular fractures who underwent open reduction and internal fixation. The data collection was performed over a 4-year period, from 2008 to 2011. The results showed 20 out of 30 patients (66.7%) had excellent/good results (Harris Hip Score equal or more than 80). Post operative complications were deep infection (6.7%), iatrogenic sciatic nerve injury (10.0%), avascular necrosis (16.7%), heterotopic ossificans (3.3%), degenerative changes in hip joint (43.3%) and loss of reduction (3.3%). In conclusion, surgical treatment of displaced acetabular fractures produces good functional outcome despite the complications.

Effect of concentrate supplementation on feed consumption, nutrient utilization and blood metabolite profile in captive spotted deer (Axis axis) fed oat (Avena sativa) and berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) fodders based diet

This experiment was conducted to determine the optimum level of a maize-soybean meal-wheat bran concentrate supplement fed to captive spotted deer fed an oat and berseem fodder-based diet. Twelve adult spotted deer [64-76 kg body weight (BW)] were distributed into three groups of four each and were housed individually. A diet consisting of 5 kg of oat fodder and 5.5 kg of berseem fodder was offered to each one of the experimental animals. The animal in group I received no supplementary concentrate, whereas, those in groups II and III received 0.5 and 1 kg of supplementary concentrate, respectively. A 60 days digestibility trial was conducted with a 5 days collection period on Days 55-59 of the trial. Blood samples were collected from all animals on Day 60 of the experiment. Average daily dry matter intake (DMI) was 1,224, 1,613, and 1,574 g/day in groups I, II, and III, respectively. Dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) intake was lowest (P < 0.01) in group I. Intake of P, Cu, and Zn was highest (P < 0.01) in group III, followed by groups II and I. Digestibility of neutral detergent fiber was highest (P < 0.05) in group II. Digestibility of OM and CP was lowest (P < 0.05) in group I. Digestibility of gross energy was highest (P < 0.01) in group III (74.9%), followed by groups II (69.3%) and I (66.2%). Digestible energy (DE) intake (kcal/kg BW(0.75) ) was highest (P < 0.01) in group III (195.4), followed by groups II (180.9) and I (129.8). Initial BW was 72.7, 72.5, and 71.0 kg, whereas, final BW was 71.0, 72.7, and 73.5 kg, in groups I, II and III, respectively. Average daily change in body mass was significantly (P < 0.01) different among the groups. The body mass was lost (-29.2 g/day), maintained (4.1 g/day) and gained (41.6 g/day) in groups I, II, and III, respectively. Blood glucose and cholesterol concentration was highest (P < 0.05) in group III, followed by groups II and I. Serum concentration of Cu and Zn was highest (P < 0.05) in group III, followed by groups II and I. Supplementation of forage only diet with 0.5 kg of concentrate mixture increased intake and digestibility of nutrients, without change in body mass. Animals fed 1 kg of supplementary concentrate received energy in excess of requirements, were consistently gaining body mass and were prone to obesity. Thus, it is a right strategy to supplement forage only diet of captive spotted deer with 0.5 kg of concentrate.

Effect of the supplementation of dietary rich phytoestrogens in altering the vitamin D levels in diet induced osteoporotic rat model

Plant-derived estrogen-like compounds such as isoflavones (IF) especially daidzein and genistein are said to be preserving the bone in the osteoporotic conditions. However, it is not known whether a combination of IF and calcium (Ca) supplementation attenuates losses in bone mass and prevents the loss of vitamin D (VD). The present study addresses the role of phytoestrogens (PE) and Ca supplementation in low Ca and low VD diet induced osteoporosis (OSP). Cowpea (CP) which has high amount of the IF was selected to study its effect on diet induced osteoporotic conditions. Female weanling WNIN rats (total of 68) were divided into five groups and fed for five weeks on semisynthetic diet with low Ca (0.15%) and low VD (0.1IU/day/rat) in combination with low (10 mg/kg) or high (25 mg/kg) concentrations of PEs derived from CPIF. The study groups are: (I) normal Ca(0.47%) and normal VD (25IU/day/rat), (II) low Ca+low VD, (III) low Ca+low VD+low CPIF (10 mg/kg diet), (IV) low Ca+low VD+high CPIF (25 mg/kg diet) and (V) low Ca+low VD+17-(-estradiol (3.2 mg/kg diet). After the development of OSP the group II was subgrouped into: (SG I) continued on low Ca+VD, (SG II) low CPIF, (SG III) high CPIF, (SG IV) 17-beta-estradiol and (SG V) normal Ca and VD. Serum 25-VD levels were in the range of 14-38 ng/ml in groups I, III, IV and V, where as the values were very low in the group II (5.8 ng/ml). These were partially reversed upon supplementation of CPIF. The results correlated with altered Ca levels, body weight, bone mineral density and content and other related biochemical parameters. The paper further explains the possibility of protective and therapeutic role of VD in the presence of CPIF in osteoporotic health manifestations.

Effect of industrial effluent on the morphological parameters and chlorophyll content of green gram (Phaseolus aureus Roxb)

A pot culture experiment was conducted to study the effect of biomass power plant effluent on seed germination, seedling growth and chlorophyll content of green gram (variety LGG 460) have been estimated at different effluent concentrations and time intervals. The effluent is alkaline in nature (pH 8.5), odorless, and comprises of heavy metals such as Cr (0.071 mg l(-1)), Cu (0.014 mg l(-1)), Mn (0.036mg l(-1)), Fe (0.05 mg l(-1)), Co (0.31 mg l(-1)), Ni (0.041 mg l(-1)), Cd (0.028 mg l(-1)), Pb (0.108 mg l(-1)) and Zn (6.73 mg l(-1)). The germination percentage of seed, seedling growth and chlorophyll content showed a gradual decline with increase in effluent concentration. It has been observed that at 25% effluent concentration, there is growth in the root length (3.50 cm seedling(-1)), an increase in shoot length (23.90 cm seedling(-1)) and total chlorophyll content (4.467 mg g(-1) fresh weight) up to 20 days. After 20 day there is decline in all the parameters observed. However at higher concentrations of the effluent, toxic effects were observed from 20th day. This suggests that the effluent can be used safely for green gram cultivation, only after proper treatment and dilution.

Cadmium induced changes on proline, antioxidant enzymes, nitrate and nitrite reductases in Arachis hypogaea L

The groundnut, Arachis hypogaea seedlings, when grown in pot cultures for 10-25 days at 25, 50, 100 microM CdCl2, showed a marked decline in growth compared to control. Similar trend was observed for nitrate reductase (NR) and nitrite reductase (NiR) activities whereas proline, peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) showed increasing trend when observed on the 10th day of the experiment. Changes have occurred in the physiological and biochemical activities which are observed even at low Cd levels (25 microM). At 100 microM concentration, with increase in experimental days, Cd has imposed drastic decrease in leaf and stem respectively where nitrate reductase has varied from 20.87-79.41 and 29.11-72.91% and nitrite reductase 21.66-79.41 and 43.58-75.92% respectively. Contrastingly Cd treated plant tissues showed an increase in proline 111.2-159.87% (percentage changes) and 131.23-212.16% for leaves and stems respectively. In addition cadmium caused significant changes in the activity of antioxidative enzymes, peroxidase 48.12-72.19% in leaf and 37.71-75.25% in stem and catalase 64.86-143.92% in leaf and 129.13-214.74% in stem as compared to control. The study concludes that the activities of NR, NiR, proline, POD, CAT are inhibited suggesting that Arachis hypogaea seedlings are under Cd stress affecting their growth.

Acute myocardial infarction following sildenafil intake in a nitrate-free patient without previous history of coronary artery disease

OBJECTIVE

To report the occurrence of acute myocardial infarction (MI) associated with the intake of oral sildenafil (Viagra) in a nitrate-free patient without previous history of coronary artery disease.

CASE PRESENTATION AND INTERVENTION

A 50-year-old manual laborer was admitted to the hospital with acute inferoposterior wall MI occurring approximately 30 min after taking oral sildenafil 50 mg. This occurred before any attempted sexual activity. Subsequent angiography showed a 70% stenotic lesion in the midsegment of the dominant circumflex artery. The Naranjo scale indicated that sildenafil was a probable cause of MI.

CONCLUSION

This report shows a rare sildenafil-associated MI in a nitrate-free patient without a previous history of coronary artery disease.

Bacteriology of diabetic foot lesions

Infection plays a pivotal role in enhancing a diabetic foot at risk toward amputation. Effective antibiotic therapy against the offending pathogens is an important component of treatment of diabetic foot infections. Recognition of the pathogen is always difficult as the representative deep tissue sample for culture is surrounded by ulcer surface harbouring colonies of organisms frequently labelled as skin commensals. The emergent of resistant strains represents a compounding problem standing against efforts to prevent amputation. This study was undertaken to identify the pathogens associated with diabetic foot infection in terms of their frequency and sensitivity against certain commonly used antibiotics. Forty-four consecutive patients with open diabetic foot infections had wound swab taken for culture and sensitivity testing. Cultures positive were observed in 89% of the cases with Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeroginosa encountered in 20%, 14% and 14% of cases respectively. Mixed growths were isolated in 6% of cultures. All Staphylcoccus aureus isolates were resistant to Penicillin but 80% were sensitive to Erythromycin and Co-trimoxazole. Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates were sensitive to Methicillin and Gentamycin in 80% and 60% of cases respectively, and resistant to Ampicillin and Ceftazidime in 83% and 50% respectively. All Pseudomonas aeroginosa isolates were sensitive to Amikacin and Ciprofloxacin but 50% were resistant to Gentamycin. There was no single antibiotic possessing good coverage for all common organisms isolated from diabetic foot lesions. Staphylococcus aureus remains the predominant cause of diabetic foot infections followed by Klebsiela pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeroginosa. Most infections are monomicrobial. The emergence of multiresistant organisms is a worrying feature in diabetic foot infections.

Evidence that the glucoamylases and alpha-amylase secreted by Aspergillus niger are proteolytically processed products of a precursor enzyme

A 125-kDa starch hydrolysing enzyme of Aspergillus niger characterised by its ability to dextrinise and saccharify starch [Suresh et al. (1999) Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 51, 673-675] was also found to possess activity towards raw starch. Segregation of these activities in the 71-kDa glucoamylase and a 53-kDa alpha-amylase-like enzyme supported by antibody cross-reactivity studies and the isolation of mutants based on assay screens for the secretion of particular enzyme forms revealed the 125-kDa starch hydrolysing enzyme as their precursor. N-terminal sequence analysis further revealed that the 71-kDa glucoamylase was the N-terminal product of the precursor enzyme. Immunological cross reactivity of the 53-kDa amylase with antibodies raised against the precursor enzyme but not with the 71- and 61-kDa glucoamylase antibodies suggested that this enzyme activity is represented by the C-terminal fragment of the precursor. The N-terminal sequence of the 53-kDa protein showed similarity to the reported Taka amylase of Aspergillus oryzae. Antibody cross-reactivity to a 10-kDa non-enzymic peptide and a 61-kDa glucoamylase described these proteins as products of the 71-kDa glucoamylase. Identification of only the precursor starch hydrolysing enzyme in the protein extracts of fungal protoplasts suggested proteolytic processing in the cellular periplasmic space as the cause for the secretion of multiple forms of amylases by A. niger.

Characterisation of a starch-hydrolysing enzyme of Aspergillus niger

A UV-induced mutant strain of Aspergillus niger (CFTRI-1105-U9) overproduced a starch-hydrolysing enzyme with properties characteristically different from the known amylases of the fungus. The purified enzyme of 4.0 pI had an apparent molecular mass of 125 kDa and it dextrinised starch and then saccharified the dextrins. Patterns of the enzyme activity on starch, resulting in glucose at 60 degrees C and glucose, maltose and maltodextrins at 70 degrees C as primary products, suggested significant applications for the enzyme in starch-processing industries.

Separation and direct detection of raw and gelatinized starch hydrolyzing activities of glucoamylase on isoelectric focusing gels

A procedure to detect raw and gelatinized starch activities of glucoamylase on isoelectric focusing (IEF) gels by using 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride is described. The reagent reacts with the reducing group of glucose released by glucoamylase from the substrate starch. Using the reaction, production of glucoamylase by Aspergillus niger was detected on 10% IEF gels within a pH range of 2.5-9.5. Since the method can detect raw and gelatinized starch activities of glucomylase associated with 1 microg protein, it will be useful for enzyme engineering studies that involve screening of various mutations.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the estimation of fungal biomass during solid-state fermentation

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for sensitive, specific and quantitative estimation of fungal biomass during solid-state fermentation is described. Using this method, differential growth rates and colonization of the substrate can be studied. The assay has potential application for the efficient monitoring of solid-state fermentation involving specific fungus, for which available methods are not adequate.

Clinical evaluation of gold foil as an apical sealing material for replantation

Intentional replantation of mandibular molars was performed in forty patients. Different materials were used for sealing the apex. Healing was assessed by measuring biting force at 2-month intervals for up to 6 months. Gold foil was found to be the best material for apical sealing when improvement in biting force was used as the criterion.