Search

The world in which human beings live is made up of five kinds of lands. Tholkappiyar would divide the lands into Kurinji, Mullai, Marutham, Neithal, and Palai. Tolkappiyar has divided the lands into Muthal Porul (Primary Object), Uripporul (The Theme), and Karupporul (The Epithet). Whatever the subject matter of the literature of this period, it is based on these five kinds of lands. Human society is made up of different ethnic groups. Among them is the novel 'Kurinjitthen' which talks about the Badagas tribe. Kurinji land is a hilly and hills surrounded place. The novel 'Kurinjitthen' depicts the life of the Badagas living in the Nilgiri hills. Through the novel 'Kurinchithen', the novel explores all aspects of the life of the Badagas, such as Hethai, the revered deity worshipped by the Badugas, the rules followed by them to protect the fire, the form of light, the methods of performing the 'Hone (Bamboo Vessel to collect milk)' ritual, and the condition of the women of the Badagas tribe.

There are many ethnic groups in human society. Those ethnic groups have set some rules for themselves and are living in isolation from modern society. Contemporary literature continues to record such communities. Alli Fathima’s ‘Pandichi’ novel is one of them. Alli Fathima has designed it as a novel to stay with the tribal people living in the ‘Ponvala’ forest on the Kerala border next to Theni and look at their lives. The characteristics of the people who have created a separate society for themselves in the ‘Ponvala’ forest. The rules they have set for themselves. The punishments to be given to those who violate the rules Restrictions. Their unique political system, medical system, marriage system and all the elements has recorded in the novel. The study is set to explore the community of the general public portrayed in the ‘Pondichi’ novel.

Introduction This study evaluates the effects of the multi-pressure dial (MPD) on steady-state pattern electroretinography (ss-pERG) parameters. The study is a randomized, controlled, prospective, pilot trial in a private practice setting with ocular hypertensive (OHT), glaucoma suspect, and open-angle glaucoma (OAG) subjects. Methods This study included nine patients (64 ± 9.0 years, nine female) with OHT, glaucoma suspect, or mild OAG. One eye of each subject was randomized to receive negative periocular pressure, while the contralateral eye served as the intrasubject control through the goggle without negative pressure. The Diopsys High Contrast Sensitivity ss-pERG protocol was conducted on both eyes of each subject while wearing the MPD device. Application of negative periocular pressure was set at 50% of baseline intraocular pressure for each study eye. Results Following 2 h of negative periocular pressure application, the difference in MagnitudeD (MagD) from baseline for eyes randomized to receive negative periocular pressure (+ 0.17 versus − 0.26) was statistically significant (p = 0.023). Over the same period, the change in MagD/Magnitude (MagD/Mag ratio) from baseline for eyes randomized to receive negative periocular pressure was also higher (+ 0.14 versus − 0.16), compared to the control eyes, approached significance (p = 0.059). Conclusions Following 2 h of MPD wear, the measured MagD and MagD/Mag ratio improved compared to control, suggesting that negative periocular pressure application to the anterior globe can lead to short-term improvement in one measure of retinal ganglion cell function.

The solubility of calcium phosphate crystallization in vitro by an deproteinized concoction of Basella rubra plant was investigated by weight reduction assay. Soluble oxalate of the plant are partially removed prior to extraction of plant material. The weight variation and dissolution results reveals that the concoction showed considerable increased activity at the highest concentration used. The results indicate that the calcium phosphate crystal inhibition activity exhibited by the plant material may be due to their calcium phosphate solubilising capacity of phytoconstituents present in them. Regular consumption of an concoction of our plant would be helpful in calculi prophylaxis.

The theory of control systems deals with the analysis and design of interacting components of a system in a configuration that provides the desired behavior. This paper deals with the problem of the identification of non-linear systems through Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). We propose a structure of a CNN and perform simulations with test data using unsupervised learning for the identification of nonlinear systems. Also, MLP is used to compare the results when there is noise in the training data, which allows us to see that the proposed CNN has better performance and can be used for cases where the noise is present. The proposed CNN is validated with test data. Tests are carried out with Gas oven data, comparing the proposed structure of CNN with a MLP. When there is noise in the data, CNN has better performance than MLP.

Purpose To identify the visual performance of radial keratotomy (RK) patients that have undergone cataract surgery with implantation of an extended depth of focus (EDOF) intraocular lens (IOL). Design Retrospective chart review with questionnaire. Methods Medical charts of patients with a history of RK that had undergone phacoemulsification with implantation of the Tecnis Symfony IOL (J&J Vision) were reviewed. Data collected included preoperative demographics, number of RK incisions, pupil size, and preoperative visual acuity and manifest refraction. Primary outcome measures of the study included postoperative uncorrected distance visual acuity (UCVA) and manifest refraction spherical equivalent (SE) at each follow-up visit. Secondary outcomes included results from a telephone questionnaire assessing visual performance and satisfaction. Results Twenty-four eyes of 12 patients were included. UCVA improved from an average Snellen equivalent 20/73 preoperatively to 20/33 at an average final follow-up of 6 months (P=0.0011), while average manifest SE improved from +1.68 D to -0.18 D (P

Additional file 1. Collision induced dissociation of Bempedoic acid and Ezetimibe and Mass spectral data.

According to the ADA, diabetes mellitus is defined as having fasting blood glucose levels >= 7.0mmol/l. Statins are the lipid-lowering agents used to treat dyslipidemia and act by inhibiting the HMG Co-A reductase enzyme. Very few studies have reported the results of drugs concerning the profile of blood lipids or which have anti-inflammatory activity behaviour on diabetes. Pravastatin is such a drug that shows inherent beneficial pleiotropic effects on plasma lipids and inflammatory actions. Pravastatin remarkably reduced the increased levels of plasma glucose when compared with the control group, subjecting to no change in body weight or food intake in mice. By performing certain insulin tolerance tests using tracers like 2- [3 H]-deoxy glucose (2DG), they concluded that insulin-induced glucose uptake is increased in adipose tissue. Pravastatin is shown to reduce the circulating concentration of the interleukin-6, cytokines, and TNF-alpha. Pravastatin's anti-inflammatory properties interrupt the natural progression from central obesity to insulin resistance mediated by cytokines from the adipose tissue. Pravastatin can significantly impact selective tissue perfusion through restoring the endothelial function and thus benefit the transportation of glucose and insulin.

Low fibrinogen and platelet counts are associated with bleeding and the need for transfusion. In this study, we investigated whether the Quantra® QPlus® parameters Fibrinogen Contribution (FCS) and Platelet Contribution (PCS) to clot stiffness could predict commonly used fibrinogen and platelet transfusion thresholds in patients undergoing major surgical procedures.This study used data from a multicenter, prospective observational study of adult patients undergoing cardiac or major orthopedic surgery. Quantra and laboratory assays were performed in parallel at multiple time points. Logistic regression models were used to assess the ability of FCS and PCS to predict fibrinogen and platelet thresholds used to guide transfusions. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were analyzed to determine the diagnostic accuracy and the optimal FCS and PCS values corresponding to the laboratory-based thresholds.The areas under the ROC curves (AUCs) for FCS at fibrinogen thresholds of120, 150, and 200 mg/dl ranged from 0.96 to 0.89. Similarly, for PCS at platelet thresholds of50, 80, 100,000/μl, AUCs ranged from 0.95 to 0.89. The proposed optimal FCS and PCS cutoff values showed high negative predictive value and high sensitivity and specificity (both86%) at the lowest fibrinogen and platelet threshold levels.This study identifies potential cutoff values for QPlus FCS and PCS proposed for use in place of or in conjunction with laboratory-based assays fibrinogen and platelet thresholds to guide transfusion decisions in surgical patients. These cut-off values will need to be validated in future studies.

Background Ankle plantarflexion (PF) active range of motion (ROM) is traditionally assessed in a non-weight-bearing (NWB) position with a universal goniometer. However, a convenient, reliable, low-cost means of assessing functional PF active ROM in a weight-bearing (WB) position has yet to be established. Purpose To compare the intra- and interrater reliability of PF active ROM measurements obtained from a goniometric NWB assessment, and a functional heel-rise test (FHRT) performed in WB. Study design Reliability study. Methods Two physical therapy student examiners, blinded to each other's measurements, assessed PF active ROM through a NWB goniometric technique and a FHRT on all subjects within the same test session. Intra- and interrater reliability values were calculated using an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC2,1, ICC2,k) and 95% confidence intervals. Standard error of measurement (SEM) and minimal detectable change (MDC) were recorded for each method. Results 43 healthy participants (mean ± SD, age: 22.7 ± 1.7 years, height: 1.7 ± 0.1 m, mass: 77.8 ± 17.2 kg) completed testing procedures. The within-session intrarater reliability (ICC2,1) estimates were observed for goniometry (right: 0.96, left: 0.95 - 0.97) and FHRT (right: 0.99, left: 0.99), as well as the interrater reliability (ICC2,k) of goniometry (right: 0.79, left: 0.79) and FHRT (right: 0.79, left: 0.87). Goniometry SEM (3.3 - 3.6 °) and MDC (9.2 - 9.8 °) were observed, in addition to FHRT SEM (0.6 cm) and MDC (1.6 - 1.7 cm). A weak correlation was found between FHRT and goniometric measurements (r = -0.03 - 0.13). Conclusions The FHRT was found to have good to excellent intra- and interrater reliability, similar to goniometric measurement. The lack of agreement between these measurements requires further exploration of a WB assessment of ankle PF active ROM. Level of evidence 2b.

Background Type I interferons (IFN1s; eg, interferon-alpha and interferon-beta) are potent cytokines that inhibit the replication of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) and other viruses. The antiviral and immunoregulatory activities of IFN1 are mediated through ligand-receptor interactions with the IFN1 receptor complex (IFNAR). Variation in the cell-surface density of IFNAR could play a role in HIV-1 pathogenesis. Methods In this cross-sectional study of fresh whole blood, we used flow cytometry to evaluate the expression of IFNAR2 on lymphocyte subsets from HIV-1-infected (n = 33) and HIV-1-uninfected (n = 22) individuals. Results In comparison with healthy blood bank donors, we observed that the HIV-1-infected individuals, particularly those having advanced to disease, exhibited the increased expression of IFNAR2 on CD4 T cells (relative fluorescence intensity 6.9 vs. 9.0; P = 0.027). The CD4:CD4 T-cell IFNAR2 expression-level ratio provides an internally standardized measure of this alteration. The observed increased expression of IFNAR2 was largely restricted to CD4 T cells that expressed the chemokine receptor CXCR4 and lacked the expression of CCR5. Conclusions HIV-1-infected individuals exhibit an increased expression of the IFN1 receptor on CD4 T cells. The level of IFNAR2 expression seems to increase with disease progression. These findings provide insight for the immunologic alterations associated with HIV-1 infection and possibly new therapeutic approaches.

Brandon J Baartman,1 Kayla Karpuk,1 Bradley Eichhorn,2 Tanner J Ferguson,2 Ramu G Sudhagoni,3 John P Berdahl,1 Vance M Thompson11Vance Thompson Vision, Sioux Falls, SD, USA; 2University of South Dakota School of Medicine, Vermillion, SD, USA; 3Public, Health Department, School of Health, Sciences, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, USAWe appreciate the letter by Prof. Srirampur regarding the recent publication ofour results of extended depth of focus (EDOF) lens implantation in post-radialkeratotomy (RK) patients. Prof. Srirampur brings up a few excellent points.Correspondence: Brandon J BaartmanVance Thompson Vision, 3101 W 57th, Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57108, USATel +1 605 361 3937Email Brandon.baartman@vancethompsonvision.comView the original paper by Baartman and colleaguesThis is in response to the Letter to the Editor

Tanner J Ferguson,1 John P Berdahl,2 Justin A Schweitzer,2 Ramu G Sudhagoni1 1Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, SD, USA; 2Vance Thompson Vision, Sioux Falls, SD, USA Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the iStent trabecular microbypass stent in combination with cataract surgery in patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG).Methods: Retrospective, consecutive case series from October 2012 to December 2015 with no exclusion criteria. The series comprised of 350 eyes with OAG and cataract. Data were collected both preoperatively and postoperatively at day 1 week 1, months 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24. Data included intraocular pressure (IOP), number of glaucoma medications, visual acuity, the incidence of postoperative IOP pressure spikes of greater than ≥15 mmHg at any time point, and need for additional surgery.Results: The mean preoperative IOP was 19.13±6.34 mmHg. At 2 years postoperation, mean IOP was 15.17±3.53 mmHg (P

Ankle plantarflexion (PF) active range of motion (ROM) is traditionally assessed in a non-weight-bearing (NWB) position with a universal goniometer. However, a convenient, reliable, low-cost means of assessing functional PF active ROM in a weight-bearing (WB) position has yet to be established.To compare the intra- and interrater reliability of PF active ROM measurements obtained from a goniometric NWB assessment, and a functional heel-rise test (FHRT) performed in WB.Reliability study.Two physical therapy student examiners, blinded to each other's measurements, assessed PF active ROM through a NWB goniometric technique and a FHRT on all subjects within the same test session. Intra- and interrater reliability values were calculated using an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC43 healthy participants (mean ± SD, age: 22.7 ± 1.7 years, height: 1.7 ± 0.1 m, mass: 77.8 ± 17.2 kg) completed testing procedures. The within-session intrarater reliability (ICCThe FHRT was found to have good to excellent intra- and interrater reliability, similar to goniometric measurement. The lack of agreement between these measurements requires further exploration of a WB assessment of ankle PF active ROM.2b.

Background Periods of growth are thought to be the best time to increase bone mineral content, bone area, and areal bone mineral density (aBMD) through increased loading owing to high rates of bone modeling and remodeling. However, questions remain regarding whether a benefit of exercise is seen at all bone sites, is dependent on pubertal status or sex of the child, or whether other factors such as diet modify the response to exercise.

Purpose Descemet’s membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) is a minimally invasive partial corneal transplant procedure used in patients with failing endothelial membranes. This study aims to identify those factors which influence the need for a rebubble of the corneal graft. Methods A total of 94 eyes that received DMEK between March 2014 and January 2016 at Vance Thompson Vision were used in the study. Demographic and graft data were collected from the patients and donors, and perioperative statistics of the procedures. A logistical regression was used to compare eyes that did and did not require a rebubble. Results Among those characteristics that were included (patient age/sex, donor age/sex, death to processing time, donation to surgery time, death to procurement time, specular cell count density, burping procedure, postoperative day 1 intraocular pressure [IOP], and postoperative week 1 IOP, concurrent phacoemulsification, and how well the Descemet graft was centered), only a lower specular cell count density of the corneal graft, and a graft that was not well-centered correlated with needing a rebubble due to partial graft detachment (p=0.021) and (p=0.023), respectively. Conclusion An increased specular cell count density may allow for better placement of the corneal graft by allowing for better unfolding in DMEK procedures. A well-centered graft may decrease postoperative complications by increasing adherence. Additionally, postoperative management of IOP may not affect the rebubble rate, and therefore should be left to the discretion of the provider to determine whether it is necessary.

Keegan B Mechels,1 Michael D Greenwood,2 Ramu G Sudhagoni,3 John P Berdahl2 1Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, 2Vance Thompson Vision, Sioux Falls, SD, 3School of Health Sciences, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, USA Purpose: Descemet’s membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) is a minimally invasive partial corneal transplant procedure used in patients with failing endothelial membranes. This study aims to identify those factors which influence the need for a rebubble of the corneal graft. Methods: A total of 94 eyes that received DMEK between March 2014 and January 2016 at Vance Thompson Vision were used in the study. Demographic and graft data were collected from the patients and donors, and perioperative statistics of the procedures. A logistical regression was used to compare eyes that did and did not require a rebubble. Results: Among those characteristics that were included (patient age/sex, donor age/sex, death to processing time, donation to surgery time, death to procurement time, specular cell count density, burping procedure, postoperative day 1 intraocular pressure [IOP], and postoperative week 1 IOP, concurrent phacoemulsification, and how well the Descemet graft was centered), only a lower specular cell count density of the corneal graft, and a graft that was not well-centered correlated with needing a rebubble due to partial graft detachment (p=0.021) and (p=0.023), respectively. Conclusion: An increased specular cell count density may allow for better placement of the corneal graft by allowing for better unfolding in DMEK procedures. A well-centered graft may decrease postoperative complications by increasing adherence. Additionally, postoperative management of IOP may not affect the rebubble rate, and therefore should be left to the discretion of the provider to determine whether it is necessary. Keywords: descemet, rebubble, keratoplasty, DMEK