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A three-dimensional consecutive (r1, r2, r3)-out-of-(m1, m2, m3):F system was introduced by Akiba et al. [J. Qual. Mainten. Eng.11(3) (2005) 254–266]. They computed upper and lower bounds on the reliability of this system. Habib et al. [Appl. Math. Model.34 (2010) 531–538] introduced a conditional type of two-dimensional consecutive-(r, s)-out-of-(m, n):F system, where the number of failed components in the system at the moment of system failure cannot be more than 2rs. We extend this concept to three dimension and introduce a conditional three-dimensional consecutive (s, s, s)-out-of-(s, s, m):F system. It is an arrangement of ms2 components like a cuboid and it fails if it contains either a cube of failed components of size (s, s, s) or 2s3 failed components. We derive an expression for the signature of this system and also obtain reliability of this system using system signature.

A model of an object is an image consisting of features of the object. The input is a gray scale image from which features are computed. In his doctoral thesis J. L. Chen used a model based approach for object recognition. His method is based on Rosin's work for extraction of parts. Both model and scene features are contour based properties. Properties of each part such as area, compactness, convexity, etc., are computed and used to match the scene image to the model. This paper extends the algorithm in several directions. The contours are improved using two passes over the initial input image. The notion of internal part or base of an object is introduced and used to normalize the part areas. Insignificant parts are merged with neighboring parts to provide a better segmentation of the scene. Interpretation trees are used to match scene to object. The algorithm is tested on simple hand drawn images and also images of buildings obtained from architectural databases.

Learning disabilities (LD) is one of the important causes of poor academic performance in school going children. Learning disabilities are developmental disorders that usually manifest during the period of normal education. These disabilities create a significant gap between the true potential and day to day performance of an individual. Dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia denote the problem related to reading, writing and mathematics. Perinatal problems are certain neurological conditions, known to be associated with LD; however, genetic predisposition seems to be the most probable etiological factors. Evaluation of a child suspected to be having LD consists of medical examination, vision and hearing test analysis of school performance. The psycho-behaviour assessment and education testing are essential in the process of diagnosis. The experienced persons in the field of LD should interpret the results of such tests. With Individualized Remedial Education Plan (IEP) most children learn to cope up with disability and may get integrated in a regular steam.

Drug use during pregnancy and lactation is an almost inevitable event. Some of the drugs may have adverse effects on the baby on exposure. It is therefore necessary for the physician to be aware of the changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics during pregnancy. Knowledge about the known teratogens and drugs safe to be used during pregnancy is essential on the part of the prescribing physician. There are many factors affecting drug passage into the milk and thus affecting the child in some cases. There are also some drugs affecting lactation. All this data needs to be carefully studied by the physician.

Glaucoma affecting 60 million people all over the world and it will be 80 million till 2020. There are approximately 11.2 million persons aged 40 years and older with glaucoma in India. Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is commonest type, affecting 2/3rd of glaucoma patients. POAG is estimated to affect 6.48 million persons. The estimated number with primary angle-closure glaucoma is 2.54 million. POAG develops gradually and take long time to get detected and require long term treatment with topical prostaglandin analogues (PGF2) which is the most common as well as most widely used drugs. These PGF2 analogues need to be taken for longer time and more prone to develop adverse drug reactions. Common ADR seen with PG analogues are irritation on instillation, foreign body sensation, dryness of eyes, pain in eye, increased pigmentation of iris, increased eyelash growth, changes in periorbital sulcus and fat. Some ADRs (Adverse Drug Reaction) are explained by the inherent properties of Prostaglandins and those are not explained are because of preservative used in medication and these ADRs can be minimised by using preservative free drug like Tafluprost which are having same efficacy in decreasing IOP.

In India, tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is still a major cause of neurological disabilities and death.To identify the clinical variables which predict the outcome in childhood TBM.Tertiary teaching hospital.Prospective observational study.Thirty-six clinical variables were analyzed in 123 consecutive children with TBM admitted between May 2000 and August 2003. The outcome was assessed in terms of survival or death. Survival meant that the patient was discharged from hospital having made a complete recovery, or with disability.Twenty-five (20%) children recovered completely, 70 (57%) survived with disability, and 28 (23%) died. Employing univariate analysis nine variables correlated with survival with disability outcome: presence of tonic motor posturing, cranial nerve palsy, focal neurological deficit, hypertonia, moderate to severe hydrocephalus, cerebral infarction on cranial CT, and requiring shunt surgery, and absence of extracranial tuberculosis and no antituberculous-related hepatotoxicity; two variables correlated with fatal outcome: presence of deep coma (Glasgow coma scale score P = 0.012, d.f. = 1, OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.02-0.62) correlated with survival with disability outcome, and presence of deep coma (P = 0.030, d.f. = 1, OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.14-0.90) with fatal outcome.In children with TBM, the presence of hypertonia at admission is an independent predictor of neurological sequelae in survivors, and deep coma is an independent predictor of mortality.

Objective : To examine the etiological factors, clinical features, treatment modalities and outcome of acute respiratory failure in children.Methods : This hospital-based prospective observational study was conducted over 15 months. Fifty children with acute respiratory failure, diagnosed by serial arterial blood gas analysis, were consecutively enrolled. Ventilation therapy was initiated when the FiO2 requirement went above 0.6.Results : Pulmonary diseases accounted for majority (68%) of cases, followed by nervous system (12%); and cardiovascular and skeletal muscle system diseases (10%, each). Bronchopneumonia was the commonest cause of acute respiratory failure (11 cases). The majority of cases were in the age group 1 month to < 1 year (26 cases). The commonest signs were altered depth and pattern of respiration (100%), chest wall retractions (88%), flaring of alae nasae (88%), tachypnea (84%), tachycardia (82%), and irritability (64%). Cyanosis was noticed in only 26 (52%) cases. Thirty-six (72%) children required ventilation therapy. The overall mortality was 58%. The mortality was high (55.9% to 66.7%), irrespective of the primary system involved. Significantly higher mortality was associated with co-existent malnutrition (p

Severe leptospirosis rarely presents with primary pulmonary manifestations, without any associated jaundice or renal dysfunction. The authors report a nine-year-old boy who presented with complaints of abrupt onset of high fever; with myalgia, headache, and pain in right chest region, productive cough with hemoptysis and vomiting developing over the past 72 hours. Chest radiograph showed consolidation in the right upper lobe with air bronchogram. A history of contact with sewage water and presence of conjunctival suffusion in a child with pneumonia made us suspect leptospirosis. Following prompt initiation of parenteral penicillin therapy the child's complaints resolved over the next five days. Dri-Dot test to detect anti-Leptospira antibodies was positive. The diagnosis of leptospirosis was confirmed by a positive microagglutination test to Leptospira interrogans serovar Australis by a fourfold rise in antibody titer in paired sera collected during convalescence. Leptospirosis presenting with pulmonary hemorrhage has been associated with significant mortality but it can be successfully treated with early clinical suspicion of alveolar hemorrhage and prompt therapy.

BACKGROUND: Specific learning disabilities (SpLD) viz. dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia are an important cause of academic underachievement. Aims: To assess whether cognition abilities vary in children with SpLD having different grades of nonverbal intelligence. SETTING: Government recognized clinic in a medical college. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Ninety-five children with SpLD (aged 9-14 years) were assessed. An academic achievement of two years below the actual grade placement on educational assessment with a Curriculum-Based test was considered diagnostic of SpLD. On basis of their nonverbal Intelligence Quotient (IQ) scores obtained on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children test, the study children were divided into three groups: (i) average-nonverbal intelligence group (IQ 90-109), (ii) bright normal-nonverbal intelligence group (IQ 110-119), and (iii) superior-nonverbal intelligence group (IQ 120-129). A battery of 13 Cognition Function tests (CFTs) devised by Jnana Prabodhini's Institute of Psychology, Pune based on Guilford's Structure of Intellect Model was administered individually on each child in the four areas of information viz. figural, symbolic, semantic and behavioral. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The mean CFTs scores obtained in the four areas of information were calculated for each of the three groups and compared using one-way analysis of variance test. A P value < 0.05 was to be considered statistically significant. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between their mean CFTs scores in any of the four areas of information. CONCLUSIONS: Cognition abilities are similar in children with SpLD having average, bright-normal and superior nonverbal intelligence.