Double Temporal Sparsity Based Accelerated Reconstruction in Compressed Sensing fMRI

A number of reconstruction methods have been proposed recently for accelerated functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) data collection. However, existing methods suffer with the challenge of greater artifacts at high acceleration factors. This paper addresses the issue of accelerating fMRI collection via undersampled k-space measurements combined with the proposed Double Temporal Sparsity based Reconstruction (DTSR) method with the l1 -l1 norm constraint. The robustness of the proposed DTSR method has been thoroughly evaluated both at the subject level and at the group level on real fMRI data. Results are presented at various acceleration factors. Quantitative analysis in terms of Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) and other metrics, and qualitative analysis in terms of reproducibility of brain Resting State Networks (RSNs) demonstrate that the proposed method is accurate and robust. In addition, the proposed DTSR method preserves brain networks that are important for studying fMRI data. Compared to the existing accelerated fMRI reconstruction methods, the DTSR method shows promising potential with an improvement of 10-12dB in PSNR with acceleration factors upto 3.5. Simulation results on real data demonstrate that DTSR method can be used to acquire accelerated fMRI with accurate detection of RSNs.Comment: Accepted for publication in Computers in Biology and Medicine. This manuscript should be cited with details of journal citation provided belo

Strain induced metal-insulator transition in ultrathin films of SrRuO3_3

The ultrathin film limit has been shown to be a rich playground for unusual low dimensional physics. Taking the example of SrRuO$_3$ which is ferromagnetic and metallic at the bulk limit, one finds that it becomes antiferromagnetic and insulating at the three monolayers limit when grown on SrTiO$_3$. The origin of the insulating state is traced to strongly orbital dependent exchange splittings. A modest compressive strain of 1% of the SrTiO$_3$ substrate is then found to drive the system into a highly confined two-dimensional 100% spin polarized metallic state. This metal-insulator transition driven by a modest strain could be useful in two state device applications.Comment: Accept in Phys. Rev.

Nutritional status and access to clean fuels: Evidence from South Asia

Indoor air pollution due to solid fuels is among the ten most important risk factors in global burden of disease leading to respiratory diseases, anaemia, blindness and other disorders. This study examines the correlations between fuel choice and the nutritional status of children. We also explore if factors such as income, kitchen location and education play any role in conditioning fuel choice. Our results suggest that the choice and use of fuel has long lasting effects on the growth and health of children. It is also associated with a higher frequency of respiratory disorders. We find that agricultural households predominantly use unclean fuels.malnutrition, stunting, indoor air pollution, fuel choice, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, Health Economics and Policy, International Development,

Establishing a diagnostic tool for assessing optimal treatment timing in Indian children with developing malocclusions

Objective: To interrelate chronological age, cervical vertebrae maturational stage and dental calcification stages and to establish latter as first level diagnostic tool to estimate timing of pubertal growth spurt. Materials and Methods: Sample derived from pretreatment panaromic and lateral cephalometric radiographs of patients 8-14 years old. Study sample divided into three groups depending upon Angle’s molar relation: Group I, Group II, Group III. According to chronological age, into: Group A: 8-11 years Group B:11-14 years, further separating males and female subjects in each group. Demirjian et al method was used to assess dental maturity and for skeletal maturity the New Improved Version of Cervical Vertebrae Maturation Method by Baccetti, Franchi and Mc Namara. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software package. Chi Square test and Spearman rank-order correlation coefficients measured the association between skeletal maturity indicators and dental calcification stages and statistical significance tested. Results&Conclusions: In females, permanent mandibular second molar Stage E signified circumpubertal phase corresponding with skeletal age CVMS II and for males, it was permanent mandibular first premolar stage E. Early orthodontic interventions for Angle’s Class I and Class II malocclusions should be performed at the circumpubertal period represented by CVMS II in Indian children and for Angle’s Class III malocclusion, facemask therapy beneficial in the prepubertal phase. Females showed higher significant correlation among skeletal and dental calcification stages compared to males

Firm growth and its determinants

Enterprise growth has been studied by researchers for many years. Different terms have been used by different authors to define the stages of an enterprise growth, but the events through which each enterprise passes remain more or less the same. Most of the researchers suggest that each enterprise has to start, then grow while facing various challenges and crises, and finally mature and decline. There are many factors which will contribute to an enterprise's success. There are many precursors also, which will allow an enterprise to move from one stage to another. There are two sets of thought prevailing among researchers; some suggest that the growth path followed by the enterprise is linear or predictable, and others suggest that the growth is fairly opportunistic or unpredictable. The understanding of the growth of an enterprise depends on the definition of what the firm is, how much has it grown, and what it offers to the market? What assets it controls and what is its legal form. It is critical to study how an enterprise manages its growth transitions and what pattern they follow. In this paper, a framework has been designed to study the path followed by small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This framework considered the influence of internal and external environmental factor on the growth patterns of SMEs. The paper encompasses literature review on various theories of enterprise growth. It highlights that though there are many studies on the stages of enterprise development, there is a dearth of literature on finding patterns of growth followed by the small and medium enterprises. Also, there is lack of literature on the effect of environmental factors in determining growth path. There is a need of a framework which can help the industry to empirically test enterprise growth patterns under different conditions

Intra-household evaluations of alcohol abuse in men with depression and suicide in women: A cross-sectional community-based study in Chennai, India.

BACKGROUND: Harmful effects of alcohol abuse are well documented for drinkers, and adverse effects are also reported for the physical and emotional well-being of family members, with evidence often originating from either drinkers or their families in clinic-based settings. This study evaluates intra-household associations between alcohol abuse in men, and depression and suicidal attempts in women, in community-based settings of Chennai, India. METHODS: This community-based cross-sectional study of chronic disease risk factors and outcomes was conducted in n = 259 households and n = 1053 adults (aged 15 years and above) in rural and urban Chennai. The Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) score was used to classify alcohol consumption into 'low-risk', 'harmful', 'hazardous' and 'alcohol dependence' drinking and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score to classify depression as 'mild', 'moderate', 'moderate-severe' and 'severe'. Multivariate logistic regression models estimated the association of depression in women with men's drinking patterns in the same household. RESULTS: A significant 2.5-fold increase in any depression (PHQ-9 ≥ 5) was observed in men who were 'alcohol-dependent' compared to non-drinkers (OR = 2.53; 95% CI: 1.26, 5.09). However, there was no association between men's drinking behavior and depression in women of the same household, although suicidal attempts approached a significant dose-response relationship with increasing hazard-level of men's drinking (p = 0.08). CONCLUSION: No significant intra-household association was observed between men's alcohol consumption and women's depression, though an increasing (non-significant) trend was associated with suicidal attempts. Complex relationships between suicidal attempts and depression in women and male abusive drinking require further exploration, with an emphasis on intra-household mechanisms and pathways

Effects of Noise on Speech Perception in Children Using Cochlear Implants: A Systematic Review

Deaf children often use cochlear implants in settings where background noise is present. This study was designed to review the literature on speech perception in noise abilities of children with cochlear implants. A systematic search of the database Academic Search Premier was used to identify papers. A total of 13 articles were included in this review from an original 144. Results were found to be consistent with other studies. From this review, multiple factors were found to improve speech perception in noise, including using bilateral implants and increased experience with the implants. However, more studies are needed to determine if children are comprehending the information they hear. Additionally, this review makes suggestions for information to be included in future study reports, especially participant age at implantation and language experience

The Peculiar Circumstances of Eminent Domain in India

The question of a constitutional property regime governing eminent domain gave rise to nuanced and principled debates in the Constituent Assembly of India, which drafted the Indian Constitution between 1947 and 1950, and in subsequent Parliamentary meetings regarding constitutional amendments. However, these extensive deliberations resulted in a clause that only addressed the most superficial aspects of property rights in India. Similarly, the statutory frameworks that govern state acquisition of land, in particular The Land Acquisition Act, 1894, provide only another part of the puzzle. This paper starts earlier in history-at the inception of eminent domain in India-in order to put this institution into its colonial context. I argue that this concept of compulsory land acquisition by the government, as inherited from the British and encapsulated in the Constitution, statutory law, and in practice, is inappropriate for the reality of how property rights are held and exercised in India and incapable of being reformed toward the socially inclusive purposes for which property rights were originally included in the Constitution. Because of this discord, efforts to re-formulate the law of eminent domain continue to fall short of real transformation of the property rights regimes in India

Efficacy of a newly formulated foam on gingival inflammation: a pilot study

Periodontal disease, gingivitis and periodontitis are conditions that are a result of local response to supragingival dental plaque that forms due to poor personal oral hygiene. This is initiated by accumulation of bacterial biofilm on the teeth that leads to inflammatory changes in the gingival tissue. The pathogenesis of periodontitis has a multi-level architecture, composed of bacterial composition, environmental and genetic factors. Disruption of the oral biofilm by mechanical methods is one of the best alternatives for preventing periodontal disease. The present intervention study aimed at decreasing the gingival inflammation in 36 patients with gingivitis or mild to moderate periodontitis by administration of a new dental product composed of antioxidants (dental foam). This study was conducted as a proof-of-concept study over 42 days and aimed to observe the earliest changes in gingival inflammation as measured by gingival index and bleeding on probing. Clinical periodontal parameters including gingival index, bleeding on probing, plaque index and probing pocket depth were assessed at baseline, and 14, 28 and 42 days after baseline. Subjects in both treatment (n=24) and control (n=12) groups were given standard oral hygiene instructions including brushing with a standard toothbrush (Oral B® Pro health medium) and standard toothpaste (GLO Science Toothpaste) twice a day. Subjects in test group used the dental foam in addition to the standard toothpaste twice a day, while control group subjects did not use any additional product. The statistical analyses were performed to compare the mean changes from baseline to each post baseline time points using Student’s t-test. All statistical tests were conducted at p< 0.05 level of significance. There was a statistically significant reduction in the primary endpoints, gingival index (p=0.003) and bleeding on probing (p=0.007) in the test group when compared to the control group over 42 days. There were no statistically significant differences in the secondary outcomes, plaque index (p=0.07) and pocket depth (p= 0.12) between two groups. Oral hygiene care including mechanical plaque removal with standard tooth brushing in combination with application of newly developed dental product (dental foam) has shown significant reduction in gingival inflammation when compared to standard tooth brushing alone and reveals beneficial effects in patients with gingivitis and mild to moderate periodontitis