Abstract Introduction Degenerative changes in the otolithic organs have been theorized to be caused by the mechanical obstruction to endolymphatic flow, possibly resulting in endolymphatic hydrops (ELH). Otolin-1 is an otoconial matrix protein that crosses the blood labyrinth barrier and has been found in the serum of healthy and diseased patients. Objective To measure the serum levels of Otolin-1 in Meniere disease (MD) patients and compared them with the healthy individuals. Methods This pilot, cross-sectional study was performed at our tertiary care referral center to compare the serum Otolin-1 levels of healthy individuals with those of MD patients. The blood samples were obtained during patients’ visit to the vertigo clinic following remission of an acute episode. The data was analyzed using the Stata/SE version 12.0 (StataCorp. College Station, TX, USA). Comparison between the serum Otolin-1 levels in the two groups was performed using the unpaired t-test. A p-value of 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results The participants were divided into two groups, with 31 MD patients, and 30 age and gender-matched members of the control group. The serum levels of Otolin-1 in MD patients (247.6, ± 44.2 pg/ml) were not found to be significantly different from those of the control group (236.2, ± 43.5 pg/ml) (p = 0.31). Conclusion The current study reveals that the serum levels of Otolin-1 are not significantly different between the patients with MD in the interictal phase and the control group’s healthy ones.

Abstract Spirulina (Spirulina platensis), has numerous health benefits including antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory activities, works against heavy metal toxicity, and is often used as a food supplement in human, animals, birds and fishes. This study aimed to evaluate the protective ability of the dietary spirulina against the toxic effects of inorganic arsenic (iAs) on male reproductive parameters in rats. Seventy-two mature Long-Evans male rats, dividing into six groups (T0, T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5) (12 rats/group) were included in this study. The T3, T4 and T5 group rats were treated with three consecutive doses (1.0 g, 1.5 g and 2.0 g/kg feed) of spirulina in feed along with 3.0 mg NaAsO2/kg body weight (BW) in drinking water (DW) daily for 90 days. Each rat of group T1 received NaAsO2 (3.0 mg/kg BW) in DW, and those of T2 group were fed with spirulina (2.0 g/kg feed) daily for 90 days. The rats of group T0 served as the control with normal feed and water. Total arsenic (tAs) contents, reproductive parameters (testicular weight, sperm motility and morphology), and histological changes in the testicles were evaluated in these rats. Arsenic dosing significantly (p=0.003, Kruskal-Wallis test) increased the tAs contents in the testicles, decreased testes weight, sperm morphology and motility compared to the controls. The effect of arsenic dosing was also evidenced by the histological changes like decreased germinal layers in the seminiferous tubules of the treated rats. Moreover, dietary spirulina (2.0 g/kg feed) supplementation significantly (p=0.011, Kruskal-Wallis test) lowered tAs contents in testicles and increases testes weights, sperm motility and morphology. Therefore, spirulina can be used as an effective dietary supplement to ameliorate the adverse effects of arsenic induced reproductive toxicities. However, further study is required to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of reduction of arsenic induced reproductive toxicity by spirulina.

Abstract Introduction Successful cochlear implantation requires an appropriate insertion depth of the electrode, which depends on cochlear duct length CDL). The CDL can vary due to ethnic factors. Objective The objective of the current study was to determine the CDL in an Indian adult cadaveric population. Methods The present was a cadaveric study using the temporal bones obtained after permission of the Institutional Review Board. The temporal bones were subjected to high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), and the double oblique reformatted CT images were reconstructed through the basal turn of the cochlea. The reformatted images were then viewed in the minimum-intensity projection (minIP) mode, and the ‘A’ value (the diameter of the basal turn of the cochlea) was calculated. The CDL was then measured using the formula CDL = 4.16A - 4 (Alexiades et al). The data analysis was performed using the Microsoft Excel software, version 2016. Results A total of 51 temporal bones were included for imaging analysis. The CDL varied from 27.6 mm to 33.4 mm, with a mean length of 30.7 mm. There was no statistically significant difference between the two sides. Conclusion The CDL can be calculated with preoperative high-resolution CT, and can provide a roadmap for effective cochlear implant electrode insertion. The population-based anatomical variability needs to be taken into account to offer the most efficient and least traumatic insertion of the electrode.

Abstract Introduction Sigmoid sinus (SS) variations have been classified variously in the literature. These classifications suffer from some form of shortcoming from a clinical point of view for their application. Objective We propose a clinically relevant classification of the SS in relation to the posterior semicircular canal (PSCC) and to the exposure of the presigmoid dural plate. The positioning of the SS was analyzed with reference to the volume of themastoid and to the level of mastoid pneumatization. Methods A total of 94 formalin-preserved human cadaveric temporal bones were microdissected to carry out a complete mastoidectomy. The SS, the presigmoid dural plate, and the PSCCwere exposed, and the position of the former was analyzed in relation to the latter two in order to classify the position of the SS into three grades. Results GradeI hadthebest exposureof the presigmoid dura andof the PSCC,while grade III had the poorest exposure of the presigmoid dura and of the PSCC. Grade I SS was associated with good pneumatization and highermastoid volumescompared with grades II and III. Conclusions The SS exhibits considerable anatomic variability. A favorable positioning of the SS is associated with a large mastoid volume and pneumatization. A careful preoperative study of the imaging may help in understanding the positioning of the SS and the safety of various transmastoid approaches.

Abstract Labor regulation and employment relation has been investigated in India in light of the seminal work of Besley and Burgess (2004)considering formal sector manufacturing employment as the explained variable. Empirical findings support, although not very strongly, the institutionalist view, i.e., pro-worker amendment in labour laws induces employment. Among the other factors, real wage rate has significant negative effect on employment, whereas that for real per capita developmental capital expenditure, per capita electricity generation capacity and real per capita net state domestic product is significant positive. However, effect of per capita real developmental revenue expenditure is inconclusive. In other words, although it improves employability of workers through their human capital improvement, which is probablymetupat the cost of worsening overall infrastructural development, through reducing corresponding capital expenditure! Supporting evidence has also been provided favoring this conjecture

Resumen La normativa y la regulación laboral se han investigado en la India a raíz del trabajo original de Besley y Burguess (2004), tomando como variable el empleo formal en el sector manufacturero. Los hallazgos empíricos respaldan, aunque no rotundamente, la visión institucionalista, es decir, que la enmienda a favor del trabajador en la legislación laboral fomenta el empleo. Entre otros factores, la tasa de salario real tiene un impacto significativamente negativo en el empleo, mientras que para la inversión de capital de desarrollo per cápita, la capacidad de generación de electricidad per cápita y el producto interno es significativamente positiva. No obstante, el efecto del costo de los ingresos del desarrollo real per cápita no es concluyente. En otras palabras, si bien esto favorezca la inserción laboral de los trabajadores con una mejora del capital humano, probablemente se consiga a costa de empeorar el desarrollo de infraestructura al reducir la inversión en capital correspondiente. Se presenta evidencia que avala esta conjetura

Objective: To prospectively assess safety outcome of TRUS guided prostate biopsy in patients taking low dose aspirin. Materials and methods: Consecutive patients, who were planned for 12 core TRUS guided prostate biopsy and satisfied eligibility criteria, were included in the study and divided into two Groups: Group A: patients on aspirin during biopsy, Group B: patients not on aspirin during biopsy, including patients in whom aspirin was stopped prior to the biopsy. Parameters included for statistical analysis were: age, serum prostate specific antigen (PSA), prostate volume, hemoglobin (Hb %), number of hematuria episodes, number of patient reporting hematuria, hematuria requiring intervention, number of patient reporting hematospermia and number of patient reporting rectal bleeding. Results: Of 681 eligible patients, Group A and B had 191 and 490 patients respectively. The mean age, prostate volume, serum PSA and pre-biopsy hemoglobin were similar in both Groups with no significant differences noted between them. None of the post-biopsy complications, including number of hematuria episodes (p=0.83), number of patients reporting hematuria (p=0.55), number of patients reporting hematospermia (p=0.36) and number of patients reporting rectal bleeding (p=0.65), were significantly different between Groups A and B respectively. None of the hemorrhagic complication in either group required intervention and were self limiting. Conclusion: Continuing low dose aspirin during TRUS guided prostate biopsy neither alters the minor bleeding episodes nor causes major bleeding complication. So, discontinuation of low dose aspirin prior to TRUS guided prostate biopsy is not required.

Contexto e objetivo.A caracterização molecular de isolados indianos de Toxoplasma gondii é importante para a investigação de variações genéticas existentes entre cepas do parasito em diferentes locos gênicos.Delineamento e disposição.A presente comunicação realizou a clonagem e o sequenciamento dos 1158 pares de base correspondendo à totalidade do quadro de leitura do antígeno de superfície 3 (SAG3) de Toxoplasma gondii em dois isolados indianos (Chennai e Izatnagar) mantidos em um biorrepositório localizado em IVRI.Método.As sequências do SAG3 dos dois isolados indianos foram clonadas, sequenciadas e posteriormente comparadas com sequências SAG3 de Toxoplasma gondii disponíveis em publicações.Resultados.A comparação das sequências revelou 99,9% de homologia com a cepa RH padrão; 99,3% de homologia com as cepas P-Br e CEP; e 98,4% de homologia com a cepa PRU. Os dois isolados indianos eram 100% idênticos no que diz respeito à sequência SAG3.Conclusão.Concluiu-se que os isolados indianos são filogeneticamente mais próximos da cepa RH em relação à cepa brasileira P-Br, ou às cepas CEP e PRU (USA). No entanto, a análise de outros genes de Toxoplasma gondii destes dois isolados indianos mostrou diferenças na composição de nucleotídeos, ao contrário do que foi encontrado para o locus SAG3. Estes resultados poderiam ser atribuídos ao fato do locus SAG3 ser altamente conservado, necessitando de estudos adicionais para determinar se SAG3 poderia ser utilizado no diagnóstico da toxoplasmose. No entanto, estes resultados são importantes do ponto de vista da filogenia molecular.

Context and objective:The molecular characterization of local isolates of Toxoplasma gondii is considered significant so as to assess the homologous variations between the different loci of various strains of parasites.Design and setting:The present communication deals with the molecular cloning and sequence analysis of the 1158 bp entire open reading frame (ORF) of surface antigen 3 (SAG3) of two Indian T. gondii isolates (Chennai and Izatnagar) being maintained as cryostock at the IVRI.Method:The surface antigen 3 (SAG3) of two local Indian isolates were cloned and sequenced before being compared with the available published sequences.Results:The sequence comparison analysis revealed 99.9% homology with the standard published RH strain sequence of T. gondii. The strains were also compared with other established published sequences and found to be most related to the P-Br strain and CEP strain (both 99.3%), and least with PRU strain (98.4%). However, the two Indian isolates had 100% homology between them.Conclusion:Finally, it was concluded that the Indian isolates were closer to the RH strain than to the P-Br strain (Brazilian strain), the CEP strain and the PRU strains (USA), with respect to nucleotide homology. The two Indian isolates used in the present study are known to vary between themselves, as far as homologies related to other genes are concerned, but they were found to be 100% homologous as far as SAG3 locus is concerned. This could be attributed to the fact that this SAG3 might be a conserved locus and thereby, further detailed studies are thereby warranted to exploit the use of this particular molecule in diagnostics and immunoprophylactics. The findings are important from the point of view of molecular phylogeny.

Event extraction is a popular and interesting research field in the area of Natural Language Processing (NLP). In this paper, we propose a hybrid approach for event extraction within the TimeML framework. Initially, we develop a machine learning based system based on Conditional Random Field (CRF). But most of the deverbal event nouns are not correctly identified by this machine learning approach. From this observation, we came up with a hybrid approach where we introduce several strategies in conjunction with machine learning. These strategies are based on semantic role-labeling, WordNet and handcrafted rules. Evaluation results on the TempEval-2010 datasets yield the precision, recall and F-measure values of approximately 93.00%, 96.00% and 94.47%, respectively. This is approximately 12% higher F-measure in comparison with the best performing system of SemEval-2010.