Fuzzy-logic-based IoMT framework for COVID19 patient monitoring.

Smart healthcare is an integral part of a smart city, which provides real time and intelligent remote monitoring and tracking services to patients and elderly persons. In the era of an extraordinary public health crisis due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which caused the deaths of millions and affected a multitude of people worldwide in different ways, the role of smart healthcare has become indispensable. Any modern method that allows for speedy and efficient monitoring of COVID19-affected patients could be highly beneficial to medical staff. Several smart-healthcare systems based on the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) have attracted worldwide interest in their growing technical assistance in health services, notably in predicting, identifying and preventing, and their remote surveillance of most infectious diseases. In this paper, a real time health monitoring system for COVID19 patients based on edge computing and fuzzy logic technique is proposed. The proposed model makes use of the IoMT architecture to collect real time biological data (or health information) from the patients to monitor and analyze the health conditions of the infected patients and generates alert messages that are transmitted to the concerned parties such as relatives, medical staff and doctors to provide appropriate treatment in a timely fashion. The health data are collected through sensors attached to the patients and transmitted to the edge devices and cloud storage for further processing. The collected data are analyzed through fuzzy logic in edge devices to efficiently identify the risk status (such as low risk, moderate risk and high risk) of the COVID19 patients in real time. The proposed system is also associated with a mobile app that enables the continuous monitoring of the health status of the patients. Moreover, once alerted by the system about the high risk status of a patient, a doctor can fetch all the health records of the patient for a specified period, which can be utilized for a detailed clinical diagnosis.

Applied mutagenesis could improve economically important traits in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.).

Mutants with unique characters have played a key role in discovery of gene, mapping, functional genomics and breeding in many vegetable crops, but information on bitter gourd is lacking. Induction of mutation by gamma rays (Co60 source) at five different doses (50 Gy, 100 Gy, 150 Gy, 200 Gy and 250 Gy) was studied in four widely divergent bitter gourd genotypes BG-1346501, Meghna-2, Special Boulder and Selection-1 in M1 generation. Reduction in seed germination percentage, vine length and pollen fertility occurred in M1 generation with the increasing doses of mutagens. LD50 dose for BG-1346501, Meghna-2, Special Boulder and Selection-1 corresponded to 290.76 Gy, 206.12 Gy, 212.81 Gy and 213.49 Gy ᵞ radiation, respectively suggested low to medium doses (200-250 Gy) of gamma rays would be helpful in producing useful and exploitable mutants for further breeding. No remarkable effect of ᵞ radiation on fruit physicochemical characters in M1 generation were observed. M2 generation, raised from two widely divergent genotypes, BG-1346501 and Meghna-2, were screened critically and observed no significant reduction in seed germination and pollen viability, however little damage occurred particularly in vine length. There is possibility of isolating segregates in M2 generation with enhanced nutrient contents at low radiation dose. Highest mutation frequency resulted by treating Meghna-2 at 200 Gy and BG-1346501 at 100 Gy. Both genotype and mutagenic doses influenced mutagenic effectiveness. Spectrum of mutation was very low; number of putative mutants isolated from M2 generation was five in Meghna-2 and three in BG-1346501. Among six putative macro mutants isolated from M3 generation, we could identify two putative mutants, namely Meghna-2 with gynoecious sex form and BG-1346501 with high charantin, appreciable ß-carotene and high ascorbic acid contents having ample promise for further utilization in bitter gourd breeding after critical testing in subsequent generations for estimation of genetic gain and trait heritability to confirm the mutant stability.

Inheritance pattern of okra enation leaf curl disease among cultivated species and its relationship with biochemical parameters.

Okra production in eastern India at present is severely threatened by whitefly-mediated okra enation leaf curl disease (OELCuD). Identification of resistant genotype and understanding the genetic control and biochemical relationship of OELCuD resistance are prerequisite for developing an effective breeding strategy. This study was conducted employing six populations (P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1 and BC2) of two selected (resistant x susceptible (RxS)) crosses. Associationship between severity of OELCuD and biochemical parameters of parents and hybrids at preflowering and flowering stages was studied. Segregation pattern of the genotypes in F2 generation showing OELCuD reaction of two crosses suggested that two duplicate recessive genes was operative for resistance to OELCuD. Generation mean analysis revealed involvement of both additive and nonadditive effects in the inheritance of disease resistance. Hence, postponement of selection in later generations or intermating among the selected segregates followed by one or two generations of selfing to break the undesirable linkage and allow the accumulation of favourable alleles could be suggested for the development of stable resistant genotype against this disease. Higher peroxidase activity and total phenol content in leaf emerged as reliable biochemical markers for early selection of genotype resistant to OELCuD.

Genetic control of reproductive and fruit quality traits in crosses involving cultivars and induced mutants of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.).

Development of mutants and their effective utilization to incorporate desirable traits in tomato would be a sound improvement strategy to develop so called 'smart' tomato variety of the coming century. Initially we developed three induced mutants from two varieties, 'Patharkuchi', a local adapted cultivar and an introduced variety 'Berika', and then three crosses (Berika 9 P Mut-5, Berika 9 P Mut-11, Patharkuchi 9 B Mut-1) were made to involve in these two varieties and their respective mutants. Six generations (P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1 and BC2) of three crosses were utilized to study the genetic control of yield and quality traits, and to study the genetic basis of formation of dark green fruit. The nature and magnitude of gene action controlling the inheritance of 27 quantitative traits differed from one cross to another and from one trait to another, mostly conditioned by nonadditive gene action and duplicate epistasis. The prevalence of duplicate epistasisin three crosses for most of the traits revealed that the pace of progress through conventional selection process would be hindered as this kind of epistasis might result in decreased variation in F2 and subsequent generations. Recurrent selection in biparental progenies would be helpful for exploiting this type of nonallelic interaction through generation of high frequency of desirable recombination and concentration of genes having cumulative effects in the population. We also observed complex genetic behaviour of some of the traits revealing significant epistatic components. Inheritance study of 'dark green fruit' (dg1) of Berika 9 P Mut-5 cross revealed a single recessive gene governing the trait and expressed when the mutant gene was in homozygous recessive condition (designated as dg-1/dg-1).

Genetic control of yellow vein mosaic virus disease tolerance in Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench.

Okra's (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) commercial cultivation is threatened in the tropics due to high incidence of yellow vein mosaic virus (YVMV) disease. Okra geneticists across the world tried to understand the inheritance pattern of YVMV disease tolerance without much success. Therefore, the inheritance pattern of YVMV disease in okra was revisited by employing sixgenerations (P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1 and BC2) of four selected crosses (one tolerant × tolerant, two tolerant × susceptible and one susceptible × susceptible) using two tolerant (BCO-1 and Lal Bhendi) and two susceptible (Japanese Jhar Bhendi and PAN 2127) genotypes. Qualitative genetic analysis was done on the basis of segregation pattern of tolerant and susceptible plants in F2 and backcross generations of all the four crosses. It revealed that a single dominant gene along with some minor factors governed the disease tolerant trait in both the tolerant parents used. However, it was observed that genes governing disease tolerance identified in both the tolerant variety used was different. It could be concluded that the gene governing YVMV disease tolerance in okra wasgenotype specific. Further, duplicate gene action as evident from an approximate ratio of 15:1 (tolerant:susceptible) in the F2 population in the cross of two tolerant varieties gave a scope of increasing the tolerance level of the hybrid plants when both the tolerant genes are brought together. However, generation mean analysis revealed involvement of both additive and nonadditive effects in the inheritance of disease tolerance. Thus, the present study confirms that a complicated genetic inheritance pattern is involved in the disease tolerance against YVMV trait. The major tolerance genes could be transferred to other okra varieties, but the tolerance breaking virus strains might not allow them to achieve tolerance in stable condition. Therefore, accumulation of additional genes may be needed for a sustainable tolerance phenotype in okra.

Corticosteroid treatment of behaviour, language and motor regression in childhood disintegrative disorder.

Childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD) (ICD-10 F84.3) is defined by a period of normal development before onset followed by gradual loss of previously acquired skills with the development of characteristic abnormalities of social, communicative and behavioural functioning. We report two children with apparent CDD, who showed amelioration of behaviour, language and motor regression after corticosteroid treatment.

Myopathy associated with gluten sensitivity.

Ataxia and peripheral neuropathy are the most common neurological manifestations of gluten sensitivity. Myopathy is a less common and poorly characterized additional neurological manifestation of gluten sensitivity. We present our experience with 13 patients who presented with symptoms and signs suggestive of a myopathy and in whom investigation led to the diagnosis of gluten sensitivity. Three of these patients had a neuropathy with or without ataxia in addition to the myopathy. The mean age at onset of the myopathic symptoms was 54 years. Ten patients had neurophysiological evidence of myopathy. Inflammatory myopathy was the most common finding on neuropathological examination. One patient had basophilic rimmed vacuoles suggestive of inclusion-body myositis. Six patients received immunosuppressive treatment in addition to starting on a gluten-free diet; five improved and one remained unchanged. Among seven patients not on immunosuppressive treatment, four showed clinical improvement of the myopathy with a gluten-free diet. The improvement was also associated with reduction or normalization of serum creatine kinase level. The myopathy progressed in one patient who refused the gluten-free diet. Myopathy may be another manifestation of gluten sensitivity and is likely to have an immune-mediated pathogenesis. A gluten-free diet may be a useful therapeutic intervention.

Dietary treatment of gluten neuropathy.

We studied the effect of a gluten-free diet in patients with idiopathic sensorimotor axonal neuropathy and circulating antigliadin antibodies. Consecutive patients underwent baseline neurophysiological assessment and were offered a gluten-free diet. Those who went on the diet formed the intention-to-treat group and those who did not were the control group. Repeat neurophysiological assessment and subjective evaluation of neuropathy symptoms were performed at 1 year. A total of 35 patients participated in the study, with 25 patients going on the diet and 10 not doing so. There was a significant difference in the change of sural sensory action potentials (pre-defined primary endpoint), with evidence of improvement in the intention-to-treat group and deterioration in the control group. Subjective change in neuropathy symptoms also showed significant differences, with patients in the intention-to-treat group reporting improvement and those in the control group reporting deterioration. Gluten-free diet may thus be a useful therapeutic intervention for patients with gluten neuropathy.

Prolonged postictal stupor: nonconvulsive status epilepticus, medication effect, or postictal state?

We describe a patient who entered a stuporous state after receiving benzodiazepine treatment for generalized tonic-clonic status epilepticus. A diagnosis of generalized NCSE with tonic seizures was made on the basis of the clinical picture and response to barbiturate anaesthetic, although the EEG pattern was not typical of the changes previously described in tonic seizures-tonic status epilepticus. This report discusses the differential diagnosis of postictal stupor, nonconvulsive status epilepticus with tonic seizures and sedation caused by the emergency treatment of status epilepticus, and summarizes the literature on tonic seizures and tonic status epilepticus.