Controlling a remotely located Robot using Hand Gestures in real time: A DSP implementation

Telepresence is a necessity for present time as we can't reach everywhere and also it is useful in saving human life at dangerous places. A robot, which could be controlled from a distant location, can solve these problems. This could be via communication waves or networking methods. Also controlling should be in real time and smooth so that it can actuate on every minor signal in an effective way. This paper discusses a method to control a robot over the network from a distant location. The robot was controlled by hand gestures which were captured by the live camera. A DSP board TMS320DM642EVM was used to implement image pre-processing and fastening the whole system. PCA was used for gesture classification and robot actuation was done according to predefined procedures. Classification information was sent over the network in the experiment. This method is robust and could be used to control any kind of robot over distance

Properties of the integrated spectrum of serendipitous 2XMM catalogue sources

Our analysis is aimed at characterizing the properties of the integrated spectrum of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) such as the ubiquity of the Fe K{\alpha} emission in AGNs and the dependence of the spectral parameters on the X-ray luminosity and redshift. We selected 2646 point sources from the 2XMM catalogue at high galactic latitude (|BII| > 25 degrees) and with the sum of EPIC-PN and EPIC-MOS 0.2-12 keV counts greater than 1000. Redshifts were obtained for 916 sources from the NED. The final sample consists of 507 AGN. Individual source spectra have been summed in the observed frame to compute the integrated spectra in different redshift and luminosity bins over the range 0<z<5. Detailed analysis of these spectra has been performed. We find that the narrow Fe K{\alpha} line at 6.4 keV is significantly detected up to z=1. The line equivalent width decreases with increasing X-ray luminosity in the 2-10 keV band (''IT effect''). The anti-correlation is characterized by the relation log(EWFe) = (1.66 +/- 0.09) + (-0.43 +/- 0.07) log(LX,44), where EWFe is the rest frame equivalent width of the neutral iron K{\alpha} line in eV and LX,44 is the 2-10 keV X-ray luminosity in units of 10^{44} erg s^{-1}. The equivalent width is nearly independent of redshift up to z ~ 0.8 with an average value of 101+/-40 (rms dispersion) eV in the luminosity range 43.5<= logLX <= 44.5. Our analysis also confirmed the hardening of the spectral indices at low luminosities implying a dependence of obscuration on luminosity. We confirm that the neutral narrow Fe K{\alpha} line is an almost ubiquitous feature of AGNs. We find compelling evidence for the ''IT effect'' over a redshift interval larger than probed in any previous study. We detect no evolution of the average rest frame equivalent width of the Fe K{\alpha} line with redshift.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, 2 Tables. A&A in pres

Rest-frame stacking of 2XMM catalog sources : Properties of the Fe Kalpha line

The aim of this work is to characterize the average Fe K emission properties of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) in the source rest-frame. We selected a sample of 248 AGNs from the 2XMM catalog, covering a wide redshift range 0 < z < 5 and with the EPIC-PN net 2-10 keV rest-frame counts >=200 and power law photon indices in the range 1.5-2.2. We employed two fully independent rest-frame stacking procedures to compute the mean Fe K profile. The counting statistics for the integrated spectrum is comparable to the one available for the best studied local Seyferts. To identify the artifacts possibly introduced by the stacking procedure, we have carried out simulations. We report that the average Fe K line profile in our sample is best represented by a combination of a narrow and a broad line. The equivalent widths of the narrow and broad (parametrized with a diskline) components are ~30 eV and ~100 eV, respectively. We also discuss the results of more complex fits and the implications of the adopted continuum modeling on the broad line parameters and its detection significance.Comment: 13 pages, 13 figures, Accepted for publication in A&

Maintaining regularity and generalization in data using the minimum description length principle and genetic algorithm: case of grammatical inference

In this paper, a genetic algorithm with minimum description length (GAWMDL) is proposed for grammatical inference. The primary challenge of identifying a language of infinite cardinality from a finite set of examples should know when to generalize and specialize the training data. The minimum description length principle that has been incorporated addresses this issue is discussed in this paper. Previously, the e-GRIDS learning model was proposed, which enjoyed the merits of the minimum description length principle, but it is limited to positive examples only. The proposed GAWMDL, which incorporates a traditional genetic algorithm and has a powerful global exploration capability that can exploit an optimum offspring. This is an effective approach to handle a problem which has a large search space such the grammatical inference problem. The computational capability, the genetic algorithm poses is not questionable, but it still suffers from premature convergence mainly arising due to lack of population diversity. The proposed GAWMDL incorporates a bit mask oriented data structure that performs the reproduction operations, creating the mask, then Boolean based procedure is applied to create an offspring in a generative manner. The Boolean based procedure is capable of introducing diversity into the population, hence alleviating premature convergence. The proposed GAWMDL is applied in the context free as well as regular languages of varying complexities. The computational experiments show that the GAWMDL finds an optimal or close-to-optimal grammar. Two fold performance analysis have been performed. First, the GAWMDL has been evaluated against the elite mating pool genetic algorithm which was proposed to introduce diversity and to address premature convergence. GAWMDL is also tested against the improved tabular representation algorithm. In addition, the authors evaluate the performance of the GAWMDL against a genetic algorithm not using the minimum description length principle. Statistical tests demonstrate the superiority of the proposed algorithm. Overall, the proposed GAWMDL algorithm greatly improves the performance in three main aspects: maintains regularity of the data, alleviates premature convergence and is capable in grammatical inference from both positive and negative corpora

Healthy Human T-Cell Responses to Aspergillus fumigatus Antigens

Aspergillus fumigatus is associated with both invasive and allergic pulmonary diseases, in different hosts. The organism is inhaled as a spore, which, if not cleared from the airway, germinates into hyphal morphotypes that are responsible for tissue invasion and resultant inflammation. Hyphae secrete multiple products that function as antigens, evoking both a protective (T(H)1-T(H)17) and destructive allergic (T(H)2) immunity. How Aspergillus allergens (Asp f proteins) participate in the development of allergic sensitization is unknown.To determine whether Asp f proteins are strictly associated with T(H)2 responses, or represent soluble hyphal products recognized by healthy hosts, human T cell responses to crude and recombinant products were characterized by ELISPOT. While responses (number of spots producing IFN-gamma, IL-4 or IL-17) to crude hyphal antigen preparations were weak, responses to recombinant Asp f proteins were higher. Recombinant allergens stimulated cells to produce IFN-gamma more so than IL-4 or IL-17. Volunteers exhibited a diverse CD4+ and CD8+ T cell antigen recognition profile, with prominent CD4 T(H)1-responses to Asp f3 (a putative peroxismal membrane protein), Asp f9/16 (cell wall glucanase), Asp f11 (cyclophilin type peptidyl-prolyl isomerase) and Asp f22 (enolase). Strong IFN-gamma responses were reproduced in most subjects tested over 6 month intervals.Products secreted after conidial germination into hyphae are differentially recognized by protective T cells in healthy, non-atopic individuals. Defining the specificity of the human T cell repertoire, and identifying factors that govern early responses may allow for development of novel diagnostics and therapeutics for both invasive and allergic Aspergillus diseases

Tillage and Mulching Effects on Crop Productivity and Moisture Dynamics in Fodder Sorghum Based Cropping Systems under Rainfed Condition

Indian farmers generally take more than one crop in a year to maximize their total production and profits. In this process fodder sorghum followed by crops like chickpea, wheat, oat, barley and mustard are common in Bundelkhand region of central India. The soils of Budelkhand region of India are medium to low in fertility with low organic matter content and poor water holding capacity that limits the fodder and food productivity. Therefore, adoption of resource conserving technologies in fodder sorghum based cropping systems under rainfed conditions is one of the potential areas, where increase in green fodder and food production with enhanced resource use efficiency can be achieved (Dixit et al., 2014). Adoption of resource conserving technologies includes minimal soil disturbance, maintaining soil cover and crop diversification through conservation of moisture for which the role of green manure mulches has been well recognised. Under rainfed situation, moisture stress has been identified as one of most important factor limiting yield of post rainy season crop. Introducing conservation tillage (zero tillage/reduced tillage) along with foliage mulching may improve soil moisture conservation, weed control, soil physic-chemical and biological properties, system productivity and may also reduce fuel, animal or human energy required for land preparation

Awareness about diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy in patients with diabetes mellitus

Background: Awareness about diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy in patients with diabetes mellitus.Methods: 50 patients of diabetes mellitus attending Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Medical College, Rajkot, Gujarat, India, were randomly selected during January 2017 to March 2017. 11-point questionnaire obtained on detailed search of literature on published reports were administered by interviewers well versed in English and Gujarati.Results: Total of 50 patients were randomly selected.42%- females and 58% - males. Mean age - 58.5 years. Age range 40 to 71 years. Patients with good sugar control -26% and poor control - 74%. 94% of the patients were taking treatment for DM and 6% were not on any treatment. 48 % of the patients were illiterate, 10% were graduate and 42% had education below 12th standard. 50% were aware about DM affecting the eye .38% had taken eye treatment and 62% had not. 26% were aware of DM affecting eye inspite of good control and 26 % aware of the need of check-up in poor control. 40% aware of the complications related to DM.Conclusions: Better literacy rates is contributory to public awareness, however trend for poor practice needs to be radically changed with aggressive public motivation emphasizing the necessity of screening and follow ups

Evaluation of efficacy of topical and systemic antihistaminic drugs in children with allergic rhinitis

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of topical and systemic antihistaminic drugs in children with allergic rhinitis (AR). Methods: Thisprospective, hospital-based study was conducted on children aged 6-18 years attending pediatric and ENT OPD. The childrenwith a clinical diagnosis of AR were selected for study and were divided into two groups randomly. Group A children receivedoral second generation antihistamine levocetrizine and Group B children received intranasal antihistaminic drug azelastine. Bothgroups received medications for 4 weeks. A post therapy response was recorded in the form of symptomatic and histopathologicalresponse. Results: There was better symptomatic response for sneezing and rhinorrhea with levocetrizine than azelastine but betterresponse for nasal blockage with azelastine. There was no significant difference in histopathological response of both groups.Conclusion: Levocetrizine was showing better symptomatic response as topical azelastine and also showing better acceptability

Pilot study of DNA extraction from archival unstained bone marrow slides: comparison of three rapid methods

DNA can be isolated from a variety of human sample sources including anti-coagulant whole blood, bloodstains, hairs, tissue samples and buccal epithelial cells. The purpose of this study was to compare yield and quality of DNA samples obtained with the use of three different methods. The ability of these procedures to provide DNA for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification from archival unstained bone marrow slides was tested on 35 different patients’ slides. Boiling in distilled water (A), proteinase K/Tween 35 method coupled with simplified phenol/chloroform isoamyl alcohol protocol (B) and modified commercial nucleon extraction and purification protocol (C, Amersham Life Science) gave extraction efficiencies of 57, 74 and 100% respectively. Our results demonstrate that rough DNA extraction methods have decreased efficiencies compared to complete DNA extraction protocols and that the latter are required to ensure highly reproducible results from archival unstained bone marrow slides.Key words: DNA, polymerase chain reaction, bone marrow slides, reagent ki