TCM Decoding Using Neural Networks

This paper presents a neural decoder for trellis coded modulation (TCM) schemes. Decoding is performed with Radial Basis Function Networks and Multi-Layer Perceptrons. The neural decoder effectively implements an adaptive Viterbi algorithm for TCM which learns communication channel imperfections. The implementation and performance of the neural decoder for trellis encoded 16-QAM with amplitude imbalance are analyzed

Target-directed navigation using wireless sensor networks and implicit surface interpolation

pre-printAbstract-This paper extends the novel research for event localization and target-directed navigation using a deployed wireless sensor network (WSN) [4]. The goal is to have an autonomous mobile robot (AMR) navigate to a target-location by: (i) producing an artificial magnitude distribution within the WSN-covered region, and (ii) having the AMR use the pseudo-gradient from the interpolated distribution in its neighborhood, as it moves towards the target location. Implicit surfaces are used to interpolate the artificial distribution. This scheme only uses the topology of the WSN and received signal strength (RSS) to estimate an efficient navigation path for the AMR. Here, the AMR does not require global coordinates for the region, as it relies on local, neighborhood information alone to navigate. The performance of the scheme is analyzed with hardware experiments and in simulation, using a variety of node-densities and with increasing levels of noise to ensure robustness. Index Terms-Target-directed navigation, pseudo-gradient, spline-interpolated distribution, received signal strength

Four new lithophilic species of \u3cem\u3eScorpiops\u3c/em\u3e Peters, 1861 (Scorpiones: Scorpiopidae) from peninsular India

Four new lithophilic species of Scorpiops Peters, 1861 (Scorpiopidae) have been described from peninsular India using an integrated taxonomic approach. Three species Scorpiops vrushchik sp. n., S. nagphani sp. n. and S. neera sp. n. have been described from northern Western Ghats and S. lioneli sp. n. is described from Deccan Plateau. S. vrushchik sp. n. is closely related to S. tenuicauda and S. telbaila and differs by a raw genetic divergence of 9.6-9.8% from S. tenuicauda and 11% from S. telbaila. S. nagphani sp. n. is closely related to S. lioneli sp. n. and S. maharashtraensis and differs by a raw genetic divergence of 6.7% from S. lioneli sp. n. and 9.6% from S. maharashtraensis. S. neera sp. n. is closely related to S. deccanensis, S. satarensis and S. phaltanensis and differs by a raw genetic divergence of 6.1–7.1% from S. deccanensis, 7.3% from S. satarensis and 9.6–9.8% from S. phaltanensis. S. lioneli sp. n. is closely related to S. nagphani sp. n. and S. maharashtraensis and differs by a raw genetic divergence of 6.7% from S. nagphani sp. n. and 11% from S. maharashtraensis. Hemispermatophore morphology of all the new species is described with photographs. A taxonomic key to all species of Scorpiops from peninsular India is provided. This study elevates the number of species of Scorpiops found in India to 27, out of which 11 are found in peninsular India

Two new species of \u3cem\u3eChiromachetes\u3c/em\u3e (Scorpiones: Hormuridae) from the northern Western Ghats, India

Two new species of Chiromachetes Pocock, 1899 (Hormuridae) are described from the northern Western Ghats of India using an integrated taxonomic approach. Chiromachetes parakrami sp. n. and C. ramdasswamii sp. n. are closely related and differ from each other and C. sahyadriensis by morphological features and raw genetic divergence of 7.9–9.4 %

Histopathological study of prostatic lesions in correlation with serum prostate specific antigen levels in elderly men

Background: Prostatic lesions are common among elderly men with urinary complaints. Variety of prostatic lesions range from inflammatory, benign to malignant pathologies. The Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is secreted by glandular epithelium of prostate shows raised serum levels in these pathologies. Usually significant rise is commonly associated with Prostatic adenocarcinomas (PCa) with exceptions.Methods: In this retrospective study, total 63 diagnosed cases of prostatic lesions over a one-year period for which serum PSA levels were available, were selected. Cases without serum PSA levels & inadequate biopsies were excluded. Histological diagnosis of prostatic lesions reconfirmed and its correlation with serum PSA was done.Results: Study included patients with mean age 67.84 years (range: 48-60) at the time of diagnosis. Benign lesions were commonest prostatic lesions accounting for total 54 cases (85.71%) out of which 38 were of Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), 14 cases of BPH with prostatitis while single case each for BPH with granulomatous prostatitis and basal cell hyperplasia. Mean PSA value for benign lesions was 6.57 ng/ml. Total 8 were malignant which included 7 (11.11%) PCa while single (1.59%) case of metastatic transitional cell carcinoma. Mean PSA for PCa were 35.05 ng/ml. Single case (1.59%) of high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia also detected.Conclusion: Common age group at the time of presentation of prostatic pathologies is 60-70 years. The most common prostatic lesions are benign predominantly BPH. PCa are commonest malignancies. Elevated PSA levels >20 ng/ml are commonly observed in PCa. However lower or normal values don’t rule out PCa

The odorant receptor OR2W3 on airway smooth muscle evokes bronchodilation via a cooperative chemosensory tradeoff between TMEM16A and CFTR.

The recent discovery of sensory (tastant and odorant) G protein-coupled receptors on the smooth muscle of human bronchi suggests unappreciated therapeutic targets in the management of obstructive lung diseases. Here we have characterized the effects of a wide range of volatile odorants on the contractile state of airway smooth muscle (ASM) and uncovered a complex mechanism of odorant-evoked signaling properties that regulate excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling in human ASM cells. Initial studies established multiple odorous molecules capable of increasing intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) in ASM cells, some of which were (paradoxically) associated with ASM relaxation. Subsequent studies showed a terpenoid molecule (nerol)-stimulated OR2W3 caused increases in [Ca2+]i and relaxation of ASM cells. Of note, OR2W3-evoked [Ca2+]i mobilization and ASM relaxation required Ca2+ flux through the store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) pathway and accompanied plasma membrane depolarization. This chemosensory odorant receptor response was not mediated by adenylyl cyclase (AC)/cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels or by protein kinase A (PKA) activity. Instead, ASM olfactory responses to the monoterpene nerol were predominated by the activity of Ca2+-activated chloride channels (TMEM16A), including the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) expressed on endo(sarco)plasmic reticulum. These findings demonstrate compartmentalization of Ca2+ signals dictates the odorant receptor OR2W3-induced ASM relaxation and identify a previously unrecognized E-C coupling mechanism that could be exploited in the development of therapeutics to treat obstructive lung diseases