Second generation and perceptual wavelet based noise estimation

peer-reviewedThe implementation of three noise estimation algorithms using two different signal decomposition methods: a second-generation wavelet transform and a perceptual wavelet packet transform are described in this paper. The algorithms, which do not require the use of a speech activity detector or signal statistics learning histograms, are: a smoothing-based adaptive technique, a minimum variance tracking-based technique and a quantile-based technique. The paper also proposes a new, robust noise estimation technique, which combines a quantile-based algorithm with smoothing-based algorithm. The performance of the latter technique is then evaluated and compared to those of the above three noise estimation methods under various noise conditions. Reported results demonstrate that all four algorithms are capable of tracking both stationary and non-stationary noise adequately but with varying degree of accuracyPUBLISHEDpeer-reviewe

Persepsi Wisatawan Mengenai Kawasan Konservasi Penyu Perairan Kota Pariaman Provinsi Sumatra Barat

Tourism in Pariaman City this year to year continue to increase because of local city government in the effort of development of tourism sector, Pariaman City has a sloping beach with beautiful charm, now tourist resort has been fixed by the government of Pariaman City. In Kota pariaman there is also a turtle conservation area located on the edge of the beach gig in the village apar. Therefore, this research is conducted to find out how Tourist Perception Regarding Marine Water Turtle Conservation Area of West Sumatra Province Pariaman.This study aims to find out how the marine turtle conservation area and know how Tourist Perception Regarding Marine Water Turtle Conservation Area of West Sumatra Province Pariaman. This study uses quantitative descriptive method to examine the issues raised by analyzing the gaze of tourists who come to visit the Conservation Area. The questionnaires were distributed as many as 30 people. While data collection techniques in this study using observation, interviews, questionnaires, and documentation.Turtle Conservation of Pariaman City conducts operational activities by monitoring the location of turtle nesting habitat located along the coastline including island owned by Pariaman City. Its main function is to protect the life of diversity of flora and fauna and sustainable us

High prevalence of chronic viral hepatitis B and C in Minnesota Somalis contributes to rising hepatocellular carcinoma incidence

BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are known risk factors for liver disease, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). There is substantial global variation in HBV and HCV prevalence resulting in variations in cirrhosis and HCC. We previously reported high prevalence of HBV and HCV infections in Somali immigrants seen at an academic medical center in Minnesota. AIM: To determine the prevalence of chronic viral hepatitis in Somali immigrants in Minnesota through a community-based screening program. METHODS: We conducted a prospective community-based participatory research study in the Somali community in Minnesota in partnership with community advisory boards, community clinics and local mosques between November 2010 and December 2015 (data was analyzed in 2020). Serum was tested for hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B core antibody, hepatitis B surface antibody and anti-HCV antibody. RESULTS: Of 779 participants, 15.4% tested positive for chronic HBV infection, 50.2% for prior exposure to HBV and 7.6% for chronic HCV infection. Calculated age-adjusted frequencies in males and females for chronic HBV were 12.5% and 11.6%; for prior exposure to HBV were 44.8% and 41.3%; and for chronic HCV were 6.7% and 5.7%, respectively. Seven participants developed incident HCC during follow up. CONCLUSION: Chronic HBV and HCV are major risk factors for liver disease and HCC among Somali immigrants, with prevalence of both infections substantially higher than in the general United States population. Community-based screening is essential for identifying and providing health education and linkage to care for diagnosed patients

Low rate of non-compliance to antituberculous therapy under the banner of directly observed treatment short course (DOTS) strategy and well organized retrieval system: a call for implementation of this strategy at all DOTS centers in Saudi Arabia

Introduction: The objective of this study was to show the effectiveness of revised retrieval system on non-compliance. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the effectiveness of a revised retrieval system on non-compliance during continuous phase of antituberculous treatment (Jan-2005 to Dec-2010) compared to baseline non-compliance (Jan-2002 to Dec-2004). Results: In the baseline period, 141 of 501 (28%) patients did not attend their first appointment. Of these 141 patients, 63 (45%) patients could be brought back to treatment while 78 patients (16%) dropped out and could not be retrieved. During the 2nd phase after launching a revised retrieval system, 98 of 835 (13%) patients did not attend their first appointment. Using the retrieval system, 79 (81%)  atients were brought back for regular follow up, and 19 patients could not be retrieved, a dropout rate of 2.27%. By virtue of revised retrieval system, there was a significant drop in non-compliance by 15% and a decline in net dropout rate by 14%. The number of those brought back to treatment by revised retrieval system almost doubled (81%) compared to 44% retrieval in initial period. Conclusion: The revised retrieval system had a significant impact on the reduction of dropout rate and significant improvement in the retrieval of those patients

Association of Glutathione–S-Transferase (GSTP1) Genetic Polymorphism in Iraqi Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Type2

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are enzymes that included, in a more range of detoxifying reactions by conjugation of glutathione, to electrophilic material. Polymorphisms n the genes that responsible of GSTs affect, the function of the GSTs. GSTs play an active role in protection of cell against oxidative stress mechanism. Polymorphisms of GSTP1 at codon 105 amino acids forms GSTP1 important site for bind of hydrophobic electrophiles and the substitution of Ile/Val affect substrate specially catalytic activity of the enzyme and may correlate with reach to different diseases in human like diabetes mellitus type2 disease. Correlation between these polymorphisms and changes in the parameters file of diabetic patients has also been found, therefore, the results variation considerably among the studies; therefore, these control study was designed to leading to detecting know, as there are no studies on this performed in the people of Iraq. The polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to study GSTP1genetic polymorphism in 60 T2DM patients and 50 healthy individuals. Our results showed that presence of the GSTP1 heterozygous mutant allele Ile/Val was more common in subjects with T2DM than in the control group (40.00% and 32.00%, respectively; p = 0.01), as well as the found of the homozygous mutant of GSTP1 allele Val/Val was common in T2DM patient and not found in the control group (3.33% and 0.00%, respectively; p = 0.001).GSTP1 genotypes do not have an effect on blood lipids after infection with diabetes mellitus. Agarose gels used to determined genotypes according to the bands were that appeared in electrophoresis of gel