Brain Computer Interface for Emergency Virtual Voice

Brain computer interface (BCI) is one of the thriving emergent technology which acts as an interface between a brain and an external device. BCI for speech communication is acquiring recognition in various fields. Speech is one of the most natural ways to express thoughts and feelings by articulate vocal sounds. The purpose of this study is to restore communication ability of the people suffering from severe muscular disorders like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), stroke which causes paralysis, locked-in syndrome, tetraplegia and Myasthenia gravis. They cannot interact with their environment even though their intellectual capabilities are intact. Our work attempts to provide summary of the research articles being published in reputed journals which lead to the investigation of published BCI articles, BCI prototypes, Bio-Signals for BCI, intent of the articles, target applications, classification techniques, algorithms and methodologies, BCI system types. Thus, the result of detailed survey presents an outline of available studies, recent results and looks forward to future developments which provides a communication pathway for paralyzed patients to convey their needs

Employee Surveillance System Using Face Recognition

Advancement in technology has made face recognition system more prevalent and convenient to identify a person without a manual system which contributes to time consumption. In this system, facial recognition is by the means by which the employees are monitored. Our project addresses the problems present with manual surveillance by automating it in an efficient manner. Machine learning and deep learning have benefited people from all walks of life, and we plan to use machine learning in our surveillance system to build this specific project with the aid of Python and its comprehensive modules. The project involves a real-time detection of faces which are then matched with the corresponding face in the database. An excel sheet stores the time at which the login has taken place when the detection occurs. To achieve the goals, we used a combination of machine learning techniques and various logic-based algorithms

Wind Power Control Using MPPT and SEPIC Converter

A wind energy system is simulated by MATLAB/SIMULINK software. In which a SEPIC (DC/DC converter) converter is used to convert the varingDC voltage a constant output voltage by using its control mechanism.The amount of power output from a Wind Energy System (WES) depends upon the accuracy with which the peak power points are tracked by the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller of the WES control system irrespective of the type of generator used. Incremental conductance (InCond) method has been used as the algorithm in this MPPT block. The simulated system proposed uses a three-level, three phase, twelve pulse inverter for converting DC voltage generated by the SEPIC converter to AC voltage at desired frequency and voltage level. The usage of three-level inverter reduces Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) in output voltage. When large power generated from wind energy system then it will be stored in Battery, this stored energy will be used by load when system is shut-down or in unrealiable conditions. Lead-acid batteries are used due to their large availability in many sizes, low cost and well firm performance characteristics. The main concentration here is to develop a system to make use of the available renewable resourcei.eWES effectively and increase the efficiency of system by implementing MPPT technique

Demographic and clinicopathologic profile of malignant epithelial ovarian tumors: an experience from a tertiary cancer care centre in Bangalore, South India

Background: Ovarian cancer is fast emerging as the leading cancer of the female genital tract. It is the second most common gynecological malignancy in India, but has poor outcomes making it the leading cause of gynecologic cancer related deaths. There is a paucity of data regarding demographic details, patterns of care and outcomes of ovarian epithelial malignancies in India. This is a study to evaluate the demographic details, clinical profile and pathology details of epithelial ovarian cancer registering in atertiary cancer center in Bangalore, Karnataka, India.Methods: This is a retrospective study of the case records of patients diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer from January 2012 to December 2014.Results: Malignantovarian tumors constituted 5.6% of all malignancies in women. 84 cases were of epithelial origin constituting 64.4% of all malignant ovarian tumors. 58% of patients were from Karnataka and 25% were from West Bengal. 27% underwent suboptimal surgery outside at presentation. The median age at presentation was 51 years. Most of the patients were parous (25% were para 2 and 3). 5% patients were nulliparous. Pain abdomen (39%) and abdominal distension/ bloating (16%) were the most common symptoms. 75% of these cases presented in III-IV stage. Method of diagnosis was: primary surgery and Biopsy of mass (50%), fine needle aspiration cytology of mass or ascites/ pleural effusion (40%), and diagnostic laparoscopy in (9.5%) of the patients. The most common histological variants were serous cystadenocarcinoma (32%) and mucinous adenocarcinoma (15%).Conclusions: Majority of the patients presented with vague nonspecific abdominal complaints which leads to delay in diagnosis. Most of the patients presented in advanced stage of the disease. Delay in diagnosis and improper management prior to registering in tertiary cancer centre was common. There is a need to improve awareness regarding ovarian cancer in general population and also primary care physician

Protecting Girls from Harassment and Fraudulent Calls: A Voice-to-Text Approach

The rise in harassment calls and fraud, particularly targeting girls, has resulted in adverse consequences including psychological distress and, in extreme cases, suicide. Furthermore, fraudulent calls urging individuals to click on malicious links have led to substantial financial losses. This study presents a comprehensive approach to address this challenge for the development of an innovative detection system. Additionally, we introduce a novel prototype that employs a voice-to-text approach to transcribe phone calls, utilizing Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques as well as Machine Learning (ML) algorithms to identify harassment or fraud-related content. When a malicious call is detected, the system automatically alerts parents or guardians and the nearest police station to prevent tragic outcomes such as suicides among targeted girls and financial fraud. By focusing on both preventive measures and advanced detection, this integrated approach aims to promote a safer communication environment and a more inclusive society

Early life exposure to broccoli sprouts confers stronger protection against enterocolitis development in an immunological mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a presentation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that manifests in childhood and adolescence and involves chronic and severe enterocolitis, immune and gut microbial dysregulation, and other complications. Diet and gut-microbiota-produced metabolites are sources of anti-inflammatories that could ameliorate symptoms. However, questions remain on how IBD influences biogeographic patterns of microbial location and function in the gut, how early life transitional gut communities are affected by IBD and diet interventions, and how disruption to biogeography alters disease mediation by diet components or microbial metabolites. Many studies on diet and IBD use a chemically induced ulcerative colitis model, despite the availability of an immune-modulated CD model. Interleukin-10-knockout (IL-10-KO) mice on a C57BL/6 background, beginning at age 4 or 7 weeks, were fed a control diet or one containing 10% (wt/wt) raw broccoli sprouts, which was high in the sprout-sourced anti-inflammatory sulforaphane. Diets began 7 days prior to, and for 2 weeks after inoculation with Helicobacter hepaticus, which triggers Crohn’s-like symptoms in these immune-impaired mice. The broccoli sprout diet increased sulforaphane in plasma; decreased weight stagnation, fecal blood, and diarrhea associated; and increased microbiota richness in the gut, especially in younger mice. Sprout diets resulted in some anatomically specific bacteria in younger mice and reduced the prevalence and abundance of pathobiont bacteria which trigger inflammation in the IL-10-KO mouse, for example, Escherichia coli and Helicobacter. Overall, the IL-10-KO mouse model is responsive to a raw broccoli sprout diet and represents an opportunity for more diet-host-microbiome research

Referral Pattern to Neurosurgeons in a tertiary care teaching Hospital

Background: Due to lack of pre-hospital care, direct admission of traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients to dedicated neurosurgical department remains difficult in many parts of world. Objective: The present pilot study was conducted to understand the referral pattern of patients to the neurosurgery department and to develop an algorithm to stratify the spectrum of cases as per the severity of condition and possibility of direct neurosurgical care. Materials and Methods: Details of referral patterns, demographic and clinical profile, management and outcome of consecutive TBI cases admitted in the Department of Neurosurgery were collected with pre-designed proforma. Results: Of total 55 cases, 40 (73%) were males; 26 (47%) between 36-55 years age; 26 (47%) referred directly to the center; 24 (44%) self-referred; 34 (62%) referred from Emergency department; mostly (32, 58%) admitted after 12PM; 22 (40%) admitted for 16-30 days. In the analysis of investigations, 37(67%) cases had CT, 15 (27%) had MRI, 4 (7%) had X-ray, 1 (2%) undergone all three investigations, while 8 (15%) didn’t have any; mostly (42, 76%) cases were referred for the management of TBI and 38 (69%) required operative interventions. Conclusion: Our findings strongly suggest that referral of TBI cases need improvement in this part of country where hindrances delay TBI cases to reach dedicated neurological intensive care leading to delay of committed care and optimization of strategy for reduction of case fatality

The use of novel diffuse optical spectroscopies for improved neuromonitoring during neonatal cardiac surgery requiring antegrade cerebral perfusion

BackgroundSurgical procedures involving the aortic arch present unique challenges to maintaining cerebral perfusion, and optimal neuroprotective strategies to prevent neurological injury during such high-risk procedures are not completely understood. The use of antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP) has gained favor as a neuroprotective strategy over deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) due to the ability to selectively perfuse the brain. Despite this theoretical advantage over DHCA, there has not been conclusive evidence that ACP is superior to DHCA. One potential reason for this is the incomplete understanding of ideal ACP flow rates to prevent both ischemia from underflowing and hyperemia and cerebral edema from overflowing. Critically, there are no continuous, noninvasive measurements of cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral oxygenation (StO2) to guide ACP flow rates and help develop standard clinical practices. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility of using noninvasive, diffuse optical spectroscopy measurements of CBF and cerebral oxygenation during the conduct of ACP in human neonates undergoing the Norwood procedure.MethodsFour neonates prenatally diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) or a similar variant underwent the Norwood procedure with continuous intraoperative monitoring of CBF and cerebral oxygen saturation (StO2) using two non-invasive optical techniques, namely diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) and frequency-domain diffuse optical spectroscopy (FD-DOS). Changes in CBF and StO2 due to ACP were calculated by comparing these parameters during a stable 5 min period of ACP to the last 5 min of full-body CPB immediately prior to ACP initiation. Flow rates for ACP were left to the discretion of the surgeon and ranged from 30 to 50 ml/kg/min, and all subjects were cooled to 18°C prior to initiation of ACP.ResultsDuring ACP, the continuous optical monitoring demonstrated a median (IQR) percent change in CBF of −43.4% (38.6) and a median (IQR) absolute change in StO2 of −3.6% (12.3) compared to a baseline period during full-body cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The four subjects demonstrated varying responses in StO2 due to ACP. ACP flow rates of 30 and 40 ml/kg/min (n = 3) were associated with decreased CBF during ACP compared to full-body CPB. Conversely, one subject with a higher flow6Di rate of 50 ml/kg/min demonstrated increased CBF and StO2 during ACP.ConclusionsThis feasibility study demonstrates that novel diffuse optical technologies can be utilized for improved neuromonitoring in neonates undergoing cardiac surgery where ACP is utilized. Future studies are needed to correlate these findings with neurological outcomes to inform best practices during ACP in these high-risk neonates

Obeticholic acid for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: interim analysis from a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial

Background Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a common type of chronic liver disease that can lead to cirrhosis. Obeticholic acid, a farnesoid X receptor agonist, has been shown to improve the histological features of NASH. Here we report results from a planned interim analysis of an ongoing, phase 3 study of obeticholic acid for NASH. Methods In this multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, adult patients with definite NASH,non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) activity score of at least 4, and fibrosis stages F2–F3, or F1 with at least oneaccompanying comorbidity, were randomly assigned using an interactive web response system in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive oral placebo, obeticholic acid 10 mg, or obeticholic acid 25 mg daily. Patients were excluded if cirrhosis, other chronic liver disease, elevated alcohol consumption, or confounding conditions were present. The primary endpointsfor the month-18 interim analysis were fibrosis improvement (≥1 stage) with no worsening of NASH, or NASH resolution with no worsening of fibrosis, with the study considered successful if either primary endpoint was met. Primary analyses were done by intention to treat, in patients with fibrosis stage F2–F3 who received at least one dose of treatment and reached, or would have reached, the month 18 visit by the prespecified interim analysis cutoff date. The study also evaluated other histological and biochemical markers of NASH and fibrosis, and safety. This study is ongoing, and registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02548351, and EudraCT, 20150-025601-6. Findings Between Dec 9, 2015, and Oct 26, 2018, 1968 patients with stage F1–F3 fibrosis were enrolled and received at least one dose of study treatment; 931 patients with stage F2–F3 fibrosis were included in the primary analysis (311 in the placebo group, 312 in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group, and 308 in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group). The fibrosis improvement endpoint was achieved by 37 (12%) patients in the placebo group, 55 (18%) in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group (p=0·045), and 71 (23%) in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group (p=0·0002). The NASH resolution endpoint was not met (25 [8%] patients in the placebo group, 35 [11%] in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group [p=0·18], and 36 [12%] in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group [p=0·13]). In the safety population (1968 patients with fibrosis stages F1–F3), the most common adverse event was pruritus (123 [19%] in the placebo group, 183 [28%] in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group, and 336 [51%] in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group); incidence was generally mild to moderate in severity. The overall safety profile was similar to that in previous studies, and incidence of serious adverse events was similar across treatment groups (75 [11%] patients in the placebo group, 72 [11%] in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group, and 93 [14%] in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group). Interpretation Obeticholic acid 25 mg significantly improved fibrosis and key components of NASH disease activity among patients with NASH. The results from this planned interim analysis show clinically significant histological improvement that is reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit. This study is ongoing to assess clinical outcomes