Benchmarking Real-Time Linux Implementation on Embedded Platform

This paperdeals with design, implementation and testing of real time drivers for I2C and UART processor controllers on Beaglebone Black. Embedded Board runs with Linux 3.8.13 and real time co-kernel, Xenomai-2.6.3. Beaglebone Black has cortex A8 processor with 1GHz frequency. Xenomai Real time driver Model(RTDM) drivers are made for I2C and UART processor controller and their performance parameters were tested. DOI: 10.17762/ijritcc2321-8169.15053

Real Time Packet Classification and Analysis based on Bloom Filter for Longest Prefix Matching

Packet classification is an enabling function in network and security systems; hence, hardware-based solutions, such as TCAM (Ternary Content Addressable Memory), have been extensively adopted for high-performance systems. With the expeditious improvement of hardware architectures and burgeoning popularity of multi-core multi-threaded processors, decision-tree based packet classification algorithms such as HiCuts and HyperCuts are grabbing considerable attention, outstanding to their flexibility in satisfying miscellaneous industrial requirements for network and security systems. For high classification speed, these algorithms internally use decision trees, whose size increases exponentially with the ruleset size; consequently, they cannot be used with a large rulesets. However, these decision tree algorithms involve complicated heuristics for concluding the number of cuts and fields. Moreover, ?xed interval-based cutting not depicting the actual space that each rule covers is defeasible and terminates in a huge storage requirement. We propose a new packet classification that simultaneously supports high scalability and fast classification performance by using Bloom Filter. Bloom uses hash table as a data structure which is an efficient data structure for membership queries to avoid lookup in some subsets which contain no matching rules and to sustain high throughput by using Longest Prefix Matching (LPM) algorithm. Hash table data structure which improves the performance by providing better boundaries on the hash collisions and memory accesses per search. The proposed classification algorithm also shows good scalability, high classification speed, irrespective of the number of rules. Performance analysis results show that the proposed algorithm enables network and security systems to support heavy traffic in the most effective manner

EVALUATING PERFORMANCE OF HYBRID NETWORKS BY USING LATENCY AND PDV

Hybrid networks are widely used in networking sector. They combine the finest features of both Wired and Wireless networks to give optimum results. Using different types of routing protocols, the capabilities of a hybrid network will be demonstrated using certain performance metrics. In this paper, we will be simulating real-time scenarios of three networks of different sizes. Each of these networks will be implemented with single routing protocol i.e. Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP). The networks will be simulated using Cisco Packet Tracer simulation tool. Furthermore, we have evaluated the performance of the networks by considering performance metrics like network latency and packet delay variation

Abnormalities of intestinal rotation and congenital intrinsic duodenal obstruction

Background Congenital duodenal obstruction (CDO) is a unique anomaly with variable presentation depending on the site, type of obstruction, as well as the presence ofassociated anomalies. This is a review of our experience with 51 infants and children with CDO, stressing on the importance of associated rotational abnormalities of the gut.Methods Over a period of 18 years (January 1993– December 2011), 51 infants and children with CDO were treated at our hospital. Their medical records were reviewed retrospectively for age at diagnosis, sex, gestation, birth weight, clinical features, associated anomalies, method of diagnosis, treatment, and outcome.Results Fifty-one (27 boys and 24 girls) infants and children with intrinsic CDO were treated. Their birth weight ranged from 1.38 to 3.8 kg (mean 2.3 kg). Sixteen (31.4%)were premature. The mean maternal age was 25 years (range 18–40 years). Seven presented at 5 months, 18 days, 3.5 years, 1.8 years, 18 days, 1.5 years, and 2 months of age, respectively. Associated anomalies were observed in 34 (66.7%) of them. Sixteen (31.4%) had Down’s syndrome and 11 (21.6%) had congenital heart disease. Nine (17.6%) had rotational abnormalities of the gut, including two with situs inversus. The site of duodenal obstruction was located in the second part of duodenum in 48 (94%) of them. In two, the site of obstruction was in the fourth part of duodenum, whereas in the third it was located in the third part of duodenum. The causes of obstruction were duodenal atresia in 20 (39.2%), without a gap in eight (15.7%) and with a gap in 12 (23.5%), duodenal stenosis in 11 (21.6%), and duodenal diaphragm in 20 (39.2%). In 14 (27.5%) patients, an annular pancreas was observed. The different operative procedures were as follows: duodenoduodenostomy in 26; excision of the duodenal diaphragm and duodenoplasty in 12; Ladd’s procedure, excision of the duodenal diaphragm, duodenoplasty, and appendectomy in four; Ladd’s procedure, appendectomy, and duodenoduodenostomy in two; and duodenojejunostomy in seven. Two underwent reduction duodenoplasty to decrease the size of the duodenum. Three required reoperations, two because of an anastomotic leak and another because of duodenal dysfunction. Sixteen (31.4%) required total parenteral nutrition. Four died, resulting in an overall survival of 92.2%.Conclusion CDO is classified as intrinsic and extrinsic depending on the cause. Rotational abnormalities including situs inversus are among the rare but interesting anomalies associated with intrinsic CDO. The presence of malrotation or nonrotation with congenital bands does not exclude the presence of an associated intrinsic cause, which should be looked for intraoperatively. This is to obviate the possibility of further subsequent operative treatment. Keywords: congenital duodenal obstruction, duodenal diaphragm, malrotation, situs inversu

Comparative Effectiveness of Guidelines for the Management of Hyperlipidemia and Hypertension for Type 2 Diabetes Patients

Background: Several guidelines to reduce cardiovascular risk in diabetes patients exist in North America, Europe, and Australia. Their ability to achieve this goal efficiently is unclear. Methods and Findings: Decision analysis was used to compare the efficiency and effectiveness of international contemporary guidelines for the management of hypertension and hyperlipidemia for patients aged 40-80 with type 2 diabetes. Measures of comparative effectiveness included the expected probability of a coronary or stroke event, incremental medication costs per event, and number-needed-to-treat (NNT) to prevent an event. All guidelines are equally effective, but they differ significantly in their medication costs. The range of NNT to prevent an event was small across guidelines (6.5-7.6 for males and 6.5-7.5 for females); a larger range of differences were observed for expected cost per event avoided (ranges, $117,269-$157,186 for males and $115,999-$163,775 for females). Australian and U.S. guidelines result in the highest and lowest expected costs, respectively. Conclusions: International guidelines based on the same evidence and seeking the same goal are similar in their effectiveness; however, there are large differences in expected medication costs. © 2011 Shah et al

Silent soft tissue pathology is common with a modern metal-on-metal hip arthroplasty: Early detection with routine metal artifact-reduction MRI scanning

Adverse reactions to metal debris have been reported to be a cause of pain in metal-on-metal hip arthroplasty. We assessed the incidence of both symptomatic and asymptomatic adverse reactions in a consecutive series of patients with a modern large-head metal-on-metal hip arthroplasty

Factors associated with use of breast cancer screening services by women aged ≥ 40 years in Korea: The Third Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005 (KNHANES III)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Despite evidence that breast cancer screening reduces morbidity and mortality, until recently most women have not undergone regular mammogram examinations in Korea. We aimed to identify factors associated with use of breast cancer screening services.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The Health Promotion Knowledge, Attitude and Practice survey (HP-KAP survey) is part of the Third Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005 (KNHANES III), a nationwide health survey in Korea. Of 7,802 individuals who participated in the HP-KAP survey, 4,292 were female. Of these, 2,583 were women aged at least 40 years and without a history of breast cancer; these women were included in this study. Information about breast cancer screening participation was obtained from the responses to questionnaires. The overall rate of regular breast cancer screening was measured. Factors that affect participation in a breast cancer screening program were identified using multiple logistic regression analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among women aged at least 40 years, 30.4% complied with breast screening recommendations. Age of at least 65 years (adjusted odds ratio, aOR 0.61, 95% CI: 0.42-0.88), education level (no [ref], elementary school [aOR 1.51, 95% CI: 1.06-1.47], middle/high school [aOR 1.99, 95% CI: 1.36-2.92], university/higher [aOR 2.73, 95% CI: 1.71-4.35]), private health insurance (aOR 1.42, 95% CI: 1.71-4.35), attitude towards screening tests (aOR 0.18, 95% CI: 0.14-0.23), self-reported health status of 'fair' (aOR 1.26 95% CI: 1.00-1.58), and smoking (aOR 0.52, 95% CI: 0.35-0.79) were associated with the rate of regular breast cancer screening</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>To increase the nationwide breast cancer screening rate, more attention should be given to underrepresented groups, particularly the elderly, those with a low education level, smokers, and those with a negative attitude towards screening tests. These issues highlight the need for a new emphasis in health education, promotional campaigns and public health policy aimed at these underrepresented groups.</p

The significance of tumour microarchitectural features in breast cancer prognosis: a digital image analysis

BACKGROUND: As only a minor portion of the information present in histological sections is accessible by eye, recognition and quantification of complex patterns and relationships among constituents relies on digital image analysis. In this study, our working hypothesis was that, with the application of digital image analysis technology, visually unquantifiable breast cancer microarchitectural features can be rigorously assessed and tested as prognostic parameters for invasive breast carcinoma of no special type. METHODS: Digital image analysis was performed using public domain software (ImageJ) on tissue microarrays from a cohort of 696 patients, and validated with a commercial platform (Visiopharm). Quantified features included elements defining tumour microarchitecture, with emphasis on the extent of tumour-stroma interface. The differential prognostic impact of tumour nest microarchitecture in the four immunohistochemical surrogates for molecular classification was analysed. Prognostic parameters included axillary lymph node status, breast cancer-specific survival, and time to distant metastasis. Associations of each feature with prognostic parameters were assessed using logistic regression and Cox proportional models adjusting for age at diagnosis, grade, and tumour size. RESULTS: An arrangement in numerous small nests was associated with axillary lymph node involvement. The association was stronger in luminal tumours (odds ratio (OR) = 1.39, p = 0.003 for a 1-SD increase in nest number, OR = 0.75, p = 0.006 for mean nest area). Nest number was also associated with survival (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.15, p = 0.027), but total nest perimeter was the parameter most significantly associated with survival in luminal tumours (HR = 1.26, p = 0.005). In the relatively small cohort of triple-negative tumours, mean circularity showed association with time to distant metastasis (HR = 1.71, p = 0.027) and survival (HR = 1.8, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: We propose that tumour arrangement in few large nests indicates a decreased metastatic potential. By contrast, organisation in numerous small nests provides the tumour with increased metastatic potential to regional lymph nodes. An outstretched pattern in small nests bestows tumours with a tendency for decreased breast cancer-specific survival. Although further validation studies are required before the argument for routine quantification of microarchitectural features is established, our approach is consistent with the demand for cost-effective methods for triaging breast cancer patients that are more likely to benefit from chemotherapy