Metacognition using classifier system: A step approaching intelligent agents

Meta-cognition allows one to monitor and adaptively control cognitive processes. It guides people to select, evaluate, revise, and abandon cognitive tasks, goals, and strategies. Also, meta-cognition can play an important role in human-like software agents. It includes meta-cognitive knowledge, meta cognitive monitoring, and meta cognitive regulation. The main purpose of this research paper is to understand the principles of natural minds and adopt these principles to simulate artificial minds. We consider the conscious software agent, “CMattie” which has its cognitive science side (cognitive modelling) as well as its computer science side (intelligent software). We describe the incorporation of meta cognition in CMattie using fuzzy classifier system including Genetic algorithm and Probabilistic approaches

Privacy Preserving Auction Based Virtual Machine Instances Allocation Scheme for Cloud Computing Environment

Cloud Computing Environment provides computing resources in the form of Virtual Machines (VMs), to the cloud users through Internet. Auction-based VM instances allocation allows different cloud users to participate in an auction for a bundle of Virtual Machine instances where the user with the highest bid value will be selected as the winner by the auctioneer (Cloud Service Provider) to gain more. In this auction mechanism, individual bid values are revealed to the auctioneer in order to select the winner as a result of which privacy of bid values are lost. In this paper, we proposed an auction scheme to select the winner without revealing the individual bid values to the auctioneer to maintain privacy of bid values. The winner will get the access to the bundle of VM instances. This  scheme relies on a set of cryptographic protocols including Oblivious Transfer (OT) protocol and Yao’s protocol to maintain privacy of bid values

An optimized 128-bit cellular automata-based hash function for authentication of data at rest and in transit

The cryptographic hash functions are the most fundamental cryptographic concept. These functions are used as basic building blocks for digital signatures and message authentication. Boolean functions are the core of hash functions. These functions are expected to provide pseudo-randomness as well as input sensitivity. Cellular automata are a form of Boolean function that exhibits strong cryptography properties as well as chaotic behavior. This paper proposes a hash function, designed on the principle of cellular automata. The proposed algorithm is secure and meets the requirements for a successful hashing scheme. The hash function has strong statistical and cryptographic characteristics, according to the findings of the avalanche test and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Statistical Test Suite. The modularity of different operations of this algorithm makes it suitable for a high-capacity processing environment to produce efficient performance

Interpreting Energy Utilisation With Shapley Additive Explanations by Defining a Synthetic Data Generator for Plausible Charging Sessions of Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles (EVs) are an effective solution for reducing reliance on non-renewable energy sources. However, the lack of charging infrastructure and concerns over their range are some of the biggest hurdles to adopting EVs. Charging infrastructure for EVs is, however, on the rise. Proper planning of charging stations vis-`a-vis road networks and related points of interest such as transportation hubs, schools, shopping centres, etc., alongside such roads become vital to laying out a plan for such infrastructure, particularly for developing countries like India where EV adoption is relatively in a nascent stage. Synthetic datasets can help overcome these hurdles and promote EV adoption. This article presents a synthetic dataset mechanism for EV charging infrastructure planning, taking the Indian city of Berhampur, Odisha with its existiing EV charging infrastructure as a reference. The dataset includes information on the number of charging sessions for EVs, allocation to chargers in EVCS, reach time, charging start and end time, waiting time, total time spent at EVCS, total charged amount, energy used, and cost for charging. This information can help city planners and utilities identify the optimal locations for charging stations and plan for future charging infrastructure augmentation. The dataset can also be used to predict energy usage for the near future and identify the key factors affecting the planning with the help of Explainable AI (XAI) techniques. This information can help forecast the demand for charging services and optimize energy usage in the city. The article contributes to the EV charging behaviour and infrastructure planning and aims to promote broader EV adoption for future sustainable transportation

Biochemical evaluation of dent corn (Zea mays L.) genotypes cultivated under rainfed conditions in the hills of north western Indian Himalayan state of Jammu and Kashmir

The aim of present study was to investigate protein, oil and fatty acid composition in 11 maize (Zea mays) genotypes collected from diverse locations in the hills of north western Indian Himalayan state of Jammu and Kashmir in order to get an idea about the extent of variability in these biochemical traits in the local germplasm. The study revealed significant variation in these quality traits. The protein content among the genotypes ranged from 10.7% to 18.7% while oil content varied between 2.26% and 4.80%. Higher protein content in some of the genotypes especially IC-0617877 (18.7%) and IC-0617880 (17.6%) is noteworthy. The saturated fatty acids of palmitic (C16:0), stearic (C18:0), arachidic (C20:0) and unsaturated fatty acids of oleic (C18:1), linoleic (C18:1) and elaidic (C18:1) were detected and quantified in these genotypes. Considerable variation has been recorded in fatty acid composition; 13.8-33.4% for palmitic acid, 21.5-48.1% for linoleic acid, 19.2-39% for oleic acid, 0.2-2.4% for elaidic acid, 2.5- 8.5% for stearic acid and 0.1-6.6% for arachidic acid. Higher oleic acid content recorded in all the genotypes excepting IC-0617881 is a useful trait. Strikingly, highest oil (4.80%), palmitic acid (33.4%), stearic acid (8.5%) and arachidic acid (6.6%) contents have been recorded in this remarkably cold tolerant genotype with reddish yellow seeds containing moderate protein content of 13.8 %. The appreciable variation in these quality traits could be exploited in breeding programmes for improvement of this crop and opening up new opportunities for its food and industrial end uses

Pharmacovigilance in cancer chemotherapy in regional cancer center of Eastern India: prospective observational study

Background: Globally cancer is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality with annual death rate of 12%. According Indian Council of Medical Research, more than 1300 Indians die every day due to cancer. Chemotherapy is one of the multimodal approaches for treatment of cancer and regimens are much complex and cancer patients are more susceptible to adverse drug reaction with little tolerance due to diminished immunity. The present study was done to evaluate the prevalence of various adverse drug reactions with different cancer chemotherapy regimens, their nature and severity as well as their causality assessment as per WHO scale.Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted from July 2015 to June 2016. Patients receiving cancer chemotherapy from regional cancer centre, Cuttack were observed during the study period for the adverse drug reactions. Those ADRs were analysed for causality assessment, severity and preventability.Results: It was observed that after the initiation of chemotherapy, ADRs were observed in 92 (88.46%) patients. Among these 329 observed ADRs, during the study period, female predominance was observed in the age group 51-60yrs. Most common ADRs observed were nausea and vomiting 57 (17.37%), alopecia 46 (13.98%) and neutropenia 38 (11.55%). ADRs were most commonly seen with the haematological systems (37.68%) followed by gastrointestinal system amounting 25.22% of the total ADRs. Platinum Compound (58.35%), followed by antibiotics, antimetabolites, were the most common group of drugs causing different adverse drug reactions. On causality assessment, as per WHO-UMC criteria 68.38% were probable and 31.62% ADRs were possible. Severity assessment showed majority of the ADRs were moderate 228 (69.31%) followed by mild 67 (20.36%) and severe 34 (10.33%). It was observed that majority 212 (64.45%) of the ADRs were not preventable, 72 (21.88%) were definitely preventable and 45 (13.67%) were probably preventable.Conclusions: Cancer chemotherapy has definitely improved the quality of life, but associated ADRs need early diagnosis, prompt management and routine reporting. Thus, pharmacovigilance will definitely reduce morbidity and mortality, so also the financial burden for the patients and society

CLINICO-PATHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LUPUS NEPHRITIS IN EASTERN ZONE OF INDIA: A SINGLE TERTIARY CENTER EXPERIENCE

Objective: Lupus nephritis (LN) is the most common and serious manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Although diagnosis of LN is straight forward in a patient with SLE and proteinuria, and active urine sediment and perhapsrenal insufficiency, still renal biopsies are required at diagnosis to enable classification of nephritis severity, to provide prognostic information, and toguide treatment. Hence, the objective of this study is to determine the frequency of distribution of different classes of LN based on renal biopsy reports and to correlate it with various laboratory findings.Methods: Retrospective study was done in all patients with LN who had at least one representative renal biopsy and evaluated in NephrologyDepartment of SCB Medical College, Cuttack, in 6-month duration. Various laboratory values were recorded and correlated with histopathologicallupus classifications.Results: Out of 35 patients enrolled, 33 (94.28%) were females and 2 (5.71%) were males. Mean age was 27.53±12.26 years. Majority of cases belong to Class IV followed by Class V. Patients of Class IV LN have a significantly low hemoglobin level. Similarly, serum urea and creatinine are higher in Group IV than other groups, and serum creatinine was found to be significant. 24 hrs urinary protein excretion has a significant correlation with the classes of LN.Conclusion: This study suggests some meaningful correlation between laboratory findings and histopathological lupus classification. This study alsosuggests that renal biopsies are still beneficial for better evaluation of renal status and determination of LN classes.Keywords: Clinico-pathological correlation, Lupus nephritis, Biopsy

Endo-Epicardial Homogenization of the Scar Versus Limited Substrate Ablation for the Treatment of Electrical Storms in Patients With Ischemic Cardiomyopathy

ObjectivesThis study investigated the impact on recurrences of 2 different substrate approaches for the treatment of these arrhythmias.BackgroundCatheter ablation of electrical storms (ES) for ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) has shown moderate long-term efficacy in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy.MethodsNinety-two consecutive patients (81% male, age 62 ± 13 years) with ischemic cardiomyopathy and ES underwent catheter ablation. Patients were treated either by confining the radiofrequency lesions to the endocardial surface with limited substrate ablation (Group 1, n = 49) or underwent endocardial and epicardial ablation of abnormal potentials within the scar (homogenization of the scar, Group 2, n = 43). Epicardial access was obtained in all Group 2 patients, whereas epicardial ablation was performed in 33% (14) of these patients.ResultsMean ejection fraction was 27 ± 5. During a mean follow-up of 25 ± 10 months, the VAs recurrence rate of any ventricular tachycardia (VTs) was 47% (23 of 49 patients) in Group 1 and 19% (8 of 43 patients) in Group 2 (log-rank p = 0.006). One patient in Group 1 and 1 patient in Group 2 died at follow-up for noncardiac reasons.ConclusionsOur study demonstrates that ablation using endo-epicardial homogenization of the scar significantly increases freedom from VAs in ischemic cardiomyopathy patients

NOVEL ANTI-OXIDANT BIOMARKERS PREDICT ABLATION OUTCOME IN ATRIAL FIBRILLATION PATIENTS AGED 65-YEARS OR OLDER: RESULTS FROM A PROSPECTIVE PILOT STUDY (IMPACT)

Digitalitzat per Artypla