FIELD PROGRAMMABLE GATE ARRAY IMPLEMENTATION OF A VARIABLE LEAKY LEAST MEAN SQUARE ADAPTIVE ALGORITHM

Adaptive noise cancellation is an extensively researched area of signal processing. Many algorithms had been studied such as least mean square algorithm (LMS), recursive least square algorithm, and normalized LMS algorithm. The statistical characteristics of noise are fast in nature and the algorithms for noise cancellation should converge fast. Since LMS algorithm has slow convergence; in this paper, a variable leaky LMS (VLLMS) algorithm is explored. VLLMS is implemented using the concept of hardware-software cosimulation using Xilinx System Generator. The design is implemented on Virtex-6 ML605 field programmable gate array board. The implemented design is tested for sinusoidal signal added with an additivewhite Gaussian noise. The design summary and the utilization summary are presented.Â

Early Detection of Parkinson's Disease using Motor Symptoms and Machine Learning

Parkinson's disease (PD) has been found to affect 1 out of every 1000 people, being more inclined towards the population above 60 years. Leveraging wearable-systems to find accurate biomarkers for diagnosis has become the need of the hour, especially for a neurodegenerative condition like Parkinson's. This work aims at focusing on early-occurring, common symptoms, such as motor and gait related parameters to arrive at a quantitative analysis on the feasibility of an economical and a robust wearable device. A subset of the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), PPMI Gait dataset has been utilised for feature-selection after a thorough analysis with various Machine Learning algorithms. Identified influential features has then been used to test real-time data for early detection of Parkinson Syndrome, with a model accuracy of 91.9

Étude qualitative sur l’expérience des résidents canadiens du modèle d’éducation médicale fondée sur les compétences

Background: Competency-based medical education (CBME) is an outcomes-based curricular paradigm focused on ensuring that graduates are competent to meet the needs of patients. Although resident engagement is key to CBME’s success, few studies have explored how trainees have experienced CBME implementation. We explored the experiences of residents in Canadian training programs that had implemented CBME. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 16 residents in seven Canadian postgraduate training programs, exploring their experiences with CBME. Participants were equally divided between family medicine and specialty programs. Themes were identified using principles of constructivist grounded theory. Results: Residents were receptive to the goals of CBME, but in practice, described several drawbacks primarily related to assessment and feedback. For many residents, the significant administrative burden and focus on assessment led to performance anxiety. At times, residents felt that assessments lacked meaning as supervisors focused on “checking-boxes” or provided overly broad, non-specific comments. Furthermore, they commonly expressed frustration with the perceived subjectivity and inconsistency of judgments on assessments, especially if assessments were used to delay progression to greater independence, contributing to attempts to "game the system". Faculty engagement and support improved resident experiences with CBME. Conclusion: Although residents value the potential for CBME to improve the quality of education, assessment and feedback, the current operationalization of CBME may not be consistently achieving these objectives. The authors suggest several initiatives to improve how residents experience assessment and feedback processes in CBME.Contexte : L’éducation médicale fondée sur les compétences (EMFC) est un paradigme dans lequel le programme de formation est axé sur les résultats et vise à garantir que les diplômés aient les compétences nécessaires pour répondre aux besoins des patients. Bien que l’engagement des résidents soit la clé du succès de l’EMFC, peu d’études ont exploré comment ils vivent son introduction. Nous nous sommes penchés sur l’expérience des résidents dans les programmes de formation canadiens qui ont mis en œuvre l’EMFC. Méthodes : Nous avons mené des entrevues semi-structurées avec 16 résidents de sept programmes de formation postdoctorale canadiens, afin de sonder leur expérience de l’EMFC. Les participants étaient répartis de façon égale entre la médecine familiale et les programmes de spécialité. Les thèmes ont été dégagés en appliquant les principes de la théorie enracinée constructiviste. Résultats : Bien que réceptifs aux objectifs de l’EMFC, les résidents décrivent des inconvénients de sa mise en pratique, notamment sur le plan de l’évaluation et de la rétroaction. Pour beaucoup d’entre eux, la focalisation sur l’évaluation et le fardeau administratif qui y est lié ont été une source d’anxiété de performance. Les résidents ont l’impression que les évaluations manquent parfois de pertinence, car les superviseurs, se sentant contraints de « cocher des cases », font des commentaires trop généraux et peu ciblés. De plus, un sentiment de frustration a été fréquemment exprimé face à la subjectivité et l’incohérence perçues des jugements dans les évaluations, surtout lorsque ces dernières sont utilisées pour retarder le cheminement vers une plus grande indépendance, constituant ainsi une tentative de « déjouer le système ». L’implication et le soutien du corps professoral ont aidé à bonifier l’expérience des résidents. Conclusion : Bien que les résidents apprécient le potentiel de l’EMFC pour rehausser la qualité de l’éducation, de l’évaluation et de la rétroaction, son opérationnalisation actuelle ne permet pas d’atteindre ces objectifs de façon systématique. Les auteurs proposent quelques initiatives pour améliorer la façon dont les résidents vivent les processus d’évaluation et de rétroaction dans le cadre de l’EMFC

Genetic evaluation of Ongole bulls in organized herds in India

The first lactation records of 123 cows that were daughters of eight bulls were used to evaluate the breeding value of Ongole bulls and to rank them based on single trait analysis. The overall least-squares mean of first lactation milk yield was 622.97±43.82 kg. Nongenetic factors such as year of birth, age at first calving and farm/ herd were found to have significant on first lactation milk yield. Out of eight bulls, five bulls exceeded the herd average and the topmost ranking bull (Bull No. L- 309) had 3.04 % genetic superiority over the population mean followed by Bull No. L- 313 and Bull No.L-306. The frozen semen doses of top ranked bulls are to be used on elite cows to produce future bull calves for inducting into new set (s)

Protein Substitute Requirements of Patients with Phenylketonuria on BH4 Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The traditional treatment for phenylketonuria (PKU) is a phenylalanine (Phe)-restricted diet, supplemented with a Phe-free/low-Phe protein substitute. Pharmaceutical treatment with synthetic tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), an enzyme cofactor, allows a patient subgroup to relax their diet. However, dietary protocols guiding the adjustments of protein equivalent intake from protein substitute with BH4 treatment are lacking. We systematically reviewed protein substitute usage with long-term BH4 therapy. Electronic databases were searched for articles published between January 2000 and March 2020. Eighteen studies (306 PKU patients) were eligible. Meta-analyses demonstrated a significant increase in Phe and natural protein intakes and a significant decrease in protein equivalent intake from protein substitute with cofactor therapy. Protein substitute could be discontinued in 51% of responsive patients, but was still required in 49%, despite improvement in Phe tolerance. Normal growth was maintained, but micronutrient deficiency was observed with BH4 treatment. A systematic protocol to increase natural protein intake while reducing protein substitute dose should be followed to ensure protein and micronutrient requirements are met and sustained. We propose recommendations to guide healthcare professionals when adjusting dietary prescriptions of PKU patients on BH4. Studies investigating new therapeutic options in PKU should systematically collect data on protein substitute and natural protein intakes, as well as other nutritional factors

Thread Detection and Response Generation using Transformers with Prompt Optimisation

Conversational systems are crucial for human-computer interaction, managing complex dialogues by identifying threads and prioritising responses. This is especially vital in multi-party conversations, where precise identification of threads and strategic response prioritisation ensure efficient dialogue management. To address these challenges an end-to-end model that identifies threads and prioritises their response generation based on the importance was developed, involving a systematic decomposition of the problem into discrete components - thread detection, prioritisation, and performance optimisation which was meticulously analysed and optimised. These refined components seamlessly integrate into a unified framework, in conversational systems. Llama2 7b is used due to its high level of generalisation but the system can be updated with any open source Large Language Model(LLM). The computational capabilities of the Llama2 model was augmented by using fine tuning methods and strategic prompting techniques to optimise the model's performance, reducing computational time and increasing the accuracy of the model. The model achieves up to 10x speed improvement, while generating more coherent results compared to existing models.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, submitted to 2024 IEEE International Conference on Signal Processing and Communications (SPCOM

Increased Serum and Musculotendinous Fibrogenic Proteins following Persistent Low-Grade Inflammation in a Rat Model of Long-Term Upper Extremity Overuse.

We examined the relationship between grip strength declines and muscle-tendon responses induced by long-term performance of a high-repetition, low-force (HRLF) reaching task in rats. We hypothesized that grip strength declines would correlate with inflammation, fibrosis and degradation in flexor digitorum muscles and tendons. Grip strength declined after training, and further in weeks 18 and 24, in reach limbs of HRLF rats. Flexor digitorum tissues of reach limbs showed low-grade increases in inflammatory cytokines: IL-1β after training and in week 18, IL-1α in week 18, TNF-α and IL-6 after training and in week 24, and IL-10 in week 24, with greater increases in tendons than muscles. Similar cytokine increases were detected in serum with HRLF: IL-1α and IL-10 in week 18, and TNF-α and IL-6 in week 24. Grip strength correlated inversely with IL-6 in muscles, tendons and serum, and TNF-α in muscles and serum. Four fibrogenic proteins, TGFB1, CTGF, PDGFab and PDGFbb, and hydroxyproline, a marker of collagen synthesis, increased in serum in HRLF weeks 18 or 24, concomitant with epitendon thickening, increased muscle and tendon TGFB1 and CTGF. A collagenolytic gelatinase, MMP2, increased by week 18 in serum, tendons and muscles of HRLF rats. Grip strength correlated inversely with TGFB1 in muscles, tendons and serum; with CTGF-immunoreactive fibroblasts in tendons; and with MMP2 in tendons and serum. Thus, motor declines correlated with low-grade systemic and musculotendinous inflammation throughout task performance, and increased fibrogenic and degradative proteins with prolonged task performance. Serum TNF-α, IL-6, TGFB1, CTGF and MMP2 may serve as serum biomarkers of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, although further studies in humans are needed

Multiwavelength Picture of the Blazar S5 0716+714 during Its Brightest Outburst

S5 0716+714 is a well known BL Lac object, and one of the brightest and most active blazars. The discovery in the Very High Energy band (VHE, E > 100 GeV) by MAGIC happened in 2008. In January 2015, the source went through the brightest optical state ever observed, triggering MAGIC follow-up and a VHE detection with ∼ 13σ significance (ATel ♯6999 ). Rich multiwavelength coverage of the flare allowed us to construct the broad-band spectral energy distribution of S5 0716+714 during its brightest outburst. In this work, we will present the preliminary analysis of MAGIC and Fermi-LAT data of the flaring activity in January and February 2015 for the HE (0.1 < HE < 300 GeV) and VHE band, together with radio (Metsähovi, OVRO, VLBA, Effelsberg), sub-millimeter (SMA), optical (Tuorla, Perkins, Steward, AZT-8+ST7, LX-200, Kanata), X-ray and UV (Swift-XRT and UVOT), in the same time-window and discuss the time variability of the multiwavelength light curves during this impressive outburst.</p

Phenotypic insights into ADCY5-associated disease

Background Adenylyl cyclase 5 (ADCY5) mutations is associated with heterogenous syndromes: familial dyskinesia and facial myokymia; paroxysmal chorea and dystonia; autosomal‐dominant chorea and dystonia; and benign hereditary chorea. We provide detailed clinical data on 7 patients from six new kindreds with mutations in the ADCY5 gene, in order to expand and define the phenotypic spectrum of ADCY5 mutations. Methods In 5 of the 7 patients, followed over a period of 9 to 32 years, ADCY5 was sequenced by Sanger sequencing. The other 2 unrelated patients participated in studies for undiagnosed pediatric hyperkinetic movement disorders and underwent whole‐exome sequencing. Results Five patients had the previously reported p.R418W ADCY5 mutation; we also identified two novel mutations at p.R418G and p.R418Q. All patients presented with motor milestone delay, infantile‐onset action‐induced generalized choreoathetosis, dystonia, or myoclonus, with episodic exacerbations during drowsiness being a characteristic feature. Axial hypotonia, impaired upward saccades, and intellectual disability were variable features. The p.R418G and p.R418Q mutation patients had a milder phenotype. Six of seven patients had mild functional gain with clonazepam or clobazam. One patient had bilateral globus pallidal DBS at the age of 33 with marked reduction in dyskinesia, which resulted in mild functional improvement. Conclusion We further delineate the clinical features of ADCY5 gene mutations and illustrate its wide phenotypic expression. We describe mild improvement after treatment with clonazepam, clobazam, and bilateral pallidal DBS. ADCY5‐associated dyskinesia may be under‐recognized, and its diagnosis has important prognostic, genetic, and therapeutic implications

Penilaian Kinerja Keuangan Koperasi di Kabupaten Pelalawan

This paper describe development and financial performance of cooperative in District Pelalawan among 2007 - 2008. Studies on primary and secondary cooperative in 12 sub-districts. Method in this stady use performance measuring of productivity, efficiency, growth, liquidity, and solvability of cooperative. Productivity of cooperative in Pelalawan was highly but efficiency still low. Profit and income were highly, even liquidity of cooperative very high, and solvability was good