Optimization of multi-gigabit transceivers for high speed data communication links in HEP Experiments

The scheme of the data acquisition (DAQ) architecture in High Energy Physics (HEP) experiments consist of data transport from the front-end electronics (FEE) of the online detectors to the readout units (RU), which perform online processing of the data, and then to the data storage for offline analysis. With major upgrades of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) experiments at CERN, the data transmission rates in the DAQ systems are expected to reach a few TB/sec within the next few years. These high rates are normally associated with the increase in the high-frequency losses, which lead to distortion in the detected signal and degradation of signal integrity. To address this, we have developed an optimization technique of the multi-gigabit transceiver (MGT) and implemented it on the state-of-the-art 20nm Arria-10 FPGA manufactured by Intel Inc. The setup has been validated for three available high-speed data transmission protocols, namely, GBT, TTC-PON and 10 Gbps Ethernet. The improvement in the signal integrity is gauged by two metrics, the Bit Error Rate (BER) and the Eye Diagram. It is observed that the technique improves the signal integrity and reduces BER. The test results and the improvements in the metrics of signal integrity for different link speeds are presented and discussed

Study of heterogeneity of sino-nasal lesions in urban population of north Kolkata and its fringes- a 5-year retrospective analysis: experience of a tertiary care centre

Background: Lesions of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses form a single functional unit as both of these are affected by common pathological processes. Accurate diagnosis and early treatment can significantly reduce the morbidities associated with these lesions. This study aims at portraying the morphological diversions of sinonasal lesions that is commonly encountered in populations of north Kolkata and its fringes. The multitude of histopathological variations of the sinonasal masses intrigues us histopathologists not only from academic point of view but also guides clinicians regarding treatment and prognosis.Methods: A retrospective study conducted in the Department of Pathology from May 2012 to April 2017.Results: Total 429 cases were assessed during this period out of which maximum cases were found in the age group of 31- 40years. Most cases were diagnosed with nasal polyps. The rare histopathological types were ameloblastoma, paraganglioma, Schwanoma, neurofibroma, inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor, sinonasal hemangiopericytoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, low grade mucoepidermoid tumor, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor.Conclusions: Both neoplastic and non-neoplastic sino nasal lesions may present with indistinguishable features, leading to a delay in proper diagnosis and treatment. So, any tissue after surgical removal should be send for histopathological diagnosis without unnecessary delay to prevent further complications

Food Security and Nutritional Status among Rural Poor: Evaluating the Impact of Rural Livelihood Mission in Odisha, India

This paper empirically examines the effect of participation in National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) on the food security of rural poor. In parallel, it also introspects the nutritional profiles of the respondents. Data were collected from 220 respondents (including both beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries) through a structured questionnaire from Sonepur district of Odisha (India). For assessing the nutritional profile, the study uses 24 hour recall and food frequency questionnaire methods to collect the information on food consumption. Then food items were converted into their equivalent calories. A food security index (FSI) was constructed to capture the food security taking the average calories of food consumed by the respondents. The study finds a better food consumption pattern among beneficiaries than the non-beneficiaries. Further, the impact of NRLM is examined using randomised control trial method and finds a positive impact of the programme on the food security. That means, participation in the programme helps the beneficiaries to attain food security. Therefore, participation should be encouraged to mitigate the food insecurity problem

Optimization of multi-gigabit transceivers for high speed data communication links in HEP Experiments

The scheme of the data acquisition (DAQ) architecture in High Energy Physics (HEP) experiments consist of data transport from the front-end electronics (FEE) of the online detectors to the readout units (RU), which perform online processing of the data, and then to the data storage for offline analysis. With major upgrades of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) experiments at CERN, the data transmission rates in the DAQ systems are expected to reach a few TB/sec within the next few years. These high rates are normally associated with the increase in the high-frequency losses, which lead to distortion in the detected signal and degradation of signal integrity. To address this, we have developed an optimization technique of the multi-gigabit transceiver (MGT) and implemented it on the state-of-the-art 20nm Arria-10 FPGA manufactured by Intel Inc. The setup has been validated for three available high-speed data transmission protocols, namely, GBT, TTC-PON and 10 Gbps Ethernet. The improvement in the signal integrity is gauged by two metrics, the Bit Error Rate (BER) and the Eye Diagram. It is observed that the technique improves the signal integrity and reduces BER. The test results and the improvements in the metrics of signal integrity for different link speeds are presented and discussed

Survey of factors contributing to the happiness of older persons: A cross-sectional study of associated worries, anxiety, and depression

© 2023 Odisha Journal of Psychiatry. Published by Wolters Kluwer - Medknow. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://journals.lww.com/odjp/fulltext/2023/01000/survey_of_factors_contributing_to_the_happiness_of.4.aspxBACKGROUND: Old age is associated with a greater prevalence of worry, anxiety, and depression when compared to the younger age groups. Age-specific stressors and comorbidities accumulate and negatively impact the well-being of older adults. AIMS/OBJECTIVES: In this context, we intended to study the factors influencing the happiness of older adults. METHODS: It was a survey through a questionnaire of older adults attending a public health conference on old age-related issues. We inquired about what makes them happy, their worries, and physical and mental health issues. We also assessed their depression through the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), anxiety through the General Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) scale, and quality of life (QoL) using a scale of 0 being worst to 10 being best. RESULTS: Factors that brought happiness to older adults were family and friends (25.7%), social activities (28.6%), traveling and sightseeing (11.4%), reading and writing (11.4%), meeting people (8.6%), and having time for self (8.6%). Besides these, 22.9% reported they enjoy working. A clinical level of anxiety (GAD-7 score of 10 or more) was present in 17.2% and depression (PHQ-9 score of 10 or more) in 28.6% of older adults. The anxiety and depression scores were positively correlated (P < 0.001) in the sample studied. There were no differences between genders related to concerns, health, finance, relationships, memory, needs for help, QoL, and severity of anxiety or depression. CONCLUSIONS: Older adults could identify various factors linked to their happiness, despite various concerns and mental health issues. The information might help family, informal, and professional caregivers to support activities that contribute to the well-being and happiness of older adults

A numerical study of a binary Yukawa model in regimes characteristic of globular proteins in solutions

The main goal of this paper is to assess the limits of validity, in the regime of low concentration and strong Coulomb coupling (high molecular charges), for a simple perturbative approximation to the radial distribution functions (RDF), based upon a low-density expansion of the potential of mean force and proposed to describe protein-protein interactions in a recent Small-Angle-Scattering (SAS) experimental study. A highly simplified Yukawa (screened Coulomb) model of monomers and dimers of a charged globular protein ($\beta$-lactoglobulin) in solution is considered. We test the accuracy of the RDF approximation, as a necessary complementary part of the previous experimental investigation, by comparison with the fluid structure predicted by approximate integral equations and exact Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. In the MC calculations, an Ewald construction for Yukawa potentials has been used to take into account the long-range part of the interactions in the weakly screened cases. Our results confirm that the perturbative first-order approximation is valid for this system even at strong Coulomb coupling, provided that the screening is not too weak (i.e., for Debye length smaller than monomer radius). A comparison of the MC results with integral equation calculations shows that both the hypernetted-chain (HNC) and the Percus-Yevick (PY) closures have a satisfactory behavior under these regimes, with the HNC being superior throughout. The relevance of our findings for interpreting SAS results is also discussed.Comment: Physical Review E, in press (2005

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) as Social Safety Net: Analysis of Public Works in Odisha, India

Social safety nets are transfers targeted to the poor or vulnerable. They facilitate access to health and education services to build human capital. To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (earlier known as Millennium Development Goals), national and state governments as well as international organisations have focused on increasing the investments in social transfer programmes. Public works are the policy instruments for mitigating the negative effects of climatic and systematic risks on poor farmers and unskilled and semi-skilled workers. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is the largest social protection programme in the world that provides 100 days of unskilled wage employment to any household residing in rural areas whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. In the state of Odisha the MGNREGA scheme is widely implemented. However, the irregularities involved in the implementation of this social protection programme are of great concern. The present study focuses on the implementation of MGNREGA in three districts of western Odisha. The study has tried to identify the bottleneck in the success of MGNREGA scheme

Review on the Use of Heavy Metal Deposits from Water Treatment Waste towards Catalytic Chemical Syntheses

The toxicity and persistence of heavy metals has become a serious problem for humans. These heavy metals accumulate mainly in wastewater from various industries&rsquo; discharged effluents. The recent trends in research are now focused not only on the removal efficiency of toxic metal particles, but also on their effective reuse as catalysts. This review discusses the types of heavy metals obtained from wastewater and their recovery through commonly practiced physico-chemical pathways. In addition, it covers the advantages of the new system for capturing heavy metals from wastewater, as compared to older conventional technologies. The discussion also includes the various structural aspects of trapping systems and their hypothesized mechanistic approaches to immobilization and further rejuvenation of catalysts. Finally, it concludes with the challenges and future prospects of this research to help protect the ecosystem