High bandwidth data and image transmission using a scalable link model with integrated real-time data compression

Our society increasingly relies on the transmission and reception of vast amounts of data using serial connections featuring ever-increasing bit rates. In imaging systems, for example, the frame rate achievable is often limited by the serial link between a camera and host even when modern serial buses with the highest bit rates are used. This paper reports a scalable link system with a bandwidth and interface standard that can easily be adapted to suit a particular application. The scalable serial link approach has been extended with lossless data compression with the aim of further increasing dataflow at a given bit rate. The compression method is integrated into the scalable transceivers providing a comprehensive solution for optimal data transmission over a variety of different interfaces. The system is fully implemented on an FPGA using a fully hardware based system. A Terasic DE4 board was used for implementing and testing the system using Quartus-II software and tools for design and debugging. The impact of compressing the image and carrying the compressed data through parallel lines is similar to the impact of compressed the same image inside a single core with a higher compression ratio, in this system between 7.5 and 126.

Smart Learning Environment for Engineering Faculty: TIU as a Case Study

This paper examines Smart Learning Environments (SLE) as a novel educational strategy for comprehending the impact and potential applications of technologies in the classroom. This article aims to clarify the theoretical approach to SLE and develop a novel model based on it. This research paper focused on the analysis of the existing learning spaces at Tishk International University that is used by the students of Engineering Faculty. The research proposed a modification on the learning spaces to be smart learning environment. The applied modifications will be in two main aspects, first aspect by redesign the learning spaces according to the standard to guarantee the most interactions between the instructor and the students, the second aspect by implementing a smart system at each learning space to ensure safety, security and provide a comfortable environment to the students during their time at the lesson

Lossless Compression Methods for Real-Time Images

This paper proposes and implements two lossless methods, to compress real-time greyscale medical images, which are Huffman coding and a new lossless method called Reduced Lossless Compression Method (RLCM), both of which were tested when applying a random sample of greyscale medical images with a size of 256×256 pixels. Different factors were measured to check the compression method performances such as the compression time, the compressed image size, and the compression ratio (CR). The system is fully implemented on a field programmable gate array (FPGA) using a fully hardware based (no software driven processor) system architecture. A Terasic DE4 board was used as the main platform for implementing and testing the system using Quartus-II software and tools for design and debugging. The impact of compressing the image and carrying the compressed data through parallel lines is like the impact of compressed the same image inside a single core with a higher compression ratio, in this system between 7.5 and 126.8

Real-time Transceiver System Based on Rapid-I/O Protocol

With the all transceiver systems the transmission speed is the most critical factor. The main objective of this paper is to design a new reference model for the multi-link system that is used to carry images in a real-time system, with a high resolution at high transceiver speeds, between two applications over physical media. The new system, called Transceiver System based on Rapid-I/O protocol (TRIO), for both transmitter and receiver, based on eight parallel devices was placed at the bottom of the system architecture, at both transmitter and receiver. The transceiver system is designed as scalable system in which the system data rate increased when multiple lines connected in parallel are used to carry data between the transmitter and the receiver instead of using a single line. By transmitting the same packet of data, once over a single transceiver system and then over eight transceiver systems, ideally an eightfold improvement in bit-rate is expected. The TRIO is implemented on a field programmable gate array (FPGA) and a Terasic DE4 board will be used as the main platform for implementing and testing the embedded system, while Quartus-II software and tools are used to design and debug the embedded hardware system

Different Mechanical Properties between Two Types of PTFE Subjected to Heat Treatment

ABSTRACT: In this research two kinds of pure polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) (C 2 F 4 ). China_UAE source prepared from solution cast as film and strip have been studied by mechanical properties (Tensile testing instrument) subjected to different temperature heating cycle. Both modifications show variation inelongation at yield, stress at yield, elongation at break, stress at break, and young modulus) when temperature is changed. It seems that the product company of China is better than the product company of UAE in mechanical properties of this polymer

Teaching Methodology for Interior Design Studio-I during COVID-19 Pandemic at Tishk International University

After the Covid-19 has been officially announced by the world health organization (WHO) as a global pandemic, the WHO has put some regulations to manage the pandemic by slowing the virus spread by meeting some health conditions such as quarantine, lockdown, wear a face mask, and social distancing. However, this leads to difficulty continuing education at universities and schools on campus and forcing the educational institute to find alternative ways to end the academic year. Online education was the only available option. At the same period, most universities worldwide start to switch from campus education to online education. The following step for the university after choosing the online education was to find a suitable environment to continue the education, such as selecting the appropriate method to deliver the lectures and the proper platform that meets the students’ needs. In Iraq, higher educational institutes have transformed the educational process from face-to-face to online education. For example, in Tishk International University (TIU), online education has applied for the first time in all faculties, which was a big challenge for the academic staff and the students in some departments with practical courses more than theoretical courses. This paper will discuss the online education at the engineering faculty at TIU, in general. It will take the design course given to the first-grade students of the interior design department as a case study. This study will use the descriptive analytical approach by analyzing the case study of distance education for TIU during the spring semester of the academic year 2019-2020

Examination of sleep in relation to dietary and lifestyle behaviors during Ramadan: A multi-national study using structural equation modeling among 24,500 adults amid COVID-19

Background Of around 2 billion Muslims worldwide, approximately 1.5 billion observe Ramadan fasting (RF) month. Those that observe RF have diverse cultural, ethnic, social, and economic backgrounds and are distributed over a wide geographical area. Sleep is known to be significantly altered during the month of Ramadan, which has a profound impact on human health. Moreover, sleep is closely connected to dietary and lifestyle behaviors. Methods This cross-sectional study collected data using a structured, self-administered electronic questionnaire that was translated into 13 languages and disseminated to Muslim populations across 27 countries. The questionnaire assessed dietary and lifestyle factors as independent variables, and three sleep parameters (quality, duration, and disturbance) as dependent variables. We performed structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine how dietary and lifestyle factors affected these sleep parameters. Results In total, 24,541 adults were enrolled in this study. SEM analysis revealed that during RF, optimum sleep duration (7–9 h) was significantly associated with sufficient physical activity (PA) and consuming plant-based proteins. In addition, smoking was significantly associated with greater sleep disturbance and lower sleep quality. Participants that consumed vegetables, fruits, dates, and plant-based proteins reported better sleep quality. Infrequent consumption of delivered food and infrequent screen time were also associated with better sleep quality. Conflicting results were found regarding the impact of dining at home versus dining out on the three sleep parameters. Conclusion Increasing the intake of fruits, vegetables, and plant-based proteins are important factors that could help improve healthy sleep for those observing RF. In addition, regular PA and avoiding smoking may contribute to improving sleep during RF

SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity are associated with genetic variants affecting gene expression in a variety of tissues

Variability in SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity between individuals is partly due to genetic factors. Here, we identify 4 genomic loci with suggestive associations for SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and 19 for COVID-19 disease severity. Four of these 23 loci likely have an ethnicity-specific component. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) signals in 11 loci colocalize with expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) associated with the expression of 20 genes in 62 tissues/cell types (range: 1:43 tissues/gene), including lung, brain, heart, muscle, and skin as well as the digestive system and immune system. We perform genetic fine mapping to compute 99% credible SNP sets, which identify 10 GWAS loci that have eight or fewer SNPs in the credible set, including three loci with one single likely causal SNP. Our study suggests that the diverse symptoms and disease severity of COVID-19 observed between individuals is associated with variants across the genome, affecting gene expression levels in a wide variety of tissue types

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030