One-shot Learning for iEEG Seizure Detection Using End-to-end Binary Operations: Local Binary Patterns with Hyperdimensional Computing

This paper presents an efficient binarized algorithm for both learning and classification of human epileptic seizures from intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG). The algorithm combines local binary patterns with brain-inspired hyperdimensional computing to enable end-to-end learning and inference with binary operations. The algorithm first transforms iEEG time series from each electrode into local binary pattern codes. Then atomic high-dimensional binary vectors are used to construct composite representations of seizures across all electrodes. For the majority of our patients (10 out of 16), the algorithm quickly learns from one or two seizures (i.e., one-/few-shot learning) and perfectly generalizes on 27 further seizures. For other patients, the algorithm requires three to six seizures for learning. Overall, our algorithm surpasses the state-of-the-art methods for detecting 65 novel seizures with higher specificity and sensitivity, and lower memory footprint.Comment: Published as a conference paper at the IEEE BioCAS 201

Sickle Cell Disease and Venous Thromboembolism

Hemoglobin S in homozygous state or in combination with one of the structural variants of Hb D-Punjab, Hb O-Arab, Hb C or β-thalassemia mutation results in sickle cell disease (SCD) that is characterized by chronic hemolytic anemia and tissue injury secondary to vasooclusion. A chronic hypercoagulable state in SCD has been established with the increased risk of thromboembolic complications in these patients. The goal of present review is to survey of the literature related to thromboembolic events and genetic risk factors involved in the manifestation of these events in SCD patients with focus on studies from Mediterranean countries. Also, this review covers the pathogenesis of hypercoagulability and alteration in the components of hemostasis system

PULP-HD: Accelerating Brain-Inspired High-Dimensional Computing on a Parallel Ultra-Low Power Platform

Computing with high-dimensional (HD) vectors, also referred to as $\textit{hypervectors}$, is a brain-inspired alternative to computing with scalars. Key properties of HD computing include a well-defined set of arithmetic operations on hypervectors, generality, scalability, robustness, fast learning, and ubiquitous parallel operations. HD computing is about manipulating and comparing large patterns-binary hypervectors with 10,000 dimensions-making its efficient realization on minimalistic ultra-low-power platforms challenging. This paper describes HD computing's acceleration and its optimization of memory accesses and operations on a silicon prototype of the PULPv3 4-core platform (1.5mm$^2$, 2mW), surpassing the state-of-the-art classification accuracy (on average 92.4%) with simultaneous 3.7$\times$ end-to-end speed-up and 2$\times$ energy saving compared to its single-core execution. We further explore the scalability of our accelerator by increasing the number of inputs and classification window on a new generation of the PULP architecture featuring bit-manipulation instruction extensions and larger number of 8 cores. These together enable a near ideal speed-up of 18.4$\times$ compared to the single-core PULPv3

Fast and Accurate Multiclass Inference for MI-BCIs Using Large Multiscale Temporal and Spectral Features

Accurate, fast, and reliable multiclass classification of electroencephalography (EEG) signals is a challenging task towards the development of motor imagery brain-computer interface (MI-BCI) systems. We propose enhancements to different feature extractors, along with a support vector machine (SVM) classifier, to simultaneously improve classification accuracy and execution time during training and testing. We focus on the well-known common spatial pattern (CSP) and Riemannian covariance methods, and significantly extend these two feature extractors to multiscale temporal and spectral cases. The multiscale CSP features achieve 73.70$\pm$15.90% (mean$\pm$ standard deviation across 9 subjects) classification accuracy that surpasses the state-of-the-art method [1], 70.6$\pm$14.70%, on the 4-class BCI competition IV-2a dataset. The Riemannian covariance features outperform the CSP by achieving 74.27$\pm$15.5% accuracy and executing 9x faster in training and 4x faster in testing. Using more temporal windows for Riemannian features results in 75.47$\pm$12.8% accuracy with 1.6x faster testing than CSP.Comment: Published as a conference paper at the IEEE European Signal Processing Conference (EUSIPCO), 201

Hope measurement questionnaire for family members of patients admitted to intensive care units

BACKGROUND: Since the concept of hope in the family members of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) is of particular importance and the role of this concept in the health of this group of people is evident, it seems that a valid and reliable scale for measuring this concept is necessary. The purpose of this study was to design a hope measurement questionnaire for family members of patients admitted to the ICU of Besat Hospital in Sanandaj, Iran.METHODS: The families of patients in the ICUs were selected using the convenience sampling method and completed the "Hope Questionnaire" along with demographic characteristics questionnaire and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) (criterion scale). The validity of the instrument was determined by construct validity and criterion validity and the reliability was evaluated through calculation of internal correlation coefficient and test-retest. Data were analyzed by factor analysis, correlation coefficients, and Cronbach's alpha.RESULTS: The items having the most factor loading were named based on the nature and size of the variables from which the extracted factors had the most share. First factor, including 15 items alone, represented 14.867% of the total variance and was named "Optimistic Thinking towards the Future" and the second factor, representing 14.666% of the total variance, was named "Pessimistic Thinking towards the Future" which had 7 items. The correlation between the scores of Hope Scale and the BDI, which was performed for assessing the criterion validity of the scale (P < 0.01).CONCLUSION: The Hope Scale helps researchers gauge the different dimensions of hope through a deeper understanding of this concept. The scale had high validity and reliability in all fields. Considering the simplicity of its application and implementation, it can be used in various researches in which hope is considered as one of the studied variables

An 826 MOPS, 210 uW/MHz Unum ALU in 65 nm

To overcome the limitations of conventional floating-point number formats, an interval arithmetic and variable-width storage format called universal number (unum) has been recently introduced. This paper presents the first (to the best of our knowledge) silicon implementation measurements of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for unum floating-point arithmetic. The designed chip includes a 128-bit wide unum arithmetic unit to execute additions and subtractions, while also supporting lossless (for intermediate results) and lossy (for external data movements) compression units to exploit the memory usage reduction potential of the unum format. Our chip, fabricated in a 65 nm CMOS process, achieves a maximum clock frequency of 413 MHz at 1.2 V with an average measured power of 210 uW/MHz

The effects of functional knee bracing and taping of the tibio-femoral joint in athletes with an ACL-deficient knee

Aims: The aims of this study were to determine the usefulness of a functional knee brace (FKB) or a spiral method of taping in modifying the impaired biomechanics of the ACL-deficient knees towards a safe and more normal pattern, and to assess any compensatory changes at the ankle and hip joints following knee bracing or taping. The study also aimed to compare the difference in gait patterns during simple· level walking and treadmill activities for ACL-deficient subjects. Methods: A prospective experimental study was carried out on 15 ACL-deficient and 15 carefully matched amateur athletes as controls. A comprehensive gait analysis study was designed using a high frequency CODA-mpx30 gait analysis system, force platform and electromyography (EMG) system. The study was carried out during simple level walking, treadmill walking (3.6 Km/hr) and treadmill running (10 Km/hr) which we describe as low and high level physical activities. Treatments investigated included a functional knee brace (FKB) or a special spiral taping method that was applied to the deficient knees. The temporospatial parameters, total range of motion (ROM), joint position, kinetics and EMG parameters were recorded in the knee, ankle and hip joints in different trials with different supports and the results were compared with the baseline data of both the patients and the data derived from the control subjects. Main Results: The FKB significantly reduced total ROM in the ACL-deficient subjects for all levels of walking trials (P<O.05). The FKB significantly reduced peak knee flexion during swing while walking on level ground, but increased maximum knee flexion in swing during walking on the treadmill (P<O.05). Taping significantly increased mean knee angle in stance in both walking modes (P<O.05). Neither FKBs nor taping showed any angulatory kinematic effects on the knee joint during running on the treadmill. The FKBs could significantly reduce the antero-posterior (A-P) displacement of the tibia relative to the femur during level walking mostly in the swing phase. Wearing a brace did not reduce the knee extensor moments, but significantly reduced the hip flexor moments. Taping, however, had no significant effects on knee moment, but increased the generation and absorption of ankle power and decreased hip generation power. Bracing reduced the "support moment" and "support power" in the lower limb, but taping did not change them. No quadriceps avoidance gait pattern was found in this study and the patients showed an extensor knee moment throughout the stance phase. The gastrocnemius muscle was found to have a principal role in the ACL-deficient subjects and wearing a FKB could significantly activate the gastrocnemius muscles earlier in the ACL-deficient subjects, although no effects on peak activity of the muscle were demonstrated. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the functional knee brace used in this study did not show any harmful effects in ACL-deficient knees. It was helpful particularly for low force activities such as level walking. The brace was as effective for walking on the treadmill as walking on level ground although some kinematic changes exist between these two different activities. Taping, however, is not recommended for ACL-deficient knees. Since the ACL-deficient subjects showed good knee control in most running trials, there would appear to be a need for more strenuous activities and these are strongly recommended

Isolation of Escherichia coli O157: H7 in sheep meats using cultural and PCR method

زمینه و هدف: اشرشیاکلی O157:H7 به عنوان یک عامل اسهال، کولیت خونریزی‌دهنده و سندرم اورمی همولیتیک در سراسر جهان شناخته شده است. گوشت آلوده به مدفوع حیوانی احتمالاً منبع اصلی عفونت اشرشیاکلی O157:H7 می‌باشد. این مطالعه با هدف بررسی میزان شیوع اشرشیاکلی O157:H7 در نمونه‌های گوشت گوسفند در اصفهان با استفاده از روش کشت و واکنش زنجیره ای پلی مراز (PCR) انجام گرفت. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه توصیفی - تحلیلی 148 نمونه گوشت گوسفند کشتار شده در کشتارگاه اصفهان از مرداد 1386 تا 1388 به صورت تصادفی جمع آوری شدند. نمونه ها در آبگوشت تریپتون سوی حاوی مکمل نووبیوسین (TSB-n) به عنوان یک محیط غنی کننده و سپس محیط مک کانکی آگار سوربیتول دار حاوی مکمل سفکسیم و تلئوریت پتاسیم (CT-SMAC) به عنوان یک محیط انتخابی کشت داده شد. کلنی های مشکوک اشرشیاکلی O157:H7 جدا شده از روش های باکتریولوژی به وسیله آزمون زنجیره‌ای پلیمراز مورد ارزیابی قرار گرفت. یافته ها: بر اساس آزمون کشت به ترتیب 43 (1/29) و 10(8/6) نمونه از نظر اشریشیاکلی و اشرشیاکلی O157:H7 مثبت بود. اما تنها 5 نمونه از اشرشیاکلی‌های سوربیتول منفی در آزمون واکنش زنجیره‌ای پلیمراز به عنوان اشرشیاکلی O157:H7 تشخیص داده شدند. شیوع فصلی اشرشیاکلی O157:H7 در نمونه‌های بررسی شده بین0 تا 7/9 بود و بالاترین میزان آن در فصول بهار و تابستان مشاهده شد (05/0