Robust recognition technique for handwritten Kannada character recognition using capsule networks

<p>Automated reading of handwritten Kannada documents is highly challenging due to the presence of vowels, consonants and its modifiers. The variable nature of handwriting styles aggravates the complexity of machine based reading of handwritten vowels and consonants. In this paper, our investigation is inclined towards design of a deep convolution network with capsule and routing layers to efficiently recognize Kannada handwritten characters. Capsule network architecture is built of an input layer, two convolution layers, primary capsule, routing capsule layers followed by tri-level dense convolution layer and an output layer. For experimentation, datasets are collected from more than 100 users for creation of training data samples of about 7769 comprising of 49 classes. Test samples of all the 49 classes are again collected separately from 3 to 5 users creating a total of 245 samples for novel patterns. It is inferred from performance evaluation; a loss of 0.66% is obtained in the classification process and for 43 classes precision of 100% is achieved with an accuracy of 99%. An average accuracy of 95% is achieved for all remaining 6 classes with an average precision of 89%.</p>

Exploratory Investigation of Brain MRI Lesions According to Whole Sample and Visual Function Subtyping in Children With Cerebral Visual Impairment

Background: There is limited research on brain lesions in children with cerebral visual impairment (CVI) of heterogeneous etiologies and according to associated subtyping and vision dysfunctions. This study was part of a larger project establishing data-driven subtypes of childhood CVI according to visual dysfunctions. Currently there is no consensus in relation to assessment, diagnosis and classification of CVI and more information about brain lesions may be of potential diagnostic value.Aim: This study aimed to investigate overall patterns of brain lesions and associations with level of visual dysfunction and to compare the patterns between the classification subgroups in children with CVI.Methods: School-aged children with CVI received ophthalmological and neuro-psychological/developmental assessments to establish CVI-related subtyping. Other pediatric information was collected from medical records. MRI scans were coded according to a semi-quantitative template including brain regions (right hemisphere, left hemisphere, visual pathways) and summed for total scores. Non-parametric analyses were conducted.Results: 28 children had clinical brain MRI scans available [44% of total sample, Group A (lower severity of visual dysfunctions) n = 16, Group B (higher severity) n = 12]. Total brain scores ranged between 0 and 18 (Group A mdn = 7, IQR = 0.8–10.0, Group B mdn = 10, IQR = 6.5–11.8) and were widespread across regions. 71 per cent had post-geniculate visual pathway damage. The median total brain and hemisphere scores of Group B were higher than subgroup A but differences did not reach statistical significance. No statistically significant associations were found between brain scores and vision variables (acuity, contrast sensitivity).Conclusion: This study found a spread of lesions across all regions on the brain scans in children with congenital CVI. The majority had damage in the postgeniculate visual pathways and visual cortex region suggesting this is an area of interest and potentially informative for diagnosis. However the subtyping classification did not show differences in number or region of lesions though the trend was higher toward Group B. This study confirms the complex diffuse and variable nature of brain lesions in children with congenital CVI, many of whom have other neurological impairments.

MethylScore, a pipeline for accurate and context-aware identification of differentially methylated regions from population-scale plant WGBS data

Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) is the standard method for profiling DNA methylation at single-nucleotide resolution. Many WGBS-based studies aim to identify biologically relevant loci that display differential methylation between genotypes, treatment groups, tissues, or developmental stages. Over the years, different tools have been developed to extract differentially methylated regions (DMRs) from whole-genome data. Often, such tools are built upon assumptions from mammalian data and do not consider the substantially more complex and variable nature of plant DNA methylation. Here, we present MethylScore, a pipeline to analyze WGBS data and to account for plant-specific DNA methylation properties. MethylScore processes data from genomic alignments to DMR output and is designed to be usable by novice and expert users alike. It uses an unsupervised machine learning approach to segment the genome by classification into states of high and low methylation, substantially reducing the number of necessary statistical tests while increasing the signal-to-noise ratio and the statistical power. We show how MethylScore can identify DMRs from hundreds of samples and how its data-driven approach can stratify associated samples without prior information. We identify DMRs in the A. thaliana 1001 Genomes dataset to unveil known and unknown genotype-epigenotype associations. MethylScore is an accessible pipeline for plant WGBS data, with unprecedented features for DMR calling in small- and large-scale datasets; it is built as a Nextflow pipeline and its source code is available at https://github.com/Computomics/MethylScore.

Techno-economic analysis of hydrogen production from PV plants

Hydrogen production through electrolysis from renewable sources is expected to play an important role to achieve the reduction targets of carbon dioxide emissions set for the next decades. Electrolysers can use the renewable energy surplus to produce green hydrogen and contribute to making the electrical grid more stable. Hydrogen can be used as medium-long term energy storage, converted into other fuels, or used as feedstock in industry thus contributing to decarbonise hard-to-abate-sectors. However, due to the intermittent and variable nature of solar and wind power, the direct coupling of electrolysers with renewables may lead to high production fluctuations and frequent shutdowns. As a consequence, accelerated electrolyser degradation and safety issues related to low load operation may arise. In this study, simulations of hydrogen production with an electrolyser fed by a PV system are performed in Matlab for a reference year. The effect of PV power fluctuations on the electrolyser operation and production is investigated. The impact of the electrolyser size for a fixed nominal power of the PV plant is also analysed from both energetic and economic points of view.

Voltammetric Analysis of New Psychoactive Substances

New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) are synthetic drugs that create similar effects as various narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. Different NPS such as mephedrone, synthacaine, synthetic cannabinoids, etc. are available today which are sold across numerous platforms like drug markets, head shops, the dark web, etc. They are emerging rapidly and becoming popular in society because of their variable nature and ease in avoiding breaking the law. Consequently, their analysis is extremely crucial in the prohibition of drug abuse and the development of laboratory methods. This review introduces a broad overview of the analysis of various new psychoactive substances by voltammetric techniques such as cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, square wave voltammetry, stripping voltammetry etc. It also focuses on various methodologies that were developed for the detection of these NPS which play a leading role in forensic investigation by providing a rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective platform of analysis. The need for the advancement of various detection methods and analysis of more drugs is additionally discussed.

Specifying Challenges in Transcribing Covert Recordings: Implications for Forensic Transcription

Covert audio recordings feature in the criminal justice system in a variety of guises, either on their own or accompanied by video. If legally obtained, such recordings can provide important forensic evidence. However, the quality of these potentially valuable evidential recordings is often very poor and their content indistinct, to the extent that a jury requires an accompanying transcript. At present, in many international jurisdictions, these transcriptions are produced by investigating police officers involved in the case, but transcription is a highly complex, meticulous and onerous task, and police officers are untrained and have a vested interest in the influence of the transcript on a case, which gives rise to potential inaccuracy. This paper reports the design and results of a controlled transcription experiment in which eight linguistically trained professional transcribers produced transcripts for an audio recording of a conversation between five adults in a busy restaurant. In the context of covert recordings, this recording shares many of the typical features of covert forensic recordings, including the presence of multiple speakers, background noise and use of non-specialist recording equipment. We present a detailed qualitative and quantitative comparison of the transcripts, identifying areas of agreement and disagreement in (a) speaker attribution and (b) the representation of the linguistic content. We find that disagreement between the transcriptions is frequent and various in nature; the most common causes are identified as (i) omission of speech that is included in other transcripts, (ii) variation in the representation of turns, (iii) orthographic variation seemingly motivated by phonetic similarity, and (iv) orthographic variation seemingly not motivated by phonetic similarity. We argue that the variable nature of the transcription of “challenging” audio recordings must be considered in forensic contexts and make recommendations for improving practice in the production of forensic transcriptions.

Salmonella Paratyphi A infection: implications for public health management of extra-intestinal presentations – case study of a neck abscess

This study explores the implications of unusual presentations of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica ser. Paratyphi (S. Paratyphi) infection for public health management, through a literature review and case study. In 2016, a 36-year-old male presented with a five-day history of right sided painful neck swelling, coryza and a two-day history of fevers after arriving in Australia from India nine weeks earlier. S. Paratyphi A was isolated from a fine needle aspirate sample. A descriptive epidemiological review was performed of confirmed cases of S. Paratyphi notified in New South Wales between 2008 and 2017. S. Paratyphi was isolated in blood and/or faecal samples in 247 cases (98.4%). Only four specimens (1.6%) were from a focal site. A literature review of extraintestinal infections of S. Paratyphi A or B was performed. Of the 41 such cases reported, 16 (39%) had a clear history of a prior gastroenteritis and/or febrile illness, or information suggested this was highly likely. No preceding gastroenteritis or febrile illness occurred in 15 (37%) of the cases. Information was reviewed and presented with a public health lens, valuable for ‘evidence-informed’ public health risk assessment of contacts and exposures related to these types of S. Paratyphi infection. S. Paratyphi infection usually presents as an enteric fever illness. Our case illustrates the variable nature of infectious diseases and the importance of laboratory testing in obtaining a diagnosis. S. Paratyphi can have unusual presentations, which may require adjustment in the public health management of the case. Public health staff should keep an open mind when investigating possible sources and assessing risk. In Western Sydney, this disease is largely associated with residents travelling to high-incidence countries to visit family and friends, and receiving family visits from these countries. The increasing number of cases of S. Paratyphi (prior to COVID-19) in Western Sydney and the importance of awareness of the risk of enteric fever to travellers to endemic regions is highlighted.

A systematic approach to the media language study based on the media linguistics

This research aims to establish the effectiveness of introducing a set of media linguistics’ educational components as a systematic approach to the media language study; to determine the top topics, parameters that determine the content and structure of curricula of journalism education; and to establish how education applicants evaluate the introduction of media linguistics in journalism education. As a result of the research, the establishment of permanent educational components given the variable nature of media linguistics, to present the understanding of media language in media education, to determine the attitude of applicants for education to media linguistics as teaching material.

The Fate of Foodborne Pathogens in Manure Treated Soil

The aim of this review was to provide an update on the complex relationship between manure application, altered pathogen levels and antibiotic resistance. This is necessary to protect health and improve the sustainability of this major farming practice in agricultural systems based on high levels of manure production. It is important to consider soil health in relation to environment and land management practices in the context of the soil microflora and the introduction of pathogens on the health of the soil microbiome. Viable pathogens in manure spread on agricultural land may be distributed by leaching, surface run-off, water source contamination and contaminated crop removal. Thus it is important to understand how multiple pathogens can persist in manures and on soil at farm-scale and how crops produced under these conditions could be a potential transfer route for zoonotic pathogens. The management of pathogen load within livestock manure is a potential mechanism for the reduction and prevention of outbreaks infection with Escherichia coli, Listeria Salmonella, and Campylobacter. The ability of Campylobacter, E. coli, Listeria and Salmonella to combat environmental stress coupled with their survival on food crops and vegetables post-harvest emphasizes the need for further study of these pathogens along with the emerging pathogen Providencia given its link to disease in the immunocompromised and its’ high levels of antibiotic resistance. The management of pathogen load within livestock manure has been widely recognized as a potential mechanism for the reduction and prevention of outbreaks infection but any studies undertaken should be considered as region specific due to the variable nature of the factors influencing pathogen content and survival in manures and soil. Mediocre soils that require nutrients could be one template for research on manure inputs and their influence on soil health and on pathogen survival on grassland and in food crops.

PROBLEMIC ASPECTS OF THE PARTICIPATION OF THE FORENSIC EXPERT IN THE ECONOMIC COURT PROCEEDINGS

The purpose of the article is to study the problematic aspects of the participation of a forensic expert in the economic proceedings of Ukraine. The reliability of the results and conclusions obtained is provided by a combination of research methods at the general scientific and special levels. In particular, from the standpoint of the systemic-structural method, the authors clarified the specifics of the change in the status of an expert as one of the other participants in the trial after the reform of the economic procedural legislation. Using the formal-logical method, the author identifies the forms of expert participation in the business process and the mechanism for their implementation. Using the comparative legal method on examples of judicial practice, the content and correlation of the legal and procedural status of an expert in economic proceedings are revealed. It is argued that the connection, interdependence and mutual transitions of the subject link of economic proceedings of the form: expert—judicial examiner—expert-professional correspond to the categories general—special—single. The provision on the variable and periodic nature of acquiring the economic procedural status of an expert has been substantiated, the nature of the grounds for its acquisition has been classified into types of imperative, imperative blanket, dispositive, dispositive-blanket and forms of expert participation in the economic process according to the criteria of territoriality, the content of expert and procedural activities. It has been established that, in accordance with the Economic Procedural Code of Ukraine, an expert can be appointed by the court or attracted by a participant in the case, that is, act as a subject who can be entrusted with the direct examination, such persons should be considered as: a state forensic expert; private forensic expert; professional expert. It is proposed to consider it a general requirement for them to possess the special knowledge necessary to provide a reasoned and objective written opinion on the questions posed. A special requirement for forensic experts is their inclusion in the state Register of certified forensic experts. The provision on the variable nature of the acquisition of the procedural status of an expert on the initiative of other persons, which this person receives periodically and does not possess permanently—at the time of assignment (appointment or involvement) to him, to conduct and formalize the results of expert proceedings at the stages of pretrial investigation and judicial consideration of a specific economic case, has been substantiated. The article proves the provision on the dynamism of the requirements for the number of experts and the quality (class, experience, industry) of their special knowledge, which mainly depend on the type (primary, additional, repeated, commission, complex) and complexity of the examination of the case. It has been established that the mechanism for implementing the forms of participation of an expert in the economic process is of a binding nature, in which the expert acts as an obliged person regarding arrival at the court upon his summons on the basis of his own initiative or at the request of the participants in the case.