Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, Handwashing Practices and its associated factors Among Mothers of Children Presenting in Paediatric Department of a Tertiary Care Hospital of a Developing Country.

Objective: Despite remarkable progress in scientific methods and measures against infectious disease transmission, the prevalence of infectious diseases is still on the rise in resource-poor countries. Hand hygiene is considered an effective way of fighting against deadly infectious diseases. Our study aimed to assess knowledge, attitude, and hand hygiene practices among mothers of children presenting for routine paediatric check-up in the department of paediatrics in a tertiary care hospital of Rawalpindi.Materials and Methods: It’s a descriptive cross-sectional study involving 400 mothers from the paediatric department of the Holy family hospital (HFH), Rawalpindi. A convenient sampling technique was used to select the study participants. A semi-structured, pre-tested questionnaire that included demographic details, knowledge, attitude, and practice levels were assessed through validated questionnaires used in previously published studies. Descriptive statistics were used for demographic details and chi-square analysis was used to find an association between handwashing practice with knowledge and attitude. A P<0.05 was taken as significant. Data analysis was done through SPSS.v.23.Results and Discussion: In total, 400 females participated in the study and the mean age (±SD) was 32.4±10.2 years. The mean age of children was 31.2±12.2 months. The level of good handwashing knowledge and attitude was 93% and 60% respectively. However, the level of good handwashing practice was just 40%. The age of mothers, residential area, occupation, socioeconomic status, and the level of knowledge regarding handwashing, showed significant association with handwashing practices.Conclusion: In our study handwashing practice among mothers was relatively low. Age of mothers, residential area, occupation, socioeconomic status, and the level of knowledge regarding handwashing, were significantly associated with handwashing practices.International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Vol. 05 No. 04 October’21 Page: 418-423

Fully Parallel Implementation of Otsu Automatic Image Thresholding Algorithm on FPGA

This work proposes a high-throughput implementation of the Otsu automatic image thresholding algorithm on Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), aiming to process high-resolution images in real-time. The Otsu method is a widely used global thresholding algorithm to define an optimal threshold between two classes. However, this technique has a high computational cost, making it difficult to use in real-time applications. Thus, this paper proposes a hardware design exploiting parallelization to optimize the system’s processing time. The implementation details and an analysis of the synthesis results concerning the hardware area occupation, throughput, and dynamic power consumption, are presented. Results have shown that the proposed hardware achieved a high speedup compared to similar works in the literature.

QCA based Novel Reversible Reconfigurable Ripple Carry Adder with Ripple Borrow Subtractor in Electro-Spin Technology

An important arithmetic component of “Arithmetic and Logic Unit” or ALU is reconfigured in this paper, known as “Full-Adder-Subtractor”, where an advance low-power, high-speed nano technology “QCA” with electro-spin criterion is used with reversibility and the advancement of multilayer 3D circuitry. In this modern digital world, this selected nano-sized technology is an effective alternative of widely used “CMOS Technology” because all the limitations, mainly limitation due to the presence of high power dissipation at the time of device-density increment in a “CMOS” based integrated circuit, can be optimized by “QCA” nano technology with electro-spin criterion and this technology also supports reversible logic in multilayer 3D platform with less complexity. This paper, primarily presents two novel “QCA” based 3-layered “Adder-Subtractor” designs using the collaboration of multilayer inverter gates, reversible modified 3-input Feynman-Gate and 3-input MG (Majority Gate) with very less cell-complexity, area-occupation, delay and energy-dissipation and high output-strength, temperature-tolerance and accuracy. A clear parametric investigation on presented designs are shown clearly in this paper through a comparative manner with some previous published related structures. Additionally, another parametric-experiment on a novel multibit reversible multilayer “QCA” based “Full-Adder-Subtractor” circuitry using the working phenomenon of “Ripple Carry Adder” (RCA) and multibit subtractor (“ripple borrow subtractor” or RBS) is presented in this proposed work in a proper way and this combination of RCA and multibit subtraction operation converts the proposed circuitry into a hybrid form, which is more effective compare to some other advanced adders in parametric-optimization field.

On-chip trainable hardware-based deep Q-networks approximating a backpropagation algorithm

Reinforcement learning (RL) using deep Q-networks (DQNs) has shown performance beyond the human level in a number of complex problems. In addition, many studies have focused on bio-inspired hardware-based spiking neural networks (SNNs) given the capabilities of these technologies to realize both parallel operation and low power consumption. Here, we propose an on-chip training method for DQNs applicable to hardware-based SNNs. Because the conventional backpropagation (BP) algorithm is approximated, a performance evaluation based on two simple games shows that the proposed system achieves performance similar to that of a software-based system. The proposed training method can minimize memory usage and reduce power consumption and area occupation levels. In particular, for simple problems, the memory dependency can be significantly reduced given that high performance is achieved without using replay memory. Furthermore, we investigate the effect of the nonlinearity characteristics and two types of variation of non-ideal synaptic devices on the performance outcomes. In this work, thin-film transistor (TFT)-type flash memory cells are used as synaptic devices. A simulation is also conducted using fully connected neural network with non-leaky integrated-and-fire (I&F) neurons. The proposed system shows strong immunity to device variations because an on-chip training scheme is adopted.

Ultra-thin oxide breakdown for OTP development in power technologies

OTP (One Time Programmable) memory in power technology enables electrical performance optimization together with area occupation reduction. In this paper, the aspects relative to the oxide breakdown (which is the key mechanism for memory programmability) are studied and applied to the development of an antifuse OTP cell in a 350 nm-CMOS power technology. The physical analysis of the degradation phases of an oxide layer is presented together with the physical models, exploited to foresee the device time-to-breakdown depending on applied voltage, oxide thickness etc. The achieved results are used in the development and reliable implementation of OTP cells in the target 350 nm-CMOS node.

INTERSECTION OF GENDER WITH AREA AND OCCUPATION IN ANALYSING TRAVEL BEHAVIOUR: A CASE OF RAJASTHAN, INDIA

This study examines travel behaviour of individuals differentiated with respect to gender, occupation and area using survey data collected from a city and a village in northern India. Doing this not only helps in analysing which section of the population produces the lowest carbon footprint but also in highlighting the existing difficulties faced by a certain section in choosing the most comfortable, the cheapest and the least polluting attitude towards every day travel. While the group of rural women comprises of the least frequent travellers, that of urban men make the most frequent travellers. Disparities are also observed in the mode of transport used by different sections. Urban housewives walk, rural housewives use public transport; students, irrespective of the area or gender use public transport; and a growing percentage of working people use motorized two-wheelers. Because women heavily depend on walking or using the public transport, this study points out at the need for an adequate walking infrastructure in the city along with safer and secured public transportation services for both urban and rural area. The demand for expansion of such facilities also caters to the need of curtailing carbon footprint in the region. KEYWORDS: Travel behaviour, gender, area, occupation, India

Cost-Effective 4 GHz VCO Using Only Miniature Spirals Realized in a 0.18 μm CMOS Process for Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) Applications

This paper presents an extremely cost-effective radio-frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) implementation technique by employing a digital logic CMOS process and reducing area occupation for voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs) using all miniature inductors for wireless sensor network (WSN) applications. The designed VCO operates in the 4.0 GHz band with a power consumption of 1.4 mW and a phase noise of −113.6 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz, occupying a Si area of 0.283 × 0.682 mm2. In addition, we confirmed that the figure of merit (FOM) of 183.8 in our design is competitive with that of other LC-VCOs that were fabricated using the RF option and designed with conventional inductors.

Development of a Novel Shaft Dryer for Coal-Based Green Needle Coke Drying Process

The industry of coal-based green needle coke develops rapidly in recent years. The green coke produced by the delayed coking process usually has a moisture content of 10%–25%, which damages the calcining kiln and needle coke quality. A standing dehydration tank is currently used to reduce the moisture content of green coke. However, this process has several weaknesses such as unstable operation, large land area occupation, and low productivity. To solve this issue, a novel drying system with a shaft dryer proposed in this work is suitable for green coke drying. Moreover, the performances of the green coke are investigated to design the proposed shaft dryer. The experimental result shows that the average vertex angle of the pile of green cokes is 109.2°. The pressure drop of the dryer increases linearly with the green coke bed height, and the green coke with a larger size has a smaller pressure drop. The specific pressure drops are 5714, 5554, 5354, and 5114 Pa/m, with median green coke sizes of 26.85, 29.00, 30.45, and 31.80 mm, respectively. Tooth spacing is another important parameter which influences the mass of green coke leakage. The optimal tooth spacing and rotary speed of the rollers are determined by the required production yield.

Exercise and Vitamin D Supplementation Modify Spleen Morphology in Lean, but not, in Monosodium-Glutamate-Obese Rats

We evaluated the effect of exercise and vitamin D supplementation on histological aspects of the spleens of lean and obese rats. Male Wistar rats received neonatal administration of monosodium glutamate (MSG; 4g/Kg), while Control (CON) rats received an equimolar solution. At 30 days of age, CON and MSG rats were subdivided into Exercised (E) or Sedentary (S) groups and Vitamin D (VD; 12µg/Kg) supplemented or non-supplemented (NS) groups. At the 86th day of life, rats were euthanized, and their body weights and adiposity were evaluated. Spleens were submitted to histomorphometric analysis of the white pulp (WP), germinal center (GC) and lymphatic nodule (LN). Data are presented as mean ± SEM (p<0.05). MSG treatment promoted a reduction in spleen weight, increased LN thickness and WP area, but reduced GC occupation, compared to spleens of CON-lean rats (p<0.05). Exercise and VD did not provoke changes in the spleens of MSG-obese rats. In CON-lean rats, E and VD induced augmentation of LN thickness. VD supplementation increased the WP area, while E reduced GC area occupation in spleens of CON-lean rats (p<0.05). In conclusion, exercise and VD supplementation increased LN thickness and WP area, but had the opposite effect on the GC in spleens of CON-lean rats. However, neither exercise nor VD supplementation prevented the development of morphological abnormalities in the spleens of MSG-obese rats.

A socioeconomic evaluation of early-stage and moderate glaucoma patients

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare costs related to glaucoma treatment for early- and moderate-stage glaucoma patients. Design: Descriptive observational study. Methods: The study was conducted at the Eye Clinic in the Hospital of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kauno Klinikos in Lithuania. An original questionnaire was administered to 80 open-angle glaucoma patients. Data regarding the age, gender, living area, occupation, income, concomitant diseases, frequency of outpatient visits, use of topical antiglaucoma and other medications, treatment and transportation costs were collected. The Hodapp classification was used to divide patients into two main groups of early- and moderate-stage glaucoma according to visual field loss. Results with p < 0.05 were interpreted as statically significant. Results: There were 37 patients with early-stage glaucoma and 43 patients with moderate glaucoma. Moderate-stage glaucoma patients were 73 (± 8) years old, while patients with early-stage glaucoma were 63 (± 11) years old, (p < 0.001). Early-stage glaucoma patients visited their ophthalmologist 2.5 (± 1.5) times per year, while patients with moderate glaucoma had 4.4 (± 2.7) outpatient visits per year (p < 0.001). Patients with early-stage glaucoma used 1.8 (± 0.9) medications, while patients with moderate glaucoma used 2.9 (± 0.9) medications (p < 0.001). Combined costs for treatment and transportation totaled an average of 4.7% of patient income. Patients that were in the early stages of glaucoma spent about 3.2% of their annual income for glaucoma care and transportation, while patients with moderate-stage glaucoma spent about 5.9% of their income (p = 0.003). Conclusion: Moderate-stage glaucoma patients had significantly higher expenses related to glaucoma than early-stage glaucoma patients. Costs related to glaucoma comprised a significantly greater part of the income of patients who were retired than patients who were employed.