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To Improve the Performance of Handwritten digit Recognition using Support Vector Machine
No full textHandwritten Numeral recognition plays a vital role in postal automation services especially in countries like India where multiple languages and scripts are used Discrete Hidden Markov Model (HMM) and hybrid of Neural Network (NN) and HMM are popular methods in handwritten word recognition system. The hybrid system gives better recognition result due to better discrimination capability of the NN. A major problem in handwriting recognition is the huge variability and distortions of patterns. Elastic models based on local observations and dynamic programming such HMM are not efficient to absorb this variability. But their vision is local. But they cannot face to length variability and they are very sensitive to distortions. Then the SVM is used to estimate global correlations and classify the pattern. Support Vector Machine (SVM) is an alternative to NN. In Handwritten recognition, SVM gives a better recognition result. The aim of this paper is to develop an approach which improve the efficiency of handwritten recognition using artificial neural networ
Contextual Geometric Structures: modeling the fundamental components of cultural behavior
No full textThe structural complexity of culture cannot be characterized by simply modeling cultural beliefs or inherited ideas. Formal computational and algorithmic models of culture have focused on the inheritance of discrete cultural units, which can be hard to define and map to practical contexts. In cultural anthropology, research involving structuralist and post-structuralist perspectives have helped us better understand culturally-dependent classification systems and oppositional phenomena (e.g. light-dark, hot-cold, good-evil). Contemporary research in cognitive neuroscience suggests that complementary sets may be represented dynamically in the brain, but no model for the evolution of these sets has of yet been proposed. To fill this void, a method for simulating cultural or other highly symbolic behaviors called contextual geometric structures will be introduced. The contextual geometric structures approach is based on a hybrid model that approximates both individual/group cultural practice and a fluctuating environment. The hybrid model consists of two components. The first is a set of discrete automata with a soft classificatory structure. These automata are then embedded in a Lagrangian-inspired particle simulation that defines phase space relations and environmental inputs. The concept of conditional features and equations related to diversity, learning, and forgetting are used to approximate the goal-directed and open-ended features of cultural-related emergent behavior. This allows cultural patterns to be approximated in the context of both stochastic and deterministic evolutionary dynamics. This model can yield important information about multiple structures and social relationships, in addition to phenomena related to sensory function and higher-order cognition observed in neural systems
MI as a predictor of students’ performance in reading competency
No full textThe purpose of this study was to examine whether performance in MI could predict the performance in reading competency. The other objectives were to identify the components of MI which are correlated with the reading test scores, and to determine the relationship between the multiple intelligences and reading proficiency. A descriptive and ex post facto design was employed to ascertain relationships among the variables. The participants were 128 randomly chosen pre-university students (grade12, 18-19 years old) of both genders studying in Tehran in the academic year 2008-2009. Three instruments were utilized in this study: 1) a demographic questionnaire; 2) the Persian version of Mckenzie’s MI Inventory; and 3) a standardized reading proficiency test which was selected from retrieved paper-based TOEFL® tests. Results of the correlation analysis revealed no significant relationship between the two variables of MI and reading scores of the students. Furthermore, the results of the correlation analysis revealed that there was a low significant, negative relationship between musical-rhythmic intelligence and reading which suggests that when the reading score of a student increases, musical-rhythmic intelligence of the same student decreases and vice versa. Overall, three categories of MI (musical-rhythmic, verbal-linguistic, bodily-kinesthetic) were found to be predictive of reading proficiency
Reproducible Research: a Dissenting Opinion
No full textReproducible Research, the de facto title of a growing movement\ud
within many scientific fields, would require the code, used to\ud
generate the experimental results, be published along with any\ud
paper. Probably the most compelling argument for this is that it is\ud
simply following good scientific practice, established over the\ud
years by the greats of science. It is further claimed that\ud
misconduct is causing a growing crisis of confidence in science.\ud
That, without this requirement being enforced, science would\ud
inevitably fall into disrepute. This viewpoint is becoming\ud
ubiquitous but here I offer a dissenting opinion. I contend that\ud
the consequences are somewhat overstated. Misconduct is far from\ud
solely a recent phenomenon; science has succeeded despite it.\ud
Further, I would argue that the problem of public trust is more to\ud
do with other factors. I would also contend that the effort\ud
necessary to meet the movement's aims, and the general attitude it\ud
engenders, would not serve any of the research disciplines well
PHYSICAL THERAPIST´S ROLE AT SÃO CARLOS SENIOR UNIVERSITY
No full textElderly programs have been applied by the state, private or mixed initiatives to promote and assess a healthy aging process. Among the programs the movement for the University of the Third Age that aims to promote health assessment, improvement on quality of life and continuous education are highlighted. This paper discusses the experience of the São Carlos Open University of Third Age (named UATI), especially the physical therapist role in these universities context, and physical training of elderly based on transdisciplinary work. The physical therapist role in this environment is valued after a change in focus to aim prevention, maintenance and improvement of physical conditions of the elderly. Pilot study results led to the development of a group therapy program to meet the reported needs of UATI São Carlos. This experience is described and commented in view of the benefits in reported quality of life. It represents an alternative to the elderly health attention and a viable approach intervention for professionals. The interactions within the public and private nature of this hybrid program were also discussed, with a view to inclusion, accessibility and comparison with other public program
Management of Tuberculosis - The Need to Enforce Proper Treatment Guidelines among Private Practitioners in India
No full textTuberculosis continues to be a daunting challenge for our healthcare system. Even after fifteen years of the much publicised Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme that envisages directly observed short course chemotherapy (DOTS), TB continues to spread and drug resistant strains, MDR and XDR, are also increasingly reported. More than 50% of TB patients seeking private health care, but the level of awareness regarding treatment of TB among private practitioners appears to be poor. All this call for an urgent revamp of TB control strategy in India
DOTS Awareness and the Myths and Misconceptions about DOTS among Medical Practitioners in Mysore
No full textBackground: Annually 2 million people in India develop Tuberculosis and 330,000 die. WHO-recommended DOTS strategy was pilot-tested in 1993 and launched as Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) in 1997. Awareness of DOTS among the doctors in the private sector was appalling although nationwide coverage was attained by 2006. OBJECTIVE: To study awareness of DOTS among Medical Practitioners of urban and rural Mysore. Methodology: 401 Medical practitioners in hospitals and nursing homes of urban and rural areas of Mysore who treated Tuberculosis patients (private and public sector) were approached. They were grouped under different specialties as per the year of graduation (before or after introduction of DOTS). Results: 38 % doctors who graduated before the introduction of DOTS didn’t follow DOTS compared to 14.9% doctors who graduated later. 100% doctors working in Government sector felt that DOTS was better than daily regimen while 85% from the private sector felt so. Only 47.9% of the doctors in the private sector practiced DOTS compared to 95.1 % in the Govt. Sector. Hence, the number of doctors practicing DOTS in Private Sector was less than 50 % of that in the Govt. Sector. Both of these comparisons were found to be statistically highly significant (p<0.001). Awareness of DOTS was alarmingly low among Orthopedic Surgeons, Gynecologists and Pediatricians when compared to Physicians and General Practitioners. Conclusions: DOTS awareness is still low among doctors who graduated before the introduction of DOTS. Private practitioners harbored myths and misconceptions about DOTS
Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of External Auditory Canal
No full textAdenoid cystic carcinoma is extremely rare tumour that accounts for approximately 5% of primary malignancy of external auditory canal. These tumours are related with a high risk of recurrences and significant morbidities from surgical management and adjuvant radiotherapy. Despite the aggressive management for these tumours, many patients succumb to distant metastasis, making overall prognosis of these tumours poor. Although ACC of EAC has been reported in 5th decade, but its occurrence in young patient is very rare. We report a rare case of ACC in a young 22 years old female, who presented with ear canal mass and ear pain. Biopsy suggested mass to be ACC. Patient underwent wide local excision followed by adjuvant radiotherapy
A Rare Case of Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome Accompanying Late Postpartum Eclampsia or Hypertensive Encephalopathy-A Clinical Dilemma
No full textPosterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) refers to a clinic-radiologic diagnosis. Clinically it is characterized by non specific symptoms such as headache, confusion, visual disturbances and seizures. The radiological findings in PRES are thought to be due to vasogenic oedema, predominantly in the posterior cerebral hemispheres, and are reversible with appropriate management. We report a case of reversible encephalopathy diagnosed by MRI scan occurring in atypical areas like the caudate and lentiform nuclei of the brain following an uneventful lower segment caesarean section in a normotensive patient, who was successfully treated with antihypertensives, anticonvulsants and supportive treatment. The differential diagnosis of convulsions in the post-partum period is discussed
Nutritional Status of School Age Children (5-14 years) in a Rural Health Block of North India (Kashmir) Using WHO Z-Score System
No full textObjective: To assess the nutritional status of school going children in Rural Block Hajin. Methods: School children from various primary and middle level educational facilities from a rural health block were surveyed during the School Health Program. Height and weight was measured following standard procedures. MS Excel and Interactive statistics page were used for analysis of data. Results: Both mean weight and height were higher in females than males. The overall prevalence of under nutrition was 19.2%. The prevalence of underweight was lowest in 5 year female (0.0%) and highest in 6 year male (21.5%). For Stunting 7 year males recorded the lowest (0.0%) and 12 year males the highest (28.5%) prevalence. The highest and lowest prevalence of wasting was recorded in 6 year old females (2.56%) and 9 year old males (24.6%) respectively. Prevalence of thinness was lowest in 13 year old females (14.2%) and highest in 13 year old males (47.1%).Conclusion: The nutritional status of school age children in this health block are comparatively better even though a large number of children still fall below the cutoff for various nutritional indicators