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This work describes the log-MAP (BCJR) algorithm implementation of a close to capacity dirty paper coding CODEC. The CODEC consists of eight deep pipeline processors. It decodes blocks of 975 bits in 26.9 ms using less than 9.7% of low-cost FPGA (and no DSP blocks). Two pipelines, for alpha and beta, calculate the values of gamma (of the BCJR) to reduce the storage requirements. The final log-likelihood ratio (LLR) is calculated together with alpha, reusing intermediate results. The number of bits used by the different signals of the processor is easily configurable. It was set to six bits to the channel measure signals and eight bits to log of probability signals like alpha, beta, and others. The CODEC clock was 100 MHz. The achieved bit rate is 36.2 Kbps per CODEC, but multiple CODECs can be fit into a single chip. The CODEC is 3.49 dB from the channel capacity.

PurposeCorrect and well-planned maintenance based on modern global methods directly affects efficiency, quality, direct production costs, reliability and profitability. The selection of an optimal policy for maintenance can be a good solution for industrial units. In fact, by managing constraints such as costs, working hours and human workforce causing sudden equipment failure, production and performance can increase.Design/methodology/approachTherefore, in this research a model was presented to select the best maintenance strategy at Kaghaz Kar Kasra Co of Iran. In this study, it was tried to integrate the two techniques of goal programming and the technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) to prioritize maintenance strategies. First, all factors affecting maintenance were identified, and based on the Best Worst Method (BWM) the degree of their importance was determined.FindingsAfter the evaluation, only 14 criteria in the 4 dimensions of cost, added value, safety and feasibility were selected. The highest points were given to the criteria of equipment cost and depreciation, equipment and personnel performance, equipment installation time and technical feasibility, respectively. In the next stage, using the TOPSIS method the item of maintenance strategy was ranked, and the 3 strategies of preventive maintenance (PM), predictive maintenance (PDM) and corrective maintenance (CM) were chosen. Modeling was performed utilizing a goal programming approach to select the optimal maintenance strategy for 13 devices. All the technical specifications, cost limits and the device time were extracted. After the model was finished and solved the best item for each device was specified.Originality/value1. Developing a goal programming model and decision-making dashboard. 2. Identifying the criteria and factors affecting the selection of the maintenance strategy for paper production Industry

An evaluation for the development of a paper-based test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for English Education Department students at one of the colleges in Langsa, Aceh, Indonesia, is necessary, considering their unsatisfactory scores even though the preparation program has been conducted. This research employed context, input, process, and product (CIPP) model developed by Stufflebeam upon the program. Methodologically, interviews, questionnaires, and observation were executed to five TOEFL lecturers and 34 students, while the data obtained were analyzed with the qualitative analysis method of Miles and Huberman. Based on the evaluation of context, the program had an appropriate background, goals, and objectives. Regarding the input, it still had problems related to the availability of resources and facilities. There were no standardized learning materials available, including the broken language laboratory. It affected the process since the lecturers could not maximize the facilities to create an effective learning environment. Eventually, it affected the product since most students could not reach an expected score. Most of the participants agreed that the program needed to be improved. Several improvements can be made to overcome these problems by providing required learning facilities, designing standardized learning materials, and clustering classes in accordance with students’ abilities.

Advancements in technology have led to the use of smartphones as biosensor detectors. However, it is difficult to obtain stable color information of colorimetric sensors using multiple smartphones owing to different light conditions and image correction operations. In this study, we attempted color detection of the colorimetric paper chip using smartphone-embedded light-emitting diode (LED) and simple transformation calculation. This method enables the acquisition of stable color information using different smartphones by reducing the influence of external light sources. Moreover, we studied characteristics such as convergence and distinction of detection result details by the manufacturers and smartphones. These findings suggested the necessity of classification criteria for the use of smartphones to achieve optimal detection. In addition, white and black references were used to set the standard for color correction of various light sources. Based on our results, we conclude that this approach presents the possibility of smartphone-based colorimetric detection in practical applications.

Directed evolution has become an important method to unleash the latent potential of enzymes to make them uniquely suited for human purposes. However, the need for a large reagent volume and sophisticated instrumentation hampers its broad implementation. In an attempt to address this problem, here we report a paper-based high-throughput screening approach that should find broad application in generating desired enzymes. As an example case, the dehalogenation reaction of the halohydrin dehalogenase was adopted for assay development. In addition to visual detection, quantitative measurements were performed by measuring the color intensity of an image that was photographed by a smartphone and processed using ImageJ free software. The proposed method was first validated using a gold standard method and then applied to mutagenesis library screening with reduced consumption of reagents (i.e., ≤ 10 μl per assay) and a shorter assay time. We identified two active mutants (P135A and G137A) with improved activities toward four tested substrates. The assay not only consumes less reagents but also eliminates the need for expensive instrumentation. The proposed method demonstrates the potential of paper-based whole-cell screening coupled with digital image colorimetry as a promising approach for the discovery of industrially important enzymes.Key Points• A frugal method was developed for directed enzyme evolution.• Mutagenesis libraries were successfully screened on a paper platform.• Smartphone imaging was efficiently used to measure enzyme activities.

The paper presents the results of the analysis on measured parameters of harmonics at the node of the high-voltage network. The measurements were made at the node connecting the pulp-and-paper mill to the 220 kV supply network. This load is nonlinear and has a large capacity. Particular attention is paid to the distributions of the current and voltage harmonics. The paper clearly shows probabilistic properties of the measured parameters of harmonics

Introduction:The Ministry of Public Health in Lebanon is in the process of converting the surveillance reporting from a cumbersome paper-based system to a web-based electronic platform (DHIS-2) to have real-time information for early detection of alerts and outbreaks and for initiating a prompt response.Objectives:This paper aimed to document the Lebanese experience in implementing DHIS-2 for the disease surveillance system. It also targets to assess the improvement of reporting rates and timeliness of the reported data and to disclose the encountered challenges and opportunities. MethodologyThis is a retrospective description of processes involved in the implementation of the DHIS-2 tool in Lebanon. Initially, it was piloted for the school-based surveillance in 2014; then its use was extended in May 2017 to cover other specific surveillance systems. This included all surveillance programs collecting aggregate data from hospitals, medical centers, dispensaries, or laboratories at the first stage. As part of the national roll-out process, the online application was developed. The customized aggregated-based datasets, organization units, user accounts, specific and generic dashboards were generated. More than 80 training sessions were conducted throughout the country targeting 1290 end-users including health officers at the national and provincial levels, focal persons working in all public and private hospitals, laboratories, and medical centers as well. Completeness and timeliness of reported data were compared before and after the implementation of DHIS-2. Challenges and lessons learned during the roll-out process are listed.ResultsFor laboratory-based surveillance, completeness of reporting increased from 70.8% in May to 89.6% in October. Timeliness has improved from 25% to 74%. For medical centers, an improvement of 8.1% for completeness and 9.4% in timeliness was recorded before and after training sessions. For zero reporting, completeness remains the same (88%) and timeliness has improved from 74% to 87%. The main challenges faced during the implementation of DHIS-2 were mainly infrastructural and system-related in addition to poor internet connectivity and limited workforce and frequent changes to DHIS-2 versions.ConclusionImplementation of DHIS-2 improved timeliness and completeness for aggregated data reporting. Continued on-site support, monitoring, and system enhancement are needed to improve the performance of DHIS-2.

When presented with technical topics, undergraduate accounting students can be overwhelmed by information transmitted in a pure lecture format. Further, a lecture format does not allow for much student interaction or enable learning of higher-level skills that could be useful if the underlying content is changed by future regulations. Position paper instructional tools could be a beneficial alternative. A position paper can bring out students' soft skills of communication and critical thinking by making them take a stand, which is key for tax professionals and accountants generally. Since class meeting time is limited and face-to-face interactions are not always possible, a written position paper provides an alternative that can benefit students' understanding of technical information.

The low cost, simplicity, and ease of use of paper microfluidic devices have made them valuable medical diagnostics for applications from pregnancy testing to COVID-19 screening. Meanwhile, the increasing complexity of paper-based microfluidic devices is driving the need to produce new tools and methodologies that enable more robust biological diagnostics and potential therapeutic applications. A new design framework is being used to facilitate both research and fabrication of paper-based microfluidic biological devices to accelerate the investigative process and reduce material utilization and manpower. In this work we present a methodology for this framework to dynamically place and route microfluidic components in a nondiscrete design space where fluid volume usage, surface area utilization, and the timing required to perform specified biological assays are accounted for and optimized while also accelerating the development of potentially lifesaving new devices.

Analysis of roll products at the final stage of production is the main stage for identifying defects, disrupted integrity or homogeneity, etc. Paper production is a typical example of such an operation in an industrial setting. It is proposed to use the results of the assessment for opacity, described by several standardized and statistical estimates, as the main characteristic for the quality of paper products. Studies of the dependence of the quality of the paper web on the production conditions and the properties of raw materials produce considerable variance, so that it is impossible to make accurate predictions. For this reason, we used a neural network modeling technology to develop an intelligent system for monitoring the quality of the paper web. Online quality control allows to assess the efficiency of the paper machine and rapidly adjust the manufacturing execution system. Special technologies such as computer vision systems can be introduced for this purpose, making it possible to make a transition from subjective assessment of the structure and defects of the paper web to obtaining objective quantitative estimates of these indicators. We considered a procedure for determining the estimates of structural heterogeneity of the paper web at the final stage of its production. We suggest to expand the classification of finished product samples by using neural fuzzy interpolation of linguistic values of such indicators. The approach introduced is aimed at improving the efficiency of the production process.

The current study revolves around development of paper from dhaincha fiber (Sesbania aculeata). Dhaincha is a basically cultivated for improvisation of soil quality. Due to deforestation worldwide, various sources of raw materials are used in paper industries. Indian pulp and paper industry is the world's major paper industry. In this study extraction of dhaincha fiber was done followed by retting, combing, chemical analysis and by making of pulp with dhaincha fiber. The dhaincha pulp was then used for making a paper from dhaincha fiber. The thickness of the dhaincha paper was then tested with paper thickness tester. By doing further processing dhaincha paper can be used commercially by paper industry.

The importance of user-friendly, inexpensive, sensitive, and selective detection of viruses has been highlighted again due to the recent Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Among the analytical tools, paper-based devices (PADs) have become a leading alternative for point-of-care (POC) testing. In this review, we discuss the recent development strategies and applications in nucleic acid-based, antibody/antigen-based and other affinity-based PADs using optical and electrochemical detection methods for sensing viruses. In addition, advantages and drawbacks of presented PADs are identified. Current state and insights towards future perspectives are presented regarding developing POC diagnosis platform for COVID-19. This review considers state-of-the-art technologies for further development and improvement in PADs performance for virus detection., Graphical abstract Image 1

The NIST selection process for standardizing Post-Quantum Cryptography Mechanisms is currently running. Many papers already studied their theoretical security, but the resistance in deployed device has not been much investigated so far. In particular, fault attack is a serious threat for algorithms implemented in embedded devices. One particularly powerful technique is to use safe-error attacks. Such attacks exploit the fact that a specific fault may or may not lead to a faulty output depending on a secret value. In this paper, we investigate the resistance of various Post-Quantum candidates algorithms against such attacks.

Among the various non-convectional energy resources, solar energy has great potential when it comes to conversion into electrical power.Increases efficiency of solar system is desirable for maximum power output.In order to maximisepower output, needs to keep the panels in proper angle with the sun.This paper deal with the generation using solar powerby window blinds.The proposed system ensures the optimization of the conversion of solar energy into electricity by properly orienting the panel in accordance with the position of the sun south facing window.

The fast detection of trace amounts of hazardous contaminations can prevent serious damage to the environment. Paper-based sensors offer a new perspective on the world of analytical methods, overcoming previous limitations by fabricating a simple device with valuable benefits such as flexibility, biocompatibility, disposability, biodegradability, easy operation, large surface-to-volume ratio, and cost-effectiveness. Depending on the performance type, the device can be used to analyze the analyte in the liquid or vapor phase. For liquid samples, various structures (including a dipstick, as well as microfluidic and lateral flow) have been constructed. Paper-based 3D sensors are prepared by gluing and folding different layers of a piece of paper, being more user-friendly, due to the combination of several preparation methods, the integration of different sensor elements, and the connection between two methods of detection in a small set. Paper sensors can be used in chromatographic, electrochemical, and colorimetric processes, depending on the type of transducer. Additionally, in recent years, the applicability of these sensors has been investigated in various applications, such as food and water quality, environmental monitoring, disease diagnosis, and medical sciences. Here, we review the development (from 2010 to 2021) of paper methods in the field of the detection and determination of toxic substances.

Bacillus cereus is one of the most common foodborne pathogens found in various kinds of staple foods such as rice and wheat. A rapid and accurate detection method for this pathogen is highly desirable for the sustainable production of relevant food products. While several classical and molecular-based detection methods are available for the identification of B. cereus, they suffered one or more limitations such as the requirement for a tedious and time-consuming process, less than ideal specificity, and the lack of portability. Herein, we developed the first paper-based sensing device that exhibits high species specificity with sufficiently low limit of detection for the visual detection of specific DNA sequences of B. cereus. The success is attributed to the strategic planning of fabrication in various dimensions including thorough bioinformatics search for highly specific genes, the use of the pyrrolidinyl peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probe whose selectivity advantage is well documented, and an effective PNA immobilization and DNA-binding visualization method with an internal cross-checking system for validating the results. Testing in rice matrices indicates that the sensor is capable of detecting and distinguishing B. cereus from other bacterial species. Hence, this paper-based sensor has potential to be adopted as a practical means to detect B. cereus in food industries.

The clinical importance of blood group (BG) antigens is related to their ability to induce immune antibodies that can cause hemolysis. Yet, ABO and D (Rh) are still considered to be the key antigens for healthy blood transfusion and secondary antigens are the next priority. Serological typing is the most widely used typing method. Rapid and accurate blood grouping plays an important role in some clinical conditions, rather than conventional techniques. Hence, developing a simple and economical model for rapid blood grouping would facilitate these tests. In recent decades, paper-based microfluidics such as μPADs has gained much interest in wide application areas such as point-of-care diagnostic. In this study, we evaluated μPADs that are performed for blood grouping and its recent progress. A comprehensive literature search was performed using databases including PUBMED, SCOPUS, Web of Science and Google Scholar. Keywords were blood grouping or typing, paper analytical device, rapid test, etc. After investigation of search results, 16 papers from 2010 to 2020 were included. Further information in detail was classified in Table 1. Generally, two principles for blood typing μPADs are introduced. The lateral chromatographic flow method and the vertical flow-through method that detects BG in a visual-based manner. To detect results with acceptable clarity many factors and challenges like paper, blood sample, buffer, Ab and RBC interaction and also μPADs stability need to be considered, which are discussed. In conclusion, the simplicity, stability, cheapness, portability and biocompatibility of μPADs for blood grouping confirming its utility and also they have the capability to robust, universal blood-grouping platform. Table 1 Summary of blood grouping tests using paper-based analytical devices Antigens Type of diagnosis Validation method Sample No Accuracy Action time Paper type Stability Sample dilution Buffer Ref A, B, Rh Forward volunteers records 5 - - Whatman No. 4 - 1/2 PBS* (Khan et al. 2010) A, B, Rh Forward gel assay test and conventional slide test 100 100% 1 min Whatman No. 4 and Kleeenex paper towel 7 Days in 4 °C 1/1 NSS (Al-Tamimi et al. 2012) A, B, Rh Forward gel card assay 99 100% 20 Sec + Washing Kleeenex paper towel - 1/1 NSS (Li et al. 2012) A, B, Rh Forward - - - - Kleeenex paper towel - 45/100 PSS (Li et al. 2013) A, B, Rh Forward gel card assay 98 100% 1.5 min Kleeenex paper towel - 85/100 PBS (Guan et al. 2014b) C, E, c, e, K, Jka, Jkb, M, N, S, P1, and Lea Forward gel card assay 266 100% - Kleeenex paper towel - 1/1 NSS (Li et al. 2014b) A, B, Rh Forward and Reverse conventional slide test 96 ≈ 91% 10 min Whatman No. 1 21 Days in 4 °C 1/2 NSS (Noiphung et al. 2015) C, c, E, e, K, k, Fya, Fyb, Jka, Jkb, M, N, S and s, P1, Lea and Leb Forward - 478 - - Kleeenex paper towel - 1/1 NSS, PBS (Then et al. 2015) A, B Forward and Reverse conventional slide test 76 100% 5-8 min Whatman No. 4 38 Days in 4 °C 1/4, 1/1 NSS (Songjaroen and Laiwattanapaisal 2016) D, K Forward volunteers records 210 - 7.5 min Kleenex paper towel - 1/1 NSS (Yeow et al. 2016) A, B, c, e, D, C, E, M, N, S, s, P1, Jka, Jkb, Lea, Leb, Fya, and Fyb Forward and Reverse gel card assay 3550 ≈100% 30 s Fiber glass and cotton linter 180 Days in 25 °C 45/100, 1/1 PBS (Zhang et al. 2017) A, B Forward conventional slide test 598 100% 3 min Whatman No. 113 14 Day in 4 °C 1/1 NSS (Songjaroen et al. 2018) A, B, Rh Forward conventional slide test - - 30 Sec + Washing Unrefined sisal paper - 1/2 NSS (Casals-Terré et al. 2019) A, B, Rh Forward - - - - Whatman No.1 - 1/1 NSS (Ansari et al. 2020) ABORh Forward and Reverse conventional slide test - 100% Unrefined Eucalyptus papers - 1/2 NSS, PBS (Casals-Terré et al. 2020) A, B, Rh Forward - - - 30 Sec + Washing Whatman No. 4 modified with chitosan ≥ 100 days in 25 °C 1/1 NSS (Parween et al. 2020)

This white paper explores the considerations of standards-based interoperability of medical images between organizations, patients, and providers. In this paper, we will look at three different standards-based image exchange implementations that have been deployed to facilitate exchange of images between provider organizations. The paper will describe how each implementation uses applicable technology and standards; the image types that are included; and the governance policies that define participation, access, and trust. Limitations of the solution or non-standard approaches to solve challenges will also be identified. Much can be learned from successes elsewhere, and those learnings will point to recommendations of best practices to facilitate the adoption of image exchange.

The recycling of waste paper has been an effective way to achieve the environmental-friendly growth of papermaking industry. Focusing on the mixed-pulping process which has been generally employed, to ensure the required properties of the deinking pulp (DIP) and minimize the purchase cost of waste paper, an intelligent model scheduling the mixing ratio of waste paper was developed in the study. Primarily, driven by the field data of mixing ratio of waste paper and DIP properties, the prediction models of DIP properties were developed by SVM, GA-SVM, and BP-NN algorithms. Subsequently, based on the best prediction model, the scheduling model for the mixing ratio of waste paper was set up by NSGAII algorithm. The experimental results showed that, based on the obtained best BP-NN prediction model of DIP properties, the developed NSGAII scheduling model for the ratio of waste paper could achieve excellent scheduling results under the rigorous constraints and multi-objective. Compared with the previous study, the developed prediction and scheduling models in this study reduced the purchase cost of waste paper by 2.16%, and improved the acceptable proportion of DIP property from 56.07% to 100%.