The promise of neuromorphic computing to develop ultra-low-power intelligent devices lies in its ability to localize information processing and memory storage in synaptic circuits much like the synapses in the brain. Spiking neural networks modeled using high-resolution synapses and armed with local unsupervised learning rules like spike time-dependent plasticity (STDP) have shown promising results in tasks such as pattern detection and image classification. However, designing and implementing a conventional, multibit STDP circuit becomes complex both in terms of the circuitry and the required silicon area. In this work, we introduce a modified and hardware-friendly STDP learning (named adaptive STDP) implemented using just 4-bit synapses. We demonstrate the capability of this learning rule in a pattern recognition task, in which a neuron learns to recognize a specific spike pattern embedded within noisy inhomogeneous Poisson spikes. Our results demonstrate that the performance of the proposed learning rule (94% using just 4-bit synapses) is similar to the conventional STDP learning (96% using 64-bit floating-point precision). The models used in this study are ideal ones for a CMOS neuromorphic circuit with analog soma and synapse circuits and mixed-signal learning circuits. The learning circuit stores the synaptic weight in a 4-bit digital memory that is updated asynchronously. In circuit simulation with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) 250 nm CMOS process design kit (PDK), the static power consumption of a single synapse and the energy per spike (to generate a synaptic current of amplitude 15 pA and time constant 3 ms) are less than 2 pW and 200 fJ, respectively. The static power consumption of the learning circuit is less than 135 pW, and the energy to process a pair of pre- and postsynaptic spikes corresponding to a single learning step is less than 235 pJ. A single 4-bit synapse (capable of being configured as excitatory, inhibitory, or shunting inhibitory) along with its learning circuitry and digital memory occupies around 17,250 μm2 of silicon area.

Background and Aim: In COVID-19 pandemic, a global emergency, there is a scarcity of resources including workforce in health-care system. Budding nurses as additional workforce are being utilized in COVID-19 units, where their knowledge and perception about COVID-19 plays a key role in patient care as well as for their safety. There is a paucity of regional data on knowledge and perception of budding nurses about COVID-19. The present study was conducted with an aim to assess the knowledge and perception of budding nurses about COVID-19. Materials and Methods: In this online survey, 380 budding nurses participated. A 26-item semi-structured (9) knowledge and (10) perception-based questionnaire was responded by participants. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the findings. Results: A significant number of participants were passably aware of the basic element of COVID-19, that is, etiological factor, incubation period, clinical symptoms, transmission, prevention, and treatments and majority (52.89%) budding nurses have shown positive perception toward COVID-19. Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed that knowledge and perception of budding nurses were significantly adequate and positive about COVID-19; however, in some areas, there was a substantial gap in knowledge; hence, periodic educational sessions regarding COVID-19 to budding nurses will help in curtailing the gap and they can be utilized as a better resource in a time of pandemic to overcome the shortage of manpower.

Vegetable legumes are an essential source of carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, along with health-promoting bioactive chemicals. The demand for the use of either fresh or processed vegetable legumes is continually expanding on account of the growing consumer awareness about their well-balanced diet. Therefore, sustaining optimum yields of vegetable legumes is extremely important. Here we seek to present d etails of prospects of underexploited vegetable legumes for food availability, accessibility, and improved livelihood utilization. So far research attention was mainly focused on pulse legumes’ performance as compared to vegetable legumes. Wild and cultivated vegetable legumes vary morphologically across diverse habitats. This could make them less known, underutilized, and underexploited, and make them a promising potential nutritional source in developing nations where malnutrition still exists. Research efforts are required to promote underexploited vegetable legumes, for improving their use to feed the ever-increasing population in the future. In view of all the above points, here we have discussed underexploited vegetable legumes with tremendous potential; namely, vegetable pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba), winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus), dolichos bean (Lablab purpureus), and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), thereby covering the progress related to various aspects such as pre-breeding, molecular markers, quantitative trait locus (QTLs), genomics, and genetic engineering. Overall, this review has summarized the information related to advancements in the breeding of vegetable legumes which will ultimately help in ensuring food and nutritional security in developing nations.

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Individualized homeopathy (IH) in atopic dermatitis (AD) remained under-researched. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> We aimed at evaluating efficacy of IH in AD. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, short-term, preliminary trial was conducted in an Indian homeopathy hospital. Patients were randomized to either IH (<i>n</i> = 30) or identical-looking placebo (<i>n</i> = 30) using computerized randomization and allocation. Outcomes were patient-oriented scoring of AD (PO-SCORAD; primary end point), Dermatological Life Quality Index (DLQI) score, and AD burden score for adults (ADBSA; secondary end points), measured monthly for 3 months. An intention-to-treat sample was analyzed after adjusting baseline differences. <b><i>Results:</i></b> On PO-SCORAD, improvement was higher in IH against placebo, but nonsignificant statistically (<i>p</i>_{month 1} = 0.433, <i>p</i>_{month 2} = 0.442, <i>p</i>_{month 3} = 0.229). Secondary outcomes were also nonsignificant – both DLQI and ADBSA (<i>p</i> &#x3e; 0.05). Four adverse events (diarrhea, injury, common cold) were recorded. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> There was a small, but nonsignificant direction of effect towards homeopathy, which renders the trial inconclusive. A properly powered robust trial is indicated.