Target Tracking in Non-Gaussian Environment

Masreliez filter which is a Kalman type of recursive filter is implemented and validated. The main computation in Masreliez filter is to evaluate the score function which directly influences the estimates of the target states. Scalar approximation for score function evaluation is extended to vector observations, implemented and validated. The simulation studies have shown that the performance of the Masreliez filter is relatively better than that of the conventional Kalman filter in the presence of significant glint noise in the observation

A Software Tool for Parameter Estimation from Flight Test Data

A software package called FIDA is developed and implemented in PC MATLAB for estimating aircraft stability and control derivatives from flight test data using different system identification techniques. FIDA also contains data pre-processing tools to remove wild points and high frequency noise components from measured flight data. FIDA is a menu driven and user interactive software which is useful to scientists/flight test engineers/pilots who are engaged in experimental flights and analysis of flight test data. Also it has an educational value for students and practising engineers who are new to the field of aircraft parameter estimation

Influence of Contextual, Developmental, and Demographic Variables on Social Activism Among Undergraduates in Sri Lankan Universities

Engagement in social activism is one of the means for building identity and citizenship competencies of young people. On campus, one of the vehicles that provide engagement in social activism is the students’ union. In Sri Lankan campuses the students’ union system has been established by the University Act and it has accorded the Student Unions with a wider scope for the engagement in such activities. Sri Lankan campus youth are encouraged to engage in both internal and external socio economic and welfare issues and to voice for the betterment of both campus youth and the public at large. Therefore a study that aims to measure the important determinants of youth’s contribution relating to the engagement in social activism, should essentially take into consideration the related developmental as well as contextual variables. The specific objectives of the study were to determine the level of social activism of campus youth, the level of social activism across selected contextual variables and demographic variables and the relationships between the level of social activism and the selected contextual variables and developmental variables. Finally, the contribution made by the selected demographic, developmental, and contextual factors on social activism was examined. Four hundred and forty nine subjects were randomly selected from six campuses and representing three faculties (Science, Arts & Commerce/Management). The findings showed that the developmental variables such as self esteem, aggression and impression on governance were significantly related to the social activism of youth. Similarly, contextual variables namely, school extra curricular activities, campus club engagement and gender as a demographic variable was significantly related to social activism. Even though social activism among campus youth was high, an important feature within this observed phenomenon was the gender segregation. Female voice was not significantly represented in the context of contemporary social activism among campus youth. Subsequently, seniority in terms of age as well as the number of years stayed at the campus enhances the level of engagement in social activism. The level of self esteem, impression on governance, parents’ income and female composition at campuses negatively effect the engagement in social activism. The conceptual model developed for this study was able to explain the factors influencing social activism among campus youth. Accordingly, the influence of the contextual factors on the engagement with social activism was greater than the influence of the developmental factors. Hence, external factors (contextual and demographic) have greater influence on the level of engagement in social activism than internal (Developmental) factors. Policy recommendations for positive youth development are discussed with special attention to minimizing aggressive nature of social activism and building a harmonious democratic culture among youth at the higher educational institutions

A genetic basis for a postmeiotic X versus Y chromosome intragenomic conflict in the mouse.

Intragenomic conflicts arise when a genetic element favours its own transmission to the detriment of others. Conflicts over sex chromosome transmission are expected to have influenced genome structure, gene regulation, and speciation. In the mouse, the existence of an intragenomic conflict between X- and Y-linked multicopy genes has long been suggested but never demonstrated. The Y-encoded multicopy gene Sly has been shown to have a predominant role in the epigenetic repression of post meiotic sex chromatin (PMSC) and, as such, represses X and Y genes, among which are its X-linked homologs Slx and Slxl1. Here, we produced mice that are deficient for both Sly and Slx/Slxl1 and observed that Slx/Slxl1 has an opposite role to that of Sly, in that it stimulates XY gene expression in spermatids. Slx/Slxl1 deficiency rescues the sperm differentiation defects and near sterility caused by Sly deficiency and vice versa. Slx/Slxl1 deficiency also causes a sex ratio distortion towards the production of male offspring that is corrected by Sly deficiency. All in all, our data show that Slx/Slxl1 and Sly have antagonistic effects during sperm differentiation and are involved in a postmeiotic intragenomic conflict that causes segregation distortion and male sterility. This is undoubtedly what drove the massive gene amplification on the mouse X and Y chromosomes. It may also be at the basis of cases of F1 male hybrid sterility where the balance between Slx/Slxl1 and Sly copy number, and therefore expression, is disrupted. To the best of our knowledge, our work is the first demonstration of a competition occurring between X and Y related genes in mammals. It also provides a biological basis for the concept that intragenomic conflict is an important evolutionary force which impacts on gene expression, genome structure, and speciation

Metagenomic deep sequencing of aqueous fluid detects intraocular lymphomas.

IntroductionCurrently, the detection of pathogens or mutations associated with intraocular lymphomas heavily relies on prespecified, directed PCRs. With metagenomic deep sequencing (MDS), an unbiased high-throughput sequencing approach, all pathogens as well as all mutations present in the host's genome can be detected in the same small amount of ocular fluid.MethodsIn this cross-sectional case series, aqueous fluid samples from two patients were submitted to MDS to identify pathogens as well as common and rare cancer mutations.ResultsMDS of aqueous fluid from the first patient with vitreal lymphoma revealed the presence of both Epstein-Barr virus (HHV-4/EBV) and human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) RNA. Aqueous fluid from the second patient with intraocular B-cell lymphoma demonstrated a less common mutation in the MYD88 gene associated with B-cell lymphoma.ConclusionMDS detects pathogens that, in some instances, may drive the development of intraocular lymphomas. Moreover, MDS is able to identify both common and rare mutations associated with lymphomas

Factors influencing social activism among campus: Youth in Sri Lanka

Youths are constantly searching for a social identity and citizenry to express their inner concerns, and realize their national development. Within this context, this study identifies social activism as a means for building youths’ identity and citizenry. Numerous studies have indicated that the search for identity and citizenry is greatly influenced by both contextual and demographic factors. This paper aims to discuss the findings of a study pertaining to the contextual and demographic variables that influence social activism among campus youths in Sri Lanka. Corning’s measures of Social Activism Orientation were adapted for this study to measure social activism. The findings of this study suggest that youths, irrespective of rural and urban, coming from low income or high income households, belonging to different fields of studies or have parents with different levels of engagement in political activities, have equal levels of engagement in social activism in college campuses. However, significant differences were indicated between youths’ gender, war and non-war location context, and if their campuses are long established or newly established universities. The impact of universal free education policy is discussed with special reference to youth empowerment. Existing constrains and the lack of a youth - centered development approach, together with existing institutional socio political culture on campus are also discussed