Remote sensing of alpine treeline ecotone dynamics and phenology in Arunachal Pradesh Himalaya

Global warming is inducing the elevational alpine treeline ecotone (ATE) to migrate to higher elevations in the Himalaya. Prior research on ATE dynamics has been primarily based on field inventory and studied at the community level. The potential of using remote sensing and geographic information system for the delineation of the treeline ecotone has been explored. In this study, we used satellite-derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data from Landsat-1/2 Multispectral Scanner (MSS), Resourcesat-1/2 Linear Imaging Self Scanning Sensor (LISS-III), and National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration-Advanced Very High-Resolution Radiometer (NOAA-AVHRR) to investigate long-term ATE dynamics. Satellite remote sensing of treeline in Arunachal Pradesh Himalaya revealed an upward shift over the past four decades. The ATE has shifted c. 452 m ± 74 m upward in vertical dimension at a rate c. 113 m decade^?1. Furthermore, the land surface phenology along ATE and forest area has changed significantly over the past 33 years. The significant positive trend in length of the growing season (LOS; p < 0.05) and delay in the end of the growing season (EOS) was observed. The start of the growing season (SOS) had a negative tendency with non-significant linear trend. The treeline upward shift and significant lengthening of the growing season at ATE and forest area indicate changing climatic patterns and processes.     

Decoder driven side information generation using ensemble of MLP networks for distributed video coding

Multimedia Tools and Applications - This paper proposes an ensemble of multi-layer perceptron (MLP) networks for side information (SI) generation in distributed video coding (DVC). In the proposed...     

Prioritizing test scenarios from UML communication and activity diagrams

Due to the large size and complexity of software, exhaustive testing becomes impossible. Hence, testing must be done in an optimized way keeping in mind factors, such as requirements of the customer, cost and time. For this, there is a need to generate test cases and exercise them to gain maximum throughput by uncovering defects. Test case/scenario prioritization is a well known and efficient technique to ensure the software quality. Prioritization of test scenarios helps in early detection of bugs. In this paper, we present an integrated approach and a prioritization technique to generate cluster-level test scenarios from UML communication and activity diagrams. In our approach, we first construct a tree representation of communication diagrams, and then a tree representation of activity diagrams. We convert them into an intermediate tree named as COMMACT tree. We, then carry out a post-order traversal of the constructed tree for selecting conditional predicates from the intermediate tree. Then, we propose an algorithm to generate test scenarios from the constructed tree. Next, the necessary information, such as method-activity sequence, associated objects, and constraint conditions is extracted from test scenario. The test sequences are a set of theoretical paths starting from initialization to end, while taking conditions (pre- and post-condition) into consideration. Each generated test sequence corresponds to a particular scenario of the considered use case. The third phase is to generate test scenarios from the tree satisfying the message–activity path test adequacy criteria. Preliminary results obtained on a case-study indicate that the technique is effective in extracting the critical scenarios from the communication and activity diagrams. Our approach generates redundant test scenarios and still achieves adequate test coverage.     

Effects of cobalt (III) complexes of schiff bases on root tip mitosis

Cytological effects of two newly synthesized Cobalt (III) complexes, namely, [Co(BSOP)(NH₃)₂] [NO₃], (1) and [Co(BSOP)(PY)₂] [NO₃], (2) (where, BSOP = dianion of N, N‐orthophenylenebis (salicylal‐dimine), Py = pyridine) were studied on Allium Cepa root tip cells. Many interesting abnormalities, including diplochromatic structure, grouping, stickiness, beadedness, erosion, fragmentation and bridge formation of chromosomes and granulation of the interphase nucleus were observed under the influence of these cobalt (III) complexes. The mitotic index had been simulated at threshold concentrations, but affected at higher concentrations and prolonged treatment. The inhibitory action in prolonged treatment may be due to an accumulation effect. Mechanisms of such effects have been discussed qualitatively and are described as a non‐delayed type.     

3-Dimensional numerical modeling of geosynthetic-encased granular columns

In this paper, series of three-dimensional (3-d) numerical modeling of geosynthetic-encased granular columns were performed both in model and prototype scale using FLAC^3D software to understand the lateral load carrying capacity of ordinary and geosynthetic encased granular columns (OGC and EGC). In the first part of the study, numerical modeling of direct shear tests were carried out. The soil in the direct shear box was reinforced with two different diameters of granular columns (50 mm and 100 mm) and three different patterns of arrangement (single, triangular and square) to study the effect of group confinement. The numerical simulations were carried out at four different confining pressures namely 15, 30, 45 and 75 kPa. From the numerical simulations it was observed that higher shear stresses are mobilized inside the granular column due to geosynthetic encasement and the magnitude of shear stress increases with increase in the normal pressure. It was found that the tensile forces in the geosynthetic encasement were mobilized both in circumferential and vertical directions, which helps in mobilizing additional confinement in the granular column. In the second part, the influence of the geosynthetic encasement of granular column treated soft ground was demonstrated through 3-dimensional slope stability analyses.     

Modelling of two phase solid-liquid flow in horizontal pipe using computational fluid dynamics technique

In this paper three-dimensional fluid flow characteristics of slurry pipeline has been studied using commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code FLUENT at different velocities and solid concentrations. An Euler-Lagrange multiphase approach was used to simulate the flow of bottom ash slurry in a 50 mm diameter straight pipeline. Simulations were carried out with bottom ash at velocity range of 1–3 ms^–1. The solid concentration of bottom ash particles was varied from 40 to 60% (by weight). The simulations were carried out using SST k-ω turbulence model and the results obtained were compared with experimental results. It was found that the SST k-ω turbulence model shows good agreement with experimental data. Numerical simulation results show that the pressure drop in pipeline increases non-linearly with increase in velocity and solid concentration.     

Seeker: A bandwidth-based association control framework for wireless mesh networks

The rapid deployment of wireless mesh networks across universities and enterprises, and the pervasiveness of mobile devices equipped with Wi-Fi connectivity, has resulted in a scenario wherein end users have the option to choose from a multitude of access points at any given location. Moreover, with the increasing availability of rich online content, there has been a steady increase in mobile Internet traffic. Since the choice of access point that a user associates with will directly impact his performance, it is imperative that there exist an efficient association control mechanism, in order to enhance the end user’s experience. As part of this work, we propose Seeker, a novel framework for association control in wireless networks that utilizes “available bandwidth” as the design metric. The goal of Seeker is to assist the mesh network in making an intelligent decision regarding which access point a client should associate with. As part of our scheme, we implement and evaluate a passive tool to estimate available bandwidth in wireless networks. We then describe how we use this tool to implement our association control scheme, and evaluate it via extensive experiments on an outdoor testbed. Seeker takes into consideration the performance of the mesh backhaul, in addition to the client-to-AP link quality, thereby achieving significant advantages over traditional association control schemes for wireless-LANs.     

Independent field-oriented control of two split-phase induction motors from a single six-phase inverter

Split-phase (six-phase) induction motor stator windings consist of two sets of three phase windings, which are spatially phase separated by 30 electrical degrees. Due to mutual cancellation of the air gap flux for all the 6n/spl plusmn/1 (n=1,3,5...) order harmonic voltages, called zero sequence components, large harmonic currents are generated in the stator phases. Only the 12n/spl plusmn/1 (n=0,1,2,3...)-order harmonic voltage components contribute toward the air gap flux and electromagnetic torque production in the machine. In this paper, a novel scheme is proposed where two six-phase induction motors are connected in series with proper phase sequence so that the zero sequence component voltages of one machine act as torque and flux producing components for the other. Thus, the two six-phase motors can be independently controlled from a single six-phase inverter. A vector control scheme for the dual motor drive is developed and experimentally verified in this paper.     

Synthesis and spectroscopic studies on novel Cu(II)–Cu(II) binuclear adducts. EPR evidence for ferromagnetic interactions

EPR investigations on two solid complexes [Cu(1-amidino-O-2-methoxyethylurea)₂]₂(H₂O)₂(SO₄)₂ (1) and [Cu(1-amidino-O-2-ethoxyethylurea)₂]₂(H₂O)₂(SO₄)₂ (2) indicated the formation of ferromagnetically coupled binuclear complexes (S = 1) having the isotropic exchange interaction constant J values of 59 and 50 cm⁻¹. The angle between the Cu–Cu direction and the parallel direction (ξ) of the complex 1 has been evaluated. The IR studies suggest the presence of tetrahedral sulfate ion in the complexes. When the EPR spectra were recorded in the temperature range 300–475 K, it was observed that the triplet-state EPR signal disappeared completely and irreversibly at ca. 450 K for complex 1 and at ca. 475 K for complex 2 with the appearance of a new signal attributable to the mononuclear complex (S = 1/2).     

Processing and Properties of Nano-Hydroxyapatite(n-HAp)/Poly(Ethylene-Co-Acrylic Acid)(EAA) Composite Using a Phosphonic Acid Coupling Agent for Orthopedic Applications

A hydroxyapatite/poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) (HAp/EAA) nanocomposite has been synthesized by a solution-based method. p-Aminophenyl phosphonic acid has been used as a coupling agent in order to enhance the bonding between HAp and EAA, and hence to improve the mechanical properties of the composite. XRD study has indicated the development of compressive and tensile stresses in a nanocomposite due to thermal expansion mismatch between nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HAp) and EAA. Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) and thermal analysis have shown the presence of strong interfacial bonding between n-HAp and EAA. The surface roughness and the homogeneous dispersion of nanoparticles have been observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). A comparison of mechanical properties between phosphonic acid treated (cn-HAp/EAA) and untreated (un-HAp/EAA) nanocomposites has been made. The use of a phosphonic acid coupling agent promotes the uniform dispersion of n-HAp in the polymer matrix with a strong nanoparticle-polymer interfacial bonding, which provides a means of preparing a HAp/polymer nanocomposite for implant applications.