Off-line signature verification using elementary combinations of directional codes from boundary pixels

Neural Computing and Applications - Verifying the genuineness of official documents, such as bank checks, certificates, contract forms, bonds, etc., remains a challenging task when it comes to...     

An LSTM-based mixed-integer model predictive control for irrigation scheduling

The development of well-devised irrigation scheduling methods is desirable from the perspectives of plant quality and water conservation. Accordingly, in this article, a mixed-integer model predictive control system is proposed to address the daily irrigation scheduling problem. In this framework, a long short-term memory (LSTM) model of the soil–crop–atmosphere system is employed to evaluate the objective of ensuring optimal water uptake in crops while minimizing total water consumption and irrigation costs. To enhance the computational efficiency of the proposed method, a heuristic method involving the logistic sigmoid function is used to approximate the binary variable that arises in the mixed-integer formulation. Through computer simulations, the proposed scheduler is applied to homogeneous and spatially variable fields. The results of these simulation experiments reveal that the proposed method can prescribe optimal/near-optimal irrigation schedules that are typical of irrigation practice within practical computational budgets.     

Dual image-based reversible fragile watermarking scheme for tamper detection and localization

Pattern Analysis and Applications - This study proposes an efficient dual image-based reversible fragile watermarking scheme (DI-RFWS) that can accurately detect and locate the tampering regions...     

Flotation response of coal washery reject fines: Characteristics,process optimization,and oxidation

The present paper outlines the characterization, electrokinetic behaviour, and flotation response of rejected coking coal fines with 32.5% ash generated in a coal washery in Eastern India. The response methodology and central composite rotatable design (RSM-CCRD) were used for the process modelling and optimization of the flotation process using diesel, methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC), and sodium hexametaphosphate as a collector, frother, and depressant to maximize ash reduction, yield, and combustible recovery. At optimum condition, a 9.7% clean ash coal was achieved with a 63% yield at collector, frother, and depressant dosages of 0.78, 0.31, and 0.80 kg/ton, respectively. The model prediction and experimental data corroborated sufficiently. Subsequently, within 1 year, the fines oxidized and did not float with the collector. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed surface oxidation on oxidized coal. The oxidized coal responded favourably to acid oil, a vegetable oil refinery waste. With acid oil as a collector, the oxidized coal can upgrade to 12% clean ash coal with a 60% yield; the combustible recovered is 80%. The work indicates successful upgradation of fresh and oxidized coal using the froth flotation process.