An augmented image gradients based supervised regression technique for iris center localization

Multimedia Tools and Applications - This paper describes a robust and accurate technique for iris center localization by combining supervised regression based approach and image gradients. The...     

Potential of PTH-Fe3O4 Based Nanomaterial for the Removal of Pb (II), Cd (II), and Cr (VI) Ions

Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers and Materials - In this work, polythiophene and Fe3O4 nanoparticles (PTh-Fe3O4) based hybrid nanomaterial was utilized for the adsorption based...     

Saturated and unsaturated aliphatic side chain-appended naphthalenediimide derivatives: synthesis and structure property relationship

Previous studies have shown influence of aliphatic side chain length and type on the transport properties of naphthalenediimide (NDI) materials by affecting molecular arrangement. There is lack of comparative study on the presence or absence of unsaturation in side chain and its effect on optical and electronic properties of NDI. The present work focuses on the structure–property relationship of four NDI derivatives bearing octyl (C8, OctA-NDI), hexadecyl (C16, HD-NDI), octadecyl (C18, ODA-NDI) and oleyl (C18-un, unsaturated, OLA-NDI) chain on imide-nitrogen. The self-assembling behaviour of the molecules is studied in concentrated solutions as fresh and aged samples in four different solvents by absorbance and emission spectroscopy. With increase in alkyl chain length, the aggregation behaviour is observed to increase. Very interestingly introduction of unsaturation in side chain reduces aggregation and restores the monomeric properties. Self-assembled microstructures formation was studied by scanning electron microscopy where all the four materials show different types of self-assembly formation. Finally, we compared the thermally activated electron conductivity and electron mobility of NDI derivatives, where also the side chain structure clearly influences the electron transport. Electron mobility decreases on increasing chain length from C8 to C18 and again increases in C18-un. A rationale for the structure–property relationship has been given based on the molecular packing and intermolecular π–π interactions. This study contributes significantly towards designing new NDI derivatives bearing long side chains with hampered aggregation for niche applications.

     

Pro-labour myometrial gene expression: are preterm labour and term labour the same?

Preterm labour (PTL) is the most important cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. While some causes have been identified, the mechanisms involved remain elusive. This study investigates whether term labour (TL) is an appropriate model for PTL by examining pro-labour gene expression, using quantitative rtPCR, and protein synthesis, using Western analysis, in preterm and term myometrial samples obtained from the upper and lower uterine segments before and after the onset of labour. In the lower segment, the levels of prostaglandin H synthase type-2 (PGHS-2), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), IL-6 and IL-8 mRNA expression were significantly higher in TL compared with PTL samples. Compared with non-labour controls, the expression of IL-1beta and IL-8 mRNA was increased in both PTL and TL samples and the expression of PGHS-2 and IL-6 mRNA was increased in TL samples only. In the upper segment, there were no differences between PTL and TL samples and the mRNA expression of PGHS-2 and IL-1beta was increased in TL compared with term no labour samples. No effect of PTL or TL was seen on either oxytocin receptor or connexin-43 mRNA expression or protein levels. The multiple regression analysis and studies in primary cultures of uterine myocytes suggest that the inflammatory cytokines, IL-1beta and tumour necrosis factor-alpha, are the most important regulators of PGHS-2 and IL-8. Our data show that preterm and term labouring myometrium are significantly different and that the most marked labour-induced changes in gene expression are in the lower segment. These changes may occur in response to the release of inflammatory cytokines by the labour-associated inflammatory infiltration.     

Effect of rabadi fermentation on phytic acid and in vitro digestibility of barley

Rabadi, an indigenous fermented food, was prepared by mixing cereal flour with buttermilk, allowing it to ferment at 30, 35 and 40 °C for 6, 12, 18, 24 and 48 h and cooking the fermented mixture for 0.5 h with continuous stirring. Two types of rabadi were prepared i.e. autoclaved and unautoclaved. In autoclaved type of rabadi cereal flour was mixed with water, autoclaved (0.103 MPa = 15 psi for 15 min), cooled, mixed with buttermilk and fermented. As this type of rabadi was precooked prior to fermentation, hence, the fermented product did not require cooking afterwards, while in unautoclaved rabadi, barley flour and buttermilk were mixed, fermented and then cooked prior to consumption. Phytic acid was reduced drastically at all the temperatures and periods of fermentation in both autoclaved and unautoclaved type of rabadi; greater reduction occurred at higher temperature and duration of fermentation. A significant improvement in the in vitro digestibility of starch and protein was observed; maximum improvement was noticed when fermentation was carried out at 40 °C for 48 h in both the types of rabadi. Phytic acid had a significant (P < 0.05) negative correlation with digestibility (in vitro) of proteins and starch of barley flour rabadi.     

Energy-efficient green synthesis of Nd:Y<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanopowder by microwave gel combustion

A novel method for the synthesis of nanocrystalline neodymium-doped yttria (Nd:Y₂O₃) by gel combustion in microwave without long period of calcination at high temperature is described. The method leads to rapid formation of phase pure product with saving of time and energy. Gels were prepared by selecting citrate to nitrate (C/N) ratios of 0.5:1 & 1:1 followed by combustion in microwave for drying of gel leading to precursor formation. Thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) of precursor with (C/N) ratios of 1:1 exhibited a total loss in weight of about 31.7% up to 1300 °C and did not show M–O bonds characteristic of yttria by FTIR indicating requirement of calcination at high temperature. Crystallization to phase pure yttria took place only on thermal treatment at 1000 °C for 4 h in oxygen atmosphere confirmed by XRD with particle size 40 nm. While the microwave combusted precursor with C/N ratio of 0.5:1 exhibited a weight loss of only 4.7% up to 1300 °C and showed M–O bonds characteristic of yttria in FTIR spectrum without calcinations at higher temperature. This microwave combustion precursor with C/N ratio of 0.5:1 was found to be crystalline phase pure yttria by X-ray diffraction (XRD) with primary particle size 28 nm by Scherrer’s equation and 30–50 nm of uniform morphology by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In the present work the ratio of citric acid to nitrates is playing a crucial role in terms of saving time and energy involved in calcinations of microwave combusted precursor for the composition with higher citrate content.     

A coding theorem for multiple access channels using a maximum likelihood list decoding scheme

Bounds on the probability of error for list decoding, in which the receiver lists L messages rather than one after receiving a message, have been obtained by Elias, Ebert, and Shannon, Gallager and Berlekemp. In the present paper the problem of list decoding has been considered for a multiple access channel. The paper contains an upper bound on the probability of error for list decoding in this case.     

Hyperspectral imager, from ultraviolet to visible, with a KDP acousto-optic tunable filter

Hyperspectral imaging in the ultraviolet to visible spectral region has applications in astronomy, biology, chemistry, medical sciences, etc. A novel electronically tunable, random-wavelength access, compact, no-moving-parts, vibration-insensitive, computer-controlled hyperspectral imager operating from 220 to 480 nm with a spectral resolution of 160 cm(-1), e.g., 2 nm at 350 nm, has been developed by use of a KDP acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) with an enhanced CCD camera and a pair of crossed calcite Glan-Taylor polarizing prisms. The linear and angular apertures of the AOTF are 1.5 x 1.5 cm2 and 1.2 degrees, respectively. Imager setup and spectral imaging results as well as analyses and discussion of various factors affecting image quality are presented.