Spatial context-based optimal multilevel energy curve thresholding for image segmentation using soft computing techniques

Neural Computing and Applications - Image segmentation using multilevel thresholding (MT) is one of the leading methods. Although, as most techniques are based on the image histogram to be...     

Investigation of Anti-Cancer Drug Nimustine Interaction with Calf Thymus DNA

Nimustine, a chloroethyl nitrosourea derivative (CENU), is an antineoplastic agent, which is used for the treatment of various types of cancer. The present study focuses on the prediction and investigation of binding properties of nimustine with DNA using molecular modeling and UV–Visible spectroscopic technique. The docking study show that nimustine plausibly binds within the major groove of DNA. Further analysis of docking suggests direct interaction of nimustine with the moieties of heterocyclic nitrogenous bases of DNA. The free binding energy value of the best nimustine-DNA docked conformer is predicted as ?4.31 kcal/mol using docking results.The molecular modeling study also reveals that the interaction between nimustine and DNA is majorly governed by van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, whereas the contribution of electrostatic forces stands negligible. Further, UV–Visible spectra of free calf thymus DNA and its complexes with varying concentration of nimustine indicate the binding constant (K _a ) value as 3.27 × 10³ M^?1, which suggests moderate interaction of nimustine with DNA. The spectroscopic results are further used to calculate the binding free energy of the complex using the relation ΔG = ?RT ln (K _a ). This accounts for a value of ?4.79 kcal/mol. It corroborates well with the docking outcomes. The results of present study may help in designing and synthesis of new chloroethyl nitrosourea derivatives with improved efficacy and specificity for the target molecules.     

Study of Effect of Bended Graphene on Its Magnetoresistance and Spin Filtration

Density functional theory (DFT) is used to investigate the spin-dependent quantum transport through bended graphene. Bending results in reduced bandgap in graphene and affects the spin transport by increasing current in parallel configuration (PC) resulting in an increase in magnetoresistance (MR). In antiparallel configuration (APC), bending limits the spin-down current, which results in higher magnetoresistance at all biases. In bended graphene, the magnetoresistance obtained is higher than the MR obtained in pristine and twisted graphene-based structure. High spin filtration for PC and APC is observed in the case of bended graphene as compared with pristine and twisted graphene. However, pristine graphene gives better spin filtration compared with twisted graphene at low voltages.     

Goodness-of-fit testing in growth curve models: A general approach based on finite differences

Growth curve models are routinely used in various fields such as biology, ecology, demography, population dynamics, finance, econometrics, etc. to study the growth pattern of different populations and the variables linked with them. Many different kinds of growth patterns have been used in the literature to model the different types of realistic growth mechanisms. It is generally a matter of substantial benefit to the data analyst to have a reasonable idea of the nature of the growth pattern under study. As a result, goodness-of-fit tests for standard growth models are often of considerable practical value. In this paper we develop some natural goodness-of-fit tests based on finite differences of the size variables under consideration. The method is general in that it is not limited to specific parametric forms underlying the hypothesized model so long as an appropriate finite difference of some function of the size variables can be made to vanish. In addition it allows the testing process to be carried out under a set up which manages to relax most of the assumptions made by Bhattacharya et al. (2009); these assumptions are generally reasonable but not guaranteed to hold universally. Thus our proposed method has a very wide scope of application. The performance of the theory developed is illustrated numerically through several sets of real data and through simulations.     

Luminescence properties of near-UV excitable yellow-orange light emitting warm CaSrAl2SiO7:Sm3+ phosphors

Single-phase CaSrAl_2 SiO_7:Sm~(3+) phosphors were synthesized by traditional high temperature solid state reaction method. Formation of samples and phase analysis were confirmed by X-ray diffraction technique. Morphology was done by field emission scanning electron microscopy and elemental compositions were confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Present phosphors have tetragonal crystallography with space group P42_1 m. Average crystallite size was calculated by using Scherrer and Williamson-Hall method. Photoluminescence study of CaSrAl_2 SiO_7:Sm~(3+) phosphor was investigated.Under different excitation wavelengths, PL spectra consist of four emission bands at 564, 570, 601 and650 nm. The emission bands located at 564 and 570 nm are associated with the transition ~4 G_(5/2)→~6 H_(5/2)while emission bands at 601 and 650 nm are due to ~4 G_(5/2)→~6 H_(7/2) and ~4 G_(5/2)→~6 H_(9/2),respectively.Intense emission was obtained when phosphor was excited under 404 nm wavelength. Non-radiative energy transfer process involved in concentration quenching, was also discussed. CIE coordinate is found in yellow-orange region, hence CaSrAl_2SiO_7:Sm~(3+) phosphors emit yellow-orange light when efficiently excited by near UV(～400 nm) LED chip. Color purity and CCT of the phosphor were determined; CCT suggests that present phosphor is a good candidate as a warm yellow-orange color emitting phosphor. Effect of different heating rates and different UV exposure time on the TL glow curve of the phosphor was investigated. Activation energies and kinetic parameters for different traps were calculated by using peak shape method. TL emission spectrum was also recorded. Present article explains all the possible mechanisms associated with luminescence process in CaSrAl_2 SiO_7:Sm~(3+) phosphors.     

Vibrational dynamics of poly(L‐glutamine)

In the present paper, we report the Fourier transform infra‐red (FTIR) spectra and an analysis of the normal modes and their dispersion, based on the calculations for an infinite chain and Urey Bradley force field with nonbonded interactions. The results thus obtained agree well with the FTIR spectra. The heat capacity obtained from the dispersion curves via density‐of‐states is in very good agreement with the experimental measurements between 50 and 500 K. We observed that the main contribution to heat capacity comes from the modes involving the coupling of the backbone skeletal and side‐chain motions. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Flavour retention during high temperature short time extrusion cooking process: a review

Research on the stability of flavours during high temperature extrusion cooking is reviewed. The important factors that affect flavour and aroma retention during the process of extrusion are illustrated. A substantial number of flavour volatiles which are incorporated prior to extrusion are normally lost during expansion, this is because of steam distillation. Therefore, a general practice has been to introduce a flavour mix after the extrusion process. This extra operation requires a binding agent (normally oil), and may also result in a non-uniform distribution of the flavour and low oxidative stability of the flavours exposed on the surface. Therefore, the importance of encapsulated flavours, particularly the β-cyclodextrin-flavour complex, is highlighted in this paper.     

Secure direct communication based on ping–pong protocol

Communication security with quantum key distribution has been one of the important features of quantum information theory. A novel concept of secured direct communication with no need of establishing any shared secret key has been the next step forward. The present paper presents a secured communication scheme with three particle GHZ state as the initial state where the receiver can simultaneously receive information from two parties. Possible eavesdropping has been examined.      

Effect of protein concentration on the surface composition,water sorption and glass transition temperature of spray-dried skim milk powders

The effects of dilution of protein content in skim milk (34–8.5% protein content), by lactose addition, on the surface composition, water sorption property and glass transition temperatures of spray-dried powders were investigated. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) study of spray-dried powders showed preferential migration of proteins toward the surface of the milk particles whereas the lactose remained in the bulk. Sorption studies showed that the lower protein concentration in milk powders is linked to an increased water adsorption property and lowering of water activity (a_w) for lactose crystallization. Analysis of glass transition temperature (T_g) of the powders sorbed at different humidities showed no distinct change in T_g values, indicating the dominant effect of lactose on the glass transition temperature of all the powders.