Fusion of local and global features for classification of abnormality in mammograms

Mammography is the most widely used tool for the early detection of breast cancer. Computer-based algorithms can be developed to improve diagnostic information in mammograms and assist the radiologist to improve diagnostic accuracy. In this paper, we propose a novel computer aided technique to classify abnormalities in mammograms using fusion of local and global features. The objective of this work is to test the effectiveness of combined use of local and global features in detecting abnormalities in mammograms. Local features used in the system are Chebyshev moments and Haralick’s gray level co-occurrence matrix based texture features. Global features used are Laws texture energy measures, Gabor based texture energy measures and fractal dimension. All types of abnormalities namely clusters of microcalcifications, circumscribed masses, spiculated masses, architectural distortions and ill-defined masses are considered. A support vector machine classifier is designed to classify the samples into abnormal and normal classes. It is observed that combined use of local and global features has improved classification accuracy from 88.75% to 93.17%.     

Bio‐inspired synthesis of sulphur nanoparticles using leaf extract of four medicinal plants with special reference to their antibacterial activity

We report new, eco‐friendly and green method for the synthesis of sulphur nanoparticles using sodium polysulphide in the presence of leaf extracts of four different medicinal plants, which can be used for treatment of bacterial infections. Sodium polysulphide and acidic solution (H₂ SO₄) in the presence of plant leaf extract developed the yellowish precipitate in solution, which indicated the formation of sulphur nanoparticles. UV–Vis spectrophotometer analysis of reaction mixture showed absorbance spectra in the range of 292–296 nm, which is supposed to be specific for sulphur nanoparticles. Zeta potential study of sulphur nanoparticles synthesized from Catharanthus roseus showed more stability when compared with other medicinal plants. Sulphur nanoparticles synthesized from C. roseus were further characterized by XRD analysis, FTIR analysis, and TEM analysis. The biogenic sulphur nanoparticles were spherical, polydispersed with particle size of 70–80 nm. Evaluation of antibacterial study revealed that synthesized sulphur nanoparticles exhibited better bactericidal efficacy against common pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with minimum inhibitory concentration of 200 μg/ml with significant activity used in combination with antibiotic. It can be concluded that the synthesized sulphur nanoparticles can be used as antibacterial agents after thorough experimental trials in animals.Inspec keywords: antibacterial activity, biomedical materials, nanoparticles, nanofabrication, sodium compounds, sulphur, ultraviolet spectra, visible spectra, Fourier transform infrared spectra, electrokinetic effects, transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, microorganismsOther keywords: bio‐inspired synthesis, sulphur nanoparticles, leaf extract, medicinal plants, antibacterial activity, eco‐friendly, green synthesis, sodium polysulphide, bacterial infections, biological synthesis, UV–visible analysis, nanoparticle tracking analysis, zeta potential analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction analysis, transmission electron microscopy analysis, acidic solution, UV–Vis spectrophotometer analysis, pathogenic bacteria, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, size 70 nm to 80 nm, wavelength 292 nm to 296 nm, S     

Structural and luminescent properties of Eu3+-doped GdSrAl3O7 nanophosphor

Eu³⁺-doped GdSrAl₃O₇ nanophosphor with promising luminescent properties has been synthesized by low-temperature solution combustion synthesis. The structural properties examined by X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy showed that pure tetragonal GdSrAl₃O₇: Eu³⁺ red nanophosphor having narrow size distribution in 50–55 nm range could be readily obtained at low temperature 550 °C. The photoluminescent excitation and emission spectra, life time, and concentration effect were studied in detail. Under excitation at 266 nm, Eu³⁺-doped GdSrAl₃O₇ nanophosphor revealed weak green emission and strong red emission attributed to ⁵D₁ → ⁷F_1–2 and ⁵D₀ → ⁷F_0–3 transitions of Eu³⁺ ion, respectively in the region of 525–700 nm. The red emission from ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂ transition at 616 nm exhibits the highest intensity under the optimized concentration of 10 mol% after which the quenching mechanism became relevant. Quenching behavior of the europium in the GdSrAl₃O₇ host was explained by nonradiative cross-relaxation phenomenon. Moreover, Eu³⁺-doped GdSrAl₃O₇ nanophosphor can generate light from orange to deeper red by properly tuning the concentration of europium ions based on the energy transfer principle.     

Humidity sensor properties of hydrothermally grown rutile-TiO2 microspheres on interdigital electrodes (IDEs)

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - Rutile-TiO2 microspheres were synthesized by the single-step hydrothermal method and were subsequently annealed in an argon environment at...     

A Study of Densification Management Using Energy Efficient Femto-Cloud Based 5G Mobile Network

Energy efficiency in wireless communication becomes essential. Power optimization of mobile radio systems has gained attention of network operators because energy costs make up a huge part of operational expenditure. In this regard, deployments of low power small cell base stations considerably raise the challenge of energy-efficient cellular networks. Network densification refers to densification over space, for example dense small cell deployment like picocell, femtocell, and frequency utilization of larger segments of radio spectrum in dissimilar bands. In this article we have illustrated the cause factors of densification and described its effects. The deployment layouts of different base stations are studied and compared with conventional macro-femtocell systems from the perspective of area power consumption and signal-to-interference-plus-noise-ratio.     

Correction to: Attack Resilient and Efficient Protocol Based on Greedy Perimeter Coordinator Routing—Mobility Awareness for Preventing the Attack in the VANET

Wireless Personal Communications -     

Biological pest control using a model‐based robust feedback

Biological control is the artificial manipulation of natural enemies of a pest for its regulation to densities below a threshold for economic damage. The authors address the biological control of a class of pest population models using a model‐based robust feedback approach. The proposed control framework is based on a recursive cascade control scheme exploiting the chained form of pest population models and the use of virtual inputs. The robust feedback is formulated considering the non‐linear model uncertainties via a simple and intuitive control design. Numerical results on three pest biological control problems show that the proposed model‐based robust feedback can regulate the pest population at the desired reference via the manipulation of a biological control action despite model uncertainties.Inspec keywords: cascade control, control system synthesis, nonlinear control systems, feedback, robust control, pest control, manipulatorsOther keywords: biological pest control, artificial manipulation, natural enemies, pest population models, robust feedback approach, recursive cascade control scheme, nonlinear model uncertainties, simple control design, intuitive control design, pest biological control problems, biological control action     

Chloride ion: A promising hole scavenger for photocatalytic hydrogen generation

The investigation pertains to elucidation of promising role of in-situ chloride ions generated during the photoreduction of HAuCl₄ as an internal sacrificial donor for photocatalytic hydrogen generation. The hydrogen evolution rate (HER) observed was 4.16 mmol h^?1 using in-situ route of photocatalyst formation which is significantly higher than the conventional route of formation of recovered photocatalyst. This unreported and unprecedented enhancement is explained on the basis of role of chloride ions released from the gold precursor. Experimental data inferring the effect of chloride ions on photocatalytic hydrogen generation using AuTiO₂ are also briefly explained. The role of anionic sacrificial donors suggests several potential possibilities for their applications in photocatalysis considering their presence in wastewater as well as their low cost and abundant availability. The work also introduces one-step photodeposition and hydrogen generation process against traditional recovered photocatalyst, wherein the catalysts were prepared first by normal route of photodeposition, recovered and then employed for hydrogen generation.     

Hydrogen evolution by a low cost photocatalyst: Bauxite residue

Bauxite residue or red mud which is an aluminium industry waste has been used as a novel low cost photocatalyst active in visible light for the generation of hydrogen from water. The driving force behind the use of bauxite residue as a photocatalyst is not only the fact that it is widely available but also bauxite residue is a fine grained mixture of oxides and hydroxides (Fe₂O₃, TiO₂, SiO₂, and Al₂O₃, Al(OH)3). The photocatalyst was characterized with respect to BET-SA, UV-DRS, XRD, SEM and EDX. Hydrogen yield of 4600 μmol/h/g of TiO₂ was achieved as compared to hydrogen evolution rate of 164 μmol/h/g of TiO₂ for commercially available titania Degussa P-25. However, the hydrogen evolution was 20.85 μmol/h/g of photocatalyst. The results suggest that bauxite residue appears to be a novel low cost photocatalyst. The various operating conditions of photocatalytic hydrogen generation were studied which include amount of catalyst, illumination intensity, illumination time, effect of various sacrificial donors etc.     

Characterisation of a thermostable family 42 β-galactosidase (BgalC) family from Thermotoga maritima showing efficient lactose hydrolysis

A β-galactosidase gene (TM_1195) of Thermotoga maritima was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant β-galactosidase (BgalC), belonging to glycosyl hydrolase (GH) family 42, was purified to homogeneity with 23.4-fold purification and a recovery of 36.6%. Its molecular mass was estimated to be 78 kDa by SDS–PAGE. BgalC exhibited maximum activity at an optimal pH of 5.5 and an optimum temperature of 80 °C. The enzyme displayed important properties, such as stability over a broad pH range of 5.0–9.0 and thermostability up to 75 °C. K_m values of BgalC for p-nitrophenyl-β-galactopyranoside (pNPGal), o-nitrophenyl-β-galactopyranoside (oNPGal) and lactose were 1.21, 7.31 and 6.5 mM, respectively. BgalC was efficient in complete removal of lactose from milk. BgalC is significantly one of the few β-galactosidases from family 42 displaying significant hydrolysis of lactose. These properties make BgalC an ideal candidate for commercial use, in the production of lactose-free milk.