Delineation of glacial zones of Gangotri and other glaciers of Central Himalaya using RISAT-1 C-band dual-pol SAR

The Himalayan glaciers, being unique in nature, need more detailed study over their evolution in the Himalayan glacial zones. A methodology has been developed using two-dimensional signatures from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) C-band dual-polarized data. A linear decision rule-based model has been generated using the signatures and the result further filtered by the use of a digital elevation model (DEM) to delineate glacial zones in the Himalayas. The advantage of using cross-polarized data is the addition of extra information from the volume of the glacial mass. Some important prerequisites for the analysis are SAR image ortho-rectification and calibration, glacier boundary delineation, and the development of sites for collecting SAR backscattering signatures from glaciers along the profile. The study deals with the evolution of glacial snow cover and glacial zones/facies in the Himalayan region under a subtropical humid climate from the ablation to the accumulation season. SAR images from 15 July 2012 to 30 June 2013 over the Gangotri and Mana glaciers were evaluated with the developed model. The identification of a superimposed zone during the ablation season is among the key results. The identified snowlines and other boundaries of glacial facies are studied on a temporal scale. The highest snowline altitude of Mana was recorded at 5768 and 5194 m for the Gangotri glacier in 2012. SAR data are also important in identifying glacial zones buried under winter snow cover. The results obtained are useful in regard to further glaciological studies of the Himalayan glaciers.     

Performance evaluation of saponin over other organic acid and tap water for removal of chromium in tannery sludge by electrokinetic enhancement

The performance of Saponin over different electrolyte-mediated electrokinetic (EK) process for removal of Cr(III) from tannery sludge was assessed. Saponin exhibited maximum Cr(III) removal efficiency, i.e. 67.6–80.75% as compared to other groups of processing fluids. The possible mechanistic approach for the highest removal efficiency of saponin over other electrolytes may be attributed to synchronized effect of micelle formation and subsequent complexation and sorption of chromium ions. The highest electroosmotic flow rate of saponin indicated low electroosmotic resistance during EK process, which validates the observed trend. Therefore, saponin can be considered as a promising electrolyte for EK treatment of tannery sludge.

Abbreviation: CA: Citric acid; LA: lactic acid; OA: oxalic acid; BOD: biochemical oxygen demand; COD: chemical oxygen demand; EK: electokinetic.     

Incidence and genetic variability of Listeria species from three milk processing plants

The presence of Listeria in three milk processing environments as a potential source of milk contamination was assessed. Swab samples (n = 210) taken from milk processing plants were examined. Sample sites included the milk processing equipment, besides areas handling raw and pasteurized milk. The USDA Listeria-selective enrichment procedure was used to process the samples. Forty one (19.52%) Listeria isolates were recovered. The isolates were further subjected to biochemical and genotypic characterization. Out of 41 isolates, 16 (7.62%) were confirmed as Listeria monocytogenes, 2 (0.95%) as L. ivanovii, 19 (9.05%) as L. innocua. 1 (0.48%) as L. seeligeri and 3 (1.43%) as L. grayi. All the L. monocytogenes isolates were positive for the hlyA gene. PCR based serotyping revealed all L. monocytogenes to be of 1/2a, 1/2c, 3a and 3c serovar group. AscI and ApaI restriction analysis yielded four PFGE clusters for 16 L. monocytogenes isolates obtained from raw milk collector, milk silos, buttermilk mixer, cheese and other milk product processor. No predominant PFGE cluster was observed among these L. monocytogenes isolates. The main sources of L. monocytogenes were found to be raw milk collector and milk silos. In the present study L. monocytogenes was isolated from milk and milk products processing plants which could cross-contaminate the processed products and may possess a potential threat to public health.     

A novel scheme to detect the best cloud service provider using logarithmic operational law in generalized spherical fuzzy environment

Knowledge and Information Systems - Generalized spherical fuzzy number (GSFN) is an extension of spherical fuzzy number (SFN) which deals the uncertainties involved in the real-life problems in...     

An alternate method for using a visual discrimination model (VDM) to optimize soft-copy display image quality

Researchers have developed visual discrimination models (VDMs) that can predict a human observer's ability to detect a target object superposed on an image. These models incorporate sophisticated knowledge of the properties of the human visual system. In the predictive approach, termed conventional VDM usage, two input images with and without a target are analyzed by an algorithm that calculates a just-noticeable-difference (JND) index, which is a taken as a measure of the detectability of the target. A new method of using the VDM is described, termed channelized VDM, which involves finding the linear combination of the VDM-generated channels (which are not used in conventional VDM analysis) that has optimal classification ability between normal and abnormal images. The classification ability can be measured using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) or two alternative forced choice (2AFC) experiments, and in special cases they can also be predicted by signal detection theory (SDT) based model-observer methods. In this study simulated background and nodule containing regions were used to validate the new method. It was found that the channelized VDM predictions were in excellent qualitative agreement with human-observer validated SDT predictions. Either VDM method (conventional or channelized) has potential applicability to soft-copy display optimization. An advantage of any VDM-based approach is that complex effects, such as visual masking, are automatically accounted for, which effects are usually not included in SDT-based methods.     

Effect of the compatibilizer,on the engineering properties of TPV based on Hypalon® and PP prepared by dynamic vulcanization

Elastomeric Chlorosulfonated polyethylene (Hypalon^®) and thermoplastic Polypropylene (PP) based thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) were prepared in presence of different doses of compatibilizer, maleic anhydride grafted PP (PP‐g‐MA) by employing dynamic vulcanization technique. The effect of incorporation in different proportions of compatibilizer on mechanical, spectral, morphological, thermal, and rheological properties of such TPVs was studied and the same were compared to that of virgin PP and amongst themselves. The mechanical analysis of the prepared TPVs exhibited significant improvements in stress at 25% modulus, ultimate tensile strength (UTS), and hardness values. FTIR studies revealed that a chemical interaction had taken place between Hypalon^® and functionalized compatibilizer during the process of dynamic vulcanization which led to an enhancement of interfacial adhesion between them. The two‐phase morphologies were clearly observed by scanning electron microscopic studies. The T_g values of Hypalon^® was modified in the TPVs as exhibited by differential scanning calorimetric studies. TGA studies indicated the increase in thermal stability of all TPVs with respect to the elastomeric Hypalon^®. Rheological properties showed that the compatibilizer reduces the melt viscosity of TPVs and thus facilitates the processibility of such TPVs. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40312.     

An Efficient Parallel Block Compressive Sensing Scheme for Medical Signals and Image Compression

Wireless Personal Communications - Compressive Sensing or Compressed sensing (CS) is a latest technique used for compression of medical signals and medical images which benefits both the speed and...     

The effect of coagulants on the texture of chhana (an acid and heat coagulated product made from milk)

Chhana (a heat and acid coagulated milk protein mass and an Indian equivalent to cottage cheese) can be used as a raw material for the manufacture of various types of sweets popular all over India. Texture Profile Analysis (TPA), using an Instron Universal Testing Machine, was used to determine the effect of different coagulants on the textural characteristics of chhana. Chhana was made using three different coagulants: citric acid, lactic acid and calcium lactate, at five different concentrations, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 8%. Two types of dilution media, distilled water and acid whey, were used. The textural characteristics obtained when aqueous 0.5% citric acid, aqueous 0.5% lactic acid and 4–8% calcium lactate solutions, using acid whey as the solvent, gave similar TPA readings to normal chhana.     

Interconnected Hydroxyapatite Nanofibers in the Biomimetic Coating of a Bioinert Ceramic Substrate

A bioinert ceramic substrate, α-Al₂O₃, has been coated with hydroxyapatite (HAp) by the biomimetic route using simulated body fluid (SBF) solution at room temperature. The substrate was incubated at 37°C in SBF for 6 days with a periodic replacement with freshly prepared SBF at 48-h intervals. After 6 days, continuous nanofiber-like structures of HAp (5–35 μm in length, 0.05 μm diameter) were obtained, connecting the intra- and interglobular clusters, within the coated mineral layer on the substrate surface. This is a unique and new observation, and this phenomenon has been demonstrated by a simple fractal growth model.     

Polarization-based compensation of astigmatism

One approach to aberration compensation of an imaging system is to introduce a suitable phase mask at the aperture plane of an imaging system. We utilize this principle for the compensation of astigmatism. A suitable polarization mask used on the aperture plane together with a polarizer-retarder combination at the input of the imaging system provides the compensating polarization-induced phase steps at different quadrants of the apertures masked by different polarizers. The aberrant phase can be considerably compensated by the proper choice of a polarization mask and suitable selection of the polarization parameters involved. The results presented here bear out our theoretical expectation.