Significance of image representation for face verification

In this paper we discuss the significance of representation of images for face verification. We consider three different representations, namely, edge gradient, edge orientation and potential field derived from the edge gradient. These representations are examined in the context of face verification using a specific type of correlation filter, called the minimum average correlation energy (MACE) filter. The different representations are derived using one-dimensional (1-D) processing of image. The 1-D processing provides multiple partial evidences for a given face image, one evidence for each direction of the 1-D processing. Separate MACE filters are used for deriving each partial evidence. We propose a method to combine the partial evidences obtained for each representation using an auto-associative neural network (AANN) model, to arrive at a decision for face verification. Results show that the performance of the system using potential field representation is better than that using the edge gradient representation or the edge orientation representation. Also, the potential field representation derived from the edge gradient is observed to be less sensitive to variation in illumination compared to the gray level representation of images.     

Larvicidal activity of green synthesized silver nanoparticles using Excoecaria agallocha L. (Euphorbiaceae) leaf extract against Aedes aegypti

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using plant extracts has been achieved by eco‐friendly reducing and capping agents. The present study was conducted to evaluate the larvicidal efficacies of AgNPs synthesized using aqueous leaf extracts of Excoecaria agallocha against dengue vector, Aedes aegypti. The 3^rd and 4^th instar larvae of A. aegypti were exposed to various concentrations of aqueous extracts of E. agallocha, synthesized AgNPs and also crude solvent extracts (methanol and chloroform) for 24 h. The formation of AgNPs using aqueous leaf extracts was observed after 30 min with a characteristic colour change. The results recorded from UV‐Vis spectrum, XRD, FTIR, EDX, SEM and HR‐TEM were used to characterize and confirm the biosynthesis of AgNPs. The highest larvicidal efficacy of synthesized AgNPs was observed against 3^rd instar larvae at LC₅₀ 4.65 mg/L, LC₉₀ 14.17 mg/L and 4^th instar larvae with a concentration of LC₅₀ 6.10 mg/L, LC₉₀ 15.64 mg/L. A significant larvicidal activity was also observed with crude methanolic extracts against 3^rd instar larvae at a concentration LC₅₀ 41.74 mg/L, LC₉₀ 123.61 mg/L and 4^th instar larvae at a concentration of LC₅₀ 52.06 mg/L, LC₉₀ 166.40 mg/L as compared to the chloroform extract.Inspec keywords: silver, nanoparticles, nanofabrication, microorganisms, cellular biophysics, organic compounds, ultraviolet spectra, visible spectra, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectra, X‐ray chemical analysis, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopyOther keywords: larvicidal activity, green synthesised silver nanoparticles, Excoecaria agallocha L. leaf extract, Aedes aegypti, plant extracts, capping agents, larvicidal efficacies, aqueous leaf extracts, excoecaria agallocha, dengue vector, Aedes aegypti, aegypti, aqueous extraction, E. agallocha, crude solvent extracts, methanol, chloroform, characteristic colour change, ultraviolet‐visible spectrum, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, EDX, scanning electron microscopy, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, AgNP biosynthesis, larvicidal efficacy, third instar larvae, instar larvae, crude methanolic extracts, chloroform extraction, time 24 h     

Comparison of predicted vehicular pollution concentration with air quality standards for different time periods

Air pollution is caused by variety of sources such as industries, vehicles, cremation, bakeries, and open burning. These sources have variation in emission with different time scales. Industry and bakeries have variation in emission with day or week, rest of the sources like vehicles and domestic sector have variation with time in a day. In fact, vehicles have a large variation in emission with time period of the day. The average concentration of 24 h is much less than hourly concentration of peak time when there is heavy vehicular emissions. The hourly concentration of off-peak time or lean time is very low due to low emission for that period. The air quality standards of India are prescribed for 24-h average concentration with which the predicted average concentration from models is compared. However, the peak time concentration may be much higher than the standard. In the peak time, outdoor concentration is more and since a large proportion of the population is out the exposure is also very high and can cause severe health effect. In this paper, vehicular pollution modeling has been carried out using AERMOD with simulated meteorology by Weather Research and Forecasting model. NO_x and PM concentrations were 3.6 and 1.45 times higher in peak time than off-peak and evening peak, respectively. Lean time has higher concentration for both NO_x and PM than off-peak and evening peak. It shows the misleading concept of comparing average predicted concentration of 24 h with standards for vehicles.

     

An effective hybrid approach to remote-sensing image classification

This article presents a hybrid fuzzy classifier for effective land-use/land-cover (LULC) mapping. It discusses a Bayesian method of incorporating spatial contextual information into the fuzzy noise classifier (FNC). The FNC was chosen as it detects noise using spectral information more efficiently than its fuzzy counterparts. The spatial information at the level of the second-order pixel neighbourhood was modelled using Markov random fields (MRFs). Spatial contextual information was added to the MRF using different adaptive interaction functions. These help to avoid over-smoothing at the class boundaries. The hybrid classifier was applied to advanced wide-field sensor (AWiFS) and linear imaging self-scanning sensor-III (LISS-III) images from a rural area in India. Validation was done with a LISS-IV image from the same area. The highest increase in accuracy among the adaptive functions was 4.1% and 2.1% for AWiFS and LISS-III images, respectively. The paper concludes that incorporation of spatial contextual information into the fuzzy noise classifier helps in achieving a more realistic and accurate classification of satellite images.     

SELECTIVE OXIDATION OF ALCOHOLS BY REDOX MOLECULAR SIEVES

High-throughput synthesis and screening of libraries consisting of redox zeolites and molecular sieves have been developed for the selective oxidation of 2-butyl-5-hydroxymethyl-imidazole to the corresponding aldehyde in the liquid phase. Libraries consisting of 96 catalysts were prepared and screened for catalytic activity using high-throughput software, robotics, reactor, and screening technologies. The integrated synthesis and screening workflow allowed ～5000 samples to be screened in less than one month. Promising hits identified in the high-throughput primary screens were successfully scaled up and optimized in conventional laboratory test units. Best results have been obtained with doubly or triply doped mesoporous sieves containing both an impregnated and framework-substituted metal. PtBi-doped framework-substituted V-MCM-41 redox mesoporous sieves were found to be efficient catalysts for aerobic oxidation under relatively mild reaction conditions (100–150°C, 15–400 psi air, 4–10 h reaction time). MIBK/H₂O/t-BuOH mixtures were identified as efficient solvent systems for this reaction. Isolated yields confirm high selectivities of more than 90% with quantitative conversions. Spent catalysts were shown to be fully regenerable by high temperature calcination in air.     

Chemical modification of metallocene‐based polyethylene–octene elastomer through solution grafting of acrylic acid and its effect on the physico‐mechanical properties

In the present work, the metallocene‐based polyethylene–octene elastomer (POE) was chemically modified by solution grafting of acrylic acid in presence of benzoyl peroxide. The relative proportions of graft and gel formation were optimized through %weight gain, Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The gel formation in the POE matrix was found to be the prime competitor. The effect of grafting at its maximum level on various physicomechanical properties was thoroughly investigated, using X‐ray diffraction analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, mechanical, dynamic mechanical, and thermogravimetric analysis. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

Regioselectivity in Hydroformylation of Aryl Olefins Using Novel Rhodium Polyether Phosphinite Catalysts

Polyethylene glycol based diphosphinite ligands and their Wilkinson type Rh-polymeric carbonyl complexes were prepared for homogeneous hydroformylation of styrenes. The effect of reaction variables such as temperature, pressure, P/Rh ratio, Substrate/Rh ratio, phosphine and phosphinite ligands on the activity and selectivity performance were discussed in detail. The catalyst showed a high rate of reaction, TON and tunable regioselectivity depending upon reaction conditions as compared to conventional Rh-phosphine based catalysts.     

Influence of gel and molecular weight on the properties of natural rubber

The influence of gel and molecular weight on the properties of natural rubber has been described. Crystallization, stress relaxation and orientation properties of different samples have been studied. Samples having different gel contents but similar molecular weights and samples having the same gel content with varying molecular weights have been prepared by extracting whole natural rubber. The gel content was varied from 1.5 to 29% and molecular weight from 1 × 10⁵ to 9.9 × 10⁵ g mol⁻¹. The gels reduce the overall crystallinity measured by differential scanning calorimetric experiments after freezing the samples for different time periods at −15°C. They also have a stiffening effect on the tensile relaxation modulus and decrease the rate of relaxation significantly. Birefringence, which measures the orientation and stress-induced crystallization, increases with time at high elongation for samples containing gels. At lower elongation, however, the birefringence of unvulcanized samples decreases with time. This decrease is less for gel samples. Natural rubbers of high molecular weight behave similarly in the above properties when compared to low molecular weight samples. The effect of gel is more predominant than that of molecular weight.     

Role of hydrogen in electrical and structural characteristics of bilayer CdTe/Mn diluted magnetic semiconductor thin films

Bilayer thin films of diluted magnetic semiconductor CdTe/Mn have been prepared using vacuum thermal evaporation method at pressure of 10⁻⁵ torr. Annealing of bilayer thin films has been performed in atmospheric condition at constant temperature 400 °C for 1 hour. Hydrogenation of as-grown and annealed bilayer thin films has been performed by keeping these in hydrogenation cell. Structural characteristics of as-grown and heat treated thin films have been performed by X-ray diffractometer. Current–voltage characteristics of both as-grown hydrogenated and annealed hydrogenated bilayer thin films have been studied to find out the effect of hydrogenation. Surface topography of as-grown and annealed bilayer thin films has been confirmed by optical microscopy.