Brain tumor detection and segmentation using mesh-free super-diffusive model

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Brain tumor detection and segmentation is a complex and challenging task in image processing. Most of the techniques used for brain tumor detection and...     

Attitudinal choice models with applications in human decision making

A new family of attitudinal discrete choice models is proposed by considering the attitudinal character and the weight vector, both of which are specific to a decision maker (DM). Given the attribute values of different alternatives, the proposed models give varying choice probabilities, as per the DM's-specific attitudinal character and the weight vector. It is also shown that the conventional discrete choice models are the special cases of the proposed attitudinal models. The proposed choice models are also generalized through an additional parameter to add to their capabilities. An application on real data is included to demonstrate their usefulness in the real world.     

3D multi-material and multi-joint topology optimization with tooling accessibility constraints

Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization - This paper proposes a method for performing both multi-material topology optimization and multi-joint topology optimization. The algorithm can...     

Synergetic effects of organic and inorganic additives on improvement in hydrophilicity and performance of PVDF antifouling ultrafiltration membrane for removal of natural organic material from water

Surrounding vegetation, animal, human and microbiological decomposition are the strong source of humic acid (HA) falling into the surface water bodies through rain runoff in the monsoon. HA contains various functional groups, such as carboxylic, phenolic, hydroxyl, and quinine, which are the major foulant. Contact of HA may have an adversarial health issue to human beings namely goiter, black foot, and cancer disease. The maximum permissible limit of HA in drinking water should be less than 2 ppm as per the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The membrane technology has prevailed a prominent place worldwide in chemical, water and wastewater treatment technologies. The proposed work is focused on the blending of organic-water soluble polymer polyethylene glycol 6000 as a pore-forming agent and inorganic salt lithium bromide (LiBr) as membrane morphology modifier with polyvinylidene fluoride host polymer in the N,N-Dimethylacetamide solvent. All fabricated membranes were characterized for functional groups and morphology. The total number of pores per unit surface area of membrane for membranes M-LiBr-0, M-LiBr-1, M-LiBr-2, and M-LiBr-3 are 2 × 10¹³, 2.3 × 10¹⁴, 2.7 × 10¹⁴ and 2.82 × 10¹⁴, respectively. The static water contact angle was decreased from 68.2° to 50.6° with an increase in the content of LiBr from 0 to 3 wt%. The order of pure water flux and hydraulic permeability of the membrane was M-LiBr-0 < M-LiBr-1 < M-LiBr-2 < M-LiBr-3. The HA rejection of the membrane was also increased from 90.13% to 96.24% with LiBr content due to a decrease in pore size of the membrane with the addition of LiBr content.     

Generalized attitudinal Choquet integral

Attitudinal Choquet integral (ACI) extends Choquet integral (CI) through a consideration of a decision-maker's (DM's) attitudinal character. In this paper, we generalize ACI, and the resulting operator is termed as generalized ACI (GACI). GACI adds to the efficacy of the ACI in the representation of a DM's unique and complex attitudinal character. It also generates a vast range of exponential ACI operators, such as harmonic ACI, ACI, quadratic ACI, to name a few. We further present induced GACI to consider additional information that may be associated with the arguments of aggregation. The special cases of the proposed operators are investigated. The usefulness of the proposed operators in modelling human decision behavior is shown through a case study.     

A framework for understanding institutional factors affecting the success and failure of offshoring models in India

The objective of this paper is to identify and analyse the factors that influence offshore location decisions from an institutional theory perspective. In the years, emerging economies have shown great growth potential and have attracted significant foreign direct investment, especially from companies willing to set up operations. Despite such a seemingly favourable trade environment, not all companies that entered an emerging economy have been successful. Thus, there is a need to understand the factors that influence the success of any offshore location decision. It is also important to understand the relative importance of these factors, in order to develop novel insights useful to practitioners. There is a lack of literature addressing this issue, which this study aims to fill. We conducted a multi-case analysis with examples of European companies entering India. The findings indicate that successful companies employed locally focused business strategies that enabled them to acquire important relationships and knowledge, and also to adapt to formal institutions, including governmental and regulatory procedures. It was found that, irrespective of size, disregarding collaborative strategies was the main reason for exiting India. These findings are highly relevant for managers and policy makers.     

Evaluating application potentiality of unconventional fluids for grinding Ti-6Al-4V using alumina wheel

Conventional metalworking fluids carry an acute threat to the environment as these produce a hazardous ambiance. Furthermore, due to their excessive use and imprudent disposal, the risk of environmental pollution exaggerates. The present article is aimed at finding some alternative potential coolants to be applied in small quantity lubrication (SQL) mode for grinding of difficult-to-machine (DTM) material, titanium alloys, which could effectively replace the conventional metalworking fluids while ensuring minimal waste of the coolant. Three unconventional environmentally safe coolants viz. alkaline soap water, sodium nitrite, and propylene glycol are applied in SQL mode while grinding Ti-6Al-4V. Comparative performance analyses of these cutting fluids have been adjudicated, considering responses of force required for material removal, substrate roughness, grinding ratio, and SEM micrographs of chips and ground surface. The results reveal that the environment-friendly unconventional fluids perform better than the conventional Blasocut fluid and the most satisfactory operations are observed under propylene glycol environment on the basis of the relevant parameters and operating range considered herein.     

IoT Based Multimode Sensing Platform for Underground Coal Mines

Wireless Personal Communications - Real-time information of the underground environment plays a vital role for underground coal mines. For this purpose, a number of systems have been developed by...     

Development of a generative CAPP system for axisymmetric components for a job shop environment

Process planning is a function in a manufacturing organization that selects the manufacturing processes and parameters to be used to transform a part from its initial state to the final form according to the design specifications. It is a bridge between product design and product manufacturing. The activities of process planning include understanding the part specifications or product design data, selection of job material and tool, setup planning, sequencing the operations within a setup, determination of process parameters for each operation, and generation of process sheets. This paper outlines a method to develop a generative computer-aided process planning system for axisymmetric components for a job shop environment. A decision support system is used to perform semi-structured tasks such as setup planning and establishing precedence relationship among various operations.