Human and Machine Vision Based Indian Race Classification Using Modified-Convolutional Neural Network

The inter-class face classification problem is more reasonable than the intra-class classification problem. To address this issue, we have carried out empirical research on classifying Indian people to their geographical regions. This work aimed to construct a computational classification model for classifying Indian regional face images acquired from south and east regions of India, referring to human vision. We have created an Automated Human Intelligence System (AHIS) to evaluate human visual capabilities. Analysis of AHIS response showed that face shape is a discriminative feature among the other facial features. We have developed a modified convolutional neural network to characterize the human vision response to improve face classification accuracy. The proposed model achieved mean F1 and Matthew Correlation Coefficient (MCC) of 0.92 and 0.84, respectively, on the validation set, outperforming the traditional Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). The CNN-Contoured Face (CNN-FC) model is developed to train contoured face images to investigate the influence of face shape. Finally, to cross-validate the accuracy of these models, the traditional CNN model is trained on the same dataset. With an accuracy of 92.98%, the Modified-CNN (M-CNN) model has demonstrated that the proposed method could facilitate the tangible impact in intra-classification problems. A novel Indian regional face dataset is created for supporting this supervised classification work, and it will be available to the research community.     

Green synthesis and antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles using wild medicinal mushroom Ganoderma applanatum (Pers.) Pat. from Similipal Biosphere Reserve,Odisha, India

In the present study, green synthesis and cost effective approach of silver nanoparticles using wild medicinal mushroom Ganoderma applanatum (Pers.) Pat. from Similipal Biosphere Reserve, Odisha, India is reported. The biosynthesised AgNPs were characterised using UV‐visible spectroscopy, particle analyser and scanning electron microscopy studies. It was found by dynamic light scattering analysis, that the average size and charges of the AgNPs were 133.0 ± 0.361 nm and −6.01 ± 5.30 mV, respectively. Moreover, the Fourier transform infrared study was also conducted to identify the biomolecules or functional groups responsible for the reduction of Ag and stabilisation of the AgNPs. The potential biomedical application with reference to antimicrobial activity of the synthesised AgNPs was investigated against some pathogenic microorganisms viz. Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Vibrio cholerae, Staphylococcus aureus and Shigella flexneri.Inspec keywords: antibacterial activity, biomedical materials, nanomedicine, nanofabrication, materials preparation, ultraviolet spectra, visible spectra, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectra, molecular biophysics, reduction (chemical), biochemistry, microorganisms, silver, nanoparticlesOther keywords: green synthesis, antimicrobial activity, silver nanoparticles, wild medicinal mushroom, Ganoderma applanatum Pat, Similipal Biosphere Reserve, Odisha, UV‐visible spectroscopy, particle analyser, scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering analysis, Fourier transform infrared study, biomolecules, functional groups, silver reduction, AgNP stabilisation, biomedical application, pathogenic microorganisms, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Vibrio cholerae, Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella flexneri, Ag

Abbreviations

AgNPs

‐ Silver Nanoparticles

SPR

‐Surface plasmon resonance

AgNO3

‐Silver nitrate

nm

‐ Nanometer

mm

‐Milimetre

     

Prediction of cellular structure in free expansion of viscoelastic media

A systematic model is presented for a free expansion polymer foaming process that includes simultaneous nucleation and bubble growth. An influence volume approach, which couples nucleation and bubble growth, is used to account for the limited supply of dissolved gas. The melt rheology is described using the Larson viscoelastic model. The initial conditions are obtained at the upper bound of critical cluster size under conditions of elastic deformation. The resulting set of equations are solved using a combination of numerical techniques. A parametric study is conducted to examine the effects of key process variables on bubble growth, nucleation, and final bubble size distribution. It shows that the factors influencing nucleation and growth affect the ultimate bubble sizes and their distribution. The Gibbs number, a dimensionless measure of the barrier to overcome for nucleation, has the strongest impact on the cellular structure of the foam. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 67:1353–1368, 1998     

Harnessing the sun for an evergreen revolution: a study of solar-powered irrigation in Bihar,India

In 2012, the government of Bihar revived 34 non-functioning public tubewells using solar panels. The performance of 16 of these wells over 12 months was tracked and analyzed using data from tubewell operators and 240 farmers. Access to affordable irrigation from solar pumps led to a 9–10% increase in productivity of rice and wheat. Furthermore, in a severe drought, farmers could grow paddy in the entire area irrigated by solar pumps, when nearly 40% of other land was left fallow. Solar pumps can help increase crop productivity, reduce the cost of irrigation, and make agriculture more resilient to climate change.     

On the steady flow produced in fluid-particle suspension by an infinite rotating disk with surface suction

The steady flow of a fluid-particle suspension over an infinite rotating disk with uniform suction is considered. The equations of motion are reduced to ordinary differential equations by similarity transformations and solved numerically by using a least-squares finite-element method. Some typical results for both fluid and particle phases and density distributions of the particles are presented graphically for the suction parameter A = 3.0 in order to illustrate some interesting features of the solutions. It is observed that the radial velocity of the particle attains its maximum on the surface of the disk and the particles slip in the tangential direction on the disk. The magnitudes of the radial velocity components of both the fluid and particle phases are found to decrease rapidly as suction increases.     

Letter to the Editor: A List of New Group Divisible Designs

Group divisible designs are the most important class of partially balanced incomplete block (PBIB) designs. A list of new group divisible designs with r, k ⩽ 10 is provided.     

Influence of isovalent ion substitution on the electrochemical performance of LiCoPO4

LiCo_1−xM_xPO₄ (M = Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Ni²⁺; 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2) compounds have been synthesized by solid-state reaction method and studied as cathode materials for secondary lithium batteries. LiCoPO₄ exhibits a discharge plateau at ∼4.7 V with an initial discharge capacity of 125 mAh/g and on cycling capacity falls. Substitution of Co²⁺ with Mg²⁺/Mn²⁺/Ni²⁺ in LiCoPO₄ has an influence on the initial discharge capacity and on cycling behaviour. The capacity retention of LiCoPO₄ is improved by manganese substitution. Among the manganese substituted phases, LiCo_0.95Mn_0.05PO₄ shows good reversible capacity of ∼50 mAh/g.     

Flux method for the analysis of excess carrier transport in multilayer devices in the presence of electric field

The flux method of treating the one-dimensional steady-state transport problem of excess charge carriers, created by the generating sources, is analysed for multilayer devices in the presence of electric field. General analytical expressions for the forward (parallel to the electric field) and backward (antiparallel to the electric field) fluxes of excess carriers at any arbitrary boundary of the multilayer device are derived in terms of the reflection and transmission coefficients of the individual layers and boundaries. As an application of this general analysis, a simple example of a multilayer device consisting of only two layers is considered. The results are shown to reduce those obtained by other calculations in appropriate limiting cases.     

Default Bayesian Priors for Regression Models with First-Order Autoregressive Residuals

Abstract. The objective of this paper is to develop default priors when the parameter of interest is the autocorrelation coefficient in normal regression models with first-order autoregressive residuals. Jeffreys' prior as well as reference priors are found. These priors are compared in the light of how accurately the coverage probabilities of Bayesian credible intervals match the corresponding frequentist coverage probabilities. It is found that the reference priors have a definite edge over Jeffreys' prior in this respect. Also, the credible intervals based on these reference priors seem superior to similar intervals based on certain divergence measures.