Image recognition for consumer shopping applications

This disclosure utilizes image recognition techniques in consumer retail applications. Objects in an image are recognized and corresponding retail information, e.g., links to purchase an object, is provided to users. Image recognition techniques are integrated into point of sale applications and utilized for product identification based on a barcode, a QR code, based on the image of the product, etc. Application program interfaces are provided to link the image recognition application with payment processing and inventory management systems

Power Backoff Mechanism for Intermodulation Distortion and Harmonic Distortion

This publication describes systems and techniques for power backoff to address intermodulation distortion and harmonic distortion. A wireless communication device, which engineers often refer to as user equipment (UE), includes power backoff logic and a transmit backoff table. In a dual-connectivity environment with operating conditions known to result in potential distortion, a processor of the UE looks up a power backoff level in the transmit backoff table and directs a transceiver to back off the transmit power to mitigate intermodulation distortion or harmonic distortion. The UE can use similar systems and techniques to address distortion issues in carrier aggregation or multi-connectivity environments

Technical Efficiency Analysis of Wheat Farms in the Punjab, Pakistan: DEA Approach

The wheat productivity in the Punjab is less than the potential maximum due to technical farm and management issues. The farm level panel survey data was used for the said purpose comprising 17 districts of the province of the Punjab from the period 2005-06 to 2007-08. The technical efficiency of wheat farms was analyzed using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) approach. Subsequently, the same was calculated by analyzing the socioeconomic factors responsible for (in) efficiency using Tobit Regression Model. The DEA didn’t accommodate statistical noise such as random shocks which were beyond the control of farmers. However, the technical efficiency of wheat farms was estimated using the DEA approach. The mean technical efficiency estimated through variable return to scale (VRS) was 60.13 percent and constant return to scale (CRS) was 56.61 percent. The results of analyses were supported by the literature. The technical efficiency could be improved by educating the young farmers, building road infrastructure and providing access to essential inputs to farmers. The study undertaken supports the argument that technically wheat farmers are less efficient in the Punjab, Pakistan

Technical Efficiency Analysis of Wheat Farms in the Punjab, Pakistan: DEA Approach

The wheat productivity in the Punjab is less than the potential maximum due to technical farm and management issues. The farm level panel survey data was used for the said purpose comprising 17 districts of the province of the Punjab from the period 2005-06 to 2007-08. The technical efficiency of wheat farms was analyzed using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) approach. Subsequently, the same was calculated by analyzing the socioeconomic factors responsible for (in) efficiency using Tobit Regression Model. The DEA didn’t accommodate statistical noise such as random shocks which were beyond the control of farmers. However, the technical efficiency of wheat farms was estimated using the DEA approach. The mean technical efficiency estimated through variable return to scale (VRS) was 60.13 percent and constant return to scale (CRS) was 56.61 percent. The results of analyses were supported by the literature. The technical efficiency could be improved by educating the young farmers, building road infrastructure and providing access to essential inputs to farmers. The study undertaken supports the argument that technically wheat farmers are less efficient in the Punjab, Pakistan

Electronic Tuning of Zinc Oxide by Direct Fabrication of Chromium (Cr) incorporated photoanodes for Visible-light driven Water Splitting Applications

This is the final version. Available on open access from Nature Research via the DOI in this recordHerein, we report the synthesis of Cr incorporated ZnO sheets arrays microstructures and construction of photoelectrode through a direct aerosol assisted chemical vapour deposition (AACVD) method. The as-prepared Cr incorporated ZnO microstructures were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, powdered X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and UV-Vis diffused reflectance spectroscopy. The Cr incorporation in ZnO red shifted the optical band gap of as-prepared photoanodes. The 15% Cr incorporation in ZnO has shown enhanced PEC performance. The AACVD method provides an efficient in situ incorporation approach for the manipulation of morphological aspects, phase purity, and band structure of photoelectrodes for an enhanced PEC performance.Higher Education Commission of PakistanUniversity of Mancheste

One factor at a time analysis to modify potting technique for manufacturing of bubble-free high-voltage polyester insulated automotive coils

The current study focuses on minimising the bubbles in polyester-insulated ignition coils, which were produced with a defect level of ~21–25% or 210–250 coils per 1000 batch size by using the potting method. This high-level rejection makes a substantial financial impact by increasing waste material, manufacturing, and after-sales costs. Hence, to control the bubbled problem without using expensive and maintenance-heavy techniques, the process parameters in the potting method were alternated and investigated using one factor at a time, which played a vital role in the formation/ reduction of bubbles in the ignition coil insulation. Process parameters, including pre/process heating, the appropriate MEKP/cobalt naphthenate ratio, the pouring amount/increments, and the stirring speeds, reduced the bubble formation per lot from 205 ± 30 to 146 ± 25, 108 ± 21, 61 ± 17, and 10 ± 2 per 1000 lot accordingly. In addition, a comparative study was conducted in terms of performance and life cycle endurance, using Japanese and Indian standards. Furthermore, an after-sale warranty claim also supports the proposed changes in the potting technique. This modification may reduce the after-sales rejection within two years to approximately ~85%. This modification in the potting technique is extremely cost-effective in comparison to expensive processes, i.e., vacuum-pressure impregnation and vacuum impregnation, which require extensive labour and maintenance

Microbial Extraction of Antimony from Stibnite of Qillah Abdullah

The study involve bioleaching of antimony ore collected from Qillah Abdullah   Balochistan (Pakistan) by using Thiobacillus ferrooxidans isolated from coal mine drainage of district Harnai. Analysis of ore revealed that it has 19.54% antimony along with 42.24% SiO2  as gangue material. Trails for bioleaching were conducted in shake flasks having 10% (w/v) ore and growth medium. Isolated microorganisms were found more efficient for liquification of antimony contents at grain size -150#. Liquefied antimony was recovered as antimony sulphide by  precipitation  with H2S. Parameters affecting the process of bioleaching such as aeration, time period, temperature, grain size of ore and pH were also optimized. Overall recovery of product was estimated as 73% in 120 days.