Discrimination of Free Space and Subsurface Canonical Metallic Targets Using Hybrid E-Pulse Method

Abstract—Radar scattered time domain response can be modeled by natural poles using singularity expansion method (SEM) in resonance region. In this paper, limitation of the conventional Extinction pulse method is brought out, and a hybrid of conventional Extinction pulse and auto-regressive (AR) method is proposed for robust discrimination of radar targets. A new target discrimination number (TDN) is suggested, which gives very good discrimination margin for enhanced decision process. The Hybrid Extinction pulse technique is applied on the free space targets as well as subsurface canonical metallic targets and the result obtained shows good discrimination margin. The free space target response was obtained using FDTD simulation and the subsurface target response was obtained using frequency domain measurement done for the targets buried under dry sand. 1

Quiescence of an Outburst of a Low-Mass Young Stellar Object: LDN1415-IRS

LDN1415-IRS, a low-mass young stellar object (YSO) went into an outburst between 2001 and 2006, illuminating a surrounding nebula, LDN1415-Neb. LDN1415-Neb was found to have brightened by I=3.77 mag by April 2006. The optical light curve covering $\sim$ 15.5 years, starting from October 2006 to January 2022, is presented in this study. The initial optical spectrum indicated the presence of winds in the system but the subsequent spectra have no wind indicators. The declining light curve and the absence of the P-Cygni profile in later epoch spectra indicate that the star and nebula system is retrieving back from its outburst state. Two Herbig-Haro objects (HHOs) are positioned linearly with respect to the optical brightness peak of the nebula, probably indicating the circumstellar disk being viewed edge-on. Our recent deep near-infrared (NIR) imaging using TANSPEC has revealed the presence of a nearby star-like source, south of the LDN1415-IRS, at an angular distance of $\sim$ 5.4 arcsec.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Journal of Astrophysics and Astronom

SEED BANK DYNAMICS OF KEKILLA FERN LANDS AND ABANDONED CHENA UNDER PARTIAL SHADE AND FULL SUN CONDITIONS

Seed bank dynamics can be considered an important component of the regeneration ofindividual plant populations and communities. Soil seed bank dynamics in Kekillafernlands and abandoned chena need to be studied as possible sources of regeneration forforest restoration of degraded lands.This study was done to understand regeneration dynamics of soil seed banks with referenceto two light regimes in Kekil1a fernlands and abandoned chena in the periphery ofSinharaja World Heritage Site.Sinharaja World Heritage Site is one of the least disturbed and biologically unique lowlandrain forests now remaining in Sri Lanka. Today some areas of the periphery of Sinharajaare covered with secondary scrub and Kekilla (Dicranopteris linearis) fernlands. Threesites of Kekilla fernlands and three sites of abandoned chena were selected for the study.Four soil samples were purposively collected from four different locations in each site.These four samples were pooled and mixed in a polythene bag. Eight trays were preparedusing one mixture of soil from one site. Four trays from each site were placed underpartial shade (750J.! mol m-2 S-1 ) and others were placed under full sunlight (2000J.! mol m-2S-I). Seeds inside the soils were allowed to germinate. Newly germinated seeds wererecorded every fifth day. All germinated seeds that were able to be identified wereremoved and counted once a month.Seedlings of 45 taxa were identified during the period of study. Among the countedseedlings a larger proportion was recruited under the partial shade treatment than full suntreatment. Results indicate that the number of species germinated from abandoned chenawas greater than that of Kekilla femlands. Finding suggest that in all treatments onlypioneer species germinated. Climax species were not represented in any of the sites orlight treatments

Serum isocitrate dehydrogenase activity in Reye's syndrome

Serum levels of isocitrate dehydrogenase was determined in 12 Reye's syndrome patients and the enzyme levels were compared with serum ornithine carbamyl phosphate, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (aspartate aminotransferase), ammonia, and the stages of the disorder. Isocitrate dehydrogenase was elevated in 8 of the 12 patients and there was no direct correlation between elevated serum isocitrate dehydrogenase level and other clinical parameters.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/26752/1/0000304.pd

Micro-fabrication of Carbon Structures by Pattern Miniaturization in Resorcinol-Formaldehyde Gel

A simple and novel method to fabricate and miniaturize surface and sub-surface micro-structures and micro-patterns in glassy carbon is proposed and demonstrated. An aqueous resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) sol is employed for micro-molding of the master-pattern to be replicated, followed by controlled drying and pyrolysis of the gel to reproduce an isotropically shrunk replica in carbon. The miniaturized version of the master-pattern thus replicated in carbon is about one order of magnitude smaller than original master by repeating three times the above cycle of molding and drying. The micro-fabrication method proposed will greatly enhance the toolbox for a facile fabrication of a variety of Carbon-MEMS and C-microfluidic devices.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figure

Governance disclosure quality and market valuation of firms

This study develops a ‘comply or explain’ index which captures compliance and quality of explanations given for non-compliance with the corporate governance codes in UK and Germany. In particular, we explain, how compliance and quality of explanations provided in non-compliance disclosures, and various other internal corporate governance mechanisms, affect the market valuation of firms in the two countries. A dynamic generalised method of moments (GMM) estimator is employed as the research technique for our analysis, which enabled us to control for the potential effects of endogeneity in our models. The findings of our content analysis suggest that firms exhibit significant differences in compliance, board independence and ownership structure in both countries. The ‘comply or explain’ index is positively associated with the market valuation of UK firms suggesting that compliance and quality governance disclosure is value relevant in the UK. Institutional blockholders’ ownership is however, negatively associated with the market value of firms, which raises questions about the monitoring role of institutional shareholders in both countries. We argue that both compliance and explanations given for non-compliance are equally important, as long as valid reasons and justifications for non-compliance are provided by the reporting companies. These findings thus imply that the ‘comply or explain’ principle is working well and that UK and German companies could benefit from the flexibility offered by this principle. With respect to the role of board size, board independence, ownership structure, and institutional ownership of firms, this study offers policy implications

Post-outburst evolution of bonafide FUor V2493 Cyg: A Spectro-photometric monitoring

We present here the results of eight years of our near-simultaneous optical/near-infrared spectro-photometric monitoring of bonafide FUor candidate `V2493 Cyg' starting from 2013 September to 2021 June. During our optical monitoring period (between October 16, 2015 and December 30, 2019), the V2493 Cyg is slowly dimming with an average dimming rate of $\sim$26.6 $\pm$ 5.6 mmag/yr in V band. Our optical photometric colors show a significant reddening of the source post the second outburst pointing towards a gradual expansion of the emitting region post the second outburst. The mid infra-red colors, on the contrary, exhibits a blueing trend which can be attributed to the brightening of the disc due to the outburst. Our spectroscopic monitoring shows a dramatic variation of the H$\alpha$ line as it transitioned from absorption feature to the emission feature and back. Such transition can possibly be explained by the variation in the wind structure in combination with accretion. Combining our time evolution spectra of the Ca II infra-red triplet lines with the previously published spectra of V2493 Cyg, we find that the accretion region has stabilised compared to the early days of the outburst. The evolution of the O I $\lambda$7773 \AA~ line also points towards the stabilization of the circumstellar disc post the second outburst.Comment: 34 pages, 12 figures, 6 tables, accepted for publication in Ap

Estimating yield-contributing physiological parameters of cotton using UAV-based imagery

Lint yield in cotton is governed by light intercepted by the canopy (IPAR), radiation use efficiency (RUE), and harvest index (HI). However, the conventional methods of measuring these yield-governing physiological parameters are labor-intensive, time-consuming and requires destructive sampling. This study aimed to explore the use of low-cost and high-resolution UAV-based RGB and multispectral imagery 1) to estimate fraction of IPAR (IPARf), RUE, and biomass throughout the season, 2) to estimate lint yield using the cotton fiber index (CFI), and 3) to determine the potential use of biomass and lint yield models for estimating cotton HI. An experiment was conducted during the 2021 and 2022 growing seasons in Tifton, Georgia, USA in randomized complete block design with five different nitrogen treatments. Different nitrogen treatments were applied to generate substantial variability in canopy development and yield. UAV imagery was collected bi-weekly along with light interception and biomass measurements throughout the season, and 20 different vegetation indices (VIs) were computed from the imagery. Generalized linear regression was performed to develop models using VIs and growing degree days (GDDs). The IPARf models had R2 values ranging from 0.66 to 0.90, and models based on RVI and RECI explained the highest variation (93%) in IPARf during cross-validation. Similarly, cotton above-ground biomass was best estimated by models from MSAVI and OSAVI. Estimation of RUE using actual biomass measurement and RVI-based IPARf model was able to explain 84% of variation in RUE. CFI from UAV-based RGB imagery had strong relationship (R2 = 0.69) with machine harvested lint yield. The estimated HI from CFI-based lint yield and MSAVI-based biomass models was able to explain 40 to 49% of variation in measured HI for the 2022 growing season. The models developed to estimate the yield-contributing physiological parameters in cotton showed low to strong performance, with IPARf and above-ground biomass having greater prediction accuracy. Future studies on accurate estimation of lint yield is suggested for precise cotton HI prediction. This study is the first attempt of its kind and the results can be used to expand and improve research on predicting functional yield drivers of cotton

A bibliography of parasites and diseases of marine and freshwater fishes of India

With the increasing demand for fish as human food, aquaculture both in freshwater and salt water is rapidly developing over the world. In the developing countries, fishes are being raised as food. In many countries fish farming is a very important economic activity. The most recent branch, mariculture, has shown advances in raising fishes in brackish, estuarine and bay waters, in which marine, anadromous and catadromous fishes have successfully been grown and maintained

Concepts of Animal Health and Welfare in Organic Livestock Systems

In 2005, The International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM) developed four new ethical principles of organic agriculture to guide its future development: the principles of health, ecology, care, and fairness. The key distinctive concept of animal welfare in organic agriculture combines naturalness and human care, and can be linked meaningfully with these principles. In practice, a number of challenges are connected with making organic livestock systems work. These challenges are particularly dominant in immature agro-ecological systems, for example those that are characterized by industrialization and monoculture. Some of the current challenges are partly created by shortages of land and manure, which encourage zero-grazing and other confined systems. Other challenges are created in part by the conditions for farming and the way in which global food distribution systems are organized, e.g., how live animals are transported, how feed is traded and transported all over the globe, and the development of infrastructure and large herds. We find that the overall organic principles should be included when formulating guidelines for practical organic animal farming. This article explores how the special organic conceptions of animal welfare are related to the overall principles of organic agriculture. The aim is to identify potential routes for future development of organic livestock systems in different contexts and with reference to the specific understanding of animal welfare in organic agriculture. We include two contrasting cases represented by organic livestock systems in northwestern Europe and farming systems in tropical low-income countries; we use these cases to explore the widely different challenges of organic livestock systems in different parts of the world