Gray Image extraction using Fuzzy Logic

Fuzzy systems concern fundamental methodology to represent and process uncertainty and imprecision in the linguistic information. The fuzzy systems that use fuzzy rules to represent the domain knowledge of the problem are known as Fuzzy Rule Base Systems (FRBS). On the other hand image segmentation and subsequent extraction from a noise-affected background, with the help of various soft computing methods, are relatively new and quite popular due to various reasons. These methods include various Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models (primarily supervised in nature), Genetic Algorithm (GA) based techniques, intensity histogram based methods etc. providing an extraction solution working in unsupervised mode happens to be even more interesting problem. Literature suggests that effort in this respect appears to be quite rudimentary. In the present article, we propose a fuzzy rule guided novel technique that is functional devoid of any external intervention during execution. Experimental results suggest that this approach is an efficient one in comparison to different other techniques extensively addressed in literature. In order to justify the supremacy of performance of our proposed technique in respect of its competitors, we take recourse to effective metrics like Mean Squared Error (MSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR).Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, Fuzzy Rule Base, Image Extraction, Fuzzy Inference System (FIS), Membership Functions, Membership values,Image coding and Processing, Soft Computing, Computer Vision Accepted and published in IEEE. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1206.363

Urban Ecosystems: Preservation and Management of Urban Water Bodies

The sensitivity of our fore fathers towards the environment and its resources never made us feel the agony of water scarcity. They understood the value of water and tapped it through artificial water sources, which became sources of survival even when our cities were not located near any natural water body. However, as the cities developed and grew into larger metropolises, land value grew and land invariably became an asset. The first casualties of such widespread evelopment were the urban water bodies that got converted into cesspools of urban sewage, mosquito-breeding areas and slowly degraded. Incessant land filling of these water bodies, which once were pristine waters sustaining life gave more land to build upon. The following paper studies and elaborates the methodology adopted by the development agencies to restore and conserve these urban wetlands and water bodies under the technical guidance of experts from national / international organizations.Three case studies from the city of Hyderabad, India are discussed with a focus on understanding the present status of lakes and physical condition of their surroundings, strategies for fund mobilization, types of local involvement and community participation, ways of continuous monitoring and maintenance, etc. thereby creating a self-sustainable and integrated management plan

DIGITAL CAMPAIGN TRACKING WITH RESPECT TO APPLICATION INFRASTRUCTURE

Digital campaigns are often derailed from their goals due to amiss or often miscalculated aspects of the impact of the campaign on application infrastructure. To mitigate this problem, an approach is described herein which unifies these otherwise disjoint domains of digital marketing and application monitoring analytics. A solution is provided whereby a user may perform capacity planning for upcoming campaigns and perform real time correlation on campaign and infrastructure Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), thus maximizing revenue and optimizing infrastructure cost. Through machine learning algorithms which are running on top of correlated data from both the domains, a plethora of actionable and valuable insights may be unraveled

Urban wetlands: preservation and management of urban ecosystems

Hyderabad had around 400 lakes a century ago that played a significant role in the urban ecology. They were habitats for a variety of flora and fauna and acted as microclimate stabilizers. Most of them had social, cultural and historical significance. They were natural sources of ground water recharge and flood prevention. But, today only 104 of them exist. Hyderabad has shortage of underground water, as it is located on the Deccan plateau formed of igneous rocks. Over the centuries, these water bodies served as flood cushions and rainwater storage tanks, assuring water for domestic use and agriculture for a period ranging between 6-8 months annually. But during the past 50 years, these wetlands have undergone tremendous deterioration due to over exploitation and improper management of lakeshore areas. Reducing output of water from these water bodies have made them even more vulnerable. Introduction of sewage and pollutants has degraded the water quality for sustenance of aquatic life and also pollution of underground water has been affecting the health of the society considerably. Added to this, there has been the increasing lacuna of development agencies and the growing reliability of consumers on packaged water that the situation has gone beyond repair in many cases. The seriousness of environmental deterioration and their implications were felt in the form of flash floods in 2000-2001, extreme underground water shortage, reduction in agricultural produce, spread of water borne diseases and loss of potential centers of tourism and recreation. The scope of the paper is to detail out the methodology adopted by the development agencies to restore and conserve these urban wetlands and water bodies under the technical guidance of national and international bodies and experts. Aspects dealt in this respect are their present status and surrounding physical conditions, fund mobilization, community participation, maintenance, etc. thereby generating a self-sustainable and integrated management plan

Meteorological Trend Analysis in Western Rajasthan (India) using Geographical Information System and Statistical Techniques

The present study focuses on the long term trends of meteorological parameters like precipitation, temperature, solar radiation, wind direction etc. of Udaipur district, Rajasthan which is mainly located in semi-arid zone in India. Meteorological parameters have been taken for this study to find out the annual variability using Mann-Kendall test and Sen’s slope estimator. Yearly long term trend has been identified for thirty one years of data. There are both increasing and decreasing trends of meteorological parameters obtained by this MK test, suggesting overall significant changes in the study area.   Keywords: Trend analysis, Meteorological parameters, Mann-Kendall test, Sen’s slope.

Effect of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole vs. norfloxacin on fecal E. coli resistance pattern and efficacy in patients receiving prophylaxis for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

Background: Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis (SBP) is an infection of ascitic fluid. It is highly mortal and recurrent condition, so prophylaxis with Norfloxacin (NOR) or Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) seems to play an important role in the prevention of further episodes of SBP. Aims of the study were to assess the effect of TMP-SMX/NOR on the sensitivity pattern of fecal E. coli after long term prophylaxis in Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis (SBP) and to compare the efficacy of TMP-SMX and NOR in prophylaxis of SBP.Methods: An interventional, prospective, open label, single center study conducted in Maulana Azad medical college, New Delhi, India. 52 patients of SBP or with high risk of SBP were screened and finally 39 patients were recruited. Stool sensitivity testing of fecal E. coli was done and they were divided into TMP-SMX group(n=18) and NOR group(n=21) according to sensitivity. After 45±3 days (7 weeks) their stool sample was re-examined for change sensitivity pattern of E. coli. Efficacy variables like any episode of SBP, fever (FEV) resolution of ascites (ASC), bacteremia (BACT), extraperitoneal infection (EPI), liver transplantation (LT) or death (D) were noted throughout the period of 24 weeks.Results: Resistance developed in 60% vs. 48% in TMP-SMX vs. NOR group(p=0.46) after 45 days of prophylaxis. By the end of 24 weeks, Incidence of SBP (29%vs. 25%, p>0.99), episodes of FEV(P=0.60), EPI(p>0.99), ASC(p>0.99) and death (14% vs. 16%, p>0.99) were almost similar in both the groups (TMP-SMX vs. NOR) respectively.Conclusions: Both TMP-SMX and NOR showed same degree of resistance and found equi-efficacious when administered as long-term prophylactic therapy in SBP. TMP-SMX can be a suitable as well as cost effective alternative to NOR for the prophylaxis of SBP