Introduction to FERET Database and Facial Recognition using Local Binary Patterns

Face recognition includes two basic testing procedures. It includes both facial identification and verification. Face identification involves the process of giving the unknown fresh face to the system and ask it if it can recognize the person from already available database (of multiple images) in the system. For verification purposes, biometric signatures are stored on smart card in advance before delivering those to the authenticated masses. These persons swipe their biometric card in the card reader and give system their fresh signature. Now, the system, in turn, will compare both the newly given signature by the claimed person with the signature stored in the biometric card. On the basis of the compared result, either the claimed person is considered authenticated or not

Illustration of Medical Image Segmentation based on Clustering Algorithms

Image segmentation is the most basic and crucial process remembering the true objective to facilitate the characterization and representation of the structure of excitement for medical or basic images. Despite escalated research, segmentation remains a challenging issue because of the differing image content, cluttered objects, occlusion, non-uniform object surface, and different factors. There are numerous calculations and techniques accessible for image segmentation yet at the same time there requirements to build up an efficient, quick technique of medical image segmentation. This paper has focused on K-means and Fuzzy C means clustering algorithm to segment malaria blood samples in more accurate manner

Development of Amino acid-Substituted Gemini Surfactant-Based Non-invasive Non-Viral Gene Delivery Systems

Gemini surfactants are versatile gene delivery agents because of their ability to bind and compact DNA and their low cellular toxicity. The aim of my dissertation work was to develop non-invasive mucosal formulations of novel amino acid-substituted gemini surfactants with the general chemical formula C12H25(CH3)2N+-(CH2)3-N(AA)-(CH2)3-N+(CH3)2-C12H25 (AA= glycine, lysine, glycyl-lysine, lysyl-lysine). These compounds were formulated with a model plasmid DNA, encoding for interferon-γ and green fluorescent protein, in the presence of helper lipid, 1,2 dioleyl-sn-glycero-phosphatidyl-ethanolamine. Formulations were assessed in Sf 1 Ep epithelial cells. Among the novel compounds, plasmid/gemini/lipid (P/G/L) nanoparticles formulated using glycine- and glycyl-lysine substituted gemini surfactants achieved significantly higher gene expression than the parent unsubstituted compound. The key physicochemical properties, e.g. size, surface charge, DNA binding, and toxicity of P/G/L complexes were correlated with transfection efficiency. The presence of amino-acid substitution did not interfere with DNA compaction and contributed to an overall low toxicity of all P/G/L complexes, comparable to the parent gemini surfactant. A cellular uptake mechanistic study revealed that both clathrin- and caveolae-mediated uptake were major uptake routes for P/G/L nanoparticles. However, amino acid substitution in the gemini surfactant imparted high buffering capacity, pH-dependent increase in particle size, and balanced DNA binding properties. These properties may enhance endosomal escape of P/12-7NGK-12/L resulting in higher gene expression. Finally, the P/G/L complexes were incorporated into an in-situ gelling dispersion containing a thermosensitive polymer, poloxamer 407, and a permeation enhancer, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (DEGEE). A 16% w/v poloxamer concentration produced a dispersion that gelled at body temperature and exhibited sufficient yield value to prevent formulation leakage from the vaginal cavity. The formulations were prepared with a model plasmid, encoding for red fluorescent protein, and administered topically to rabbit vagina. In agreement with our in vitro results, confocal microscopy revealed that glycyl-lysine substituted gemini surfactant exhibited higher gene expression compared to the parent unsubstituted gemini surfactant. This provided proof-of-concept for use of amino acid-substituted gemini surfactant in non-invasive mucosal (vaginal) gene delivery systems with potential therapeutic applications. These formulations will be developed with therapeutically relevant genes to assess their potential as genetic vaccines. In addition, new gemini surfactants will be developed by grafting other amino acids via glycine linkage to retain conformation flexibility and enhance endosomal escape of DNA complexes for higher transfection efficiency

Evaluation of enhanced particle swarm optimization techniques for design of RC structural elements

In this paper, the use of extended versions of basic Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to Reinforced Concrete (RC) structural elements has been presented. The aim of extended versions of basic particle swarm optimization techniques to seek the global optima by maximizing the explorations area and minimizing the exploration time. Optimal sizing and reinforcement of RC structural members have been found by employing these techniques. The algorithms are coded in C++ and their effectiveness was tested in some benchmark mathematical functions. The different variables of each structural element have been considered as continuous functions and rounded off appropriately to imbibe the practical relevance of the present study

Evaluation of enhanced particle swarm optimization techniques for design of RC structural elements

In this paper, the use of extended versions of basic Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to Reinforced Concrete (RC) structural elements has been presented. The aim of extended versions of basic particle swarm optimization techniques to seek the global optima by maximizing the explorations area and minimizing the exploration time. Optimal sizing and reinforcement of RC structural members have been found by employing these techniques. The algorithms are coded in C++ and their effectiveness was tested in some benchmark mathematical functions. The different variables of each structural element have been considered as continuous functions and rounded off appropriately to imbibe the practical relevance of the present study

RCA models with correlated errors

AbstractFinancial time series data cannot be adequately modelled by a normal distribution and empirical evidence on the non-normality assumption is very well documented in the financial literature; see [R.F. Engle, Autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity with estimates of the variance of UK inflation, Econometrica 50 (1982) 987–1008] and [T. Bollerslev, Generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity, J. Econometrics 31 (1986) 307–327] for details. The kurtosis of various classes of RCA models has been the subject of a study by Appadoo et al. [S.S. Appadoo, M. Gharahmani, A. Thavaneswaran, Moment properties of some volatility models, Math. Sci. 30 (2005) 50–63] and Thavaneswaran et al. [A. Thavaneswaran, S.S. Appadoo, M. Samanta, Random coefficient GARCH models, Math. Comput. Modelling 41 (2005) 723–733]. In this work we derive the kurtosis of the correlated RCA model as well as the normal GARCH model under the assumption that the errors are correlated

A survey on Routing Protocols in Wireless Sensor Networks

In ad-hoc WSN is a collection of mobile nodes that are dynamically and randomly located in such a manner that the interconnections between nodes are changing on a continual basis. The dynamic nature of these networks demands new set of network routing strategy protocols to be implemented in order to provide efficient end-to end communication. Moreover, such issues are very critical due to severe resource constraints like efficient energy utilization, lifetime of network, and drastic environmental conditions in WSNs. Neither hop-by-hop nor neither direct reach ability is possible in case of WSNs. In order to facilitate communication within the network, a routing protocol is used. In this paper we have carried out an extensive survey on WSN protocols based on structure of network, routing protocol of network & clustering techniques of routing protocols

Taxonomic revision of the Genus Pieris Schrank (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) from India

The genus Pieris Schrank popularly called as garden whites are economically important species of family Pireridae, comprise 35 species world over and in India is represented by nine species. In the present manuscript, six species of genus Pieris Schrank i.e., i.e. P. brassicae (Linnaeus), P. canidia (Linnaeus),  P. deota (de Niceville),  P. extensa  Poujade, P. melete Menetries and P. rapae (Linnaeus) have been treated taxonomically from India. Besides studying morphological characters, their male and female genitalia have been described in details and illustrated for the first time. The diagnosis of the genus and key to species has been updated using genitalic attributes. In the study of genitalia, it has been observed that in the male genitalia of the genus Pieris the uncus is undivided and aedeagus is short and thick, whereas in the female genitalia the signum is bifid and appendix bursae are well developed. In the present work, the male genitalia of scheduled species P. deota has been studied and illustrated for the first time. The male and female genitalia of dry season forms and wet season forms of species P. melete, and the subspecies and polymorphic forms of species P. canidia have been studied and compared. It has been observed that in all forms there were no genitalic variations within the species

A study of prevalence of peripheral arterial disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus using ankle-brachial index and its correlation with coronary artery disease and its risk factors

Background: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is one of the macrovascular complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). There is significant difference in the reported prevalence of PAD and its associated risk factors between Indian and Western studies. The purpose of this study was to examine the PAD complicating T2DM, in particular the influence of PAD on the risk of CAD.Methods: Randomly selected 100 T2DM patients presented to Guru Nanak Dev hospital were included. In addition to a detailed history and physical examination, anthropometric parameters like body mass index was measured. CAD in patients was diagnosed by a history of angina, ECG changes, any past history of CAD or any treatment taken for CAD. Ankle brachial index (ABI) was measured. Data was collected systematically and analyzed according to the standard statistical methods.Results: The prevalence of PAD was 15%. CAD was present in 31%. PAD was found to be significantly correlated with age, duration of diabetes, smoking, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, prevalence of BMI >25 kg/m2, HbA1c and serum HDL ≤40 mg%. Old age, high HbA1c level, and dyslipidaemia were found to be significant independent predictors of CAD.Conclusions: Using ABI authors found evidence of PAD in 15% patients of T2DM. The prevalence of CAD was higher in patients with PAD. So, there is definite and strong correlation between PAD and CAD. Thus, the early diagnosis of PAD should alert the clinician to a high probability of underlying CAD

Wind Induced Pressure Variation on High-Rise Geometrically Modified Building Having Interference through CFD Simulation

The wind different forms i.e. cyclones, hurricanes, storms, tornados, etc., loads various structures which come in their way. To minimize the wind effects, different techniques have been used and geometrical modification is one of them. In this study, the pressure variation on a geometrically modified high-rise corner-cut building having interference has been evaluated. The study is carried out using ANSYS FLUENT in which CFD simulation is carried out for the different models at different wind incidence angles viz. 0°, 45°, and 90°. Two building models are used in this study, one is high rise Corner-cut building, which is called the principal or primary building. The other is a high-rise rectangular building, which is called interfering or secondary building. The results obtained in case of interference are then compared to that of an isolated corner-cut building. In general, from the present investigation, it is noticed that the suction effect increases due to the interference effect. When wind strikes obliquely the effect of interference is relatively lower