Rapid plant regeneration of chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium l.) through shoot tip culture

Shoot multiplication of chrysanthemum was achieved from shoot tip explant, using MS media supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of plant growth regulators. Different parameters including shoot initiation percentage, average number of shoots per explant, length of shoots (cm), number of leaves per shoot and number of nodes per shoot were studied during the course of study. Low concentration of indole-acetic acid (IAA, 0.1 mg/l) excelled all the other concentrations in almost all the parameters studied when used alone, as maximum shoot initiation (86.6%), shoot per explants (3.9), length of shoots (4.3 cm), number of leaves (10.0) and nodes (4.8)were recorded in it. Intermediate concentration of benzyladenine purine (BAP, 1.0 mg/l) is superior to all the other BAP concentrations used when used alone. MS media fortified with 1.0 mg/l BAP hadproduced the maximum shoot initiation (93.3%), shoot per explant (4.1), length of shoots (5.0 cm) number of leaves (11.0) and nodes (5.5). Similarly, when the combination of different concentrations ofIAA and BAP were used, significant results regarding the regeneration of chrysanthemum plantlets were achieved. MS media supplemented with intermediate levels of BAP (1.0 and 2.0 mg/l) along withlower concentrations of IAA (0.1 and 0.2 mg/l) showed better results as compared to other concentrations and combinations. Satisfactory rooting response was obtained in half strength MS media supplemented with 0.2 mg/l indole butyric acid (IBA)

An Investigation into the Performance of Ethnicity Verification Between Humans and Machine Learning Algorithms

There has been a significant increase in the interest for the task of classifying demographic profiles i.e. race and ethnicity. Ethnicity is a significant human characteristic and applying facial image data for the discrimination of ethnicity is integral to face-related biometric systems. Given the diversity in the application of ethnicity-specific information such as face recognition and iris recognition, and the availability of image datasets for more commonly available human populations, i.e. Caucasian, African-American, Asians, and South-Asian Indians. A gap has been identified for the development of a system which analyses the full-face and its individual feature-components (eyes, nose and mouth), for the Pakistani ethnic group. An efficient system is proposed for the verification of the Pakistani ethnicity, which incorporates a two-tier (computer vs human) approach. Firstly, hand-crafted features were used to ascertain the descriptive nature of a frontal-image and facial profile, for the Pakistani ethnicity. A total of 26 facial landmarks were selected (16 frontal and 10 for the profile) and by incorporating 2 models for redundant information removal, and a linear classifier for the binary task. The experimental results concluded that the facial profile image of a Pakistani face is distinct amongst other ethnicities. However, the methodology consisted of limitations for example, low performance accuracy, the laborious nature of manual data i.e. facial landmark, annotation, and the small facial image dataset. To make the system more accurate and robust, Deep Learning models are employed for ethnicity classification. Various state-of-the-art Deep models are trained on a range of facial image conditions, i.e. full face and partial-face images, plus standalone feature components such as the nose and mouth. Since ethnicity is pertinent to the research, a novel facial image database entitled Pakistani Face Database (PFDB), was created using a criterion-specific selection process, to ensure assurance in each of the assigned class-memberships, i.e. Pakistani and Non-Pakistani. Comparative analysis between 6 Deep Learning models was carried out on augmented image datasets, and the analysis demonstrates that Deep Learning yields better performance accuracy compared to low-level features. The human phase of the ethnicity classification framework tested the discrimination ability of novice Pakistani and Non-Pakistani participants, using a computerised ethnicity task. The results suggest that humans are better at discriminating between Pakistani and Non-Pakistani full face images, relative to individual face-feature components (eyes, nose, mouth), struggling the most with the nose, when making judgements of ethnicity. To understand the effects of display conditions on ethnicity discrimination accuracy, two conditions were tested; (i) Two-Alternative Forced Choice (2-AFC) and (ii) Single image procedure. The results concluded that participants perform significantly better in trials where the target (Pakistani) image is shown alongside a distractor (Non-Pakistani) image. To conclude the proposed framework, directions for future study are suggested to advance the current understanding of image based ethnicity verification.Acumé Forensi

Efficient in vitro

Efficient plant regeneration system has been developed from the nodal segments of chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium L). Nodal segments, after being sterilized with 1.0% mercuric chloride for three minutes, were inoculated in Murashige and Skoog (MS) media with varied concentrations of indole acetic acid (IAA), benzylaminopurine (BAP) and their combinations. Different parameters including shoot initiation percentage, average number of shoots per explant, length of shoots (cm), number of leaves per shoot and number of nodes per shoot were studied during the course of study. Intermediate level (0.3 mg/l) of IAA exceeded all the other concentrations of IAA by producing 80.0 % shoot initiation, an average of 4.0 shoots per explants, 5.1 cm long shoots, 11.3 leaves and 5.6 nodes per shoot, when used alone. Similarly, intermediate level of BAP (1.0 mg/l) showed its supremacy over all the other concentrations as it produced 100% shoot initiation, 4.9 shoots per explant, 5.8 cm long shoots, 13.4 leaves and 6.3 nodes per shoot, when used alone. When the combination of different concentrations of IAA and BAP were used, significant results regarding the regeneration of chrysanthemum plantlets were also achieved. MS media supplemented with lower concentrations of IAA (0.1 and 0.2 mg/l) along with intermediate levels of BAP (1.0 and 2.0 mg/l) had a favorable effect on the regeneration of chrysanthemum plantlets using nodal segments of chrysanthemum, as compared to other concentrations and combinations. Satisfactory rooting response was obtained in half strength MS media supplemented with 0.2 mg/l indole butyric acid (IBA), followed by 0.2 mg/l naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and IAA, respectively.Key words: Chrysanthemum, Dendranthema morifolium, growth regulators, in vitro culture, nodal segments, auxins, rooting

Inter-Ethnic and Demic-Group Variations in Craniofacial Anthropometry: A Review

yesCraniofacial anthropometry plays an important role in facial structure. This review paper evaluates existing research surrounding population norms of studied facial parameters. The purpose is two-fold: (1) to determine variations in facial measurements due to demi-group or ethnic variations based on traditional (direct) caliper based and image based (indirect) anthropometric methods. (2) to compare where possible, measured facial parameters between referenced studies. Inter and intra-population variations in addition to sexual dimorphism of facial parameters such as the nose and eyes, singularly or in combination with one another, have been concluded. Ocular measurements have exhibited ethnic variations between males and females of the Saudi, Turkish, Egyptian and Iranian group. Moreover, demic variations are reported when the native language has been used a key criterion. It has been concluded that with the current state of migration and inter-demic marriages, the study of homogenous populations will prove difficult. Subsequently, this will result in ambiguous physical traits that are not representative for any one demic or ethnic population. In this paper, results for the following adult male and female populations have been discussed: African American, Azerbaijani, Caribbean, Chinese, Croatian, Egyptian, Italian, Iranian, Turkish, Saudi Arabian, Syrian and South African. The qualitative research presented serves as a knowledge base for learners and strikes up thought provoking concepts about the direction anthropometrical research is heading

Standardising the Capture and Processing of Custody Images

yesCustody images are a standard feature of everyday Policing and are commonly used during investigative work to establish whether the perpetrator and the suspect are the same. The process of identification relies heavily on the quality of a custody image because a low-quality image may mask identifying features. With an increased demand for high quality facial images and the requirement to integrate biometrics and machine vision technology to the field of face identification, this research presents an innovative image capture and biometric recording system called the Halo. Halo is a pioneering system which (1) uses machine vision cameras to capture high quality facial images from 8 planes of view (including CCTV simulated), (2) uses high quality video technology to record identification parades and, (3) records biometric data from the face by using a Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) based algorithm, which is a supervised machine learning technique. Results based on our preliminary experiments have concluded a 100% facial recognition rate for layer 34 within the VGG-Face model. These results are significant for the sector of forensic science, especially digital image capture and facial identification as they highlight the importance of image quality and demonstrates the complementing nature a robust machine learning algorithm has on an everyday Policing process

Impedance-Based Water-Quality Monitoring Using the Parallel-Plate Method

The application of electromagnetic (EM) waves to measure the electrical properties (dielectric constant and loss tangent) of materials is a well-known approach. The electrical properties can be used to indirectly measure several physical properties of solutions in water such as the concentration and chemical composition of contaminants in water, as a representative of the liquid phase in soil. A capacitive method of measuring dielectric properties of solutions is proposed to detect and determine low-concentration chemical and biological contaminations in water. The primary objective of this project is to design a low-cost sensor that would require small volumes of samples to detect low concentrations of dissolved contaminants in water. A forward model was developed using a finite-element method (FEM) to simulate the experimental setup (EXP). A calibration function was also developed to minimize deviations between FEM and EXP results for benchmark/reference solutions with known dielectric properties. The validated, calibrated forward model was then inverted to calculate the electrical properties of unknown solutions using the corresponding EXP results

Ultrashort laser sintering of printed silver nanoparticles on thin, flexible, and porous substrates

The fabrication of low-cost and mechanically robust flexible electronic patterns has increasingly gained attention due to their growing applications in flexible displays, touch screen panels, medical devices, and solar cells. Such applications require cost-effective deposition of metals in a well-controlled manner potentially using nanoparticles (NPs). The presence of solvent and precursors in NP based inks impacts the electrical conductivity of the printed pattern and a post-processing heating step is typically performed to restore the electrical properties and structure of the material. We report printing with picolitre droplet volumes of silver (Ag) NPs on flexible substrates using an acoustic microdroplet dispenser. The low-cost, controlled deposition of Ag ink is performed at room temperature on photopaper, polyimide and clear polyimide substrates. A localized, ultrashort pulsed laser with minimal heat affected zone is employed to sinter printed Ag patterns. For comparison, oven sintering is performed, and the results are analysed with scanning electron microscopy, four-point probe and Hall measurements. The femtosecond laser sintering revealed highly organized, connected nanostructure that is not achievable with oven heating. A significant decrease in sheet resistance, up to 93% in Ag NPs on clear polyimide confirms the laser sintering improves the connectivity of the printed film and as a result, the electrical properties are enhanced. The surface morphology attained by the laser sintering process is interpreted to be due to a joining of NPs as a result of a solid-state diffusion process in the near surface region of NPs

Proposal of RT-PCReBased Mass Population Screening for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (Coronavirus Disease 2019)

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing has lagged in many countries because of test kit shortages and analytical process bottlenecks. This study investigated the feasibility and accuracy of a sample pooling approach for wide-scale population screening for coronavirus disease 2019. A total of 940 nasopharyngeal swab samples (934 negative and 6 positive) previously tested for SARS-CoV-2 were deidentified and assigned random numbers for analysis, and 94 pools of 10 samples each were generated. Automated RNA extraction, followed by RT-PCR, was performed in a 96-well plate. Positive pools were identified, and the individual samples were reanalyzed. Of the 94 pools/wells, four were positive [Ct values: N (22.7 to 28.3), ORF1ab (23.3 to 27.2), and internal control (34.4 to 35.4)]. The 40 samples comprising the four pools were identified and reanalyzed individually; six samples were positive, with Ct values of N gene, ORF1ab, and internal control comparable to their respective wells. Additional experiments were performed on samples with high Ct values, and overall results showed 91.6% positive and 100% negative agreement compared with individual testing approach. Thus, 940 samples were tested in 148 reactions compared with 940 reactions in routine screening. The sample pooling strategy may help catch up with testing needs and minimal turnaround times and facilitate enormous savings on laboratory supplies, extraction, and PCR kits currently in short supply