WikiSearch: An Information Retrieval System

WikiSearch is an information retrieval system (based on the vector space model) that can be used for searching Wikipedia, one of the largest knowledge bases in the world. Clustering techniques are utilized to group semantically related documents and improve the efficiency of the search system. Clustering allows relevant documents that do not match a query’s explicit form to be retrieved. Cluster labels are automatically generated using document features to provide a faceted browsing service for exploration and discovery. We also propose a storage scheme for creating and managing inverted index and clustering information using a NoSQL database. Finally, performance results are provided for the search system

Scenario Analysis of Rice Cultivation in Kerala

Rice is the staple food crop of Kerala. At present only 12% of the gross cropped area in the state is under paddy. The paddy fields in Kerala are constantly getting converted for other purposes. A steady decline in the area under rice cultivation occurred from 1980s onwards. This paper studies the changing trend in rice cultivation and provides the factors leading to shifting of rice cultivation

Transcription through chromatin - dynamic organization of genes

In this article, we discuss the dynamic organization of eukaryotic genes into chromatin. Remodeling of chromatin confers it the ability for dynamic change. Remodeling is essential for transcriptional regulation, the first step of gene expression

Spectral methods for modeling microstructure evolution in deformation processing of cubic polycrystalline metals

The mechanical properties of engineering materials are directly controlled by the underlying microstructure, which in turn is governed by the processing methods. The complete description of microstructure is extremely complex and is also not required for many microstructure-properties relationships of interest. The relevant details of the microstructure that influence strongly the elastic-plastic properties of the material include the lattice orientation distribution (texture), the grain size and shape distribution, and the arrangement and distribution of dislocation networks on the various slip systems in the constituent crystals. Of these, the crystallographic texture is perhaps the most important aspect of microstructure that has a strong influence on the elastic and the initial yield properties of most polycrystalline materials used in the manufacture of engineering components. It should also be noted that crystallographic texture is likely to have the dominant effect on the inherent anisotropy exhibited by these materials.The objective of this thesis is to provide a mathematical framework for the development of material databases; capturing the relevant details of the microstructure, while paying attention to inherent anisotropy of properties associated with them. Here crystallographic texture is the only microstructural parameter that is considered. This work is motivated by a new design paradigm called microstructure sensitive design (MSD) which employs statistical description of microstructure and its core feature is the efficient spectral representations of microstructure-property-processing linkages. Using the MSD framework as the basis, novel computational methodologies were developed in this work to build material spectral databases in single phase cubic polycrystalline materials. These databases were critically evaluated in three different cases: 1) To predict the effective macroscale elastic properties in perfectly disordered copper polycrystals 2) Evolution of the microstructure and the concomitant anisotropic stress-strain response during deformation processes in FCC polycrystals and (3) in developing a processing recipe to obtain a targeted texture using selected processing techniques.Ph.D., Materials Science and Engineering -- Drexel University, 200

Design and analysis of micro-channel heat-exchanger embedded in Low Temperature Co-fire Ceramic (LTCC)

Increased device density, switching speeds of integrated circuits and decrease in package size is placing new demands for high power thermal-management. The convectional method of forced air cooling with passive heat sink can handle heat fluxes up-to 3-5W/cm2; however current microprocessors are operating at levels of 100W/cm2, This demands the usage of novel thermal-management systems. In this work, water-cooling systems with active heat sink are embedded in the substrate. The research involved fabricating LTCC substrates of various configurations - an open-duct substrate, the second with thermal vias and the third with thermal vias and free-standing metal columns and metal foil. Thermal testing was performed experimentally and these results are compared with CFD results. An overall thermal resistance for the base substrate is demonstrated to be 3.4oC/W-cm2. Addition of thermal vias reduces the effective resistance of the system by 7times and further addition of free standing columns reduced it by 20times

A Novel Hip Implant Using 3D Woven Composite Material – Design and Analysis

The present research focuses on analyzing the possibility of implementing three dimensional woven composite (3DWC) materials in hip implants. The integration of 3DWCs in hip implants has the possibility to both extend the life-time and improve patient outcomes; by spatially varying mechanical properties to meet both biological needs as well as required mechanical loading. In this study, the bulk material properties of 3DWCs were varied based on woven composite architecture and determined using physics based models, which reflect the realistic geometries of fibers in compaction and preform. The multi-digital chain method combined with Extended Finite Elemental Analysis (XFEA) are adopted in this micro-analysis for composite design. Four different woven architectures with a combination of different existing biocompatible fiber and resins are considered in this study. The main objective is to assess the mechanical response of these biocompatible materials in the design of 3D woven architectures and determine their ability to match the required modulus at different regions of a hip implant. Results obtained show 3DWCs are viable candidates for this application. Multiple architectures and materials chosen, were able to achieve the desired mechanical response. Additional studies can use these results as a starting point and framework for further mechanical and biological testing

Transcription through chromatin - link to diseases and therapeutics

The expression of chromosomal genes is regulated by posttranslational modification of both histone and nonhistone chromatin proteins and ATP-dependent remodeling of chromatin. Dysfunction of the modification and remodeling machineries can lead to several diseases, which include cancer, cardiac hypertrophy, and asthma. Many genetic diseases can also lead to malfunction of the machinery. The enzymes responsible for chromatin organization are the new targets for therapeutics. Inhibitors and activators of histone acetyltransferases and inhibitors of histone deacetylases may serve as new generation drugs

On Monetizing Personal Wearable Devices Data: A Blockchain-based Marketplace for Data Crowdsourcing and Federated Machine Learning in Healthcare

Machine learning advancements in healthcare have made data collected through smartphones and wearable devices a vital source of public health and medical insights. While wearable device data helps to monitor, detect, and predict diseases and health conditions, some data owners hesitate to share such sensitive data with companies or researchers due to privacy concerns. Moreover, wearable devices have been recently available as commercial products; thus large, diverse, and representative datasets are not available to most researchers. In this article, we propose an open marketplace where wearable device users securely monetize their wearable device records by sharing data with consumers (e.g., researchers) to make wearable device data more available to healthcare researchers. To secure the data transactions in a privacy-preserving manner, we use a decentralized approach using Blockchain and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). To ensure data originality and integrity with secure validation, our marketplace uses Trusted Execution Environments (TEE) in wearable devices to verify the correctness of health data. The marketplace also allows researchers to train models using Federated Learning with a TEE-backed secure aggregation of data users may not be willing to share. To ensure user participation, we model incentive mechanisms for the Federated Learning-based and anonymized data-sharing approaches using NFTs. We also propose using payment channels and batching to reduce smart contact gas fees and optimize user profits. If widely adopted, we believe that TEE and Blockchain-based incentives will promote the ethical use of machine learning with validated wearable device data in healthcare and improve user participation due to incentives.

A Comparative Study On Financial Performance Of Public Sector Banks In India: An Analysis On Camel Model

Banking sector is one of the fastest growing sectors in India. Today’s banking sector becoming more complex. The objective of this study is to analyze the Financial Position and Performance of the Bank of Baroda and Punjab National Bank in India based on their financial characteristics. This study attempts to measure the relative performance of Indian banks. For this study, we have used public sector banks. We know that in the service sector, it is difficult to quantify the output because it is intangible. We have chosen the CAMEL model and t-test which measures the performance of bank from each of the important parameter like capital adequacy, asset quality, management efficiency, earning quality, liquidity and Sensitivity