2,985 research outputs found

    A Robust Approach of Embedding Watermark Blocks In Digital Video for Copyright Protection Using Zero Padding Algorithm

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    Digital copyright protection has become an effective way to prove the ownership and protect the multimedia contents from illegal use and unauthorized users. In order to prove the ownership of a video certain security program is embedded in a video and one of the ways of ensuring the ownership of a video is embedding the watermark in a video. In this paper a new approach of digital video copyright protection with Zero Padding Algorithm (ZPA) is proposed. With the help of this algorithm, it is hard to know the original pattern of watermark. This algorithm splits the watermark into small pieces and minimizes the perceptual degradation of watermarked video because of ZPA. In this paper Digital Wavelet transform (DWT) is used to embed the watermark in the LL sub-band, based on the energy of high frequency sub-band in an adaptive manner. The proposed algorithm has undergone various attacks, such as compression, uniform noise, Gaussian noise, frame repetition and frame averaging attacks. The proposed algorithm, sustain all the above attacks and offers improved performance compared with the other methods from the literature

    Mortality implications and factors associated with nonengagement in a public epilepsy care initiative in a transient population

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    BACKGROUND: Community-based, public care programs are a requisite to close the epilepsy treatment gap in disadvantaged communities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Potential beneficiaries may, however, choose not to engage in these programs. AIMS: The aim of the study was to describe factors associated with and mortality consequences of nonacceptance of a public epilepsy care initiative. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we contacted 207 (36%) people out of 575 who screened positive for epilepsy during a population-based survey of 59,509 people. They were invited for neurological evaluation and care provision (including antiseizure medications (ASMs)) but chose not to engage. Structured questionnaires and qualitative interviews were conducted to determine reason for their nonengagement. Factors associated with nonengagement were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis. We conducted verbal autopsies for those who had died. RESULTS: Ten (5%) of the 207 individuals died since the initial screening; six with epilepsy-related causes. Of those who could be contacted (n = 48), 40 (19%) were confirmed to have epilepsy. Nonengaging individuals were likely to be older (odds ratio (OR): 1.02; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01, 1.11), locals (OR: 4.32; 95% CI, 1.55, 12.03), and earn less than US$ 78/month (OR: 3.6; 95% CI, 1.62, 8.06). Reasons for not engaging included a belief that epilepsy is inconsequential, loss of daily wages owing to healthcare facility visit and physical infirmity. CONCLUSIONS: Nonacceptance of a community-based public epilepsy care initiative is associated with high premature mortality, mostly attributed to epilepsy-related causes. Older age, ethnic status, and economic deprivation are factors associated with nonacceptance, though the underlying reasons may be varied

    Perspectives of chalcopyrite-based CIGSe thin-film solar cell: a review

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    Solar photovoltaic (PV) is empowering, reliable, and ecofriendly technology for harvesting energy which can be assessed from the fact that PV panels with total electricity generation capacity of 505 GW have been installed by the end of 2018. Thin-film solar cells based on copper indium gallium selenide (CIGSe) are promising photovoltaic absorber material owing to an alternative to crystalline silicon (c-Si)-based solar cells because of the huge potential for low-cost solar electricity production with minimal usage of raw materials. The efficiency record of 23.4% was achieved recently in CIGSe solar cells, which was comparable to c-Si solar cells (27.6%). The manufacturing cost of $0.34/W is expected for 15% efficient CIGSe module. The present review article discusses the perspectives of CISe/CIGSe-based thin-film solar cells with the focus on absorber material. Different vacuum and non-vacuum techniques for fabricating these materials are discussed along with the operation of solar cells and their manufacturability. The working mechanism of CIGSe solar cells with the characteristic features of the open-circuit voltage and current density as well as the factors influencing the efficiency in different fabrication techniques are reviewed. Moreover, some strategies toward the improvement of solar cells performance contemplating modified deposition are reviewed. Furthermore, how these strategies can be executed in order to make it cost effective methods is also discussed in detail. Prevailing constrictions for the commercial maturity are deliberated, and future perspectives for improvement at lab as well as industrial scalabilities are outlined

    Identification of micro satellite markers on chromosomes of bread wheat showing an association with karnal bunt resistance

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    A set of 104 wheat recombinant inbred lines developed from a cross between parents resistant (HD 29) and susceptible (WH 542) to karnal bunt (caused by Neovossia indica) were screened and used toidentify SSR markers linked with resistance to karnal bunt as these would allow indirect marker assisted selection of karnal bunt resistant genotypes. The two parents were analysed with 46 SSR primer pairs. Of these, 15 (32%) were found polymorphic between the two parental genotypes. Using these primer pairs, we carried out bulked segregate analysis on two bulked DNAs, one obtained by pooling DNA from 10 karnal bunt resistant recombinant inbred lines and the other similarly derived by pooling DNA from 10 karnal bunt susceptible recombinant inbred lines. Two molecular markers, Xgwm 337-1D and Xgwm 637-4A showed apparent linkage with resistance to karnal bunt. This was confirmed following selective genotyping of individual recombinant inbred lines included in the bulks. These markers may be useful in marker assisted selection for karnal bunt resistance in wheat

    Shockwave synthesis of a thallium-based superconductor with a novel defect microstructure

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    We report the shock-wave synthesis at a yield ≳80% by volume of the single copper layer thalliumsuperconductor of composition Tl2Ba2CuO6. The as-synthesized material displays zero resistance near 55 K and a diamagnetic onset to bulk superconductivity at 70 K. Lattice imaging indicates that the superconducting microcrystals consist of a novel defect microstructure involving an intergrowth of two copper-oxygen layers probably interleaved by partial thallium and barium occupancy

    Podophyllum hexandrum Offers Radioprotection by Modulating Free Radical Flux: Role of Aryl-Tetralin Lignans

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    We have evaluated the effect of variation in aryl-tetralin lignans on the radioprotective properties of Podophyllum hexandrum. Two fractionated fractions of P. hexandrum [methanolic (S1) and chloroform fractions (S2)], with varying aryl-tetralin lignan content were utilized for the present study. The peroxyl ion scavenging potentials of S1 and S2 were found to be comparable [i.e. 45.88% (S1) and 41% (S2)] after a 48 h interval in a time-dependent study, whereas in a 2 h study, S2 exhibited significant (P < 0.05) antioxidant activity in different metal ion + flux states. In the aqueous phase, S2 exhibited non-site-specific reactive oxygen species scavenging activity, i.e. 73.12% inhibition at 500 μg ml(−1). S1 exhibited 58.40 ± 0.8% inhibition (at 0.025 μg ml(−1)) of the formation of reactive nitrite radicals, comparable to S2 (52.45 ± 0.825%), and also showed 45.01% site-specific activity (1000 μg ml(−1)), along with significant (P < 0.05) electron donation potential (50–2000 μg ml(−1)) compared to S2. Such activities of S1 could be attributed to the significantly (P < 0.05) higher levels of podophyllotoxin β-d-glucopyranoside (16.5 times) and demethyl podophyllotoxin glucoside (2.9 times) compared with S2. Together, these findings clearly prove that aryl-tetralin lignan content influences the radiation protective potential of the Podophyllum fractions to a great extent

    Pulse Intensity Effects of Burst and Tonic Spinal Cord Stimulation on Neural Responses to Brushing in Patients With Neuropathic Pain.

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    Objectives: Tonic spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is accompanied by paresthesia in affected body regions. Comparatively, the absence of paresthesia with burst SCS suggests different involvement of the dorsal column system conveying afferent impulses from lowthreshold mechanoreceptors. This study evaluated cortical activation changes during gentle brushing of a pain-free leg during four SCS pulse intensities to assess the effect of intensity on recruitment of dorsal column system fibers during burst and tonic SCS. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients using SCS (11 burst, nine tonic) for neuropathic leg pain participated. Brushing was administered to a pain-free area of the leg during four SCS intensities:therapeutic (100%),medium(66%),low(33%),andnostimulation. Whole-brain electroencephalography was continuously recorded. Changes in spectral power during brushing were evaluated using the event-related desynchronization (ERD) method in theta (4–7Hz),alpha(8–13 Hz), and beta (16–24 Hz) frequency bands. Results: Brushing was accompanied by a suppression of cortical oscillations in the range 4–24 Hz. Stronger intensities of burst and tonic SCS led to less suppression of 4–7 Hz and 8–13 Hz bands in parietal electrodes, and in central electrodes in the 16–24 Hz band, with the strongest, statistically significant suppression at medium intensity. Tonic SCS showed a stronger reduction in 4–7 Hz oscillations over right sensorimotor electrodes, and over right frontal and left sensorimotor electrodes in the 8–13 Hz band, compared to burst SCS. Conclusions: Results suggest that burst and tonic SCS are mediated by both different and shared mechanisms. Attenuated brushing-related ERD with tonic SCS suggests a gating of cortical activation by afferent impulses in the dorsal column, whereas burst may engage different pathways. Diminished brushing-related ERD at medium and therapeutic intensities of burst and tonic SCS points towards a nonlinear effect of SCS on somatosensory processing

    Acute kidney disease and renal recovery : consensus report of the Acute Disease Quality Initiative (ADQI) 16 Workgroup

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    Consensus definitions have been reached for both acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) and these definitions are now routinely used in research and clinical practice. The KDIGO guideline defines AKI as an abrupt decrease in kidney function occurring over 7 days or less, whereas CKD is defined by the persistence of kidney disease for a period of > 90 days. AKI and CKD are increasingly recognized as related entities and in some instances probably represent a continuum of the disease process. For patients in whom pathophysiologic processes are ongoing, the term acute kidney disease (AKD) has been proposed to define the course of disease after AKI; however, definitions of AKD and strategies for the management of patients with AKD are not currently available. In this consensus statement, the Acute Disease Quality Initiative (ADQI) proposes definitions, staging criteria for AKD, and strategies for the management of affected patients. We also make recommendations for areas of future research, which aim to improve understanding of the underlying processes and improve outcomes for patients with AKD

    (Un)becoming women: Indian factory women's counternarratives of gender

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    This paper portrays the life stories of five factory workers in Delhi whose life trajectories run counter to normative femininity. As daughters and wives, they are neglected, abandoned or rejected by their families; they live alone, with their parents past the age that is their natal right, with siblings, or with families and men who are not related to them. I explore the circulation of their counternarratives and how their gender transgressions go public through ordinary forms of talk, such as gossip and rumor. I argue that their move out of the normative is not produced by, but produces, their gender politics; that their agency emerges cognitively from the telling of their stories in tandem with their interlocutors' credulity and uptake; and that the site of gender politics for working class Indian women lies in the informal subaltern publics that are formed by the circulation of their stories. Contrary to the notion of a stable unitary subject that precedes the political, these women's counternarratives demonstrate the subject‐in‐process as a political effect. Their alterity does not exist outside the heteronormative gender order but demarcates the boundaries of its historicity, hinting at both the internal contradictions of existing gender relations and their future possibilities.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/112196/1/j.1467-954X.2011.02026.x.pd
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