Literature review of image compression effects on face recognition

In this research work, a literature review is conducted to assess the progress made in the field of image compression effects on the face recognition. The DCT algorithms are considered for the review and their application is limited only to JPEG compression. In this review, progress made in the DCT algorithms of a single image, and a series images from a video, namely 2D DCT and 3D DCT respectively, along with several other algorithms in the application of face recognition are discussed in detail.&nbsp

Evaluation of the oral hypoglycemic activity of methanolic extract of Garcinia indica seeds in streptozotocin induced diabetic Albino rats

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a multifactorial metabolic disorder with several microvascular and macrovascular complications. Several plants have been used as dietary adjuvants to conventional drug therapy. Garcinia indica exhibits significant hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic activity. This study was conducted to evaluate the hypoglycemic effects of methanolic extract of seeds of Garcinia indica on blood glucose levels in Streptozotocin induced diabetic albino rats.Methods: Five groups of wistar albino rats (n=6) weighing 150-200g of either sex aged 3-4 months were obtained for the study. After overnight fasting, streptozotocin (50mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally to induce diabetes. Five groups are: Group-1: Non diabetic control group, Group-2: diabetic control, Group-3: diabetic standard, Group-4: test group, Group-5: half of test + half of standard. Fasting blood sugar was estimated on 1, 3, 7, 14 and 28th day by capillary blood glucose method. The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis.Results: In this study, following Streptozotocin administration the blood glucose levels increased in all groups on day 0. In group 2, blood glucose level gradually increased to 445.6±1.75mg/dl over a period of 4 weeks. Following glibenclamide administration in Group 3 - there was a gradual reduction in blood glucose levels: 269.8mg/dl - day 7 to 101.8mg/dl - week 4. Group 4 - persistent and significant (p<0.05) fall in blood glucose levels reaching upto 107mg/dl at the end of 4 weeks. Group 5 - 330mg/dl on day 1 which significantly (p<0.05) reduced to 101mg/dl on day 28. There was improvement in weight in group 4 and group 5 diabetic rats.Conclusions: The extract alone and in combination with glibenclamide showed significant hypoglycemic activity in comparison to diabetic control group

Microbiological Spectrum of Brain Abscess at a Tertiary Care Hospital in South India: 24-Year Data and Review

Intracranial abscesses are life-threatening infections that pose a diagnostic challenge not only to the neurosurgeon but also to the microbiologists. Detailed studies documenting the spectrum of infecting agents involved in brain abscesses are limited from India. Materials and Methods. This is a retrospective analysis of 352 samples from 1987 to 2010 analyzed at a tertiary care hospital in South India from 1987 to 2010, to document the changing trends with time. Results. The age of the patients ranged from 2 to 80 years, a larger number of males being affected. Otogenic infections were the most common cause while cryptogenic abscesses were 20%. Gram stain and culture positivity were 78% each. Gram-positive and negative facultative aerobes and obligate anaerobes were also on the rise. Unusual organisms, like Burkholderia pseudomallei, Salmonella typhi, Nocardia species, Cladosporium bantiana, Fonsecaea pedrosoi, Entamoeba histolytica, and Acanthamoeba were also isolated and/or detected from the brain abscesses aspirate or resected tissue. Summary. New and emerging pathogens associated with brain abscess, especially in immunosuppressed individuals, have renewed the necessity of an early detection, and it will be of great value in appropriate management of patients with brain abscess

Microbial Status of Different Carbon Sequestering Systems in the Semi-Arid Tropics: Global Theme on Agroecosystems Report no. 25

Microorganisms perform a key role in nutrient cycling for sustaining the productivity of soils. Microbial status was studied in soil samples from nine long-term experiments at different locations, with different carbon sequestering systems in the semi-arid tropics of India, Microbial population counts were analyzed using spread plate method and were in turn compared with different parameters such as soil treatments, soil type, soil microbial biomass C, soil organic C (SOC), soil respiration rainfall and soil pH. The counts were high in the soil with different treatments. The counts were also high in treatments where a combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers was applied. Vertisols (28 x lO4 CFU g-1 soil) recorded four times more counts of microbial populations than Alfisols (7 x 1Q4 CFU g-1 soil). In few locations, significant correlation was observed with the values of soil microbial biomass C, SOC, soil respiration and microbial populations

Women’s’ empowerment in the fragile environment of Semi-Arid Tropics: focus on norms, agency and attitudes

Empowerment of women, in its simplest meaning refers to the process whereby women acquire an ability to make strategic life choices. Likewise, power is also thought of as an ability to make choices. This view of power focuses on structure or the social norms and forces that enable and or constrain thinking, action and behavior. Hence, there is now a focus and discussion on not just the power relations among actors and their agency (strengthening capabilities to act) but also on social structures, norms, and attitudes that enable (or constrain) the behavior of all actors – women, men, socially included and excluded (Hayward 2000).Taking cues from the work of Munoz-Boudet et.al (2012), this paper attempts to discuss that social norms, gender roles, individual capacities, assets, and the communities wherein the marginalized rural poor live, determine the opportunities available to women and men.Harnessing the rich VLS longitudinal panel data from 6 villages of India, the paper explains the dynamics of intra-household relationships gleaned from the longitudinal panel and highlights how gender differences and inequalities among sample households engaged in agriculture in these villages has changed over time. Q2 analysis is used to examine variation in gender norms and attitudes among communities/villages as well as discern distinguishing patterns and pathways towards women’s empowerment. The paper also appeals to analysis of the social network architecture, identifying existing formal and informal institutions that enable women’s agency, voice, claims and opportunities. Understanding women in their wider social setting - wider social contexts of gender, age, class and other identities that influence their relations with others, leads to a better appreciation of the change agents women can be in their households, communities and nation at large. Ultimately, to bring about socially transformative empowerment , the paper clearly points that it is imperative that individuals and groups develop the capacities to not only address the norms, attitudes and conditions that determine their life choices and aspirations but also challenge them to bring about this change

Measurable biophysical indicators for impact assessment: changes in water availability and quality.

The impact of agricultural and natural resource management (NRM) practices on water quantity and quality are examined. The various biophysical indicators proposed to assess surface and groundwater quantity and quality impacts of agricultural and NRM interventions are discussed with examples drawn from recent literature and case studies from watersheds in the semiarid tropics. Future research needs for developing more effective and measurable indicators of water quantity and quality for the purpose of monitoring the biophysical impacts of technological and resource management interventions are highlighted

Gender Transformative Impacts from Watershed Interventions: Insights from a Mixed-Methods Study in the Bundelkhand Region of India

This study examined gender perspectives on water security by exploring an integrated water management approach for agriculture, livestock, and human consumption. The data were generated in a watershed project to enhance drought resilience of farming through groundwater recharge and agroforestry interventions in the water-scarce Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh in central India. Post-intervention, a quantitative survey and qualitative gender and social analysis tools were applied to understand the benefits of the interventions for women, men, and the community as a whole. Quantitative data were collected from 700 individuals in five villages (three treatment villages and two villages where watershed interventions were not implemented). In addition, 33 semi-structured interviews and eight focus group discussions were conducted to understand local gender norms at the project sites. Data analysis revealed that the community benefits accrued from the watershed interventions included increased crop productivity and diversification of agriculture and livelihoods. However, strict patriarchal norms restricted the visibility, mobility, and communication of women within the household and community during the interventions. Considering gender diversity, this study identifies that women can benefit from participating in watershed interventions and provides a deeper understanding of the constraints and barriers to women’s participation in such projects, including economic, social, and cultural factors. The construction of check dams reduced women’s time per day for fetching water by about 29%. Groundwater level increases reduced the effort required of women to draw water from open wells and hand pumps. Female education is a significant factor related to the benefits of watershed interventions, and regression analysis indicated that households with higher levels of education of adult women were significantly more likely to benefit from the interventions than other households. To avoid perpetuation of the exclusion of diverse local knowledge and gender inequality at the community level, mechanisms must be developed and adjusted continuously such that whole communities, including men and women, are empowered to participate in the decision-making process at various levels and for different purposes. When implementing watershed projects in a highly patriarchal context, as in the Bundelkhand region where women are hidden behind the strong presence of men, advocacy of behavioral change communication must be implemented regularly. The community needs to be sensitized toward systematic and gendersensitive institution building, social engagement, and capacity development for local as well as global water security

Gendered time-use patterns and effects on nutritional status of women and children in the semi-arid tropics: micro-level evidence from selected villages of India

There is an increasing focus on studying and understanding the linkages between agriculture and human nutrition in order to identify nutrition-sensitive agricultural interventions. Literature identifies several pathways linking agriculture and nutrition and some of these pathways specifically address women’s time use and nutrition in agriculture. Alongside these, a number of studies propose that increasing women’s engagement and involvement in agriculture and allied activities contribute to women’s own malnutrition (under or over nutrition) and child under-nutrition in a number of ways like less time to care for themselves and participate in the care economy of the household, improper infant and child feeding practices, cooking and providing water, health services to the households and energy expenditure due to long hours of working. However, there is limited empirical evidence to test as well as corroborate these linkages and this could be due to lack of micro-level data on nutritional status of women and children, women’s time use in agriculture and domestic work. Such evidence assumes greater significance in the harsh, vulnerable environments such as the semi-arid tropics of India and Africa which are facing acute water shortage, continuous drought as well as a policy bias towards rain fed agriculture, and a prevalence of rigid gender, social and cultural norms dictating women