FoodNet: Recognizing Foods Using Ensemble of Deep Networks

In this work we propose a methodology for an automatic food classification system which recognizes the contents of the meal from the images of the food. We developed a multi-layered deep convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture that takes advantages of the features from other deep networks and improves the efficiency. Numerous classical handcrafted features and approaches are explored, among which CNNs are chosen as the best performing features. Networks are trained and fine-tuned using preprocessed images and the filter outputs are fused to achieve higher accuracy. Experimental results on the largest real-world food recognition database ETH Food-101 and newly contributed Indian food image database demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology as compared to many other benchmark deep learned CNN frameworks.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, 3 tables, IEEE Signal Processing Letter

Anisotropic shock response of 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB)

The thermo-mechanical response of shock-induced pore collapse has been studied using non-reactive all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) and Eulerian continuum simulations for the molecular crystal 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB). Three crystal orientations, bracketed by the limiting cases with respect to the crystal structure anisotropy in TATB, are considered in the MD simulations, while an isotropic constitutive model is used for the continuum simulations. Simulations with three impact speeds from 0.5 km s[superscript -1] to 2.0 km s[superscript -1] are investigated. Results from MD and continuum simulations are in agreement in terms of shock wave speeds, temperature distributions, and pore-collapse mechanisms. However, differences arise for other quantities that are also important in hotspot ignition and growth, for example, the skewness of high-temperature distributions and the local temperature field around the post-collapse hotspot, indicating the urgent need to incorporate anisotropic crystal plasticity and strength models into the continuum descriptions. The deformation mechanisms of TATB crystals in the shock-induced pore collapse MD simulations were studied using Strain Functional Analysis. This new approach maps discrete quantities from atomistic simulations onto continuous fields via a Gaussian kernel, from which a unique and complete set of rotationally invariant Strain Functional Descriptors (SFD) is obtained from the high-order central moments of local configurations, expressed in a Solid Harmonics polynomial basis by SO(3) decomposition. Coupled with unsupervised machine learning techniques, the SFD successfully identifies and distinguishes the deformations presented in the MD simulations of shock-compressed TATB crystals. It enables automated detection of disordered structures in the system and can be readily applied to materials with any symmetry class.Includes bibliographical references (pages 142-168)

DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION AMONG TRIBAL WOMEN IN THE AGE OF OPEN EDUCATION AND E-LEARNING: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF KEONJHAR DISTRICT OF ODISHA

The present education age is termed as open education and E-learning in the globalization of education. So here the present study focuses on the actual condition of tribal women education in the district and different on-going modern measures taken by government to improve it as well as its effectiveness for decadal literacy change on girls’ education in tribal areas of Keonjhar district. To achieve these objectives three research questions were established and Focus of the questions was to examine the significance of tribal women education for concern govt. Existing and expected role of tribal department in particular as well as contribution from government in general for tribal women’s’ education was also aimed to explore in research questions. The findings by the researcher disclosed that in some cases the family’s positive perception towards their girls’ education these are mostly high classes family, also found negative perception of most of the families due to lack of proper education and financial problem. However, at the same time severe scarcity of human resource and physical infrastructure for girls’ education were highlighted in the areas that are the fault of govt. The paper recommended several empirical steps to overcome these problems including provision of new school locations and ensuring the availability of school buildings, supporting infrastructure. Financial aid for poor students also proposed in the study.  Article visualizations

Anisotropic shock response of 1,3,5-Triamino-2,4,6-Trinitrobenzene (TATB)

All-atom molecular dynamics simulations were used to study shock wave loading in both oriented single crystals and two orientations with the presence of a grain boundary of the highly anisotropic triclinic molecular crystal 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB). The crystal structure consists of planar hydrogen-bonded sheets of individually planar TATB molecules that stack into graphitic-like layers. In the oriented single crystal case, shocks were studied for seven systematically prepared crystal orientations with limiting cases that correspond to shock propagation exactly perpendicular and exactly parallel to the graphitic-like layers. The simulations were performed for initially defect-free crystals using a reverse-ballistic configuration that yields explicit, supported shocks. In the grain boundary case, shocks with opposite directions were studies for two crystal orientations joined by a grain boundary. Results from both studies indicate that TATB shock response is highly sensitive to crystal orientation, with significant qualitative differences for the time evolution of stress and temperature, elastic/inelastic compression response, and defect formation and growth.Includes bibliographical reference

Properties of Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) transferred materials in a PEEK-steel contact

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a high performance polymer that can be an alternative to metal for some moving components in unlubricated conditions. During rubbing, PEEK is transferred to the counterface. The formation and properties of PEEK transfer films on steel and sapphire are studied by in-situ observations of PEEK wear process, contact temperatures and triboemission, as well as FTIR and Raman spectroscopies ex-situ. Our results suggest that frictional heating alone may not be sufficient to generate PEEK degradation observed in the transfer materials. Triboplasma observed during rubbing, together with mechanical shear, may promote generations of radicals and degradation of PEEK, which subsequently influence the properties of PEEK transfer film and performance of polymer-metal tribopair.This work is partly funded by EPSRC (Grant number: EP/L023202/1)

Taxation options for nicotine and tobacco products in Switzerland - a review of tax policies

Alternative nicotine products such as electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and tobacco heating systems have gained worldwide popularity. Findings suggest ENDS to be probably less harmful than combustible cigarettes, but evidence on long-term health effects is still lacking. The potential risk reduction by using tobacco heating systems instead of combustible cigarettes has largely been studied by tobacco industry-sponsored research. Evidence on the extent of risk reduction is key for risk-adapted taxation policies, which will be discussed soon in the Swiss parliament. Evidence on the effects of tax policies in the USA shows that the level of taxation of ENDS, tobacco heating systems and combustible cigarettes has an effect on switches between these products. Therefore, excise taxes influencing one another need to be considered. In Switzerland, tobacco heating systems are currently taxed at a level of 12%, whereas ENDS are not subject to tobacco excise taxation as yet, because they do not meet the legal definition of a tobacco product. This article analyses approaches for imposing taxes on tobacco and nicotine products and possible outcomes, depending on the intended public health goals. At least three tax models can be considered. Tax model A would apply a very small tax on ENDS and a higher tax for tobacco products, which could increase incentives for smokers to switch to vaping but comes with risks of increased vaping initiation among the youth and subsequent switch to or dual use of tobacco products. In contrast, model B would levy a moderate tax on ENDS and an increased tax on tobacco products, which could limit initiation among youth, incentivise to switch from smoking to vaping and discourage dual use. In model C, a comparable tax level for ENDS, tobacco heating systems and combustible cigarettes is levied. This could have overall positive effects in reducing tobacco- and nicotine-associated burden of disease by discouraging initiation in youth, overall consumption and dual use, but could discourage switching to less harmful products. When applying these tax models to current sales prices of these products we found that no public health goal, such as protecting youth and reducing tobacco-associated morbidity and mortality can be achieved. The price of tobacco products is too low to achieve any price differentiation that reflects the different risks associated with ENDS and tobacco products. In order to achieve any public health goal with one of these tax models, prices for tobacco products need to be increased substantially