A new ADMM algorithm for the Euclidean median and its application to robust patch regression

The Euclidean Median (EM) of a set of points $\Omega$ in an Euclidean space is the point x minimizing the (weighted) sum of the Euclidean distances of x to the points in $\Omega$. While there exits no closed-form expression for the EM, it can nevertheless be computed using iterative methods such as the Wieszfeld algorithm. The EM has classically been used as a robust estimator of centrality for multivariate data. It was recently demonstrated that the EM can be used to perform robust patch-based denoising of images by generalizing the popular Non-Local Means algorithm. In this paper, we propose a novel algorithm for computing the EM (and its box-constrained counterpart) using variable splitting and the method of augmented Lagrangian. The attractive feature of this approach is that the subproblems involved in the ADMM-based optimization of the augmented Lagrangian can be resolved using simple closed-form projections. The proposed ADMM solver is used for robust patch-based image denoising and is shown to exhibit faster convergence compared to an existing solver.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, 1 table. To appear in Proc. IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing, April 19-24, 201

PRELIMINARY IN VIVO EVALUATION OF ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITIES OF VARIOUS SOLVENT EXTRACTS OF CADABA INDICA LAM ON CARRAGEENAN-INDUCED PAW EDEMA IN SWISS ALBINO RATS

ABSTRACTObjective: Among the invention of novel anti-inflammatory agents from modern research and drug development, the natural sources exist asevergreen to produce potential secondary metabolites that possess multiple efficacy against inflammatory mediators with no adverse reactions.Methods: Accordingly, Cadaba indica lam (Capparidaceae) produced the positive results for phenol, flavonoids, steroid, and saponins in preliminaryphytochemical screening and exhibited the potent anti-inflammatory activity (100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg) by methanolic leaf extract against carrageenaninducedpawedemausing ratsindose-dependentmanner stayedcloser toreferencestandardindomethacin (25mg/kg)comparedtopetroleumetherandaqueous extract.Results: Thus, the plant C. indica lam might be considered to posses potential secondary metabolites against inflammatory agents and act as lead toisolation of novel therapeutic compounds.Conclusion: The phytochemical test indicates the presence of phenol, flavonoids, steroid, and saponins in leaf extract of C. indica may be known topossess anti-inflammatory property. The result of anti-inflammatory activity produced by the methanolic extract was threshold of isolation of biomolecules from the natural sources in diverse drug development in the near future being responsible for the pharmaceutical industries.Keywords: Preliminary phytochemical, Cadaba indica, Anti-inflammatory

Rheological Behaviour of Ceramic Inks for Direct Ceramic Inkjet Printing

In this paper, studies were made on the preparation of ceramic inks with: (i) alumina powderin ethyl alcohol and (ii) zirconia powder in ethyl alcohol at different volume fractions of ceramic.Different amounts (0.75-3.00 vol %) of an organic dispersant (oleic acid) were added to ceramicink containing 5 per cent of ceramic by volume in ethyl alcohol. The viscosities of the suspensionswere determined with Brookefield viscometer (model: DV-E), which is suitable for measuringthe viscosities of suspensions accurately. These inks were deposited on a substrate to see theirspread. The sediment packing densities ( m) of the resulting suspensions were calculated usingtheoretical models which can be related to the density that can be achieved in the final product.The highest sediment packing density was arrived at low viscosity values of the ink and occurredwhen 1 per cent of dispersant by volume was used for 5 per cent alumina content. For 5 percent zirconia content, 2 per cent of dispersant by volume gave a similar result. Experimentswere also conducted to find the value of m for different solid loadings (5-25 vol %) of ceramicwith 1 per cent dispersant. It was observed that the sediment packing density and the apparentviscosities were increasing when solid loading concentrations were increased for both aluminaand zirconia-based inks. The optimum value of m and viscosity have been determined from thisstudy. The results of this preliminary study will be useful for further investigations on therheological behaviour of ceramic inks for direct ceramic inkjet printing

Prevention & Management of Cervical Spondylosis in Computer Professionals

INTRODUCTION: The human body is one of the greatest wonder of nature. From birth to death it works as a restless machine in perfect co-ordination and harmony and enables us to lead our lives. According to various estimates, about 10% of the world population is affected by one or more disabilities. Man identifies himself separate from other animals by his erect posture. Erect posture is considered by highness, improve his personality and braveness. Cervical spine region is one of the most common areas of dysfunction, be it acute trauma or degenerative disorders or chronic postural strains. Cervical spondylosis is a condition in which there are degenerative changes in the intervertebral joint between bodies and the disc. CLINICAL FEATURES: 1. Persons who constantly work bending their neck 2. Pain in the neck which can radiate to back, shoulders and down to upper arm, forearm and hand. 3. Early morning stiffness of the neck and shoulders. 4. Weakness of the hands with numbness and tingling sensation. 5. Cracking sounds are heard when moving the neck. 6. Swelling and tenderness of the neck may noted over the spinous process along with spots of inflammation. 7. Restriction of the movements of the neck. 8. Pain gets intensified with movement, bending, coughing and sneezing. 9. Pain increases on hyperextension, and by giving pressure against the top of the head. CONCLUSION: Conclusion operates are more commonly affected due to the adaptation of poor posture and prolonged sitting with unsupported back and rotation of the neck which causes various neck problems. Physiotherapeutic measures like cervical traction, exercises, modalities, posture correction help to a great extent to improve the condition. • Cervical traction relives Compression over the nerve root. • Exercises like free exercises, stretching help to relive pain. • Resisted exercises strengthen the weakened muscles of neck. • Long term management is taken care by advising the patient to maintain proper neck posture. • Neck care habits prevent the recurrence of the complaints

CFD Simulation Studies on a 19 Cone Angle Hydrocyclone

Hydrocyclone being in practice for classification applicat-ions are of low cone angle typically at 10°. The details on the simulation of such hydrocyclone are well reported. The present study is an attempt to simulate the water flow behaviour inside a 3 inch 19° cone angle hydrocyclone, which in general is applied for processing intermediate size coal and is popularly know as heavy medium cyclone. A 3D axi-symmetric model of standard 3" heavy medium cyclone geometry is generated. The computational domain is divided into unstructured grid having 115053 tetrahe-dral volumes using GAMBIT preprocessor. A segregated solver with steady state 3-D double precision scheme was used for model computations assigning a convergence value of 1e-06. For predicting swirling flow characteristics prevailing inside the cyclone, Pressure Interpolation Scheme (PRESTO) is used. Reynolds stress model (RSM), which was reported to account with greater precision for the effects of swirl, rotation etc. was selected for turbulence calculat-ions. For obtaining the pressure field inside the system SIMPLE algorithm scheme was used. Higher-order Quadratic Upwind Interpolation (QUICK) spatial discretisation scheme was used for field variables interpolation from cell centers to faces of the control volumes. Tangential, axial velocity profiles and pressure distributions are pres-ented and the water-split values obtained through simula-tion are compared with the experimental results

CFD Analysis of Water Flow Behaviour Inside a Falcon Bowl

In mineral processing, techniques like classification; gravity concentration, thickening etc. require extensive understanding on fluid flow characteistics and relative movement of solids in fluids. The complexities in the geometries of the individual operations along with variable feed characteristics and limited computational facilities forced the researchers to optimize the performance through empirical. Though they are very useful in the mineral industry for a long time, better insight on the process physics can be achieved through computational based fluid dynamics modeling, design and simulation. Out standing developments in the computational facilities in the recent past have opened up avenues for process design and simulation through these techniques. The present study is an attempt to simulate the mechanism of water flow inside a rotating Falcon Concentrator bowl using a commercially available CFD package Fluent

Assessing the knowledge, attitude and practice of contraception in rural India: a necessary step in achieving population control

Background: India’s projected population will be 1.53 Billion by the year 2050. Every fifth birth in the world is an Indian, and 50% percent of the Indian population are of reproductive age. Objective of present work was to study the knowledge, attitude and practice of contraception among rural women.Methods: 100 rural women in the study were evaluated with the help of a pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire for the knowledge regarding contraception.Results: Though all women were aware of at least one contraceptive method, 11% never used contraception. The most commonly used contraceptive was condom 59%, followed by 41% CU-T, 27% tubectomy, 18% pills, 10% injectable and 3% emergency contraception.Conclusions: Though knowledge about at least one contraceptive method existed, there is a strong need for motivational strategies to make people accept the methods. Furthermore, there needs to be more educational programs to increase awareness about the existence of various family planning methods.

Dissecting the rural Indian women’s knowledge, attitude and practice about infertility

Background: Objective of present study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice of rural women regarding infertility.Methods: A field tested semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 100 rural women in Kaiwara village, Karnataka, India to study their knowledge, attitude and practice regarding infertility.Results: Majority (84%) did not know the reason for infertility. 7% felt that the cause of infertility was due to problems with eggs, 6% felt it to be tubal factors and only 3% felt it to be due to male factor.Conclusions: The findings of this study highlight the importance of spreading the awareness and inculcating the right attitude and approach to infertility.

A Pathwise Ergodic Theorem for Quantum Trajectories

If the time evolution of an open quantum system approaches equilibrium in the time mean, then on any single trajectory of any of its unravelings the time averaged state approaches the same equilibrium state with probability 1. In the case of multiple equilibrium states the quantum trajectory converges in the mean to a random choice from these states.Comment: 8 page