Improved Capacity Image Steganography Algorithm using 16-Pixel Differencing with n-bit LSB Substitution for RGB Images

With the intrusion of internet into the lives of every household and terabytes of data being transmitted over the internet on daily basis, the protection of content being transmitted over the internet has become an extremely serious concern. Various measures and methods are being researched and devised everyday to ensure content protection of digital media. To address this issue of content protection, this paper proposes an RGB image steganography based on sixteen-pixel differencing with n-bit Least Significant Bit (LSB) substitution. The proposed technique provides higher embedding capacity without sacrificing the imperceptibility of the host data. The image is divided into 4×4 non overlapping blocks and in each block the average difference value is calculated. Based on this value the block is classified to fall into one of four levels such as, lower, lower-middle, higher-middle and higher. If block belongs to lower level then 2-bit LSB substitution is used in it. Similarly, for lower-middle, higher-middle and higher level blocks 3, 4, and 5 bit LSB substitution is used. In our proposed method there is no need of pixel value readjustment for minimizing distortion. The experimental results show that stego-images are imperceptible and have huge hiding capacity

Comprehensive survey on nanobiomaterials for bone tissue engineering applications

One of the most important ideas ever produced by the application of materials science to the medical field is the notion of biomaterials. The nanostructured biomaterials play a crucial role in the development of new treatment strategies including not only the replacement of tissues and organs, but also repair and regeneration. They are designed to interact with damaged or injured tissues to induce regeneration, or as a forest for the production of laboratory tissues, so they must be micro-environmentally sensitive. The existing materials have many limitations, including impaired cell attachment, proliferation, and toxicity. Nanotechnology may open new avenues to bone tissue engineering by forming new assemblies similar in size and shape to the existing hierarchical bone structure. Organic and inorganic nanobiomaterials are increasingly used for bone tissue engineering applications because they may allow to overcome some of the current restrictions entailed by bone regeneration methods. This review covers the applications of different organic and inorganic nanobiomaterials in the field of hard tissue engineering

Analysis of phytochemical constituents and antibacterial activity of Wrightia tinctoria: traditional medicinal plant of India for application on wound dressing materials

48-54Wrightia tinctoria, an important traditional medicinal plant is exploited for treating several diseases. The study intends to reveal the presence of phytochemicals and test the antibacterial activity of W. tinctoria leaf extracts on nonwoven fabrics to find its suitability for wound dressings. The methodology includes identification and collection of W. tinctoria leaves, preparation of leaf powder, determination of physicochemical analysis, extraction using different solvents, preliminary phytochemical screening, quantitative estimation of phytoconstituents, yield of the extracts and determination of antibacterial activity on plant extract treated fabrics. Results revealed the presence of more active metabolites in the ethanol plant extract of W. tinctoria leaves which may be the reason for the promising antibacterial potential against the bacterial strains. As a promising ethnomedicinal plant, W. tinctoria may serve as a major source of useful drugs finding its suitability for developing wound dressings

Clobetasol propionate 0.025%: a topical therapeutic for skin diseases

The most widely recommended drugs for the treatment of a variety of dermatoses are topical corticosteroids (TC). These medications are approved for the treatment of inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of dermatologic disorders due to their powerful, symptom-relieving impact. Clobetasol propionate (CP) is the most popular TC used to relieve itching, redness, and edema caused by skin disorders. Topical corticosteroids exhibit anti-inflammatory, anti-pruritic, and vasoconstrictive activities. Clobetasol propionate binds to cytoplasmic glucocorticoid receptors and activates glucocorticoid receptor-mediated gene expression, resulting in the production of anti-inflammatory proteins and suppression of the production of inflammatory mediators. The effectiveness, safety, and clinical experience of utilizing CP 0.025% topical therapy for the treatment of various dermatologic disorders are discussed in this case series

Chiral symmetry in linear Sigma model in magnetic environment

We study the chiral symmetry structure in a linear sigma model with fermions in the presence of an external, uniform magnetic field in the 'effective potential' approach at the one loop level. We also study the chiral phase transition as a function of density in the core of magnetized neutron stars.Comment: LaTex2e file with six postscript figures. journal ref: Physical Review D 62 (2000) 02502

Thermal Activation of Methane by MgO+: Temperature Dependent Kinetics, Reactive Molecular Dynamics Simulations and Statistical Modeling

The kinetics of MgO + + CH 4 was studied experimentally using the variable ion source, temperature adjustable selected ion flow tube (VISTA-SIFT) apparatus from 300 − 600 K and computationally by running and analyzing reactive atomistic simula- tions. Rate coefficients and product branching fractions were determined as a function of temperature. The reaction proceeded with a rate of k = 5 . 9 ± 1 . 5 × 10 − 10 ( T/ 300 K) − 0 . 5 ± 0 . 2 cm 3 s − 1 . MgOH + was the dominant product at all temperatures, but Mg + , the co-product of oxygen-atom transfer to form methanol, was observed with a product branching fraction of 0 . 08 ± 0 . 03( T/ 300 K) − 0 . 8 ± 0 . 7 . Reactive molecular dynamics simulations using a reactive force field, as well as a neural network trained on thousands of structures yield rate coefficients about one order of magnitude lower. This underestimation of the rates is traced back to the multireference character of the transition state [MgOCH 4 ] + . Statistical modeling of the temperature-dependent kinetics provides further insight into the reactive potential surface. The rate limiting step was found to be consistent with a four-centered activation of the C-H bond, consistent with previous calculations. The product branching was modeled as a competition between dissociation of an insertion intermediate directly after the rate- limiting transition state, and traversing a transition state corresponding to a methyl migration leading to a Mg-CH 3 OH + complex, though only if this transition state is stabilized significantly relative to the dissociated MgOH + + CH 3 product channel. An alternative non-statistical mechanism is discussed, whereby a post-transition state bifurcation in the potential surface could allow the reaction to proceed directly from the four-centered TS to the Mg-CH 3 OH + complex thereby allowing a more robust competition between the product channels

Symmetry structure and phase transitions

We study chiral symmetry structure at finite density and temperature in the presence of external magnetic field and gravity, a situation relevant in the early Universe and in the core of compact stars. We then investigate the dynamical evolution of phase transition in the expanding early Universe and possible formation of quark nuggets and their survival.Comment: Plenary talk given at the 4th. ICPAQGP held at Jaipur, India from Nov 26-30, 2001.laTex 2e file with 8 ps figures and 12 page