Techniques in Image Segmentations, its Limitations and Future Directions

There many techniques, used for image segmentation but few of them face problems like: improper utilization of spatial information. In this paper, combined fuzzy c-means algorithm (FCM) with modified Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to improve the search ability of PSO and to integrate spatial information into the membership function for clustering is used. Here, in this paper discussion on segmentation techniques with their limitations is done. This would help in determining image segmentation method which would result to improved accuracy and performance

Influence of the oxygen partial pressure on the growth and optical properties of RF-sputtered anatase TiO2 thin films

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) films with thicknesses around 300 nm were deposited on glass substrates by reactive radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering at constant RF sputtering power (200 W), high sputtering pressure and room temperature. The effects of the oxygen presence on the growth and properties of the films were investigated using mixtures of Ar and O2 with different O2/(Ar + O2) ratios (from 0.0 to 0.3) during the sample deposition. The crystalline properties and surface morphology were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), respectively. The optical properties were studied by ultraviolet–visible–near infrared (UV–Vis–NIR) spectroscopy, and the refractive index and the thickness of the samples were obtained using the Swanepoel method. The obtained results indicate that all the TiO2 films grew with an anatase phase and with an improved crystallinity at O2/(Ar + O2) = 0.2. However, AFM studies show that the grain size and surface roughness decrease as the O2/(Ar + O2) ratio increases from 0.0 to 0.3. Moreover, a maximum refractive index was obtained for the sample prepared at O2/(Ar + O2) = 0.2

Thermoluminescence studies of CaSO4: Eu nanophosphor for electron dosimetry

Sample of CaSO4: Eu nanophosphor has been synthesized by chemical co-precipitation method and irradiated with 6.5 MeV electrons over the fluence range from 5×1014 to 4×1015 e/cm2. The as-synthesized sample has been characterized by the XRD and TEM. The TEM image reveals that the nanocrystallites are in the form of nanorods of length 75 to 125 nm, with varying diameter of 10 to 20 nm. The XRD yields an average grain size ~15 nm, with hexagonal structure. The electron irradiated samples exhibit the thermoluminescence glow curve with a single peak at 162 °C. Moreover, the TL peak intensity increases with the increase in electron fluence and saturates beyond 3×1015 e/cm2. Moreover, TL glow curves have been theoretically fitted using computerized glow curve deconvolution (CGCD) method to determine trapping parameters. The results indicate that CaSO4: Eu can be used as a dosimeter for 6.5 MeV electrons over dose range from 15-80 kGy

A competent protocol for large scale production of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) through meristem culture

A rapid micro propagation and acclimatization response of two different varieties of sugarcane Co86032 and CoN 04131(Saccharum officinarum L.) was obtained in this study. The shoot apical meristem of different sizes wascultured on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of ben-zylaminopurine and kinetin either alone or in combination with each other alongwith GA3. Best shoot formation response in Co 86032 was obtained on MS medium containing 1.5mg/l BAP while in CoN 04131 the combination of 0.5 mg/l BAP with 0.25 mg/l Kinetin showed best shoot formation response from apical meristem. Meristem of 3.0 mm size proved to be the best size for micropropagation of sugarcane. Excellent multiplication response of In vitro formed shoots was obtained when the concentration of BAP was decreased to 1.0 mg/l in Co 86032and 0.25 mg/l BAP and Kin in CoN 04131 (i.e. 0.25 mg/lBAP + 0.25 mg/l Kinetin. MS medium containing 1.0 mg/l NAA and 2.0 mg/l IBA showed 100% rooting response of In vitro regenerated shoots of both the varieties of sugarcane within eight days of inoculation. Best hardening response was obtained in sand+ soil + pressmud (1:1:1) media

Inverse design of functional surfaces through low fidelity modelling.

Functional surfaces are extensively being designed for specific purposes within various industries. The inspiration for many of such surfaces has been derived from biological entities such as shark skin etc. In industry, various surfaces are created by physio-chemical properties of materials with appropriately aligned micro and nanostructures, and sophisticated solutions are found for range of problems. Many drag reducing organisms employ functional surfaces that control near-wall flow characteristics thus affecting their global flow performance. This study focuses on the inverse design of functional surfaces for targeted global flow related effects. At its core, the discussed methodology embeds low fidelity model for surface and corresponding flow events. Desired geometrical parameters are iteratively solved to achieve target flow characteristics

Glucose Recovery from Different Corn Stover Fractions Using Dilute Acid and Alkaline Pretreatment Techniques

Background: Limited availability of corn stover due to the competing uses (organic manure, animal feed, bio-materials, and bioenergy) presents a major concern for its future in the bio-economy. Furthermore, biomass research has exhibited different results due to the differences in the supply of enzymes and dissimilar analytical methods. The effect of the two leading pretreatment techniques (dilute acid and alkaline) on glucose yield from three corn stover fractions (cob, stalk, and leaf) sourced from a single harvest in Uganda were studied at temperatures 100, 120, 140, and 160 °C over reaction times of 5, 10, 30, and 60 min. Results: From this study, the highest glucose concentrations obtained from the dilute acid (DA) pretreated cobs, stalks, and leaves were 18.4 g/L (66.8% glucose yield), 16.2 g/L (64.1% glucose yield), and 11.0 g/L (49.5% glucose yield), respectively. The optimal pretreatment settings needed to obtain these yields from the DA pretreated samples were at a temperature of 160 °C over an incubation time of 30 min. The highest glucose concentrations obtained from the alkaline (AL) pretreated cobs, stalks, and leaves were 24.7 g/L (81.73% glucose yield), 21.3 g/L (81.23% glucose yield), and 15.0 g/L (51.92% glucose yield), respectively. To be able to achieve these yields, the optimal pretreatment settings for the cobs and stalks were 140 °C and for a retention time of 30 min, while the leaves require optimal conditions of 140 °C and for a retention time of 60 min. Conclusions: The study recommends that the leaves could be left on the field during harvesting since the recovery of glucose from the pretreated cobs and stalks is higher

Performance of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) based Intercropping System in kharif under Different Row Proportion on Yield and Economics

An Agronomic investigation entitled “Performance of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Based intercropping system in kharif under different row proportion” was carried out at Agriculture College Farm, Nagpur during kharif 2017-18. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with nine treatments as T1- Sole sesame, T2 - Sole green gram, T3 - Sole black gram, T4 - Sesame : Green gram in 1:1 row ratio, T5 - Sesame : Green gram in 2:1 row ratio, T6 - Sesame : Green gram in 3:1 row ratio, T7 - Sesame : Black gram in 1:1 row ratio, T8 - Sesame : Black gram in 2:1 row ratio and T9 - Sesame : Black gram in 3:1 row ratio and were replicated thrice. The results of the study indicated that, among all treatments, sole sesame (T1) recorded highest seed yield, straw yield and biological yield. Among the intercropping treatments, sesame with black gram in 1:1 row ratio recorded higher seed yield, straw yield and biological yield. Intercropping of sesame: black gram in 1:1 row ratio (T7) recorded the higher GMR (₹ 87563 ha-1), NMR (₹ 62060 ha-1), B:C ratio (3.43)

Elucidation of Mg2+ binding activity of adenylate kinase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis H(37)Rv using fluorescence studies

Adenylate kinase (AK) is a small ubiquitous enzyme that catalyzes the reversible transfer of the terminal phosphate group from adenine triphosphate (ATP): magnesium ion (Mg2+) to adenine monophosphate (AMP) to form two molecules of adenine diphosphate (ADP). AK thus maintains the homeostasis of adenine nucleotides in eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Because the [ATP]/[ADP] ratio is an important parameter in energy regulation in cells, Mg2+-activated AK has an important biological role, particularly in the case of bacteria, as imbalance in the ratio of [ATP]/[ADP] has been associated with alteration in its DNA supercoiling state. In the present study, magnesium-binding assays were carried out by systematically varying the concentrations of Mg2+, protein, AMP, ATP, and indicator in kinetic experiments. We report evidence that during magnesium-binding assay, the fluorescence level of the indicator Mag-Indo-1 changes with protein concentration, suggesting that magnesium ions are binding to AK. The dual activity of AK both as nucleoside monophosphate and diphosphate kinases suggests that this enzyme may have a role in RNA and DNA biosynthesis in addition to its role in intracellular nucleotide metabolism. According to the proposed model, the magnesium-activated AK exhibits an increase in its forward reaction rate compared with the inactivated form. These findings imply that Mg2+ could be an important regulator in the energy signaling network in cells