A Combined Crisp and Fuzzy Approach for Handwriting Analysis

This paper presents an off-line writer-independent handwriting analysis system which utilizes both classical crisp and fuzzy methodologies to output possible personality traits of the writer. The design deploys an analytical handwriting analysis approach based on two primitives, the baseline and the slant angle of the characters. The objective of the design strategy is to present a group of parameters for handwriting analysis based on the text. These parameters allow for the classification of writing into different categories which could be used as a preliminary step for outputting the personality traits of the writer. Two parameters, the baseline and the slant-angle, are the inputs to a rule-base which outputs the personality trait category. The evaluation of the baseline is non-fuzzy (crisp) whereas the evaluation of the slant-angle utilizes the fuzzy paradigm. The approach is based on a combination of classical geometric arithmetic evaluation and fuzzy control designs. For determination of the base line angle two methodologies are explored: the geometric-features based segmentation method and a method based on biologically inspired generation theories or the low pass filtering method. We utilize the geometric features evaluation for the baseline extraction since it proves more robust with respect to the variations of the handwriting in an off-line environment. For determination of the slant type a fuzzy technique is adopted to determine the contributions of the slant-type angle to each of the five variations of the slant-type categories. The uncertainties in the system model are expressed by fuzzy-valued model parameters with their membership functions derived from experimental data. In total five variations of slant type are considered. These include extreme left, controlled left, vertical, controlled right and extreme right. Fifteen personality traits PT1 - PT15 were identified and sets of rules formulation were created, (e.g., If Input1 is level and Input2 is Controlled Left then Output is PTx.) The proposed approach takes advantage of two differing methodologies that have clear outputs to evaluate two attributes of handwriting. The outputs are utilized to determine a personality trait. The system can be further enhanced by including more parameters such as size of letters, spacing between letters and other attributes of handwriting as part of the inputs for trait determination

SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND ELECTROCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION OF NOVEL 17-MEMBERED DIOXADIAZA NAPTHALDEHYDE BASED MACROCYCLIC LIGAND AND ITS COMPLEXES OF Co (III), Ni (II) AND Cu (II) PERCHLORATE IONS

Objective: The objective of this research is to synthesis hitherto, novel unreported [17]-membered dioxadiaza napthaldehyde based macrocyclic ligand (L) and to synthesize its Co(III), Ni(II) and Cu(II) metal ion complexes.Methods: The synthesis of the ligand has been accomplished by two different synthetic routes each involving two stages. 2-Hydroxy-1-Napthaldehyde in the presence of potassium carbonate was treated with α,α'-dibromo-m-xylene to yield the dial derivative (I). The dial derivative (I) was further made to undergo Schiff base condensation with 1,2-diaminobenzene to yield the bright yellow macrocycle (L) in good yield. In the second method the Schiff base condensed product Napthaloph was synthesized and allowed to undergo Williamson's condensation with α,α'-dibromo-m-xylene to yield the ligand (L).Results: The ligand and its complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, electronic spectroscopy, IR, Conductivity measurements, EPR, magnetic susceptibility, 1H NMR and MS. The neutral seventeen membered tetradentate dioxadiaza ligand (L) readily complexes with Co(III), Ni(II) and Cu(II) perchlorate salts in 1:1 mole ratio to yield complexes of formulae [Co(L)X2]ClO4, [Ni(L)X2], [Cu(L)X]ClO4, (X = Cl-, Br-and NO3-). The complexes were also synthesized by the metal template method. The yield of the template procedure was found to be greater than the non-template method.Conclusion: A hitherto 2, 10-dioxa-21,29-diaza-heptacyclo-[29.4.2.1[4,8].0[1,32].0[11,20].0[14,19].0[23,28].0[32,37]]-tetraconta-4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39-octatecaene. The [17]-membered tetradentate dioxadiaza macrocycle (L) was found to accommodate Co3+, Ni2+, and Cu2+ions with ease due to the presence of flexible alkyl groups. Further studies with the inner-transition metal ions will be highly informative in understanding the coordinating capabilities of lanthanides and actinides.Â

Outbreak of acute hepatitis C following the use of anti-hepatitis C virus--screened intravenous immunoglobulin therapy

BACKGROUND and AIMS: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been associated with intravenous (IV) immunoglobulin (Ig), and plasma donations used to prepare IV Ig are now screened to prevent transmission. Thirty-six patients from the United Kingdom received infusions from a batch of anti-HCV antibody-screened intravenous Ig (Gammagard; Baxter Healthcare Ltd., Thetford, Norfolk, England) that was associated with reports of acute hepatitis C outbreak in Europe. The aim of this study was to document the epidemiology of this outbreak. METHODS: Forty-six patients from the United Kingdom treated with Gammagard (34 exposed and 12 unexposed to the batch) returned epidemiological questionnaires. RESULTS: Eighty-two percent of the exposed patients (28 of 34) became positive for HCV RNA. Eighteen percent of the patients (6 of 34) who had infusions with this batch tested negative for HCV RNA, but 2 of the patients had abnormal liver function and subsequently seroconverted to anti-HCV antibody positive. Twenty-seven percent of the patients (9 of 34) developed jaundice, and 79% (27 of 34) had abnormal liver transferase levels. Virus isolates (n=21), including an isolate from the implicated batch, were genotype 1a and virtually identical by sequence analysis of the NS5 region, consistent with transmission from a single source. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatitis C infection can be transmitted by anti-HCV-screened IV Ig. Careful documentation of IV Ig batch numbers and regular biochemical monitoring is recommended for all IV Ig recipients

Association Between Use of Tobacco and Age on Graying of Hair

Aims and Objectives: To determine the association between smoking, chewing tobacco (gutka), and age of individual on graying of hair. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted on 120 patients attending the Outpatient Department of the DJ College of Dental Sciences and Research, Modinagar, UP. The individuals were classified into four groups (group I, II, III, IV) on the basis of the form of tobacco use (smoking or chewing). The Pearson correlation coefficient was utilized to find the correlation between the mean percentage of individuals with gray hair, risk multiplication factor (RMF), and age of the individual. Results: Mean percentage of individual with gray hair and RMF (r = 0.6487) are found to be positively associated. A significant and positive correlation was observed between the age of the individual and the frequency of individuals with gray hair. Conclusion: This study suggests that there is a significant association between tobacco use and aging on graying of hair.Keywords: Graying of hair, risk multiplication factor, smokin

Hidden social exclusion in Indian academia : gender, caste and conference participation

Conferences are key sites for the development of academic careers; however multiple studies have shown that conferences are exclusionary on the basis of gender and other axes of social disadvantage. This study focuses on India and as such also incorporates caste as an axis of privilege and disadvantage in relation to access to conferences. Conferences in this paper are framed within a broader professional development agenda, which is the way in which conferences are located in Indian higher education policy discourses, and a social exclusion perspective is taken as the analytical lens. The paper is based on data from a large-scale national study of social inequalities in higher education, which included quantitative analysis of administrative records and qualitative analysis of interviews with academics on their participation in conferences and professional development activities. Key findings include that participation in conferences is proportionally lower for women and scheduled caste academics than for men and upper-caste academics, and that access to conferences is embroiled in relational processes of social exclusion which operate in the academy, despite formal policies being in place. The article recommends further scrutiny of policy implementation and replication of this analysis across different country contexts

Does ethnicity influence the short-term adaptation to first reading correction?

PurposeEthnic variations in accommodative amplitude (AA) are not uncommon. Accommodation can become reduced in response to short-term wear of first near spectacles. Whether ethnicity has an influence on the magnitude of this adaptation is not well understood. We investigated the impact of first near spectacles on changes in AA and on convergence cross-link interactions in incipient presbyopes of Chinese and Caucasian ethnicities.MethodsForty-one subjects (22 Caucasians and 19 Chinese) aged 36 to 44 years completed the study. Accommodative stimulus response function, AA, and AC/A and CA/C ratios were measured before and after single vision reading spectacles were used for near tasks over a 2-month period and then again 2 months after discontinuing near spectacle wear.ResultsAfter wearing reading spectacles for 2 months, the accommodative stimulus response slopes and AC/A and CA/C ratios remained invariant irrespective of ethnicity. The accommodative, but not vergence, bias decreased (p < 0.05). The nearpoint of accommodation shifted distally producing an average decrease in AA of 0.52 D from baseline (p < 0.05). Recovery to near baseline values occurred after discontinuing the reading glasses for 2 months. Differences based on ethnicity were not significant. The baseline AA vs. age plots showed steeper slopes for Chinese than the Caucasian subjects in the sample.ConclusionsThe pattern of adaptation by accommodation and cross-link interactions to short-term first reading spectacles is not influenced by ethnicity

Growth rate after limb deformity correction by the Ilizarov method with or without knee joint distraction: Lengthening in 30 children followed for at least 2 years

Background and purpose Growth inhibition and stimulation have both been reported after juvenile limb lengthening. Distraction of a joint usually suspends and unloads the growth plate and may stimulate growth. We investigated the influence of knee joint distraction on the speed of growth after limb lengthening