AN ADAPTIVE SAR IMAGE DESPECKLING ALGORITHM USING STATIONARY WAVELET TRANSFORM

In this paper, we present a Stationary Wavelet Transform (SWT) based method for the purpose of despeckling the Synthetic Aperture radar (SAR) images by applying a maximum a posteriori probability (MAP) condition to estimate the noise free wavelet coefficients. The solution of the MAP estimator is based on the assumption that the wavelet coefficients have a known distribution. Rayleigh distribution is used for modeling the speckle noise and Laplacian distribution for modeling the statistics of the noise free wavelet coefficients for the purpose of designing the MAP estimator. Rayleigh distribution is used for modeling the speckle noise since speckle noise can be well described by it. The parameters required for MAP estimator is determined by the technique used for parameter estimation after SWT. The experimental results show that the proposed despeckling algorithm efficiently removes speckle noise from the SAR images

Buckwheat: Potential Stress-Tolerant Crop for Mid-Hills of Eastern Himalaya under Changing Climate

Under changing climate, identification and diversification of cropping systems having higher stress resilience and adaptability for fragile mountain ecosystems of Eastern Himalayan Region (EHR) are paramount. Lesser known and underutilized crop like buckwheat (BW) with year-round cultivation potential and having higher stress tolerance to prevailing stresses (low pH, low moisture) could be a crop of choice for abating malnutrition among hill inhabitants. Proper time of sowing of the crop is between mid-September and mid-December seemingly essential for better grain yield to the tune of 15.0–18.0 q ha−1, and the crop is found suitable to be grown all through the year for higher green biomass (12.6–38.4 q ha−1). Enhanced exudation of low-molecular-weight organic acids (LMWOA) like oxalic acid by buckwheat increased the solubilization of fixed forms of free phosphorus (P) to the extent of 35.0 to 50.0 micro gram per plant in ideal acid soil of the region (P) in acid soil. In addition, relatively increased resilience to moisture stress with improved stress physiological attributes adds more potentiality for enhancing cropping intensity of hill slopes of EHR. Few genotypes namely IC377275 (18.97q ha−1), IC26591 (17.1 qt ha−1), IC14890 (16.32q ha−1), and Himapriya (15.27q ha−1) are emerging as high-yielding types for productive cultivation in acid soils. Studies on the combined effects of acid soil and moisture stress would aid in novel crop improvement of buckwheat in EHR

Year-round growth potential and moisture stress tolerance of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum L.) under fragile hill ecosystems of the Eastern Himalayas (India)

IntroductionUnder a changing climate, the fragile ecosystems of the Eastern Himalayas (EH) are persistently challenged by prolonged dry spells and erratic rainfall. Identification of suitable high-yielding crops with higher moisture stress tolerance and adaptability is paramount for the region. Although the region received a good amount of rainfall in the rainy season, the winter months, viz., November to March, rarely received any rain. Even within the rainy season, there are several intermittent drought spells that hinder crop productivity.MethodsThe present study has used field and microcosm experiments to assess the year-round cultivation potential and extent of moisture stress tolerance in the lesser-known buckwheat crop of the region.Results and discussionSowing of buckwheat from mid-September to mid-December produced better grain yield, the highest being when sowing in October (9.83 q ha−1) and the crop was found suitable to grow all through the year for higher green biomass (12.6–38.4 q ha−1). The moisture stress tolerance of buckwheat was significantly enhanced by increased total root length and root surface area by 12.4 and 34.7%, respectively. Increased photo-protective carotenoids, chlorophyll b, and favorable stomatal attributes with substantial epicuticular wax have significantly improved the moisture stress tolerance of Buckwheat. In addition, leaf proline was found 25.4% higher and total soluble protein, reducing sugar, and cell membrane stability were found 29.2, 38.1, and 36.5% lower compared to the control, respectively. A significantly lower rate of water loss (25.6%) with its stomatal and non-stomatal adaptations and versatile pollen structural traits under moisture stress over control, make the buckwheat crop potentially more stress tolerant and economical crop for EH of India

HAND SEGMENTATION AND TRACKING OF CONTINUOUS HAND POSTURE USING MORPHOLOGICAL PROCESSING

This work reports the design of a continuous hand posture recognition system. Hand tracking and segmentation are the primary steps for any hand gesture recognition system. The aim of this paper is to report a noise resistant and efficient hand segmentation algorithm where a new method for hand segmentation using different hand detection schemes with required morphological processing are utilized. Problems such as skin colour detection, complex background removal and variable lighting condition are found to be efficiently handled with this system. Noise present in the segmented image due to dynamic background can be removed with the help of this technique. The proposed approach is found to be effective for a range of conditions

A COLORED FINGER TIP-BASED TRACKING METHOD FOR CONTINUOUS HAND GESTURE RECOGNITION

Hand gesture recognition system can be used for human-computer interaction (HCI). Proper hand segmentation from the background and other body parts of the video is the primary requirement for the design of a hand-gesture based application. These video frames can be captured from a low cost webcam (camera) for use in a vision based gesture recognition technique. This paper discusses about the continuous hand gesture recognition. The aim of this paper is to report a robust and efficient hand segmentation algorithm where a new method, wearing glove on the hand is utilized. After that a new idea called “Finger-Pen”, is developed by segmenting only one finger from the hand for proper tracking. In this technique only a finger tip is segmented in spite of the full hand part. Hence this technique allows the hand (excepting the segmented finger tip) to move freely during the tracking time also. Problems such as skin colour detection, complexity from large numbers of people in front of the camera, complex background removal and variable lighting condition are found to be efficiently handled by the system. Noise present in the segmented image due to dynamic background can be removed with the help of this adaptive technique which is found to be effective for the application conceived

Caries prevalence of school-going boys and girls according to cleaning methods and soft drink-taking frequency in different localities, in and around Guwahati City

Background: Dental caries is a multifactorial disease, causes of which are mostly understood nowadays. This disease is not only treatable but also preventable, if detected in its initial stage. In a developing country like India, facility of dental treatment is available mostly for urban population, whereas a very common approach of dental disease treatment is still traditional for the rural people. Objective: The objective of this study was to find out the prevalence of dental caries, teeth cleaning methods, and sweet and soft drink-taking frequency among boys and girls of Guwahati City and its nearby semi-urban and rural areas. Materials and Methods: Cross sectional study was carried out among school going boys and girls of 3-17 years group, using the modified WHO oral health survey form. The number of population was 2396 from urban locality, 2370 from semi-urban, and 2467 from rural. Results: Caries prevalence is much higher in urban (62.77%), contrary to rural where 76% of the sample is caries free. Those who take sweet occasionally suffered less or almost caries free (7.93% in urban and 0% in rural) than among those who consume it more than five times a day (90.75% in urban, 100% in semi-urban, and 99.33% in rural). Discussion and Conclusion: Urban localities are two times and semi-urban areas are 1.64 times more at risk of dental caries than rural areas. The odds ratio for cleaning frequency shows that the effect of cleaning by brush on caries is less (78%, not significant) than chewing stick while the risk associated with finger and charcoal use is about 19.63 times and 7.11 times, respectively

A Critical Review on Sulphur Application in Rapeseed-mustard to Enhancing Productivity and Oil Quality

Sulfur (S) plays a vital role in determining the seed yield, oil content, quality, and resistance to various stresses in rapeseed-mustard. It is essential for chlorophyll formation, oil synthesis, seed protein, amino acids, enzymes, and glucosinolate in these plants. Sulphur also boosts mustard seed production. However, due to modern agricultural practices, including multiple cropping, the use of sulfur-free fertilizers, and limited organic manure application, soil sulfur levels are depleting rapidly in India. Indian soils typically contain between 10 to 6319 mg kg-1 of sulfur, with most agricultural soils averaging 30 to 300 mg kg-1. Adding sulfur increases mustard oil content by enhancing the activity of an enzyme called acetyl-CoA carboxylase, which is essential for oil synthesis. Sulfur also mitigates the harmful effects of heavy metal toxicity, especially from cadmium. Sulfur interacts with other nutrients in both positive and negative ways. Recommendations for sulfur fertilization in different mustard growing regions have been made based on various research programs. To maximize sulfur use efficiency, it's crucial to apply the correct amount based on soil tests and in balance with other limiting nutrients. Timing of sulfur application is also important; it's best applied at the beginning but can also be top-dressed 20-40 days after planting for optimal yield. Research suggests that mustard responds well to foliar spraying of thiourea during flowering and basal placement before sowing. This paper reviews the strategies to improve sulfur utilization through advancements in application rates, methods, and sulfur sources on rapeseed-mustard

Antibacterial and antifungal property of three plants against oral microbes

Introduction: Use of medicinal plants to cure diseases has been practiced throughout the world. This is more common among the rural population as the reach of modern health-care facility is very little toward them. Rural population treats or manages different oral disease with the locally available herbs, which has been used traditionally. Among them, tulsi, neem, and Pochotia are most commonly used herbs in Assam. Aim: The aim of the study was to find out antibacterial and antifungal properties of Tulsi, Neem, and Posotia against few isolated oral microbes. Materials and Methods: Three commonly used plants – tulsi, neem, and Pochotia taken for antimicrobial study. Twigs dried and powdered and extract made with water and acetone. Microorganisms were isolated from the oral swab taken from the patient attending Out Patient Department of Regional Dental College, Guwahati. Antibacterial and antifungal potential of these plants was observed using agar well-diffusion method. Results: Tulsi and Pochotia showed antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mitis and Streptococcus viridans, whereas neem extract showed inhibitory effect against Klebsiella species. Neem and Pochotia showed antifungal action against Candida albican in both aqueous and acetone extract. The positive control of ciprofloxacin and itraconazole produced significant size of the inhibition zone. Statistical analysis was done using Instat Software. For comparing means, F-test was applied and considered P < 0.05 to be significant. Conclusion: Antimicrobial essay showed the antibacterial and antifungal action of these plants against oral microbes. It is important to identify and isolate the proper constituent responsible for this mechanism

A Comprehensive Review on Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Agriculture and Evolving Agricultural Practices for Climate Resilience

Agriculture is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, primarily through methane and nitrous oxide emissions from livestock farming, rice cultivation, and fertilizer use. In the face of climate change, there is an urgent need to mitigate these emissions and build climate-resilient agricultural systems. This comprehensive review examines the sources and drivers of GHG emissions in agriculture, the potential impacts of climate change on agricultural productivity, and evolving agricultural practices aimed at reducing emissions and enhancing resilience. We explore a range of strategies, including improved nutrient management, precision agriculture, agroforestry, and the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices, which offer opportunities to mitigate GHG emissions while simultaneously improving soil health, water conservation, and biodiversity. , we discuss the role of policy frameworks, financial incentives, and international collaborations in promoting sustainable agricultural practices and fostering climate resilience in the agricultural sector