Kerala Libraries Network (KELNET): a Proposal

Visualizes the conceptual framework and propose the development of a Kerala Library Network (KELNET) by exploring and exploiting the available and the existing social infrastructures, social softwares, open standards and technologies

Scaling Reinforcement Learning Paradigms for Motor Control

Reinforcement learning offers a general framework to explain reward related learning in artificial and biological motor control. However, current reinforcement learning methods rarely scale to high dimensional movement systems and mainly operate in discrete, low dimensional domains like game-playing, artificial toy problems, etc. This drawback makes them unsuitable for application to human or bio-mimetic motor control. In this poster, we look at promising approaches that can potentially scale and suggest a novel formulation of the actor-critic algorithm which takes steps towards alleviating the current shortcomings. We argue that methods based on greedy policies are not likely to scale into high-dimensional domains as they are problematic when used with function approximation – a must when dealing with continuous domains. We adopt the path of direct policy gradient based policy improvements since they avoid the problems of unstabilizing dynamics encountered in traditional value iteration based updates. While regular policy gradient methods have demonstrated promising results in the domain of humanoid notor control, we demonstrate that these methods can be significantly improved using the natural policy gradient instead of the regular policy gradient. Based on this, it is proved that Kakade’s ‘average natural policy gradient’ is indeed the true natural gradient. A general algorithm for estimating the natural gradient, the Natural Actor-Critic algorithm, is introduced. This algorithm converges with probability one to the nearest local minimum in Riemannian space of the cost function. The algorithm outperforms nonnatural policy gradients by far in a cart-pole balancing evaluation, and offers a promising route for the development of reinforcement learning for truly high-dimensionally continuous state-action systems. Keywords: Reinforcement learning, neurodynamic programming, actorcritic methods, policy gradient methods, natural policy gradien

Content creation and E-learning in Indian Languages : a model

In the era of E-publishing and E-learning, numerous universities and cultural organizations around the world have launched initiatives to develop tools for multilingual learning and web publishing and have given preference to local content. India has different languages and different culture. Most of the knowledge and information related to people, culture, science and philosophy of India is available in Indian languages, which will be useful for learning and developing knowledge base. In India E-learning systems and online courses are already started, but as a multi lingual country, which gives importance to education through regional languages, there should be facilities for multi lingual E-learning. This paper covers the issues of Indian language knowledge base/content base, its requirement, and its implication in e learning. An Integrated multi lingual E-learning system for India is proposed in this paper, where importance given to multi lingual course content creation

Alternate of Manual Weeding Tools: A Research into an Automatic Weeding Control Strategies Enabled by Embedded Systems

A key enabling factor for treating individualized weeds in the crops is the Automatic Weeding Control device (AWCd) as it is being capable of finding and distinguishing weeds in the field. The non-herbicide approaches used to manage weeds are a component of the personalized treatment of weed crops. In this study, mechanical weed control techniques are investigated as an alternative. In this study, three specifications—a cutting mechanism, a head-surface tilling (tines), and a foot-surface tilling (arrow hoe)—are taken into account. With different rates of application to herbicide-resistant, these processes were estimated in a controlled field and the efficacy of the implementation is estimated by using the demographic analysis and also, the importance of early interface has also been highlighted. For all the weeds accounted in this research, Automatic weeding control was found to be very effective thus ended up in overall survival probability

Libraries Role in Research Environments

Research Libraries proactively see the opportunities and embed themselves to the Research Life Cycle

Study of Turmeric Plant Diseases and Methods of Disease Identification using Digital Image Processing Techniques

The vast economic potentiality of the crop can be adequately established by the fact that about 20-30 million people consume turmeric in India on a regular basis besides those in other countries of the world which may include over 2 billion consumers. Its cultivation is highly labor intensive and offers employment to about 2.0 million families engaged in cultivation, trading and commerce in turmeric throughout India. Turmeric powder is used as medicine for certain diseases and also used as an antiseptic. During cultivation turmeric is very much affected by disease and also procedure for to identify diseases early infected stage using digital image processing and pattern recognition techniques, such as rhizome rot disease, leaf spot disease, leaf blotch disease and dry rot disease that result in great loss for the farmers. It occurs in a very virulent form and if not controlled, causes widespread damage and even total destruction of the entire turmeric plantations without any early indications of the diseases. The aim of this paper is to study and identify various diseases in the turmeric plants and also procedure for to identify diseases early infected stage using digital image processing and pattern recognition techniques

Investigation and Monitoring Systems for Powdery Mildew Disease in Sirugamani Variety of Betel Vine Plants Using Digital Image Processing Techniques

Betel vine leaves are popularly known as Vetrilai in Tamil and also commonly known as Pan in Hindi. The biological name of betel vine is known as Piper betel. In this research paper, the powdery mildew disease is identified for sirugamani variety of betel vine leaves using digital image processing techniques by investigating the microscopic change in the color and appearance of the betel vine leaves. For statistical analysis, the digital images of healthy betel vine leaves and betel vine leaves infected by the powdery mildew disease from its first day to fifth day of infection are individually collected by a high-resolution digital camera. The red, green and blue color components of collected images are separated, and the mean, median and standard deviation values are calculated for all the three color components. Finally, the calculated values are stored in a database for healthy betel vine leaves and betel vine leaves infected by the powdery mildew disease for first five days after its identification. The statistical values of all the infected betel vine leaves for all the three color components are decreasing as the day of infection increases for all the betel vine leaves. These analyses help to identify the infection of the powdery mildew disease in the early stage of betel vine leaves

Secondary arm coarsening and microsegregation in superalloy PWA-1480 single crystals: Effect of low gravity

Single crystal specimens of nickel base superalloy PWA-1480 were directionally solidified on ground and during low gravity (20 sec) and high gravity (90 sec) parabolic maneuver of KC-135 aircraft. Thermal profiles were measured during solidification by two in-situ thermocouples positioned along the sample length. The samples were quenched during either high or low gravity cycles so as to freeze the structures of the mushy zone developing under different gravity levels. Microsegregation was measured by examining the solutal profiles on several transverse cross-sections across primary dendrites along their length in the quenched mushy zone. Effect of gravity level on secondary arm coarsening kinetics and microsegregation have been investigated. The results indicate that there is no appreciable difference in the microsegregation and coarsening kinetics behavior in the specimens grown under high or low gravity. This suggests that short duration changes in gravity/levels (0.02 to 1.7 g) do not influence convection in the interdendritic region. Examination of the role of natural convection, in the melt near the primary dendrite tips, on secondary arm spacings requires low gravity periods longer than presently available on KC-135. Secondary arm coarsening kinetics show a reasonable fit with the predictions from a simple analytical model proposed by Kirkwood for a binary alloy

Growth and Characterization of Anthranilic acid Crystals

ABSTRACTSingle crystals of Anthranilic acid (AA) have been successfully grown and purity of materials has been increased by repeated recrystallization process. Single crystals have been grown by slow evaporation technique. The grown crystal was characterized by Single crystal X-Ray diffraction, Powder XRD, FTIR, UV-Vis, DTA/TGA, Dielectric studies and SHG respectively. The observed results from various characterization show the suitability of NLO application. The second harmonic generation of the grown crystal was checked using Kurtz and Perry technique. Thermal stability and melting point of the grown crystal were found by thermal analysis. The Physical strength of the grown AA crystal was measured from Vicker’s hardness test.Â

KAUST Library’s campus wide ePoster Management Service

Having several scientific poster events annually at the campus, with hosting supported by the Library, printed posters have remained static, highly localized and short-lived. These characteristics are at odds with what is often the first formal communication of scientific research and, as such would be of great interest to other researchers. Addressing these limitations was a major motivator behind the trialing of an ePoster alternative at KAUST. This project was conceived, piloted and being implemented and managed by the University Library, in collaboration with IT Services. In addition to digitally capturing research content for display and preservation, ePoster functionality changes the engagement dynamics whilst helping to bridge the gap between academia and professional practice. ePosters have been extensively embraced by international professional organizations, however, academic institutions remain bound to printed posters. KAUST Library believes that, by rolling out an ePoster system to the University, it is the first campus in the world to offer this as a campus-wide solution, truly reflecting a digital smart campus vision of KAUS