A direct comparison of high-speed methods for the numerical Abel transform

The Abel transform is a mathematical operation that transforms a cylindrically symmetric three-dimensional (3D) object into its two-dimensional (2D) projection. The inverse Abel transform reconstructs the 3D object from the 2D projection. Abel transforms have wide application across numerous fields of science, especially chemical physics, astronomy, and the study of laser-plasma plumes. Consequently, many numerical methods for the Abel transform have been developed, which makes it challenging to select the ideal method for a specific application. In this work eight transform methods have been incorporated into a single, open-source Python software package (PyAbel) to provide a direct comparison of the capabilities, advantages, and relative computational efficiency of each transform method. Most of the tested methods provide similar, high-quality results. However, the computational efficiency varies across several orders of magnitude. By optimizing the algorithms, we find that some transform methods are sufficiently fast to transform 1-megapixel images at more than 100 frames per second on a desktop personal computer. In addition, we demonstrate the transform of gigapixel images.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure

Majuli at the Crossroads: A Study of Cultural Geomorphology

Although well established elsewhere, cultural geomorphology has not yet been well-grounded in Northeast India where a perceived dearth of studies in this sub-branch of geography exists. The Brahmaputra valley, which has a long physical and cultural history, is a unique laboratory, which offers opportunities to study anthropo-geomorphologic, achaeo-geomorphologic and cultural landscapes. The Majuli river island, ostensibly the largest island in the world, houses traditional art crafts and dances, despite being continually under the siege of a plethora of physical obstacles such as flooding, bank erosion, etc..  The present study aims at studying how the physical processes that constantly reshape the map of the island exert their influence on the socio-economic and cultural milieu of the region. The paper further analyses why despite all odds Majuli thrives and continues to preserve and maintain its rich natural and cultural heritage, in ways that are perhaps unparalleled in the region or even elsewhere in the globe

A global reference database of crowdsourced cropland data collected using the Geo-Wiki platform

A global reference data set on cropland was collected through a crowdsourcing campaign using the Geo-Wiki crowdsourcing tool. The campaign lasted three weeks, with over 80 participants from around the world reviewing almost 36,000 sample units, focussing on cropland identification. For quality assessment purposes, two additional data sets are provided. The first is a control set of 1,793 sample locations validated by students trained in satellite image interpretation. This data set was used to assess the quality of the crowd as the campaign progressed. The second data set contains 60 expert validations for additional evaluation of the quality of the contributions. All data sets are split into two parts: the first part shows all areas classified as cropland and the second part shows cropland average per location and user. After further processing, the data presented here might be suitable to validate and compare medium and high resolution cropland maps generated using remote sensing. These could also be used to train classification algorithms for developing new maps of land cover and cropland extent

Interaction of Chandipura Virus N and P Proteins: Identification of Two Mutually Exclusive Domains of N Involved in Interaction with P

The nucleocapsid protein (N) and the phosphoprotein (P) of nonsegmented negative-strand (NNS) RNA viruses interact with each other to accomplish two crucial events necessary for the viral replication cycle. First, the P protein binds to the aggregation prone nascent N molecules maintaining them in a soluble monomeric (N0) form (N0-P complex). It is this form that is competent for specific encapsidation of the viral genome. Second, the P protein binds to oligomeric N in the nucleoprotein complex (N-RNA-P complex), and thereby facilitates the recruitment of the viral polymerase (L) onto its template. All previous attempts to study these complexes relied on co-expression of the two proteins in diverse systems. In this study, we have characterised these different modes of N-P interaction in detail and for the first time have been able to reconstitute these complexes individually in vitro in the chandipura virus (CHPV), a human pathogenic NNS RNA virus. Using a battery of truncated mutants of the N protein, we have been able to identify two mutually exclusive domains of N involved in differential interaction with the P protein. An unique N-terminal binding site, comprising of amino acids (aa) 1–180 form the N0-P interacting region, whereas, C-terminal residues spanning aa 320–390 is instrumental in N-RNA-P interactions. Significantly, the ex-vivo data also supports these observations. Based on these results, we suggest that the P protein acts as N-specific chaperone and thereby partially masking the N-N self-association region, which leads to the specific recognition of viral genome RNA by N0

AN OVERVIEW OF FACE LIVENESS DETECTION

ABSTRAC

Role of Cyclopentyl methyl ether co-solvent in Improving SEI layer stability in Hard Carbon Anode for Sodium-ion Batteries

The conversion of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) municipal waste via the carbonization process into hard carbon (WPET-HC) delivers a high-performing, low-cost, sustainable anode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). To further optimize the anode, electrolytes and interfacial chemistry are critical in improving cycling stability and rate capability. Herein, cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME), a weakly solvating and a wide temperature solvent, is used as an alternative co-solvent to ethylene carbonate (EC) to deliver a high initial coulombic efficiency (ICE) up to 75%. The larger interlayer spacing, low surface area, and slit-shaped micro and mesoporous presence in the WPET-HC structure enhance the low potential plateau capacity to 68%, showing a more battery-type anode material from plastic trash. The WPET-HC delivered the excellent reversible capacity of 356 mAh g-1 at the current density of 30 mA g-1 with superior cycling of 91% after 100 cycles using CPME-PC-based electrolyte. The reduction of CPME co-solvent forms a more inorganic SEI than EC-generated SEI, providing a stable and thin SEI layer boosting the ICE and cycling stability of the anode. The low-temperature battery metric for CPME-PC-based electrolytes showed ~30% added capacity and improved ICE value compared to EC-PC-based electrolytes. The CPME-PC-based electrolyte maintained the higher capacity retention of 88% and 74% at 10℃ and 0℃, respectively, with a coulombic efficiency of 100%, revealing the excellent stability of the electrolyte with the HC anode. The work provides an eco-friendly approach to developing hard carbons from plastic trash and reports for the first time the use of greener, low-solvating CPME in improving the reversible capacity and ICE for low-temperature applications of SIBs