Reversible Image Watermarking Using Modified Quadratic Difference Expansion and Hybrid Optimization Technique

With increasing copyright violation cases, watermarking of digital images is a very popular solution for securing online media content. Since some sensitive applications require image recovery after watermark extraction, reversible watermarking is widely preferred. This article introduces a Modified Quadratic Difference Expansion (MQDE) and fractal encryption-based reversible watermarking for securing the copyrights of images. First, fractal encryption is applied to watermarks using Tromino's L-shaped theorem to improve security. In addition, Cuckoo Search-Grey Wolf Optimization (CSGWO) is enforced on the cover image to optimize block allocation for inserting an encrypted watermark such that it greatly increases its invisibility. While the developed MQDE technique helps to improve coverage and visual quality, the novel data-driven distortion control unit ensures optimal performance. The suggested approach provides the highest level of protection when retrieving the secret image and original cover image without losing the essential information, apart from improving transparency and capacity without much tradeoff. The simulation results of this approach are superior to existing methods in terms of embedding capacity. With an average PSNR of 67 dB, the method shows good imperceptibility in comparison to other schemes

Association of facet orientation and tropism with lumbar disc herniation

Background: Intervertebral disc herniation is a degenerative lumbar disease and a common pathology of skeletal system. Currently, most experts assume that facet tropism may affect lumbar degenerative diseases. Considering the previous inconsistent findings on the relationship of facet tropism, the present study was aimed to find the association between facet tropism and lumbar disc herniation.Methods: Patients with low back pain attending the OPD of orthopaedics department, with signs and symptoms of disc herniation were sent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). 72 patients with single level disc herniation were included in the study. Facet angles were measured using MRI of 1.5 T using the method described by Karacan et al. Facet tropism was defined as difference of 100 or more in facet joint angles between right and left sides.Results: 45 of the 72 cases (50%) who presented with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) had tropism while none (0%) at the control level did. This association was not statistically significant (p=0.983). Significant association was found between the side of disc herniation and the distribution of the more coronal or sagittal facing facet (p=0.024).Conclusions: Despite the presence of tropism only in the intervertebral segments affected with LDH in our study, the association between tropism and LDH was not statistically significant

Liquid-mesophase-solid transitions: systematics of a density-wave theory

The density-wave theory of Ramakrishnan and Yussouff is used to study phase transitions between liquid, liquid-crystalline, and crystalline phases. The different phases considered are liquid, nematic, smectic, discotic, bcc plastic crystal, orientationally ordered bcc, and a new incommensurate bcc crystal with orientational order. The direct correlation function, required as an input for the theory, is expressed approximately in terms of five generalized Fourier coefficients. The theory is then used to obtain sections through the phase diagram in the five-dimensional space of these coefficients. Simple approximations for the direct correlation function of hard ellipsoids of revolution are used to compare these phase diagrams with those obtained from experiments and numerical simulations. Molecular-field theories of smectic and discotic ordering are reexamined, and, given the potentials they use, it is shown that an orientationally ordered bcc crystal has a lower free energy than either the smectic or the discotic phase. The conditions required to stabilize smectic and discotic phases are examined

Pharmacokinetics of Intranasal Scopolamine Gel Formation During Antiorthostatic Bedrest - A Microgravity Analog

Space Motion sickness (SMS) is an age old problem for astronauts on both short and long duration space flights. Scopolamine (SCOP) is the most frequently used drug for the treatment of motion sickness (MS) which is currently available in transdermal patch and tablet dosage forms. These formulations of SCOP are ineffective for the treatment of SMS. Intranasal dosage forms are noninvasive with rapid absorption and enhanced bioavailability thus allowing precise and reduced dosing options in addition to offering rescue and treatment options. As such, an intranasal gel dosage formulation of scopolamine (INSCOP) was developed and Pharmacokinetics (PK) and bioavailability were determined under IND guidelines. The present clinical trial compares PK and bioavailability of INSCOP in 12 normal, healthy subjects (6 male/ 6 female) during ambulation (AMB) and antiorthostatic bedrest (ABR) used as a ground-based microgravity analog. Subjects received 0.2 and 0.4 mg doses of INSCOP during AMB and ABR in a four-way crossover design. Results indicated no difference between AMB and ABR in PK parameters after 0.2 mg dose. Clearance (Cls) decreased with a concomitant increase in maximum concentration and area under concentration versus time curve (AUC) during ABR after the 0.4 mg dose. This difference in AUC and Cls at the higher but not the lower dose during ABR may suggest that ABR may affect metabolism and/or clearance at higher doses of INSCOP. These results indicate that dosing adjustment may be required for treatment of SMS with INSCOP in space

A REVIEW STUDY OF ZINC OXIDE NANOPARTICLES SYNTHESIS FROM PLANT EXTRACTS

The development of nanotechnology is making the interest of researchers towards the synthesis of nanoparticles for the bioapplication. Metal oxides such as ZnO have received increasing attention as antibacterial materials in recent years because of their stability under harsh processing conditions, and also because they are generally regarded as safe materials for human beings and animals. Zinc activates 300 enzymes, and it plays a role in many other phenomena like growth, membrane stability, bone mineralization, tissue growth, and repair, wound healing and cell signalling. Many studies have shown that ZnO nanoparticles have enhanced antibacterial activity. Use of plant and plant materials for the synthesis of Zinc nanoparticles is relatively new and exciting research field. Various plants were used for the synthesis of nanoparticles using a green synthesis method. Nanoparticles were synthesized from all the parts of the plant separately like stem, flower, leaf, latex, root, peel, stem bark and fruits. The prepared nanoparticles of Zinc oxide were characterized by using XRD, FTIR, UV-VIS Spectroscopy, EDAX, Particle size analyzer, TGA, and SEM. The objective of this review was to report on the synthesis of Zinc oxide nanoparticles by using different plant extracts and their significance in different fields

Qualitative and Quantitative Evaluation of Static Code Analysis Tools

poster abstractStatic code analysis (SCA) is a methodology of detecting errors in programs without actually compiling the source code to binary format and executing it on a machine. The main goal of a SCA tool is to aid developers in quickly identifying errors that can jeopardize the security and integrity of the program. With the vast array of SCA tools available, each specializing in particular languages, error types, and detection methodologies, choosing the optimal tool(s) can be a daunting task for any software developer, or organization. This, however, is not a problem associated only with SCA tools, but applies to any application domain where many tools exist and a selection of a subset of these tools is needed for effectively tackling a given problem. To address this fundamental challenge with selecting the most appropriate SCA tool for a particular problem, this research is performing a comprehensive study of different available SCA tool, both commercial and open-source. The end goal of this study is to not only evaluate how different SCA tools perform with respect to locating specific errors in source code (i.e., the quality of the tool), but to model the behavior of each SCA tool using quantitative metrics gathered from the source code, such as source lines of code (SLOC), cyclometic complexity, and function points. The behavioral model can then be used to prescreen existing (and new) source code, and select the most appropriate SCA tool, or set of SCA tools, that can identify the most errors in the source code undergoing analysis

Nutritional status and socioeconomic empowerment of fisherwomen in the coastal ecosystem of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, India

This study was carried out in the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. From these states, 13 districts and 28 villages were selected. A total of 5,744 households were covered. Cereal consumption was highest in Andhra Pradesh followed by Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Pulse consumption was high in Kerala when compared to other states. The overall energy intake of the fisherwomen was 1,827 kcal/day; protein intake was 50.6 gm/day; carbohydrate intake was 343.5 gm/day; and fat intake was 27 gm/day. The mean intake of micronutrients was less than the recommended dietary allowance. The mean body mass index was 21.3. The nutritional status of the women was: 49% normal; 17% low normal; 10.5% mildly malnourished; 4% moderately malnourished; and 2.9% severely malnourished. About 11.5% of the fisherwomen were overweight and 4.6% were obese. A subsample of 915 women was clinically observed: 34.8% were diagnosed with angular stomatitis; 31 % with cheelosis; 42.8% with bleeding gums; and 44.2% with dry skin. Some 72% of the women were anemic. An assessment ofthe socioeconomic status indicated that very few households (15.4%) maintained livestock for income generation. About 60% of the fisherwomen carried out post-harvest activities to earn income. Food expenditure comprised 60.7% of the earned income contribvting to the major share of the spending. Debt servicing was a serious problem faced by 44.9% of the respondents who had procured loans mostly from non-institutional sources

Participation of women in post harvest fisheries sector

Women in India are traditionally involved in agriculture, dairying, animal husbandry and fisheries. The fisheries sector makes an important contribution to the national economy with a share of 2.5% of the GDP providing food and employmen

DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF STABILITY-INDICATING RP-UPLC METHOD FOR THE SIMULTANEOUS ESTIMATION OF TEZACAFTOR AND IVACAFTOR IN FORMULATIONS

Objective: Aim of the present research work was to develop a sensitive, rapid and accurate, stability-indicating RP-UPLC method for the simultaneous estimation of tezacaftor and ivacaftor in formulations. Methods: The chromatographic separation of the mixture of tezacaftor and ivacaftor was attained in isocratic method utilizing a mobile phase of 0.1 % orthophosphoric acid and acetonitrile in the proportion of 50:50%v/v utilizing a HSS C18 column which has dimensions of 100×2.1 mm, 1.7 m particle size and the flow rate of 0.3 ml/min. The detection system was monitored at 292 nm wavelength maximum with 1.5 ml injection volume. The present method was validated as per the guidelines given by the ICH for specificity, accuracy, sensitivity, linearity and precision. Results: The retaining time for tezacaftor and ivacaftor were achieved at 1.071 min and 0.530 min, respectively. Tezacaftor, ivacaftor and their combined drug formulation were exposed to thermal, acidic, oxidative, photolytic, and alkaline conditions. The developed method was highly sensitive, rapid, precise and accurate than the earlier reported methods. The total run time was decreased to 2.0 min; hence, the technique was more precise and economical. Stability studies directed for the suitability of the technique for degradation studies of tezacaftor and ivacaftor. Conclusion: The projected method can be utilized for routine analysis in the quality control department in pharmaceutical trades