Intensity preserving cast removal in color images using particle swarm optimization

In this paper, we present an optimal image enhancement technique for color cast images by preserving their intensity. There are methods which improves the appearance of the affected images under different cast like red, green, blue etc but up to some extent. The proposed color cast method is corrected by using transformation function based on gamma values. These optimal values of gamma are obtained through particle swarm optimization (PSO). This technique preserves the image intensity and maintains the originality of color by satisfying the modified gray world assumptions. For the performance analysis, the image distance metric criteria of CIELAB color space is used. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is illustrated by testing the proposed method on color cast images. It has been found that distance between the reference image and the corrected proposed image is negligible. The calculated value of image distance depicts that the enhanced image results of the proposed algorithm are closer to the reference images in comparison with other existing methods

E-commerce and Fashion Retail Industry: An Empirical Investigation On the Online Retail Sector in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries

The aim of this study is to examine the digitalization factors affecting Ecommerce in the fashion retail industry and propose an expanded model for a behavioral intention to use the e-commerce shopping channel that incorporates the Theory of Reasoned Action(TRA) and its extensions of Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). A data of 872 respondents was collected, who were fashion retail customers in Gulf Cooperation Council Countries of United Arab Emirates (UAE), The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar. Structural Equation Modeling using AMOS and Sequential Mediation Analysis using Process Macro were used to validate the proposed conceptual framework. Furthermore, a comprehensive demographic analysis was conducted using ANOVA at the respondent’s country level. Findings include age and university education of the consumer did moderate the relationship between the study constructs, whereas gender, income level and work location did not moderate. Trust and perceived utility of e-commerce channels acts as sequential mediators between perceived ease of use, subjective norms and behavioral intention to use respectively. Future studies will need the behavior models to be extended to incorporate the fundamental changes in consumer behavior to the pandemic. This research builds on the existing studies on online shopping intentions by including a comprehensive model incorporating all the constructs affecting online shopping continuance. It is one of the few comprehensive studies in the GCC region which is the stronghold of Brick & Mortar (B&M) shoppin

Developing the Computational Building Blocks for General Intelligent in SOAR

Cognitive architecture's purpose is to generate artificial agents with capacities similar to the human mind. Soar Cognitive Architecture is to produce the fixed computational building blocks needed for generally intelligent agents— agents that can outright a variety of tasks and encode, use, and learn all types of knowledge to realize the broad cognitive abilities present in humans. This paper introduced an arithmetic agent that does multicolumn, two-digit addition in SOAR. Here, we show the entire calculating procedure, including all of its operators. We are using episodic memory assistance to enhance the set of cognitive abilities that let the agent learn and reason

Spasticity Outcome Tools in Traumatic Complete Spinal Cord Injury

Objective: To evaluate spasticity in patients of complete motor complete spinal cord injury using M.A.S ,SCATS and PSFS tools of spasticity and assessing their correlation. Design:  Observational cross-sectional study. Setting:  In-patient rehabilitation ward. Participants: 50 individuals of chronic (≥ 1 year trauma) motor complete SCI were classified into mild (n=16), moderate (n=11), and severe (n=23) spastic groups; based on their lower limb extensor muscle group spasticity score using a Modified Ashworth Scale (M.A.S), Spinal cord assessment tool for spastic reflexes(SCATS) and Penn spasm frequency scale (PSFS).  Main Outcome Measures: The proportion of cases in mild, moderate, severe spastic groups, mean MAS score, mean SCATS Score and PSFS Score were evaluated and were compared between the groups with different grades of spasticity. Results:  The mean M.A.S score among the study group was 3.71±1.60. The mean SCAT ankle clonus score, flexor spasm score and extensor spasm score were 1.55±1.05, 1.36±0.81 and 1.22±0.76 respectively (P<0.001S).The mean PSFS (frequency) score and mean PSFS (severity) score was 1.78±0.84 and 1.56±0.70 respectively( P<0.001S). All the three spasticity  outcome tools were found to be significantly associated with the type of spasticity (P≤0.001).A significant positive correlation was observed between M.A.S score and the mean PSFS (FREQ; r = 0.856) score and PSFS (SEV; r = 0.818) score and the mean SCAT score(r=0.913).  Conclusion: All three spasticity outcome tools M.A.S, PSFS and SCATS are acceptable as well as feasible, inherit good clinical utility and correlate significantly with the severity of spasticity. Significant correlations were observed between SCATS score and PSFS score with the M.A.S score. No single outcome measure can reflect the multidimensional nature of spasticity; hence a battery of tests should be applied to measure spasticity to plan antispasmodic treatment in such patients. Keywords: Spinal cord injury, Spasticity, Modified Ashworth score, Spinal cord assessment tool for spastic reflexes, Penn spasm frequency scale

Identification of Critical Success Factors in Non-Formal Service Sector Using Delphi Technique

The purpose of this study is to identify the critical success factors (CSFs) for the effective implementation of Six Sigma in non-formal service Sectors. Based on the survey of literature, the critical success factors (CSFs) for Six Sigma have been identified and are assessed for their importance in Non-formal service sector using Delphi Technique. These selected CSFs were put forth to the panel of expert to cluster them and prepare cognitive map to establish their relationship. All the critical success factors examined and obtained from the review of literature have been assessed as being of some importance with regard to their contribution to Six Sigma effectiveness in non formal service sector. The study is limited to the non-formal service sectors involved in the organisation of religious festival only. Future research could utilise use a broader sample of other non-formal service sectors like temple/ashram management, religious tours management etc. The research suggests an approach to identify CSFs of Six Sigma for Non-formal service sector. All the CSFs of the formal service sector will not be applicable to Non-formal services, hence opinion of experts was taken to add or delete the CSFs. As suggested by the experts, two new CSFs-"competitive benchmarking (F19) and resident's involvement (F28)" were added and one of the CSFs-"fulltime six sigma personnel (F15)" has been omitted in proposed clusters of CSFs for non-formal organisation

Evaluation of surface properties of erythrocyte membranes in liver diseases

Background: The physicochemical properties of Red Blood Cell membranes (RBC) are altered in liver diseases. Langmuir monolayers offer an excellent model system to study biological membrane surface properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate surface properties of erythrocyte membranes in liver diseases.  Methods: Sixty-one patients with various liver diseases and fifteen controls were enrolled. Surface properties of RBC membrane were evaluated using Langmuir monolayers. Surface pressure area isotherms were recorded at body temperature using RBC membrane lipid extract. Student’s t-test and Analysis of variance tests were performed.Results: Mean maximum surface pressure and hysteresis area were significantly higher in cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic liver disease groups compared to controls. Within cirrhotics, mean maximum surface pressure and lift off area was significantly lower in the Child C group as compared to the Child A, B and A-B groups. The mean hysteresis area was significantly lower in the Child C group as compared to the Child B and A-B groups.Conclusion: The results of our study confirmed high rigidity of RBC membrane in mild and moderate liver cirrhosis and high fluidity in severe liver cirrhosis. This study may pave the way to the development of a surface activity based biophysical tool for therapeutic implication in liver diseases.

ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF RIBES GLACIALE WALL EXTRACTS

Objective: Ribes glaciale Wall. is used in folk medicine by the locals of North West Himalayas, Uttarakhand, India, but its pharmacological potentials are not well studied. This work evaluates antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of the extract of Ribes glaciale Wall.Methods: Antioxidant activity was assessed by studying free radical scavenging ability, total antioxidant capacity, ferrous ion chelation and reducing power of the extracts. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity was assessed by carrageenan induced rat paw edema and acetic acid induced writhing model respectively.Results: The methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts of Ribes glaciale Wall. Consists considerable amount of total phenolic and flavonoid contents. The ethyl acetate extract was potent in scavenging DPPH free radical (IC50 55.7 μg/ml) while methanolic extract demonstrated higher ability to scavenge ABTS free radical (TEAC 11802.2). Methanolic extract exhibited higher ferrous ion chelation activity (61% at 400 µg/ml). The ethyl acetate extract demonstrated superior reducing power and total antioxidant capacity. The methanolic extract was evaluated for anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity. Administration of methanolic extract of Ribes glaciale exhibited dose dependent inhibition of paw edema induced by carrageenan and also showed significant reduction in number of acetic acid induced abdominal writhing.Conclusion: The study revealed antioxidant potential of methanolic and ethyl acetate extract of Ribes glaciale Wall. The methanolic extract exhibited significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity and indicate the need for its further phytochemical evaluation.Â