Robust Stabilised Visual Tracker for Vehicle Tracking

Visual tracking is performed in a stabilised video. If the input video to the tracker algorithm is itself destabilised, incorrect motion vectors will cause a serious drift in tracking. Therefore video stabilisation is must before tracking. A novel algorithm is developed which simultaneously takes care of video stabilisation and target tracking. Target templates in just previous frame are stored in positive and negative repositories followed by Affine mapping. Then optimised affine parameters are used to stabilise the video. Target of interest in the next frame is approximated using linear combinations of previous target templates. Proposed modified L1 minimisation method is used to solve sparse representation of target in the target template subspace. Occlusion problem is minimised using the inherent energy of coefficients. Accurate tracking results have been obtained in destabilised videos

DCS and spin polarization parameter of argon by electron impact

In present paper, differential scattering cross section (DCS) and spin polarization parameter (S) of the elastic scattering of slow electrons from argon are reported and comparison is made with different available theoretical and experimental data. The present calculation is done with R-matrix theory. We have chosen a complex type potential, a part of which is directly calculated from the target charge density and other part is taken from Baluja and Jain [1]. The present work yields a satisfactory result for differential cross section and spin polarization parameter while previously large discrepancies were found in theoretical and experimental data.&nbsp

High Accuracy Determination of Rheological Properties of Drilling Fluids Using the Marsh Funnel

Efficient and safe drilling operations require precise determination of rheological properties in drilling fluids, encompassing dynamic viscosity for Newtonian fluids, and apparent viscosity, plastic viscosity, and yield point for non-Newtonian fluids. Conventional viscometers like vibrating wire, ZNN-D6, and Fann-35 offer high accuracy but are limited by cost and complexity in small-scale industries and labs. To address this, our research presents a novel mathematical model based on the Herschel-Bulkley model, aiming to accurately characterise drilling fluids' rheological properties using the Marsh funnel as an alternative device -- an economical, operator-friendly, and power-independent equipment. Drawing inspiration from seminal works by Li et al. (2020), Sedaghat (2017), and Guria et al. (2013), this innovative framework establishes a universal inverse linear relationship between a fluid's flow factor and final discharge time. For any fluid, it utilises its density and flow factor (or final discharge time) to determine all its rheological properties. Specifically, it evaluates dynamic viscosity for Newtonian fluids, apparent viscosity, plastic viscosity, and yield point for weighted non-Newtonian fluids, and apparent viscosity for non-weighted non-Newtonian fluids, with average systematic errors (against Fann-35 measurements) of 0.39%, 3.52%, 2.17%, 18.38%, and 5.84%, respectively, surpassing the precision of alternative mathematical models found in the aforementioned literature. Furthermore, while our framework's precision in plastic viscosity and yield point assessment of non-weighted non-Newtonian fluids slightly lags behind the framework of Li et al. (2020), it outperforms the model of Sedaghat (2017). In conclusion, despite minor limitations, our proposed mathematical model holds huge promise for drilling fluid rheology in petroleum, drilling, and related industries.Comment: 57 pages, 1 figure, and 10 tables. Funding for this research work was provided through the IIChE Research Grant for the academic year 2022-23, granted by the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers (IIChE

Efficient Embedded Hardware Architecture for Stabilised Tracking Sighting System of Armoured Fighting Vehicles

A line-of-sight stabilised sighting system, capable of target tracking and video stabilisation is a prime requirement of any armoured fighting tank vehicle for military surveillance and weapon firing. Typically, such sighting systems have three prime electro-optical sensors i.e. day camera for viewing in day conditions, thermal camera for night viewing and eye-safe laser range finder for obtaining the target range. For laser guided missile firing, additional laser target designator may be a part of sighting system. This sighting system provides necessary parameters for the fire control computer to compute ballistic offsets to fire conventional ammunition or fire missile. System demands simultaneous interactions with electro-optical sensors, servo sensors, actuators, multi-function display for man-machine interface, fire control computer, logic controller and other sub-systems of tank. Therefore, a complex embedded electronics hardware is needed to respond in real time for such system. An efficient electronics embedded hardware architecture is presented here for the development of this type of sighting system. This hardware has been developed around SHARC 21369 processor and FPGA. A performance evaluation scheme is also presented for this sighting system based on the developed hardware

Prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension among adults of Raipur city, Chhattisgarh, India: a cross sectional study

Background: Hypertension is prevalent all over the world. Usually it is readily detectable, easily treatable condition and if left untreated may leads to serious complications. In considerable proportion of cases the disease tends to be asymptomatic for prolonged time, hence also labelled as ‘Silent killer’. High blood pressure (BP) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and better control can lead to prevention of 300,000 of the 1.5 million annual deaths from cardiovascular diseases in India. The objective of the study was to find the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control status of hypertension among adults of Raipur city.Methods: A community based cross sectional study was carried out in 768 subjects of age 25-59 years residing in Raipur city, Chhattisgarh, India. A predesigned, pretested questionnaire was used for data collection. To classify blood pressure JNC VII criteria was used.Results: The prevalence of hypertension was 29.0 %. Out of 223 hypertensive (223/768), 59.2% were aware about their hypertensive status, in them 76.9% were on treatment and 49.5% were under control.Conclusions: There was striking lack of awareness of the condition and a suboptimal rate of control among those treated. These finding emphasize public health importance of hypertension in Raipur city and there is urgent need to address this through targeted intervention

Stigma experienced by primary care givers of persons with Epilepsy

Stigma is society's negative evaluation of particular features or behaviour. Cultural beliefs that define certain conditions negatively may create tainted and discounted identities for affected individuals and their families. The present study was intended to assess the presence and degree of stigma experienced by primary care givers of persons with epilepsy (PCG) and to find out the causal attribution for epilepsy among the PCG. The study was a cross sectional hospital based study. By using purposive sampling techniques 100 Caregivers of persons diagnosed with epilepsy were taken from the OPD (Epilepsy Clinic) of CIP. Family Interview Schedule to assess both stigma and causal attribution (Sartarius et al., 1996) were administered. Median split technique was used to divide respondents into two stigma groups, low and high. It can be seen that the socio-demographic variables (of persons with epilepsy) religion emerged as statistically significant. Hindus in our sample seemed to have higher stigma than both Muslims and Christians. It was found more stigma when persons with epilepsy were younger. There were a significantly high number of care givers of high stigma group attributive influence of depression/unhappiness as a cause of epilepsy in their family member. Although not statistically significant but it was found that stigma tended to be more when care giver’s age was young. It was also found that, those care givers who had attributed no cause it just happened or don't know for epilepsy in their family member experienced more stigma which have important implication in psycho-educational programs and intervention to dispel stigma. Keywords: Stigma, care givers, Epileps

Prevalence and determinants of hypertension in elderly population of Raipur city, Chhattisgarh

Background: Demographic transition across globe leading towards greying of population. Worldwide, raised blood pressure is estimated to cause 12.8% of the total annual deaths. This account for 3.7% of total DALYs. Several community-based studies have served to emphasize that hypertension is rapidly emerging as a major public health problem. However, only a few of these studies included elderly people. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the prevalence and factors influencing hypertension among elderly population of Raipur city.  Methods: This community based cross-sectional study was carried out in capital of Chhattisgarh, including urban and slum area from July 2013 to June 2014. Multistage simple random sampling methods were used. Study population comprises of all elderly 60 years and above residing in the study area for at least one year. A total of 640 subjects were included in study.Results: The overall prevalence of hypertension in present study was 50%, prevalent among females (55.49%),shows a significant positive association with body mass index, physical activity and age up to old age group (75-84)yrs. Surprisingly inverse association was observed with alcohol (P <0.001) and smoking (P <0.05) status.Conclusion: Our findings emphasize the public health importance of hypertension in the elderly in Raipur city, and need to strengthen the national programme for hypertension. From a public health perspective, there is definite need for screening of elderly.

BTEX in ambient air of India: a scoping review of their concentrations, sources, and impact

Toxic gaseous organic air pollutants such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene isomers (m, p, and o-x) (BTEX) are considered hazardous due to its adverse impacts on human health and on climate change. This review identifies the major research questions addressed so far and the research gap in research articles, published between 2001 and 2022, focusing on the ambient BTEX concentrations in different locations in India along with its sources, ozone formation potential (OFP), and associated health risks. The ambient levels of BTEX were also compared with those of other Asian countries. A comparison of ambient BTEX levels with different microenvironments in India is also presented. BTEX concentrations were found in the range of 30.95 to 317.18 µg m−3 and multi-fold higher in urban environments than those measured in the rural air. In most reported studies, the order of occurrence of BTEX compounds was toluene > benzene > xylene isomers > ethylbenzene and winter had higher concentrations than in other seasons, including summer. As far as BTEX levels in classified areas of urban environments are concerned, traffic locations have shown the highest BTEX concentrations, followed by residential, commercial, and industrial locations. OFP indicated that xylene isomers and toluene contributed to ozone formation. The major gaps in reported studies on BTEX measurement are (1) source apportionment; (2) impact on lower tropospheric chemistry, human health, and climate change; and (3) removal techniques from air.publishe