Review of constraints on vision-based gesture recognition for human–computer interaction

The ability of computers to recognise hand gestures visually is essential for progress in human-computer interaction. Gesture recognition has applications ranging from sign language to medical assistance to virtual reality. However, gesture recognition is extremely challenging not only because of its diverse contexts, multiple interpretations, and spatio-temporal variations but also because of the complex non-rigid properties of the hand. This study surveys major constraints on vision-based gesture recognition occurring in detection and pre-processing, representation and feature extraction, and recognition. Current challenges are explored in detail

Effect of dietary zinc on the growth and metabolic enzyme activities of golden mahseer (Tor putitora) fry

The golden mahseer (Tor putitora) is an important and high valued sport and food fish of national and international importance. Therefore for promotion of golden mahseer, proper mineral supplementation in early developmental stages is very important. The present study evaluated the effects of dietary zinc on growth, survivaland physiological response of Tor putitora fry. One thousand eight hundred fry (avg.wt 54.35±3.09 mg) were randomly distributed into 6 treatment groups with triplicates each. Six iso-nitrogenous (40±0.02% to 41.44±0.01% crude protein) semi-purified diets were prepared with graded levels of dietary zinc. Zinc sulphate was added as the dietary zinc source to the basal diet. The results indicated that specific growth rate (SGR) was of value 2.52 ±0.23 gm of T. putitora fry which increased with dietary zinc levels up to a concentration of 40 mg Zn Kg-1 in diet. The zinc dependent metabolic enzymes and antioxidant enzymes was also observed to be highest in groups supplemented with 40 mg zinc/kg feed. The overall results of the present study suggest the efficacy of dietary zinc on growth, survival and physiological response of golden mahseer fry in order to garner the possibility of establishing the species to commercial aquaculture

BERA in the detection of hearing loss in high risk children: an observational study in two tertiary care teaching hospitals in upper Assam region

Background: Significant hearing loss affects children globally (1-3/1,000 infants at birth). Early diagnosis (<6 months age) and subsequent early intervention facilitates normal development of language, regardless of the severity of hearing loss. Methods: A hospital-based, descriptive, retrospective study was done in two tertiary-care centres of Upper Assam region, upon total (55 + 46 =) 101 high risk children (<15 years) during a study period of 1 year. Patients were subjected to a questionnaire, and hearing tests (BERA/OAE) were performed. Results: Majority of the cases were <5 years of age, with male preponderance (66.30% cases). NICU graduates with history of ototoxic medications/mechanical ventilation, neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and caregiver concern were the common presenting risk factors identified. Conclusions: 49.50% cases (n=50) suffered from hearing loss [most common was severe degree of hearing loss, n= 24].  75% cases in AMCH and 63.6% in LMCH with caregiver concern, 55.55% cases in AMCH and 50% in LMCH with past neonatal hyperbilirubinemia; 50% cases with positive family history; and 46.66% NICU graduates tested positive for hearing loss. Ideally, all high risk children <15 years should be screened for hearing loss with earliest intervention and rehabilitation, to enable them to lead a normal life and reduce the burden of handicap in the community

An eight-connected metal organic framework based on Cu(5) clusters: Synthesis, structure, magnetic and catalytic properties

A reaction of copper acetate, 5-nitroisophthalic acid in a water-methanol mixture under solvothermal condition results in a new metal-organic framework compound, [Cu(5)(mu(3)-OH)(2)(H(2)O)(6){(NO(2))-C(6)H(3)-(COO)(2)}(4)]center dot 5H(2)O, (1). The compound contains Cu5 pentameric cluster units connected by 5-nitro isophthalate (NIPA) moieties forming a CdCl(2)-like layer, which are further connected by another NIPA moiety forming the three-dimensional structure. The water molecules in (1) can be reversibly adsorbed. The removal of water accompanies a change in the colour as well as a structural re-organization. Magnetic studies suggest strong antiferromagnetie correlations between the Cu5 cluster units. The compound (1) exhibits heterogeneous Lewis acid catalysis for the cyanosilylation of imines with more than 95 % selectivity. Compound (1) has been characterized by IR, UV-vis, TGA, powder XRD studies

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This research was, in part, of NPDF funded & supported by Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and Technology, Government of India with fellowship No. PDF/2015/000509. We also acknowledge the support & encouragement from Director ICAR-DCFR, Bhimtal India. The authors are grateful to Dr. Meryl Williams for editing the language and we also thank anonymous reviewers of STOLEN for their comments. We are thankful to Dr. Ravi Patiyal, Dr. Prakash Sharma, Dr. Deepjyoti Baruah, Mr. Partha Das, Dr. Anirban Dandapat, Mr. Maneesh Dubey, Mr. Prashant Tiwari, Ms. Annu Sharma & Md. Sakir Baig for their help.Lakes in the Himalayas host unique biota and biological communities which are highly sensitive to climate change. High penetration of solar UV radiation in clear shallow lake affects the distribution and abundance of the zooplankton communities. Survival of copepods in such habitats often relies on available photoprotective compounds. We estimated species diversity and distribution patterns of copepods with detectable carotenoids in 7 lakes of the central Himalayas along the altitudinal gradients. To determine the factors influencing the accumulation of high-level photoprotective compounds, we analyzed the physicochemical parameters of water and the concentration of Lignin like Compounds (LLCs), Aromaticity (ARO), Humic Compounds (HCs), Degree of Humification (DoH) and percent Total Organic Matter (TOM) in littoral sediments. In the shallow lakes, copepod abundance and diversity correlate with water transparency. Humic compounds (HCs) derived from ligninaceous plants stimulate the accumulation of photoprotective compounds that allow for the domination of diaptomidae. Copepods receive photoprotective compounds from the humic-bounded sediment substrate. The amount of photoprotectants in the aquatic food chain of the central Himalayas is largely influenced by ligninaceous compounds derived from catchment vegetation. In copepods of shallow clear lakes, the remnant of dead trees in the littoral zones helps to minimize hazards caused by exposure effect and climatic stress. The reduction of vegetative covers in the shorelines may alter the community structure of zooplankton, particularly in the upland ecosystem. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and Technology, Government of India [PDF/2015/000509

An eight-connected metal organic framework based on Cu₅ clusters: Synthesis, structure, magnetic and catalytic properties

1281-1289A reaction of copper acetate, 5-nitroisophthalic acid in a water-methanol mixture under solvothermal condition results in a new metal-organic framework compound, [Cu5(µ3-OH)2(H2O)6{(NO2)-C6H3-(COO)2}4].5H2O, (1). The compound contains Cu5 pentameric cluster units connected by 5-nitro isophthalate (NIPA) moieties forming a CdCl2-like layer, which are further connected by another NIPA moiety forming the three-dimensional structure. The water molecules in (1) can be reversibly adsorbed. The removal of water accompanies a change in the colour as well as a structural re-organization. Magnetic studies suggest strong antiferromagnetic correlations between the Cu5 cluster units. The compound (1) exhibits heterogeneous Lewis acid catalysis for the cyanosilylation of imines with more than 95 % selectivity. Compound (1) has been characterized by IR, UV-vis, TGA, powder XRD studies

Usefulness of in Situ Single Crystal to Single Crystal Transformation (SCSC) Studies in Understanding the Temperature-Dependent Dimensionality Cross-over and Structural Reorganization in Copper-Containing Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)

Two copper-containing compounds [Cu(3)(mu(3)-OH)(2)-(H(2)O)(2){(SO(3))-C(6)H(3)-(COO)(2)}(CH(3)COO)] , I, and [Cu(5)(mu(3)-OH)(2)(H(2)O)(6){(NO(2))-C(6)H(3)-(COO)(2)}(4)]center dot 5H(2)O, II, were prepared using sulphoisophthalic and nitroisophthalic acids. The removal of the coordinated water molecules in the compounds was investigated using in situ single crystal to single crystal (SCSC) transformation studies, temperature-dependent powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The efficacy of SCSC transformation studies were established by the observation of dimensionality cross-over from a two-dimensional (I) to a three-dimensional structure, Cu(6)(mu(3)-OH)(4){(SO(3))-C(6)H(3)-(COO)(2)}(2)(CH(3)COO)(2), Ia, during the removal of the coordinated water molecules. Compound H exhibited a structural reorganization forming Cu(5)(mu(2)-OH)(2){(NO(2))C(6)H(3)-(COO)(2))(4)], Ha, possessing trimeric (Cu(3)O(12)) and dimeric (Cu(2)O(8)) copper clusters. The PXRD studies indicate that the three-dimensional structure (Ia) is transient and unstable, reverting back to the more stable two-dimensional structure (I) on cooling to room temperature. Compound Ha appears to be more stable at room temperature. The rehydration/dehydration studies using a modified TGA setup suggest complete rehydration of the water molecules, indicating that the water molecules in both compounds are labile. A possible model for the observed changes in the structures has been proposed. Magnetic studies indicate changes in the exchanges between the copper centers in Ha, whereas no such behavior was observed in Ia