Capturing outline of fonts using genetic algorithm and splines

In order to obtain a good spline model from large measurement data, we frequently have to deal with knots as variables, which becomes a continuous, non-linear and multivariate optimization problem with many local optima. Hence, it is very difficult to obtain a global optima. We present a method to convert the original problem into a discrete combinatorial optimization problem and solve it by a genetic algorithm. We also incorporate a corner detection algorithm to detect significant points which are necessary to capture a pleasant looking spline fitting for shapes such as fonts. A parametric B-Spline has been approximated to various characters and symbols. The chromosomes have been constructed by considering the candidates of the locations of knots as genes. The best model among the candidates is searched by using the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). The method determines the appropriate number and location of knots automatically and simultaneously. Some examples are given to show the results obtained from the algorith

Capturing outline of fonts using genetic algorithm and splines

In order to obtain a good spline model from large measurement data, we frequently have to deal with knots as variables, which becomes a continuous, non-linear and multivariate optimization problem with many local optima. Hence, it is very difficult to obtain a global optima. We present a method to convert the original problem into a discrete combinatorial optimization problem and solve it by a genetic algorithm. We also incorporate a corner detection algorithm to detect significant points which are necessary to capture a pleasant looking spline fitting for shapes such as fonts. A parametric B-Spline has been approximated to various characters and symbols. The chromosomes have been constructed by considering the candidates of the locations of knots as genes. The best model among the candidates is searched by using the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). The method determines the appropriate number and location of knots automatically and simultaneously. Some examples are given to show the results obtained from the algorith

What Are Your Children Watching? Teacher’s Evaluation of the Educational, Emotional, Behavioral, Psychological, Physical & Religious impacts of Cartoons on the School going Children

Cartoons in the era of digital media are among the most prevalent medium of entertainment for the children, parents also encourage them to view such contents to engage the children which make an area need to be explained exhaustively by adopting new approaches. There are lot of studies in the past conducted to explain the impacts of the cartoons on the children however, it is remarkable fact that there is lack of the studies in the literature which directly address the observation about the above mentioned impacts in view of the teacher’s. This study deals with the educational, emotional, behavioral and Religious etc. impacts of cartoons on kids in view of teachers of the primary schools as they are considered as the one who can observer these impacts in a profound way. of the of Multan. Different areas of impacts have been analyzed in this study by using survey technique and analysis is conducted and presented in the teacher’s views in this study to examine what they feel that how cartoons are effecting the personalities of the children. Keywords: Educational impacts, Emotional Impacts, Behavioral Impacts, Psychological Impacts, Physical Impacts, Religious Impacts

Assessment of parameters effectiveness in the reserve estimation methods applicable to coal bed methane reservoirs

The reserve estimation of coal bed methane (CBM) reservoirs is ascertained through the analytical methods (volumetric method, material balance equation and decline curve analysis). However, the adoption of reserve estimation methods depends on exploration stage and availability of the required parameters. This study deals with the analytical assessment of parameters that participate in effecting the reserve estimation of CBM reservoirs through the analytical techniques. The accurate measurement challenges always exist for the parameters which participate in the reserve estimation of the conventional and unconventional reservoirs because of the inclusion of limitations while measurement. Therefore, the impact of that measurement challenge must be assessed. The study specifies the impact of parametric change on the reserve estimation of CBM reservoirs so that the degree of parametric effectiveness is analyzed. Uncertain values are adopted which are associated during the evaluation of input parameters for each method to determine the overall impact on potential of CBM reserves. Results reveal that change in specific parameters considering each method provide relatively more effect on estimation of reserves. Thus, the measurement of parameters must be done accurately for assessing reserves of CBM reservoirs based on available methods.publishedVersio

Factors responsible for delay in provision of care to suspected COVID-19 patients presenting in surgical emergency and ways to combat it

Introduction: Health care workers are found to be at three times greater risk of getting infected as compared to the general public.  Scientists and doctors all over the world have agreed upon the use of PPE including gloves, masks, head covers, face shields, goggles, and jumpsuits in protection against COVID-19. Materials and Methods: This observational prospective study was conducted in the surgical emergency of Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi over a period of 2 months and 21 days. Patients included all those who presented to surgical emergency with suspicion of being positive for COVID-19 and time taken by first-line health care workers in attending them. 157 patients were observed for this purpose and 23 first-line surgeons including general, orthopedic, and neurosurgeons were interviewed regarding their fears and concerns about contracting COVID-19 and infecting their families. Results: It was observed that a surgeon took on an average of 10 minutes (+/-3 minutes) in wearing all the personal protective equipment and a total of 14minutes (+/- 5 minutes) in reaching a patient in the trauma room with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19. This was in contrast to a patient presenting to a trauma room who had no respiratory symptoms or fever, in which case, the patient was seen within 3 minutes (+/- 2 minutes) of presentation to a surgical emergency. Out of 23 surgeons, 15 had reasonably aware of the disease while 7 were knowledgeable up to the mark. 17 surgeons were extremely fearful about contracting the disease and infecting their friends and families. 7 surgeons confessed to avoiding COVID-19 patients and 9 surgeons confessed that they commanded their junior surgeons to see suspected COVID-19 patients in the emergency room. Conclusion: We concluded that delay in attending trauma patients suspected of being positive for COVID-19 was a worrisome problem that needed to be addressed. Numerous local and regional circumstances served as a factor for this delay, most important of which came out to be an inadequate provision of PPE, time consumed in collecting and wearing PPE, fear of the disease, and anxiety provoked due to this fear among surgeons

Compliance on the Use of Different Types of Face Mask by Healthcare Workers and General Public in Tertiary Care Hospital of RMU during COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective: To determine the compliance on the use of different types of facemask among HCWs, patients and the general public in different hospital settings of tertiary care hospital of RMU during COVID-19 pandemic Material and Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study was done among 397 study subjects of either gender consisting of HCWs, patients, and the general public visiting the tertiary care hospital from 6th April-6th June 2020. Subjects were enrolled through convenience non-probability sampling. Data was gathered by a self-structured proforma. The study consisted of questioning the frequency of washing hands, using hand sanitizers, practicing physical distancing, using eye protection goggles or face shields, the practice of sterilizing or changing of shoes and clothes after coming back to home, frequent use of disposable gloves, use of caps or head covers and water-repellant aprons and gowns. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 25.0. Results: A total of 397 study subjects including 206 (52%) males and 190 (48%) females were enrolled in the study. 118 (29.7%) had an underlying disease, 93 (78.8%) of them showed regular use of masks. The mean age of participants was 34.7 ± 12.2 years. 90.4% of study subjects had good compliance with using face masks in hospital settings, 25.9% study subjects used respirator type of masks while the use of homemade cloth was 4.8%. A total of 57.8% of study subjects had use of single masks, 22.5% used double masks, and 10.4% people used triple masks remaining 9.3% uses no masks at all. Among 189 HCWs 54% were using respirator type of masks and 46% were using surgical masks. The general public preferred to use locally made surgical masks or homemade cloth because they are cheap and easily available. Conclusion: The selection and use of PPE especially facemasks vary among HCWs and non HCWs. Even among HCWs usage varies according to the type of healthcare workers and the working environment. Overall compliance with the use of face masks and other PPE was considerably low among non HCWs. Our study has provided preliminary data about the usage of masks among HCWs and non HCWs. Longitudinal studies must be conducted to collect better evidence about the use of the face mask as PPE and its associated factors

In vitro Anti-Cancer Effect of Polymeric Nanoparticles Encapsulating Caralluma tuberculata in Cancer Cells

Rapidly evolving drug delivery systems employ therapeutic agents (liposomes, polymers, and nanospheres) to achieve optimum therapeutic and targeted effects with declined side effects to cure chronic diseases like cancer. Nano-formulation of a natural product i.e., Caralluma tuberculata (Ct) extract, has been used as an effective combinational therapy with enhanced biocompatibility owing to its strong anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-tumor potential. Ct extract was prepared using three solvents (EtOH, MeOH, and CHCl3) amongst which methanolic Ct extract exhibited the highest percentage yield (9.6%). Qualitative phytochemical screening, thin layer chromatography (TLC), and antioxidant assays (DPPH assay and H2O2 assay) were performed. The percentage free radical scavenging values were found to be 86.25% (IC50=140.1μg/ml) and 88% (IC50=14.22μg/ml) at 1000 μg/ml concentration for both assays respectively. Methanolic Ct extract was then encapsulated in chitosan-tripolyphosphate (CS-TPP) nanoparticles using ionic gelation method with an encapsulation efficiency of 87%. Characterization showed uniform size distribution of 140nm particle size using DLS and encapsulation of Ct extract inside CS-TPP nanoparticles was confirmed by UV spectrophotometry and FTIR. Ct loaded CS-TPP nanoparticles showed less than or equal to 5% hemolytic activity at concentrations of 15.62μg/ml, 31.25μg/ml, 62.5μg/ml, and 125μg/ml, suggesting its safer usage at lower concentration. Rhodamine conjugated Ct loaded CS-TPP nanoparticles showed significant uptake efficiency in breast cancer cells compared to control. Ct extract and the nanoformulation were treated against triple negative breast cancer cell lines (Cal-51) for the evaluation of cytotoxicity exhibiting 30-40% (IC50=122.3μg/ml) and up to 75% (IC50=14.39μg/ml) cytotoxicity respectively. The study paves way for the encapsulation of medicinal plants in polymeric nanoparticles to achieve safer and highly efficient drug delivery systems

Electrochemical Exfoliation of 2D Advanced Carbon Derivatives

Advanced 2D carbon materials such as graphene and derivatives are basic building blocks for future nanostructured generation in electronics and energy horizons owing to their remarkable physical and chemical properties. In this context, production scalability of 2D materials having high purity with distinctive and multi-functionalities, that facilitate in fundamental research and advanced studies as well as in industrial applications. A variety of techniques have been employed to develop 2D advanced carbon materials, amongst state-of-the-art synthetic protocols, electrochemical is deliberated as a promising approach that provides high yield, great performance, low cost, and excellent up-scalability. Notably, playing with electrochemical parameters not only allows tunable properties but also enhances the content variety from graphene to a wide spectrum of 2D semiconductors. In this chapter, a succinct and comprehensive survey of recent progress in electrochemical exfoliation routes and presents the processing techniques, strategic design for exfoliations, mechanisms, and electrochemistry of graphene