Offering Web-based Tools via Library Websites for Academic and Research Progression: An Analytical Study

The purpose of the present study is to explore the possibility of integrating various online tools and apps with the library website and to identify the issues and benefits of implementing these tools. Quantitative online survey method was used using Google form in the present study to investigate the perception of the academic community involving students, teachers, and research scholars across higher education institutes in West Bengal, India about the online tools and apps and how they respond while interacting with these tools. Based on the responses to a series of questions, the study analyzed user observation and found purposive involvement of the academic community with various online tools and apps. The study identified the areas requiring improvements to maximize the usability of the tools and illustrated the usefulness of these tools in academic and research progression. The study also presented a schematic diagram of possible benefits and major constraints while implementing these tools. The research provides an overview of various online tools and apps facilitating academic and research progression and makes an attempt to convince librarians towards the informed selection of tools and highlights the utility of these tools among the academic community

Stability and Convergence analysis of a Crank-Nicolson Galerkin scheme for the fractional Korteweg-de Vries equation

In this paper we study the convergence of a fully discrete Crank-Nicolson Galerkin scheme for the initial value problem associated with the fractional Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equation, which involves the fractional Laplacian and non-linear convection terms. Our proof relies on the Kato type local smoothing effect to estimate the localized $H^{\alpha/2}$-norm of the approximated solution, where $\alpha \in [1,2)$. We demonstrate that the scheme converges strongly in $L^2(0,T;L^2_{loc}(\mathbb{R}))$ to a weak solution of the fractional KdV equation provided the initial data in $L^2(\mathbb{R})$. Assuming the initial data is sufficiently regular, we obtain the rate of convergence for the numerical scheme. Finally, the theoretical convergence rates are justified numerically through various numerical illustrations

A Model Approach to Cloud Implementation on Public Libraries with a focus on West Bengal, India

The purpose of this paper is to explore the possibility of introducing cloud architecture for public library system in areas where library automation is operational on a standalone server. It also proposes a cloud based model library management system to function on an affordable, robust architecture. The paper made an attempt to highlight the present status of library automation and networking among public libraries in West Bengal. It presents functional requirements for a SaaS based (Software as a Service) model. The simulation approach for the model architecture supports the possibility to connect all public libraries across different hierarchical tiers under the public library system of West Bengal. The proposed model will upscale workflow, reduce cost and duplication of work in terms of procurement, cataloguing, classification and creating an union catalogue/ OPAC with the provision of resource sharing. The current study is the first of its kind, proposing a SaaS cloud based model architecture for a huge public library network. It suggests ways to improve public library services and coordination across the network to visually present the holdings of the entire network to the user community via a cost effective infrastructure

Abnormality Detection in ECG Signal applying Poincare and Entropy-based Approaches

Detection of abnormality in heart is of major importance for early and appropriate clinical medication. In this work, we have proposed two models for detection of abnormality in ECG signals. The normal ECG signals are closely repetitive in nature to a large extent, whereas ECG signals with abnormalities tend to differ from cycle to cycle. Hence, repetitive plot like the Poincare is efficient to detect such non-repetitiveness of the signal; thereby, indicating abnormalities. Hence, we have used Poincare plot to develop the two proposed models. One of the models uses direct analysis of the binary image of the plot to detect the difference in retracing, between the healthy and unhealthy samples. The other model uses entropy of the Poincare plot to detect the difference in randomness of plots between the two classes. Most importantly, we have used only lead II ECG signal for analysis. This ensures ease of computation as it uses signal of only a single lead instead of the 12 leads of the complete ECG signal. We have validated the proposed models using ECG signals from the ‘ptb database’. We have observed that the entropy analysis of the Poincare plots gives the best results with 90% accuracy of abnormality detection. This high accuracy of classification, combined with less computational burden enables its practical implementation for the development of a real life abnormality detection schem

Immobilized enzymes as potent antibiofilm agent

Biofilm has been a point of concern in hospitals and various industries. They not only cause various chronic infections but are also responsible for the degradation of various medical appliances. Since the last decade, various alternate strategies are being adopted to combat the biofilm formed on various biotic and abiotic surfaces. The use of enzymes as a potent anti-fouling agent is proved to be of utmost importance as the enzymes can inhibit biofilm formation in an eco-friendly and cost-effective way. The physical and chemical immobilization of the enzyme not only leads to the improvement of thermostability and reusability of the enzyme, but also gains better efficiency of biofilm removal. Immobilization of amylase, cellobiohydrolase, pectinase, subtilisin A and β-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase (DspB) are proved to be most effective in inhibition of biofilm formation and removal of matured biofilm than their free forms. Hence, these immobilized enzymes provide greater eradication of biofilm formed on various surfaces and are coming up to be the potent antibiofilm agent.Universidade de Vigo/CISU