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Impulse noise recuperation from grayscale and medical images using supervised curve fitting linear regression and mean filter
Acquisition of images from electronic devices or Transmission of the image through any medium will cause an additional commotion. This study aims to investigate a framework for eliminating impulse noise from grayscale and medical images by utilizing linear regression and a mean filter. Linear regression is a supervised machine learning algorithm that computes the value of a dependent variable based on an independent variable. The value of the recuperating pixel is measured using a curve-fitting, direction-based linear regression approach or applying a mean filter to the noise-free pixels. The efficiency of the proposed technique experiments with benchmark test images and the images of the USC-SIPI and TESTIMAGES data sets. Peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and structural similarity index metrics (SSIM) are determined to prove the performance of the proposed method. The results, when compared with the seven recent state-of-the-art techniques, show the superiority of the proposed method in terms of visual quality and accuracy. The proposed model achieves an average PSNR value of 65.21dB and an SSIM value of 0.999 for the reconstruction of medical images, proving its accuracy and efficiency. The impulse noise restoration process helps the radiologist get a clear visual clarity of the medical image for diagnosis purposes. 2022 Institute of Advanced Engineering and Science. All rights reserved. -
Thermal analysis of a radiative nanofluid over a stretching/shrinking cylinder with viscous dissipation
This study explores the impact of thermal radiation and viscous dissipation on the stagnation point flow of a copperwater nanofluid across a convective stretching/shrinking cylinder. The copper suspension in the base fluid water enables the fluid to conduct more heat by increasing its thermal conductivity. The mathematical model that governs the flow of Cu-H2O nanofluid is formulated by the system of partial differential equations (PDEs) which are then subjected to transformation by introducing suitable similarity variables so the system is transformed to the Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs). These equations have been solved numerically via the bvp4c package in MATLAB. The outcomes have been signified graphically in the form of heat transfer rate, temperature, skin friction and velocity which are dependent on the concerning flow parameters. For each of these result, dual solutions have been produced which are conditional on the shrinking of cylinder. These results declare that the skin friction increases for the shrinking cylinder and decreases for the stretching cylinder whereas an opposite trend is seen for the rate of heat transfer. Similarly, heat transfer is found to be decreasing for the increase in both Biot and Eckert number. Meanwhile, the existence of greater values of curvature parameter causes to enhance both first and second solution of velocity as well as the temperature is augmenting with the increase in Eckert number and volume fraction of nano particles. 2022 Elsevier B.V. -
Correlated variability of the reflection fraction with the X-ray flux and spectral index for Mrk 478
The X-ray spectrum of Mrk 478 is known to be dominated by a strong soft excess that can be described using relativistic blurred reflection. Using observations from XMM-Newton, AstroSat, and Swift, we show that for the long-term (?years) and intermediate-term (days to months) variability, the reflection fraction is anticorrelated with the flux and spectral index, which implies that the variability is due to the hard X-ray producing corona moving closer to and further from the black hole. Using flux-resolved spectroscopy of the XMM-Newton data, we show that the reflection fraction has the same behaviour with flux and index on short time-scales of hours. The results indicate that both the long- and short-term variability of the source is determined by the same physical mechanism of strong gravitational light bending causing enhanced reflection and low flux as the corona moves closer to the black hole. 2022 The Author(s) Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Astronomical Society. -
Exosome mediated cell signal toward breast cancer metastasis: A comprehensive review
Breast cancer (BC) is among the most frequent cancer and is, more challenging to treat due to its heterogeneity and metastatic ability. Among extracellular vesicles, exosomes are quite significant for diagnosis and prognosis, given their pleiotropy and drug-carrying abilities. Studying their functions, morphology, biogenesis, and involvement in important pathways can help us understand their role in BC proliferation. A detailed review of their roles in different stages of BC as metastatic disease, such as proliferation, intravasation, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, extravasation, immune evasion, and metastatic growth, can help us understand how to target therapy as well as diagnosis. In the metastatic process, exosome involvement can also be tied to the seed and soil hypothesis, allowing us to understand the direction of progression. From their isolation to the study of their contents in relevance to BC in the process of detection, we have therapeutic applications and can make a significant contribution to the field of oncology. Hence, the present review focuses on this exosome-mediated cell signaling molecule and its importance in BC progression and development. 2022 Anushka and Pappuswamy, et al. -
Relationship between financial inclusion and financial development in India: Is there any link?
A dynamic chain of financial activities and services can be served from debtors to creditors in the international economy through an efficient and effective financial sector. The motivation behind this study is to investigate the linkages between financial inclusion and financial development in India during the period (19802017). For this, the study employ principal component analysis (PCA) to construct both financial inclusion index and financial development index which measures financial access and financial depth position respectively. Using a set of determinants related to financial inclusion and financial development, the present study estimates there is a unidirectional relationship between financial inclusion and financial development in India. So, it reveals that financial inclusion is an essential element for financial sector development especially in a developing country like India. 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. -
Securing grayscale image using improved Arnold transform and ElGamal encryption
The security of sensitive data is critical, and it opens up a wide area of research to find efficient and effective methods to prevent unauthorized access. Our study provides a secure framework for sending visual information over an untrusted channel, such as a social networking site. The proposed framework is a combination of scrambling and encryption techniques. Initially, a hybrid block-wise and pixel-wise scrambling approach is administered to the grayscale image, followed by the Arnold transform, which causes all pixel points to move within the image. Finally, to improve the efficiency of the diffusion process, the asymmetric encryption ElGamal algorithm has been mastered. Peak-signal-To-noise ratio (PSNR), structural similarity index metric (SSIM), number of pixels change rate (NPCR), and unified average changing intensity (UACI) are the metrics utilized to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed scheme. The efficiency of the suggested scheme validates the low-Average PSNR value of <9 dB and the SSIM average value of <0.01 for the encrypted images. The NPCR and UACI values achieved in our study are above the threshold values of 99.6% and 33.33%, respectively, exhibiting the strength of the proposed framework. 2022 SPIE and IS&T. -
Structural Relationship between Cognitive Image, Destination Personality and Tourists Motivation
This research work was an extract from a major research on understanding personality and image of destination. This portion of research intended to identify a theoretical model consisting of cognitive destination image, destination personality traits and tourists motivation in destination branding context and to validate it hypothetically. This research was carried out in Coimbatore District an emerging destination in Tamil Nadu, India between 2018 and 2019. Flourishing erratic tourism industrys scenarios and the need for academic research blended as the motive for this for this model-based study. Evidence was found in the literature that tourists belief about the destination, touristsmotivation and perceived destination personality traits were found interrelated. Thus, the theoretical model was found. For validating the proposed model, a questionnaire confirmed through pilot study containing the required study variables was circulated to the tourists who visited the destination for tourism purposes. With the sample size as 448 after screening and eliminating the illegible responses, three stage process of analysis that include Exploratory Factor Analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling had been performed. The conceptual model was validated and found that there existed the interrelationship between touristsperceived cognitive image, perceived personality traits of the destination and tourists motivation to tour. Marketers of destinations were suggested to use the model for formulating branding and marketing activities. The scope for further research was pointed out on expanding the research model with other destination perspectives considering the outcome as base. Copyright IJHTS. -
Hook-up culture among young Indian adults in Indian metropolitan cities
This study aimed to explore the existence of hook-up behaviour among emerging adults in the Indian metropolitan cities of Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata. The study used a survey design. The sexual behaviour subsection of the Sexual Behaviour Questionnaire was used to assess the frequency of the various types of hook-up behaviour. The results indicated that the participants frequency of hook-up behaviour was 55.13%. Overall hook-up behaviour was higher for males, whereas females reported the highest incidence of hook-up behaviour for kissing. Hook-up behaviour was highest for emerging adults living independently in apartments, followed by those living in paying guests/hostels and living with family. The findings provide evidence for a hook-up culture in Indian metropolitan cities. 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature. -
Using Behavioural Economics to Analyse and Enhance Contraception Usage Decisions
Existent literature helped narrow down variables influencing modern contraceptive adoption (usage), a behaviour carrying enormous positive externality. Using finite population sample size formula and probability proportional to size method of sample selection, primary data was collected from participants using inclusion and exclusion criterions. Binary logistic regression model was used to predict probability of occurrence of dependent variable usage of modern method of contraception being treated at a dichotomous outcome level. Predictor variables after confirming association by cross tabulation were introduced stepwise to build model subject to elimination of those variables adding insignificantly to the overall predictability of the model. Variables such as gender, education level, spousal influence, extended family influence, financial well-being and contraceptive information were found to significantly predict the probability of occurrence of the dependent variable. Except for financial well-being with three sub-categories, other independent variables were treated at dichotomous level. Income level was found to be an important predictor although found statistically insignificant. Non-contributory factors such as age, occupation and years of marriage were dropped. Post-model construction, borrowing nudges from behavioural economics (BE) domain, strategies to nurture the significant context specific influencing variables, were articulated. BE was particularly preferred for its openness to the paradigm of non-rational behavioural choices. 2022 SAGE Publications. -
An Empirical Evaluation of the Relationship Between Economic Growth, Population and Solid Waste Generation in India
Municipal solid waste (MSW) poses a hazard to the environment, human health and well-being and economic growth, if not managed correctly.It is essential to study the determinants of municipal solid waste generation for efficient waste management planning and achieving sustainable growth.The main objective of this paper is to establish a relationship between economic growth, population and MSW generation.Secondly, it aims to verify whether the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis is valid in the Indian context with MSW generation as the proxy variable for environmental degradation.Panel regression has been run using statewise data of MSW generation, state net domestic product (SNDP) per capita and population for the years 2000-2019.The results show a significant positive relationship between the selected variables.Least square regression was applied to verify the validity of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis in India using nationwide data for MSW generation and GDP per capita for the years mentioned above.The results depicted inverted U-shaped curve with MSW as the dependent variable and GDP per capita as the independent variable and confirmed the validity of the EKC hypothesis. 2022 Scientific Publishers. All rights reserved. -
After-sale service experiences and customer satisfaction: An empirical study from the Indian automobile industry
For the growth of any industry, services play an essential role. Customers are more aware of the type of services they receive, and the expectations from the service providers are very high. Twenty-two percent total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country is generated through the automotive industry. Global automotive majors have entered India and have dramatically changed the country's car production scenario. Changes to international technology design and adaptation have helped Indian car manufacturing compete globally, facing worldwide challenges. Considering services' high significance and essential role in the automobile industry, this study examined customer satisfaction with after-sales service experiences in the automobile sectorthis paper analyses customer satisfaction concerning automotive service interactions. The conceptual framework explains the impact on customer satisfaction in various car industries from various experiences, including employee behaviour, service lead time, service quality, service processes, and service costs. The respondents from Bangalore were selected. The data collection sampling approach used was convenience sampling. In a standardized questionnaire, data is collected from 400 respondents. The results demonstrate the substantial influence of service interactions on customer satisfaction. 2022 Elsevier Ltd -
Synthesis and characterization of flyash reinforced polymer composites developed by Fused Filament Fabrication
Fused filament fabrication (FFF) has seen an upsurge in its utilization towards development of tailored made materials of polymer base. The advancement and diversity in fabricating the polymer composite parts by using FFF has seen the embracement of this technology in wider aspects, ranging from automotive, aerospace, construction and has marched towards day to day requirements. This research article focuses on development of polymer composite; by using flyash (FA), an industrial waste produced during coal combustion, as reinforcement in Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) matrix, to study the physical and mechanical properties. FA, which is primarily made up of metal oxides, plays an imperative role as reinforcement. Easily and abundantly available, FA is being used in several applications to reduce the landfills utilization and also helps the environment. In this study FA was added as reinforcement in 5 and 10 wt. % respectively to ABS matrix and was developed into filament of 1.75 mm diameter. The developed ABS + FA polymer composite using FFF, were analyzed for physical and mechanical properties as per American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards. Microstructure studies were carried out for the developed composite to understand their behavior in enhancing the dimensional accuracy and tensile strength with incremental addition of FA up to 10 wt%. Tensile strength was enhanced by 28.19% and 36.13% for ABS + 5wt. % FA and ABS + 10wt. % FA respectively. Dimensional stability was also enhanced. Similarly, surface roughness analysis was carried out and it was observed to reduce with addition of FA. The surface roughness measurements provided suitable results of decrement by 9.64% and 14.6% for ABS + 5wt. % FA and ABS + 10wt. % FA respectively. Overall, the usage of FA along with FFF, has paved a path in sustainable and green technology in manufacturing. 2022 The Author(s). -
Fabrication of bismuth ferrite/graphitic carbon nitride/N-doped graphene quantum dots composite for high performance supercapacitors
Supercapacitors are potential energy storage devices with a broad range of applications. In this study, we are investigating a bismuth ferrite/graphitic carbon nitride/N-doped graphene quantum dots composite as an electrode material for supercapacitor applications. XRD patterns of the composite exhibit the different crystalline phases of the individual component and confirm the rhombohedral structure of the composite. The wafer-like structure of bismuth ferrite is produced via hydrothermal technique supported on 2D structures viz. graphitic carbon nitride and N-doped graphene quantum dots. Compared to bismuth ferrite and bismuth ferrite/graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) binary composite, the bismuth ferrite/g-CN/N-doped graphene quantum dots demonstrates a superior specific capacitance of 1472 F g?1 at 1 A g?1 current density. After 3000 charging-discharging cycles, the device maintains its cycling stability with 87% capacitance retention. A supercapacitor device is assembled utilizing bismuth ferrite/graphitic carbon nitride/N-doped graphene quantum dots and activated carbon as electrodes. This device shows a significantly improved performance with an energy density of 53.1 Wh kg?1 and a power density of 705.4 W kg?1. As a result, the composite electrode developed in this study is proved to be a potential electrode material for high-performance energy storage devices. 2022 -
Hubble Space Telescope Captures UGC 12591: Bulge/disc properties, star formation and 'missing baryons' census in a very massive and fast-spinning hybrid galaxy
We present Hubble Space Telescope ( HST ) observations of the nearby, massive, highly rotating hybrid galaxy UGC 12591, along with observations in the UV to FIR bands. HST data in V , I , and H bands is used to disentangle the structural components. Surface photometry shows a dominance of the bulge o v er the disc with an H-band B / D ratio of 69 per cent . The spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting reveals an extremely low global star formation rate (SFR) of 0 . 1-0 . 2 M yr-1 , exceptionally low for the galaxy's huge stellar mass of 1 . 6 0 11 M, implying a strong quenching of its SFR with a star formation efficiency of 3-5 per cent. For at least the past 10 8 yr, the galaxy has remained in a quiescent state as a sterile, 'red and dead' galaxy. UGC 12591 hosts a supermassive black hole (SMBH) of 6 . 18 0 8 M, which is possibly quiescent at present, i.e. we neither see large (1kpc) radio jets nor the SMBH contributing significantly to the mid-IR SED, ruling out strong radiative feedback of AGN. We obtained a detailed census of all observable baryons with a total mass of 6 . 46 0 11 M within the virial radius, amounting to a baryonic deficiency of 85 per cent relative to the cosmological mean. Only a small fraction of these baryons reside in a warm/hot circumgalactic X-ray halo, while the majority are still unobservable. We discussed various astrophysical scenarios to explain its unusual properties. Our work is a major step forward in understanding the assembly history of such e xtremely massiv e, isolated galaxies. 2022 The Author(s) Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Astronomical Society. -
Quality enhanced framework through integration of blockchain with supply chain management
Recently, there has been significant growth in the consumption of the most widely diversified Internet of Things (IoT) technological knowledge, and devices, which has resulted in an impact on not only electrical items and the agricultural and food industries (Agri-Food) supply chain networks. This has sparked intense curiosity about the development of information sharing that is reliable, traceable, and transparent, and also increased significant research and advancement efforts. Existing IoT-based trace & authenticity methods for agri-food distribution networks are constructed on top of centralized architectures, which creates the potential for significant issues such as data security, manipulation, and standard points of weakness. A creative and scraping methodological approach to implementing decentralized trust-free networks is represented by blockchain technologies, the decentralized blockchain technologies that underpin cryptocurrencies. The fault tolerance, data integrity, visibility, and complete tracing of saved transactional data, along with cohesive digital information of property resources and independent transactions implementations, are in fact features built into this digitalization. This study introduces Agri-BlockIoT, a completely decentralized blockchain-based traceable platform for managing a global agro-food distribution network that can seamlessly connect IoT systems that produce and consume digital information all along the distribution chain. We implemented a use caseto achieve transparency and traceability. Lastly, we analyzed and contrasted the implementations' capability in terms of delay, CPU, or network utilization. 2022 The Authors -
Fractional study of a novel hyper-chaotic model involving single non-linearity
The applications of hyperchaotic systems (HCSs) can be widely seen in diverse fields associated with engineering due to their complicated dynamics, randomness, and high delicacy and sensibility. In the present work, we aim to investigate a new hyper-chaotic system involving a single non-linearity under the fractional CaputoFabrizio (CF) derivative for the first time. In fact, there is no previous study using fractional derivatives in this system. A new mathematical system using a fractional-order operator will be designed with the novel operator. The CaputoFabrizio non-integer operator is aimed to be employed to capture complex nature. In order to solve the extracted dynamical system, a quadratic numerical scheme is applied. This study contains stability and convergence sections for the considered method. Moreover, numerical results of the problem under various values of fractional orders and different values of initial conditions (ICs) are provided to show the performance of the suggested scheme. Figures of solutions for each dependent variable can be observed. 2022 The Author(s) -
A Statistical Analysis and Comparison of the spread of Swine Flu and COVID-19 in India
Introduction: The world is currently experiencing the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) [COVID-19], however, this is not a new phenomenon; it occurred in 2009-2010 in the form of novel influenza A. (H1N1). The H1N1 virus primarily afflicted people between the ages of 26 and 50, but SARS-CoV-2 primarily afflicted those over the age of 60, increasing the number of deaths owing to their weakened immunity. The report provides a case study of the impact of H1N1 and SARS-CoV-2 in India. Methods: Data is obtained from The Hindustan Times newspaper, GoI press releases and World Health Organization (WHO) reports. Results: The incidence rate was initially low and it was only by the 10-15th week that it started increasing. There is an initial upward trend before levelling out followed by a second wave and third wave. COVID-19 exhibited a steeper growth, where the steps taken by the Government were ineffective leading to higher death cases. Kerala was affected due to the travellers returning from the Middle East, while Maharashtra and Delhi saw large incidence rates due to the migrant influx and communal gathering. Conclusion: The most effective and practical approach is to test the symptomatic patients and aggressive testing to contain the transmission. Awareness campaigns to educate the public about social distancing and personal hygiene is more practical. There is still scope of improvement with regards to the public health care support, preparedness and response. Lockdown measures could have been avoided if the initial screening was conducted properly. 2022 UPM Press. All rights reserved. -
A Cognitive Similarity-Based Measure to Enhance the Performance of Collaborative Filtering-Based Recommendation System
Advances in technology and high Internet penetration are leading to a large number of businesses going online. As a result, there is a substantial increase in the number of customers making online purchases and the number of items available online. However, with so many options available to choose from, users have to face the information overload problem. Several techniques have been developed to handle this, but the performance of the recommendation system (RS) has been recorded unprecedentedly. The collaborative filtering (CF) of RS is the most prevalent technique, which suggests personalized items to users based on their past preferences. The efficacy of this technique mainly depends on the similarity calculation, which the traditional or cognitive approach can ascertain. In the traditional approach, a similarity measure utilizes the user's ratings on an item to compute the similarity. Most similarity measures in this approach suffer from either data sparsity and/or cold-start problems. To address both of them, a new similarity measure based on the Jaccard and Gower coefficients, the efficient Gowers-Jaccard-Sigmoid Measure (EGJSM), is proposed in this article. It also includes a nonlinear sigmoid function to penalize the bad ratings. The performance of EGJSM is evaluated by conducting experiments on benchmark datasets, and the results depict that the proposed technique outperforms several existing methods. Along with this, a cognitive similarity (CgS) measure has been proposed, which considers cognitive features such as genre and year of release along with rating information, to calculate similarity. The CgS method also outperforms the proposed EGJSM method and produces almost 4% and 1% lower mean absolute error (MAE) and root-mean-squared error (RMSE) values than that. 2014 IEEE. -
Physical vapor deposition and enhancement of optoelectronic properties of SnSe2 platelets
Stoichiometric tin diselenide (SnSe2) platelet crystals have been prepared by physical vapor deposition (PVD) method under high vacuum (~ 106mbar) using a homemade dual-zone furnace. The driving force for growth was optimized in terms of temperature difference (?T = 270 to 420C) of nutrient and growth zones. Good quality platelets, devoid of any screw dislocations, hillocks, defects etc. were crystallized at ?T = 400C by layer growth mode as per the 3D optical profiler and electron microscopic images. Rietveld refinement of the PXRD data using FullProf suite software justified hexagonal crystal structure with a = 3.811 c = 6.137and the computed density (5.967g/cm3) is in agreement with that obtained based on Archimedes principle. Chemical homogeneity of these samples was probed by EDAX, XPS and Raman analysis. The thermal and mechanical behavior was investigated by TGA as well as Vickers microhardness experiments. The values of optical band gap (1.20eV), absorption coefficient (7.25 105cm?1), resistivity (2.70 ? cm), mobility (32.70 cm2V?1s?1) and carrier concentration (3.08 1016cm?3) have been evaluated using UVVis-NIR, photoluminescence, and Hall effect measurements. The enhancement of optoelectronic parameters of the as-grown SnSe2 platelets free of polytypism, throws light on their potential for photovoltaic applications. 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature. -
Industrial Applications of Hybrid Nanocatalysts and Their Green Synthesis
Abstract: The era of industrial revolution has been hugely dependent on a myriad of catalysts. The present era has contributed another dimension to this by the advent of nanocatalysts. The last decades saw even more fine tuning with the use of hybrid nanocatalysts by the integration of a plethora of functionalities into a single nanoparticle. The extremely high surface area, low toxicity, easy recovery and reusability, high product output and possibilities of green synthesis makes hybrid nanocatalysts significant in various fields like bioremediation, fuel cell production, cleaner energy production, dye degradation etc. Metal based hybrid nanocatalysts are highly appealing due to their extremely high surface over volume ratio, entailing unique electronic properties and access to more reaction sites. The recent years have seen more thrust being given to greener modes of synthesis of nanocatalysts, rather than the classical modes (which uses hazardous chemicals), aligning with sustainability goals.The current review is an attempt to explore the myriad uses of magnetic, metal and metal oxide hybrid nanocatalysts and their green synthesis methods. Optimizing the use of hybrid nanocatalysts in various domains would definitely help us achieve the SDGs of the United Nations for a more sustainable life on this planet. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.] Highlights: Types of hybrid nanocatalysts have been described. Industrial applications of hybrid nanocatalysis has been summarized. Ways of greener synthesis of hybrid nanocatalysts for environmental sustainability depicted. Advantages and limitations of hybrid nanocatalysts have been evaluated. 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.