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Sodium AlginateEngineered CaF? NPs: Surface Passivation, and Tunable Biofunctional Performance
The optimization of surface chemistry in nanomaterials is vital for enhancing their applicability in advanced healthcare sectors. This study focuses on synthesizing polymer-functionalized NPs (NPs) to improve structural stability and biological efficacy against a broad spectrum of pathogens. Herein, calcium fluoride (CaF?) and sodium alginate-functionalized CaF? (CaF?SA) NPs were synthesized to determine the impact of SA on physicochemical and optical properties. The synthesized NPs were extensively characterized using XRD, UV-Vis, DLS, FTIR, PL, electron microscopy (SEM/TEM), and XPS. Their enhanced performance is attributed to defect passivation, reduced crystallite size, and the formation of a homogeneous organic-inorganic interface through strong chemical interactions between Ca? sites and alginate functional groups. The CaF?SA NPs exhibited superior broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity compared to bare CaF? against S. aureus, S. pneumoniae (Gram-positive), K. pneumoniae, E. coli (Gram-negative) and C. albicans (fungal strains). The quantitative assessments via MIC, MBC, and CFU assays confirmed effective inhibition of CaF2-SA. These findings highlight defect modulation and polymer passivation as powerful strategies, suggesting CaF?SA NPs as promising candidates for advanced bio-interactive and healthcare applications. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2026. -
Multifunctional Evaluation of CaCO3Sodium Alginate Nanocomposite for Antibacterial, Antifungal, and Anticancer Applications
In this study, Calcium carbonate (CaCO?) nanoparticles and calcium carbonatesodium alginate (CaCO?SA) nanocomposite were successfully synthesized via a controlled precipitation method and evaluated for multifunctional biomedical applications. Structural and surface analyses confirmed the formation of a calcite phase with effective surface functionalization using SA. The nanocomposite exhibited reduced crystallite size (~ 29nm vs. ~38nm for CaCO?), improved dispersion, and enhanced defect density, as evidenced by XRD, DLS, PL, and TEM analyses. PL studies revealed multiple defect-related emission bands (370534nm), indicating the presence of active surface states. The CaCO?SA nanocomposite demonstrated significantly enhanced antimicrobial activity compared to CaCO?, with zone of inhibition values reaching ~ 20mm (S. aureus), ~ 21mm (S. pneumoniae), ~ 20mm (E. coli), and ~ 18mm (C. albicans), comparable to standard drugs. CFU analysis confirmed a concentration-dependent reduction in bacterial viability, while MIC and MBC values were reduced to 500g mL? and 750g mL?, respectively, indicating improved bacteriostatic and bactericidal efficiency. In anticancer studies, the nanocomposite exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity against MG-63 osteosarcoma cells, reducing cell viability to ~ 30% at higher concentrations, while maintaining high biocompatibility of > 80% viability toward L929 fibroblast cells. Overall, this work highlights the potential of surface engineered CaCO? based nanomaterials as promising candidates for combined antimicrobial and anticancer applications, providing a foundation for future in-depth biological investigations and translational studies. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2026. -
Fabrication of Kaempferol Loaded Zein Nanoparticles: Investigation of in Vitro Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis Induction in Oral Cancer Cells
Oral cancer remains a significant health challenge, necessitating innovative therapeutic strategies to enhance treatment efficacy and minimize side effects. This study investigates the potential of kaempferol-loaded zein nanoparticles (KZNPs) for this purpose. Kaempferol, a flavonoid with anticancer properties, has poor water solubility, limiting its effectiveness. Zein nanoparticles (ZNPs) offer a promising delivery system for such bioactive compounds. UV-Vis spectroscopy identified Kaempferols absorption peaks at 347 and 253nm, which shifted to 338nm when encapsulated in ZNPs, indicating a change in ??* conjugation. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed that sodium caseinate (SC) stabilizes ZNPs, resulting in spherical particles with optimal size and stability. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy suggested enhanced hydrogen bonding between Kaempferol and zein. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed the absence of Kaempferols crystalline peaks in KZNPs. The encapsulation efficiency (EE) was 98.39%, and drug release studies showed a controlled release of 79% kaempferol over 8h. In vitro assays demonstrated that KZNPs significantly increased Kaempferols cytotoxicity against PCI-13 oral cancer cells without affecting normal NIH3T3 cancer cells. Overall, these results demonstrate that our KZNPs enhanced biocompatibility and anticancer properties for oral cancer cells. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025. -
Multifunctional SrO?Sodium AlginateL-Arginine Nanocomposite: A Green Approach against Colon Cancer and Pathogenic Microbes
Pathogenic microbes pose a significant threat to human health due to their increasing resistance to standard antibiotics. Colon cancer is among the deadliest forms of cancer worldwide and often exhibits resistance to conventional treatments, highlighting the urgent need for alternative therapeutic agents. In this study, a SrO2SALA nanocomposite was synthesized via a green chemical approach using Bougainvillea glabra extract and evaluated for its anticancer, antioxidant, and antimicrobial potential. In this work, SrO2-SA-LA nanocomposite was prepared via a green chemical approach using Bougainvillea glabra extract and evaluated for its potential anticancer, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. The nanocomposite was successfully synthesized and functionalized, as confirmed by characterization studies. XRD revealed a crystalline phase of tetragonal SrO2. The calculated optical bandgap energies were 4.11eV for pristine SrO2 and 4.35eV for SrO2-SA-LA nanocomposite. DLS analysis indicated median particle sizes of 128.40nm and 142.70nm for SrO? and SrO2SALA, respectively. PL studies showed that the SrO2SALA nanocomposite exhibited green emission in the range of 494534nm, suggesting an increase in oxygen-related defect states compared to pure SrO2. Disc diffusion assay revealed that SrO2-SA-LA nanocomposite exhibited enhanced antimicrobial activity against common disease-causing pathogens, while MTT assay showed enhanced cytotoxicity against HCT-116 colon cancer cells. Additionally, the SrO2-SA-LA nanocomposite exhibited superior free radical scavenging in DPPH assays, indicating high antioxidant potential. Furthermore, cytocompatibility studies using L929 fibroblast cells confirmed that both SrO? and SrO?SALA nanocomposite are non-toxic to normal cells, with cell viability exceeding 80%, indicating their biosafety. The results suggest that SrO2-SA-LA nanocomposite is a promising candidate for applications in anticancer, antioxidant, and antimicrobial therapies with good biocompatibility. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025. -
Comparative Evaluation of Curcumin Derivatives Loaded 3D Printable Chitosan/Gelatin Hydrogels: Release Behaviour, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Immunomodulatory Properties
The development of multifunctional scaffolds with improved mechanical strength, swelling resistance, antibacterial activity and cytocompatibility is crucial for tissue engineering. In this study, chitosangelatin (CH GT) scaffolds were reinforced with curcumin (Cur), nano-curcumin (nCur), and PLGA-encapsulated curcumin (PLGA_Cur) to enhance physicochemical and biological properties. SEM micrographs confirmed uniform, interconnected pores with reduced pore wall disruption upon Cur incorporation. Mechanical testing revealed that the highest tensile strength and tensile modulus for CH GT nCur were observed at 34kPa and 58kPa, respectively. Swelling studies showed a significant reduction in equilibrium swelling ratio from ~ 675% (CH GT) to ~ 340% (CH GT_nCur), correlating with enhanced hydrogen bonding and physical crosslinking. Antibacterial assays indicated significant inhibition against S. aureus (~ 94%) and E. coli (~ 92%) for CH GT_nCur. Cytocompatibility tests showed > 85% cell viability across all formulations, with CH GT_nCur supporting superior cell attachment and cell migration capabilities compared to controls. Cur release from CH GT Cur and CH GT nCur hydrogel scaffolds resulted in antioxidant activity; however it was slightly impeded by rapid release. In the PLGA-based system, antioxidant activity is enhanced with sustained release. CH GT Cur and CH GT nCur enhanced M2 macrophage polarization (p < 0.001) compared to CH GT Cur hydrogels, which successfully decreased inflammation and oxidative stress. Notably, despite a delayed M2 response, the PLGA-encapsulated Cur system (CH GT PLGA_Cur) demonstrated sustained decrease of ROS levels and iNOS expression, suggesting extended anti-inflammatory effect. These results demonstrate the promise of CH GT-based hydrogels, particularly the PLGA_Cur system, for oxidative stress management and regulated immunomodulation in therapeutic settings. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025. -
Beyond the Surface, Delving into du?kha: Buddhist Insights into the Lives of Married Women in a South Indian Metropolis
The modern era has brought women unparalleled opportunities in various fields. However, they still encounter numerous challenges that impede their well-being. This qualitative study explores how Buddhist wisdom can be applied to understand the well-being challenges experienced by married women aged 2539years and residing in Bengaluru, a metropolitan city in India. The study involved conducting semi-structured interviews with eight married women. A thematic analysis of these interviews revealed three main themes, that is, my body, my mind, and my relationship, each with sub-themes falling under the overarching global theme, echoes of unease: unveiling du?khas reflections. The factors driving unsatisfactoriness among the participants were then analysed by applying the Buddhist doctrine of dependent arising to understand the origins of du?kha. This study suggests that Buddhist philosophy provides valuable insights for unravelling the intricacies of the modern womans du?kha and may serve as a potential pathway for women to tap into their inner reservoir of wisdom and compassion, enhancing their overall well-being. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025. -
Individual and Relational Outcomes of Inter-religious Marriage: A Scoping Review
Inter-religious marriages, where partners come from different religious affiliations, pose unique challenges and opportunities. This scoping review aims to examine the literature on individual and relational outcomes of inter-religious couples and their families, synthesising existing evidence on their social, psychological, and cultural aspects. While numerous studies exist on this topic, their findings have not yet been systematically synthesised. The question for this scoping review was how existing studies explore the individual and relational outcomes of interfaith marriages. A comparative search, following Arksey and OMalleys five-step framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, was conducted across Scopus, ScienceDirect, APA PsycNet, JSTOR, PubMed, Google Scholar, and ProQuest databases from 2004 to 2024. After screening 1,276 references based on inclusion criteria, 19 peer-reviewed articles were selected for the scoping review. Four key themes emerged: (1) Marital adjustment and tensions, (2) Psychological impacts, (3) Marital instability and dissolution, and (4) Strengths and opportunities. This scoping review emphasises the intricate challenges encountered by inter-religious couples, encompassing familial opposition, identity dilemmas, cultural and religious disputes, marital instability, and psychological distress. The review highlights the need for increased societal and institutional support and calls for further research into adaptive coping strategies across diverse cultural contexts. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025. -
Influence of arecanut organic residue on the dielectric behavior of chitosan-PVA polymer blends: A synergistic approach
Arecanut organic residue (AR) incorporated polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-chitosan (CH) films were successfully synthesized using the solvent casting method, aiming to enhance structural rigidity and dielectric performance. The novelty of this work lies in utilizing AR, a sustainable agricultural byproduct, as a natural functional additive to enhance the dielectric and thermal stability of PVAchitosan blends. This eco-friendly approach introduces a biogenic interfacial modifier that improves polymer compatibility and performance without relying on synthetic fillers or chemical cross-linkers. FTIR spectra revealed the existence of cross-linking between PVA, chitosan and AR. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that AR-PVA-CH films exhibited enhanced thermal stability compared to pure PVA, chitosan and PVA-CH blend. The dielectric constant, dielectric loss, DC conductivity, polarization and permittivity of pure PVA, pure chitosan, PVA-CH and AR-PVA-CH films were analysed in the frequency range from 100Hz to 100kHz. The optimized formulation (AR-C4) exhibited a maximum dielectric constant of 224.31 at 1kHz, significantly higher than that of the pristine PVACH blend. The improvement in thermal stability has also been emphasized by indicating the increase in the T?? value from 279.66C for PVACH to 358.37C for AR-C4. Furthermore, the enhancement in AC conductivity from 1.23 10?10 S/m for the PVACH blend to 5.93 108 S/m for AR-C5 has been mentioned, demonstrating the synergistic influence of arecanut residue on charge transport and interfacial polarization. This research showcases that AR-induced structural changes in PVA-chitosan films lead to a notable improvement in their dielectric properties, making them promising candidates for advanced dielectric and thermal applications. The Polymer Society, Taipei 2025. -
Structural, magnetic and magnetocaloric studies of La2CoMnO6 double perovskite
The double perovskite material La?CoMnO? was synthesized using the sol-gel method. Its structural characteristics were analyzed through X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), with Rietveld refinement confirming that the sample crystallizes in a monoclinic structure within the P2?/n space group. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images revealed a non-uniform, slightly porous, and agglomerated structure, while elemental composition was determined through EDAX analysis. Magnetic studies indicated a frustrated magnetic ground state with competing interactions, along with a para-to-ferro magnetic transition at a Curie temperature (TC) of 209 K. Analysis using Arrotts plot confirmed that the magnetic transition in La?CoMnO? is of second order. Magnetocaloric studies showed that the ?SM(T) curve remains nearly stable over the investigated temperature range, demonstrating a broadened entropy profile, which positions this material as a promising candidate for magnetic cooling applications. The Author(s) 2026. -
Sensitivity analysis of thermal optimisation within conical gap between the cone and the surface of disk with particle deposition
This work examines the thermal and flow characteristics of TiO2+AgBr+GO/EG trihybrid nanofluid in the conical gap that exists between a disc and a cone. Effect of thermophoresis and particle deposition are examined to perceive the mass dissipation change on the surface. The governing equations of the problem are in the form of partial differential equations which are converted to nonlinear ordinary differential equations by applying proper scaling similarity transformations, and then the resultant equations are approximated numerically by using RKF45 technique. The interesting part of this research is to discuss the impact of various pertinent parameters on three cases namely: (1) rotating cone/disk (2) rotating cone/stationary disk and (3) stationary cone/rotating disk. The flow field, heat and mass transfer rates were analysed using graphical representations. Additionally, sensitivity analysis is performed on derived rate of heat transfer as a response function for input factors for different parameters. From the graph, it is perceived that flow field increases significantly with increase in the values of Reynolds numbers for both cone and disk rotations. Also, it is seen that temperature upsurges significantly for ascendent values of solid volume fraction of nanoparticles. It is also noticed that the sensitivity of the Nusselt number towards n is more for all the values of source/sink and for middle level values of n. Akadiai KiadZrt 2024. -
Numerical and ANN analysis of MWCNTCuOFe?O?H?O nanofluid flow under magnetic dipole influence
The choice of coolants in automobiles, power plants, electrical appliances etc. is basically dependent on the fluids thermal characteristics. Thus, the better thermal characteristics of MWCNT (Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes) helps in modeling an efficient coolant. Further, the flow of fluid is controlled with a magnetic dipole that creates a magnetic field around it. Since ferrite particles respond better to magnetic field, the base fluid for this study is considered to be ferrofluid formed by suspending Fe3O4 in H2O. In order to ensure stability of this combination, CuO nanoparticles are suspended into the ferrofluid along with the MWCNT that possess higher thermal conductivity. Thus, the ternary nanofluid formed with the composition MWCNT?CuO?Fe3O4?H2O is assumed to flow in the presence of exponential heat source/sink. The theoretical model describing such a particular flow is designed by partial differential equation and these equations are further transferred to ordinary differential equation with the help of apt transformation. The numerical solution obtained for this system and the outcomes are analyzed graphically which indicates that the upsurge in the velocity power index enhances the velocity and the temperature profiles of the ternary nanofluid. Furthermore, as the space between the magnetic dipole and the origin expands, the nanofluid flows faster whereas the temperature of the nanofluid diminishes. Also, An Artificial Neural Network model is applied to check the correlation between the parameter and observed that output data and targeted data are strongly co-related with each other. Akadiai KiadZrt 2025. -
Modeling and analysis of the bioconvective flow of nanofluid over a stretching sheet with ThompsonTroian slip condition
In the present study, the flow, heat, and mass transfer characteristics of a bioconvective nanofluid over a stretching plate subjected to an external magnetic field are analyzed. The nonlinear slip at the surface is modeled using the ThompsonTroian velocity slip condition, while convective boundary conditions are applied to account for heat and mass transfer in the thermal and concentration fields. To ensure uniform nanoparticle distribution, motile microorganisms are incorporated into the fluid. These microorganisms help counteract particle aggregation and prevent solidification within the medium. Their motion gives rise to the bioconvection phenomenon, enhancing overall fluid transport. The governing equations for momentum, energy, and species concentration are formulated as partial differential equations (PDEs), incorporating key effects such as viscous dissipation, magnetic field influence, and heat sources. Using similarity transformations, the PDEs are reduced to a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs). This system is then numerically solved via Python solve_bvp function, which employs a collocation method for boundary value problems. The computed solutions are validated against existing literature, and residual analysis is conducted to ensure accuracy. The results reveal that an increase in magnetic field strength suppresses fluid velocity while simultaneously raising the nanofluid temperature. Additionally, higher critical shear stress associated with the ThompsonTroian slip model further reduces the flow velocity near the surface. Akadiai KiadZrt 2025. -
KleinGordon nonlocal dynamics of porous piezo-thermoelastic medium with surface irregularity under fractional-order modified LS model
The miniaturization of devices alongside advances in thermal management technologies necessitates the generalization of heat conduction and thermal elastic coupling to faithfully represent material responses at ultrashort temporal scales. Motivated by viscoelastic mechanical analogies, this work develops an analytical framework for investigating vibrational behavior in an orthotropic, size-dependent piezo-thermoelastic substrate featuring voids, modeled within the Modified LordShulman (MLS) thermoelasticity theory augmented by fractional derivatives. Employing the KleinGordon nonlocal elasticity formulation, the governing equations of motion are rigorously derived. The normal mode method facilitates the examination of coupled thermoelectro-mechanical excitation phenomena. Emphasis is placed on a corrugated interface contiguous to a vacuum, where comprehensive boundary conditions encompassing thermal, electrical, mechanical, and stress equilibria are imposed to determine fundamental field variables. The study systematically evaluates the influence of pivotal parameters, including temporal evolution, nonlocality characteristics, and spatial coordinates, on the thermomechanical and electrical responses, with outcomes substantiated through detailed graphical representations. Although previous investigations have addressed vibrations in porous piezo-thermoelastic media under varying theoretical constructs, the current research uniquely elucidates the dynamic response of a size-dependent porous piezo-thermoelastic medium with a corrugated surface within the fractional-order modified LordShulman framework, marking a significant advancement in the modeling of smart microstructured materials. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2026. -
Wavefield analysis of nano-scale surface/interface effects on dynamic stress response in biphasic laminated media with circular defects
The dynamic stress concentration around a nanoscale circular hole located at the centre of a two-phase circular laminated medium subjected to localized anti-plane SH-wave loading is examined in this paper. The model (used in this paper) is developed using the complex variable function method combined with wavefield superposition and multipolar expansion. In this framework, GurtinMurdoch (GM) surface and interface elasticity is incorporated at both the material interface and the free surface of the nanohole, resulting in a coupled two-surface formulation that has not been previously reported for biphasic geometries. This leads to non-classical traction-jump conditions and modified stress-free boundary conditions. The resulting infinite system of linear equations is then solved through series truncation. Numerical results reveal that nanoscale surface and interface effects significantly reduce the dynamic stress concentration factor (DSCF) around the hole, with the most substantial attenuation occurring at low wavenumber ratios and low shear modulus ratios. Conversely, the stress reaches its maximum amplification under long-wavelength excitation or when the outer layer is relatively soft. Overall, these findings offer new insights into nanoscale toughening mechanisms in realistic multilayered systems, providing a solid foundation for defect detection, lifetime prediction, and the damage-tolerant design of laminated nanocomposites and coreshell nanostructures. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2026. -
Navigating Hope and Despair: The Agonizing Boat Journeys of the Sri Lankan Tamil Refugees
This study investigates the psychological experiences of Sri Lankan Tamil Refugees (SLTRs) involving boat journeys and the refugee lives that follow. Thirty participants from rehabilitation camps in Tamil Nadu, India, were interviewed. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyze the responses. The two overarching themes were 'the motives and consequences of exile' and 'the complexities of refugee life.' The findings reveal that the participants experienced psychosomatic symptoms immediately upon arrival, reflecting the inner conflicts resulting from war trauma and boat crossings. They reported serious bouts of trauma during and after their crossing. The first- and second-generation participants recounted nightmares pertaining to boat journeys which contributed to hauntedness, which is a state of emotional or mental disturbance often attributed to past trauma. Refugee life is complex, encompassing hopelessness and haunted memories which are passed down to subsequent generations, leading to intergenerational trauma. The boat journey in itself is an ambivalent phenomenon blending hope and profound agony. This study is a novel attempt to gain coherent insights into the boat travel experiences of the SLTR, the dynamics of the interplay of collective unconscious mechanisms, and anxieties in exile. These insights can play a seminal role in facilitating psychological reconstruction and developing effective coping strategies. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025. -
Elevating pyrrole derivative synthesis: a three-component revolution
Pyrrole is an essential chemical with considerable relevance as a pharmaceutical framework for many biologically necessary medications. The growing demand for biologically active compounds calls for a simple one-pot method for generating novel pyrrole derivatives. Nots surprisingly, several multicomponent reactions (MCRs) aim to synthesize pyrrole derivatives. However, this review presents the three-component synthesis of pyrrole derivatives, highlighting the significance of multicomponent reaction in synthesizing eclectic multi-functionalised pyrrole covering the selected literature on the three-component synthesis of substituted pyrrole from 2016 to late 2023. Furthermore, this article classifies the reactions based on the starting material with functional groups involved in the pyrrole ring formation. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024. -
ANFIS-Based Multi-Sensor Data Fusion Model for Optimized Autonomous Vehicle Navigation Using Big Data and Filtering Techniques
The navigation of an autonomous vehicle depends mostly on the integration of multi-sensor data from sources such as LiDAR, GPS, radar, and cameras. Issues like sensor noise, data asynchrony, and fusion inaccuracies hamper reliable real-time decision-making. This paper proposes an optimized multi-sensor data fusion framework integrating big data analytics with modern filtering techniques to increase navigation accuracy and system robustness. The proposed model integrates Kalman Filter (KF), Extended Kalman Filter (EKF), and Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) for dynamic state estimation and adaptive noise accommodation. In addition, sensor reliability and position tracking are enhanced via Bayesian data fusion and Particle Filter. Simulation results show that the proposed technique is evidently superior to existing models in accuracy (1.5 RMSE), convergence time (0.98s), and latency (50 ms). The fusion system enhances stability and responsiveness in autonomous navigation and offers an intelligent transportation framework that can be deployed efficiently at a real-time scale. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2026. -
EGMM: removal of specular reflection with cervical region segmentation using enhanced Gaussian mixture model in cervix images
Colposcopy is a crucial imaging technique for finding cervical abnormalities. Colposcopic image evaluation, particularly the accurate delineation of the cervix region, has considerable medical significance.Before segmenting the cervical region, specular reflection removal is an efficient one. Because, cervical cancer can be found using a visual check with acetic acid, which turns precancerous and cancerous areas whiteand these could be viewed as signs of abnormalities. Similarly, bright white regions known as specular reflections obstruct the identification of aceto-whiteareas and should therefore be removed. So, in this paper, specular reflection removal with segmentingthe cervix region ina colposcopy image is proposed. The proposed approach consists of two main stages, namely, pre-processing and segmentation. In the pre-processing stage, specular reflections are detected and removed using a swin transformer. After that, cervical regions are segmented using an enhanced Gaussian mixture model (EGMM). For better segmentation accuracy, the best parameters of GMM are chosen via the adaptive Mexican Axolotl Optimization (AMAO) algorithm. The performance of the proposed approach is analyzed based on accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, Jaccard index, and dice coefficient, and the efficiency of the suggested strategy is compared with various methods. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2024. -
EASM: An efficient AttnSleep model for sleep Apnea detection from EEG signals
This paper addresses the crucial task of automatic sleep stage classification to assist sleep experts in diagnosing sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and insomnia. The proposed solution presents a novel attention-based deep learning model called, Efficient Attention-sleep Model (EASM), designed specifically for sleep apnea detection using EEG signals. EASM incorporates a streamlined architecture that includes a modified Muti-Resolution Convolutional Neural Network (MRCNN), Adaptive Feature Recalibration (AFR), and a simplified Temporal Context Encoder (TCE) module to reduce complexity. To mitigate overfitting, ridge regression is utilized, which incorporates a penalty term to enhance model generalization. Furthermore, the proposed EASM utilizes a class-balanced focal loss function to address data imbalance issues. The effectiveness of EASM is evaluated on two publicly available datasets, SLEEP EDF-20 and SLEEP EDF-78. Comparative analysis of EASM against state-of-the-art models demonstrates its superior performance in terms of accuracy, training time, and model complexity. Notably, the proposed model achieves a 50% reduction in training time and a 55.7% decrease in complexity compared to the Attnsleep model. The EASM achieves a classification accuracy of 85.8% with minimum loss when compared to the Attnsleep model. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2024. -
Test case reduction and SWOA optimization for distributed agile software development using regression testing
Regression testing is a well-established practice in software development, but its position and importance have shifted in recent years as agile approaches have grown in popularity, emphasizing the fundamental role of regression testing in preserving software quality. In previous techniques, the challenge to address is determining the number and size of clusters and optimization to stabilize the cost and efficacy of the strategy. To overcome all the existing drawbacks; this research study proposes test case reduction and Support-based Whale Optimization Algorithm (SWOA) for distributed agile software development using regression testing. The purpose of this research study is to look into regression testing strategies in agile development teams and to find out what they are optimum clustered test cases. The proposed strategy is divided into two stages: prioritization as well as selection. Prioritization and selection are carried out once the test instances have been retrieved and grouped. The test case clusters are sorted and prioritized in this stage to ensure that the most critical instances are chosen first. During this stage, the test case clusters undergo sorting and prioritization to guarantee that the most essential cases are selected initially. Second, the SWOA is used to choose test cases with a greater frequency of failure or coverage criterion. The results of the assessment metrics show that the proposed approach outperforms other current regression testing strategies substantially. Based on experimental findings, our proposed approach betters existing methods in terms of information performance. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2024.