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Real time conversion of sign language to speech and prediction of gestures using artificial neural network
Sign language is generally used by the people who are unable to speak, for communication. Most people will not be able to understand the Universal Sign Language (unless they have learnt it) and due to this lack of knowledge about the language, it is very difficult for them to communicate with mute people. A device that helps to bridge a gap between mute persons and other people forms the crux of this paper. This device makes use of an Arduino Uno board, a few flex sensors and an Android application to enable effective communication amongst the users. Using the flex sensors, gestures made by the wearer is detected and then according to various pre-defined conditions for the numerous values generated by the flex sensors, corresponding messages are sent using a Global System for Mobile(GSM) module to the wearer?s android device, which houses the application that has been designed to convert text messages into speech. The GSM module is also used to send the sensor inputs to a cloud server and these values are taken as input parameters into the neural network for a time series based prediction of gestures. The system is designed to be a continually learning device and improve reliability by monitoring every individual?s behaviour at all times. 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. -
MOF derived cobalt-phospho-boride for rapid hydrogen generation via NaBH4 hydrolysis
Developing effective transition metal catalysts that can replace precious metal-based catalysts for hydrogen generation from the hydrolysis of chemical hydride has attracted extensive interest. This study focuses on synthesizing cobalt phospho-boride (CoPB) within a metal-organic framework (MOF) framework using hydrothermal and chemical reduction methodologies. Incorporating boron and phosphorous into Co-MOF enhances the hydrogen generation rate, reaching 1.8 L/min/g and 3.6 L/min/g for CoB-MOF and CoPB-MOF, respectively, during NaBH4 hydrolysis. Along with the nanostructured morphology of MOF, the electron modulation around Co-sites due to the presence of P and B creates a synergic effect to produce this high H2 generation rate and very low activation energy of 20.7 kJ/mol. The kinetic studies on NaBH4 hydrolysis reaction revealed zero-order kinetics with respect to NaBH4 concentration for CoPB-MOF, where porous morphology renders facile movement of BH4? ions to the active sites. The heat treatment at 773 K in the N2 atmosphere did not show any significant fall in the activity of CoPB-MOF, thus showcasing its robust nature. Moreover, the present catalyst also displayed recycling behavior with no signs of deactivation. 2024 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC -
Lignin nanoparticles from Ayurvedic industry spent materials: Applications in Pickering emulsions for curcumin and vitamin D3 encapsulation
Lignin nanoparticles (LNP), extracted from spent materials of Dashamoola Arishta (Ayurvedic formulation), shared a molecular weight of 14.42 kDa with commercial lignin. Processed into LNPs (496.43 0.54 nm) via planetary ball milling, they demonstrated stability at pH 8.0 with a zeta potential of ?32 0.27 mV. Operating as Pickering particles, LNP encapsulated curcumin and vitamin D3 in sunflower oil, forming LnE + Cu + vD3 nanoemulsions (particle size: 347.40 0.71 nm, zeta potential: ?42.27 0.72 mV) with high encapsulation efficiencies (curcumin: 87.95 0.21%, vitamin D3: 72.66 0.11%). The LnE + Cu + vD3 emulsion exhibited stability without phase separation over 90 days at room (27 2 C) and refrigeration (4 1 C) temperatures. Remarkably, LnE + Cu + vD3 exhibited reduced toxicity, causing 29.32% and 34.99% cell death in L6 and RAW264.7 cells respectively, at the highest concentration (50 ?g/mL). This underscores the potential valorization of Ayurvedic industry spent materials for diverse industrial applications. 2024 Elsevier Ltd -
Lignin-based nanomaterials for food and pharmaceutical applications: Recent trends and future outlook
Small particles of size ranging from 1 to 100 nm are referred to as nanoparticles. Nanoparticles have tremendous applications in various sectors, including the areas of food and pharmaceutics. They are being prepared from multiple natural sources widely. Lignin is one such source that deserves special mention due to its ecological compatibility, accessibility, abundance, and low cost. This amorphous heterogeneous phenolic polymer is the second most abundant molecule in nature after cellulose. Apart from being used as a biofuel source, lignin is less explored for its potential at a nano-level. In plants, lignin exhibits cross-linking structures with cellulose and hemicellulose. Numerous advancements have taken place in synthesizing nanolignins for manufacturing lignin-based materials to benefit from the untapped potential of lignin in high-value-added applications. Lignin and lignin-based nanoparticles have numerous applications, but in this review, we are mainly focusing on the applications in the food and pharmaceutical sectors. The exercise we undertake has great relevance as it helps scientists and industries gain valuable insights into lignin's capabilities and exploit its physical and chemical properties to facilitate the development of future lignin-based materials. We have summarized the available lignin resources and their potential in the food and pharmaceutical industries at various levels. This review attempts to understand various methods adopted for the preparation of nanolignin. Furthermore, the unique properties of nano-lignin-based materials and their applications in fields including the packaging industry, emulsions, nutrient delivery, drug delivery hydrogels, tissue engineering, and biomedical applications were well-discussed. 2023 Elsevier B.V. -
A Methodological Framework for Descriptive Phenomenological Research
Background: Descriptive phenomenological research is crucial in nursing for understanding individuals experiences, perceptions, and relationships, which are essential for person-centered healthcare. However, a common critique is that researchers often use phenomenological methods without fully comprehending their historical and philosophical foundations. Existing literature highlights discrepancies in the application of phenomenological principles by nurse researchers, particularly in their presentation of philosophical underpinnings and methodological details. Aim: This article aims to provide a comprehensive methodological framework for descriptive phenomenological research in nursing, addressing both theoretical and practical aspects to guide novice researchers. Data Sources: This framework synthesizes existing scholarship on descriptive phenomenology. Discussion: Starting from Husserl, this article provides a detailed overview of the history, foundations, and philosophical assumptions of the methodology. It also includes key terms and a comprehensive detailing of all aspects of the research process. Conclusion: This framework enriches existing scholarship by offering a streamlined, step-by-step methodological guide for researchers embarking on descriptive phenomenological studies. It emphasizes the importance of establishing minimum, yet critical criteria for publishing research employing this methodology. Implications for Research: Future nurse researchers are encouraged to enhance methodological transparency in their descriptive phenomenological studies to facilitate rigorous evaluation of method effectiveness and study quality. This framework aims to alleviate potential apprehensions and provide clarity and structure to novice researchers in the field. The Author(s) 2024. -
Systematic Review on Humanizing Machine Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence
In this era, Machine Learning is transforming human lives in a very different way. The need to give machines the power to make decisions or giving the moral compass is a big dilemma when humanity is more divided than it has ever been. There are two main ways in which law and AI interact. AI may be subject to legal restrictions and be employed in courtroom procedures. The world around us is being significantly and swiftly changed by AI in all of its manifestations. Public law includes important facets such as nondiscrimination law and labor law. In a manner similar to this when artificial intelligence (AI) is applied to tangible technology like robots. In certain cases, artificial intelligence (AI) might be hardly noticeable to customers but evident to those who built and are using it. The behavior research offers suggestions for how to build enduring and beneficial interactions between intelligent robots and people. The human improvement is main obstacles in the development and implementation of artificial intelligence. Best practices in this area are not governed by any one strategy that is generally acknowledged. Machine learning is about to revolutionize society as it is know it. It is crucial to give intelligent computers a moral compass now more than ever before because of how divided mankind is. Although machine learning has limitless potential, inappropriate usage might have detrimental long-term implications. It will think about how, for instance, earlier cultures built trust and improved social interactions via creative answers to many of the ethical issues that machine learning is posing now. 2023 IEEE. -
Fluorescent Mechanism in Zero-Dimensional Carbon Nanomaterials: A Review
Fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) have acquired growing interest from different areas over decades. Their fascinating property of tunable fluorescence by changing the excitation wavelength has attracted researchers worldwide. Understanding the mechanisms behind fluorescence is of great importance, as they help with the synthesis and applications, significantly when narrowed down to applications with color-tunable mechanisms. But, due to a lack of practical and theoretical information, the fluorescence mechanisms of CDs remain unknown, preventing the production of CDs with desired optical qualities. This review focuses on the PL mechanisms of carbon dots. The quantum confinement effect determined the carbon core, the surface and edge states determined by various surface defects and the connected functional/chemical groups on the surface/edges, the molecular state solely determined the fluorophores in the interior or surface of the CDs, and the Crosslink Enhanced Emission Effect are the currently confirmed PL mechanisms. Graphic Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]. 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature. -
Synthesis of emeraldine PANI polymer-reduced graphene and its use as polyelectrolyte
Abstract: Reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/polyaniline (PANI) composites grabbed the interest of researcher towards the development of electrolyte material. In present research work, we have focused on the synthesis of rGO and PANI by chemical method. The composites are prepared using different amounts of rGO/PANI and lithium carbonate. The main objective is to enhance structural and electrochemical properties of polymer composites. It is observed that proper interface of polymer composites leads towards the desired chargedischarge capacity and cyclic stability with the diffusion of electrons and electrolyte ions. This particular study can be further used for the development of electrochemical device applications. Graphic abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]. 2019, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. -
Fluorescent Carbonized Polymer Dots Derived from o-phenylenediamine and its Photonic Application
Optimizing the optoelectronic characteristics of low-dimensional carbon dots (CDs) through surface modifications and doping has proven instrumental in tailoring them for diverse applications. This study explores a facile and economical hydrothermal synthesis method for generating Carbonized Polymer Dots using o-phenylenediamine at different temperatures. The resulting materials exhibit structural and morphological variations linked to the synthesis temperature. A transition from carbon dots (CDs) embedded in reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-like sheet structures at low temperatures to the core-shell structure at the highest temperature is observed in HR-TEM, implying the formation of CPDs. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) corroborates these findings, showing an augmented degree of graphitization in alignment with HR-TEM results. The photoluminescence spectra of CPDs synthesized at the lowest temperature exhibit multiple emission peaks, resulting in a yellowish-orange color. Utilizing these CPDs to fabricate light-emitting diodes (LEDs) produces a vivid bright-green emission with CIE coordinates (0.378, 0.522). Moreover, the CPDs demonstrate solvatochromism across diverse solvents of varying polarity, covering the entire visible spectrum. This intriguing solvatochromic effect positions the CPDs as promising materials for polarity probing applications. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2024. -
Cloud Virtualization with Data Security: Challenges and Opportunities
In recent years, Cloud Computing is emerging as a torrid research area for both academicians and industrialists. It provides effective ways to handle and store the data in advanced system processing applications. Furthermore, it also leverages a radical change in the way the users access and use the available resources. Despite the hype, it also has the challenge of slow data transition from present physical storage to the cloud based platform. This is mainly due to the security challenges associated with the Cloud Computing applications. Hence, data protection has become very critical and always requires an efficient and effective security protocol into the existence. So, the security and reliability of the cloud platform would definitely attract more researchers to this platform. This article discusses an overview of Cloud paradigm and the different virtualization techniques adopted to overcome the security issues associated with the cloud computing platform. Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020. -
A STUDY ON THE SELF-ESTEEM AND SOCIAL RELATIONS OF ADOLESCENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITY.
According to World Health Organization Learning disability is a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind. The most common learning disabilities are Dyslexia, Dyscalculia Dysgraphia, Auditory and Visual Processing Disorders and Nonverbal Learning Disabilities. Adolescents with learning difficulty have trouble expressing their feelings, calming themselves down, and reading non-verbal cues which can lead to difficulty in the classroom and with their peers. In India approximately 13 to 14 per cent of all school children suffer from learning disorders (Sadaket 2009). The social relationships of the adolescents with learning disability have a positive influence on their self esteem. It helps them to maintain a constructive relationship with their peers, teachers and parents. The study was focused to know the relationship of self esteem and social relation in adolescents with learning disability. The study was conducted among all the Adolescents with Learning Disability, in an alternative school in Bangalore. The size of the sample was 50 which include both genders and the sampling design was purposive sampling. Adolescents with learning disability of the age group 11 to 18 years were included for the study. The students level of self-esteem was assessed by using a 10-item scale developed by Rosenberg (1965). The Rosenberg Self- Esteem Scale was rated on a 4-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree). The researcher reverse scored five items that were negative in nature so that higher scores would indicate higher level of self-esteem. The scale ranges from 0-30. Scores between 15 and 25 are within normal range; scores below 15 suggest low self- esteem. A semi structured questionnaire was designed to gather information on the socio demographic profile and social relation of adolescents with learning disability. A pilot study was conducted among 10 percent of samples and necessary modifications were made. The statistical analysis was done on the data using SPSS. The level of significance was fixed at 0.005(p<0.05). The results show that, among the total respondents, 62.0 percent of them are male respondents (n=31) and 38.0 percent are female respondents (n=19).56 percent of the respondents are being compared with their siblings by their parents. The study indicates that 44 percent of the respondents feel stressed due to parental pressure. The respondents who fall under the age group of 16-19 years have a higher self-esteem than the respondents who fall under the age group of 11-15 years. The study shows that, statically there is a significant relationship between the respondents relationship with parents with respect to respondents self-esteem. There is less significant relationship between the respondents relationship with peers with respect to respondents self-esteem. Present study indicates that, statically there is a significant relationship between the respondents relationship with teachers with respect to respondents self-esteem. Learning disability is a disorder which can be remedied using appropriate instructional strategies. The early identification helps in remedial teaching and building self-esteem. The present study indicates that adolescents with learning disability with better social relationship will have high self-esteem. Realizing the importance of self-esteem and its relationship with social relation, a multidisciplinary approach is required to initiate appropriate interventions in building self-esteem and teaching learning disabled child. Thus the learning disabled child can be mainstreamed effectively. -
The Politics of Cultural Homogenization and Territorialization: Representation of Northeast in Tinkle's WingStar Series
Tinkle, the children's magazine in English in India has been instrumental in shaping the imagination of the young urban Indian child ever since its inception in 1980. No other magazine has the readership and reach that Tinkle enjoys with a circulation of more than 3 lakh. The fact that Tinkle has survived unlike many other magazines in India for 40 odd years is testimony (marketing strategies aside) of its reach and popularity. Tinkle, ever since the days of its founder-editor Anant Pai, has been instrumental in constructing imagined communities of national identities for children in India over the decades since the 1970s ever since the Amar Chitra Kathas. One such attempt in constructing children's imaginaries is the addition of a series Wing Star in 2015, scripted by Sean D'mello and inked by Vineet Nair that features Mapui Kawlim, a 13-year-old superhero from Aizwal, Mizoram. While it is empowering that a national mainstream popular magazine for children would feature a female superhero from among the less represented Northeastern states, what is problematic, according to this study, is the manner in which there has been a conscious erasure of all markers of her ethnicity by appropriating her into the larger mainstream homogenised pan-Indian identity of a young female superhero with no specific markers to represent the culture she belongs to. This study will attempt to read this 'sanitised' representation of a Northeastern superhero in the light of the idea of cultural appropriation and deterritorialization and reterritorialization posited by Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari that looks at the erasure of specific ethnic and other identities markers. This study will also engage with the implications of how 'sanitised' representations like this in popular narratives would construct and homogenise the imaginaries of the children of a country as they would grow up with erroneous notions of cultural ethnicities and diversity within the country adding to the problematics of marginalisation and hegemonic nationalities. 2022 Aesthetics Media Services. All rights reserved. -
Agency and self expression: Fan writing as life writing
Fans, fandoms and fan activities have been part of every culture from time immemorial. Homers epics, Platos work all could be considered in a broad sense as belonging to the larger domain of fan activity or fan art as they are termed in modern day parlance. This paper examines India Forums a digital fan community based in India for audiences and fans of Indian television soaps/serials and attempts to understand how fanfiction and fan activities within this forum acts as means of self-expression and enable its fans to develop a sense of agency that is indigenous to the space in itself. This community is predominantly populated by women or gender anonymous and function as a space that allow fans to construct their own voices, identities and thereby agency, which is most often restricted to that space alone. The fans though not subaltern, in the technical sense of the term, as they belong to the urban space, have access to a computer and can read, write and speak English although not fluently, are still urban middle-class women who have been spoken for and never spoken themselves; and India Forums enable these unheard voices to be heard. This reading analyses the dynamics of this agential space, the politics of this agency and argues that all fan writing within this space functions as life writing within a hypertextual metaconversational paradigm which is not necessarily reflective of traditional forms of life writing using notions of revisionist Freudian psychoanalysis and paradigms of life writing. AesthetixMS 2021. This Open Access article is published under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial 4.0 International License -
Decomposition of Graphs into Paths and Cycles
Journal of Discrete Mathematics Vol.2013 Article ID 721051 ISSN No. 2090-9845 -
Induced acyclic path decomposition in graphs
A decomposition of a graph G is a collection ? of graphs H1, H2,...,Hr of G such that every edge of G belongs to exactly one Hi. If each Hi is either an induced path in G, then ? is called an induced acyclic path decomposition of G and if each Hi is a (induced) cycle in G then ? is called a (induced) cycle decomposition of G. The minimum cardinality of an induced acyclic path decomposition of G is called the induced acyclic path decomposition number of G and is denoted by ?ia(G). Similarly the cyclic decomposition number ?c(G) is defined. In this paper we begin an investigation of these parameters. -
Privacy Preserving Authentication Using Zero Knowledge Proofs
Conventional authentication techniques, such as one-time passwords and passwords, are extremely susceptible to data breaches, credential theft, and phishing attacks. These vulnerabilities are increased when using shared or public devices. This paper proposes a password-less authentication architecture for various environments and organization based on Zero-Knowledge Proofs in order to overcome these issues. The proposed model ensures that no sensitive credentials are sent or retained by having a user demonstrate that they possess a secret without disclosing it to the server. In doing so, the attack surface linked to traditional login methods is greatly reduced. The framework is meant to be scalable, lightweight and easy to integrate with learning management systems, corporate sites, online test platforms, and university websites. 2025 IEEE. -
Tailored cobaltnickel phospho-boride from metalorganic frameworks as high-performance catalyst for NaBH4 dehydrogenation
Achieving efficient hydrogen generation (HGR) via the hydrolysis of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) remains a key challenge in developing cost-effective and high-performance catalytic systems for chemical hydrogen storage. In this study, we present a novel bimetallic phospho-boride-modified metal-organic framework catalyst (CoNi-PB-MOF), synthesized through a two-step process involving hydrothermal assembly followed by chemical reduction. The co-incorporation of phosphorus and boron into the bimetallic Co-Ni MOF facilitates the formation of 2D MOF-derived nanoplates embedded with Co3O4 nanoparticles doped with P and B. This hybrid structure features a high surface area, abundant active sites, and reduced charge-transfer resistance, enabling superior catalytic activity. The CoNi-PB-MOF catalyst achieves an impressive HGR of 7.33 L/min/g from NaBH4 hydrolysis, outperforming its monometallic counterparts. Comprehensive physicochemical and electrochemical analyses confirm the synergistic roles of Co, Ni, P, and B in enhancing catalytic performance, while preserving the porous MOF morphology post-modification. The CoNi-PB-MOF catalyst exhibits a low activation energy of 25.6 kJ/mol, along with excellent thermal stability and cyclic durability under harsh conditions. Kinetic studies reveal a zero-order reaction with respect to NaBH4 concentration, attributed to efficient mass transport and surface diffusion on the optimized catalyst surface. 2025 Elsevier B.V. -
Surface modified Cobalt Oxide Nanostructures for hydrogen generation from catalytic dissociation of NaBH4
Liquid chemical hydrides, such as aqueous sodium borohydride (NaBH4), offer a safer, energy-dense alternative for fuel cell vehicles, enabling on-demand hydrogen release under ambient conditions. However, achieving large-scale viability for this system requires the development of a cost-effective and durable catalyst to improve hydrogen release efficiency. In this study, three distinct nanostructured Co3O4 catalysts (nanorods (NR), nanosheets (NS), and nanocubes (NC)) were synthesised via a hydrothermal method and further modified by incorporating B and P heteroatoms on the surface. Among these, the B/P-Co3O4-NS catalyst with its 2D nanosheet structure exhibited the highest catalytic activity, achieving an activation energy of 17.7 kJ/mol and a maximum hydrogen generation rate (HGR) of 5.6 L/min/g for hydrolysis of NaBH4. All three B/P-modified Co3O4 catalysts outperformed both CoPB nanoparticles and unmodified Co3O4, attributed to enhanced electronic interactions and induced lattice strain from B and P incorporation, with the nanosheet morphology providing a large surface area for improved efficiency. The B/P- Co3O4-NS catalyst also demonstrated notable stability, successfully enduring recycling and high-temperature treatment (773 K). These results highlight B/P-Co3O4-NS as a promising candidate for practical hydrogen generation, combining high catalytic performance with robust stability. 2025 Elsevier Ltd -
A Flexible HfO2 Nanofilm deposition on activated carbon fiber using atomic layer deposition method for Uric acid Detection
Flexible devices are in demand for the future development of electronic products. This study introduces a method where a uniform HfO2 thin nanofilm (10 nm) is deposited on flexible carbon cloth (CC) using atomic layer deposition (ALD). This electrode replaces traditional glassy carbon electrodes and other metal electrodes used in sensor fabrication. The ALD technique is employed for the first time in the fabrication of nanomaterials for non-enzymatic uric acid detection, offering advantages such as a solvent-free, binder-free, and low-chemical synthesis process. Synergistic effect of CC and HfO2 active sites contributes to its benchmark performance as a uric-acid sensors. HfO2 structure can supply more reaction sites and ion diffusion pathways. ALD-derived HfO2 exhibit a significant number of oxygen vacancies due to the suboxide formation. These oxygen vacancies or defects act as charge-trapping sites, and when biomolecules are introduced, the film electrical conductivity is altered. The presence of a uniformly distributed, grainy porous structure explains the successful immobilization of uric acid on HfO?. The highly rough surface and large surface area of 200-HfO?/CC boost uric acid sensitivity by more than five times compared with cleaned CC. This research work confirmed that the sensor possesses high selectivity and good reproducibility, suggesting its ability for practical application. HfO2 with a nanofilm structure was chosen for the selective detection of uric acid for the first time, with higher stability and lower detection level (10 nM) (less than reported literature). Herein, this study presents a promising electrocatalyst for nonenzymatic uric acid detection and real-time monitoring of uric acid in human serum and urine for disease prevention. 2026 Elsevier B.V. -
A Methodological Framework for Descriptive Phenomenological Research
Background: Descriptive phenomenological research is crucial in nursing for understanding individuals experiences, perceptions, and relationships, which are essential for person-centered healthcare. However, a common critique is that researchers often use phenomenological methods without fully comprehending their historical and philosophical foundations. Existing literature highlights discrepancies in the application of phenomenological principles by nurse researchers, particularly in their presentation of philosophical underpinnings and methodological details. Aim: This article aims to provide a comprehensive methodological framework for descriptive phenomenological research in nursing, addressing both theoretical and practical aspects to guide novice researchers. Data Sources: This framework synthesizes existing scholarship on descriptive phenomenology. Discussion: Starting from Husserl, this article provides a detailed overview of the history, foundations, and philosophical assumptions of the methodology. It also includes key terms and a comprehensive detailing of all aspects of the research process. Conclusion: This framework enriches existing scholarship by offering a streamlined, step-by-step methodological guide for researchers embarking on descriptive phenomenological studies. It emphasizes the importance of establishing minimum, yet critical criteria for publishing research employing this methodology. Implications for Research: Future nurse researchers are encouraged to enhance methodological transparency in their descriptive phenomenological studies to facilitate rigorous evaluation of method effectiveness and study quality. This framework aims to alleviate potential apprehensions and provide clarity and structure to novice researchers in the field. The Author(s) 2024.