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Purpose: To evaluate the superpave design performance using Epolene (EE-2) as modifier, since SUPERPAVE design is a modified and sophisticated aspect as compared to previous mix design for asphalt mixtures. This is primarily due to the fact that superpave design mix also takes into consideration properties of materials beside asphalt. Design/methodology/approach: This study was conducted using Epolene (EE-2) as modifier in order to evaluate the performance of SUPERPAVE suitability for construction of roads in Alfaraa campus (King Khalid University) Abha, in Asir Province of Saudi Arabia. Glow number test, dynamic modulus test and indirect tensile strength test were conducted to evaluate the performance of EE-2 modifier against the control mixture. Findings: The mixture modified with EE-2 gave better performance in terms of temperature-based performance and resistance to moisture damage. Also, larger values of E*/sinφ were obtained for EE-2 modified mixture at various loading frequencies and temperature in comparison to control mixture. Research limitations/implications: The Epolene modifier successfully enhances and improves the SUPERPAVE mixture performance. Further studies are required to evaluate the performance of EE-2 modifier at much lower temperature ranges. Practical implications: The results of the study allow us to recommend the investigated asphalt mixture for applied for the construction of roads in the Alfaraa (new campus of King Khalid University), Abha, Asir province, Saudi Arabia. Originality/value: A modified asphalt mixture has been proposed that has better performance at higher and lower temperatures. The developed asphalt mixture is more resistant to moisture damage than the compared to control mixture.

Scrub typhus is a mite-borne rickettsial disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, which is endemic in Asia Pacific region. In this study, infection rate and molecular epidemiologic traits of O. tsutsugamushi was investigated in Mymensingh, located in north-central Bangladesh. Among the blood samples from 453 febrile patients who visited Mymensingh medical college hospital in 2018, the 47 kDa protein gene of O. tsutsugamushi was detected in 78 samples (17.2%) by nested PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of the O. tsutsugamushi 56 kDa protein gene (18 samples) revealed a predominance of Karp-related genotype (89%), while the remaining belonged to Gilliam genotype. Samples of the Karp-related genotype mostly clustered with those of China, Taiwan, Thailand and India, etc., in emergent subgroups clades 2 and 4, which were distinct from clade 1, including prototype Karp strains. Among the 18 samples, three variable domains (VD) of 56 kDa type-specific antigen had different types of sequence diversity; VDI contained two or three repeats of eight amino acid units, while VDII and VDIII had amino acid substitution, deletion or insertion. The present study documented a potentially high prevalence of genetically diverse O. tsutsugamushi in north-central Bangladesh. Keywords: 56 kDa type-specific antigen, Bangladesh, Orientia tsutsugamushi, scrub typhus, Karp-related genotype

The image segmentation performs a significant role in the field of image processing because of its wide range of applications in the agricultural fields to identify plants diseases by classifying the different diseases. Classification is a technique to classify the plants diseases on different morphological characteristics. Different classifiers are used to classify such as SVM (Support Vector Machine), K- nearest neighbor classifiers, Artificial Neural Networks, Fuzzy Logic, etc. This paper presents different image processing techniques used for the early detection of different Plants diseases by different authors with different techniques. The main focus of our work is on the critical analysis of different plants disease segmentation techniques. The strengths and limitations of different techniques are discussed in the comparative evaluation of current classification techniques. This study also presents several areas of future research in the domain of plants disease segmentation. Our focus is to analyze the best classification techniques and then fuse certain best techniques to overcome the flaws of different techniques, in the future. different techniques are proposed by different researchers with the help of digital image processing for rapid and accurate plants disease identification. This paper is survey of different imaging techniques used for the early detection of plant's diseases by different researchers and the limitations of these techniques are also discussed in the end of paper.

Over 2 billion people suffer a range of physical and intellectual deficiencies due to micronutrient malnutrition. Widespread deficiencies in a population can be prevented and even eliminated if essential nutrients are consumed on an ongoing basis. Fortification of staple foods and condiments with essential micronutrients can be an important part of the solution. Food fortification continues to provide significant quantities of essential micronutrients to populations in developed countries as well. As fortification programs are expanded in the developing world, they need support through food regulations, quality assurance, and monitoring to achieve the desired impact on nutritional status. To ensure long-term program sustainability, a multisector approach combined with consumer awareness is essential.

Tip-over disease has become a serious threat to banana plantations in the past decade. The disease is reported to be caused by Erwinia carotovorasubsp. carotovora and Erwinia chrysanthemi. We compared nine Erwinia strains of diseased banana plants from different agroclimatic zones of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, Southern India by conventional means. On the basis of morphological, cultural, physiological and biochemical characteristics and pathogenicity tests, the seven isolates I1 to I6 and I8 showed similarities to Erwinia carotovorasubsp. carotovora. Isolate I9 from Andhra Pradesh expressed characteristics similar to that of Erwinia chrysanthemi and was identified as Erwinia chrysanthemi. The isolate I7 which showed wider variation, neither confirmed to the characteristics of Erwinia carotovorasubsp. carotovora nor with that of Erwinia chrysanthemi, and possessed characteristics in between the two species. Further we studied the host range of the bacterium causing tip-over disease of banana.

Superconducting properties of Cu1-xTlxBa2Ca3-yMgy Cu4O12-delta (Cu1-xTlx Mgy-1234) material have been studied in the composition range y=0,1.5,2.25. The zero resistivity critical temperature [Tc (R=0)] was found to increase with the increased concentration of Mg in the unit cell; for y=1.5 [Tc(R=0)]=131 K was achieved which is hitherto highest in Cu1-xTlx-based superconductors. The X-ray diffraction analyses have shown the formation of a predominant single phase of Cu0.5Tl0.5Ba2Ca3-yMgy Cu4O12-delta superconductor with an inclusion of impurity phase. It is observed from the convex shape of the resistivity versus temperature measurements that our as-prepared material was in the region of carrier over-doping, and the number of carriers was optimized by postannealing experiments in air at 400degC, 500degC, and 600degC. The Tc(R=0) was found to increase with postannealing and the best postannealing temperature was found to be 600degC. The mechanism of increased Tc(R=0) is understood by carrying out infrared absorption measurements. It was observed through softening of Cu(2)-OA-Tl apical oxygen mode that improved interplane coupling was a possible source of enhancement of Tc(R=0) to 131 K

The paper presents a numerical model for determining the dc characteristic of an ion-implanted Si-MESFET under optically controlled condition. The model accounts for all the major effects that shape the characteristics of the device in the illuminated condition. For the first time a model has been developed for the optically controlled MESFET with non-uniformly doped channel to determine the channel voltage profile and the variation of the gate depletion width as well as the substrate depletion width in the channel as a function of position between source and drain. The model can also be utilised for estimating the drain current—drain voltage characteristics and the transfer characteristics of the device under dark and the illuminated condition. It also enables one to calculate the transconductance and the gate to source capacitance which are directly related to the cut-off frequency of the device.

A numerical model of an ion-implanted GaAs optical field-effect transistor (OPFET) has been presented. The model is a physics-based one, and overcomes the major limitations of the existing models by considering both the photoconductive effect in the channel and photovoltaic effect at the gate Schottky barrier as well as the channel-substrate barrier. The exact potential profile in the channel and variation of gate depletion width and substrate depletion width in the channel as a function of position between source and drain have been computed for the first time for a nonuniformly doped channel. The model can be used to obtain the drain-current-drain-voltage characteristics, transfer characteristics, transconductance and gate-to-source capacitance of the device under dark and illuminated conditions. The model can be used as a basic tool for accurate simulation of optoelectronic integrated circuits (OEICs) using an OPFET.

This paper presents an analytical model for determining the d.c. characteristics of GaAs-OPFET (optically controlled field effect transistor). The model takes into account all the major effects that determine the device characteristics in the illuminated condition. Calculations have been carried out for a GaAs-OPFET to examine the effect of illumination on current-voltage characteristics, drain-to-source capacitance ( C ds ), internal gate-to-source capacitance ( C gs ), drain-to-source resistance ( R ds ) and transconductance ( g m ). The model takes into account the effect of photo-generation in the semi-insulating substrate region. The semi-insulating nature of substrate has been modeled accurately for the first time.

1. Dimethoate was generally more toxic when ingested than when applied topically to similar sized larvae of Mamestra brassicae (L) (4th-instar), Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd) (4th-instar), Pieris brassicae (L) (3rd-instar) and Bombyx mori (L) (2nd-instar). 2. In vivo oxidation of ingested 14C-dimethoate to omethoate decreased in the order of S. littoralis > P. brassicae > B. mori and followed the order of decreasing susceptibility. 3. 14C-dimethoate was regurgitated and excreted and was related to feeding rates of the species. 4. The implications of the above data in relation to causes of variation in interspecies susceptibility with particular reference to concepts of resistance as influenced by polyphagy versus monophagy are discussed.

1. Lindane was generally more toxic when ingested than when applied topically to similar sized larvae of Mamestra brassicae (L) (4th-instar), Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd) (4th-instar), Pieris brassicae (L) (3rd-instar), and Bombyx mori (L) (2nd-instar). 2. In vivo metabolism of ingested 14C-lindane decreased in order of S. littoralis > P. brassicae > B. mori (based on the recovery of metabolised 14C-lindane form the larva and frass) and followed the order of increasing susceptibility. 3. 14C-lindane was regurgitated after ingestion; its effects on insecticidal action are discussed. 4. The causes of variation in interspecies susceptibility with particular reference to concepts of resistance as influenced by polyphagy versus monophagy are discussed.

Face detection is the first step in many face image processing applications. This paper presents a simple, fast and robust method for reliable detection of faces in real-life images. We introduce a novel technique for distinguishing different skin colors, a capability that most of the other skin color based approaches lack. By distinguishing different shades of skin we are able to accurately detect facial regions even in complex scenes with near skin color backgrounds. Once the algorithm finds a candidate skin colored region, if verifies the region for being a face using a facial template composed with stable facial features. The algorithm can reliably detect multiple near-frontal, near-upright faces at different scales even in the presence of spectacles. We test the effectiveness of the method on various standard video sequences and the Family Database made available by Hsu et al.

Face detection is the first step in many face image processing applications. This work presents a simple, fast and robust method for reliable detection of faces in real-life images. We introduce a novel technique for distinguishing different skin colors, a capability that most of the other skin color based approaches lack. By distinguishing different shades of skin we are able to accurately detect facial regions even in complex scenes with near skin color backgrounds. Once the algorithm finds a candidate skin colored region, it verifies the region for being a face using a facial template composed of stable facial features. The algorithm can reliably detect multiple near-frontal, near-upright faces at different scales even in the presence of spectacles. We test the effectiveness of the method on various standard video sequences and two standard datasets for face detection.

A 32/spl times/32 asynchronous transfer mode ATM switch consisting of interconnection network using 1/spl times/32 parallel expander circuits is presented to overcome the effect of internal path blocking. The CMOS VLSI architecture and the control unit consisting of serial shift registers and latches to keep the destination path open for the length of a packet, were designed using MAGIC software and simulated by IRSIM. The system performed well under a variety of input traffic patterns. As low as 5 ns delay was estimated by the 1/spl times/32 expander circuit, while the clock generated by the combinational circuit for latching showed a delay of 190 ns. >

A non internal blocking ATM packet switching network using CMOS technology has been developed for an N/spl times/N switch. A multiplexing circuitry with 32 inputs was designed and implemented using simple logic gates. The development has utilized an interconnection network of 1/spl times/32 parallel expander circuits. The control unit consisting of serial shift registers and latches to keep the destination path open for the length of the packet, were designed using MAGIC software and simulated by IRSIM. As low as 5 ns delay was estimated by the 1/spl times/32 expander circuit, while the clock generated by the combinational circuit for latching showed a delay of 190 ns. The system has been fabricated using MOSIS services, and as minimum of 5 ns delay was measured between the input and output nodes of the switching circuit.

This paper presents a structural approach for classification of multi-font machine-printed or handwritten character samples. The issue of how to cope with variations that are found in the relative location of individual strokes of a character in the presence of variations in shape, size, orientation and spacing of the involved strokes is described in detail. The approach yields results closer to human aesthetic sense.

A character recognition scheme based on structural analysis is presented to deal with unconstrained handwritten characters and degraded samples of multi-font machine-printed characters. It is based on building simplified easy-to-construct shape models representing character classes. The scheme is based on employing a general variation and degradation model to match character samples with these models. Experimental results are presented as proof-of-concept.

This paper presents a structural pre-classification approach to reduce the number of class models to be compared with a given sample during the main classification stage. This helps to increase the overall classification speed and to improve the recognition accuracy. The approach is based on preparing high-level coarse shape models of character classes permitting similar character-classes to merge into super-groups. The approach is robust to distortion and font or writing style variations.

good; No patients had disease recurrence however 1 patient died during follow-up. In the advanced stage group; 2 patients had surgery with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 1 patient had surgery with adjuvant radiotherapy, 1 patient had surgery alone, 2 patients had chemo-radiotherapy and 1 patient was unfit for treatment. Overall outcomes were poor; patients treated with surgery and neoadjuvant chemotherapy had disease recurrence, those treated with palliative chemo-radiotherapy showed disease progression and 2 patients died. Conclusions: Local guidelines for diagnosis and management of thymomas have been effective in influencing practice. Current evidence supports a multimodal treatment approach in advanced disease, however our data suggests significant relapse rates in patients with advanced stage disease.

The aggregates were obtained by constant gyratory shaking of suspension cells freshly isolated from adult rat pineal glands. Their sizes ranged from 60 to 120 microns. Within 4-5 days, the aggregates formed by pinealocytes, astrocytes, and other unidentified cells became organized in a tissue-like configuration. There was no proliferation of the fibroblast cells. Ultrastructural characteristics of the aggregates were revealed by the presence of granular lysosomes, which are typical of pinealocytes, and are actively involved in the secretion. Functional characteristics were studied in static incubation. The aggregates secreted melatonin and other indole amines in culture medium. Basal melatonin release was detected until Day 24 of culture. This secretion was stimulated 230% with Isoproterenol (beta-adrenergic agonist), 725% with Epinephrine (alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonists), and 140% with Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide after 5 days in culture, then > 1200% with Forskolin 9 days later (14-day-old aggregates). The results indicate that three-dimensional aggregates obtained from isolated pineal gland cells were the functional multicellular structures with in vivo characteristics.

Radioactive survey of an area of Kirana hills (Pakistan) has been carried out by using Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors (SSNTDs). The track density has been observed to indicate contour variations. The results have been compared with the count rate obtained by using a G-M counter, and an excellent agreement has been obtained.

A model-based reasoning approach called model refinement, which has been used in an experiment to reason about faults on trunks, is presented. In the model-refinement approach, heuristics are used to generate an appropriate level of description, depending upon symptoms. Related-issues on developing a model-based expert system are also discussed, namely, translating models into rules for efficiency, and user interface requirements for system explanations. Some of the unresolved problems with model-based reasoning are examined, with emphasis on the deficiencies of the model-refinement technique. >

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the neurochemical changes in the levels of gangliosides and glycogen of the cerebral hemisphere, cerebellum, brain stem and spinal cord following the intraperitoneal (ip) injection of the organophosphate pesticide methyl parathion (1.0 mg, 1.5 mg and 2.0 mg/kg) to each rat of the experimental group daily for 7 days. A remarkable dose-related depletion in the concentration of gangliosides was discernible in all the regions of the CNS. Also, the contents of glycogen exhibited a decrement in different parts of the brain with all the 3 dose-schedules following methyl parathion toxicosis. The results suggest that the levels of gangliosides and glycogen are affected dose-dependently in various regions of the rat brain and spinal cord.

Let Mn denote the space of all n-square matrices over an algebraically closed field F. For A, B ∊ Mn, letdefine the iterated commutators of A and B. Recently several research papers (1, 2, 4, and 5) have appeared on these commutators. In (1), Kato and Taussky have proved that for n = 2 the iterated commutators of A and B satisfy the linear relation

Interactions between closely-spaced indium disc foils of 1 cm dia. and 0.0127 cm thick exposed to an isotropic thermal flux in light water, were experimemtally studied with a view to establish the closest distance between them at which no significant perturbation was experienced. This investigation, therefore, was undertaken to determine the flux perturbation factors (defined as the ration of thermal neutron flux present in the foil to the unperturbed thermal neutron flux) for various interfoil distances. It was observed that these factors changed from a value of 0.833 ± 0.019 (large perturbation) for 1.5 cm interfoil distance (centre to centre) to 0.986 ± 0.015 (small perturbation) for 1.8 cm interfoil distance, where the unperturbed flux was taken as the measurement with indium foils being 6 cm apart. It was, therefore, concluded that interaction between neighbouring foils of 1 cm dia. and 0.0127 cm thick became small for interfoil separations greater than 1.8 cm.

In 1954 A.J. Hoffman and O. Taussky [1] showed that if A is an n-square complex matrix with eigenvalues λ = (λ1, …, λn ) and P is a permutation matrix for which αA + βA* has eigenvalues for some αβ ≠ 0 then A is normal. Here is the conjugate vector of λ. As a companion result they also proved that if the eigenvalues of AA* are , i = 1, …, n then A is normal.

A 14.7 MeV neutron generator has been pulsed and provided with focussing and neutron monitoring facilities so as to enable it to operate as a fast neutron time-of-flight spectrometer. Pulse shape discrimination technique has been used to suppress unwanted gamma ray background.

The substitution of sucrose for starch in the diet of the rat promotes a rise in the plasma cholesterol concentration which is largely confined to the esterified fraction. There is a concomitant rise in the activity of the enzyme lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase which catalyses the esterification of free cholesterol in the plasma. This enzyme displays a marked specificity towards the cholesterol carried in the high-density lipoproteins. It is concluded that the increase in the capacity of the plasma to esterify cholesterol occurs in response to the increased throughput of cholesterol in the plasma which results from feeding a high-sucrose diet.

Let A, B, and X be n-square matrices over an algebraically closed field F of characteristic 0. Let [A, B] = AB — BA and set (A, B) = [A, [A, B]]. Recently several proofs (1; 3; 5) of the following result have appeared: if det (AB) ≠ 0 and (A,B) = 0 then A-1B-1AB - I is nilpotent. In (2) McCoy determined the general form of any X satisfying1.1in the case that A has a single elementary divisor corresponding to each eigenvalue, that is, A is non-derogatory. In Theorem 1 we determine the structure of any matrix X satisfying (1.1) and also give a formula for the dimension of the linear space of all such X in terms of the degrees of the elementary divisors of A.

In a recent series of papers [3,4,5], H. Zassenhaus considered the structure of those linear transformations T on real 4-space, R4, into itself that preserve the quadratic form . That is,1.1Define a function ϕ on R4 to the space M 2 of 2-square matrices over the complex numbers as follows:1.2Let G2 be the vector space of matrices generated by all real linear combinations of1.3