Tiled fuzzy Hough transform for crack detection

Surface cracks can be the bellwether of the failure of any component under loading as it indicates the component's fracture due to stresses and usage. For this reason, crack detection is indispensable for the condition monitoring and quality control of road surfaces. Pavement images have high levels of intensity variation and texture content, hence the crack detection is difficult. Moreover, shallow cracks result in very low contrast image pixels making their detection difficult. For these reasons, studies on pavement crack detection is active even after years of research. In this paper, the fuzzy Hough transform is employed, for the first time to detect cracks on any surface. The contribution of texture pixels to the accumulator array is reduced by using the tiled version of the Hough transform. Precision values of 78% and a recall of 72% are obtaining for an image set obtained from an industrial imaging system containing very low contrast cracking. When only high contrast crack segments are considered the values move to mid to high 90%

DFT Study of Planar Boron Sheets: A New Template for Hydrogen Storage

We study the hydrogen storage properties of planar boron sheets and compare them to those of graphene. The binding of molecular hydrogen to the boron sheet (0.05 eV) is stronger than that to graphene. We find that dispersion of alkali metal (AM = Li, Na, and K) atoms onto the boron sheet markedly increases hydrogen binding energies and storage capacities. The unique structure of the boron sheet presents a template for creating a stable lattice of strongly bonded metal atoms with a large nearest neighbor distance. In contrast, AM atoms dispersed on graphene tend to cluster to form a bulk metal. In particular the boron-Li system is found to be a good candidate for hydrogen storage purposes. In the fully loaded case this compound can contain up to 10.7 wt. % molecular hydrogen with an average binding energy of 0.15 eV/H2.Comment: 19 pages, 7 figures, and 3 table

Attitude of Higher Secondary Level student towards Games and Sports

The purpose of the study is to find out the attitude of students towards Games and Sports. Games and Sports contribute towards social, mental, emotional and intellectual development. Vigorous activity is basically meant for increasing the efficiency of the body and human being need to be fit efficiently throughout their lives. To take part in games and sports activities one can develop his health definitely. A healthy society needs the healthy individual. The aim of the present investigation is to study the attitude of the students of Higher Secondary Level of Manipur towards Games and Sports. In other words the main goal of this research is to ascertain the role of the favourable attitude towards Games and Sports. The parents of the students of Higher Secondary School Level of Manipur had progressive nature about games and sports. These progressive natures were very helpful to develop the favourable attitude of their children towards games and sports. The above finding of the study clearly indicates that the Higher Secondary School level students of Manipur had favourable attitude towards games and sports. Overall apart from the above finding, the study found that the Higher Secondary School level students of Manipur are keenly interested in games and sports

Insecticidal activity of Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL) against pulse beetle (Callosobruchus maculatus) in green gram (Vigna radiata) seeds

Stored pulses are highly vulnerable to infestation by pulse beetles, particularly Callosobruchus maculatus, leading to significant postharvest losses. The insecticidal potential of Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL) against C. maculatus was evaluated using time-based toxicity assessments. CNSL was extracted using acetone and chemically profiled through Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Major constituents included cardanol, gallic acid, oleic acid and 2-deoxy-D-glucose, compounds known for their neurotoxic, oxidative and metabolic-disrupting properties. Adult beetles were exposed to CNSL treated green gram seeds and mortality was recorded at 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hr post-treatment. Results revealed a strong time-dependent toxicity of CNSL, with LC₅₀ decreasing from 12.56 g/kg at 24 hr to just 0.62 g/kg at 120 hr. The regression models showed high reliability (X² = 0.966 - 1.000), confirming the dose-response relationship. Thus, the study demonstrates that CNSL is an effective botanical insecticide with increasing efficacy over time. Its multi-target mode of action and low-dose effectiveness highlight its potential as a sustainable solution for managing pulse beetles in pulse storage system

A Study on Farmers’ Buying Behaviour of Hybrid Vegetable Seeds in Coimbatore District

This study analyzes the farmers' buying behaviour with reference to hybrid vegetable seeds. The research was carried out in the major six vegetable growing blocks of Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu. A total of 120 farmers were selected using the simple random sampling method. The major Hybrid vegetables grown in the study area were tomato, gourds, bhendi, chilli and brinjal. Yield, price, quality, pest and disease resistance were the major factors influencing the farmers’ buying behaviour of vegetable seeds. Pest and disease attacks and high seed prices were the significant problems that the sample farmers were facing when cultivating hybrid vegetables. Field demonstrations and free samples to vegetable growers were the two most common promotional activities used by hybrid vegetable seed companies

Effectiveness of a Novel Antimicrobial Dressing in Treating Chronic Venous Leg Ulcers

Aim and objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness ofSilver containing wound dressing in Leg ulcer patients with chronic venous disease. Methods: 60 patients with venous leg ulcers were treated with silver colloid dressings for four weeks, followed by conventional dressings for four weeks with or without having signs ofinfection were treated. Clinical evolution of the wound in terms of size, depth and ulcer painwere monitored for eight weeks. In this study, two participants defaulted and lost to follow up. Results: The wound condition has significantly improved after 8 weeks with completely healed ulcers in 4 patients, 48 (76%) patients had improvement and 2 patients had deteriorated wound requiring debridement. An average of 54% reduction in size and 60% reduction in depth of ulcers seen. No adverse events were encountered related to wound dressings. Participants reported less pain on pain scores as the study progressed. Conclusion:  According to this study, silver wound dressings have an acceptable efficacy for treating chronic venous leg ulcers where biofilm formation might inhibit healing

Evaluating the seasonal accumulation of Heat units as an agroclimatic indicator on Baby corn (Zea mays L.) under different sowing windows

Temperature determines the plant's growth and development, which decides the onset of different phenophasic stages of the Baby corn. This study aimed to evaluate the phenological behaviour and yield of Baby corn (Zea mays L.) influenced by sowing windows and heat units with the field investigations carried out during winter (January – April) and kharif  (June – September) 2022 at Eastern Block Farm of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. Growing Degree Days (GDD), Photo Thermal Units (PTU), Helio Thermal Units (HTU), Relative Temperature Disparity (RTD), Heat Unit Efficiency (HUE) and seasonal efficiency were calculated at different phenological stages. The results revealed that early attainment of phenophases was noticed during winter (62.5 days - January 21st to 27th April) than kharif (77.1 days – 15th June to 4th October). Among seasons, higher accumulation of GDD (1553) and PTU (19099) was observed during kharif 2022, whereas maximum accumulation of HTU (9923) and RTD (2146) was observed in winter 2022. Seasonal efficiency was higher during kharif (118) than during the winter season (81). The sowing windows significantly influenced the higher accumulation of heat units and yield attributes. Hence, higher yield (11922.7 kg ha-1) and HUE (7.3) were obtained during kharif than in winter 2022 (yield – 7849 kg ha-1 and HUE – 5.8). Weather parameters showed a negative correlation except RH-I, WS, SR and HUE during winter 2022 (R2=0.802) and RH-II, WS, RF, Daylength, HUE during kharif 2022, which had a positive correlation (R2=0.795). Baby corn is highly sensitive to increasing temperature. Hence, the study expresses the effect of varying ambient temperature on the duration between the phenological stages and yield.  

Performance of Indian Cotton Sector- An Econometric Analysis

Cotton is a high commercial profile crop serving as a lifebelt crop for millions. It is a predominant crop under cultivation in a large spectrum since the ancient period. Globally it is a significant income earning crop hence aptly termed as White Gold. India is a leading cotton producer, exporter, and consumer in the world. It has surpassed China’s cotton production in 2021 and stands first in world cotton production. But India’s cotton productivity is 466 kg/ha very low than the global average cotton productivity; ranking 42nd in world productivity. Cotton is cultivated in an area of 12.35 million hectares with a production of 5.79 million metric tonnes. The present study aims in estimating the growth rate and the factors influencing cotton acreage and production in India for the last four decades of 1981-82 to 2020-21. The compound growth rate was examined using exponential growth function and instability by Cuddy Della Valle instability index in three different periods i.e Period I 1981-82 to 2001-02 (Pre introduction of Bt), Period II 2002-02 to 2020-21(Post introduction of Bt) and Overall period (1981-82 to 2020-21).The data used in current study is secondary in nature and collected from sources namely Directorate of Economics and statistics, India stat and from FAO. The acreage and supply response was estimated using the Nerlovian double-lagged adjustment model. The findings revealed that a higher growth rate and instability have been witnessed after the introduction of Bt technology in India which symbolizes the magnanimous role of Bt technology in the Indian cotton sector. The responsiveness of cotton area towards the lag cotton area, cotton MSP, rainfall and lagged export price stands significant whereas cotton supply response is highly triggered by lagged cotton production, rainfall and Bt technology

Blockchain technology in agriculture: Ensuring transparency and traceability in the food supply chain

The study explores the transformative role of blockchain technology in enhancing transparency and traceability within the agricultural food supply chain. By leveraging blockchain's inherent characteristics of decentralization, immutability, and security, stakeholders can significantly improve information sharing and visibility from farm to consumer. The study delves into how blockchain addresses longstanding transparency and traceability issues that have plagued the agricultural sector. Real-world examples illustrate blockchain's successful application in agriculture, showcasing its capacity to boost transparency, operational efficiency, and trust among supply chain participants. These case studies demonstrate how blockchain creates tamper-proof records, enhances end-to-end visibility, and provides reliable, real time data. The technology's potential to combat fraud, promote sustainability, and ensure product authenticity is also explored. Furthermore, the research investigates blockchain's impact on food safety, particularly when integrated with Internet of Things (IoT) devices and smart contracts. These synergies enable automated, secure data collection and the execution of predefined agreements, further streamlining supply chain processes. Successful implementations across various areas of supply chain management, including logistics, inventory tracking, and quality control, are highlighted to demonstrate the practical benefits of blockchain adoption. By providing an in-depth analysis of blockchain's potential, this study underscores its pivotal role in building consumer trust regarding food safety, quality, and origin. The research concludes by discussing the challenges and opportunities for widespread blockchain adoption in agriculture, offering insights into its future trajectory and potential to revolutionize the global food supply chain

A Comparison Between Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography and Fluorescein Angiography for the Imaging of Type 1 Neovascularization.

Purpose: To determine the sensitivity of the combination of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and structural optical coherence tomography (OCT) for detecting type 1 neovascularization (NV) and to determine significant factors that preclude visualization of type 1 NV using OCTA. Methods: Multicenter, retrospective cohort study of 115 eyes from 100 patients with type 1 NV. A retrospective review of fluorescein (FA), OCT, and OCTA imaging was performed on a consecutive series of eyes with type 1 NV from five institutions. Unmasked graders utilized FA and structural OCT data to determine the diagnosis of type 1 NV. Masked graders evaluated FA data alone, en face OCTA data alone and combined en face OCTA and structural OCT data to determine the presence of type 1 NV. Sensitivity analyses were performed using combined FA and OCT data as the reference standard. Results: A total of 105 eyes were diagnosed with type 1 NV using the reference. Of these, 90 (85.7%) could be detected using en face OCTA and structural OCT. The sensitivities of FA data alone and en face OCTA data alone for visualizing type 1 NV were the same (66.7%). Significant factors that precluded visualization of NV using en face OCTA included the height of pigment epithelial detachment, low signal strength, and treatment-naïve disease (P \u3c 0.05, respectively). Conclusions: En face OCTA and structural OCT showed better detection of type 1 NV than either FA alone or en face OCTA alone. Combining en face OCTA and structural OCT information may therefore be a useful way to noninvasively diagnose and monitor the treatment of type 1 NV