A Combination of Variational Mode Decomposition and Histogram Equalization for Image Enhancement Abstract A new technique for image contrast enhancement is proposed in this paper. The technique is based on the variational mode decomposition (VMD) of image and various histogram equalization approaches. The original image is decomposed into different sub-images or modes using VMD. The histogram equalization approaches such as the conventional histogram equalization, the contrast limited adaptive histogram equalization are applied to the mode1 of the original image. For obtaining the enhanced image, a weighting scheme is introduced to combine the processed mode1 image and the original image. The proposed technique is evaluated using various images including the medical image. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed technique outperforms the existing methods for image enhancement. For medical images, the PSNR and the image quality index values improve by using the proposed technique over various HE approaches.

Silver Nanoparticle Decorated on ZnO@SiO 2 Nanocomposite and Application for Photocatalytic Dye Degradation of Methylene Blue Abstract The synthesis was ZnO nanoparticle by hydrothermal method and composites with SiO2 nanoparticles (ZnO/SiO2). Ag NPs decorated on the impetus surface in substance decrease the strategy of ZnO/SiO2 nanocomposite on the catalyst surface in chemical reduction method. The catalyst was characterized by XRD, FE-SEM, EDAX, FT-IR and UV–visible spectroscopy. The photocatalytic performance of ZnO/SiO2 nanocomposite clearly indicated the enhancing of the catalytic activity under visible light with decorated Ag NPs. The Ag NPS improve the photocatalytic activity of MB dye degradation efficacy 81% of ZnO/SiO2–Ag.

Study of Neuronal Spacing Across the Season Within the Corticoid Complex of Female Indian Ring-Neck Parrot, Psittacula krameri (Scopoli, 1769) Abstract Corticoid complex, a part of avian brain, has been suggested to play an important role in emotion, cognition and memory. It has been divided into intermediate corticoid area and dorsolateral corticoid area. The seasonal oscillations in the spaces between neurons have been taken into consideration, and it was observed that spaces between neurons, i.e. neuronal spacing in corticoid complex of female Indian ring-neck parrot (Psittacula krameri), significantly accredited during breeding time of bird. The result obtained in the present study as well as the previous studies highlighting other adjacent regions of brain (hippocampal complex) suggest better functioning and networking of the region concerned during active or breeding time of bird.

Label-Free Mapping of the Biochemicals in Tomato Fruit by Confocal Raman Microspectroscopy Abstract Raman scattering-based technique coupled with microscope provides information about the chemical structure of biological specimen at the molecular and cellular scale nondestructively without the requirement of chemical extraction. Confocal Raman microspectroscopy presents a new approach for investigating the cellular structure of vegetables and fruits and the biochemical contents in them. This study describes potential of the confocal Raman microspectroscopy for the evaluation of biomolecules and their distribution in the various parts of ripened tomato fruit. For this, Raman spectra of the exocarp, mesocarp and endocarp of the red tomato fruit have been acquired in the spectral region < 2000 cm−1 at a resolution of 4 cm−1 using confocal Raman spectrometer equipped with 785 nm excitation laser. The recorded spectra depict spectral signatures of cuticular wax which is detected only in the exocarp, while signatures of lycopene, carotene, phenolic compounds and carbohydrates (starch, glucose and fructose) show their presence in all the parts of tomato fruit with varying concentration. Amino acid and pectin are detected only in the region of mesocarp and endocarp. Principal component analysis has been applied to discriminate among the detected biomolecules in different parts of the tomato fruits.

Can Rumex hastatus D. Don. be Used as a Biocontrol Agent for Removing Lichens Colonizing Monuments? A Case Study from Kumaun Himalaya Abstract Role of lichens in deteriorating monuments constructed by stone artefact is quite well known, and till now various biocides and techniques have been used to remove them from monuments, all having some disadvantages at some level. In the present paper, the results and potential of leaf extract of Rumex hastatus D. Don. as a cost-effective, easy handling and eco-friendly biocontrol agent are being described.

Dimeric Coumarin and Other Constituents from Flowers of Matricaria pubescens Abstract Dimer of herniarin (1) together with herniarin (2), scopoletin (3), and (2E,4E)-6-(2-thienyl)-2,4-hexadien-isobutylamide (4) were isolated from the flowers of Matricaria pubescens. Their structures were established by spectroscopic data and by comparison with spectral data of known compounds. Compound 1 is reported for the first time in plant kingdom, and compound 3 is reported from M. pubescens for the first time.

FDSOI-Based Area and Power-Efficient Robust Negative Charge Pump for Localized Body Bias Generator Abstract This work exhibits an area-efficient negative charge pump (NCP) solution for an on-chip localized body bias generator (BBG) which has almost zero settling time for use in critical path replicas clearance. Also, the proposed circuit incorporates process and voltage compensation and dynamic energy optimization. Its temperature variation trend is regular and justified. The negative charge pump is implemented using Cadence Virtuoso for design and Eldo for simulation with 28-nm ultra thin body and box—fully depleted silicon on insulator (UTBB-FDSOI) for 0.85–1.3 V inputs. The implemented design is single-stage design, so it is area efficient. Its area occupancy is 2.94 µm2 and power occupancy is 34 µW. Negative charge pump-based body bias generator can be sprinkled with standard cells to enhance performance and robustness of the design.

Determination of Certain t-Groups Abstract Transiso graph \(\varGamma _d(G)\) is a graph defined for a finite group G and a divisor d of the order of G. Subgroups of G are vertices of \(\varGamma _d(G)\) and two subgroups are said to be connected by an edge if they have a pair of isomorphic normalized right transversals. A group G is called a t-group if graph \(\varGamma _d(G)\) is a complete graph for each divisor d of |G|. Completeness of transiso graphs for some groups like abelian groups, p-groups of order up to \(p^5\) where p is an odd prime, dihedral groups and dicyclic groups etc. are already discussed in the literature. In the present research article, we have discussed the completeness of transiso graphs for 2-groups of the order \(2^5\) and concluded that there are only two non-abelian t-groups (precisely dihedral group and generalized quaternion group) of the order \(2^5\) .

Hill Forts: Abodes of Endemic Plants and Potential Priority Conservation Areas of Northern Western Ghats Abstract Hill forts of Northern Western Ghats offer an interesting mix of man-made and natural habitats and as a result shelter a great diversity of endemic and threatened plants. Strict protection of certain areas and selective interference for strategic reasons on hill forts are responsible for maintenance of large protected populations of local endemic species. This has also created special patterns of plant distribution. In recent years, many novelties have been described from forts. Though hill forts have gained importance from the historical and archeological point of view, they are seldom considered as biodiversity conservatories. We suggest here that while prioritizing conservation areas in Northern Western Ghats, hill forts should be given a status of local biodiversity hotspots and conservation should be provided to all microhabitats that are natural as well as man-made. This will assure protection of endemic and threatened species of Western Ghats as well as local endemics of Northern Western Ghats.

An Atoms-in-Molecules Theory Interpretation for the Structure of Di- n -Butyltin(IV) Derivative of Glycylvaline Abstract The topological and energetic properties of the electron density distribution ρ \( (\vec{r}) \) for the tin–ligand interaction in n-Bu2SnL, the geometric configuration of which was optimized at B3LYP/6-31G(d,p)/LANL2DZ(Sn) level of theory, have been theoretically calculated at the bonds around the central Sn atom in terms of atoms-in-molecules (AIM) theory using AIMAll (Version 16.01.09, standard). In n-Bu2SnL, the formation of a (3, − 1) critical point in the internuclear region between tin atom and bonded/coordinated atoms provided an evidence of a bonding interatomic interaction, and calculated bond path angles indicated a distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry. The calculated topological and energetic parameters suggested a weak closed-shell interaction in all the bonded/coordinated bonds to Sn atom. This interaction possessed covalent character in Sn–Npeptide, Sn–Cα and Sn–Cα′, whereas an electrostatic interaction was observed in Sn–Namino and Sn–Ocarboxyl bonds. The calculated atomic charges suggested negatively charged centers around the central Sn atom.