Shiv Nadar University

About: Shiv Nadar University is a education organization based out in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Graphene. The organization has 1015 authors who have published 1924 publications receiving 18420 citations.

Word shape descriptor-based document image indexing: a new DBH-based approach

Abstract: In this paper, we propose a novel feature representation for binary patterns by exploiting the object shape information. Initial evaluation of the representation is performed for Bengali and Gujarati script character classification. The extension of the representation for word images is presented subsequently. The proposed feature representation in combination with distance-based hashing is applied for defining novel word image-based document image indexing and retrieval framework. The concept of hierarchical hashing is utilized to reduce the retrieval time complexity. In addition, with the objective of reduction in the size of hashing data structure, the concept of multi-probe hashing is extended for binary mapping functions. The exhaustive experimental evaluation of the proposed framework on a collection of documents belonging to Devanagari, Bengali and English scripts has yielded encouraging results.

Effective automated method for detection and suppression of muscle artefacts from single-channel EEG signal.

Abstract: This Letter proposes an automated method for the detection and suppression of muscle artefacts (MAs) in the single-channel electroencephalogram (EEG) signal based on variational mode decomposition (VMD) and zero crossings count threshold criterion without the use of reference electromyogram (EMG). The proposed method involves three major steps: decomposition of the input EEG signal into two modes using VMD; detection of MAs based on zero crossings count thresholding in the second mode; retention of the first mode as MAs-free EEG signal only after detection of MAs in the second mode. The authors evaluate the robustness of the proposed method on a variety of EEG and EMG signals taken from publicly available databases, including Mendeley database, epileptic Bonn database and EEG during mental arithmetic tasks database (EEGMAT). Evaluation results using different objective performance metrics depict the superiority of the proposed method as compared to existing methods while preserving the clinical features of the reconstructed EEG signal.

Toxin-antitoxin systems and their medical applications: current status and future perspective

Abstract: Almost all bacteria synthesize two types of toxins-one for its survival by regulating different cellular processes and another as a strategy to interact with host cells for pathogenesis. Usually, "bacterial toxins" are contemplated as virulence factors that harm the host organism. However, toxins produced by bacteria, as a survival strategy against the host, also hamper its cellular processes. To overcome this, the bacteria have evolved with the production of a molecule, referred to as antitoxin, to negate the deleterious effect of the toxin against itself. The toxin and antitoxins are encoded by a two-component toxin-antitoxin (TA) system. The antitoxin, a protein or RNA, sequesters the toxins of the TA system for neutralization within the bacterial cell. In this review, we have described different TA systems of bacteria and their potential medical and biotechnological applications. It is of interest to note that while bacterial toxin-antitoxin systems have been well studied, the TA system in unicellular eukaryotes, though predicted by the investigators, have never been paid the desired attention. In the present review, we have also touched upon the TA system of eukaryotes identified to date. KEY POINTS: Bacterial toxins harm the host and also affect the bacterial cellular processes. The antitoxin produced by bacteria protect it from the toxin's harmful effects. The toxin-antitoxin systems can be targeted for various medical applications.

Development and evaluation of an external reusable piezo-based concrete hydration-monitoring sensor:

Abstract: Hydration of concrete is a very complicated and multiphase process, where the cement gel transforms into a hardened state from plastic/semiplastic phase. Proper progression of the hydration process...