Content Based Geographic Image Retrieval using Local Vector Pattern

ABSTRACT Large image archives formed by satellite remote sensing missions are getting an increasing valuable source of information in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The need for retrieving a required image from a huge image database is increasing significantly for the purpose of analyzing resources in GIS. Content Based Geographic Image Retrieval (CBGIR) in the image processing field is the best solution to meet the requirement. In this work, we used Local Vector Pattern (LVP) to extract fine features present in the geographical image and retrieve the applicable images from a large remote sensing image database. The primary idea of our method is generating micro patterns of LVP by the vectors of each pixel that are constructed by calculating the values between the centre pixels and its neighbourhood pixels with various distances of different directions. Then the proposed method was designed for concatenating these vector patterns to produce more unique features of geographical images and comparing the results with Local Binary Pattern (LBP), Local Derivative Pattern (LDP) and Local Tetra Pattern (LTrP). Ultimately, the extensive analysis carried out on different geographical image collections proved that the proposed method achieves the improved classification accuracy and better retrieving results.

Histoarchitecture of ovary of Haemaphysalis bispinosa during engorgement period

The ovary of Haemaphysalis bispinosa was of panoistic type with asynchronous development of oocytes. The wall of the ovary was composed of a layer of epithelial cells to which the oocytes were attached by means of pedicel cells with elongated nucleus. The oocytes were classified into stages I to V based on morphologic characteristics like size and shape, presence / absence of germ vesicle, cytoplasmic appearance, presence or absence of yolk granules and presence of chorion. Day wise changes were in the form of occurrence of oogonia from partially fed upto day zero of engorgement, presence of all stages of oocytes on day one and two after engorgement and onset of degenerative changes in oocytes from day three onwards. Degeneration was complete on day eight with the appearance of polymorphism, vacuolation, cytoplasmic blebbing and autophagic activity in oocytes.

Bovine carriers of Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma bovis in South India

Carriers of bovine anaplasmosis in Northern Kerala, South India were detected using conventional microscopical and molecular techniques. PCR-RFLP and nested PCR techniques were used for detection of Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma bovis respectively and the PCR products were confirmed by sequencing. Out of 150 samples tested, 25 were detected positive for A. marginale and five for A. bovis based on molecular tests. The inclusion bodies of A. marginale could be detected by microscopy in two blood smears after staining by giemsa while acridine orange staining detected three smears positive. The data clearly suggest the higher sensitivity of molecular techniques for diagnosis of these diseases.

Effects of solvents and surfactants against Haemaphysalis bispinosa

As per the report published by FAO (2004), the tick population in India has developed resistance against all the available acaricides. Hence, newer methods of control including potential herbal agents are required to reduce the problems caused by the ticks. Most of the herbal extracts or their fractions are dissolved in polar or non-polar solvents or detergents before tested for acaricidal activity and these diluents should be of little acaricidal activity. In the present study, adult immersion test (AIT) was carried out on adult engorged female Haemaphysalis bispinosa ticks to detect the acaricidal activity of different solvents viz., nbutanol, glycerol, acetone, ethanol, methanol and surfactants (at 1 per cent dilution) like dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), tween 20 and triton X- 100. The study revealed that methanol was the least toxic solvent while tween 20 (1 per cent) was the least toxic detergent against H. bispinosa.

Prevalence of Linguatula serrata in domestic ruminants in South India.

Linguatula serrata Frohlich, 1789 is an aberrant endoparasite of occasional zoonotic importance in humans. We report the prevalence of encapsulated nymphal stages of L. serrata in domestic ruminants surveyed in Wayanad, located in Kerala State, South India. Large and small intestine mesentery were examined from 100 goats, cattle and buffaloes each revealing an infection prevalence of 21, 19, and 8%, respectively. The prevalence of L. serrata infection among ruminants is higher than previous reports from India and indicates a strong focus of infection in herbivorous domesticated mammals of South India. The potential importance of these findings to human health is discussed.

Visceral schistosomiasis among domestic ruminants slaughtered in Wayanad, South India.

This short communication reports the prevalence of visceral schistosomiasis by worm counts from the mesentery of domestic ruminants of the hilly district of Wayanad, located in Kerala, one of the states in South India. We found 57.3, 50, and 4.7% of cattle, buffaloes and goats, respectively, had visceral schistosomiasis upon slaughter at a municipal slaughter house in Kalpetta. Our findings show that the prevalence of Schistosoma spindale infection is very high in Wayanad in comparison to previous reports from this and neighboring countries.

Analysis of complications in 1000 cases of posterior chamber intra ocular lens implantation.

Analysis of complications in 1000 cases of primary posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation done, during a period of one year was undertaken for the study. The cases included uncomplicated as well as those with various associated conditions like diabetes, traumatic cataracts, complicated cataracts, myopia and developmental cataracts. The important postoperative complications were uveitis (9%), endophthalmitis (0.5%), malposition of IOL (2.8%) and cystoid macular edema (0.3%). Posterior capsule opacification was seen in 11.5% of cases and was treated by YAG laser capsulotomy. More than 80% cases had 6/6-6/12 vision. In our experience posterior chamber IOL implantation has become an extremely successful and satisfying procedure along with the availability of YAG laser facility to manage posterior capsule opacification.