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Communicating with the person having hearing disability is always a major challenge. The work presented in paper is an exertion(extension) towards examining the difficulties in classification of characters in Indian Sign Language(ISL). Sign language is not enough for communication of people with hearing ability or people with speech disability. The gestures made by the people with disability gets mixed or disordered for someone who has never learnt this language. Communication should be in both ways. In this paper, we introduce a Sign Language recognition using Indian Sign Language.The user must be able to capture images of hand gestures using a web camera in this analysis, and the system must predict and show the name of the captured image. The captured image undergoes series of processing steps which include various Computer vision techniques such as the conversion to gray-scale, dilation and mask operation. Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is used to train our model and identify the pictures. Our model has achieved accuracy about 95%

Abstract Background Tanzania faces ever-rising concerns due to the recurrence of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda. This necessitates a better understanding of the community perspectives in high-risk regions for effective risk communication and preparedness. Methods This rapid ethnographic assessment study used explorative qualitative methods to collect data. People from diverse backgrounds participated in 59 in-depth interviews, 57 Key Informant interviews, and 35 focus group discussions. Data was analysed using a thematic analysis approach. Finding The study revealed existence of awareness of EVD and its symptoms, with radio and television being the main sources of information. However, there were varied perceptions of EVD’s cause and transmission, some attributed it to bats, monkeys, and wild animal meat, while others associated it with high fever, a dirty environment, changing dietary patterns, and the COVID-19 virus. Physical contact with an infected person’s body fluids and eating meat from infected animals were perceived as EVD transmission routes. Women, school children, boda-boda (motorcycle) riders, and fishermen were considered the most susceptible to EVD infections due to their daily activities. Preventive measures included avoiding physical contact, touching fluids, and refraining from eating wild animal meat. Prompt reporting of suspected cases to health facilities was deemed crucial for earlier outbreak identification and containment. Conclusion The high-risk regions of Tanzania had a high level of awareness and perceived susceptibility to EVD, coupled with varying degrees of misperception about the etiology and its transmission. To improve community perspectives and preparedness in the case of an outbreak, there is a need for ongoing risk communication and participation in EVD prevention and responses.

Field observations provide authenticity in remote sensing studies when it comes to glacierized areas where weather conditions and terrain are not accessible. This study is an attempt to validate the relation between the Randolph Glacier Inventory (RGI) ice thickness and DEM through a field survey in the recently vacated area occupied by the moraine-dammed proglacial lake of the rapidly retreating Gepang-Gath glacier in the Lahaul Himalaya. We used Randolph Glacier Inventory (RGI) version-6 data of ice thickness for Gepang-Gath glacier with SRTM digital elevation model (DEM) of the year 2000 and Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) interferometry-based DEM of the year 2020 to calculate the lake depth. This relation is validated with ground-based investigation and lake bathymetry data collected using a kayak and metallic nob tied with rope and measuring tape in June 2021 where the maximum depth of the lake is 48 m. The SRTM-DEM profile and ice thickness data suggested that the Gepang-Gath glacial lake will expand ~2 km with a maximum depth of ± 10 m measured near the snout. As this lake is potentially vulnerable, this type of study will help measure lake depth using snout height and vice-versa with the help of DEM data to avoid hazards in feeding glaciers retreating.

Abstract The judiciary is a foundation of democracy, upholding the rule of law and protecting rights. Efficient court administration is vital for public trust, justice, and timely proceedings. Currently, courts face challenges such as inconsistencies, adjournments, and absence of transparency, undermining the justice system. Traditional manual processes and paper-based documentation cause significant backlogs, slow resolutions, and limited public access. As case volumes and complexities rise, modernizing court administration through digital transformation is progressively critical. Currently, many countries are integrating technologies in the courts for its administration and other activities. In recent years, courts and judges have been subjected to pressure to improve performance, uplifting judicial effectiveness to a top priority. Subsequently, several countries have integrated simplification and digitization strategies in judicial initiatives to enhance court efficiency. Switzerland’s Justitia 4.0 and Brazil’s PJE are notable initiatives that focused to strengthen court administration through digitalization. These aspects motivated this study to examine the detailed integration of industry 4.0 technologies such as the Internet of things, cloud computing, blockchain, big data analytics, robotics, drones, Metaverse, digital twins, and artificial intelligence for court administration with digitalized infrastructure. According to the study, integrating these technologies in less complex cases helps minimize expenditures and save time, making to resolve cases conveniently, efficiently, and superiorly. The study also identified the challenges and issues associated with industry 4.0 technologies such as evidence gathering, evidence preservation, robot judges for pre-judgment analysis, and judgment delivery, which future studies need to be explored.

Abstract Background Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a rare but contagious disease caused by Ebola Virus (EBOV). The first Ebola outbreaks were reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) before subsequent reported cases in Western and East African countries, including Uganda, which borders Tanzania. Proximity to EVD-infected countries raises the prospect of cross-border transmission, raising alarm in Tanzania. This study aimed to explore the cultural practices likely to prevent or escalate EVD transmission in the event of its outbreak in the country. Methods This rapid ethnographic assessment employed observation, interviews, and focus group discussions to collect data from people with diverse characteristics in five regions of Tanzania Mainland namely, Kagera, Kigoma, Mwanza and Songwe regions and Zanzibar Island. The qualitative data was then subjected to thematic analysis. Findings Cultural practices may escalate the transmission of EVD and hinder its prevention and control. These cultural practices include caring sick people at home, confirmation of death, mourning, and body preparation for burial. Communal life, ceremonies, and social gatherings were other aspects observed to have the potential for compounding EVD transmission and hindering its containment in case of an outbreak. Conclusion Cultural practices may escalate EVD transmission as identified in the study settings. As such, Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) activities should be interventionist in transforming cultural practices that may escalate the spread of EVD as part of preparedness, prevention, and control efforts in the event of an outbreak.

Climate change is a defining challenge of the 21st century, and this decade is a critical time for action to mitigate the worst effects on human populations and ecosystems. Plant science can play an important role in developing crops with enhanced resilience to harsh conditions (e.g. heat, drought, salt stress, flooding, disease outbreaks) and engineering efficient carbon-capturing and carbon-sequestering plants. Here, we present examples of research being conducted in these areas and discuss challenges and open questions as a call to action for the plant science community.