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The purpose of this paper is to review and provide a detailed performance evaluation of a number of texture descriptors that analyse texture at micro‐level such as local binary patterns (LBP) and a number of standard filtering techniques that sample the texture information using either a bank of isotropic filters or Gabor filters.

The experimental tests were conducted on standard databases where the classification results are obtained for single and multiple texture orientations. The authors also analysed the performance of standard filtering texture analysis techniques (such as those based of LM and MR8 filter banks) when applied to the classification of texture images contained in standard Outex and Brodatz databases.

The most important finding resulting from this study is that although the LBP/C and the multi‐channel Gabor filtering techniques approach texture analysis from a different theoretical perspective, in this paper the authors have experimentally demonstrated that they share some common properties in regard to the way they sample the macro and micro properties of the texture.

Texture is a fundamental property of digital images and the development of robust image descriptors plays a crucial role in the process of image segmentation and scene understanding.

This paper contrast, from a practical and theoretical standpoint, the LBP and representative multi‐channel texture analysis approaches and a substantial number of experimental results were provided to evaluate their performance when applied to standard texture databases.

The internet growth has created a new scientific communication system with new facilities that are competing with the traditional sources of information. The present study investigated impact of internet use on academic performance of teachers and researcher in university setup. The aim of this paper is to find out how these academics use internet sources and services? What is the user's satisfaction level with internet sources and services? And what problems has the user encountered when searching the information on the internet. It further aims to know how the user compares the internet sources with traditional information sources.

Questionnaires were distributed to randomly selected teachers and researchers in Kuvempu University, Karnataka state. Total 200 questionnaires were distributed out of which 140 duly filled questionnaires were returned. The questionnaire consisted of various questions which are designed for the teachers and researchers to elicit the impact of internet use on their academic performance.

This study has demonstrated the high use of the internet sources and services by teachers and researchers in university setup. Most of them used internet in support of their study and teaching. Majority of respondents learnt to use the internet through self-instruction and trial and error, with the help of friends and by reading books or papers. Study results also indicated that internet has made an impact on their academic performance (i.e. in writing more research papers, in doing better research, better learning experience, etc.).

This is the comprehensive study on the impact of internet sources and services on the academic performance of teachers and researchers in the university environment. Findings of the study will be helpful to university authority to enhance the internet facilities for effective and efficient use by the teachers and researchers. The study also suggested that there is a need to focus on opportunities for providing training on use advanced internet search skills to the academic community. Concerned authorities also need to enhance the internet bandwidth to increase the internet speed.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the spectrum influence between radon transform and log‐polar transform when rotation and scale effect is eliminated. The average retrieval performance of wavelet and NSCT with different retrieval parameters is also studied.

The authors designed a multi‐scale and multi‐orientation texture transform spectrum, as well as rotation‐invariant feature vector and its measurement criteria. Then a new two‐level coarse‐to‐fine rotation and scale‐invariant texture retrieval algorithm based on no‐parameter statistic features was proposed. Experiments on VisTex texture database show that the algorithm proposed in this paper is appropriate for main orientation capturing and detail information description.

According to the experiments results, it was found that the combination of this two‐level progressive retrieval strategy and multi‐scale analysis method can effectively improve retrieval efficiency compared with traditional algorithms and ensure a high precision as well.

The paper presents a novel algorithm for rotation and scale‐invariant texture retrieval.

Describes the use of the CDS/ISIS bibliographic database package within the Tata Energy Research Institute Library in Delhi. Indicates the capabilities of the package and states the hardware requirements and package availability (from UNESCO). Assesses the applications of the package through a comprehensive survey of the literature on its use within libraries throughout the world.

Based on the technology acceptance model (TAM), this study aims to determine the influence of personality traits on the acceptance and usage of Web portals in Portuguese universities.

To this end, a quantitative study was conducted using structural equation modelling and a structured questionnaire, directed to teaching and non-teaching staff in Portuguese universities.

The results obtained from 338 valid responses indicate a positive influence between personality traits and the use of Web portals.

The study emphasizes the importance of usefulness and ease of use of Portuguese universities’ Web portals. It contributes to developing the literature about the process of information technology (IT) acceptance and use and users’ personality traits.

This study is innovative by contributing to the theory of personality traits and TAM in the context of Portuguese universities. The results reinforce the literature on TAM and the big five model, and on IT and Web portals in particular, which has been little explored in the academic context.

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the paradigm shift of library automation to resource discovery by exploring the applications of resource discovery. The present status of India on adapting resource discovery applications is discussed.

An evaluative method to examine the status quo of India automation and resource discovery scenario is drawn with a related literature review. Moreover, various pertinent global challenges of embracing discovery tools in the digital environment are highlighted.

The growth of the Indian library automation industry is booming. However, library software adaptation, next‐generation catalogue enhancements and community development avenues are dearth, seemingly remote and far from satisfactory.

The paper focuses on the emerging scenario of resource discovery applications with an overview of global challenges.

The purpose of this paper is to look at the prolific growth of electronic resources during the last decade. The standards and strategies are sought to access and organize the abundance of e‐resources and to ensure free flow of information to the user's community. This survey attempts to measure the quantum of e‐resources accessed in the academic ambience of Business School libraries in Orissa (India). Moreover, the study attempts to examine to what extent Electronic Information Services (EIS) are offered to users of Business School libraries in the State with an opinion pool of the librarians of the respective Business Schools. Furthermore, the study aims to highlight problems and constraints faced by the information professionals in accessing e‐resources and delivering electronic information services with some constructive suggestions and remedial measures for the ensuing bottle‐neck.

The paper highlights the availability of e‐resources and critically examines the quantum of their use in Business School libraries of Orissa and the crucial role played by the information professionals in providing electronic information services to users through the findings based on responses from structured questionnaires. The SPSS package is used for analysis of data.

The paper arrives at the conclusion that the internet‐based e‐resources are being well used compared with CD‐ROM databases. Premier web search options like Google and Yahoo! are the most frequently used search engines, while the other searching options are less used. Availability of some key online databases are exclusively confined to only a selected few B‐School libraries of the State.

The paper restricts the study exclusively to e‐resources as the type of material and the librarians of 25 major Business School libraries of Orissa (India) as the respondents in its scope of discussion.

The paper sheds some light on the use of e‐resources in Business School libraries of Orissa (India) with some constructive suggestions for the development of the platform of electronic resources and services.

This paper aims to study five vegetables extracts as possible additives to control bacterial growth on indoor waterborne paints. The extracts were obtained from the weeds Raphanus sativus, Rapistrum rugosum, Sinapis arvensis, Nicotiana longiflora and Dipsacus fullonum, used in traditional medicine as antimicrobial compounds.

Weeds extracts were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and UV–Vis spectrophotometry. Their antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was also determined. Afterward, selected extracts were incorporated in waterborne paint formulations. The paints’ antimicrobial activity was assessed against S. aureus, monitoring biofilm formation by environmental scanning electron microscopy.

As a general rule, results showed that tested paints were efficient in inhibiting biofilm formation, especially that formulated with Nicotiana longiflora.

The tested paints can be used to protect walls from microbial colonization, which shortened coatings’ useful life by discoloration and/or degradation. Concomitantly, indoor microbial colonization by aerosols could be also diminished. This is especially important in places that should have high standards of environmental hygiene, as in the food industry, health-care and sanitary centers.

The main value of this research was to study the antimicrobial activity of weeds extracts and to incorporate them in waterborne paints to diminish bacterial biofilm formation. This biofilm discolors and degrades the paint, and causes health problems. The use of natural compounds in coatings is increasing because of the convenience of using renewable sources, such as natural antimicrobials, in paint formulations.