Mining the Treasure of Palm Leaf Manuscripts through Information Retrieval Techniques

Purpose This paper aims to popularize information retrieval from palm leaf manuscripts among computer scientists to make available the guidance of the age-old heritage in shaping the future. Design/methodology/approach With computer technology penetrating every aspect of life, information retrieval algorithms can be exploited to help build a system which can dig into the ocean of knowledge from these manuscripts. Findings The knowledge in them covers all aspects of life. Be it religious beliefs, literature, science, mathematics, or any other. However, due to discontinuation of practice of copying their content on fresh leaves, they now possess a fragile life which needs to be preserved at the earliest. The modern means of digitization can help in their preservation. Research limitations The Government of India and other organizations are doing commendable job of preserving and safeguarding country’s heritage and age-old knowledge system through the movement of digitization. In the years to come, the agonizing problem of manuscripts degradation will be eradicated completely. However, next when it will come to mining the knowledge treasure out of these manuscripts, we would be confronted with another helpless situation. Practical implications The digitization process would capture the manuscripts from present physical palm leaf to digital image form by clicking high-quality pictures. All the text in a palm leaf will be available in the form of images, but on these images, a simple search for any word would not be possible. Originality/value Working towards mining the treasure of knowledge from the palm leaf manuscripts, hordes of challenges have been outlined. Over and above the problem of preventing decay to palm leaf manuscripts is the challenge of deciphering text, image analysis, information retrieval and search. Search is further associated with issues of meaningful and useful extraction through semantic analysis. This paper advocates the dire need for systematic research to be undertaken in this field opening up avenues for past knowledge to guide future prospects in several domains.

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Demonstration of the Use of Tape-Recorded Information from a High Vacuum Electron Microscope

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100063007 ◽

1969 ◽

Vol 27 ◽

pp. 218-219

Author(s):

Richard E. Hartman ◽

Roberta S. Hartman ◽

Peter L. Ramos

Keyword(s):

Information Retrieval ◽

Electron Microscope ◽

Magnetic Tape ◽

High Vacuum ◽

Data Retrieval ◽

Electronic Information ◽

Electronic Data ◽

Subsequent Processing ◽

Continuous Record

We have long felt that some form of electronic information retrieval would be more desirable than conventional photographic methods in a high vacuum electron microscope for various reasons. The most obvious of these is the fact that with electronic data retrieval the major source of gas load is removed from the instrument. An equally important reason is that if any subsequent analysis of the data is to be made, a continuous record on magnetic tape gives a much larger quantity of data and gives it in a form far more satisfactory for subsequent processing.

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Stain contamination and embedding in electron microscopy

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100141986 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 44 ◽

pp. 50-53

Author(s):

Hilton H. Mollenhauer

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Information Retrieval ◽

Epoxy Resins ◽

Image Contrast ◽

Sample Preservation ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Amount Of Information ◽

Electron Microscopical ◽

Contrast Information

Many factors (e.g., resolution of microscope, type of tissue, and preparation of sample) affect electron microscopical images and alter the amount of information that can be retrieved from a specimen. Of interest in this report are those factors associated with the evaluation of epoxy embedded tissues. In this context, informational retrieval is dependant, in part, on the ability to “see” sample detail (e.g., contrast) and, in part, on tue quality of sample preservation. Two aspects of this problem will be discussed: 1) epoxy resins and their effect on image contrast, information retrieval, and sample preservation; and 2) the interaction between some stains commonly used for enhancing contrast and information retrieval.

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Information and Dose in the Scanning Transmission Ion Microscope

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s1431927600001021 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 38 ◽

pp. 232-233

Author(s):

Fox T. R. ◽

R. Levi-Setti

Keyword(s):

Information Retrieval ◽

Electron Microscope ◽

Elastic Scattering ◽

Energy Loss ◽

Cross Sections ◽

Previous Analysis ◽

Single Scattering ◽

Screening Length ◽

Relative Damage ◽

Scanning Transmission

At an earlier meeting [1], we discussed information retrieval in the scanning transmission ion microscope (STIM) compared with the electron microscope at the same energy. We treated elastic scattering contrast, using total elastic cross sections; relative damage was estimated from energy loss data. This treatment is valid for “thin” specimens, where the incident particles suffer only single scattering. Since proton cross sections exceed electron cross sections, a given specimen (e.g., 1 μg/cm2 of carbon at 25 keV) may be thin for electrons but “thick” for protons. Therefore, we now extend our previous analysis to include multiple scattering. Our proton results are based on the calculations of Sigmund and Winterbon [2], for 25 keV protons on carbon, using a Thomas-Fermi screened potential with a screening length of 0.0226 nm. The electron results are from Crewe and Groves [3] at 30 keV.

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