Institutional Repository

Scholar@UOC is the primary academic repository of the University of Calicut.

This repository is aimed to collect, preserve and distribute the research output of the members of our University. This is an open access system hosted and managed by the University Library.

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 38

Recent Submissions

Contemporary Arabic Poetry in Kerala : An Aesthetic Study with Special Focus on the Poems of Anwar Abdullah Al-Fadfari
(Arabic, KTM College of Advanced Studies University of Calicut, 2025) Subair. E; Rasheed Ahammed P
Arabic poetry has experienced rapid and significant growth as a literary genre in Kerala. This corpus of Kerala-based Arabic poetry has evolved around diverse themes, including encomiums, critiques, politics, resistance, and moral guidance, achieving a level of quality comparable to major works from the Arab world. The poets of Kerala have approached these varied subjects with profound philosophical insight, infusing their works with creativity and innovation. The core objective of this research is to analyze the literary contributions of Kerala’s modern Arabic poets, with a particular focus on the poetic works of Anwar Abdullah Al-Fadfari, a leading figure among them. The study employs an Analytical Research Method, involving a detailed critical assessment of selected poems based on their thematic content, structural composition, poetic style, and linguistic aesthetics. The research is structured into an Introduction, four main Chapters, and a Conclusion. Each chapter is appropriately subdivided and comprehensively analyzed, reflecting the nature and demands of the subject matter. The main finding of this study is that Anwar Abdullah Abdurrahman Al-Fadfari stands out as a foremost architect of modern Arabic poetry in Kerala. His prolific output, distinctive poetic voice, profound aesthetic sense, and wide-ranging thematic presentations are the key elements that secure his works a foundational place in the literature. His poems consistently captivate both readers and listeners, simultaneously serving as an inspiration for contemporary poets and writers. Notably, he composes his poetry with meticulous adherence to the scientific rules and aesthetic values of Arabic prosody. A further testament to his literary importance is the inclusion of some of his selected poems in the current Arabic undergraduate curriculum at the University of Calicut .
Synthesis of activated carbon from biomass waste and study of its suitability for applications in electrochemical
(Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology, Thrissur, 2025) Merin Pulikkottil; Seema, A
The increasing demand for sustainable electrode materials across various fields has led to significant interest in biomass-derived activated carbon (BDAC) as a renewable, low-cost, and high-performance alternative to conventional carbon materials. This study investigates the preparation methods, material properties, and electrochemical performance of BDAC, providing insights into its suitability for electrochemical applications such as supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), and non-enzymatic electrochemical sensors. Different biomass waste materials were used as precursors to create BDAC with desirable characteristics. The physicochemical characterisation of the synthesised BDAC materials reveals unique structural features, including a large surface area and well-defined pore size distribution. BDAC electrodes used in supercapacitors demonstrate excellent electrochemical performance, exhibiting a high specific capacitance and impressive cycling stability. Furthermore, these materials show superior energy and power densities compared to commercial activated carbons. BDAC-based anodes demonstrate promising lithium storage capabilities, achieving high reversible capacity and exhibiting good cycling stability over 200 cycles. The performance of LIBs is further analysed, focusing on the formation of a solid electrolyte interface and its influence on the irreversible capacity fading associated with it. The rate performance and long-term cycling behaviour of these anodes are compared to previously reported BDAC materials. Additionally, a BDAC- nickel oxide composite material is utilised for the detection of urea through a non- enzymatic electrochemical sensing approach. These sensors show a high sensitivity, low detection limits, and excellent selectivity in the presence of interfering substances. The electrocatalytic activity is attributed to the synergistic effects arising from a high surface area and abundant active sites. The study also investigates the potential of this material for urea sensing applications in real-world samples. These findings underscore the versatility and potential of BDAC as a sustainable electrode material for energy storage and sensing applications. Furthermore, the research offers a green and scalable solution for future energy and sensing technologies.
Offline handwritten character recognition of anciet Malayalam script vattezhuthu using hybrid vision transformer-swin model
(Sullamussalam Science College, University of Calicut), 2025) Ayyoob M.P; Muhamed Ilyas, P
Ancient scripts provide primary sources for understanding historical events, societies, and cultures that may not have been recorded elsewhere. They help establish timelines and sequences of events, offering a clearer picture of historical developments. Among the numerous ancient scripts, Vattezhuthu stands out as one of the earliest in India, from the 8th to 15th centuries. This script contains information and knowledge that spans various fields, including history, culture, literature, law, science, mathematics, and medicine. However, its time-induced degradation, stylistic variability, and the scarcity of digitized samples pose significant challenges to preservation and study. This research addresses these obstacles by developing an automated framework for recognizing and digitizing Vattezhuthu script, integrating advanced image processing, innovative data augmentation, and a hybrid deep learning architecture. The study’s primary objective is to enhance recognition accuracy while mitigating the limitations of degraded historical artifacts and insufficient datasets. A comprehensive dataset was curated from stone inscriptions, copper plates, and palm leaf manuscripts sourced from repositories such as the Hill Palace Archaeological Museum, Tripunithura Palace, the State Archives Department and the University of Calicut. To address image degradation, a multi-stage preprocessing pipeline was implemented, including grayscale conversion, super-resolution techniques for detail enhancement, and noise reduction using median filtering and Gaussian smoothing. An adaptive binarization method was proposed, outperforming traditional algorithms (Otsu, Niblack, Sauvola) with high accuracy ensuring robust feature extraction from low-contrast, degraded manuscripts. The framework’s efficacy was validated using metrics such as Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR), Mean Square Error (MSE), and Structural Similarity Index Measure (SSIM). A novel strokebased data augmentation technique was introduced to simulate natural handwriting variations, increasing dataset diversity and improving model generalizability. For classification, the Hybrid Vision Transformer-Swin (HybridViTSwin) model was developed, combining the global self-attention mechanisms of Vision Transformers (ViTs) with the localized hierarchical attention of Swin Transformers. This architecture effectively captures both broad contextual patterns and fine-grained structural details of Vattezhuthu glyphs. Experimental results demonstrate the model’s superiority, achieving 100% accuracy compared to standalone ViT (94.25%) and Swin (95.78%), confirming its robustness in handling stylistic and degradational complexities. This work contributes theoretically through its hybrid attention mechanism and practically by releasing the publicly accessible Vattezhuthu dataset. Its implications extend beyond academia, offering museums and cultural institutions a scalable tool for digitizing endangered manuscripts. The framework’s adaptability to other ancient scripts, such as Brahmi or Grantha, underscores its broader relevance. By bridging technological innovation with cultural preservation, this research not only safeguards a critical aspect of South Indian heritage but also establishes a replicable methodology for global historical script analysis.
Carbon sequestration potential of selected grasses an assessment using Carbon dioxide controlled systems
(Department of Botany, University of Calicut, 2025) Sashna N C; Harilal, C.C
The primary aim of the study is to assess the changes in microclimate brought about by the growth and metabolism of particular grass species in environments with elevated carbon dioxide levels. Two chambers, each with a size 6.32 m3 were installed with Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes of 40mm diameter as frames and 1mm thick PVC sheet as sidewall material. The facilities associated with the chambers were a CO2 cylinder for the supply of air mixed with elevated concentrations of CO2, an air compressor, and a nebulizer (a mixing chamber where the concentrated CO2 gas from the cylinder was mixed with ambient air from the air pump). An exhaust with a control facility was also attached to the top of the chamber to adjust the outflow of gases if required. A water supply facility was attached to both chambers to facilitate the irrigation of plants during experimentation. Monitoring of carbon dioxide concentration within the chambers was made through an automated CO2 analyzer. For regular monitoring of temperature and humidity, both chambers were fitted with a Hygro- thermometer. Among two chambers one is supplied with a CO2-air mixture (Treatment chamber, TC), and the other one is supplied with ambient air (Control chamber, CC). Six grass species such as Megathyrsus maximus (Jacq.) B.K. Simon & S.W.L. Jacobs, Saccharum arundinaceum Retz., Cymbopogon flexuosus (Nees ex Steud.) W. Watson, Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty, Arundo donax L. and Pennisetum pedicellatum Trin. were selected, multiplied, and grown for 6-7 months to attain sizable biomass for experimentation. For the experiment with each species, two sets of 3 plants each were selected and maintained in CC and TC respectively. At the beginning of the experiment, the chambers were properly sealed. Afterward, the TC was supplied with CO2+ ambient air mixture at 9.00 a.m. A concentration of 900-1000 ppm CO2 was ensured inside the chamber by monitoring through a CO2 gas analyzer. This range of CO2 is attained in about 15 minutes. Similarly, ambient air was supplied to CC for 15 minutes in the morning (9 a.m.). After the supply of air/CO2+air, the levels of CO2 (ppm) in CC and TC respectively were monitored. Subsequent levels of temperature (°C) and humidity (%) were also noted. Monitoring of CO2 concentration, temperature, and humidity was repeated at 6 p.m. Day flux of CO2, and the amount of CO2 assimilated by the plants in the chamber was then calculated. Night CO2 flux and respiratory contribution of grass species were also calculated. Growth attributes including morphological parameters such as plant height and tiller height, the number of tillers, number of leaves, leaf length, leaf breadth, leaf area, culm xxdiameter, and plant biomass were estimated. The biochemical parameters analyzed include pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoids), metabolites (carbohydrate, protein, and phenol), and plant nutrients (carbon, nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium). The soil characteristics analyzed include moisture, pH, total organic carbon (TOC), and nitrogen. Standardization studies were undertaken in empty chambers for 15 days to assess the flux of CO2 associated with the chambers as a result of retention or dissipation of CO2 at ideal conditions of chambers in the absence of plants. All procedures done in the experiment with grass species were repeated and day and night fluxes associated with ideal conditions of the chambers were calculated. The data obtained in the standardization study determines the pattern of CO2 flux, temperature, and humidity with rising CO2 concentrations in the chamber at ideal conditions without plants (chamber effect). The elimination of this chamber effect regarding CO2 concentrations while analyzing the CO2 flux or CO2 intake potential of individual grass species gives the actual flux/actual intake of CO2 by the respective grass species. All the grass species exhibited higher and statistically significant day flux (day variations of CO2) in TC compared to CC and standardization experiments. Morphological and biochemical results were statistically validated with Hedge’s g (effect size) values. Hedges g is an effect size measure that quantifies the difference between two groups in terms of their means, standardized by their pooled standard deviation. It enables for the comparison of effect sizes between samples. Higher effect sizes were noticed to be associated with TC. The best grass species for mitigating atmospheric CO2 were identified by analyzing a range of attributes and from these aspects, four matrices were considered including net day flux (DF (N)), net CO2 exchange, overall morphology, and CO2 uptake per plant biomass. An equation was derived for estimating CO2 uptake per plant biomass. By analyzing all four matrices it is revealed that S. arundinaceum and M. maximus could be strongly suggested for CO2 mitigation programs since the plants were superior in CO2 uptake and growth attributes. Better net CO2 exchange and more CO2 uptake per plant biomass were observed in A. donax. While the plant exhibited a negative response regarding overall morphology, due to the poor nitrogen cycling of the plant. Adequate supply of nitrogen fertiliser may benefit the plant to grow well in high CO2 environments and their high capability for CO2 uptake makes them more suitable for carbon mitigation projects.
An appraisal of rain shadow effects and livelihood dynamics in the Attappady hilly region, Western Ghats, Kerala
(Government College Chittur, Palakkad, 2025) Suresh P; Richard Scaria
Human life is closely linked to the climate of its surroundings. Climatic factors are often governed by the topographic features. Attappady hilly regions of Palakkad district is located in the eastern part of Western Ghats, experiencing the decreasing rainfall from west to east due to the rain shadow effect. Rain shadow refers to a climatic phenomenon where one side of a mountain range receives significantly more precipitation than the other, leading to a dry area on the leeward side. Unlike the humid western slopes, eastern Attappady receives drastically lower rainfall and leads to significant microclimatic variation, land degradation and livelihood vulnerability. This research investigates genesis and process of the rain shadow phenomenon, its spatial extent, and role of the climatic and topographic factors in the developing of rain shadow in Attappady hilly region. This study investigates the impacts of rain shadow effects on agriculture practice, land degradation, soil quality, and livelihood dynamics of the people of Attappady hilly region. The methodology applied in the study are Geospatial techniques (GIS, Remote sensing, AHP, and MIF), Statistical Analysis (SPSS, PCA, Correlation and Regression), and Field surveys. Major findings of the study revealed that eastern Attappady experiencing more rain shadow effects and approximately 60% of Attappady lies in the rain shadow zone. These areas face severe rainfall scarcity, increasing temperature, and low agriculture productivity due to the rain shadow effects. Soil quality analysis showed that 20% of the regions have poor Soil Quality Index, aligning with zones of high degradation. Livelihoods of people have shifted from agriculture to wage labour, and 84.9% of respondents associating climate changes with the rain shadow effect. To address the rain shadow effects and its associated issues, researcher recommends a sustainable development model for achieve durable improvements in agriculture and land productivity, water conservation, and livelihood security through the people participation in the Attappady hilly region of Palakkad district.