Automatic brain tissue segmentation in MR images using hybrid atlas forest based on confidence-weighted probability matrix

The segmentation of specific tissues in an MR brain image for quantitative analysis can assist the disease diagnosis and medical research. Therefore, a robust and accurate method for automatic segmentation is necessary. Atlas-based-method is a common and effective method of automatic segmentation where an atlas refers to a pair of image consist of an intensity image and its corresponding label image. Apart from the general multi-atlas-based methods, which propagate labels through the single atlas then fuse them, we proposed a hybrid atlas forest based on confidence-weighted probability matrix to consider the atlases set as a whole and treat each voxel differently. In the framework, we first register the atlas to the image space of target and calculate the confidence of voxels in the registered atlas. Then, a confidence-weighted probability matrix is generated and it augments to the intensity image of the atlas or target for providing spatial information of the target tissue. Third, a hybrid atlas forest is trained to gather the features and correlation information among the atlases in the dataset. Finally, the segmentation of the target tissues is predicted by the trained hybrid atlas forest. The segment performance and the components efficiency of the proposed method are evaluated on the two public datasets. Based on the experiment results and quantitative comparisons, our method can gather spatial information and correlation among the atlases to obtain an accurate segmentation.     

Decentralized optimal tracking control for large-scale nonlinear systems with tracking error constraints

In this article, a decentralized optimal tracking control strategy is proposed for a class of nonlinear systems with tracking error constraints by utilizing adaptive dynamic programming (ADP). It should be noted that ADP technology cannot be directly used to solve decentralized optimal tracking problem of large-scale interconnected nonlinear system with nonzero equilibrium points, since that an infinite domain performance index function may result in an unsolvable solution. In addition, by introducing a smooth function, the constrained tracking error is transformed into an unconstrained one. Then, the error dynamics and a new infinite domain performance index function are designed, such that ADP technology can be used. Following the designed performance index function, the tracking error can be ensured within a small neighborhood of zero. Finally, the feasibility and the effectiveness of the proposed decentralized optimal control scheme are verified through two simulation examples.     

Food-grade carrageenans and their implications in health and disease

Food additives, often used to guarantee the texture, shelf-life, taste, and appearance of processed foods, have gained widespread attention due to their increased link to the growing incidence of chronic diseases. As one of the most common additives, carrageenans have been used in human diets for hundreds of years. While classified as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for human consumption, numerous studies since the 1980s have suggested that carrageenans, particularly those with random coil conformations, may have adverse effects on gastrointestinal health, including aggravating intestinal inflammation. While these studies have provided some evidence of adverse effects, the topic is still controversial. Some have suggested that the negative consequence of the consumption of carrageenans may be structure dependent. Furthermore, pre-existing conditions may predispose individuals to varied outcomes of carrageenan intake. In this review, structure–function relationships of various carrageenans in the context of food safety are discussed. We reviewed the molecular mechanisms by which carrageenans exert their biological effects. We summarized the findings associated with carrageenan intake in animal models and clinical trials. Moreover, we examined the interactions between carrageenans and the gut microbiome in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal disorders. This review argues for personalized guidance on carrageenan intake based on individuals’ health status. Future research efforts that aim to close the knowledge gap on the effect of low-dose and chronic carrageenan intake as well as interactions among food additives should be conducive to the improved safety profile of carrageenans in processed food products.     

Misconceptions of human factors concepts

Abstract

Like many scientific topics, Human Factors, and Ergonomics concepts are susceptible to being misunderstood by people unfamiliar with the subject matter. Most of the time these misunderstandings are harmless, like when a safety poster within a work setting encourages employees to 'overcome complacency'. This misunderstanding of complacency suggests it is a motivational aspect of human behaviour correctable with encouragement, whereas the human factors approach to overcoming complacency would be to evaluate how task design could diminish the destructive consequences of unexpected changes within a routine setting. No harm comes from the message within the safety poster, other than some wasted ink and paper, but misconceptions among particular audiences can eventually result in dire consequences for the human operator. This paper presents recent evidence that the concepts are being misapplied by casual consumers of human factors, particularly in the aftermath of accidents within complex systems, in ways detrimental to the core mission of improving the well-being of the human operator. Later, because this special issue presents new ways to demonstrate value via return on investment, practical efforts we can take to overcome such misconceptions are suggested.     

M-estimator based Chinese Remainder Theorem with few remainders using a Kroenecker product based mapping vector

The Chinese Remainder Theorem (CRT) explains how to estimate an integer-valued number from the knowledge of the remainders obtained by dividing such unknown integer by co-prime integers. As an algebraic theorem, CRT is the basis for several techniques concerning data processing. For instance, considering a single-tone signal whose frequency value is above the sampling rate, the respective peak in the DFT informs the impinging frequency value modulo the sampling rate. CRT is nevertheless sensitive to errors in the remainders, and many efforts have been developed in order to improve its robustness. In this paper, we propose a technique to estimate real-valued numbers by means of CRT, employing for this goal a Kroenecker based M-Estimation (ME), specially suitable for CRT systems with low number of remainders. Since ME schemes are in general computationally expensive, we propose a mapping vector obtained via Kroenecker products which considerably reduces the computational complexity. Furthermore, our proposed technique enhances the probability of estimating an unknown number accurately even when the errors in the remainders surpass 1/4 of the greatest common divisor of all moduli. We also provide a version of the mapping vectors based on tensorial n-mode products, delivering in the end the same information of the original method. Our approach outperforms the state-of-the-art CRT methods not only in terms of percentage of successful estimations but also in terms of smaller average error.     

Improved error bound for multivariate Chebyshev polynomial interpolation

ABSTRACT

Chebyshev interpolation is a highly effective, intensively studied method and enjoys excellent numerical properties which provides tremendous application potential in mathematical finance. The interpolation nodes are known beforehand, implementation is straightforward and the method is numerically stable. For efficiency, a sharp error bound is essential, in particular for high-dimensional applications. For tensorized Chebyshev interpolation, we present an error bound that improves existing results significantly.     

Numerical analysis of history-dependent hemivariational inequalities and applications to viscoelastic contact problems with normal penetration

In this paper numerical approximation of history-dependent hemivariational inequalities with constraint is considered, and corresponding Céa’s type inequality is derived for error estimate. For a viscoelastic contact problem with normal penetration, an optimal order error estimate is obtained for the linear element method. A numerical experiment for the contact problem is reported which provides numerical evidence of the convergence order predicted by the theoretical analysis.     

采用一维物理光学法的天线罩瞄准误差补偿

针对雷达天线罩瞄准误差的补偿问题，提出了一种适用于各向同性的天线罩瞄准误差修正方法。构建了基于一维物理光学法的天线罩瞄准误差的数学模型，推导了雷达导引头测量目标角度和角速度的误差修正公式。试验结果表明，该方法有效降低了天线罩瞄准误差对目标角速度性能的影响。