A study of the negotiated-settlement practice in regulation: Some evidence from Florida

Negotiated settlements have become a frequently used alternative to contested proceedings when setting prices charged by public utilities under the US rate-of-return regulatory model. The behavior of the representatives of consumer advocates and the firms during settlement negotiations determine customer prices. This paper examines this behavior by using data from the Florida Public Service Commission to estimate the payoff functions of both parties. The estimation suggests that the advocate and the firm weight the present rate change more than the consumer's future average price and the firm's future operating revenue in their settlement decisions. It also indicates that the time saved by settlements is not a primary reason for their popularity.     

结合先验稀疏字典和空洞填充的CT图像肝脏分割

针对复杂多变的肝脏图像,提出了一种基于先验稀疏字典和空洞填充的三维肝脏图像分割方法。对腹部CT图像进行Gabor特征提取,并分别在Gabor图像和灰度图像的肝脏金标准边界上选择大小相同的图像块作为两组训练集,利用训练集得到两种查询字典及稀疏编码。将金标准图像与待分割图像配准,并将配准后的肝脏边界作为待分割图像的肝脏初始边界;在初始边界点上的十邻域内选择大小相同的两组图像块作为测试样本,利用测试样本与查询字典计算稀疏编码及重构误差,并选择重构误差最小的图像块的中心作为待分割肝脏的边界点;最后,设计一种空洞填充方法对肝脏边界进行补全和平滑处理,得到最终分割结果。利用医学图像计算和计算机辅助介入国际会议中提供的肝脏数据进行了实验验证。结果表明,该方法对肝脏分割图像具有较好的适用性和鲁棒性,并获得了较高的分割精度。其中,平均体积重叠率误差为(5.21±0.45)%,平均相对体积误差为(0.72±0.12)%,平均对称表面距离误差为(0.93±0.14)mm。     

三次透视投影变换图像拼接

为了减少带有路面信息的建筑物图像的拼接中产生的图像失真并提高拼接速度,基于局部变形方法并结合建筑物和路面纹理信息的不同提出了三次投影变换图像拼接方法。该方法根据图像内容将图像分割成不同子图像,然后拼接图像内容相同的子图像,最后实施总体拼接。为了改善当前全局投影变换带来的图像形状失真或扭曲问题,整个拼接过程采用三次局部的透视投影图像变换方法。由于是在传统的透视投影变换的基础上基于图像内容分割后再拼接,故拼接结果比传统方法更精确、更真实。实验结果表明:采用提出的图像拼接方法克服了路面部分纹理信息过少导致图像失真的缺陷,拼接速度比相关拼接方法提高了20%~40%。该方法能快速得到清晰无缝的拼接图像,基本满足拼接速度快、真实度高的要求。     

基于多特征融合条件随机场的人脸图像分割

由于发型、头部姿势、服装、遮挡等现象的多样性,人脸图像分割一直是一个具有挑战性的课题。为了提高复杂背景图像的人脸分割正确性,提出了一种基于多特征融合条件随机场（CRFs）的方法。该模型建立在图模型上,图中的每一个节点对应一个超像素,每一条边缘则连接一对相邻的超像素。使用颜色和纹理特征定义节点的能量函数（一元能量函数）,使用位置信息和相邻超像素之间的差异定义边缘的能量函数（二元能量函数）。分割是通过条件随机场融合节点能量函数和边缘能量函数推理而得。考察了该模型在2个无约束人脸数据库上的分割性能,实验结果表明该方法可以有效地从复杂人脸图像中分割出面部皮肤、头发和背景区域。     

基于相位相关法的图像拼接系统设计

图像拼接技术可以将一组相关的图像碎片依据一定的方法进行拼接使其形成一幅完整的、高清的图像技术。为了快速、准确的对这些图像碎片进行拼接,研究了大量的图像拼接算法,并对这些算法进行实验测试,通过对各种算法进行比较、分析发现基于相位相关法的图像拼接算法其程序实现简单且具有好的鲁棒性。最后利用MATLAB语言开发了基于相位相关法的图像拼接系统,通过仿真、测试表明开发的系统与现有的图像拼接系统相比较具有较好的稳定性和准确性。可推广到实际生活中,具有一定的应用价值。     

基于嵌入式的复合绝缘子憎水性检测方法研究

为了客观、快速、准确地测量在线或离线复合绝缘子表面的憎水性,依据憎水性分级法(HC),设计了一套便携式绝缘子憎水性检测装置。该装置通过一系列简单、有效的图像处理和分类方法,实现了嵌入式平台上的绝缘子憎水性判断。首先采用一种基于边缘的图像分割方法提取水珠目标,然后采用一种综合决策树实现目标的训练和分类。结果表明:该装置能在无辅助光源的自然光条件下判定复合绝缘子的憎水性,且处理速度快、实现方便,避免了人工观测的主观性和不确定性,具有较高的精度和实用性。     

Lactoperoxidase-mediated degradation of single-walled carbon nanotubes in the presence of pulmonary surfactant

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) may elicit inflammatory responses following pulmonary exposure. Conversely, enzymatic biodegradation of CNTs by inflammatory cells has also been reported. The aim of this study was to study the degradation of oxidized single-walled CNTs (ox-SWCNTs) by lactoperoxidase (LPO), a secreted peroxidase present in the airways, and whether pulmonary surfactant affects this biodegradation. To this end, ox-SWCNTs were incubated in vitro with recombinant bovine LPO + H₂O₂ + NaSCN in the presence and absence of porcine lung surfactant (Curosurf®) and biodegradation was monitored using UV–Vis–NIR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The interaction of recombinant LPO with bundles of ox-SWCNTs was confirmed by atomic force microscopy. Cell-free biodegradation of ox-SWCNTs was also observed ex vivo in murine bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in the presence of H₂O₂ + NaSCN. Our study provides evidence for biodegradation of ox-SWCNTs with a lung surfactant ‘bio-corona’ and expands the repertoire of mammalian peroxidases capable of biodegradation of ox-SWCNTs. These findings are relevant to inhalation exposure to these materials, as LPO serves as an important component of the airway defense system.     

Preparation and studies of transparent conductive monolayers of multiwall carbon nanotubes on quartz and flexible polymer with the use of modified Langmuir technique

An improved Langmuir method is described and applied to produce transparent, conductive and flexible single layer of multiwall carbon nanotubes. This paper presents properties of multiwall carbon nanotubes spread on water subphase and in a form of Langmuir–Schaefer layers on a quartz plate and on flexible polymeric foil. The results show very high homogeneity of the monolayers on a very large area obtained with the use of the proposed modified Langmuir method and indicate their relatively high radiation transmission and electrical conductivity. Laser scanning confocal and scanning electron microscopic images of the layers are presented. The microscopic visualization of the nanolayers is supported by spectroscopic studies (transmittance, photoacoustics) in the range from ultraviolet to mid-infrared. Moreover, electric measurements (current versus voltage characteristics) of the carbon material on the polymeric foil are presented.The obtained results of the investigated multiwall carbon nanotubes are discussed in a view of potential application in optoelectronics.     

交叠分段拟合在热传感器线性化中的应用

分段最小二乘多项式拟合是一种常用的传感器线性化函数生成方法。针对常规分段策略下相邻分段间经常出现跳变的问题,提出交叠分段拟合方法,先按预设的交叠比逐段进行拟合;然后在交叠区中搜索距离最近的点,作为相邻段的实际分界点。实验结果表明:当交叠比取0.30时,该方法能够在总分段数略有增加的情况下,有效抑制分段处的跳变。     

Isolation of recombinant antibody fragments (scFv) by phage display technology for detection of almond allergens in food products

Tree nut allergies are considered an important health issue in developed countries. To comply with the regulations on food labeling, reliable allergen detection methods are required. In this work we isolated almond-specific recombinant antibody fragments (scFv) from a commercial phage display library bypassing the use of live animals, hence being consistent with the latest policies on animal welfare. To this end an iterative selection procedure employing the Tomlinson I phage display library and a crude almond protein extract was carried out. Two different almond-specific scFv (named PD1F6 and PD2C9) were isolated after two rounds of biopanning, and an indirect phage ELISA was implemented to detect the presence of almond protein in foodstuffs. The isolated scFvs demonstrated to be highly specific and allowed detection of 40 ng mL⁻¹ and 100 ng mL⁻¹ of raw and roasted almond protein, respectively. The practical detection limit of the assay in almond spiked food products was 0.1 mg g⁻¹ (110–120 ppm). The developed indirect phage ELISA was validated by analysis of 92 commercial food products, showing good correlation with the results obtained by a previously developed real-time PCR method for the detection of almond in foodstuffs. The selected phage clones can be affinity maturated to improve their sensitivity and genetically engineered to be employed in different assay formats.