An evolutionary approach for colour constancy based on gamut mapping constraint satisfaction

Many colour constancy algorithms have been proposed to achieve a good performance in this field. The gamut mapping algorithm is one of the most accurate and promising algorithms based on gamut assumption: illuminant can be estimated by comparing the colours distribution in the current image to acanonical gamut (i.e., a pre-learned distribution of colours). However, the gamut mapping algorithm is precise but it is time consuming. Therefore, some other methods such as GCIE (gamut constrained illuminant estimation) and CGM (cubical gamut mapping) have been proposed which work faster. However, the results of such methods are poor when the source light is not in the pre-defined ones. In this paper, we propose an evolutionary algorithm for colour constancy based on gamut mapping assumption. This approach overcomes the mentioned problem in other gamut-based methods. The proposed evolutionary method uses a simple chromosome structure together with simple operators such as mutation, selection, and reproduction. Two versions of the proposed methods have been presented here. The first one works on image pixels, while the second one tries on image derivative. The experiments were done on three different data sets that are used in literature and results were satisfactory. The results showed that the proposed method is much improved when compared to other related methods in most of the time especially in the case of real world images.     

Developing a multi-objective, multi-item inventory model and three algorithms for its solution

We develop a multi-objective model in a multi-product inventory system.The proposed model is a joint replenishment problem (JRP) that has two objective functions.The first one is minimization of total ...     

Retracted: HYDRO‐SORTING OF APPLE USING TERMINAL VELOCITY IN WATER

Retracted : The following article from Journal of Food Process Engineering, “Hydro‐sorting of Apple Using Terminal Velocity in Water” by Kamran Kheiralipour, Ahmad Tabatabaeefar, Hossein Mobli, Shahin Rafiee, Ali Rajabipour, and Ali Jafari published online on 22 February 2010 in Wiley Online Library ( http://www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com ), has been retracted by agreement between the authors, the Journal's Co‐Editors, M. Elena Castell‐Perez and Rosana Moreira, and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. The retraction has been agreed due to overlap between this article and the following article published in the Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers (now called Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers), “Sorting of Kiwifruit for Quality Using Drop Velocity in Water” by Robert B. Jordan and Christopher J. Clark. Vol. 47:6 (2004): 1991–1998.     

The influence of probiotic bacteria on the properties of Iranian white cheese

The viability of Bifidobacterium animalis (ATCC 25527) and Lactobacillus rhamnosus (ATCC 7469), study of interaction between probiotic and starter and their effect on the properties of Iranian white cheese were investigated during 60 days of ripening. The results indicated that probiotics did not exert any effect on the growth of commercial starters, but starters showed a synergistic effect on the growth of probiotics, and probiotics survived above the recommended level for the therapeutic minimum (10⁶–10⁷ cfu/g) after 60 days. Addition of probiotic adjunct did not alter the chemical composition except for moisture and protein. Also, the highest pH value was in probiotic cheeses without starter.     

The effect of molecular weight on the deformation behaviour of pressure annealed polyethylene

The deformation behaviour of four different grades of polyethylene has been examined as a function of the morphology produced by pressure annealing in the vicinity of the orthorhombic–hexagonal phase boundary. It is concluded that annealing within the hexagonal phase, to produce a “chain-extended” morphology, is appropriate for high molecular weight material as a precursor step in the production of high modulus by solid phase deformation. In low molecular weight material of the same morphology solid phase deformation does not produce improvements in mechanical behaviour. These results are interpreted in terms of the competition between increasing crystal size and the decrease in the coherence of the molecular network brought about by the pressure annealing. The critical parameter is the ratio of lamellar size to number average molecular chain length, rather than lamellar morphology. When this parameter is greater than 0.5 the molecules are incapable of completing two crystalline traverses and the network is affected detrimentally to the extent that it no longer holds the material together. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

INFLUENCE OF OTHER FUNGI ON AFLATOXIN PRODUCTION BY ASPERGILLUS FLAVUS IN MAIZE KERNELS

Experiments were designed to determine whether certain nontoxigenic fungi commonly isolated from maize kernels can affect aflatoxin B₁ development when inoculated with A. flavus onto individual unsterilized, and autoclaved maize kernels . Trichoderma viride and Aspergillus niger were found to be strongly antagonist inhibiting the growth of A. flavus by 87 and 66% respectively, whereas Aspergillus versicolor, Fusarium moniliforme, Paecilomyces variotii and Emericella quadrillineata inhibited the growth of A. flavus by less than 51%. Less aflatoxin B₁ was detected when A. flavus was paired with A. niger or T. viride than with the other test fungi. When A. niger or T. viride was introduced onto the kernels 72 h before inoculation with A. flavus, no aflatoxin B₁ was detected in unsterilized kernels and the levels of aflatoxin B₁ were greatly reduced from 700 ppb to 160 and 140 ppb in autoclaved kernels, respectively. When inoculation of A. flavus followed 72 h of incubation of either A. niger and T. viride, no aflatoxin B₁ was detected. However, when both A. niger and T. viride were introduced 72 h after inoculation with A. flavus, the levels of aflatoxin B₁ were reduced to 385 and 560 ppb, respectively in unsterilized and autoclaved maize kernels . Trichoderma viride and Aspergillus niger may be useful in biological control of aflatoxin contamination of maize kernels .; Accepted for Publication June 11, 1997     

The application of information systems for the design and operation of flexible machining cells

The use of information systems in manufacturing applications has dramatically changed over the last few years. The design and implementation of somewhat dated relational databases has been replaced by the generation of information models, that can be simultaneously used for the development of information systems and satisfy their integration requirements. Over the last ten years the authors have been involved in a series of research programmes focusing on the design and operation of flexible machining cells. The use of information systems has been a central theme and the enabling technology to achieve a number of novel design concepts and operational strategies for such cells. The initial research was based on the utilization of relational databases to integrate a variety of modelling and design tools. However, the additional effort required to integrate such databases to manufacturing software tools, in the form of developing file translators, information gateways and interfac es, has made the authors adopt a new approach. With this approach the information requirements are represented in a neutral format within a data model, using a formal data specification language developed by the Standards for the Exchange of Product (STEP) committee. This paper describes these changes in the design and implementation of information systems in manufacturing applications, and provides an initial view of future research requirements.     

A PROBABILISTIC APPROACH FOR ESTIMATING TUNNELING DURATION

This paper describes an analytical approach for developing the Cumulative Distribution Function, CDF, of time to completion of any segment of the Outfall Tunnel of Boston Harbor Cleanup Project. For any given tunnel length, one can calculate the probability of completing that length within a specified time. The approach proposed is general enough to be used on relatively long tunnels with durations extending over several months. It presents a case in data modeling where a large volume of data is reduced and reported in a usable format. Model application is shown through a numerical example and the results are compared wih the actual data obtained which shows that the difference between actual data and predicted result is not significant.     

Survival of Lactobacillus casei,Lactobacillus plantarum and Bifidobacterium bifidum in free and microencapsulated forms on Iranian white cheese produced by ultrafiltration

Survival of probiotic strains Lactobacillus casei ( ATCC 39392 ), Lactobacillus plantarum ( ATCC 8014 ) and Bifidobacterium bifidum ( ATCC 29521 ) was investigated either in microencapsulated or in free form in the Iranian white cheese produced by ultrafiltration technique. The results indicated that the survival of encapsulated probiotic bacteria was higher than free cells. Both free and microencapsulated forms were successful in keeping counts of L. casei, L. plantarum and B. bifidum in the cheese high enough for the therapeutic minimum (10⁶–10⁷ cfu/g) after 60 days. Addition of probiotic adjunct also did not alter the chemical composition, but pH was lower in probiotic cheeses.