Decision rule-based approach to automatic tree crown detection and size classification

The goal of this study was to develop a decision rule heuristic that would incorporate theories of forest stand dynamics and crown competition into an automatic crown detection and crown size search algorithm. Specifically, we sought to develop new multi-dimensional template matching methods fused with knowledge-based decision rules that model spatial considerations for crown competition and develop multi-scale assessment criteria for appraisal of crown detection and crown size at the stand, local neighbourhood and individual crown levels. The decision rule approach to crown detection and crown size was tested on a mature mixed coniferous and deciduous forest typical of southern New England, USA. Multi-dimensional template matching was applied to a high resolution (30 cm per pixel side) colour infrared image of the study site. The decision rule heuristic developed for this study effectively reduced 2626 potential crown detections to 568 crowns, producing a 91% rate of crown detection when compared with the 516 field-measured crowns. The automatically derived crown size class distribution was shown to be statistically similar to the distribution of field crown size classes using the Kolomogorov–Smirnov statistic. Finally, a fuzzification of classification assignments to crown classes either one above or below actual crown size class resulted in an 80% match between individual field crowns and remotely sensed crowns within a 6 m spatial lag.     

Right anterior cingulate: A neuroanatomical correlate of aggression and defiance in boys.

Variation in emotional processes may contribute to aggressive and defiant behavior. This study assessed these problem behaviors in a large sample of children and adolescents in relation to the volume of two cortical regions with prominent roles in emotion processing, the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC). One hundred seventeen participants (61 boys, 56 girls), ages 7-17, were recruited from the community. Aggressive and defiant behavior was measured using the parent- and teacher-reported Pediatric Behavior Scale and volumetric measures were generated using structural MRI. Regression analyses indicated a significant sex X ACC volume interaction in predicting aggressive and defiant behavior, without significant results for the vmPFC. Follow-up analyses showed that aggressive and defiant behavior is associated with decreased right ACC volume in boys and a nonsignificant reduction in left ACC volume in girls. These results are consistent with the notion that the right ACC acts as a neuroanatomical correlate of aggression and defiance in boys. The authors discuss this finding in light of its implications for understanding the neural correlates of antisocial behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Anti-Angiogenic Therapy in ALK Rearranged Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

The management of advanced lung cancer has been transformed with the identification of targetable oncogenic driver alterations. This includes anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangements. ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) are established first-line treatment options in advanced ALK rearranged non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with several next-generation ALK TKIs (alectinib, brigatinib, ensartinib and lorlatinib) demonstrating survival benefit compared with the first-generation ALK TKI crizotinib. Still, despite high objective response rates and durable progression-free survival, drug resistance inevitably ensues, and treatment options beyond ALK TKI are predominantly limited to cytotoxic chemotherapy. Anti-angiogenic therapy targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling pathway has shown efficacy in combination with platinum-doublet chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC without a driver alteration, and with EGFR TKI in advanced EGFR mutated NSCLC. The role for anti-angiogenic therapy in ALK rearranged NSCLC, however, remains to be elucidated. This review will discuss the pre-clinical rationale, clinical trial evidence to date, and future directions to evaluate anti-angiogenic therapy in ALK rearranged NSCLC.     

Investigating the Impact of Boiling Conditions on the Fouling of a Crude Oil

ABSTRACT

The impacts of nucleate boiling and pressure on crude oil fouling are factors that have not been heavily investigated in previous research. Variables such as wall temperature and fluid velocity/shear are often a main focus, as they are key variables for predictive fouling models, which provide insight to fouling thresholds. Research detailed in this report shows that nucleate boiling and pressure greatly impact the measured fouling rate of a crude oil tested using the Heat Transfer Research, Inc., rotating fouling unit. When nucleate boiling is occurring, the use of fouling resistance plots to measure fouling rates is not a reliable method due to the impact boiling has on the heat transfer coefficient. Visual inspection of fouling deposits to validate fouling resistance data has also been found to be critical. Images of fouling deposits are included. Fouling under nonboiling conditions was shown to increase with increasing pressure.     

Drosophila Trachea as a Novel Model of COPD

COPD, a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Clinical studies and research in rodent models demonstrated that failure of repair mechanisms to cope with increased ROS and inflammation in the lung leads to COPD. Despite this progress, the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of COPD remain poorly understood, resulting in a lack of effective treatments. Thus, an informative, simple model is highly valued and desired. Recently, the cigarette smoke-induced Drosophila COPD model showed a complex set of pathological phenotypes that resemble those seen in human COPD patients. The Drosophila trachea has been used as a premier model to reveal the mechanisms of tube morphogenesis. The association of these mechanisms to structural changes in COPD can be analyzed by using Drosophila trachea. Additionally, the timeline of structural damage, ROS, and inflammation can be studied in live organisms using fluorescently-tagged proteins. The related function of human COPD genes identified by GWAS can be screened using respective fly homologs. Finally, the Drosophila trachea can be used as a high-throughput drug screening platform to identify novel treatments for COPD. Therefore, Drosophila trachea is an excellent model that is complementary to rodent COPD models.     

Generating network representations of small-scale infrastructure using generally available data

Risk analysis (including resilience analysis) of infrastructure requires models that describe the connection of components and subsequent flow dynamics. However, the detailed information needed to define these models may not be available, especially for small-scale infrastructure that connect to every building. In this paper, we generate location-specific small-scale networks using detailed data that should always be available. We propose a general framework where we generate the network topology, we estimate the resource demand at each building, and we design the network components to meet the demands. This general framework is applicable to all types of infrastructure, but many procedures are specific to the type of network being generated. This paper develops the necessary procedures to generate sewer networks and illustrates the usage for an example network in a small study area in Seaside, Oregon. The proposed sewer network generator produces realistic sewer networks as compared to the real network of Seaside.     

The Diagnostic Performance of Ultrasonography in the Evaluation of Extrathyroidal Extension in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Extrathyroidal extension (ETE) in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is an indication of disease progression and can influence treatment aggressiveness. This meta-analysis assesses the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography (US) in detecting ETE. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed by searching PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane for studies published up to April 2022. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were calculated. The areas under the curve (AUC) for summary receiver operating curves were compared. A total of 11 studies analyzed ETE in 3795 patients with PTC. The sensitivity of ETE detection was 76% (95%CI = 74–78%). The specificity of ETE detection was 51% (95%CI = 49–54%). The DOR of detecting ETE by US was 5.32 (95%CI = 2.54–11.14). The AUC of ETE detection was determined to be 0.6874 ± 0.0841. We report an up-to-date analysis elucidating the diagnostic accuracy of ETE detection by US. Our work suggests the diagnostic accuracy of US in detecting ETE is adequate. Considering the importance of ETE detection on preoperative assessment, ancillary studies such as adjunct imaging studies and genetic testing should be considered.     

基于ACS算法的移动机器人实时全局最优路径规划

以Ant Colony System（ACS）算法为基础提出了一种新的移动机器人实时全局最优路径规划方法.这种方法包括三个步骤：第一步是采用链接图理论建立移动机器人的自由空间模型,第二步是采用Dijkstra算法搜索出一条无碰撞次优路径,第三步是采用ACS算法对这条次优路径的位置进行优化,从而得到移动机器人的全局最优路径.计算机仿真实验的结果表明所提出的方法是有效的,可用于对移动机器人进行实时路径规划.仿真结果也证实了所提出的方法在收敛速度、解的波动性、动态收敛特征以及计算效率等方面都具有比采用精英保留遗传算法的移动机器人路径规划方法更好的性能.     

Solubilisation of nickel from powders at near-neutral pH and the role of oxide layers

Dissolution rates of nickel powder in pH 5 acetate buffers were observed to be an effective indicator of the thickness of the oxide layer on the surface of the nickel particle. Tests on powders pre-cleaned with acid or pre-oxidized in air demonstrated this dependence. The saturation level of nickel in the solution is not greatly affected by the initial state of the powder. Effects of additive solutes are most pronounced during short-term dissolution tests. Among such solutes, reduced sulphur and selenium species, phosphate, fluoride, oxalate, and permanganate cause the largest increases in dissolution rate, while hexacyanoferrate, arsenite, periodate, chromate, vanadate, molybdate, iodate, and tungstate suppress the dissolution.