Gauss Gradient and SURF Features for Landmine Detection from GPR Images

Recently, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) has been extended as a well-known area to investigate the subsurface objects. However, its output has a low resolution, and it needs more processing for more interpretation. This paper presents two algorithms for landmine detection from GPR images. The first algorithm depends on a multi-scale technique. A Gaussian kernel with a particular scale is convolved with the image, and after that, two gradients are estimated; horizontal and vertical gradients. Then, histogram and cumulative histogram are estimated for the overall gradient image. The bin values on the cumulative histogram are used for discrimination between images with and without landmines. Moreover, a neural classifier is used to classify images with cumulative histograms as feature vectors. The second algorithm is based on scale-space analysis with the number of speeded-up robust feature (SURF) points as the key parameter for classification. In addition, this paper presents a framework for size reduction of GPR images based on decimation for efficient storage. The further classification steps can be performed on images after interpolation. The sensitivity of classification accuracy to the interpolation process is studied in detail.     

Approximate Solutions of Initial Value Problems for Ordinary Differential Equations Using Radial Basis Function Networks

We present a numerical approach for the approximate solutions of first order initial value problems (IVP) by using unsupervised radial basis function networks. The proposed unsupervised method is able to solve IVPs with high accuracy. In order to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed approach, we also compare its solutions with the solutions obtained by a previously proposed neural network method for representative examples.     

Olive cake combustion in a circulating fluidized bed

In this study, a circulating fluidized bed of 125 mm diameter and 1800 mm height was used to find the combustion characteristics of olive cake (OC) produced in Turkey. A lignite coal that is most widely used in Turkey was also burned in the same combustor. The combustion experiments were carried out with various excess air ratios. The excess air ratio, λ, has been changed between 1.1 and 2.16. Temperature distribution along the bed was measured with thermocouples. On-line concentrations of O₂, SO₂, CO₂, CO, NO_x and total hydrocarbons were measured in the flue gas. Combustion efficiencies of OC and lignite coal are calculated, and the optimum conditions for operating parameters are discussed. The combustion efficiency of OC changes between 82.25 and 98.66% depending on the excess air ratio. There is a sharp decrease observed in the combustion losses due to hydrocarbons and CO as the excess air ratio increases. The minimum emissions are observed at λ=1.35. Combustion losses due to unburned carbon in the bed material do not exceed 1.4 wt% for OC and 1.85 wt% for coal. The combustion efficiency for coal changes between 82.25 and 98.66% for various excess air ratios used in the study. The ash analysis for OC is carried out to find the suitability of OC ash to be used as fertilizer. The ash does not contain any hazardous metal.     

In vivo study of hybrid biomaterial scaffold bioactive glass–chitosan after incorporation of Ciprofloxacin

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of bioactive glass as well as the presence of Ciprofloxacin drug (%Cip) into bioactive glass–chitosan composite on the in vivo behavior of these scaffolds. These scaffolds were implanted in the femoral condyl of an ovariectomized rat. The serum and organs (liver and kidney) of the under investigated rats were analyzed. Also the physicochemical properties of the prepared implants were assessed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) before and after implantation (at different periods of implantation). Biochemical and histological analyses of the under investigated rats proved the biocompatibility of the prepared scaffolds. The hydroxyapatite like layer was significantly precipitated on the surface of BG–CH scaffold than BG–CH–20Cip. In this same period, FT-IR of BG–CH shows complete disappearance of Si–O–Si. Their characteristics bands were replaced by P–O group arisen form bone apatite bands. Physicochemical results show progressive degradation of BG–CH and BG–CH–20Cip that occurred at the same time as replacement of the implant by an apatite layer. However, the bioresorbability and bioactivity of BG–CH are faster than those of BG–CH–20Cip. Therefore, the incorporation of the Ciprofloxacin in the BG–CH induces a retarding effect on the formation of the hydroxyapatite, and consequently on the ossification, without any side effects on the liver–kidney.     

Structural Stabilities and Elastic Thermodynamic Properties of SrTe Compound and SrTe<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Ca<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> Alloy Under High Pressure

The effect of pressure on the structural, elastic, and thermodynamic properties of SrTe in both B1 (rocksalt) and B2 (CsCl-type) phases and the SrTe_1?x Ca _x alloys with Ca dopant concentrations at x = 0.16667, 0.20, 0.33333, 0.42857, 0.44444 and 0.50 have been investigated using the two new gradient-corrected functional developed by Perdew, J.P.; Burke, K.; Ernzerhof named Density-Gradient Expansion for Exchange in Solids (PBEsol) and generalized Wu–Cohen (WC), in a significant range of pressure from 0 GPa to 30 GPa. The structure parameters, elastic stiffness constants c _ij , the bulk modulus (B), Kleinman parameter (\( \xi \)), shear anisotropies A _shear are also determined. Furthermore, as reported in this study, the aggregate elastic modulus (B, G, E), Poisson’s ratio (ν) and the Lame’s coefficients (λ) are estimated. On the other hand, the ductility, brittleness, longitudinal, transverse sound velocities and the Debye temperature Θ_D(T) are also obtained. Importantly, our results are in reasonable agreement with the available theoretical and experimental data. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of the effect of the composition on the properties of the SrTe_1?x Ca _x alloys which may encourage other works for the confirmation of the reported results.     

Discrimination of Olive Oil by Cultivar,Geographical Origin and Quality Using Potentiometric Electronic Tongue Fingerprints

Legal regulations are set for protecting claims regarding olive oil geographical denomination. When meteorological or agroecological factors similarly affect different regions, the origin identification is a challenging task. This study demonstrated the use of a potentiometric electronic tongue coupled with linear discriminant analysis to discriminate the geographical origin of monovarietal Tunisian olive oil produced from local cv Chemlali (Kairouan, Sidi Bouzid or Sfax regions) and cv Sahli (Kairouan, Mahdia or Sousse regions). The potentiometric fingerprints of 12 or eight lipid sensors (for Chemlali and Sahli, respectively), selected using a simulated annealing meta-heuristic algorithm, allowed the correct prediction (repeated K-fold cross-validation) of the geographic production region with sensitivities of 92 ± 7% (Chemlali) and 97 ± 8% (Sahli). It was also confirmed the electronic tongue capability to classify Tunisian olive oil according to olive cultivar or quality grade. The results indicated the possible use of potentiometric fingerprints as a promising innovative strategy for olive oil analysis allowing assessing geographical origin, olive cultivar and quality grade, which are key factors determining olive oil price and consumers’ preference.     

Optimum design of laminated composite plates to maximize buckling load using MFD method

This paper presents optimal design of simply supported laminated composite plates subject to given in-plane static loads for which the critical failure mode is buckling. The objective function is to maximize the buckling load capacity of laminated plates and the fiber orientation is considered as design variable. The first-order shear deformation theory is used for the finite element analysis. In this paper, the effects of bending–twisting coupling are also included for the buckling optimization. The modified feasible direction method is used as an optimization method. Also, computer programs are coded in MATLAB and Golden Section method is adapted in this program for the optimal design of laminated plates for maximum buckling load. The effect of width-to-thickness ratio, aspect ratio, number of layers, material anisotropy, load ratios (N_y/N_x), uncertainties in material properties and functionally graded materials on the results is investigated and compared.     

Endosulfan induced biochemical changes in nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria

Pesticide contamination in aquatic ecosystem including paddy fields is a serious global environmental concern. Cyanobacteria are also affected by pesticides as non- target organism. For better exploitation of cyanobacteria as biofertiliser, it is indispensable to select tolerant strains along with understanding of their tolerance. Three cyanobacterial strains viz. Aulosira fertilissima, Anabaena variabilis and Nostoc muscorum were studied for their stress responses to an organochlorine pesticide 'endosulfan' with special reference to oxidative stress, role of proline and antioxidant enzymes in endosulfan induced free radical detoxification. Reduction in growth, photosynthetic pigments and carbohydrate of the test microorganisms were accompanied with increase in their total protein, proline, malondialdehye (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) in higher endosulfan doses. Increased amount of MDA is indicative of formation of free radicals, while increased level of CAT, APX, SOD and proline indicated their involvement in free radical scavenging mechanism. In lower concentrations, test pesticide showed increase in photosynthetic pigments. Order of tolerance was Nostoc muscorum>Anabaena variabilis>Aulosira fertilissima.     

Damage of Stainless Steel Components by Olive Paste

Failure of equipment for processing olives interrupted oil production after only 3 weeks in service. Macroscopic and microscopic analyses were used in the present investigation to analyze damaged surfaces. Observations and data suggest that failure was induced via tribocorrosion with a predominance of mechanical damage. This damage is attributed to abrasive wear combined with corrosion of AISI 304L stainless steel in olive paste (seed particles and pulp) mixed with tap water. Microscopic observations revealed fracture and localized plastic deformation in the damaged area along with a tribologically transformed structure and work-hardened surfaces. The tribological behavior of AISI 304L was determined using a pin-on-disc tribometer, and these results were compared to damage on the olive processing equipment. The steel was sensitive to tribo-oxidation, mostly due to abrasion by seeds and steel wear particles, and somewhat due to corrosion reactions with the environment.