Color object segmentation and tracking using flexible statistical model and level-set

Multimedia Tools and Applications - This study presents an unsupervised novel algorithm for color image segmentation, object detection and tracking based on unsupervised learning step followed with...     

Variation in clinical disease and species susceptibility to psittacine beak and feather disease in Zimbabwean lovebirds

While psittacine beak and feather disease has caused 100% mortality in captive flocks of 2 species of native Zimbabwean lovebirds (Agapornis nigrigensis and A. lilianae), other lovebird species in close contact with the sick birds have been only transiently affected or not at all. The clinical course of the disease in affected lovebirds may differ from that reported elsewhere, with recovery in some cases. These differences, along with ultrastructural differences may suggest a different virus or different strain of virus underlying disease in Zimbabwe.     

Carotene Degradation and Isomerization during Thermal Processing: A Review on the Kinetic Aspects

Kinetic models are important tools for process design and optimization to balance desired and undesired reactions taking place in complex food systems during food processing and preservation. This review covers the state of the art on kinetic models available to describe heat-induced conversion of carotenoids, in particular lycopene and β-carotene. First, relevant properties of these carotenoids are discussed. Second, some general aspects of kinetic modeling are introduced, including both empirical single-response modeling and mechanism-based multi-response modeling. The merits of multi-response modeling to simultaneously describe carotene degradation and isomerization are demonstrated. The future challenge in this research field lies in the extension of the current multi-response models to better approach the real reaction pathway and in the integration of kinetic models with mass transfer models in case of reaction in multi-phase food systems.     

Aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A and zearalenone in sorghum grains marketed in Tunisia

A total of 64 samples of sorghum (37 Tunisian sorghum samples and 27 Egyptian sorghum samples) were collected during 2011–2012 from markets in Tunisia. Samples were analysed for contamination with aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A and zearalenone by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Fluorescence Detection (HPLC-FLD). Aflatoxin B1 was found in 38 samples in the range 0.03–31.7 µg kg^?1. Ochratoxin A was detected in 24 samples with concentrations ranging from 1.04 to 27.8 µg kg^?1. Zearalenone was detected in 21 samples and the concentration varied between 3.7 and 64.5 µg kg^?1. ANOVA analysis of the influence of the country of origin on the incidence and concentration of mycotoxins in the samples studied showed no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the two batches of samples for each of the three mycotoxins studied. The studied mycotoxins contaminate sorghum and may also co-exist because of the diversity of the mycobiota in this cereal.     

High-precision assembly automation based on robot compliance

Industrial robots can be made compliant to the environment when the control loop gains are reduced, creating a so-called soft servo capability. This allows industrial robots to be used for assemblies with limited contact requirements. In this paper, we propose an assembly method using soft servo to perform certain assembly tasks where part location errors typically require the use of force control or remote center of compliance (RCC) methods. A typical industrial application, valve body assembly, was used to validate the developed method. This assembly was chosen because it is simple, yet requires compliance in all directions. Lab experiments were performed and the assembly operations were consistently successful enough to show that the developed soft servo strategy can perform certain assembly tasks with small part location errors. Therefore, the soft servo strategy may open a new door for low-cost industrial assembly. Experiments with force control were also performed to compare the performance between soft servo and force control. We found that the force control method is much more sensitive to environmental contact, that the contact forces can be controlled directly, and that greater part location errors can be tolerated. Conversely, assembly with soft servo may either fail to assemble the parts or generate bigger contact forces than allowed. Thus, applications of soft servo are more limited while force control can be successfully used in most all applications. Further investigation is needed to determine the practical industrial use of soft servo for particular types of precision assembly.     

The ferromagnetic shape memory system Fe–Pd–Cu

A new ferromagnetic shape memory thin film system, Fe–Pd–Cu, was developed using ab initio calculations, combinatorial fabrication and high-throughput experimentation methods. Reversible martensitic transformations are found in extended compositional regions, which have increased fcc–fct transformation temperatures in comparison to previously published results. High resolution transmission electron microscopy verified the existence of a homogeneous ternary phase without precipitates. Curie temperature, saturation polarization and orbital magnetism are only moderately decreased by alloying with nonmagnetic Cu. Compared to the binary system; enhanced Invar-type thermal expansion anomalies in terms of an increased volume magnetostriction are predicted. Complementary experiments on splat-fabricated bulk Fe–Pd–Cu samples showed an enhanced stability of the disordered transforming Fe₇₀Pd₃₀ phase against decomposition. From the comparison of bulk and thin film results, it can be inferred that, for ternary systems, the Fe content, rather than the valence electron concentration, should be regarded as the decisive factor determining the fcc–fct transformation temperature.     

Raman spectroscopy investigations of TiBxCyNz coatings deposited by low pressure chemical vapor deposition

TiB_xC_yN_z coatings have been prepared applying LPCVD and characterized using SEM/EDX, XRD, and Raman micro-spectroscopy. It has been shown that first-order, defect-induced Raman spectra of good quality can be obtained from TiB_xC_yN_z coatings, even if buried within a multilayer stack. The Raman peak assignments fit well with previous work on TiC_1 − xN_x. Even small changes in the B:C:N ratio result in systematical shifts of the Raman peaks. With increasing nitrogen content, the acoustical phonons shift to lower frequencies. A high correlation of the Raman shifts with lattice constants derived from XRD has also been found. Additionally, intensity and FWHM of the Raman peaks also change going from carbon- to nitrogen-rich coatings. The sensitivity of the TA peak Raman shifts to changes of the investigated basic coating properties is largest for N-rich coatings. Looking at the full range of coatings the dependence of the Raman shifts is slightly nonlinear.The present work establishes Raman microscopy as a complementary non-destructive technique compared to XRD for studying coatings like TiB_xC_yN_z. Structural, optical and chemical properties can be determined with considerably higher spatial resolution.