Fusion of infrared and visible images using neutrosophic fuzzy sets

Fusion of infrared and visible image is a technology which combines information from two different sensors for the same scene. It also gives extremely effective information complementation, which is widely used for the monitoring systems and military fields. Due to limited field depth in an imaging device, visible images can’t identify some targets that may not be apparent due to poor lighting conditions or because that the background color is similar to the target. To deal with this problem, a simple and efficient image fusion approach of infrared and visible images is proposed to extract target’s details from infrared images and enhance the vision in order to improve the performance of monitoring systems. This method depends on maximum and minimum operations in neutrosophic fuzzy sets. Firstly, the image is transformed from its spatial domain to the neutrosophic domain which is described by three membership sets: truth membership, indeterminacy membership, and falsity membership. The indeterminacy in the input data is handled to provide a comprehensive fusion result. Finally, deneutrosophicised process is made which means that the membership values are retransformed into a normal image space. At the end of the study, experimental results are applied to evaluate the performance of this approach and compare it to the recent image fusion methods using several objective evaluation criteria. These experiments demonstrate that the proposed method achieves outstanding visual performance and excellent objective indicators.

     

Transgenic Chicks Expressing Interferon-Inducible Transmembrane Protein 1 (IFITM1) Restrict Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Influenza Viruses

Mammalian cells utilize a wide spectrum of pathways to antagonize the viral replication. These pathways are typically regulated by antiviral proteins and can be constitutively expressed but also exacerbated by interferon induction. A myriad of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) have been identified in mounting broad-spectrum antiviral responses. Members of the interferon-induced transmembrane (IFITM) family of proteins are unique among these ISGs due to their ability to prevent virus entry through the lipid bilayer into the cell. In the current study, we generated transgenic chickens that constitutively and stably expressed chicken IFITM1 (chIFITM1) using the avian sarcoma-leukosis virus (RCAS)-based gene transfer system. The challenged transgenic chicks with clinical dose 10⁴ egg infective dose 50 (EID₅₀) of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) subtype H5N1 (clade 2.2.1.2) showed 100% protection and significant infection tolerance. Although challenged transgenic chicks displayed 60% protection against challenge with the sub-lethal dose (EID₅₀ 10⁵), the transgenic chicks showed delayed clinical symptoms, reduced virus shedding, and reduced histopathologic alterations compared to non-transgenic challenged control chickens. These finding indicate that the sterile defense against H5N1 HPAIV offered by the stable expression of chIFITM1 is inadequate; however, the clinical outcome can be substantially ameliorated. In conclusion, chIFITM proteins can inhibit influenza virus replication that can infect various host species and could be a crucial barrier against zoonotic infections.     

Production of microporous palm shell based activated carbon for methane adsorption: Modeling and optimization using response surface methodology

In this study, the optimization of the palm shell based activated carbon production using combination of chemical and physical activation for methane adsorption is investigated. response surface methodology (RSM) in combination with central composite design (CCD) was used to optimize the operating parameters of the production process. Physical activation temperature, chemical impregnation ratio and physical activation time were chosen as the main process variables and the amount of methane adsorption was selected as the investigated response. Phosphoric acid and carbon dioxide were used as chemical and physical agents, respectively. The optimum reaction conditions were found to be a physical activation temperature of 855 °C, H₃PO₄ impregnation ratio of 9.42 g of phosphorous per gram palm shell and physical activation time of 135 min. The results exhibited significant increase in methane adsorption after physio-chemical activation.     

Development of hydrogels,oleogels, and bigels as local drug delivery systems for periodontitis

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammation of gum and tissues that surround and support the teeth. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be used in the treatment of periodontitis to ease swelling and inflammation. One approach of treating periodontitis is loading the NSAIDs in local drug delivery systems. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the local delivery of the NSAIDs model drug ibuprofen to treat periodontitis using different types of gel formulations (hydrogel, oleogel, and bigel). Gel formulations were characterized in terms of their rheological properties (flow behavior, viscoelastic, and bioadhesive properties) using a controlled-stress rheometer. The in vitro drug release of ibuprofen from gel formulations was investigated using Franz diffusion cells. Gels exhibited more solid-like (elastic) behavior. The viscosity and viscoelastic properties were in the order of oleogel?>?bigel?>?hydrogel, respectively. In bioadhesion study, mucin dispersion/plain ibuprofen-hydrogel mixture showed a frequency-dependent interaction of ΔG’?=??31 and ΔG’?=?+?53?Pa at 1 and 10?rad/s, respectively. A strong positive interaction (ΔG’?=?+?6000 and +130,667?Pa at 1 and 10?rad/s, respectively) was found in mucin dispersion/plain ibuprofen–oleogel mixture. The extent of the negative interaction increased in mucin dispersion/plain ibuprofen-bigel mixture (ΔG’?=??59,000 and ?79,375?Pa at 1 and 10?rad/s, respectively). After 6?h, ibuprofen release from hydrogel, oleogel, and bigel was 59.5?±?2.2, 80.6?±?3.9, and 94.6?±?3.2%, respectively. Results showed that the rheological and bioadhesive properties and in vitro drug release were influenced by the type of gel formulations.     

Efficient Techniques for Attack Detection Using Different Features Selection Algorithms and Classifiers

Wireless Personal Communications - With the growth and benefits of network usage, securing the networks by using anomaly intrusion detection systems (IDS) against unknown intrusions has become an...     

Viscosity of aqueous ionic liquids analogues as a function of water content and temperature

Ionic liquids analogues known as Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) are gaining a surge of interest by the scientific community, and many applications involving DESs have been realized.Moisture content is one of the important factors that affects the physical and chemical characteristics of these fluids. In this work, the effect of mixing water with three common type Ⅲ DESs on their viscosity was investigated within the water mol fraction range of (0-1) and at the temperature range (298.15-353.15 K). Similar trends of viscosity variation with respect to molar composition and temperature were observed for the three studied systems. Due to the asymmetric geometry of the constituting molecules in these fluids, their viscosity could not be modeled effectively by the conventional Grunberg and Nissan model, and the Fang-He model was used to address this issue with excellent performance. All studied aqueous DES mixtures showed negative deviation in viscosity as compared to ideal mixtures. The degree of intermolecular interactions with water reaches a maximum at a composition of 30% aqueous DES solution. Reline, the most studied DES in the literature, showed the highest deviation. The information presented in thiswork on the viscosity of aqueous DES solutionsmay serve in tuning this important property for diverse industrial applications involving these novel fluids in fluid flow, chemical reactions, liquid-liquid separation and many more.     

Characteristics and intermolecular interaction of eutectic binary mixtures: Reline and Glyceline

Deep Eutectic Solvents are promising greener and cheaper alternatives to ionic liquids. The applications involving these solvents depend largely on their physical and chemical properties. However, a DES may possess both desirable and undesirable properties for a certain application. In such situations, mixing two DESs, each possessing a unique set of properties, may yield one with a more suitable set of physical and chemical properties for the same application. In this work, the variation in the physical properties of Reline upon addition of Glyceline was investigated. While a positive deviation of excess molar volume was observed, a negative deviation of viscosity was recorded with the increase in Glyceline mol% indicating a disruption of the ordered structure of Reline. The highest deviation in both cases was observed at 30 mol% Glyceline. The physical properties measured were density, viscosity, pH, RI and conductivity. The Glyceline molar percentage studied was 0 to 100mol% while temperature was varied within the range of 20 °C to 80 °C.     

Modeling and analyzing ghost images for incoherent optical systems

In a previous paper [Proc. SPIEPSISDG0277-786X7428, 742807 (2009)10.1117/12.828564], a methodology was developed to model and analyze incoherent ghosts that are formed by two reflections in the paraxial regime. In this paper, we extend the previously developed methodology to model and analyze ghost images that are formed by N (even) reflections. Rather than dealing with ghosts as spots of light, we apply the concept that each ghost has a structure in the nonparaxial regime that depends on the optical system parameters. A methodology to determine the fourth-order ghost aberration function is developed. We present new key parameters for ghost image formation, namely the ghost sagittal and tangential image surfaces. An expression for the paraxial ghost image irradiance distribution of the point object at the nominal image plane is derived. Since focused ghosts are the most bothersome ghosts, tools are proposed to identify potential problematic ghosts. Simulation examples are provided and are used to validate the developed methodology.     

Niosomes as a potential drug delivery system for increasing the efficacy and safety of nystatin

Nonionic surfactant (NIS) vesicles (niosomes) formed from self-assembly of hydrated synthetic NIS monomers are capable of entrapping a variety of drugs and have been evaluated as an alternative to liposomes. Nystatin (NYS) is a polyene antifungal drug that has been used in the treatment of cutaneous, vaginal and oral fungal infections since the 1950s. The aim of this work is to encapsulate NYS in niosomes to obtain a safe and effective formula administered parenterally for neutropenic patients. NYS niosomes were prepared by the thin-film hydration method using Span 60 or Span 40 and cholesterol (CHOL). Stearylamine and dicetyl phosphate were added as the positive and negative charge-inducing agents (CIA), respectively. Two molar ratios were used, namely NIS/CHOL/CIA (1:1:0.1 and 2:1:0.25). Neutral and positively charged niosomes gave the highest encapsulation efficiencies. NYS niosomes were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic light scattering. The release of neutral and negatively charged NYS niosomes was estimated, and it showed a slow sustained release profile. A 25-kGy γ-irradiation dose was sufficient to sterilize the investigated vesicles. NYS niosomes exerted less nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in vivo, showed higher level of drug in vital organs and revealed pronounced efficacy in elimination of the fungal burden in experimental animals infected with Candida albicans compared with those treated with free NYS. Niosomal encapsulation thus provided means for parenteral administration of NYS, reducing its toxicity and making it a more active antifungal agent.     

Inhibition of Clostridium tyrobutyricum by Streptococcus macedonicus ACA-DC 198 under conditions mimicking Kasseri cheese production and ripening

Three fermentations in skim milk were used to study the effectiveness of the bacteriocin-producing Streptococcus macedonicus ACA-DC 198 strain to inhibit Clostridium tyrobutyricum LMG 1285T spore outgrowth under conditions prevailing during Kasseri cheese production and ripening. In fermentation A, Clostridium spores were used solely; in fermentation B, S. macedonicus ACA-DC 198 and Clostridium spores were used; in fermentation C, a commercial starter culture and Clostridium spores were used. The temperature program applied was similar to that of Kasseri cheese production and ripening. The presence of macedocin, the bacteriocin produced by S. macedonicus ACA-DC 198, was confirmed in fermentation B. The results showed that macedocin was able to inhibit the outgrowth of Clostridium spores, since significantly higher inhibition in spore outgrowth was detected in fermentation B than in fermentation C.