An effective hybrid approach to remote-sensing image classification

This article presents a hybrid fuzzy classifier for effective land-use/land-cover (LULC) mapping. It discusses a Bayesian method of incorporating spatial contextual information into the fuzzy noise classifier (FNC). The FNC was chosen as it detects noise using spectral information more efficiently than its fuzzy counterparts. The spatial information at the level of the second-order pixel neighbourhood was modelled using Markov random fields (MRFs). Spatial contextual information was added to the MRF using different adaptive interaction functions. These help to avoid over-smoothing at the class boundaries. The hybrid classifier was applied to advanced wide-field sensor (AWiFS) and linear imaging self-scanning sensor-III (LISS-III) images from a rural area in India. Validation was done with a LISS-IV image from the same area. The highest increase in accuracy among the adaptive functions was 4.1% and 2.1% for AWiFS and LISS-III images, respectively. The paper concludes that incorporation of spatial contextual information into the fuzzy noise classifier helps in achieving a more realistic and accurate classification of satellite images.     

Povidone iodine and skin disinfection before initiation of epidural anesthesia

OBJECTIVE: The clinical, mammographic and low grade cytologic features of mucinous carcinoma can make it difficult to diagnose by fine needle aspiration (FNA). Fine needle aspirates of mucinous carcinoma were reviewed with the mammographic findings to improve the diagnostic criteria and specificity for FNA. STUDY DESIGN: All aspirates were reviewed for cytologic criteria and cellularity, atypia and single epithelial cells (SEC). A nuclear grade was assigned to each aspirate. The mammographic findings were correlated with the FNA diagnoses. RESULTS: Forty-five patients with an aspirate and confirmed diagnosis of mucinous carcinoma were identified. The clinical impressions were: benign tissue (5), fibroadenoma (6) and cancer (32). The initial cytologic diagnoses were: adenocarcinoma (32), atypical/suspicious for cancer (11), insufficient (1) and negative (1). The cytologic findings showed smears with increased cellularity (35/45 cases) and minimal atypia. SEC with eccentrically located nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasm were numerous. The assigned nuclear grade was as follows: grade 1, 16 cases; grade 2, 20 cases; and grade 3, 6 cases. Abundant mucin was present in Papanicolaou-stained slides in 23 cases; focal mucin was observed in 14 cases. The mammograms showed a smoothly outlined to lobulated mass with only slight irregularities identified. CONCLUSION: Mucinous carcinoma has a cytologic pattern that includes increased cellularity, with numerous single cells and abundant mucin. Although the mammographic findings may mimic a benign lesion, in the most patients a specific diagnosis of mucinous carcinoma can be made by FNA.     

To see but not to read; the magnocellular theory of dyslexia

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation induces cytokine release from cultured keratinocytes as well as from epidermis in vivo. The purpose of this study was to determine whether differentiation of cultured keratinocytes into stratified epithelium decreases the effects of UVA and UVB radiation on cytokine release. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) alpha, IL-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha release from human keratinocytes and reconstituted human epidermis was measured after exposure to UVA or UVB radiation. Release of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, and TNF-alpha was induced by both UVA and UVB radiation from both keratinocytes and reconstituted epidermis. Release of these cytokines was correlated with cytotoxicity. Keratinocyte cultures were far more sensitive to UVB radiation than reconstituted epidermis, in terms of both cytotoxicity and cytokine release. In contrast, epidermal stratification/differentiation had much less effect on the sensitivity to UVA radiation. We conclude that epidermal stratification and the formation of a stratum corneum provide protection against UVB radiation but have limited barrier effect against UVA radiation.     

A microbial sensor for BOD

A microbial amperometric sensor for the determination of the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) determination using Trichosporon cutaneum cells immobilized in polyvinylalcohol has been developed. This sensor allowed BOD measurement with very short response times (< 30 s), an operation stability of 48 days and a serial coefficient of variation of ±3.3% when a sample solution containing 22 mg l⁻¹ BOD was employed. A linear range was obtained up to 100 mg l⁻¹ BOD using a glucose/glutamic acid standard. The sensitivity and specificity was increased by incubation of the BOD sensor with the respective wastewater. Comparable results were obtained for BOD values estimated by the biosensor and those determined by the 5-day method.     

Scarecrow: If I only had AI

At the 1992 AAAI robot contest one of the top finishers was Scarecrow—a robot that had no computer in the traditional sense, was built out of less than $200 of parts, and was explained and operated by a five year old. The designers sought to demonstrate the capabilities and competence that can be accomplished by using a strictly reactive architecture for well defined tasks such as that contest. This paper reexamines the Scarecrow robot and puts it into historical context. With fifteen years of perspective, we can also see what Scarecrow has to say about the perception of intelligence.

Hydrierung von Diethylsuccinat zu γ‐Butyrolacton, 1,4‐Butandiol und Tetrahydrofuran

The shortage of fossil resources necessitates the search for alternative sources for the production of important bulk chemicals. Diethyl succinate derived from biobased succinic acid can be used as a renewable alternative to fossil resources for the production of γ‐butyrolactone, 1,4‐butanediol and tetrahydrofuran. Commercially available ZnO‐free copper catalysts in a fixed‐bed reactor show promising selectivity to C4 products, but 1,4‐butanediol dehydration to tetrahydrofuran occurs over acidic sites, like alumina and zirconia.     

Progesterone protects against lipid peroxidation following traumatic brain injury in rats

Large scale use of lysozyme for periplasmic release has been impeded by the cost of the pure enzyme and its subsequent presence as a contaminant in later downstream processing steps. In this paper, we discuss the use of lysozyme for pilot scale recovery of a periplasmic enzyme from E. coli. The effects of concentration of sucrose, lysozyme and cells on periplasmic enzyme release were examined. Lysozyme concentration can be reduced 5-fold from previous reports and a reduction in sucrose concentration from 20 to 15% (w/v) allows an improvement in centrifugal harvesting by reducing viscosity. High levels of release were still achieved using this technique and further improvements in yield were obtained by optimising other components of the releasing mixture. Results show that some release is still achieved in circumstances where no lysozyme use is possible. Results also indicate that a substantial proportion (up to 70%) of lysozyme remains bound to the cellular debris after its action and is removed with this material.     

Methods of Motor Current Signature Analysis

ABSTRACT

Recently a technique for monitoring and diagnosing mechanical problems, associated with rotating machines driven by electric motors, has been proposed and is now being offered by several commercial suppliers. This technique, known as “Motor Current Signature Analysis” or MCSA, seeks to apply much of the long experience in vibration signature analysis to the analysis of motor current in effect using the motor as a sensor akin to an acceleromeier This paper explores some of the history of the technique, presents several examples, and demonstrates a first order approach to the theory with associated cautions.     

Design of Low-Bandwidth Spatially Distributed Feedback

The paper considers a family of linear time-invariant and spatially invariant (LTSI) systems that are both distributed and localized. The spatial responses of the distributed plant are localized in spatial neighborhoods of each location. The feedback computations are also distributed and the information flow is localized in a spatial neighborhood of each location. The feedback is aimed at controlling spatial distributions of variables in the systems with a relatively low bandwidth in the time direction. Such systems have many important applications including industrial processes, imaging systems, signal and image processing, and others. We describe a new method for designing (tuning) a certain family of low-bandwidth controllers for such plants. We consider LTSI controllers with a fixed structure, which is a PID or a similar low-bandwidth feedback in time and local in spatial coordinates. Two spatial feedback filters, symmetric and with finite spatial response, modify the local PID control signal by mixing in the error and control signals at nearby nodes. These two filters provide loopshaping and regularization of the spatial feedback loop. Like an ordinary PID controller, this controller structure is simple, but provides adequate performance in many practical settings. We cast a variety of specifications on the steady-state spatial response of the controller and its time response as a set of linear inequalities on the design variables, and so can carry out the design of the spatial filters using linear programming. The method handles steady-state limits on actuator signals, error signals, and several constraints related to robustness to plant and controller variation. The method allows handling the effects of boundary conditions and guaranteed closed-loop spatial or time decay. It does appear to work very well for low-bandwidth controllers, and so is applicable in a variety of practical situations.