A robotic vision system for object identification and manipulation using synergetic pattern recognition

This paper discusses the application of the synergetic pattern recognition method to a robotic vision system for workpiece identification and manipulation in automated flexible manufacturing environments. The original synergetic algorithm is extended to allow its pattern attention parameters to have different values. Stability analysis of the extended recognition model indicates that the prototype patterns are the only stable patterns and undesired spurious patterns cannot exist. A simple scheme for tuning attention parameters is developed. Simulation results show that the number of object misclassification is reduced significantly with this extension. In addition, an image preprocessing procedure enables synergetic recognition to be simultaneously invariant to spatial pattern translation, rotation, and scaling; while an approach for recovering position, orientation, and size information is also proposed. Simple and efficient task-directed and object-specific strategies for robotic workpiece manipulation are now easy to implement based on these results and procedures.     

Interactions of temperature and ferulic acid stress on grain sorghum and soybeans

Experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that alleiopathic effects of ferulic acid (FA) may be altered by the temperature conditions of the growth environment. Growth of grain sorghum and soybean seedlings over a 10-day treatment period showed that a significant interaction effect occurred between environmental temperatures and FA treatments. Sorghum grown with an average day temperature of 37 °C and soybeans grown at 34 °C had greater dry weight reductions caused by FA than when the respective environments were 8 °C and 11 °C lower. The threshold concentration for inhibition of sorghum growth was 0.2 mM FA under the hot conditions and 0.4 mM FA with the cooler conditions. Soybeans were more sensitive than sorghum, and these inhibition thresholds for the hot and cool environments were 0.1 and 0.25 mM FA. These results demonstrate that temperature stress enhances allelochemical inhibition and indicate that interactions with the environment are an important consideration for understanding allelopathy.     

Memory-enhancing effects of secreted forms of the beta-amyloid precursor protein in normal and amnestic mice

When administered intracerebroventricularly to mice performing various learning tasks involving either short-term or long-term memory, secreted forms of the beta-amyloid precursor protein (APPs751 and APPs695) have potent memory-enhancing effects and block learning deficits induced by scopolamine. The memory-enhancing effects of APPs were observed over a wide range of extremely low doses (0.05-5,000 pg intracerebroventricularly), blocked by anti-APPs antisera, and observed when APPs was administered either after the first training session in a visual discrimination or a lever-press learning task or before the acquisition trial in an object recognition task. APPs had no effect on motor performance or exploratory activity. APPs695 and APPs751 were equally effective in the object recognition task, suggesting that the memory-enhancing effect of APPs does not require the Kunitz protease inhibitor domain. These data suggest an important role for APPss on memory processes.     

Barriers to the adoption of an energy efficient technology

Solid state electronic ballasts promise significant energy savings in the lighting systems of large buildings. However, organizational factors and standard operating procedures may inhibit the adoption of this technology in the large, bureaucratic public and private sector organizations which represent the major potential users of this technology.     

Computation of the Transmission Line Inductance and Capacitance Matrices from the Generalized Capacitance Matrix

In a recent paper [1], a method for computing the per-unitlength generalized capacitance matrix of a system of dielectric-insulated wires was given. In this-paper, a method for computing the per-unitlength inductance and capacitance matrices used in multiconductor transmission-line models in terms of the elements of the generalized capacitance matrix is given. Certain approximate formulas for large wire separations are also given. Rome Air Development Center.     

An Adjustable-Threshold Electronic Motor Starting System

One phase of an ongoing program aimed at developing an all-electronic control system for a home appliance is described. The shortcomings of conventional electromechanical motor-starting systems and problems in the early design stages of a replacement electronic system are discussed. A circuit which automatically adjusts itself to compensate for changing conditions so that it always provides the correct motor starting action is presented. Broader applications of the unique circuit are discussed.     

The Dielectric Properties of Wet Materials

In microwave remote sensing, knowledge of the dielectric properties of the materials observed (vegetation, soils) is important for the interpretation of the recorded reflection or emission and for the design of models for this reflection or emission. Although there exists no simple law which describes the properties of a heterogeneous system when the properties of its components are known, boundaries can be indicated for the permittivity of such a system. Heterogeneous systems containing water, such as wet soils and plant material, have very complex dielectric properties due to the role of the conductivity. However, at the higher microwave frequencies, in particular above the S-band, these conductivity effects play only a minor role and the free water is most important. When knowing the permittivity of wet materials the penetration depth can be determined. In all practical cases this depth is smaller than the wavelength used for the observations.     

Dynamische Untergrundkorrektur bei der Schnellanalyse von Spurenelementen mit der Emissionsspektrometrie

Untersuchung über die Schwankung des spektralen Untergrundes. Übertragung auf die Spurenanalyse in niedriglegiertem Stahl. Einführung eines dynamischen Untergrundäquivalents. Verbesserung der Nachweisgrenze bei den Spurenelementen unter Beibehaltung der Anregungsparameter.     

Vision and touch: A reconsideration of conflict between the two senses.

Although many studies have supported I. Rock and J. Victor's (see record 1964-07119-001) conclusion that visual-tactual conflicts will be resolved in favor of vision, the present study with 30 undergraduates presents evidence that methodological problems may have produced a bias in favor of vision. An experimental group examined blocks of wood of several sizes both visually and tactually, while 2 control groups examined the blocks by either vision or touch alone. After exposure to each block, Ss selected a comparison block of equal size from a set of 15 blocks. Group means indicate that experimental Ss made a judgment which was a compromise between their visual and tactual impressions. Closer examination showed that Ss made their judgments conform to either their visual or tactual impressions, and that there was great heterogeneity of response pattern. Results indicate that the generalization of vision as a dominant modality may be premature. (French summary) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)