Integrating symbolic images into a multimedia database system using classification and abstraction approaches

Symbolic images are composed of a finite set of symbols that have a semantic meaning. Examples of symbolic images include maps (where the semantic meaning of the symbols is given in the legend), engineering drawings, and floor plans. Two approaches for supporting queries on symbolic-image databases that are based on image content are studied. The classification approach preprocesses all symbolic images and attaches a semantic classification and an associated certainty factor to each object that it finds in the image. The abstraction approach describes each object in the symbolic image by using a vector consisting of the values of some of its features (e.g., shape, genus, etc.). The approaches differ in the way in which responses to queries are computed. In the classification approach, images are retrieved on the basis of whether or not they contain objects that have the same classification as the objects in the query. On the other hand, in the abstraction approach, retrieval is on the basis of similarity of feature vector values of these objects. Methods of integrating these two approaches into a relational multimedia database management system so that symbolic images can be stored and retrieved based on their content are described. Schema definitions and indices that support query specifications involving spatial as well as contextual constraints are presented. Spatial constraints may be based on both locational information (e.g., distance) and relational information (e.g., north of). Different strategies for image retrieval for a number of typical queries using these approaches are described. Estimated costs are derived for these strategies. Results are reported of a comparative study of the two approaches in terms of image insertion time, storage space, retrieval accuracy, and retrieval time. Received June 12, 1998 / Accepted October 13, 1998     

The effect of added L-ascorbic acid,and sodium chloride on the change in concentration of some volatiles in pressurised peach homogenate during storage

White peach (Prunus persica L cv Yamane) homogenates with sugar (20%), or with sugar (20%) and/or L -ascorbic acid (0·1%) and/or sodium chloride (0·5%), were packed in plastic bottles, pressurised (400 MPa, 20°C, 10 min), and then stored at 0 and 25°C for various periods. The headspace volatiles which were absorbed on Tenax TA using dynamic headspace sampling were heat desorbed and analysed by capillary gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Enzymatic formation of benzaldehyde during storage was observed in all samples. The homogenate with L -ascorbic acid showed the highest level of benzaldehyde formation. The flavour quality and colour of the pressurised homogenates with ascorbic acid stored at lower temperature were excellent. © 1997 SCI.     

Stabilization of Ethyl‐Cellulose Oleogel Network Using Lauric Acid

The use of oleogels in a wide range of applications requires a broad diversity of gel properties tailored for each purpose. The current research explores the combination of ethyl‐cellulose (EC) with lauric acid (LA), at different ratios with an emphasis to explore each component contribution and function in the gel structure and properties. The results suggest that oleogel physical properties strongly depend on the EC concentration. A transition from antagonistic to synergistic behavior between EC and LA with respect to the mechanical properties is observed above 4 wt% polymer. This behavior is seen in all LA concentrations, suggesting that the main effect arises from the EC while the LA acts as a stabilizer. In addition, LA reduces EC gelation temperature from approximately 140 °C to 79–101 °C, depending on the EC concentration, suggesting a ‘plasticizing’ effect. The recovery ability of EC oleogel after large amplitude deformation is improved from 16% to 34% due to the LA crystalline nature. LA crystal structure is not affected by EC concentration; however its crystallization temperature shifts to a lower temperature. Practical Applications: These results provide a broad overview of the composition‐function relation obtained while combining EC with LA.     

Adenylate Kinase Isozyme 3 Regulates Mitochondrial Energy Metabolism and Knockout Alters HeLa Cell Metabolism

The balance between oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis is important for cancer cell growth and survival, and changes in energy metabolism are an emerging therapeutic target. Adenylate kinase (AK) regulates adenine nucleotide metabolism, maintaining intracellular nucleotide metabolic homeostasis. In this study, we focused on AK3, the isozyme localized in the mitochondrial matrix that reversibly mediates the following reaction: Mg²⁺ GTP + AMP ⇌ Mg²⁺ GDP + ADP. Additionally, we analyzed AK3-knockout (KO) HeLa cells, which showed reduced proliferation and were detected at an increased number in the G1 phase. A metabolomic analysis showed decreased ATP; increased glycolytic metabolites such as glucose 6 phosphate (G6P), fructose 6 phosphate (F6P), and phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP); and decreased levels of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle metabolites in AK3KO cells. An intracellular ATP evaluation of AK3KO HeLa cells transfected with ATeam plasmid, an ATP sensor, showed decreased whole cell levels. Levels of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), a complementary response to mitochondrial failure, were increased in AK3KO HeLa cells. Oxidative stress levels increased with changes in gene expression, evidenced as an increase in related enzymes such as superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) and SOD3. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 2 (PCK2) expression and PEP levels increased, whereas PCK2 inhibition affected AK3KO HeLa cells more than wild-type (WT) cells. Therefore, we concluded that increased PCK2 expression may be complementary to increased GDP, which was found to be deficient through AK3KO. This study demonstrated the importance of AK3 in mitochondrial matrix energy metabolism.     

An electronic museum guide in real use.

Within the Contextual Model of Learning framework, the authors conducted a study with electronic handheld guides at the Van Abbe Museum. The authors offered the general electronic tour using the ubiNext system for the duration of two weeks. This study investigated whether the use of multimedia content would increase the usage of the system compared to only visual content. In addition the authors were interested if the age of the visitors would influence the system's usage. The authors also investigated whether individual visitors use the system more compared to visitors who experience the museum in couples. More than half of the visitors only requested information for five or less objects independently of the visitor's age. Technical problems and usability issues might have caused many visitors to stop using ubiNext. Among those participants who heavily used the system, the display of multimedia content led to an increased usage compared to visual content only. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Morphological control of laser-synthesized silicon nanoparticles

Size and crystallinity controlled silicon nanoparticles were prepared by a laser ablation, in situ annealing and mobility size-selection with a differential mobility analyzer (DMA). The shape and crystal structure of generated particles were observed by a transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Both densification of agglomerates and crystal growth of the particles were observed. The size of silicon primary particle was increased by the annealing, and the uniformity of the particle classified at 10 nm was improved as a result.     

A Fuzzy AHP Approach to Evaluating Machine Tool Alternatives

Selecting process of a machine tool has been very important issue for companies for years, because the improper selection of a machine tool might cause of many problems affecting negatively on productivity, precision, flexibility and company’s responsive manufacturing capabilities. On the other hand, selecting the best machine tool from its increasing number of existing alternatives in market are multiple-criteria decision making (MCDM) problem in the presence of many quantitative and qualitative attributes. Therefore, in this paper, an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is used for machine tool selection problem due to the fact that it has been widely used in evaluating various kinds of MCDM problems in both academic researches and practices. However, due to the vagueness and uncertainty on judgments of the decision-maker(s), the crisp pair wise comparison in the conventional AHP seems to insufficient and imprecise to capture the right judgments of decision-maker(s). That is why; fuzzy number logic is introduced in the pair wise comparison of AHP to make up for this deficiency in the conventional AHP. Shortly, in this study, an intelligent approach is proposed, where both techniques; fuzzy logic and AHP are come together, referred to as fuzzy AHP. First, the fuzzy AHP technique is used to weight the alternatives under multiple attributes; second Benefit/Cost (B/C) ratio analysis is carried out by using both the fuzzy AHP score and procurement cost, of each alternative. The alternative with highest B/C ratio is found out and called as the ultimate machine tool among others. In addition, a case study is also presented to make this approach more understandable for a decision-maker(s).     

Chemical activity of oxygen atoms in the magnetron sputter-deposited ZnO films

The role of oxygen atoms in the growth of magnetron sputter-deposited ZnO films was studied by alternating the deposition of a several-nanometer-thick ZnO layer and an O₂/Ar mixed plasma exposure, i.e., a layer-by-layer (LbL) technique. The film crystallization was promoted by suppressing the oxygen vacancy and interstitial defects by adjusting the exposure conditions of the O₂/Ar plasma. These findings suggest that the chemical potential of the oxygen atom influences the film crystallization and the electronic state. The diffusion and effusion of oxygen atoms at the growing surface have an effect similar to that of thermal annealing, promoted film crystallization and the creation and the annihilation of oxygen- and zinc-related defects. The role of oxygen atoms reaching at the growing film surface is discussed in terms of chemical annealing and a possible oxygen diffusion mechanism is proposed.