Convergence behavior and root signal sets of stack filters

The four different types of stack filters, type-0 through type-3, are determined by four different shapes of the on-set of the positive Boolean function from which the stack filter is constructed.Under all three appending strategies commonly considered in the literature-first and last value carry-on strategy, constant value carry-on strategy, and the circular approach-stack filters of type-0 through type-2 possess the convergence property, while type-3 stack filters do not all share this property. Examples of cyclic behavior in type-3 stack filters are given. Conditions under which certain operations on stack filters which possess the convergence property produce other filters with this property are provided.In perhaps the most important result in this paper, it is shown that the root signal set of any type-3 stack filter is the intersection of the root sets of the type-1 and type-2 stack filters from which the type-3 filter is constructed. This should simplify the task of finding the set of roots of type-3 stack filters.The rates of convergence for stack filters of type-1 and type-2 are determined for each appending approach. The convergence behavior and rates of convergence of stack filters of type-1 and type-2 are then generalized to include type-1 and type-2 filters with indexi.     

TADAS dampers in very large deformations

Triangular-plate Added Damping and Stiffness (TADAS) dampers are special kinds of passive control devices that can be used in seismic design and retrofitting of structural systems. However, when exposed to large deformations, primary members of a structure can be in danger of serious damage due to improper geometric characteristics of these dampers. In this study, response of a one bay frame equipped with a TADAS device, previously tested in the laboratory, was simulated using a detailed FE model in ABAQUS. A monotonic analysis was then conducted on the TADAS damper alone, which indicated that in large deformations, TADAS damper pins hit the top of the holes, resulting in an abrupt stiffness increase in the damper. Seismic analysis of a six story moment resisting frame with TADAS dampers, using a series of twelve scaled earthquake ground motions, was also conducted in OpenSees which indicated that with sudden stiffness increase in dampers, the value of moments in beams as well as axial forces in braces will increase, causing possible damages in these areas. At the end, a method for calculating the optimal height for the holes in the damper was proposed, which is shown to be in good agreement with detailed ABAQUS models.     

Three-dimensional accuracy with two-dimensional computation speed: using the Kiva™ numerical framework to improve foundation heat transfer calculations

Calculation of heat transfer from building foundations is a computationally intensive three-dimensional problem that can require several weeks to solve using current computing hardware. The Kiva numerical framework was developed to compare foundation heat transfer calculation methods and determine approaches that reduce computation time without sacrificing a balance of capability, ease-of-use, and accuracy. This paper demonstrates the application of the Kiva framework to determine an accurate method of approximating three-dimensional heat transfer effects using two-dimensional coordinate systems. In two-dimensions, problems that would otherwise take days or weeks to solve can be solved in less than a minute. Three existing two-dimensional approximation methods along with a new boundary layer adjustment method are tested across a range of foundation types, shapes, and insulation configurations. The boundary layer adjustment method is shown to provide results within 3% mean absolute deviation from the three-dimensional solution.     

Effect of protein hydrolysates from sardinelle (Sardinella aurita) on the oxidative status and blood lipid profile of cholesterol-fed rats

This study was designed to test the hypolipidemic properties and antioxidative activities of sardinelle (Sardinella aurita) protein hydrolysates (SPHs) obtained by treatment with crude enzyme preparations from Bacillus pumilus A1(SPHA1), Bacillus mojavensis A21(SPHA21) and crude enzyme extract from sardinelle viscera (SPHEE).Wistar rats were fed during 7 weeks a standard laboratory diet, a cholesterol-enriched diet (1%) or a cholesterol SPH-enriched diet. The hypercholesterolemic diet induced the elevation of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Supplementing cholesterol-enriched diet with SPHs or whole sardinelle protein (WSP) at a concentration of 5% (w/w) increased the serum level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and HDL-C/TC ratio and decreased the serum levels of TC, TG, LDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio significantly.The thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) level, as an indicator of lipid peroxidation, and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT) were examined. The hepatic antioxidant enzymes activities were significantly decreased and the malondialdehyde (MDA) level was increased in rats fed a cholesterol-enriched diet compared to those fed a standard diet. The treatment of hypercholesterolemic (HCD) diet rats with SPHs reduced the MDA concentration and increased the antioxidant enzyme activities.These results suggested that the hypolipidemic effect of SPHs might be due to their abilities to lower serum TC, TG, and LDL-C levels as well as to their antioxidant activities preventing the lipid peroxidation process.     

Impact of electricity rate structures on energy cost savings of pre-cooling controls for office buildings

This paper summarizes the results of a series of parametric analyses performed to evaluate the impact of key design and operating conditions on the effectiveness of pre-cooling control strategies for reducing peak demand and overall energy costs for office buildings. The analyses were carried out using EnergyPlus, a whole building energy simulation program. The effects of various parameters were considered in the analysis including building location, mass level, pre-cooling control strategy, and time-of-use utility rate.     

Purification and characterization of trypsin from the viscera of sardine (Sardina pilchardus)

Trypsin from the viscera of Sardina pilchardus was purified by fractionation with ammonium sulphate, heat treatment and Sephadex G-100 gel filtration with a ninefold increase in specific activity and 9% recovery. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 25,000 Da on SDS–PAGE. This enzyme showed esterase-specific activity on Nα-benzoyl-l-arginine ethyl ester (BAEE). The purified enzyme was inhibited by benzamidine, a synthetic trypsin inhibitor, and phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride (PMSF) a serine-protease inhibitor, but was not inhibited by the β-mercaptoethanol. The optimum pH and temperature for the enzyme activity were pH 8.0 and 60 °C, respectively. The relative activity at pH 9.0 was 95.5% and the enzyme showed pH stability between 6.0 and 9.0. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the first 12 amino acids of the purified trypsin was IVGGYECQKYSQ. S. pilchardus trypsin, which showed high homology to other fish trypsins, had a charged Lys residue at position 9, where Pro or Ala are common in fish trypsins. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺.     

Adaptive RANSAC and extended region-growing algorithm for object recognition over remote-sensing images

Multimedia Tools and Applications - In this paper, a new approach is proposed for object recognition in remote-sensing images. In the proposed approach, the matching process between the object in...     

Trypsin from zebra blenny (Salaria basilisca) viscera: Purification,characterisation and potential application as a detergent additive

An alkaline trypsin was purified from the viscera of zebra blenny (Salaria basilisca) by ammonium sulphate (40?80% saturation) precipitation, Sephadex G-100, Mono Q-Sepharose and ultrafiltration. A yield of 12% with a purification-fold of 4.2 was obtained. The trypsin had an apparent molecular weight of 27 kDa. Soybean trypsin inhibitor and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride showed a strong inhibitory effect on the purified trypsin. Trypsin had maximal activity at pH 9.5 and 60 °C for the hydrolysis of Nα-benzoyl-dl-arginine-p-nitroanilide (BAPNA). It was stable at low temperatures and in the pH range of 7.0?12.0. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the first 12 amino acids of the purified protease was IVGGRECTEPSQ. S. basilisca trypsin, which showed high homology with other fish trypsins, had a charged Arg residue at position 5, where Tyr is common in marine vertebrates and mammalian trypsins. The trypsin kinetic constants, K_m and k_cat for BAPNA, were 0.6 mM and 1.38 s^?1, respectively.     

An integrated agro-ecosystem and livelihood systems approach for the poor and vulnerable in dry areas

More than 400 million people in the developing world depend on dryland agriculture for their livelihoods. Dryland agriculture involves a complex combination of productive components: staple crops, vegetables, livestock, trees and fish interacting principally with rangeland, cultivated areas and watercourses. Managing risk and enhancing productivity through diversification and sustainable intensification is critical to securing and improving rural livelihoods. The main biophysical constraints are natural resource limitations and degradation, particularly water scarcity and encroaching desertification. Social and economic limitations, such as poor access to markets and inputs, weak governance and lack of information about alternative production technologies also limit the options available to farmers. Past efforts to address these constraints by focusing on individual components have either not been successful or are now facing a declining rate of impact, indicating the need for new integrated approaches to research for development of dryland systems. This article outlines the characteristics of such an approach, integrating agro-ecosystem and livelihoods approaches and presents a range of empirical examples of its application in dryland contexts. The authors draw attention to new insights about the design of research required to accelerate impact by integrating across disciplines and scales.