A hybrid pansharpening approach and multiscale object-based image analysis for mapping diseased pine and oak trees

We developed a multiscale object-based classification method for detecting diseased trees (Japanese Oak Wilt and Japanese Pine Wilt) in high-resolution multispectral satellite imagery. The proposed method involved (1) a hybrid intensity–hue–saturation smoothing filter-based intensity modulation (IHS-SFIM) pansharpening approach to obtain more spatially and spectrally accurate image segments; (2) synthetically oversampling the training data of the ‘Diseased tree’ class using the Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE); and (3) using a multiscale object-based image classification approach. Using the proposed method, we were able to map diseased trees in the study area with a user's accuracy of 96.6% and a producer's accuracy of 92.5%. For comparison, the diseased trees were mapped at a user's accuracy of 84.0% and a producer's accuracy of 70.1% when IHS pansharpening was used alone and a single-scale classification approach was implemented without oversampling the ‘Diseased tree’ class.     

Glacier changes in Glacier Bay,Alaska, during 2000–2012

This article presents measurements of glacier surface areas, mean snow line altitude (MSLA) values, mean snow accumulation area ratio (MAAR) values, and elevation changes in the Glacier Bay, Alaska, using Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM)/Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) images and digital elevation models (DEMs) from Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) and interferometric synthetic aperture radar (IFSAR) data during 2000–2012. Glacier area estimation results showed that Desolation glacier and Fairweather glacier have lost 2.6% and 2.2% of the glacier area, respectively. Only minor surface area changes were seen in Cascade glacier, Crillon glacier, and Lituya glacier during the study period. The results of MSLA and MAAR showed that the MSLA of Fairweather glacier, Lituya glacier, and Desolation glacier increased by about 120–289 m and the MAAR of Fairweather glacier, Lituya glacier, and Desolation glacier decreased by about 3–6%. In contrast, MSLA and MAAR of Crillon glacier decreased by about 70 m and increased by about 1%, respectively. Glacier elevation change results showed that 7.7 m, 4.6 m and 1.5 m of mean thinning change were observed, respectively, on Fairweather glacier, Lituya glacier, and Desolation glacier. However, 7 m and 0.65 m of mean thickening were, respectively, experienced on Cascade glacier and Crillon glacier in the same period. Results from the study indicated that glacier retreat (Fairweather glacier, Lituya glacier, and Desolation glacier) affected by higher temperatures probably dominates with over-increased precipitation. However, increasing debris cover on the glacier surface can also modify the glacier dynamic, resulting in a different response to global warming.     

Dependence of ion beam current on position of mobile plate tuner in multi-frequencies microwaves electron cyclotron resonance ion source

We are constructing a tandem-type electron cyclotron resonance ion source (ECRIS). The first stage of this can supply 2.45 GHz and 11-13 GHz microwaves to plasma chamber individually and simultaneously. We optimize the beam current I(FC) by the mobile plate tuner. The I(FC) is affected by the position of the mobile plate tuner in the chamber as like a circular cavity resonator. We aim to clarify the relation between the I(FC) and the ion saturation current in the ECRIS against the position of the mobile plate tuner. We obtained the result that the variation of the plasma density contributes largely to the variation of the I(FC) when we change the position of the mobile plate tuner.     

A new algorithm for reduction of number of press-forming stages in forging processes using numerical optimization and FE simulation

This study presents a new simulation-based technique for the optimum design of a multi-stage forging process aiming at reduction of the number of press-forming stages. This iterative design technique involves response-surface-based numerical optimization and a finite element analysis of the process. The design procedure starts with an initial process design that is deemed too conservative, i.e. allows to arrive at the desired product but involves an excessive number of stages. To obtain a better process design, one stage of the existing multi-stage process is eliminated using numerical optimization in conjunction with an FE simulation. This is repeated by reducing the number of stages one by one until the minimum possible number of stages is reached. This design technique is applied to stage reduction of a three-stage forging process of an axisymmetric aluminum billet. It is confirmed that a new two-stage process design is obtained successfully and the developed design optimization technique showed its effectiveness in reduction of the number of press-forming stages in a multi-stage forming process.     

Study of crescent shaped alignment marks applicable to self-alignment of micro-parts with and without positive and negative poles

A “crescent-shaped” binding alignment mark, more applicable to the self-alignment than reported “tear-drop/elliptical hole” pattern, has been designed and comparatively studied with other possible alignment marks. In order to further apply this novel design to micro-parts with positive and negative poles on the binding sites, a modified “crescent-shaped” pattern with an insulated space area, defined as “crescent-shaped/interval” for self-alignment of micro-parts with two poles has been therefore proposed and discussed. The fabrication process using micromachining has been studied and both the substrates and micro-parts with alignment marks have been fabricated for next self-alignment verification.     

Development and Continuous Operation of a Bench-Scale System for the Production of O3 + O2 + CO2 Hydrates

Ozone (O₃) has many industrial applications such as in sterilization. One of the long-term O₃ preservation methods is molecular storage in clathrate hydrate. In this study, an experimental system was developed for continuously forming O₃ + O₂ + CO₂ hydrates. The parameters that affect the continuous operation of the system and that lead to increases in the concentration of O₃ in the hydrates were also experimentally evaluated, implementing the method of quality engineering. After optimizing these operating parameters, the O₃ storage capacity in the hydrates was measured to be 0.26 wt % at 2 h of total operation time. By X-ray diffraction, it was found that the produced sample contained hydrates, and long-term preservation for 6 months was possible at the temperature of general freezing warehouses.     

Study of an incrementally loaded multistage flash desalination system for optimum use of sensible waste heat from nuclear power plant

Existing practice of nuclear desalination cogeneration incurs loss of nuclear plant power generation because it competes for live steam with nuclear plant steam turbine. Such loss is completely avoided with the nuclear desalination plant design proposed in the present study. The plant called GTHTR300 is based on a high‐temperature gas reactor rated at 600 MWt. Gas turbine is used to replace steam turbine as power generator. The gas turbine converts about a half of the reactor's thermal power to electricity while rejecting the balance as sensible waste heat to be utilized in a multistage flash (MSF) plant for seawater desalination. A new MSF process scheme is proposed and optimized to efficiently match the sensible waste heat source. The new scheme increments the thermal load of the multistage heat recovery section in a number of steps as opposed to keeping it constant in the traditional MSF process. As the number of steps increases, more waste heat is utilized, and top brine temperature for peak water production is increased. Both tend to increase water yield. Operating with a similar number of stages, the new process is shown to produce 45% more water than the traditional process operating over the same temperature range. As a result, the GTHTR300 yields 56,000 m³/d water and generates 280 MWe power at constant efficiency with and without water cogeneration. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A novel design of local-feedback MOS transconductor using techniques for cancellation of mobility degradation and linearization of differential output current characteristic

In this article, a novel design of a local-feedback MOS transconductor using a technique of canceling mobility degradation and a linearization technique of differential output current characteristics is proposed. In the proposed techniques, adaptively biasing current sources are employed to improve linearity deterioration due to mobility degradation effect and to terminate differential output nodes for elimination of second-order nonlinear terms. The proposed transconductor has good linearity. Simulation results show that the proposed techniques are effective for improvement of linear characteristics.