Rotation-invariant texture features from the steered Hermite transform

We propose the steered Hermite transform to analyze and capture visual patterns from textures regardless their orientation. Visual texture information is locally described as one dimensional patterns by steering the Cartesian Hermite coefficients according to the energy direction; therefore, no predefined orientation selective filters are required. We evaluate classification accuracy of some texture features individually. During the training stage, a filter selection strategy based on the augmented variance ratio analysis of the training features is employed in order to determine the filters that provide better classification accuracy and reduce computational costs during the classification stage.     

Synthesis and Surface Properties of Succinic Acid End-Capped Alkyl-Polyxylosides

Synthesis and surfactant properties and biodegradation of succinylated alkyl polyxylosides is described for the first time. The esterification of succinic anhydride with alkyl polyxylosides was achieved without solvent and the substitution degree controlled over a certain range. The surfactant properties were studied as a function of substitution degree. Their biodegradation was studied following OECD guidelines. The results have confirmed that the new synthetic approach described in this paper is a potentially economical and efficient method for the preparation of a new range of environmental friendly surfactants.     

Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions in vehicle routing problems with backhauling

In this paper, the decrease in the emission of greenhouse gases is evaluated using the vehicle routing problem with backhauls and time windows by considering the energy required for each route and estimating the load and distance between customers. Using a scatter search, problems from the literature with up to 100 randomly distributed customers were analyzed. Our results indicate that the distance traveled and the transportation costs increase as the required energy decreases, but the amount of fuel consumed also decreases; therefore, the emission of greenhouse gases also decreases. In some cases, the number of vehicles remains the same or increases because a better solution is achieved with shorter, better distributed routes. In addition, using a cooperative game approach, we found that different transportation companies operating jointly results in decreased emissions as well as operating costs.     

Beyond the Hybridization Effects in Plasmonic Nanoclusters: Diffraction‐Induced Enhanced Absorption and Scattering

It is demonstrated hererin both theoretically and experimentally that Young's interference can be observed in plasmonic structures when two or three nanoparticles with separation on the order of the wavelength are illuminated simultaneously by a plane wave. This effect leads to the formation of intermediate‐field hybridized modes with a character distinct of those mediated by near‐field and/or far‐field radiative effects. The physical mechanism for the enhancement of absorption and scattering of light due to plasmonic Young's interference is revealed, which we explain through a redistribution of the Poynting vector field and the formation of near‐field subwavelength optical vortices.     

Prediction of fatigue crack growth in steel bridge components using acoustic emission

The correlation of acoustic emission (AE) signal characteristics with crack growth behavior is of paramount importance to structural health monitoring and prognosis for in-service steel bridges. Relationships between AE absolute energy rate and crack growth rate are developed and presented. The relationships are based on experimental investigations intended to represent conditions found for in-service steel bridges. The approach presented is independent of the stress intensity range, which may simplify the life prediction procedure because stress intensity range is not always well defined in actual bridge components. Fatigue tests were performed to detect AE signals from fatigue cracks using compact tension (CT) specimens made of ASTM A572G50. Noise induced AE signals were filtered through a combined approach involving Swansong II Filters and investigation of waveforms, which are appropriate for data filtering and interpretation of field tests. Based on the experimental data and presented model, procedures for predicting crack extension and remaining fatigue life were carried out. Agreement between the predicted cracks and actual cracks verified the presented model and procedure. The study indicates that AE absolute energy rate may be more suitable than count rate in fatigue life prediction for the material of interest.     

Isolation of Bacillus circulans and Paenibacillus polymyxa strains inhibitory to Campylobacter jejuni and characterization of associated bacteriocins

We evaluated anti-Campylobacter activity among 365 Bacillus and Paenibacillus isolates from poultry production environments. One novel antagonistic Bacillus circulans and three Paenibacillus polymyxa strains were identified and further studied. Cell-free ammonium sulfate precipitate (crude antimicrobial preparation) was obtained from each candidate culture. Zones of Campylobacter growth inhibition surrounding 10 microl of this crude antimicrobial preparation were quantified using a spot test. Campylobacter growth resumed when the preparation was preincubated with selected protease enzymes, demonstrating peptide characteristics consistent with a bacteriocin. These peptides were further purified using combinations of molecular mass resolution and ion exchange chromatography. Molecular masses of the peptides were estimated at approximately 3,500 Da by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Isoelectric focusing was used to determine the pI values of the peptides. Amino acid sequences of the bacteriocins and more precise molecular masses were obtained by matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) analysis. The bacteriocin from P. polymyxa NRRL B-30507 had a pI of 4.8, that from P. polymyxa NRRL B-30509 had a pI of 7.2, that from P. polymyxa NRRL B-30508 had a pI of 4.8, and that from B. circulans NRRL B-30644 had a pI of 7.8. The amino acid sequences were consistent with those of class IIa bacteriocins. These antagonists and the corresponding bacteriocins may be useful in the control of Campylobacter infection in poultry.     

Oil-in-water monitoring using membrane inlet mass spectrometry

A membrane inlet mass spectrometry (MIMS) system has been used for detection and analysis of two types of North Sea crude oil. The system was installed on-field on the Flotta Oil Terminal (Orkney, UK). It consisted of a quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS) connected to the capillary probe with a silicone-based membrane. The produced mass spectra and calibration plots from the MIMS instrument showed the capability to measure levels of individual hydrocarbons within crude oil in seawater. The generated mass spectra from the field tests also showed the ability to distinguish between different types of oil and to determine concentrations of toxic hydrocarbons in oil (e.g., benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX)). The performance of the instrument at different temperatures of seawater and oil droplet sizes was also investigated. The results showed that the QMS-based MIMS system has a potential to complement existing oil-in-water (OiW) monitors by being able to detect different oil types and specific hydrocarbon concentrations with high accuracy, which are currently not supported in commercially available OiW monitors.