A model for the gray-intensity distribution of historical handwritten documents and its application for binarization

In this article, our goal is to describe mathematically and experimentally the gray-intensity distributions of the fore- and background of handwritten historical documents. We propose a local pixel model to explain the observed asymmetrical gray-intensity histograms of the fore- and background. Our pixel model states that, locally, the gray-intensity histogram is the mixture of gray-intensity distributions of three pixel classes. Following our model, we empirically describe the smoothness of the background for different types of images. We show that our model has potential application in binarization. Assuming that the parameters of the gray-intensity distributions are correctly estimated, we show that thresholding methods based on mixtures of lognormal distributions outperform thresholding methods based on mixtures of normal distributions. Our model is supported with experimental tests that are conducted with extracted images from DIBCO 2009 and H-DIBCO 2010 benchmarks. We also report results for all four DIBCO benchmarks.     

Product information systems engineering: an approach for building product models by reuse of patterns

This paper deals with an approach for Product Information Systems (PIS) engineering by reuse of patterns. Patterns form generic solutions to problems frequently occurring during PIS specification and implementation. The pattern approach provides an engineering guide to model data by organizing hierarchically and functionally modeling problems and the manner to resolve them. Their use would contribute to accelerate building and implementing product and process models during PIS specification and implementation. Two kind of patterns are distinguished: business patterns used for specification and providing solutions for application field problems and software patterns used for implementation and providing solutions for technical problems (software). A special interest is given to identify and specify different business patterns for product modeling during PIS specification.However, a pattern-based approach can be developed only for disciplines which acquired a certain maturity, i.e. those for which there is both a consensus around a finite set of problems and a variety of known solutions for solving these problems. There is no universal agreement on the knowledge needed in product information systems, let alone on the representation of this knowledge and we therefore find it impossible to discuss product information systems without reference to what kind of knowledge is being managed. The first step consisted thus of constructing a general reference framework based on PIS concepts, providing a common terminology and a semantic of the principal concepts managed in PIS and proposing various models to fix these concepts. It forms a basis for exploring the problems frequently occurring during PIS specification. A pattern language is thus defined to resolve the identified problems, basing partially on existing design pattern catalogues.     

REACTIVE AGENT DESIGN FOR INTELLIGENT TUTORING SYSTEMS

This paper presents a new approach to the analysis and design of intelligent tutoring systems (ITS), based on reactive principles and cognitive models, this way leading to multiagent architecture. In these kinds of models, the analysis problem is treated bottom-up, as opposed to that of traditional artificial intelligence (AI), i.e., top down. We present one ITS example called Makatsina (meaning tutor in TOTONACA, a Mexican pre-Columbian language), constructed according to this approach, which teaches the skills necessary to solve the truss analysis problem by the method of joints. This learning domain is an integration skill. The classical ITS work is based on explicit goals and an internal representation of the environment. The new approach has reactive agents which have no representation of their environment and act using a stimulus response behavior type. In this way they can respond to the present state of the environment in which they are embedded. With these elements, errors, and teaching plans, each agent behaves as an expert assistant that is able to handle different teaching methods. Reactive agent programming is found to be simple because agents have simple behaviors. The difficulty lies in the interaction mechanism analysis and design between the environment and the intelligent reactive system.     

The Effect of Harvesting Time on Olive Fruits and Oils Quality Parameters of Tortiglione and Dritta Olive Cultivars

Despite the fact that Italy holds the most important olives heritage in the world, with about 800 cultivars, most of them are still underestimated, in particular those from Abruzzo, a region located in the center of the peninsula. The aim of this work is to study the changes in quality parameters of olive fruits and related oils of two autochthonous Abruzzo olive cultivars, Tortiglione and Dritta during ripening (from September to November 2017). Both cultivar and ripening time affect the chemical parameters of olive fruits. Results highlight an increasing trend of the oil content with final values, based on fresh matter, of 38.7 ± 0.3% and 38.1 ± 0.9% for Tortiglione and Dritta, respectively. Olive oils chemical composition is also affected by ripening time and cultivar, with Tortiglione oils resulting generally richer than Dritta oils; on the first sampling time (30th of October) values for total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and chlorophylls are 803.8 ± 68.2 mg gallic acid equivalent kg⁻¹, 2.7 ± 0.5 mmol trolox equivalent kg⁻¹, and 30.8 ± 1.6 mg pheophytin a kg⁻¹, respectively. Tocopherols seem to be more affected by ripening time than by cultivar, in particular for Dritta. Practical Application : The results on Abruzzo minor olive cultivars indicate that olive fruits and olive oil composition are strongly influenced by both cultivar and ripening time, giving rational indications about the optimal cultivar specific harvesting time and opening interesting opportunities for olive oil producers in a perspective of sustainable production to obtain high quality fruits and oils. The research provides detailed information about Tortiglione and Dritta olive cultivar, useful in the global context of revaluation of Italian minor olive varieties.     

Cognitive task analysis: a proposal to model reactive behaviours

A tentative analysis and design of behaviours to be implemented in robots has been developed. For that purpose we have analysed the human behaviour of the person who executes the robot task. Afterwards we have transferred this analysis to the robot in charge of the same task. The cognitive task analysis, a powerful tool coming from cognitive psychology, has been used to study the behaviour granularity of the robots. This analysis is of paramount importance because the implementation of more sophisticated robot behaviours depends on the appropriate selection of the basic robot behaviours. The paper introduces a brief explanation of different types of robot architectures, and our motivation, to give, later on, some ideas concerning the cognitive task analysis and the used methods; finally, as an example, the behaviour of a postman is modelled by using those tools to get the necessary behaviours for a robot in charge of that task.     

Nutraceutical Properties of Flour and Tortillas Made with an Ecological Nixtamalization Process

The traditional nixtamalization (TN) process, used for obtaining maize‐based products, negatively affects bioactive compounds because of its highly alkaline pH. Recently, an ecological nixtamalization (EN) process has been developed that retains the pericarp and maintains the nejayote (wastewater) within the acidic‐neutral range. This study examines the effect of pH on the nutraceutical compounds (NC) of maize, such as polyphenolics and anthocyanins (ANT), as well as the effect on the antioxidant capacity (AC). The highest concentration of total phenolics (TP) in the maize kernel was found in the black and yellow genotypes, the highest concentration of ANT in the black genotypes, and the highest concentration of AC in the red and white genotypes. In the flour, TP levels were between 206 to 400 mg GA/100 g, ANT levels were 141 to 4107 mg cyanidin‐3 glucoside/kg, and AC levels were 2544 to 3001 mg AA/kg. In tortillas, TP levels were 255 to 319 mg GA/100 g, ANT levels were 32 to 3420 mg cyanidin‐3 glucoside/kg, and AC levels were from 1513 to 2695 mg AA/kg. The reduced loss of soluble solids, the pH, and the formation of compounds with proteins and carbohydrates from the EN process positively affected NC retention.     

Dual Farnesoid X Receptor/Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Modulators Derived from Zafirlukast

The nuclear farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and the enzyme soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) are validated molecular targets to treat metabolic disorders such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Their simultaneous modulation in vivo has demonstrated a triad of anti-NASH effects and thus may generate synergistic efficacy. Here we report dual FXR activators/sEH inhibitors derived from the anti-asthma drug Zafirlukast. Systematic structural optimization of the scaffold has produced favorable dual potency on FXR and sEH while depleting the original cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonism of the lead drug. The resulting polypharmacological activity profile holds promise in the treatment of liver-related metabolic diseases.     

RhII-Catalyzed De-symmetrization of Ethane-1,2-dithiol and Propane-1,3-dithiol Yields Metallo-β-lactamase Inhibitors

Diversity-oriented synthesis (DOS) is a rich source for novel lead structures in Medicinal Chemistry. In this study, we present a DOS-compatible method for synthesis of compounds bearing a free thiol moiety. The procedure relies on Rh(II)-catalyzed coupling of dithiols to diazo building blocks. The synthetized library was probed against metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) NDM-1 and VIM-1. Biochemical and biological evaluation led to identification of novel potent MBL inhibitors with antibiotic adjuvant activity.