A new methodology to appraise the physical characteristics of maize silage by image processing: effect of the ensiling process

We present a new computer vision method for measuring the physical characteristics of maize silages based on the extraction of image textural features, namely five Haralick features, the moments of order 1 and 2 on the grey levels of the image, and a fractal parameter. To show the effectiveness of these features for characterising the physical properties of the maize silage, a trial was performed on three maize cultivars (Zea mays L, a mid–early hybrid and an early hybrid) to study the effects of the ensiling process. The features could discern effects of the ensiling process on the physical properties of the maize silage. These effects were neither significant by comparing particle size distributions, nor with chemical compositions, whereas a biological response (degradation in the rumen) to the ensiling process exists. Thus image textural features seemed to give new and interesting measurements of the physical properties of the silage, explaining the biological response better than other methods. Furthermore, the ensiling effect was not the same with all the maize types and varied with the proportion of large particles in the silages. Linear relations between features before and after the ensiling process made it possible to predict a measure on a silage knowing its value on the parent forage. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Surface movements in Bologna (Po Plain — Italy) detected by multitemporal DInSAR

We studied the surface deformations affecting the southeastern sector of the Po Plain sedimentary basin, in particular the area of Bologna. To this aim an advanced DInSAR technique, referred to as DInSAR-SBAS (Small BAseline Subset), has been applied. This technique allows monitoring the temporal evolution of a deformation phenomenon, via the generation of mean deformation velocity maps and displacement time series from a data set of acquired SAR images. In particular, we have processed a set of SAR data acquired by the European Remote Sensing Satellite (ERS) sensors and compared the achieved results with optical levelling measurements, assumed as reference. The surface displacements detected by DInSAR SBAS from 1992 to 2000 are between 10 mm/year in the historical part of Bologna town, and up to 59 mm/year in the NE industrial and agricultural areas. Former measurements from optical levelling referred to 1897 show 2-3 mm/year vertical movements. This trend of displacement increased in the second half of the 20th century and the subsidence rate reached 60 mm/year. We compared the more recent levelling campaigns (in 1992 and late 1999) and DInSAR results from 1992 to 1999. The standard deviation of the difference between levelling data, projected onto the satellite Line Of Sight, and DInSAR results is 2 mm/year. This highlights a good agreement between the measurements provided by two different techniques. The explanation of soil movements based on interferometric results, ground data and geological observations, allowed confirming the anthropogenic cause (surface effect due to the overexploitation of the aquifers) and highlights a natural, tectonic, subsidence.     

正交实验优选盐生藻多糖的提取工艺

以盐生藻为原料,盐生藻多糖得率为指标,运用稀酸、稀碱和蒸馏水为提取剂提取盐生藻多糖,得出合适的提取剂为稀酸.进一步的正交实验表明,盐生藻多糖的最适提取工艺为:提取75min,pH=4,固液比为1∶70,温度为95℃.     

用SY87721实现城域网波分复用系统的多业务接入

为了使城域网的DWDM（密集波分复用）系统可以接入多种信号速率和格式，以满足用户的要求，首先介绍了一种波长转换板的设计方法，使用SY87721自适应提取28Mbit／s～2.7Gbit/s之间任意速率信号的时钟，其次介绍了SY87721提取时钟的工作原理、与单片机和CPLD（复杂可编程逻辑器件）的接口方式、对寄存器的配置和读出方式。最后介绍了使用参考时钟测量接入信号频率的方法，这会在系统维护时带来较大的方便。     

Synthesis,extraction, and adsorption properties of calix[4]arene‐poly(ethylene‐glycol) crosslinked polymer

Novel calix[4]arene‐poly(ethylene glycol) crosslinked polymer (CCP) has been synthesized by the polycondensation reaction between a p‐tert‐butylcalix[4]arene derivative and dihydroxyl capped poly(ethylene glycol) (DHPEG, M_n = 1000) catalyzed by neodymium tosylate. The hydrogel, consisted of 66.9% water and 33.1% CCP, can selectively extract aromatic organic molecules from aqueous solution according to the diameter of the guest molecules, which infers that the diameter of the calix[4]arene cavity is about 5.4 Å and the conformation of calix[4]arene units altered from cone conformation to 1,3‐alternate conformation during the polycondensation reaction. Furthermore, CCP can also adsorb naphthalene from gas phase, showing much higher capacity than active carbon does, which may have some potential applications in the field of separation and environment protection. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Wood inspection with non-supervised clustering

Abstract. The appearance of sawn timber has huge natural variations that the human inspector easily compensates for mentally when determining the types of defects and the grade of each board. However, for automatic wood inspection systems these variations are a major source for complication. This makes it difficult to use textbook methodologies for visual inspection. These methodologies generally aim at systems that are trained in a supervised manner with samples of defects and good material, but selecting and labeling the samples is an error-prone process that limits the accuracy that can be achieved. We present a non-supervised clustering-based approach for detecting and recognizing defects in lumber boards. A key idea is to employ a self-organizing map (SOM) for discriminating between sound wood and defects. Human involvement needed for training is minimal. The approach has been tested with color images of lumber boards, and the achieved false detection and error escape rates are low. The approach also provides a self-intuitive visual user interface. Received: 16 December 2000 / Accepted: 8 December 2001 Correspondence to: O. Silvén     

Investigation of the Correlation between Texture and Microstructure on a Submicrometer Scale in the TEM

In recent years the investigation of local texture and microstructure by analysis of electron backscatter diffraction patterns (EBSP) in the SEM has become a very powerful and popular method. With the introduction of SEM with field emission guns (FEG) the spatial resolution of EBSP measurements could be enhanced from 500 nm with a tungsten emitter to better than 50 nm. This evolution of SEM techniques raises the question whether transmission electron microscopy (TEM) still has fields of application in texture research. The present article answers this question with a clear “yes” and presents three examples of investigations where TEM is indispensable. The three examples comprise the investigation of the correlation between dislocation structure and deformation texture, a study on nucleation mechanisms of recrystallization in highly deformed metals and the investigation of microtexture and microstructure in nanocrystalline materials. Together with the presentation of these cases some of the necessary measurement techniques are described briefly. It is shown that TEM has to be applied when highest spatial resolution of orientation determination and imaging and high accuracy of orientation determination are to be reached, when the three‐dimensional and quantitative characterization of lattice defects is required or when materials with a high density of lattice defects are to be investigated.     

含Zr低合金高强度钢中夹杂物的特性

用电子探针研究了含Zr低合金高强度钢中夹杂物的形貌、大小及分布等特性。结果表明 ,钢样中的夹杂物为圆形 ,呈分散分布 ,其组成系含ZrO2 的复合夹杂物 ,而且MnS依附此复合夹杂物成核和长大。钢中添加少量Zr可明显改善夹杂物形态和分布 ,从而改善钢的强度和韧性