Parameter selection for region‐growing image segmentation algorithms using spatial autocorrelation

Region‐growing segmentation algorithms are useful for remote sensing image segmentation. These algorithms need the user to supply control parameters, which control the quality of the resulting segmentation. An objective function is proposed for selecting suitable parameters for region‐growing algorithms to ensure best quality results. It considers that a segmentation has two desirable properties: each of the resulting segments should be internally homogeneous and should be distinguishable from its neighbourhood. The measure combines a spatial autocorrelation indicator that detects separability between regions and a variance indicator that expresses the overall homogeneity of the regions.     

Highly reflective fiber Bragg gratings written through a vinylether fiber coating

Highly reflective fiber Bragg gratings (reflectivity >99.99%, -45 dB in transmission) have been written through a 55-μm-thick novel polymer fiber coating in a low (5 mole%) germania-doped optical fiber. The coating is based on vinyl ether chemistry using a cationic photoinitiator     

Effects on nutrient digestion of wheat processing and methods of tallow addition to the diets of lactating dairy cows

Five multiparous Holstein cows in midlactation that were fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulas were used in a 3 x 5 incomplete Latin square. The objective of this study was to examine the effects on nutrient digestion of wheat processing and method of tallow addition to the diets of lactating dairy cows. Diets consisted of 45% forage and 55% concentrate, and each diet contained 20% wheat and 2% tallow (as-fed basis). Treatments were dry-rolled wheat with tallow added to the concentrate, steam-rolled wheat with tallow added to the concentrate, and steam-rolled wheat with tallow added first to the wheat. The dry matter intake; digestion of starch, fiber, and fatty acids; ammonia N concentration; and molar proportions of volatile fatty acids in ruminal fluid were not affected by treatments. The apparent digestibility in the total tract of organic matter and nitrogenous compounds was significantly higher for the steam-rolled treatment with tallow added first to the wheat. Mean ruminal fluid pH was similar across treatments; however, cows fed the diet containing steam-rolled wheat with tallow added first to the wheat had the smallest pH change from 0 to 2 h postfeeding. Milk yield did not differ, regardless of cow diet. Method of tallow addition had marked effects on the apparent digestibility of organic matter and N in the total tract of lactating dairy cows.     

Jack-Bean Starch. 1. Properties of the Granules and of the Pastes

Jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis) starch is composed of granules measuring up to 37 micra. Gelatinization temperatures of the granules range from 67.5 to 78 °C. Its pastes, in concentrations up to 6 % did not show swelling peak which appears only in high concentrations. They are very stable during stirring, both at low and high temperatures. They are also more resistant to α-amylase bacterial action than those of corn starch. The results, both for granules and pastes of this starch, show a great resemblance with the same data for guandu bean.     

Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH): Risk Factors in Morbidly Obese Patients

The aim was to investigate the prevalence of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and risk factors for hepatic fibrosis in morbidly obese patients submitted to bariatric surgery. This retrospective study recruited all patients submitted to bariatric surgery from January 2007 to December 2012 at a reference attendance center of Southern Brazil. Clinical and biochemical data were studied as a function of the histological findings of liver biopsies done during the surgery. Steatosis was present in 226 (90.4%) and NASH in 176 (70.4%) cases. The diagnosis of cirrhosis was established in four cases (1.6%) and fibrosis in 108 (43.2%). Risk factors associated with NASH at multivariate analysis were alanine aminotransferase (ALT) >1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN); glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL and triglycerides ≥ 150 mg/dL. All patients with ALT ≥1.5 times the ULN had NASH. When the presence of fibrosis was analyzed, ALT > 1.5 times the ULN and triglycerides ≥ 150 mg/dL were risk factors, furthermore, there was an increase of 1% in the prevalence of fibrosis for each year of age increase. Not only steatosis, but NASH is a frequent finding in MO patients. In the present study, ALT ≥ 1.5 times the ULN identifies all patients with NASH, this finding needs to be further validated in other studies. Moreover, the presence of fibrosis was associated with ALT, triglycerides and age, identifying a subset of patients with more severe disease.     

Electroactive Polymeric Networks Created by Oxidation of Oligothiophene‐Functionalized Perylene Bisimides

A series of fourfold oligothienyl‐functionalized perylene bisimides, N,N′‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)‐1,6,7,12‐tetra(4‐(7‐[2,2′]bithien‐5‐yl)‐heptanoyloxyphenoxy)perylene‐3,4:9,10‐tetracarboxylic acid bisimide ( 7a ), N,N′‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)‐1,6,7,12‐tetra(4‐(7‐[2,2′;5′,2′′]terthien‐5‐yl)‐heptanoyloxyphenoxy)perylene‐3,4:9,10‐tetracarboxylic acid bisimide ( 7b ), and N,N′‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)‐1,6,7,12‐tetra(4‐(7‐(5″‐Methyl‐[2,2′;5′,2″]terthien‐5‐yl))‐heptanoyloxyphenoxy)perylene‐3,4:9,10‐tetracarboxylic acid bisimide ( 7c ), have been synthesized. Oligothienyl and perylene bisimide chromophores in these dyads display their characteristic optical UV/vis absorption properties. Upon excitation of the oligothiophene subunits, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) occurs to the perylene bisimide core. Cyclic voltammetric studies revealed that the reduction of the perylene bisimide moiety is not affected by the presence of oligothiophenes, showing two waves at around ‐0.7 and ‐1.0 V versus Ag/AgCl, respectively. On the other hand, the oxidation of the oligothienyl moieties leads to oxidative coupling for 7a and 7b , providing electroactive sexithiophene‐ and quaterthiophene‐perylene bisimide networks, respectively. Electrochemical deposition of compounds 7a , b was performed and the films were characterized using cyclic voltammetry and in situ conductance, which reveal remarkable p‐type conductivity. Significantly, two separate regimes of electrical conductance have been observed for the films generated from 7b .     

Optimal Design of 1 Phase Linear Oscillatory PM Motor Series for Small Compressor Like Drives: With FEM and Self-Starting Transients Validation

Refrigerator compressors are currently driven mostly by rotary line start or variable-speed (inverter-fed) motors with mechanical transmission. Direct driving of pistons by linear oscillatory resonant PM 1 phase motors has just been introduced to low power (less than 100 W) such applications. The present paper introduces a 3 pole PM mover 1 phase PM linear oscillatory motors, in terms of optimal nonlinear analytical design methodology, with FEM and dynamics validation. Both 50 and 250 Hz (inverter fed) operation for 2000 and 100 W is exemplified for minimum active materials costs and, respectively, minimum global costs (losses capitalized cost is added). For the line start case study (at 2000 W, 50 Hz) a circuit model for transients is introduced and the motor self-starting transients with full power delivery at above 91% efficiency is available. The 50 Hz motors are heavier around (5.7 kg/kW at 2000 W and 7.5 kg/kW at 100 W, respectively) than the 250 Hz motors around (1.2 kg/kW, 3 kg/kW) but the latter require inverter control.     

Investigation of degradation of polypropylene in soil using an enzymatic additive

Polypropylene (PP) has been widely used industrially in several sectors, mainly in the use of packaging of different products. Thus, this has been accumulated in our environment due to the incorrect disposal and its high resistance toward degradation, causing an array of environmental impacts. With this, one alternative that has been explored to minimize the problems intensified by these residues is the use of pro-degrading additives. Therefore, the aim of this work is to evaluate the degradation process of PP blends in soil using enzymatic additive. The soil degradation experiment was done for 6 months; monthly collected samples were checked for alterations on the material properties during that time. The extent of PP degradation with enzymatic additive was compared to an organic additive by techniques of FTIR, TGA, DSC, carbonyl index (CI), and crystallinity. From the obtained results it was observed that the additives influenced the degradation of PP. In addition, the enzymatic additive caused more significant changes in the CI (increase of 3693%), crystallinity (variation of 18.7%), and structural characteristics, indicating a greater influence on the degradation process in relation to the organic additive. In this way, this work has had an important role in the research and development of biodegradable materials with the aim of minimizing the effects induced by plastic waste in the environment.

     

80 nm spectrally flattened, high power erbium amplified spontaneousemission fibre source

A novel two-stage spectrally flattened, high output power erbium amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) fibre source pumped using a single laser diode pump is reported. The source has a bandwidth of 80 nm with a 1 dB ripple and output power of +13 dBm (20 mW)