MRF–MAP–MFT visual object segmentation based on motion boundary field

In our earlier work, a two-pass motion estimation algorithm (TPA) was developed to estimate a motion field for two adjacent frames in an image sequence where contextual constraints are handled by several Markov random fields (MRFs) and the maximum a posteriori (MAP) configuration is taken to be the resulting motion field. In order to provide a trade-off between efficiency and effectiveness, the mean field theory (MFT) was selected to carry out the optimization process to locate the MAP with desirable performance. Given that currently in the disciplines of digital library [IEEE Trans. PAMI 18 (8) (1996); IEEE Trans. Image Process. 11 (8) (2002) 912] and video processing [IEEE Trans. Circ. Sys. Video Tech. 7 (1) (1997)] of utmost interest are the extraction and representation of visual objects, instead of estimating motion field, in this paper we focus on segmenting out visual objects based on spatial and temporal properties present in two contiguous frames in the same MRF–MAP–MFT framework. To achieve object segmentation, a “motion boundary field” is introduced which can turn off interactions between different object regions and in the mean time remove spurious object boundaries. Furthermore, in light of the generally smooth and slow velocities in-between two contiguous frames, we discover that in the process of calculating matching blocks, assigning different weights to different locations can result in better object segmentation. Experimental results conducted on both synthetic and real-world videos demonstrate encouraging performance.     

An analysis of the severity and incident duration of truck-involved freeway accidents

Data associated with over 9000 accidents involving large trucks and combination vehicles during a two-year period on freeways in the greater Los Angeles area are analyzed relative to collision factors, accident severity, and incident duration and lane closures. Relationships between type of collision and accident characteristics are explored using log-linear models. The results point to significant differences in several immediate consequences of truck-related freeway accidents according to collision type. These differences are associated both with the severity of the accident, in terms of injuries and fatalities, as well as with the impact of the accident on system performance, in terms of incident duration and lane closures. Hit-object and broadside collisions were the most severe types in terms of fatalities and injuries, respectively, and single-vehicle accidents are relatively more severe than two-vehicle accidents. The durations of accident incidents were found to be log-normally distributed for homogeneous groups of truck accidents, categorized according to type of collision and, in some instances, severity. The longest durations are typically associated with overturns.     

Impact of Rutin and Other Phenolic Substances on the Digestibility of Buckwheat Grain Metabolites

Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum Gaertn.) is grown in eastern and central Asia (the Himalayan regions of China, Nepal, Bhutan and India) and in central and eastern Europe (Luxemburg, Germany, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina). It is known for its high concentration of rutin and other phenolic metabolites. Besides the grain, the other aboveground parts of Tartary buckwheat contain rutin as well. After the mixing of the milled buckwheat products with water, the flavonoid quercetin is obtained in the flour–water mixture, a result of rutin degradation by rutinosidase. Heating by hot water or steam inactivates the rutin-degrading enzymes in buckwheat flour and dough. The low buckwheat protein digestibility is due to the high content of phenolic substances. Phenolic compounds have low absorption after food intake, so, after ingestion, they remain for some time in the gastrointestinal tract. They can act in an inhibitory manner on enzymes, degrading proteins and other food constituents. In common and Tartary buckwheat, the rutin and quercetin complexation with protein and starch molecules has an impact on the in vitro digestibility and the appearance of resistant starch and slowly digestible proteins. Slowly digestible starch and proteins are important for the functional and health-promoting properties of buckwheat products.     

Process of unsaturated polyester resin synthesis on a laboratory and industrial scale

A study of the progress of the synthesis of unsaturated polyesters, based on anhydrides of phthalic and maleic acid and propylene glycol without added catalysts was done. The reaction was carried out on a laboratory and industrial scale. The acid number and molecular weight distribution were determined. In the laboratory synthesis the, amount of water produced during the reaction was also measured. Two steps in the reactions were observed. The first is the reaction of anhydrides with glycol producing monoester which is followed by step-growth polymerization reaction producing polymer. The kinetics of step-growth polymerization reaction was found to be third order with an activation energy of E_a = 54.3 kJ mol^?1 and k_o = 15.2 kg²mol^?2s^?1. The kinetic model was prepared and compared with results obtained from reactions carried out on an industrial scale. A method is presented for determining a heating program based on a limited reaction rate and a maximal reaction temperature for a particular system. The MWD of polyester resin was determined and disagreement was found compared to the “most probable” MWD.     

Kinetics and modeling of diethylene glycol bisallyl carbonate bulk polymerization

The free‐radical polymerization kinetics of diethylene glycol bisallyl carbonate in bulk were investigated with Fourier transform infrared and Fourier transform Raman techniques in a wide temperature range of 50–140°C with four different peroxide initiators. In addition, the ratios of the degradative kinetic rate constant to the propagation rate constant under different reaction conditions were obtained from molecular weight measurements under various reaction conditions. The ratio of the chemically controlled termination and propagation rate constants of the polymerization system were obtained with the initial rates of polymerization and the number‐average molecular weight data, which were between 8.22 × 10^?5 and 1.47 × 10^?3 L mol^?1 s^?1. The initiator efficiencies were evaluated with special experiments at low initiator concentrations with the theory of dead‐end polymerization. The computed conversions from the developed kinetic model were in good agreement with the conversion and molecular weight measured data. The values of the diffusion‐controlled propagation and termination rate constants, with clear and physical meaning, were the only two parameters obtained from the developed kinetic model fitting the measured conversion points. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 345–357, 2005     

Step-growth polymerization of maleic anhydride and 1,2-propylene glycol

The NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) and GPC (gel permeation chromatography) studies of the polymerization of maleic anhydride and 1,2-propylen glycol are reported. Assignment of individual groups was made and their concentration dependence on reaction time was established. The first step of the reaction is the formation of monoesters, which, immediately after the temperature increased, reacted to diesters. The reactivity ratio between the primary and the secondary hydroxyl group of 1,2-propylene glycol was 2.6:1. The concentration of water formed was followed as a function of reaction time by the Karl–Fischer method.     

VIS absorption spectrophotometry of disperse dyes

In the investigations of the dyeing processes, the low solubility of disperse dyes in water represents a practical problem for the determination of dye concentration in dyebaths and waste waters. Therefore the use of an organic solvent which, dissolves disperse dyes, is recommended in visible spectrophotometry of disperse dyes. Three organic solvents (ethanol, N,N-dimethylformamide, acetone) and two disperse dyes, the disazo dye C.I. Disperse Orange 29 and the anthraquinone dye C.I. Disperse Blue 56, were used for spectroscopic analysis in this present work. The absorbance of aqueous dye dispersions and various organic solvent dye solutions was measured to evaluate the effect of the solvent on the shape and intensity of the absorption spectra and on the wavelength shift of maximum absorption. The validity of Beer–Lambert’s law in each system was ascertained. A suggestion is made how VIS absorption spectrophotometry can be used to determine the dye concentration in disperse dyebaths. The addition of organic solvent to the dyebath leads to dye dissolution, and the Beer-Lambert’s law is then fulfilled. The optimum ratio between the dyebath dispersion and the organic solvents for the dyes investigated is also determined.