Developing a similarity index for static camouflaged target detection

Measurement of camouflage performance is of fundamental importance for military stealth applications. The goal of camouflage assessment algorithms is to automatically assess the effectiveness of camouflage in agreement with human detection responses. We propose a new method for computational evaluation of camouflage effectiveness. We evaluate the performance of the new method and other existing algorithms in a comparative setting which utilised an extensive human visual experiment. The results show that the new method is correlated with the human target searching results with higher correlations than the existing algorithms.     

Comparison between the Classic Sensor Embedding Method and the Monitoring Patch Embedding Method for Composites Instrumentation

In this paper, the classic embedding technique, with bared sensors, and a recent proposal, the monitoring patch, are compared with the aim to improve the composites in-core instrumentation. The monitoring patch emerges with the need to industrialize sensors integration inside composite structures; thus, a complete evaluation of its mechanical performance has to be done. Numerical and experimental campaigns are carried out on elementary carbon-epoxy coupons to evaluate the benefits and disadvantages of this procedure compared with the typical interlayer sensor embedding. The results show that the use of monitoring patch does not affect significantly the mechanical performance of instrumented coupons. An instrumentation transfer function (ITF) is proposed to link the information that electronic devices can detect, the mechanical phenomena around these electronic devices and the measurements data acquired by global or local techniques (DIC, FEM, gauges). A good correlation between the strain data acquired and the strain values calculated by FEM confirms the approach of the ITF to evaluate the influence of the monitoring patch on the measured signal.     

Porcine troponin I: a thermostable species marker protein

In this study, we confirmed our previous hypothesis that the 24 kD thermostable skeletal muscle protein (TSMP) recognized by a panel of porcine-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) is skeletal troponin I (sTnI). The TSMP and sTnI purified from porcine muscle have identical electrophoretic mobilities, isoelectric characteristics, and specific antigenicities. The heterogeneity of sTnI between porcine and other species, and between porcine sTnI and other troponin subunits or cardiac isoforms can be immunologically differentiated by the MAbs. Heat treatment of sTnI up to 126?°C for 120 min did not diminish its solubility and antigenicity. The antigenic specificity and thermal stability of sTnI indicate its potential as a thermostable species marker for the identification of the origin of meats in severely heated products.     

Rapid CO2 Evolution Method for Determining Shelf Life of Refrigerated Catfish

The feasibility of a CO₂ evolution method using an IR analyzer to evaluate the shelf life of refrigerated (4deg;C) catfish was investigated. Aerobic plate count (APC), and isoelectric focusing (IEF) of samples were compared with the CO₂ evolution rate (CER) determinations. The increase in CER (25.78 to 195.63 Lg^?1h^?1) for farm raised catfish stored from 0 to 10 days correlated highly with APCs (4.32 to 10.24 log CFU g^?1). The IEF data also confirmed the APC and CER results. Catfish spoilage was evident after 6 days at 4°C. Direct measurement of CER is a rapid and effective method to determine the microbial quality of catfish.     

Collagen as the Major Edible Component of Jellyfish (Stomolophus nomural)

The mesogloea and skin of a common edible jellyfish, Stomolophus nomurai, were characterized with respect to amino acid composition and compared with a commercially salted jellyfish. Then the mesogloea was digested with pepsin at 3°C for 48 hr and its solubilized protein was isolated and subjected to biochemical analyses. These composite results have shown that the major edible component of jellyfish was the connective tissue protein, collagen, characterized by its high content of hydroxylysine and its glycosides.     

Textural properties of gelling system of low-methoxy pectins produced by demethoxylating reaction of pectin methyl esterase

ABSTRACT:  After deesterification of commercial pectins with a pectin methyl esterase (PME), their gelling properties were characterized using instrumental texture analysis. The final degree of esterification (DE) of the high- and low-methoxy pectins reached approximately 6% after the PME treatment, while deesterification of low-methoxy amidated pectin stopped at 18% DE. Furthermore, DE of high-methoxy pectin was tailored to be 40%, which is equivalent to the DE of commercial low-methoxy pectin. As a result, significant changes in molecular weight (Mw) distribution were observed in the PME-treated pectins. The texture profile analysis showed that PME modification drastically increased hardness, gumminess, and chewiness, while decreasing cohesiveness and adhesiveness of the pectin gels ( P < 0.05). The pectin gel with relatively high peak molecular weight (Mp, 3.5 × 10⁵) and low DE (6), which was produced from high-methoxy pectin, exhibited the greatest hardness, gumminess, chewiness, and resilience. The hardness of low-methoxy amidated pectin increased over 300% after PME deesterification, suggesting that the effects of amide substitution could be reinforced when DE is even lower. The partial least square regression analysis indicated that the Mw and DE of the pectin molecule are the most crucial factors for hardness, chewiness, gumminess, and resilience of gel matrix.     

Differing effects of 2 active dried yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) strains on ruminal acidosis and methane production in nonlactating dairy cows

Fifteen ruminally cannulated, nonlactating Holstein cows were used to measure the effects of 2 strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, fed as active dried yeasts, on ruminal pH and fermentation and enteric methane (CH₄) emissions. Nonlactating cows were blocked by total duration (h) that their ruminal pH was below 5.8 during a 6-d pre-experimental period. Within each block, cows were randomly assigned to control (no yeast), yeast strain 1 (Levucell SC), or yeast strain 2 (a novel strain selected for enhanced in vitro fiber degradation), with both strains (Lallemand Animal Nutrition, Montréal, QC, Canada) providing 1 × 10¹⁰ cfu/head per day. Cows were fed once daily a total mixed ration consisting of a 50:50 forage to concentrate ratio (dry matter basis). The yeast strains were dosed via the rumen cannula daily at the time of feeding. During the 35-d experiment, ruminal pH was measured continuously for 7 d (d 22 to 28) by using an indwelling system, and CH₄ gas was measured for 4 d (d 32 to 35) using the sulfur hexafluoride tracer gas technique (with halters and yokes). Rumen contents were sampled on 2 d (d 22 and 26) at 0, 3, and 6 h after feeding. Dry matter intake, body weight, and apparent total-tract digestibility of nutrients were not affected by yeast feeding. Strain 2 decreased the average daily minimum (5.35 vs. 5.65 or 5.66), mean (5.98 vs. 6.24 or 6.34), and maximum ruminal pH (6.71 vs. 6.86 or 6.86), and prolonged the time that ruminal pH was below 5.8 (7.5 vs. 3.3 or 1.0  h/d) compared with the control or strain 1, respectively. The molar percentage of acetate was lower and that of propionate was greater in the ruminal fluid of cows receiving strain 2 compared with cows receiving no yeast or strain 1. Enteric CH₄ production adjusted for intake of dry matter or gross energy, however, did not differ between either yeast strain compared with the control but it tended to be reduced by 10% when strain 2 was compared with strain 1. The study shows that different strains of S. cerevisiae fed as active dried yeasts vary in their ability to modify the rumen fermentative pattern in nonlactating dairy cows. Because strain 2 tended (when compared with strain 1) to lower CH₄ emissions but increase the risk of acidosis, it may be prudent to further evaluate this strain in cattle fed high-forage diets, for which the risk of acidosis is low but CH₄ emissions are high.     

Inference of gene regulation via miRNAs during ES cell differentiation using MiRaGE method

MicroRNA (miRNA) is a critical regulator of cell growth, differentiation, and development. To identify important miRNAs in a biological process, many bioinformatical tools have been developed. We have developed MiRaGE (MiRNA Ranking by Gene Expression) method to infer the regulation of gene expression by miRNAs from changes of gene expression profiles. The method does not require precedent array normalization. We applied the method to elucidate possibly important miRNAs during embryonic stem (ES) cell differentiation to neuronal cells and we infer that certain miRNAs, including miR-200 family, miR-429, miR-302 family, and miR-17-92 cluster members may be important to the maintenance of undifferentiated status in ES cells.     

Current asthma and respiratory symptoms among pupils in Shanghai, China: influence of building ventilation, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and formaldehyde in classrooms

We investigated 10 naturally ventilated schools in Shanghai, in winter. Pupils (13-14 years) in 30 classes received a questionnaire, 1414 participated (99%). Classroom temperatures were 13-21 degrees C (mean 17 degrees C), relative air humidity was 36-82% (mean 56%). The air exchange rate was 2.9-29.4 ac/h (mean 9.1), because of window opening. Mean CO2 exceeded 1000 ppm in 45% of the classrooms. NO2 levels were 33-85 microg/m3 indoors, and 45-80 microg/m3 outdoors. Ozone were 1-9 microg/m3 indoors and 17-28 microg/m3 outdoors. In total, 8.9% had doctors' diagnosed asthma, 3.1% wheeze, 23.0% daytime breathlessness, 2.4% current asthma, and 2.3% asthma medication. Multiple logistic regression was applied. Observed indoor molds was associated with asthma attacks [odds ratio (OR) = 2.40: P < 0.05]. Indoor temperature was associated with daytime breathlessness (OR = 1.26 for 1 C; P < 0.001), and indoor CO2 with current asthma (OR = 1.18 for 100 ppm; P < 0.01) and asthma medication (OR = 1.15 for 100 ppm; P < 0.05). Indoor NO2 was associated with current asthma (OR = 1.51 for 10 microg/m3; P < 0.01) and asthma medication (OR = 1.45 for 10 microg/m3; P < 0.01). Outdoor NO2 was associated with current asthma (OR = 1.44 for 10 microg/m3; P < 0.05). Indoor and outdoor ozone was negatively associated with daytime breathlessness. In conclusion, asthma symptoms among pupils in Shanghai can be influenced by lack of ventilation and outdoor air pollution from traffic. Practical Implications Most urban schools in Asia are naturally ventilated buildings, often situated in areas with heavy ambient air pollution from industry or traffic. The classes are large, and window opening is the only way to remove indoor pollutants, but this results in increased exposure to outdoor air pollution. There is a clear need to improve the indoor environment in these schools. Building dampness and indoor mold growth should be avoided, and the concept of mechanical ventilation should be introduced. City planning aiming to situate new schools away from roads with heavy traffic should be considered.     

Inclined slot-excited annular electron cyclotron resonance plasma source for hyperthermal neutral beam generation

An inclined slot-excited antenna (ISLAN) electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma source is newly designed and constructed for higher flux hyperthermal neutral beam (HNB) generation. The developed ISLAN source is modified from vertical slot-excited antenna (VSLAN) source in two aspects: one is the use of inclined slots instead of vertical slots, and the other is a cusp magnetic field configuration rather than a toroidal configuration. Such modifications allow us to have more uniform arrangement of slots and magnets, then enabling plasma generation more uniform and thinner. Moreover, ECR plasma allows higher ionization rate, enabling plasma density higher even in submillitorr pressures, therefore decreasing the collision rate and∕or the reionization rate of the reflected atoms while passing through the plasma, and eventually getting higher flux of HNBs. In this paper, we report the design features and the plasma characteristics of the ISLAN source by doing plasma measurements and electromagnetic simulations. It was found that ISLAN source can be a high potential source for larger flux HNB generation; the source was found to give higher plasma densities and better uniformities than inductively coupled plasma source, particularly in low pressure ranges. Also, it is important that using ISLAN gives easier matching and better stability, i.e., ISLAN shows similar field patterns and good plasma symmetries irrespective of the variations of the mean diameter of the ring resonator and∕or the presence of a limiter or a reflector, and the operating pressures.