Approximate Nearest Neighbour Field based Optic Disk Detection

Approximate Nearest Neighbour Field maps are commonly used by computer vision and graphics community to deal with problems like image completion, retargetting, denoising, etc. In this paper, we extend the scope of usage of ANNF maps to medical image analysis, more specifically to optic disk detection in retinal images. In the analysis of retinal images, optic disk detection plays an important role since it simplifies the segmentation of optic disk and other retinal structures. The proposed approach uses FeatureMatch, an ANNF algorithm, to find the correspondence between a chosen optic disk reference image and any given query image. This correspondence provides a distribution of patches in the query image that are closest to patches in the reference image. The likelihood map obtained from the distribution of patches in query image is used for optic disk detection. The proposed approach is evaluated on five publicly available DIARETDB0, DIARETDB1, DRIVE, STARE and MESSIDOR databases, with total of 1540 images. We show, experimentally, that our proposed approach achieves an average detection accuracy of 99% and an average computation time of 0.2 s per image. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Studies on rheocasting using cooling slope

In the present work, a cooling channel is employed to produce semi-solid A356 alloy slurry. To understand the transport process involved, a 3D non-isothermal, multiphase volume averaging model has been developed for simulation of the semi-solid slurry generation process in the cooling channel. For simulation purpose, the three phases considered are the parent melt, the nearly spherical grains and air as separated but highly coupled interpenetrating continua. The conservation equations of mass, momentum, energy and species have been solved for each phase and the thermal and mechanical interactions (drag force) among the phases have been considered using appropriate model. The superheated liquid alloy is poured at the top of the cooling slope/channel, where specified velocity inlet boundary condition is used in the model, and allowed to flow along gravity through the channel. The melt loses its superheat and becomes semisolid up to the end of cooling channel due to the evolving -Al grains with decreasing temperature. The air phase forms a definable air/liquid melt interface, i.e. free surface, due its low density. The results obtained from the present model includes volume fractions of three different phases considered, grain evolution, grain growth rate, size and distribution of solid grains. The effect of key process variables such as pouring temperature, slope angle of the cooling channel and cooling channel wall temperature on temperature distribution, velocity distribution, grain formation and volume fraction of different phases are also studied. The results obtained from the simulations are validated by microstructure study using SEM and quantitative image analysis of the semi-solid slurry microstructure obtained from the experimental set-up.

EVOLUTION OF DEFORMATION FIELDS IN PLOUGHING OF SAND

This paper reports on an experimental study on the ploughing or orthogonal cutting in sand. Plane strain cutting or ploughing experiments were carried out on model Ottawa sand while being imaged at high resolution. The images obtained were further processed using image analysis and the evolution of the velocity and deformation fields were obtained from these analysis. The deformation fields show the presence of a clear shear zone in which the sand accrues deformation. A net change in the direction of the velocity of the sand is also clearly visible. The effective depth of cut of the sand also increases with continuous cutting as the sand reposes on itself. This deformation mechanics at the incipient stages of cutting is similar to that observed in metal cutting.

Study of liquid fuel transport in a small carburetted engine in the context of cold-start HC emission control

In the present study, a detailed visualization of the transport of fuel film has been performed in a small carburetted engine with a transparent manifold at the exit of the carburettor. The presence of fuel film is observed significantly on the lower half of the manifold at idling, while at load conditions, the film is found to be distributed all throughout the manifold walls. Quantitative measurement of the fuel film in a specially-designed manifold of square cross section has also been performed using the planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) technique. The measured fuel film thickness is observed to be of the order of 1 nun at idling, and in the range of 0.1 to 0.4 mm over the range of load and speed studied. These engine studies are complemented by experiments conducted in a carburettor rig to study the state of the fuel exiting the carburettor. Laser-based Particle/Droplet Image Analysis (PDIA) technique is used to identify fuel droplets and ligaments and estimate droplet diameters. At a throttle position corresponding to idling, the fuel exiting the carburettor is found to consist of very fine droplets of size less than 15 mu m and large fuel ligaments associated with length scales of the order of 500 mu m and higher. For a constant pressure difference across the carburettor, the fuel consists of droplets with an SMD of the order of 30 mu m. Also, the effect of liquid fuel film on the cold start HC emissions is studied. Based on the understanding obtained from these studies, strategies such as manifold heating and varying carburettor main jet nozzle diameter are implemented. These are observed to reduce emissions under both idling and varying load conditions.

Avoiding acidic region streaking in two-dimensional gel electrophoresis: Case study with two bacterial whole cell protein extracts

Acidic region streaking (ARS) is one of the lacunae in two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) of bacterial proteome. This streaking is primarily caused by nucleic acid (NuA) contamination and poses major problem in the downstream processes like image analysis and protein identification. Although cleanup and nuclease digestion are practiced as remedial options, these strategies may incur loss in protein recovery and perform incomplete removal of NuA. As a result, ARS has remained a common observation across publications, including the recent ones. In this work, we demonstrate how ultrasound wave can be used to shear NuA in plain ice-cooled water, facilitating the elimination of ARS in the 2DE gels without the need for any additional sample cleanup tasks. In combination with a suitable buffer recipe, IEF program and frequent paper-wick changing approach, we are able to reproducibly demonstrate the production of clean 2DE gels with improved protein recovery and negligible or no ARS. We illustrate our procedure using whole cell protein extracts from two diverse organisms, Escherichia coli and Mycobacterium smegmatis. Our designed protocols are straightforward and expected to provide good 2DE gels without ARS, with comparable times and significantly lower cost.

Effect of particle size of sand and surface asperities of reinforcement on their interface shear behaviour

This paper investigates the effect of particle size of sand and the surface asperities of reinforcing material on their interlocking mechanism and its influence on the interfacial shear strength under direct sliding condition. Three sands of different sizes with similar morphological characteristics and four different types of reinforcing materials with different surface features were used in this study. Interface direct shear tests on these materials were performed in a specially developed symmetric loading interface direct shear test setup. Morphological characteristics of sand particles were determined from digital image analysis and the surface roughness of the reinforcing materials was measured using an analytical expression developed for this purpose. Interface direct shear tests at three different normal stresses were carried out by shearing the sand on the reinforcing material fixed to a smooth surface. Test results revealed that the peak interfacial friction and dilation angles are hugely dependent upon the interlocking between the sand particles and the asperities of reinforcing material, which in turn depends on the relative size of sand particles and asperities. Asperity ratio (AS/D-50) of interlocking materials, which is defined as the ratio of asperity spacing of the reinforcing material and the mean particle size of sand was found to govern the interfacial shear strength with highest interfacial strength measured when the asperity ratio was equal to one, which represents the closest fitting of sand particles into the asperities. It was also understood that the surface roughness of the reinforcing material influences the shear strength to an extent, the influence being more pronounced in coarser particles. Shear bands in the interface shear tests were analysed through image segmentation technique and it was observed that the ratio of shear band thickness (t) to the median particle size (D-50) was maximum when the AS/D-50 was equal to one. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Thermal transport in high porosity cellular metal foams

The heat dissipation capability of highly porous cellular metal foams with open cells subject to forced air convection is studied using a combined experimental and analytical approach. The cellular morphologies of six FeCrAlY (an iron-based alloy) foams and six copper alloy foams with a range of pore sizes and porosities are quantified with the scanning electronic microscope and image analysis. Experimental measurements on pressure drop and heat transfer for copper foams are carried out. A numerical model for forced convection across open-celled metal foams is subsequently developed, and the predictions are compared with those measured. Reasonably good agreement with test data is obtained, given the complexity of the cellular foam morphology and the associated momentum/energy transport. The results show that cell size has a more significant effect on the overall heat transfer than porosity. An optimal porosity is obtained based on the balance between pressure drop and overall heat transfer, which decreases as the Reynolds number is increased.

Growth Mechanism And Joint Structure Of Zno Tetrapods

Regular zinc oxide (ZnO) tetrapods with a flat plane have been obtained on Si(1 0 0) substrate via the chemical vapour deposition approach. The x-ray diffraction result suggests that these tetrapods are all single crystals with a wurtzite structure that grow along the (0 0 0 1) direction and corresponding electron backscatter diffraction analysis reveals the crystal orientation of growth and exposed surface. Furthermore, we find some ZnO tetrapods with some legs off and the angles between every two legs are measured with the aid of scanning electron microscopy and image analysis, which benefit to reveal the structure of ZnO tetrapods joint. The structure model and growth mechanism of ZnO tetrapods are proposed. Besides, the stable model of the interface was obtained through the density-functional theory calculation and the energy needed to break the twin plane junction was calculated as 5.651 J m(-2).

A video method for quantifying size distribution, density, and three-dimensional spatial structure of reef fish spawning aggregations

There is a clear need to develop fisheries independent methods to quantify individual sizes, density, and three dimensional characteristics of reef fish spawning aggregations for use in population assessments and to provide critical baseline data on reproductive life history of exploited populations. We designed, constructed, calibrated, and applied an underwater stereo-video system to estimate individual sizes and three dimensional (3D) positions of Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) at a spawning aggregation site located on a reef promontory on the western edge of Little Cayman Island, Cayman Islands, BWI, on 23 January 2003. The system consists of two free-running camcorders mounted on a meter-long bar and supported by a SCUBA diver. Paired video “stills” were captured, and nose and tail of individual fish observed in the field of view of both cameras were digitized using image analysis software. Conversion of these two dimensional screen coordinates to 3D coordinates was achieved through a matrix inversion algorithm and calibration data. Our estimate of mean total length (58.5 cm, n = 29) was in close agreement with estimated lengths from a hydroacoustic survey and from direct measures of fish size using visual census techniques. We discovered a possible bias in length measures using the video method, most likely arising from some fish orientations that were not perpendicular with respect to the optical axis of the camera system. We observed 40 individuals occupying a volume of 33.3 m3, resulting in a concentration of 1.2 individuals m–3 with a mean (SD) nearest neighbor distance of 70.0 (29.7) cm. We promote the use of roving diver stereo-videography as a method to assess the size distribution, density, and 3D spatial structure of fish spawning aggregations.

Internationales Otolithen-Symposium in Australien

The Third International Symposium on Fish Otolith Research and Application in Townsville, Australia, from 11 to 16 July 2004, gathered around 300 scientists from 30 nations (http://www.otolith2004.com). Mayor topics were: structure of otoliths and function; micro-Chemitry and composition; determination of age and growth and their validation; de-termination of age in fish from tropical habitats; influence of climate, ecology and population biology; statistik and modelling; stock assessment and fishery management; quality control in institutions carrying out age determinations, and data processing; and development of technologies. The symposium was preceeded by a workshop at the James Cook University, Townsville, to enhance the knowledge and skill of participants in theoretrical and practical aspects for prearation of otoliths and interpretation of annuli; difficulties in interpreting age in tropical fish; daily increments as well as shape and image analysis.

Adesão dos cimentos Epiphany SE e iRoot SP: Resistência à tração e mapeamento dentinário por microscopia digital

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da microestrutura dentinária na adesão de cimentos endodônticos modernos através: do desenvolvimento de uma metodologia para caracterizar microestruturalmente a dentina; da avaliação da resistência de união (através de ensaios de tração) dos cimentos endodônticos Epiphany SE, iRoot SP e AH Plus; da correlação dos dados obtidos da caracterização da microestrutura dentinária e dos ensaios de tração. Trinta terceiros molares inclusos, recém extraídos, foram embutidos em resina epóxi e seccionados 0,5mm abaixo da junção esmalte-dentina. Doze amostras foram eliminadas durante à preparação metalográfica devido à exposição da câmara pulpar. De cada dente, uma área de análise (AA) com 3,25 mm de diâmetro foi mapeada utilizando técnicas de microscopia ótica digital para: captura de ~400 imagens formando um mosaico; análise digital de imagens, obtendo os resultados de quantidade de túbulos (QT) e de fração de área de túbulos (FAT) do mosaico; conversão da imagem do mosaico em um mapa colorido em que as cores estão diretamente relacionadas à densidade de área tubular. As dezoito amostras restantes foram divididas em 3 grupos (N=6), de acordo com o cimento utilizado, para confecção dos corpos de prova para os ensaios de tração. Os valores de da resistência de união (RU) obtidos foram analisados estatisticamente com teste não-pareado t com correção de Welch e pelo teste F para comparar variâncias Os dados de FAT e de QT foram submetidos ao teste de D'Agostino & Pearson revelando-se não normais (P>0,05), o que indica grande variabilidade da amostragem. O cimento Epiphany SE apresentou uma resistência de união significativamente menor que o cimento AH Plus (P <0,05). Os corpos de prova do iRoot SP falharam prematuramente e não foram analisados. A aplicação do teste r de Spearman não demonstrou correlação significativa entre FAT e RU (P>0,05). O MEV de pressão variável foi utilizado para avaliar qualitativamente a superfície de fratura após os ensaios de tração. A análise revelou um padrão de fratura mista para o AH Plus e o Epiphany SE, além de diferenças no tamanho e na forma das partículas desses cimentos, o que pode influenciar no comportamento mecânico. Dentro da amostragem realizada, não se encontrou correlação significativa entre microestrutura dentinária e a resistência de união.