一种新的无监督的卫星影像变化检测算法

提出了一种基于主分量分析(PCA)和上下截集模糊Kohonen聚类网络(UDSFKCN)的、无监督的、不同时相的和卫星影像的像素级变化检测新算法.将PCA和UDSFKCN两种方法结合,并将它应用于不同时相的卫星影像的变化检测.该方法结合每个像素的邻域信息,利用PCA,产生每个像素对应的基于邻域信息的特征向量;又将变化区...     

Effects of cloprostenol sodium at final prostaglandin F2α of Ovsynch on complete luteolysis and pregnancy per artificial insemination in lactating dairy cows

Luteolysis is a key event in Ovsynch programs of lactating dairy cows. Studies indicate that as many as 20% of cows treated with a Presynch/Ovsynch program have delayed or incomplete luteolysis using dinoprost tromethamine. Cows must have complete luteolysis to have a chance to become pregnant. Dinoprost tromethamine has a short half-life of approximately 7 to 8 min. Cloprostenol sodium is more resistant to endogenous metabolism and is maintained in circulation for a longer time (half-life = 3 h). The objective was to determine if cloprostenol sodium could increase the percentage of cows with complete luteolysis and subsequent pregnancy per artificial insemination (P/AI) in lactating dairy cows compared with dinoprost tromethamine when administered within a presynchronization plus Ovsynch program for first artificial insemination (n = 652) and an Ovsynch resynchronization program for second or later AI (second+; n = 394). Blood samples were collected daily for 5 d beginning at the PGF_2α of Ovsynch in a subset of cows (n = 680) for first and second+ AI to measure circulating concentrations of progesterone (P₄) and estradiol (E₂). Complete luteolysis was defined as cows with functional corpus luteum (CL) at time of treatment and serum concentrations of P₄ <0.5 ng/mL at 56, 72, and 96 h after treatment. Percentage of cows with functional CL that had complete luteolysis after treatment was not greater for cloprostenol sodium compared with dinoprost tromethamine in first (79 vs. 80%, respectively) or second+ AI (70 vs. 72%, respectively). In addition, mean serum concentrations of P₄ were not less for cows treated with cloprostenol sodium following treatment. Pregnancy per AI of cows treated with cloprostenol sodium tended to be greater than dinoprost tromethamine for first (40 vs. 35%; respectively) but not second+ AI (23 vs. 21%, respectively). Cows with greater serum P₄ concentrations at time of PGF_2α of Ovsynch had a greater probability of undergoing complete luteolysis after PGF_2α of Ovsynch and pregnancy at 39 d after timed AI (i.e., 50% pregnant at 8 vs. 28% pregnant at 4 ng/mL P₄). Serum concentrations of E₂ at 56 h after PGF_2α of Ovsynch were a positive predictor of pregnancy at 39 d after timed AI. In summary, cloprostenol sodium tended to improve P/AI. Cows with greater serum concentrations of P₄ at time of PGF_2α of Ovsynch had a greater chance of luteolysis and pregnancy.     

Ensemble of surrogates

The custom in surrogate-based modeling of complex engineering problems is to fit one or more surrogate models and select the one surrogate model that performs best. In this paper, we extend the utility of an ensemble of surrogates to (1) identify regions of possible high errors at locations where predictions of surrogates widely differ, and (2) provide a more robust approximation approach. We explore the possibility of using the best surrogate or a weighted average surrogate model instead of individual surrogate models. The weights associated with each surrogate model are determined based on the errors in surrogates. We demonstrate the advantages of an ensemble of surrogates using analytical problems and one engineering problem. We show that for a single problem the choice of test surrogate can depend on the design of experiments.     

Multicentric Castleman''s disease in HIV infection: a clinical and pathological study of 20 patients

Techniques of transcatheter device placement for treatment of pediatric congenital heart disease have developed substantially since their introduction 20 years ago. Patent ductus arteriosus occlusion can be accomplished by umbrella deployment or coil placement. Intracardiac defects can be closed with umbrella or buttoned devices. Stenoses of vessels or conduits that are only temporarily relieved with balloon dilation can be effectively expanded with intravascular stents. Recent procedural modifications have been introduced in an attempt to minimize the size of the delivery sheath and reduce complications that can arise from device embolization. Transcatheter device placement can be an important adjunct to surgery for correction or palliation of congenital heart lesions.     

The examination of myofascial face pain and its relationship to psychological distress among women.

In this study, 110 female myofascial face pain patients were assessed monthly for 10 months on measures of pain, distress, and stressful life events. D. A. Kenny and A. J. Zautra's (1995) structural equation model for examining the separate trait, state, and error components of the variables was used to analyze the data. Both pain and distress had sizable trait variance, and the trait components were correlated. The 2 variables also showed sizable state variance, and the states of pain covaried with states of distress. A significant time-lagged relationship between the 2 variables was found: Increases in distress led to elevations in pain 1 mo later. Stressful life events arising from major social roles were also associated with greater distress, but not pain. Illness events unrelated to the pain syndrome were associated with both pain and distress. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

From the green bean to the cup of coffee: investigating coffee roasting by on-line monitoring of volatiles

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), emitted from green coffee beans, during coffee roasting and from a cup of coffee, were all analysed by proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry. Firstly, the headspace (HS) of green beans was investigated. Alcohols dominate the HS, but aldehydes, hydrocarbons and organic acids were also abundant. Secondly, we roasted coffee under two different conditions and monitored on-line the VOCs emitted during the process. In a first roasting series, a batch of beans was roasted. After an initial drying phase, dominated by evaporation of water and methanol, the HS concentrations of VOCs such as acetic acid, acetaldehyde, pyridine and methylbutanal rapidly increased and went through a maximum at medium roast level. In a second series, just six beans were roasted. We observed sporadic bursts of some volatiles (furans, butanal, 2,3-pentanedione), coinciding with popping sounds. Other VOCs showed smooth time-intensity profiles (pyridine, pyrazine). These experiments gave a real-time insight into the complex processes taking place during roasting. Finally, the HS of coffee extracts, prepared from beans roasted to different roast levels, were analysed. Most VOCs showed a maximum concentration at medium roast level (e.g. pentanedione, furfural, 5-methyl furfural), while others showed a gradual increase (e.g. pyrrol) or decrease (e.g. methanol).     

Digital Rights Management

This article presents a selection of Internet links which provide a sound introduction to Digital Rights Management Systems (DRMS). First, links to scientific papers, information portals, organizations companies and consortia are presented to give a general view about DRMS. Then, various aspects about DRMS are presented with a special focus on legal, technological and economical aspect. For each of those further information and links are provided in order to give a better understanding about this topic.     

Brodifacoum toxicity and treatment in a white-winged wood duck (Cairina scutulata)

BACKGROUND: Patients with AIDS frequently show secondary involvement of the brain by different infectious agents, and Chagas' disease is now recognized as a potential opportunistic infection. To our knowledge, pseudotumoral chagasic meningoencephalitis has not been previously reported as the first manifestation of AIDS. METHODS AND RESULTS: A 30-year-old Argentinian man without any risk factor for HIV infection was admitted to the hospital with an acute onset of drowsiness. A computed tomography scan showed a hypodense parietal tumor-like lesion. Open brain biopsy revealed hemorrhagic necrosis and numerous amastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi. Nifurtimox was started, but the patient died. CONCLUSIONS: Chagas' disease can reactivate in patients with AIDS and present as a brain mass that is indistinguishable from other infectious or neoplasic processes. Our report demonstrates this entity as the first manifestation of AIDS.     

Effects of time compression and time compression plus reverberation on the intelligibility of Northwestern University Auditory Test No. 6

The Tonal and Speech Materials for Auditory Perceptual Assessment, Disc 1.0 audio compact disc developed in 1992 includes several sets of degraded speech materials, two of which, time compression and reverberation, are described in this paper. The digital techniques used to compress the NU No. 6 materials (female speaker) on an 80386-based computer are described, along with a series of experiments on subjects with normal hearing that document the effects of the time compression on recognition performance. Experiment I examined at 70 dB SPL the effect on word recognition of 45, 55, 65, 70, and 75 percent compressions. Experiment II developed psychometric functions for the 45, 65, and 75 percent time-compression conditions. Experiment III defined the effects that time-compression degradation (45% and 65%) plus reverberation degradation (0.3 sec) had on the recognition performance on the NU No. 6 materials. Based on the experiments, four conditions (45% compression, 65% compression, 45% compression plus 0.3-sec reverberation, and 65% compression plus 0.3-sec reverberation) were selected and recorded on the compact disc. In the compact disc trials, normative data on the four conditions were developed from 120 listeners with normal hearing.