Vision-based action recognition of earthmoving equipment using spatio-temporal features and support vector machine classifiers

Video recordings of earthmoving construction operations provide understandable data that can be used for benchmarking and analyzing their performance. These recordings further support project managers to take corrective actions on performance deviations and in turn improve operational efficiency. Despite these benefits, manual stopwatch studies of previously recorded videos can be labor-intensive, may suffer from biases of the observers, and are impractical after substantial period of observations. This paper presents a new computer vision based algorithm for recognizing single actions of earthmoving construction equipment. This is particularly a challenging task as equipment can be partially occluded in site video streams and usually come in wide variety of sizes and appearances. The scale and pose of the equipment actions can also significantly vary based on the camera configurations. In the proposed method, a video is initially represented as a collection of spatio-temporal visual features by extracting space–time interest points and describing each feature with a Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG). The algorithm automatically learns the distributions of the spatio-temporal features and action categories using a multi-class Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier. This strategy handles noisy feature points arisen from typical dynamic backgrounds. Given a video sequence captured from a fixed camera, the multi-class SVM classifier recognizes and localizes equipment actions. For the purpose of evaluation, a new video dataset is introduced which contains 859 sequences from excavator and truck actions. This dataset contains large variations of equipment pose and scale, and has varied backgrounds and levels of occlusion. The experimental results with average accuracies of 86.33% and 98.33% show that our supervised method outperforms previous algorithms for excavator and truck action recognition. The results hold the promise for applicability of the proposed method for construction activity analysis.     

Molecular Pathogenesis of Glioblastoma in Adults and Future Perspectives: A Systematic Review

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and malignant tumour of the central nervous system. Recent appreciation of the heterogeneity amongst these tumours not only changed the WHO classification approach, but also created the need for developing novel and personalised therapies. This systematic review aims to highlight recent advancements in understanding the molecular pathogenesis of the GBM and discuss related novel treatment targets. A systematic search of the literature in the PubMed library was performed following the PRISMA guidelines for molecular pathogenesis and therapeutic advances. Original and meta-analyses studies from the last ten years were reviewed using pre-determined search terms. The results included articles relevant to GBM development focusing on the aberrancy in cell signaling pathways and intracellular events. Theragnostic targets and vaccination to treat GBM were also explored. The molecular pathophysiology of GBM is complex. Our systematic review suggests targeting therapy at the stemness, p53 mediated pathways and immune modulation. Exciting novel immune therapy involving dendritic cell vaccines, B-cell vaccines and viral vectors may be the future of treating GBM.     

Effects of smoke produced from smoldering plants on the Aspergillus flavus growth and production of aflatoxin in pistachio

Aflatoxin (AF) contamination of the Iranian exporting pistachio has become a major problem in the last decades. In this study, the antifungal effects of smoke produced from the smoldering of several herbal plants were investigated. Four different ratios of plant weight/exposure time (5/5, 10/15, 15/30, and 20 g/45 min) were used from each plant material to smoke two isolates of Aspergillus flavus (A47 and A3), grown in potato dextrose agar (PDA). The results showed that the 20 g/45 min treatment using smoldering cinnamon bark, neem leaves, and clove flowers had efficient inhibitions of 100, 85, and 75%, respectively. Furthermore, the smoking of pistachio inoculated with a spore concentration of 1 × 10⁶ / ml using 30 g of cinnamon bark, neem leaves, and clove flowers for 75 min was capable of preventing the production of different types of AF, that is, B1, B2, G1, and G2 in the treated products. There is a good potential to smoke pistachio with these three herbal plants and prevent the production of AF in pistachio during the handling, storage, and transportation.     

Irradiation grafting of methyl methacrylate monomer onto ultra‐high‐molecular‐weight polyethylene: An experimental design approach for improving adhesion to bone cement

The grafting of methyl methacrylate (MMA) onto ultra‐high‐molecular‐weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and chromic acid etched UHMWPE was conducted with a preirradiation method in air in the presence of a Mohr salt and sulfuric acid. The grafted samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, a gravimetric method, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and interfacial bonding strength measurements. The FTIR results showed the presence of ether and carbonyl groups in the MMA‐grafted UHMWPE (MMA‐g‐UHMWPE) samples. The Taguchi experimental design method was used to find the best degree of grafting (DG) and bonding strength. The efficient levels for different variables were calculated with an analysis of variance of the results. SEM micrographs of MMA‐g‐UHMWPE samples showed that with increasing DG and chromic acid etching, the MMA‐g‐UHMWPE rich phase increased on the surface; this confirmed the high interfacial bonding strength of the grafted samples with bone cement. The grafting of the MMA units onto UHMWPE resulted in a lower crystallinity, and the crystallization process proceeded at a higher rate for the MMA‐g‐UHMWPE samples compared to the initial UHMWPE; this suggested that the MMA grafted units acted as nucleating agents for the crystallization of UHMWPE. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Potential of the renewable energy development in Jammu and Kashmir,India

The future economic growth for India is likely to result in rapid and accelerated surge in energy demand, with expected shortages in terms of supply. Many of its current policies and strategies are aimed at the improvement and possible maximization of energy production from the renewable sector. It is also clear that while energy conservation and energy efficiency can make an important contribution, renewable energies will be essential to the solution and are likely to play an increasingly important role for providing enhanced energy access, reducing consumption of fossil fuels, and helping India pursue its low-carbon progressive pathway. However, most of the states in India, like the northernmost state of Jammu and Kashmir, have experienced an energy crisis over a sustained period of time and the government both at center and state level has to embark upon with these pressing issues in a more sustainable manner and accordingly initiate various renewable energy projects within these states. This paper will provide a broad-spectrum view about the energy situation within Jammu and Kashmir and will highlight the current policies along with future strategies for the optimal utilization of renewable energy resources.     

Effect of Varying Amount of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG-600) and 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane on the Properties of Chitosan based Reverse Osmosis Membranes

Chitosan and polyethylene glycol (PEG-600) membranes were synthesized and crosslinked with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES). The main purpose of this research work is to synthesize RO membranes which can be used to provide desalinated water for drinking, industrial and agricultural purposes. Hydrogen bonding between chitosan and PEG was confirmed by displacement of the hydroxyl absorption peak at 3237 cm⁻¹ in pure chitosan to lower values in crosslinked membranes by using FTIR. Dynamic mechanical analysis revealed that PEG lowers Tg of the modified membranes vs. pure chitosan from 128.5 °C in control to 120 °C in CS-PEG5. SEM results highlighted porous and anisotropic structure of crosslinked membranes. As the amount of PEG was increased, hydrophilicity of membranes was increased and water absorption increased up to a maximum of 67.34%. Permeation data showed that flux and salt rejection value of the modified membranes was increased up to a maximum of 80% and 40.4%, respectively. Modified films have antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli as compared to control membranes.     

Surface-assembled Fe-Oxide colloidal nanoparticles for high performance electrocatalytic water oxidation

Nanoscale electrocatalytic materials having enhanced electroactive sites has been considered trendier and can drive kinetically uphill OER at much lower energy cost with high efficiency. However, very complex synthetic strategies, extensive functionalization processes, and less stability have stimulated quest for economically viable, straightforward and facile preparative methods for designing stable, robust and active nanoscale electrocatalysts engaging geologically abundant materials to ensure their industrial implications. Here we present surface-assembled Fe(OH)_x/FeO_x type colloidal catalytic thin-films, with or without post annealing, derived from Fe-colloidal NPs in simple carbonate system for efficient water oxidation. Comprehensive electrochemical studies including cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, chronopotentiometry, impedance spectroscopy, Tafel slope analysis, mass activity, electrochemically active surface area measurements are conducted to comparatively evaluate the performance of simple (FeO_x/HCO₃^?@FTO and annealed (FeO_x/HCO₃^?@FTO₂₅₀, FeO_x/HCO₃^?@FTO₅₀₀) catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) under employed conditions. The FeO_x/HCO₃^?@FTO₂₅₀ annealed at 250 °C initiates water oxidation at much lower overpotential of 1.52 V vs. RHE with remarkable stability during long-term electrochemical experimentations. In addition to enhanced OER activity as evidence by better onset potential (<1.55 V vs. RHE), lower Tafel slope value (36 mV dec^1?) and negligible charge transfer resistance, the Fe(OH)_x/HCO₃^?@FTO type catalyst presented excellent electroactive nature during long term controlled potential electrolysis experiments where more and more electroactive sites were getting exposed during continuous hours of electrolysis. The catalysts behave as a potential enduring, inexpensive and competent candidate for catalyzing water oxidation reaction when tested under begin conditions.     

The effects of storage time and sunlight on microplastic pollution in bottled mineral water

The microplastic particles (MPs) and effects of storage time and direct sunlight on the MPs in bottled mineral waters were investigated by three experiments conditions. The mean MPs concentration was 63.9 ± 38.9 MPs/L. Pellet forms, white/yellow colour and sizes < 100 μm were predominant MPs, accounted for 35.3%, 51% and 60.2% of the total MPs, respectively. Storage of bottled water under darkness and sunlight caused an increase of 1.5% and 2.5% of MPs pollution, respectively. Also, the estimated daily intake (EDI) of MPs was 2.1, 6.4 and 9.6 MPs/kg BW.day for adults, children and infants, respectively. It is concluded that high storage time and direct sunlight may lead to a greater MPs pollution in mineral water and also high human intake through drinking bottled water. Therefore, it is suggested to reduce the expiry date of the bottled mineral water and avoid sunlight contact before consumption.     

Mechanism of Martensitic to Equiaxed Microstructure Evolution during Hot Deformation of a Near-Alpha Ti Alloy

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - In this study, mechanisms of microstructural evolution during hot deformation of Ti-1100 were investigated by EBSD analysis. Misorientation angle...