Switching median filter for suppressing multi-pixel impulse noise

This paper proposes a new switching median filter for suppressing multi-pixel impulse noise in X-ray images. A multi-pixel impulse is understood as a set of several neighboring pixels, the intensity of each significantly exceeds background intensity. Multi-pixel noise can occur, for example, due to the blooming effect, the reason being the limited value of pixel saturation capacity. This article defines the thresholds for the intensity increment relative to the eight immediate neighbors, above which the current pixel is processed by the median filter. The dependence of these thresholds on the number of pixels in an impulse is presented. The proposed algorithm is based on the median filtering process, which consists of several iterations. In this case, the filter has the smallest possible size, which minimizes image distortion during processing. In particular, to exclude a single-pixel impulse, pixel processing is turned on when intensity surge exceeds 3.5 with the grayscale value ranging from 0 to 1. At the same time, to exclude nine-pixel impulses, three iterations are required with the following thresholds: the first iteration with a threshold 2.0; the second iteration also with a threshold 2.0 and the third iteration with a threshold 3.5. The algorithm proposed was tested on real X-ray images corrupted by multi-pixel impulse noise. The algorithm is not only simple, but also reliable and suitable for real-time implementation and application. The efficiency of the technique is shown in comparison with other known filtering methods with respect to the degree of noise suppression. The main result of the testing is that only the proposed method allows excluding multi-pixel noise. Other advantage of the algorithm is its weak effect on the level of Gaussian noise leading to the absence of image blurring (or preserving image details) during processing.The research has been carried out due to the support of the Russian Science Foundation grant (project No.18-79-10168)

A Review and Analysis of Automatic Optical Inspection and Quality Monitoring Methods in Electronics Industry

Electronics industry is one of the fastest evolving, innovative, and most competitive industries. In order to meet the high consumption demands on electronics components, quality standards of the products must be well-maintained. Automatic optical inspection (AOI) is one of the non-destructive techniques used in quality inspection of various products. This technique is considered robust and can replace human inspectors who are subjected to dull and fatigue in performing inspection tasks. A fully automated optical inspection system consists of hardware and software setups. Hardware setup include image sensor and illumination settings and is responsible to acquire the digital image, while the software part implements an inspection algorithm to extract the features of the acquired images and classify them into defected and non-defected based on the user requirements. A sorting mechanism can be used to separate the defective products from the good ones. This article provides a comprehensive review of the various AOI systems used in electronics, micro-electronics, and opto-electronics industries. In this review the defects of the commonly inspected electronic components, such as semiconductor wafers, flat panel displays, printed circuit boards and light emitting diodes, are first explained. Hardware setups used in acquiring images are then discussed in terms of the camera and lighting source selection and configuration. The inspection algorithms used for detecting the defects in the electronic components are discussed in terms of the preprocessing, feature extraction and classification tools used for this purpose. Recent articles that used deep learning algorithms are also reviewed. The article concludes by highlighting the current trends and possible future research directions.Framework of the IQONIC Project; European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program

Urinary biomarkers of biofortified beef in healthy women explored by untargeted metabolomics

Background: The prevalence of overweight and non-communicable chronic diseases is rising all over the globe. The high consumption of energy dense foods on behalf of high nutrient-dense food leads to lower intake of essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins D, E, K, and selenium. These micronutrients are related with numerous human vital functions and their deficiency is positively associated with higher risk of chronic diseases and mortality. Bovine meat is an important source of several micronutrients, with higher bioavailability compared to other plant-based foods. Meat consumption is expected to increase worldwide, therefore the biofortification of bull’s feeds can be an innovative strategy to increase population’s exposure to nutrients. Metabolomics techniques are capable to explore if the supplementation will ultimately lead to a higher micronutrient’s uptake in the body. Objective: The aim of the present study was to explore the differences on urinary metabolic fingerprint of women ingesting 300g of beef a day from bulls fed concentrate supplemented with extra vitamin D, E, K, and selenium compared to the regular composite feed. Methodology: A 32 days double-blind randomized cross-over human intervention study with two intervention periods, each for 6 days, was conducted in 35 healthy women. The participants were instructed to eat 300g of grinded beef meat as raw weight per day, either from bulls fed with regular control feed or meat supplemented with vitamin D, E, K and selenium, combined with their habitual diet. Fasting urine samples were collected in the morning before and after each intervention period and were analyzed by LC-MS untargeted metabolomics. Multivariate and univariate analysis were applied do identify discriminative features between the two interventions. Results: A total of 7 and 6 metabolites for positive and negative mode, respectively, were selected as discriminative of the two interventions. Among these, markers of overall meat intake, as well as markers of animal feed, markers related with the participants diet and inflammation-related markers were identified as upregulated or downregulated for the supplemented intervention. No markers specifically related to the biofortification were observed. Conclusions: Based on our methodology, the ingestion of biofortified beef did not results in a higher level of related metabolites when comparing the two interventions. Minor changes indicate that consequences of biofortification were very small. Further research is needed to understand if a higher increase of vitamin D, E, K, and selenium on animal´s feed composite can lead to different outcomes

Proceedings of the European Conference on Agricultural Engineering AgEng2021

This proceedings book results from the AgEng2021 Agricultural Engineering Conference under auspices of the European Society of Agricultural Engineers, held in an online format based on the University of Évora, Portugal, from 4 to 8 July 2021. This book contains the full papers of a selection of abstracts that were the base for the oral presentations and posters presented at the conference. Presentations were distributed in eleven thematic areas: Artificial Intelligence, data processing and management; Automation, robotics and sensor technology; Circular Economy; Education and Rural development; Energy and bioenergy; Integrated and sustainable Farming systems; New application technologies and mechanisation; Post-harvest technologies; Smart farming / Precision agriculture; Soil, land and water engineering; Sustainable production in Farm buildings

XIII International Congress in Animal Hygiene, June 17-21, 2007, Tartu, Estonia "Animal health, animal welfare and biosecurity" : proceedings. Volume 2

KonverentsikogumikOn behalf of both the Organising Committee and the Scientific Committee, I am pleased to welcome you in Tartu, Estonia, to participate at the XIII International Congress of the International Society for Animal Hygiene (ISAH). The ISAH (www.isah-soc.org) was founded in 1970 and has today members from 48 countries throughout the world. ISAH can be considered as a group of scientists contributing to efficient, sustainable animal farming with healthy animals, providing wholesome food in a sound environment. Veterinarians and non-veterinary academic scientists (animal science, agricultural economics, engineers, microbiologists, public health professionals, epidemiologists etc., etc) and respective professionals in animal husbandry, who work and/or do research and education in the field of animal hygiene, can apply for a membership of ISAH, and are most welcome to attend ISAH congresses. The first ISAH congress was held in Budapest in 1973. The last ISAH main congress took place in Warsaw, Poland in 2005 and the last in-between symposium in Saint-Malo, France in 2004. Starting from Warsaw congress in 2005, the ISAH, considering the need for a more flexible and frequent exchange of scientific and practical knowledge, organizes its congresses every second year. The present, XIII ISAH congress in Tartu, Estonia, in June 17–21, 2007 is organised under the device "Animal health, animal welfare and biosecurity”. The scientific programme, trying to follow the scope of the ISAH and receive the feedback from modern animal husbandry and food production, concentrates with more profoundness on the following subjects: interaction between the environment and health and welfare of individual animal and herds; managing animal health in large dairy units; ensuring animal welfare during transportation and slaughter; economical implications considering animals’ health; possibilities of precision livestock farming in maintaining good health and welfare of animals; measures for prevention the development and spread of diseases and pathogens in animals including those posing risk to human health (zoonoses); food safety relevant infections and contaminations such as residues in food derived from animals; influence of the animal production on the environment and public health. The Proceedings from the XIII ISAH Congress are herewith presented. The papers on lectures from invited speakers, oral and poster presentations from 11 parallel sessions are included in this excellent compilation. In general, the printed contribution to the ISAH-2007 congress illustrates clearly the broad scientific field of the ISAH and related to it activities. I hereby would like to express my most sincere gratitude in the address of ISAH-2007 organising and scientific committees. Special thanks go to Frens Conference Services for their excellent organizational and technical contribution and to AS Triip for their outstanding printing job of these proceedings. We also appreciate different companies and organisations for their considerable financial support which gave us the opportunity to keep the registration fees affordable. Finally, we thank all participants, contributors, chairpersons, organisational and technical assistants for your considerable efforts – you made the ISAH-2007 in Tartu real success. We wish you all interesting and pleasant congress and enjoyable stay in Tartu. A. Aland Editor Chairman of the ISAH-2007 Organising Committe

Effect of physically structured water on extractability of caffeine, curcumin and on oil emulsification

Agriculture is a science of applications which has wide horizons to explore. Research gives the exploring opportunity for young scientists to begin their own paths to travel the world of agriculture widening its customary horizons. Research culture embedded in agriculture is the secret behind facing multifaceted challenges of today, among which meeting the needs of an expanding, especially rapidly urbanizing population of the world under increasingly vulnerable environment. With a futuristic vision, grooming young scientists with research culture and providing an opportunity for them to unveil the findings in front of the able audience, is a great leap that Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya is taking in its expedition of Agriculture higher education