Unmixed spectrum clustering for template composition in lung sound classification

In this paper, we propose a method for composing templates of lung sound classification. First, we obtain a sequence of power spectra by FFT for each given lung sound and compute a small number of component spectra by ICA for each of the overlapping sets of tens of consecutive power spectra. Second, we put component spectra obtained from various lung sounds into a single set and conduct clustering a large number of times. When component spectra belong to the same cluster in all clustering results, these spectra show robust similarity. Therefore, we can use such spectra to compose a template of lung sound classification.Advances in Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining. 12th Pacific-Asia Conference, PAKDD 2008 Osaka, Japan, May 20-23, 2008 Proceeding

Kangaroo Island Propolis: Improved Characterisation and Assessment of Chemistry and Botanical Origins through Metabolomics

Introduction: Propolis, a sticky substance produced by bees from plant resins, has a long history of safe use medicinally. Kangaroo Island, SA (KI) lacks many introduced European plants bees preferentially collect resin from; consequentially, propolis from KI is produced from resinous native plants. Several identifiably reproducible pure-source KI propolis types exist. Research into medical use of compounds from KI native plants is limited. Metabolomics is a growing field of interest in natural products chemistry, including beehive products. Metabolomic and similarity-scoring assessment of KI propolis, through statistical evaluation of 1D 1H-NMR fingerprints, provides an entry point for research into medical use of KI native plant compounds. Many avenues to product discovery in pharmaceutical chemistry are suffering diminishing returns: metabolomics-guided natural products assessment has the potential for further identification of novel therapeutic compounds from resinous plants. Aim: To assess and identify, via metabolomic investigation of NMR fingerprints, major propolis types on KI, and to produce, from this, similarity-scoring tools for assessment of propolis samples. Method: KI propolis samples, identified as pure-source by TLC, and resinous KI plants were analysed by 1H-NMR and HPLC. Data points of interest were normalised and binned to form individual sample ‘fingerprints’. Data from these fingerprints were analysed by hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis (PCA) to confirm provisionally-identified pure-source propolis types and identify subtypes within propolis and resinous plant species. From this, calculator tools were created to score similarity (out of 1000) of 1H-NMR fingerprints to the average spectrum of pure-source propolis types, as well as to calculated mixtures of these average spectra. Assessment of the chemistry of two major KI propolis types identified (CP- and F-type) was made by fractionation and NMR, with one compound, 6,8-diprenyleriodictyol, isolated from CP-type propolis in quantity, submitted for epigenetic and other biological assays. Results: Source resinous plants were demonstrated, through hierarchical clustering and PCA, to cluster with propolis types arising from these sources, with closely related plants and sub-chemotypes clustering separately, confirming specificity. A number of previously-identified pure-source propolis types and known botanical sources were shown to have very high similarity (> 800/1000) to the expected propolis type. Calculator tools were observed to accurately predict the content of mixed propolis samples to within ± 10%. A number of methylflavanones, and two novel terminally-hydroxylated prenyldihydrochalcones were isolated from F-type propolis. 6,8-diprenyleriodictyol demonstrated a range of promising activity in biological assays. Conclusion: Metabolomic evaluation of 1H-NMR fingerprints can reliably identify and assess pure-source KI propolis and identify botanical origin of source resins. Similarity scoring calculators can accurately identify mixed-source propolis samples. KI propolis types are a rich source of pharmaceutically-interesting flavanones and related compounds, many of which are prenylated. 6,8-diprenyleriodictyol displays strong anti-inflammatory and anticancer activity, especially against Burkitt’s lymphoma. A number of possible epigenetic pathways for this activity were observed

Computer Vision and Architectural History at Eye Level:Mixed Methods for Linking Research in the Humanities and in Information Technology

Information on the history of architecture is embedded in our daily surroundings, in vernacular and heritage buildings and in physical objects, photographs and plans. Historians study these tangible and intangible artefacts and the communities that built and used them. Thus valuableinsights are gained into the past and the present as they also provide a foundation for designing the future. Given that our understanding of the past is limited by the inadequate availability of data, the article demonstrates that advanced computer tools can help gain more and well-linked data from the past. Computer vision can make a decisive contribution to the identification of image content in historical photographs. This application is particularly interesting for architectural history, where visual sources play an essential role in understanding the built environment of the past, yet lack of reliable metadata often hinders the use of materials. The automated recognition contributes to making a variety of image sources usable forresearch.<br/

Computer Vision and Architectural History at Eye Level:Mixed Methods for Linking Research in the Humanities and in Information Technology

Information on the history of architecture is embedded in our daily surroundings, in vernacular and heritage buildings and in physical objects, photographs and plans. Historians study these tangible and intangible artefacts and the communities that built and used them. Thus valuableinsights are gained into the past and the present as they also provide a foundation for designing the future. Given that our understanding of the past is limited by the inadequate availability of data, the article demonstrates that advanced computer tools can help gain more and well-linked data from the past. Computer vision can make a decisive contribution to the identification of image content in historical photographs. This application is particularly interesting for architectural history, where visual sources play an essential role in understanding the built environment of the past, yet lack of reliable metadata often hinders the use of materials. The automated recognition contributes to making a variety of image sources usable forresearch.<br/

Mixing Methods: Practical Insights from the Humanities in the Digital Age

The digital transformation is accompanied by two simultaneous processes: digital humanities challenging the humanities, their theories, methodologies and disciplinary identities, and pushing computer science to get involved in new fields. But how can qualitative and quantitative methods be usefully combined in one research project? What are the theoretical and methodological principles across all disciplinary digital approaches? This volume focusses on driving innovation and conceptualising the humanities in the 21st century. Building on the results of 10 research projects, it serves as a useful tool for designing cutting-edge research that goes beyond conventional strategies

Computer Vision and Architectural History at Eye Level:Mixed Methods for Linking Research in the Humanities and in Information Technology

Information on the history of architecture is embedded in our daily surroundings, in vernacular and heritage buildings and in physical objects, photographs and plans. Historians study these tangible and intangible artefacts and the communities that built and used them. Thus valuableinsights are gained into the past and the present as they also provide a foundation for designing the future. Given that our understanding of the past is limited by the inadequate availability of data, the article demonstrates that advanced computer tools can help gain more and well-linked data from the past. Computer vision can make a decisive contribution to the identification of image content in historical photographs. This application is particularly interesting for architectural history, where visual sources play an essential role in understanding the built environment of the past, yet lack of reliable metadata often hinders the use of materials. The automated recognition contributes to making a variety of image sources usable forresearch.<br/

Computer Vision and Architectural History at Eye Level:Mixed Methods for Linking Research in the Humanities and in Information Technology

Information on the history of architecture is embedded in our daily surroundings, in vernacular and heritage buildings and in physical objects, photographs and plans. Historians study these tangible and intangible artefacts and the communities that built and used them. Thus valuableinsights are gained into the past and the present as they also provide a foundation for designing the future. Given that our understanding of the past is limited by the inadequate availability of data, the article demonstrates that advanced computer tools can help gain more and well-linked data from the past. Computer vision can make a decisive contribution to the identification of image content in historical photographs. This application is particularly interesting for architectural history, where visual sources play an essential role in understanding the built environment of the past, yet lack of reliable metadata often hinders the use of materials. The automated recognition contributes to making a variety of image sources usable forresearch.<br/

Simulating urban soil carbon decomposition using local weather input from a surface model

Non peer reviewe

Remote Sensing

This dual conception of remote sensing brought us to the idea of preparing two different books; in addition to the first book which displays recent advances in remote sensing applications, this book is devoted to new techniques for data processing, sensors and platforms. We do not intend this book to cover all aspects of remote sensing techniques and platforms, since it would be an impossible task for a single volume. Instead, we have collected a number of high-quality, original and representative contributions in those areas