A comparative study on the performance of neural networks in visual guidance and feedback applications

Vision-based systems increase the flexibility of industrial automation applications by providing non-touching sensory information for processing and feedback. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) help such conformities through prediction in overcoming nonlinear computational spaces. They transform multiple possibilities of outcomes or regions of uncertainty posed by the system components towards solution spaces. Trained networks impart a certain level of intelligence to robotic systems. This paper discusses two applications of machine vision. The 3 degrees of freedom (DOF) robotic assembly provides an accurate cutting of soft materials with visual guidance using pixel elimination. The 6-DOF robot combines visual guidance from a supervisory camera and visual feedback from an attached camera. Using a switching approach in the control strategy, pick and place applications are carried out. With the inclusion of ANN to make the strategies intelligent, both the systems performed better with regard to computational time and convergence. The networks make use of the extracted image features from the scene for different applications. Simulation and experimental results validate the proposed schemes and show the effectiveness of ANN in machine vision applications

Amine impregnated porous silica gel sorbents synthesized from water-glass precursors for CO2 capturing

In this work, porous silica gel-solid beads have been made from economically affordable water-glass precursors via sol-gel nano casting technique. A stable nanometric silica sol was prepared first from water glass and studied for surface potential and sol to gel transition. A free-flow, injectable gel was obtained upon aging the sol which was then assembled into spherical silica beads in a chemical bath. A surface area of 304.7m2g-1 was obtained for water glass derived silica gel beads. These gel beads were impregnated with 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS) and polyethylenimine (PEI) active functional groups at different percentages for turning the gel beads as sorbents for CO2 gas adsorption. The effect of amine loading on the thermal stability, morphology as well as porosity was studied and was correlated with CO2 adsorption values. Depending upon the amount of amine loaded in the gel support CO2 uptake was found varied. These amine modified silica gel porous adsorbents showed CO2 adsorption capacity at temperatures as low as 100°C; samples modified with 15wt% PEI had CO2 adsorption capacity of 1.16mmolg-1 at 50°C. © 2015 Elsevier B.V

EVALUATION OF EX VIVO ANTICATARACT ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF ALSTONIA SCHOLARIS LEAVES ON DEXAMETHASONE-INDUCED CATARACT BY USING ISOLATED GOAT LENS

Objective: To investigate the ex vivo anticataract activity of ethanolic extract of Alstonia scholaris (EEAS) leaves on dexamethasone-induced cataract using isolated goat lens.Methods: Anticataract activity is done using isolated goat lens. Goat lens was divided into four groups. Group I: Lens was incubated in artificial aqueous humor (normal control). Group II: Lens was incubated with dexamethasone 10 mg (toxic control). Group III and IV: Lens was incubated with dexamethasone and EEAS (50 µg and 100 µg) and subjected to photographic evaluation for opacity; lens was homogenized using Tris-phosphate buffer, and sodium, potassium, total protein, and catalase concentrations were determined.Results: The grades of opacity were 0, 3, 1, and 1 in group I, II, III, and IV, respectively. The present study showed higher total proteins (p<0.05 at all concentration) and K+  ions (p<0.05 at all concentration), whereas lower concentrations of Na+  ions (p<0.05 at all concentration) with EEAS-treated groups. The level of catalase was found to be less in experimentally induced cataract lenses as compared to normal control group. The lenses treated with EEAS showed a significant rise in enzyme level suggesting maintenance of antioxidant enzyme integrity.Conclusion: The present investigation suggests that EEAS leaves effectively prevent the cataractogenic condition. Thus, the goat lens model and dexamethasone-induced cataract model could be used for testing of various anticataract agents.Keywords: Cataract, Artificial aqueous humor, Lens, Dexamethasone, Alstonia scholaris.Â

Assessment of provisional ecosystem services in Vypin Island, Cochin Backwater and payment for coastal ecosystem services

Assessment of provisional ecosystem services in Vypin Island, Cochin Backwater and payment for coastal ecosystem service

The Influence of Emotional States on Short-Term Memory Retention by Using Electroencephalography (EEG) Measurements: A Case Study

The electroencephalogram (EEG) is a non-invasive test that records the electrical activity of the brain as wave patterns generated by various brain structures. The electrical activity is recorded from the scalp surface after being picked up by metal electrodes (small metal discs) and conductive media. This study explored how emotions can impact short-term memory retention, and thus the process of learning, by analyzing five mental tasks: relaxation, memorization of ten words, memorization of ten two-digit numbers, visual exposure to emotional stimuli, and recall of the 10 words and 10 numbers. The word list contained ten words as five event-related (directly related to the type of emotion triggered) and five not event-related words. The visual task was separated into three categories corresponding to the type of image extracted from the public domain International Affective Picture System (IAPS) library, which in turn correspond to three emotional states assumed to be evoked by them: neutral, negative (e.g. sadness), and positive (e.g. happiness). Event-related potentials (ERP) were measured by EEG with the ANT Neuro system. The ASA software and EEGLab were utilized for the analysis of ERPs in five EEG bands: Delta (0-3.9Hz), Theta (4-7.9Hz), Alpha (8-12.9Hz), Beta (13-30 Hz), and Gamma (31-50 Hz). Eleven participants (ten males and one female between 20 and 25 years old) were included in this case study. To date, no other studies have been reported to use EEG measurements in the evaluation of the influence of emotional states on short-term memory retention

Book of Abstracts & Lead Articles The Second International Symposium Remote Sensing for Ecosystem Analysis and Fisheries

SAFARI (Societal Applications in Fisheries and Aquaculture using Remotely-Sensed Imagery) is an initiative which provides a forum for coordination, at the international level, of activities in global fisheries research and management. The forum is open to all interested parties, including policy makers, research scientists, government managers, and those involved in the fishing industries. SAFARI organizes international workshops and symposia as a platform to discuss the latest research in Earth observation and fisheries management, information sessions aimed at the fisheries industry, government officials and resource managers, representation at policy meetings, and producing publications relevant to the activities. SAFARI gains worldwide attention through collaboration with other international networks, such as ChloroGIN (Chlorophyll Global Integrated Network), IOCCG (International Ocean-Colour Coordinating Group), POGO (Partnership for Observation of the Global Oceans) and the oceans and society: Blue Planet Initiative of the intergovernmental organization, the Group on Earth Observations (GEO)

A comparative study on the performance of neural networks in visual guidance and feedback applications

Vision-based systems increase the flexibility of industrial automation applications by providing non-touching sensory information for processing and feedback. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) help such conformities through prediction in overcoming nonlinear computational spaces. They transform multiple possibilities of outcomes or regions of uncertainty posed by the system components towards solution spaces. Trained networks impart a certain level of intelligence to robotic systems. This paper discusses two applications of machine vision. The 3 degrees of freedom (DOF) robotic assembly provides an accurate cutting of soft materials with visual guidance using pixel elimination. The 6-DOF robot combines visual guidance from a supervisory camera and visual feedback from an attached camera. Using a switching approach in the control strategy, pick and place applications are carried out. With the inclusion of ANN to make the strategies intelligent, both the systems performed better with regard to computational time and convergence. The networks make use of the extracted image features from the scene for different applications. Simulation and experimental results validate the proposed schemes and show the effectiveness of ANN in machine vision applications

Comparison of Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) suited and unsuited isolated joint strength measurements

In this study the strength of subjects suited in extravehicular mobility units (EMU's) - or Space Shuttle suits - was compared to the strength of unsuited subjects. The authors devised a systematic and complete data set that characterizes isolated joint torques for all major joints of EMU-suited subjects. Six joint motions were included in the data set. The joint conditions of six subjects were compared to increase our understanding of the strength capabilities of suited subjects. Data were gathered on suited and unsuited subjects. Suited subjects wore Class 3 or Class 1 suits, with and without thermal micrometeoroid garments (TMG's). Suited and unsuited conditions for each joint motion were compared. From this the authors found, for example, that shoulder abduction suited conditions differ from each other and from the unsuited condition. A second-order polynomial regression model was also provided. This model, which allows the prediction of suited strength when given unsuited strength information, relates the torques of unsuited conditions to the torques of all suited conditions. Data obtained will enable computer modeling of EMU strength, conversion from unsuited to suited data, and isolated joint strength comparisons between suited and unsuited conditions at any measured angle. From these data mission planners and human factors engineers may gain a better understanding of crew posture, and mobility and strength capabilities. This study also may help suit designers optimize suit strength, and provide a foundation for EMU strength modeling systems

Some observations on the beaked sea snake Enhydrina schistosa (Daudin, 1803) in the mudbank area, off Alapuzha, Kerala, southwest coast of India

Hook-nosed sea snake or beaked snake, Enhydrina schistosa were caught during experimental fishing operations in the mudbank region along central Kerala Coast at depths ranging from 6 to 12 m. The sea snakes were found to form aggregations of 5 to 6 numbers and were able to tolerate highly turbid waters. The catfish Arius jella and the puffer fish Lagocephalus inermis were the dominant prey items. mudbanks are unusually calm areas which form along the Kerala coast during the monsoon. The inshore waters including the mudbanks are intense fishing areas of non mechanized crafts during the monsoon. The presence of venomous sea snakes is precarious and there is a need to give awareness programme for the fishers about this danger

समुद्री जलजीवशाला में पालन करने योग्‍य सामान्य अलंकारी मछलिया

भारत में समुद्री जलजीवशाला का व्यापार तेज़ी से बढ़ रहा है और इसका मुख्य हितधारक तटीय जनता है। अलंकारी मछलियों का व्यापार पूरी तरह व्यवस्थित नही है और मछुआरे इंटरनाशनल यूनियन फोर कन्सेर्वेशन ऑफ नेचर (आइ यु सी एन) सूची मेें वर्गीकृ त प्रजातियोों के बारे मेें अनजान हैैं। इस लेख मेें समुद्री जलजीवशाला मेें पालन की जाने वाली मछलियो की विशेषताओं को शामिल किया है