Testing two data fusion methods for multiscale and multiclass land-use/land-cover maps to improve fractional information at medium resolution

High uncertainty is found during inter-comparison of land-use/land-cover (LULC) maps derived from remote sensing imagery. Among the reasons for classification mismatch, especially in coarse maps and heterogeneous areas characterized by mixed pixels, is that the landscape heterogeneity is ignored by providing only the LULC class covering the largest portion of a pixel. Pixels are arbitrary spatial units determined mainly by the sensor’s properties and can have little relation to natural units on the ground. In fact, the use of class proportions in ground-truth training data, that better depict reality, proved to decrease the thematic accuracy of traditional LULC maps characterized by one LULC class per pixel. Because high-resolution LULC maps upscaled to coarser resolutions provide higher accuracy than natively-coarse maps, and because, except from creating new maps, integration of available ones can increase the final accuracy, during this project the potential of two data fusion methods for multi-scale (from high to coarse resolution) and multi-class maps to derive more accurate ones with fraction information at medium resolution (100m) was explored. Two data fusion models were tested in four study areas characterized by both mixed and pure-pixels by using seven LULC maps as input and a ground-truth sub-pixel database as response variable. The models’ output was then validated and compared against each individual input map, in both mixed and pure-pixels, by using the sub-pixel thematic accuracy matrix. To make more robust predictions and better answer the research questions of the study improvement of the goodness of fit of the data fusion models is needed. Despite the need of the models’ amelioration, it was observed that multiscale and multiclass data fusion improved the sub-pixel accuracy of some LULC classes compared to some of the maps used as input specially in mixed-pixels

Rare generalized form of fungal dermatitis in a horse: Case report

A rare case of Geotrichum spp. dermatitis in a horse is presented. After unrelated, previous surgery and antibiotic treatment, a saddle horse showed well-circumscribed areas of non-pruritic alopecia. Suspecting allergic skin disease, the horse was treated with corticosteroids. The skin lesion spread, and a second veterinarian was consulted. At clinical examination, the horse was lethargic, pyretic and hair was shedding/easily epilated over the head, neck, shoulders, and legs and the hind legs were swollen. Blood analysis revealed mild leucocytosis and hyperglobulinemia. Hair, skin scraping, and skin biopsy ruled out parasites and bacteria; cytology identified yeast-like structures with hyphae or pseudohyphae. Geotrichum candidum was isolated on culture. Treatment consisted of stable disinfection, topical application of an antifungal solution, vitamins C and E supplementation and allowing the horse to graze in sunlight for at least 6 h/day. At 3-weeks follow-up, the horse had gained weight, alopecia was decreased, and all other clinical parameters were normal. Antifungal treatment was continued twice a week for three months. This study suggests Geotrichum candidum may cause skin lesions in horses after long-term use of corticosteroids or antibiotics. To avoid unnecessary and prolonged suffering in cases of dermatitis, veterinarians should be promptly consulted, appropriate diagnostic procedures conducted, so that a definitive diagnosis can be reached, and an appropriate treatment regimen implemented

Dissecting and modelling the comparative adaptation to water limitation of sorghum and maize: role of transpiration efficiency, transpiration rate and height

Maize is considered less drought-tolerant than sorghum, but sorghum is commonly grown as a short triple dwarf (3dwarf) type, so difference in plant height confounds the species comparison. The objectives of this study were to experimentally determine effects of species and plant height differences on transpiration efficiency (TE) and transpiration rate per unit green leaf area (TGLA) and use findings to explain input parameters in a simulation study on the comparative adaptation of 3dwarf sorghum and maize in environments with contrasting water availability. Maize, tall double dwarf (2dwarf) and short 3dwarf sorghum genotypes were grown in two lysimeter experiments in 2011 in SE Queensland, Australia. Each plant was harvested after anthesis and total transpiration, shoot and root dry mass were measured to estimate TE. Daily TGLA was used to compare transpiration rates. Species and height had limited effect on TE, but significantly affected TGLA. This was associated with differences in biomass allocation. The similar TE but higher TGLA in maize compared with 3dwarf sorghum meant it potentially produces more biomass, consistent with published differences in biomass accumulation and radiation use efficiency (RUE). The simulation study, which used similar TE for maize and 3dwarf sorghum, but captured differences in TGLA through differences in RUE, predicted crossover interactions for grain yield between species and total water use. The greater TGLA of maize decreased grain yield in water-limited environments, but increased yields in well-watered situations. Results highlight that similarity in TE and differences in TGLA can influence comparative adaptation to water limitation

A breakage kernel for use in population balance modelling of twin screw granulation

This paper presents a novel breakage kernel for use in population balance modelling for twin screw granulation (TSG) using mechanistic understanding in different screw elements. Breakage-isolated experiments are conducted using conveying and distributive mixing elements for a range of model formulations of widely different yield stresses. The breakage kernel, i.e. the selection and breakage functions, are mathematically formed based on the identification of the dominant breakage mechanisms of chipping and fragmentation in the conveying and distributive mixing elements, respectively, and the unique geometries of the two screw elements. A parametric study for the proposed breakage kernel is performed to identify the influential parameters on the breakage kernel. This is the first breakage model specifically developed for a TSG and incorporates a mechanistic understanding of several key parameters, particularly the role of screw geometry. The breakage model is well suited to population balance modelling framework for model-driven design of twin screw granulation

Model driven design for integrated twin screw granulator and fluid bed dryer via flowsheet modelling

This paper presents a flowsheet modelling of an integrated twin screw granulation (TSG) and fluid bed dryer (FBD) process using a Model Driven Design (MDD) approach. The MDD approach is featured by appropriate process models and efficient model calibration workflow to ensure the product quality. The design space exploration is driven by the physics of the process instead of extensive experimental trials. By means of MDD, the mechanistic-based process kernels are first defined for the TSG and FBD processes. With the awareness of the underlying physics, the complementary experiments are carried out with relevance to the kinetic parameters in the defined models. As a result, the experiments are specifically purposeful for model calibration and validation. The L/S ratio (liquid to solid ratio) and inlet air temperature are selected as the Critical Process Parameters (CPPs) in TSG and FBD for model validation, respectively. Global System Analysis (GSA) is further performed to assess the uncertainty of CPPs imposed on the Critical Quality Attributes (CQAs), which provides significant insights to the exploration of the design space considering both TSG and FBD process parameters

HPV type concordance in sexual couples determines the effect of condoms on regression of flat penile lesions

We earlier demonstrated, in a randomised clinical trial, that the regression time of flat penile lsions in male sexual partners of women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) was shorter in men who used condoms compared to those who did not. To further evaluate this finding, we examined whether the effect of condom use on the regression of flat penile lesions depends on the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) type concordance in sexual couples, as determined in cervical and penile scrapes by GP5+/6+ PCR testing. A Cox model with time-dependent covariates showed a beneficial effect of condoms on regression of flat penile lesions in concordant couples (hazard ratio 2.63, 95% CI 1.07–6.48) but not in those who were nonconcordant. When both partners harboured different HPV types, no effect of condoms was found (hazard ratio 0.90, 95% CI 0.27–2.96). Delayed regression of flat penile lesions was associated with either stable lesions or with new penile lesions developing at sites surrounding pre-existing lesions suggesting reinfection of the penile epithelium. We conclude that condom use blocks sexual HPV transmission by preventing reinfection and development of new penile lesions in men who are susceptible to the same type as present in the female partner