Per-pixel Cloud Cover Classification of Multispectral Landsat-8 Data

Random forest and neural network algorithms are applied to identify cloud cover using 10 of the wavelength bands available in Landsat 8 imagery. The methods classify each pixel into 4 different classes: clear, cloud shadow, light cloud, or cloud. The first method is based on a fully connected neural network with ten input neurons, two hidden layers of 8 and 10 neurons respectively, and a single-neuron output for each class. This type of model is considered with and without L2 regularization applied to the kernel weighting. The final model type is a random forest classifier created from an ensemble of decision trees acting on a randomized subset of 6 wavelengths. The best performing classifier is the random forest, with an overall accuracy of 77% across the 4 classes. Cloud mask statistics could be incorporated in searchable metadata so that an imagery analyst can apply their subject matter expertise to advanced analytical techniques, rather than searching for cloud-free image sets

Ein neues, unkompliziertes Verfahren zur Bestimmung der Zusammensetzung binärer Flüssigkeitsgemische

Ein neues Verfahren zur Bestimmung der Zusammensetzung binärer Flüssigkeitsgemische mit Hilfe solvatochromer Farbstoffe wird beschrieben. Die Analyse erfolgt durch einfache UV/VIS-Absorptionsmessung und ist unter Verwendung einer Zwei-Parameter-Gleichung ein exakter Schnelltest

Stereoscopic 3-D Presentation For Air Traffic Control Digital Radar Displays

An apparatus and method of presenting air traffic data to an air traffic controller are provided. Air traffic data including a two dimensional spatial location and altitude for a plurality of aircraft is received. A disparity value is determined based on the altitude for each aircraft of the plurality of aircraft. Left and right eye images are generated of the plurality of aircraft where at least one of the left and right eye images is based on the determined disparity value. The left and right eye images are simultaneously displayed to the air traffic controller on a display. The simultaneously displayed images provide an apparent three-dimensional separation of each of the aircraft of the plurality of aircraft on the display

A Field-Mill Proxy Climatology for the Lightning Launch Commit Criteria at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and NASA Kennedy Space Center

The Lightning Launch Commit Criteria (LLCC) are a set of complex rules to avoid natural and rocket-triggered lightning strikes to in-flight space launch vehicles. The LLCC are the leading source of scrubs and delays to space launches from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) and NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC). An LLCC climatology would be useful for designing launch concept of operations, mission planning, long-range forecasting, training, and setting LLCC improvement priorities. Unfortunately, an LLCC climatology has not been available for CCAFS/KSC. Attempts have been made to develop such a climatology, but they have not been entirely successful. The main shortfall has been the lack of a long continuous record of LLCC evaluations. Even though CCAFS/KSC is the world's busiest spaceport, the record of LLCC evaluations is not detailed enough to create the climatology. As a potential solution, the research in this study developed a proxy climatology of LLCC violations by using the long continuous record of surface electric field mills at CCAFS/KSC.Comment: 27 pages, 10 figures, 1 tabl

Reduction of neurovascular damage resulting from microelectrode insertion into the cerebral cortex using

Penetrating neural probe technologies allow investigators to record electrical signals in the brain. The implantation of probes causes acute tissue damage, partially due to vasculature disruption during probe implantation. This trauma can cause abnormal electrophysiological responses and temporary increases in neurotransmitter levels, and perpetuate chronic immune responses. A significant challenge for investigators is to examine neurovascular features below the surface of the brain in vivo. The objective of this study was to investigate localized bleeding resulting from inserting microscale neural probes into the cortex using two-photon microscopy (TPM) and to explore an approach to minimize blood vessel disruption through insertion methods and probe design. 3D TPM images of cortical neurovasculature were obtained from mice and used to select preferred insertion positions for probe insertion to reduce neurovasculature damage. There was an 82.8 ± 14.3% reduction in neurovascular damage for probes inserted in regions devoid of major (>5 µm) sub-surface vessels. Also, the deviation of surface vessels from the vector normal to the surface as a function of depth and vessel diameter was measured and characterized. 68% of the major vessels were found to deviate less than 49 µm from their surface origin up to a depth of 500 µm. Inserting probes more than 49 µm from major surface vessels can reduce the chances of severing major sub-surface neurovasculature without using TPM.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/85401/1/7_4_046011.pd

New fluorescent perylene bisimide indicators—a platform for broadband pH optodes

Asymmetric perylene bisimide (PBI) dyes are prepared and are shown to be suitable for the preparation of fluorescence chemosensors for pH. They carry one amino-functional substituent which introduces pH sensitivity via photoinduced electron transfer (PET) while the other one increases solubility. The luminescence quantum yields for the new indicators exceed 75% in the protonated form. The new indicators are non-covalently entrapped in polyurethane hydrogel D4 and poly(hydroxyalkylmethacrylates). Several PET functions including aliphatic and aromatic amino groups were successfully used to tune the dynamic range of the sensor. Because of their virtually identical spectral properties, various PBIs with selected PET functions can easily be integrated into a single sensor with enlarged dynamic range (over 4 pH units). PBIs with two different substitution patterns in the bay position are investigated and possess variable spectral properties. Compared with their tetrachloro analogues, tetra-tert-butyl-substituted PBIs yield more long-wave excitable sensors which feature excellent photostability. Cross-sensitivity to ionic strength was found to be negligible. The practical applicability of the sensors may be compromised by the long response times (especially in case of tetra-tert-butyl-substituted PBIs)

STM-induced light emission from thin films of perylene derivatives on the HOPG and Au substrates

We have investigated the emission properties of N,N'-diheptyl-3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic diimide thin films by the tunneling-electron-induced light emission technique. A fluorescence peak with vibronic progressions with large Stokes shifts was observed on both highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) and Au substrates, indicating that the emission was derived from the isolated-molecule-like film condition with sufficient π-π interaction of the perylene rings of perylenetetracarboxylic diimide molecules. The upconversion emission mechanism of the tunneling-electron-induced emission was discussed in terms of inelastic tunneling including multiexcitation processes. The wavelength-selective enhanced emission due to a localized tip-induced surface plasmon on the Au substrate was also obtained