Some Fruit Characteristics of Iranian Cornelian Cherries (Cornus mas L.)

Although the Cornelian Cherry is widely grown in the north-eastern areas of Iran, it is not recognized as an important fruit crop as are many other fruit species. Large variability has been observed in all morphological and chemical compositions under study. Fruit weight varied from 1.499 to 3.29 g, whereas seed weight ranged from 0.249 to 0.425 g. The average lengths of fruits were between 15.22 and 22.31 mm, and the average widths of them were between 10.26-16.3 mm. The content of ascorbic acid ranged from 240-360 mg/ 100 g fresh weight. The total soluble solids and total acidity were 5-12.5% and 0.43-1.86% respectively. Grouping of Cornelian Cherry accessions based on 5 factors was performed and were divided into three sub-clusters. The results obtained from this study might be helpful for Cornelian Cherry breeders trying to develop new genotypes and varieties

Fully automatic classification of breast cancer microarray images

AbstractA microarray image is used as an accurate method for diagnosis of cancerous diseases. The aim of this research is to provide an approach for detection of breast cancer type. First, raw data is extracted from microarray images. Determining the exact location of each gene is carried out using image processing techniques. Then, by the sum of the pixels associated with each gene, the amount of “genes expression” is extracted as raw data. To identify more effective genes, information gain method on the set of raw data is used. Finally, the type of cancer can be recognized via analyzing the obtained data using a decision tree. The proposed approach has an accuracy of 95.23% in diagnosing the breast cancer types

APPRAISAL OF TAKAGI–SUGENO TYPE NEURO-FUZZY NETWORK SYSTEM WITH A MODIFIED DIFFERENTIAL EVOLUTION METHOD TO PREDICT NONLINEAR WHEEL DYNAMICS CAUSED BY ROAD IRREGULARITIES

Wheel dynamics play a substantial role in traversing and controlling the vehicle, braking, ride comfort, steering, and maneuvering. The transient wheel dynamics are difficult to be ascertained in tire–obstacle contact condition. To this end, a single-wheel testing rig was utilized in a soil bin facility for provision of a controlled experimental medium. Differently manufactured obstacles (triangular and Gaussian shaped geometries) were employed at different obstacle heights, wheel loads, tire slippages and forward speeds to measure the forces induced at vertical and horizontal directions at tire–obstacle contact interface. A new Takagi–Sugeno type neuro-fuzzy network system with a modified Differential Evolution (DE) method was used to model wheel dynamics caused by road irregularities. DE is a robust optimization technique for complex and stochastic algorithms with ever expanding applications in real-world problems. It was revealed that the new proposed model can be served as a functional alternative to classical modeling tools for the prediction of nonlinear wheel dynamics

AAGLMES: an intelligent expert system realization of adaptive autonomy using generalized linear models

Abstract—We earlier introduced a novel framework for realization of Adaptive Autonomy (AA) in human-automation interaction (HAI). This study presents an expert system for realization of AA, using Support Vector Machine (SVM), referred to as Adaptive Autonomy Support Vector Machine Expert System (AASVMES). The proposed system prescribes proper Levels of Automation (LOAs) for various environmental conditions, here modeled as Performance Shaping Factors (PSFs), based on the extracted rules from the experts’ judgments. SVM is used as an expert system inference engine. The practical list of PSFs and the judgments of GTEDC’s (the Greater Tehran Electric Distribution Company) experts are used as expert system database. The results of implemented AASVMES in response to GTEDC’s network are evaluated against the GTEDC experts’ judgment. Evaluations show that AASVMES has the ability to predict the proper LOA for GTEDC’s Utility Management Automation (UMA) system, which changes in relevance to the changes in PSFs; thus providing an adaptive LOA scheme for UMA. Keywords-Support Vector Machine (SVM); Adaptive Autonomy (AA); Expert System; Human Automation Interaction (HAI); Experts’ Judgment; Power System; Distribution Automation; Smart Grid

Effects of Silicon and AgNO3 Elicitors on Biochemical Traits and Antioxidant Enzymes Activity of Henbane (Hyoscyamus reticulatus L.) Hairy Roots

Lattice henbane (Hyoscyamus reticulatus L.) is an herbaceous, biennial plant belonging to Solanaceae family. H. reticulatus hairy roots were established from two-week-old leaves infected by A7 strain of Agrobacterium rhizogenes on solid Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. In this study, abiotic elicitors including; Sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) with different concentrations (0, 1, 5 and 7 mM) and silver nitrate (AgNO3) concentrations (0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mM) were added to hairy roots culture media. The results showed that, Na2SiO3 and AgNO3 significantly affected hairy roots fresh weight after 24h. Also, the highest hairy root fresh weight was observed in the control, and with broadening elicitor concentrations, fresh weight was decreased in both treated hairy roots with AgNO3 and Na2SiO3 but the effect of exposure duration was not significant. Biochemical analysis showed that total antioxidant activity (TAA), total phenol (TP), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and Guaiacolperoxidase (GPX) activities were enhanced in elicitated hairy roots compared to non elicitated hairy roots. The highest CAT, APX and GPX activities were observed in hairy roots treated with 7mM Na2SiO3 and 2mM AgNO3. Our results suggest that, Na2SiO3 and AgNO3 can stimulate the antioxidant defense systems and protect the plants from subsequent stresses

Optimising spread-layer quality in powder additive manufacturing: assessing packing fraction and segregation tendency

Powder bed fusion (PBF), a subset of additive manufacturing methods, is well known for its promise in the production of fully functional artefacts with high densities. The quality of the powder bed, commonly referred to as powder spreading, is a crucial determinant of the final quality of the produced artefact in the PBF process. Therefore, it is critical that we examine the factors that impact the powder spreading, notably the powder bed quality. This study utilised a newly developed testing apparatus, designed specifically for examining the quality of powder beds. The objective was to analyse the influence of various factors, including the recoater shape, recoater gap size, and the different powder flow properties, on the powder bed relative packing fraction. Additionally, the study aimed to assess the variation in the particle size and shape across the build plate. The results indicated that all of the variables examined had an impact on the relative packing fraction, as well as the size and shape variations observed across the build plat

The Inhibitory Effect of Connective Tissue Growth Factor Antibody on Postoperative Fibrosis in a Rabbit Model of Trabeculectomy

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of subconjunctival injection of an anti-connective tissue growth factor antibody (anti-CTGF) versus mitomycin-C (MMC) and placebo in reducing scar formation in a rabbit model of trabeculectomy. Methods: A total of 14 rabbits were included. Nine rabbits underwent trabeculectomy with subconjunctival injections of either anti-CTGF antibody, MMC, or balanced salt solution (BSS), each administered in three eyes, before peritomy. The anti-CTGF group received a repeated dose of the antibody five days after surgery. All nine rabbits were euthanized on day 14; the globes were stained with hematoxylin & eosin, Masson’s Trichrome, and immunohistochemistry for detecting alpha-smooth muscle (α-SMA) actin. RNA extraction was performed on five eyes of the remaining rabbits which included one eye without any surgery, one eye 5 hr after trabeculectomy without any injection, one eye five days after trabeculectomy without any injection, and two eyes five days after trabeculectomy with administration of MMC and BSS, respectively. Results: The mean bleb area in the anti-CTGF, MMC, and control groups was 3.8 ± 1.45, 5.9 ± 1.4, and 3.5 ± 1.9 mm2, respectively. Collagenous tissue was found to occupy the bleb area by 13.7%, 13.5%, and 18.5%, respectively. This ratio was significantly higher in the BSS group (P = 0.04). The expression of CTGF mRNA after 5 hr and five days in eyes undergoing trabeculectomy were significantly more pronounced as compared to the unoperated eye. The mean H-SCORE of α-SMA-immune reactive cells calculated as the grade of staining multiplied by the percentage of immune stained cells was 14.6, 10.22, and 140.58 in the anti-CTGF, MMC, and control groups, respectively. While the control eyes had a significantly higher score (Ps < 0.001), the anti-CTGF and MMC groups were comparable (P = 0.87). Conclusion: Based on the results of this animal study, the anti-CTGF antibody injection resulted in a significant reduction in collagenous tissue and myofibroblast cells after trabeculectomy

Neonatal brain resting-state functional connectivity imaging modalities

Infancy is the most critical period in human brain development. Studies demonstrate that subtle brain abnormalities during this state of life may greatly affect the developmental processes of the newborn infants. One of the rapidly developing methods for early characterization of abnormal brain development is functional connectivity of the brain at rest. While the majority of resting-state studies have been conducted using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), there is clear evidence that resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) can also be evaluated using other imaging modalities. The aim of this review is to compare the advantages and limitations of different modalities used for the mapping of infants’ brain functional connectivity at rest. In addition, we introduce photoacoustic tomography, a novel functional neuroimaging modality, as a complementary modality for functional mapping of infants’ brain