DETECTION OF CRESCENT SAND DUNES CONTOURS IN SATELLITE IMAGES USING AN ACTIVE SHAPE MODEL WITH A CASCADE CLASSIFIER

Crescent sand dunes called barchans are the fastest moving sand dunes in the desert, causing disturbance for infrastructure and threatening human settlements. Their study is of great interest for urban planners and geologists interested in desertification (Hugenholtz et al., 2012). In order to study them at a large scale, the use of remote sensing is necessary. Indeed, barchans can be part of barchan fields which can be composed of thousands of dunes (Elbelrhiti et al.2008). Our region of interest is located in the south of Morocco, near the city of Laayoune, where barchans are stretching over a 400&thinsp;km corridor of sand dunes. We used image processing techniques based on machine learning approaches to detect both the location and the outlines of barchan dunes. The process we developed combined two main parts: The first one consists of the detection of crescent shaped dunes in satellite images using a supervised learning method and the second one is the mapping of barchans contours (windward, brink and leeward) defining their 2D pattern. For the detection, we started by image enhancement techniques using contrast adjustment by histogram equalization along with noise reduction filters. We then used a supervised learning method: We annotated the samples and trained a hierarchical cascade classifier that we tested with both Haar and LBP features (Viola et Jones, 2001; Liao et al., 2007). Then, we merged positive bounding boxes exceeding a defined overlapping ratio. The positive examples were then qualified to the second part of our approach, where the exact contours were mapped using an image processing algorithm: We trained an ASM (Active Shape Model) (Cootes et al., 1995) to recognize the contours of barchans. We started by selecting a sample with 100 barchan dunes with 30 landmarks (10 landmarks for each one of the 3 outlines). We then aligned the shapes using Procrustes analysis, before proceeding to reduce the dimensionality using PCA. Finally, we tested different descriptors for the profiles matching: HOG features were used to construct a multivariate Gaussian model, and then SURF descriptors were fed an SVM. The result was a recursive model that successfully mapped the contours of barchans dunes. We experimented with IKONOS high resolution satellite images. The use of IKONOS high resolution satellite images proved useful not only to have a good accuracy, but also allowed to map the contours of barchans sand dunes with a high precision. Overall, the execution time of the combined methods was very satisfying.</p

Value of risk scores in the decision to palliate patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm

Background: The aim of this study was to develop a 48-h mortality risk score, which included morphology data, for patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm presenting to an emergency department, and to assess its predictive accuracy and clinical effectiveness in triaging patients to immediate aneurysm repair, transfer or palliative care. Methods: Data from patients in the IMPROVE (Immediate Management of the Patient With Ruptured Aneurysm: Open Versus Endovascular Repair) randomized trial were used to develop the risk score. Variables considered included age, sex, haemodynamic markers and aortic morphology. Backwards selection was used to identify relevant predictors. Predictive performance was assessed using calibration plots and the C-statistic. Validation of the newly developed and other previously published scores was conducted in four external populations. The net benefit of treating patients based on a risk threshold compared with treating none was quantified. Results: Data from 536 patients in the IMPROVE trial were included. The final variables retained were age, sex, haemoglobin level, serum creatinine level, systolic BP, aortic neck length and angle, and acute myocardial ischaemia. The discrimination of the score for 48-h mortality in the IMPROVE data was reasonable (C-statistic 0·710, 95 per cent c.i. 0·659 to 0·760), but varied in external populations (from 0·652 to 0·761). The new score outperformed other published risk scores in some, but not all, populations. An 8 (95 per cent c.i. 5 to 11) per cent improvement in the C-statistic was estimated compared with using age alone. Conclusion: The assessed risk scores did not have sufficient accuracy to enable potentially life-saving decisions to be made regarding intervention. Focus should therefore shift to offering repair to more patients and reducing non-intervention rates, while respecting the wishes of the patient and family

DETECTION OF BARCHAN DUNES IN HIGH RESOLUTION SATELLITE IMAGES

Barchan dunes are the fastest moving sand dunes in the desert. We developed a process to detect barchans dunes on High resolution satellite images. It consisted of three steps, we first enhanced the image using histogram equalization and noise reduction filters. Then, the second step proceeds to eliminate the parts of the image having a texture different from that of the barchans dunes. Using supervised learning, we tested a coarse to fine textural analysis based on Kolomogorov Smirnov test and Youden’s J-statistic on co-occurrence matrix. As an output we obtained a mask that we used in the next step to reduce the search area. In the third step we used a gliding window on the mask and check SURF features with SVM to get barchans dunes candidates. Detected barchans dunes were considered as the fusion of overlapping candidates. The results of this approach were very satisfying in processing time and precision

CORRELATION BETWEEN PRE-TREATMENT LEVEL OF SOLUBLE PD-L1 AND OUTCOME IN CLASSICAL HODGKIN LYMPHOMA INCLUDED IN A PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF THE LYMPHOMA STUDY ASSOCIATION

International audienc

From himachalenes to trans-himachalol: unveiling bioactivity through hemisynthesis and molecular docking analysis

Abstract In this study, we report the first total hemisynthesis of trans-himachalol sesquiterpene, a stereoisomer of the natural cis-himachalol isolated from Cedrus atlantica essential oils, from himachalenes mixture in five steps. Reactions conditions were optimized and structures of the obtained compounds were confirmed by IR, mass spectra, 1H, and 13C NMR. The synthesized compounds were investigated for potential activities on various isolated smooth muscles and against different neurotransmitters using molecular docking. The results show that the synthesized compounds display high affinities towards the active site of the protein 7B2W and the compounds exhibit promising activities on various isolated smooth muscles and against different neurotransmitters

Natural product based composite for extraction of arsenic (III) from waste water

Abstract Natural based composites of hydroxyapatite/Gum Arabic designed for removal of toxic metal arsenic (III) from waste water were synthesized and evaluated. Several composites with various compositions were prepared by the wet chemical method and analyzed using various spectroscopic and analytical methods such as: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, total organic carbon production, XRD analysis and scanning electron microscope. The rates of weight loss and water absorption of the HAp/GA composites as a function of time were evaluated in phosphate-buffered saline solution at 37 °C and a pH of 7.4. The effects of several variables on adsorption of arsenic (III) by HAp/GA composites were evaluated. The variables include arsenic (III) concentration, contact time (t) and complex surface nature of HAp/GA composite. Three surface complexation models were used to study the mechanisms controlled the adsorption. The models were Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin Radushkevich. The adsorption kinetic of arsenic (III) on the composite surface was described by three modes: pseudo first order, pseudo second order and the intra particle diffusion. The results revealed that, the rate of adsorption of arsenic (III) by HAp/GA composites was controlled by two main factors: the initial concentration of arsenic (III) and the contact time. The kinetic studies also showed that, the rate of adsorption is a second order. The results indicate that, composite offered in this study could be a valuable tool for removing toxic metals for contaminated water by adsorption. Graphical abstract