Plant image retrieval using color, shape and texture features

We present a content-based image retrieval system for plant image retrieval, intended especially for the house plant identification problem. A plant image consists of a collection of overlapping leaves and possibly flowers, which makes the problem challenging.We studied the suitability of various well-known color, shape and texture features for this problem, as well as introducing some new texture matching techniques and shape features. Feature extraction is applied after segmenting the plant region from the background using the max-flow min-cut technique. Results on a database of 380 plant images belonging to 78 different types of plants show promise of the proposed new techniques and the overall system: in 55% of the queries, the correct plant image is retrieved among the top-15 results. Furthermore, the accuracy goes up to 73% when a 132-image subset of well-segmented plant images are considered

Content based image retrieval for identification of plants using color, texture and shape features

In this thesis, an application of content-based image retrieval is proposed for plant identification, along with a preliminary implementation. The system takes a plant image as input and finds the matching plant from a plant image database and is intended to provide users a simple method to locate information about their plants. With a larger database, the system might be used by biologists, as an easy way to access to plant databases. Max-flow min-cut technique is used as the image segmentation method to separate the plant from the background of the image, so as to extract the general structure of the plant. Various color, texture and shape features extracted from the segmented plant region are used in matching images to the database. Color and texture analysis are based on commonly used features, namely color histograms in different color spaces, color co-occurrence matrices and Gabor texture maps. As for shape, we introduce some new descriptors to capture the outer contour characteristics of a plant. While color is very useful in many CBIR problems, in this particular problem, it introduces some challenges as well, since many plants just differ in the particular hue of the green color. As for shape and texture analysis, the difficulty stems from the fact that the plant is composed of many leaves, resulting in a complex and variable outer contour and texture. For texture analysis, we tried to capture leaf-level information using smaller shape regions or patches. Patch size is designed to contain a leaf structure approximately. Results show that for 54% of the queries, the correct plant image is retrieved among the top-15 results, using our database of 380 plants from 78 different plant types. Moreover, the tests are also performed on a clean database in which all the plant images have smooth shape descriptors and are among the 380 images. The test results obtained using this clean database increased the top-15 retrieval probability to 68%

State Aid Rules in Research, Development & Innovation: Addressing Knowledge and Awareness Gaps among Research and Knowledge Dissemination Organisations

The global economy is becoming more and more innovation-driven. Therefore, Research and Knowledge Dissemination Organisations (RDOs) need to take an ever more active role in translating knowledge into innovation, to fuel economic growth, jobs and competitiveness. This not only necessitates that RDOs collaborate more closely with a broad range of partners, including industry, but also that they embrace new innovative models through science parks, shared research infrastructures, innovation clusters or similar catalysts. Such activities often involve intensive interaction between publicly funded RDOs and industry – e.g. in the form of R&D-collaboration, the outsourcing of R&D-services to RDOs, knowledge transfer or the sharing of RDO-infrastructure. While these activities are desirable from an innovation and industrial-policy point of view, they may involve an element of public support. Such public support could constitute ‘State aid’ to one or more of the parties involved – the RDO and/or the undertakings, depending on the circumstances. The present work is the result of over one year of discussions among experts and European Commission (EC) staff from the different relevant services in order to provide guidelines in the form of a decision tree for research organisations when dealing with the current EC rules and regulations on State Aid in Research and Innovation. The document is intended to provide technical clarification and should not be interpreted as a piece of legislation.JRC.I.4-Intellectual Property and Technology Transfe

Magnetic resonance imaging findings in pseudo-Meigs' syndrome associated with a large uterine leiomyoma: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Pseudo-Meigs' syndrome is a rare pathological entity characterized by the presence of a pelvic mass other than an ovarian fibroma. The mass is associated with ascites with or without hydrothorax.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We describe the case of a 41-year-old Caucasian woman with a large uterine leiomyoma associated with massive ascites. A magnetic resonance imaging scan showed a large subserosal leiomyoma with multiple areas of cystic degeneration.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of pseudo-Meigs' syndrome caused by a uterine leiomyoma and diagnosed using magnetic resonance imaging. The pathophysiology of this syndrome and the role of magnetic resonance imaging are emphasized in this case report.</p

Wireless Sensing using Vehicle Headlamps for Intelligent Transportation Systems: Proof of Concept

Vehicular communication and sensing technologies are mainly based on the conventional radio frequency (RF) or laser technologies. These systems suffer from several issues such as RF interference and poor performance in scenarios where the incidence angle between the speed detector and the vehicle is rapidly varying. Introducing a new sensing technology will add diversity to these systems and enhance the reliability of the real-time data. In this study, we investigate our speed estimation sensing system named “Visible Light Detection and Ranging (ViLDAR)”. ViLDAR utilizes visible light sensing technology to measure the variation of the vehicle's headlamp light intensity and estimate the vehicle speed. The measurement settings of the ViLDAR experiments are presented. The preliminary results obtained in the real-world environment/setting are promising when compared to the simulations. Additional measurements using the ViLDAR prototype will be conducted under different conditions and scenarios to further optimize the system

Broadband absorption enhancement in an uncooled microbolometer infrared detector

This paper introduces a method for a broadband absorption enhancement in the LWIR range (8-12 μm), in single layer microbolometer pixels with 35 μm pitch. For the first time in the literature, this study introduces a very simple and low cost approach to enhance the absorption by embedding plasmonic structures at the same level as the already existing metallic layer of a microbolometer pixel. The metal layer comprises the electrode and the arm structures on the body. Even though the periodicity of the plasmonic structures is slightly disturbed by the placement of the electrodes and the connecting metal, the metal arms and the electrodes compensate for the lack of the periodicity contributing to the resonance by their coupling with the individual plasmonic resonators. Various plasmonic structures are designed with FDTD simulations. Individual, plasmonically modified microbolometer pixels are fabricated, and an increase in the average absorption due to surface plasmon excitation at Au/Si3N4 interfaces is observed. Plasmonic structures increase the average absorption from 78% to 82% and result in an overall enhancement of 5.1%. A good agreement between the simulation and the FTIR measurement results are obtained within the LWIR range. This work paves the way for integration of the plasmonic structures within conventional microbolometer devices for performance enhancement without introducing additional costs. © 2014 SPIE

Evaluación de la iluminación natural y de las protecciones solares en edificios de oficinas de la ciudad de S. M. de Tucumán

El trabajo muestra los resultados del estudio de la eficiencia de las protecciones solares y del comportamiento lumínico de aventanamientos en edificios de oficinas construidos en San Miguel de Tucumán. Se realizaron simulaciones con programas computacionales en 16 edificios. Así también se llevó a cabo la evaluación de las protecciones solares en 13 edificios, con el objeto de determinar la eficiencia de los mismos y su adecuación climática para localidad en estudio. Los resultados muestran que en la mayor parte de los locales de oficinas no se cumple con los valores mínimos de iluminación natural sobre el plano de trabajo requeridos para la tarea visual y que las protecciones solares no se comportan adecuadamente, produciendo deslumbramiento y un excesivo aporte de calor al ambiente, generando condiciones de inconfort y un incremento en los costos para el acondicionamiento artificial. Es así que el 61% de los edificios relevados no cuentan con protecciones solares en las ventanas y el tratamiento de sus frentes no difiere según sea la orientación de los mismos, con una elevada proporción de superficies vidriadas. Por otra parte, el 75% de los locales no cumplen con los valores de iluminación natural mínimos de normas, en el punto medio del local y el 94% en el punto más desfavorable.The work shows the results of the study of the efficiency of the solar protection and of the light behavior of windows in office buildings of San Miguel of Tucumán. In order to determining the light behavior of the windows, they were carried out simulations with software in 16 buildings. Likewise it was carried out the evaluation of the solar protection in 13 buildings, in order to determining the efficiency of them and their climatic adaptation for the town in study. The results show that in most of the offices it is not fulfilled the minimum values of natural illumination on the working plane, required for the visual tasks, and that the solar protection don't behave appropriately, producing dazzle and an excessive contribution of heat to the interior, generating conditions of lack of comfort and an increment in the energy costs.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

LifeCLEF 2016: Multimedia Life Species Identification Challenges

International audienceUsing multimedia identification tools is considered as one of the most promising solutions to help bridge the taxonomic gap and build accurate knowledge of the identity, the geographic distribution and the evolution of living species. Large and structured communities of nature observers (e.g., iSpot, Xeno-canto, Tela Botanica, etc.) as well as big monitoring equipment have actually started to produce outstanding collections of multimedia records. Unfortunately, the performance of the state-of-the-art analysis techniques on such data is still not well understood and is far from reaching real world requirements. The LifeCLEF lab proposes to evaluate these challenges around 3 tasks related to multimedia information retrieval and fine-grained classification problems in 3 domains. Each task is based on large volumes of real-world data and the measured challenges are defined in collaboration with biologists and environmental stakeholders to reflect realistic usage scenarios. For each task, we report the methodology, the data sets as well as the results and the main outcom

Mesenteric panniculitis of the sigmoid colon: a case report and review of the literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Mesenteric panniculitis of the sigmoid colon is a rare occurrence in surgical practice. The aim of this article is to present a case of mesenteric panniculitis of the sigmoid colon and a short review of the literature.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We reviewed the hospital record of a 63-year-old man who presented with a palpable mass in the left abdomen and clinical signs of a partial bowel obstruction. The pre-operative impression was a possible cancer of the sigmoid colon. A laparotomy was performed through a midline incision. The mesentery was found to be markedly thickened, constricted and puckered. The normal architecture of the adipose tissue had been lost and replaced with an irregular nodular mass. The microscopic pathologic sections demonstrated a chronic reactive inflammatory process with an exuberant proliferation of fibroblasts and fibrocytes. The adipose tissue contained scattered areas of steatonecrosis with foci of lipid-laden macrophages, lymphocytes and plasma cells. The sigmoid colon and its mesocolon were resected. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged in good condition, and followed up for the next two years.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Mesenteric panniculitis of sigmoid is an extremely rare entity of unknown origin in which the normal architecture of the mesentery is replaced by fibrosis, necrosis and calcification. On gross examination the alterations may be mistaken for a neoplastic process. A frozen section may be necessary for confirmation of the diagnosis. When the advanced inflammatory changes became irreversible and bowel obstruction occurs, resection may be indicated.</p