Robust Path-based Image Segmentation Using Superpixel Denoising

Clustering is the important task of partitioning data into groups with similar characteristics, with one category being spectral clustering where data points are represented as vertices of a graph connected by weighted edges signifying similarity based on distance. The longest leg path distance (LLPD) has shown promise when used in spectral clustering, but is sensitive to noisy data, therefore requiring a data denoising procedure to achieve good performance. Previous denoising techniques have involved identifying and removing noisy data points, however this is not a desirable pre-clustering step for data sets with a specific structure like images. The process of partitioning an image into regions of similar features known as image segmentation can be represented as a clustering problem by defining the vector of intensity and spatial information at each pixel as data point. We therefore propose the method of pre-cluster denoising to formulate a robust LLPD clustering framework. By creating a fine clustering of approximately equal-sized groups and averaging each, a reduced number of data points can be defined that represent the relevant information of the original data set by locally averaging out noise influence. We can then construct a smaller graph representation of the data based on the LLPD between the reduced data points, and identify the spectral embedding coordinates for each reduced point. An out-of-sample extension procedure is then used to compute spectral embedding coordinates at each of the original data points, after which a simple (k-means) clustering is performed to compute the final cluster labels. In the context of image segmentation, computing superpixels provides a nice structure for performing this type of pre-clustering. We show how the above LLPD framework can be carried out in the context of image segmentation, and show that a simple computationally efficient spatial interpolation procedure can be used instead to extend the embedding in a way that yields better segmentation performance with respect to ground truth on a publicly available data set. Similar experiments are also performed using the standard Euclidean distance in place of the LLPD to show the proficiency of the LLPD for image segmentation

Stabilised laser-driven radiation pressure acceleration of ions

The process of radiation pressure ion acceleration is investigated with the aim of suppressing the transverse Rayleigh-Taylor like interchange instabilities (RTI) in laser-foil interaction. This is achieved by imposing surface and density modulations on the target surface. First, calculations of the RTI growth rate are carried out in order to understand the behavior of the instabilities. Then, PIC (particle-in-cell) simulations of radiation pressure acceleration with dierent target modulation parameters are carried out. At the end, we analyze our simulation results and seek for optimal modulation parameters for a stabilized acceleration process of ions. It turned out that density modulated targets have more promising results than surface modulated targets and we get new findings in radiation pressure of ions which will probably lead to a new research direction

Palaeotethys-related sediments of the Karaburun Peninsula, western Turkey: constraints on provenance and stratigraphy from detrital zircon geochronology

Detrital zircon U–Pb geochronology of 15 Late Palaeozoic to Early Mesozoic siliciclastic sandstones from the Karaburun Peninsula in western Turkey determines maximum sedimentation ages, identifies possible source areas, and anchors the study area within the Palaeotethyan realm. Siliciclastic sandstones yielded ages from Triassic to Archean with major input from Palaeozoic to Neoproterozoic sources and very few Mesoproterozoic zircons. The youngest age groups set the new limit of the maximum depositional ages to Late Carboniferous–Early Permian for the Küçükbahçe and Dikendağı formations. Detrital zircons from Triassic sandstones are mainly Neoproterozoic and Palaeozoic in age. Zircons from the Scythian–Anisian Gerence Formation are predominantly Devonian and Carboniferous in age, while also Permian and Triassic zircon grains occur in the Carnian–Rhaetian Güvercinlik Formation. According to the zircon age populations and the data available from possible source regions, the Karaburun siliciclastic sediments, with the exception of two samples from the Dikendağı Formation, record sediment supply from units located at the southern margin of Eurasia during Late Palaeozoic and Early Mesozoic times. This interpretation is in agreement with palaeotectonic reconstructions for the closely related Greek islands of Chios and Inousses. The presence of Devonian accompanied by Carboniferous zircons in some of the Karaburun samples reveals similarities with Karakaya Complex sandstones of the Sakarya Zone in NW Turkey

Modeling of electrons and photons beams of linear (planar) accelerator Elekta Synergy in modelling system PLUNC

The article presents the experience of creating a model of beam in the non-commercial 3D Plan-UNC radiation treatment planning system (PLUNC). The results of dosimetry for electron and photon beams of the Elekta Synergy linear accelerator are presented

Evolution of the Palaeotethys in the Eastern Mediterranean: A multi-method approach to unravel the age, provenance and tectonic setting of the Upper Palaeozoic Konya Complex and its Mesozoic cover sequence (south-central Turkey)

Thirteen siliciclastic sediments from the Upper Palaeozoic Konya Complex and its Mesozoic cover were studied by a multi-method approach combining thin-section petrography, bulk-rock geochemistry, mineral chemistry of rutile, and U–Pb geochronology of detrital zircons. Provenance sensitive data of samples from the Upper Palaeozoic Halıcı Formation indicate sediment supply from mainly low- to medium-grade metamorphosed sedimentary rocks of felsic character, while contribution from volcanic rocks was rare. The detrital zircon record of sediments from the Halıcı Formation documents sediment supply from different sources and excludes a similar provenance. Some samples show great similarities with Palaeozoic sandstones from the cover sequence of the Saharan Metacraton and the Arabian–Nubian Shield, while the other samples indicate a provenance that must be sought in units with a southern Eurasian affinity. The upper limit for sediment deposition in the Halıcı Formation is mostly constrained by Early Palaeozoic zircon populations, however, sediment accumulation in Pennsylvanian–Cisuralian time is more likely, contemporaneously with the Upper Palaeozoic succession on the Karaburun Peninsula (western Turkey). The provenance of sediments from the Upper Triassic Ardıçlı Formation remains enigmatic, but the source should be sought nonetheless in units close to the depositional site. In any case, detrital zircon age spectra and compositional data exclude recycling of underlying rock units (i.e. Halıcı Formation). Overall, our new provenance data reveal great similarities between the Konya Complex and comparable units (Chios, Karaburun) but also highlight distinct differences in terms of sediment composition and provenance

A Spin Modulated Telescope to Make Two Dimensional CMB Maps

We describe the HEMT Advanced Cosmic Microwave Explorer (HACME), a balloon borne experiment designed to measure sub-degree scale Cosmic Microwave Background anisotropy over hundreds of square degrees, using a unique two dimensional scanning strategy. A spinning flat mirror that is canted relative to its spin axis modulates the direction of beam response in a nearly elliptical path on the sky. The experiment was successfully flown in February of 1996, achieving near laboratory performance for several hours at float altitude. A map free of instrumental systematic effects is produced for a 3.5 hour observation of 630 square degrees, resulting in a flat band power upper limit of (l(l+1)C_l/2 pi)^0.5 < 77 microK at l = 38 (95% confidence). The experiment design, flight operations and data, including atmospheric effects and noise performance, are discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Provenance and tectonic setting of Carboniferous–Triassic sandstones from the Karaburun Peninsula, western Turkey: A multi-method approach with implications for the Palaeotethys evolution

Carboniferous–Triassic siliciclastic sediments of the Karaburun Peninsula in western Turkey were studied to unravel their provenance and the tectonic setting of depositional basins within the Palaeotethyan realm. A set of complementary techniques including petrography, bulk-rock geochemistry and single-grain analysis of rutile, garnet and chrome spinel were applied to provide a diverse dataset for testing existing palaeotectonic models using both, established and recently published diagrams. We show that tectonic discrimination diagrams of siliciclastic sediments based on major and trace element whole-rock geochemical data do yield ambiguous results and are only partly in accordance with regional geological events. Chondrite-normalised REE patterns of Upper Palaeozoic samples are characterised by enrichment of LREE and a flat trend towards HREE. The degree of fractionation allows for discrimination between sandstones of Karaburun (LaN/YbN = 8.00–14.79) and adjacent Greek islands of Chios (5.82–9.23) and Inousses (7.40–9.95). Petrographic observations and compositional data from single-grain analysis indicate significant supply from low- to medium-grade metamorphic rocks of generally felsic character and minor input of (ultra)mafic detritus. Detrital chrome spinels in the Lower Triassic Gerence Formation are different in composition and shape compared to chrome spinels in Carboniferous–Permian sandstones. They were derived from a very proximal source and exhibit variable, but generally high Cr- and Mg-numbers, consistent with chrome spinels from podiform chromitites that have been formed in an intra-oceanic back-arc setting above a supra-subduction zone. We conclude that most of the Carboniferous–Triassic successions were deposited along the southern active margin of Eurasia in a continental-arc environment during the time period when Palaeotethys diminished in size and finally vanished. Large volumes of detritus were probably derived from rock units located in the present-day Balkan region and the Sakarya Zone, or equivalent successions that are not present anymore

Measurements of Anisotropy in the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation at 0.5 Degree Angular Scales Near the Star Gamma Ursae Minoris

We present results from a four frequency observation of a 6 x 0.6 degree strip of the sky centered near the star Gamma Ursae Minoris during the fourth flight of the Millimeter-wave Anisotropy eXperiment (MAX). The observation was made with a 1.4 degree peak-to-peak sinusoidal chop in all bands. The FWHM beam sizes were 0.55 +/- 0.05 degrees at 3.5 cm-1 and 0.75 +/-0.05 degrees at 6, 9, and 14 cm-1. During this observation significant correlated structure was observed at 3.5, 6 and 9 cm-1 with amplitudes similar to those observed in the GUM region during the second and third flights of MAX. The frequency spectrum is consistent with CMB and inconsistent with thermal emission from interstellar dust. The extrapolated amplitudes of synchrotron and free-free emission are too small to account for the amplitude of the observed structure. If all of the structure is attributed to CMB anisotropy with a Gaussian autocorrelation function and a coherence angle of 25', then the most probable values of DeltaT/TCMB in the 3.5, 6, and 9 cm-1 bands are 4.3 (+2.7, -1.6) x 10-5, 2.8 (+4.3, -1.1) x 10-5, and 3.5 (+3.0, -1.6) x 10-5 (95% confidence upper and lower limits), respectively.Comment: 16 pages, postscrip