A comparative study of methods for defect detection in textile fabrics

Published ArticleFabric defect detection methods have been broadly classified into three categories; statistical methods, spectral methods and model-based methods. The performance of each method relies on the discriminative ability of texture features it uses. Each of the three categories has its own advantages and disadvantages and some researchers have recommended their combination for improved performance. In this paper, we compare the performance of three fabric defect detection methods, one from each of the three categories. The three methods are based on the grey-level co-occurrence matrices (GLCM), the undecimated discrete wavelet transform (UDWT) and the Gaussian Markov Random field models (GMRF) respectively from the statistical, spectral and model-based categories. The tests were done using the textile images from the TILDA dataset. To ensure classifier independence on the outcome of the comparison, the Euclidean distance and feed forward neural network classifiers were used for defect detection using the features obtained from each of the three methods. The results show that GLCM features allowed better defect detection than wavelet features and that wavelet features allowed better detection than GMRF features

Spatial Modelling of Common Chimpanzees’ (Pan troglodytes schweinifurthii) Ecological Niche in the Western Part of Rwanda

The Western Part of Rwanda is a mountainous region that hosts two important forest parks namely the Nyungwe National Park (NNP) and Gishwati-Mukura National Park (GMNP). The two parks which are located in the Albertine Rift region are known for their high endemism and harbour several endangered plant and animal species, including particularly the Common Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinifurthii). However, these forests are facing threats including mainly habitat loss, aggravated by climate change both of which are continuously having direct and indirect effects to the Chimpanzees. While conservation of chimpanzees appears critical, there is a need to deeply understand the dynamics of their habitat. This study aimed at modelling the ecological niche of common chimpanzee by integrating species distribution data and environmental layers. Species location data collected in both NNP and GMNP were integrated with environmental variables (temperature, precipitation, altitude, and land cover) through Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt), and Generic Algorithm for Rule-based Prediction (GARP) Models. The results of both models showed that chimpanzees prefer the Southern and the Northern parts of the study area (0.5 < p < 0.87), which is characterised by high altitude, low temperature, and intensive rainfall. It was also noted that MaxEnt predictions were more accurate compared to the GARP’s. MaxEnt predictions showed that 35% (2058.61 ha) of the Western Province are suitable for chimpanzees, while GARP predicted that only 24% (1411.62 ha) are suitable. Furthermore, the study found that the high precipitation, annual and maximum precipitations, and food availability are the most determinants of chimpanzees' habitat. The land use in the Western Province has made the central part less suitable to chimpanzees and therefore, this study recommends that special efforts for the conservation of Common chimpanzees in Rwanda should be concentrated in the Southern Part (around NNP) Nyungwe National Park (main forest and Cyamudongo fragment) and the northern Part (around GMNP) Keywords: Spatial Modelling, Common Chimpanzee, Ecological Niche, Nyungwe National Park, Gishwati-Mukura National Park, Rwanda

Analysis of Effects of Selected Aerosol Particles to the Global Climate Change and Health using Remote Sensing data: The Focus on Africa

The desert's dust and anthropogenic biomass burning's black carbon (BC) in the tropical regions are associated with many effects on climate and air quality. The dust and BC are the selected aerosols, which affect health by polluting the breathable air. This research discusses the effects of both the aerosols, especially while they interact with the clouds. The respective aerosol extinction optical thickness (AOT) extinction was analysed with the sensible heat from Turbulence. The research purposes to quantitatively study the remote sensing data for fine particulate matter, PM2.5, heterogeneously mixing both the dust and the pulverized black carbon's soot or ash, to analyse at which levels PM2.5 can endanger human health in the sub-Saharan region. The mainly analysed data had been assimilated from different remote sensing tools; the Goddard interactive online visualization and analysis infrastructure (GIOVANNI) was in the centre of data collection; GIS, the research data analysis software. In results, the rise and fall of the averaged sensible heat were associated with the rise and fall of averaged aerosol extinction AOT; the direct effects of the selected aerosols on the clouds are also presented. Regarding the health effects, PM2.5 quantities are throughout beyond the tolerably recommended quantity of 25μg/m3; thus, having referred to erstwhile research, inhabitants would consume food and drug supplements which contain vanillic acid during dusty seasons. Keywords: Geographic Information System (GIS), remotely sensed data, spatio-temporal (data) analysi

Fungi, Source of Biologically Active Substances with Important Application in Agricultural Fields

Eleven species (dried fruiting bodies) Fomitopsis pinicola, Cerrena unicolor, Piptoporus betulinus, Daedaleopsis tricolor, Stereum subtomentosum, Funalia trogii, Phellinus cinereus, Trametes versicolor, T. pubescens, T. gibbosa and Ganoderma applanatum were used to extract biologically active compounds (BACs) as crude fungal extracts (CFEs) in distilled water (diH2O) which was further studied to evaluate their impact on the rate of seeds germination, biosynthesis of photosynthetic pigments, biomass formation and in tomato seedlings length (Solanum lycopersicum, cv. Dubrava). The results showed that xylotrophic mushrooms are a source of potential biologically active compounds useful for agriculture. © 2022 Author(s).The work was partly supported by RFBR, Russia (Project No. 19-516-45006) and DST, India (INT/RUS/RFBR/363) and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (Agreement No. 02.A03.21.0006)

Fungi, source of biologically active substances with important application in agricultural fields

The work was partly support by RFBR, Russia (Project № 19-516-45006) and DST, India (INT/RUS/RFBR/363) and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (Agreement № 02.A03.21.0006)

Impact of Fungal Biologically Active Substances on Plant Growth

In this study, effects of Inonotus obliquus, Fomes fomentarius, Fomitopsis pinicola and Trichaptum pergamenum extracts on plant functions have been investigated. Barley, cucumber and tomato seeds were grown in Petri dishes containing filter paper, petri dishes have been moistened with the solutions of biologically active substances from the fungal extracts from the above-mentioned fungi species; the control petri dishes were moistened with distilled water. The impact of extracts on seeds germination seedling growth, photosynthetic pigments contents, biomass formation of shoots and roots have been determined. © 2019 Author(s).The research was supported by The Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation Agreement no. 02.A03.21.0006

Performance-based financing as a health system reform : mapping the key dimensions for monitoring and evaluation

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Антиоксидантная активность и химический состав экстрактов ксилотрофных грибов Среднего Урала, произрастающих на березе

The search for new natural sources of biologically active substances is a major issue in pharmaceutical industry. Xylotrophic basidiomycetes are common in forests worldwide, but as a prospective raw source of biologically active compounds they have not been studied as extensively as plants and other groups of fungi. The study is aimed to determine the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of extracts from 10 species of tinder fungi growing on birch and common in the forests in Russia. The chaga muchroom (Inonotus obliquus), traditionally used in medicine, was chosen as a standard species. Extracts from fruiting bodies were obtained with water or 95 % ethanol. They contained 4 to 8 types of free amino acids including 2 to 6 essential ones. Perennial basidiocarps were shown to be richer in phenolic compounds and poorer in amino acids than annual ones. Alkaloids and saponins were found in perennial basidiocarps of two species, saponins were also found in annual basidiocarps of one species. Water and alcohol extracts differed in composition and concentration of extractives, and showed different antioxidant (inhibition of lipid peroxidation) and antiradical (ABTS-test, inhibition of NO production) activity. This way it was shown that the nature of the solvent extraction agent is important for the manifestation of biological activity. In most tests, water extracts from chaga showed better antioxidant properties; extracts from Piptoporus betulinus and Fomitopsis pinicola were also effective as antioxidants, which may be promising avenues for future research. © Siberian Federal University. All rights reserved.Acknowledgements. The work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Project No. FEUZ-2021–0014

Taenia solium cysticercosis in Eastern and Southern Africa: an emerging problem in agriculture and public health

Pig production has increased tremendously in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA), particularly in smallholder rural communities. The increase in pig production has mainly been due to land scarcity, increase in pork consumption in many areas including urban centers, and the recognition by many communities of the fast and greater return of the pig industry, compared with other domesticated livestock industries. Concurrent with the increase in smallholder pig keeping and pork consumption, there have been increasing reports of Taenia solium cysticercosis in pigs and humans in the ESA region, although the problems are under-recognized by all levels in many ESA countries. Having recognizing this, scientists researching T. solium in ESA formed a regional cysticercosis working group (CWGESA) to increase awareness of the problem and enable effective and sustainable control of T. solium. This article summarizes the status of T. solium infections in humans and pigs in the ESA countries and highlights the formation and progress of the CWGESA

The impact of digital health technologies on tuberculosis treatment : a systematic review

Digital technologies are increasingly harnessed to support treatment of persons with tuberculosis (TB). Since in-person directly observed treatment (DOT) can be resource intensive and challenging to implement, these technologies may have the potential to improve adherence and clinical outcomes. We reviewed the effect of these technologies on TB treatment adherence and patient outcomes. We searched several bibliographical databases for studies reporting the effect of digital interventions, including short message service (SMS), video-observed therapy (VOT) and medication monitors (MMs), to support treatment for active TB. Only studies with a control group and which reported effect estimates were included. Four trials showed no statistically significant effect on treatment completion when SMS was added to standard care. Two observational studies of VOT reported comparable treatment completion rates when compared with in-person DOT. MMs increased the probability of cure (RR 2.3, 95% CI 1.6-3.4) in one observational study, and one trial reported a statistically significant reduction in missed treatment doses relative to standard care (adjusted means ratio 0.58, 95% CI 0.42-0.79). Evidence of the effect of digital technologies to improve TB care remains limited. More studies of better quality are needed to determine how such technologies can enhance programme performance