Studying the Performance of Object Recognition with Fusion of Visible Light and Infrared Images with Neural Networks

Neural networks have been used for object detection and recognition in both color and intensity camera images. As the use of infrared cameras, colloquially termed thermal cameras, has increased and costs have decreased, object detection and recognition in infrared camera images have been increasingly studied. An infrared image is treated as an intensity image, just like a grayscale camera image, except the intensity corresponds to infrared radiation instead of visible light. The information provided by these two types of images are different, especially in different lighting and environmental situations, and some types of objects are more easily recognized in visible light images, and other types are more easily recognized in infrared images. The fusion of information from both types of images can lead to better object recognition outcomes. Here, several fusion methods of infrared images and visible light images are examined, including a Hue Saturation Value-based fusion method that has not been evaluated in effectiveness in object recognition. This study evaluates the feasibility of recognizing objects with these fused visible light-infrared images across autonomous systems, including commercial, military and law enforcement applications

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO SCOPE FOR IMPROVING THE RESULTS OF THE ACTIVE PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT– FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF THE EMERGING STOCK MARKETS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Active portfolio management is widely used in investment practice with the goal of securing better performance results from the investment process. Active portfolio management has gathered significant attention from both academics and practioners. Our goal is to investigate the class between two competing ideas. On one hand increasing the Breadth of the portfolio we should have bigger diversification effect. On the other hand increasing the number of assets (Breadth) should lead to smaller forecasting ability and therefore lower IC . Presented results show that our first hypothesis is confirmed – increasing the number of assets in the portfolio magnifies the effect of the active management. Additionally we show that when managers increase their Breadth, they increase not only IR, but also manage to decrease IC which shows better stability of our forecasting skill through time

Capillary Bridges — A Tool for Three-Phase Contact Investigation

Subject of investigation are capillary bridges (CB) between two parallel solid plates normally oriented to the gravity field. Presented are results of study of CB with negligible gravity effects and CB undergoing observable gravitational deformations. Among the discussed problems some new aspects of the CB behavior are formulated. One of them is the so-called stretching thickness limit, i.e. the maximal thickness above which a CB of given volume and contact angles cannot exist. It is shown that the stretching thickness limit of a concave CB substantially differs from that of a convex one. Analysis of the forces acting on CB plates is presented. It clearly demonstrates that the gravity part of the forces, relative to the part of capillary forces, increases with stretching. Most of the observed effects are interpreted on the basis of the two CB radii of curvature analysis, thus avoiding the ponderous procedures of obtaining (integrating) the CB generatrix profile. The success of this approach lies in its combination with image analysis of CB profile. Discussed are the contact angle hysteresis effects at CB stretching and pressing

Finite Element Analysis of Cardiovascular Stents

The cardiovascular diseases have become contemporary and continuously growing healthcare problems. The main reasons for such problems are the intra-vessel depositions of plaque, cholesterol, etc., that give rise to thrombus formation, arterial blockage and stenosis. A traditional cure for said problems is to implant a stent. According to the “Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff - Non-Clinical Engineering Tests and Recommended Labeling for Intravascular Stents and Associated Delivery Systems”, an intravascular stent is a tubular structure intended for permanent implant in native or graft vasculature. The stent is designed to provide mechanical radial support after deployment. This support is meant to enhance vessel patency over the life of the device. Once the stent reaches the intended location, it is expanded by a balloon or self-expanding mechanisms described below. There are two types of stents: the so-called balloon-expandable stents and self-expanding stents. The balloon-expandable stents are expanded by a catheter. They retain the required diameter after deflation of the catheter. The self-expandable stents are expanded from the pre-deployed to the post-deployed diameter size in absence of a catheter. This can be a result of the properties of the material or/and geometry. This work presents the finite element analysis (FEA) of mechanical behavior of balloon-expandable stents, produced from stainless steel 316L and Cobalt-Chromium alloy L-605

Thermoacoustic tomography arising in brain imaging

We study the mathematical model of thermoacoustic and photoacoustic tomography when the sound speed has a jump across a smooth surface. This models the change of the sound speed in the skull when trying to image the human brain. We derive an explicit inversion formula in the form of a convergent Neumann series under the assumptions that all singularities from the support of the source reach the boundary

Comparative analysis of changes in bioecological indicators of Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Den. & Schiff.) (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) for a 28-31 year period

In 2022, a study was conducted with experimental material from the area of Marikostinovo village, covering various aspects of species bioecology. The stability or changes that have occurred in these bioecological parameters after a 28-31 year period were analysed, with research data from this area conducted in the period 1991-1994. The fecundity of pine processionary moths in the 5 generations compared had a stable level of average values above 214 eggs. The long-term observations and reporting of this indicator gave reason to draw the conclusion that in this region of Bulgaria, the species develops stably, successfully overcoming possible occurrences of extremely high temperatures in July and August. In the egg stage, the most significant factor in reducing the number of T. pityocampa is the impact of parasitoids. Its effect is not a constant value but varies widely, being the difference nearly twice. The relative share of eggs destroyed by predators is insignificant. A distinctive feature of the Marikostinovo site is the high relative proportion of dead caterpillars, sterile and empty eggs, with values significantly higher than those in other areas of the species’ global range. This is the warmest and driest region of Bulgaria. The high values of this indicator are also formed by the large number of unfertilised, sterile eggs, reaching in 1994 up to 1/5 of the eggs in the sample. The dominant species, with constant presence in all samples, is Ooencyrtus pityocampae

Laparoscopy-promising tool for improvement of reproductive efficiency of small ruminants

ABSTRACT Assisted reproductive technologies are used to accelerate genetic gain and improve reproductive performances in farm animals, including small ruminants. This technologies include estrous synchronization, artificial insemination (AI) using fresh, frozen or sexed semen, embryo transfer (ET) using in vivo or in vitro produced embryos, and more advanced - cloning and production of transgenic animals. Diagnostic procedures, such as ultrasonography and laparoscopy, have been used as additional tools for monitoring the ovarian response to superovulatory treatment in donor animals as well as for AI and collection and transfer of embryos. The use of laparoscopy for assisted reproduction techniques in Macedonia commenced in the early 90’s, with the acquisition of a set of ,,Karl Storz” equipment. After the adoption of the required routine, our group has completed several scientifi c projects where laparoscopy was used for intrauterine inseminations as well as for recovery and transfer of embryos in both sheep and goats. In the following period our group endeavored into introduction of laparoscopic insemination in the routine farm practice. Ovine intrauterine/intracornual insemination by frozen-thawed semen resulted with pregnancy rates of 45% and 60%, when AI was performed out of season and during the breeding season, respectively. In goats, this percentage occasionally peaked at 85%. The aim of this article is to review the status of implementation of laparoscopy in Assisted Reproduction Technologies (ART) of small ruminants and to present our experience in this field. Key words: laparoscopy, reproduction, artificial insemination, embryo transfer, small ruminant