Land cover classification using fuzzy rules and aggregation of contextual information through evidence theory

Land cover classification using multispectral satellite image is a very challenging task with numerous practical applications. We propose a multi-stage classifier that involves fuzzy rule extraction from the training data and then generation of a possibilistic label vector for each pixel using the fuzzy rule base. To exploit the spatial correlation of land cover types we propose four different information aggregation methods which use the possibilistic class label of a pixel and those of its eight spatial neighbors for making the final classification decision. Three of the aggregation methods use Dempster-Shafer theory of evidence while the remaining one is modeled after the fuzzy k-NN rule. The proposed methods are tested with two benchmark seven channel satellite images and the results are found to be quite satisfactory. They are also compared with a Markov random field (MRF) model-based contextual classification method and found to perform consistently better.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figure

Designing fuzzy rule based classifier using self-organizing feature map for analysis of multispectral satellite images

We propose a novel scheme for designing fuzzy rule based classifier. An SOFM based method is used for generating a set of prototypes which is used to generate a set of fuzzy rules. Each rule represents a region in the feature space that we call the context of the rule. The rules are tuned with respect to their context. We justified that the reasoning scheme may be different in different context leading to context sensitive inferencing. To realize context sensitive inferencing we used a softmin operator with a tunable parameter. The proposed scheme is tested on several multispectral satellite image data sets and the performance is found to be much better than the results reported in the literature.Comment: 23 pages, 7 figure

Population Genetic Structuring in Opisthorchis viverrini over Various Spatial Scales in Thailand and Lao PDR

Khon Kaen Province in northeast Thailand is known as a hot spot for opisthorchiasis in Southeast Asia. Preliminary allozyme and mitochondrial DNA haplotype data from within one endemic district in this Province (Ban Phai), indicated substantial genetic variability within Opisthorchis viverrini. Here, we used microsatellite DNA analyses to examine the genetic diversity and population structure of O. viverrini from four geographically close localities in Khon Kaen Province. Genotyping based on 12 microsatellite loci yielded a mean number of alleles per locus that ranged from 2.83 to 3.7 with an expected heterozygosity in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium of 0.44-0.56. Assessment of population structure by pairwise F(ST) analysis showed inter-population differentiation (P<0.05) which indicates population substructuring between these localities. Unique alleles were found in three of four localities with the highest number observed per locality being three. Our results highlight the existence of genetic diversity and population substructuring in O. viverrini over a small spatial scale which is similar to that found at a larger scale. This provides the basis for the investigation of the role of parasite genetic diversity and differentiation in transmission dynamics and control of O. viverrini

Pasture Larval Burden in a Grazing Land of Subtropical Hill Region of Meghalaya

Gastrointestinal (GI) helminths infections are considered as one of the most devastating diseases of livestock as it causes mortality, morbidity and thereby economic losses to the livestock owners. Infective larvae of nematodes are the source of infection to the livestock and one of the ways of nematode infection to the livestock is the ingestion of infective larvae (L3) through contaminated pasture. The count of infective larvae could give an idea of infection in animals grazed in a particular pasture land. Management of pasture is an important component of nematode parasite control programs. In the present study, pasture larval burden (PLB) of nematodes in a grazing pasture land of goats of a subtropical hill region of RiBhoi district of Meghalaya has been worked out during the year 2012-13, as such type of study has not yet been done earlier in this region

Galactic Center Radio Constraints on Gamma-Ray Lines from Dark Matter Annihilation

Recent evidence for one or more gamma-ray lines at ~ 130 GeV in the Fermi-LAT data from the Galactic Center has been interpreted as a hint for dark matter annihilation to Z{\gamma} or H{\gamma} with an annihilation cross section, ~ 10^{-27} cm^3 s^{-1} . We test this hypothesis by comparing synchrotron fluxes due to the electrons and positrons from the decay of the Z or the H boson only in the Galactic Center against radio data from the same region in the Galactic Center. We find that the radio data from single dish telescopes marginally constrain this interpretation of the claimed gamma lines for a contracted NFW profile. Already-operational radio telescopes such as LWA, VLA-Low and LOFAR, and future radio telescopes like SKA, which are sensitive to annihilation cross sections as small as 10^{-28} cm^3 s^{-1}, can confirm or rule out this scenario very soon. We discuss the assumptions on the dark matter profile, magnetic fields, and background radiation density profiles, and show that the constraints are relatively robust for any reasonable assumptions. Independent of the above said recent developments, we emphasize that our radio constraints apply to all models where dark matter annihilates to Z{\gamma} or H{\gamma}.Comment: v3: 18 pages, 7 figures. Minor changes. Published in Phys. Rev.

Using Absorption Imaging to Study Ion Dynamics in an Ultracold Neutral Plasma

We report optical absorption imaging of ultracold neutral plasmas.Images are used to measure the ion absorption spectrum, which is Doppler-broadened. Through the spectral width, we monitor ion equilibration in the first 250ns after plasma formation. The equilibration leaves ions on the border between the weakly coupled gaseous and strongly coupled liquid states. On a longer timescale of microseconds, we observe radial acceleration of ions resulting from pressure exerted by the trapped electron gas.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

ITPK1 is an InsP6/ADP phosphotransferase that controls phosphate signaling in Arabidopsis

In plants, phosphate (Pi) homeostasis is regulated by the interaction of PHR transcription factors with stand-alone SPX proteins, which act as sensors for inositol pyrophosphates. Here, we combined different methods to obtain a comprehensive picture of how inositol (pyro)phosphate metabolism is regulated by Pi and dependent on the inositol phosphate kinase ITPK1. We found that inositol pyrophosphates are more responsive to Pi than lower inositol phosphates, a response conserved across kingdoms. With CE-ESI-MS we could separate different InsP7 isomers in Arabidopsis and rice, and identify 4/6-InsP7 and a PP-InsP4 isomer hitherto not reported in plants. We found that the inositol pyrophosphates 1/3-InsP7, 5-InsP7 and InsP8 increase severalfold in shoots after Pi resupply and that tissue-specific accumulation of inositol pyrophosphates relies on ITPK1 activities and MRP5-dependent InsP6 compartmentalization. Notably, ITPK1 is critical for Pi-dependent 5-InsP7 and InsP8 synthesis in planta and its activity regulates Pi starvation responses in a PHR-dependent manner. Furthermore, we demonstrate that ITPK1-mediated conversion of InsP6 to 5-InsP7 requires high ATP concentrations and that Arabidopsis ITPK1 has an ADP phosphotransferase activity to dephosphorylate specifically 5-InsP7 under low ATP. Collectively, our study provides deeper insights into Pi-dependent changes in nutritional and energetic states with the synthesis of regulatory inositol pyrophosphates