386 research outputs found
The Augsburg Confession in Context (Part 1)
Lutherans cannot truly look forward into the 1980s without first looking back to the 1520s and 1530s — to the “confessional rocks” from which they were hewn
The Unadopted Witness of P46 in the Nestle Text of Galatians, Colossians, and I Thessalonians and its Treatment in the RSV
Ever since textual critics could examine the latest discovery of New Testament manuscripts reported in 1930, the Chester-Beatty papyri intrigued them like a child with a new toy. The high quality of the text of the Pauline codex, called P46, was immediately apparent, and critics began to wonder how much of the “established” Greek text would need revision in the light of this wonderful discovery. This thesis is an evaluation of a limited number of the variant readings in that important manuscript
The Cyborg Astrobiologist: Testing a Novelty-Detection Algorithm on Two Mobile Exploration Systems at Rivas Vaciamadrid in Spain and at the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah
(ABRIDGED) In previous work, two platforms have been developed for testing
computer-vision algorithms for robotic planetary exploration (McGuire et al.
2004b,2005; Bartolo et al. 2007). The wearable-computer platform has been
tested at geological and astrobiological field sites in Spain (Rivas
Vaciamadrid and Riba de Santiuste), and the phone-camera has been tested at a
geological field site in Malta. In this work, we (i) apply a Hopfield
neural-network algorithm for novelty detection based upon color, (ii) integrate
a field-capable digital microscope on the wearable computer platform, (iii)
test this novelty detection with the digital microscope at Rivas Vaciamadrid,
(iv) develop a Bluetooth communication mode for the phone-camera platform, in
order to allow access to a mobile processing computer at the field sites, and
(v) test the novelty detection on the Bluetooth-enabled phone-camera connected
to a netbook computer at the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah. This systems
engineering and field testing have together allowed us to develop a real-time
computer-vision system that is capable, for example, of identifying lichens as
novel within a series of images acquired in semi-arid desert environments. We
acquired sequences of images of geologic outcrops in Utah and Spain consisting
of various rock types and colors to test this algorithm. The algorithm robustly
recognized previously-observed units by their color, while requiring only a
single image or a few images to learn colors as familiar, demonstrating its
fast learning capability.Comment: 28 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in the International
Journal of Astrobiolog
El Ăndice Ka: un nuevo algoritmo para analizar los componentes de la superficie terrestre en imágenes de satĂ©lite
El cambio del paisaje de la superficie terrestre, su composiciĂłn y estructura, ocurrido por causas di- versas, ha estado en la mira de toda la humanidad. Se han desarrollado diversas formas para entender- los y la sensorĂa remota es lo más reciente y nove- doso para tener un conocimiento rápido de gran- des extensiones. En este estudio se ha desarrollado un nuevo algoritmo para medir estos cambios, asĂ como para identificar valores espectrales de espe- cies de conĂferas, utilizando imágenes del satĂ©lite Landsat7 ETM+. Los resultados muestran un gran potencial del Ăndice Ka para detectar los diferentes componentes superficiales y su variabilidad debi- do a efectos naturales o antropolĂłgicos, etc.
The change in the landscape of the terrestrial surface, its composition, and its structure, caused by many factors, has been in the aim of all humanity. Diverse forms have been developed in order to understand them, the sensory remote being the most recent and novel thing in acquiring fast knowledge of large extensions. In this study a new algorithm has been developed to measure these changes, as well as to identify ghastly values of coniferous species using images of the satellite Landsat7 ETM+. The results show a great potential of the Ka index in detecting the different superfi- cial components and its variability due to natural effects or due to man
Discovery of X-ray absorption features from the dipping low-mass X-ray binary XB 1916-053 with XMM-Newton
We report the discovery of narrow Fe XXV and Fe XXVI K alpha X-ray absorption
lines at 6.65 and 6.95 keV in the persistent emission of the dipping low-mass
X-ray binary (LMXB) XB 1916-053 during an XMM-Newton observation performed in
September 2002. In addition, there is marginal evidence for absorption features
at 1.48 keV, 2.67 kev, 7.82 keV and 8.29 keV consistent with Mg XII, S XVI, Ni
XXVII K alpha and Fe XXVI K beta transitions, respectively. Such absorption
lines from highly ionized ions are now observed in a number of high inclination
(ie. close to edge-on) LMXBs, such as XB 1916-053, where the inclination is
estimated to be between 60-80 degrees. This, together with the lack of any
orbital phase dependence of the features (except during dips), suggests that
the highly ionized plasma responsible for the absorption lines is located in a
cylindrical geometry around the compact object. Using the ratio of Fe XXV and
Fe XXVI column densities, we estimate the photo-ionization parameter of the
absorbing material to be 10^{3.92} erg cm s^{-1}. Only the Fe XXV line is
observed during dipping intervals and the upper-limits to the Fe XXVI column
density are consistent with a decrease in the amount of ionization during
dipping intervals. This implies the presence of cooler material in the line of
sight during dipping. We also report the discovery of a 0.98 keV absorption
edge in the persistent emission spectrum. The edge energy decreases to 0.87 keV
during deep dipping intervals. The detected feature may result from edges of
moderately ionized Ne and/or Fe with the average ionization level decreasing
from persistent emission to deep dipping. This is again consistent with the
presence of cooler material in the line of sight during dipping.Comment: 13 pages, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic
New enzymes with potential for PET surface modification
This work describes newly isolated organisms and their potential to modify the surface of polyethylene terephthalate
(PET). Out of the different screening processes, four bacterial and five fungal strains were isolated. A PET model substrate was synthesized (bis (benzoyloxyethyl) terephthalate) and used in the screening
process, mimicking the polymer in its crucial properties and having the advantage of defined hydrolysis products. On this model substrate, extracellular enzyme preparations from the isolated microorganisms showed a maximum activity of 8.54 nkat/L. All enzyme preparations showed esterase activity on p-nitrophenyl-acetate while no activity was found on p-nitrophenyl decanoate or p-nitrophenyl palmitate. Increased hydrophilicity of PET fabrics after enzyme treatment was found based on rising height and water dissipation measurements
Characterization of Genipin-Modified Dentin Collagen
Application of biomodification techniques to dentin can improve its biochemical and biomechanical properties. Several collagen cross-linking agents have been reported to strengthen the mechanical properties of dentin. However, the characteristics of collagen that has undergone agent-induced biomodification are not well understood. The objective of this study was to analyze the effects of a natural cross-linking agent, genipin (GE), on dentin discoloration, collagen stability, and changes in amino acid composition and lysyl oxidase mediated natural collagen cross-links. Dentin collagen obtained from extracted bovine teeth was treated with three different concentrations of GE (0.01%, 0.1%, and 0.5%) for several treatment times (0–24 h). Changes in biochemical properties of NaB3H4-reduced collagen were characterized by amino acid and cross-link analyses. The treatment of dentin collagen with GE resulted in a concentration- and time-dependent pigmentation and stability against bacterial collagenase. The lysyl oxidase-mediated trivalent mature cross-link, pyridinoline, showed no difference among all groups while the major divalent immature cross-link, dehydro-dihydroxylysinonorleucine/its ketoamine in collagen treated with 0.5% GE for 24 h, significantly decreased compared to control (P< 0.05). The newly formed GE-induced cross-links most likely involve lysine and hydroxylysine residues of collagen in a concentration-dependent manner. Some of these cross-links appear to be reducible and stabilized with NaB3H4
- …