An FPGA implementation of pattern-Selective pyramidal image fusion

The aim of image fusion is to combine multiple images (from one or more sensors) into a single composite image that retains all useful data without introducing artefacts. Pattern-selective techniques attempt to identify and extract whole features in the source images to use in the composite. These techniques usually rely on multiresolution image representations such as Gaussian pyramids, which are localised in both the spatial and spatial-frequency domains, since they enable identification of features at many scales simultaneously. This paper presents an FPGA implementation of pyramidal decomposition and subsequent fusion of dual video streams. This is the first reported instance of a hardware implementation of pattern-selective pyramidal image fusion. Use of FPGA technology has enabled a design that can fuse dual video streams (greyscale VGA, 30fps) in real-time, and provides approximately 100 times speedup over a 2.8GHz Pentium-

Static aerodynamic characteristics of the S-IC booster/GAC H-33 orbiter launch vehicle configuration

This test at the trisonic tunnel was divided into two parts. The first part utilized the H-33 orbiter with drop tanks and cradle mounted on an S-IC booster with 75 square-foot fins oriented 45 deg off the horizontal and vertical reference planes. Runs were initially made to determine the optimum incidence angle to be used for the remainder of the tests. The angle so determined was 0 degrees. Additional testing was performed with drop tanks removed, orbiter vertical tail removed, drop tanks and orbiter wing removed, booster fins removed and booster fins located in the horizontal and vertical reference planes. The second part utilized the H-33 orbiter and cradle only, sting mounted on a strain gage balance. These data were used in conjunction with test number 504 (orbiter alone on balance) to determine cradle effects

\u3csup\u3e13\u3c/sup\u3eC NMR Analysis of Biologically Produced Pyrene Residues by \u3cem\u3eMycobacterium\u3c/em\u3e sp. KMS in the Presence of Humic Acid

Cultures of the pyrene degrading Mycobacterium sp. KMS were incubated with [4-13C]pyrene or [4,5,9,10-14C]pyrene with and without a soil humic acid standard to characterize the chemical nature of the produced residues and evaluate the potential for bonding reactions with humic acid. Cultures were subjected to a “humic acid/humin” separation at acidic pH, a duplicate separation followed by solvent extraction of the humic acid/humin fraction, and a high pH separation. 13C NMR analysis was conducted on the resulting solid extracts. Results indicated that the activity associated with solid extracts did not depend on pH and that approximately 10% of the added activity was not removed from the solid humic acid/humin fraction by solvent extraction. 13C NMR analysis supported the conclusion that the majority of pyrene metabolites were incorporated into cellular material. Some evidence was found for metabolite reaction with the added humic material, but this did not appear to be a primary fate mechanism

Approach to Bioremediation of Contaminated Surface Soils

Biological processes, including microbial degradation, have been identified as critical mechanisms for attenuating organic contaminants during transit through the vadose zone to the groundwater. On-site soil remedial measures using biological processes can reduce or eliminate groundwater contamination, thus reducing the need for extensive groundwater monitoring and treatment requirements. On-site remedial systems that utilize the soil as the treatment system accomplish treatment by using naturally occurring microorganisms to treat the contaminants. Treatment often may be enhanced by a variety of physical/chemical methods, such as fertilization, tilling, soil Ph adjustment, moisture control, etc. The development of a bioremediation program for a specific contaminated soil system includes: (1) a thorough site/soil/waste characterization; (2) treatability studies; and (3) design and implementation of the bioremediation plan. Biological remediation of soils contaminated with organic chemicals has been demonstrated to be an alternative treatment technology that can often meet the goal of achieving a permanent clean-up remedy at hazardous waste sites, as encouraged by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) for implementation of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986. Bioremediation is especially promising if it is incorporated in a remediation plan that uses an integrated approach to the cleanup of the complete site, i.e., a plan that involves the concept of a treatment train of physical, chemical, and/or biological processes to address remediation of all sources of contaminants at the site

Bioremediation of Contaminated Surface Soils

Biological remediation of soils contaminated with organic chemicals is an alternative treatment technology that can often meet the goal of achieving a permanent clean-up remedy at hazardous waste sites, as encouraged by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) for implementation of The Superfund Amendments and Authorization Act (SARA) of 1986. Bioremediation is consistent with the philosophical thrust of SARA, for it involves the use of naturally occurring microorganisms to degrade and/or detoxify hazardous constituents in the soil at a contaminated slip to protect public health and the environment.Bioremediation of contaminated soils, including applications and limitations, has been addressed

Accuracy of pulse interval timing in ambulatory blood pressure measurement

Blood pressure (BP) monitors rely on pulse detection. Some blood pressure monitors use pulse timings to analyse pulse interval variability for arrhythmia screening, but this assumes that the pulse interval timings detected from BP cuffs are accurate compared with RR intervals derived from ECG. In this study we compared the accuracy of pulse intervals detected using an ambulatory blood pressure monitor (ABPM) with single lead ECG. Twenty participants wore an ABPM for three hours and a data logger which synchronously measured cuff pressure and ECG. RR intervals were compared with corresponding intervals derived from the cuff pressure tracings using three different pulse landmarks. Linear mixed effects models were used to assess differences between ECG and cuff pressure timings and to investigate the effect of potential covariates. In addition, the maximum number of successive oscillometric beats detectable in a measurement was assessed. From 243 BP measurements, the foot landmark of the oscillometric pulse was found to be associated with fewest covariates and had a random error of 9.5 ms. 99% of the cuff pressure recordings had more than 10 successive detectable oscillometric beats. RR intervals can be accurately estimated using an ABPM

Opportunistic detection of atrial fibrillation using blood pressure monitors: a systematic review

Background: Atrial Fibrillation (AF) affects around 2% of the population and early detection is beneficial, allowing patients to begin potentially life-saving anticoagulant therapies. Blood pressure (BP) monitors may offer an opportunity to screen for AF. Aim: To identify and appraise studies which report the diagnostic accuracy of automated BP monitors used for opportunistic AF detection. Methods: A systematic search was performed of the Medline, Medline-in-process and Embase literature databases. Papers were eligible if they described primary studies of the evaluation of a BP device for AF detection, were published in a peer reviewed journal and reported values for the sensitivity and specificity. Included studies were appraised using the QUADAS-2 tool to assess their risk of bias and applicability to opportunistic AF detection. Values for the sensitivity and specificity of AF detection were extracted from each paper and compared. Results and Conclusion: We identified seven papers evaluating six devices from two manufacturers. Only one study scored low risk in all of the QUADAS-2 domains. All studies reported specificity greater than 85% and six reported sensitivity greater than 90%. The studies showed that blood pressure devices with embedded algorithms for detecting arrhythmias show promise as screening tools for AF, comparing favourably with manual pulse palpation. But the studies used different methodologies and many were subject to potential bias. More studies are needed to more precisely define the sensitivity and specificity of opportunistic screening for AF during blood pressure measurement before its clinical utility in the population of interest can be assessed fully

Developing a Fertilizer Program for Tobacco

Use of adequate amounts of required fertilizer nutrients are necessary to increase both yield and quality of tobacco if they are lacking in a soil. However, to insure maximum profits from the tobacco crop, careful consideration must be given to fertilizer management (kinds, rates, and methods and times of fertilizer application), the chemical and physical characteristics of the soil, and the crops grown in rotation with tobacco. To develop a profitable fertilization program for tobacco requires thoughtful planning on the part of the grower. Late summer and early fall is a good time to make these plans for the future

The Circumvention of UEFA\u27s Financial Fair Play Rules Through the Influx of Foreign Investments

European football is undergoing rapid changes spurred on by enormous investments from around the globe. Although regulations exist to curtail teams buying their way to success, foreign investors have become ingenious at circumventing Financial Fair Play rules. The European football governing body needs to reevaluate existing rules and strengthen them by looking to outside examples. This article analyzes the current regulations established by the governing bodies of European football and details how foreign investors are able to circumvent these regulations. Further, this article articulates potential solutions to the current Financial Fair Play rules and how the spirit of the current rules can be ultimately realized