TEXTURE CLASSIFICATION USING WEIGHTED PROBABILISTIC NEURAL NETWORKS

Texture classification is basically the problem of classifying pixels in an image according to their textural cues. This is different from conventional image segmentation as the texture is characterized using both the gray value for a given pixel and gray-level pattern in the neighborhood surrounding the pixel. In this project, the novel temporal updating approach is developed for weighted probabilistic neural network (WPNN) classifiers that can be used to classify the textures. This is done by utilizing the temporal contextual information and adjusting the WPNN to adapt to such changes. Whenever a new set of images arrives, an initial classification is first performed using the WPNN updated to the last frame while at the same time, a prediction using PNN is also based on the classification results of previous frame. The result of both the PNN and WPNN are then compared. Compared to the PNN, WPNN includes weighting factors between pattern layers and summation layer of the PNN. Performance of this approach is compared with model based and feature based methods in terms of signal to noise ratio and classification rate

Passive immunotherapy against Aβ in aged APP-transgenic mice reverses cognitive deficits and depletes parenchymal amyloid deposits in spite of increased vascular amyloid and microhemorrhage

BACKGROUND: Anti-Aβ immunotherapy in transgenic mice reduces both diffuse and compact amyloid deposits, improves memory function and clears early-stage phospho-tau aggregates. As most Alzheimer disease cases occur well past midlife, the current study examined adoptive transfer of anti-Aβ antibodies to 19- and 23-month old APP-transgenic mice. METHODS: We investigated the effects of weekly anti-Aβ antibody treatment on radial-arm water-maze performance, parenchymal and vascular amyloid loads, and the presence of microhemorrhage in the brain. 19-month-old mice were treated for 1, 2 or 3 months while 23-month-old mice were treated for 5 months. Only the 23-month-old mice were subject to radial-arm water-maze testing. RESULTS: After 3 months of weekly injections, this passive immunization protocol completely reversed learning and memory deficits in these mice, a benefit that was undiminished after 5 months of treatment. Dramatic reductions of diffuse Aβ immunostaining and parenchymal Congophilic amyloid deposits were observed after five months, indicating that even well-established amyloid deposits are susceptible to immunotherapy. However, cerebral amyloid angiopathy increased substantially with immunotherapy, and some deposits were associated with microhemorrhage. Reanalysis of results collected from an earlier time-course study demonstrated that these increases in vascular deposits were dependent on the duration of immunotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The cognitive benefits of passive immunotherapy persist in spite of the presence of vascular amyloid and small hemorrhages. These data suggest that clinical trials evaluating such treatments will require precautions to minimize potential adverse events associated with microhemorrhage

Total harmonic distortion analysis of inverter fed induction motor drive using neuro fuzzy type-1 and neuro fuzzy type-2 controllers

Introduction. When the working point of the indirect vector control is constant, the conventional speed and current controllers operate effectively. The operating point, however, is always shifting. In a closed-system situation, the inverter measured reference voltages show higher harmonics. As a result, the provided pulse is uneven and contains more harmonics, which enables the inverter to create an output voltage that is higher. Aim. A space vector modulation (SVM) technique is presented in this paper for type-2 neuro fuzzy systems. The inverter’s performance is compared to that of a neuro fuzzy type-1 system, a neuro fuzzy type-2 system, and classical SVM using MATLAB simulation and experimental validation. Methodology. It trains the input-output data pattern using a hybrid-learning algorithm that combines back-propagation and least squares techniques. Input and output data for the proposed technique include information on the rotation angle and change of rotation angle as input and output of produced duty ratios. A neuro fuzzy-controlled induction motor drive’s dynamic and steady-state performance is compared to that of the conventional SVM when using neuro fuzzy type-2 SVM the induction motor, performance metrics for current, torque, and speed are compared to those of neuro fuzzy type-1 and conventional SVM. Practical value. The performance of an induction motor created by simulation results are examined using the experimental validation of a dSPACE DS-1104. For various switching frequencies, the total harmonic distortion of line-line voltage using neuro fuzzy type-2, neuro fuzzy type-1, and conventional based SVMs are provided. The 3 hp induction motor in the lab is taken into consideration in the experimental validations.Вступ. Коли робоча точка непрямого векторного управління стала, традиційні регулятори швидкості та струму працюють ефективно. Проте робоча точка постійно змінюється. У ситуації закритої системи виміряна інвертором опорна напруга показує вищі гармоніки. В результаті імпульс, що подається, нерівномірний і містить більше гармонік, що дозволяє інвертору створювати більш високу вихідну напругу. Мета. У цій статті представлена методика просторової векторної модуляції (SVM) для нейронечітких систем типу 2. Продуктивність інвертора порівнюється з продуктивністю нейронечіткої системи типу 1, нейронечіткої системи типу 2 та класичної SVM з використанням моделювання MATLAB та експериментальної перевірки. Методологія. Навчається шаблон даних введення-виводу, використовуючи алгоритм гібридного навчання, який поєднує у собі методи зворотного поширення помилки та методу найменших квадратів. Вхідні та вихідні дані для запропонованої методики включають інформацію про кут повороту і зміну кута повороту як отримані вхідні і вихідні коефіцієнти заповнення. Динамічні характеристики приводу асинхронного двигуна з нейронечітким управлінням порівнюються з характеристиками звичайного SVM. При використанні нейронечіткого SVM типу 2 асинхронний двигун, показники продуктивності по струму обертаючого моменту і швидкості порівнюються з показниками приводу асинхронного двигуна з нейронечітким управлінням типу 1 та традиційного SVM. Практична цінність. Продуктивність асинхронного двигуна, створеного за результатами моделювання, досліджується з використанням експериментальної перевірки dSPACE DS-1104. Для різних частот перемикання розраховуються загальні гармонічні спотворення лінійної напруги з використанням нейронечіткого управління  типу 2, нейронечіткого управління типу 1 і традиційного SVM. Асинхронний двигун потужністю 3 л.с. у лабораторії враховується під час експериментальних перевірок

The Evolution of the Global Star Formation History as Measured from the Hubble Deep Field

The Hubble Deep Field (HDF) is the deepest set of multicolor optical photometric observations ever undertaken, and offers a valuable data set with which to study galaxy evolution. Combining the optical WFPC2 data with ground-based near-infrared photometry, we derive photometrically estimated redshifts for HDF galaxies with J<23.5. We demonstrate that incorporating the near-infrared data reduces the uncertainty in the estimated redshifts by approximately 40% and is required to remove systematic uncertainties within the redshift range 1<z<2. Utilizing these photometric redshifts, we determine the evolution of the comoving ultraviolet (2800 A) luminosity density (presumed to be proportional to the global star formation rate) from a redshift of z=0.5 to z=2. We find that the global star formation rate increases rapidly with redshift, rising by a factor of 12 from a redshift of zero to a peak at z~1.5. For redshifts beyond 1.5, it decreases monotonically. Our measures of the star formation rate are consistent with those found by Lilly et al. (1996) from the CFRS at z 2, and bridge the redshift gap between those two samples. The overall star formation or metal enrichment rate history is consistent with the predictions of Pei and Fall (1995) based on the evolving HI content of Lyman-alpha QSO absorption line systems.Comment: Latex format, 10 pages, 3 postscript figures. Accepted for publication in Ap J Letter

Primary Antibody Responses to Thymus-Independent Antigens in the Lungs and Hilar Lymph Nodes of Mice

B lymphocytes from the pulmonary lymphoid tissues were stimulated with a variety of thymus-independent (TI) antigens by intratracheal (i.t.) immunization. Immune responses in the lungs and hilar lymph nodes (HLN), which are part of the localized lymphoid tissue, as well as in the spleen, the systemic lymphoid organ, were studied. Thus, primary i.t. immunization of mice with the TI-1 antigen trinitrophenyl-lipopolysaccharide (TNP-LPS) elicited both antigen-specific and polyclonal plaque-forming cell responses from HLN, lung, and splenic B lymphocytes. These responses appeared as early as 3 days after immunization and declined by day 7. Similar immunization with another TI-1 antigen, TNP-Brucella abortus, resulted in anti-TNP responses in both pulmonary and systemic lymphoid tissues, although the kinetics of the antibody response were different than those to TNP-LPS. Interestingly an i.t. immunization with a TI-2 antigen, TNP-Ficoll, failed to induce an anti-TNP PFC response from HLN and lung B cells, although there was good antibody formation from splenic B cells. Antibody response to TNP-Ficoll was restored in pulmonary tissues when mice were immunized with TNP-Ficoll mixed with unconjugated B. abortus. In conclusion, our results indicate that TI-1 and TI-2 antigens differ in their ability to induce antibody responses in the pulmonary lymphoid tissues. The inability of TNP-Ficoll to elicit an antibody response in pulmonary lymphoid tissues has significance in the development of vaccines containing bacterial polysaccharides

Early-type galaxies in the SDSS. II. Correlations between observables

A magnitude limited sample of nearly 9000 early-type galaxies, in the redshift range 0.01 < z < 0.3, was selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey using morphological and spectral criteria. The sample was used to study how early-type galaxy observables, including luminosity L, effective radius R_o, surface brightness I_o, color, and velocity dispersion sigma, are correlated with one another. Measurement biases are understood with mock catalogs which reproduce all of the observed scaling relations and their dependences on fitting technique. At any given redshift, the intrinsic distribution of luminosities, sizes and velocity dispersions in our sample are all approximately Gaussian. A maximum likelihood analysis shows that sigma ~ L^{0.25\pm 0.012}, R_o ~ L^{0.63\pm 0.025}, and R_o ~ I^{-0.75\pm 0.02} in the r* band. In addition, the mass-to-light ratio within the effective radius scales as M_o/L ~ L^{0.14\pm 0.02} or M_o/L ~ M_o^{0.22\pm 0.05}, and galaxies with larger effective masses have smaller effective densities: Delta_o ~ M_o^{-0.52\pm 0.03}. These relations are approximately the same in the g*, i* and z* bands. Relative to the population at the median redshift in the sample, galaxies at lower and higher redshifts have evolved only little, with more evolution in the bluer bands. The luminosity function is consistent with weak passive luminosity evolution and a formation time of about 9 Gyrs ago.Comment: 29 pages, 11 figures. Accepted by AJ (scheduled for April 2003). This paper is part II of a revised version of astro-ph/011034

Local canted spin behaviour in Co_1.4-xZn_xGe_0.4Fe_1.2O₄ spinels: a macroscopic, mesoscopic and microscopic study

DC magnetization, neutron depolarization and neutron diffraction (with both polarized and unpolarized neutrons) measurements have been reported for the Co1.4-xZnxGe0.4Fe1.2O4 spinels with x=0.5, 0.6 and 0.7. Neutron depolarization and neutron diffraction measurements confirm the presence of a long range ferrimagnetic ordering of the local canted spins in these ferrite samples. The observed features of low field magnetization have been explained under the framework of thermally activated domain wall movement of ferrimagnetic arrangement of local canted spins. An important role of magnetic anisotropy (due to the presence of Co2+ ions) in establishing the magnetic ordering and domain kinetics in these ferrites has been observed