10,160 research outputs found
The question of âalternativesâ within food and drink markets and marketing: introduction to the special issue
The question of 'alternatives' within food and drink markets and marketing: introduction to the special issu
An SMP Soft Classification Algorithm for Remote Sensing
This work introduces a symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) version of the continuous iterative
guided spectral class rejection (CIGSCR) algorithm, a semiautomated classiïŹcation algorithm for remote
sensing (multispectral) images. The algorithm uses soft data clusters to produce a soft classiïŹcation
containing inherently more information than a comparable hard classiïŹcation at an increased computational
cost. Previous work suggests that similar algorithms achieve good parallel scalability, motivating the parallel
algorithm development work here. Experimental results of applying parallel CIGSCR to an image with
approximately 10^8 pixels and six bands demonstrate superlinear speedup. A soft two class classiïŹcation is
generated in just over four minutes using 32 processors
Parallel Deterministic and Stochastic Global Minimization of Functions with Very Many Minima
The optimization of three problems with high dimensionality and many local minima are investigated
under five different optimization algorithms: DIRECT, simulated annealing, Spallâs SPSA algorithm, the KNITRO
package, and QNSTOP, a new algorithm developed at Indiana University
The Physical Characteristics of the Small-Scale Interstellar Structure towards Mu Crucis
We present HST/GHRS echelle observations of multiple interstellar lines of
CI, MgI, CrII, and ZnII towards both stars in the mu Cru binary system. Despite
large differences in the profiles of the neutral species, no significant
variations between the stars are seen in the CrII and ZnII line profiles. In
particular, the ZnII absorption observed at -8.6 km/sec towards mu Cru is
constant despite greatly enhanced columns of the neutral species at this
velocity towards mu^1 Cru. An analysis of the fine-structure excitation of CI
in this cloud implies that the density is n_H < 250 cm^{-3}. From the lack of
variation in the (optical) NaI D2 line profiles towards mu^1 and mu^2 Cru in
spectra taken 21 months apart, we can place a lower limit to the size of the
structures of ~10 AU. These results are discussed in the context of recent
radio and optical studies of apparently pervasive high density small-scale
interstellar structure.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures, to appear in the Astrophysical Journal (Letters
Global/Local Iteration for Blended Composite Laminate Panel Structure Optimization Subproblems
Composite panel structure optimization is commonly decomposed into panel optimization subproblems. Previous work applied a guide based design approach to the problem for a structure where the local loads were assumed to be fixed for each panel throughout the design process. This paper examines the application of guide based design to a more realistic representation of the structure where the local loads for each panel are determined through a global level analysis that is coupled with the stacking sequence for every design panel. A small problem is selected for which an exhaustive search of the subproblem design space verifies the optimality of the solution found through the global/local iteration process introduced in this work. The efficient discovery of solutions to these guide based design subproblems creates an opportunity to incorporate the solutions into a global level optimization process. A parallel genetic algorithm is proposed to control global optimization in which evaluating the fitness of each member of the population requires the solution of a guide based design subproblem where parallelism is solely within fitness evaluations. Results are presented for a wingbox design problem and compared with known solutions for the same problem to demonstrate weight reductions in a problem thought to already be near optimally solved
Using Visual and Digital Imagery to Quantify Horn Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) Densities
The horn fly, Haematobia irritans L. (Diptera: Muscidae), is a persistent pest of cattle globally. A threshold of 200 flies per animal is considered the standard management goal; however, determining when that threshold has been exceeded is difficult using visual estimates that tend to overestimate the actual fly densities and are, at best, subjective. As a result, a more reliable and durable method of determining horn fly densities is needed. Here, we describe the methods commonly used to quantify horn fly densities including visual estimates and digital photography, and provide examples of quantification software and the prospect for computer automation methods
Identification of T cell stimulatory epitopes from the 18 kDa protein of Mycobacterium leprae
We have used different mouse strains to examine in vivo and in vitro responses to the 18 kDa protein of Mycobacterium leprae, which appears to be strongly immunogenic in both mice and humans. B and T cell stimulatory epitopes recognised by different strains of mice have been mapped using overlapping peptides that span the entire 18 kDa protein. Previous work established that Immunization of mice with the 18 kDa protein results in specific antibody production to common B cell epitopes and immunization of mice with peptides containing these B cell epitopes resulted in the induction of specific IgG to only a limited subset of epitopes in each strain. Now we report that T cells purified from mice immunized with peptides that stimulate antibody production, proliferate in vitro when rechallenged. The proliferating T cells produce levels of IL-2 and IFN-Îł, that indicate antigen-specific T helper type 1 cells are present in significant numbers. Thus, a comparison of in vivo and in vitro data suggests that T cells bearing the phenotype associated with potentially protective cell-mediated responses can be primed in vivo by epitopes on small peptides. Since T cells from both strains of mice are capable of responding to the immunogenic synthetic peptides in vitro, but give different responses to the same peptides in vivo, factors other than epltope structure appear to influence T cell subset activation. This may have important implications for diseases such as leprosy where a polarized T cell response appears to develop and for the development of synthetic subunit vaccine
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