Spectral image analysis for measuring ripeness of tomatoes

In this study, spectral images of five ripeness stages of tomatoes have been recorded and analyzed. The electromagnetic spectrum between 396 and 736 nm was recorded in 257 bands (every 1.3 nm). Results show that spectral images offer more discriminating power than standard RGB images for measuring ripeness stages of tomatoes. The classification error of individual pixels was reduced from 51% to 19%. Using a gray reference, the reflectance can be made invariant to the light source and even object geometry, which makes it possible to have comparable classification results over a large range of illumination conditions. Experimental results show that, although the error rate increases from 19% to 35% when using different light sources, it is still considerably below the 51% for RGB under a single light sourc

International Cooperation Relations and Supply Chain of the Republic of Korea in the Conditions of the Global Economic Crisis

Abstract- This prime aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between imports, exports, supply chain management and international relations along with mediation effect of import export policies. The Republic of Korea is one of the states whose participation in the system of international economic relations remains noticeable, despite the unfavorable background of external factors. The article sets the task of determining the sustainability of international cooperation relations of the Republic of Korea in the conditions of the global economic crisis

Modelling the Sustainability of International Economic Relations and Supply Chain of the World States

Abstract- Studying and monitoring the international cooperation zone allows us to take a fresh look at the integration processes in the system of world economic relations and answer the question about the nature and scale of international economic integration and globalization. This paper investigated the relationship between economy, supply chain management, international trade and international cooperation zone with mediation effect of international relations. The empirical basis of this study was the data of the state statistical service of the two largest economies in the Asia-Pacific region — the Republic of Korea and Japan. As part of the study, the task was set to conduct a comparative analysis of the system of international economic relations of the Republic of Korea and Japan

Gaussian-weighted moving-window robust automatic threshold selection

A multi-scale, moving-window method for local thresholding based on Robust Automatic Threshold Selection (RATS) is developed. Using a model for the noise response of the optimal edge detector in this context, the reliability of thresholds computed at different scales is determined. The threshold computed at the smallest scale at which the reliability is suffcient is used. The performance on 2-D images is evaluated on synthetic an natural images in the presence of varying background and noise. Results show the method deals better with these problems than earlier versions of RATS at most noise levels

Detection of Fusarium in single wheat kernels using spectral Imaging

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a harmful fungal disease that occurs in small grains. Non-destructive detection of this disease is traditionally done using spectroscopy or image processing. In this paper the combination of these two in the form of spectral imaging is evaluated. Transmission spectral images are recorded, both in the visible and near-infrared range from FHB infected wheat kernels. These images are analyzed, using light absorption, the relation between two wavelength bands, unsupervised fuzzy c-means clustering and supervised partial least squares regression. The reference method for training and validation is TaqMan real-time PCR. Results show that nearinfrared spectral images perform much better than spectral images in the visible range. Kernels with more than 6000 pg Fusarium DNA could clearly be identified. Above 100 pg it was possible to predict the amount of Fusarium with a Q2 of 0.8. This was both for Partial Least Squares regression (PLS) and a simple wavelength ratio. Also fuzzy c-means clustering shows a relation between amount of Fusarium and spectra.Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a harmful fungal disease that occurs in small grains. Non-destructive detection of this disease is traditionally done using spectroscopy or image processing. In this paper the combination of these two in the form of spectral imaging is evaluated. Transmission spectral images are recorded, both in the visible and near-infrared range from FHB infected wheat kernels. These images are analyzed, using light absorption, the relation between two wavelength bands, unsupervised fuzzy c-means clustering and supervised partial least squares regression. The reference method for training and validation is TaqMan real-time PCR. Results show that near-infrared spectral images perform much better than spectral images in the visible range. Kernels with more than 6000 pg Fusarium DNA could clearly be identified. Above 100 pg it was possible to predict the amount of Fusarium with a Q(2) of 0.8. This was both for Partial Least Squares regression (PLS) and a simple wavelength ratio. Also fuzzy c-means clustering shows a relation between amount of Fusarium and spectra

Physics Opportunities with the 12 GeV Upgrade at Jefferson Lab

This white paper summarizes the scientific opportunities for utilization of the upgraded 12 GeV Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) and associated experimental equipment at Jefferson Lab. It is based on the 52 proposals recommended for approval by the Jefferson Lab Program Advisory Committee.The upgraded facility will enable a new experimental program with substantial discovery potential to address important topics in nuclear, hadronic, and electroweak physics.Comment: 64 page

Search for sterile neutrino oscillation using RENO and NEOS data

We present a reactor model independent search for sterile neutrino oscillation using 2\,509\,days of RENO near detector data and 180 days of NEOS data. The reactor related systematic uncertainties are significantly suppressed as both detectors are located at the same reactor complex of Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant. The search is performed by electron antineutrino\,($\overline{\nu}_e$) disappearance between six reactors and two detectors with baselines of 294\,m\,(RENO) and 24\,m\,(NEOS). A spectral comparison of the NEOS prompt-energy spectrum with a no-oscillation prediction from the RENO measurement can explore reactor $\overline{\nu}_e$ oscillations to sterile neutrino. Based on the comparison, we obtain a 95\% C.L. excluded region of $0.1<|\Delta m_{41}^2|<7$\,eV$^2$. We also obtain a 68\% C.L. allowed region with the best fit of $|\Delta m_{41}^2|=2.41\,\pm\,0.03\,$\,eV$^2$ and $\sin^2 2\theta_{14}$=0.08$\,\pm\,$0.03 with a p-value of 8.2\%. Comparisons of obtained reactor antineutrino spectra at reactor sources are made among RENO, NEOS, and Daya Bay to find a possible spectral variation.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures: This manuscript has been significantly revised by the joint reanalysis by RENO and NEOS Collaborations. (In the previous edition, the RENO collaboration used publicly available NEOS data to evaluate the expected neutrino spectrum at NEOS.

Hydroclimatic vulnerability of peat carbon in the central Congo Basin

The forested swamps of the central Congo Basin store approximately 30 billion metric tonnes of carbon in peat1,2. Little is known about the vulnerability of these carbon stocks. Here we investigate this vulnerability using peat cores from a large interfluvial basin in the Republic of the Congo and palaeoenvironmental methods. We find that peat accumulation began at least at 17,500 calibrated years before present (cal. yr BP; taken as AD 1950). Our data show that the peat that accumulated between around 7,500 to around 2,000 cal. yr BP is much more decomposed compared with older and younger peat. Hydrogen isotopes of plant waxes indicate a drying trend, starting at approximately 5,000 cal. yr BP and culminating at approximately 2,000 cal. yr BP, coeval with a decline in dominant swamp forest taxa. The data imply that the drying climate probably resulted in a regional drop in the water table, which triggered peat decomposition, including the loss of peat carbon accumulated prior to the onset of the drier conditions. After approximately 2,000 cal. yr BP, our data show that the drying trend ceased, hydrologic conditions stabilized and peat accumulation resumed. This reversible accumulation–loss–accumulation pattern is consistent with other peat cores across the region, indicating that the carbon stocks of the central Congo peatlands may lie close to a climatically driven drought threshold. Further research should quantify the combination of peatland threshold behaviour and droughts driven by anthropogenic carbon emissions that may trigger this positive carbon cycle feedback in the Earth system

Epstein-Barr virus: clinical and epidemiological revisits and genetic basis of oncogenesis

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is classified as a member in the order herpesvirales, family herpesviridae, subfamily gammaherpesvirinae and the genus lymphocytovirus. The virus is an exclusively human pathogen and thus also termed as human herpesvirus 4 (HHV4). It was the first oncogenic virus recognized and has been incriminated in the causation of tumors of both lymphatic and epithelial nature. It was reported in some previous studies that 95% of the population worldwide are serologically positive to the virus. Clinically, EBV primary infection is almost silent, persisting as a life-long asymptomatic latent infection in B cells although it may be responsible for a transient clinical syndrome called infectious mononucleosis. Following reactivation of the virus from latency due to immunocompromised status, EBV was found to be associated with several tumors. EBV linked to oncogenesis as detected in lymphoid tumors such as Burkitt's lymphoma (BL), Hodgkin's disease (HD), post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) and T-cell lymphomas (e.g. Peripheral T-cell lymphomas; PTCL and Anaplastic large cell lymphomas; ALCL). It is also linked to epithelial tumors such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), gastric carcinomas and oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL). In vitro, EBV many studies have demonstrated its ability to transform B cells into lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). Despite these malignancies showing different clinical and epidemiological patterns when studied, genetic studies have suggested that these EBV- associated transformations were characterized generally by low level of virus gene expression with only the latent virus proteins (LVPs) upregulated in both tumors and LCLs. In this review, we summarize some clinical and epidemiological features of EBV- associated tumors. We also discuss how EBV latent genes may lead to oncogenesis in the different clinical malignancie