Marginally low mass ratio close binary system V1191 Cyg

In this study, we present photometric and spectroscopic variations of the extremely small mass ratio ($q\simeq 0.1$) late-type contact binary system \astrobj{V1191 Cyg}. The parameters for the hot and cooler companions have been determined as $M_\textrm{h}$ = 0.13 (1) $M_{\odot}$, $M_\textrm{c}$ = 1.29 (8) $M_{\odot}$, $R_\textrm{h}$ = 0.52 (15) $R_{\odot}$, $R_\textrm{c}$ = 1.31 (18) $R_{\odot}$, $L_\textrm{h}$ = 0.46 (25) $L_{\odot}$, $L_\textrm{c}$ = 2.71 (80) $L_{\odot}$, the separation of the components is $a$= 2.20(8) $R_{\odot}$ and the distance of the system is estimated as 278(31) pc. Analyses of the times of minima indicates a period increase of $\frac{dP}{dt}=1.3(1)\times 10^{-6}$ days/yr that reveals a very high mass transfer rate of $\frac{dM}{dt}=2.0(4)\times 10^{-7}$$M_{\odot}$/yr from the less massive component to the more massive one. New observations show that the depths of the minima of the light curve have been interchanged.Comment: Accepted for publication in New Astronomy, 16 pages, 2 figures, 4 table

Close Binary System GO Cyg

In this study, we present long term photometric variations of the close binary system \astrobj{GO Cyg}. Modelling of the system shows that the primary is filling Roche lobe and the secondary of the system is almost filling its Roche lobe. The physical parameters of the system are $M_1 = 3.0\pm0.2 M_{\odot}$, $M_2 = 1.3 \pm 0.1 M_{\odot}$, $R_1 = 2.50\pm 0.12 R_{\odot}$, $R_2 = 1.75 \pm 0.09 R_{\odot}$, $L_1 = 64\pm 9 L_{\odot}$, $L_2 = 4.9 \pm 0.7 L_{\odot}$, and $a = 5.5 \pm 0.3 R_{\odot}$. Our results show that \astrobj{GO Cyg} is the most massive system near contact binary (NCB). Analysis of times of the minima shows a sinusoidal variation with a period of $92.3\pm0.5$ years due to a third body whose mass is less than 2.3$M_{\odot}$. Finally a period variation rate of $-1.4\times10^{-9}$ d/yr has been determined using all available light curves.Comment: Accepted for publication in New Astronomy, 18 pages, 4 figures, 7 table

Fire detection and 3D fire propagation estimation for the protection of cultural heritage areas

Beyond taking precautionary measures to avoid a forest fire, early warning and immediate response to a fire breakout are the only ways to avoid great losses and environmental and cultural heritage damages. To this end, this paper aims to present a computer vision based algorithm for wildfire detection and a 3D fire propagation estimation system. The main detection algorithm is composed of four sub-algorithms detecting (i) slow moving objects, (ii) smoke-coloured regions, (iii) rising regions, and (iv) shadow regions. After detecting a wildfire, the main focus should be the estimation of its propagation direction and speed. If the model of the vegetation and other important parameters like wind speed, slope, aspect of the ground surface, etc. are known; the propagation of fire can be estimated. This propagation can then be visualized in any 3D-GIS environment that supports KML files

Nonrectangular wavelets for multiresolution mesh analysis and compression

We propose a new Set Partitioning In Hierarchical Trees (SPIHT) based mesh compression framework. The 3D mesh is first transformed to 2D images on a regular grid structure. Then, this image-like representation is wavelet transformed and SPIHT is applied on the wavelet domain data. The method is progressive because the resolution of the reconstructed mesh can be changed by varying the length of the ID data stream created by SPIHT algorithm. Nearly perfect reconstruction is possible if full length of 1D data is received

Connectivity-guided adaptive lifting transform for image like compression of meshes

We propose a new connectivity-guided adaptive wavelet transform based mesh compression framework. The 3D mesh is first transformed to 2D images on a regular grid structure by performing orthogonal projections onto the image plane. Then, this image-like representation is wavelet transformed using a lifting structure employing an adaptive predictor that takes advantage of the connectivity information of mesh vertices. Then the wavelet domain data is encoded using "Set Partitioning In Hierarchical Trees" (SPIHT) method or JPEG2000. The SPIHT approach is progressive because the resolution of the reconstructed mesh can be changed by varying the length of the 1D data stream created by the algorithm. In JPEG2000 based approach, quantization of the coefficients determines the quality of the reconstruction. The results of the SPIHT based algorithm is observed to be superior to JPEG200 based mesh coder and MPEG-3DGC in rate-distortion

Absolute properties of the binary system BB Pegasi

We present a ground based photometry of the low-temperature contact binary BB Peg. We collected all times of mid-eclipses available in literature and combined them with those obtained in this study. Analyses of the data indicate a period increase of 3.0(1) x 10^{-8} days/yr. This period increase of BB Peg can be interpreted in terms of the mass transfer 2.4 x 10^{-8} Ms yr^{-1} from the less massive to the more massive component. The physical parameters have been determined as Mc = 1.42 Ms, Mh = 0.53 Ms, Rc = 1.29 Rs, Rh = 0.83 Rs, Lc = 1.86 Ls, and Lh = 0.94 Ls through simultaneous solution of light and of the radial velocity curves. The orbital parameters of the third body, that orbits the contact system in an eccentric orbit, were obtained from the period variation analysis. The system is compared to the similar binaries in the Hertzsprung-Russell and Mass-Radius diagram.Comment: 17 pages, 3 figures, accepted for Astronomical Journa

Phase and TV Based Convex Sets for Blind Deconvolution of Microscopic Images

In this paper, two closed and convex sets for blind deconvolution problem are proposed. Most blurring functions in microscopy are symmetric with respect to the origin. Therefore, they do not modify the phase of the Fourier transform (FT) of the original image. As a result blurred image and the original image have the same FT phase. Therefore, the set of images with a prescribed FT phase can be used as a constraint set in blind deconvolution problems. Another convex set that can be used during the image reconstruction process is the Epigraph Set of Total Variation (ESTV) function. This set does not need a prescribed upper bound on the Total Variation (TV) of the image. The upper bound is automatically adjusted according to the current image of the restoration process. Both the TV of the image and the blurring filter are regularized using the ESTV set. Both the phase information set and the ESTV are closed and convex sets. Therefore they can be used as a part of any blind deconvolution algorithm. Simulation examples are presented. © 2015 IEEE

Egypt’s 2011–2012 parliamentary elections: Voting for religious vs. secular democracy?

This study investigates whether individuals’ attitudes towards democracy and secular politics have any influence on voting behavior in Egypt. Based on data from a survey conducted immediately after the Egyptian parliamentary elections in January 2012, this study finds that Egyptians’ attitudes towards democratic governance were quite negative around the parliamentary elections, yet Egyptians still endorsed democracy as the ideal political system for their country. However, empirical findings suggest that support for democracy has a limited impact on electoral results. On the other hand, the main division in Egyptian society around the first free and fair parliamentary elections was the religious-secular cleavage. As people support secular politics more, they become significantly less likely to vote for Islamist parties. These results illustrate that preferences in regard to the type of democracy – either a liberal and secular or a religious democracy – were the main determinant of the historic 2012 elections in Egypt

Associated Charm Production in Neutrino-Nucleus Interactions

In this paper a search for associated charm production both in neutral and charged current $\nu$-nucleus interactions is presented. The improvement of automatic scanning systems in the {CHORUS} experiment allows an efficient search to be performed in emulsion for short-lived particles. Hence a search for rare processes, like the associated charm production, becomes possible through the observation of the double charm-decay topology with a very low background. About 130,000 $\nu$ interactions located in the emulsion target have been analysed. Three events with two charm decays have been observed in the neutral-current sample with an estimated background of 0.18$\pm$0.05. The relative rate of the associated charm cross-section in deep inelastic $\nu$ interactions, $\sigma(c\bar{c}\nu)/\sigma_\mathrm{NC}^\mathrm{DIS}= (3.62^{+2.95}_{-2.42}({stat})\pm 0.54({syst}))\times 10^{-3}$ has been measured. One event with two charm decays has been observed in charged-current $\nu_\mu$ interactions with an estimated background of 0.18$\pm$0.06 and the upper limit on associated charm production in charged-current interactions at 90% C.L. has been found to be $\sigma (c\bar{c} \mu^-)/\sigma_\mathrm{CC} < 9.69 \times 10^{-4}$.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure