Fuzzy machine vision based inspection

Machine vision system has been fostered to solve many realistic problems in various fields. Its role in achieving superior quality and productivity is of paramount importance. But, for such system to be attractive, it needs to be fast, accurate and cost-effective. This dissertation is based on a number of practical machine vision based inspection projects obtained from the automotive industry. It presents a collection of developed efficient fuzzy machine vision approaches endorsed with experimental results. It also covers the conceptual design, development and testing of various fuzzy machine vision based inspection approaches for different industrial applications. To assist in developing and evaluating the performance of the proposed approaches, several parts are tested under varying lighting conditions. This research deals with two important aspects of machine vision based inspection. In the first part, it concentrates on the topics of component detection and component orientation identification. The components used in this part are metal clips mounted on a dash panel frame that is installed in the door of trucks. Therefore, we propose a fuzzy machine vision based clip detection model and a fuzzy machine vision based clip orientation identification model to inspect the proper placement of clips on dash panels. Both models are efficient and fast in terms of accuracy and processing time. In the second part of the research, we are dealing with machined part defects such as broken edge, porosity and tool marks. The se defects occur on the surface of die cast aluminum automotive pump housings. As a result, an automated fuzzy machine vision based broken edge detection method, an efficient fuzzy machine vision based porosity detection technique and a neuro-fuzzy part classification model based on tool marks are developed. Computational results show that the proposed approaches are effective in yielding satisfactory results to the tested image databases. There are four main contributions to this work. The first contribution is the development of the concept of composite matrices in conjunction with XOR feature extractor using fuzzy subtractive clustering for clip detection. The second contribution is about a proposed model based on grouping and counting pixels in pre-selective areas which tracks pixel colors in separated RGB channels to determine whether the orientation of the clip is acceptable or not. The construction of three novel edge based features embedded in fuzzy C-means clustering for broken edge detection marks the third contribution. At last, the fourth contribution presents the core of porosity candidates concept and its correlation with twelve developed matrices. This, in turn, results in the development of five different features used in our fuzzy machine vision based porosity detection approach

Micropollutant rejection of annealed polyelectrolyte multilayer based nanofiltration membranes for treatment of conventionally-treated municipal wastewater

The ever-increasing concentrations of micropollutants (MPs) found at the outlet of conventional wastewater treatments plants, is a serious environmental concern. Polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM)-based nanofiltration (NF) membranes are seen as an attractive approach for MPs removal from wastewater effluents. In this work, PEMs of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) were coated in a layer by layer (LbL) fashion on the surface of a polyacrylonitrile ultrafiltration support to obtain PEM-based NF membranes. The impact of PEM post-treatment, by applying salt and thermal annealing, was then investigated in terms of swelling, hydrophilicity, permeability, and ion rejection. While thermal annealing produced a more compact structure of PEM, it did not improve the ion rejection. Among the different salt concentrations examined for the salt-annealing process, the highest ion rejection was observed for (PAH/PAA)15 membranes annealed in 100 mM NaNO3, interestingly without any decrease in the water permeability. This membrane was studied for the rejection of four MPs including Diclofenac, Naproxen, 4n-Nonylphenol and Ibuprofen from synthetic secondary-treated wastewater, over a filtration time of 54 h. At an early stage of filtration, the membrane became more hydrophobic and a good correlation was found between the compounds hydrophobicity and their rejection. As the filtration continued until the membrane saturation, an increase in membranes hydrophilicity was observed. Hence, in the latter stage of filtration, the role of hydrophobic interactions faded-off and the role of molecular and spatial dimensions emerged instead in MPs rejection. To test the suitability of the membranes for the ease of cleaning and repeated use, the sacrificial PEMs and foulants were completely removed, followed by re-coating of PEMs on the cleaned membrane. The higher MPs rejection observed in salt-annealed membranes compared to the non-annealed counterparts (52–82% against 43–69%), accompanied with still low ion rejection, confirm the high potential of PEM post-treatment to achieve better performing PEM-based NF membranes

First Molecular Identification of Sarcocystis ovicanis (Protozoa, Apicomplexa) in the Brain of Sheep in Iran

  Background: The objective of the present study was to survey the presence of Sarcocystis in sheep's brain in North Khorasan Province. Methods: In general, 80 samples of sheep's brain were collected from slaugh-tered sheep in slaughterhouses of North Khorasan Province. Tissue digestion method was used for observing bradyzoites in tissues. Histopathological pro-cessing tracing Sarcocystis and ensuing structural change in the brain tissue were conducted. PCR analysis was conducted on all the brain samples. Sequencing was done for one PCR product. Genotype was identified by Blast search and homology analysis. Result: Sarcocystis spp. was found in one of the brain samples (1.25%) using tis-sue digestion method. The presence of bradyzoite was also confirmed in the pre-pared histopathological sections. PCR analysis was positive in one of samples. Genotyping of one sample proved that Sarcocystis species was Sarcocystis ovicanis and the nucleotide sequence of this parasite was deposited in the GenBank data-base under accession number No.KF489431. Conclusion: Sarcocystis ovicanis can involve brain tissue of sheep and conse-quently causes clinical symptoms

Evaluation of submarine model test in towing tank and comparison with CFD and experimental formulas for fully submerged resistance

1049-1056Towing tanks experiments were conducted to study the behavior of flow on a model of underwater vehicle with tango shape of nose. Length of model and prototype vehicle is 1 and 32 meters, respectively. First the method of underwater model test is evaluated by unequal Reynolds number. An accurate method has been suggested for scaling of results between model and main submarine in underwater testing. Suitable depth for ignoring the free surface effects has been suggested. After underwater test in towing tank and extracting the results, the CFD results have been compared. At last, for more validation of results, four groups of experimental formula for submarine bare hull resistance in deep water have been presented. Finally, the comparison tables and diagrams show the accuracy of each of these six methods in the calculation of submerged resistance of submarine and present an optimum resistance coefficient for this submarine. </span

Surgical application of fascia lata as a pericardial substitute in rabbits Aplicação cirúrgica de fascia lata como substituto do pericárdio em coelhos

PURPOSE: To use fascia lata instead of pericardium and observe the presence of adhesions. METHODS: Twenty rabbits were divided into two group of ten. In group A, a 1×1 cm segment of pericardium was excised and resutured. In group B excised pericardium was substituted for autologous fascia lata. RESULTS: In the comparison of microscopic adhesion rate between two groups A, B after eight weeks, there was no significant statistical difference. CONCLUSION: Fascia lata is safe and it can be substituted for pericardium especially in repeat sternotomy in repairing congenital heart defects to avoid heart injury.<br>OBJETIVO: Utilizar fascia lata em vez de pericárdio e observar a presencça de aderências. MÉTODOS: Vinte coelhos foram distribuidos em dois grupos de dez. No grupo A, um 1×1 cm de segmento de pericárdio foi retirado e resuturado. No grupo B pericárdio retirado foi substituído por fáscia lata autóloga. RESULTADOS: Na comparação da taxa de aderência microscópica entre dois grupos A, B, após oito semanas, não houve diferença estatisticamente significante. CONCLUSÃO: A fascia lata é segura e pode ser substituta do pericárdio, especialmente em nova esternotomia na reparação de defeitos cardíacos congênitos para evitar lesão cardíaca

Iron Accumulation Is Not Homogenous among Patients with Parkinson's Disease.

Background. Iron is considered to lead to neurodegeneration and has been hypothesized as a possible cause of Parkinson's disease (PD). Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) is a powerful tool to measure phase related iron content of brain. Methods. Twelve de novo patients with PD were recruited from the Movement Disorders Clinic, Department of Neurology, Loma Linda University. Twelve age- and sex-matched non-PD subjects were recruited from neurology clinic as controls. Using SWI, the phase related iron content was estimated from different brain regions of interest (ROIs). Results. There was a trend between increasing age and iron accumulation in the globus pallidus and putamen in all subjects. Iron accumulation was not significant in different ROIs in PD patients compared to controls after adjustment for age. Our data revealed heterogeneity of phase values in different brain ROIs among all subjects with an exaggerated trend at SN in PD patients. Conclusions. Our data suggest a nonhomogeneous pattern of iron accumulation in different brain regions among PD patients. Further studies are needed to explore whether this may correlate to the progression of PD. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating the heterogeneity of iron accumulation in the brain, among patients with PD

Iron Accumulation Is Not Homogenous among Patients with Parkinson’s Disease

Background. Iron is considered to lead to neurodegeneration and has been hypothesized as a possible cause of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) is a powerful tool to measure phase related iron content of brain. Methods. Twelve de novo patients with PD were recruited from the Movement Disorders Clinic, Department of Neurology, Loma Linda University. Twelve age- and sex-matched non-PD subjects were recruited from neurology clinic as controls. Using SWI, the phase related iron content was estimated from different brain regions of interest (ROIs). Results. There was a trend between increasing age and iron accumulation in the globus pallidus and putamen in all subjects. Iron accumulation was not significant in different ROIs in PD patients compared to controls after adjustment for age. Our data revealed heterogeneity of phase values in different brain ROIs among all subjects with an exaggerated trend at SN in PD patients. Conclusions. Our data suggest a nonhomogeneous pattern of iron accumulation in different brain regions among PD patients. Further studies are needed to explore whether this may correlate to the progression of PD. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating the heterogeneity of iron accumulation in the brain, among patients with PD

Micropollutant rejection of annealed polyelectrolyte multilayer based nanofiltration membranes for treatment of conventionally-treated municipal wastewater

© 2018 The Authors The ever-increasing concentrations of micropollutants (MPs) found at the outlet of conventional wastewater treatments plants, is a serious environmental concern. Polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM)-based nanofiltration (NF) membranes are seen as an attractive approach for MPs removal from wastewater effluents. In this work, PEMs of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) were coated in a layer by layer (LbL) fashion on the surface of a polyacrylonitrile ultrafiltration support to obtain PEM-based NF membranes. The impact of PEM post-treatment, by applying salt and thermal annealing, was then investigated in terms of swelling, hydrophilicity, permeability, and ion rejection. While thermal annealing produced a more compact structure of PEM, it did not improve the ion rejection. Among the different salt concentrations examined for the salt-annealing process, the highest ion rejection was observed for (PAH/PAA)15 membranes annealed in 100 mM NaNO3, interestingly without any decrease in the water permeability. This membrane was studied for the rejection of four MPs including Diclofenac, Naproxen, 4n-Nonylphenol and Ibuprofen from synthetic secondary-treated wastewater, over a filtration time of 54 h. At an early stage of filtration, the membrane became more hydrophobic and a good correlation was found between the compounds hydrophobicity and their rejection. As the filtration continued until the membrane saturation, an increase in membranes hydrophilicity was observed. Hence, in the latter stage of filtration, the role of hydrophobic interactions faded-off and the role of molecular and spatial dimensions emerged instead in MPs rejection. To test the suitability of the membranes for the ease of cleaning and repeated use, the sacrificial PEMs and foulants were completely removed, followed by re-coating of PEMs on the cleaned membrane. The higher MPs rejection observed in salt-annealed membranes compared to the non-annealed counterparts (52–82% against 43–69%), accompanied with still low ion rejection, confirm the high potential of PEM post-treatment to achieve better performing PEM-based NF membranes.status: publishe