Colour Text Segmentation in Web Images Based on Human Perception

There is a significant need to extract and analyse the text in images on Web documents, for effective indexing, semantic analysis and even presentation by non-visual means (e.g., audio). This paper argues that the challenging segmentation stage for such images benefits from a human perspective of colour perception in preference to RGB colour space analysis. The proposed approach enables the segmentation of text in complex situations such as in the presence of varying colour and texture (characters and background). More precisely, characters are segmented as distinct regions with separate chromaticity and/or lightness by performing a layer decomposition of the image. The method described here is a result of the authors’ systematic approach to approximate the human colour perception characteristics for the identification of character regions. In this instance, the image is decomposed by performing histogram analysis of Hue and Lightness in the HLS colour space and merging using information on human discrimination of wavelength and luminance

Thermoplastic elastomers based on polyester recycled tire fibers and ground tire rubber

Ce projet porte sur la production et la caractérisation de composites hybrides basés sur un polymère thermoplastique (polyéthylène linéaire de basse densité, LLDPE) avec des fibres de polyester de pneus recyclés (RTF) mélangées avec le caoutchouc des pneus usés (GTR) avec et sans styrène-éthylène-butylène-styrène greffé d’anhydride maléique (SEBS-g-MA) comme compatibilisant. L'étude vise à améliorer les propriétés du LLDPE avec le RTF, GTR et SEBS-g-MA. La première étape de l'étude est composée de deux parties principales. La première partie porte sur la caractérisation des RTF par spectroscopie infrarouge à transformée de Fourier (FTIR), spectroscopie des photoélectrons X (XPS), analyse thermogravimétrique (TGA), calorimétrie différentielle à balayage (DSC), microscopie électronique (SEM) et densité; tandis que la deuxième partie rapporte la morphologie des composites fabriqués à partir de différentes conditions. En particulier, l'effet de la concentration de RTF (10, 25 et 50% en poids) avec et sans 10% poids de SEBS-g-MA à différentes vitesses de vis (110, 180 et 250 rpm) en-dessous (LT) et au-dessus (HT) de la température de fusion du RTF (253°C) est étudié par extrusion double-vis suivie du moulage par injection. Les résultats montrent une meilleure distribution des particules GTR (intégrées au RTF) dans la matrice (LLDPE) avec l'augmentation du contenu en RTF dans les mélanges compatibilisés. En outre, l’augmentation de la vitesse des vis entraîne une réduction de la longueur des RTF et de la taille des GTR. Cependant, un profil HT mène à la dégradation de la matrice et du GTR. Dans la deuxième étape du travail, une série complète de caractérisation physique (densité et dureté) et mécanique (tension, flexion et impact) des échantillons produits dans la première partie est présentée. Malgré la diminution des modules et des contraintes maximales, la résistance au choc Charpy augmente de 50% avec 50% de FTR compatibilisées et une amélioration supplémentaire de 56% à haute vitesse de rotation des vis (250 rpm). Cependant, le profil HT diminue toutes les propriétés physico-mécaniques des mélanges. Finalement, les propriétés rhéologiques des échantillons produits lors de la première partie ont été rhéologiquement caractérisés à l’état fondu (cisaillement oscillatoire de faible amplitude, SAOS) et solide (analyse mécanique dynamique, DMA) afin de déterminer les relations entre la mise en œuvre, la morphologie et les propriétés macroscopiques. Les résultats montrent une augmentation de l'élasticité des mélanges avec l’augmentation du contenu en RTF en présence de SEBS-g-MA surtout à des vitesses de vis élevées. Néanmoins, le profil HT présente une diminution de l'élasticité à l’état fondu, tandis que la DMA montre une augmentation de l’élasticité pour le profil LT.This project focuses on the production and characterization of hybrid composites based on a thermoplastic polymer (linear low-density polyethylene, LLDPE) and polyester recycled tire fibers (RTF) mixed with ground tire rubber (GTR) with and without styrene-ethylenebutylene-styrene grafted maleic anhydride (SEBS-g-MA) as a compatibilizer. The study aims at improving the properties of LLDPE using RTF, GTR and SEBS-g-MA. The first step is composed of two main parts. The first part is the characterization of RTF via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and density; while the second part is to report on the morphology from different processing parameters. In particular, the effect of RTF concentration (10, 25 and 50 wt.%) with and without 10 wt.% SEBS-g-MA at different screw speeds (110, 180 and 250 rpm) processed below (LT) and above (HT) the RTF melting temperature (253°C) are investigated for samples produced via twin-screw extrusion followed by injection molding. The results show better GTR particles distribution (imbedded in RTF) in the matrix (LLDPE) with increasing RTF content in the compatibilized compounds. Also, increasing the screw speed leads to a reduction of RTF length and GTR sizes. However, HT profiles produced degradation of the matrix and GTR particles. In the second step, a complete series of physical (density and hardness) and mechanical (tension, flexion and impact) characterization was performed on the samples produced in the first step. Despite lower moduli and strength, Charpy impact strength increases by 50% for compatibilized 50% RTF compounds with an additional 56% improvement at higher screw speed (250 rpm). However, HT profiles decrease all physico-mechanical properties of the samples. Finally, the rheological properties of the samples produced in the first step are investigated in both the melt (small amplitude oscillatory shear, SAOS) and solid (dynamic mechanical analysis, DMA) states to understand the relations between processing, morphology and macroscopic properties. The results show increased elasticity with increasing RTF content with SEBS-g-MA, especially at higher extrusion screw speeds. HT profiles lead to lower elasticity in the melt state, while DMA results show higher elasticity for LT profiles

The Role of Corporate Governance in Investment Efficiency and Financial Information Disclosure Risk in Companies Listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange

This study’s primary purpose is to investigate corporate governance’s role in investment efficiency and financial information disclosure risk in companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange. A multivariate linear regression model based on the panel data model was used to test the research hypotheses. The results of the survey of 140 companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange from 2015 to 2021 indicate that investment efficiency has increased by increasing the quality of corporate governance. In addition, research findings show that improving the quality of corporate governance reduces the risk of financial information disclosure. The life cycle and firm size were used to evaluate the robustness of the results obtained in this study. It was observed that improving corporate governance in companies in the stages of growth and maturity increases investment efficiency and reduces the financial information disclosure risk. In contrast, in companies that are in the decline stage, it reduces investment efficiency and increases the risk of financial information disclosure. In terms of firm size, it was also observed that, in small firms, as corporate governance increases, investment efficiency decreases, and the risk of financial information disclosure increases. However, investment efficiency and financial information disclosure reduce risk by improving large companies’ corporate governance