13,577 research outputs found
Adaptive Target Recognition: A Case Study Involving Airport Baggage Screening
This work addresses the question whether it is possible to design a
computer-vision based automatic threat recognition (ATR) system so that it can
adapt to changing specifications of a threat without having to create a new ATR
each time. The changes in threat specifications, which may be warranted by
intelligence reports and world events, are typically regarding the physical
characteristics of what constitutes a threat: its material composition, its
shape, its method of concealment, etc. Here we present our design of an AATR
system (Adaptive ATR) that can adapt to changing specifications in materials
characterization (meaning density, as measured by its x-ray attenuation
coefficient), its mass, and its thickness. Our design uses a two-stage cascaded
approach, in which the first stage is characterized by a high recall rate over
the entire range of possibilities for the threat parameters that are allowed to
change. The purpose of the second stage is to then fine-tune the performance of
the overall system for the current threat specifications. The computational
effort for this fine-tuning for achieving a desired PD/PFA rate is far less
than what it would take to create a new classifier with the same overall
performance for the new set of threat specifications
Discrete element weld model, phase 2
A numerical method was developed for analyzing the tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding process. The phenomena being modeled include melting under the arc and the flow in the melt under the action of buoyancy, surface tension, and electromagnetic forces. The latter entails the calculation of the electric potential and the computation of electric current and magnetic field therefrom. Melting may occur at a single temperature or over a temperature range, and the electrical and thermal conductivities can be a function of temperature. Results of sample calculations are presented and discussed at length. A major research contribution has been the development of numerical methodology for the calculation of phase change problems in a fixed grid framework. The model has been implemented on CHAM's general purpose computer code PHOENICS. The inputs to the computer model include: geometric parameters, material properties, and weld process parameters
Dense matter equation of state for neutron star mergers
In simulations of binary neutron star mergers, the dense matter equation of
state (EOS) is required over wide ranges of density and temperature as well as
under conditions in which neutrinos are trapped, and the effects of magnetic
fields and rotation prevail. Here we assess the status of dense matter theory
and point out the successes and limitations of approaches currently in use. A
comparative study of the excluded volume (EV) and virial approaches for the
system using the equation of state of Akmal, Pandharipande and
Ravenhall for interacting nucleons is presented in the sub-nuclear density
regime. Owing to the excluded volume of the -particles, their mass
fraction vanishes in the EV approach below the baryon density 0.1 fm,
whereas it continues to rise due to the predominantly attractive interactions
in the virial approach. The EV approach of Lattimer et al. is extended here to
include clusters of light nuclei such as d, H and He in addition to
-particles. Results of the relevant state variables from this
development are presented and enable comparisons with related but slightly
different approaches in the literature. We also comment on some of the sweet
and sour aspects of the supra-nuclear EOS. The extent to which the neutron star
gravitational and baryon masses vary due to thermal effects, neutrino trapping,
magnetic fields and rotation are summarized from earlier studies in which the
effects from each of these sources were considered separately. Increases of
about occur for rigid (differential) rotation with
comparable increases occurring in the presence of magnetic fields only for
fields in excess of Gauss. Comparatively smaller changes occur due to
thermal effects and neutrino trapping. Some future studies to gain further
insight into the outcome of dynamical simulations are suggested.Comment: Revised manuscript with one additional figure and previous Fig. 4
replaced, 19 additional references and new tex
Alterations in Lipids and Adipocyte Hormones in Female-to-Male Transsexuals
Testosterone therapy in men and women results in decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) and increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL). We sought to determine whether testosterone therapy has this same effect on lipid parameters and adipocyte hormones in female-to-male (FTM) transsexuals. Twelve FTM transsexuals provided a fasting lipid profile including serum total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides prior to and after 1 year of testosterone therapy (testosterone enanthate or cypionate 50–125mg IM every two weeks). Subjects experienced a significant decrease in mean serum HDL (52 ± 11 to 40 ± 7mg/dL) (P < .001). The mean LDL (P = .316), triglyceride (P = .910), and total cholesterol (P = .769) levels remained unchanged. In a subset of subjects, we measured serum leptin levels which were reduced by 25% but did not reach statistical significance (P =.181) while resistin levels remained unchanged. We conclude that testosterone therapy in FTM transsexuals can promote an increased atherogenic lipid profile by lowering HDL and possibly reduce serum leptin levels. However, long-term studies are needed to determine whether decreases in HDL result in adverse cardiovascular outcomes.National Institutes of Health (M01RR000533
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