An improved morphological edge detection algorithm of medical image

Medical images usually contain much noise which affects the edge detection accuracy. Focusing on this problem, based on the edge detection operator in mathematical morphology, an improved edge detection algorithm is presented by combining the features of the multi structure elements and the multi scale edge detection algorithm. The algorithm performs opening and closing operations on the data with the alternative sequence filters and the structure elements. The weighting operation is applied with different weight coefficients for horizontal, vertical and diagonal directions, while the edge detection operator with dilation type is calculated to obtain the improved edge detection algorithm. The steps of the algorithm are described. The algorithm is used to extract the edge of MRI image as well as the image of Lena. The experimental results indicate the algorithm can considerably improve the edge resolution of the traditional morphological edge detection methods and is practical.     

Feature extraction and recognition technique for human pulse signals

In Chinese traditional medicine, the pulse signal plays an important role for diagnosis. To investigate the effective technique for identifying heroin druggers through the pulse signal, the feature extraction algorithm based on the biocepstrum and the third-order cepstrum entropy of the pulse signal is studied. On the basis of concise and rigorous discussion for the algorithm, the biocepstrum-based diagonal slice components are estimated for human pulse signals of 20 heroin druggers and 20 healthy normal subjects. The magnitude of the sample value of diagonal slice at m=n=1 and the third-order cepstrum entropy of magnitudes of sample values of the diagonal slice within a particular region are used as two feature parameters for every human pulse signal to form a feature vector. A classifier based on the criterion of squared Mahalanobis distance is successfully designed. Applying the designed classifier to 40 feature vectors, the correct identification rate reaches 87.5%. The research result shows that the method of the feature extraction and classifier design presented in is valuable for identifying the human pulse signals of heroin druggers.     

Improvement of large-seeded common bean cultivars under sustainable cropping systems in Spain

Approaches are needed to broaden the genetic base and improve earliness and yield potential of large-seeded beans under sustainable cropping systems. The objective of this research was to develop adapted dwarf bean populations having a commercial seed quality and yield suitable for the production in the South of Europe. The original base populations were produced from crosses between genotypes within each Mesoamerica, Nueva Granada and Peru races, and between Peru and Nueva Granada, and Mesoamerica and Nueva Granada races. Visual mass selection for plant performance was practised in the F₂ and F₃ generations. In the F₄ and F₅, single plants were harvested under two cropping systems (sole cropping and intercropping with maize). From F₄, selection was based on precocity, combined with seed yield and seed commercial type. The F_4:7 selected lines from each original population were compared with their parents and five checks at four environments and two cropping systems. Differences among environments, populations, parents and checks were observed for all traits. Under intercropping with maize, there was a 50% reduction in seed yield. Yield of parents and checks belonging to Andean South American races, intraracial (Nueva Granada × Nueva Granada) and interracial (Nueva Granada × Peru) populations, was higher than that of those of Middle American origin. Intraracial crosses within large-seeded Andean South American (Peru race) and Middle American gene pools (Mesoamerica race) did not produce lines yielding more than the highest yielding parent. Only two large-seeded lines selected from crosses between small- and large-seeded gene pools out-yielded the best parent and check cultivar.     

Mixotrophy in a Local Strain of Nannochloropsis granulata for Renewable High-Value Biomass Production on the West Coast of Sweden

A local strain of Nannochloropsis granulata (Ng) has been reported as the most productive microalgal strain in terms of both biomass yield and lipid content when cultivated in photobioreactors that simulate the light and temperature conditions during the summer on the west coast of Sweden. To further increase the biomass and the biotechnological potential of this strain in these conditions, mixotrophic growth (i.e., the simultaneous use of photosynthesis and respiration) with glycerol as an external carbon source was investigated in this study and compared with phototrophic growth that made use of air enriched with 1–2% CO₂. The addition of either glycerol or CO₂-enriched air stimulated the growth of Ng and theproduction of high-value long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (EPA) as well as the carotenoid canthaxanthin. Bioassays in human prostate cell lines indicated the highest antitumoral activity for Ng extracts and fractions from mixotrophic conditions. Metabolomics detected betaine lipids specifically in the bioactive fractions, suggesting their involvement in the observed antitumoral effect. Genes related to autophagy were found to be upregulated by the most bioactive fraction, suggesting a possible therapeutic target against prostate cancer progression. Taken together, our results suggest that the local Ng strain can be cultivated mixotrophically in summer conditions on the west coast of Sweden for the production of high-value biomass containing antiproliferative compounds, carotenoids, and EPA.     

高产多抗两系杂交早稻株两优83的选育与应用

株两优83是湘潭市农科所用广亲和低温敏两用核不育系株1S为母本，以新育成的高产多抗广亲和品系潭早183为父本选配出的两系杂交早稻新组合。该组合具有苗期耐寒力强、中抗稻瘟病和白叶枯病、抗褐飞虱和白背飞虱、生育期适中、高产稳产性好等特性。2002年3月通过湖南省农作物品种审定。     

Effects of a short period of drought on changes in tuber volume and specific leaf weight. II. Diurnal changes

Summary Single-stemmed potato plants, cv. Bintje, were grown on a nutrient solution under controlled conditions. They were exposed to a short drought stress, or remained untreated. Short-term changes in tuber volume and in specific leaf weight were measured non-destructively. Tubers from control plants increased rapidly in volume during the night and did not grow, or even shrivelled during the day. Tubers of stressed plants did not show a uniform response; some tubers markedly declined in volume during the day. The patterns of volume increase of stressed plants became erratic after the stress, mainly because some plants never fully recovered. Patterns of diurnal fluctuation in tuber volume were similar to diurnal changes in specific leaf weight; tubers within the same stressed plant sometimes reacted differently. In these cases the effects on the diurnal fluctuation partly reflected the long-term effects, reported in an earlier paper.     

雾灵山森林生态系统固碳释氧服务功能价值评估

依据2009年河北省森林资源二类清查资料,结合外业调查数据,将雾灵山国家自然保护区森林生态系统划分为13种主要林分类型,根据《森林生态系统服务功能评估规范》(LY/T1721-2008)提供的方法,分别计算各林分类型固碳释氧服务功能的经济价值.结果表明:(1)雾灵山国家自然保护区森林生态系统总固碳量为5.42X104t/年,总释氧量为1.45×105t/(年·hm2),单位面积周碳量为3.085 t/(年·hm2),释氧量为10.186 t/(年·hm2).(2)保护区森林生态系统总固碳价值、总释氧价值分别为6.50×107、1.45×108元/年,总固碳释氧价值为2.10×108元/年.(3)各林分类型固碳释氧总价值:阔杂＞山杨＞落叶松＞柞树＞桦树＞油松＞疏林灌木＞经济林＞针杂＞核桃楸＞椴树＞刺槐＞侧柏.(4)落叶松林单位面积固碳释氧价值量最高,侧柏林最低.     

Sexual selection can resolve sex-linked sexual antagonism

Sexual selection is a potent evolutionary force. However, very few models have considered the evolution of female preferences for traits expressed in both sexes. Here we explore how female preferences coevolve with sexually antagonistic traits, which involve alleles that are beneficial to one sex but harmful to the other. We show that with a sexually antagonistic trait on the X chromosome (males XY, females XX), females evolve to prefer mates carrying alleles beneficial to daughters. In contrast, with a Z-linked trait (males ZZ, females ZW), females more often evolve mating preferences for mates carrying alleles beneficial to sons (that is, flashy displays).     

PAMELA measurements of cosmic-ray proton and helium spectra

Protons and helium nuclei are the most abundant components of the cosmic radiation. Precise measurements of their fluxes are needed to understand the acceleration and subsequent propagation of cosmic rays in our Galaxy. We report precision measurements of the proton and helium spectra in the rigidity range 1 gigavolt to 1.2 teravolts performed by the satellite-borne experiment PAMELA (payload for antimatter matter exploration and light-nuclei astrophysics). We find that the spectral shapes of these two species are different and cannot be described well by a single power law. These data challenge the current paradigm of cosmic-ray acceleration in supernova remnants followed by diffusive propagation in the Galaxy. More complex processes of acceleration and propagation of cosmic rays are required to explain the spectral structures observed in our data.