Assessing exterior egg quality indicators using machine vision

ABSTRACT

1. The objective of this study was to develop a machine vision method for analysing exterior parameters of chicken eggs to automate the stage of primary sorting.

2. The developed algorithm based on predetermined thresholds calculated egg quality indicators, including geometric dimensions, shape index and the mottling grade. The algorithm was implemented with an experimental setup that combined the image-based and the candling methods. A total of 400 egg samples were analysed.

3. Comparison of results of the algorithm with those obtained using the traditional manual method showed that mean value of radii values difference was 0.095 ± 0.058 mm for the sharp and 0.080 ± 0.047 mm for the blunt end of the egg, with standard deviations of 0.58 mm and 0.49 mm, respectively.

4. The correlation coefficient between the shape index values determined by the two methods was 0.93; the standard deviation of absolute differences between corresponding values was 1.05%.

5. The results of mottling grade estimation were compared using F-measure and confusion matrix.

6. The results allow the possibility to perform the assessment of egg exterior quality factors in an automatic mode, independent of the expertise of a grader.     

The value of vegetation cover for ecosystem services in the suburban context

Latin-American cities can be characterized by dynamic processes of urbanization that encroach upon the natural and semi-natural surrounding landscapes. Our study presents the effects of landscape development, transformed from semi-natural conditions into a mostly disperse suburban settlement. We explore the impact that this transformation has had on this context by three ecosystem services that regulate rainwater runoff, enhance microclimate conditions and help to improve air quality by monitoring vegetation cover. We have designed a spatio-temporal hierarchical analysis which employs remote sensing techniques to capture the structural changes of this landscape over long, medium and short term scales on two spatial levels. This methodological approach was tested in the Metropolitan Area of Santiago (MAS) as case study area. Despite of the increase in impervious surfaces due to urban processes, there has also been an increase in vegetation cover, which has led to an improvement in the provision of the above-mentioned ecosystem services. Hence, if diverse urbanization processes continue and they are coupled with an increase in vegetation cover, the provision of ecosystem services could also expand. This phenomenon can be observed in some areas, where public and private green spaces are created and maintained. Our data analyses give evidence that certain types of suburban areas which increase the share of vegetation cover can provide daily ecological benefits for urban neighborhoods, and beyond, for adjacent areas. Moreover, suburban development can successfully provide ecological benefits to citizens. Such processes can only be ecologically sustainable if the composition of vegetation is well-adapted to the regional climatic conditions.     

Effects of remifentanil on monophasic action potential and transmural dispersion of repolarization in rabbit myocardium

AIM: To study the effect of remifentanil on monophasic action potential and transmural dispersion of repolarization (TDR) in the 3-layer myocardium of isolated rabbit hearts. METHODS: Adult rabbits (n=18, 2.0 ~ 2.5 kg) were used to isolate the hearts for preparing Langendorff perfusion model. The hearts were randomly divided into 3 groups after perfusion with K-H solution for 15 min: the perfusion in control group (C group) continued for 60 min; the hearts in remifentanil group (R group) were perfused with 12 μg/L remifentanil K-H solution for 60 min; the hearts in remifentanil+aminophylline group (RA group) were given 60-min perfusion of 12 μg/L K-H remifentanil+30 mg/L aminophylline. The HR and 3 layers of myocardial monophasic action potential (MAP) in the left ventricular anterior wall were recorded at time points after balanced infusion for 15 min (T₀), and continued perfusion for 15 min (T₁), 30 min (T₂) and 60 min (T₃). The monophasic action potential duration of repolarization at 90% (MAPD₉₀) and the transmural dispersion of repolarization (TDR) were calculated. The early afterdepolarization, delay afterdepolarization and arrhythmia were also observed. RESULTS: In R group, slower HR and prolonger MAPD₉₀ and TDR at T₁~T₃ were observed as compared with those at T₀ (P<0.05). R group showed slower HR and longer MAPD₉₀ and TDR than C group and RA group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Remifentanil slows the HR, extends the MAPD₉₀ and increases the TDR, thus being prone to induce reentry. Aminophylline makes HR faster and MAPD₉₀ shorter, thereby reducing the TDR.     

临沂市速生竹柳产业化种植及综合配套技术

介绍临沂市速生竹柳栽培技术,包括品种筛选、造林密度确定、整地、育苗、扦插、病虫害防治等方面内容,以为当地速生竹柳产业化种植提供参考。     

色素作物——侧金盏花大田栽培技术

随着我国经济的飞速发展和人民生活水平的日益提高,人们追求绿色环保已成为时尚从侧金盏花中提取的虾青素是纯天然绿色食品,应用广泛,市场缺口极大。为侧金盏花事业壮大发展,提出与之相配套的大田栽培技术。     

植物提取物超微粉体制备技术研究进展

植物提取物大都是脂溶性成分,因其水溶性差、生物利用度低,故其在临床上的推广应用受到了一定程度的限制。文章综述了有关能增强植物提取物水溶性的超临界流体技术、高压均质技术、液相可控沉淀技术、喷雾干燥技术、乳化溶剂扩散技术、机械研磨技术等超微粉体制备技术的研究进展。     

低效林的近自然经营技术

探讨了低效林的概念与类型,分析了低效林的成因及其改造方法,并针对我国长江上游大面积低效林的现状,试图通过引进近自然经营技术理念,为大面积地改造低效林,实现森林的可持续经营提供指导.     

反向遗传技术在牛轮状病毒研究中的应用

本文综述了牛轮状病毒的生物学特性、反向遗传学系统的建立及其研究进展,并对反向遗传技术应用于牛轮状病毒进行展望。     

旅游产业与文化产业融合的动力系统研究

旅游与文化具有共同的融合基因，旅游产业与文化产业融合的动力机制与融合路径是指导两者融合的重要理论基础。从产业融合的推力、拉力、支持力和阻力四个层面构建旅游产业与文化产业融合的动力模型，并依照旅游和文化双方经营主体在跨界资源重组中的角色与融合深度，提出旅游产业与文化产业融合的四种路径：整合融合、吸纳融合、渗透融合和重组融合。     

大学校园文化景观意义传达的符号学机制——以湖南大学校园文化景观为例

论述了校园文化景观建设的重要性,分析了校园文化景观作为符号在传达意义时所要进行的符号传媒介的选取类型和符号意义的关联方式,并以湖南大学校园文化景观为例.同时指出,只有处理好校园文化景观的物象和意象两个层面的内容,才能建设优秀的校园文化景观.