Boundary detection is a fundamental computer vision problem that is essential for a variety of tasks, such as contour and region segmentation, symmetry detection and object recognition and categorization. We propose a generalized formulation for boundary detection, with closed-form solution, applicable to the localization of different types of boundaries, such as object edges in natural images and

We present experimental measurements of the vibrational relaxation of CO2 (12(0)1) by argon, at ambient temperature (295 +/- 2 K). The CO2 molecules were directly excited to the (12(0)1, J = 14) ro-vibrational state by a tunable laser radiation at similar to 2 mu m. Time-resolved infrared fluorescence technique was used to study the collisional relaxation process. The bimolecular deactivation rate

A Danish Swedish collaboration was established to identify and classify a Danish cohort of patients with epidermolytic ichthyosis, also known as epidermolytic hyperkeratosis. Patients were recruited from 5 dermatology departments in Denmark, and data were obtained using a structured questionnaire and a systematic examination together with photographs, histopathological descriptions and blood sampl

In this paper the design and demonstration of a 7 nm(3) h(-1) integrated steam reforming based hydrogen production unit using a Fischer-Tropsch diesel is reported. The system design is discussed in detail, including the fuel processor itself as well as the hydrogen purification and results from stand-alone operation of the combined unit operations is reported. Further, the results of an integratio

In performance-based analyses, engineers evaluate whether a building design and/or evacuation procedure allows occupants sufficient time to evacuate before fire conditions become untenable. Guidance exists for the calculation of the time until conditions become untenable in areas of the structure (known as the available safe egress time) during fire situations. This article presents a method for d

Color patterns commonly vary geographically within species, but it is rare that such variation corresponds with divergent antipredator strategies. The polymorphic salamander Ensatina eschscholtzii, however, may represent such a case. In this species, most subspecies are cryptically colored, whereas E. e. xanthoptica, the Yellow eyed ensatina, is hypothesized to be an aposematic mimic of highly tox

The purpose of this study was to determine whether delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage (dGEMRIC) and T2 mapping are accurate techniques for measuring cartilage thickness in the metacarpus3/metatarsus3 (Mc3/Mt3) of Thoroughbred racehorses. Twenty-four Mc3/Mt3 cadaver specimens were acquired from six healthy racehorses. Cartilage thickness was measured from postintra-

Objective: To determine the effect of a nature-assisted rehabilitation programme in a group of patients with reactions to severe stress and/or mild to moderate depression. Changes in sick-leave status and healthcare consumption in these patients were compared with those in a matched population-based reference cohort (treatment as usual). Design: Retrospective cohort study with a matched reference

Background : Currently, antiretroviral therapy (ART) is recommended for all HIV-positive patients with tuberculosis (TB). The timing of ART during the course of anti-TB treatment is based on CD4 cell counts. Access to CD4 cell testing is not universally available; this constitutes an obstacle for the provision of ART in low-income countries. Objective : To determine clinical variables associated w

Glycosidases are widespread among bacteria. The opportunistic human pathogen Enterococcus faecalis encodes several putative glycosidases but little is known about their functions. The identified endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase EndoE has activity on the N-linked glycans of the human immunoglobulin G (IgG). In this report we identified the human glycoprotein lactoferrin (hLF) as a new substrate for E

A method for CdSe quantum dot (QD) sensitization of ZnO nanowires (NW) with fast adsorption rate is applied. Photoinduced excited state dynamics of the quantum dots in the case of more than monolayer coverage of the nanowires is studied. Transient absorption kinetics reveals an excitation depopulation process of indirectly attached quantum dots with a lifetime of similar to 4 ns. Photoluminescence

The sulfation of KCl during biomass combustion has implications for operation and emissions: it reduces the rates of deposition and corrosion, it increases the formation of aerosols, and it leads to higher concentrations of HCl and lower concentrations of SO2 in the gas phase. Rigorously homogeneous systems are required to characterize the gas-phase formation of alkali sulfates. We have measured t

PURPOSE: To examine the impact of systematic medication reconciliations upon hospital admission and of a medication review while in hospital on the number of inappropriate medications and unscheduled drug-related hospital revisits in elderly patients. METHODS: This was a prospective, controlled study in 210 patients, aged 65 years or older, who were admitted to one of three internal medicine wards

The ability to measure and understand heat flow in nanowire composites is crucial for applications ranging from high-speed electronics to thermoelectrics. Here we demonstrate the measurement of the thermal conductance of nanowire composites consisting of regular arrays of InAs nanowires embedded in PMMA using time-domain thermoreflectance (TDTR). On the basis of a proposed model for heat flow in t

The early clinical trials using fetal ventral mesencephalic (VM) allografts in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients have shown efficacy (albeit not in all cases) and have paved the way for further development of cell replacement therapy strategies in PD. The preclinical work that led to these clinical trials used allografts of fetal VM tissue placed into 6-OHDA lesioned rats, while the patients recei

Migration to Next Generation Internet architectures poses new challenges for network operators in planning core networks and calls for efficient network planning and optimization tools. Optimization models underlying such tools are developed in this thesis. We study a number of single and two-layer core network design problems defined as mathematical programmes, focusing on fair bandwidth allocati