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Interactive segmentation of images has become an integral part of image processing applications. Several graph based segmentation techniques have been developed, which depend upon global minimization of the energy cost function. An adequate scheme of interactive segmentation still needs a skilled initialization of regions with user-defined seeds pixels distributed over the entire image. We propose an iterative segmentation technique based on Cellular Automaton which focuses to reduce the user efforts required to provide initialization. The existing algorithms based on Cellular Automaton only use local smoothness term in label propagation making them highly sensitive to user-defined seeds pixels. To reduce the sensitivity towards initial user definition of regions, global constraints are introduced along with local information to propagate labels. The results obtained are comparable to the state-of-the-art interactive segmentation techniques on a standard dataset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-resolution clay mineral assemblages and siliciclastic grain-size records were collected from the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) high sedimentation Site U1483 off the Scott Plateau of the northwest Australian margin and studied to identify the clay mineral sources, transport processes, and ocean current behavior, as well as to evaluate the Australian summer monsoon over the last 410 kyr. Clay minerals are primarily composed of smectite (41–70%), followed by kaolinite (10–28%), illite (13.5–25%), and trace chlorite (3–14%). The provenance study revealed that the primary sources of clay minerals at Site U1483 are the Victoria and Ord rivers in northwest Australia. Smectite is mainly derived from the mafic volcanic and smectite-rich Bonaparte Gulf, whereas kaolinite and illite are primarily derived from felsic igneous and metamorphic rocks, respectively, found in the drainage areas of these rivers. Chlorite is primarily contributed by the Indonesian Throughflow (ITF), with a minor contribution from the northwest Australian rivers. Variations in the clay mineral assemblages and grain-size records indicate strong glacial–interglacial cyclicity, with small grain sizes, high smectite content, and low kaolinite and illite content during glacial periods. During interglacial periods, grain size, kaolinite, and illite percentages increase. Smectite is the dominant clay mineral during both the glacial and interglacial periods. (Kaolinite + illite + chlorite)/smectite and kaolinite/smectite ratios are adopted as proxies for the Leeuwin Current strength and the Australian summer monsoon, respectively. During glacial periods, low kaolinite/smectite and (kaolinite + illite + chlorite)/smectite ratios indicate a weak summer monsoon, resulting in low river discharge and a weak Leeuwin Current, which can transport small smectite-sized sediments to the core location. High kaolinite/smectite and (kaolinite + illite + chlorite)/smectite ratios during interglacial periods correspond to intense Australian monsoons and a strong ITF and Leeuwin Current, which contributed relatively more kaolinite and illite than during glacial periods. The proxy records' spectral analysis indicates a strong eccentricity period of 100-kyr, an obliquity period of 41-kyr, and a precession period of 23-kyr, implying that the clay mineral input along the northwest Australian margin is influenced by both high-latitude ice sheet forcing and low-latitude tropical processes. • Victoria and Ord Rivers have contributed clay minerals to the location of Site U1483 off northwest Australian margin. • The ITF, Leeuwin Current, and the Australian monsoon were weak during glacials while relatively strong during interglacials. • Terrigenous input has been controlled by ocean current strength, sea-level oscillation, and the Australian summer monsoon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classification of the huge amount of information got more attention since the concept semantic web developed. The sharing of information between people and application efficiently is an important concern of last few decade. Many classification techniques like taxonomy, keyword, thesaurus, data model and ontology exist to classify and defining different biological concepts. To avoid replication and provide conceptual, syntactic and semantic view of data computer scientists adopt 'ontology' for classification. Open Biomedical Ontology Editor (OBO-Editor) is a tool that provides a common platform to share different biomedical and biological information under an umbrella. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The indication of Osteoporosis includes both, the reduction in bone mineral mass and the consequent change in bone microarchitecture. The weakness of bones due to degradation of trabecular microarchitecture is the major result of osteoporosis and vertebral fracture. Investigating microarchitecture of the bone is the key to predicting fracture risk in osteoporosis at an earlier stage. A significant amount of literature has been published indicating that the microarchitecture of bone is correlated to bone texture appearing in an X-ray. The understanding and classification of the bone texture should help to estimate bone fracture risk. This will also help to diagnose Osteoporosis at an earlier stage through plain X-rays, which is currently been done through expensive Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA, previously DEXA) scans. This is especially helpful in developing countries like in the sub-continent, which are densely populated with relatively higher proportion of population being susceptible to Osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An accurate and high-resolution age model in marine sediments is essential for reconstructing past oceanographic and climate changes. The southeastern Indian Ocean is an important component of oceanographic circulation and global climate. However, the integrated biostratigraphy for the Late Pleistocene interval is not well known in the region. To address this issue, we constructed a new chronology for International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Hole U1516B in the Mentelle Basin, offshore southwestern Australia. We employ planktonic foraminifera δ18O to construct an astronomically tuned age model for Hole U1516B. Biostratigraphic analysis was performed for Hole U1516B using planktonic foraminifera, nannofossils, radiolarian taxa and diatoms. Seven planktonic foraminifera events are recorded, including the PT1a and PT1b boundaries. Eight nannofossil events were recorded including the boundaries between CN14a, CN14b and CN15. The planktonic foraminifera datums marked in Hole U1516B are mostly synchronous with datums reported in the southern hemisphere but are diachronous with datums in the northern hemisphere. The nannofossil datums marked in Hole U1516B have a close affinity with globally reported datums but small inconsistencies are probably due to strong ecological control. The diatom events are inconsistent and only recorded in short intervals during interglacials and several key radiolarians taxa are absent. • Orbitally tuned age model was built for the interval of MIS18–1 offshore Southwestern Australia. • The planktonic foraminifera datums are synchronous with southern hemisphere whereas diachronous with northern hemisphere. • The nannofossil datums are globally synchronous but minor inconsistencies probably due to ecological control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation aims to analyze the depositional environment, sequence stratigraphy, and geochemistry of the Early–Middle Eocene succession in the Laki Range of the Southern Indus Basin, Pakistan. The sequence is subsequently correlated with other sections within the Southern Indus Basin, Central Indus Basin, Upper Indus Basin, and Hazara Basin in Pakistan. For this study, the Lakhra and Laki formations were sampled from four sections in the Laki Range. Based on detailed outcrop observations, eight lithofacies were identified including four clastic lithofacies (CLF-1 to 4) and four limestone lithofacies (LLF-1 to 4). Similarly, based on detailed petrographic examination, seven microfacies were identified in limestone units. Considering the biotic paleoecology, facies texture, and chemical composition, depositional environments were assigned to the microfacies and lithofacies. All the microfacies, and the shale and sandstone lithofacies (CLF-1 and CLF-4) represent shallow inner to deeper outer-shelf settings whereas the other two lithofacies (CLF-2 and CLF-3) represent deltaic and tidal flat settings, respectively. All the microfacies and lithofacies information was used to establish sequence stratigraphy for the studied strata. The top of the Lakhra Formation and the whole of the Laki Formation in the Bara Nala Section (BNS) represent two complete, and two partial, third-order sequences, further divided into fourth order and small-scale cycles. The sequence's development is primarily influenced by regional and local tectonics. The regional correlation of the Indus Basin and Hazara Basin indicates that the regional basin's bathymetry and resultant depositional sequence were significantly influenced by the Himalayan Orogeny. The regional depositional pattern indicates that subsequent to India–Asia collision, the closure of eastern Tethys took place in a temporal succession from northwestern to the southwestern parts of the Indus Basin. In the Central Indus Basin, marine environments persisted until the Priabonian Stage (SBZ20) compared to those of the Upper (SBZ11–12) and Southern (SBZ13–14) Indus basins. This study offers valuable insights into both the local and regional depositional frameworks and the influence of local and regional tectonics on a carbonate platform evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the ovarian reserve parameters in patients presenting for IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment and its association with the number of follicles retrieved and number of oocyte retrieved and fertilized. Methods: A retrospective cross sectional study was conducted at Australian Concept Infertility Medical Centre from January 2017 to August 2017. Around 120 couples presenting to infertility clinics selected for IVF and ICSI with Females (25-45) had their FSH, AMH and AFC done. After ovulation induction, its response was determined by number of follicles retrieved, quality of oocytes retrieved or fertilized and inseminated. SPSS version 20 was used for the purpose of data analysis. Results: The median age of the patients was 34 (29-38) years. A moderate negative correlation of age and FSH levels was observed with quality of oocytes, Number of oocyte inseminated, number of oocyte fertilized and number of follicle restored. However, a positive correlation of AMH and AFC levels were found with quality of oocytes, Number of oocyte inseminated, number of oocyte fertilized and number of follicle restored. The correlation of AMH levels with number of oocyte inseminated (rho 0.729, p-value <0.001), number of oocyte fertilized (rho 0.721, <0.001) and number of follicle restored (rho 0.723, p-value <0.001) were found strongly correlated. Conclusion: Our study concluded that AMH and AFC have a strong correlation with number of follicles restored and number of oocytes retrieved whereas FSH and age has a weak correlation with the number of follicles restored and number of oocytes retrieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present integrated study is held to carry out the control of depositional and diagenetic processes on the reservoir potential of the Lower Cretaceous sequence within Nizampur Basin (Kahi Village section) and Kalachitta Range (Tora Stana section). This study was carried out in order to analyse the effect of the depositional and diagenetic processes on the reservoir potential of the studied strata. The Lower Cretaceous sequence at the western part of the Kala Chitta Ranges is mainly composed of sandy limestone and sandstone facies. Petrographic details show that the sandstone is mineralogically mature in both sections while it is texturally immature to sub-mature at Tora Stana section and sub-mature to mature at Kahi Village section. The microscopic details indicate that the sandstone is at Tora Stana section is deposited in inner to middle shelf setting, while it indicates moderate to high energy condition of beach to inner shelf setting in Kahi Village section. The results of Image J software shows that the porosity of this clastic succession ranges from 2-5% at Kahi Village Section, while in the fractured and dolomitic samples the porosity exceeds up to 13.5%. At Tora Stana section the average porosity ranges from 4-7%. The anomalously high porosity values may be the artefacts during thin section preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing systems for 3-D reconstruction from multiple view video use controlled indoor environments with uniform illumination and backgrounds to allow accurate segmentation of dynamic foreground objects. In this paper, we present a portable system for 3-D reconstruction of dynamic outdoor scenes that require relatively large capture volumes with complex backgrounds and nonuniform illumination. This is motivated by the demand for 3-D reconstruction of natural outdoor scenes to support film and broadcast production. Limitations of existing multiple view 3-D reconstruction techniques for use in outdoor scenes are identified. Outdoor 3-D scene reconstruction is performed in three stages: 1) 3-D background scene modeling using spherical stereo image capture; 2) multiple view segmentation of dynamic foreground objects by simultaneous video matting across multiple views; and 3) robust 3-D foreground reconstruction and multiple view segmentation refinement in the presence of segmentation and calibration errors. Evaluation is performed on several outdoor productions with complex dynamic scenes including people and animals. Results demonstrate that the proposed approach overcomes limitations of previous indoor multiple view reconstruction approaches enabling high-quality free-viewpoint rendering and 3-D reference models for production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deltamethrin (DM) And Biosal were tested against Eysarcoris modestus by Filter Paper impregnation method (FIM) at different concentrations. The effects of different concentrations & on mortality were observed after 48 and 96 HAT (hours after treatment). The results suggested that deltamethrin is more effective pesticide than neem pesticide. Percent mortality at 48 and 96 HAT of the pesticides was found to be 18 and 19% in deltamethrin and 7 and 8% in biosal, respectively at of 2.0% respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]