Computer vision seeks to mimic the human visual system and plays an essential role in artificial intelligence. It is based on different signal reprocessing techniques; therefore, developing efficient techniques becomes essential to achieving fast and reliable processing. Various signal preprocessing operations have been used for computer vision, including smoothing techniques, signal analyzing, resizing, sharpening, and enhancement, to reduce reluctant falsifications, segmentation, and image feature improvement. For example, to reduce the noise in a disturbed signal, smoothing kernels can be effectively used. This is achievedby convolving the distributed signal with smoothing kernels. In addition, orthogonal moments (OMs) are a cruc

Background: Opportunistic viral infections make an important threat to renal transplantation recipients (RTRs), and with the use of more intense newly-developed immunosuppressive drugs; the risk of renal allograft loss due to reactivation of these viruses has increased considerably. At the top priority of these viruses lie BK polyomavirus (BKV) and human cytomegalovirus (CMV). Reactivation of these viruses in these chronically immunosuppressed RTRs can lead to renal impairment and subsequently allograft loss, unless early detected and properly treated. Objectives: The study aimed to detect and quantify plasma viral load of BKV and CMV in RTRs using quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR), in order to study the prevalence of these two viruses i

High tunnels, or unheated plastic greenhouses, are becoming increasingly popular among organic vegetable growers across the United States. However, the intensive production typical of these systems presents soil health challenges, including salinization due to high fertilizer or compost inputs coupled with lack of rainfall to leach salts. Legume cover crops may improve soil health in high tunnels by reducing the need for external inputs, while adding organic matter. We tested the soil health effects of a winter hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) cover crop used to replace fertilizer N in an organic tomato cropping system in high tunnels. Studies were replicated across three sites differing in climate and soil type (Kansas, Kentucky, and Minne

A twisted-fin array as an innovative structure for intensifying the charging response of a phase-change material (PCM) within a shell-and-tube storage system is introduced in this work. A three-dimensional model describing the thermal management with charging phase change process in PCM was developed and numerically analyzed by the enthalpy-porosity method using commercial CFD software. Efficacy of the proposed structure of fins for performing better heat communication between the active heating surface and the adjacent layers of PCM was verified via comparing with conventional longitudinal fins within the same design limitations of fin material and volume usage. Optimization of the fin geometric parameters including the pitch, numb

The numerical response of Chrysoperla mutata MacLachlan was achieved by exposing the larvae of the predators to various densities of dubas nymphs Ommatissus lybicus DeBerg. Survival rate of predators’ larvae and adults emergence increased with increasing consumption . Repriductive response of predator was highly correlated with the amount of food consumed (+0.996).

Aim: To evaluate the effect of ultrasonic agitation for retrograde biodceramic root repair, MTA and biodentine filling materials on push-out bond strength to dentine walls. Materials and Methods: Ninety extracted human teeth with single straight roots were selected randomly. After disinfection and cleaning, the coronal portions were sectioned to standardize the root canal length at 15mm. following root canal shaping, obturation and apical roots resection, retrograde cavities were prepared. Teeth were categorized depending on the filling material used into three groups, 30 teeth each. Group A filled with bioceramic root repair material, B with MTA and C with Biodentine material. These groups were divided in to three subgroup (n= 10). Subgrou

Recent phosphorus (P) pollution in the United States, mainly in Maine, has raised some severe concerns over the use of P fertilizer application rates in agriculture. Phosphorus is the second most limiting nutrient after nitrogen and has damaging impacts on crop yield if found to be deficient. Therefore, farmers tend to apply more P than is required to satisfy any P loss after its application at planting. Several important questions were raised in this study to improve P efficiency and reduce its pollution. The objective of this study was to find potential reasons for P pollution in water bodies despite a decrease in potato acreage. Historically, the potato was found to be responsible for P water contamination due to its high P sensitivity a

Wind energy is considered one of the most important sources of renewable energy in the world, because it contributes to reducing the negative effects on the environment. The most important types of wind turbines are horizontal and vertical axis wind turbines. This work presents the full details of design for vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) and how to find the optimal values of necessary factors. Additionally, the results shed light on the efficiency and performance of the VAWT under different working conditions. It was taken into consideration the variety of surrounding environmental conditions (such as density and viscosity of fluid, number of elements of the blade, etc.) to simulate the working of vertical wind turbines under di