Degree Of Illumination Research Articles

Environment-Forming and Production Functions of Haloxylon aphyllum in the Karnabchul Desert

The environment-forming function of the desert tree black saxaul (Haloxylon aphyllum) in the Karnabchul desert was investigated. As a result, it was found that black saxaul plants of different age had different effects on the degree of illumination. The intensity of solar radiation was mainly affected by middle-aged plants and by old generative specimens to a lesser extent. Black saxaul had a significant effect on the air temperature: it lowered the temperature under the crown and on the crown edge during the daytime, especially at 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m., while it increased it in these zones at night. Black saxaul also significantly influenced the temperature of the soil. The temperature was higher at night under the crown, while it was lower than in the outer part of the crown in the daytime. The moisture content of the soil also changed under the influence of black saxaul. Under its crown, the moisture content was noticeably higher than on open natural pastures. It was highest in the upper layers of the soil at the base of the saxaul trunk. As a result of the environment-forming action of black saxaul, favorable hydrothermal conditions for the growth and development of the natural wormwood-ephemeral vegetation under the protection of the shelterbelts and on the pasture areas adjacent to the shelterbelt were formed. The components of the production activity of pasture shelterbelts of black saxaul were shown: fodder mass of saxaul and wormwood-ephemeral vegetation of natural pastures. As a result of the increase in the yield of natural pastures under the protection of the shelterbelts and the harvest of black saxaul, the forage productivity of desert pastures increased more than two times.

The environmental forming and productional functions of the haloxylon aphyllum in the Karnabchul desert

We have conducted investigation of the environmental function of the desert tree of black saxaul (Haloxylon aphyllum) in the Karnabchul desert. As a result, it was found that different age plants of black saxaul had different effects on the degree of illumination. The greatest influence on the intensity of solar radiation was exerted by the saxaul plant of the black middle-aged state, the least the old generative individuals. Saxaul black had a significant impact on the temperature of the air: in the daytime, especially in the period 13-16 h, reducing the temperature under the crown and on the edge of the crown, and at night increasing it in the same areas. It also had a noticeable effect on the temperature of the soil. The temperature of the soil surface under the crown at night is higher, and during the day the warming was slower than in the outer part of the saxaul crown. Under the influence of black saxaul and soil moisture changed. Under the saxaul crown soil moisture is significantly higher compared to the control (open natural pastures). The highest soil moisture was observed in the upper soil layers at the base of the saxaul trunk. As a result, under the environmental action of black saxaul more favorable hydrothermal conditions for the growth and development of natural wormwood-ephemeral vegetation under the protection of strips and adjacent areas of pastures are formed. The result of production activities chemotaxonomic postbestowal bands consists of two following components: production of fodder mass of the Haloxylon and fodder productivity of wormwood-ephemeral vegetation of natural pastures. By increasing the yield of natural pastures under the protection of pasture protection strips and the harvest of the black saxaul fodder productivity of desert pastures increases more than twice.

Influence of noise, light and shadows on image segmentation algorithms

Image segmentation is a required step in object recognition tasks, dividing the image into multiple regions or clusters. Each image pixel is assigned to one of the clusters using different metrics such as pixel colour value, grey-scale intensity, edges, shapes, among others. The most diverse image segmentation algorithms have been proposed. It is important to analyse the robustness of those algorithms, taking into consideration diverse types of noise and difficult conditions. In this paper we choose a small set of frequently-used algorithms and analyse their behaviour in robustness-testing conditions. We inject difficulties (noise, shadows, various degrees of illumination) and compare the quality of the segmentation of algorithms against a ground truth. The objective is to analyse how differences in illumination, shadows or noise influence the output of the algorithms, and how they compare on those metrics. Based on those results we conclude about the quality of the approaches tested.

Morphological, anatomical, physiological and biochemical adaptations of Pittosporum tobira (Thunb.) W.T.Aiton and P. heterophyllum Franch. to the illumination level

Anatomical, morphological, physiological and biochemical adaptations of leaf as the most ecologically sensitive organ in the species P. tobira and P. heterophyllum, grown in the zones of greenhouse complex with different degree of illumination (1 zone – the level of illumination is 100–300 lx, zone 2 – 3000–7000 lx, and zone 3 – more than 10 thousand lx).) were studied. We revealed the structural morphological and anatomical adaptations, which manifested in the increase of leaf structure xeromorphy (thickening of the leaf, adaxial epidermis and columnar parenchyma, increasing pubescence density) under conditions of high insolation. With a low level of illumination in plants of both species, the thickness of the lamina decreased, mainly due to the mesophyll – the number of layers of the columnar parenchyma and the size of the cells reduced. Interspecific differences in the content of photosynthetic pigments in both species studied were found. A common trend in plants under low light conditions was decrease of chlorophyll a compared with the control, whereas the concentration of chlorophyll b in the leaves of plants increased with shading and high insolation. The result of the adaptation of the photosynthetic apparatus of Pittosporum plants, which normalizes its functioning, is a decreasing chlorophyll index both during shading and intense solar radiation. The maximum is determined in the range of 3–7 thousand lx. Such light regime is optimal for plants of the species studied. The observed decreasing pigment index in P. heterophyllum leaves is considered as an adaptive response of more light-loving species of the genus to their cultivation in the shade. The dependence of the peroxidase activity in Pittosporum leaves on the illumination level was studied. Adaptive reactions manifested in changes of peroxidase fractional composition in the leaves of the plants grown in different conditions. The obtained results on the activation and inactivation of the enzymatic activity of free and cell wall-associated peroxidase are interesting for using as an additional diagnostic indicator of stress degree for the plants of the interiors. It was established that adaptive changes in experimental plants were determined by the origin of species and their ecological and biological features.

Wild ornamental plants of Samara

The paper deals with the analysis of wild ornamental flora of Samara. At the moment the system of green spaces in Samara does not meet the norm standard. For planting trees and shrubs cities use plants grown and brought in from other regions of the world in recent years. But we believe that local wild species of plants should also be used for planting trees and shrubs in the city, as they are more adapted to the urban environment of Central Russia, and thus demand less care. Among wild-growing ornamental plants in Samara most ornate types are of the Asteraceae family. For the studied sector of the Samara flora perennial plants are considered to be typical, among them perennial grasses prevail. The analysis of the flora study helped us to come to the conclusion that the most numerous group is mesophyte plants, the leading environmental group on the degree of illumination and dimming are heliophytes. Among the studied plants meadow species of wild ornamental plants prevail. A part of ornamental flora of Samara are species noted in habitats of natural and anthropogenic origin, where the habitats of natural origin (forest, meadow and steppe islands of natural origin among residential areas) prevail. As wild-growing ornamental plants have adapted to the urban environment we recommend to use them for landscape gardening and landscape construction.

Структура подроста ели разных фенологических форм по высоте в зависимости от состава и строения древостоя в различных типах леса

The article deals with the interrelation of forest canopy of trees and high-rise structures of spruce undergrowth of different phenological forms in pleurocarpous moss group of forest type in conditions of Leningrad region. The analysis of high-rise structures of different phenological forms depending on the composition and structure of forest in the most represented types of forests in Leningrad region is made. For further insights on the role of composition and structure of forest stand as factors determining high-rise structure of different phenological forms of undergrowth of spruce, analysis of variance was conducted. Decrease in the share of large height spruce undergrowth of all phenological forms in the increase of participation of spruce in the growing stock, with increasing elative completeness of forest stand, its age and stock, allowed to conclude that the structure of natural regeneration of spruce on height is affected by the degree of illumination under the canopy of forest stand. Analysis of altitudinal structure of spruce undergrowth in different phenological forms in height, depending on forest type showed that proportion of the undergrowth of all phenological forms is higher in dry forest types than in wet forest. From this we can conclude that high-rise structure of spruce undergrowth in different phenological forms is influenced not only by illuminance under the canopy of the forest, but also fertility of soil, its physical and chemical properties. Conducted analysis of variance confirmed statistically significant dependence of this factor. As a result of conducted research it can be concluded, that in conditions of middle taiga of all biocenotic factors factors, forest type and composition of stands have greater influence on high-rise structure of phenological forms of spruce undergrowth.

Optimizing the analysis of dental enamel microstructure in intact teeth.

In most mammalian species enamel prisms are regularly arranged in layers of alternating directions forming an angle of approximately 90°. These successive layers of prisms are known as Hunter-Schreger bands (HSBs). The analysis of HSBs may provide valuable information regarding the species life history, taxon and personal identification, with evident applicability in physical anthropology and forensics. Obtaining good quality digital images of HSBs in intact specimens is not always a feasible task. The major problems are the low contrast of images; the reflection of incident light, which may create areas of intense shine in digital images; and the abrupt decrease in the degree of illumination that occurs after light crosses the vertical cracks, frequently present in enamel. We show here that the area of intense shine can be minimized by a polarizing filter coupled to the camera objective, and the filling of enamel cracks with corn oil can reduce refraction of light in enamel cracks. These procedures can significantly increase the quality and the area of HSBs that can be recorded in intact teeth.

Robust representations of individual faces in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) but not monkeys (Macaca mulatta).

Being able to recognize the faces of our friends and family members no matter where we see them represents a substantial challenge for the visual system because the retinal image of a face can be degraded by both changes in the person (age, expression, pose, hairstyle, etc.) and changes in the viewing conditions (direction and degree of illumination). Yet most of us are able to recognize familiar people effortlessly. A popular theory for how face recognition is achieved has argued that the brain stabilizes facial appearance by building average representations that enhance diagnostic features that reliably vary between people while diluting features that vary between instances of the same person. This explains why people find it easier to recognize average images of people, created by averaging multiple images of the same person together, than single instances (i.e. photographs). Although this theory is gathering momentum in the psychological and computer sciences, there is no evidence of whether this mechanism represents a unique specialization for individual recognition in humans. Here we tested two species, chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta), to determine whether average images of different familiar individuals were easier to discriminate than photographs of familiar individuals. Using a two-alternative forced-choice, match-to-sample procedure, we report a behaviour response profile that suggests chimpanzees encode the faces of conspecifics differently than rhesus monkeys and in a manner similar to humans.

Review of woody exotic species producing self-seeding in St. Petersburg (Russia)

This article presents results of the study of exotic woody plants producing self-seeding on the territory of St. Petersburg (Russia). According to our data, self-seeding is recorded in 227 species of 73 genera of 31 families in St. Petersburg. In 49 species of 28 genera of 19 families, self-seeding is observed for the first time. A number of species have potentially invasive properties, which is especially notable in recent years against the background of climate warming in St. Petersburg. Self-seeding emergence and maintenance depends on a number of factors, such as the presence of group plantings, level of soil turfing, degree of illumination, and presence or lack of treatment. It is urgent to constantly monitor all species producing selfseeding, since some of them may be potentially invasive.

The Analysis of Biomechanics and Ocular Motilities through Dynamic Image Processing Methods

Abstract The ocular and motor equilibrium of the visual system is ensured by normal ocular movements, and any neural-, ocular and motor disorders, any visual behaviour or non-verbal communication can be traced through the analysis of trajectories recorded through different methods. The theoretical background of the eye movements’ analysis is founded on the establishment of movement equations of the eyeball, as they consider it a solid body with a fixed point. The exterior actions, the order and execution of the movements are ensured by the neural and muscular external system and thus the position, stability and movements of the eye can be quantified through the method of reverse kinematic. The purpose of these researches is the development of an acquisition methodology, data processing and recording regarding the eye movements. The methodology developed in this research is based on the image acquisition of the eye movements by means of an eye tracking-type device on visible radiation, through which the position of the visual system related to a series of static and dynamic stimuli showed on the monitor is being analysed. Also, the eye movements are being tracked with the help of a video camera, and the appropriate trajectories are recorded through successive positions of the pupil centre, which are related to the visual stimuli. Following these recording, the positions of the eyes, the disorders of the ocular and motor equilibrium and the visual behaviour of the target group could be analysed, in relation to the succession of stimuli established according to the procedures in the field. A first important aspect established through this research consists of the determination of the correspondence from the movement equation of the visual system and its illumination degree. An experimental methodology for analysing the interdependencies from the video images of the visual system and the level of stimuli was also developed.

An Extended-Range Hybrid Solar-Cell and Battery Powered Bicycle

In this paper, an extended-range hybrid solar-cell and battery powered bicycle through a wireless sensor network (WSN) for far-end network monitoring solar energy to charge two lead-acid batteries and the effectiveness analysis is proposed. In order to achieve this goal, the key component of ZigBee used for a far-end wireless network supervisory system is setup. By adding a small-powered solar panel to charge two batteries when idle or low power periods, an extended-range hybrid powered bicycle allows its driving distance to be increased further. The alternative with this solution, though, are weight and cost. Experimental results prove that our prototype, the solar energy powered bicycle, can manage the solar energy for charging two lead-acid batteries pack to extend its range. As a result, the user by the wireless network in parking period knows the data on the amount of immediate solar radiation, the degree of illumination, the ambient temperature, and electrical energy storage capacity information by the internet interface.

Solar Energy Powered Bicycle for Wireless Supervisory Control and Remote Power Management Applications

In this paper, a solar energy powered bicycle by a wireless sensor network (WSN) far-end network monitoring solar energy to transfer the electrical energy storage and the effectiveness analysis is proposed. In order to achieve this goal, an embarked ZigBee by a solar-powered bicycle the far-end wireless network supervisory system is setup. Experimental results prove that our prototype, the solar energy powered bicycle, can manage the solar energy for charging two Lead-Acid batteries pack. As a result, the user by the wireless network in parking period knows the data on the amount of immediate solar radiation, the degree of illumination, the ambient temperature, and electrical energy storage capacity information by the internet interface.

A Remote Power Management Strategy for the Solar Energy Powered Bicycle

In this paper, a solar energy powered bicycle by a wireless sensor network (WSN) far-end network monitoring solar energy to transfer the electrical energy storage and the effectiveness analysis is proposed. In order to achieve this goal, an embarked ZigBee by a solar-powered bicycle the far-end wireless network supervisory system is setup. Experimental results prove that our prototype, the solar energy powered bicycle, can manage the solar energy for charging two Lead-Acid batteries pack. As a result, the user by the wireless network in parking period knows the data on the amount of immediate solar radiation, the degree of illumination, the ambient temperature, and electrical energy storage capacity information by the internet interface.

Lighting and noise level in the central facilities of the Costa Rican Distance Education University: health implications for staff and students

Los agentes físicos del ambiente laboral, como el ruido y la iluminación, afectan el desempeño, la productividad y la calidad del trabajo. Es por esto que su estudio ha tomado importancia en los últimos años. El ruido puede causar insomnio, cambios de humor, pérdida auditiva y -en mujeres embarazadas- daño en el feto, y favorecer el desarrollo de enfermedad cardiovascular. La iluminación deficiente, por su parte, genera lagrimeo, fatiga visual y cefalea, y favorece los accidentes laborales. Del 08 de junio al 23 de octubre del 2009 estudiamos, con medidores electrónicos, los niveles de ruido e iluminación en los lugares de la Universidad Estatal a Distancia de Costa Rica que utilizan maquinaria generadora de ruido o requieren un nivel especial de iluminación (imprenta, almacén y biblioteca). Encontramos que tanto los niveles de iluminación como de ruido son inadecuados en departamentos de la UNED donde esos niveles son clave para el desempeño diario y para la salud del personal y el estudiantado. Recomendamos la instalación de amortiguadores de ruido, el uso obligatorio de protectores auditivos y un rediseño de la iluminación en esos sitios concretos de la institución.

Lifetimes of organic photovoltaics: photooxidative degradation of a model compound

A poly phenylene vinylene (PPV-type) oligomer used in organic photovoltaics was designed to facilitate the interpretation of mass spectral data. A film of the oligomer was subjected to various degrees of illumination (1000 W m−2, AM1.5) in air resulting in photooxidation of the material. The surface chemistry was monitored by TOF-SIMS and XPS. The experiment described accelerated photooxidation without any contributions from interface processes. The photooxidative degradation mechanisms are described starting from the intact molecule through presumably, intermediate photooxidation products to small photooxidation products. The processes are described with various degrees of specificity and with varying degrees of detail. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

차선관련 파라미터의 대칭성과 선형회귀에 기반한 차선이탈 인식

This paper presents a lane-departure identification (LDI) algorithm for a traveling vehicle on a structured road. The algorithm makes up for the weak points of the former method based on EDF[1] by introducing a Lane Boundary Pixel Extractor (LBPE), the well known Hough transform, and liner regression. As a filter to extract pixels expected to be on lane boundaries, the LBPE plays an important role in enhancing the robustness of LDI. Utilizing the pixels from the LBPE the Hough transform provides the lane-related parameters composed of orientation and distance, which are used in the LDI. The proposed LDI is based on the fact the lane-related parameters of left and right lane boundaries are symmetrical as for as the optical axis of a camera mounted on a vehicle is coincident with the center of lane; as the axis deviates from the center of lane, the symmetrical property is correspondingly lessened. In addition, the LDI exploits a linear regression of the lane-related parameters of a series of successive images. It plays the key role of determining the trend of a vehicle's traveling direction and minimizing the noise effect. Except for the two lane-related parameters, the proposed algorithm does not use other information such as lane width, a curvature, time to lane crossing, and of feet between the center of a lane and the optical axis of a camera. The system performed successfully under various degrees of illumination and on various road types.

Smart (Domotic) houses

The advance of telecommunications via the use of Internet has led to IP network integration. Many networks have been working successfully and have been fundamental for many areas in measuring the automation of data, thus allowing researchers and professionals to have a wider view of production in various sectors. Remote control has been developed through technological innovation making an environment consisting of human interaction based on telecommunications and control systems ever more tangible. Technological development has led to an infinite range of everyday devices being remotely controlled via Internet, the human voice, a cell-phone or normal phone keyboard or a palm, pocket PC or desk-top computer. Amongst the new activities which can be controlled in a person’s house via a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) would be the degree of illumination; such activities are defined as being domotic. The word domotic refers to integrating several areas of knowledge such as telecommunications, electronics, informatics and electricity to improve human beings’ quality of life, thus aiding Colombian society’s growth.

In vivo role of adenosine-5'-phosphosulfate reductase in the purple sulfur bacterium Allochromatium vinosum.

Adenosine-5'-phosphosulfate (APS) reductase participates in the oxidation of sulfite to APS in Allochromatium vinosum. Oxidation of sulfite via the APS pathway yields ATP through substrate-level phosphorylation. An alternative enzyme for the oxidation of sulfite to sulfate, sulfite:acceptor oxidoreductase, has also been reported in Ach. vinosum. Oxidation of sulfite through this enzyme does not yield ATP. APS reductase is expressed constitutively in Ach. vinosum, suggesting that it performs an important role in this organism. However, studies carried out with batch cultures of an APS reductase mutant showed little or no differences in growth or in the rates of substrate oxidation when compared to the wild-type, therefore questioning the role of this enzyme. In an attempt to establish whether the ATP gain derived from APS-reductase-mediated oxidation of sulfite is relevant for energy-limited cultures, we compared growth of the wild-type SM50 and the APS-reductase-deficient mutant D3 when grown in continuous culture under different degrees of illumination. Little differences in the specific growth rates of the two strains were observed at light-limiting irradiances, suggesting that the ATP gained during sulfite oxidation through the APS reductase pathway does not constitute a significant energy input. However, at saturating irradiances, wild-type Ach. vinosum grew considerably faster than the mutant. Increasing the irradiance even further resulted in inhibition of the wild-type strain down to the level of the APS reductase mutant. The implications of these results are discussed.

Acclimation of the photosynthetic response of Chromatium vinosum to light-limiting conditions.

The photosynthetic response of the purple sulfur bacterium Chromatium vinosum DSM 185 to different degrees of illumination was analyzed. The microorganism was grown in continuous culture, and samples were taken from the effluent of the culture and incubated at different irradiances to determine the specific rate of sulfur oxidation as a measure of the photosynthetic activity of the organism. The activities obtained were plotted as a function of the specific rate of light uptake, and for each set of data a photosynthesis equation was fitted, which allowed the estimation of Pmax (photosynthetic capacity), qk (the threshold irradiance for light limitation), and m (maintenance coefficient). The results indicated that cells grown under light limitation are able to achieve higher photosynthetic activities than cells grown under light saturation. The photosynthetic capacity (Pmax) remained constant under all the conditions of illumination tested, while the maintenance expenses (m) were higher under light limitation. The parameter qk, on the contrary, decreased considerably at limiting irradiances.

SPECIES DIVERSITY GRADIENT TO DARKNESS STRESS IN BLUE-GREEN ALGAE/CYANOBACTERIA: A MICROSCALE TEST IN A PREHISTORIC CAVE, MOUNT CARMEL, ISRAEL

Species diversity of epilithic cyanobacteria was studied in a 90 m deep prehistoric el-Wad cave eroded in Cenomanian limestones of Mount Carmel, Israel. The degree of illumination is the most variable index throughout the cave, whereas humidity and temperature vary moderately. In a number of sites inside the cave dripping water occurs due to filtration of rain water. In el-Wad cave 42 species from 20 genera of blue-green algae were found. The share of coccoid forms decreased and filamentous (especially oscillatorial) ones increased from the entrance to the end of the cave. Intensity of light was the governing factor for distribution of cyanobacteria in el-Wad cave; the availability of dripping affected it to a lesser extent due to the constantly high humidity of the air. Diversity of species composition and taxonomic spectrum of cyanophytes was reduced from the entrance to the end of the cave, covarying positively with darkness stress.