Vincent Ayala (visionpencil7)

The mapping results were validated against manually digitized lake outlines derived from Gaofen-2 panchromatic multi-spectral (GF-2 PMS) imagery, with an overall accuracy and kappa coefficient of 96.54% and 0.95, respectively. In comparison with results from classical supervised support vector machine (SVM) and unsupervised Iterative Self-Organizing Data Analysis Technique Algorithm (ISODATA) methods, the proposed method proved to be much more robust and effective at detecting glacial lakes with irregular boundaries that have similar backscattering as the surroundings. This study also demonstrated the feasibility of time-series Sentinel-1A/1B SAR data in the continuous monitoring of glacial lake outline dynamics.The use of robots to map disaster-stricken environments can prevent rescuers from being harmed when exploring an unknown space. In addition, mapping a multi-robot environment can help these teams plan their actions with prior knowledge. The present work proposes the use of multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the construction of a topological map inspired by the way that bees build their hives. A UAV can map a honeycomb only if it is adjacent to a known one. Different metrics to choose the honeycomb to be explored were applied. At the same time, as UAVs scan honeycomb adjacencies, RGB-D and thermal sensors capture other data types, and then generate a 3D view of the space and images of spaces where there may be fire spots, respectively. Simulations in different environments showed that the choice of metric and variation in the number of UAVs influence the number of performed displacements in the environment, consequently affecting exploration time and energy use.Three-dimensional calculations of the meniscus of a magnetic fluid placed around a current carrying vertical and cylindrical wire are presented. Based on the material properties of experimentally used magnetic fluids, the numerically determined menisci are compared with the experimentally measured ones reported by May. The comparison is made for a linear law of magnetisation as well as for the experimentally measured nonlinear magnetisation curve. Up to moderate strengths of the applied current ( I less then = 45 A), i.e., up to moderate strengths of the magnetic field close to the wire, the calculated profiles agree satisfyingly with the experimentally measured ones for a linear as well as for a nonlinear law of magnetisation. At a great strength of the applied current ( I = 70 A), i.e., at a large strength of the magnetic field close to the wire, the agreement is less good than in the range up to moderate strengths. Our analysis revealed that the numerically assumed isothermal conditions are not present in the experiment, particularly at the great strength of the applied current. A control of the temperature in the experiment and the implementation of a coupled thermal model in the numerics are considered the most relevant future steps for an improved agreement.Among environmental factors likely associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), persistent virus infections, and age-related progressive decline of immune competence might play a pivotal role. However, AD antimicrobial brain immune responses are poorly investigated. The present study focused on genes involved in antimicrobial defenses, especially against virus infections, in the AD brain. In particular, mRNA levels of IRF7, MED23, IL28B, and IFN-α genes were analyzed in hippocampus and temporal cortex brain samples from AD and non-demented controls. All subjects were also genotyped for APOE ε, IRF7, MED23, and IL28B gene polymorphisms. Most AD patients showed decreased mRNA levels of all investigated genes in the hippocampus and temporal cortex. However, a small group of AD patients showed increased hippocampal mRNA expression of MED23, IL28B, and IFN-α. mRNA levels of MED23, IL28B, IFN-α from the hippocampus and those of MED23 from the temporal cortex were further decreased in APOE ε4 allele AD