This paper suggests a new algorithm for data compression that depends on Boolean minimization of binary data. On the compressor side, the input bit-stream is chopped into chunks of 16-bit each, and a "sum of products" function is found for each chunk of bits using the Quine-McClusky algorithm. The minimized "sum of products" function is stored in a file. Later, the Huffman coding is applied to this file. The obtained Huffman code is used to convert the original file into a compressed one. On the decompression side, the Huffman tree is used to retrieve the original file. The experimental results of the proposed algorithm showed that the saving ratio on average is around 50%. In addition, the worst case was investigated and a remedy to it was suggested. The proposed technique can be used for various file formats including images and videos.
This paper describes the contacts the lecturers of the Czech Technical University had with third world countries in the 1960s. The general processes in preparing these contacts in Czechoslovakia are described, together with the specific strategy of the school and its lecturers.
Mining-induced ground fissure (MIGF) contributes to vegetation deterioration, landslides and other natural hazards. The study is an attempt to reveal the development type, dynamic development process, and formation mechanism of MIGF for MIGF-induced natural hazard prevention of shallow burial coal seam mining. A novel approach including in situ measurement, theoretical analysis, and numerical simulation was implemented. There are two typical types of fissures, namely sliding-type ground fissures and stepped-type ground fissures. Sliding-type ground fissures generally develop in a mountainous slope with a large gradient while steppedtype ground fissures typically occur in a mountainous slope with a small gradient and especially near a valley. Dynamic development process of MIGF is significantly affected by roof periodic movement. The advancing distance of a sliding-type ground fissure is 1.35 times periodic weighting step distance while it corresponds to 0.89 times the periodic weighting step distance for a stepped-type ground fissure. A positive relationship exists between horizontal tensile deformation and MIGF width. The movement mode of “voussoir beam” is favorable for slidingtype ground fissure development while the movement mode of “stepped beam” leads to steppedtype ground fissure development. These results can contribute to MIGF treatment and ecological protection in the southwestern mountainous area.
Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) is the etiological agent of Lyme disease, transmitted by ticks of the genus Ixodes Latreille. Diagnosis of Lyme disease in humans is often difficult and a detailed knowledge of the circulation of B. burgdorferi s.l. in tick hosts is therefore fundamental to support clinical procedures. Here we developed a molecular approach for the detection of B. burgdorferi s.l. in North Italian Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus). The method is based on the amplification of a fragment of the groEL gene, which encodes a heat-shock protein highly conserved among B. burgdorferi s.l. species. The tool was applied in both qualitative and Real-time PCR approaches testing ticks collected in a North Italian area. The obtained results suggest that this new molecular tool could represent a sensitive and specific method for epidemiological studies aimed at defining the distribution of B. burgdorferi s.l. in I. ricinus and, consequently, the exposure risk for humans.
A tobacco field in Greece was sampled during the 2001 and 2002 growing seasons to assess the seasonal trends in densities and spatial distributions of the aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and its predatory mirid Macrolophus costalis (Fieber). On repeated occasions between June (just after the transplantation) and September (just before harvest), 20 tobacco leaves (10 from the upper and 10 from the lower plant part) were taken from randomly chosen plants. These leaves were sampled for aphids and mirids. In both years, the highest aphid densities were recorded during July and August, while aphid numbers were low in September. In contrast, the majority of M. costalis individuals were found during September when aphid numbers were low. Significantly more M. persicae individuals were found in the upper part of the plants, whereas significantly more M. costalis individuals were found in the lower part of the plants. As indicated by Taylor's Power Law estimates, both species were aggregated in their spatial distributions among sampling units (leaves). Wilson and Room's model, based on the Taylor's estimates, was used to calculate the mean number of aphids and mirids, from the proportion of sampling units (leaves) that had > 0 individuals of each species. This model provided a satisfactory fit of the data for both the aphid and the mirid. In addition, Wilson and Room's model was successfully used to predict the mean number of aphids and mirids in a series of samples that were carried out in the same area between June and September 2003 for model validation. Finally, equations are given for the calculation of precision in estimating the mean number of aphids or mirids per sampling unit, and the required sample size for a given level of precision.
Monoclonal antibody specific for an epitope of cretory-secretory antigen protein of Opisthorchis felineus (Rivolta, 1884) (Trematoda: Opisthorchiidae) with a molecular weight of 28 kDa was used in a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for immobilisation of liver fluke specific antigen to the solid phase. Examination of human sera by this ELISA compared with commercial assays demonstrated that the monoclonal antibody epitope is located within this significant parasite protein. Anti-idiotypic antibody specific for the paratope of this monoclonal antibody was obtained by a hybridoma technique. Mimicking an epitope of excretory-secretory antigen of O. felineus, it had the capacity to bind specific antibody and elicit an antibody response. The value of anti-idiotypic antibody as a substitute for the liver fluke antigen was tested by ELISA using serum samples of infected dogs. Anti-idiotypic antibody proved to be of value in both an indirect-ELISA and a competitive-ELISA for diagnosis of opisthorchiasis. Mature trematodes were isolated from all infected animals. The faecal egg counts were negative in dogs with a relatively small number of parasites, despite finding antibodies in serum by ELISA. Substitution of parasite antigen with anti-idiotype avoids the use of experimental animals and also reduces time-consuming steps of antigen preparation., Aitbay K. Bulashev, Sergey N. Borovikov, Shynar S. Serikova, Zhanbolat A. Suranshiev, Vladimir S. Kiyan, Saule Z. Eskendirova., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Autonomous robotic wheelchairs based on visual guidance have been devoted to road edge detection. However, the after-detection process, especially the physical interpretation of what had been detected, needs more investigation. There is a wide gap between the scene model based on image processing algorithms and the physical model of the environment where the robotic wheelchair progresses. The aim of this paper is to investigate the interaction between the scene model and the world model; and also a visual control scheme for robot guidance that minimizes the model error induced by processing raw image data is proposed. This solution is developed based on a fuzzy control system, which uses the knowledge base information and the scene model to control the robot motion. On the other hand, the fuzzy control system is finely tuned by feed-backing the mean square errors between the scene model parameters and the knowledge-base data. Finally, the fuzzy controller uses results of these calculations to home the robot on the planned path. This paper also shows the principle of this system and the simulation results confirming the feasibility of the approach.
The effect of removing the functional pair of Kalotermes flavicollis from an experimental colony for 12, 24 or 48 h and the repeated removal for a particular number of hours per day (2, 4, 6, 12, 18, 20, and 22 h) was studied. An absence of the functional pair for 12 h had no affect on the development of new neotenics, whereas 24-h absence induced the development of new neotenics in 5 out of 12 experimental groups. A 48-h absence induced development of new neotenics in all 12 experimental groups. Pseudergates and nymphs can be orphaned for up to 12 h a day without being stimulated to differentiate, after which the number of new neotenics increased gradually with the time for which the reproductive pair was absent. This suggests that the inhibitory process is continuous and cumulative. Both sexes showed similar sensitivity to the absence of reproductives. The study also tested, by exchanging pseudergates between groups with functional pairs and orphaned groups, whether pseudergates in experimental groups actively spread inhibitory factors; however, this was not proven. Only pseudergates and nymphs that were in direct contact with the functional pair were inhibited.
Microsatellites are the most common markers used in population and conservation genetic studies. However, their isolation is laborious and expensive. In some taxa, such as Lepidoptera, it is particularly difficult to isolate microsatellite markers due to the high similarity of the flanking regions of different loci and the presence of null alleles. Here we isolated microsatellites of the endangered butterfly Boloria aquilonaris using 454 GS-FLX Titanium pyro-sequences of biotin enriched DNA libraries and tested the success of cross-amplification on the sister-species B. eunomia. Fifteen polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated in B. aquilonaris using initially 101 stringently designed primer pairs. Unlike in many other studies of microsatellite isolation in Lepidoptera, few null alleles were detected and only at very low frequencies. Additionally, the raw data set can still be used for the isolation of other microsatellite loci. None of the selected polymorphic loci for B. aquilonaris gave clear banding patterns for B. eunomia, although about 15 other loci gave promising banding patterns for the latter species. Low intra- and inter-specific transferability of developed markers in this study also lends support to the hypothesis that the evolution of the genome of Lepidoptera is dissimilar from that of other organisms., Sofie Vandewoestijne, Camille Turlure, Michel Baguette., and Obsahuje seznam literatury