scholarly journals Layering contrasting photoselective filters improves the simulation of foliar shade

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominic Petrella ◽  
Florence Breuillin-Sessoms ◽  
Eric Watkins
Keyword(s):  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Color Temperature ◽  
Neutral Density ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Spectral Quality ◽  
Shade Cloth ◽  
Deep Shade ◽  
Filter Type ◽  
R:Fr Ratio

Abstract Background Neutral density shade cloth is commonly used for simulating foliar shade, in which it reduces light intensity without altering spectral quality. However, foliar shade also alters spectral quality, reducing the ratio of red to far-red (R:FR) light and altering the ratio of blue to green (B:G) light. Unlike shade cloth, photoselective filters can alter spectral quality, but the filters used have not simulated foliar shade well. We examined the spectral quality of sunlight under color temperature blue (CTB), plus green (PG), and neutral density (ND) filters from LEE Filters, Rosco e-colour+, and Rosco Cinegel brands either alone or layered, hypothesizing that the contrasting qualities of the different filters would improve simulations. As a proof-of-concept, we collected spectral data under foliar shade to compare to data collected under photoselective filters. Results Under foliar shade reductions in the R:FR ratio ranged from 0.11–0.54 (~ 1.18 in full sun), while reductions in the B:G ratio (~ 0.87 in full sun) were as low as 0.53 (deep shade), or were as high as 1.11 (moderate shade). Neutral density filters led to near-neutral reductions in photosynthetically active radiation and reduced the R:FR ratio similar to foliar shade. Color temperature blue filters simulated the increased B:G ratio observed under moderate foliar shade; however, these filters did not reduce the R:FR ratio low enough. On their own, PG filters did not simulate any type of foliar shade. Different brands of the same filter type also had disparate effects on spectral quality. Layered CTB and ND filters improved the accuracy of moderate foliar shade simulations, and layering CTB, PG, and ND filters led to accurate simulations of deep foliar shade. Conclusions Layering photoselective filters with contrasting effects on the spectral quality of sunlight results in more accurate simulations of foliar shade compared to when these filters are used separately. Layered filters can re-create the spectral motifs of moderate and foliar shade, and could be used to simulate shade scenarios found in different cropping systems. Photoselective filters offer numerous advantages over neutral density shade cloth, and could be a direct replacement for researchers using neutral density shade cloth in their experiments.

scholarly journals Integration of Satellite Data with High Resolution Ratio: Improvement of Spectral Quality with Preserving Spatial Details

Sensors ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 4418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Sekrecka ◽  
Michal Kedzierski
Keyword(s):  
High Ratio ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Spectral Quality ◽  
Local Statistics ◽  
Panchromatic Image ◽  
Urbanized Area ◽  
Fusion Methods ◽  
Spatial Quality ◽  
Different Levels

Commonly used image fusion techniques generally produce good results for images obtained from the same sensor, with a standard ratio of spatial resolution (1:4). However, an atypical high ratio of resolution reduces the effectiveness of fusion methods resulting in a decrease in the spectral or spatial quality of the sharpened image. An important issue is the development of a method that allows for maintaining simultaneous high spatial and spectral quality. The authors propose to strengthen the pan-sharpening methods through prior modification of the panchromatic image. Local statistics of the differences between the original panchromatic image and the intensity of the multispectral image are used to detect spatial details. The Euler’s number and the distance of each pixel from the nearest pixel classified as a spatial detail determine the weight of the information collected from each integrated image. The research was carried out for several pan-sharpening methods and for data sets with different levels of spectral matching. The proposed solution allows for a greater improvement in the quality of spectral fusion, while being able to identify the same spatial details for most pan-sharpening methods and is mainly dedicated to Intensity-Hue-Saturation based methods for which the following improvements in spectral quality were achieved: about 30% for the urbanized area and about 15% for the non-urbanized area.

scholarly journals A prescribed walking regimen plus arginine supplementation improves function and quality of life for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension: a pilot study

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 204589321774396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Beth Brown ◽  
Attie Kempf ◽  
Catherine M. Collins ◽  
Gary M. Long ◽  
Matthew Owens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Concept Study ◽  
Sf 36 ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial ◽  
Arginine Supplementation

Current evidence suggests that exercise training is beneficial in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Unfortunately, the standard supervised, hospital-based programs limit patient accessibility to this important intervention. Our proof-of-concept study aimed to provide insight into the usefulness of a prescribed walking regimen along with arginine supplementation to improve outcomes for patients with PAH. Twelve PAH patients (all women) in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class (FC) II (n = 7) or III (n = 5) and in stable condition for ≥ 3 months were enrolled. Patients performed home- and fitness-center- based walking at 65–75% heart rate (HR) reserve for 45 min, six sessions/week for 12 weeks. Concomitant L-arginine supplementation (6000 mg/day) was provided to maximize beneficial endothelial training adaptations. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing, 6-min walk testing (6MWT), echocardiography, laboratory studies, and quality of life (QoL) survey (SF-36) were performed at baseline and 12 weeks. Eleven patients completed the study (72 session adherence rate = 96 ± 3%). Objective improvement was demonstrated by the 6MWT distance (increased by 40 ± 13 m, P = 0.01), VO2max (increased by 2 ± 0.7 mL/kg/min, P = 0.02), time-to-VO2max (increased by 2.5 ± 0.6 min, P = 0.001), VO2 at anaerobic threshold (increased by 1.3 ± 0.5 mL/kg/min, P = 0.04), HR recovery (reduced by 68 ± 23% in slope, P = 0.01), and SF-36 subscales of Physical Functioning and Energy/Fatigue (increased by 70 ± 34% and 74 ± 34%, respectively, P < 0.05). No adverse events occurred, and right ventricular function and brain natriuretic peptide levels remained stable, suggesting safety of the intervention. This proof-of-concept study indicates that a simple walking regimen with arginine supplementation is a safe and efficacious intervention for clinically stable PAH patients, with gains in objective function and QoL measures. Further investigation in a randomized controlled trial is warranted.

The effect of motor imagery on quality of movement when performing reaching tasks in healthy subjects: A proof of concept

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbora Kolářová ◽  
Jim Richards ◽  
Hana Ondráčková ◽  
Klára Lippertová ◽  
Louise Connell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motor Imagery ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Reaching Tasks ◽  
Quality Of Movement

scholarly journals Enhancement of Region of Interest CT Reconstructions through Multimodal Data

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 331-335
Author(s):  
David Schote ◽  
Tim Pfeiffer ◽  
Georg Rose
Keyword(s):  
Substantial Reduction ◽  
Region Of Interest ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Multimodal Data ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Full Field ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Ct Data ◽  
Flight Measurements

AbstractComputed tomography (CT) scans are frequently used intraoperatively, for example to control the positioning of implants during intervention. Often, to provide the required information, a full field of view is unnecessary. I nstead, the region-of-interest (ROI) imaging can be performed, allowing for substantial reduction in the applied X-ray dose. However, ROI imaging leads to data inconsistencies, caused by the truncation of the projections. This lack of information severely impairs the quality of the reconstructed images. This study presents a proof-of-concept for a new approach that combines the incomplete CT data with ultrasound data and time of flight measurements in order to restore some of the lacking information. The routine is evaluated in a simulation study using the original Shepp-Logan phantom in ROI cases with different degrees of truncation. Image quality is assessed by means of normalized root mean square error. The proposed method significantly reduces truncation artifacts in the reconstructions and achieves considerable radiation exposure reductions.

scholarly journals Thoracoscopic Ablation with Appendage Ligation versus Medical Therapy for Stroke Prevention a Proof-of-Concept Randomized Trial

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas M. Beaver ◽  
Vishnumurthy Shushrutha Hedna ◽  
Anna Y. Khanna ◽  
William M. Miles ◽  
Catherine C. Price ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Medical Management ◽  
Stroke Prevention ◽  
Normal Sinus Rhythm ◽  
Recurrent Stroke ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Concept Design ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Surgical Morbidity

Objective Atrial fibrillation (AF) has a demonstrable effect on quality of life (QOL). Recurrent stroke occurs in 10% of patients with AF. The objective of this study was to demonstrate proof of concept that thoracoscopic pulmonary vein isolation and atrial appendage ligation (TPVIAL) could prevent recurrent stroke and could potentially improve QOL in patients with AF with a previous stroke. Methods The study was a National Institutes of Health-funded single-center proof-of-concept design that randomized 23 patients with AF-related stroke to TPVIAL (n = 12) or to medical management (n = 11). Quality of life was the primary outcome variable; secondary end points included restoration of rhythm, recurrent stroke, and surgical morbidity. Results Quality-of-life subscores at 3 and 6 months revealed improvements in energy and decreases in fatigue in the TPVIAL arm [baseline, 33 (19.8); 3 months, 49.5 (20.6), P = 0.01; 6 months, 55.5 (14.4), P = 0.03]. At 12-month follow-up, there were no recurrent strokes in the TPVIAL group. In the medically treated arm, two patients at 6 months (P = 0.22) and three total patients at 12 months (P = 0.09) had recurrent ischemic stroke. There was one death in the medical management arm. In the TPVIAL arm, no AF recurrence occurred in patients with paroxysmal AF, and one patient had recurrence of persistent and long-standing AF. Seven patients in the TPVIAL arm discontinued warfarin therapy for secondary stroke prevention. Conclusions This small proof-of-concept study showed that TPVIAL improved QOL on two subscores and restored normal sinus rhythm in all but one patient, and it showed the potential to prevent secondary stroke. A larger study will be needed.

Transplanting improves the allometry and fiber quality of Bt cotton in cotton–wheat cropping system

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-36
Author(s):  
Muhammad Asghar Shah ◽  
Mubshar Hussain ◽  
Muhammad Shahzad ◽  
Khawar Jabran ◽  
Sami Ul-Allah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fiber Length ◽  
Fiber Strength ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Fiber Quality ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Bt Cotton ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Fiber Fineness

AbstractIn cotton–wheat cropping system of Pakistan, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is harvested in late April; however, the optimum sowing time of Bt cotton is mid-March. This indicates a time difference of 4–6 weeks between the harvest of wheat and cotton sowing. It is hypothesized that this overlapping period may be managed by transplanting cotton seedlings (30–45 days old) in late April, after the harvest of wheat due to better performance of already established seedlings. To this end, this study was conducted to evaluate the allometric traits and fiber quality of transplanted Bt cotton after harvesting wheat in the cotton–wheat cropping system. The Bt cotton–wheat cropping systems were flat sown wheat (FSW)–conventionally tilled cotton, FSW–zero tilled cotton, ridge sown wheat–ridge transplanted cotton using 30- and 45-days-old seedlings, and bed sown wheat (BSW)–bed transplanted cotton (BTC) also using 30- and 45-days-old seedlings. The study was conducted at Vehari and Multan in Punjab, Pakistan. Bt cotton in BSW–BTC with 45-days-old seedlings showed better performance for allometric (leaf area index; (LAI), net assimilation rate; (NAR), and crop growth rate; (CGR)), seed cotton yield, and fiber traits (fiber uniformity, fiber length, fiber strength, and fiber fineness) in comparison to other treatments. Most of the fiber quality traits were positively correlated with allometric traits and biological yield (dry matter yield at maturity) at both locations, except correlations of CGR and LAI with fiber fineness and fiber length and NAR with fiber length. As plant growth and fiber quality of transplanted cotton was significantly higher than conventionally grown cotton, our data indicate transplanting is an interesting management practice for improving productivity in wheat–cotton cropping systems.

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