Problem statement: Segmentation is the first and fundamental step in the process of computer vision and object classification. However, complicate or similar colour pattern add complexity to the segmentation of touching objects. The objective of this study was to develop a robust technique for the automatic segmentation and classification of touching plastic bottles, whose features were previou...

This paper describes some biochemical applications of a self-filling, self-measuring, disposable, dilution micropipet. The device consists of a precision capillary in a plastic adapter and an attachable plastic bottle containing a premeasured volume of diluent or reagent. The human error in measuring microvolumes of liquid is elimicted by the self-filling, self-measuring action of the capillary...

The objective of this study was to investigate the adhesion of isolated spoilage bacteria to packaging materials used in the food industry. Microorganisms were isolated from commercial fruit-flavored mineral water in plastic bottles with flocks as a visual defect. The Gram-negative rods were identified using the molecular method through the amplification of a partial region of the 16S rRNA gene...

Millimeter wave (MMW) imaging has found rapid adoption in security applications such as concealed object detection under clothing. However, the imaging quality is often degraded due to resolution limit and low signal level. This study addresses shape feature analysis following concealed object detection. The object region is extracted by multi-level segmentation. Shape features are composed of ...

BACKGROUND Communities living in developing countries as well as populations affected by natural or man-made disasters can be left at great risk from water related diseases, especially those spread through the faecal-oral route. Conventional water treatments such as boiling and chlorination can be effective but may prove costly for impoverished communities. Solar water disinfection (SODIS) has ...

Suspensions of the faecal indicator bacteria Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis were incubated in full sunlight in plastic bottles containing either (i) air-equilibrated (oxygenated) water or (ii) anaerobic (deoxygenated) water. A rapid decrease in cfu ml-1 was observed for actively growing and stationary phase cells of both types of faecal bacteria when illuminated under aerobic condit...

To investigate the safety level of softdrink bottled in plastic, the amount of antimony (Sb) existing in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles was examined. The Sb concentrations in beverages and polyester resin itself were measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer (GFAAS). A detection limit (3σ) of 0.4 μg/L was achieved. PET bottles were classified into five groups ba...

Fossil-based plastic contributes to environmental pollution through carbon dioxide emissions during production and lifecycle. Bio-based from renewable biomass retains functionality can have a lower footprint. Any large-scale investment in bio-based by the industry requires knowing that consumers are willing purchase these products learning how best market them. This online study (N = 529) inves...

Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possibility of using recycled polymer (waste polyethylene terephthalate [PET] bottles) as a membrane material. Furthermore, the effect of the addition of a pore-forming agent and preparation conditions was also observed. Methods: Porous polymeric membranes were prepared via thermally induced phase separation by dissolving recycled PET...

BACKGROUND Levetiracetam is widely used as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial-onset seizures, myoclonic seizures, primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and idiopathic generalized epilepsy in the community and in hospital. However, no convenient, easy-to-swallow dosage form is commercially available in Canada. Moreover, no stability data are available for this antiepileptic prep...