• Title/Summary/Keyword: Ants

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Region Segmentation from MR Brain Image Using an Ant Colony Optimization Algorithm (개미 군집 최적화 알고리즘을 이용한 뇌 자기공명 영상의 영역분할)

  • Lee, Myung-Eun;Kim, Soo-Hyung;Lim, Jun-Sik
    • The KIPS Transactions:PartB
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    • v.16B no.3
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    • pp.195-202
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    • 2009
  • In this paper, we propose the regions segmentation method of the white matter and the gray matter for brain MR image by using the ant colony optimization algorithm. Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) is a new meta heuristics algorithm to solve hard combinatorial optimization problem. This algorithm finds the expected pixel for image as the real ant finds the food from nest to food source. Then ants deposit pheromone on the pixels, and the pheromone will affect the motion of next ants. At each iteration step, ants will change their positions in the image according to the transition rule. Finally, we can obtain the segmentation results through analyzing the pheromone distribution in the image. We compared the proposed method with other threshold methods, viz. the Otsu' method, the genetic algorithm, the fuzzy method, and the original ant colony optimization algorithm. From comparison results, the proposed method is more exact than other threshold methods for the segmentation of specific region structures in MR brain image.

Community Structure, Species Diversity of Insects (ants, ground beetles), and Forest Health in the Hongneung Forest (홍릉 숲의 곤충(개미와 지표성 딱정벌레)의 군집구조, 종다양성, 산림건강성)

  • Lee, Cheol Min;Kwon, Tae-Sung
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.102 no.1
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    • pp.97-106
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    • 2013
  • The present study is aimed to evaluate forest health in a fragmented urban forest using characteristics of insect communities. Ants (Formicidae) and ground beetles (Carabidae) surveyed by pitfall trap method in the Hongneung forest located in the urban area of Seoul were compared with those in the Gwangneung forest. The Gwangneung forest is supposed to be health due to its high biodiversity and well-conserved nature. Ants of the Hongneung forest was much more abundant compared with those of the Gwangneung forest. However, ground beetles showed the opposite patterns; much more abundant in the Gwangneung forest than in the Hongneung forest. Species richness was higher in the Gwangneung forest than in the Hongneung forest, but species diversity was higher in the Hongneung forest. In the Hongneung forest, forest specialist species and generalist species were balanced, whereas few forest specialists dominated in the Gwangneung forest. This dominance decreased species diversity in those Gwangneung forest. Thus, characteristics of insect community in the Hongneung forest were greatly different with those in the Gwangneung forest.

Distribution and Bionomics of the Argentine Ant Linepithema humile (Mayr) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Dolichoderinae)

  • Min-Ji Lee;Young-Gyu Ban;Heejo Lee;Young Ha Kim;Dayeong Kim;Nang-Hee Kim;Dong Eon, Kim
    • Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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    • v.4 no.3
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    • pp.104-114
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    • 2023
  • In this study, the distribution, bait preference, hosts, symbionts, habitat status, and cytochrome c oxidase subunit-I sequences of the ant Linepithema humile were analyzed. This species habitat comprised approximately 1.5 km along stone crevices, flower gardens, roadsides, and container yards in the vicinity of Busan station, Korea. Feeding activity of this species was confirmed in 9 species of 7 families of plants. Which was approximately 14% of total flora (63 species of 37 families) in the studied area. Particularly, it was observed that Dendranthema indicum and Camellia japonica were the most frequently visited. Further, we verified that they interacted with four species of aphids. We identified 22 species of ants (17 genera, 4 subfamilies) inhabiting the Busan station area, including L. humile, Tetramorium tsushimae, Nylanderia flavipes and the alien species Paratrechina longicornis. In areas where L. humile was the dominant species, the habitat of local native ants was reduced by approximately 30%. Bait preference was ranked in the following order: jelly, water with glucose (25%), and yogurt, with the highest preference for baits containing sugar and protein. The 630-bp cytochrome c oxidase subunit-I sequences of the local L. humile populations were 99% identical to those of L. humile in the National Center for Biotechnology Information database, and the Argentine ants that invaded Korea had a sequence identical to that of other invasive populations from China, Japan, and New Zealand. As L. humile rapidly increases due to domestic adaptation, continuous monitoring and control strategy for eradication are needed to protect domestic biodiversity.

Studies on the Biological Control of Pine Caterpillar (Dendrolimus spectabilis Butler) by Red Wood Ants (Formica rufa truncicola var. yessoensis Forel) (불개미를 이용한 송총의 생물적방제에 관한 연구)

  • Kim Chang Hyo;Choi Jin Sik
    • Korean journal of applied entomology
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    • v.15 no.1 s.26
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    • pp.7-16
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    • 1976
  • In order to increase utility efficiency of red wood ants, Formica rufa truncicola var. yessonesis Forel as a resource of natural enemy of pine caterpillar, Dendrolimus spectabilis Butler, by finding out ecological and environmental factors in the habitat of red wood ants, the nest distribution and its density in habitat, plant distribution and density, stand-density of red pine, nest building and fixing plants, relative humidity of surface soil, physical and chemical natures of soil, and breeding rate were examined. The obtained results are summarized as follows: 1. The nest of red wood ants was densely distributed, in the lower-and middle top of mountain but no nest was found in the top. 2. The economical distribution of nest of habitat was estimated as $2.85/m^2$ and the lowest density as $1.93/m^2$ and these estimation lead us to confirm that pine caterpillar could be controlled. 3. The ecological characteristics of habitat seemed to be represented as higher stand-density of red pine of 10-20 years of age with large areas of eroded land under trees. The major grasses prevailing in this area were Andropogon brevifolius. Arundinella hirta, Miscanthus purpurasens, Eulia speciosa, Themeda japonica, Cymbopogon goeringii, and Eccoilpus cotulifer 4. Red wood ants seemed to build the nest by using red pine, Arundinella hirta, Miscanthus purpurascens, Themeda japonica or Cymbopogon goeringii as a fixing plant. 5. The limited point of humidity percent in habitat of red wood ants was estimated as $76\%$ during the acting period of May to September and as $72\%$ during pre-period of hibernation of October to November. 6. Soil analysis in habitating region showed higher concentration of organic matters and lower concentration of calcium and magnesium, and habitat was largely composed of silt and fine sand rather than coarse sand. 7. When the separated colony was transplanted to non-habitating red pine forest that seemed to have the similiar conditions as those of habitat, propagation and establishment of nest was possible.

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Epidemiologic Survey on Outbreak of Dermatosis Associated with Ants, Pachycondyla chinensis (왕침개미에 의한 피부질환 집단 발생에 관한 역학 조사)

  • Lim, Hyun-Sul;Kim, Byung-Jin;Bae, Geun-Ryang
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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    • v.32 no.3
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    • pp.421-426
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    • 1999
  • Objectives: An outbreak of dermatosis occurred at a city gas manufacturing factory in Pohang in Aug, 1998. The authors conducted a study to find the cause and prevent the dermatosis, Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey of 73 workers in the factory twice, once or Aug. 14th and then Sept. 11th, 1998. Also, a dermatologist examined their skin lesions. We suspected ants as the cause, so we collected them for identification. Results: Twelve cases of dermatosis were identified with an attack rate of 16.4%. The attack rates were not different by age, educational level or tenures. The attack rates were 66.6% among production workers, 2.0% among clerical workers, 16.7% among tank trailer drivers and 0% among guards. The attack rate among production workers was significantly higher than that of the others (<0.01). There were no histories of the same dermatosis for the past one year. Histories of other skin diseases and allergies were very rare in both cases with skin diseases and control. Multiple, pruritic, rice-grained to bean sized erythemafous macules or papules with a central biting point could be found after initial severe itching occurred, Three cases showed signs of dermatosis with an allergic nature. The onset of dermatosis was between July 30 and Aug 12 and the durations varied from 5 days to over a month. The most frequent sites of stir lesions were the chest and abdomen (60.6%), and they were also observed on the neck (33.3%), arms (33.3%), shoulders (16.7%) and back (16.7%). Over 10 ants with their wings were collected in the work place and identified as Pachycondyla chinensis, subfamily Ponerinae. Conclusions : We thought that the outbreak of dermatosis was brought about by the ants flying into the work place through the open windows. Further studies on the factors contributing to the prosperity of the ants in this area are needed.

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Studies on the Distribution of Ants(Formicidea) in Korea(6) -The Vegetation, the Species Composition and the Colony Density ants in Mt. Namsan, Seoul- (한국산 개미의 분포에 관한 연구(6) -서울 남산의 식생과 개미군집의 종조성 및 Colony 밀도-)

  • 최병문;박경숙
    • Korean journal of applied entomology
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    • v.30 no.1
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    • pp.65-79
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    • 1991
  • In order to investigate the species composition and the colony density of ants in Mt. Namsan, Seoul, 39 quadrats were installed in 13 vegetations, 443 colonies of ants were collected from June, 1989 to October, 1990. As the result, 4 subfamilies, 23 genera, 28 species was confirmed. Among them, Cerapachys humicola $O_{GATA}$ is new to Korean fauna along with the subfamily Cerapachinae. For the species composition of ant communities in each vegetation, Robinia pseudoacacia vegetation(containing 3 subfamilies, 14 genera, 15 species-53.6% of all colonies collected in Mt. Namsan) and Quercus mongolica vegetation (3 subfamiles, 12 genera, 14 species -50%) showed relatively rich composition, while Platunus orientalis vegetation (3 subfamilies, 3 genera, 3 species) showed the simplest composition. Colony density was the highest in Prunus sargentii vegetation (7.875 colony /$m^2$) and the lowest in Platunus orientalis (1.000 colony/$m^2$). The relative density of Paratrechina flavipes proved to be the highest (RD = 0.422) and that of Cerapachys humicola $O_{GATA}$ Massor aciculatus was the lowest (RD = O. 002 respectively). In the analysis of the similarity of ant communities between each vegetation by S¢rensen's coefficient, Prunus sargentii was very similar to Sorbus alnifolia (0.745) and Pinus densiflora (0.736), but had the lowest similarity to Metasequoia glyptostoboides and Chamaecyparis pisifera vegetation (0.164 respectively). Dominance of ants in each vegetation analyzed by Simpson'formula was found to be high in Platunus orientalis ($\lambda$ = 0.393) and Sorbus alnifolia ($\lambda$ = 0.392) and the lowest in Metasequoia glyptostroboides vegetation($\lambda$= 0.067). The analysis of diversity by reverse Simpson's coefficient revealed that it was high in Metasequoia glyptostroboides ($d_s$ = 14.925), Pinus rigida ($d_s$ = 7.874) and was the lowest in Platunus orientalis vegetation ($d_s$ = 2.545). Evenness calculated by using d. and $d_{max}$(maximal diversity) was high in Metasequoia glyptostroboides ($E_s$ = 0.714) and Chamaecyparis pisifera vegetation ($E_s$ = 0.624). On the contrary, Quercus mongo/ica vegetation had the lowest value of evenness ($E_s$ = 0.182).

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Influences of Disturbance Intensity on Community Structure, Species Richness and Abundance of Arthropod Predators (Araneae, Carabidae, Staphylinidae, and Formicidae) in Burned-pine Forest (산불지에서 절지동물 포식자(거미목, 딱정벌레과, 반날개과와 개미과)의 군집구조, 종풍부도 및 풍부도에 대한 교란강도의 영향)

  • Lee, Cheol Min;Kwon, Tae-Sung;Park, Young Kyu;Kim, Byung-Woo
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.101 no.3
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    • pp.488-500
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    • 2012
  • The present study was carried out to evaluate arthropod predators (Araneae, Carabidae, Staphylinidae, and Formicidae) as bioindicator for forest disturbance. We selected 12 study sites according to disturbance intensities caused by fire intensity and recovery methods at Goseong, Gangneung, and Samcheok in Gangwondo. Intensities of disturbance were characterized as follows: 0 (no fire), 1 (surface fire), 2 (crown fire), and 3 (crown fire followed by reforestation). Arthropod predators were captured using pitfall trap. Species richness and abundance of Araneae, Carabidae, Staphylinidae, and Formicidae were not different along disturbance intensities. However, species richness and abundance of grassland ants significantly increased in higher disturbance intensities. Abundance of grassland ants such as Formica japonica and Camponotus japonicas linearly decreased along litter depth. Furthermore, ant communities were clustered along disturbance intensities. In a one-time survey, ants may be most useful as bioindicator for forest disturbance among the four predator taxa, because ants actively forage for long seasons.

Cooperative Relaying with Interference Cancellation for Secondary Spectrum Access

  • Dai, Zeyang;Liu, Jian;Long, Keping
    • KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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    • v.6 no.10
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    • pp.2455-2472
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    • 2012
  • Although underlay spectrum sharing has been shown as a promising technique to promote the spectrum utilization in cognitive radio networks (CRNs), it may suffer bad secondary performance due to the strict power constraints imposed at secondary systems and the interference from primary systems. In this paper, we propose a two-phase based cooperative transmission protocol with the interference cancellation (IC) and best-relay selection to improve the secondary performance in underlay models under stringent power constraints while ensuring the primary quality-of-service (QoS). In the proposed protocol, IC is employed at both the secondary relays and the secondary destination, where the IC-based best-relay selection and cooperative relaying schemes are well developed to reduce the interference from primary systems. The closed-form expression of secondary outage probability is derived for the proposed protocol over Rayleigh fading channels. Simulation results show that, with a guaranteed primary outage probability, the proposed protocol can achieve not only lower secondary outage probability but also higher secondary diversity order than the traditional underlay case.

Effect of Parasitoids' Exit and Predators' Ingress Holes on Silk Yield of the African Wild Silkmoth, Gonometa Postica Walker (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae)

  • Fening, Ken Okwae;Kioko, Esther Ndaisi;Raina, Suresh Kumar
    • International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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    • v.19 no.2
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    • pp.265-268
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    • 2009
  • Wild silkmoths can be utilised sustainably in the production of silk as an income for resource-poor rural communities. However, attack by parasitoids and predators affect the quality of cocoons and quantity of raw silk produced. A laboratory experiment was undertaken to quantify the effect of parasitoids' (dipteran and hymenopteran) and predators' (ants) exit and ingress holes, respectively, on silk production. The mean number of shells required to produce fifty grams of raw silk was highest with cocoons parasitised by a dipteran and lowest with unattacked cocoons (but with moths already emerged). Degumming loss was highest in parasitised and lowest in unttacked cocoons, but both were not different from cocoons predated by ants. Shell weight was highest in unattacked cocoons, followed by hymenopteran-parasitised and predated cocoons, with the dipteran parasitized ones being the least. Single cocoon weight was greater in hymenopteran-parasitised and predated cocoons than the dipteran-parasitised and unattacked cocoons. Shell ratio or raw silk, floss and yarn weights were higher in unattacked than parasitised and predated cocoons. The total loss in raw silk attributable to attack by parasitoids and predators ranged between 17.4~31.2%. The results offer baseline information for assessment of economic losses in wild silk farming due to parasitoids and predators in the field.