Four stage median-average filter for healing high density salt and pepper noise corrupted images

Multimedia Tools and Applications - This paper introduces a novel four stage filter algorithm to ameliorate images corrupted by very high density salt-and-pepper noise. The proposed algorithm...     

MioStream: a peer-to-peer distributed live media streaming on the edge

Multimedia Tools and Applications - The typical centralized cloud model is poorly suited to latency-sensitive applications requiring low-latency and high-throughput. This paper proposes an...     

Investigation of scale effects and directionality dependence on friction and adhesion of human hair using AFM and macroscale friction test apparatus

Macroscale testing of human hair tribological properties has been widely used to aid in the development of better shampoos and conditioners. Recently, literature has focused on using the atomic force microscope (AFM) to study surface roughness, coefficient of friction, adhesive force, and wear (tribological properties) on the nanoscale in order to increase understanding about how shampoos and conditioners interact with the hair cuticle. Since there are both similarities and differences when comparing the tribological trends at both scales, it is thus recognized that scale effects are an important aspect of studying the tribology of hair. However, no microscale tribological data for hair exists in literature. This is unfortunate because many interactions between hair-skin, hair-comb, and hair-hair contact takes place at microasperities ranging from a few mum to hundreds of mum. Thus, to bridge the gap between the macro- and nanoscale data, as well as to gain a full understanding of the mechanisms behind the trends, it is now worthwhile to look at hair tribology on the microscale. Presented in this paper are coefficient of friction and adhesive force data on various scales for virgin and chemically damaged hair, both with and without conditioner treatment. Macroscale coefficient of friction was determined using a traditional friction test apparatus. Microscale and nanoscale tribological characterization was performed with AFM tips of various radii. The nano-, micro-, and macroscale trends are compared and the mechanisms behind the scale effects are discussed. Since the coefficient of friction changes drastically (on any scale) depending on whether the direction of motion is along or against the cuticle scales, the directionality dependence and responsible mechanisms are discussed.     

Insects locomotion,piercing, sucking and stinging mechanisms

Microsystem Technologies - This paper provides an overview of lessons from mosquitoes’ locomotion and their painless piercing and from wasp stinging. Based on the understanding, conceptual...     

Synthesis and characterization of novel ion-exchange resin based on polyimide containing 8-hydroxyquinoline as a pendent groups

Novel ion-exchange resin (PBMDDMCMHQ polyimide) having 8-hydroxyuinoline as a pendent groups was prepared using phenylenebismaleimide-diamine polyimide (PBMDDM) and 5-chloromethyl-8-hydroxyquinoline hydrochloride (CMHQ). Phenylenebismaleimide-diamine polyimide (PBMDDM) was prepared by Michael addition reaction of 1,3-phenylenebismaleimide (PBM) and 4,4’-diaminodiphenyl methane (DDM). The resulting ion-exchange resin was characterized by spectral techniques. Polymeric metal chelates of ion-exchange resin were also prepared using transition metal ions Zn(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II) and Mn(II), and were duly characterized. Ion-exchange properties of ion-exchange resin (PBMDDMCMHQ) for Fe(III), Zn(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) metal ions were also studied by batch-equilibration method. The produced ion-exchange resin (PBMDDMCMHQ) has thermal stability up to 220°C and can be used over a wide pH range. It has good metal up take capacity at varying pH range and can be recycled.     

Silane grafting and moisture crosslinking of polypropylene

Different approaches for free‐radical initiated grafting of functional monomers to polypropylene (PP) have been investigated with a view to enabling crosslinking of the polymer upon subsequent exposure to moisture, resulting in gel contents as high as 50–60 wt%. The first approach involved grafting a co‐agent such as triallyl trimellitate (TATM) to the polymer using peroxide initiator to add carbon–carbon double bond functionality to the polymer, followed by peroxide‐initiated grafting of mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS) to the PP‐TATM adduct. The second approach was the more traditional peroxide‐mediated grafting of vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS) to polypropylene, and was most effective at increasing melt state dynamic storage modulus. In the third approach, peroxide‐mediated grafting of VTMS was followed by peroxide‐initiated grafting of MPTMS. This process took advantage of the unsaturation created via chain scission in the first step to provide graft sites for the MPTMS in the second step. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers     

A Survey of Computation Offloading for Mobile Systems

Mobile systems have limited resources, such as battery life, network bandwidth, storage capacity, and processor performance. These restrictions may be alleviated by computation offloading: sending heavy computation to resourceful servers and receiving the results from these servers. Many issues related to offloading have been investigated in the past decade. This survey paper provides an overview of the background, techniques, systems, and research areas for offloading computation. We also describe directions for future research.     

Material Study for Advanced Stern-Tube Lip Seals

The objective of this program was to screen and evaluate materials for stern-tube lip seals and liners. A number of potentially applicable elastomers and liner materials were selected and subjected to soak and friction (wear) tests. The results indicate that the currently employed butadiene acrylonitrile copolymer and vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene are exceeded in performance only by a perfluoroelastomer. All materials yielded the best results when run against chrome oxide-coated liners. Based upon these results, it is recommended that further studies be continued with solid-lubricant-filled elastomers since more changes in the chemical composition of the elastomer are not sufficient to produce dramatic improvements.