A new method for detecting data matrix under similarity transform for machine vision applications

Data matrices are widely used in the automotive, aerospace and computer manufacturing industries. In industry, they are used to identify objects used in process control. In this paper, we focus on detecting data matrices where a camera is configured to see it in a perpendicular direction that is typical in machine vision applications. In this case, the image projection can be modeled as a similarity transform. Data matrices are attached or marked by laser on the surface of objects, and have L-shaped solid lines which act as references for decoding. Under a similarity transform, distances from the center of a data matrix to each side of the L-shape are equal. This symmetric property is used to detect a data matrix, and experimental results show the feasibility of the proposed algorithm.     

Seismic performance evaluation of Korean column-tree steel moment connections

International Journal of Steel Structures - The purpose of this study was to evaluate the seismic performance of existing Korean column-tree connection type in steel moment frames. The column-tree...     

Reduced Reference Quality Metric for Synthesized Virtual Views in 3DTV

Multi‐view video plus depth (MVD) has been widely used owing to its effectiveness in three‐dimensional data representation. Using MVD, color videos with only a limited number of real viewpoints are compressed and transmitted along with captured or estimated depth videos. Because the synthesized views are generated from decoded real views, their original reference views do not exist at either the transmitter or receiver. Therefore, it is challenging to define an efficient metric to evaluate the quality of synthesized images. We propose a novel metric—the reduced‐reference quality metric. First, the effects of depth distortion on the quality of synthesized images are analyzed. We then employ the high correlation between the local depth distortions and local color characteristics of the decoded depth and color images, respectively, to achieve an efficient depth quality metric for each real view. Finally, the objective quality metric of the synthesized views is obtained by combining all the depth quality metrics obtained from the decoded real views. The experimental results show that the proposed quality metric correlates very well with full reference image and video quality metrics.     

Characterization and Effect of Covalently Grafted Benzoic Acid on the Low Temperature Flexibility and Water Vapor Permeability of a Polyurethane Copolymer

Polyurethane was grafted with benzoic acid (BA series) or a phenyl group (C series) to compare the impact of the grafted groups on water contact angle, tensile strength, shape memory, and low temperature flexibility. Benzoic acid is different from a phenyl group because it has both a rigid phenyl ring and a carboxyl group. The tensile strengths of the BA and C series substantially increased compared to that of the unmodified polyurethane. The BA series with the grafted benzoic acid exhibited excellent low temperature flexibility compared to the C series with the grafted phenyl group.     

Design of Multi‐time Programmable Memory for PMICs

In this paper, a multi‐time programmable (MTP) cell based on a 0.18 μm bipolar‐CMOS‐DMOS backbone process that can be written into by using dual pumping voltages — VPP (boosted voltage) and VNN (negative voltage) — is used to design MTP memories without high voltage devices. The used MTP cell consists of a control gate (CG) capacitor, a TG_SENSE transistor, and a select transistor. To reduce the MTP cell size, the tunnel gate (TG) oxide and sense transistor are merged into a single TG_SENSE transistor; only two p‐wells are used — one for the TG_SENSE and sense transistors and the other for the CG capacitor; moreover, only one deep n‐well is used for the 256‐bit MTP cell array. In addition, a three‐stage voltage level translator, a VNN charge pump, and a VNN precharge circuit are newly proposed to secure the reliability of 5 V devices. Also, a dual memory structure, which is separated into a designer memory area of and a user memory area of , is newly proposed in this paper.     

LiMn2O4/CNTs and LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4/CNTs Nanocomposites as High-Performance Cathode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

The demand of higher energy density and higher power capacity of lithium(Li)-ion secondary batteries has led to the search for electrode materials whose capacities and performance are better than those available today. Carbon nanotubes(CNTs), with their unique properties such as 1D tubular structure, high electrical and thermal conductivities, and extremely large surface area, have been used as materials to prepare cathodes for Li-ion batteries. The structure and morphology of CNTs were analyzed by X-ray diffraction(XRD), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), and transmission electron microscopy(TEM). The functional groups on the purified CNT surface such as –COOH, –OH were characterized by Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy. The electrode materials were fabricated from LiMn2O4(LMO), doped spinel LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4, and purified CNTs via solid-state reaction. The structure and morphology of the electrode were characterized using XRD, SEM, and TEM. Finally, the efficiency of the electrode materials using CNTs was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.     

Cloning and expression of NAD+-dependent L-arabinitol 4-dehydrogenase gene (ladA) of Aspergillus oryzae

A gene of Aspergillus oryzae, ladA, which encodes L-arabinitol 4-dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.12), and its cDNA were cloned in Escherichia coli. The gene consisted of a 1209-bp coding region, interrupted by a 59-bp intron, which encoded a 382-amino-acid polypeptide (40,812 Da). The protein showed 67% identity to a well-studied L-arabinitol 4-dehydrogenase (Lad1) of Hypocrea jecorina. The cell-free extract of E. coli, which expressed ladA cDNA, showed L-arabinitol dehydrogenase activity with NAD+. It was also reactive for ribitol and xylitol.     

Effects of conjugated linoleic acid on color and lipid oxidation of beef patties during cold storage

The effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on color and lipid oxidation of beef patties were investigated. Ground beef was divided into three batches. The control patties were prepared with 90% lean meat and 10% tallow. The second treatment consisted of 90% lean meat with 9.5% tallow+0.5% CLA sources. The third treatment consisted of 90% lean meat with 8% tallow+2% CLA sources. The patties were wrap-packaged and then stored at 4° for 14 days. The CLA concentration significantly increased (P<0.05) by substituting CLA sources for fat. Storage of the patties did not alter the CLA concentration in beef patties. The treatment substituted with CLA sources had significantly lower TBARS (2-thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances) values (P<0.05) than the control. For oxymyoglobin contents and a* value, substituted CLA sources treatments had significantly higher values than the control. However, L* value significantly increased by substituting CLA sources for fat.