An efficient method for impulse noise reduction from images using fuzzy cellular automata

Impulse noise reduction from corrupted images plays an important role in image processing. This problem will also affect on image segmentation, object detection, edge detection, compression, etc. Generally, median filters or nonlinear filters have been used for noise reduction but these methods will destroy the natural texture and important information in the image like the edges. In this paper, to eliminate impulse noises from noisy images, we used a hybrid method based on cellular automata (CA) and fuzzy logic called Fuzzy Cellular Automata (FCA) in two steps. In the first step, based on statistical information, noisy pixels are detected by CA; then using this information, the noisy pixel will change by FCA. Regularly, CA is used for systems with simple components where the behavior of each component will be defined and updated based on its neighbors. The proposed hybrid method is characterized as simple, robust and parallel which keeps the important details of the image effectively. The proposed approach has been performed on well-known gray scale test images and compared with other conventional and famous algorithms, is more effective.     

Near- and Far-Field Characterization of Planar mm-Wave Antenna Arrays with Waveguide-to-Microstrip Transition

We present the design and characterization of planar mm-wave patch antenna arrays with waveguide-to-microstrip transition using both near- and far-field methods. The arrays were designed for metrological assessment of error sources in antenna measurement. One antenna was designed for the automotive radar frequency range at 77 GHz, while another was designed for the frequency of 94 GHz, which is used, e.g., for imaging radar applications. In addition to the antennas, a simple transition from rectangular waveguide WR-10 to planar microstrip line on Rogers 3003? substrate has been designed based on probe coupling. For determination of the far-field radiation pattern of the antennas, we compare results from two different measurement methods to simulations. Both a far-field antenna measurement system and a planar near-field scanner with near-to-far-field transformation were used to determine the antenna diagrams. The fabricated antennas achieve a good matching and a good agreement between measured and simulated antenna diagrams. The results also show that the far-field scanner achieves more accurate measurement results with regard to simulations than the near-field scanner. The far-field antenna scanning system is built for metrological assessment and antenna calibration. The antennas are the first which were designed to be tested with the measurement system.     

Error propagation analysis using FPGA-based SEU-fault injection

Error propagation analysis is one of the main objectives of fault injection experiments. This analysis helps designers to detect design mistakes and to provide effective mechanisms for fault tolerant systems. However, error propagation analysis requires that the chosen fault injection technique provides a high degree of observability (i.e., the ability to observe the internal values and events of a circuit after a fault is injected). Simulation-based fault injection provides a high observability adequate for error propagation analysis. However, the performance of the simulation-based technique is inadequate to handle today’s hardware complexity. As an alternative, FPGA-based fault injection can be used to accelerate the fault injection experiments, but the communication time needed for observing the circuit behavior from outside of the FPGA imposes severe limitations on the observability. In this paper, an observation technique for FPGA-based fault injection is proposed which significantly reduces the communication time as compared with previous scan-based observation techniques. Furthermore, this paper describes a SEU-fault injection technique based on a chain of parallel registers which reduces the time needed for injecting SEU faults as compared to the previous scan-based fault-injection techniques. As a case study, a 32-bit pipelined processor has been used in the fault injection experiments. The experimental results show that when a high degree of observability is required (e.g., error propagation analysis), the proposed fault injection technique is over 1166 times faster than simulation-based fault injection, whereas the traditional scan-based technique can achieve only a speedup of about 2–3 – which means that the proposed technique is about 500 times faster than the traditional scan-based technique. Such results are supported by theoretical performance analysis. This speed increase has been achieved without excessive increase in FPGA resource overhead, for example, the FPGA overhead of the proposed technique is only 2  3% higher than that of the traditional scan-based technique.     

Composite Living Fibers for Creating Tissue Constructs Using Textile Techniques

The fabrication of cell‐laden structures with anisotropic mechanical properties while having a precise control over the distribution of different cell types within the constructs is important for many tissue engineering applications. Automated textile technologies for making fabrics allow simultaneous control over the color pattern and directional mechanical properties. The use of textile techniques in tissue engineering, however, demands the presence of cell‐laden fibers that can withstand the mechanical stresses during the assembly process. Here, the concept of composite living fibers (CLFs) in which a core of load bearing synthetic polymer is coated by a hydrogel layer containing cells or microparticles is introduced. The core thread is drawn sequentially through reservoirs containing a cell‐laden prepolymer and a crosslinking reagent. The thickness of the hydrogel layer increases linearly with to the drawing speed and the prepolymer viscosity. CLFs are fabricated and assembled using regular textile processes including weaving, knitting, braiding, winding, and embroidering, to form cell‐laden structures. Cellular viability and metabolic activity are preserved during CLF fabrication and assembly, demonstrating the feasibility of using these processes for engineering functional 3D tissue constructs.     

Improving Voice‐Service Support in Cognitive Radio Networks

Voice service is very demanding in cognitive radio networks (CRNs). The available spectrum in a CRN for CR users varies owing to the presence of licensed users. On the other hand, voice packets are delay sensitive and can tolerate a limited amount of delay. This makes the support of voice traffic in a CRN a complicated task that can be achieved by devising necessary considerations regarding the various network functionalities. In this paper, the support of secondary voice users in a CRN is investigated. First, a novel packet scheduling scheme that can provide the required quality of service (QoS) to voice users is proposed. The proposed scheme utilizes the maximum packet transmission rate for secondary voice users by assigning each secondary user the channel with the best level of quality. Furthermore, an analytical framework developed for a performance analysis of the system, is described in which the effect of erroneous spectrum sensing on the performance of secondary voice users is also taken into account. The QoS parameters of secondary voice users, which were obtained analytically, are also detailed. The analytical results were verified through the simulation, and will provide helpful insight in supporting voice services in a CRN.     

Facile method for the preparation of the WS2 nanoparticles

A facile and simple synthetic route was proposed for the synthesis of WS2 nanoparticles. The as-prepared WS2 nanoparticles can be characterized with X-ray diffraction spectrum (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The average particle size of the product is about 85 nm that was calculated from XRD pattern by the Debye-Scherrer formula.     

Could-based vehicular networks: a taxonomy,survey, and conceptual hybrid architecture

Wireless Networks - In recent times, vehicular network research has attracted the attention of both researchers and the industry partly due to its potential applications in efficient traffic...     

Application of a modified VIKOR method for decision-making problems in lean tool selection

Group decision making with multiple criteria is the most popular method for ranking a set of alternatives. In this regard, all alternatives are compared based on a common criteria set. Meanwhile, decision makers sometimes encounter special situations, for example, having to select from among a set of alternatives without a set of criteria or with a set of criteria that are grouped/related to various alternatives. Thus, it may be impossible to select from among a set of alternatives using typical methods. Hence, in this study, a new, modified VIKOR method is proposed to address the lean tool selection problems in manufacturing systems. In this study, a model was developed to help practitioners improve their ability to solve problems when the possible solutions have their own individual criteria. In fact the modified VIKOR method can be applied to rank alternatives in threefold: alternatives with common criteria, without common criteria, with integrated common, and uncommon criteria. This paper offers numerical examples of the model, using a case study to illustrate an application of the proposed model and properly assess the validity of this new method. The results demonstrate the usefulness and effectiveness of the modified new method. The model covers the lack existing in the current literature to assess effectiveness of applying lean tools.     

Dual-Function Semaphorin 4D Released by Platelets: Suppression of Osteoblastogenesis and Promotion of Osteoclastogenesis

Effects of the antiosteoblastogenesis factor Semaphorin 4D (Sema4D), expressed by thrombin-activated platelets (TPs), on osteoblastogenesis, as well as osteoclastogenesis, were investigated in vitro. Intact platelets released both Sema4D and IGF-1. However, in response to stimulation with thrombin, platelets upregulated the release of Sema4D, but not IGF-1. Anti-Sema4D-neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb) upregulated TP-mediated osteoblastogenesis in MC3T3-E1 osteoblast precursors. MC3T3-E1 cells exposed to TPs induced phosphorylation of Akt and ERK further upregulated by the addition of anti-sema4D-mAb, suggesting the suppressive effects of TP-expressing Sema4D on osteoblastogenesis. On the other hand, TPs promoted RANKL-mediated osteoclastogenesis in the primary culture of bone-marrow-derived mononuclear cells (BMMCs). Among the known three receptors of Sema4D, including Plexin B1, Plexin B2 and CD72, little Plexin B2 was detected, and no Plexin B1 was detected, but a high level of CD72 mRNA was detected in RANKL-stimulated BMMCs by qPCR. Both anti-Sema4D-mAb and anti-CD72-mAb suppressed RANKL-induced osteoclast formation and bone resorptive activity, suggesting that Sema4D released by TPs promotes osteoclastogenesis via ligation to a CD72 receptor. This study demonstrated that Sema4D released by TPs suppresses osteogenic activity and promotes osteoclastogenesis, suggesting the novel property of platelets in bone-remodeling processes.