Complex phase tracing method for fringe pattern analysis

We present what we believe to be a novel complex phase tracing method for fringe pattern analysis related to the phase-locked loop idea. The image with deformed complex fringes is analyzed with lexicographic scansion that leads directly to the investigated phase without unwrapping. Robustness of the procedure is ensured by the delay mechanism in the process of calculating the reference value. A numerical model and examples of application of the presented method are given.     

Ionic‐Liquid Gating of InAs Nanowire‐Based Field‐Effect Transistors

Here, the operation of a field‐effect transistor based on a single InAs nanowire gated by an ionic liquid is reported. Liquid gating yields very efficient carrier modulation with a transconductance value 30 times larger than standard back gating with the SiO₂/Si₊₊ substrate. Thanks to this wide modulation, the controlled evolution from semiconductor to metallic‐like behavior in the nanowire is shown. This work provides the first systematic study of ionic‐liquid gating in electronic devices based on individual III–V semiconductor nanowires: this architecture opens the way to a wide range of fundamental and applied studies from the phase transitions to bioelectronics.     

Fast and accurate fuzzy C‐means algorithm for MR brain image segmentation

Fuzzy theory based intelligent techniques are widely preferred for medical applications because of high accuracy. Among the fuzzy based techniques, Fuzzy C‐Means (FCM) algorithm is popular than the other approaches due to the availability of expert knowledge. But, one of the hidden facts is that the computational complexity of the FCM algorithm is significantly high. Since medical applications need to be time effective, suitable modifications must be made in this algorithm for practical feasibility. In this study, necessary changes are included in the FCM approach to make the approach time effective without compromising the segmentation efficiency. An additional data reduction approach is performed in the conventional FCM to minimize the computational complexity and the convergence rate. A comparative analysis with the conventional FCM algorithm and the proposed Fast and Accurate FCM (FAFCM) is also given to show the superior nature of the proposed approach. These techniques are analyzed in terms of segmentation efficiency and convergence rate. Experimental results show promising results for the proposed approach. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 26, 188–195, 2016     

The ObReco-360°: a new ecological tool to memory assessment using 360° immersive technology

Virtual Reality - One important feature of a neuropsychological test is its ecological validity, which defines how much patients’ test scores are linked to real-life functioning. However,...     

Automatic reconstruction of 3D human arm motion from a monocular image sequence

A model-based approach to reconstruction of 3D human arm motion from a monocular image sequence taken under orthographic projection is presented. The reconstruction is divided into two stages. First, a 2D shape model is used to track the arm silhouettes and second-order curves are used to model the arm based on an iteratively reweighted least square method. As a result, 2D stick figures are extracted. In the second stage, the stick figures are backprojected into the scene. 3D postures are reconstructed using the constraints of a 3D kinematic model of the human arm. The motion of the arm is then derived as a transition between the arm postures. Applications of these results are foreseen in the analysis of human motion patterns. Received: 26 January 1996 / Accepted: 17 July 1997     

Digital Steiner sets and Matheron semi-groups

There are various ways to define digital convexity in Zⁿ$Z^n$. The proposed approach focuses on structuring elements (and not the sets under study), whose digital versions should allow to construct hierarchies of operators satisfying Matheron semi-groups law _γλγμ=_γmax(λ,_μ)${\gamma }_{\lambda }{\gamma }_{\mu }={\gamma }_{\max (\lambda \text{,}\mu )}$, where λ$\lambda$ is a size factor. In Rⁿ$R^n$ the convenient class is the Steiner one. Its elements are Minkowski sums of segments. We prove that it admits a digital equivalent when the segments of Zⁿ$Z^n$ are Bezout. The conditions under which the Steiner sets are convex in Zⁿ$Z^n$, and are connected, are established. The approach is then extended to structuring elements that vary according to the law of perspective, and also to anamorphoses, so that the digital Steiner class and its properties can extend to digital spaces as a sphere or a torus.     

Identification of freshwater fish commercially labelled “perch” by isoelectric focusing and two-dimensional electrophoresis

Isoelectric focusing (IEF) and two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) were used to distinguish four freshwater fish species which are sold under the generic label of “perch”: Perca fluviatilis (European perch), Lates niloticus (Nile perch), Stizostedion lucioperca (European pikeperch) and Morone chrysops x saxatilis (sunshine bass). These species have different commercial values but are easily “interchangeable” because they are sold already filleted, in view of the numerous bones of the whole fish. IEF of the water-soluble proteins extracted from fish muscle resolved in species-specific patterns. Intra-species polymorphism was low, and did not concern the bands identified as characteristic of the species. As well, 2-DE maps showed numerous species-specific protein spots. Interestingly, while none of the IEF bands was common to all four species, several major 2-DE spots were similar. Therefore, IEF of water soluble sarcoplasmic proteins is sufficient to unambiguously discriminate among the four species considered. Analysis by 2-DE, which has a higher resolution power but it is more expensive and time consuming, may be applied to obtain further knowledge of the proteome of poorly characterized species.     

Heat Transfer Through the Interface and Flow Regimes in Liquid Bridge Subjected to Co-Axial Gas Flow

We present results of an extensive numerical study on the thermocapillary (Marangoni) convection and a heat transfer through the interface in a liquid bridge of Pr?=?68. The geometry of the physical problem is a cylindrical and non-deformable liquid bridge concentrically surrounded by an annular gas channel under conditions of zero gravity. The gas flow is co- or counter-directed with respect to the Marangoni flow. The forced gas flow along the interface provides two actions: via shear stresses and heat exchange. Usually the cooling of the interface enhances the flow while the heating slows down. This general trend may not hold when shear and thermocapillary stresses are comparable. The results show that when gas enters from the cold side the heat transfer through the interface is considerably larger than that when gas enters from the hot side.     

Understanding users and their needs

Gaze-control enables people to control a computer by using eye-gaze to select items on screen. Gaze-control is a necessity for people who have lost all motor control of their body and only have control over eye movements. In addition, gaze-control can be the quickest and least tiring option for a far broader group of people with varying disabilities. This paper reports findings from gaze-control user trials involving users from both groups: people who are totally paralyzed, as well as people with a wide range of complex disabilities. The trials conducted involved four different centres supporting people with disabilities in three different European countries. Several gaze-control systems were trialled by a large number of users with varying needs and abilities. The perceived benefits of gaze-control are described, and recommendations for successful assessment and implementation of gaze-control are provided.     

First liquid single crystal elastomer containing lactic acid derivative as chiral co-monomer: Synthesis and properties

For the first time new type of liquid single crystal elastomers forming the chiral smectic A^* (SmA^*) phase has been prepared using chiral lactic acid derivative as a co-monomer. The synthesis and the basic characterization of the ferroelectric liquid crystalline co-monomer based on differential scanning calorimetry and small/wide-angle X-ray scattering are reported and discussed. The monomer possesses the paraelectric SmA^* and the ferroelectric SmC^* phases over a broad temperature range. The preparation of new smectic liquid crystalline elastomers together with characterization of their mesomorphic and structural properties is also reported. New elastomers possess the orthogonal paraelectric SmA^* phase over 50 K broad temperature range.