A semi-formal description of migrating domain-specific models with evolving domains

One of the main advantages of defining a domain-specific modeling language (DSML) is the flexibility to adjust the language definition to changing requirements or in response to a deeper understanding of the domain. With the industrial applications of domain-specific modeling environments, models are valuable investments. If the modeling language evolves, these models must be seamlessly migrated to the evolved DSML. Although the changes stemming from the language evolution are not abrupt in nature, migrating existing models to a new language is still a challenging task. Our solution is the Model Change Language (MCL) tool set, which defines a DSML to describe the migration rules and then performs the model migration automatically. In this paper, we describe the precise semantics of MCL and its execution, along with the confluence of the migration.     

Algorithms for Fuzzy Segmentation

Fuzzy segmentation is an effective way of segmenting out objects in pictures containing both random noise and shading. This is illustrated both on mathematically created pictures and on some obtained from medical imaging. A theory of fuzzy segmentation is presented. To perform fuzzy segmentation, a ‘connectedness map’ needs to be produced. It is demonstrated that greedy algorithms for creating such a connectedness map are faster than the previously used dynamic programming technique. Once the connectedness map is created, segmentation is completed by a simple thresholding of the connectedness map. This approach is efficacious in instances where simple thresholding of the original picture fails. Received: 22 October 1998?Received in revised form: 22 November 1998?Accepted: 2 December 1998     

Medical image reconstruction,processing, visualization,and analysis: the MIPG perspective. Medical Image Processing Group

In this paper, we identify and describe the key ideas, concepts and software related to Medical Imaging that emerged from our research group, which is commonly known by the acronym MIPG, denoting Medical Image Processing Group. For the purpose of our presentation, we consider the entire discipline of Medical Imaging to consist of the areas of acquisition, postprocessing, evaluation, and application. We are indeed fortunate to be able to discuss seminal research from our group in each of these areas. In Section II, we identify relevant moments of inception and describe our past contributions. Our achievements, current activities, and future directions are summarized in Section III, Section IV, and Section V, respectively; the keys to our success are listed in Section V     

Cognitive-Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy as a Maintenance Treatment for Chronic Depression.

Although the efficacy of maintenance pharmacotherapy for the prevention of recurrence in major depressive disorder (MDD) is well documented, few studies have tested the efficacy of psychotherapy as a maintenance treatment. The authors examined the efficacy of the cognitive-behavioral analysis system of psychotherapy (CBASP) as a maintenance treatment for chronic forms of MDD. Eighty-two patients who had responded to acute and continuation phase CBASP were randomized to monthly CBASP or assessment only for 1 year. Significantly fewer patients in the CBASP than assessment only condition experienced a recurrence. The 2 conditions also differed significantly on change in depressive symptoms over time. These findings support the use of CBASP as a maintenance treatment for chronic forms of MDD. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Switched-capacitor track-and-hold amplifier with low sensitivity to op-amp imperfections

This paper describes a high-precision switched-capacitor (SC) track-and-hold amplifier (THA) stage. It uses a novel continuous-time correlated double sampling (CDS) scheme to desensitize the operation to amplifier imperfections. Unlike earlier predictive-CDS THAs, the circuit does not need a sample-and-held input signal for its operation. During the tracking period, an auxiliary continuous-time signal path is established, which predicts the output voltage during the holding period. This allows accurate operation even for low amplifier gains and large offsets over a wide input frequency range. Extensive simulations were performed to compare the performance of the proposed THA with earlier circuits utilizing CDS. The results verify that its operation is far more robust than that of any previously described THA.     

A 100-dB gain-corrected delta-sigma audio DAC with headphone driver

An oversampled digital-to-analog converter (DAC) with a 100-dB A-weighted dynamic range is presented. It uses a switched-capacitor (SC) array to transfer the sampled charges directly into the headphone driver. The overall DAC gain is precisely controlled by a novel reference stage. A new dynamic element matching algorithm, based on split-set data-weighted averaging (SDWA), is used to improve the dynamic range and to reduce the nonlinearity caused by mismatches in the multibit DAC.     

Electrophysiological and chemical analysis of sex pheromone communication system of the mottled umber,Erannis defoliaria (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

(Z,Z,Z)-3,6,9-nonadecatriene (Z3,Z6,Z9–19Hy) and (Z,Z)-3,9-cis-6,7-epoxy-nonadecadiene (Z3,Z9-cis-6,7-epo-19Hy) were identified in pheromone gland extracts from femaleErannis defoliaria. The two components were found in a 13 ratio, with the main component,Z3,Z9-cis-6,7-epo-19Hy present at an amount of about 1.5 ng per female. The components were identified by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, gas chromatography-electroantennography and gas chromatography-single sensillum recordings. Single sensillum measurements on the male antenna showed two physiological types of sensilla. One type was characterized by a large spike amplitude cell responding toZ3,Z9-cis-6,7-epoxy-19Hy and a small spike amplitude cell responding toZ3,Z6,Z9–19Hy. A second type responded only with a large spike amplitude cell to the epoxide, and this cell was inhibited by the triene. Of the two pheromone components, the epoxide gave the higher response in the EAG tests. Preliminary field tests support the identification of the pheromone components. The epoxide was also found to be present in the extract of the pheromone gland ofColotois pennaria, and males ofC. pennaria andAgriopis marginaria were trapped by the mixture of the identified compounds.     

A 14-bit dual-path 2-0 MASH ADC with dual digital error correction

A dual-path 2-0 cascaded delta-sigma (MASH) ADC was implemented with fast digital correction of both DAC errors and MASH mismatch errors. The digital correction techniques greatly reduced the requirements on the analog circuits. The dual-path structure allows fast convergence and improved accuracy for the correction. Using a 20 MHz clock, the prototype chip achieved an 84 dB dynamic range in a 1.25 MHz signal band, when fabricated in CMOS 0.18 μm process.