Low cost high throughput pipelined architecture of 2-D 8 × 8 integer transforms for H.264/AVC

In this article, we present the implementation of high throughput two-dimensional (2-D) 8?×?8 forward and inverse integer DCT transform for H.264. Using matrix decomposition and matrix operation, such as the Kronecker product and direct sum, the forward and inverse integer transform can be represented using simple addition operations. The dual clocked pipelined structure of the proposed implementation uses non-floating point adders and does not require any transpose memory. Hardware synthesis shows that the maximum operating frequency of the proposed pipelined architecture is 1.31?GHz, which achieves 21.05 Gpixels/s throughput rate with the hardware cost of 42932 gates. High throughput and low hardware makes the proposed design useful for real time H.264/AVC high definition processing.     

Entorhinal cortex lesions disrupt the transition between the use of intra- and extramaze cues for navigation in the water maze.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 117(5) of Behavioral Neuroscience (see record 2007-16848-001). The definitions "Present = intramaze landmark present during Stage 2" and "Absent = intramaze landmark absent during Stage 2" appear incorrectly in the caption to Figure 3. These terms and definitions should appear in the caption to Figure 4.] This study with rats examined the effects of excitotoxic lesions to the entorhinal cortex (EC) and hippocampus (HPC) on using extramaze and intramaze cues to navigate to a hidden platform in a water maze. HPC lesions resulted in a disruption to the use of extramaze cues, but not intramaze cues, whereas EC lesions had no effect on the use of these cues when they were encountered for the fast time. However, prior navigation training in which 1 type of cue was relevant disrupted navigation with the other type in rats with EC lesions. Results show that the EC contributes to the processing of spatial information, but that this contribution is most apparent when there is a conflict between 2 sources of navigational cues in the water maze. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Complex permittivity and conductivity of poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-phenylenediazomethine) and its blends at microwave frequencies

Poly(p-phenylenediazomethine) was synthesized by the condensation reaction between glyoxal and p-phenylene diamine in different solvents like methanol, toluene, m-cresol and N,N-dimethylformamide. The dielectric properties and microwave conductivity of the pelletized samples were measured using cavity perturbation technique. The measurements were done at 2.17 GHz at room temperature (25°C). The effect of dopants on the dielectric properties and conductivity was studied using HCl and HClO₄. Dielectric properties like dielectric constant, dielectric loss factor and microwave conductivity increased on doping with HCl and HClO₄. Conducting polymer composites were prepared by in situ polymerization of glyoxal and p-phenylenediamine in different solvents containing different amounts of PVC, and silica. The microwave conductivity and complex permittivity of each sample was measured. The effect of dopants like HClO₄ and HCl on these dielectric properties was also studied. The d.c. conductivity of the pressed samples measured by the two-probe method was also studied.     

Imitative Learning of Stimulus-Response and Response-Outcome Associations in Pigeons.

A novel automated procedure was used to study imitative learning in pigeons. In Experiments 1 and 2, observer pigeons witnessed a demonstrator pigeon successfully performing an instrumental discrimination in which different discriminative stimuli indicated which of 2 topographically distinct responses (R1 and R2) resulted in the delivery of seed. The observers were then presented with the discriminative stimuli and given access to the response panel. Observer pigeons' behavior during the discriminative stimuli was influenced by how the demonstrator had responded during these stimuli. In Experiment 3, observers witnessed demonstrator pigeons performing R1 for Outcome 1 and R2 for Outcome 2. Observers then received a procedure designed to devalue Outcome 1 relative to Outcome 2 and were subsequently less likely to perform R1 than R2. These results suggest that pigeons can learn both stimulus response and response-outcome associations by observation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On the columnar to equiaxed transition in small ingots

The columnar to equiaxed transition (CET) in small ingots of, aluminum alloys was found to occur more easily for alloys with a larger value of the constitutional supercooling parameter (−mC _o (1-k)/k). The CET was found to be completely suppressed by increases in the mold temperature by preheating before casting. These results are discussed in terms of the model proposed by Burden and Hunt that the CET occurs by the effect of the thermal gradient, arising from the slow, solidification of equiaxed dendrites, which increases the undercooling of the columnar dendrites. The application of the model due to Burden and Hunt is shown to require, the use of the ‘big bang’ model for equiaxed nucleation on pouring. A higher density of the nuclei, that grow into equiaxed grains, formed by pouring with lower superheat and into a cold mold, gives a higher thermal gradient immediately in front of the growing columnar grains. Other evidence in favor of the model is briefly discussed.     

Effect of drying conditions on microwave conductivity of polyaniline

Polyaniline was synthesized by using ammonium persulfate initiator in the presence of 1M HCl. It was dried under different drying conditions like room temperature drying (for 48 h), oven drying (at 50–60°C for 8 h under a vacuum), and vacuum drying (at room temperature for 16 h). The conductivities of these samples were measured at microwave frequencies. These samples were also pelletized and the measurements were repeated. The cavity perturbation technique was used for the study. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 2008–2012, 2002     

Conducting polyaniline composites as microwave absorbers

Conducting polymers are excellent microwave absorbers and they show technological advantage when compared with inorganic electromagnetic absorbing materials, being light weight, easily processable, and the ability of changing the electromagnetic properties with nature and amount of dopants, synthesis conditions, etc. In this paper we report the synthesis, dielectric properties, and expected application of conducting composites based on polyaniline (PAN). Cyclohexanone soluble conducting PAN composites of microwave conductivity 12.5 S/m was synthesized by the in situ polymerization of aniline in the presence of emulsion grade polyvinyl chloride. The dielectric properties of the composites, especially the dielectric loss, conductivity, dielectric heating coefficient, absorption coefficient, and penetration depth, were studied using a HP8510 vector network analyzer. The microwave absorption of the composites were studied at different frequency bands i.e, S, C, and X bands (2–12 GHz). The absorption coefficient was found to be higher than 200 m⁻¹ and it can be used for making microwave absorbers in space applications. POLYM. COMPOS., 28:588–592, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Plasticizing Aqueous Suspensions of Concentrated Alumina with Maltodextrin Sugar

Aqueous suspensions of submicrometer, 20 vol% Al₂O₃ powder exhibited a transition from strongly flocculated, thixotropic behavior to a low-viscosity, Newtonian-like state upon adding small amounts of maltodextrin (0.03 g of maltodextrin/(g of Al₂O₃)). These suspensions could be filter pressed to highly dense (57%) and extrudable pastes only when prepared with maltodextrin. We analyzed the interaction of maltodextrin with Al₂O₃ powder surfaces and quantitatively measured the resulting claylike consolidation, rheological, and extrusion behaviors. Benbow extrusion parameters were comparable to, but higher than, those of kaolin at approximately the same packing density of 57 vol%. In contrast, Al₂O₃ filter cakes without maltodextrin at 57 vol% density were too stiff to be extruded. Measurements of rheological properties, acoustophoresis, electrophoresis, sorption isotherms, and diffuse reflectance Fourier infrared spectroscopy supported the hypothesis that sorbate-mediated steric hindrance, rather than electrostatic, interparticle repulsion, is important to enhancing the consolidation and fluidity of maltodextrin–Al₂O₃ suspensions. Viscosity measurements on aqueous maltodextrin solutions indicated that free maltodextrin in solution does not improve suspension fluidity by decreasing the viscosity of the interparticle solution.     

Antibacterial Polyelectrolytic chitosan derivatives conjugated natural rubber latex films with minimized bacterial adhesion

Water soluble polyelectrolytic derivatives of chitosan (CDs) with carboxyl (COO⁻) and quaternary ammonium (NH₄⁺) groups were synthesized and characterized by NMR, FT-IR, TGA and zeta potential analyses; while degree of substitution was determined by potentiometric titrations. Both CDs in the as-synthesized form exhibited antibacterial zones against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The CD conjugated vulcanized natural rubber latex (NRL) films were investigated for understanding the level of bacterial adhesion and bactericidal properties as a function of the polyelectrolytic groups present. NRL Films modified at ambient conditions were found effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). The biofilm assay results demonstrate that CD conjugated samples exhibit significantly reduced adhesion (63.8%) against P. aeruginosa. Further, alterations observed in cellular morphology of attached bacteria indicate that the modified surface of films is bacteriocidal while presence of significantly higher level of extra cellular polymer substances (EPS) were detected on control NRL films.     

Progressive Transfer Learning Approach for Identifying the Leaf Type by Optimizing Network Parameters

Neural Processing Letters - There are many plant species with medicinal properties and hence, it becomes very crucial to recognize its relevance. With a range of plant species available for...