Enhanced Image Detection on an ARM based Embedded System

This paper presents a new technique for thedetection of Integrated Circuits within images of Printed Circuit Boards autonomouslyand without the need to be assisted by CAD data. The technique is a key partof a suite of algorithms targeted for an embedded System On Chip architecturebased on the ARM7 platform for real time detection of PCB images for diagnosticpurposes. The technique has a significant reduction in complexity when comparedto conventional approaches such as the Hough Transform. The reduction in complexitymakes the approach ideal for an embedded vision application suchas the one described in this paper. This paper presents the technique, thetarget embedded architecture and results showing the reduction in complexitywhen compared to a Hough Transform.     

Characterization of ultrashort optical pulses with third-harmonic-generation based triple autocorrelation

We present a method to obtain complete information of femtosecond pulses. By measuring triple-optical autocorrelation directly with third-harmonic generation, without spectral information, a temporal pulse shape can be obtained by analytical calculation without direction-of-time ambiguity. Combining the resulting optical pulse shape with its corresponding optical spectrum, the exact phase and color variations in time can all be recovered with a Gerchberg-Saxton algorithm through an iterative calculation with an O(n) complexity.     

Impact of temperature cycle profile on fatigue life of solder joints

In this paper the influence of the temperature cycle time history profile on the fatigue life of ball grid array (BGA) solder joints is studied. Temperature time history in a Pentium processor laptop computer was measured for a three-month period by means of thermocouples placed inside the computer. In addition, Pentium BGA packages were subjected to industry standard temperature cycles and also to in-situ measured temperature cycle profiles. Inelastic strain accumulation in each solder joint during thermal cycling was measured by high sensitivity Moire interferometry technique. Results indicate that fatigue life of the solder joint is not independent of the temperature cycle profile used. Industry standard temperature cycle profile leads to conservative fatigue life observations by underestimating the actual number of cycles to failure.     

Preliminary<Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic">in vivo</Emphasis> characterizations of a sol-gel derived bioactive glass-ceramic system

This study investigates quantitatively and qualitatively the sol-gel derived bioactive glass-ceramic system (BGS)—apatite-wollastonite (AW) type granules in the size range of 0.5–1 mm, as an effective graft material for bone augmentation and restoration. Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) of the sintered granules revealed the rough material surface with micropores in the range 10–30 μm. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of the granules revealed the presence of crystalline phases of the hydroxyapatite and wollastonite, and the functional groups of the silicate and phosphates were identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Thein vitro cell culture studies with L929 mouse fibroblast cell line showed very few cells adhered on the BGS disc after 24 h. This could be due to the highly reactive surface of the disc concomitant with the crystallization but not due to the cytotoxicity of the material, since the cellular viability (MTT assay) with the material was 80‰ Cytotoxicity and cytocompatibility studies proved that the material was non-toxic and biocompatible. After 12 weeks of implantation of the BGS granules in the tibia bone of New Zealand white rabbits, the granules were found to be well osteointegrated, as observed in the radiographs. Angiogram with barium sulphate and Indian ink after 12 weeks showed the presence of microcapillaries in the vicinity of the implant site implicating high vascularity. Gross observation of the implant site did not show any inflammation or necrosis. SEM of the implanted site after 24 weeks revealed good osteointegration of the material with the newly formed bone and host bone. New bone was also observed within the material, which was degrading. Histological evaluation of the bone healing with the BGS granules in the tibial defect at all time intervals was without inflammation or fibrous tissue encapsulation. After 2 weeks the new bone was observed as a trabeculae network around the granules, and by 6 weeks the defect was completely closed with immature woven bone. By 12 weeks mature woven bone was observed, and new immature woven bone was seen within the cracks of the granules. After 24 weeks the defect was completely healed with lamellar bone and the size of the granules decreased. Histomorphometrically the area percentage of new bone formed was 67.77% after 12 weeks and 63.37% after 24 weeks. Less bone formation after 24 weeks was due to an increased implant surface area contributed by the material degradation and active bone remodeling. The osteostimulative and osteoconductive potential of the BGS granules was established by tetracycline labelling of the mineralizing areas by 2 and 6 weeks. This sol-gel derived BGS granules proved to be bioactive and resorbable which in turn encouraged active bone formation.     

Isothermal Gas Forming of Mg Alloy AZ31 Sheet

There have been reports on sheet forming of Mg alloy in industry via the punch and die method;this paper is probably the first formal one for studying the sheet formability of AZ31 employing pressurized gas to press the sheet into a female die cavity at various elevated temperatures.The results indicate it is feasible to form a rectangular box via pressurized gas from extruded sheets of 0.5 and 1.7 mm thick.The formed box has 1:2 depth over width ratio,which should be large enough when dealing with realistic industrial sheet forming parts.Presently,forming a sheet of 0.5 mm thick is considered a technical challenge by industry,and it is conquered as demonstrated in this paper.Gas forming technique applied to Mg alloy is unprecedented and shows potential for industrial utilization.     

Mechanical and microstructure studies on the modification of CA film by blending with PS

DriedMusa paradiciaca (banana) stem and veins of the leaves, which were hitherto discarded as a waste, were collected and used as starting material for the preparation of cellulose and cellulose acetate. This cellulose acetate was mixed with polystyrene to form blend of cellulose acetate-polystyrene in order to provide enhanced stability and extended utility to the end products. The films of these composites or their individual partners were made separately and studied for their mechanical properties, chemical modification and morphological changes. We report here that banana stem is good source of cellulose and that cellulose completely undergoes modification upon esterification.     

Developing competency-based methods for near-real-time air combat problem solving assessment

Air combat scenarios present unique problems where the solution is not obvious. An advanced networked simulation environment can be used to train high-level cognitive air combat skills such as problem solving. A problem in the development of principled and construct oriented assessment is related to determining the level of specificity of the assessment. We present a detailed discussion of the definition of critical competencies associated with combat mission problem solving performance, and we describe our approach to develop and implement an embedded performance assessment system that maps outcomes to these competencies. Finally, we discuss the implications for our approach for comprehensive assessment and discuss our goals for an evaluation of the competency-based approach to assessment.     

Metabolic-heat relation for aerobic yeast respiration and fermentation

A specially developed temperature control system on a laboratory scale fermenter enabled continuous measurement of the rate of heat production during undisturbed growth of microbial cultures. Apart from being correlated with oxygen uptake rate, the heat of fermentation was established as an additional indicator of metabolic activity. The ‘aerobic respiration’ energetic activity of Candida utilis, Candida lipolytica and Saccharomyces cerevisiae on different carbon substrates was investigated with cultures of the latter species being also studied under the ‘aerobic fermentation’ conditions induced by glucose catabolite repression.     

Effects of crystallographic misorientation on power loss in

The effects of the inclination angle β of the [001] axis out of the sheet plane on the thickness dependence of the power losses in