A novel real-time resource efficient implementation of Sobel operator-based edge detection on FPGA

A new resource efficient FPGA-based hardware architecture for real-time edge detection using Sobel operator for video surveillance applications has been proposed. The choice of Sobel operator is due to its property to counteract the noise sensitivity of the simple gradient operator. FPGA is chosen for this implementation due to its flexibility to provide the possibility to perform algorithmic changes in later stage of the system development and its capability to provide real-time performance, hard to achieve with general purpose processor or digital signal processor, while limiting the extensive design work, time and cost required for application specific integrated circuit. The proposed architecture uses single processing element for both horizontal and vertical gradient computation for Sobel operator and utilised approximately 38% less FPGA resources as compared to standard Sobel edge detection architecture while maintaining real-time frame rates for high definition videos (1920 × 1080 image sizes). The complete system is implemented on Xilinx ML510 (Virtex-5 FX130T) FPGA board.     

An Exploratory Evaluation of Tyrosine Hydroxylase Inhibition in Planaria as a Model for Parkinsonism

Planaria are the simplest organisms with bilateral symmetry and a central nervous system (CNS) with cephalization; therefore, they could be useful as model organisms to investigate mechanistic aspects of parkinsonism and to screen potential therapeutic agents. Taking advantage of the organism’s anti-tropism towards light, we measured a significantly reduced locomotor velocity in planaria after exposure to 3-iodo-l-tyrosine, an inhibitor of tyrosine hydroxylase that is an enzyme catalyzing the first and rate-limiting step in the biosynthesis of catecholamines. A simple semi-automatic assay using videotaped experiments and subsequent evaluation by tracking software was also implemented to increase throughput. The dopaminergic regulation of locomotor velocity was confirmed by bromocriptine, a drug whose mechanisms of action to treat Parkinson’s disease is believed to be through the stimulation of nerves that control movement.     

The world and business computing in 2051

This paper projects the future of information technology within the context of the business and social environment in the mid 21st century. Some time in the next two decades we will enter our fourth industrial era, fueled by evolution in power, genetics, space exploration and information technologies. Unlike other industrial revolutions, this will be attended by widespread consolidations in industries as diverse as utility, retail, pharmaceuticals as well as the government. The trade wing of the UN, the United Nations Trade Organization (UNTO) is established to deal with global issues. The UNTO passes a number of resolutions including # 1/10 which deals with a uniform system of personal identification for all individuals. Due to free trade facilitated by electronic bureaucracies and global transportation grids, GNP growth rates triple. However, the consolidations will lead to the disappearance of clerical, administrative and management employees, leaving only the top management and highly skilled professionals. These changes will result in companies outsourcing all their routine processing to transaction and data centres. Employees will work from well equipped IT centres. The internet is in its third incarnation and is supported by a comprehensive web intelligence to answer all possible questions. Other technological changes include Terahertz computers, Personal identification Devices (PID), AI chips and hierarchical databases with relational interfaces. The cornucopia resulting from progress will lead to a more enlightened society. However, the stress of change will result in an increased degree of philosophical inquiry.     

Development and role of geothermal resources in India

The geothermal resources discovered in India consist of warm/hot water systems. Medium-temperature waters and reversal of temperature at depth were observed in Puga, Manikaran and the West Coast geothermal areas after exploratory drilling. Such resources can be utilized only for non-electrical applications after detailed technical—economic feasibility studies. The presence of medium-temperature (90–140°C) springs in the cold, remote and steep Himalayan terrains and of lower temperature springs (100°C) in the hot and variable climate of the Peninsular and Coastal regions further restrict full utilization of these resources, with the exception of Cambay, West Coast and Tatapani—Jhor areas. After careful study a list of direct utilizations is proposed for future consideration and the development of the main geothermal resources in India.     

Tuning of Multivariable PI Controllers by BLT Method for TITO Systems

The design of decentralized proportional integral (PI) controller based on biggest log modulus tuning (BLT) tuning method is extended to design centralized PI controllers for two-input–two-output (TITO) systems. The multivariable PI control structure proposed by Tanttu and Lieslehto (1991 Tanttu, J. T., and Lieslehto, J. (1991). A comparative study of some multivariable PI controller tuning methods, in: Devanathan, R. (ed.), Intelligent Tuning and Adaptive Control, IFAC, Singapore, pp. 357–362.[Crossref] , [Google Scholar]) is considered. The single detuning parameter (F) is selected in order to get the biggest log modulus as 4 dB. Decentralized PI controllers are also designed using the IMC to get the biggest log modulus as 4 dB. The centralized PI controllers give improved main responses and decreased interactions. This improvement is shown particularly for TITO systems having the relative gain element, λ_ij < 1. The robustness of these controllers is evaluated by the inverse maximum singular value versus frequency plot for both the input and output multiplicative uncertainties. Simulation results are given for two TITO examples. The present controllers give better performances over that of the original Tanttu and Lieslehto (TL) method. The present decentralized PI controllers give improved performances over the decentralized PI controllers proposed by Xiong and Cai (2006 Xiong, Q., and Cai, W.-J. (2006). Effective transfer function method for decentralized control system design of multi-input multi-output processes, J. Process Control, 16(8), 773–784.[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]).     

A New Walsh-Like Near Orthogonal (WNO) Sequence for Asynchronous CDMA System

Present generation mobile communication system employs one of the most popular wireless access technologies called code division multiple access (CDMA). Design of CDMA spreading codes has drawn significant attention amongst the researchers over the last few decades. CDMA code family is generally categorized into purely orthogonal and non-orthogonal (near-orthogonal) members which have established their application in synchronous (downlink) and asynchronous (uplink) CDMA system respectively. Walsh code has been regarded as the most useful spreading code to be used in synchronous link because of its orthogonality property. However, the performance of Walsh code is significantly inferior in asynchronous surroundings. A number of codes have consequently been proposed with an aim to mitigate the shortcomings of Walsh code. This paper makes an innovative attempt to enhance the correlation properties of existing Walsh code through one simple yet powerful algorithm. Proposed code of length ‘N’ has been generated from code sets of length ‘N/4’ and thus makes the code generation algorithm recursive in nature. Performance of the proposed code has subsequently been compared with some existing orthogonal and semi orthogonal codes in terms of various performance metrics and finally the supremacy of our proposition has been established.     

THD Analysis of Non-Constant Gap,Externally Pressurized Conical Bearings

This paper presents a thermohydrodynamic analysis of non-constant gap conical bearings, externally pressurized through the central recess and rotating with a uniform angular velocity. The fluid is assumed to be incompressible and the viscosity of the lubricant is assumed to vary exponentially with temperature. The governing system of coupled momentum and energy equations, in conical coordinates, is solved numerically using the finite difference method to determine various bearing characteristics. Results for convergent, constant and divergent gaps have been presented. It is observed that as the slider is cooled the load capacity and torque of the bearing increase, for both convergent as well as divergent gap. This effect is most accentuated for higher values of film thickness parameter.     

Synthesis of Azide-Functionalized Hydroxyl-Terminated Polybutadiene

This article reports ways to functionalize hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) by azide groups to impart energetic properties to the polymer. Two different synthetic approaches were explored to synthesize azide-functionalized hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (azide-HTPB). The functionalized polymer was analyzed for structural confirmation and determination of important physical and thermal properties. Azide-HTPB obtained by azidation of 10% double bonds of HTPB showed viscosity of 11 Pa.s and a glass transition temperature of ?66°C.     

Hybrid Multi-FPGA Board Evaluation by Permitting Limited Multi-Hop Routing

Multi-FPGA Boards (MFBs) have been in use for more than a decade for implementing systems requiring high performance and for emulation/prototyping of multimillion gate chips. It is important to develop an MFB architecture which can be used for emulation or prototyping of a large number of circuits. A key feature of an MFB is its routing architecture defined by its inter-Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) connections. There are two types of inter-FPGA connections, namely–fixed connections (FCs) connecting a pair of FPGAs through dedicated wires and programmable connections (PCs) which connect a pair of FPGAs through a programmable switch. An architecture which has a mix of both these type of connections is called a hybrid routing architecture. It has been shown in the literature [7] that a hybrid MFB architecture is more efficient for emulation than an architecture with only one type of connections. The cost of an MFB and delay of the emulated circuit on it depends on the number of PCs used for emulation. An objective of a designer of an MFB for circuit emulation is to minimize the required number of PCs. In this paper, we describe algorithms to evaluate the requirement of PCs for many hybrid routing architectures.The requirement of PCs can be reduced if some programmable connections are replaced by a connection using only FCs by routing through FPGAs. Such a routing is called multi-hop routing. We present an optimal and a heuristic algorithm for estimation of PCs when limited number of hops through FPGAs are permitted. The unique feature of our evaluation scheme is that it is generic and treat routing architecture as a parameter. We have used benchmark circuits as well as synthetic cloned circuits for testing our algorithms. Our heuristic algorithm is very fast and gives optimal results most of the time. Our algorithms can be used for actual routing during circuit emulation.