A wavelet-based multiresolution approach to solve the stereo correspondence problem using mutual information.

In this correspondence, we propose a wavelet-based hierarchical approach using mutual information (MI) to solve the correspondence problem in stereo vision. The correspondence problem involves identifying corresponding pixels between images of a given stereo pair. This results in a disparity map, which is required to extract depth information of the relevant scene. Until recently, mostly correlation-based methods have been used to solve the correspondence problem. However, the performance of correlation-based methods degrades significantly when there is a change in illumination between the two images of the stereo pair. Recent studies indicate MI to be a more robust stereo matching metric for images affected by such radiometric distortions. In this short correspondence paper, we compare the performances of MI and correlation-based metrics for different types of illumination changes between stereo images. MI, as a statistical metric, is computationally more expensive. We propose a wavelet-based hierarchical technique to counter the increase in computational cost and show its effectiveness in stereo matching.     

Test Wrapper and Test Access Mechanism Co-Optimization for System-on-Chip

Test access mechanisms (TAMs) and test wrappers are integral parts of a system-on-chip (SOC) test architecture. Prior research has concentrated on only one aspect of the TAM/wrapper design problem at a time, i.e., either optimizing the TAMs for a set of pre-designed wrappers, or optimizing the wrapper for a given TAM width. In this paper, we address a more general problem, that of carrying out TAM design and wrapper optimization in conjunction. We present an efficient algorithm to construct wrappers that reduce the testing time for cores. Our wrapper design algorithm improves on earlier approaches by also reducing the TAM width required to achieve these lower testing times. We present new mathematical models for TAM optimization that use the core testing time values calculated by our wrapper design algorithm. We further present a new enumerative method for TAM optimization that reduces execution time significantly when the number of TAMs being designed is small. Experimental results are presented for an academic SOC as well as an industrial SOC.     

Effect of rare earth additions on the inclusions and properties of a Ca-AI deoxidized steel

The effect of different amounts (0.35, 0.85, and 1.20 kg per tonne) of misch metal addition to three ingots of electric arc melted 20MnCr5 grade case-carburizing steel was examined. A minimum amount of REM is necessary to avoid an increased inclusion population which originates because of poor floatability of RE (Ca, Al, Mn) oxides formed with smaller additions. The cleanliness improves with increasing REM addition and formation of RE Sulfides and oxysulfides. The mechanical properties studied reflect the inclusion characteristics of the ingots. The hot ductility, room-temperature tensile and impact properties, and fatigue resistance of the steel respond in different manners to changes in inclusion parameters such as size, shape, distribution, and composition. Formerly Research Scholar, Metallurgical Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur Formerly Senior Metallurgist, R & C Laboratory, Alloy Steel Plant, Durgapur Formerly Assistant Professor, Materials Science Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur     

Synthesis and characterization of γ-Fe2O3 — a magnetic tape material

Acicular FeC₂O₄ · 2H₂O was precipitated from glycerol and starch media. Thermal decomposition of this oxalate in dry and moist nitrogen yielded primarily FeO and Fe₃O₄ respectively. Characterization was attempted through DTA, TG, x-ray diffraction, TEM and magnetization studies. It was found that the oxalate can be completely decomposed to Fe₃O₄ in moist nitrogen (P_{H 2}O ∼ 35 torr) at 775 K and then oxidised by dry air to acicular γ-Fe₂O₃ at 575 K. The resulting material has saturation magnetization (∼ 70 emu/g), coercive field (∼ 300 Oe) and squareness ratio (∼ 0·60–0·65), which values art comparable with those of the commercial samples.     

Allergens of Kentucky Blue Grass pollen. II. Isolation of hapten-like components from Kentucky Blue Grass pollen by preparative isoelectrofocussing

Components with hapten-like properties were isolated from the nondialyzable fraction, i.e. the retentate (R) and the dialyzable fractions of the aqueous extract of Kentucky Blue Grass pollen (KBC aq.ext.), by preparative isoelectrofocussing on Sephadex G-100 gel. These haptenic components could not elicit the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reactions in rats passively sensitized with a murine reaginic antiserum to R, but could inhibit completely and specifically the PCA reaction which is normally elicitable with R. It was concluded that the specificity of the murine IgE antibodies was directed to a determinant(s) which was common to either allergenic or haptenic fractions. Moreover, by employing a pool of human sera from individuals allergic to KBG pollen in the radioallergosorbent test procedure, it was apparent that most of the haptenic fractions lacked some of the specificities present on allergenic components of R that were recognized by the human IgE antibodies. Evidence was obtained to suggest that the electrophoretic heterogeneity of allergenic components present in various fractions of KBG aq.ext. may be due primarily to differences in their net charge, rather than to differences in their allergenic specificity.     

A new model for the prediction of instability and limit strains in thin sheet metal

It is proposed that the increase in surface roughness which occurs with increasing strain reduces the effective thickness of a plastically stretched sheet metal so that a tensile instability condition occurs at surface strains smaller than those predicted by the classical analysis. It is thought that the empirical relationship for growth of surface roughness is introduced in a realistic manner although it is recognized that there is a need for more precise information of the effect of the surface grains on the load carrying capacity of the sheet metal.Limit strains are predicted on the assumption that an incipient neck at the instability condition develops into a groove. The growth of surface roughness is taken into account throughout the deformation and note is taken of the fact that the surface roughness effect is superimposed on the developing groove.     

Studies in Interesterification II: Nutritional Quality of Directed Interesterified Cottonseed Oil

The plastic fat prepared from cottonseed oil by directed interesterification reaction was not only nutritionally equivalent to conventional hydrogenated edible fat ?Vanaspati”? but somewhat better in as much as it lowered the cholesterol level in serum.     

A philosophical study of human–artefact interaction

This paper focuses on a critical intersection between philosophy of technology and cognitive archaeology with an objective in view. These two rapidly developing disciplines intersect on the problem of characterizing the dynamic relationship between human beings and technical artefacts. The intricacies of human–artefact relation have been a source of curiosity and contemplation for philosophers of technology since 1970s. In contrast, the cognitive archaeologists’ interest in interpreting the exact nature of the interaction between human cognitive system and material culture is relatively recent. The central objective of this paper is to show why the cognitive archaeologists’ account of the relation between human cognition and material culture as exemplified by the classical-phenomenological example of the blind person’s use of a stick needs to be critically reviewed in the light of philosophical-(post)-phenomenological research and new empirical findings on tool use and prosthesis. There are three sections in this paper. In the first section, certain distinctive features of cognitive archaeology, which are important for the following discussion, are mentioned in brief. The second section consists of an exposition of Don Ihde’s account of embodiment relations—typical examples of which include the blind person’s use of a stick—with particular emphasis on the aspect of what Ihde calls “quasi-transparency”. Possible reasons behind the cognitive archaeologists’ indifference to the said aspect are pointed out. In the third section, the difficulties involved in analysing the case of the blind person’s stick are discussed in the light of recent empirical research on bodily extension (by means of artefacts) and prosthesis (incorporation of artefacts into the body). The paper ends with some critical comments on the cognitive archaeologists’ interpretation of the relation between the blind person and his stick and explains why their interpretation requires revision in view of current findings on tool use and prosthesis.     

Static hazard elimination for a logical circuit using quantum dot cellular automata

Microsystem Technologies - Quantum dot cellular automata (QCA) is an upcoming nano-technology for its high speed and low power operation in the field of nano-science and nano-electronics. As QCA...     

Absolute non-violation of a three-setting steering inequality by two-qubit states

Steerability is a characteristic non-local trait of quantum states lying in between entanglement and Bell non-locality. A given quantum state is considered to be steerable if it violates a suitably chosen steering inequality. A quantum state which otherwise satisfies a certain inequality can violate the inequality under a global change of basis, i.e., if the state is transformed by a non-local unitary operation. Intriguingly, there are states which preserve their non-violation (pertaining to the said inequality) under any global unitary operation. The present work explores the effect of global unitary operations on the steering ability of a quantum state which lives in two qubits. We characterize such states in terms of a necessary and sufficient condition on their spectrum. Such states are also characterized in terms of some analytic characteristics of the set to which they belong. Looking back at steerability the present work also provides a relation between steerability and quantum teleportation together with the derivation of a result related to the optimal violation of steering inequality. An analytic estimation of the size of such non-violating states in terms of purity is also obtained. Interestingly, the estimation in terms of purity also gives a necessary and sufficient condition in terms of Bloch parameters of the state. Illustrations from some signature class of quantum states further underscore our observations.