Scale-Covariant and Scale-Invariant Gaussian Derivative Networks

Journal of Mathematical Imaging and Vision - This paper presents a hybrid approach between scale-space theory and deep learning, where a deep learning architecture is constructed by coupling...     

Vertical Thermopiles Embedded in a Polyimide-Based Flexible Printed Circuit Board

A fabrication process for vertical thermopiles embedded in a 75-mum-thick polyimide foil has been developed for flexible printed circuit boards (flex PCBs). The vertical connections consist of electrodeposited antimony-and nickel-plated through-hole vias. The plated through-hole vias consist of multiple wires, with a total metal content that is 1% of the total via volume. The via fabrication technique is similar to standard flex PCB wet etch and metallization processes. The main difference is that the foils are pretreated with ion irradiation to induce highly selective vertical etch rates. The thermopiles were characterized by measuring their voltage response to an applied temperature difference across the foil thickness.     

Embryo cryopreservation and transfer in Mustelidae: Approaches to ex situ conservation of the endangered European mink

Successful cryopreservation of Mustelidae embryos was proved by development of frozen–thawed farmed European polecat (model species) embryos both in vitro and in vivo. Intra- and interspecies embryo transfer was performed between the endangered European mink (Mustela lutreola) and related Mustelidae species: European polecats (Mustela putorius) and domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo). Intraspecies embryo transfer was successful if more than two embryos were transferred. However, straightforward interspecies embryo transfers between different Mustelidae species have not resulted in term kits. Nonetheless, this paper demonstrates the possibility to overcome interspecies pregnancy failure by using European polecat/European mink hybrid females (called honoriks or nohoriks) as recipients for European mink embryos. Integrated package of reproductive technologies, i.e. production of polecat/mink hybrids, cryopreservation and subsequent transfer of European mink embryos into uterine horns of hybrid females is recommended as an option for ex situ conservation of the European mink.     

Solid phase synthesis and some hormonal activities of 1-deamino-4-L-valine-8-D-homolysine-and 1-deamino-4-L-valine-8-D-homoarginine-vasopressin

1-Deamino-4-L-valine-8-DL-homolysine-vasopressin and protected 1-deamino-4-l-valine-8-D-lysine-vasopressin were synthesized by the solid phase method and were then converted into the title compounds (dVDHLVP and dVDHAVP) by tryptic digestion and epsilon-guanidination, respectively. The new hormone analogues exhibit only moderate antidiuretic potency, dVDHLVP 21 units/mg and dVDHAVP 31 units/mg, but since they are essentially devoid of pressor activity (o.o1 units/mg/ the A/P ratios are very high. In fact, dVDHLVP is the most specific antidiuretic agent in the lysine series known so far.     

A Direct Digital Synthesizer with Tunable Delta Sigma Modulator

In direct digital synthesizer (DDS) applications, the drawback of the conventional delta sigma () modulator structure is that its signal band is fixed. In the new architecture presented in this paper, the signal band of the modulator is tuned according to the DDS output frequency. We use a hardware efficient phase-to-sine amplitude converter in the DDS that approximates the first quadrant of the sine function with sixteen equal length second degree polynomial segments. The DDS is capable of frequency, phase, and quadrature amplitude modulation. Two DDSs with tunable 1-bit D/A converters (real and complex) were designed and implemented on a programmable logic device (PLD); experimental results show their desired operation and performance.     

Generalized Gaussian Scale-Space Axiomatics Comprising Linear Scale-Space,Affine Scale-Space and Spatio-Temporal Scale-Space

This paper describes a generalized axiomatic scale-space theory that makes it possible to derive the notions of linear scale-space, affine Gaussian scale-space and linear spatio-temporal scale-space using a similar set of assumptions (scale-space axioms).     

Design, synthesis, and biological activities of four angiotensin II receptor ligands with gamma-turn mimetics replacing amino acid residues 3-5

Disulfide cyclization is a powerful method for reducing the conformational space of a peptide. This in turn may enable the study of its bioactive conformation. Several analogues of angiotensin II (Ang II) containing a disulfide bridge between amino acids 3 and 5 have been reported. Among these the cyclic octapeptides c[Hcy3,5]-Ang II, c[Cys3,5]-Ang II, and c[Pen 3,5]-Ang II showed significant activity at Ang II receptors. We have performed conformational analysis studies using theoretical calculations and 1H-NMR spectroscopy on tripeptide model compounds of these cyclic octapeptides which show that the cyclic moieties of c[Cys3,5]-Ang II and c[Pen3,5]-Ang II preferentially assume an inverse gamma-turn conformation. On the basis of these results, we substituted amino acid residues 3-5 in Ang II with two different gamma-turn mimetics giving four diastereomeric Ang II analogues. Interestingly, two of these are equipotent to Ang II in binding to AT1 receptors. In the contractile test using rabbit aorta rings, one of the analogues is an agonist with full contractile activity approximately equipotent to c[Pen3,5]-Ang II but 300-fold less potent than Ang II. This low potency may suggest that Ang II does not adopt a gamma-turn in the 3-5 region when interacting with the receptor.     

Automatic extraction of roads from aerial images based on scale space and snakes

Abstract. We propose a new approach for automatic road extraction from aerial imagery with a model and a strategy mainly based on the multi-scale detection of roads in combination with geometry-constrained edge extraction using snakes. A main advantage of our approach is, that it allows for the first time a bridging of shadows and partially occluded areas using the heavily disturbed evidence in the image. Additionally, it has only few parameters to be adjusted. The road network is constructed after extracting crossings with varying shape and topology. We show the feasibility of the approach not only by presenting reasonable results but also by evaluating them quantitatively based on ground truth. Received: 22 July 1999 / Accepted: 20 March 2000