Improved Update Step for Scalable Video Coding in Video Surveillance

Many evolving video services and applications for intelligent security systems require reliable transmission of high quality video to diverse clients over heterogeneous networks using available system resources. Scalable video coding (SVC) is one of the emerging video compression technologies with such potential capabilities. Advances in lifting-based motion-compensated temporal filtering (MCTF) have enabled highly efficient and flexible spatial, temporal, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and complexity scalability to be realized over a wide range of bit rates. In this paper, we present an algorithm to improve the update step of MCTF, which serves as an important informative step for the coding performance of SVC. A novel update-step algorithm, which takes advantage of the chrominance information of the video sequence and the correlation of the motion vectors (MVs) of the neighboring blocks as well as the correlation of the derived update MVs in the low-pass frames, is proposed to improve update step of MCTF by (1) computing correct update motion information, (2) generating correct amount of energy contained in the high-pass frames. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can significantly improve the quality of the reconstructed video sequence in visual quality.

A novel phase noise reduction technique in oscillators usingdefected ground structure

A new technique to reduce the phase noise in microwave oscillators is developed using the resonant characteristic of the defected ground structure (DGS). Two kinds of oscillators have been designed and measured for the examination of the reduction of phase noise by the DGS. The first adopts the DGS section under the microstrip line at the gate circuit, while the second has only the conventional microstrip line. Measurement shows reduced phase noise by 10-15 dB in the oscillator with the DGS compared to the conventional one     

Haploinsufficiency of a Circadian Clock Gene Bmal1 (Arntl or Mop3) Causes Brain-Wide mTOR Hyperactivation and Autism-like Behavioral Phenotypes in Mice

Approximately 50–80% of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) exhibit sleep problems, but the contribution of circadian clock dysfunction to the development of ASDs remains largely unknown. The essential clock gene Bmal1 (Arntl or Mop3) has been associated with human sociability, and its missense mutation is found in ASD. Our recent study found that Bmal1-null mice exhibit a variety of autism-like phenotypes. Here, we further investigated whether an incomplete loss of Bmal1 function could cause significant autism-like behavioral changes in mice. Our results demonstrated that heterozygous Bmal1 deletion (Bmal1^+/−) reduced the Bmal1 protein levels by ~50–75%. Reduced Bmal1 expression led to decreased levels of clock proteins, including Per1, Per2, Cry 1, and Clock but increased mTOR activities in the brain. Accordingly, Bmal1^+/− mice exhibited aberrant ultrasonic vocalizations during maternal separation, deficits in sociability and social novelty, excessive repetitive behaviors, impairments in motor coordination, as well as increased anxiety-like behavior. The novel object recognition memory remained intact. Together, these results demonstrate that haploinsufficiency of Bmal1 can cause autism-like behavioral changes in mice, akin to those identified in Bmal1-null mice. This study provides further experimental evidence supporting a potential role for disrupted clock gene expression in the development of ASD.     

THE UPGRADING OF SOLVENT REFINED COALS AND LIGNITES: DETERMINATION OF AN EFFECTIVE HETEROGENOUS CATALYST CARRIER

The hydrodenitrogenation, hydrodesulfurization and hydrocracking of solvent refined coals and lignites was accomplished with catalysts comprising high surface area, large pore diameter bases impregnated with MoO₃,CoOand WO₃. The most effective catalysts were those which performed well in hydrodenitrogenating nitrocellulose. This indicates that most of the pore diameter is consistently large enough to accommodate molecules of the size of liquified coal and lignite.     

Control of NO x emissions from diesel engine by selective catalytic reduction (SCR) with urea

Topics in Catalysis - Among the catalysts screened, Cu-ion exchanged ZSM5 zeolite exhibited the highest NO removal activity, particularly at low reaction temperatures below 200 °C,...     

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis and experimental study for toxic hazardous waste destruction in the cavity incinerator

We undertook numerical and experimental studies to develop a better incineration method for the destruction of CC1₄. A phenomenological model for the turbulent reaction of CC1₄, including a flame inhibition feature, has been successfully incorporated into a commercial code, simulating the incineration processes of this compound. The gaseous flow solution was obtained using SIMPLEST, a derivative of Patankar’s SIMPLE algorithm, with a k-ε turbulence model. A modified fast chemistry turbulent reaction model was developed to describe the flame inhibition due to the presence of CC1₄, considering the corresponding burning velocity data of these mixtures. An experiment was carried out on a 5.2 kW laboratory scale, transportable, cavity-type incinerator, which warrants a sufficient residence time and effective turbulent mixing by the formation of a strong recirculation region in a combustor. To this end, the specific configuration of the incinerator was manufactured to consist of two opposing jets and a rearward facing step. The calculated data were in close agreement with the experimental data for the concentrations of major species, such as CCI₄ and HCl, together with the temperature profiles. The experimental test gave the desired DRE of above 99.99%.     

Inhibition effect of carbon dioxide on the oxidation of hydrogen over a platinum foil catalyst

This paper investigates the catalytic ignition of the H₂/O₂/CO₂ mixture on platinum in a stagnation flow at atmospheric pressure experimentally and numerically. We measure the ignition temperatures of the gas mixtures flowing towards resistively heated platinum with various composition ratios and various diluent gases of N₂, Ar and CO₂. Compared with N₂ or Ar, the CO₂ dilution shows higher ignition temperature by about 50 K, even at the same composition ratio. The ignition temperature increase is proportional to the dilution ratio. Through the numerical simulation, it is illustrated that higher ignition temperature is caused by the adsorption of CO₂ and following dissociation on platinum surface, which was to date considered negligible in catalytic combustion.     

Durable antimicrobial treatment of cotton fabrics using N‐(2‐hydroxy)propyl‐3‐trimethylammonium chitosan chloride and polycarboxylic acids

N‐(2‐hydroxy)propyl‐3‐trimethylammonium chitosan chloride (HTCC), a water‐soluble chitosan quaternary ammonium derivative, was used as an antimicrobial agent for cotton fabrics. HTCC has a lower minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli compared to that of chitosan; however, the imparted antimicrobial activity is lost on laundering. Thus crosslinking agents were utilized to obtain a durable antimicrobial treatment by immobilizing HTCC. Several crosslinkers such as dimethyloldihydroxyethylene urea (DMDHEU), butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA), and citric acid (CA) were used with HTCC to improve the laundering durability of HTCC treatment by covalent bond formation between the crosslinker, HTCC and cellulose. The polycarboxylic acid treatment was superior to the DMDHEU treatment in terms of prolonged antimicrobial activity of the treated cotton after successive laundering. Also, the cotton treated with HTCC and BTCA showed improved durable press properties without excessive deterioration in mechanical strength or whiteness when compared to the citric acid treatment. With the addition of only 0.1% HTCC to BTCA solutions, the treated fabrics showed durable antimicrobial activity up to 20 laundering cycles. The wrinkle recovery angle and strength retention of the treated fabrics were not adversely affected with the addition of HTCC. Therefore, BTCA can be used with HTCC in one bath to impart durability of antimicrobial activity along with durable press properties to cotton fabric. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 1567–1572, 2003     

Birefringence in injection‐compression molding of amorphous polymers: Simulation and experiment

The influence of the processing variables on the residual birefringence was analyzed for polystyrene and polycarbonate disks obtained by injection‐compression molding under various processing conditions. The processing variables studied were melt and mold temperatures, compression stroke, and switchover time. The modeling of flow‐induced residual stresses and birefringence of amorphous polymers in injection‐compression molded center‐gated disks was carried out using a numerical scheme based on a hybrid finite element/finite difference/control volume method. A nonlinear viscoelastic constitutive equation and stress‐optical rule were used to model frozen‐in flow stresses in moldings. The filling, compression, packing, and cooling stages were considered. Thermally‐induced residual birefringence was calculated using the linear viscoelastic and photoviscoelastic constitutive equations combined with the first‐order rate equation for volume relaxation and the master curves for the Young's relaxation modulus and strain‐optical coefficient functions. The residual birefringence in injection‐compression moldings was measured. The effects of various processing conditions on the measured and simulated birefringence distribution Δn and average transverse birefringence <n_rr?n_θθ> were elucidated. Comparison of the birefringence in disks manufactured by the injection molding and injection‐compression molding was made. The predicted and measured birefringence is found to be in fair agreement. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Low Thermal Inertia Molding (LTIM)

Injection molding is one of the most commonly used methods of processing polymers. The process allows rapid, automated production of a wide variety of complicated, three-dimensional parts in large production volumes. The process is capable of producing compound curvatures, snaps, hinges, bosses, threaded holes, gear teeth, and many other features. With proper design, these complex parts can be produced in a single molding operation.