Resolution-effective diameters for asymmetric-knife-edge pinhole collimators

The effects of penetration are included in the formulas for the prediction of the resolution of pinhole collimators through the use of effective diameters. Expressions of the resolution-effective diameter for pinholes with a double-knife-edge (DKE) profile are available in the literature. In this paper the expressions applicable to asymmetric-knife-edge (AKE) profiles, which include the important case of the single-knife-edge (SKE), are presented. Results indicate that the simplest methods that are still accurate in the calculation of DKE effective diameters do not produce in general formulas with similar accuracy for AKE profiles, due to increased susceptibility to penetration. Especially at high energy (365 keV), for the SKE case more advanced formulas are necessary and were, therefore, derived.     

Manganese oxide thin-films for current-signal sensing and thermal insulation

Manganese oxide thin-films for current-signal sensing and thermal insulation were synthesized by high-vacuum evaporation and thermal oxidation processes at low-temperature conditions. Structure-formation of the films with orthorhombic-partial structure of MnO₂/Mn₂O₃ was investigated by X-ray diffraction. Raman studies have demonstrated that thermal properties can be influenced by the symmetry of the Mn–O bonds and it associated with the dynamic Jahn–Teller distortion. Dynamic behavior of samples as a function of the frequency response to verify their performance as signal sensors was evaluated by resistive–inductive circuit (RL circuit). To demonstrate the thermal capability of samples from current–voltage (I–V) characteristics, a Schottky emission model was used.     

A fast and reliable technique for muscle activity detection from surface EMG signals

The estimation of on-off timing of human skeletal muscles during movement is an important issue in surface electromyography (EMG) signal processing with relevant clinical applications. In this paper, a novel approach to address this issue is proposed. The method is based on the identification of single motor unit action potentials from the surface EMG signal with the use of the continuous wavelet transform. A manifestation variable is computed as the maximum of the outputs of a bank of matched filters at different scales. A threshold is applied to the manifestation variable to detect EMG activity. A model, based on the physical structure of the muscle, is used to test the proposed technique on synthetic signals with known features. The resultant bias of the onset estimate is lower than 40 ms and the standard deviation lower than 30 ms in case of additive colored Gaussian noise with signal-to-noise ratio as low as 2 dB. Comparison with previously developed methods was performed, and representative applications to experimental signals are presented. The method is designed for a complete real-time implementation and, thus, may be applied in clinical routine activity.     

Influence of scattering and two-photon absorption on the optical loss in GaAs-Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ nonlinear waveguides measured using femtosecond pulses

The influence of scattering and two-photon absorption on the optical loss in GaAs-Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ semiconductor nonlinear waveguides has been studied using femtosecond pulses. By deploying a scattering technique, loss coefficients were evaluated over an extended wavelength range of 1.3-2.1 /spl mu/m in the near-infrared. A systematic study involving intensity and wavelength dependence of the loss revealed the presence of two-photon absorption for wavelengths below 1.6 /spl mu/m. A simple nonlinear transmission study enabled the separation of the two-photon absorption coefficient from scattering and linear absorption. The calculated two-photon absorption coefficients were /spl sim/9-20 cm/GW.     

Impact of Fiber Non-linearity in High Capacity WDM Systems and in Cross-Connected Backbone Networks

The rapidly increasing data traffic volumes will demand for very high transmission capacity and network nodes throughput. Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technology will be asked to support many channels on the same fiber, both in point-to-point links and in WDM optical networks. The transmission of a high number of wavelength channels in all these systems is a key issue. This paper analyzes this topic, in both high capacity links and optical networks, highlighting the impact of fiber non-linearity, and addressing the main source of impairments. This is done through the use of a semi-analytical model recently upgraded to account for all the contributions deriving from Kerr effects, particularly four-wave mixing and cross-phase modulation. The analysis reveals that more than one hundred of channels at 2.5 Gbit/s can be transmitted in point-to-point links whose length can span until the order of 1000 km, and 32 channels per fiber, at the previous bit rate, can be handled in WDM networks, without dispersion compensation. For a higher number of channels (e.g., 64) dispersion compensation is needed.     

Low-noise tape preamplifier with new self-biasing architecture

A low-noise ground-compatible preamplifier for audio signal processing is presented. It amplifies the audio signal coming from a magnetic head producing a total input-referred voltage noise less than 300-nV r.m.s. CCIR/ARM weighted in operative conditions thanks to a low-noise bipolar amplifier, while auto-reverse, metal/normal, and mute facilities are available on chip using low-noise offset-free analog CMOS switches. Total harmonic distortion was less than 0.004% in full dynamic range. This performance was obtained using a nonconventional self-biasing ground-compatible preamplifier architecture, particularly intended for single supply applications, that does not require any external components and auxiliary voltage reference. The preamplifier occupies 1.5 mm/sup 2/ and dissipates 38 mW with a 10-V power supply. A measured power supply rejection of about 120 dB at 1 kHz was obtained using internal regulated voltage supply.<>     

Automatic generation of noise-free time-activity curve with gated blood-pool emission tomography using deformation of a reference curve

This paper describes a new method for assessing clinical parameters from a noisy regional time-activity curve (TAC) in tomographic gated blood-pool ventriculography. This method is based on a priori knowledge on the shape of a TAC, and shape approximation. The rejection method was used to generate different random Poisson deviates, covering standard count levels, of six representative TACs in order to test and compare the proposed method with harmonic and multiharmonic reconstruction methods. These methods were compared by evaluating four clinical parameters: time of end systole, amplitude, peak ejection and filling rates. Overall, the accuracy of assessment of these parameters was found to be better with the method described in this paper than with standard multiharmonic fits.     

Joint scheduling and routing with power control for centralized wireless sensor networks

We consider a TDMA-based multi-hop wireless sensor network, where nodes send data to a sink, which is aware of received powers at all receivers; the sink is responsible for creating the network topology and assigning time slots to links. Under this centralized approach, we propose two algorithms that jointly define the tree topology connecting nodes to the sink, and assign time slots, avoiding any packet loss. In contrast with previous works, the proposed algorithms accurately account for interference effects; when evaluating the signal-to-interference ratio to establish the tree and schedule transmissions, we consider the sum of all actual interfering signals, a fact of relevance for networks with increasing number of nodes. Optimal selection of transmit powers, minimizing energy consumption, is also applied. Our algorithms are compared to a benchmark solution and other proposals from the literature; it is shown that they bring to better radio resource utilization, higher throughput and lower energy consumption, while keeping the average delay limited.

     

Savoir faire et faire savoir: what I learned about innovation while I thought I was doing a Ph.D.

This short text is a reflection of lessons learned about innovation during my studies at the signal processing laboratory of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, while I thought I was studying video segmentation based on multiple features for interactive multimedia applications.     

A scanning electron microscopy study of diseased root surfaces conditioned with EDTA gel plus Cetavlon after scaling and root planing

In the present investigation, a scanning electron microscopy analysis was performed to evaluate the effects of the topical application of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) gel associated with Cetavlon (EDTAC) in removing the smear layer and exposing collagen fibers following root surface instrumentation. Twenty-eight teeth from adult humans, single rooted and scheduled for extraction due to periodontal reasons, were selected. Each tooth was submitted to manual (scaling and root planing) instrumentation alone or combined with ultrasonic instruments, with or without etching using a 24% EDTAC gel. Following extraction, specimens were processed and examined under a scanning electron microscope. A comparative morphological semi-quantitative analysis was performed; the intensity of the smear layer and the decalcification of cementum and dentinal surfaces were graded in 12 sets using an arbitrary scale ranging from 1 (area covered by a smear layer) to 4 (no smear layer). Root debridement with hand instruments alone or combined with ultrasonic instruments resulted in a similar smear layer covering the root surfaces. The smear layer was successfully removed from the surfaces treated with EDTAC, which exhibited numerous exposed dentinal tubules and collagen fibers. This study supports the hypothesis that manual instrumentation alone or instrumentation combined with ultrasonic instrumentation is unable to remove the smear layer, whereas the subsequent topical application of EDTAC gel effectively removes the smear layer, uncovers dentinal openings and exposes collagen fibers.