Advanced networking services for distributed multimedia streaming applications

Increased network speeds coupled with new services delivered via the Internet have increased the demand for intelligence and flexibility in network systems. This paper argues that both can be provided by new hardware platforms comprised of heterogeneous multi-core systems with specialized communication support. We present and evaluate an experimental network service platform that uses an emergent class of devices—network processors—as its communication support, coupled via a dedicated interconnect to a host processor acting as a computational core. A software infrastructure spanning both enables the dynamic creation of application-specific services on the network processor, mediated by middleware and controlled by kernel-level communication support. Experimental evaluations use a Pentium IV-based computational core coupled with an IXP 2400 network processor. The sample application services run on both include an image manipulation application and application-level multicasting.

Asymptotic Fourier Coefficients for a C∞ Bell (Smoothed-“Top-Hat”) & the Fourier Extension Problem

In constructing local Fourier bases and in solving differential equations with nonperiodic solutions through Fourier spectral algorithms, it is necessary to solve the Fourier Extension Problem. This is the task of extending a nonperiodic function, defined on an interval , to a function which is periodic on the larger interval . We derive the asymptotic Fourier coefficients for an infinitely differentiable function which is one on an interval , identically zero for , and varies smoothly in between. Such smoothed “top-hat” functions are “bells” in wavelet theory. Our bell is (for x ≥ 0) where where . By applying steepest descents to approximate the coefficient integrals in the limit of large degree j, we show that when the width L is fixed, the Fourier cosine coefficients a _j of on are proportional to where Λ(j) is an oscillatory factor of degree given in the text. We also show that to minimize error in a Fourier series truncated after the Nth term, the width should be chosen to increase with N as . We derive similar asymptotics for the function f(x)=x as extended by a more sophisticated scheme with overlapping bells; this gives an even faster rate of Fourier convergence     

How causal knowledge simplifies decision-making

Making decisions can be hard, but it can also be facilitated. Simple heuristics are fast and frugal but nevertheless fairly accurate decision rules that people can use to compensate for their limitations in computational capacity, time, and knowledge when they make decisions [Gigerenzer, G., Todd, P. M., & the ABC Research Group (1999). Simple Heuristics That Make Us Smart. New York: Oxford University Press.]. These heuristics are effective to the extent that they can exploit the structure of information in the environment in which they operate. Specifically, they require knowledge about the predictive value of probabilistic cues. However, it is often difficult to keep track of all the available cues in the environment and how they relate to any relevant criterion. This problem becomes even more critical if compound cues are considered. We submit that knowledge about the causal structure of the environment helps decision makers focus on a manageable subset of cues, thus effectively reducing the potential computational complexity inherent in even relatively simple decision-making tasks. We review experimental evidence that tested this hypothesis and report the results of a simulation study. We conclude that causal knowledge can act as a meta-cue for identifying highly valid cues, either individual or compound, and helps in the estimation of their validities.     

一种基于小波变化和空域的综合数字水印技术

提出了一种新的水印方法,这种方法向宿主图像嵌入的信息是一幅数字图像,先将这个水印图像分割为两部分,一部分水印图像被嵌入宿主图像的小波域上;另一部分水印图像直接嵌入宿主图像的空域中。在提取水印的过程中分两个步骤得到水印图像的两个部分,再将这两个部分合并在一起得到有意义的水印图像。对于大部分主要的攻击, 这种方法表现出了良好的性质。该水印方法具有小波域上嵌入水印的鲁棒性的同时增加了嵌入图像的信息容量,是一个很好的向宿主图像中嵌入大量水印的策略。     

一种基于小波过零检测和SVM的虹膜识别方法*

提出了一种新的基于SVM的虹膜识别算法,通过对虹膜纹理采用小波变换来实现特征提取,最后通过SVM完成模式匹配。实验结果表明,该算法识别率高并可有效地应用于虹膜身份鉴别系统中。     

三维图形引擎中骨骼蒙皮动画的一种实现方法*

提出了三维图形引擎中骨骼蒙皮动画的一种实现方法,即将现有的关节动画与单一网格动画相结合,利用骨架的继承变换和顶点混合技术使骨骼蒙皮动画平滑逼真。实验表明该方法有良好的显示效果,并具有较好的实时性,且占用的存储空间不大,能够满足当前三维图形引擎对动画技术的要求。     

一种基于配对相关变换的多描述图像编码方案

多描述图像编码能够使图像数据在多个有损信道中传输,并允许某些信道的数据发生丢失的情况下,仍能重构出可接受的图像质量。对基于配对相关变换的多描述图像编码方法进行了分析,并把它结合到JPEG编码算法中,最后给出了编码的验证结果。     

常规光纤非线性对色散补偿光纤位置的影响

通过数值计算的方法分析了色散、自相位调制和激光器啁啾等因素对１０Ｇｂ／ｓ１００ｋｍＧ．６５２光纤通信系统的综合效应。对１０Ｇｂ／ｓＧ．６５２光纤系统中用色散补偿光纤（Ｄｉｓｐｅｒｓｉｏｎ Ｃｏｍｐｅｎｓａｔｉｏｎ Ｆｉｂｅｒ,即ＤＳＦ）的两种方案进行了比较,然后简单讨论了色散补偿光纤在密集波分复用（ＤＷＤＭ）中的应用,最后给出通过以上分析得出的结论。     

Using Similarity Analyses to Scale Out Research Findings Across Andean Watershed Basins

Abstract

Strategic research in agriculture and natural resources carried out by international research centers is deemed a public good and should, sooner or later, be put into the hands of development, governmental and non-governmental organizations. However, this research is usually done at specific pilot sites; there is a greater need to know how representative those sites are in relation to the diversity of contexts in other locations. Such is the case with the Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF), a global initiative in water research promoted by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), which is developing and implementing strategic research in nine basins located in the tropics of Africa, Asia and South America. Given that resources are not available to collect data from the whole of the region, pilot sites are needed. It is hoped that research outputs obtained in the selected pilot sites can be the basis for scaling out solutions to similar situations in neighbouring or adjacent areas in same or different basins.

In order to contribute to the scaling-out process, different classification methodologies were applied to determine how specific watershed basins are representative of larger areas. The Andean eco-region served as a case study but the methods can easily be applied in other regions. The spatial diversity of biophysical and social conditions across the Andes requires careful site selection. Two methods, a combination of Weight of Evidence (WofE) and Logistic Regression (LR) methods and Fast Cluster analysis, were used to determine the similarity of selected sites with those excluded. A 1-km study resolution covering most of the Andes eco-region included annual rainfall, elevation, length of growing period, land cover, roads and population density as the key variables. Results showed complementarities between the two methods in presenting a probability surface of similarity across the Andes and a clustering of similar sites inside and outside the pilot basins. The output information forms a strong basis for devising plans to scale out research findings from the pilot basins to the whole region.