SAPPHIRE: A toolkit for building efficient stream programs for medical video analysis

This paper describes the design and implementation of SAPPHIRE – a novel middleware and software development kit for stream programing on a heterogeneous system of multi-core multi-CPUs with optional hardware accelerators such as graphics processing unit (GPU). A stream program consists of a set of tasks where the same tasks are repeated over multiple iterations of data (e.g., video frames). Examples of such programs are video analysis applications for computer-aided diagnosis and computer-assisted surgeries. Our design goal is to reduce the implementation efforts and ease collaborative software development of stream programs while supporting efficient execution of the programs on the target hardware. To validate the toolkit, we implemented EM-Automated-RT software with the toolkit and reported our experience. EM-Automated-RT performs real-time video analysis for quality of a colonoscopy procedure and provides visual feedback to assist the endoscopist to achieve optimal inspection of the colon during the procedure. The software has been deployed in a hospital setting to conduct a clinical trial.     

Efficient and flexible algorithms for monitoring distance-based outliers over data streams

Anomaly detection is considered an important data mining task, aiming at the discovery of elements (known as outliers) that show significant diversion from the expected case. More specifically, given a set of objects the problem is to return the suspicious objects that deviate significantly from the typical behavior. As in the case of clustering, the application of different criteria leads to different definitions for an outlier. In this work, we focus on distance-based outliers: an object x is an outlier if there are less than k objects lying at distance at most R from x. The problem offers significant challenges when a stream-based environment is considered, where data arrive continuously and outliers must be detected on-the-fly. There are a few research works studying the problem of continuous outlier detection. However, none of these proposals meets the requirements of modern stream-based applications for the following reasons: (i) they demand a significant storage overhead, (ii) their efficiency is limited and (iii) they lack flexibility in the sense that they assume a single configuration of the k and R parameters. In this work, we propose new algorithms for continuous outlier monitoring in data streams, based on sliding windows. Our techniques are able to reduce the required storage overhead, are more efficient than previously proposed techniques and offer significant flexibility with regard to the input parameters. Experiments performed on real-life and synthetic data sets verify our theoretical study.     

Cold model experiment on dynamic behavior of dross in hot dip plating bath

The motions of top and bottom dross in a continuous hot dip plating bath were investigated using a transparent cold model vessel with a reduced scale of one-tenth. The flow field in the model bath was classified into three regions as usual; the entry region, the exit region, and the region enclosed with a belt. This belt was used as a model for a strip. Polystyrene particles were used as models both for the top and bottom dross while NaCl aqueous solutions of different densities were used as models for plating melts. The motions of model particles were observed by eye inspection and by using a high-speed video camera. Local particle frequency and particle holdup were measured with a newly developed sensor. Typical streak lines for the top and bottom dross particles were similar to main stream lines in the bath. Both the top and bottom dross particles were rich in the region enclosed with the belt. A lot of top dross particles floated on the bath surface near the side walls, while many bottom dross particles stayed on the bottom wall in the entry region.     

A review of the potential water quality impacts of tidal renewable energy systems

The continued increase in the demand for energy, growing recognition of climate change impacts, high oil and gas prices and the rapid depletion of fossil fuel reserves have led to an increased interest in the mass generation of electricity from renewable sources. Traditionally, this has been pursed through riverine hydropower plants, with onshore wind systems growing steadily in popularity and importance over the years. Other renewable energy resources, which were previously not economically attractive or technically feasible for large scale exploitation, are now being considered to form a significant part of the energy mix. Amongst these, marine and in particular, tidal energy resource has become a serious candidate for undergoing mass exploitation in the near future, particularly in places with a tidal range of 4 m or more. Tidal renewable energy systems are designed to extract the kinetic or potential energy flow and convert it into electricity. This can be achieved by placing tidal stream turbines in the path of high speed tidal currents or through tidal range schemes, where low head turbines are encapsulated in impoundment structures, much like in low head riverine hydropower schemes. It is thought that these systems, when implemented at scales required to generate substantial amounts of electricity, have the potential to significantly alter the tidal flow characteristics, which could have knock-on impacts on the hydro-environment. This review gathers together knowledge from different research areas to facilitate an evaluation of the potential hydro-environmental impacts of tidal renewable energy systems, with a particular focus on water quality. It highlights the relevance of hydro-environmental modelling in assessing potential impacts of proposed schemes and identifies areas where further research is needed. A case study is presented of recent modelling studies undertaken for the Severn Estuary.     

基于UDP的室内无线接收DVB方案研究

随着智能移动设备的广泛普及,家庭用户逐渐渴望能够在智能终端上收看数字电视节目。由于传统家庭内部的机顶盒只能提供有线数字电视信号,因此本文研究了一种基于UDP协议的室内无线接收DVB-C信号的方法,并分析了MPEG-2 TS的相关原理及室内无线传输损耗,在此基础上讨论了方案的可行性。     

博物馆建筑室内无障碍流线的评价

论文通过比较国内外无障碍设计规范的区别,指出能形成完整无障碍流线的建筑及其室内外环境是推动我国无障碍环境建设的最终目标,提出博物馆建筑室内公共空间的无障碍流线设计主要包括室内交通空间、室内功能空间和室内标示导向系统三个部分。在此基础上,运用GCAHP方法构建了博物馆建筑室内无障碍流线的评价体系,确定了各指标的评分办法。最后以南京博物院为案例进行实证分析,验证了该评级体系的可操作性,以提高我国公共建筑无障碍环境设计的水平。     

数据流管理和挖掘技术探析

数据流管理和挖掘技术是数据库领域的新研究方向之一。概述了数据库技术的发展趋势以及数据流的概念、特点、体系结构、应用领域,分析了数据流概要数据结构的构造问题和数据流的连续近似查询技术,最后介绍了数据流挖掘技术。旨在描述数据流管理和挖掘技术的发展概况,为进一步的研究提供有益的借鉴。     

基于流数据的大对象数据缓冲机制

通过对关系数据库管理系统Postgre SQL的大对象数据缓冲机制的分析,提出了基于流数据的大对象数据缓冲机制。该机制针对传统大对象数据缓冲所使用的页存储机制存在的性能缺陷,以流数据模型来取代一般的块页读取机制,并根据流数据的存储特点构建基于流数据管道的大对象数据缓冲器结构。该结构在内存中维护一个远小于大对象数据规模的可常驻内存的概要数据结构,从而可以迅速得到用户想要的数据,避免了冗余的磁盘I/O。     

在数据库中存取BLOB类型数据的实现

以操作数据库SQL Server中的image字段为例,介绍了一种在数据库中存储BLOB（Binary large Object）类型数据的简单、高效的方法,并阐述了其工作原理及实现过程。     

撞击流气液反应器湿法脱硫的试验研究

以空气和SO2混合气体作为模拟烟气,以Ca(OH)2悬浮液作为吸收剂,在一个新型撞击流气液反应器中进行了湿法脱硫试验研究。反应器采用水平两流撞击流,喷嘴系获得专利的旋涡压力喷嘴。研究了液气流量比Vl/Vg、钙硫摩尔比rCa/rS、进口SO2浓度cS等主要参数对脱硫率的影响规律。在液气流量比Vl/Vg=0.84×10-3,撞击速度u=7m/s,进口SO2浓度cS=2 400 mg/m3条件下,脱硫效率达到了94%。