Comparison of single-fiber and macro electrode recordings: relationship to motor unit action potential duration

The factors contributing to the duration of a motor unit action potential (MUAP) are believed to be well known, with both manual measurements and computer simulations agreeing with respect to MUAP durations approaching 10 ms. In this investigation, it is clearly demonstrated that use of a wide-open amplifier bandpass combined with signal-to-noise ratio enhancement results in MUAP durations approaching 30 ms recorded with either a macro or single-fiber electrode. Why the clinically recorded MUAP duration differs significantly from these physiologic durations is discussed. A hypothesis is presented whereby the major contributing factor toward MUAP duration is the total time of action potential transmembrane current flow along the muscle fiber from end-plate zone to musculotendinous junction.     

High-performance single-mode VCSELs in the 1310-nm waveband

High-performance vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) emitting in the 1310-nm waveband are fabricated by bonding AlGaAs-GaAs distributed Bragg reflectors on both sides of a InP-based cavity. A 2-in wafer bonding process is optimized to produce very good on-wafer device parameter uniformity. Carrier injection is implemented via double intracavity contact layers and a tunnel junction. A 1.2-mW single-mode output power is obtained in the temperature range of 20/spl deg/C-80/spl deg/C. Modulation capability at 3.2 Gb/s is demonstrated up to 70/spl deg/C. Overall VCSEL performance complies with the requirements of the 10 GBASE-LX4 IEEE.802.3ae standard, which opens the way for novel applications of VCSELs emitting in the 1310-nm band.     

The relative effects of transection of the gustatory branches of the seventh and ninth cranial nerves on NaCl taste detection in rats.

Chorda tympani nerve (CT) transection in rats severely impairs NaCl taste detection. These rats can detect higher concentrations of NaCl, however, suggesting that remaining oral nerves maintain some salt sensibility. Rats were tested in a gustometer with a 2-response operant taste-detection task before and after sham surgery (n = 5), combined transection of the CT and the greater superficial petrosal nerves (GSP; 7x, n = 6), or transection of the glossopharyngeal nerve (GL; 9x, n = 4). Thresholds did not significantly change after sham surgery. Although the GL responds to NaCl and innervates nearly 60% of total taste buds, 9x surgery had no effect. However, 7x surgery increased NaCl detection threshold by ～2.5 log?? units, greater than that reported for CT transection alone. These results suggest that the GSP contributes to NaCl sensitivity in rats and also demonstrate that the GL and perhaps the superior laryngeal and lingual nerve proper can maintain some NaCl detectability at high concentrations. These findings confirm the primacy of the 7th nerve relative to the 9th nerve in sensibility of NaCl in the rat model. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Anti-BlUFf: towards counterfeit mitigation in IC supply chains using blockchain and PUF

International Journal of Information Security - The complexity of today’s integrated circuit (IC) supply chain, organised in several tiers and including many companies located in different...     

A decoupled sliding mode control for a continuum arm

The paper treats the control problem of a class of robots constituted by a chain of continuum segments. The technological model basis is a central, long and thin, highly flexible and elastic backbone. The segment control system is a decoupled one. The main parameters of the arm control are determined by the curvature and curvature gradient. The dynamic model is inferred. The primary benefit of the proposed method is that the dynamic equations are represented by a set of ODE’s in time instead of PDE’s in time and space, and the new curvature gradient lumped parameter model is used. A sliding mode control system is used in order to achieve the desired shape of the arm. The stability of the closed-loop control system is proven. Numerical simulations and an experimental platform are also provided to verify the effectiveness of the presented approach.     

An efficient numerical algorithm for the study of time fractional Tricomi and Keldysh type equations

Engineering with Computers - This work addresses a hybrid scheme for the numerical solutions of time fractional Tricomi and Keldysh type equations. In proposed methodology, Haar wavelets are used...     

Fractional wavelet transform for the quantitative spectral resolution of the composite signals of the active compounds in a two-component mixture

Fractional calculus is a powerful tool that has been applied successfully for the analysis of the complex systems. One interesting example of a complex mixture is given by the multicomponent pharmaceutical samples having constant matrix content. The main aim of this study is to develop a new approach based on the combined use of the fractional wavelet transform (FWT) and the continuous wavelet transform (CWT) in order to quantify atorvastatin (ATO) and amlodipine (AML) in their mixtures without requiring a chemical pretreatment. In the first step, the absorption spectra of the compounds and their samples were processed by the FWT method. In the next step, the CWT approach was applied to the fractional wavelet spectra obtained in the above step. The aim of the application of FWT is data reduction corresponding to the spectra of compounds and their commercial samples. In the following step, the CWT was used for the quantitative resolution of the composite signals of the analyzed compounds. After method validation, the proposed signal processing methods based on the combined use of the FWT and the CWT were successfully applied to the resolution of the composite spectra for the quantitation of atorvastatin (ATO) and amlodipine (AML) in tablets.     

Non-parametric statistical background modeling for efficient foreground region detection

Most methods for foreground region detection in videos are challenged by the presence of quasi-stationary backgrounds—flickering monitors, waving tree branches, moving water surfaces or rain. Additional difficulties are caused by camera shake or by the presence of moving objects in every image. The contribution of this paper is to propose a scene-independent and non-parametric modeling technique which covers most of the above scenarios. First, an adaptive statistical method, called adaptive kernel density estimation (AKDE), is proposed as a base-line system that addresses the scene dependence issue. After investigating its performance we introduce a novel general statistical technique, called recursive modeling (RM). The RM overcomes the weaknesses of the AKDE in modeling slow changes in the background. The performance of the RM is evaluated asymptotically and compared with the base-line system (AKDE). A wide range of quantitative and qualitative experiments is performed to compare the proposed RM with the base-line system and existing algorithms. Finally, a comparison of various background modeling systems is presented as well as a discussion on the suitability of each technique for different scenarios.     

InSAR validation based on GNSS measurements in Bucharest

This research aims to complex validate radar displacement products over Bucharest based on Global Navigation Satellite System or GNSS. Validation was represented by the comparison of the recent TerraSAR-X (TSX) displacement results with field GNSS data. For this purpose, 24 and 27 high-resolution images acquired from the TSX satellite between 2011 and 2014 were processed by Permanent Scatterer Inteferometry (PSI) and Small BASeline Subset (SBAS) – interferometric techniques using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images. The images were selected from a larger pool of SAR images, after consulting weather databases, which helped eliminate the images acquired under adverse weather conditions. GNSS locations were cross-checked on high-resolution optical images and 21 ground points (including three permanent stations) were selected. All these points were (1) characterized by high coherence on radar images; (2) were on the ground; (3) were situated in large vacant spaces; and (4) far away from radar obstacles such as trees. A major challenge in achieving the research goal was to overcome the lack of permanent stations at the ground level within the area of Bucharest. Instead of permanent stations, our team designed and installed forced centring systems that remained stable over time, eliminating the instalment errors of GNSS receivers. The line-of-site (LOS) components derived from GNSS data have been compared with those of the SAR scatterers closest to the GNSS markers (never coinciding). For each location, the vertical reading was projected in the LOS of the SAR sensor. These readings were compared with the displacement values determined at the locations of permanent scatterers (PSs) within 100 m from the GNSS nodes, by eliminating all scatterers on buildings. The comparison has shown a good agreement.     

Installation d’essais pour la modélisation à échelle réduite des impulsions électromagnétiques

This paper presents a test platform for the scale modeling of electromagnetic pulse effects. The different elements of the installation, i.e. a vertical conical antenna placed on a metallic reference plane, a fast rise time supply generator and a data acquisition and processing facility are described. The field of the antenna has also been studied using a Numerical Electromagnetic Code (Nec)based on the moments method and a comparison with the measurements has been performed. Conclusions resulting from this first stage in the construction of the scale modeling installation are presented.