Vision assistance in scenes with extreme contrast

The performance and architecture of a high dynamic range camera (HDRC) chip and the conceptional advantages for its adaptation to image processing systems in traffic environments are discussed. The HDRC chip was developed with 64×64 pixels using a standard digital 1.2-μm CMOS technology. It is shown that the implementation proves the functionality and indicates the system performance of a highly dynamic range camera is feasible     

Blind digital watermarking in PDF documents using Spread Transform Dither Modulation

In this paper, a blind digital watermarking scheme for Portable Document Format (PDF) documents is proposed. The proposed method is based on a variant Quantization Index Modulation (QIM) method called Spread Transform Dither Modulation (STDM). Each bit of the secret message is embedded into a group of characters, more specifically in their x-coordinate values. The method exhibits experiments of two opposite objectives: transparency and robustness, and is motivated to present an acceptable distortion value that shows sufficient robustness under high density noises attacks while preserving sufficient transparency.     

Mixed convective heat transfer enhancement in a ventilated cavity by flow modulation via rotating plate

The present study numerically explores the mixed convection phenomena in a differentially heated ventilated square cavity with active flow modulation via a rotating plate. Forced convection flow in the cavity is attained by maintaining external fluid flow through an opening at the bottom of the left cavity wall while leaving it through another opening at the right cavity wall. A counter-clockwise rotating plate at the center of the cavity acts as an active flow modulator. Moving mesh approach is used for the rotation of the plate and the numerical solution is achieved using arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian finite element formulation with a quadrilateral discretization scheme. Transient parametric simulations have been performed for various frequency of the rotating plate for a fixed Reynolds number (Re) of 100 based on maximum inlet flow velocity while the Richardson number (Ri) is maintained at unity. Heat transfer performance has been evaluated in terms of spatially averaged Nusselt number and time-averaged Nusselt number along the heated wall. Power spectrum analysis in the frequency domain obtained from the fast Fourier transform analysis indicates that thermal frequency and plate frequency start to deviate from each other at higher values of velocity ratio (>4).     

Influence of bunch maturation and chemical precursors on acrylamide formation in starchy banana chips

The present study investigated the effect of ripening stages and chemical precursors on acrylamide formation in deep-fried chips of five plantains and one cooking banana. The highest level of acrylamide was found in the cooking banana, followed by False Horn plantain and French plantain, respectively. French plantain hybrids exhibited a significantly lower (P < 0.05) level of acrylamide when compared to French plantain. The ripening stage demonstrated a positive Pearson correlation (P < 0.05, r = 0.57) with acrylamide formation. As ripening progressed, the levels of glucose and fructose significantly increased (P < 0.05) and showed a positive correlation with acrylamide formation (r = 0.85 and 0.96, respectively). The level of the amino acid asparagine during ripening was not correlated with acrylamide formation. In contrast, the level of histidine, arginine, iso-leucine and cystine during ripening was positively correlated (P < 0.05, r > 0.60) with acrylamide formation in fried chips. The higher level of TP was significantly related (P < 0.05) to the lower level of acrylamide (r = −0.62). The reduced levels of carotenoid isomers, except lutein, during fruit ripening were positively correlated (P < 0.05) with acrylamide formation, especially trans-BC (r = 0.72) and 9-cis-BC(r = 0.64).     

A comparison of noninvasive reconstruction of epicardial versus transmembrane potentials in consideration of the null space

We compare two source formulations for the electrocardiographic forward problem in consideration of their implications for regularizing the ill-posed inverse problem. The established epicardial potential source model is compared with a bidomain-theory-based transmembrane potential source formulation. The epicardial source approach is extended to the whole heart surface including the endocardial surfaces. We introduce the concept of the numerical null and signal space to draw attention to the problems associated with the nonuniqueness of the inverse solution and show that reconstruction of null-space components is an important issue for physiologically meaningful inverse solutions. Both formulations were tested with simulated data generated with an anisotropic heart model and with clinically measured data of two patients. A linear and a recently proposed quasi-linear inverse algorithm were applied for reconstructions of the epicardial and transmembrane potential, respectively. A direct comparison of both formulations was performed in terms of computed activation times. We found the transmembrane potential-based formulation is a more promising source formulation as stronger regularization by incorporation of biophysical a priori information is permitted.     

Quantitative 13C NMR analysis of sequence distributions in poly(ethylene-co-1-hexene)

Different 13C NMR methods of determining triad distributions in two poly(ethylene-co-1-hexene) copolymers are examined using high signal-to-noise ratio 13C NMR spectra of the copolymers dissolved in deuterated 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene at 398 K. This examination includes a comparison of three integration techniques. The experimental impact of decoupler sidebands and significantly nonequal 13C NOE values are examined. A least-squares regression analysis technique for solving for triad mole fractions is tested and appears to be more reliable than two published algebraic expressions (and other expressions examined in the work reported here). The resultant triad mole fractions are compared to sequence distribution parameters expected by Bernoullian and first-order Markovian statistical models. On the basis of 13C NMR-determined average reactivity ratios, the copolymer designated sample B (5.3 mol % 1-hexene) appears to be a Bernoullian copolymer resulting from a single-site catalytic system. The copolymer designated sample S (3.6 mol % 1-hexene overall) is better described as a mixture of polyethylene and a Bernoullian copolymer with 6.4 mol % 1-hexene content, and thus appears to result from a multisite catalytic system.     

Models for low resolution slit scan measurements based on high resolution laser scanning image analysis: DNA and nuclear dimensions

A laser scanning microscope has been developed and employed to make high precision measurements of cells from clinical cervical samples. These specimens have been stained with the DNA specific fluorochrome mithramycin and the fluorescent images analyzed to give information on nuclear size, DNA content and nuclear shape. This information has been used to develop low resolution parameters as measured with flow cytometers, thus permitting some comparisons between high resolution and low resolution features as measured from the same cells. The results indicate that both low resolution flow slit scan and high resolution pattern recognition techniques yield the same average cellular information. However, low resolution methods are insensitive to shape and the influence of shape on the broadening of low resolution features is now under investigation.     

Can emotions be truly group level? Evidence regarding four conceptual criteria.

Recent advances in understanding prejudice and intergroup behavior have made clear that emotions help explain people's reactions to social groups and their members. Intergroup emotions theory (D. M. Mackie, T. Devos, & E. R. Smith, 2000; E. R. Smith, 1993) holds that intergroup emotions are experienced by individuals when they identify with a social group, making the group part of the psychological self. What differentiates such group-level emotions from emotions that occur purely at the individual level? The authors argue that 4 key criteria define group-level emotions: Group emotions are distinct from the same person's individual-level emotions, depend on the person's degree of group identification, are socially shared within a group, and contribute to regulating intragroup and intergroup attitudes and behavior. Evidence from 2 studies supports all 4 of these predictions and thus points to the meaningfulness, coherence, and functionality of group-level emotions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Solution calorimetry: A novel perspective into the dissolution process of food powders

The enthalpy of dissolution of two food powders, maltodextrin and skim milk, was studied by means of isothermal solution calorimetry. The effects of the moisture content and the physical state of the samples were investigated. A reduced exothermic response was found as the moisture content of the samples increased. It was shown that this effect is reversible upon re-drying of the solid, unless crystallization occurs. In the skim milk powder, crystallization of lactose occurred, leading to a less exothermic response. In addition, the dissolution kinetics of single particles was followed in situ with real time video acquisition and a novel image analysis technique. The data showed a significant effect of the physical state of the powder on the dissolution kinetics. Fully amorphous skim milk powder dissolved significantly faster than the recrystallized counterpart. A clear relation was observed between the physical state of the powders, their thermodynamic response and the dissolution kinetics.