Empirical models for net-length probability distribution and applications

In this paper, we propose a novel, empirical, and parameterizable model for estimating the probability distribution of wire length for each net in a placed netlist. The model is simple and fast to compute. We did extensive experimentation with state-of-the-art commercial (Cadence) and academic (Parquet and Labyrinth) tools and validated our model. Our distribution model was around three times more accurate than assuming half-perimeter bounding box as the fixed net-length estimate. Since the model is parameterizable it can be easily tailored for different routing tools and benchmarks. This model would be very useful in defining a full fledged probabilistic design automation methodology in which various design metrics are optimized from a probabilistic point of view. We also discuss the application of our model in a novel probabilistic approach to the buffer insertion problem.     

Ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation of fibre-reinforced composite materials — a review

A framework is presented for examining the effectiveness of limiting and modelling arguments used in the analysis of fluid flows. It consists of examining the consequences of the arguments on the flow problem as a whole and breaking down the limiting/modelling process into a sequence of steps and associated sequence of flow problems, termed here as ‘lidels’. The notion of validity of lidels is given. Several examples are given to explain the present approach. Invited general lecture at 3rd ACFM, Tokyo, September 1986     

A parametric study of strength reduction factors for elasto-plastic oscillators

Strength reduction factors (SRFs) continue to play a key role in obtaining design forces from elastic design spectra (via response modification factors) in ductility-based earthquake-resistant design. Despite several years of sustained research efforts, it has not been conclusively shown how SRF for a given singledegree-of-freedom structural system depends on various source and site parameters. A parametric study is carried out here for the explicit dependence of SRF spectrum (describing variation of SRF with system period for a given ductility demand) on strong motion duration, earthquake magnitude, geological site conditions, and epicentral distance in case of (non-degrading) elasto-plastic oscillators. For this, scaled response spectra are considered for different combinations of earthquake magnitude, site conditions and epicentral distance, and SRF spectra are generated from 1274 accelerograms recorded in western USA after making those compatible with each of these spectra. It is shown that there is no clear and significant dependence of SRF spectrum on strong motion duration. Further, the parametric dependence on earthquake magnitude, site conditions, and epicentral distance broadly conforms to the trends reported by earlier investigations. In particular, this study confirms that the dependence of SRF spectra on earthquake magnitude should not be ignored. This paper has been contributed in honour of Professor R N Iyengar, Indian Institute of Science, on the occasion of his formal retirement.     

Background-subtraction using contour-based fusion of thermal and visible imagery

We present a new background-subtraction technique fusing contours from thermal and visible imagery for persistent object detection in urban settings. Statistical background-subtraction in the thermal domain is used to identify the initial regions-of-interest. Color and intensity information are used within these areas to obtain the corresponding regions-of-interest in the visible domain. Within each region, input and background gradient information are combined to form a Contour Saliency Map. The binary contour fragments, obtained from corresponding Contour Saliency Maps, are then fused into a single image. An A^* path-constrained search along watershed boundaries of the regions-of-interest is used to complete and close any broken segments in the fused contour image. Lastly, the contour image is flood-filled to produce silhouettes. Results of our approach are evaluated quantitatively and compared with other low- and high-level fusion techniques using manually segmented data.     

Target based image fusion using multi-scale feature selection in three regions

Image captured by low dynamic range (LDR) camera fails to capture entire exposure level of scene, and instead only covers certain range of exposures. In order to cover entire exposure level in single image, bracketed exposure LDR images are combined. The range of exposures in different images results in information loss in certain regions. These regions need to be addressed and based on this motive a novel methodology of layer based fusion is proposed to generate high dynamic range image. High and low-frequency layers are formed by dividing each image based on pixel intensity variations. The regions are identified based on information loss section created in differently exposed images. High-frequency layers are combined using region based fusion with Dense SIFT which is used as activity level testing measure. Low-frequency layers are combined using weighted sum. Finally combined high and low-frequency layers are merged together on pixel to pixel basis to synthesize fused image. Objective analysis is performed to compare the quality of proposed method with state-of-the-art. The measures indicate superiority of the proposed method.

     

NanoProbeArrays for the analysis of ultra-low-volume protein samples using piezoelectric liquid dispensing technology

Antibody microarrays are gaining popularity as a high-throughput technology to investigate the proteome. However, protein extracts from most body fluid or biopsy samples are available in very small volumes and are often unsuitable for large-scale antibody microarray studies. To demonstrate the potential for protein analysis with as little as a few nanoliters of sample, we have developed a new technology called NanoProbeArrays based on piezoelectric liquid dispensing for non-contact printing and probing of antibody arrays. Instead of flooding the protein sample on the antibody microarray surface, as in conventional microarray screening, a piezoelectric inkjet printer is used to dispense nanoliters of fluorescently labeled proteins over the antibody spots on the array. The ability of NanoProbeArrays to precisely identify and reliably distinguish between test proteins from different sources, without any loss of sensitivity and specificity as compared with conventional antibody microarrays, is illustrated here. The utility of NanoProbeArrays for biomarker identification in a complex biological sample was tested by detecting the cytokine interleukin-4 in serum. The significant reduction in volume of sample during NanoProbeArray analysis, as compared with conventional antibody microarrays, offers new opportunities for basic and applied proteomic research.     

A blind medical image watermarking: DWT-SVD based robust and secure approach for telemedicine applications

Multimedia Tools and Applications - In this paper, a blind image watermarking scheme based on discrete wavelet transform (DWT) and singular value decomposition (SVD) is proposed. In this scheme,...     

Influence of dietary iron deficiency on acute metal intoxication

The frequent difficulties encountered in the diagnosis of pediatric sarcomas, caused by the lack of observable differentiation at the light microscopic level, has led to the routine use of immunohistochemistry in pediatric surgical pathology. To a large degree the advent of this staining technique has led to the correct assessment of many perplexing lesions that previously would have been given inconclusive diagnoses. However, with increased usage and testing, it has become apparent that there are few, if any, "magic bullets" in immunohistochemistry for pediatric pathologists. Thus, it behooves diagnosticians to be careful in the usage of this technique, to be aware of possible discrepancies in its results, and to remember the ancillary nature of its application. The following article will review selected markers commonly used in pediatric surgical pathology, from both previous reports and the author's perspective, and will briefly consider several new phenotypic markers which have potential utility with childhood sarcomas.