Implementation of RNS-Based Distributed Arithmetic Discrete Wavelet Transform Architectures Using Field-Programmable Logic

Currently there are design barriers inhibiting the implementation of high-precision digital signal processing (DSP) objects with field programmable logic (FPL) devices. This paper explores overcoming these barriers by fusing together the popular distributed arithmetic (DA) method with the residue number system (RNS) for use in FPL-centric designs. The new design paradigm is studied in the context of a high-performance filter bank and a discrete wavelet transform (DWT). The proposed design paradigm is facilitated by a new RNS accumulator structure based on a carry save adder (CSA). The reported methodology also introduces a polyphase filter structure that results in a reduced look-up table (LUT) budget. The 2C-DA and RNS-DA are compared, in the context of a FPL implementation strategy, using a discrete wavelet transform (DWT) filter bank as a common design theme. The results show that the RNS-DA, compared to a traditional 2C-DA design, enjoys a performance advantage that increases with precision (wordlength).     

An artificial intelligent diagnostic system on differential recognition of hematopoietic cells from microscopic images

The endothelium participates actively in homeostatic mechanisms such as the regulation of vascular tone and maintenance of a nonthrombotic environment, as well as directing biological responses such as leukocyte trafficking to inflammatory sites. Disruption of these processes leads to disease. In the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome autoantibodies provoke the endothelium to develop a prothrombotic surface. In systemic vasculitides associated with presence of antineutrophil cytoplasm antibodies, it is likely that the autoantibodies incite premature neutrophil activation, disrupted neutrophil-endothelium interactions and endothelial damage. This review considers how normal endothelial functions may be subverted in disease and how active endothelial responses may contribute to disease.     

Theoretical Investigation of Time Suboptimal Control of Industrial Manipulators Along Specified Paths

A method for the time suboptimal control of an industrial manipulator from an initial position and orientation to a final position and orientation as it moves along a specified path is proposed. Nonlinear system equations that describe the manipulator motion are linearized at each time step along the path. A method which gives the control inputs (joint angular velocities) for time suboptimal control of the manipulator is developed. In the formulation, joint angular velocity and acceleration limitations are also taken into consideration. A six degree of freedom elbow type manipulator is used in numerical examples to verify the method developed.     

Accurate estimation of environment parameters from ultrasonic data

This paper describes a robust and accurate ultrasonic sensing system for a mobile robot. The system continuously updates a local map of the environment in which obstacles are represented by straight lines or points in a robot centered coordinate frame. The presented algorithms use a Kalman filter for the reduction of the noise in the ultrasonic data and use a systematical error correction (‘bundle correction’) to reduce the uncertainty in obstacle direction. Experiments are carried out in simulation and with a real mobile robot system. Results show that the accuracy with which line parameters can be estimated is in the order of 1 degree for the orientation and about 2 cm for the position. The effect of the bundle correction is significant and maximal when the robot approaches walls under a small angle.     

External and internal calibration of the MHC class I-specific receptor Ly49A on murine natural killer cells

Expression of the H-2Dd-specific inhibitory receptor Ly49A on murine NK cells is subject to MHC class I-dependent modulation in vivo. As a result, NK cells in H-2Dd-transgenic mice express low cell surface levels of Ly49A, whereas NK cells from nontransgenic C57BL/6 (B6) mice express high levels. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of MHC class I molecules on the NK cell itself vs those on surrounding cells in this calibration and to test whether the Ly49A levels are subject to regulation in mature NK cells also. Analysis of transgenic mice with mosaic expression of an H-2Dd/Ld transgene showed that MHC class I molecules on surrounding cells (external ligands) and on the NK cell itself (internal ligands) played distinct roles in the determination of Ly49A levels. External ligands were involved in down-regulation of Ly49A levels in vivo, whereas internal ligands kept the down-regulated levels of Ly49A low upon NK cell activation in vitro. Furthermore, in an experimental system based on adoptive transfer of spleen cells, receptor down-regulation of Ly49A occurred as a rapid adaptation process in mature NK cells after interaction with the H-2Dd ligand in vivo. This suggests that Ly49 levels are not fixed but can be changed in mature NK cells when they are exposed to a changed MHC class I environment.     

A comparison of swarm-based optimization algorithms in linear antenna array synthesis

Today, the design of antenna arrays is very important in providing effective and efficient wireless communication. The purpose of antenna array synthesis is to obtain a radiation pattern with a low side lobe level (SLL) at a desired half power beam width in far-field. The amplitude and position values of the array elements can be optimized to obtain a radiation pattern with suppressed SLLs. In this paper, swarm-based metaheuristic algorithms including particle swarm optimization (PSO), artificial bee colony (ABC), mayfly algorithm (MA) and jellyfish search (JS) are compared to determine the optimal design of linear antenna arrays. Extensive experiments are conducted on designing 10-, 16-, 24- and 32-element linear arrays by determining the amplitude and positions. Experiments are repeated 30 times due to the random nature of swarm-based optimizers, and statistical results show that the performance of the novel algorithms, MA and JS, is better than that of the well-known PSO and ABC methods.

     

Improvement of flexural bond strength of zirconia-resin cement by surface patterning using sub-nanosecond UV laser

Zirconia is a dental material that shows excellent biocompatibility and high strength in clinical applications. This study aims to evaluate the effects of ultrafast laser applications. The surface nanostructures were classified into three groups. Group 1 was generated using the burst mode, with three different distances between dots: 52 µm (Group 1a), 104 µm (Group 1b), and 156 µm (Group 1c). Group 2 was processed using the scanning mode configuration, with a set of parallel lines. Group 3 was also processed using this scanning configuration creating a set of square-shaped patterning. Group 4 was the control group. After the surface treatments, a pair of zirconia specimens was bonded end to end with resin cement. Flexural bond strength (FBS) test was applied in a universal test machine. Multiple comparisons were performed using a one-way analysis of variance and the Tukey's HSD test. All the samples that were treated with the laser showed higher FBS values than the untreated surface. Using the burst mode, preformed circular-shaped surface on an angle of 90⁰ at 52 µm distance (Group 1a) showed the highest FBS values among all groups (p < .05). Groups 2 and 3 had significantly higher values than 1b and 1c.     

Effect of chromium aging on the structural and thermal properties of chromium polyacrylate

The effects of aging time of Cr(III) solutions on the structural, thermal, magnetic, and morphological properties of chromium polyacrylate complexes were studied. Chromium retention was found to increase with longer aging periods. IR spectra revealed the formation of polychelate structures with noticeable changes on aging. The interaction of multivalent, polynuclear Cr(III) species with the polymer backbone resulted in a decrease in thermal stability for the complexes prepared from olated chromium solutions. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 98: 490–493, 2005     

Characterization of the adipose tissue atrophy induced by peroxisome proliferators in mice

In the present study, we characterized the effects of peroxisome proliferators (PP) on adipose tissue in mice. Treatment with potent PP, such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), 2-methyl-2-(p(1,2,3,4-tetrahydroxy-naphthyl)-phenoxy)propionic acid, (4-chloro-6-(2,3-xylidino)2-pyrimidinylthio) acetic acid, and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, caused dramatic decreases in adipose tissue weight, whereas the moderately potent PP, acetylsalicylic acid, had a relatively weak effect. This decrease in weight reflects a loss of fat from adipocytes rather than a loss of cells, as demonstrated by constant DNA content. The dose-dependency and time-course experiments indicate that peroxisome proliferation occurs simultaneously with or prior to adipose tissue atrophy. Thus, hepatic peroxisome proliferation might result in the increased mobilization of lipids and lipid utilization in liver. The enhanced adipose tissue hormonesensitive lipase (HSL) activity and down-regulated lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity observed upon PP treatment might, at least in part, explain the loss of fat via increase FA release from adipocytes and/or decreased FA uptake from the circulation, respectively. In addition, the possible involvement of the increased tumor necrosis factor α expression found upon PFOA treatment in reducing the insulin sensitivity of adipose tissue and thereby altering LPL and HSL activities is discussed.     

Surface properties of surfactants derived from natural products. Part 1: Syntheses and structure/property relationships—Solubility and emulsification

Several novel and some previously known, mostly sugar-based, surfactants have been synthesized and some of their surface properties have been characterized and compared with those of commercial nonylphenol ethoxylates. The surfactant solubility in water, ethanol, and dodecane was studied. The properties of these compounds as emulsification agents in systems composed of the surfactant with water/isopropyl myristate, water/rapeseed oil, and water/dodecane are presented. The aqueous solubility of the surfactants follows the general trend expected from their hydrophilic-lipophilic balance according to Griffin (HLBG), but it is also clear that the nature of the headgroup and the structure of the nonpolar part affect the solubility in a manner not aptured in the standard HLBG concept. An ester or amine group as the connecting unit between the hydrophile and the hydrophobe produces a more water-soluble surfactant than the corresponding amide derivative. Some effective emulsifiers were found. For instance, the surfactants with a dehydroabietic nonpolar group appear to be promosing emulsifiers. Most sugar-based surfactants were able to form macroemulsions of up to around 2 wt/vol% of oil. The stability of many of these amulsions was very high, extending for months.