Small Dynamic Range Research Articles

Improved Perceptual Video Encryption Technique using Residue Number System

In this paper, we propose an enhanced perceptual video encryption technique to speed-up and secure cipher video transmitted across networks using Residue Number System (RNS). The technique proposes a new reverse converter with smaller dynamic range using the moduli set {2n-1, 2n, 2n+1} that is integrated into our previous work of [2]. After encryption, cipher video is encoded into three residual videos that have smaller pixel values and ideal for transmission across networks. Instead of transmitting the three (3) residual videos, the technique effectively transmits and decodes only two (2) of them back into the original video with same visual quality. Experimental results show that the technique enhances transmission speed and security of cipher video across networks.

A novel technique for analysing histogram equalized medical images using superpixels

We present a novel technique to distinguish between an original image and its histogram equalized version. Histogram equalization and superpixel segmentation such as SLIC (simple linear iterative clustering) are very popular image processing tools. Based on these two concepts, we introduce a method for finding whether an image (grayscale) is histogram equalized or not. Because sometimes we see images that look visually similar but they are actually processed or changed by some image enhancement process such as histogram equalization. We can merely infer whether the image is dark, bright or has a small dynamic range. Moreover, we also compare the result of SLIC superpixels with three other superpixel segmentation algorithms namely, quick shift, watersheds, and Felzenszwalb’s segmentation algorithm

Impact of Low Resolution on Image Recognition with Deep Neural Networks: An Experimental Study

Abstract Due to the advances made in recent years, methods based on deep neural networks have been able to achieve a state-of-the-art performance in various computer vision problems. In some tasks, such as image recognition, neural-based approaches have even been able to surpass human performance. However, the benchmarks on which neural networks achieve these impressive results usually consist of fairly high quality data. On the other hand, in practical applications we are often faced with images of low quality, affected by factors such as low resolution, presence of noise or a small dynamic range. It is unclear how resilient deep neural networks are to the presence of such factors. In this paper we experimentally evaluate the impact of low resolution on the classification accuracy of several notable neural architectures of recent years. Furthermore, we examine the possibility of improving neural networks’ performance in the task of low resolution image recognition by applying super-resolution prior to classification. The results of our experiments indicate that contemporary neural architectures remain significantly affected by low image resolution. By applying super-resolution prior to classification we were able to alleviate this issue to a large extent as long as the resolution of the images did not decrease too severely. However, in the case of very low resolution images the classification accuracy remained considerably affected.

Rapid Mouse Follicle Stimulating Hormone Quantification and Estrus Cycle Analysis Using an Automated Microfluidic Chemiluminescent ELISA System.

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) plays a critical role in female reproductive development and homeostasis. The blood/serum concentration of FSH is an important marker for reporting multiple endocrinal functions. The standardized method for mouse FSH (mFSH) quantification based on radioimmunoassay (RIA) suffers from long assay time (∼2 days), relatively low sensitivity, larger sample volume (60 μL), and small dynamic range (2-60 ng/mL); thus, it is insufficient for monitoring fast developing events with relatively small mFSH fluctuations (e.g., estrous cycles of mammals). Here, we developed an automated microfluidic chemiluminescent ELISA device along with the disposal sensor array and the corresponding detection protocol for rapid and quantitative analysis of mFSH from mouse tail serum samples. With this technology, highly sensitive quantification of mFSH can be accomplished within 30 min using only 8 μL of the serum sample. It is further shown that our technique is able to generate results comparable to RIA but has a significantly improved dynamic range that covers 0.5-250 ng/mL. The performance of this technology was evaluated with blood samples collected from ovariectomized animals and animals with reimplanted ovarian tissues, which restored ovarian endocrine function and correlated with estrus cycle analysis study.

Research and design of integral circuit for electronic current transformer

Aiming at the problem of serious magnetic saturation, small dynamic range and difficult digital processing of traditional electromagnetic current transformers, an electronic current transformer design method based on digital integrators is proposed. It includes selection of integral algorithm, determination of sampling rate and resolution, and structure design. Using the calibration test platform for system testing and analysis, the ratio error is less than ± 0.5%, the phase angle error is less than ± 20’, and the entire system achieves the 0.2 class accuracy. The test results show that the electronic current transformer is stable, reliable and accurate, and can meet the practical application requirements.

Simple fabrication of a multiwall carbon nanotube – elastomer composite with a rough surface and its application in force sensing

A simple method based on solution casting on a template is presented which allows one to create rough conductive elastomer surfaces incorporating carbon nanotubes. The electrical contact mechanism between the rough elastomer and a hard and smooth conductor is studied in detail with the aim of understanding its increased force sensitivity compared to a flat conductive elastomer surface. For the samples investigated here, the contact area increases in a nonlinear fashion before it saturates at large applied forces, while the electrical resistance decreases nonlinearly with force before saturating. The resistance is found to decrease inversely proportional to the contact area, and changes highly nonlinearly with applied force even in a relatively small dynamic range, which is attributed to the nonlinear dependence of contact area on force. The conductive elastomer can be mounted on a flat or a curved surface, such as a glove, to function as a force-sensitive resistor.

Arrangements of phased microphone arrays for acoustic source localization based on deconvolution algorithms

Nowadays phased microphone arrays have become a standard technique for acoustic source localization. Until now microphone arrangement is generally based on the conventional beamforming. Compared to the conventional beamforming, deconvolution algorithms such as DAMAS can achieve significantly improved spatial resolution. Recently the computing speeds of deconvolution algorithms have become faster and faster due to the developments of acceleration algorithms and computer ability. In this paper, phased microphone arrays based on deconvolution algorithms is preliminarily investigated in this paper. Three common microphone arrangements (circle array, grid array and spiral array) with same microphone channels are designed firstly. Subsequently their dynamic ranges with deconvolution algorithms are compared. At low frequency, these three arrays have nearly the same dynamic range. However at high frequency, circle array nearly has the same dynamic range with spiral array, while grid array has smallest dynamic range. Considering the experimental costs, circle array could replace spiral array as the first choice of microphone arrangement based on deconvolution algorithms

A bi-planar coil system for nulling background magnetic fields in scalp mounted magnetoencephalography

Small, commercially-available Optically Pumped Magnetometers (OPMs) can be used to construct a wearable Magnetoencephalography (MEG) system that allows large head movements to be made during recording. The small dynamic range of these sensors however means that movement in the residual static magnetic field found inside typical Magnetically Shielded Rooms (MSRs) can saturate the sensor outputs, rendering the data unusable. This problem can be ameliorated by using a set of electromagnetic coils to attenuate the spatially-varying remnant field. Here, an array of bi-planar coils, which produce an open and accessible scanning environment, was designed and constructed. The coils were designed using a harmonic minimisation method previously used for gradient coil design in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Six coils were constructed to null Bx, By and Bz as well as the three dominant field gradients dBx/dz, dBy/dz and dBz/dz. The coils produce homogeneous (within ±5%) fields or field gradients over a volume of 40 × 40 × 40 cm3. This volume is sufficient to contain an array of OPMs, mounted in a 3D-printed scanner-cast, during basic and natural movements. Automated control of the coils using reference sensor measurements allows reduction of the largest component of the static field (Bx) from 21.8 ± 0.2 nT to 0.47 ± 0.08 nT. The largest gradient (dBx/dz) was reduced from 7.4 nT/m to 0.55 nT/m. High precision optical tracking allowed experiments involving controlled and measured head movements, which revealed that a rotation of the scanner-cast by ±34° and translation of ±9.7 cm of the OPMs in this field generated only a 1 nT magnetic field variation across the OPM array, when field nulling was applied. This variation could be further reduced to 0.04 nT by linear regression of field variations that were correlated with the measured motion parameters. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the bi-planar coil field cancellation system in a real MEG experiment, a novel measurement of retinotopy was investigated, where the stimulus remains fixed and head movements made by the subject shift the visual presentation to the lower left or right quadrants of the field of view. Left and right visual field stimulation produced the expected responses in the opposing hemisphere. This simple demonstration shows that the bi-planar coil system allows accurate OPM-MEG recordings to be made on an unrestrained subject.

Aligned Carbon Nanotube Synaptic Transistors for Large-Scale Neuromorphic Computing.

This paper presents aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) synaptic transistors for large-scale neuromorphic computing systems. The synaptic behavior of these devices is achieved via charge-trapping effects, commonly observed in carbon-based nanoelectronics. In this work, charge trapping in the high- k dielectric layer of top-gated CNT field-effect transistors (FETs) enables the gradual analog programmability of the CNT channel conductance with a large dynamic range ( i. e., large on/off ratio). Aligned CNT synaptic devices present significant improvements over conventional memristor technologies ( e. g., RRAM), which suffer from abrupt transitions in the conductance modulation and/or a small dynamic range. Here, we demonstrate exceptional uniformity of aligned CNT FET synaptic behavior, as well as significant robustness and nonvolatility via pulsed experiments, establishing their suitability for neural network implementations. Additionally, this technology is based on a wafer-level technique for constructing highly aligned arrays of CNTs with high semiconducting purity and is fully CMOS compatible, ensuring the practicality of large-scale CNT+CMOS neuromorphic systems. We also demonstrate fine-tunability of the aligned CNT synaptic behavior and discuss its application to adaptive online learning schemes and to homeostatic regulation of artificial neuron firing rates. We simulate the implementation of unsupervised learning for pattern recognition using a spike-timing-dependent-plasticity scheme, indicate system-level performance (as indicated by the recognition accuracy), and demonstrate improvements in the learning rate resulting from tuning the synaptic characteristics of aligned CNT devices.

Swift-Link: A Compressive Beam Alignment Algorithm for Practical mmWave Radios

Next generation wireless networks will exploit the large amount of spectrum available at millimeter wave (mmWave) frequencies. Design of mmWave systems, however, is challenging due to strict power, cost and hardware constraints at higher bandwidths. To achieve a good SNR for communication, mmWave systems use large antenna arrays. Beamforming with highly directional beams is one way to use the antennas. As the channel changes over time, the beams that maximize the SNR have to be estimated quickly to reduce the training overhead. Prior work has exploited the observation that mmWave channels are sparse to perform compressed sensing (CS) based beam alignment with few channel measurements. Most of the existing CS-based algorithms, however, assume perfect synchronization and fail in the presence of carrier frequency offset (CFO). This paper presents Swift-Link, a fast beam alignment algorithm that is robust against the offset. Swift-Link includes a novel randomized beam training sequence that minimizes the beam alignment errors due to CFO and a low-complexity algorithm that corrects these errors. Even with strict hardware constraints, our algorithm uses fewer channel measurements than comparable CS algorithms and has analytical guarantees. Swift-Link requires a small output dynamic range at the analog-to-digital converter compared to beam-scanning techniques.

A pseudo-random sequence generation scheme based on RNS and permutation polynomials

Long period pseudo-random sequence plays an important role in modern information processing systems. Base on residue number system (RNS) and permutation polynomials over finite fields, a pseudorandom sequence generation scheme is proposed in this paper. It extends several short period random sequences to a long period pseudo-random sequence by using RNS. The short period random sequences are generated parallel by the iterations of permutation polynomials over finite fields. Due to the small dynamic range of each iterative calculation, the bit width in hardware implementation is reduced. As a result, we can use full look-up table (LUT) architecture to achieve high-speed sequence output. The methods to find proper permutation polynomials to generate long period sequences and the optimization algorithm of Chinese remainder theorem (CRT) mapping are also proposed in this paper. The period of generated pseudorandom sequence can exceed 2100 easily based on common used field programmable gate array (FPGA) chips. Meanwhile, this scheme has extensive freedom in choosing permutation polynomials. For example, 10905 permutation polynomials meet the long period requirement over the finite field F q with q ≢ 1(mod 3) and q ⩽ 503. The hardware implementation architecture is simple and multiplier free. Using Xilinx XC7020 FPGA chip, we implement a sequence generator with the period over 250, which only costs 20 18kb-BRAMs (block RAM) and a small amount of logics. And the speed can reach 449.236 Mbps. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) test results show that the sequence has good random properties.

Joint Interference Mitigation and Data Recovery for Massive Carrier Aggregation via Non-Linear Compressive Sensing

Due to the demand for higher throughput, there is need for aggregating more carriers to serve one user equipment. Massive carrier aggregation (MCA) may help as it aggregates a large number of potentially non-contiguous carriers spanning a wide bandwidth. However, implementing MCA brings challenges to the design of the receiver and corresponding data recovery algorithms. For example, if we assign a separate receiver chain for each carrier, the number of receiver chains will be large, which imposes a huge cost. If we use a single receiver chain for all non-contiguous carriers, an expensive high rate analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is required to sample the entire span of the carriers. To reduce the cost, we propose a receiver architecture that employs only one receiver chain with a non-uniform ADC, whose sampling rate is much smaller than the Nyquist rate, and a low cost power amplifier with small dynamic range. Under such architecture, the received signal suffers from non-linear distortion and interference, and the resulting data recovery is a challenging non-linear compressive sensing problem. We propose an algorithm to jointly mitigate the interference and recover the data, which is proved to have theoretical performance guarantees and verified advantageous over baselines in simulations.

Evaluation of MODIS Products in the Great Australian Bight and Adjacent Coastal Waters

Satellite remote sensing data can produce global environmental data and is easily accessible and widely used by the scientific and non-scientific community. However, to use satellite data, it is important to know its limitations and how it validates against in situ measurements for the different regions. Here, field measurements of chlorophyll-a concentration and euphotic depth within the Great Australian Bight, Gulf St Vincent and Spencer Gulf were used to validate ocean colour products derived from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) onboard the Aqua satellite. The field data include in situ and in vivo chlorophyll-a concentration, which were compared against MODIS chlorophyll-a products derived from three algorithms (OC3M, Carder, and Garver-Siegel-Maritorena (GSM)), as well as euphotic depth measurements derived from photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) profiles, which were compared against two MODIS euphotic depth products (derived semi-analytically and from surface chlorophyll-a). The OC3M product performed well in open waters, with errors below the 35% NASA accepted limit, but it overestimated chlorophyll-a values in shallow (<50 m) waters. The GSM product produced the lowest errors, but also showed a smaller dynamic range, while the Carder product produced higher errors than GSM and it also showed small dynamic range. The relationships between the MODIS and in situ euphotic depth were robust, with errors lower than 20%. MODIS products showed weaker or no significant relationships to in situ measurements in the Eastern Great Australian Bight. This is thought to be due to the summertime subsurface upwelling pool that is characteristic of the area. Based on these results, the OC3M product provides the most reliable estimates of chlorophyll-a, and is recommended for further applications of MODIS imagery, if the limitations in shallow waters are taken into account. Alternatively, the GSM product could be a better option if the algorithm were locally adjusted. Changes in the sampling methodology to improve the algorithms are discussed. Derived euphotic depth products can be used with confidence in applying MODIS products for monitoring water clarity, ecosystem health or primary productivity in the region.

Steering optical comb frequencies by rotating the polarization state

We demonstrate a new approach to steer the frequencies of a nonlinear polarization-rotation mode-locked laser, where a specially designed intrcavity electro-optic modulator tunes the polarization state of the laser signal. This approach not only results in the broadband associated with high performance, but also results in a large dynamic range associated with good robustness. Our experimental results show that frequency control dynamic ranges are at least one order of magnitude larger than those of the previous ultra-fast frequency control techniques, reaching hundreds of hertz and hundreds of megahertz for repetition rate (fr) and carrier-envelope-offset frequency (fceo), respectively.

Design and Implementation of Cross-hole CT Data Acquisition System

Aiming at the problems of small dynamic range, low signal-to-noise ratio and inaccurate data acquisition of the existing cross-hole CT exploration instrument, the cross-hole CT data acquisition system is designed basing on DSP processor and lownoise high-precision A/D converter. According to signal amplitude range, it can be chosen to do signal amplification and attenuation or straight through processing, control signal to the proper sampling A/D converter, then the FIR low-pass filter is used to filter the signals, and the processed data is transmitted to the PC through the Ethernet port. The test results show that the system has large signal range, high signalto- noise ratio, and high accuracy of data acquisition, the inversion profile coincides with the borehole verification.

A human PET study of [11C]HMS011, a potential radioligand for AMPA receptors

Backgroundα-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate (AMPA) receptor is a primary mediator of fast glutamatergic excitatory signaling in the brain and has been implicated in diverse neuropsychiatric diseases. We recently developed a novel positron emission tomography (PET) ligand, 2-(1-(3-([11C]methylamino)phenyl)-2-oxo-5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-1,2-dihydropyridin-3-yl) benzonitrile ([11C]HMS011). This compound is a radiolabelled derivative of perampanel, an antiepileptic drug acting on AMPA receptors, and was demonstrated to have promising in vivo properties in the rat and monkey brains. In the current study, we performed a human PET study using [11C]HMS011 to evaluate its safety and kinetics.Four healthy male subjects underwent a 120-min PET scan after injection of [11C]HMS011. Arterial blood sampling and metabolite analysis were performed to obtain parent input functions for three of the subjects using high-performance liquid chromatography. Regional distribution volumes (VTs) were calculated based on kinetic models with and without considering radiometabolite in the brain. The binding was also quantified using a reference tissue model with white matter as reference.ResultsBrain uptake of [11C]HMS011 was observed quickly after the injection, followed by a rapid clearance. Three hydrophilic and one lipophilic radiometabolites appeared in the plasma, with notable individual variability. The kinetics in the brain with apparent radioactivity retention suggested that the lipophilic radiometabolite could enter the brain. A dual-input graphical model, an analytical model designed in consideration of a radiometabolite entering the brain, well described the kinetics of [11C]HMS011. A reference tissue model showed small radioligand binding potential (BP*ND) values in the cortical regions (BP*ND = 0–0.15). These data suggested specific binding component of [11C]HMS011 in the brain.ConclusionsKinetic analyses support some specific binding of [11C]HMS011 in the human cortex. However, this ligand may not be suitable for practical AMPA receptor PET imaging due to the small dynamic range and metabolite in the brain.

Low-cost optical cavity based sensor with a large dynamic range.

We have proposed an optical cavity based biosensor using a differential detection method for point-of-care diagnostics. For experimental demonstration of the proposed device using a two-laser system through refractive index measurements, an optical cavity structure is designed, fabricated, and measured. The differential value calculated with intensities of two different wavelengths has a larger responsivity with respect to the refractive index change as compared with the intesity of an individual wavelength. However, the repeatability test shows that the two-laser system has a tight fabrication tolerance due to its small dynamic range. In this paper, we introduce a three-laser system for an optical cavity sensor with a chained differential detection method and present the experimental measurement results showing a large dynamic range and large fabrication tolerance. The measured dynamic range of this system is more than three times greater than that of the two-laser system. The repeatability test using the three-laser system demonstrates a larger fabrication tolerance as a result of the increased dynamic range.

Josephson Traveling-Wave Antennas

We propose a new approach to the problem of obtaining coherent radiation from systems with a great number of Josephson junctions, which is based on the concept of traveling-wave antennas. The traveling wave in a line ensures identity of the electrodynamic conditions, under which the junctions operate, whereas the energy leakage to radiation in the lateral direction prevents saturation of the nonlinearity of the individual junctions having a small dynamic range. Simple analytical models, which demonstrate feasibility of the traveling-wave regime, are considered. A code for direct numerical simulation of Josephson microchips including microantennas, lumped elements, and power supply circuits have been developed. Using the direct numerical simulation, a version of the Josephson antenna, which is similar to the simplest single-wire antenna, is studied and the possibility to realize the traveling-wave regime is demonstrated.

A study of four radiochromic films currently used for (2D) radiation dosimetry

We have measured the dose, D, and dose rate, D', dependences of the radiation-induced change in optical absorption of four radiochromic films currently used for (2D) dosimetry: GafChromic® types EBT3, MD-V3, HD-V2 and HD-810. We have irradiated the films using two 60Co γ-ray sources with dose rates of ~2 and ~30Gy/min and a 200kVp X-ray source with dose rates from ~0.2 to ~1.0Gy/min. The 48-bit RGB image files of the films, obtained using an Epson V700 flatbed scanner, were color-channel separated and the red, green and blue pixel levels, P(D), were determined using ImageJ software. The relationship P(D)/P(0)=[1+hD/m]/[1+D/m] is found to provide a good description of the dose dependence for all four films at all dose rates. The parameter h is the "plateau level" of P(D)/P(0) approached at high doses, i.e. P(∞)/P(0). The parameter m is the “median-dose” for which P(D)/P(0)(1+h)/2 which is the half point in the dynamic range of the particular film. The best-fit values of m over the dose rate range from ~0.2 to ~25Gy/min using the red pixels were 1.42±0.03, 11.1±0.4, 63.6±0.9 and 60.6±1.6Gy for EBT3, MD-V3, HD-V2 and HD-810 respectively. Using the green pixels the median dose is 1.8 times larger for the first 3 films and 2.5 times larger for HD-810. The blue pixels are considered unsuitable for dosimetry because of the large value of h (>0.4) and the resulting small dynamic range.

Evaluation of Commercial Milk-Specific Lateral Flow Devices

The requirement for validation of allergen cleaning processes is increasing. The use of lateral flow devices (LFDs) to identify allergens has rapidly expanded, but the best practices for use of these devices are still developing. The goal of this study was to compare commercially available milk-specific LFDs and a general protein identification method. Five milk proteins and seven milk-derived ingredients were tested at several concentrations with eight milk-specific LFDs and a general protein identification kit. Nonfat dry milk (NFDM) was prepared at 100 to 10,000 ppm of milk protein and analyzed by the LFDs to determine the concentration at which a false-negative result (overload concentration or hook effect) was obtained. NFDM was also prepared in 0.025 M phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.4, 0.85% NaCl) and applied to stainless steel panels (100, 30, 10, or 3 μg of NFDM protein) with various drying methods and sampled with various swab methods to determine the level of detectability. Several total milk LFD kits did not detect whey proteins or whey-derived ingredients. The overload concentration of the various kits ranged from 100 to 10,000 ppm of milk protein. The small dynamic range observed for some kits would necessitate multiple dilutions of a sample to ensure that the result would fall within the range of detection. For swab sampling of stainless steel for LFD analysis, milk protein residues from surfaces onto which the residues were dried with high heat were more difficult to detect than were residues dried with low heat. No differences in sensitivity were observed as a result of moistening the residue or the swab before sampling. These results highlight the importance of understanding the detection capabilities of LFDs as indicated by the variability in the performance of the milk-specific LFDs tested.