Software-based Algorithm Research Articles

Diabetic Retinopathy Detection Using Image Processing

In today’s world, Diabetes is a very common disease that affects a lot of people’s health. As the number of diabetic patients is increasing significantly in India, there is a rise in numerous associated diseases that have disturbed society.Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is considered to be one of such silent diseases that occur as a result of either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Late diagnosis of this disease may lead to permanent eye blindness. Thus, for early diagnosis of Diabetic Retinopathy, a software-based algorithm is designed here. This technique can be promising for the pre-detection of DR without any involvement of an expert doctor and hence will save both time and money. Here, MATLAB-based image processing is used which exploits the knowledge of Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering to identify whitish lesions, cotton wool spots and hard exudates associated with DR. Based on the value of pixel counts, the image of the patient’s eye under examination is classified. Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a complication of diabetes, poses a significant threat to global vision health. Early detection and timely intervention are crucial to prevent irreversible vision loss.

Reconfiguration and loss of peritubular capillaries in chronic kidney disease

Functional and structural alterations of peritubular capillaries (PTCs) are a major determinant of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Using a software-based algorithm for semiautomatic segmentation and morphometric quantification, this study analyzes alterations of PTC shape associated with chronic tubulointerstitial injury in three mouse models and in human biopsies. In normal kidney tissue PTC shape was predominantly elongated, whereas the majority of PTCs associated with chronic tubulointerstitial injury had a rounder shape. This was reflected by significantly reduced PTC luminal area, perimeter and diameters as well as by significantly increased circularity and roundness. These morphological alterations were consistent in all mouse models and human kidney biopsies. The mean circularity of PTCs correlated significantly with categorized glomerular filtration rates and the degree of interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA) and classified the presence of CKD or IFTA. 3D reconstruction of renal capillaries revealed not only a significant reduction, but more importantly a substantial simplification and reconfiguration of the renal microvasculature in mice with chronic tubulointerstitial injury. Computational modelling predicted that round PTCs can deliver oxygen more homogeneously to the surrounding tissue. Our findings indicate that alterations of PTC shape represent a common and uniform reaction to chronic tubulointerstitial injury independent of the underlying kidney disease.

Echocardiographic evaluation of left ventricular function using an automated analysis algorithm is feasible for beginners and experts: comparison with invasive and non-invasive methods

AimsEchocardiographic measurement of left ventricular function using a user-friendly automated three-dimensional algorithm is highly attractive as it promises quick and accurate diagnosis, circumventing limitations associated with visual estimation or manual biplane measurements. We sought to assess the feasibility and correlation of such automated analysis with clinically established methods.MethodsA total of 198 patients undergoing transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) with assessment of left ventricular parameters by automated software algorithm (Philips 3D-Heartmodel; 3D-HM) which additionally had either left ventricular angiography (LVA) or cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) within 24 h of the TTE examination were analyzed. Left ventricular parameters (left ventricular end-diastolic volume, LVEDV, left ventricular end-systolic volume, LVESV as well as left ventricular ejection fraction, LVEF) were compared between 3D-HM, CMR and LVA.ResultsCorrelation of left ventricular measurements was overall good to excellent and stronger for CMR (EF r = 0.824) than for LVA (EF r = 0.746). Unexperienced and expert clinicians yielded comparable good results. For CMR, highest correlation was detected in patients with BMI < 25 and excellent image quality. High agreement was seen between 3D-HM and CMR or LVA when stratifying patients according to heart failure categories.ConclusionsEchocardiographic quantification of left ventricular parameters using a software-based algorithm correlated well with established invasive and non-invasive modalities in the clinical setting, even for unexperienced clinicians. Such automated approaches are promising as they allow a reliable, more observer-independent as well as reproducible assessment of left ventricular function.

An empirical-mathematical modelling approach to explore the drying kinetics of cereals under variable heat supply using the stitched method

ABSTRACT As reducing the energy consumption, as well as improving the quality of dried grain, is of great importance in the modern world, the present paper aims to develop an empirical-mathematical modelling approach for investigating the drying kinetics of cereals under variable heat supply. This approach is based on a stitching method and substantiates the layer height (or specific load) regulation of a product in different zones of a dryer. The proposed model made it possible to determine temperature distribution in the grain layer and substantiate the permissible range of thermal-humidity conditions for drying cereals in adjustable grain load conditions. A developed software-based algorithm for controlling the drying process of cereal grain under variable heat supply became a basis for designing a grain dryer changing the grain layer height from compartment to compartment. An original grain dryer design enables the adjustment of the specific grain load on the gas distribution grid, facilitating the occurrence of uniform drying and minimal energy consumption.

Optimization of Photopolymerization Process of Dental Composites

The aim of this paper is to perform optimization of photopolymerization process of dental composites in order to obtain maximum hardness. Samples (5 mm diameter; 2, 3 and 4 mm thickness) were made of Universal Composite (UC), Bulk fill Composite (BC) and Flowable Composite (FC). Light curing of specimens was performed with 600, 1000 and 1500 mW/cm2 light intensity and an irradiation time of 20, 40 and 60 s. Vickers microhardness on the top and bottom surfaces of samples was measured. Optimization was carried out via regression analysis using QStatLab software. Photopolymerization process parameters were calculated using a specially designed MatLab software-based algorithm. For all composites, regression models for hardness on top and bottom surfaces of composite layer were established. Layer thickness as well as hardness on top and bottom surfaces of each composite was calculated for 21 curing modes varying with light intensity and irradiation time. It was established that photopolymerization guidelines only of FC manufacturer guarantee the required hardness, while recommended regimes for UC and BC did not satisfy this requirement. Tables, containing recommended light curing regimes, were developed for three composite types, guaranteeing high hardness of composite restoration. They were designed to facilitate work of dentists in dental offices.

A video processing pipeline for intraoperative analysis of cerebral blood flow

ABSTRACT In this paper, we propose a pipeline for non-invasive, high-resolution analysis of cerebral blood flow. We use a 3-CMOS HD-Videocamera to record video samples that are processed by a stabilization and colour amplification pipeline to visualize changes caused by the blood pressure cycle. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a non-invasive, only software-based algorithm which comprises information about brain perfusion.

An efficient control flow validation method using redundant computing capacity of dual-processor architecture

Microprocessors in safety-critical system are extremely vulnerable to hacker attacks and circuit crosstalk, as they can modify binaries and lead programs to run along the wrong control flow paths. It is a significant challenge to design a run-time validation method with few hardware modification. In this paper, an efficient control flow validation method named DCM (Dual-Processor Control Flow Validation Method) is proposed basing on dual-processor architecture. Since a burst of memory-access-intensive instructions could block pipeline and cause lots of waiting clocks, the DCM assigns the idle pipeline cycles of the blocked processor to the other processor to validate control flow at run time. An extra lightweight monitor unit in each processor is needed and a special dual-processor communication protocol is also designed to schedule the redundant computing capacity between two processors to do validation tasks better. To further improve the efficiency, we also design a software-based self-validation algorithm to help reduce validation times. The combination of both hardware method and software method can speed up the validation procedure and protect the control flow paths with different emphasis. The cycle-accurate simulator GEM5 is used to simulate two ARMv7-A processors with out-of-order pipeline. Experiment shows the performance overhead of DCM is less than 22% on average across the SPEC 2006 benchmarks.

Developing Aspects of the Media Sphere Theory Applying Mathematical Modelling, Cognitive Methodology and System Analysis

The article gives the rationale for the necessity of developing a theoretical and methodological basis of mass media theory and up-dating its research tools. It is shown that the main direction of further research should be its mathematization and software-based algorithm development of models for managing information flows. It is established that in order to implement this idea it is necessary to apply a process approach to mass media system research as solutions based on the process approach significantly increase the potential for planning and forecasting changes in the media system, as well as forming effective models of information flows management. In the framework of the process approach, mass information activities are considered as processes that result in creating an information product meeting the needs of a particular consumer or a group of consumers. By integrating all the information product processes that take place in media organizations, a process-type media system that in general results in meeting information needs of the society relevant to peoples interests, preferences and requests is formed. In order to study the system, the authors highlight its most important properties such as integrity, nonadditivity and focus. It is demonstrated that it is impossible to apply conventional mathematical methods and models in the conditions of transient influence of external factors and nonlinear interrelations between processes. The authors prove that revealed interrelations can be successfully visualized by means of cognitive mapping. The authors suggest а cognitive map for evaluation of mass media performance, where a target concept is the level of awareness of the population that provides them with landmarks to guide themselves in the world while governing concepts are the quantity demanded and supplied and the quality of information products. At the same time, it is specified that the quality of mass media products is determined by mass media accessibility, promptness, reliability and feedback from consumers. The proposed cognitive map is formalized by means of fuzzy information about concepts and power of their influence, which is presented in the form of a knowledge database according to fuzzy logic rules. Use of the given knowledge database allows to develop an algorithm for evaluating performance of the media system with the help of MATLAB Fuzzy Logic Toolbox, which provides an opportunity to set performance targets and thus to give different scenarios of information flows management.

Software-based Control Algorithm for Providing Convergence Region with an Increasing Polynomial under Windowed FIR Filters

This work developed a control algorithm for dynamical systems to high performance manner, in a way to produce an optimum output applying a modification in digital filters, capable of increasing the convergence zone within the desired cut -off frequency. Such task focused on consistently improving the challenge present in digital filters, which are time-invariant linear systems that are able to modify connected input signal characteristics, where only a specific signal component of the frequency is able to reach the filter output. In dynamic systems, digital filters are applied to optimize system measurements with respect to performance and stability. This work, through C and C# coding demonstrates a modification to windowed low-pass filters within the π sample space. The π sample space is divided, and small parts of the equation are added into a polynomial of degree n; this technique removes unwanted frequency components in small angular frequency windows, causing acceleration of the signal with respect to the windowed low-pass filter. This feature is very important in dynamic measurement systems because the system achieves an increased number in values closer to the target to obtain an average that indicates values with a high level of accuracy and repeatability. This work also conducted a series of experiments to verify and validate the control algorithm, this software was fully implemented in embedded industrial systems, which support low-level C coding language that is the industry standard.

Going Vertical To Improve the Accuracy of Atomic Force Microscopy Based Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy.

Single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) is a powerful technique to characterize the energy landscape of individual proteins, the mechanical properties of nucleic acids, and the strength of receptor-ligand interactions. Atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based SMFS benefits from ongoing progress in improving the precision and stability of cantilevers and the AFM itself. Underappreciated is that the accuracy of such AFM studies remains hindered by inadvertently stretching molecules at an angle while measuring only the vertical component of the force and extension, degrading both measurements. This inaccuracy is particularly problematic in AFM studies using double-stranded DNA and RNA due to their large persistence length (p ≈ 50 nm), often limiting such studies to other SMFS platforms (e.g., custom-built optical and magnetic tweezers). Here, we developed an automated algorithm that aligns the AFM tip above the DNA's attachment point to a coverslip. Importantly, this algorithm was performed at low force (10-20 pN) and relatively fast (15-25 s), preserving the connection between the tip and the target molecule. Our data revealed large uncorrected lateral offsets for 100 and 650 nm DNA molecules [24 ± 18 nm (mean ± standard deviation) and 180 ± 110 nm, respectively]. Correcting this offset yielded a 3-fold improvement in accuracy and precision when characterizing DNA's overstretching transition. We also demonstrated high throughput by acquiring 88 geometrically corrected force-extension curves of a single individual 100 nm DNA molecule in ∼40 min and versatility by aligning polyprotein- and PEG-based protein-ligand assays. Importantly, our software-based algorithm was implemented on a commercial AFM, so it can be broadly adopted. More generally, this work illustrates how to enhance AFM-based SMFS by developing more sophisticated data-acquisition protocols.

Combination of PedCAT Weightbearing CT With Pedography Assessment of the Relationship Between Anatomy-Based Foot Center and Force/Pressure-Based Center of Gravity.

A customized pedography sensor (Pliance; Novel, Munich, Germany) was inserted into a pedCAT (Curvebeam, Warrington, PA). The aim of this study was to analyze the relative position of the anatomical foot center (FC) and the pedographic center of gravity (COG). The hypothesis was that FC should be a good predictor of mediolateral position of COG but not longitudinal since hindfoot anatomy allows free anteroposterior movement but limited mediolateral movement. In 90 patients (180 feet), a pedCAT scan with simultaneous pedography with full weightbearing in a standing position was performed. The morphology-based definition of the FC was performed with the pedCAT data following the Torque Ankle Lever Arm System (TALAS) algorithm. The force/pressure-based COG was defined with the pedography data using a software-based algorithm. The distance between FC and COG and the direction of a potential shift (distal-proximal, mediolateral) was measured and analyzed. COG motion during data acquisition was recorded and analyzed. Mean age of patients was 53.8 (range, 17-84) years, and 57 (63%) were female. The distance between FC and COG was 28.7 mm on average (range, 0-60). FC was distal to COG in 175 feet (97%; mean, 27.5 mm; range, -15 to 60) and lateral in 112 feet (62%; mean, 2.0 mm; range, -18 to 20). There was a constant and major distal longitudinal shift of COG relative to FC and an inconstant minor mediolateral shift. The data might be taken into consideration for planning and follow-up in foot and ankle surgery.

Fast Ice Detection for Wind Turbine Blades via the Langevin Equation

In this paper, a software-based algorithm for fast detection of ice on wind turbine blades is developed. The Langevin equation is used to create an entire or partial power curve with the high frequency data of wind speed and electrical power. Such a power curve is called the Langevin Power Curve (LPC). The LPC is obtained periodically. The period can be adjusted to be from 1 minute to 1 hour. For our application, the period is set to 5 minutes to allow enough data to generate an entire or partial LPC and then ice may be detected within a short period of time. The obtained LPC is compared to a reference power curve and then an ice index is calculated given that the condition for ice accretion is met. If the ice index is much higher or lower than 1, it may be concluded that there is ice on the anemometer or the blades of a wind turbine.

High Performance and High Scalable Packet Classification Algorithm for Network Security Systems

Packet classification is a core function in network and security systems; hence, hardware-based solutions, such as packet classification accelerator chips or Ternary Content Addressable Memory (T-CAM), have been widely adopted for high-performance systems. With the rapid improvement of general hardware architectures and growing popularity of multi-core multi-threaded processors, software-based packet classification algorithms are attracting considerable attention, owing to their high flexibility in satisfying various industrial requirements for security and network systems. For high classification speed, these algorithms internally use large tables, whose size increases exponentially with the ruleset size; consequently, they cannot be used with a large rulesets. To overcome this problem, we propose a new software-based packet classification algorithm that simultaneously supports high scalability and fast classification performance by merging partition decision trees in a search table. While most partitioning-based packet classification algorithms show good scalability at the cost of low classification speed, our algorithm shows very high classification speed, irrespective of the number of rules, with small tables and short table building time. Our test results confirm that the proposed algorithm enables network and security systems to support heavy traffic in the most effective manner.

WHO grade related expression of TRAIL-receptors and apoptosis regulators in meningioma

Background and aimsThe expression of the tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptors and key regulators of the extrinsic apoptosis pathway correlate with clinical features and the WHO grade of malignancy in some tumor entities. Expression of pro-apoptotic TRAIL receptors and executioners of apoptosis are a prerequisite for TRAIL-based therapies as a promising future targeted therapy. MethodsHuman meningioma tissues (n=24 WHO grade I, n=7 WHO grade II, n=6 WHO grade III) were immunohistochemically analyzed for the expression of TRAIL-R1, TRAIL-R2, TRAIL-R3, TRAIL-R4, caspase-8, cFLIP, Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, Mcl-1, Bax, and Bak. Staining intensities were quantified by an automated software-based algorithm. ResultsWhile TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R3 were nearly absent in meningiomas, TRAIL-R2 and TRAIL-R4 were abundantly expressed. However, only TRAIL-R4 expression correlated with the WHO grade of malignancy. Bcl-2 showed a non-significant upregulation in WHO grade III meningiomas. Bcl-XL and Mcl-1 expression was significantly higher in WHO grade II compared to grade I. Bcl-XL and TRAIL-R4 expression correlated with the mitotic activity (Ki67) of the tumor. Furthermore, TRAIL-R2 expression correlated with TRAIL-R4. Bak expression correlated with both, Bcl-XL and Mcl-1 expression. The expression patterns did neither correlate with the progression-free nor with the overall survival of the meningioma patients. ConclusionsApoptosis-inducing TRAIL-R2 and all key executioners of the extrinsic apoptosis pathway are abundantly expressed in meningioma. For some regulators of apoptosis with opposite functions, the expression of the pro-apoptotic protein significantly correlated with the expression level of the respective anti-apoptotic binding partner, possibly resulting in a steady-state of apoptosis. TRAIL-R2 might serve as a novel therapeutic target in meningioma.

Bortezomib sensitizes primary meningioma cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by enhancing formation of the death-inducing signaling complex.

A meningioma is the most common primary intracranial tumor in adults. Here, we investigated the therapeutic potential of the tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in 37 meningiomas. Freshly isolated primary meningioma cells were treated with TRAIL with or without different sensitizing protocols, and apoptotic cell death was then quantified. Mechanisms of TRAIL sensitization were determined by a combination of Western blotting, flow cytometry, receptor complex immunoprecipitation, and siRNA-mediated knockdown experiments. Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand receptor expression was analyzed using immunohistochemistry and quantified by an automated software-based algorithm. Primary tumor cells from 11 (29.7%) tumor samples were sensitive to TRAIL-induced apoptosis, 12 (32.4%) were intermediate TRAIL resistant, and 14 (37.8%) were completely TRAIL resistant. We tested synergistic apoptosis-inducing cotreatment strategies and determined that only the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib potently enhanced expression of the TRAIL receptors TRAIL-R1 and/or TRAIL-R2, the formation of the TRAIL death-inducing signaling complex, and activation of caspases; this treatment resulted in sensitization of all TRAIL-resistant meningioma samples to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Bortezomib pretreatment induced NOXA expression and downregulated c-FLIP, neither of which caused the TRAIL-sensitizing effect. Native TRAIL receptor expression could not predict primary TRAIL sensitivity. This first report on TRAIL sensitivity of primary meningioma cells demonstrates that TRAIL/bortezomib cotreatment may represent a novel therapeutic option for meningiomas.

Optimization of a cell counting algorithm for mobile point-of-care testing platforms.

In a point-of-care (POC) setting, it is critically important to reliably count the number of specific cells in a blood sample. Software-based cell counting, which is far faster than manual counting, while much cheaper than hardware-based counting, has emerged as an attractive solution potentially applicable to mobile POC testing. However, the existing software-based algorithm based on the normalized cross-correlation (NCC) method is too time- and, thus, energy-consuming to be deployed for battery-powered mobile POC testing platforms. In this paper, we identify inefficiencies in the NCC-based algorithm and propose two synergistic optimization techniques that can considerably reduce the runtime and, thus, energy consumption of the original algorithm with negligible impact on counting accuracy. We demonstrate that an Android™ smart phone running the optimized algorithm consumes 11.5× less runtime than the original algorithm.

Research on Demodulation of High Bit Rate Telemetry Signal in FM Baseband

According to the characteristics of PCM / FM signals, we propose a new software-based STFT Demodulation algorithm. This paper discusses in detail the basic principles of this demodulation algorithm and implementation process, analyze the complexity of the algorithm, proposed a new method for the extraction and correction code synchronization. Simulation results show that the algorithm not only can effectively suppress the influence of various disturbances in the actual signal synchronization accuracy of the code, with better demodulation performance, and realization of the principle is simple, high efficiency, easy to implement software-oriented real-time treatment.

Software-Based Vehicle Reidentification with Existing Loop Infrastructure

This paper describes the development of a hybrid reidentification algorithm to estimate travel times entirely on the basis of data that are readily available from single loop detectors (60-Hz vehicle occupancy data) without the need for additional hardware in the field. The key concept is data fusion, which combines crude and potentially inaccurate spot-point estimates with a software-based signature-matching algorithm. The method was applied to real data from an urban freeway site with four locations and six segments, with Bluetooth-matched travel time as the ground truth. The method performed satisfactorily, with a relative error of 9% for a segment 1.54 mi long, among others. It removed bias and improved the baseline spot-speed method significantly. The approach requires minimum calibration with no additional hardware. The method, therefore, proves suitable for widespread deployment and provides a clear path for agencies to leverage their existing loop and controller infrastructure for accurate travel time estimation through reidentification.

Fast and robust software‐based digital phase‐locked loop for power electronics applications

In this study, a fast and fully software-based algorithm for digital phase-locked loop (PLL) is proposed via a new hybrid approach in software and hardware by using an advanced digital signal processor architecture. The proposed algorithm is robust against line disturbances such as phase-angle jump, voltage sag, third harmonic injection, multi-zero crossing and step change in frequency at the input voltage. Performance and robustness of the proposed method are investigated through experimental studies. Furthermore, it is compared with three different PLL algorithms in detail to show its superiority over existing methods.

High performance payload conversion method

Virtualization technology is becoming more and more popular, and when applicable, telecom equipment is being migrated to virtualized platforms. While virtualization technology provides many benefits, it also presents significant challenges. For example, the special hardware used for audio payload conversion can no longer be used. In legacy telecom equipment, the user plane, which processes voice over Internet Protocol (IP), was designed to use special hardware such as field programmable gate array/complex programmable logic devices (FPGA/CPLD) for optimum performance. However, in virtualized platforms the only choice is a general-purpose processor and therefore software-based payload conversion algorithms have to be used accordingly. This introduces a major performance issue in that a software-only solution is needed to reach the performance levels already possible with legacy equipment, and the prospect of reaching this goal using a software-based algorithm is a very challenging task. This letter describes our work to use a virtualized machine to replace the CPLD board used to convert the VoIP payload packets from the Real Time Transport Protocol (RTP) to the Transcoder and Rate Adaptation Unit over IP (TRAUP) protocol and vice versa. We also describe a conversion method that we developed to improve performance.