Signal Processing (signal + processing)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Engineering

Kinds of Signal Processing

  • digital signal processing


  • Selected Abstracts


    Reviews and New Releases: Digital Signal Processing of Signals: Theory and Practice

    EUROPEAN TRANSACTIONS ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS, Issue 6 2000
    Maurice BellangerArticle first published online: 12 SEP 200
    No abstract is available for this article. [source]


    Ionic/Electronic Hybrid Materials Integrated in a Synaptic Transistor with Signal Processing and Learning Functions

    ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 22 2010
    Qianxi Lai
    A synaptic transistor is fabricated by integrating ionic/electronic hybrid materials to emulate biological synapses with spike signal processing, learning, and memory functions. A potential spike generates transient ionic fluxes in a polymer layer in the transistor gate, triggering an excitatory postsynaptic current in the transistor drain. Temporally correlated pre- and post-synaptic spikes modify ions stored in the polymer, resulting in the nonvolatile modification of the transistor with spike-timing-dependent plasticity. [source]


    A note on the complex semi-definite matrix Procrustes problem

    NUMERICAL LINEAR ALGEBRA WITH APPLICATIONS, Issue 6 2007
    J. Kiskiras
    Abstract This note outlines an algorithm for solving the complex ,matrix Procrustes problem'. This is a least-squares approximation over the cone of positive semi-definite Hermitian matrices, which has a number of applications in the areas of Optimization, Signal Processing and Control. The work generalizes the method of Allwright (SIAM J. Control Optim. 1988; 26(3):537,556), who obtained a numerical solution to the real-valued version of the problem. It is shown that, subject to an appropriate rank assumption, the complex problem can be formulated in a real setting using a matrix-dilation technique, for which the method of Allwright is applicable. However, this transformation results in an over-parametrization of the problem and, therefore, convergence to the optimal solution is slow. Here, an alternative algorithm is developed for solving the complex problem, which exploits fully the special structure of the dilated matrix. The advantages of the modified algorithm are demonstrated via a numerical example. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Signal Processing during Developmental Multicellular Patterning

    BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 1 2008
    Claudiu A. Giurumescu
    Developing design strategies for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine is limited by our nascent understanding of how cell populations "self-organize" into multicellular structures on synthetic scaffolds. Mechanistic insights can be gleaned from the quantitative analysis of biomolecular signals that drive multicellular patterning during the natural processes of embryonic and adult development. This review describes three critical layers of signal processing that govern multicellular patterning: spatiotemporal presentation of extracellular cues, intracellular signaling networks that mediate crosstalk among extracellular cues, and finally, intranuclear signal integration at the level of transcriptional regulation. At every level in this hierarchy, the quantitative attributes of signals have a profound impact on patterning. We discuss how experiments and mathematical models are being used to uncover these quantitative features and their impact on multicellular phenotype. [source]


    Multimethodological approach to investigate chamber tombs in the Sabine Necropolis at Colle del Forno (CNR, Rome, Italy)

    ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROSPECTION, Issue 2 2009
    Salvatore Piro
    Abstract Non-destructive geophysical prospecting methods are increasingly used for the investigation of archaeological sites, especially where a detailed physical and geometrical reconstruction of structures is required prior to any excavation work. Often, due to the limited size and depth of an archaeological structure, it may be rather difficult to single out its position and extent because of the generally low signal-to noise (S/N) ratio. This can be overcome by improving data acquisition and processing techniques and integrating different geophysical methods. In this work the results of a multimethodological surveys, used with the aim of detecting sharp discontinuities (boundary of cavities and fractures in the host medium) at the Archaeological Test Site of Sabine Necropolis at Research Area of National Research Council of Rome (Montelibretti, Italy) are shown. For the survey a combination of passive and active methods (magnetic, ground-penetrating radar (GPR), and dipole,dipole geoelectric (DDG)), topographical and three-dimensional laser scanner surveys and archaeological excavations were used to study the state of conservation of underground tombs. With all geophysical methods a high-resolution data acquisition was adopted with the aim of reconstructing a global vision of the study area. Signal processing and amplitude time-slice representation techniques were used for the analysis of GPR data. The bi-dimensional cross-correlation technique was applied to enhance the S/N ratio of the magnetic data. An example of the integration (both qualitative and quantitative) of these results is presented for a portion of the investigated area in the Sabine Necropolis at Colle del Forno (Rome, Italy). Archaeological excavations were then conducted systematically after completing the geophysical surveys and interpretations (from 2000 to 2006), which confirmed the location and shape of the individual chamber tombs with associated corridors. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Are Points the Better Graphics Primitives?

    COMPUTER GRAPHICS FORUM, Issue 3 2001
    Markus Gross
    Since the early days of graphics the computer based representation of three-dimensional geometry has been one of the core research fields. Today, various sophisticated geometric modelling techniques including NURBS or implicit surfaces allow the creation of 3D graphics models with increasingly complex shape. In spite of these methods the triangle has survived over decades as the king of graphics primitives meeting the right balance between descriptive power and computational burden. As a consequence, today's consumer graphics hardware is heavily tailored for high performance triangle processing. In addition, a new generation of geometry processing methods including hierarchical representations, geometric filtering, or feature detection fosters the concept of triangle meshes for graphics modelling. Unlike triangles, points have amazingly been neglected as a graphics primitive. Although being included in APIs since many years, it is only recently that point samples experience a renaissance in computer graphics. Conceptually, points provide a mere discretization of geometry without explicit storage of topology. Thus, point samples reduce the representation to the essentials needed for rendering and enable us to generate highly optimized object representations. Although the loss of topology poses great challenges for graphics processing, the latest generation of algorithms features high performance rendering, point/pixel shading, anisotropic texture mapping, and advanced signal processing of point sampled geometry. This talk will give an overview of how recent research results in the processing of triangles and points are changing our traditional way of thinking of surface representations in computer graphics - and will discuss the question: Are Points the Better Graphics Primitives? [source]


    Nonparametric Identification of a Building Structure from Experimental Data Using Wavelet Neural Network

    COMPUTER-AIDED CIVIL AND INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING, Issue 5 2003
    Shih-Lin Hung
    By combining wavelet decomposition and artificial neural networks (ANN), wavelet neural networks (WNN) are used for solving chaotic signal processing. The basic operations and training method of wavelet neural networks are briefly introduced, since these networks can approximate universal functions. The feasibility of structural behavior modeling and the possibility of structural health monitoring using wavelet neural networks are investigated. The practical application of a wavelet neural network to the structural dynamic modeling of a building frame in shaking tests is considered in an example. Structural acceleration responses under various levels of the strength of the Kobe earthquake were used to train and then test the WNNs. The results reveal that the WNNs not only identify the structural dynamic model, but also can be applied to monitor the health condition of a building structure under strong external excitation. [source]


    Signal de-noising in magnetic resonance spectroscopy using wavelet transforms

    CONCEPTS IN MAGNETIC RESONANCE, Issue 6 2002
    Hector F. Cancino-De-Greiff
    Abstract Computer signal processing is used for quantitative data analysis (QDA) in magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). The main difficulty in QDA is that MRS signals appear to be contaminated with random noise. Noise reduction can be achieved by coherent averaging, but it is not always possible to average many MRS waveforms. Wavelet shrinkage de-noising (WSD) is a technique that can be employed in this case. The potentialities of WSD in MRS, alone and combined with the Cadzow algorithm, are analyzed through computer simulations. The results can facilitate an appropriate application of WSD, as well as a deeper understanding of this technique. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Concepts Magn Reson 14: 388,401, 2002 [source]


    Grid services for earthquake science

    CONCURRENCY AND COMPUTATION: PRACTICE & EXPERIENCE, Issue 6-7 2002
    Geoffrey Fox
    Abstract We describe an information system architecture for the ACES (Asia,Pacific Cooperation for Earthquake Simulation) community. It addresses several key features of the field,simulations at multiple scales that need to be coupled together; real-time and archival observational data, which needs to be analyzed for patterns and linked to the simulations; a variety of important algorithms including partial differential equation solvers, particle dynamics, signal processing and data analysis; a natural three-dimensional space (plus time) setting for both visualization and observations; the linkage of field to real-time events both as an aid to crisis management and to scientific discovery. We also address the need to support education and research for a field whose computational sophistication is rapidly increasing and spans a broad range. The information system assumes that all significant data is defined by an XML layer which could be virtual, but whose existence ensures that all data is object-based and can be accessed and searched in this form. The various capabilities needed by ACES are defined as grid services, which are conformant with emerging standards and implemented with different levels of fidelity and performance appropriate to the application. Grid Services can be composed in a hierarchical fashion to address complex problems. The real-time needs of the field are addressed by high-performance implementation of data transfer and simulation services. Further, the environment is linked to real-time collaboration to support interactions between scientists in geographically distant locations. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Intermediate frequency zero-crossing detection of filtered MSK based on irregular sampling

    EUROPEAN TRANSACTIONS ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS, Issue 7 2007
    Tobias Scholand
    Short range communication systems such as Bluetooth and DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) deploy Gaussian frequency shift keying (GFSK), which is a continuous phase modulation (CPM) scheme derived from minimum shift keying (MSK). Since these short range communication systems require low-cost transceiver structures, the development of appropriate receiver techniques has been a major research topic. Particularly, analogue limiter--discriminator--integrator (LDI) dump filtering techniques have received considerable attention. With the availability of digital signal processing (DSP), the digital implementation of LDI techniques has become increasingly attractive. In order to make LDI receivers more accessible, zero-crossing detection was proposed. First, the authors shall focus on the establishment of an appropriate mathematical discrete-time system model, taking bandlimiting receiver filters into account explicitly. This system model serves as the basis for the development of a multitude of digital zero-crossing detection techniques. Starting from this mathematical discrete-time system model, the authors shall focus on a novel, yet promising, approach to digital zero-crossing detection in the intermediate frequency domain, using irregular sampling instead of the commonly employed regular sampling. The novel detectors shall be termed zero-crossing decorrelation detectors (ZXDDs), because a decorrelating approach will be used. The authors shall present three different variants of the ZXDD. The performance of these ZXDD schemes has been analysed in simulations by the authors and obtained results shall be presented and compared to the performance of known LDI and zero-crossing detection based techniques. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Signal representation and approximation,fundamental limits

    EUROPEAN TRANSACTIONS ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS, Issue 5 2007
    Holger Boche
    The expansion of functions in orthonormal bases is an important analytical and practical instrument in many different areas such as in signal processing, in system and information theory and in communications. However, the selection of an optimal basis is a non-trivial task in general and depends strongly on the performance measure of the concrete problem. This paper considers the basis selection problem for three different applications, starting with a problem from system theory, looking on entropy based methods from information theory, and finally it investigates the peak-to-average power ratio problem in communication systems. In particular, it is investigated under which conditions the problems are solvable, that is under which conditions there exists an appropriate basis. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Roles of partly unfolded conformations in macromolecular self-assembly

    GENES TO CELLS, Issue 1 2001
    Keiichi Namba
    From genes to cells there are many steps of hierarchical increments in building up complex frameworks that provide intricate networks of macromolecular interactions, through which cellular activities such as gene expression, signal processing, energy transduction and material conversion are dynamically organized and regulated. The self-assembly of macromolecules into large complexes is one such important step, but this process is by no means a simple aggregation of macromolecules with predefined, rigid complementary structures. In many cases the component molecules undergo either domain rearrangements or folding of disordered portions, which occurs only following binding to their correct partners. The partial disorder is used in some cases to prevent spontaneous assembly at inappropriate times or locations. It is also often used for finely tuning the equilibrium and activation energy of reversible binding. In other cases, such as protein translocation across membranes, an unfolded terminus appears to be the prerequisite for the process as an initiation signal, as well as the physical necessity to be taken into narrow channels. Self-assembly processes of viruses and bacterial flagella are typical examples where the induced folding of disordered chains plays a key role in regulating the addition of new components to a growing assembly. Various aspects of mechanistic roles of natively unfolded conformations of proteins are overviewed and discussed in this short review. [source]


    Feature removal and isolation in potential field data

    GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2004
    F. Boschetti
    SUMMARY With the aim of designing signal processing tools that act locally in space upon specific features of a signal, we compare two algorithms to remove or isolate individual anomalies in potential field profiles. The first method, based on multiscale edge analysis, leaves other features in the signal relatively untouched. A second method, based on iterative lateral continuation and subtraction of anomalies, accounts for the influence of adjacent anomalies on one another. This allows a potential field profile to be transformed into a number of single anomaly signals. Each single anomaly can then be individually processed, which considerably simplifies applications such as inversion and signal processing. [source]


    Improving Kirchhoff migration with repeated local plane-wave imaging?

    GEOPHYSICAL PROSPECTING, Issue 6 2005
    A SAR-inspired signal-processing approach in prestack depth imaging
    ABSTRACT A local plane-wave approach of generalized diffraction tomography in heterogeneous backgrounds, equivalent to Kirchhoff summation techniques when applied in seismic reflection, is re-programmed to act as repeated synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging for seismic prestack depth migration. Spotlight-mode SAR imaging quickly provides good images of the electromagnetic reflectivity of the ground via fast Fourier transform (FFT)-based signal processing. By calculating only the Green's functions connecting the aircraft to the centre of the illuminated patch, scattering structures around that centre are also recovered. SAR technology requires us to examine seismic imaging from the local point of view, where the quantity and quality of the available information at each image point are what are important, regardless of the survey geometry. When adapted to seismics, a local image of arbitrary size and sampling is obtained by FFT of seismic energy maps in the scattering wavenumber domain around each node of a pre-calculated grid of Green's functions. These local images can be used to generate a classic prestack depth-migrated section by collecting only their centres. However, the local images also provide valuable information around the centre, as in SAR. They can therefore help to pre-analyse prestack depth migration efficiently, and to perform velocity analysis at a very low cost. The FFT-based signal-processing approach allows local, efficient and automatic control of anti-aliasing, noise and resolution, including optimized Jacobian weights. Repeated local imaging could also be used to speed up migration, with interpolation between local images associated with a coarse grid of Green's functions, as an alternative to interpolation of Green's functions. The local images may, however, show distortions due to the local plane-wave approximation, and the velocity variations across their frame. Such effects, which are not necessarily a problem in SAR, should be controlled and corrected to further enhance seismic imaging. Applications to realistic models and to real data show that, despite the distortion effects, the local images can yield similar information to prestack depth migration, including common-image-point gathers for velocity analyses and AVO/AVA effects, at a much lower cost when a small target is considered. [source]


    Ionic/Electronic Hybrid Materials Integrated in a Synaptic Transistor with Signal Processing and Learning Functions

    ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 22 2010
    Qianxi Lai
    A synaptic transistor is fabricated by integrating ionic/electronic hybrid materials to emulate biological synapses with spike signal processing, learning, and memory functions. A potential spike generates transient ionic fluxes in a polymer layer in the transistor gate, triggering an excitatory postsynaptic current in the transistor drain. Temporally correlated pre- and post-synaptic spikes modify ions stored in the polymer, resulting in the nonvolatile modification of the transistor with spike-timing-dependent plasticity. [source]


    xBCI: A Generic Platform for Development of an Online BCI System

    IEEJ TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING, Issue 4 2010
    I Putu Susila Non-member
    Abstract A generic platform for realizing an online brain,computer interface (BCI) named xBCI was developed. The platform consists of several functional modules (components), such as data acquisition, storage, mathematical operations, signal processing, network communication, data visualization, experiment control, and real-time feedback presentation. Users can easily build their own BCI systems by combining the components on a graphical-user-interface (GUI) based diagram editor. They can also extend the platform by adding components as plug-ins or by creating components using a scripting language. The platform works on multiple operating systems and supports parallel (multi-threaded) data processing and data transfer to other PCs through a network transmission control protocol/internet protocol or user datagram protocol (TCP/IP or UDP). A BCI system based on motor imagery and a steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) based BCI system were constructed and tested on the platform. The results show that the platform is able to process multichannel brain signals in real time. The platform provides users with an easy-to-use system development tool and reduces the time needed to develop a BCI system. Copyright © 2010 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [source]


    Real-time signal processing by adaptive repeated median filters

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADAPTIVE CONTROL AND SIGNAL PROCESSING, Issue 5 2010
    K. Schettlinger
    Abstract In intensive care, a basic goal is to extract the signals from very noisy time series in real time. We propose a robust online filter with an adaptive window width, which yields a smooth representation of the denoised data in stable periods and which is also able to trace typical patterns such as level shifts or trend changes with small time delay. Several versions of this method are evaluated and compared with a simulation study and on real data. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Real-time signal processing for high-density microelectrode array systems

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADAPTIVE CONTROL AND SIGNAL PROCESSING, Issue 11 2009
    K. Imfeld
    Abstract The microelectrode array (MEA) technology is continuously progressing towards higher integration of an increasing number of electrodes. The ensuing data streams that can be of several hundreds or thousands of Megabits/s require the implementation of new signal processing and data handling methodologies to substitute the currently used off-line analysis methods. Here, we present one approach based on the hardware implementation of a wavelet-based solution for real-time processing of extracellular neuronal signals acquired on high-density MEAs. We demonstrate that simple mathematical operations on the discrete wavelet transform (DWT) coefficients can be used for efficient neuronal spike detection and sorting. As the DWT is particularly well suited for implementation on dedicated hardware, we elaborated a wavelet processor on a field programmable gate array (FPGA) in order to compute the wavelet coefficients on 256 channels in real-time. By providing sufficient hardware resources, this solution can be easily scaled up for processing more electrode channels. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Parallel computing for real-rime signal processing and control, M. O. Tokhi, M. A. Hossain and M. H. Shaheed, Springer, London, 2003, xiii + 253pp

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADAPTIVE CONTROL AND SIGNAL PROCESSING, Issue 6 2004
    D.I. Jones Dr.
    No abstract is available for this article. [source]


    Hyperchaotic signal generation via DSP for efficient perturbations to liquid mixing

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CIRCUIT THEORY AND APPLICATIONS, Issue 1 2009
    Zhong Zhang
    Abstract This paper presents the design, simulation, hardware implementation and an application in liquid mixing of some hyperchaotic circuits, based on the digital signal processing (DSP) technology. The hyperchaotic Chen's system is used as an example to show the system discretization and variable renormalization in the design process. Numerical simulation is given to verify the hardware signal generator. The implemented hardware of Chen's system generates outputs in good agreement with the numerical simulation. The hyperchaotic signal output from the DSP is applied to generate complex perturbations in liquid mixing experiments. Dye dispersion experiments show that the induced hyperchaotic motion effectively helps enhance the mixing homogeneity in the stirred-tank-based mixer in our laboratory. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Guiding a mobile robot with cellular neural networks

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CIRCUIT THEORY AND APPLICATIONS, Issue 6 2002
    Xavier Vilasís-Cardona
    Abstract We show how cellular neural networks (CNNs) are capable of providing the necessary signal processing needed for visual navigation of an autonomous mobile robot. In this way, even complex feature detection and object recognition can be obtained in real time by analogue hardware, making fully autonomous real-time operation feasible. An autonomous robot was first simulated and then implemented by simulating the CNN with a DSP. The robot is capable of navigating in a maze following lines painted on the floor. Images are processed entirely by a CNN-based algorithm, and navigation is controlled by a fuzzy-rule-based algorithm. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Current differential amplifiers: new circuits and applications

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CIRCUIT THEORY AND APPLICATIONS, Issue 6 2001
    George Souliotis
    Abstract New CMOS current differential amplifiers are proposed suitable for analogue signal processing at high frequencies. They consist of simple current mirrors, which are easy to design and to implement in IC form. Low-voltage low-power design is feasible. Relying on these devices a number of applications are obtained, including lossy and lossless integrators, simulated inductors, active filters, and harmonic oscillators. Theoretical expressions are given for all of the proposed new circuits. The verification of the circuits is also achieved by simulation. Copyright 2001 © John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Infiltration and Inversion of Holographically Defined Polymer Photonic Crystal Templates by Atomic Layer Deposition,

    ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 12 2006
    S. King
    Practical methods of microfabrication are vital for the development of photonic-crystal-based signal processing. However, extension of the optical methods that dominate integrated circuit fabrication to three dimensions is challenging. This communication reports an essential step for creation of devices operating within a full photonic band gap: atomic layer deposition is used to create the high-index TiO2 replicas of holographically defined photonic crystals shown in the figure. [source]


    Spectra of wavelet scale coefficients from process acoustic measurements as input for PLS modelling of pulp quality,

    JOURNAL OF CHEMOMETRICS, Issue 8-10 2002
    Anders Björk
    Abstract Acoustic and vibration signals are captured by simple standard accelerometers. These can often be mounted directly on operative process equipment, creating a completely non-invasive measurement system. The signals from the accelerometer are then amplified, digitized by an analogue-to-digital converter and stored in some suitable format in a PC. The method most often used for signal processing of acoustic data has been to apply variants of fast Fourier transform (FFT) on sampled data to produce a frequency domain representation. An alternative way tried here is to use the fast wavelet transform (FWT) in combination with FFT. The FWT has the advantage that it produces time-resolved representations and, on each time scale, different features can be extracted. However, in this case, time resolution has no meaning, since the starting points for data acquisitions were not fixed. The wavelet step can be seen as a series of pre-filters and it is here followed by FFT on coefficients at each wavelet scale. The results are compared to those obtained after FFT on the complete time series. We have used spectra of wavelet scale coefficients in an attempt to model pulp quality with PLS. In this case the number of points in the resulting wavelet multiresolution spectrum (WT-MRS) can be limited to a low number, e.g. 255 compared to 1025 with direct FFT on the time series. In the PLS modelling step the advantage is that the first two components describe Y much better than when using the conventional approach, e.g. 72% explained Y variance compared to 40%. A second advantage is that the model requires fewer coefficients. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Speech Watermarking: An Approach for the Forensic Analysis of Digital Telephonic Recordings,

    JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, Issue 4 2010
    Marcos Faundez-Zanuy Ph.D
    Abstract:, In this article, the authors discuss the problem of forensic authentication of digital audio recordings. Although forensic audio has been addressed in several articles, the existing approaches are focused on analog magnetic recordings, which are less prevalent because of the large amount of digital recorders available on the market (optical, solid state, hard disks, etc.). An approach based on digital signal processing that consists of spread spectrum techniques for speech watermarking is presented. This approach presents the advantage that the authentication is based on the signal itself rather than the recording format. Thus, it is valid for usual recording devices in police-controlled telephone intercepts. In addition, our proposal allows for the introduction of relevant information such as the recording date and time and all the relevant data (this is not always possible with classical systems). Our experimental results reveal that the speech watermarking procedure does not interfere in a significant way with the posterior forensic speaker identification. [source]


    Ocular phenotype in a mouse gene knockout model for infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis

    JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH, Issue 5 2006
    Bo Lei
    Abstract Mutations in the human protein palmitoyl thioesterase-1 (PPT-1) gene result in an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder designated neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL), type CLN1, or infantile NCL. Among the symptoms of the CLN1 disease are accumulation of autofluorescent lysosomal storage bodies in neurons and other cell types, seizures, motor and cognitive decline, blindness, and premature death. Development of an effective therapy for this disorder will be greatly assisted by the availability of suitable animal models. A mouse PPT-1 gene knockout model has recently been generated. Studies were performed to determine whether the mouse model exhibits ocular features of the human CLN1 disorder. A progressive accumulation of autofluorescent storage material in all layers of the retina was observed in the PPT-1 knockout mice. Accompanying the storage body accumulation was a modest loss of cells with nuclei in the outer and inner nuclear layers. As indicated by electroretinogram (ERG) responses, retinal function was only mildly impaired at 4 months of age but was severely impaired by 8 months, despite only modest changes in retinal morphology. The pupillary light reflex (PLR), on the other hand, was exaggerated in the knockout mice. The apparent anomaly between the ERG and the PLR findings suggests that disease-related PLR changes may be due to changes in extraocular signal processing. The pronounced ocular phenotype in the PPT-1 knockout mice makes these animals a good model for testing therapeutic interventions for treatment of the human CLN1 disorder. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    Organizational evolution of digital signal processing software development

    JOURNAL OF SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE AND EVOLUTION: RESEARCH AND PRACTICE, Issue 4 2006
    Susanna Pantsar-Syväniemi
    Abstract A base station, as a network element, has become an increasingly software-intensive system. Digital signal processing (DSP) software is hard real-time software that is a part of the software system needed in a base station. This article reports practical experiences related to organizing the development of embedded software in the telecommunication industry, at Nokia Networks. The article introduces the main factors influencing the development of DSP software and also compares the evolutionary process under study with both selected organizational models for a software product line and a multistage model for the software life cycle. We believe it is vitally important to formulate the organization according to the software architecture, and it is essential to have a dedicated development organization with long-term responsibility for the software. History shows that without long-term responsibility, there is no software reuse. In this paper we introduce a new organizational model for product line development. This new hybrid model clarifies long-term responsibilities in large software organizations with hundreds of staff members and formulates the organization according to the software architecture. Our case needs a couple more constraints to keep it in the evolution stage of the software life cycle. Thus, we extend the evolution phase in the multistage model to make it relevant for embedded, hard real-time software. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    MECHANICAL,ACOUSTIC AND SENSORY EVALUATIONS OF CORNSTARCH,WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE EXTRUDATES

    JOURNAL OF TEXTURE STUDIES, Issue 4 2007
    E.M. CHENG
    ABSTRACT The mechanism relating sensory perception of brittle food foams to their mechanical and acoustic properties during crushing was investigated. Cornstarch was extruded with four levels of whey protein isolate (0, 6, 12 and 18%) and two levels of in-barrel moisture (23 and 27%). Hardness, fracturability and roughness of mass were three main sensory attributes that varied substantially between products. High correlations (r = 0.841,0.998) were observed between sensory attributes and instrumentally determined mechanical properties, including crushing force (11.2,57.9 N) and crispness work (4.6,75.8 N·mm). Based on acoustic data obtained during instrumental crushing, time-domain signal processing and a novel voice recognition technique utilizing frequency spectrograms were successfully employed for understanding the differences in the sensory properties of various products. Microstructure features, including average cell diameter (1.00,2.94 mm), average wall thickness (0.04,0.27 mm) and cell number density (7,193 cell/cm3), were characterized noninvasively using X-ray microtomography, and proved to be critical in relating sensory perception of the cellular extrudates to their mechanical,acoustic signatures. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS The sensory perception of crispy and crunchy food products is primarily a function of their mechanical response and emission of sounds during fracture. The current study was focused on understanding these relationships in the context of brittle extruded foods. The mechanical,acoustic techniques outlined in this study have the potential of reducing the time, costs and subjectivity involved in evaluation of new foods by human panels, and can be a useful tool in the overall product development cycle. These techniques need not be limited only to food systems, as properties of any rigid, fracturable material can be characterized based on its mechanical,acoustic signature. [source]


    Denoising radiocommunications signals by using iterative wavelet shrinkage

    JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL STATISTICAL SOCIETY: SERIES C (APPLIED STATISTICS), Issue 4 2002
    Paul D. Baxter
    Summary. Radiocommunications signals pose particular problems in the context of statistical signal processing. This is because short-term fluctuations (noise) are a consequence of atmospheric effects whose characteristics vary in both the short and the longer term. We contrast traditional time domain and frequency domain filters with wavelet methods. We also propose an iterative wavelet procedure which appears to provide benefits over existing wavelet methods. [source]


    Distribution and regulation of substance P-related peptide in the frog visual system

    MICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE, Issue 4 2001
    Elizabeth A. DebskiArticle first published online: 10 AUG 200
    Abstract Modulation of visual signal activity has consequences for both signal processing and for activity-dependent structuring mechanisms. Among the neuromodulatory agents found in visual areas are substance P (SP)-related peptides. This article reviews what is known about these substances in the amphibian retina and optic tectum with special emphasis on the leopard frog, Rana pipiens. It is found that the distribution of these SP-related peptides is remarkably similar to that seen in mammals. This suggests that study of model amphibian systems may significantly enhance our understanding of how neuropeptides contribute to visual system function and organization. Microsc. Res. Tech. 54:220,228, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]