Computationally Efficient Implementation of Convolution-based Locally Adaptive Binarization Techniques

One of the most important steps of document image processing is binarization. The computational requirements of locally adaptive binarization techniques make them unsuitable for devices with limited computing facilities. In this paper, we have presented a computationally efficient implementation of convolution based locally adaptive binarization techniques keeping the performance comparable to the original implementation. The computational complexity has been reduced from O(W2N2) to O(WN2) where WxW is the window size and NxN is the image size. Experiments over benchmark datasets show that the computation time has been reduced by 5 to 15 times depending on the window size while memory consumption remains the same with respect to the state-of-the-art algorithmic implementation

Universality of Electron Mobility in LaAlO3_3/SrTiO3_3 and bulk SrTiO3_3

Metallic LaAlO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$ (LAO/STO) interfaces attract enormous attention, but the relationship between the electron mobility and the sheet electron density, $n_s$, is poorly understood. Here we derive a simple expression for the three-dimensional electron density near the interface, $n_{3D}$, as a function of $n_s$ and find that the mobility for LAO/STO-based interfaces depends on $n_{3D}$ in the same way as it does for bulk doped STO. It is known that undoped bulk STO is strongly compensated with $N \simeq 5 \times 10^{18}~\rm{cm^{-3}}$ background donors and acceptors. In intentionally doped bulk STO with a concentration of electrons $n_{3D} < N$ background impurities determine the electron scattering. Thus, when $n_{3D} < N$ it is natural to see in LAO/STO the same mobility as in the bulk. On the other hand, in the bulk samples with $n_{3D} > N$ the mobility collapses because scattering happens on $n_{3D}$ intentionally introduced donors. For LAO/STO the polar catastrophe which provides electrons is not supposed to provide equal number of random donors and thus the mobility should be larger. The fact that the mobility is still the same implies that for the LAO/STO the polar catastrophe model should be revisited.Comment: 4 pages and 1 figur

The stator complex of the A1A0-ATP synthase--structural characterization of the E and H subunits.

Archaeal ATP synthase (A-ATPase) is the functional homolog to the ATP synthase found in bacteria, mitochondria and chloroplasts, but the enzyme is structurally more related to the proton-pumping vacuolar ATPase found in the endomembrane system of eukaryotes. We have cloned, overexpressed and characterized the stator-forming subunits E and H of the A-ATPase from the thermoacidophilic Archaeon, Thermoplasma acidophilum. Size exclusion chromatography, CD, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopic experiments indicate that both polypeptides have a tendency to form dimers and higher oligomers in solution. However, when expressed together or reconstituted, the two individual polypeptides interact with high affinity to form a stable heterodimer. Analyses by gel filtration chromatography and analytical ultracentrifugation show the heterodimer to have an elongated shape, and the preparation to be monodisperse. Thermal denaturation analyses by CD and differential scanning calorimetry revealed the more cooperative unfolding transitions of the heterodimer in comparison to those of the individual polypeptides. The data are consistent with the EH heterodimer forming the peripheral stalk(s) in the A-ATPase in a fashion analogous to that of the related vacuolar ATPase

Quantization of Hall Resistance at the Metallic Interface between an Oxide Insulator and SrTiO3_{3}

The two-dimensional metal forming at the interface between an oxide insulator and SrTiO3 provides new opportunities for oxide electronics. However, the quantum Hall effect, one of the most fascinating effects of electrons confined in two dimensions, remains underexplored at these complex oxide heterointerfaces. Here, we report the experimental observation of quantized Hall resistance in a SrTiO3 heterointerface based on the modulation-doped amorphous-LaAlO$_{3}$/SrTiO$_{3}$ heterostructure, which exhibits both high electron mobility exceeding 10000 cm$^{2}$/Vs and low carrier density on the order of ~10$^{12}$ cm$^{-2}$. Along with unambiguous Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations, the spacing of the quantized Hall resistance suggests that the interface is comprised of a single quantum well with ten parallel conducting two-dimensional subbands. This provides new insight into the electronic structure of conducting oxide interfaces and represents an important step towards designing and understanding advanced oxide devices

Regulation of the water status in three co-occurring phreatophytes at the southern fringe of the Taklamakan Desert

Aims We investigated the regulation of the water status in three predominant perennial C3 phreatophytes (Alhagi sparsifolia, Populus euphratica, Tamarix ramosissima) at typical sites of their occurrence at the Southern fringe of the hyperarid Taklamakan Desert (north-west China). Methods In the foreland of the river oasis of Qira (Cele), we determined meteorological variables, plant biomass production, plant water potentials (psi(l)) and the water flux through the plants. We calculated the hydraulic conductance on the flow path from the soil to the leaves (k(SL)) and tested the effects of k(SL) psi(L) and the leaf-to-air difference in the partial pressure of water vapour (Delta w) on stomatal regulation using regression analyses. Important Findings Despite high values of plant water potential at the point of turgor loss, all plants sustained psi(L) at levels that were high enough to Maintain transpiration throughout the growing season. In A. sparsitolia, stomatal resistance (r(s); related to leaf area or leaf mass) was most closely correlated with k(SL);. whereas in P. euphratica, similar to 70%, of the variation in r(s) was explained by Delta w. In T. ramosissima, leaf area-related r(s) was significantly correlated with psi(L) and k(SL). The regulation mechanisms are in accordance with the growth patterns and the Occurrence of the species in relation to their distance to the ground water

Grain size analysis in permanent magnets from Kerr microscopy images using machine learning techniques

Understanding the relationships between composition, structure, processing and properties helps in the development of improved materials for known applications as well as for new applications. Materials scientists, chemists and physicists have researched these relationships for many years, until the recent past, by characterizing the bulk properties of functional materials and describing them with theoretical models. Magnets are widly used in electric vehicles (EV), hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), data storage, power generation and transmission, sensors etc. The search for novel magnetic phases requires an efficient quantitative microstructure analysis of microstructural information like phases, grain distribution and micromagnetic structural information like domain patterns, and correlating the information with intrinsic magnetic parameters of magnet samples. The information out of micromagnetic domains helps in obtaining the optimized microstructures in magnets that have good intrinsic magnetic properties. This paper is aimed at introducing the use of a traditional machine learning (ML) model with a higher dimensional feature set and a deep learning (DL) model to classify various regions in sintered NdFeB magnets based on Kerr-microscopy images. The obtained results are compared against reference data, which is generated manually by subject experts. Additionally, the results were compared against the approach for grain analysis, which is based on the electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) technique. Further, the challenges faced by the traditional machine learning model for classifying microstructures in Kerr micrographs are discussed

Registration of a Validated Mechanical Atlas of Middle Ear for Surgical Simulation

International audienceThis paper is centered on the development of a new train- ing and rehearsal simulation system for middle ear surgery. First, we have developed and validated a mechanical atlas based on finite element method of the human middle ear. The atlas is based on a microMRI. Its mechanical behavior computed in real-time has been successfully val- idated. In addition, we propose a method for the registration of the mechanical atlas on patient imagery. The simulation can be used for a rehearsal surgery with the geometrical anatomy of a given patient and with mechanical data that are validated. Moreover, this process does not necessitate a complete re-built of the model

Evidence of weak superconductivity at the room-temperature grown LaAlO₃/SrTiO₃ interface

The two-dimensional electron gas at the crystalline LaAlO3/SrTiO3 (c-LAO/STO) interface has sparked large interest due to its exotic properties, including an intriguing gate-tunable superconducting phase. While there is growing evidence of pronounced spatial inhomogeneity in the conductivity at STO-based interfaces, the consequences for superconductivity remain largely unknown. We study interfaces based on amorphous LAO top layers grown at room temperature (a-LAO/STO) and demonstrate a superconducting phase similar to c-LAO/STO, however, with a gate-tunable critical temperature of 460 mK. The dependence of the superconducting critical current on temperature, magnetic field, and back-gate-controlled doping is found to be consistently described by a model of a random array of Josephson-coupled superconducting domains

Gaussian-weighted moving-window robust automatic threshold selection

A multi-scale, moving-window method for local thresholding based on Robust Automatic Threshold Selection (RATS) is developed. Using a model for the noise response of the optimal edge detector in this context, the reliability of thresholds computed at different scales is determined. The threshold computed at the smallest scale at which the reliability is suffcient is used. The performance on 2-D images is evaluated on synthetic an natural images in the presence of varying background and noise. Results show the method deals better with these problems than earlier versions of RATS at most noise levels