On the application of reservoir computing networks for noisy image recognition

Reservoir Computing Networks (RCNs) are a special type of single layer recurrent neural networks, in which the input and the recurrent connections are randomly generated and only the output weights are trained. Besides the ability to process temporal information, the key points of RCN are easy training and robustness against noise. Recently, we introduced a simple strategy to tune the parameters of RCNs. Evaluation in the domain of noise robust speech recognition proved that this method was effective. The aim of this work is to extend that study to the field of image processing, by showing that the proposed parameter tuning procedure is equally valid in the field of image processing and conforming that RCNs are apt at temporal modeling and are robust with respect to noise. In particular, we investigate the potential of RCNs in achieving competitive performance on the well-known MNIST dataset by following the aforementioned parameter optimizing strategy. Moreover, we achieve good noise robust recognition by utilizing such a network to denoise images and supplying them to a recognizer that is solely trained on clean images. The experiments demonstrate that the proposed RCN-based handwritten digit recognizer achieves an error rate of 0.81 percent on the clean test data of the MNIST benchmark and that the proposed RCN-based denoiser can effectively reduce the error rate on the various types of noise. (c) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Impact of crosstalk into high resistivity silicon substrate on the RF performance of SOI MOSFET

Crosstalk propagation through silicon substrate is a serious limiting factor on the performance of the RF devices and circuits. In this work, substrate crosstalk into high resistivity silicon substrate is experimentally analyzed and the impact on the RF behavior of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) MOS transistors is discussed. The injection of a 10 V peak-to-peak single tone noise signal at a frequency of 3 MHz ( fnoise) generates two sideband tones of *−56 dBm separated by fnoise from the RF output signal of a partially depleted SOI MOSFET at 1 GHz and 4.1 dBm. The efficiency of the introduction of a trap-rich polysilicon layer located underneath the buried oxide (BOX) of the high resistivity (HR) SOI wafer in the reduction of the sideband noise tones is demonstrated. An equivalent circuit to model and analyze the generation of these sideband noise tones is proposed

Parallel FPGA Implementation of RSA with Residue Number Systems - Can side-channel threats be avoided? - Extended version

In this paper, we present a new parallel architecture to avoid side-channel analyses such as: timing attack, simple/differential power analysis, fault induction attack and simple/differential electromagnetic analysis. We use a Montgomery Multiplication based on Residue Number Systems. Thanks to RNS, we develop a design able to perform an RSA signature in parallel on a set of identical and independent coprocessors. Of independent interest, we propose a new DPA countermeasure in the framework of RNS. It is only (slightly) memory consuming (1.5 KBytes). Finally, we synthesized our new architecture on FPGA and it presents promising performance results. Even if our aim is to sketch a secure architecture, the RSA signature is performed in less than 160 ms, with competitive hardware resources. To our knowledge, this is the first proposal of an architecture counteracting electromagnetic analysis apart from hardware countermeasures reducing electromagnetic radiations

Novel N4-like bacteriophages of pectobacterium atrosepticum

Pectobacterium atrosepticum is an economically important phytopathogen that is responsible for potato blackleg and soft rot, and for which current control strategies are limited. In this study, stem samples of potato crops exhibiting blackleg were taken from three farms in Co. Cork, Ireland, and they were found to be infected with P. atrosepticum. Three closely related bacteriophages (phages) that are specific to this phytopathogen were isolated and characterized, namely vB_PatP_CB1, vB_PatP_CB3, and vB_PatP_CB4 (abbreviated as CB1, CB3, and CB4). Both CB1 and CB3 were determined to infect 12 strains and CB4 10 strains of the 19 strains of P. atrosepticum tested. Morphology, latent periods, burst sizes, and their stability at various temperatures and pHs were also examined. Genome sequencing of the three phages revealed that they shared a minimum nucleotide identity of 93% with each other. Their genomes exhibited an Enquartavirinae genome organization, possessing several conserved proteins that were associated with phages of this group, like the type species Escherichia virus N4. Tandem electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) allowed for the identification of ten structural proteins that form the virion of CB1, six that are conserved in phage N4. Biocontrol experiments demonstrated that the phages suppress soft rot formation upon co-inoculation with P. atrosepticum on whole tubers. The results of this study indicate that CB1 related phages could be good candidates for phage-based control

Biocidal inactivation of Lactococcus lactis bacteriophages: efficacy and targets of commonly used sanitizers

Lactococcus lactis strains, being intensely used in the dairy industry, are particularly vulnerable to members of the so-called 936 group of phages. Sanitization and disinfection using purpose-made biocidal solutions is a critical step in controlling phage contamination in such dairy processing plants. The susceptibility of 36 936 group phages to biocidal treatments was examined using 14 biocides and commercially available sanitizers. The targets of a number of these biocides were investigated by means of electron microscopic and proteomic analyses. The results from this study highlight significant variations in phage resistance to biocides among 936 phages. Furthermore, rather than possessing resistance to specific biocides or biocide types, biocide-resistant phages tend to possess a broad tolerance to multiple classes of antimicrobial compounds

Impact of Crosstalk into High Resistivity Silicon Substrate on the RF Performance of SOI MOSFET, Journal of Telecommunications and Information Technology, 2010, nr 4

Crosstalk propagation through silicon substrate is a serious limiting factor on the performance of the RF devices and circuits. In this work, substrate crosstalk into high resistivity silicon substrate is experimentally analyzed and the impact on the RF behavior of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) MOS transistors is discussed. The injection of a 10 V peak-to-peak single tone noise signal at a frequency of 3 MHz ( fnoisfnoise) generates two sideband tones of −56 dBm separated by fnoise from the RF output signal of a partially depleted SOI MOSFET at 1 GHz and 4.1 dBm. The efficiency of the introduction of a trap-rich polysilicon layer located underneath the buried oxide (BOX) of the high resistivity (HR) SOI wafer in the reduction of the sideband noise tones is demonstrated. An equivalent circuit to model and analyze the generation of these sideband noise tones is proposed

Ferralsols of southern Côte d'Ivoire under strong land pressure: What alternative to an improving soil fertility for a sustainable cassava production?

Abstract A study carrying on the morphological and physical properties of soils has been conducted in the South of Côte d'Ivoire, in the locality of Dabou. This region is submitted to a strong land pressure and a competition between food and industrial crops. This competition took place to the detriment of cassava on ferralsols poor in organic matter. In order to understand the behavior of these soils, the main physical parameters have been described. The transects of about 300 m were opened in three villages and the pedological profiles have been described on a scale of 1/5000. The pH has especially been put in evidence because the soils under industrial crop are frequently fertilized to the detriment of food crops. The studies put in evidence an acidification phenomenon of the ferralsols. The soils were modal ferralsols or typical in absence of coarse element. It has also been noted an enrichment of the soils in thin element in depth but neither of cuirassing nor compactness. The morphology of soil was not a constraint for plant but an important constraint bound to the acidification of soils exists. To overcome this constraint, the use of organic manure was recommended in a good cropping system