An FPGA implementation of pattern-Selective pyramidal image fusion

The aim of image fusion is to combine multiple images (from one or more sensors) into a single composite image that retains all useful data without introducing artefacts. Pattern-selective techniques attempt to identify and extract whole features in the source images to use in the composite. These techniques usually rely on multiresolution image representations such as Gaussian pyramids, which are localised in both the spatial and spatial-frequency domains, since they enable identification of features at many scales simultaneously. This paper presents an FPGA implementation of pyramidal decomposition and subsequent fusion of dual video streams. This is the first reported instance of a hardware implementation of pattern-selective pyramidal image fusion. Use of FPGA technology has enabled a design that can fuse dual video streams (greyscale VGA, 30fps) in real-time, and provides approximately 100 times speedup over a 2.8GHz Pentium-

Snow tussocks, chaos, and the evolution of mast seeding

One hitherto intractable problem in studying mast seeding (synchronous intermittent heavy flowering by a population of perennial plants) is determining the relative roles of weather, plant reserves, and evolutionary selective pressures such as predator satiation. We parameterize a mechanistic resource-based model for mast seeding in Chionochloa pallens (Poaceae) using a long-term individually structured data set. Each plant's energy reserves were reconstructed using annual inputs (growing degree days), outputs (flowering), and a novel regression technique. This allowed the estimation of the parameters that control internal plant resource dynamics, and thereby allowed different models for masting to be tested against each other. Models based only on plant size, season degree days, and/or climatic cues (warm January temperatures) fail to reproduce the pattern of autocovariation in individual flowering and the high levels of flowering synchrony seen in the field. This shows that resource-matching or simple cue-based models cannot account for this example of mast seeding. In contrast, the resource-based model pulsed by a simple climate cue accurately describes both individual-level and population-level aspects of the data. The fitted resource-based model, in the absence of environmental forcing, has chaotic (but often statistically periodic) dynamics. Environmental forcing synchronizes individual reproduction, and the models predict highly variable seed production in close agreement with the data. An evolutionary model shows that the chaotic internal resource dynamics, as predicted by the fitted model, is selectively advantageous provided that adult mortality is low and seeds survive for more than 1 yr, both of which are true for C. pallens. Highly variable masting and chaotic dynamics appear to be advantageous in this case because they reduce seed losses to specialist seed predators, while balancing the costs of missed reproductive events

Electrical Resistivity Peculiarities of the Nanograined Bi2Te3 Material

The hot quasiisostaic pressure method was applied to sinter the nanograined Bi2Te3 material. The samples with various mean grain size of 64, 61, 56 and 51 nm were prepared by changing the pressure of sintering. It was found that the specific electrical resistivity of the material under study increases when the mean grain size decreases. The Hall effect was measured to extract the concentration and mobility values of the charge carries. It was found that the electron concentration decreases as the mean grain size decreases while the electron mobility has extreme dependence on the grain size

Characterization of Bulk Nanostructural Bi2Te3-based Material Prepared by Microwave-solvothermal Synthesis and Hot Isostatic Pressure

The bulk nanostructural Bi2Te3-based material was prepared by microwave assisted solvothermal method and hot isostatic pressure. Optimal synthesis conditions of the Bi2Te3 nanopowder were found. It was established that hot isostatic pressing of the nanopowders at the temperature of 400 С and the pres-sures of 2, 4, 6 and 8 GPa allowed us to prepare the homogeneous and dense Bi2Te3-based material with the mean grain size of~50 nm. It is found that an electrical resistivity increases as the mean grain size of the material under study decreases. When you are citing the document, use the following link http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/3638

Linear Positive Magnetoresistivity of the Bi1.9Lu0.1Te3 Alloy with Inhomogeneous Micrograined Structure

Positive nonsaturating transverse magnetoresistivity (MR) has been observed below room temperature in the Bi1.9Lu0.1Te3 alloy with inhomogeneous micrograined structure. A crossover from parabolic MR ~ B2 dependence in low magnetic fields to linear MR ~ B dependence in high fields was found in the magnetoresistivity curves. The crossover field is shifted to lower magnetic fields as temperature decreases. Within the temperature range of “metal” type of conductivity, the temperature dependences of the specific electrical resistivity and MR magnitude are determined by the temperature dependence of the carrier mobility due to acoustic phonon scattering. Linear MR can be associated with microstructural inhomogeneity leading to strong electrical disorder of the Bi1.9Lu0.1Te3

Beyond the Three-Component Model of Organizational Commitment

Adding to empirically based critique in the last 15 years, this paper offers a critical conceptual analysis of the three-component model of organizational commitment in order to arrive at a unequivocal grounding of the concept in standard attitudinal theory. Using the attitude-behavior model by Eagly & Chaiken (1993), we demonstrate that the three-component model combines fundamentally different attitudinal phenomena. Instead, we argue that general organizational commitment can best be conceived of as affective commitment only, being a genuine attitude towards an object: the organization. Normative and continuance commitment, in contrast, appear to be attitudes regarding specific forms of behavior (i.e., staying or leaving) that may or may not follow from the affective bond with the organization. The conclusion of our analysis is that the threecomponent model fails to qualify as a general model of organizational commitment, but instead represents a specific model to predict turnover behavior. Therefore, we suggest limiting the use of the TCM to predicting turnover and to abandon it as a general model of employee commitment. We propose to return to the conceptualization of organizational commitment as an attitude towards the organization and to use Eagly & Chaiken’s model to generate specific models for predicting a broad range of organizational behaviors. Finally, we discuss the definition and measurement of organizational commitment, arguing that covering affective, cognitive and behavioral facets of this attitude helps to differentiate the construct from other constructs and to enhance the construct validity of measurement instruments.management and organization theory ;

Theoretical Investigation of Temperature and Grain Size Dependence of Thermal Properties of alpha-Silicon Crystal

Using reverse non-equilibrium molecular dynamics method, we study the thermal properties of grain boundary between two alpha-silicon crystal grains with (200) and (220) crystallographic orientations. The interfacial thermal conductance of the grain boundary and thermal conductivity are temperature dependent, leading to increasing/decreasing thermal transport as the temperature is increased. Also, thermal conductivity increased with increasing grain size. The observed decrease in thermal resistance indicates the suitability of silicon as interface materials for high- thermal conductivity material applications and thermal management in micro and nanoelectronic devices