A Convex Model for Edge-Histogram Specification with Applications to Edge-preserving Smoothing

The goal of edge-histogram specification is to find an image whose edge image has a histogram that matches a given edge-histogram as much as possible. Mignotte has proposed a non-convex model for the problem [M. Mignotte. An energy-based model for the image edge-histogram specification problem. IEEE Transactions on Image Processing, 21(1):379--386, 2012]. In his work, edge magnitudes of an input image are first modified by histogram specification to match the given edge-histogram. Then, a non-convex model is minimized to find an output image whose edge-histogram matches the modified edge-histogram. The non-convexity of the model hinders the computations and the inclusion of useful constraints such as the dynamic range constraint. In this paper, instead of considering edge magnitudes, we directly consider the image gradients and propose a convex model based on them. Furthermore, we include additional constraints in our model based on different applications. The convexity of our model allows us to compute the output image efficiently using either Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers or Fast Iterative Shrinkage-Thresholding Algorithm. We consider several applications in edge-preserving smoothing including image abstraction, edge extraction, details exaggeration, and documents scan-through removal. Numerical results are given to illustrate that our method successfully produces decent results efficiently

Spectroscopic characterization of the oxo-transfer reaction from a bis(µ-oxo)dicopper(III) complex to triphenylphosphine

The oxygen-atom transfer reaction from the bis(µ-oxo)dicopper(III) complex [CuIII2(µ-O)2(L)2]2+1, where L =N,N,N,N -tetraethylethylenediamine, to PPh3 has been studied by UV-vis, EPR, 1H NMR and Cu K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy in parallel at low temperatures (193 K) and above. Under aerobic conditions (excess dioxygen), 1 reacted with PPh3, giving OPPh3 and a diamagnetic species that has been assigned to an oxo-bridged dicopper(II) complex on the basis of EPR and Cu K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopic data. Isotope-labeling experiments (18O2) established that the oxygen atom incorporated into the triphenylphosphine oxide came from both complex 1 and exogenous dioxygen. Detailed kinetic studies revealed that the process is a third-order reaction; the rate law is first order in both complex 1 and triphenylphosphine, as well as in dioxygen. At temperatures above 233 K, reaction of 1 with PPh3 was accompanied by ligand degradation, leading to oxidative N-dealkylation of one of the ethyl groups. By contrast, when the reaction was performed in the absence of excess dioxygen, negligible substrate (PPh3) oxidation was observed. Instead, highly symmetrical copper complexes with a characteristic isotropic EPR signal at g= 2.11 were formed. These results are discussed in terms of parallel reaction channels that are activated under various conditions of temperature and dioxygen

Opportunities for collective advancement in the biopharmaceutical manufacturing community

Technology innovation, workforce development, and regulatory advancement have been a hallmark of the industry for the past several decades. As the industry continues to expand, mature and evolve, there are new opportunities for shared risk in technology innovation, for partnerships to facilitate training, and for new approaches to engage with health authorities. It can be argued that collaborative efforts in this space, done appropriately, can 1) reduce the burden and investment that would otherwise be required by individual organizations to advance their technology needs and address issues with speed, quality, and cost; 2) refocus academic faculty on the training of students who are better prepared for industry careers; and 3) help faculty better understand the current technology needs of existing industry. Collaborate public-private partnerships offer one way to bring stakeholders together as well as pay for relevant activities. This presentation is intended to catalyze a discussion regarding the opportunities and challenges associated with collaborative technology development and will include a discussion about the ways that stakeholders may collaborate to create opportunities for the biopharmaceutical industry, government, and academic partners

Divorce and Life Insurance: Post Modern Remedies for Breach of a Duty to Maintain a Policy for a Designated Beneficiary

In the last two centuries, life insurance has attained a place of prominence in most Americans\u27 financial and domestic affairs, and a preference in our law. This article examines the application of legal and equitable remedies after the death of an insured who was subject to a life insurance mandate but failed to comply fully with its terms. The author finds that many problems stem from the failure of the parties, their lawyers, and judges, to develop a clear understanding of the purposes to be served by each mandate, and from poorly drafted mandates whose application is unclear in marginal cases. The article then considers the remedies available for the breach of such a duty, and the significant issues affecting such remedies. The author concludes that, although the courts have generally found the right remedies, the application of those remedies has often been inconsistent with the general principles of equity, and, in some cases, substantively unfair

An Investigation of new methods to improve the accuracy of modern color spectrophotometers

A study into the use of reflecting tiles to determine spectrophotometric errors and the corresponding correction values was accomplished. A method was developed to calculate the wavelength scale accuracy (out to a wavelength error of 5nm) using the inflection points of reflecting tiles\u27 spectrophotometric curves. Using simulated error data, wavelength accuracy was determinable at seven distinct wavelengths over the range of 440 nm to 705 nm within an accuracy of 0.2 nm. Three methods, the Matrix, Selection, and Non-Linear, were developed to increase the accuracy of spectrophotometric data. Each method determined and corrected spectrophotometric data differently. The Matrix method was based upon the use of multiple linear regression equations; the Selection method determined and used averages of the different errors; and the Non-Linear method identified and corrected errors based on using non-linear equations. The Selection method was found to be the most effective in correcting simulated spectrophotometric data. The Matrix method was also effective, IV however the determination of a specific error was not as accurate as the other two methods. The Selection method was the simplest to use, but it did not identify the existence of non-linear errors. The Non-Linear method was labor intensive and required very accurate data input, but with proper usage it showed exactly how a spectrophotometer was performing at each measured wavelength. With average (delta)E*ab errors from simulated data of 8.40 (using IIluminant D-65, 2 Observer, wavelength interval of 10 nm, and wave length range from 400 to 700 nm), the Matrix, Selection, and Non-Linear methods corrected to average (delta)E\u27ab\u27s of 0.06, 0.01, and 0.48, respectively. A limited determination of the effectiveness of each method on actual data was performed. This was accomplished by measuring a set of tiles (from 400nm to 700nm at 10 nm increments) once on two separate instruments. The instruments were the Pacific Scientific Spectrogard and the Applied Color Systems Spectro-Sensor n. The wavelength accuracy of each instrument was measured using the method described in this thesis and then each method was used to identify and correct for the spectrophotometric errors. The Pacific Scientific had an average (delta)E*ab error of 0.81 and the Matrix, Selection, and Non-Linear methods corrected to average (delta)E*ab errors of 0.31, 0.36, and 0.37, respectively. The ACS had an average (delta)E*ab error of 0.43 and the Matrix and Selection each corrected to average (delta)E*ab errors of 0.23 and 0.39. The Non-Linear method failed for the ACS in that a worse average (delta)E*ab error of 0.79 was determined

Information erasure without an energy cost

Landauer argued that the process of erasing the information stored in a memory device incurs an energy cost in the form of a minimum amount of mechanical work. We find, however, that this energy cost can be reduced to zero by paying a cost in angular momentum or any other conserved quantity. Erasing the memory of Maxwell's demon in this way implies that work can be extracted from a single thermal reservoir at a cost of angular momentum and an increase in total entropy. The implications of this for the second law of thermodynamics are assessed.Comment: 8 pages with 1 figure. Final published versio