• Title/Summary/Keyword: Challenging work

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Geometrically Invariant Image Watermarking Using Connected Objects and Gravity Centers

  • Wang, Hongxia;Yin, Bangxu;Zhou, Linna
    • KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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    • v.7 no.11
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    • pp.2893-2912
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    • 2013
  • The design of geometrically invariant watermarking is one of the most challenging work in digital image watermarking research area. To achieve the robustness to geometrical attacks, the inherent characteristic of an image is usually used. In this paper, a geometrically invariant image watermarking scheme using connected objects and gravity center is proposed. First, the gray-scale image is converted into the binary one, and the connected objects according to the connectedness of binary image are obtained, then the coordinates of these connected objects are mapped to the gray-scale image, and the gravity centers of those bigger objects are chosen as the feature points for watermark embedding. After that, the line between each gravity center and the center of the whole image is rotated an angle to form a sector, and finally the same version of watermark is embedded into these sectors. Because the image connectedness is topologically invariant to geometrical attacks such as scaling and rotation, and the gravity center of the connected object as feature points is very stable, the watermark synchronization is realized successfully under the geometrical distortion. The proposed scheme can extract the watermark information without using the original image or template. The simulation results show the proposed scheme has a good invisibility for watermarking application, and stronger robustness than previous feature-based watermarking schemes against geometrical attacks such as rotation, scaling and cropping, and can also resist common image processing operations including JPEG compression, adding noise, median filtering, and histogram equalization, etc.

Quantitative Evaluation of Fiber Dispersion of the Fiber-Reinforced Cement Composites Using an Image Processing Technique (이미지 프로세싱 기법을 이용한 섬유복합재료의 정량적인 섬유분산성 평가)

  • Kim, Yun-Yong;Lee, Bang-Yeon;Kim, Jeong-Su;Kim, Jin-Keun
    • Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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    • v.27 no.2
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    • pp.148-156
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    • 2007
  • The fiber dispersion in fiber-reinferced cementitious composites is a crucial factor with respect to achieving desired mechanical performance. However, evaluation of the fiber dispersion in the composite PVA-ECC (polyvinyl alcohol-engineered cementitious composite) is extremely challenging because of the low contrast of PVA fibers with the cement-based matrix. In the present work, a new evaluation method is developed and demonstrated. Using a fluorescence technique on the PVA-ECC, PVA fibers are observed as green dots in the cross-section of the composite. After capturing the fluorescence image with a charged couple device (CCD) camera through a microscope, the fiber dispersion is evaluated using an image processing technique and statistical tools. In this image processing technique, the fibers are more accurately detected by employing an enhanced algorithm developed based on a discriminant method and watershed segmentation. The influence of fiber orientation on the fiber dispersion evaluation was also investigated via shape analyses of fiber images.

Efficiency and Midgut Histopathological Effect of the Newly Isolated Bacillus thuringiensis KS ${\delta}$-Endotoxins on the Emergent Pest Tuta absoluta

  • Jamoussi, Kais;Sellami, Sameh;Nasfi, Zina;Krichen-Makni, Saloua;Tounsi, Slim
    • Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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    • v.23 no.8
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    • pp.1099-1106
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    • 2013
  • Tuta absoluta (Povolny, 1994) is a devastating moth to the Solanaceae plants. It is a challenging pest to control, especially on tomatoes. In this work, we studied the entomopathogenic activity of the Cry-forming ${\delta}$-endotoxins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis strain KS and B. thuringiensis kurstaki reference strain HD1 against T. absoluta. These strains carried the cry2, cry1Ab, cry1Aa/cry1Ac, and cry1I genes, and KS also carried a cry1C gene. The ${\delta}$-endotoxins of KS were approximately twofold more toxic against the third instar larvae than those of HD1, as they showed lower 50% and 90% lethal concentrations (0.80 and 2.70 ${\mu}g/cm^2$ (${\delta}$-endotoxins/tomato leaf)) compared with those of HD1 (1.70 and 4.50 ${\mu}g/cm^2$) (p < 0.05). Additionally, the larvae protease extract showed at least six caseinolytic activities, which activated the KS and HD1 ${\delta}$-endotoxins, yielding the active toxins of about 65 kDa and the protease-resistant core of about 58 kDa. Moreover, the histopathological effects of KS and HD1 ${\delta}$-endotoxins on the larvae midgut consisted of an apical columnar cell vacuolization, microvillus damage, and epithelial cell disruption. These results showed that the KS strain could be a candidate for T. absoluta control.

Motion Capture System for Digital Entertainment (디지털 엔터테인먼트에서의 모션 획득 시스템)

  • Lee, Man-Woo;Kim, Soon-Gohn
    • The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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    • v.7 no.5
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    • pp.85-93
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    • 2007
  • The motion capture system has shown its great potential as a new image expression means for handling such challenging tasks as realistic animation of humans or animals in motion, which cannot be handled by the existing key frame method satisfactorily, and also projects involving a large scale or a burdensome economic expenses. Its applications also has been intensified and widened in the entertainment arena including motion pictures, TV, advertisements, documentaries, music videos, etc. centering around games. Despite of these merits, though, a number of issues have been surfaced in the digital image expression utilizing the motion capture system, such as a burdensome amount of preparatory work, the needs for attachment of markers and for remedial corrections of motion data, and the lack of trained manpower. We would like to present in this paper a new direction for making the digital image production more efficient, based on the extensive analysis of prior image production projects that used the motion capture system.

New Trend Proposal in Optimization Techniques Application for Mobile Network, Analysis and Signal Processing

  • HAMROUNI, Chafaa
    • Journal of Multimedia Information System
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    • v.7 no.3
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    • pp.221-230
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    • 2020
  • Used optimization techniques as solution for mobile network have been implemented as a reference systems for various applications against fading and signals perturbation, in addition each transition to 5th generation telecommunication standards require a deep studies in order to park an applied instantaneous process. The paper describes a preliminary planning and a careful preparation to update both subscriber radio access network as well as data transmission network this approach conducts to make network resource updates invisible for customers and with minimal costs for mobile operators basically in terms of delay. In addition, network operators transit to mobile networks, multimedia services efficient delivery are considered the challenging application and the most promising for mobile network operators today, this work conduct to optimize video consumption of mobile users which are exponentially increasing. The interference is a complex phenomenon in mobile radio telecommunication system, and a mobile phone can be a source of interference to another one. Actual advances in technology necessitate the need for the complicated software solution that can take several unexpected phenomena in consideration to rise to a level higher than ever. The capability needs today require the use of Drive test which is used to take the performance of network in the field by using a special software called TEMS investigation, it have been implemented as standalone systems for various applications. The paper focuses on considering as the best technical for optimization of mobile networks, analysis and processing of signal, a Drive Test is the method used to take the performance of network in the field by using a special software called TEMS investigation. Most used in the world, this software is reputed to detect and analyze many problems of mobile network between the mobile phone and the transmitter: BTS in case of GSM and Node B for UMTS. An example of that is interference in radio communication. It exists permanently and it degrades considerably the quality of received signal when it exceeds certain levels.

Estimating Average Causal Effect in Latent Class Analysis (잠재범주분석을 이용한 원인적 영향력 추론에 관한 연구)

  • Park, Gayoung;Chung, Hwan
    • The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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    • v.27 no.7
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    • pp.1077-1095
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    • 2014
  • Unlike randomized trial, statistical strategies for inferring the unbiased causal relationship are required in the observational studies. Recently, new methods for the causal inference in the observational studies have been proposed such as the matching with the propensity score or the inverse probability treatment weighting. They have focused on how to control the confounders and how to evaluate the effect of the treatment on the result variable. However, these conventional methods are valid only when the treatment variable is categorical and both of the treatment and the result variables are directly observable. Research on the causal inference can be challenging in part because it may not be possible to directly observe the treatment and/or the result variable. To address this difficulty, we propose a method for estimating the average causal effect when both of the treatment and the result variables are latent. The latent class analysis has been applied to calculate the propensity score for the latent treatment variable in order to estimate the causal effect on the latent result variable. In this work, we investigate the causal effect of adolescents delinquency on their substance use using data from the 'National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health'.

Highly Sensitive Gas Sensors Based on Nanostructured $TiO_2$ Thin Films

  • Jang, Ho-Won;Mun, Hui-Gyu;Kim, Do-Hong;Sim, Yeong-Seok;Yun, Seok-Jin
    • Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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    • 2011.05a
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    • pp.16.1-16.1
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    • 2011
  • $TiO_2$ is a promising material for gas sensors. To achieve high sensitivities, the material should exhibit a large surface-to-volume ratio and possess the high accessibility of the gas molecules to the surface. Accordingly, a wide variety of porous $TiO_2$ nanomaterials synthesized by wet-chemical methods have been reported for gas sensor applications. Nonetheless, achieving the large-area uniformity and comparability with well-established semiconductor production processes of the methods is still challenging. An alternative method is soft-templating which utilizes nanostructured inorganic or organic materials as sacrificial templates for the preparation of porous materials. Fabrication of macroporous $TiO_2$ films and hollow $TiO_2$ tubes by soft-templating and their gas sensing applications have been reported recently. In these porous materials composed of assemblies of individual micro/nanostructures, the form of links or necks between individual micro/nanostructures is a critical factor to determine gas sensing properties of the material. However, a systematic study to clarify the role of links between individual micro/nanostructures in gas sensing properties of a porous metal oxide matrix is thoroughly lacking. In this work, we have demonstrated a fabrication method to prepare highly-ordered, embossed $TiO_2$ films composed of anatase $TiO_2$ hollow hemispheres via soft-templating using polystyrene beads. The form of links between hollow hemispheres could be controlled by $O_2$ plasma etching on the bead templates. This approach reveals the strong correlation of gas sensitivity with the form of the links. Our experimental results highlight that not only the surface-to-volume ratio of an ensemble material composed of individual micro/nanostructures but also the links between individual micro/nanostructures play a critical role in evaluating the sensing properties of the material. In addition to this general finding, the facileness, large-scale productivity, and compatability with semiconductor production process of the proposed fabrication method promise applications of the embossed $TiO_2$ films to high-quality sensors.

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Spray Characteristics of the Oxidizer-rich Preburner Injector in High Pressure Environments (로켓 산화제 과잉 예연소기용 분사기의 고압 분무특성 연구)

  • Yang, Joon-Ho;Choi, Seong-Man
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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    • v.12 no.2
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    • pp.48-56
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    • 2008
  • In the rocket preburner, oxidizer-rich combustion with liquid oxygen and kerosene is very challenging work. The key factor of stable flame is good mixing and that is controlled by the injector performance. We have studied spray characteristics of the oxidizer-rich rocket preburner injector in high pressure environments. The injector is composed of fuel orifices, oxidizer orifices and cooling skirt with liquid oxygen. By using this apparatus, we have taken photographs and measured Sauter mean diameter with changing ambient pressure from 0 to 30 kgf/cm2[g]. Droplet diameter is measured by the image processing technique. From the test results, we could understand spray characteristics of the oxidizer-rich preburner injector and this result could be applied to the development of the oxidizer rich preburner system.

Comparison of Signal Powers Generated with Metal Hammer Plate and Plastic Hammer Plate (금속 및 플라스틱 재질의 해머 타격판에 의해 발생된 신호의 파워 비교)

  • Kim, Jin-Hoo;Lee, Young-Hyun
    • Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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    • v.14 no.4
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    • pp.282-288
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    • 2011
  • One of the most challenging issues facing shallow seismic survey is how to generate large amplitude of high frequency signal with small seismic sources. We tested the performance of the most commonly used shallow seismic source, hammer, with four plates: PE, nylon, aluminum, and steel plates. We compared their signal powers in terms of impulsive forces, accelerations, and ground vibration velocities caused by hammer impacts. According to a previous work, hammer blowing to an aluminum plate would generate the largest amplitude among four combinations. However, it was found in this experimental research that aluminum plate delivers seismic wave energy to the ground less than that generated with steel or PE plate. Even though the amplitude is relatively small, plastic plates could provide seismic pulses of 180 ~ 200 Hz in the bandwidth, and it seems to be very hard to generate seismic energy over the frequency of 250 Hz.

Development of ND (Doctor of Nursing) Program: Focused on the RN-BSN Students and Professors (간호학 전문대학원(ND: Doctor of Nursing) 프로그램 개발에 관한 연구 : RN-BSN과정의 학생과 교수를 중심으로)

  • Lee, Won-Hee;Kim, Cho-Ja;Cho, Won-Jung;Yoo, Ji-Soo;Lee, Eun-Hyun
    • The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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    • v.6 no.1
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    • pp.77-91
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    • 2000
  • Recent changes in health problems as well as the health delivery system demand expanding nursing roles to improve quality care and at the same time provide cost-effective health services. Nursing leaders of the future will be expected to be excellent care givers who are well prepared as researchers and managers and administrators. The purpose of developing an ND program is to train nursing leaders for the future. The program objective are to demonstrate the role as 1) an advanced practitioner who will provide theory based practice 2) a researcher and manager The target population of the ND program is as follows : 1) Nurses with a BSN degree who are seeking to advance on the career ladder 2) Non-nursing BS, BA graduates who are seeking nursing as a second career 3) Transfer students who are mature and motived to be nursing leaders It is believed that the ND program would meet the diverse needs for potential students, for their role in nursing and the health delivery system and create a meaning and challenging position in the profession of nursing. A task force team was organized to develop the ND program and its activities are as follows; 1) Information on ND programs were collected from 3 universities and reviewed 2)An advanced education needs assessment was completed and it was found that 87.6% of the subjects responded positively about advanced degree work. 3) A tentative curriculum for an ND program was developed. It is a great challenge to develop a new program for nursing however, it is also our task and responsibility to further the development of nursing.

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