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Retinal Vessels Segmentation Techniques and Algorithms: A Survey
No full textRetinal vessels identification and localization aim to separate the different retinal vasculature structure tissues, either wide or narrow ones, from the fundus image background and other retinal anatomical structures such as optic disc, macula, and abnormal lesions. Retinal vessels identification studies are attracting more and more attention in recent years due to non-invasive fundus imaging and the crucial information contained in vasculature structure which is helpful for the detection and diagnosis of a variety of retinal pathologies included but not limited to: Diabetic Retinopathy (DR), glaucoma, hypertension, and Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). With the development of almost two decades, the innovative approaches applying computer-aided techniques for segmenting retinal vessels are becoming more and more crucial and coming closer to routine clinical applications. The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive overview for retinal vessels segmentation techniques. Firstly, a brief introduction to retinal fundus photography and imaging modalities of retinal images is given. Then, the preprocessing operations and the state of the art methods of retinal vessels identification are introduced. Moreover, the evaluation and validation of the results of retinal vessels segmentation are discussed. Finally, an objective assessment is presented and future developments and trends are addressed for retinal vessels identification techniques.https://doi.org/10.3390/app802015
Source Anonymity against Global Adversary in WSNs Using Dummy Packet Injections: A Survey
No full textSource anonymity in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) becomes a real concern in several applications such as tracking and monitoring. A global adversary that has sophisticated resources, high computation and full view of the network is an obvious threat to such applications. The network and applications need to be protected and secured to provide the expected outcome. Source anonymity is one of the fundamental WSNs security issues. It is all about preventing the adversary from reaching the origin by analyzing the traffic of the network. There are many methods to provide source anonymity, which is also known as Source Location Privacy (SLP). One of these methods is based on dummy packets. The basic notion is to inject the network with dummy packets to confuse the adversary about the location of the transmitting source node. This paper provides a survey of protocols for anonymity that use dummy packet injections. We discuss each technique from the point of their advantages and disadvantages. Further, We provide a comparison for the most promising techniques provided in the literature which use dummy packet injections. A comparison for the adversary assumptions and capabilities will be provided as well.http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/electronics710025
Silicon Membrane Thickness Monitoring System based on Optical Sensing system
No full textSilicon wafer etching is frequently used in micromachining and microelectronic fabrication processes. How to precisely control the thickness of etched silicon membrane is very challenging. Controlling the etching depth by controlling the etching time can result in large errors due to fluctuation of etching rate. A more accurate in-situ silicon membrane thickness monitoring system during silicon wafer etching is very necessary. In this poster, we proposed a silicon membrane thickness in-situ monitoring system based on optical sensing. A halogen lamp generates light to be passed through the silicon membrane. The light is partially absorbed while transmitting the silicon wafer depending on the thickness of the membrane. Two photodiodes are used to detect the lights passing through the silicon membrane at different wavelengths. The difference of the readings is used to cancel out the common errors, hence leading to improved accuracy. The system is designed and simulated to verify its optical responses. The experimental setup of the system is implemented and the results are analyzed. The proposed Silicon membrane thickness monitoring system can be used to monitor and control the etching depth to achieve precise silicon membrane thickness as needed
New Empirical Path Loss Model for 28 GHz and 38 GHz Millimeter Wave in Indoor Urban under Various Conditions
No full textDue to rapid development in mobile communication technology in recent years, the demand for high quality and high capacity networks with thorough coverage has become a major necessity. Several models have been developed for predicting wireless signal coverage in urban areas, but these models suffer from inadequately calculating certain conditions, such as weather and building materials, especially window size. In this paper, we propose a new path loss prediction model based on the measurement of new indicators, such as window size, temperature, and humidity conditions, after which an extensive statistical analysis using a linear regression technique was implemented in order to validate the new indicators. As the new indicators were incorporated into the Okumura model to derive a new path loss model, the results showed that the proposed model provides an accurate prediction of the received signal strength in a given propagation environment. Our model enhanced the prediction of path loss by 10% when compared to the Okumura and by 15% when compared to the COST-Hata.http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/app811212
Tariffs, Economic Growth and Income Distribution
No full textThe United States has a huge trade account deficit—$753 billion in 2016. President Trump has asserted that a more restrictive trade policy which involves tariffs and quotas would help to achieve his goal of boosting U.S. economic growth to 3-plus per cent. On March 1, 2018, Mr. Trump announced unexpectedly that the U.S. would impose tariffs of 25 percent on steel imports and 10 percent on aluminum. He later twitted that “When a country (USA) is losing many billions of dollars on trade with virtually every country it does business with, trade wars are good, and easy to win.” The World Trade Organization (TWO) immediately issued a rare warning about Trump’s plan saying it risks a trade war. Do tariffs promote or hurt economic growth? This poster tries to shed some lights on this important question from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. If tariff-growth relationship is neutral or negative, then what are the consequences on income distribution—i.e., who are the winners and who are the losers
Impact Of Disruptive Technologies On The Business Ecosystem-Network Virtualization As A Case Study
No full textThis work examines the arrival of disruptive technology to the marketplace which causes existing dominant technologies to be displaced impacting their market share. Defining a set of key metrics for a disruptive technology can significantly help technology providers and their partners with strategic decision making processing. Using the key metrics, these players can position their business according to the changing dynamics of the business ecosystem and use it as a leverage to increase their market share. With this motivation, this study aims at defining a set of key metrics for evaluation of a possible disruptive technologies. Network Virtualization impact on the IT and Telecommunication markets is used for demonstrating the metrics identified as a case study
Analytics Tools Market Research
No full textDuring a meeting of the Ernest C. Trefz School of Business' Analytics and Systems Community of Practice students expressed confusion with the variety of analytics tools used by potential employers. It can be difficult to define whether one tool or several tools will be the most valuable for one’s future career. The right choice of analytics tools to study can give the future graduate student a significant advantage in the job hunt. On the other hand, incorrect choices tend to waste students' time
Understanding the Molecular and Structural Selectivity of Oxidant-induced Nitration and its Reversal in Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+ -ATPase SERCA2a vs. SERCA1a
No full textThe present study uses existing sequence (SERCA1a & SERCA2a) and structure (SERCA1a) information to extrapolate a tertiary structure construct for SERCA2a using computational modeling software. A comparison of SERCA1a and SERCA2a models could reveal structural anomalies that explain the basis for selective and specific Tyr nitration in SERCA2a but not SERCA1a
Attachment Styles, Resource Control Strategies and Achievement Motives Predict Adjustment to College: A Quantitative Study
No full textEmerging adulthood is a critical developmental time as individuals strive to form an identity and establish important social ties. The balance among motives to achieve, gain social power, and connect with others shapes the course of early adulthood as these motives determine how individuals spend their time and energy. This study investigated whether attachment styles, resource control strategies and achievement motivation predict adjustment to college. One hundred and thirteen domestic undergraduate students from a small private university in an urban setting in the Northeast were recruited in different level courses to fill out a series of previously validated measures, assessing their social dominance (resource control strategies), attachment style, achievement motive (explicit and implicit) and adjustment to college. A multiple regression analysis was performed to determine how these constructs predicted adjustment to college. The results of this study showed that adjustment to college was significantly negatively predicted by attachment anxiety and coercive resource control strategies. This study informs strategies that can be used by faculty and staff to enhance students’ personal growth and increase their success
Automated Adaptive Mobile Learning System using Shortest Path Algorithm and Learning Style
No full textA directed graph represents an accurate picture of course descriptions for online courses through computer-based implementation of various educational systems. E-learning and m-learning systems are modeled as a weighted, directed graph where each node represents a course unit. The Learning Path Graph (LPG) represents and describes the structure of domain knowledge, including the learning goals, and all other available learning paths. In this paper, we propose a system prototype that implements a propose adaptive learning path algorithms that uses the student’s information from their profile and their learning style in order to improve the students’ learning performances through an m-learning system that provides a suitable course content sequence in a personalized manner.https://doi.org/10.3991/ijim.v12i5.818