Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Grnsight: A Web Application And Service For Visualizing Models Of Small- To Medium-Scale Gene Regulatory Networks, Kam D. Dahlquist, John David N. Dionisio, Ben G. Fitzpatrick, Nicole A. Anguiano, Anindita Varshneya, Britain J. Southwick, Mihir Samdarshi

John David N. Dionisio

GRNsight is a web application and service for visualizing models of gene regulatory networks (GRNs). A gene regulatory network (GRN) consists of genes, transcription factors, and the regulatory connections between them which govern the level of expression of mRNA and protein from genes. The original motivation came from our efforts to perform parameter estimation and forward simulation of the dynamics of a differential equations model of a small GRN with 21 nodes and 31 edges. We wanted a quick and easy way to visualize the weight parameters from the model which represent the direction and magnitude of the influence of …

Validation Of Orion Cockpit Displays Using Eggplant Functional And Python Programming, M. A. Rafe Biswas

M. A. Rafe Biswas

No abstract provided.

Examination Of The Nonlinear Dynamics And Possible Chaos Encryption In A Zeroth-Order Acousto-Optic Bragg Modulator With Feedback, Fares S. Almehmadi, Monish Ranjan Chatterjee

Monish R. Chatterjee

Zeroth-order chaos modulation in a Bragg cell is examined such that tracking problems due to spatial deflections of the first-order AO beam at the receiver may be avoided by switching to the undeviated zeroth-order beam.

Anisoplanatic Electromagnetic Image Propagation Through Narrow Or Extended Phase Turbulence Using Altitude-Dependent Structure Parameter, Monish Ranjan Chatterjee, Ali Mohamed

Monish R. Chatterjee

The effects of turbulence on anisoplanatic imaging are often modeled through the use of a sequence of phase screens distributed along the optical path. We implement the split-step wave algorithm to examine turbulence-corrupted images.

Person Identification From Streaming Surveillance Video Using Mid-Level Features From Joint Action-Pose Distribution, Binu M. Nair, Vijayan K. Asari

Vijayan K. Asari

We propose a real time person identification algorithm for surveillance based scenarios from low-resolution streaming video, based on mid-level features extracted from the joint distribution of various types of human actions and human poses. The proposed algorithm uses the combination of an auto-encoder based action association framework which produces per-frame probability estimates of the action being performed, and a pose recognition framework which gives per-frame body part locations. The main focus in this manuscript is to effectively combine these per-frame action probability estimates and pose trajectories from a short temporal window to obtain mid-level features. We demonstrate that these mid-level …

Volume Component Analysis For Classification Of Lidar Data, Nina M. Varney, Vijayan K. Asari

Vijayan K. Asari

One of the most difficult challenges of working with LiDAR data is the large amount of data points that are produced. Analysing these large data sets is an extremely time consuming process. For this reason, automatic perception of LiDAR scenes is a growing area of research. Currently, most LiDAR feature extraction relies on geometrical features specific to the point cloud of interest. These geometrical features are scene-specific, and often rely on the scale and orientation of the object for classification. This paper proposes a robust method for reduced dimensionality feature extraction of 3D objects using a volume component analysis (VCA) …

State Preserving Extreme Learning Machine For Face Recognition, Md. Zahangir Alom, Paheding Sidike, Vijayan K. Asari, Tarek M. Taha

Vijayan K. Asari

Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) has been introduced as a new algorithm for training single hidden layer feed-forward neural networks (SLFNs) instead of the classical gradient-based algorithms. Based on the consistency property of data, which enforce similar samples to share similar properties, ELM is a biologically inspired learning algorithm with SLFNs that learns much faster with good generalization and performs well in classification applications. However, the random generation of the weight matrix in current ELM based techniques leads to the possibility of unstable outputs in the learning and testing phases. Therefore, we present a novel approach for computing the weight matrix …

Video-To-Video Pose And Expression Invariant Face Recognition Using Volumetric Directional Pattern, Vijayan K. Asari, Almabrok Essa

Vijayan K. Asari

Face recognition in video has attracted attention as a cryptic method of human identification in surveillance systems. In this paper, we propose an end-to-end video face recognition system, addressing a difficult problem of identifying human faces in video due to the presence of large variations in facial pose and expression, and poor video resolution. The proposed descriptor, named Volumetric Directional Pattern (VDP), is an oriented and multi-scale volumetric descriptor that is able to extract and fuse the information of multi frames, temporal (dynamic) information, and multiple poses and expressions of faces in input video to produce feature vectors, which are …

Multiple Object Detection In Hyperspectral Imagery Using Spectral Fringe-Adjusted Joint Transform Correlator, Paheding Sidike, Vijayan K. Asari, Mohammad S. Alam

Vijayan K. Asari

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) sensors provide plenty of spectral information to uniquely identify materials by their reflectance spectra, and this information has been effectively used for object detection and identification applications. Joint transform correlation (JTC) based object detection techniques in HSI have been proposed in the literatures, such as spectral fringe-adjusted joint transform correlation (SFJTC) and with its several improvements. However, to our knowledge, the SFJTC based techniques were designed to detect only similar patterns in hyperspectral data cube and not for dissimilar patterns. Thus, in this paper, a new deterministic object detection approach using SFJTC is proposed to perform multiple …

Efficient Thermal Image Segmentation Through Integration Of Nonlinear Enhancement With Unsupervised Active Contour Model, Fatema Albalooshi, Evan Krieger, Paheding Sidike, Vijayan K. Asari

Vijayan K. Asari

Thermal images are exploited in many areas of pattern recognition applications. Infrared thermal image segmentation can be used for object detection by extracting regions of abnormal temperatures. However, the lack of texture and color information, low signal-to-noise ratio, and blurring effect of thermal images make segmenting infrared heat patterns a challenging task. Furthermore, many segmentation methods that are used in visible imagery may not be suitable for segmenting thermal imagery mainly due to their dissimilar intensity distributions. Thus, a new method is proposed to improve the performance of image segmentation in thermal imagery. The proposed scheme efficiently utilizes nonlinear intensity …

Gaussian Weighted Neighborhood Connectivity Of Nonlinear Line Attractor For Learning Complex Manifolds, Theus H. Aspiras, Vijayan K. Asari, Wesam Sakla

Vijayan K. Asari

The human brain has the capability to process high quantities of data quickly for detection and recognition tasks. These tasks are made simpler by the understanding of data, which intentionally removes redundancies found in higher dimensional data and maps the data onto a lower dimensional space. The brain then encodes manifolds created in these spaces, which reveal a specific state of the system. We propose to use a recurrent neural network, the nonlinear line attractor (NLA) network, for the encoding of these manifolds as specific states, which will draw untrained data towards one of the specific states that the NLA …

Histogram Of Oriented Phase And Gradient (Hopg) Descriptor For Improved Pedestrian Detection, Hussin Ragb, Vijayan K. Asari

Vijayan K. Asari

This paper presents a new pedestrian detection descriptor named Histogram of Oriented Phase and Gradient (HOPG) based on a combination of the Histogram of Oriented Phase (HOP) features and the Histogram of Oriented Gradient features (HOG). The proposed descriptor extracts the image information using both the gradient and phase congruency concepts. Although the HOG based method has been widely used in the human detection systems, it lacks to deal effectively with the images impacted by the illumination variations and cluttered background. By fusing HOP and HOG features, more structural information can be identified and localized in order to obtain more …

Directional Ringlet Intensity Feature Transform For Tracking, Evan Krieger, Paheding Sidike, Theus H. Aspiras, Vijayan K. Asari

Vijayan K. Asari

The challenges existing for current intensity-based histogram feature tracking methods in wide area motion imagery include object structural information distortions and background variations, such as different pavement or ground types. All of these challenges need to be met in order to have a robust object tracker, while attaining to be computed at an appropriate speed for real-time processing. To achieve this we propose a novel method, Directional Ringlet Intensity Feature Transform (DRIFT), that employs Kirsch kernel filtering and Gaussian ringlet feature mapping. We evaluated the DRIFT on two challenging datasets, namely Columbus Large Image Format (CLIF) and Large Area Image …

Histogram Of Oriented Phase (Hop): A New Descriptor Based On Phase Congruency, Hussin Ragb, Vijayan K. Asari

Vijayan K. Asari

In this paper we present a low level image descriptor called Histogram of Oriented Phase based on phase congruency concept and the Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Since the phase of the signal conveys more information regarding signal structure than the magnitude, the proposed descriptor can precisely identify and localize image features over the gradient based techniques, especially in the regions affected by illumination changes. The proposed features can be formed by extracting the phase congruency information for each pixel in the image with respect to its neighborhood. Histograms of the phase congruency values of the local regions in the image …

Intensity And Resolution Enhancement Of Local Regions For Object Detection And Tracking In Wide Area Surveillance, Evan Krieger, Vijayan K. Asari, Saibabu Arigela, Theus H. Aspiras

Vijayan K. Asari

Object tracking in wide area motion imagery is a complex problem that consists of object detection and target tracking over time. This challenge can be solved by human analysts who naturally have the ability to keep track of an object in a scene. A computer vision solution for object tracking has the potential to be a much faster and efficient solution. However, a computer vision solution faces certain challenges that do not affect a human analyst. To overcome these challenges, a tracking process is proposed that is inspired by the known advantages of a human analyst. First, the focus of …

Gaussian Nonlinear Line Attractor For Learning Multidimensional Data, Theus H. Aspiras, Vijayan K. Asari, Wesam Sakla

Vijayan K. Asari

The human brain’s ability to extract information from multidimensional data modeled by the Nonlinear Line Attractor (NLA), where nodes are connected by polynomial weight sets. Neuron connections in this architecture assumes complete connectivity with all other neurons, thus creating a huge web of connections. We envision that each neuron should be connected to a group of surrounding neurons with weighted connection strengths that reduces with proximity to the neuron. To develop the weighted NLA architecture, we use a Gaussian weighting strategy to model the proximity, which will also reduce the computation times significantly. Once all data has been trained in …

Brain Machine Interface Using Emotiv Epoc To Control Robai Cyton Robotic Arm, Daniel P. Prince, Mark J. Edmonds, Andrew J. Sutter, Matthew Thomas Cusumano, Wenjie Lu, Vijayan K. Asari

Vijayan K. Asari

The initial framework for an electroencephalography (EEG) thought recognition software suite is developed, built, and tested. This suite is designed to recognize human thoughts and pair them to actions for controlling a robotic arm. Raw EEG brain activity data is collected using an Emotiv EPOC headset. The EEG data is processed through linear discriminant analysis (LDA), where an intended action is identified. The EEG classification suite is being developed to increase the number of distinct actions that can be identified compared to the Emotiv recognition software. The EEG classifier was able to correctly distinguish between two separate physical movements. Future …

A Modular Approach For Key-Frame Selection In Wide Area Surveillance Video Analysis, Almabrok Essa, Paheding Sidike, Vijayan K. Asari

Vijayan K. Asari

This paper presents an efficient preprocessing algorithm for big data analysis. Our proposed key-frame selection method utilizes the statistical differences among subsequent frames to automatically select only the frames that contain the desired contextual information and discard the rest of the insignificant frames.

We anticipate that such key frame selection technique will have significant impact on wide area surveillance applications such as automatic object detection and recognition in aerial imagery. Three real-world datasets are used for evaluation and testing and the observed results are encouraging.

A Robust Fringe-Adjusted Joint Transform Correlator For Efficient Object Detection, Paheding Sidike, Vijayan K. Asari, Mohammad S. Alam

Vijayan K. Asari

The fringe-adjusted joint transform correlation (FJTC) technique has been widely used for real-time optical pattern recognition applications. However, the classical FJTC technique suffers from target distortions due to noise, scale, rotation and illumination variations of the targets in input scenes. Several improvements of the FJTC have been proposed in the literature to accommodate these problems. Some popular techniques such as synthetic discriminant function (SDF) based FJTC was designed to alleviate the problems of scale and rotation variations of the target, whereas wavelet based FJTC has been found to yield better performance for noisy targets in the input scenes. While these …

Optimization-Free Optical Focal Field Engineering Through Reversing The Radiation Pattern From A Uniform Line Source, Yanzhong Yu, Qiwen Zhan

Qiwen Zhan

A simple and flexible method is presented for the generation of optical focal field with prescribed characteristics. By reversing the field pattern radiated from a uniform line source, for which the electric current is constant along its extent, situated at the focus of a 4Pi focusing system formed by two confocal high-NA objective lenses, the required illumination distribution at the pupil plane for creating optical focal field with desired properties can be obtained. Numerical example shows that an arbitrary length optical needle with extremely high longitudinal polarization purity and consistent transverse size of ~0.36λ over the entire depth of focus …

Tailoring Optical Complex Fields With Nano-Metallic Surfaces, Guanghao Rui, Qiwen Zhan

Qiwen Zhan

Recently there is an increasing interest in complex optical fields with spatially inhomogeneous state of polarizations and optical singularities. Novel effects and phenomena have been predicted and observed for light beams with these unconventional states. Nanostructured metallic thin film offers unique opportunities to generate, manipulate and detect these novel fields. Strong interactions between nano-metallic surfaces and complex optical fields enable the development of highly compact and versatile functional devices and systems. In this review, we first briefly summarize the recent developments in complex optical fields. Various nano-metallic surface designs that can produce and manipulate complex optical fields with tailored characteristics …

Creation Of Identical Multiple Focal Spots With Prescribed Axial Distribution, Yanzhong Yu, Qiwen Zhan

Qiwen Zhan

We present a scheme for the construction of coaxially equidistant multiple focal spots with identical intensity profiles for each individual focus and a predetermined number and spacing. To achieve this, the radiation field from an antenna is reversed and then gathered by high numerical aperture objective lenses. Radiation patterns from three types of line sources, i.e., the electric current, magnetic current and electromagnetic current distributions, with cosine-squared taper are respectively employed to generate predominately longitudinally polarized bright spots, azimuthally polarized doughnuts, and focal spots with a perfect spherically symmetric intensity distribution. The required illuminations at the pupil plane of a …

Creation Of Carbon Nanotube Based Biosensors Through Dielectrophoretic Assembly, Nilan S. Mani, Steve Kim, Kaushik Annam, Danielle Bane, Guru Subramanyam

Guru Subramanyam

Due to their excellent electrical, optical, and mechanical properties, nanosized single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have attracted significant attention as a transducing element in nano-bio sensor research. Controlled assembly, device fabrication, and bio-functionalization of the SWNTs are crucial in creating the sensors. In this study, working biosensor platforms were created using dielectrophoretic assembly of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) as a bridge between two gold electrodes. SWNTs in a commercial SDS surfactant solution were dispensed in the gap between the two gold electrodes, followed by applying an ac voltage across the two electrodes. The dielectrophoresis aligns the CNTs and forms …

Dna Based Electrolyte/Separator For Lithium Battery Application, Jitendra Kumar, Fahima Ouchen-Bouchendouka, Devin A. Smarra, Guru Subramanyam, James Grote

Guru Subramanyam

In this study, we demonstrated the use of DNA-CTMA (DC) in combination with PolyVinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) as a host matrix or separator for Lithium based electrolyte to form solid polymer/gel like electrolyte for potential application in Li-ion batteries.

The addition of DC provided a better thermal stability of the composite electrolyte as shown by the thermos-gravimetric analysis (TGA). The AC conductivity measurements suggest that the addition of DC to the gel electrolyte had no effect on the overall ionic conductivity of the composite. The obtained films are flexible with high mechanical stretch-ability as compared to the gel type electrolytes only.

Digital Image Processing, Russell C. Hardie, Majeed M. Hayat

Russell C. Hardie

In recent years, digital images and digital image processing have become part of everyday life. This growth has been primarily fueled by advances in digital computers and the advent and growth of the Internet. Furthermore, commercially available digital cameras, scanners, and other equipment for acquiring, storing, and displaying digital imagery have become very inexpensive and increasingly powerful. An excellent treatment of digital images and digital image processing can be found in Ref. [1]. A digital image is simply a two-dimensional array of finite-precision numerical values called picture elements (or pixels). Thus a digital image is a spatially discrete (or discrete-space) …

Segmentation Of Pulmonary Nodules In Computed Tomography Using A Regression Neural Network Approach And Its Application To The Lung Image Database Consortium And Image Database Resource Initiative Dataset, Temesguen Messay, Russell C. Hardie, Timothy R. Tuinstra

Russell C. Hardie

We present new pulmonary nodule segmentation algorithms for computed tomography (CT). These include a fully-automated (FA) system, a semi-automated (SA) system, and a hybrid system. Like most traditional systems, the new FA system requires only a single user-supplied cue point. On the other hand, the SA system represents a new algorithm class requiring 8 user-supplied control points. This does increase the burden on the user, but we show that the resulting system is highly robust and can handle a variety of challenging cases. The proposed hybrid system starts with the FA system.

If improved segmentation results are needed, the SA …

Prospective Doctoral Statement For The University Of Southern California's School Of Cinematic Arts Media Arts + Practice Program, Gabriel Leiner

Gabriel Leiner

After visiting L.A. again and seeing the beautiful fountains on the University of Southern California's campus I am filled with all kinds of ideas about the future and brimming with energy. To all those at the University of Southern California's Cinematic Arts Department, thanks for reading my ideas over the past couple years and helping me to evolve and become a better person and a better writer. Starting a position as a doctoral student in the Media Arts + Practice Program in 2016 is an exciting opportunity. I've got a really positive outlook about Kiss The Water.

Translation Of 'Profiles In Faith', Monish Ranjan Chatterjee

Monish R. Chatterjee

Sarat Chandra Chatterjee (1876-1938) may be considered one of the three most significant figures of the literary component of the Bengal Renaissance, the other two being Bankim Chandra Chatterjee (1838-1894) and Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941). As much as Bankim Chandra is identified with the new age in the Bengali novel, and the development of serious vernacular journalism, and Rabindranath with modern/classical movements in Bengali poetry and music, along with novel ideas in methods of education and teaching, Sarat Chandra, as a novelist and storyteller, perfected the art of narration and critical analyses of a variety of contemporaneous social and political issues, …

Translation Of 'Seasons Of Life: A Panoramic Selection Of Songs By Rabindranath Tagore', Monish Ranjan Chatterjee

Monish R. Chatterjee

No abstract provided.

Translation Of 'Balika Badhu: A Selected Anthology Of Bengali Short Stories', Monish Ranjan Chatterjee

Monish R. Chatterjee

This project, which began with the desire to render into English a rather long tale by Bimal Kar about five years ago, eventually grew into a considerably more extended compilation of Bengali short stories by 10 of the most well-known practitioners of that art since the heyday of Rabindranath Tagore. The collection is limited in many ways, not the least of which being that no woman writer has been included, and that it contains only a baker's dozen stories (if we count Bonophool's micro-stories collectively as one ) — a number pitifully small considering the vast and prolific field of …