Two-dimensional Microwave Tomographic Imaging of Breast Tissues

Despite its recognized value in detecting and characterizing breast disease, X-ray mammography has important limitations that motivate the quest for alternatives to augment the diagnostic tools that are currently available to the radiologist. The rationale for pursuing electromagnetic methods are based on the significant dielectric contrast between normal and cancerous breast tissues, when exposed to microwaves. The present study analyzes two-dimensional microwave tomographic imaging on normal and malignant breast tissue samples extracted by mastectomy, to assess the suitability of the technique for early detection ofbreast cancer. The tissue samples are immersed in matching coupling medium and are illuminated by 3 GHz signal. 2-D tomographic images ofthe breast tissue samples are reconstructed from the collected scattered data using distorted Born iterative method. Variations of dielectric permittivity in breast samples are distinguishable from the obtained permittivity profiles, which is a clear indication of the presence of malignancy. Hence microwave tomographic imaging is proposed as an alternate imaging modality for early detection ofbreast cancer.

An Error-Localization, Validation and Optimization Tool for Embedded Code Augmentation: an Architecture Oriented Approach

Embedded systems are usually designed for a single or a specified set of tasks. This specificity means the system design as well as its hardware/software development can be highly optimized. Embedded software must meet the requirements such as high reliability operation on resource-constrained platforms, real time constraints and rapid development. This necessitates the adoption of static machine codes analysis tools running on a host machine for the validation and optimization of embedded system codes, which can help meet all of these goals. This could significantly augment the software quality and is still a challenging field.Embedded systems are usually designed for a single or a specified set of tasks. This specificity means the system design as well as its hardware/software development can be highly optimized. Embedded software must meet the requirements such as high reliability operation on resource-constrained platforms, real time constraints and rapid development. This necessitates the adoption of static machine codes analysis tools running on a host machine for the validation and optimization of embedded system codes, which can help meet all of these goals. This could significantly augment the software quality and is still a challenging field.Embedded systems are usually designed for a single or a specified set of tasks. This specificity means the system design as well as its hardware/software development can be highly optimized. Embedded software must meet the requirements such as high reliability operation on resource-constrained platforms, real time constraints and rapid development. This necessitates the adoption of static machine codes analysis tools running on a host machine for the validation and optimization of embedded system codes, which can help meet all of these goals. This could significantly augment the software quality and is still a challenging field.Embedded systems are usually designed for a single or a specified set of tasks. This specificity means the system design as well as its hardware/software development can be highly optimized. Embedded software must meet the requirements such as high reliability operation on resource-constrained platforms, real time constraints and rapid development. This necessitates the adoption of static machine codes analysis tools running on a host machine for the validation and optimization of embedded system codes, which can help meet all of these goals. This could significantly augment the software quality and is still a challenging field.This dissertation contributes to an architecture oriented code validation, error localization and optimization technique assisting the embedded system designer in software debugging, to make it more effective at early detection of software bugs that are otherwise hard to detect, using the static analysis of machine codes. The focus of this work is to develop methods that automatically localize faults as well as optimize the code and thus improve the debugging process as well as quality of the code.Validation is done with the help of rules of inferences formulated for the target processor. The rules govern the occurrence of illegitimate/out of place instructions and code sequences for executing the computational and integrated peripheral functions. The stipulated rules are encoded in propositional logic formulae and their compliance is tested individually in all possible execution paths of the application programs. An incorrect sequence of machine code pattern is identified using slicing techniques on the control flow graph generated from the machine code.An algorithm to assist the compiler to eliminate the redundant bank switching codes and decide on optimum data allocation to banked memory resulting in minimum number of bank switching codes in embedded system software is proposed. A relation matrix and a state transition diagram formed for the active memory bank state transition corresponding to each bank selection instruction is used for the detection of redundant codes. Instances of code redundancy based on the stipulated rules for the target processor are identified.This validation and optimization tool can be integrated to the system development environment. It is a novel approach independent of compiler/assembler, applicable to a wide range of processors once appropriate rules are formulated. Program states are identified mainly with machine code pattern, which drastically reduces the state space creation contributing to an improved state-of-the-art model checking. Though the technique described is general, the implementation is architecture oriented, and hence the feasibility study is conducted on PIC16F87X microcontrollers. The proposed tool will be very useful in steering novices towards correct use of difficult microcontroller features in developing embedded systems.

"Effects of some heavy metals copper. zinc and lead on certain tissues of £153 Qarsia (Hamilton and Buchanan) in different environments

The research investigations on pollution, particularly in coastal/ estuarine environments are recent ones and started only in 1970s. Hence the informations available are fragmentary and scattered. They throw some light only on either the concentration of heavy metals in water or in sediment or in organisms. No concerted efforts have been made to consolidate and correlate the results between the environment and biota. Literature on the level of concentration of heavy metals in different tissues of organisms with regard to their availability in the living media, their ratio, their inter—relationship, tolerance limit of organisms, etc. are very few or rather nil. in view of the importance enumerated above, the candidate has selected the topic "Effects of some heavy metals copper, zinc and lead on certain tissues of E E (Hamilton and Buchanan) in different environments" for detailed studies and to understand systematically (i) the source of effluents and wastes, (ii) the concentration of heavy metals copper, zinc and lead in water, in sediments and in tissues of the test animal, (iii) their effects, (iv) capacity of tolerance and accumulation in different tissues of the animal, and (V) the "Bioaccumulation Factor", etc.

A Generic Software Architecture for a Domain Specific Distributed Embedded System

In this paper, we have evolved a generic software architecture for a domain specific distributed embedded system. The system under consideration belongs to the Command, Control and Communication systems domain. The systems in such domain have very long operational lifetime. The quality attributes of these systems are equally important as the functional requirements. The main guiding principle followed in this paper for evolving the software architecture has been functional independence of the modules. The quality attributes considered most important for the system are maintainability and modifiability. Architectural styles best suited for the functionally independent modules are proposed with focus on these quality attributes. The software architecture for the system is envisioned as a collection of architecture styles of the functionally independent modules identified

A Compiler Integrated Assistance for Optimum Data Allocation in Banked Memory Embedded Processors

Bank switching in embedded processors having partitioned memory architecture results in code size as well as run time overhead. An algorithm and its application to assist the compiler in eliminating the redundant bank switching codes introduced and deciding the optimum data allocation to banked memory is presented in this work. A relation matrix formed for the memory bank state transition corresponding to each bank selection instruction is used for the detection of redundant codes. Data allocation to memory is done by considering all possible permutation of memory banks and combination of data. The compiler output corresponding to each data mapping scheme is subjected to a static machine code analysis which identifies the one with minimum number of bank switching codes. Even though the method is compiler independent, the algorithm utilizes certain architectural features of the target processor. A prototype based on PIC 16F87X microcontrollers is described. This method scales well into larger number of memory blocks and other architectures so that high performance compilers can integrate this technique for efficient code generation. The technique is illustrated with an example

Entwurf und Betrieb von Regelungs- und Monitoringsystemen für dezentrale Energiesysteme auf der Basis von verteilten Embedded Systems

Nach einem einleitenden ersten Kapitel wird im zweiten Kapitel der Stand der Technik für Regelungs- und Monitoringsysteme mit vernetzten Systemen dargestellt. Daraus wird die Motivation zur Entwicklung neuer, kostengünstiger Systeme abgeleitet. Im dritten Kapitel folgt eine Darstellung der verschiedenen Arten marktverfügbarer Embedded Systems und dafür geeigneter Betriebs­systeme. Anforderungen an verteilte Regelungssysteme, unterschiedliche Strukturen dieser Systeme und deren Vor- und Nachteile sind Gegenstand des vierten Kapitels. Anhand von Beispielen aus den Bereichen Erzeugungsmanagement für den Betrieb von KWK-Anlagen, Energieverbrauchsmonitoring und Smart-Metering wird der Einsatz von verteilten Regelungs- und Monitoringsystemen im fünften Kapitel dargestellt. Im folgenden sechsten Kapitel wird die Bedeutung normierter Kommunikation für den Einsatz in verteilten Systemen sowie dafür vorhandene Standards aus der elektrischen Energieversorgungstechnik und der Automatisierungstechnik behandelt. Der Stand der Internet-Technik für verteilte Systeme ist Gegenstand des siebten Kapitels. Dabei werden zunächst die verschiedenen drahtlosen und drahtgebundenen Kommunikationsmedien vorgestellt und ihre Eigenschaften und die Rand­bedingungen für ihren Einsatz erörtert. Ebenso werden technische Probleme beim Einsatz der Internet-Technik aufgezeigt und Lösungsmöglichkeiten für diese Probleme dargestellt. Es folgt eine Übersicht von Netzwerkdiensten, die für den Betrieb von verteilten Systemen notwendig sind. Außerdem werden Techniken zur Überwachung von verteilten Systemen behandelt. Kapitel acht zeigt Sicherheitsrisiken bei der Nutzung des Internets auf und bewertet verschiedene Techniken zur Absicherung des Netzwerkverkehrs. Kapitel neun stellt ein Internet-basiertes Client-Server-System zur Online-Visualisierung von Anlagendaten im Webbrowser mit Hilfe von Java-Applets und XML-RPC vor. Die Visualisierung von Anlagendaten auf Mobiltelefonen mit Hilfe des Wireless Application Protocol sowie die dafür notwendige Software und Infrastruktur ist Gegenstand des zehnten Kapitels. Im elften Kapitel wird eine neuartige Software für die Simulation von dezentralen Energiesystemen und deren Regelungs­systemen auf Basis von virtuellen Maschinen, virtuellen Netzwerken und einer thermischen Simulationsumgebung vorgestellt sowie deren Anwendung für die Reglerentwicklung erklärt. Verschiedene Techniken für die Installation von Betriebssystemen und Software für die Embedded Systems eines verteilten Systems werden im Kapitel zwölf untersucht. Im Kapitel 13 werden verschiedene Technologien zur Konfiguration und Parametrierung von Regelungssystemen in der industriellen Prozess- und Fertigungs­automatisierung hinsichtlich ihrer Eignung für dezentrale Energiesysteme analysiert. Anschließend wird eine Software zur Installation und Parametrierung von Monitoringsystemen sowie der dazugehörigen Infrastruktur vorgestellt. Kapitel 14 beschäftigt sich mit Anforderungen an die Hardware für verteilte Systeme und mit Maßnahmen zur Erhöhung der Betriebs- und der Datensicherheit. Im 15. Kapitel werden die in den bisherigen Kapiteln vorgestellten Techniken anhand eines großen verteilten Monitoringsystems und anhand eines Power Flow and Power Quality Management Systems auf Basis von verteilten Embedded Systems evaluiert. Kapitel 16 fasst die Ergebnisse der Arbeit zusammen und enthält einen Ausblick auf zukünftige Entwicklungen.

Memory Hierarchy Hardware-Software Co-design in Embedded Systems

The memory hierarchy is the main bottleneck in modern computer systems as the gap between the speed of the processor and the memory continues to grow larger. The situation in embedded systems is even worse. The memory hierarchy consumes a large amount of chip area and energy, which are precious resources in embedded systems. Moreover, embedded systems have multiple design objectives such as performance, energy consumption, and area, etc. Customizing the memory hierarchy for specific applications is a very important way to take full advantage of limited resources to maximize the performance. However, the traditional custom memory hierarchy design methodologies are phase-ordered. They separate the application optimization from the memory hierarchy architecture design, which tend to result in local-optimal solutions. In traditional Hardware-Software co-design methodologies, much of the work has focused on utilizing reconfigurable logic to partition the computation. However, utilizing reconfigurable logic to perform the memory hierarchy design is seldom addressed. In this paper, we propose a new framework for designing memory hierarchy for embedded systems. The framework will take advantage of the flexible reconfigurable logic to customize the memory hierarchy for specific applications. It combines the application optimization and memory hierarchy design together to obtain a global-optimal solution. Using the framework, we performed a case study to design a new software-controlled instruction memory that showed promising potential.

Cells, tissues, and organs.

Estudia cómo funcionan las células para formar tejidos, órganos y sistemas de órganos. Los estudiantes de entre once y catorce años aprenden qué tienen en común todas las células, cómo trabajan junto a los sistemas del cuerpo, cuáles son los cuatro tipos de tejidos humanos y por qué el cuerpo respira, circula la sangre, y siente dolor.

Effect of neurotropic factors on survival of transplanted embryonic inner ear tissues

This paper addresses cochlear transplantation and presents a study on the effect of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) on the survival of transplanted embryonic inner ear tissues.

Multilayered hydrogel coatings covalently-linked to glass surfaces showing a potential to mimic mucosal tissues

Multilayered hydrogel coatings can be developed on the surface of glass slides via layer-by-layer deposition of hydrogen-bonded interpolymer complexes formed by poly(acrylic acid) and methylcellulose. Chemical modification of the glass surface with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane with subsequent layer-by-layer deposition and cross-linking of interpolymer complexes by thermal treatment allows fabrication of ultrathin hydrogel coatings, not detachable from the substrate. The thickness of these coatings is directly related to the number of deposition cycles and cross-linking conditions. An unusual dependence of the hydrogel swelling properties on the sample thickness is observed and can be interpreted by gradual transitions between two- and three-dimensional networks. The hydrogels exhibit pH-responsive swelling behaviour, achieving higher swelling degrees at pH > 6.0. These coatings can be used as model substrates to study the adhesive properties of pharmaceutical tablets and can potentially mimic the total work of adhesion observed for the detachment of mucoadhesives from porcine buccal mucosa but fail to exhibit identical detachment profiles.

Effect of high dose selenium enriched yeast diets on the distribution of total selenium and selenium species within lamb tissues

The objective of this study was to determine the distribution of total selenium (Se) and of the proportion of total Se comprised as the selenized amino acids selenomethionine (SeMet) and selenocysteine (SeCys) within the post mortem tissues of lambs that were fed high dose selenized enriched yeast (SY), derived from a specific strain of Saccharomyces cerevisae CNCM (Collection Nationale de Culture de Micro-organism) I-3060. Thirty two Texel X Suffolk lambs (6.87 ± 0.23 kg BW) were offered both reconstituted milk replacer and a pelleted diet, both of which had been either supplemented with high SY (6.30 ± 0.18 mg Se/kg DM) or unsupplemented (0.13 ± 0.01 mg Se/kg of DM), depending on treatment designation, for a continuous period of 91 d. At enrollment and 28, 56 and 91 d following enrollment lambs were blood sampled. At the completion of the treatment period, five lambs from each treatment group were euthanased and samples of heart, liver, kidney and skeletal muscle (Longissimus Dorsi and Psoas Major) were retained for Se analysis. The inclusion of high SY increased (P < 0.001) whole blood Se concentration, reaching a maximum mean value of 815.2 ± 19.1 ng Se/mL compared with 217.8 ± 9.1 ng Se/mL in control animals. Tissue total Se concentrations were significantly (P < 0.001) higher in SY supplemented animals than in controls irrespective of tissue type; values were 26, 16, 8 and 3 times higher in skeletal muscle, liver, heart and kidney tissue of HSY lambs when compared to controls. however, the distribution of total Se and the proportions of total Se comprised as either SeMet or SeCys differed between tissue types. Selenocysteine was the predominant selenized amino acid in glandular tissues, such the liver and kidney. irrespective of treatment, although absolute values were markedly higher in HSY lambs. Conversely selenomethionine was the predominat selenized amino acid in cardiac and skeletal muscle (Longissimus Dorsi, and Psoas Major) tissues in HSY animals, although the same trend was not apparent for control lambs in which SeCys was the predominant selenized amino acid. It was concluded that there were increases in both whole blood and tissue total Se concentrations as a result of dietary supplementation with high dose of SY. Furthermore, distribution of total Se and Se species differed between both treatment designation and tissue type.

Selenium persistency and speciation in the tissues of lambs following the withdrawal of dietary high-dose selenium-enriched yeast

The objective was to determine the concentration of total selenium (Se) and the proportion of total Se comprised as selenomethionine (SeMet) and selenocysteine (SeCys) in post mortem tissues of lambs in the six weeks period following the withdrawal of a diet containing high dose selenized yeast (SY), derived from a specific strain of Saccharomyces cerevisae CNCM (Collection Nationale de Culture de Micro-organism) I-3060. Thirty Texel x Suffolk lambs used in this study had previously received diets (91 days) containing either high dose SY (HSY; 6.30 mg Se/kg DM) or an unsupplemented control (C; 0.13 mg Se/kg DM). Following the period of supplementation all lambs were then offered a complete pelleted diet, without additional Se (0.15 mg Se/kg DM), for 42 days. At enrollment and 21 and 42 days later, five lambs from each treatment were blood sampled, euthanased and samples of heart, liver, kidney and skeletal muscle (Longissimus Dorsi and Psoas Major) tissue were retained. Total Se concentration in whole blood and tissues was significantly (P < 0.001) higher in HSY lambs at all time points that had previously received long term exposure to high dietary concentrations of SY. The distribution of total Se and the proportions of total Se comprised as SeMet and SeCys differed between tissues, treatment and time points. Total Se was greatest in HSY liver and kidney (22.64 and 18.96 mg Se/kg DM, respectively) and SeCys comprised the greatest proportion of total Se. Conversely, cardiac and skeletal muscle (Longissimus Dorsi and Psoas Major) tissues had lower total Se concentration (10.80, 7.02 and 7.82 mg Se/kg DM, respectively) and SeMet was the predominant selenized amino acid. Rates of Se clearance in HSY liver (307 µg Se/day) and kidney (238 µg Se/day) were higher compared with HSY cardiac tissue (120 µg Se/day) and skeletal muscle (20 µg Se/day). In conclusion differences in Se clearance rates were different between tissue types, reflecting the relative metabolic activity of each tissue, and appear to be dependant upon the proportions of total Se comprised as either SeMet or SeCys.