This paper presents a novel VLSI architecture for image segmentation. The architecture is based on the fuzzy c-means algorithm with spatial constraint for reducing the misclassification rate. In the architecture, the usual iterative operations for updating the membership matrix and cluster centroid are merged into one single updating process to evade the large storage requirement. In addition, an efficient pipelined circuit is used for the updating process for accelerating the computational speed. Experimental results show that the the proposed circuit is an effective alternative for real-time image segmentation with low area cost and low misclassification rate.

PaFVE is low ambient temperature-inducible and acts as a systemic regulator in the early stage of floral development in Phalaenopsis. Phalaenopsis aphrodite: subsp. formosana, a native orchid species of Taiwan, is an economically important ornamental crop that requires low ambient temperature for floral transition. Currently, limited genetic information about such orchid species hampers genetic manipulation for specific or improved floral traits, and the control of flowering time independent of temperature regulation. In this study, the sequence of the full-length of Phalaenopsis flowering locus VE (PaFVE) gene was determined. Spatial and temporal expression studies showed that mRNA transcripts of PaFVE were inducible by low ambient temperature, and high levels of expression occurred after spiking initiation and remained high throughout the early stage of floral development. Further investigation revealed that floral organ development was impeded in PaFVE-silenced P. aphrodite, but flowering time and floral organogenesis were not compromised. Analysis of the downstream flowering genes suggested that the delay in floral maturation is associated with a corresponding decrease in the expression of downstream flowering genes, PaSOC1, PaSOC1L and PaAGL24. The ectopic expression of PaFVE in Arabidopsis resulted in an accelerated flowering time, accompanied by an increase in the expression of AtSOC1, thus revealing the functional role of PaFVE as a floral regulator. Overall, our results demonstrate that PaFVE has evolutionarily diverged and conserved functions, and serves as a regulator of floral organ maturation in Phalaenopsis and a regulator of flowering time in Arabidopsis.

Topiramate (TPM) is a newer antiepileptic drug with high efficacy in treating various neurological disorders, especially epilepsy and migraine. The adverse effects of TPM therapy are mainly central nervous system-related somnolence and dizziness. There are rare reports about the role of TPM on sexual effects, but with inconsistent results. In this report, we describe a 31-year-old man who developed erectile dysfunction after several months of TPM use. Complete urological and sexual psychiatric evaluations were done. There was lack of an identifiable organic basis and psychiatric pathology in this patient. The erectile dysfunction improved only after the termination of TPM, documenting the temporal relationship. We reviewed and discussed the clinical aspect of TPM use in erectile dysfunction. This case and the rare cases of erectile dysfunction in TPM use reported in the literature show that TPM is worth to be paid attention to whenever it is prescribed in a wide range of neurological disorders.

In this paper, we present a new parameter: path metric value (PM_Value). It can be used to evaluate RF quality and therefore can be used in the optimal-power-control (OPC) of the next generation optical storage systems to which partial-response maximum-likelihood (PRML) detection is applied.