Abstract: A wide spectrum of systems require reliable
personal recognition schemes to either confirm or determine the
identity of an individual person. This paper considers multimodal
biometric system and their applicability to access control,
authentication and security applications. Strategies for feature
extraction and sensor fusion are considered and contrasted. Issues
related to performance assessment, deployment and standardization
are discussed. Finally future directions of biometric systems
development are discussed.
Abstract: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) initially introduced
during WW-II, has revolutionized the world with its numerous
benefits and plethora of implementations in diverse areas ranging
from manufacturing to agriculture to healthcare to hotel management.
This work reviews the current research in this area with emphasis
on applications for supply chain management and to develop a
taxonomic framework to classify literature which will enable swift
and easy content analysis and also help identify areas for future
research.
Abstract: In this study, we investigated the effects of ginger and
L-carnitine on the reproductive performance of male rats with respect
to semen parameters, male sex hormones and the testicular
antioxidant system. A total of sixty mature male albino rats were
divided into four groups of fifteen rats. The control group received
saline, whereas the other three groups received ginger (100 mg kg-1 d-
1.), L-carnitine (150 mg kg-1 d-1.) or a combination of both ginger
(100 mg kg-1 d-1.) and L-carnitine (150 mg kg-1 d-1.) via a stomach
tube daily for one month. At the end of the treatment period, the rats
were sacrificed, and their sperm characteristics (count, motility and
viability), antioxidant enzyme factors levels (reduced glutathione,
catalase, superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant capacity) and sex
hormone levels (testosterone, Follicle stimulating hormone(FSH) and
luteinizing hormone (LH) were analysed. Our results showed that the
three experimental treatments improved sperm parameters,
antioxidant enzyme activity and testosterone hormone levels; the
most pronounced positive effects were observed in the group that
received a combination of both ginger and L-carnitine. Therefore, the
administration of a combination of ginger and L-carnitine may be
beneficial for improving male sexual performance.
Abstract: ECG analysis method was developed using ROC
analysis of PVC detecting algorithm. ECG signal of MIT-BIH
arrhythmia database was analyzed by MATLAB. First of all, the
baseline was removed by median filter to preprocess the ECG signal.
R peaks were detected for ECG analysis method, and normal VCG
was extracted for VCG analysis method. Four PVC detecting
algorithm was analyzed by ROC curve, which parameters are
maximum amplitude of QRS complex, width of QRS complex, r-r
interval and geometric mean of VCG. To set cut-off value of
parameters, ROC curve was estimated by true-positive rate
(sensitivity) and false-positive rate. sensitivity and false negative rate
(specificity) of ROC curve calculated, and ECG was analyzed using
cut-off value which was estimated from ROC curve. As a result, PVC
detecting algorithm of VCG geometric mean have high availability,
and PVC could be detected more accurately with amplitude and width
of QRS complex.
Abstract: Nonlinear finite element method with eight noded
isoparametric quadrilateral element is used for prediction of loaddeformation
behavior including bearing capacity of foundations.
Modified generalized plasticity model with non-associated flow rule
is applied for analysis of soil-footing system. Also Von Mises and
Tresca criterions are used for simulation of soil behavior. Modified
generalized plasticity model is able to simulate load-deformation
including softening behavior. Localization phenomena are considered
by different meshes. Localization phenomena have not been seen in
the examples. Predictions by modified generalized plasticity model
show good agreement with laboratory data and theoretical prediction
in comparison the other models.
Abstract: With the growth of modern civilization and
industrialization in worldwide, the demand for energy is increasing
day by day. Majority of the world-s energy needs are met through
fossil fuels and natural gas. As a result the amount of fossil fuels is
on diminishing from year to year. Since the fossil fuel is nonrenewable,
so fuel price is gouging as a consequence of spiraling
demand and diminishing supply. At present the power generation of
our country is mainly depends on imported fossil fuels. To reduce the
dependency on imported fuel, the use of renewable sources has
become more popular. In Bangladesh coconut is widely growing tree.
Especially in the southern part of the country a large area will be
found where coconut tree is considered as natural asset. So, our
endeavor was to use the coconut oil as a renewable and alternative
fuel. This article shows the prospect of coconut oil as a renewable
and alternative fuel of diesel fuel. Since diesel engine has a versatile
uses including small electricity generation, an experimental set up is
then made to study the performance of a small diesel engine using
different blends of bio diesel converted from coconut oil. It is found
that bio diesel has slightly different properties than diesel. With
biodiesel the engine is capable of running without difficulty.
Different blends of bio diesel (i.e. B80, B60, and B 50 etc.) have
been used to avoid complicated modification of the engine or the fuel
supply system. Finally, a comparison of engine performance for
different blends of biodiesel has been carried out to determine the
optimum blend for different operating conditions.
Abstract: The purpose of the present study is to determine the level of reading habit of future classroom teachers, to discuss the obtained results according to their socio-demographic features and to define the factors which are influential on taking up reading in the context of future teachers experiences. The target population of the study consists of the fourth grade students at 62 faculties of education, department of classroom teaching from Turkish state universities. The sampling of the study consists of the fourth grade students from seven faculties of education, department of classroom teaching from each region. In the study, in the first and the second aspects, there will be a questionnaire to be developed concerning the measurement of future teachers level of reading habits and their socio-demographic features. The questionnaire was applied to all the students in the sample.
Abstract: The present study explains the effect of aggregate
gradation on moisture damage in bituminous mixes. Three types of
aggregate gradation and two types of binder; VG-30 and Polymer
modified bitumen (PMB-40) are used. Moisture susceptibility tests
like retained stability and tensile strength ratio (TSR) and static creep
test are conducted on Marshall specimens. The creep test was also
conducted for conditioned and unconditioned specimens to observe
the effect of moisture on creep behaviour. The results indicate that
Marshall stability value is higher in PMB-40 mix than VG-30 mixes.
Moisture susceptibility of PMB-40 mixes is low when compared with
mix using VG-30. The reduction in retained stability, and indirect
tensile strength and increase in creep are evaluated for finer, coarser
and normal gradation of aggregate to observe the effect of gradation
on moisture susceptibility of mixes. The retained stability is least
affected when compared with other moisture susceptibility
parameters
Abstract: Intelligent systems based on machine learning
techniques, such as classification, clustering, are gaining wide spread
popularity in real world applications. This paper presents work on
developing a software system for predicting crop yield, for example
oil-palm yield, from climate and plantation data. At the core of our
system is a method for unsupervised partitioning of data for finding
spatio-temporal patterns in climate data using kernel methods which
offer strength to deal with complex data. This work gets inspiration
from the notion that a non-linear data transformation into some high
dimensional feature space increases the possibility of linear
separability of the patterns in the transformed space. Therefore, it
simplifies exploration of the associated structure in the data. Kernel
methods implicitly perform a non-linear mapping of the input data
into a high dimensional feature space by replacing the inner products
with an appropriate positive definite function. In this paper we
present a robust weighted kernel k-means algorithm incorporating
spatial constraints for clustering the data. The proposed algorithm
can effectively handle noise, outliers and auto-correlation in the
spatial data, for effective and efficient data analysis by exploring
patterns and structures in the data, and thus can be used for
predicting oil-palm yield by analyzing various factors affecting the
yield.
Abstract: This paper presents the experimental results of
discharge current phenomena on various humidity, temperature,
pressure and pollutant conditions of epoxy resin specimen. The
leakage distance of specimen was 3 cm, that it was supplied by high
voltage. The polluted condition was given with NaCl artificial
pollutant. The conducted measurements were discharge current and
applied voltage. The specimen was put in a hermetically sealed
chamber, and the current waveforms were analyzed with FFT.
The result indicated that on discharge condition, the fifth
harmonics still had dominant, rather than third one. The third
harmonics tent to be appeared on low pressure heavily polluted
condition, and followed by high humidity heavily polluted condition.
On the heavily polluted specimen, the peaks discharge current points
would be high and more frequent. Nevertheless, the specimen still
had capacitive property. Besides that, usually discharge current
points were more frequent. The influence of low pressure was still
dominant to be easier to discharge. The non-linear property would be
appear explicitly on low pressure and heavily polluted condition.
Abstract: Temperature dependence of force of gravitation is one
of the fundamental problems of physics. This problem has got special
value in connection with that the general theory of relativity,
supposing the weakest positive influence of a body temperature on its
weight, actually rejects an opportunity of measurement of negative
influence of temperature on gravity in laboratory conditions. Really,
the recognition of negative temperature dependence of gravitation,
for example, means basic impossibility of achievement of a
singularity («a black hole») at a gravitational collapse. Laboratory
experiments with exact weighing the heated up metal samples,
indicating negative influence temperatures of bodies on their physical
weight are described. Influence of mistakes of measurements is
analyzed. Calculations of distribution of temperature in volume of the
bar, agreed with experimental data of time dependence of weight of
samples are executed. The physical substantiation of negative
temperature dependence of weight of the bodies, based on correlation
of acceleration at thermal movement of micro-particles of a body and
its absolute temperature, are given.
Abstract: It is believed that DNA damaging toxic metabolites contributes to the development of different pathological conditions. To prevent harmful influence of toxic agents, cells developed number of protecting mechanisms, such as enzymatic reaction of detoxification of reactive metabolites and repair of DNA damage. The aim of the study was to examine the association between polymorphism of GSTT1/GSTM1 and XRCC1/3 genes and coronary artery disease (CAD) incidence. To examine a polymorphism of these genes in CAD susceptibility in patients and controls, PCR based genotyping assay was performed. For GST genes, frequency of GSTM1 null genotype among CAD affected group was significantly increased than in control group (P0.1). We found that neither XRCC1 Arg399Gln nor XRCC3 Thr241Met were associated with CAD risk. Obtained data suggests that GSTM1 null genotype carriers are more susceptible to CAD development.
Abstract: This paper presents a real time force sensing
instrument that is designed for human gait analysis purposes. It is
capable of recording and monitoring ground reaction forces exerted
by human foot during various activities such as walking, running and
jumping in real time. In overall, force sensing mat mainly consists of
three elements: the force sensing mat, signal conditioning circuit and
data acquisition device. Force sensing mat is the mat that contains an
array of force sensing elements. To control and process the incoming
signal from the force sensing mat, Force-Logger and Force-Reloader
are developed using National Instrument Labview. This paper
describes the architecture of the force sensing mat, signal
conditioning circuit and the real time streaming of the incoming data
from the force sensing mat. Additionally, a preliminary experiment
dataset is presented in this paper.
Abstract: A frictionless contact problem for a two-layer orthotropic elastic medium loaded through a rigid flat stamp is considered. It is assumed that tensile tractions are not allowed and only compressive tractions can be transmitted across the interface. In the solution, effect of gravity is taken into consideration. If the external load on the rigid stamp is less than or equal to a critical value, continuous contact between the layers is maintained. The problem is expressed in terms of a singular integral equation by using the theory of elasticity and the Fourier transforms. Numerical results for initial separation point, critical separation load and contact stress distribution are presented.
Abstract: Housebuilders in England have been the target of numerous government policies in recent years promoting increased productivity and affordability. As a result, the housebuilding industry is currently faced with objectives to improve the affordability and sustainability of new homes whilst also increasing production rates to 240,000 per year by 2016.Yet amidst a faltering economic climate, the UK Government is forging ahead with the 'Code for Sustainable Homes', which includes stringent sustainable standards for all new homes and sets ambitious targets for the housebuilding industry, the culmination of which is the production of zero carbon homes by 2016.Great uncertainty exists amongst housebuilders as to the costs, benefits and risks of building zero carbon homes. This paper examines the key barriers to zero carbon homes from housebuilders- perspective. A comprehensive opinion on the challenges to deliver zero carbon homes is gathered through a questionnaire survey issued to the major housing developers in England. The study found that a number of cultural, legislative, and financial barriers stand in the way of the widespread construction of zero carbon homes. The study concludes with several recommendations to both the Government and the housebuilding industry to address the barriers that hinder a successful delivery of zero carbon homes in England.
Abstract: The paper presents a complete discrete statistical framework, based on a novel vector quantization (VQ) front-end process. This new VQ approach performs an optimal distribution of VQ codebook components on HMM states. This technique that we named the distributed vector quantization (DVQ) of hidden Markov models, succeeds in unifying acoustic micro-structure and phonetic macro-structure, when the estimation of HMM parameters is performed. The DVQ technique is implemented through two variants. The first variant uses the K-means algorithm (K-means- DVQ) to optimize the VQ, while the second variant exploits the benefits of the classification behavior of neural networks (NN-DVQ) for the same purpose. The proposed variants are compared with the HMM-based baseline system by experiments of specific Arabic consonants recognition. The results show that the distributed vector quantization technique increase the performance of the discrete HMM system.
Abstract: The relics of traditional folk culture in Kazakhstan are ceremonies or their fragments - such as weddings, funerals, shamanism. The world of spiritual creatures, spirits-protectors, spirits-helpers, injury spirits, spirits of illnesses, etc., is described in detail in shamanic rites (in Kazakh culture it is called bakslyk). The study of these displays of folk culture, which reflect the peoples` ethnic mentality or notions about the structure, values and hierarchies of the universe, includes collection and recording of the field materials and their interpretation, i.e. reconstruction of those meanings which were initially embodied or “coded" in folklore. A distinctive feature of Kazakh nomadic culture is its self-preservation and actualization, almost untouched the ancient mythologies of the world, in particular, the mythologies connected with music, musical instruments and the creator of music. Within the frameworks of the traditional culture the word and the music keep the sacral meaning. The ritual melodies and what they carry – the holly, and at the same time unexplored, powerful and threatening, uncontrolled by people world – keep on attributing the soul to all, connected with culture.
Abstract: A self tuning PID control strategy using reinforcement
learning is proposed in this paper to deal with the control of wind
energy conversion systems (WECS). Actor-Critic learning is used to
tune PID parameters in an adaptive way by taking advantage of the
model-free and on-line learning properties of reinforcement learning
effectively. In order to reduce the demand of storage space and to
improve the learning efficiency, a single RBF neural network is used
to approximate the policy function of Actor and the value function of
Critic simultaneously. The inputs of RBF network are the system
error, as well as the first and the second-order differences of error.
The Actor can realize the mapping from the system state to PID
parameters, while the Critic evaluates the outputs of the Actor and
produces TD error. Based on TD error performance index and
gradient descent method, the updating rules of RBF kernel function
and network weights were given. Simulation results show that the
proposed controller is efficient for WECS and it is perfectly
adaptable and strongly robust, which is better than that of a
conventional PID controller.
Abstract: This paper investigates the activity of the
gastrocnemius (Gas) muscle in healthy subjects during salat (ruku-
position) and specific exercise [Unilateral Plantar Flexion Exercise
(UPFE)] using electromyography (EMG). Both lateral and medial
Gas muscles were assessed. A group of undergraduates aged between
19 to 25 years voluntarily participated in this study. The myoelectric
activity of the muscles were recorded and analyzed. The finding
indicated that there were contractions of the muscles during the salat
and exercise with almost same EMG-s level. From the result,
Wilcoxon-s Rank Sum test showed no significant difference between
ruku- and UPFE for both medial (p=0.082) and lateral (p=0.226) of
GAS muscles. Therefore, salat may be useful in strengthening
exercise and also in rehabilitation programs for lower limb activities.
Abstract: This paper presents recent work on the improvement
of the robotics vision based control strategy for underwater pipeline
tracking system. The study focuses on developing image processing
algorithms and a fuzzy inference system for the analysis of the
terrain. The main goal is to implement the supervisory fuzzy learning
control technique to reduce the errors on navigation decision due to
the pipeline occlusion problem. The system developed is capable of
interpreting underwater images containing occluded pipeline, seabed
and other unwanted noise. The algorithm proposed in previous work
does not explore the cooperation between fuzzy controllers,
knowledge and learnt data to improve the outputs for underwater
pipeline tracking. Computer simulations and prototype simulations
demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach. The system accuracy
level has also been discussed.