Abstract: One of the disadvantages of using OFDM is the larger
peak to averaged power ratio (PAPR) in its time domain signal. The
larger PAPR signal would course the fatal degradation of bit error
rate performance (BER) due to the inter-modulation noise in the nonlinear
channel. This paper proposes an improved DSI (Dummy
Sequence Insertion) method, which can achieve the better PAPR and
BER performances. The feature of proposed method is to optimize
the phase of each dummy sub-carrier so as to reduce the PAPR
performance by changing all predetermined phase coefficients in the
time domain signal, which is calculated for data sub-carriers and
dummy sub-carriers separately. To achieve the better PAPR
performance, this paper also proposes to employ the time-frequency
domain swapping algorithm for fine adjustment of phase coefficient
of the dummy subcarriers, which can achieve the less complexity of
processing and achieves the better PAPR and BER performances
than those for the conventional DSI method. This paper presents
various computer simulation results to verify the effectiveness of
proposed method as comparing with the conventional methods in the
non-linear channel.
Abstract: In this paper, we propose a novel adaptive
spatiotemporal filter that utilizes image sequences in order to remove
noise. The consecutive frames include: current, previous and next
noisy frames. The filter proposed in this paper is based upon the
weighted averaging pixels intensity and noise variance in image
sequences. It utilizes the Appropriate Number of Consecutive Frames
(ANCF) based on the noisy pixels intensity among the frames. The
number of consecutive frames is adaptively calculated for each
region in image and its value may change from one region to another
region depending on the pixels intensity within the region. The
weights are determined by a well-defined mathematical criterion,
which is adaptive to the feature of spatiotemporal pixels of the
consecutive frames. It is experimentally shown that the proposed
filter can preserve image structures and edges under motion while
suppressing noise, and thus can be effectively used in image
sequences filtering. In addition, the AWA filter using ANCF is
particularly well suited for filtering sequences that contain segments
with abruptly changing scene content due to, for example, rapid
zooming and changes in the view of the camera.
Abstract: Components of a software system may be related in a
wide variety of ways. These relationships need to be represented in
software architecture in order develop quality software. In practice, software architecture is immensely challenging, strikingly
multifaceted, extravagantly domain based, perpetually changing,
rarely cost-effective, and deceptively ambiguous. This paper analyses
relations among the major components of software systems and
argues for using several broad categories for software architecture for
assessment purposes: strongly adequate, weakly adequate and
functionally adequate software architectures among other categories.
These categories are intended for formative assessments of
architectural designs.
Abstract: Changing technology and increased constituent
demand for government services derive the need for governmental
responsiveness. The government organisations in the developing
countries will be under increased pressure to change their
bureaucratic systems to be able to respond rapidly to changing and
increasing requirements and rapid technology advancements. This
paper aims to present a conceptual framework for explaining the
main barriers and drivers of public e-service development. Therefore,
the framework provides a basic context within which the process and
practice of E-Service can be implemented successfully in the public
sector organisations. The framework is flexible enough to be adopted
by governments at different levels; national or local by developing
countries around the world.
Abstract: ZnO+Ga2O3 functionally graded thin films (FGTFs)
were examined for their potential use as Solar cell and organic light
emitting diodes (OLEDs). FGTF transparent conducting oxides (TCO)
were fabricated by combinatorial RF magnetron sputtering. The
composition gradient was controlled up to 10% by changing the
plasma power of the two sputter guns. A Ga2O3+ZnO graded region
was placed on the top layer of ZnO. The FGTFs showed up to 80%
transmittance. Their surface resistances were reduced to < 10% by
increasing the Ga2O3: pure ZnO ratio in the TCO. The FGTFs- work
functions could be controlled within a range of 0.18 eV. The
controlled work function is a very promising technology because it
reduces the contact resistance between the anode and Hall transport
layers of OLED and solar cell devices.
Abstract: With the rapid growth in business size, today-s businesses orient Throughout thirty years local, national and international experience in medicine as a medical student, junior doctor and eventually Consultant and Professor in Anaesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Management, I note significant generalised dissatisfaction among medical students and doctors regarding their medical education and practice. We repeatedly hear complaints from patients about the dysfunctional health care system they are dealing with and subsequently the poor medical service that they are receiving. Medical students are bombarded with lectures, tutorials, clinical rounds and various exams. Clinicians are weighed down with a never-ending array of competing duties. Patients are extremely unhappy about the long waiting lists, loss of their records and the continuous deterioration of the health care service. This problem has been reported in different countries by several authors [1,2,3]. In a trial to solve this dilemma, a genuine idea has been suggested implementing computer technology in medicine [2,3]. Computers in medicine are a medium of international communication of the revolutionary advances being made in the application of the computer to the fields of bioscience and medicine [4,5]. The awareness about using computers in medicine has recently increased all over the world. In Misr University for Science & Technology (MUST), Egypt, medical students are now given hand-held computers (Laptop) with Internet facility making their medical education accessible, convenient and up to date. However, this trial still needs to be validated. Helping the readers to catch up with the on going fast development in this interesting field, the author has decided to continue reviewing the literature, exploring the state-of-art in computer based medicine and up dating the medical professionals especially the local trainee Doctors in Egypt. In part I of this review article we will give a general background discussing the potential use of computer technology in the various aspects of the medical field including education, research, clinical practice and the health care service given to patients. Hope this will help starting changing the culture, promoting the awareness about the importance of implementing information technology (IT) in medicine, which is a field in which such help is needed. An international collaboration is recommended supporting the emerging countries achieving this target.
Abstract: Simulation and modeling computer programs are
concerned with construction of models for analyzing different
perspectives and possibilities in changing conditions environment.
The paper presents theoretical justification and evaluation of
qualitative e-learning development model in perspective of advancing
modern technologies. There have been analyzed principles of
qualitative e-learning in higher education, productivity of studying
process using modern technologies, different kind of methods and
future perspectives of e-learning in formal education. Theoretically
grounded and practically tested model of developing e-learning
methods using different technologies for different type of classroom,
which can be used in professor-s decision making process to choose
the most effective e-learning methods has been worked out.
Abstract: Most of the collision warning systems currently
available in the automotive market are mainly designed to warn
against imminent rear-end and lane-changing collisions. No collision
warning system is commercially available to warn against imminent
turning collisions at intersections, especially for left-turn collisions
when a driver attempts to make a left-turn at either a signalized or
non-signalized intersection, conflicting with the path of other
approaching vehicles traveling on the opposite-direction traffic
stream. One of the major factors that lead to left-turn collisions is the
human error and misjudgment of the driver of the turning vehicle
when perceiving the speed and acceleration of other vehicles
traveling on the opposite-direction traffic stream; therefore, using a
properly-designed collision warning system will likely reduce, or
even eliminate, this type of collisions by reducing human error. This
paper introduces perceptual framework for a proposed collision
warning system that can detect imminent left-turn collisions at
intersections. The system utilizes a commercially-available detection
sensor (either a radar sensor or a laser detector) to detect approaching
vehicles traveling on the opposite-direction traffic stream and
calculate their speeds and acceleration rates to estimate the time-tocollision
and compare that time to the time required for the turning
vehicle to clear the intersection. When calculating the time required
for the turning vehicle to clear the intersection, consideration is given
to the perception-reaction time of the driver of the turning vehicle,
which is the time required by the driver to perceive the message
given by the warning system and react to it by engaging the throttle.
A regression model was developed to estimate perception-reaction
time based on age and gender of the driver of the host vehicle.
Desired acceleration rate selected by the driver of the turning vehicle,
when making the left-turn movement, is another human factor that is
considered by the system. Another regression model was developed
to estimate the acceleration rate selected by the driver of the turning
vehicle based on driver-s age and gender as well as on the location
and speed of the nearest approaching vehicle along with the
maximum acceleration rate provided by the mechanical
characteristics of the turning vehicle. By comparing time-to-collision
with the time required for the turning vehicle to clear the intersection,
the system displays a message to the driver of the turning vehicle
when departure is safe. An application example is provided to
illustrate the logic algorithm of the proposed system.
Abstract: This article presents a detailed analysis and comparative
performance evaluation of model reference adaptive control systems.
In contrast to classical control theory, adaptive control methods allow
to deal with time-variant processes. Inspired by the works [1] and
[2], two methods based on the MIT rule and Lyapunov rule are
applied to a linear first order system. The system is simulated and
it is investigated how changes to the adaptation gain affect the
system performance. Furthermore, variations in the reference model
parameters, that is changing the desired closed-loop behaviour are
examinded.
Abstract: Unified Speech Audio Coding (USAC), the latest MPEG standardization for unified speech and audio coding, uses a speech/audio classification algorithm to distinguish speech and audio segments of the input signal. The quality of the recovered audio can be increased by well-designed orchestra/percussion classification and subsequent processing. However, owing to the shortcoming of the system, introducing an orchestra/percussion classification and modifying subsequent processing can enormously increase the quality of the recovered audio. This paper proposes an orchestra/percussion classification algorithm for the USAC system which only extracts 3 scales of Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCCs) rather than traditional 13 scales of MFCCs and use Iterative Dichotomiser 3 (ID3) Decision Tree rather than other complex learning method, thus the proposed algorithm has lower computing complexity than most existing algorithms. Considering that frequent changing of attributes may lead to quality loss of the recovered audio signal, this paper also design a modified subsequent process to help the whole classification system reach an accurate rate as high as 97% which is comparable to classical 99%.
Abstract: In this paper, we develop a Spatio-Temporal graph as
of a key component of our knowledge representation Scheme. We
design an integrated representation Scheme to depict not only present
and past but future in parallel with the spaces in an effective and
intuitive manner. The resulting multi-dimensional comprehensive
knowledge structure accommodates multi-layered virtual world
developing in the time to maximize the diversity of situations in the
historical context. This knowledge representation Scheme is to be used
as the basis for simulation of situations composing the virtual world
and for implementation of virtual agents' knowledge used to judge and
evaluate the situations in the virtual world. To provide natural contexts
for situated learning or simulation games, the virtual stage set by this
Spatio-Temporal graph is to be populated by agents and other objects
interrelated and changing which are abstracted in the ontology.
Abstract: The influence of viscosity on droplet diameter for
water-in-crude oil (w/o) emulsion with two different ratios; 20-80 %
and 50-50 % w/o emulsion was examined in the Brookfield
Rotational Digital Rheometer. The emulsion was prepared with
sorbitan sesquiolate (Span 83) act as emulsifier at varied temperature
and stirring speed in rotation per minute (rpm). Results showed that
the viscosity of w/o emulsion was strongly augmented by increasing
volume of water and decreased the temperature. The changing of
viscosity also altered the droplet size distribution. Changing of
droplet diameter was depends on the viscosity and the behavior of
emulsion either Newtonian or non-Newtonian.
Abstract: To compare Healing Effects of an
Ayurvedic Preparation and Silver Sulfadiazine on burn wounds in
Albino Rats.
Methods: Albino rats– 30 male / female rats weighing between
150-200 g were used in the study. They were individually housed and
maintained on normal diet and water ad libitum. Partial thickness
burn wounds were inflicted, on overnight-starved animals under
pentobarbitone (30mg/kg, i.p.) anaesthesia, by pouring hot molten
wax at 80oC into a plastic cylinder of 300 mm2 circular openings
placed on the shaven back of the animal. Apart from the drugs under
investigation no local/ systemic chemotherapeutic cover will be
provided to animals. All the animals were assessed for the percentage
of wound contraction, signs of infection, scab formation and
histopathological examination.
Results: Percentage of wound healing was significantly better in
the test ointment group compared to the standard. Signs of infection
were observed in more animals in the test ointment group compared
to the standard. Scab formation also took place earlier in the test
ointment group compared to standard. Epithelial regeneration and
healing profile was better in the test ointment compared to the
standard. Moreover the test ointment group did not show any raised
margins in the wound or blackish discoloration as was observed in
silver sulfadiazine group.
Conclusion: The burn wound healing effect of the ayurvedic
ointment under study is better in comparison to standard therapy of
silver sulfadiazine. The problem of infection encountered with the
test ointment can be overcome by changing the concentrations and
proportions of the ingredients in the test ointment which constitutes
the further plan of the study.
Abstract: In India, the quarrel between the budding human
populace and the planet-s unchanging supply of freshwater and
falling water tables has strained attention the reuse of gray water as
an alternative water resource in rural development. This paper
present the finest design of laboratory scale gray water treatment
plant, which is a combination of natural and physical operations such
as primary settling with cascaded water flow, aeration, agitation and
filtration, hence called as hybrid treatment process. The economical
performance of the plant for treatment of bathrooms, basins and
laundries gray water showed in terms of deduction competency of
water pollutants such as COD (83%), TDS (70%), TSS (83%), total
hardness (50%), oil and grease (97%), anions (46%) and cations
(49%). Hence, this technology could be a good alternative to treat
gray water in residential rural area.
Abstract: The ever increasing use of World Wide Web in the
existing network, results in poor performance. Several techniques
have been developed for reducing web traffic by compressing the size
of the file, saving the web pages at the client side, changing the burst
nature of traffic into constant rate etc. No single method was
adequate enough to access the document instantly through the
Internet. In this paper, adaptive hybrid algorithms are developed for
reducing web traffic. Intelligent agents are used for monitoring the
web traffic. Depending upon the bandwidth usage, user-s preferences,
server and browser capabilities, intelligent agents use the best
techniques to achieve maximum traffic reduction. Web caching,
compression, filtering, optimization of HTML tags, and traffic
dispersion are incorporated into this adaptive selection. Using this
new hybrid technique, latency is reduced to 20 – 60 % and cache hit
ratio is increased 40 – 82 %.
Abstract: Current image-based individual human recognition
methods, such as fingerprints, face, or iris biometric modalities
generally require a cooperative subject, views from certain aspects,
and physical contact or close proximity. These methods cannot
reliably recognize non-cooperating individuals at a distance in the
real world under changing environmental conditions. Gait, which
concerns recognizing individuals by the way they walk, is a relatively
new biometric without these disadvantages. The inherent gait
characteristic of an individual makes it irreplaceable and useful in
visual surveillance.
In this paper, an efficient gait recognition system for human
identification by extracting two features namely width vector of
the binary silhouette and the MPEG-7-based region-based shape
descriptors is proposed. In the proposed method, foreground objects
i.e., human and other moving objects are extracted by estimating
background information by a Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) and
subsequently, median filtering operation is performed for removing
noises in the background subtracted image. A moving target classification
algorithm is used to separate human being (i.e., pedestrian)
from other foreground objects (viz., vehicles). Shape and boundary
information is used in the moving target classification algorithm.
Subsequently, width vector of the outer contour of binary silhouette
and the MPEG-7 Angular Radial Transform coefficients are taken as
the feature vector. Next, the Principal Component Analysis (PCA)
is applied to the selected feature vector to reduce its dimensionality.
These extracted feature vectors are used to train an Hidden Markov
Model (HMM) for identification of some individuals. The proposed
system is evaluated using some gait sequences and the experimental
results show the efficacy of the proposed algorithm.
Abstract: The interaction of the blade tip with the casing
boundary layer and the leakage flow may lead to a kind of cavitation
namely tip vortex cavitation. In this study, the onset of tip vortex
cavitation was experimentally investigated in an axial flow pump.
For a constant speed and a fixed angle of attack and by changing the
flow rate, the pump head, input power, output power and efficiency
were calculated and the pump characteristic curves were obtained.
The cavitation phenomenon was observed with a camera and a
stroboscope. Finally, the critical flow region, which tip vortex
cavitation might have occurred, was identified. The results show that
just by adjusting the flow rate, out of the specified region, the
possibility of occurring tip vortex cavitation, decreases to a great
extent.
Abstract: Environmental factors affect agriculture production
productivity and efficiency resulted in changing of profit efficiency.
This paper attempts to estimate the impacts of environmental factors
to profitability of rice farmers in the Red River Delta of Vietnam. The
dataset was extracted from 349 rice farmers using personal
interviews. Both OLS and MLE trans-log profit functions were used
in this study. Five production inputs and four environmental factors
were included in these functions. The estimation of the stochastic
profit frontier with a two-stage approach was used to measure
profitability. The results showed that the profit efficiency was about
75% on the average and environmental factors change profit
efficiency significantly beside farm specific characteristics. Plant
disease, soil fertility, irrigation apply and water pollution were the
four environmental factors cause profit loss in rice production. The
result indicated that farmers should reduce household size, farm
plots, apply row seeding technique and improve environmental
factors to obtain high profit efficiency with special consideration is
given for irrigation water quality improvement.
Abstract: Based on the feature of model disturbances and uncertainty being compensated dynamically in auto – disturbances-rejection-controller (ADRC), a new method using ADRC is proposed for the decoupling control of dispenser longitudinal movement in big flight envelope. Developed from nonlinear model directly, ADRC is especially suitable for dynamic model that has big disturbances. Furthermore, without changing the structure and parameters of the controller in big flight envelope, this scheme can simplify the design of flight control system. The simulation results in big flight envelope show that the system achieves high dynamic performance, steady state performance and the controller has strong robustness.
Abstract: This paper introduces new algorithms (Fuzzy relative
of the CLARANS algorithm FCLARANS and Fuzzy c Medoids
based on randomized search FCMRANS) for fuzzy clustering of
relational data. Unlike existing fuzzy c-medoids algorithm (FCMdd)
in which the within cluster dissimilarity of each cluster is minimized
in each iteration by recomputing new medoids given current
memberships, FCLARANS minimizes the same objective function
minimized by FCMdd by changing current medoids in such away
that that the sum of the within cluster dissimilarities is minimized.
Computing new medoids may be effected by noise because outliers
may join the computation of medoids while the choice of medoids in
FCLARANS is dictated by the location of a predominant fraction of
points inside a cluster and, therefore, it is less sensitive to the
presence of outliers. In FCMRANS the step of computing new
medoids in FCMdd is modified to be based on randomized search.
Furthermore, a new initialization procedure is developed that add
randomness to the initialization procedure used with FCMdd. Both
FCLARANS and FCMRANS are compared with the robust and
linearized version of fuzzy c-medoids (RFCMdd). Experimental
results with different samples of the Reuter-21578, Newsgroups
(20NG) and generated datasets with noise show that FCLARANS is
more robust than both RFCMdd and FCMRANS. Finally, both
FCMRANS and FCLARANS are more efficient and their outputs
are almost the same as that of RFCMdd in terms of classification
rate.