Abstract: ''Cocktail party problem'' is well known as one of the human auditory abilities. We can recognize the specific sound that we want to listen by this ability even if a lot of undesirable sounds or noises are mixed. Blind source separation (BSS) based on independent component analysis (ICA) is one of the methods by which we can separate only a special signal from their mixed signals with simple hypothesis. In this paper, we propose an online approach for blind source separation using the sliding DFT and the time domain independent component analysis. The proposed method can reduce calculation complexity in comparison with conventional methods, and can be applied to parallel processing by using digital signal processors (DSPs) and so on. We evaluate this method and show its availability.
Abstract: The influence of eccentric discharge of stored solids in
squat silos has been highly valued by many researchers. However,
calculation method of lateral pressure under eccentric flowing still
needs to be deeply studied. In particular, the lateral pressure
distribution on vertical wall could not be accurately recognized
mainly because of its asymmetry. In order to build mechanical model
of lateral pressure, flow channel and flow pattern of stored solids in
squat silo are studied. In this passage, based on Janssen-s theory, the
method for calculating lateral static pressure in squat silos after
eccentric discharge is proposed. Calculative formulae are deduced for
each of three possible cases. This method is also focusing on
unsymmetrical distribution characteristic of silo wall normal
pressure. Finite element model is used to analysis and compare the
results of lateral pressure and the numerical results illustrate the
practicability of the theoretical method.
Abstract: The present study was designed to test the influence
of confirmed expectations, perceived usefulness and perceived
competence on e-learning satisfaction among university teachers. A
questionnaire was completed by 125 university teachers from 12
different universities in Norway. We found that 51% of the variance
in university teachers- satisfaction with e-learning could be explained
by the three proposed antecedents. Perceived usefulness seems to be
the most important predictor of teachers- satisfaction with e-learning.
Abstract: Clustering is the process of subdividing an input data set into a desired number of subgroups so that members of the same subgroup are similar and members of different subgroups have diverse properties. Many heuristic algorithms have been applied to the clustering problem, which is known to be NP Hard. Genetic algorithms have been used in a wide variety of fields to perform clustering, however, the technique normally has a long running time in terms of input set size. This paper proposes an efficient genetic algorithm for clustering on very large data sets, especially on image data sets. The genetic algorithm uses the most time efficient techniques along with preprocessing of the input data set. We test our algorithm on both artificial and real image data sets, both of which are of large size. The experimental results show that our algorithm outperforms the k-means algorithm in terms of running time as well as the quality of the clustering.
Abstract: This paper considers various channels of gammaquantum
generation via an ultra-short high-power laser pulse
interaction with different targets.We analyse the possibilities to create
a pulsed gamma-radiation source using laser triggering of some
nuclear reactions and isomer targets. It is shown that sub-MeV
monochromatic short pulse of gamma-radiation can be obtained with
pulse energy of sub-mJ level from isomer target irradiated by intense
laser pulse. For nuclear reaction channel in light- atom materials, it is
shown that sub-PW laser pulse gives rise to formation about million
gamma-photons of multi-MeV energy.
Abstract: On the basis of the linearized Phillips-Herffron model of a single-machine power system, a novel method for designing unified power flow controller (UPFC) based output feedback controller is presented. The design problem of output feedback controller for UPFC is formulated as an optimization problem according to with the time domain-based objective function which is solved by iteration particle swarm optimization (IPSO) that has a strong ability to find the most optimistic results. To ensure the robustness of the proposed damping controller, the design process takes into account a wide range of operating conditions and system configurations. The simulation results prove the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed method in terms of a high performance power system. The simulation study shows that the designed controller by Iteration PSO performs better than Classical PSO in finding the solution.
Abstract: Intrusion Detection System is significant in network
security. It detects and identifies intrusion behavior or intrusion
attempts in a computer system by monitoring and analyzing the
network packets in real time. In the recent year, intelligent algorithms
applied in the intrusion detection system (IDS) have been an
increasing concern with the rapid growth of the network security.
IDS data deals with a huge amount of data which contains irrelevant
and redundant features causing slow training and testing process,
higher resource consumption as well as poor detection rate. Since the
amount of audit data that an IDS needs to examine is very large even
for a small network, classification by hand is impossible. Hence, the
primary objective of this review is to review the techniques prior to
classification process suit to IDS data.
Abstract: In this paper we present a novel approach for face image coding. The proposed method makes a use of the features of video encoders like motion prediction. At first encoder selects appropriate prototype from the database and warps it according to features of encoding face. Warped prototype is placed as first I frame. Encoding face is placed as second frame as P frame type. Information about features positions, color change, selected prototype and data flow of P frame will be sent to decoder. The condition is both encoder and decoder own the same database of prototypes. We have run experiment with H.264 video encoder and obtained results were compared to results achieved by JPEG and JPEG2000. Obtained results show that our approach is able to achieve 3 times lower bitrate and two times higher PSNR in comparison with JPEG. According to comparison with JPEG2000 the bitrate was very similar, but subjective quality achieved by proposed method is better.
Abstract: Character segmentation is an important preprocessing step for text recognition. In degraded documents, existence of touching characters decreases recognition rate drastically, for any optical character recognition (OCR) system. In this paper a study of touching Gurmukhi characters is carried out and these characters have been divided into various categories after a careful analysis.Structural properties of the Gurmukhi characters are used for defining the categories. New algorithms have been proposed to segment the touching characters in middle zone. These algorithms have shown a reasonable improvement in segmenting the touching characters in degraded Gurmukhi script. The algorithms proposed in this paper are applicable only to machine printed text.
Abstract: This paper describes the architectural design
considerations for building a new class of application, a Personal
Knowledge Integrator and a particular example a Knowledge Theatre.
It then supports this description by describing a scenario of a child
acquiring knowledge and how this process could be augmented by
the proposed architecture and design of a Knowledge Theatre. David
Merrill-s first “principles of instruction" are kept in focus to provide
a background to view the learning potential.
Abstract: The incorporation of renewable energy sources for the sustainable electricity production is undertaking a more prominent role in electric power systems. Thus, it will be an indispensable incident that the characteristics of future power networks, their prospective stability for instance, get influenced by the imposed features of sustainable energy sources. One of the distinctive attributes of the sustainable energy sources is exhibiting the stochastic behavior. This paper investigates the impacts of this stochastic behavior on the small disturbance rotor angle stability in the upcoming electric power networks. Considering the various types of renewable energy sources and the vast variety of system configurations, the sensitivity analysis can be an efficient breakthrough towards generalizing the effects of new energy sources on the concept of stability. In this paper, the definition of small disturbance angle stability for future power systems and the iterative-stochastic way of its analysis are presented. Also, the effects of system parameters on this type of stability are described by performing a sensitivity analysis for an electric power test system.
Abstract: Theexperiment was carried out with 2x5 male Merino
lambs raised under intensive conditions to investigate the effect of
dietary calcium soap of linseed oil on the color and fatty acid
composition of longissimusdorsi muscle. Control lambs fed a basal
diet and the experimental lambs consumed a diet supplemented with
3% calcium soap of linseed oil. The color values (L*, a*, b* a*/b*
and chroma) were not influenced by dietary treatment. The MUFA
proportion reduced, SFA and PUFA content did not alter. As
expected, the linolenic (C18:3 n3) and thusthe n-3 content
significantly improved by linseed supplement (0.47 and 0.81; 0.78
and 1.16 in control and in experimental samples, respectively). Other
n-3 and n-6 fatty acids had similar valuestocontrol samples. The n-
6/n-3 ratio was significantly narrower in the experimental group (6.31
vs. 9.38) but the P/S ratio did not differ betweenthe two groups.In
conclusion calcium soap of linseed oil seems to be a suitable
supplement form of n-3 fatty acids to improve the nutritive value of
lamb meat.
Abstract: Trace element speciation of an integrated soil
amendment matrix was studied with a modified BCR sequential
extraction procedure. The analysis included pseudo-total
concentration determinations according to USEPA 3051A and
relevant physicochemical properties by standardized methods. Based
on the results, the soil amendment matrix possessed neutralization
capacity comparable to commercial fertilizers. Additionally, the
pseudo-total concentrations of all trace elements included in the
Finnish regulation for agricultural fertilizers were lower than the
respective statutory limit values. According to chemical speciation,
the lability of trace elements increased in the following order: Hg <
Cr < Co < Cu < As < Zn < Ni < Pb < Cd < V < Mo < Ba. The
validity of the BCR approach as a tool for chemical speciation was
confirmed by the additional acid digestion phase. Recovery of trace
elements during the procedure assured the validity of the approach
and indicated good quality of the analytical work.
Abstract: The design of distributed systems involves the
partitioning of the system into components or partitions and the
allocation of these components to physical nodes. Techniques have
been proposed for both the partitioning and allocation process.
However these techniques suffer from a number of limitations. For
instance object replication has the potential to greatly improve the
performance of an object orientated distributed system but can be
difficult to use effectively and there are few techniques that support
the developer in harnessing object replication.
This paper presents a methodological technique that helps
developers decide how objects should be allocated in order to
improve performance in a distributed system that supports
replication. The performance of the proposed technique is
demonstrated and tested on an example system.
Abstract: This paper proposes a solution to the motion planning
and control problem of a point-mass robot which is required to move
safely to a designated target in a priori known workspace cluttered
with fixed elliptical obstacles of arbitrary position and sizes. A
tailored and unique algorithm for target convergence and obstacle
avoidance is proposed that will work for any number of fixed
obstacles. The control laws proposed in this paper also ensures that
the equilibrium point of the given system is asymptotically stable.
Computer simulations with the proposed technique and applications
to a planar (RP) manipulator will be presented.
Abstract: Application-Specific Instruction (ASI ) set Processors
(ASIP) have become an important design choice for embedded
systems due to runtime flexibility, which cannot be provided by
custom ASIC solutions. One major bottleneck in maximizing ASIP
performance is the limitation on the data bandwidth between the
General Purpose Register File (GPRF) and ASIs. This paper presents
the Implicit Registers (IRs) to provide the desirable data bandwidth.
An ASI Input/Output model is proposed to formulate the overheads of
the additional data transfer between the GPRF and IRs, therefore,
an IRs allocation algorithm is used to achieve the better performance
by minimizing the number of extra data transfer instructions. The
experiment results show an up to 3.33x speedup compared to the
results without using IRs.
Abstract: In order to guarantee secure communication for wireless sensor networks (WSNs), many user authentication schemes have successfully drawn researchers- attention and been studied widely. In 2012, He et al. proposed a robust biometric-based user authentication scheme for WSNs. However, this paper demonstrates that He et al.-s scheme has some drawbacks: poor reparability problem, user impersonation attack, and sensor node impersonate attack.
Abstract: Hyperglycemia-mediated accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) play a pivotal role in the development of diabetic complications by inducing inflammation. In the present study, we evaluated the possible effects of water/ethanol (1/1, v/v) extracts (WEE) and its fractions from Canarium album Raeusch. (Chinese olive) which is a fruit used on AGEs-stimulated oxidative stress and inflammation in monocytes and vascular endothelial cells. Co-incubation of EA.hy926 endothelial cells with WEE and its fractions for 24h resulted in a significant decrease of monocyte–endothelial cell adhesion, the expression of ICAM-1, generation of intracellular ROS and depletion of GSH induced by AGEs. Chinese olive fruit extracts also reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory mediates, such as TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in THP-1 cells. These findings suggested that Chinese olive fruit was able to protect vascular endothelium from dysfunction induced by AGEs.
Abstract: The aim of this research is to propose a Measurement
Scale for Patient Satisfaction (MSPS) in the context of Tunisian
private clinics. This scale is developed using value management
methods and is validated by statistic tools with SPSS.
Abstract: In this paper we proposed comparison of four content based objective metrics with results of subjective tests from 80 video sequences. We also include two objective metrics VQM and SSIM to our comparison to serve as “reference” objective metrics because their pros and cons have already been published. Each of the video sequence was preprocessed by the region recognition algorithm and then the particular objective video quality metric were calculated i.e. mutual information, angular distance, moment of angle and normalized cross-correlation measure. The Pearson coefficient was calculated to express metrics relationship to accuracy of the model and the Spearman rank order correlation coefficient to represent the metrics relationship to monotonicity. The results show that model with the mutual information as objective metric provides best result and it is suitable for evaluating quality of video sequences.