Abstract: Obstructive sleep apnea in patients, between 70 and 80
percent, can be cured with just a posture correcting. The most import
thing to do this is detection of obstructive sleep apnea. Detection of
obstructive sleep apnea can be performed through heart rate variability
analysis using power spectrum density analysis. After HRV analysis
we needed to know the current position information for correcting the
position. The pressure sensors of the array type were used to obtain
position information. These sensors can obtain information from the
experimenter about position. In addition, air cylinder corrected the
position of the experimenter by lifting the bed. The experimenter can
be changed position without breaking during sleep by the system.
Polysomnograph recording were obtained from 10 patients. The
results of HRV analysis were that NLF and LF/HF ratio increased,
while NHF decreased during OSA. Position change had to be done the
periods.
Abstract: This paper presents the 20-GHz fractional PLL (Phase
Locked Loop) circuit for the next generation Wi-Fi by using 90 nm
TSMC process. The newly suggested millimeter wave 16/17
pre-scalar is designed and verified by measurement to make the
fractional PLL having a low quantization noise. The operational
bandwidth of the 60 GHz system is 15 % of the carrier frequency
which requires large value of Kv (VCO control gain) resulting in
degradation of phase noise. To solve this problem, this paper adopts
AFC (Automatic Frequency Controller) controlled 4-bit millimeter
wave VCO with small value of Kv. Also constant Kv is implemented
using 4-bit varactor bank. The measured operational bandwidth is 18.2
~ 23.2 GHz which is 25 % of the carrier frequency. The phase noise of
-58 and -96.2 dBc/Hz at 100 KHz and 1 MHz offset is measured
respectively. The total power consumption of the PLL is only 30 mW.
Abstract: Materials used on exterior spacecraft surfaces are subjected to many environmental threats which can cause degradation, atomic oxygen is one of the most threats. We prepared organic silicon atomic-oxygen-protection film using method of polymerization. This paper presented the effects on the film structure and its durability of the preparation processing, and analyzed the polymerization theory, the film structure and composition of the film. At last, we tested the film in our ground based atomic oxygen simulator, and indicated that the film worked well.
Abstract: Some Chromium (III) complexes were synthesized
with three amino acids: L Glutamic Acid, Glycine, and L-cysteine as
the ligands, in order to provide a new supplement containing Cr(III)
for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The complexes have been
prepared by refluxing a mixture of Chromium(III) chloride in
aqueous solution with L-glutamic acid, Glycine, and L-cysteine after
pH adjustment by sodium hydroxide. These complexes were
characterized by Infrared and Uv-Vis spectrophotometer and
Elemental analyzer. The product yields of four products were 87.50
and 56.76% for Cr-Glu complexes, 46.70% for Cr-Gly complex and
40.08% for Cr-Cys complex respectively. The predicted structure of
the complexes are [Cr(glu)2(H2O)2].xH2O, Cr(gly)3..xH2O and
Cr(cys)3.xH2O., respectively.
Abstract: With the exponential rise in the number of multimedia
applications available, the best-effort service provided by the Internet
today is insufficient. Researchers have been working on new
architectures like the Next Generation Network (NGN) which, by
definition, will ensure Quality of Service (QoS) in an all-IP based
network [1]. For this approach to become a reality, reservation of
bandwidth is required per application per user. WiMAX (Worldwide
Interoperability for Microwave Access) is a wireless communication
technology which has predefined levels of QoS which can be
provided to the user [4]. IPv6 has been created as the successor for
IPv4 and resolves issues like the availability of IP addresses and
QoS. This paper provides a design to use the power of WiMAX as an
NSP (Network Service Provider) for NGN using IPv6. The use of the
Traffic Class (TC) field and the Flow Label (FL) field of IPv6 has
been explained for making QoS requests and grants [6], [7]. Using
these fields, the processing time is reduced and routing is simplified.
Also, we define the functioning of the ASN gateway and the NGN
gateway (NGNG) which are edge node interfaces in the NGNWiMAX
design. These gateways ensure QoS management through
built in functions and by certain physical resources and networking
capabilities.
Abstract: Image compression can improve the performance of
the digital systems by reducing time and cost in image storage
and transmission without significant reduction of the image quality.
Furthermore, the discrete cosine transform has emerged as the new
state-of-the art standard for image compression. In this paper, a
hybrid image compression technique based on reversible blockade
transform coding is proposed. The technique, implemented over
regions of interest (ROIs), is based on selection of the coefficients
that belong to different transforms, depending on the coefficients is
proposed. This method allows: (1) codification of multiple kernals
at various degrees of interest, (2) arbitrary shaped spectrum,and (3)
flexible adjustment of the compression quality of the image and the
background. No standard modification for JPEG2000 decoder was
required. The method was applied over different types of images.
Results show a better performance for the selected regions, when
image coding methods were employed for the whole set of images.
We believe that this method is an excellent tool for future image
compression research, mainly on images where image coding can
be of interest, such as the medical imaging modalities and several
multimedia applications. Finally VLSI implementation of proposed
method is shown. It is also shown that the kernal of Hartley and
Cosine transform gives the better performance than any other model.
Abstract: Iron in groundwater is one of the problems that render the water unsuitable for drinking. The concentration above 0.3 mg/L is common in groundwater. The conventional method of removal is by precipitation under oxic condition. In this study, iron removal under anaerobic conditions was examined by batch experiment as a main purpose. The process involved by purging of groundwater samples with H2S to form iron sulfide. Removal up to 83% for 1 mg/L iron solution was achieved. The removal efficiency dropped to 82% and 75% for the higher initial iron concentrations 3.55 and 5.01 mg/L, respectively. The average residual sulfide concentration in water after the process was 25*g/L. The Eh level during the process was -272 mV. The removal process was found to follow the first order reaction with average rate constant of 4.52 x 10-3. The half-life for the concentrations to reduce from initial values was 157 minutes.
Abstract: This paper features the modeling and design of a
Robust Decentralized Fast Output Sampling (RDFOS) Feedback
control technique for the active vibration control of a smart flexible
multimodel Euler-Bernoulli cantilever beams for a multivariable
(MIMO) case by retaining the first 6 vibratory modes. The beam
structure is modeled in state space form using the concept of
piezoelectric theory, the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory and the Finite
Element Method (FEM) technique by dividing the beam into 4 finite
elements and placing the piezoelectric sensor / actuator at two finite
element locations (positions 2 and 4) as collocated pairs, i.e., as
surface mounted sensor / actuator, thus giving rise to a multivariable
model of the smart structure plant with two inputs and two outputs.
Five such multivariable models are obtained by varying the
dimensions (aspect ratios) of the aluminium beam. Using model
order reduction technique, the reduced order model of the higher
order system is obtained based on dominant Eigen value retention
and the Davison technique. RDFOS feedback controllers are
designed for the above 5 multivariable-multimodel plant. The closed
loop responses with the RDFOS feedback gain and the magnitudes of
the control input are obtained and the performance of the proposed
multimodel smart structure system is evaluated for vibration control.
Abstract: Patients with diabetes are susceptible to chronic foot
wounds which may be difficult to manage and slow to heal.
Diagnosis and treatment currently rely on the subjective judgement of
experienced professionals. An objective method of tissue assessment
is required. In this paper, a data fusion approach was taken to wound
tissue classification. The supervised Maximum Likelihood and
unsupervised Multi-Modal Expectation Maximisation algorithms
were used to classify tissues within simulated wound models by
weighting the contributions of both colour and 3D depth information.
It was found that, at low weightings, depth information could show
significant improvements in classification accuracy when compared
to classification by colour alone, particularly when using the
maximum likelihood method. However, larger weightings were
found to have an entirely negative effect on accuracy.
Abstract: Worm propagation profiles have significantly changed
since 2003-2004: sudden world outbreaks like Blaster or Slammer
have progressively disappeared and slower but stealthier worms
appeared since, most of them for botnets dissemination. Decreased
worm virulence results in more difficult detection.
In this paper, we describe a stealth worm propagation model
which has been extensively simulated and analysed on a huge virtual
network. The main features of this model is its ability to infect any
Internet-like network in a few seconds, whatever may be its size while
greatly limiting the reinfection attempt overhead of already infected
hosts. The main simulation results shows that the combinatorial
topology of routing may have a huge impact on the worm propagation
and thus some servers play a more essential and significant role than
others. The real-time capability to identify them may be essential to
greatly hinder worm propagation.
Abstract: TiO2/Ag composite films were prepared by
incorporating Ag in the pores of mesoporous TiO2 films using a
photoreduction method. The Ag nanoparticle sizes were in a range of
3.66-38.56 nm. The TiO2/Ag composite films were characterized by
X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and
transmission electron microscropy (TEM). The TiO2 films and
TiO2/Ag composite films were immersed in a 0.3 mM N719 dye
solution and characterized by UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The
TiO2/Ag/N719 composite film showed that an optimal size of Ag
nanoparticles was 19.12 nm and, hence, gave the maximum optical
absorption spectra. The improved absorption was due to surface
plasmon resonance induced by the Ag nanoparticles to enhance the
absorption coefficient of the dye.
Abstract: In this study the enthalpies of dissociation for pure
methane and pure carbon dioxide was calculated using a hydrate
equilibrium data obtained in this study. The enthalpy of dissociation
was determined using Clausius-Clapeyron equation. The results were
compared with the values reported in literature obtained using
various techniques.
Abstract: The ε4 allele of the ε2, ε3 and ε4 protein isoform polymorphism in the gene encoding apolipoprotein E (Apo E) has previously been associated with increased cardiac artery disease (CAD); therefore to investigate the significance of this polymorphism in pathogenesis of CAD in Iranian patients with stenosis and control subjects. To investigate the association between
Apo E polymorphism and coronary artery disease we performed a comparative case control study of the frequency of Apo E
polymorphism in One hundred CAD patients with stenosis who underwent coronary angiography (>50% stenosis) and 100 control subjects (
Abstract: For a given specific problem an efficient algorithm has been the matter of study. However, an alternative approach orthogonal to this approach comes out, which is called a reduction. In general for a given specific problem this reduction approach studies how to convert an original problem into subproblems. This paper proposes a formal modeling language to support this reduction approach in order to make a solver quickly. We show three examples from the wide area of learning problems. The benefit is a fast prototyping of algorithms for a given new problem. It is noted that our formal modeling language is not intend for providing an efficient notation for data mining application, but for facilitating a designer who develops solvers in machine learning.
Abstract: In this paper, we present a cost-effective wireless
distributed load shedding system for non-emergency scenarios. In
power transformer locations where SCADA system cannot be used,
the proposed solution provides a reasonable alternative that combines
the use of microcontrollers and existing GSM infrastructure to send
early warning SMS messages to users advising them to proactively
reduce their power consumption before system capacity is reached
and systematic power shutdown takes place.
A novel communication protocol and message set have been
devised to handle the messaging between the transformer sites, where
the microcontrollers are located and where the measurements take
place, and the central processing site where the database server is
hosted. Moreover, the system sends warning messages to the endusers
mobile devices that are used as communication terminals. The
system has been implemented and tested via different experimental
results.
Abstract: Because of the great advance in multimedia
technology, digital multimedia is vulnerable to malicious
manipulations. In this paper, a public key self-recovery block-based
video authentication technique is proposed which can not only
precisely localize the alteration detection but also recover the missing
data with high reliability. In the proposed block-based technique,
multiple description coding MDC is used to generate two codes (two
descriptions) for each block. Although one block code (one
description) is enough to rebuild the altered block, the altered block
is rebuilt with better quality by the two block descriptions. So using
MDC increases the ratability of recovering data. A block signature is
computed using a cryptographic hash function and a doubly linked
chain is utilized to embed the block signature copies and the block
descriptions into the LSBs of distant blocks and the block itself. The
doubly linked chain scheme gives the proposed technique the
capability to thwart vector quantization attacks. In our proposed
technique , anyone can check the authenticity of a given video using
the public key. The experimental results show that the proposed
technique is reliable for detecting, localizing and recovering the
alterations.
Abstract: The Taiwan government has started to promote the “Plain Landscape Afforestation and Greening Program" since 2002. A key task of the program was the payment for environmental services (PES), entitled the “Plain Landscape Afforestation Policy" (PLAP), which was certificated by the Executive Yuan on August 31, 2001 and enacted on January 1, 2002. According to the policy, it is estimated that the total area of afforestation will be 25,100 hectares by December 31, 2007. Until the end of 2007, the policy had been enacted for six years in total and the actual area of afforestation was 8,919.18 hectares. Among them, Taiwan Sugar Corporation (TSC) was accounted for 7,960 hectares (with 2,450.83 hectares as public service area) which occupied 86.22% of the total afforestation area; the private farmland promoted by local governments was accounted for 869.18 hectares which occupied 9.75% of the total afforestation area. Based on the above, we observe that most of the afforestation area in this policy is executed by TSC, and the achievement ratio by TSC is better than by others. It implies that the success of the PLAP is seriously related to the execution of TSC. The objective of this study is to analyze the relevant policy planning of TSC's participation in the PLAP, suggest complementary measures, and draw up effective adjustment mechanisms, so as to improve the effectiveness of executing the policy. Our main conclusions and suggestions are summarized as follows: 1. The main reason for TSC’s participation in the PLAP is based on their passive cooperation with the central government or company policy. Prior to TSC’s participation in the PLAP, their lands were mainly used for growing sugarcane. 2. The main factors of TSC's consideration on the selection of tree species are based on the suitability of land and species. The largest proportion of tree species is allocated to economic forests, and the lack of technical instruction was the main problem during afforestation. Moreover, the method of improving TSC’s future development in leisure agriculture and landscape business becomes a key topic. 3. TSC has developed short and long-term plans on participating in the PLAP for the future. However, there is no great willingness or incentive on budgeting for such detailed planning. 4. Most people from TSC interviewed consider the requirements on PLAP unreasonable. Among them, an unreasonable requirement on the number of trees accounted for the greatest proportion; furthermore, most interviewees suggested that the government should continue to provide incentives even after 20 years. 5. Since the government shares the same goals as TSC, there should be sufficient cooperation and communication that support the technical instruction and reduction of afforestation cost, which will also help to improve effectiveness of the policy.
Abstract: In this study, a fuzzy similarity approach for Arabic
web pages classification is presented. The approach uses a fuzzy
term-category relation by manipulating membership degree for the
training data and the degree value for a test web page. Six measures
are used and compared in this study. These measures include:
Einstein, Algebraic, Hamacher, MinMax, Special case fuzzy and
Bounded Difference approaches. These measures are applied and
compared using 50 different Arabic web pages. Einstein measure was
gave best performance among the other measures. An analysis of
these measures and concluding remarks are drawn in this study.
Abstract: In the paper, a fast high-resolution range profile synthetic algorithm called orthogonal matching pursuit with sensing dictionary (OMP-SD) is proposed. It formulates the traditional HRRP synthetic to be a sparse approximation problem over redundant dictionary. As it employs a priori that the synthetic range profile (SRP) of targets are sparse, SRP can be accomplished even in presence of data lost. Besides, the computation complexity decreases from O(MNDK) flops for OMP to O(M(N + D)K) flops for OMP-SD by introducing sensing dictionary (SD). Simulation experiments illustrate its advantages both in additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) and noiseless situation, respectively.
Abstract: Today-s Information and Knowledge Society has
placed new demands on education and a new paradigm of education
is required. Learning, facilitated by educational systems and the
pedagogic process, is globally undergoing dramatic changes. The aim
of this paper is the development of a simple Instructional Design tool
for E-Learning, named IDEL (Instructional Design for Electronic
Learning), that provides the educators with facilities to create their
own courses with the essential educational material and manage
communication with students. It offers flexibility in the way of
learning and provides ease in employment and reusability of
resources. IDEL is a web-based Instructional System and is designed
to facilitate course design process in accordance with the ADDIE
model and the instructional design principles with emphasis placed
on the use of technology enhanced learning. An example case of
using the ADDIE model to systematically develop a course and its
implementation with the aid of IDEL is given and some results from
student evaluation of the tool and the course are reported.