Abstract: The purpose of this work is to present the potential of
solar energy in Zarqa region. The solar radiation along year 2009 was
obtained from Pyranometer which measures the global radiation over
horizontal surfaces. Solar data in several different forms, over period
of 5 minutes, hour-by-hour, daily and monthly data radiation have
been presented. Briefly, the yearly global solar radiation in Zarqa is
7297.5 MJ/m2 (2027 kWh/m²) and the average annual solar radiation
per day is 20 MJ/m2 (5.5 Kwh/m2). More specifically, the average
annual solar radiation per day is 12.9 MJ/m2 (3.57 Kwh/m2) in winter
and 25 MJ/m2 (7 Kwh/m2) in summer.
Abstract: In this paper, a method for matching image segments
using triangle-based (geometrical) regions is proposed. Triangular
regions are formed from triples of vertex points obtained from a
keypoint detector (SIFT). However, triangle regions are subject to
noise and distortion around the edges and vertices (especially acute
angles). Therefore, these triangles are expanded into parallelogramshaped
regions. The extracted image segments inherit an important
triangle property; the invariance to affine distortion. Given two
images, matching corresponding regions is conducted by computing
the relative affine matrix, rectifying one of the regions w.r.t. the other
one, then calculating the similarity between the reference and
rectified region. The experimental tests show the efficiency and
robustness of the proposed algorithm against geometrical distortion.
Abstract: Heat Index describes the combined effect of
temperature and humidity on human body. This combined effect is
causing a serious threat to the health of people because of the
changing climate. With climate change, climate variability and thus
the occurrence of heat waves is likely to increase. Evidence is
emerging from the analysis of long-term climate records of an
increase in the frequency and duration of extreme temperature events
in all over Bangladesh particularly during summer. Summer season
has prolonged while winters have become short in Bangladesh.
Summers have become hotter and thus affecting the lives of the
people engaged in outdoor activities during scorching sun hours. In
2003 around 62 people died due to heat wave across the country. In
this paper Bangladesh is divided in four regions and heat index has
been calculated from 1960 to 2010 in these regions of the country.
The aim of this paper is to identify the spots most vulnerable to heat
strokes and heat waves due to high heat index. The results show
upward trend of heat index in almost all the regions of Bangladesh.
The highest increase in heat index value has been observed in areas
of South-west region and North-west Region. The highest change in
average heat index has been found in Jessore by almost 5.50C.
Abstract: This paper deals with the optimal design of two-channel recursive parallelogram quadrature mirror filter (PQMF) banks. The analysis and synthesis filters of the PQMF bank are composed of two-dimensional (2-D) recursive digital all-pass filters (DAFs) with nonsymmetric half-plane (NSHP) support region. The design problem can be facilitated by using the 2-D doubly complementary half-band (DC-HB) property possessed by the analysis and synthesis filters. For finding the coefficients of the 2-D recursive NSHP DAFs, we appropriately formulate the design problem to result in an optimization problem that can be solved by using a weighted least-squares (WLS) algorithm in the minimax (L∞) optimal sense. The designed 2-D recursive PQMF bank achieves perfect magnitude response and possesses satisfactory phase response without requiring extra phase equalizer. Simulation results are also provided for illustration and comparison.
Abstract: The work describes the use of a synthetic transmit
aperture (STA) with a single element transmitting and all elements
receiving in medical ultrasound imaging. STA technique is a novel
approach to today-s commercial systems, where an image is acquired
sequentially one image line at a time that puts a strict limit on the
frame rate and the amount of data needed for high image quality. The
STA imaging allows to acquire data simultaneously from all
directions over a number of emissions, and the full image can be
reconstructed.
In experiments a 32-element linear transducer array with 0.48 mm
inter-element spacing was used. Single element transmission aperture
was used to generate a spherical wave covering the full image region.
The 2D ultrasound images of wire phantom are presented obtained
using the STA and commercial ultrasound scanner Antares to
demonstrate the benefits of the SA imaging.
Abstract: The objective of this research intends to create a suitable model of distance training for community leaders in the upper northeastern region of Thailand. The implementation of the research process is divided into four steps: The first step is to analyze relevant documents. The second step deals with an interview in depth with experts. The third step is concerned with constructing a model. And the fourth step takes aim at model validation by expert assessments. The findings reveal the two important components for constructing an appropriate model of distance training for community leaders in the upper northeastern region. The first component consists of the context of technology management, e.g., principle, policy and goals. The second component can be viewed in two ways. Firstly, there are elements comprising input, process, output and feedback. Secondly, the sub-components include steps and process in training. The result of expert assessments informs that the researcher-s constructed model is consistent and suitable and overall the most appropriate.
Abstract: Detection of player identity is challenging task in sport video content analysis. In case of soccer video player number recognition is effective and precise solution. Jersey numbers can be considered as scene text and difficulties in localization and recognition appear due to variations in orientation, size, illumination, motion etc. This paper proposed new method for player number localization and recognition. By observing hue, saturation and value for 50 different jersey examples we noticed that most often combination of low and high saturated pixels is used to separate number and jersey region. Image segmentation method based on this observation is introduced. Then, novel method for player number localization based on internal contours is proposed. False number candidates are filtered using area and aspect ratio. Before OCR processing extracted numbers are enhanced using image smoothing and rotation normalization.
Abstract: Ceramics comprise the largest proportion of Korea-s cultural heritage currently preserved (Cited from “The Beauty of Old Ceramics of Korea" written by Yoon Yong-iee). Thus, this researcher conducted this investigation in an attempt to gain insight into Korea-s past culture and the lost period of the colonial period and the Korean War by looking into the ceramics. Korea, China and Japan are part of the similar cultural bloc within the East Asian region. Their porcelains manifest distinctive characteristics by each nation along with similarities. Thus, this research seeks to find the distinctive characteristics of the Korean porcelain by conducting comparative analysis of the similarities and distinctive characteristics. These distinctive characteristics are manifested effectively in the colors of the porcelains following the materials that can be obtained in Korea, China and Japan and production method. Likewise, this research seeks to identify the characteristics of the Korean porcelains- colors based on the comparative analysis of the porcelain colors. The reasons that porcelains were selected were because they are the most well preserved cultural remains in Korea and since they have both similarities and distinctive characteristics due to the cultural interchanges among Korea, China and Japan, which facilitates comparative study. The research targets include Korea, China and Japan-s porcelains. By comparing the colors of the porcelains from Korea, China and Japan that have their distinctive characteristics, this research seeks to identify Korea-specific porcelain colors. These colors derive from the materials that can be obtained only in Korea, and they are affected by the ideologies that governed at the time. This research is meaningful in the sense that this identifies the colors that embraces the Korean culture and provides important data by leveraging the study of the characteristics of the Korea-specific porcelains.
Abstract: The purpose of the study was to investigate the
effectiveness of ICT training workshop of tutors of Allama Iqbal
Open University Pakistan. The study was delimited to tutors of
Multan region. The total sample comprised of 100 tutors. All the
tutors who participated in ICT training workshop in Multan region
were taken as sample in the study. A questionnaire having two parts,
based on five point rating scale was developed by the researcher. Part
one was about the competency level of computer skills while Part
two was based on items related to training delivery, structure and
content. Part One of questionnaire had five levels of competency
about computer skills. The questionnaire was personally administered
and collected back by the researcher himself on the last day of
workshop.
The collected data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics.
Through this study it was found that majority of the tutors strongly
agreed that training enhanced their computer skills. Majority of the
respondents consider themselves to be generally competent in the use
of computer. They also agreed that there was appropriate
infrastructure and technical support in lab during training workshop.
Moreover, it was found that the training imparted the knowledge of
pedagogy of using computers for distance education.
Abstract: Efficient luminescence is reported for the first time in Eu2+ activated double Chlorides A2BCl4 (A=Alkali metal, B=Alkaline earth element). A simple wet-chemical preparation is described. Emission intensities are comparable to that of the commercial phosphor. Excitation covers near UV region. These phosphors may be useful for applications like solid state lighting, scintillation detectors and X-ray storage using photo-stimulable phosphors.
Abstract: Land shortage for burials is one of many issues that emerge out of accelerated urban growth in most developing Asian cities, including Kuala Lumpur. Despite actions taken by the federal government and local authorities in addressing this issue, there is no strategic solution being formulated. Apart from making provisions for land to be developed as new cemeteries, the future plan is merely to allocate reserve land to accommodate the increasing demands of burial grounds around the city. This paper examines problems that arise from the traditional practices of Malay funerary as well as an insight to current urban practices in managing Muslim burial spaces around Kuala Lumpur metropolitan region. This paper will also provide some solutions through design approach that can be applied to counter the existing issues.
Abstract: In situ observation of absorption spectral change of
heptil viologen cation radical (HV+.) was performed by slab optical
waveguide (SOWG) spectroscopy utilizing indium-tin-oxide (ITO)
electrodes. Synchronizing with electrochemical techniques, we
observed the adsorption process of HV+.on the ITO electrode. In this
study, we carried out the ITO-SOWG observations using KBr aqueous
solution containing different concentration of HV to investigate the
concentration dependent spectral change. A few specific absorption
bands, which indicated HV+.existed as both monomer and dimer on
ITO electrode surface with a monolayer or a few layers deposition,
were observed in UV-visible region. The change in the peak position
of the absorption spectra from adsorption species of HV+. were
correlated with the concentration of HV as well as the electrode
potential.
Abstract: Mobile payments have been deployed by businesses for more than a decade. Customers use mobile payments if they trust in this relatively new payment method, have a belief and confidence in, as well as reliance on its services and applications. Despite its potential, the current literature shows that there is lack of customer trust in B2C mobile payments, and a lack of studies that determine the factors that influence their trust in these payments; which make these factors yet to be understood, especially in the Middle East region. Thus, this study aims to explore the factors that influence customer trust in mobile payments. The empirical data for this explorative study was collected by establishing four focus group sessions in the UAE. The results indicate that the explored significant factors can be classified into five main groups: customer characteristics, environmental (social and cultural) influences, provider characteristics, mobile-device characteristics, and perceived risks.
Abstract: Carriers scattering in the inversion channel of n-
MOSFET dominates the drain current. This paper presents an effective
electron mobility model for the pocket implanted nano scale
n-MOSFET. The model is developed by using two linear pocket
profiles at the source and drain edges. The channel is divided into
three regions at source, drain and central part of the channel region.
The total number of inversion layer charges is found for these three
regions by numerical integration from source to drain ends and the
number of depletion layer charges is found by using the effective
doping concentration including pocket doping effects. These two
charges are then used to find the effective normal electric field,
which is used to find the effective mobility model incorporating the
three scattering mechanisms, such as, Coulomb, phonon and surface
roughness scatterings as well as the ballistic phenomena for the
pocket implanted nano-scale n-MOSFET. The simulation results show
that the derived mobility model produces the same results as found
in the literatures.
Abstract: This paper presents an integrated model that
automatically measures the change of rivers, damage area of bridge
surroundings, and change of vegetation. The proposed model is on the
basis of a neurofuzzy mechanism enhanced by SOM optimization
algorithm, and also includes three functions to deal with river imagery.
High resolution imagery from FORMOSAT-2 satellite taken before
and after the invasion period is adopted. By randomly selecting a
bridge out of 129 destroyed bridges, the recognition results show that
the average width has increased 66%. The ruined segment of the
bridge is located exactly at the most scour region. The vegetation
coverage has also reduced to nearly 90% of the original. The results
yielded from the proposed model demonstrate a pinpoint accuracy rate
at 99.94%. This study brings up a successful tool not only for
large-scale damage assessment but for precise measurement to
disasters.
Abstract: In this paper, we consider the control of time delay system
by Proportional-Integral (PI) controller. By Using the Hermite-
Biehler theorem, which is applicable to quasi-polynomials, we seek
a stability region of the controller for first order delay systems. The
essence of this work resides in the extension of this approach to
second order delay system, in the determination of its stability region
and the computation of the PI optimum parameters. We have used
the genetic algorithms to lead the complexity of the optimization
problem.
Abstract: It is the living conditions in the cities that determine the future of our livelihood. “To change life, we must first change space"- Henri Lefebvre. Sustainable development is a utopian aspiration for South African cities (especially the case study of the Gauteng City Region), which are currently characterized by unplanned growth and increasing urban sprawl. While the reasons for poor environmental quality and living conditions are undoubtedly diverse and complex, having political, economical and social dimensions, it is argued that the prevailing approach to layout planning in South Africa is part of the problem. This article seeks a solution to the problem of sustainability, from a spatial planning perspective. The spatial planning tool, the urban development boundary, is introduced as the concept that will ensure empty talk being translated into a sustainable vision. The urban development boundary is a spatial planning tool that can be used and implemented to direct urban growth towards a more sustainable form. The urban development boundary aims to ensure planned urban areas, in contrast to the current unplanned areas characterized by urban sprawl and insufficient infrastructure. However, the success of the urban development boundary concept is subject to effective implementation measures, as well as adequate and efficient management. The concept of sustainable development can function as a driving force underlying societal change and transformation, but the interface between spatial planning and environmental management needs to be established (as this is the core aspects underlying sustainable development), and authorities needs to understand and implement this interface consecutively. This interface can, however, realize in terms of the objectives of the planning tool – the urban development boundary. The case study, the Gauteng City Region, is depicted as a site of economic growth and innovation, but there is a lack of good urban and regional governance, impacting on the design (layout) and function of urban areas and land use, as current authorities make uninformed decisions in terms of development applications, leading to unsustainable urban forms and unsustainable nodes. Place and space concepts are thus critical matters applicable to planning of the Gauteng City Region. The urban development boundary are thus explored as a planning tool to guide decision-making, and create a sustainable urban form, leading to better environmental and living conditions, and continuous sustainability.
Abstract: Since atmosphere pressure field is an actual envoy of
climatic signal the atmospheric Highs and Lows should be attributed
to the key active focal points within the ocean-atmosphere interplay
system. Here we were set a task to determine how the dynamics of
those centres of action relates to the climate change both on regional
and global scales. For this target the near-surface temperature and
atmospheric pressure differences between the Icelandic Low and the
Azores High were considered. The secular term of phase states of the
system under consideration was found divided into three
nonintersecting subsets. Each of that was put in consequence with
one of three climatic scenarios related to the periods of 1905-1935
(relatively warm phase), 1940-1970 (cold phase) and 1980-2000
(warm phase).
Abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the
chemical and biological properties of local cowpea seed protein
cultivated in Gizan region. The results showed that the cowpea and
its products contain high level of protein (22.9-77.6%), high
carbohydrates (9.4-64.3%) and low fats (0.1-0.3%). The trypsin and
chymotrypsin activities were found to be 32.2 and 15.2 units,
respectively. These activities were not affected in both defatted and
protein concentrate whereas they were significantly reduced in
isolated protein and cooked samples. The phytate content of cooked
and concentrated cowpea samples varied from 0.25% -0.32%,
respectively. Tannin content was found to be 0.4% and 0.23% for
cooked and raw samples, respectively. The in vitro protein
digestibility was very high in cowpea seeds (75.04-78.76%). The
biological evaluation using rats showed that the group fed with
animal feed containing casein gain more weight than those fed with
that containing cowpea. However, the group fed with cooked cowpea
gain more weight than those fed with uncooked cowpea. On the
other hand, in vivo digestion showed high value (98.33%) among the
group consumed casein compared to other groups those consumed
cowpea contains feed. This could be attributed to low antinutritional
factors in casein contains feed compared to those of cowpea contains
feed because cooking significantly increased the digestion rate
(80.8% to 83.5%) of cowpea contains feed. Furthermore, the
biological evaluation was high (91.67%) of casein containing feed
compared to that of cowpea containing feed (80.83%-87.5%). The
net protein utilization (NPU) was higher (89.67%) in the group fed
with casein containing feed than that of cowpea containing feed
(56.33%-69.67%).
Abstract: In this paper, we present a novel approach to accurately
detect text regions including shop name in signboard images with
complex background for mobile system applications. The proposed
method is based on the combination of text detection using edge
profile and region segmentation using fuzzy c-means method. In the
first step, we perform an elaborate canny edge operator to extract all
possible object edges. Then, edge profile analysis with vertical and
horizontal direction is performed on these edge pixels to detect
potential text region existing shop name in a signboard. The edge
profile and geometrical characteristics of each object contour are
carefully examined to construct candidate text regions and classify the
main text region from background. Finally, the fuzzy c-means
algorithm is performed to segment and detected binarize text region.
Experimental results show that our proposed method is robust in text
detection with respect to different character size and color and can
provide reliable text binarization result.