Abstract: The paper presents an on-line recognition machine
(RM) for continuous/isolated, dynamic and static gestures that arise
in Flight Deck Officer (FDO) training. RM is based on generic pattern
recognition framework. Gestures are represented as templates using
summary statistics. The proposed recognition algorithm exploits temporal
and spatial characteristics of gestures via dynamic programming
and Markovian process. The algorithm predicts corresponding index
of incremental input data in the templates in an on-line mode.
Accumulated consistency in the sequence of prediction provides a
similarity measurement (Score) between input data and the templates.
The algorithm provides an intuitive mechanism for automatic detection
of start/end frames of continuous gestures. In the present paper,
we consider isolated gestures. The performance of RM is evaluated
using four datasets - artificial (W TTest), hand motion (Yang) and
FDO (tracker, vision-based ). RM achieves comparable results which
are in agreement with other on-line and off-line algorithms such as
hidden Markov model (HMM) and dynamic time warping (DTW).
The proposed algorithm has the additional advantage of providing
timely feedback for training purposes.
Abstract: The people are differed by their capabilities, skills and mental agilities. The evolution of human from childhood when they are completely dependent up to adultness the time they gradually set the dependency free is too complicated, by considering they have all started from almost one point but some become cleverer and some less. The main control command of a cybernetic hand should be posted by remaining healthy organs of disabled Person. These commands can be from several channels, which their recording and detecting are different and need complicated study. In this research, we suppose that, this stage has been done or in the other words, the command has been already sent and detected. So the main goal is to control a long hand, upper elbow hand missing, by an interest angle define by disabled. It means that, the system input is the position desired by disables and the output is the elbow-joint angle variation. Therefore the goal is a suitable control design based on neural network theory in order to meet the given mapping.
Abstract: The main aim of the presented experiments is to
improve behaviour of sandwich structures under dynamic loading,
such as crash or explosion. Several cellular materials are widely used
as core of the sandwich structures and their properties influence
the response of the entire element under impact load. To optimize
their performance requires the characterisation of the core material
behaviour at high strain rates and identification of the underlying
mechanism. This work presents the study of high strain-rate
characteristics of a specific porous lightweight blast energy absorbing
foam using a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) technique
adapted to perform tests on low strength materials. Two different
velocities, 15 and 30 m.s-1 were used to determine the strain
sensitivity of the material. Foams were designed using two types of
porous lightweight spherical raw materials with diameters of 30-
100 *m, combined with polymer matrix. Cylindrical specimens with
diameter of 15 mm and length of 7 mm were prepared and loaded
using a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar apparatus to assess the relation
between the composition of the material and its shock wave
attenuation capacity.
Abstract: The motorway segment between Tangier and Oued
R’mel has experienced, since the beginning of building works,
significant instability and landslides linked to a number of geological,
hydrogeological and geothermic factors affecting the different
formations.
The landslides observed are not fully understood, despite many
studies conducted on this segment. This study aims at producing new
methods to better explain the phenomena behind the landslides,
taking into account the geotechnical and geothermic contexts. This
analysis builds up on previous studies and geotechnical data collected
in the field.
The final body of data collected shall be processed through the
Plaxis software for a better and customizable view of the landslide
problems in the area, which will help tofind solutions and stabilize
land in the area.
Abstract: Film, as an art form playing a vital role and is a powerful tool in documenting, influencing and shaping the society. Films are the collective creation of a large number of separate individuals, each contributing with creative input, unique talents, and technical expertise to the project. Recently, the Malaysian Independent (or “Indie") filmmakers have made their presence felt by winning awards at various international film festivals. Working in the digital video (DV) format, a number of independent filmmakers really hit their stride with a range of remarkably strong titles and international recognition has been quick in coming and their works are now regularly in exhibition or in competition, winning many top prizes at prestigious festivals around the world. The interaction factors among crewmembers are emphasized as imperative for group success. An in-depth interview is conducted to analyze the social interactions and exchanges between filmmakers through Social Exchanges Theory (SET). Certainly the new millennium that was marked as the digital technology revolution has changed the face of filmmaking in Malaysia. There is a clear need to study the Malaysian independent cinema especially from the perspective of understanding what causes the independent filmmakers to work so well given all of the difficulties and constraints.
Abstract: Genetic Zone Routing Protocol (GZRP) is a new
hybrid routing protocol for MANETs which is an extension of ZRP
by using Genetic Algorithm (GA). GZRP uses GA on IERP and BRP
parts of ZRP to provide a limited set of alternative routes to the
destination in order to load balance the network and robustness
during node/link failure during the route discovery process. GZRP is
studied for its performance compared to ZRP in many folds like
scalability for packet delivery and proved with improved results. This
paper presents the results of the effect of load balancing on GZRP.
The results show that GZRP outperforms ZRP while balancing the
load.
Abstract: In recent years, rehabilitation has been the subject of extensive research due to increased spending on building work and repair of built works. In all cases, it is absolutely essential to carry out methods of strengthening or repair of structural elements, and that following an inspection analysis and methodology of a correct diagnosis. The reinforced concrete columns are important elements in building structures. They support the vertical loads and provide bracing against the horizontal loads. This research about the behavior of reinforced concrete rectangular columns, rehabilitated by concrete liner, confinement FRP fabric, steel liner or cage formed by metal corners. It allows comparing the contributions of different processes used perspective section resistance elements rehabilitated compared to that is not reinforced or repaired. The different results obtained revealed a considerable gain in bearing capacity failure of reinforced sections cladding concrete, metal bracket, steel plates and a slight improvement to the section reinforced with fabric FRP. The use of FRP does not affect the weight of the structures, but the use of different techniques cladding increases the weight of elements rehabilitated and therefore the weight of the building which requires resizing foundations.
Abstract: Future astronomical projects on large space x-ray
imaging telescopes require novel substrates and technologies for the
construction of their reflecting mirrors. The mirrors must be
lightweight and precisely shaped to achieve large collecting area with
high angular resolution. The new materials and technologies must be
cost-effective. Currently, the most promising materials are glass or
silicon foils. We focused on precise shaping these foils by thermal
forming process. We studied free and forced slumping in the
temperature region of hot plastic deformation and compared the
shapes obtained by the different slumping processes. We measured
the shapes and the surface quality of the foils. In the experiments, we
varied both heat-treatment temperature and time following our
experiment design. The obtained data and relations we can use for
modeling and optimizing the thermal forming procedure.
Abstract: This article presents a method for elections between the members of a group that is founded by fuzzy logic. Linguistic variables are objects for decision on election cards and deduction is based on t-norms and s-norms. In this election-s method election cards are questionnaire. The questionnaires are comprised of some questions with some choices. The choices are words from natural language. Presented method is accompanied by center of gravity (COG) defuzzification added up to a computer program by MATLAB. Finally the method is illustrated by solving two examples; choose a head for a research group-s members and a representative for students.
Abstract: In this paper, we present the recently implemented approach allowing dynamics systems to plan its actions, taking into account the environment perception changes, and to control their execution when uncertainty and incomplete knowledge are the major characteristics of the situated environment [1],[2],[3],[4]. The control distributed architecture has three modules and the approach is related to hierarchical planning: the plan produced by the planner is further refined at the control layer that in turn supervises its execution by a functional level. We propose a new intelligent distributed architecture constituted by: Multi-Agent subsystem of the sensor, of the interpretation and representation of environment [9], of the dynamic localization and of the action. We tested this distributed architecture with dynamic system in the known environment. The autonomous for Rotor Mini Rotorcraft task is described by the primitive actions. The distributed controlbased on multi-agent system is in charge of achieving each task in the best possible way taking into account the context and sensory feedback.
Abstract: This paper presents the approximate analytical solution of a Zakharov-Kuznetsov ZK(m, n, k) equation with the help of the differential transform method (DTM). The DTM method is a powerful and efficient technique for finding solutions of nonlinear equations without the need of a linearization process. In this approach the solution is found in the form of a rapidly convergent series with easily computed components. The two special cases, ZK(2,2,2) and ZK(3,3,3), are chosen to illustrate the concrete scheme of the DTM method in ZK(m, n, k) equations. The results demonstrate reliability and efficiency of the proposed method.
Abstract: This paper contributes to the field of Environmental
Awareness Training (EAT) evaluation in terms of military activities.
Environmental management of military activities is a growing concern
for defence forces worldwide and the importance of EAT is becoming
widely recognized. As one of Australia-s largest landowners, the
Australian Defence Force (ADF) is extremely mindful of its duty as a
joint environmental manager. It has an integrated Environmental
Management System (EMS) to assist environmental management and
EAT is an essential part of the ADF EMS model. This paper examines
how EAT was conducted during the exercise Talisman Saber in 2009
(TS09) and evaluates its effectiveness, using Shoalwater Bay Training
Area (SWBTA), one of the most significant military training areas and
a significant protected area in Australia, as a case study. A
questionnaire survey conducted showed, overall, that EAT was
effective from the perspective of a sample of participants.
Recommendations are made for the ADF to refine EAT for future
exercises.
Abstract: In this paper, an extended study is performed on the
effect of different factors on the quality of vector data based on a
previous study. In the noise factor, one kind of noise that appears in
document images namely Gaussian noise is studied while the previous
study involved only salt-and-pepper noise. High and low levels of
noise are studied. For the noise cleaning methods, algorithms that were
not covered in the previous study are used namely Median filters and
its variants. For the vectorization factor, one of the best available
commercial raster to vector software namely VPstudio is used to
convert raster images into vector format. The performance of line
detection will be judged based on objective performance evaluation
method. The output of the performance evaluation is then analyzed
statistically to highlight the factors that affect vector quality.
Abstract: Based on an analysis of the mechanism of degradation of optical characteristics of the ZnO-pigmented white paint by electron irradiation, a model of single molecular color centers is built. An equation that explains the relationship between the changes of variation of the ZnO-pigmented white paint-s spectrum absorptance and electron fluence is derived. The uncertain parameters in the equation can be calculated using the curve fitting by experimental data. The result indicates that the model can be applied to predict the degradation of optical characteristics of ZnO-pigmented white paint by electron radiation.
Abstract: Mass-mail type worms have threatened to become a large problem for the Internet. Although many researchers have analyzed such worms, there are few studies that consider worm propagation via mailing lists. In this paper, we present a mass-mailing type worm propagation model including the mailing list effect on the propagation. We study its propagation by simulation with a real e¬mail social network model. We show that the impact of the mailing list on the mass-mail worm propagation is significant, even if the mailing list is not large.
Abstract: European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) is the European reference for interoperable and safer signaling systems to efficiently manage trains running. If implemented, it allows trains cross seamlessly intra-European national borders. ERTMS has defined a secure communication protocol, EURORADIO, based on open communication networks. Its RadioInfill function can improve the reaction of the signaling system to changes in line conditions, avoiding unnecessary braking: its advantages in terms of power saving and travel time has been analyzed. In this paper a software implementation of the EURORADIO protocol with RadioInfill for ERTMS Level 1 using GSM-R is illustrated as part of the SR-Secure Italian project. In this building-blocks architecture the EURORADIO layers communicates together through modular Application Programm Interfaces. Security coding rules and railway industry requirements specified by EN 50128 standard have been respected. The proposed implementation has successfully passed conformity tests and has been tested on a computer-based simulator.
Abstract: Microtomographic images and thin section (TS)
images were analyzed and compared against some parameters of
geological interest such as porosity and its distribution along the
samples. The results show that microtomography (CT) analysis,
although limited by its resolution, have some interesting information
about the distribution of porosity (homogeneous or not) and can also
quantify the connected and non-connected pores, i.e., total porosity.
TS have no limitations concerning resolution, but are limited by the
experimental data available in regards to a few glass sheets for
analysis and also can give only information about the connected
pores, i.e., effective porosity. Those two methods have their own
virtues and flaws but when paired together they are able to
complement one another, making for a more reliable and complete
analysis.
Abstract: Climate change leading to global warming affects the
earth through many different ways such as weather (temperature, precipitation, humidity and the other parameters of weather), snow coverage and ice melting, sea level rise, hydrological cycles, quality of water, agriculture, forests, ecosystems and health. One of the most
affected areas by climate change is hydrology and water resources.
Regions where majority of runoff consists of snow melt are more
sensitive to climate change. The first step of climate change studies
is to establish trends of significant climate variables including precipitation,
temperature and flow data to detect any potential climate
change impacts already happened. Two popular non-parametric trend
analysis methods, Mann-Kendal and Spearman-s Rho were applied
to Upper Euphrates Basin (Turkey) to detect trends of precipitation,
temperatures (maximum, minimum and average) and streamflow.
Abstract: Cloud computing is the innovative and leading
information technology model for enabling convenient, on-demand
network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources
that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal
management effort. This paper presents our development on enabling
an individual user's desktop in a virtualized environment, which is
stored on a remote virtual machine rather than locally. We present the
initial work on the integration of virtual desktop and application
sharing with virtualization technology. Given the development of
remote desktop virtualization, this proposed effort has the potential to
positively provide an efficient, resilience and elastic environment for
online cloud service. Users no longer need to burden the cost of
software licenses and platform maintenances. Moreover, this
development also helps boost user productivity by promoting a
flexible model that lets users access their desktop environments from
virtually anywhere.
Abstract: A scaffold is necessary for tooth regeneration because of its three-dimensional geometry. For restoration of defect, it is necessary for the scaffold to be prepared in the shape of the defect. Sponges made from polyvinyl alcohol with formalin cross-linking (PVF sponge) have been used for scaffolds for bone formation in vivo. To induce osteogenesis within the sponge, methods of growing rat bone marrow cells (rBMCs) among the fiber structures in the sponge might be considered. Storage of rBMCs among the fibers in the sponge coated with dextran (10 kDa) was tried. After seeding of rBMCs to PVF sponge immersed in dextran solution at 2 g/dl concentration, osteogenesis was recognized in subcutaneously implanted PVF sponge as a scaffold in vivo. The level of osteocalcin was 25.28±5.71 ng/scaffold and that of Ca was 129.20±19.69 µg/scaffold. These values were significantly higher than those in sponges without dextran coating (p