Abstract: ESPRIT-TLS method appears a good choice for high
resolution fault detection in induction machines. It has a very high
effectiveness in the frequency and amplitude identification.
Contrariwise, it presents a high computation complexity which
affects its implementation in real time fault diagnosis. To avoid this
problem, a Fast-ESPRIT algorithm that combined the IIR band-pass
filtering technique, the decimation technique and the original
ESPRIT-TLS method was employed to enhance extracting accurately
frequencies and their magnitudes from the wind stator current with
less computation cost. The proposed algorithm has been applied to
verify the wind turbine machine need in the implementation of an online,
fast, and proactive condition monitoring. This type of remote
and periodic maintenance provides an acceptable machine lifetime,
minimize its downtimes and maximize its productivity. The
developed technique has evaluated by computer simulations under
many fault scenarios. Study results prove the performance of Fast-
ESPRIT offering rapid and high resolution harmonics recognizing
with minimum computation time and less memory cost.
Abstract: This study investigates the cleaning performance of
high intensity 360 kHz frequency on removal of nano-dimensional
and sub-micron particles from various surfaces, uniformity of the
cleaning tank and run to run variation of cleaning process. The
uniformity of the cleaning tank was measured by two different
methods i.e. 1. ppbTM meter and 2. Liquid Particle Counting (LPC)
technique. The result indicates that the energy was distributed more
uniformly throughout the entire cleaning vessel even at the corners
and edges of the tank when megasonic sweeping technology is
applied. The result also shows that rinsing the parts with 360 kHz
frequency at final rinse gives lower particle counts, hence higher
cleaning efficiency as compared to other frequencies. When
megasonic sweeping technology is applied each piezoelectric
transducers will operate at their optimum resonant frequency and
generates stronger acoustic cavitational force and higher acoustic
streaming velocity. These combined forces are helping to enhance the
particle removal and at the same time improve the overall cleaning
performance. The multiple extractions study was also carried out for
various frequencies to measure the cleaning potential and asymptote
value.
Abstract: With increasingly more mobile health applications
appearing due to the popularity of smartphones, the possibility arises
that these data can be used to improve the medical diagnostic process,
as well as the overall quality of healthcare, while at the same time
lowering costs. However, as of yet there have been no reports of a
successful combination of patient-generated data from smartphones
with data from clinical routine. In this paper we describe how these
two types of data can be combined in a secure way without
modification to hospital information systems, and how they can
together be used in a medical expert system for automatic nutritional
classification and triage.
Abstract: The 3D body movement signals captured during
human-human conversation include clues not only to the content of
people’s communication but also to their culture and personality.
This paper is concerned with automatic extraction of this information
from body movement signals. For the purpose of this research, we
collected a novel corpus from 27 subjects, arranged them into groups
according to their culture. We arranged each group into pairs and
each pair communicated with each other about different topics.
A state-of-art recognition system is applied to the problems of
person, culture, and topic recognition. We borrowed modeling,
classification, and normalization techniques from speech recognition.
We used Gaussian Mixture Modeling (GMM) as the main technique
for building our three systems, obtaining 77.78%, 55.47%, and
39.06% from the person, culture, and topic recognition systems
respectively. In addition, we combined the above GMM systems with
Support Vector Machines (SVM) to obtain 85.42%, 62.50%, and
40.63% accuracy for person, culture, and topic recognition
respectively.
Although direct comparison among these three recognition
systems is difficult, it seems that our person recognition system
performs best for both GMM and GMM-SVM, suggesting that intersubject
differences (i.e. subject’s personality traits) are a major
source of variation. When removing these traits from culture and
topic recognition systems using the Nuisance Attribute Projection
(NAP) and the Intersession Variability Compensation (ISVC)
techniques, we obtained 73.44% and 46.09% accuracy from culture
and topic recognition systems respectively.
Abstract: Modelling of the earth's surface and evaluation of
urban environment, with 3D models, is an important research topic.
New stereo capabilities of high resolution optical satellites images,
such as the tri-stereo mode of Pleiades, combined with new image
matching algorithms, are now available and can be applied in urban
area analysis. In addition, photogrammetry software packages gained
new, more efficient matching algorithms, such as SGM, as well as
improved filters to deal with shadow areas, can achieve more dense
and more precise results.
This paper describes a comparison between 3D data extracted
from tri-stereo and dual stereo satellite images, combined with pixel
based matching and Wallis filter. The aim was to improve the
accuracy of 3D models especially in urban areas, in order to assess if
satellite images are appropriate for a rapid evaluation of urban
environments.
The results showed that 3D models achieved by Pleiades tri-stereo
outperformed, both in terms of accuracy and detail, the result
obtained from a Geo-eye pair. The assessment was made with
reference digital surface models derived from high resolution aerial
photography. This could mean that tri-stereo images can be
successfully used for the proposed urban change analyses.
Abstract: Background: The effectiveness of mirror therapy
(MT) has been investigated in acute hemiplegia. The present study
examines whether MT, given during chronic stroke, was more
effective in promoting motor recovery of the lower extremity and
walking speed than standard rehabilitation alone. Methods: The study
enrolled 30 patients with chronic stroke. Fifteen patients each were
assigned to the treatment group and the control group. All patients
received a conventional rehabilitation program for a 4-week period.
In addition to this rehabilitation program, patients in the treatment
group received mirror therapy for 4 weeks, 5 days a week. Main
measures: Passive ankle joint dorsiflexion range of motion, gait
speed, Brunnstrom stages of motor recovery, plantar flexor muscle
tone by Modified Ashworth Scale. Results: No significant difference
was found in the outcome measures among groups before treatment.
When compared with standard rehabilitation, mirror therapy
improved Ankle ROM, Brunnstrom stages and waking speed
(p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences between
two groups on MAS (P > 0.05).Conclusion: Mirror therapy combined
with a conventional stroke rehabilitation program enhances lowerextremity
motor recovery and walking speed in chronic stroke
patients.
Abstract: The industrial process adds to engineering wood
products features absent in solid wood, with homogeneous structure
and reduced defects, improved physical and mechanical properties,
bio-deterioration, resistance and better dimensional stability,
improving quality and increasing the reliability of structures wood.
These features combined with using fast-growing trees, make them
environmentally ecological products, ensuring a strong consumer
market. The wood I-joists are manufactured by the industrial profiles
bonding flange and web, an important aspect of the production of
wooden I-beams is the adhesive joint that bonds the web to the
flange. Adhesives can effectively transfer and distribute stresses,
thereby increasing the strength and stiffness of the composite. The
objective of this study is to evaluate different resins in a shear strain
specimens with the aim of analyzing the most efficient resin and
possibility of using national products, reducing the manufacturing
cost. First was conducted a literature review, where established the
geometry and materials generally used, then established and analyzed
8 national resins and produced six specimens for each.
Abstract: The problem of psychologist training remains a key
priority in Armenia. During the Soviet period, the notion of a
psychologist was obscure not only in Armenia but also in other
Soviet republics. The breakup of the Soviet Union triggered a gradual
change in this area activating the cooperation with specialists from
other countries. The need for recovery from the psychological trauma
caused by the 1988 earthquake pushed forward the development of
practical psychology in Armenia. This phenomenon led to positive
changes in perception of and interest to a psychologist
profession.Armenian universities started designing special programs
for psychologists’ preparation. Armenian psychologists combined
their efforts in the field of training relevant specialists.
During the recent years, the Bologna educational system was
introduced in Armenia which led to implementation of education
quality improvement programs. Nevertheless, even today the issue of
psychologists’ training is not yet settled in Armenian universities. So
far graduate psychologists haven’t got a clear idea of personal and
professional qualities of a psychologist. Recently, as a result of
educational reforms, the psychology curricula underwent changes,
but so far they have not led to a desired outcome. Almost all curricula
in certain specialties are aimed to form professional competencies
and strengthen practical skills.
A survey conducted in Armenia aimed to identify what are the
ideas of young psychology specialists on the image of a psychologist.
The survey respondents were 45 specialists holding bachelor’s degree
as well as 30 master degree graduates, who have not been working
yet. The research reveals that we need to change the approach of
preparing psychology practitioners in the universities of Armenia.
Such an approach to psychologist training will make it possible to
train qualified specialists for enhancement of modern psychology
theory and practice.
Abstract: The rate of natural gas dissociation from the Coal
Matrix depends on depressurization of reservoir through removing of
the cleat water from the coal seam. These waters are similar to brine
and aged of very long years. For improving the connectivity through
fracking /fracturing, high pressure liquids are pumped off inside the
coal body. A significant quantity of accumulated water, a combined
mixture of cleat water and fracking fluids (back flow water) is
pumped out through gas well. In Queensland, Australia Coal Seam
Gas (CSG) industry is in booming state and estimated of 30,000 wells
would be active for CSG production forecasting life span of 30 years.
Integrated water management along with water softening programs is
practiced for subsequent treatment and later on discharge to nearby
surface water catchment. Water treatment is an important part of the
CSG industry. A case study on a CSG site and review on the test
results are discussed for assessing the Standards & Practices for
management of CSG by-product water and their subsequent disposal
activities. This study was directed toward (i) water management and
softening process in Spring Gully CSG field, (ii) Comparative
analysis on experimental study and standards and (iii) Disposal of the
treated water. This study also aimed for alternative usages and their
impact on vegetation, living species as well as long term effects.
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to examine gas transport
behavior of mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) combined with
porous particles. Main existing models are categorized in two main
groups; two-phase (ideal contact) and three-phase (non-ideal contact).
A new coefficient, J, was obtained to express equations for estimating
effect of the particle porosity in two-phase and three-phase models.
Modified models evaluates with existing models and experimental
data using Matlab software. Comparison of gas permeability of
proposed modified models with existing models in different MMMs
shows a better prediction of gas permeability in MMMs.
Abstract: In this paper, extract of papaya leaves are used as a
natural dye and combined by variations of solvent concentration
applied on DSSC (Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell). Indonesian geographic
located on the equator line occasions the magnitude of the potential
to develop organic solar cells made from extracts of chlorophyll as a
substitute for inorganic materials or synthetic dye on DSSC material.
Dye serves as absorbing photons which are then converted into
electrical energy. A conductive coated glass layer called TCO
(Transparent Conductive Oxide) is used as a substrate of electrode.
TiO2 nanoparticles as binding dye molecules, redox couple iodide/
tri-iodide as the electrolyte and carbon as the counter electrode in the
DSSC are used. TiO2 nanoparticles, organic dyes, electrolytes, and
counter electrode are arranged and combined with the layered
structure of the photo-catalyst absorption layer. Dye absorption
measurements using a spectrophotometer at 400-800 nm light
spectrum produces a total amount of chlorophyll 80.076 mg/l. The
test cell at 7 watt LED light with 5000 lux luminescence was
obtained Voc and Isc of 235.5 mV and 14 μA, respectively.
Abstract: This paper provides a comparative study on the
performances of standard PID and adaptive PID controllers tested on
travel angle of a 3-Degree-of-Freedom (3-DOF) Quanser bench-top
helicopter. Quanser, a well-known manufacturer of educational
bench-top helicopter has developed Proportional Integration
Derivative (PID) controller with Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR)
for all travel, pitch and yaw angle of the bench-top helicopter. The
performance of the PID controller is relatively good; however, its
performance could also be improved if the controller is combined
with adaptive element. The objective of this research is to design
adaptive PID controller and then compare the performances of the
adaptive PID with the standard PID. The controller design and test is
focused on travel angle control only. Adaptive method used in this
project is self-tuning controller, which controller’s parameters are
updated online. Two adaptive algorithms those are pole-placement
and deadbeat have been chosen as the method to achieve optimal
controller’s parameters. Performance comparisons have shown that
the adaptive (deadbeat) PID controller has produced more desirable
performance compared to standard PID and adaptive (poleplacement).
The adaptive (deadbeat) PID controller attained very fast
settling time (5 seconds) and very small percentage of overshoot (5%
to 7.5%) for 10° to 30° step change of travel angle.
Abstract: With a long history, dual-task has become one of the
most intriguing research fields regarding human brain functioning
and cognition. However, findings considering effects of taskinterrelations
are limited (especially, in combined motor and
cognitive tasks). Therefore, we aimed at developing a measurement
system in order to analyse interrelation effects of cognitive and motor
tasks. On the one hand, the present study demonstrates the
applicability of the measurement system and on the other hand first
results regarding a systematisation of different task combinations are
shown. Future investigations should combine imagine technologies
and this developed measurement system.
Abstract: A field experiment was carried out at Arab El-
Awammer Research Station, Agric. Res. Center. Assiut Governorate
during summer seasons of 2013 and 2014. The present study assessed
the effect of cowpea with maize intercropping on yield and its
components. The experiment comprised of three treatments (sole
cowpea, sole maize and cowpea-maize intercrop). The experimental
design was a randomized complete block with four replications.
Results indicated that intercropped maize plants with cowpea,
exhibited greater potentiality and resulted in higher values of most of
the studied criteria viz., plant height, number of ears/plant, number of
rows/ear, number of grains/row, grains weight/ear, 100–grain weight
and straw and grain yields. Fresh and dry forage yields of cowpea
were lower in intercropping with maize than sole. Furthermore, the
combined of the two seasons revealed that the total Land Equivalent
Ratio (LER) between cowpea and maize was 1.65. The Aggressivity
(A) maize was 0.45 and cowpea was -0.45. This showed that maize
was the dominant crop, whereas cowpea was the dominated. The
Competitive Ratio (CR) indicated that maize more competitive than
cowpea, maize was 1.75 and cowpea was 0.57. The Actual Yield
Loss (AYL) maize was 0.05 and cowpea was -0.40. The Monetary
Advantage Index (MAI) was 2360.80.
Abstract: The IEEE 802.22 working group aims to drive the
Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) bands for data
communication to the rural area without interfering the TV broadcast.
In this paper, we arrive at a closed-form expression for average
detection probability of Fusion center (FC) with multiple antenna
over the κ − μ fading channel model. We consider a centralized
cooperative multiple antenna network for reporting. The DVB-T
samples forwarded by the secondary user (SU) were combined using
Maximum ratio combiner at FC, an energy detection is performed
to make the decision. The fading effects of the channel degrades
the detection probability of the FC, a generalized independent and
identically distributed (IID) κ − μ and an additive white Gaussian
noise (AWGN) channel is considered for reporting and sensing
respectively. The proposed system performance is verified through
simulation results.
Abstract: This paper presents observations on the early
supervised internships in Psychology, currently called basic
internships in Brazil, and its importance in professional training. The
work is an experience report and focuses on the Professional training,
illustrated by the reality of a Brazilian institution, used as a case
study. It was developed from the authors' experience as academic
supervisors of this kind of practice throughout this undergraduate
course, combined with aspects investigated in the post-doctoral
research of one of them. Theoretical references on the subject and
related national legislation are analyzed, as well as reports of students
who experienced at least one semester of this type of practice,
articulated to the observations of the authors. The results demonstrate
the importance of the early supervised internships as a way of
creating opportunities for the students of a first contact with the
professional reality and the practice of psychologists in different
fields of insertion, preparing them for further experiments that require
more involvement in activities of training and practices in
Psychology.
Abstract: Red blood cells (RBC) are the most common types of
blood cells and are the most intensively studied in cell biology. The
lack of RBCs is a condition in which the amount of hemoglobin level
is lower than normal and is referred to as “anemia”. Abnormalities in
RBCs will affect the exchange of oxygen. This paper presents a
comparative study for various techniques for classifying the RBCs as
normal or abnormal (anemic) using WEKA. WEKA is an open
source consists of different machine learning algorithms for data
mining applications. The algorithms tested are Radial Basis Function
neural network, Support vector machine, and K-Nearest Neighbors
algorithm. Two sets of combined features were utilized for
classification of blood cells images. The first set, exclusively consist
of geometrical features, was used to identify whether the tested blood
cell has a spherical shape or non-spherical cells. While the second
set, consist mainly of textural features was used to recognize the
types of the spherical cells. We have provided an evaluation based on
applying these classification methods to our RBCs image dataset
which were obtained from Serdang Hospital - Malaysia, and
measuring the accuracy of test results. The best achieved
classification rates are 97%, 98%, and 79% for Support vector
machines, Radial Basis Function neural network, and K-Nearest
Neighbors algorithm respectively.
Abstract: We model and simulate the combined effect of fiber
dispersion and frequency chirp of a directly modulated high-speed
laser diode on the figures of merit of a non-amplified 40-Gbps optical
fiber link. We consider both the return to zero (RZ) and non-return to
zero (NRZ) patterns of the pseudorandom modulation bits. The
performance of the fiber communication system is assessed by the
fiber-length limitation due to the fiber dispersion. We study the
influence of replacing standard single-mode fibers by non-zero
dispersion-shifted fibers on the maximum fiber length and evaluate
the associated power penalty. We introduce new dispersion
tolerances for 1-dB power penalty of the RZ and NRZ 40-Gbps
optical fiber links.
Abstract: Regardless of the manufacturing process used,
subtractive or additive, material, purpose and application, produced
components are conventionally solid mass with more or less complex
shape depending on the production technology selected. Aspects
such as reducing the weight of components, associated with the low
volume of material required and the almost non-existent material
waste, speed and flexibility of production and, primarily, a high
mechanical strength combined with high structural performance, are
competitive advantages in any industrial sector, from automotive,
molds, aviation, aerospace, construction, pharmaceuticals, medicine
and more recently in human tissue engineering. Such features,
properties and functionalities are attained in metal components
produced using the additive technique of Rapid Prototyping from
metal powders commonly known as Selective Laser Melting (SLM),
with optimized internal topologies and varying densities. In order to
produce components with high strength and high structural and
functional performance, regardless of the type of application, three
different internal topologies were developed and analyzed using
numerical computational tools. The developed topologies were
numerically submitted to mechanical compression and four point
bending testing. Finite Element Analysis results demonstrate how
different internal topologies can contribute to improve mechanical
properties, even with a high degree of porosity relatively to fully
dense components. Results are very promising not only from the
point of view of mechanical resistance, but especially through the
achievement of considerable variation in density without loss of
structural and functional high performance.
Abstract: The electric power supplied by a photovoltaic power
generation systems depends on the solar irradiation and temperature.
The PV system can supply the maximum power to the load at a
particular operating point which is generally called as maximum
power point (MPP), at which the entire PV system operates with
maximum efficiency and produces its maximum power. Hence, a
Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) methods are used to
maximize the PV array output power by tracking continuously the
maximum power point. The proposed MPPT controller is designed
for 10kW solar PV system installed at Cape Institute of Technology.
This paper presents the fuzzy logic based MPPT algorithm. However,
instead of one type of membership function, different structures of
fuzzy membership functions are used in the FLC design. The
proposed controller is combined with the system and the results are
obtained for each membership functions in Matlab/Simulink
environment. Simulation results are decided that which membership
function is more suitable for this system.