Abstract: In this paper the problem of face recognition under variable illumination conditions is considered. Most of the works in the literature exhibit good performance under strictly controlled acquisition conditions, but the performance drastically drop when changes in pose and illumination occur, so that recently number of approaches have been proposed to deal with such variability. The aim of this work is to introduce an efficient local appearance feature extraction method based steerable pyramid (SP) for face recognition. Local information is extracted from SP sub-bands using LBP(Local binary Pattern). The underlying statistics allow us to reduce the required amount of data to be stored. The experiments carried out on different face databases confirm the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Abstract: Implicit equations play a crucial role in Engineering.
Based on this importance, several techniques have been applied to
solve this particular class of equations. When it comes to practical
applications, in general, iterative procedures are taken into account.
On the other hand, with the improvement of computers, other
numerical methods have been developed to provide a more
straightforward methodology of solution. Analytical exact approaches
seem to have been continuously neglected due to the difficulty
inherent in their application; notwithstanding, they are indispensable
to validate numerical routines. Lagrange-s Inversion Theorem is a
simple mathematical tool which has proved to be widely applicable to
engineering problems. In short, it provides the solution to implicit
equations by means of an infinite series. To show the validity of this
method, the tree-parameter infiltration equation is, for the first time,
analytically and exactly solved. After manipulating these series,
closed-form solutions are presented as H-functions.
Abstract: The most planted cover crops in the Czech Republic
are mustard (Sinapis alba) and phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia
Benth.). A field trial was executed to evaluate root system size (RSS)
in eight varieties of mustard and five varieties of phacelia on two
locations, in three BBCH phases and in two years. The relationship
between RSS and aboveground biomass was inquired. The root
system was assessed by measuring its electric capacity. Aboveground
mass and root samples to be evaluated by means of a digital image
analysis were recovered in the BBCH phase 70. The yield of
aboveground biomass of mustard was always statistically
significantly higher than that of phacelia. Mustard showed a
statistically significant negative correlation between root length
density (RLD) within 10 cm and aboveground biomass weight (r = -
0.46*). Phacelia featured a statistically significant correlation
between aboveground biomass production and nitrate nitrogen
content in soil (r=0.782**).
Abstract: We demonstrate a nonfaradaic electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurement of biochemically modified gold plated electrodes using a two-electrode system. The absence of any redox indicator in the impedance measurements provide more precise and accurate characterization of the measured bioanalyte at molecular resolution. An equivalent electrical circuit of the electrodeelectrolyte interface was deduced from the observed impedance data of saline solution at low and high concentrations. The detection of biomolecular interactions was fundamentally correlated to electrical double-layer variation at modified interface. The investigations were done using 20mer deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) strands without any label. Surface modification was performed by creating mixed monolayer of the thiol-modified single-stranded DNA and a spacer thiol (mercaptohexanol) by a two-step self-assembly method. The results clearly distinguish between the noncomplementary and complementary hybridization of DNA, at low frequency region below several hundreds Hertz.
Abstract: The class of geometric deformable models, so-called
level sets, has brought tremendous impact to medical imagery. In
this paper we present yet another application of level sets to medical
imaging. The method we give here will in a way modify the speed
term in the standard level sets equation of motion. To do so we
build a potential based on the distance and the gradient of the
image we study. In turn the potential gives rise to the force field:
F~F(x, y) = P
∀(p,q)∈I
((x, y) - (p, q)) |ÔêçI(p,q)|
|(x,y)-(p,q)|
2 . The direction
and intensity of the force field at each point will determine the
direction of the contour-s evolution. The images we used to test
our method were produced by the Univesit'e de Sherbrooke-s PET
scanners.
Abstract: In this work, we study the impact of dynamically
changing link slowdowns on the stability properties of packetswitched
networks under the Adversarial Queueing Theory
framework. Especially, we consider the Adversarial, Quasi-Static
Slowdown Queueing Theory model, where each link slowdown may
take on values in the two-valued set of integers {1, D} with D > 1
which remain fixed for a long time, under a (w, ¤ü)-adversary. In this
framework, we present an innovative systematic construction for the
estimation of adversarial injection rate lower bounds, which, if
exceeded, cause instability in networks that use the LIS (Longest-in-
System) protocol for contention-resolution. In addition, we show that
a network that uses the LIS protocol for contention-resolution may
result in dropping its instability bound at injection rates ¤ü > 0 when
the network size and the high slowdown D take large values. This is
the best ever known instability lower bound for LIS networks.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to measure the maximal
isometric strength and to investigate the effects of different handleheights
and elbow angles with respect to Mid. sagittal plane on the
pushing and pulling strength in vertical direction. Eight male subjects
performed a series of static strength measurement for each subject.
The highest isometric strength was found in pulling at shoulder
height (S.H.) (Mean = 60.29 lb., SD = 16.78 lb.) and the lowest
isometric strength was found also in pulling at elbow height (E.H.)
(Mean = 33.06 lb., SD = 6.56 lb.). Although the isometric strengths
were higher at S.H than at E.H. for both activities, the maximal
isometric strengths were compared statistically. ANOVA was
performed. The results of the experiment revealed that there was a
significant different between handle heights. However, there were no
significant different between angles and activities, also no correlation
between grip strength and activities.
Abstract: Numerical analysis naturally finds applications in all
fields of engineering and the physical sciences, but in the
21st century, the life sciences and even the arts have adopted
elements of scientific computations. The numerical data analysis
became key process in research and development of all the fields [6].
In this paper we have made an attempt to analyze the specified
numerical patterns with reference to the association rule mining
techniques with minimum confidence and minimum support mining
criteria. The extracted rules and analyzed results are graphically
demonstrated. Association rules are a simple but very useful form of
data mining that describe the probabilistic co-occurrence of certain
events within a database [7]. They were originally designed to
analyze market-basket data, in which the likelihood of items being
purchased together within the same transactions are analyzed.
Abstract: The electromagnetic spectrum is a natural resource
and hence well-organized usage of the limited natural resources is the
necessities for better communication. The present static frequency
allocation schemes cannot accommodate demands of the rapidly
increasing number of higher data rate services. Therefore, dynamic
usage of the spectrum must be distinguished from the static usage to
increase the availability of frequency spectrum. Cognitive radio is not
a single piece of apparatus but it is a technology that can incorporate
components spread across a network. It offers great promise for
improving system efficiency, spectrum utilization, more effective
applications, reduction in interference and reduced complexity of
usage for users. Cognitive radio is aware of its environmental,
internal state, and location, and autonomously adjusts its operations
to achieve designed objectives. It first senses its spectral environment
over a wide frequency band, and then adapts the parameters to
maximize spectrum efficiency with high performance. This paper
only focuses on the analysis of Bit-Error-Rate in cognitive radio by
using Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm. It is theoretically as
well as practically analyzed and interpreted in the sense of
advantages and drawbacks and how BER affects the efficiency and
performance of the communication system.
Abstract: The aim of the present paper is to investigate the
interdependency among ego-identity status, autobiographical memory
and cultural life story schema. The study shows considerable
differences between autobiographical memory characteristics and
“family script", which is typical for participants (adolescents, M age
years = 17.84, SD = 1.18, N = 58), with different ego-identity
statuses. Participants with diffused ego-identity status recalled fewer
autobiographical memories. Additionally, this group of participants
recalled fewer events from their parents- life. Participants with
moratorium ego-identity status dated their first recollections to a later
age than others, and recalled fewer memories relating to their
childhood. Participants with achieved identity status recalled more
self-defining memories and events from their parents- life. They used
more functions from the autobiographical memory. There weren-t
any significant differences between the foreclosed identity status
group and the others. These findings support the idea of a
bidirectional relation between culture, memory and self.
Abstract: The psychological and physical trauma associated with the loss of a human limb can severely impact on the quality of life of an amputee rendering even the most basic of tasks very difficult. A prosthetic device can be of great benefit to the amputee in the performance of everyday human tasks. This paper outlines a proposed mechanical design of a 12 degree-of-freedom SMA actuated artificial hand. It is proposed that the SMA wires be embedded intrinsically within the hand structure which will allow for significant flexibility for use either as a prosthetic hand solution, or as part of a complete lower arm prosthetic solution. A modular approach is taken in the design facilitating ease of manufacture and assembly, and more importantly, also allows the end user to easily replace SMA wires in the event of failure. A biomimetric approach has been taken during the design process meaning that the artificial hand should replicate that of a human hand as far as is possible with due regard to functional requirements. The proposed design has been exposed to appropriate loading through the use of finite element analysis (FEA) to ensure that it is structurally sound. Theoretical analysis of the mechanical framework was also carried out to establish the limits of the angular displacement and velocity of the finger tip as well finger tip force generation. A combination of various polymers and Titanium, which are suitably lightweight, are proposed for the manufacture of the design.
Abstract: ANNARIMA that combines both autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model and artificial neural network (ANN) model is a valuable tool for modeling and forecasting nonlinear time series, yet the over-fitting problem is more likely to occur in neural network models. This paper provides a hybrid methodology that combines both radial basis function (RBF) neural network and auto regression (AR) model based on binomial smoothing (BS) technique which is efficient in data processing, which is called BSRBFAR. This method is examined by using the data of Canadian Lynx data. Empirical results indicate that the over-fitting problem can be eased using RBF neural network based on binomial smoothing which is called BS-RBF, and the hybrid model–BS-RBFAR can be an effective way to improve forecasting accuracy achieved by BSRBF used separately.
Abstract: Data mining uses a variety of techniques each of which
is useful for some particular task. It is important to have a deep
understanding of each technique and be able to perform sophisticated
analysis. In this article we describe a tool built to simulate a variation
of the Kohonen network to perform unsupervised clustering and
support the entire data mining process up to results visualization. A
graphical representation helps the user to find out a strategy to
optimize classification by adding, moving or delete a neuron in order
to change the number of classes. The tool is able to automatically
suggest a strategy to optimize the number of classes optimization, but
also support both tree classifications and semi-lattice organizations of
the classes to give to the users the possibility of passing from one
class to the ones with which it has some aspects in common.
Examples of using tree and semi-lattice classifications are given to
illustrate advantages and problems. The tool is applied to classify
macroeconomic data that report the most developed countries- import
and export. It is possible to classify the countries based on their
economic behaviour and use the tool to characterize the commercial
behaviour of a country in a selected class from the analysis of
positive and negative features that contribute to classes formation.
Possible interrelationships between the classes and their meaning are
also discussed.
Abstract: This project relates to a two-wheeled self balancing
robot for transferring loads on different locations along a path. This
robot specifically functions as a dual mode navigation to navigate
efficiently along a desired path. First, as a plurality of distance
sensors mounted at both sides of the body for collecting information
on tilt angle of the body and second, as a plurality of speed sensors
mounted at the bottom of the body for collecting information of the
velocity of the body in relative to the ground. A microcontroller for
processing information collected from the sensors and configured to
set the path and to balance the body automatically while a processor
operatively coupled to the microcontroller and configured to compute
change of the tilt and velocity of the body. A direct current motor
operatively coupled to the microcontroller for controlling the wheels
and characterized in that a remote control is operatively coupled to
the microcontroller to operate the robot in dual navigation modes.
Abstract: In this research, effect of combustion reaction
mechanism on direct initiation of detonation has been studied
numerically. For this purpose, reaction mechanism has been
simulated by using a three-step chemical kinetics model. The reaction
scheme consists sequentially of a chain-initiation and chainbranching
step, followed by a temperature -independent chaintermination.
In a previous research, the effect of chain-branching on
the direct initiation of detonation is studied. In this research effect of
chain-initiation on direct initiation of detonation is investigated. For
the investigation, first a characteristic time (τ) for each step of
mechanism, which includes effect of different kinetics parameters, is
defined. Then the effect of characteristic time of chain-initiation (τI)
on critical initiation energy is studied. It is seen that increasing τI,
causes critical initiation energy to be increased. Drawing detonation's
shock pressure diagrams for different cases, shows that in small value
of τI , kinetics has more important effect on the behavior of the wave.
Abstract: A number of automated shot-change detection
methods for indexing a video sequence to facilitate browsing and
retrieval have been proposed in recent years. This paper emphasizes
on the simulation of video shot boundary detection using one of the
methods of the color histogram wherein scaling of the histogram
metrics is an added feature. The difference between the histograms of
two consecutive frames is evaluated resulting in the metrics. Further
scaling of the metrics is performed to avoid ambiguity and to enable
the choice of apt threshold for any type of videos which involves
minor error due to flashlight, camera motion, etc. Two sample videos
are used here with resolution of 352 X 240 pixels using color
histogram approach in the uncompressed media. An attempt is made
for the retrieval of color video. The simulation is performed for the
abrupt change in video which yields 90% recall and precision value.
Abstract: One of the approaches enabling people with amputated
limbs to establish some sort of interface with the real world includes
the utilization of the myoelectric signal (MES) from the remaining
muscles of those limbs. The MES can be used as a control input to a
multifunction prosthetic device. In this control scheme, known as the
myoelectric control, a pattern recognition approach is usually utilized
to discriminate between the MES signals that belong to different
classes of the forearm movements. Since the MES is recorded using
multiple channels, the feature vector size can become very large. In
order to reduce the computational cost and enhance the generalization
capability of the classifier, a dimensionality reduction method is
needed to identify an informative yet moderate size feature set. This
paper proposes a new fuzzy version of the well known Fisher-s
Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) feature projection technique.
Furthermore, based on the fact that certain muscles might contribute
more to the discrimination process, a novel feature weighting scheme
is also presented by employing Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO)
for estimating the weight of each feature. The new method, called
PSOFLDA, is tested on real MES datasets and compared with other
techniques to prove its superiority.
Abstract: Cognitive Dissonance can be conceived both as a concept related to the tendency to avoid internal contradictions in certain situations, and as a higher order theory about information processing in the human mind. In the last decades, this last sense has been strongly surpassed by the former, as nearly all experiment on the matter discuss cognitive dissonance as an output of motivational contradictions. In that sense, the question remains: is cognitive dissonance a process intrinsically associated with the way that the mind processes information, or is it caused by such specific contradictions? Objective: To evaluate the effects of cognitive dissonance in the absence of rewards or any mechanisms to manipulate motivation. Method: To solve this question, we introduce a new task, the hypothetical social arrays paradigm, which was applied to 50 undergraduate students. Results: Our findings support the perspective that the human mind shows a tendency to avoid internal dissonance even when there are no rewards or punishment involved. Moreover, our findings also suggest that this principle works outside the conscious level.
Abstract: This paper proposes an improved approach based on
conventional particle swarm optimization (PSO) for solving an
economic dispatch(ED) problem with considering the generator
constraints. The mutation operators of the differential evolution (DE)
are used for improving diversity exploration of PSO, which called
particle swarm optimization with mutation operators (PSOM). The
mutation operators are activated if velocity values of PSO nearly to
zero or violated from the boundaries. Four scenarios of mutation
operators are implemented for PSOM. The simulation results of all
scenarios of the PSOM outperform over the PSO and other existing
approaches which appeared in literatures.
Abstract: This study investigates CO2 mitigation by methanol
synthesis from flue gas CO2 and H2 generation through water
electrolysis. Electrolytic hydrogen generation is viable provided that
the required electrical power is supplied from renewable energy
resources; whereby power generation from renewable resources is yet
commercial challenging. This approach contribute to zero-emission,
moreover it produce oxygen which could be used as feedstock for
chemical process. At ZPC, however, oxygen would be utilized
through partial oxidation of methane in autothermal reactor (ATR);
this makes ease the difficulties of O2 delivery and marketing. On the
other hand, onboard hydrogen storage and consumption; in methanol
plant; make the project economically more competitive.