Abstract: Serial hierarchical support vector machine (SHSVM)
is proposed to discriminate three brain tissues which are white matter
(WM), gray matter (GM), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). SHSVM
has novel classification approach by repeating the hierarchical
classification on data set iteratively. It used Radial Basis Function
(rbf) Kernel with different tuning to obtain accurate results. Also as
the second approach, segmentation performed with DAGSVM
method. In this article eight univariate features from the raw DTI data
are extracted and all the possible 2D feature sets are examined within
the segmentation process. SHSVM succeed to obtain DSI values
higher than 0.95 accuracy for all the three tissues, which are higher
than DAGSVM results.
Abstract: Public sector corruption has long-term and damaging
effects that are deep and broad. Addressing corruption relies on
understanding the drivers that precipitate acts of corruption and
developing educational programs that target areas of vulnerability.
This paper provides an innovative approach to explore the nature of
corruption by drawing on the perceptions and ideas of a group of
public servants who have been part of a corruption investigation. The
paper examines these reflections through the ideas of Pierre Bourdieu
and Alfred Schutz to point to some of the steps that can lead to
corrupt activity. The paper demonstrates that phenomenological
inquiry is useful in the exploration of corruption and, as a theoretical
framework, it highlights that corruption emerges through a
combination of conflict, doubt and uncertainty. The paper calls for
anti-corruption education programs to be attentive to way in which
these conditions can influence the steps into corruption.
Abstract: This paper suggests a fast and stable Target Tracking
system in collaborative control of UAV and UGV. Wi-Fi communication range is limited in collaborative control of UAV and UGV. Thus, to secure a stable communications, UAV and UGV have
to be kept within a certain distance from each other. But existing
method which uses UAV Vertical Camera to follow the motion of
UGV is likely to lose a target with a sudden movement change.
Eventually, UGV has disadvantages that it could only move at a low
speed and not make any sudden change of direction in order to keep
track of the target. Therefore, we suggest utilizing AR Drone UAV front camera to track fast-moving and Omnidirectional Mecanum
Wheel UGV.
Abstract: In this project, a tele-operated anthropomorphic
robotic arm and hand is designed and built as a versatile robotic arm
system. The robot has the ability to manipulate objects such as pick
and place operations. It is also able to function by itself, in
standalone mode.
Firstly, the robotic arm is built in order to interface with a personal
computer via a serial servo controller circuit board. The circuit board
enables user to completely control the robotic arm and moreover,
enables feedbacks from user. The control circuit board uses a
powerful integrated microcontroller, a PIC (Programmable Interface
Controller). The PIC is firstly programmed using BASIC (Beginner-s
All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) and it is used as the 'brain'
of the robot. In addition a user friendly Graphical User Interface
(GUI) is developed as the serial servo interface software using
Microsoft-s Visual Basic 6.
The second part of the project is to use speech recognition control
on the robotic arm. A speech recognition circuit board is constructed
with onboard components such as PIC and other integrated circuits. It
replaces the computers- Graphical User Interface. The robotic arm is
able to receive instructions as spoken commands through a
microphone and perform operations with respect to the commands
such as picking and placing operations.
Abstract: The White Kwao (Pueraria mirifica), a potent phytoestrogenic medicinal plant, has long been use in Thailand as a traditional folkmedicine. However, no scientific information of the direct effect of White Kwao on the development of mammalian embryo was available. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of White Kwao extract on the in vitro development and implantation rate of mouse embryos. This study was designed into two experiments. In the first experiment, the two-cell stage mouse embryos were collected from the oviduct of superovulated mature female mice, and randomly cultured in three different media, the M16, M16 supplemented with 0.52μg esthinylestradiol-17β, and M16 supplemented with 10 mg/ml White Kwao extract. The culture was incubated in CO2 incubator at 37 oC . After the embryos were cultivated, the developments of embryos were observed every 24 hours for 5 days. The development rate of embryos from the two-cell stage to blastocyst stage in the media was with White Kwao was significantly higher (p
Abstract: In this paper, a semi-fragile watermarking scheme is proposed for color image authentication. In this particular scheme, the color image is first transformed from RGB to YST color space, suitable for watermarking the color media. Each channel is divided into 4×4 non-overlapping blocks and its each 2×2 sub-block is selected. The embedding space is created by setting the two LSBs of selected sub-block to zero, which will hold the authentication and recovery information. For verification of work authentication and parity bits denoted by 'a' & 'p' are computed for each 2×2 subblock. For recovery, intensity mean of each 2×2 sub-block is computed and encoded upto six to eight bits depending upon the channel selection. The size of sub-block is important for correct localization and fast computation. For watermark distribution 2DTorus Automorphism is implemented using a private key to have a secure mapping of blocks. The perceptibility of watermarked image is quite reasonable both subjectively and objectively. Our scheme is oblivious, correctly localizes the tampering and able to recovery the original work with probability of near one.
Abstract: Sweet potato products are necessary for the provision
of essential nutrients in every household, regardless of their poverty
status. Their consumption appears to be highly influenced by socioeconomic
factors, such as malnutrition, food insecurity and
unemployment. Therefore, market availability is crucial for these
cultivars to resolve some of the socio-economic factors. The aim of
the study was to investigate market availability of sweet potato
cultivars in the North West Province. In this study, both qualitative
and quantitative research methodologies were used. Qualitative
methodology was used to explain the quantitative outcomes of the
variables. On the other hand, quantitative results were used to test the
hypothesis. The study used SPSS software to analyse the data. Crosstabulation
and Chi-square statistics were used to obtain the
descriptive and inferential analyses, respectively. The study found
that the Blesbok cultivar is dominating the markets of the North West
Province, with the Monate cultivar dominating in the Bojanala
Platinum (75%) and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati (25%) districts. It
is also found that a unit increase in the supply of sweet potato
cultivars in both local and district municipal markets is accompanied
by a reduced demand of 28% and 33% at district and local markets,
respectively. All these results were found to be significant at p
Abstract: This paper looks into areas not covered by prominent
Agent-Oriented Software Engineering (AOSE) methodologies.
Extensive paper review led to the identification of two issues, first
most of these methodologies almost neglect semantic web and
ontology. Second, as expected, each one has its strength and
weakness and may focus on some phases of the development
lifecycle but not all of the phases. The work presented here builds
extensions to a highly regarded AOSE methodology (MaSE) in order
to cover the areas that this methodology does not concentrate on. The
extensions include introducing an ontology stage for semantic
representation and integrating early requirement specification from a
methodology which mainly focuses on that. The integration involved
developing transformation rules (with the necessary handling of nonmatching
notions) between the two sets of representations and
building the software which automates the transformation. The
application of this integration on a case study is also presented in the
paper. The main flow of MaSE stages was changed to smoothly
accommodate the new additions.
Abstract: The myocardial sintigraphy is an imaging modality which provides functional informations. Whereas, coronarography modality gives useful informations about coronary arteries anatomy. In case of coronary artery disease (CAD), the coronarography can not determine precisely which moderate lesions (artery reduction between 50% and 70%), known as the “gray zone", are haemodynamicaly significant. In this paper, we aim to define the relationship between the location and the degree of the stenosis in coronary arteries and the observed perfusion on the myocardial scintigraphy. This allows us to model the impact evolution of these stenoses in order to justify a coronarography or to avoid it for patients suspected being in the gray zone. Our approach is decomposed in two steps. The first step consists in modelling a coronary artery bed and stenoses of different location and degree. The second step consists in modelling the left ventricle at stress and at rest using the sphercical harmonics model and myocardial scintigraphic data. We use the spherical harmonics descriptors to analyse left ventricle model deformation between stress and rest which permits us to conclude if ever an ischemia exists and to quantify it.
Abstract: Views on therapists- attraction have influenced the ethical and professional development of the mental health fields. Because the majority of therapist attraction literature (63.6%) has been conducted from a psychoanalytic standpoint, approaches to attraction from feminist perspectives have not been adequately developed. Considering the lack of a feminist voice regarding attraction, this article attempts to offer a feminist perspective on this issue. The purpose of this article is to offer a feminist perspective on the phenomenon of attraction in order to raise awareness about the importance of power inequalities, intersectionalities, contextual variables and the need for action in the field.
Abstract: Thin linear-elastic cylindrical circular shells having a
micro-periodic structure along two directions tangent to the shell
midsurface (biperiodic shells) are object of considerations. The aim
of this paper is twofold. First, we formulate an averaged nonasymptotic
model for the analysis of parametric vibrations or dynamical
stability of periodic shells under consideration, which has constant
coefficients and takes into account the effect of a cell size on the
overall shell behavior (a length-scale effect). This model is derived
employing the tolerance modeling procedure. Second we apply the
obtained model to derivation of frequency equation being a starting
point in the analysis of parametric vibrations. The effect of the microstructure
length oh this frequency equation is discussed.
Abstract: Because of the reservoir effect, dynamic analysis of concrete dams is more involved than other common structures. This problem is mostly sourced by the differences between reservoir water, dam body and foundation material behaviors. To account for the reservoir effect in dynamic analysis of concrete gravity dams, two methods are generally employed. Eulerian method in reservoir modeling gives rise to a set of coupled equations, whereas in Lagrangian method, the same equations for dam and foundation structure are used. The Purpose of this paper is to evaluate and study possible advantages and disadvantages of both methods. Specifically, application of the above methods in the analysis of dam-foundationreservoir systems is leveraged to calculate the hydrodynamic pressure on dam faces. Within the frame work of dam- foundationreservoir systems, dam displacement under earthquake for various dimensions and characteristics are also studied. The results of both Lagrangian and Eulerian methods in effects of loading frequency, boundary condition and foundation elasticity modulus are quantitatively evaluated and compared. Our analyses show that each method has individual advantages and disadvantages. As such, in any particular case, one of the two methods may prove more suitable as presented in the results section of this study.
Abstract: In this paper, we shall present sufficient conditions
for the ψ-exponential stability of a class of nonlinear impulsive
differential equations. We use the Lyapunov method with functions
that are not necessarily differentiable. In the last section, we give
some examples to support our theoretical results.
Abstract: Square pipes (pipes with square cross sections) are
being used for various industrial objectives, such as machine
structure components and housing/building elements. The utilization
of them is extending rapidly and widely. Hence, the out-put of those
pipes is increasing and new application fields are continually
developing.
Due to various demands in recent time, the products have to
satisfy difficult specifications with high accuracy in dimensions. The
reshaping process design of pipes with square cross sections;
however, is performed by trial and error and based on expert-s
experience.
In this paper, a computer-aided simulation is developed based on
the 2-D elastic-plastic method with consideration of the shear
deformation to analyze the reshaping process. Effect of various
parameters such as diameter of the circular pipe and mechanical
properties of metal on product dimension and quality can be
evaluated by using this simulation. Moreover, design of reshaping
process include determination of shrinkage of cross section,
necessary number of stands, radius of rolls and height of pipe at each
stand, are investigated. Further, it is shown that there are good
agreements between the results of the design method and the
experimental results.
Abstract: Infrastructure investments are important in developing
countries, it will not only help to foster the economic growth of a
nation, but it will also act as a platform in which new forms of
partnership and collaboration can be developed mainly in East Asian
countries. Since the last two decades, many infrastructure projects
had been completed through build-operate-transfer (BOT) type of
procurement. The developments of BOT have attracted participation
of local and foreign private sector investor to secure funding and to
deliver projects on time, within the budget and to the required
specifications. Private sectors are preferred by the government in
East Asia to participate in BOT projects due to lack of public
funding. The finding has resulted that the private sector or promoter
of the BOT projects is exposed to multiple risks which have been
discussed in this paper. Effective risk management methods and
good managerial skills are required in ensuring the success of the
project. The review indicated that mitigation measures should be
employed by the promoter throughout the concession period and
support from the host government is also required in ensuring the
success of the BOT project.
Abstract: Pabdeh shaly formation (Paleocene-Oligomiocene)
has been expanded in Fars, Khozestan and Lorestan. The lower
lithostratigraphic limit of this formation in Shiraz area is
distinguished from Gurpi formation by purple shale. Its upper limit is
gradational and conformable with Asmari formation. In order to
study sequence stratigraphy and microfacies of Pabdeh formation in
Shiraz area, one stratigraphic section have been chosen (Zanjiran
section). Petrographic studies resulted in the identification of 9
pelagic and calciturbidite microfacies. The calciturbidite microfacies
have been formed when the sea level was high, the rate of carbonate
deposition was high and it slumped into the deep marine. Sequence
stratigraphy studies show that Pabdeh formation in the studied zone
consists of two depositional sequences (DS) that the lower contact is
erosional (purple shale - type one, SBI or type two, SB2) and the
upper contact is correlative conformity (type two, SB2).
Abstract: One of the most ancient humankind concerns is knowledge formalization i.e. what a concept is. Concept Analysis, a branch of analytical philosophy, relies on the purpose of decompose the elements, relations and meanings of a concept. This paper aims at presenting a method to make a concept analysis obtaining a knowledge representation suitable to be processed by a computer system using either object-oriented or ontology technologies. Security notion is, usually, known as a set of different concepts related to “some kind of protection". Our method concludes that a more general framework for the concept, despite it is dynamic, is possible and any particular definition (instantiation) depends on the elements used by its construction instead of the concept itself.
Abstract: This paper presents the study of hardness profile of spur gear heated by induction heating process in function of the machine parameters, such as the power (kW), the heating time (s) and the generator frequency (kHz). The global work is realized by 3D finite-element simulation applied to the process by coupling and resolving the electromagnetic field and the heat transfer problems, and it was performed in three distinguished steps. First, a Comsol 3D model was built using an adequate formulation and taking into account the material properties and the machine parameters. Second, the convergence study was conducted to optimize the mesh. Then, the surface temperatures and the case depths were deeply analyzed in function of the initial current density and the heating time in medium frequency (MF) and high frequency (HF) heating modes and the edge effect were studied. Finally, the simulations results are validated using experimental tests.
Abstract: One of the processes of slope that occurs every year in Iran and some parts of world and cause a lot of criminal and financial harms is called landslide. They are plenty of method to stability landslide in soil and rock slides. The use of the best method with the least cost and in the shortest time is important for researchers. In this research, determining the best method of stability is investigated by using of Decision Support systems. DSS is made for this purpose and was used (for Hasan Salaran area in Kurdistan). Field study data from topography, slope, geology, geometry of landslide and the related features was used. The related data entered decision making managements programs (DSS) (ALES).Analysis of mass stability indicated the instability potential at present. Research results show that surface and sub surface drainage the best method of stabilizing. Analysis of stability shows that acceptable increase in security coefficient is a consequence of drainage.
Abstract: This study reveals that anti-immigrant policies in
Europe result from a process of securitization, and that, within this
process, radical right parties have been formulating discourses and
approaches through a construction process by using some common
security themes. These security themes can be classified as national
security, economic security, cultural security and internal security.
The frequency with which radical right parties use these themes may
vary according to the specific historical, social and cultural
characteristics of a particular country.