Abstract: Mammography is the most effective procedure for an
early diagnosis of the breast cancer. Nowadays, people are trying to
find a way or method to support as much as possible to the
radiologists in diagnosis process. The most popular way is now being
developed is using Computer-Aided Detection (CAD) system to
process the digital mammograms and prompt the suspicious region to
radiologist. In this paper, an automated CAD system for detection
and classification of massive lesions in mammographic images is
presented. The system consists of three processing steps: Regions-Of-
Interest detection, feature extraction and classification. Our CAD
system was evaluated on Mini-MIAS database consisting 322
digitalized mammograms. The CAD system-s performance is
evaluated using Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) and Freeresponse
ROC (FROC) curves. The archived results are 3.47 false
positives per image (FPpI) and sensitivity of 85%.
Abstract: The aim of this work is to determine the supersonic
nozzle profiles used in propulsion, for the launchers or embarked
with the satellites. This design has as a role firstly, to give a
important propulsion, i.e. with uniform and parallel flow at exit,
secondly to find a short length profiles without modification of the
flow in the nozzle. The first elaborate program is used to determine
the profile of divergent by using the characteristics method for an
axisymmetric flow. The second program is conceived by using the
finite volume method to determine and test the profile found
connected to a convergent.
Abstract: Face detection and recognition has many applications
in a variety of fields such as security system, videoconferencing and
identification. Face classification is currently implemented in
software. A hardware implementation allows real-time processing,
but has higher cost and time to-market.
The objective of this work is to implement a classifier based on
neural networks MLP (Multi-layer Perceptron) for face detection.
The MLP is used to classify face and non-face patterns. The systm is
described using C language on a P4 (2.4 Ghz) to extract weight
values. Then a Hardware implementation is achieved using VHDL
based Methodology. We target Xilinx FPGA as the implementation
support.
Abstract: Real-time object tracking is a problem which involves extraction of critical information from complex and uncertain imagedata. In this paper, we present a comprehensive methodology to design an artificial neural network (ANN) for a real-time object tracking application. The object, which is tracked for the purpose of demonstration, is a specific airplane. However, the proposed ANN can be trained to track any other object of interest. The ANN has been simulated and tested on the training and testing datasets, as well as on a real-time streaming video. The tracking error is analyzed with post-regression analysis tool, which finds the correlation among the calculated coordinates and the correct coordinates of the object in the image. The encouraging results from the computer simulation and analysis show that the proposed ANN architecture is a good candidate solution to a real-time object tracking problem.
Abstract: This paper presents a model for the evaluation of
energy performance and aerodynamic forces acting on a small
straight-bladed Darrieus-type vertical axis wind turbine depending on
blade geometrical section. It consists of an analytical code coupled to
a solid modeling software, capable of generating the desired blade
geometry based on the desired blade design geometric parameters.
Such module is then linked to a finite volume commercial CFD code
for the calculation of rotor performance by integration of the
aerodynamic forces along the perimeter of each blade for a full period
of revolution.After describing and validating the computational
model with experimental data, the results of numerical simulations
are proposed on the bases of two candidate airfoil sections, that is a
classical symmetrical NACA 0021 blade profile and the recently
developed DU 06-W-200 non-symmetric and laminar blade
profile.Through a full CFD campaign of analysis, the effects of blade
geometrical section on angle of attack are first investigated and then
the overall rotor torque and power are analyzed as a function of blade
azimuthal position, achieving a numerical quantification of the
influence of airfoil geometry on overall rotor performance.
Abstract: A good green building design project, designers should consider not only energy consumption, but also healthy and comfortable needs of inhabitants. In recent years, the Taiwan government paid attentions on both carbon reduction and indoor air quality issues, which be presented in the legislation of Building Codes and other regulations. Taiwan located in hot and humid climates, dampness in buildings leads to significant microbial pollution and building damage. This means that the high temperature and humidity present a serious indoor air quality issue. The interactions between vapor transfers and energy fluxes are essential for the whole building Heat Air and Moisture (HAM) response. However, a simulation tool with short calculation time, property accuracy and interface is needed for practical building design processes. In this research, we consider the vapor transfer phenomenon of building materials as well as temperature and humidity and energy consumption in a building space. The simulation bases on the EMPD method, which was performed by EnergyPlus, a simulation tool developed by DOE, to simulate the indoor moisture variation in a one-zone residential unit based on the Effective Moisture Penetration Depth Method, which is more suitable for practical building design processes.
Abstract: Students in high education are presented with new terms and concepts in nearly every lecture they attend. Many of them prefer Web-based self-tests for evaluation of their concepts understanding since they can use those tests independently of tutors- working hours and thus avoid the necessity of being in a particular place at a particular time. There is a large number of multiple-choice tests in almost every subject designed to contribute to higher level learning or discover misconceptions. Every single test provides immediate feedback to a student about the outcome of that test. In some cases a supporting system displays an overall score in case a test is taken several times by a student. What we still find missing is how to secure delivering of personalized feedback to a user while taking into consideration the user-s progress. The present work is motivated to throw some light on that question.
Abstract: Mental health professionals views about mental illness
is an important issue which has not received enough attention. The
negative stigma associated with mental illness can have many
negative consequences. Unfortunately, health professionals working
with the mentally ill can also exhibit stigma. It has been suggested
that causal explanations or beliefs around the causes of mental illness
may influence stigma. This study aims to gain a greater insight into
stigma through examining stigma among potential mental health
professionals. Firstly, results found that potential mental health
professionals had relatively low social distance t(205) = -3.62, p
Abstract: This paper aims to develop a model that assists the
international retailer in selecting the country that maximizes the
degree of fit between the retailer-s goals and the country
characteristics in his initial internationalization move. A two-stage
multi criteria decision model is designed integrating the Analytic
Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Goal Programming. Ethical, cultural,
geographic and economic proximity are identified as the relevant
constructs of the internationalization decision. The constructs are
further structured into sub-factors within analytic hierarchy. The
model helps the retailer to integrate, rank and weigh a number of
hard and soft factors and prioritize the countries accordingly. The
model has been implemented on a Turkish luxury goods retailer who
was planning to internationalize. Actual entry of the specific retailer
in the selected country is a support for the model. Implementation on
a single retailer limits the generalizability of the results; however, the
emphasis of the paper is on construct identification and model
development. The paper enriches the existing literature by proposing
a hybrid multi objective decision model which introduces new soft
dimensions i.e. perceived distance, ethical proximity, humane
orientation to the decision process and facilitates effective decision
making.
Abstract: Different forms of interaction are an integral part of
modern courses. Traditional courses held on-campus might focus on
teacher-student interaction, or student-student interaction, or both.
However when these traditional on-campus courses are to be held as
distance courses there is a risk that these well-designed interactions
will be difficult or impossible to uphold. For example, studentstudent
interaction in traditional project assignments might not work
well if the students are scattered across the world. Thus, even a welldesigned
traditional on-site course cannot without modification be
turned into a distance course. Traditional on-site courses simply have
to be redesigned to become true distance courses. This paper
describes a structured approach which facilitates the redesign of a
traditional course into a distance course. The approach is based on
that the desired forms of course flexibility are identified, and
thereafter that the course activities are redesigned to facilitate
interaction in a distance course. The approach is making use of
known patterns of pedagogic interaction and existing guidelines for
distance education design. The approach is illustrated with an
example course in the field of information systems design.
Abstract: We report the size dependence of 1D superconductivity in ultrathin (10-130 nm) nanowires produced by coating suspended carbon nanotubes with a superconducting NbN thin film. The resistance-temperature characteristic curves for samples with ≧25 nm wire width show the superconducting transition. On the other hand, for the samples with 10-nm width, the superconducting transition is not exhibited owing to the quantum size effect. The differential resistance vs. current density characteristic curves show some peak, indicating that Josephson junctions are formed in nanowires. The presence of the Josephson junctions is well explained by the measurement of the magnetic field dependence of the critical current. These understanding allow for the further expansion of the potential application of NbN, which is utilized for single photon detectors and so on.
Abstract: In recent past, the Unified Modeling Language (UML) has become the de facto industry standard for object-oriented modeling of the software systems. The syntax and semantics rich UML has encouraged industry to develop several supporting tools including those capable of generating deployable product (code) from the UML models. As a consequence, ensuring the correctness of the model/design has become challenging and extremely important task. In this paper, we present an approach for automatic verification of protocol model/design. As a case study, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) design is verified for the property, “the CALLER will not converse with the CALLEE before the connection is established between them ". The SIP is modeled using UML statechart diagrams and the desired properties are expressed in temporal logic. Our prototype verifier “UML-SMV" is used to carry out the verification. We subjected an erroneous SIP model to the UML-SMV, the verifier could successfully detect the error (in 76.26ms) and generate the error trace.
Abstract: Minor problems arising from optimizations by
welding of fixed prostheses frameworks can be identified by
macroscopic and microscopic visual inspection. The purpose of this
study was to highlight the visible discontinuities present in the laser
welds of dental Ni-Cr alloys. Ni-Cr base metal alloys designated for
fixed prostheses manufacture were selected for the experiments.
Using cast plates, preliminary tests were conducted by laser welding.
Macroscopic visual inspection was done carefully to assess the
defects of the welding rib. Electron microscopy images allowed
visualization of small discontinuities, which escapes visual
inspection. Making comparison to Ni-Cr alloys taken in the
experiment and laser welded, after visual analysis, the best welds
appear for Heraenium NA alloy.
Abstract: Prior research has examined the relationship between religiosity, religious involvement, and involvement in secular, civic organizations. However, research has not examined the influence of religious involvement on secular, non-civic organizations (i.e. work organizations). This study examines the link between religiosity, religious involvement, and the three-component model of organizational commitment. More specifically, the author hypothesizes that individuals high in religiosity (and religious involvement) will have lower affective, continuance, and normative commitment than less religious (or non-religious) individuals. In addition, it is hypothesized that this relationship is moderated by a third factor: organizational spirituality. Further, the author hypothesizes that for organizations that are spiritual the negative relationship between religiosity and job commitment will be weakened or even negated.
Abstract: This research attempts to study the feasibility of
augmenting an augmented reality (AR) image card on a Quick
Response (QR) code. The authors have developed a new visual tag,
which contains a QR code and an augmented AR image card. The new
visual tag has features of reading both of the revealed data of the QR
code and the instant data from the AR image card. Furthermore, a
handheld communicating device is used to read and decode the new
visual tag, and then the concealed data of the new visual tag can be
revealed and read through its visual display. In general, the QR code is
designed to store the corresponding data or, as a key, to access the
corresponding data from the server through internet. Those reveled
data from the QR code are represented in text. Normally, the AR
image card is designed to store the corresponding data in
3-Dimensional or animation/video forms. By using QR code's
property of high fault tolerant rate, the new visual tag can access those
two different types of data by using a handheld communicating device.
The new visual tag has an advantage of carrying much more data than
independent QR code or AR image card. The major findings of this
research are: 1) the most efficient area for the designed augmented AR
card augmenting on the QR code is 9% coverage area out of the total
new visual tag-s area, and 2) the best location for the augmented AR
image card augmenting on the QR code is located in the bottom-right
corner of the new visual tag.
Abstract: The colors of the human skin represent a special
category of colors, because they are distinctive from the colors of
other natural objects. This category is found as a cluster in color
spaces, and the skin color variations between people are mostly due
to differences in the intensity. Besides, the face detection based on
skin color detection is a faster method as compared to other
techniques. In this work, we present a system to track faces by
carrying out skin color detection in four different color spaces: HSI,
YCbCr, YES and RGB. Once some skin color regions have been
detected for each color space, we label each and get some
characteristics such as size and position. We are supposing that a face
is located in one the detected regions. Next, we compare and employ
a polling strategy between labeled regions to determine the final
region where the face effectively has been detected and located.
Abstract: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) possess unique structural,
mechanical, thermal and electronic properties, and have been
proposed to be used for applications in many fields. However, to
reach the full potential of the CNTs, many problems still need to be
solved, including the development of an easy and effective
purification procedure, since synthesized CNTs contain impurities,
such as amorphous carbon, carbon nanoparticles and metal particles.
Different purification methods yield different CNT characteristics
and may be suitable for the production of different types of CNTs. In
this study, the effect of different purification chemicals on carbon
nanotube quality was investigated. CNTs were firstly synthesized by
chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of acetylene (C2H2) on a
magnesium oxide (MgO) powder impregnated with an iron nitrate
(Fe(NO3)3·9H2O) solution. The synthesis parameters were selected
as: the synthesis temperature of 800°C, the iron content in the
precursor of 5% and the synthesis time of 30 min. The liquid phase
oxidation method was applied for the purification of the synthesized
CNT materials. Three different acid chemicals (HNO3, H2SO4, and
HCl) were used in the removal of the metal catalysts from the
synthesized CNT material to investigate the possible effects of each
acid solution to the purification step. Purification experiments were
carried out at two different temperatures (75 and 120 °C), two
different acid concentrations (3 and 6 M) and for three different time
intervals (6, 8 and 15 h). A 30% H2O2 : 3M HCl (1:1 v%) solution
was also used in the purification step to remove both the metal
catalysts and the amorphous carbon. The purifications using this
solution were performed at the temperature of 75°C for 8 hours.
Purification efficiencies at different conditions were evaluated by
thermogravimetric analysis. Thermal and electrical properties of
CNTs were also determined. It was found that the obtained electrical
conductivity values for the carbon nanotubes were typical for organic
semiconductor materials and thermal stabilities were changed
depending on the purification chemicals.
Abstract: Design and evaluation of reciprocating compressors
should include a pulsation study. The object is to ensure that
predicted pulsation levels meet guidelines to limit vibration, shaking
forces, noise, associated pressure drops, horsepower losses and
fabrication cost and time to acceptable levels. This paper explains
procedures and recommendations to select and size pulsation
suppression devices to obtain optimum arrangement in terms of
pulsation, vibration, shaking forces, performance, reliability, safety,
operation, maintenance and commercial conditions. Model and
advanced formulations for pulsation study are presented. The effect
of the full fluid dynamic model on the prediction of pulsation waves
and resulting frequency spectrum distributions are discussed.
Advanced and optimum methods of controlling pulsations are
highlighted. Useful recommendations and guidelines for pulsation
control, piping pulsation analysis, pulsation vessel design, shaking
forces, low pressure drop orifices, pulsation study report and devices
to mitigate pulsation and shaking problems are discussed.
Abstract: Physiological control of a left ventricle assist device (LVAD) is generally a complicated task due to diverse operating environments and patient variability. In this work, a tracking control algorithm based on sliding mode and feed forward control for a class of discrete-time single input single output (SISO) nonlinear uncertain systems is presented. The controller was developed to track the reference trajectory to a set operating point without inducing suction in the ventricle. The controller regulates the estimated mean pulsatile flow Qp and mean pulsatility index of pump rotational speed PIω that was generated from a model of the assist device. We recall the principle of the sliding mode control theory then we combine the feed-forward control design with the sliding mode control technique to follow the reference trajectory. The uncertainty is replaced by its upper and lower boundary. The controller was tested in a computer simulation covering two scenarios (preload and ventricular contractility). The simulation results prove the effectiveness and the robustness of the proposed controller
Abstract: Every 2-3 years the influenza B virus serves
epidemics. Neuraminidase (NA) is an important target for influenza
drug design. Although, oseltamivir, an oral neuraminidase drug, has
been shown good inhibitory efficiency against wild-type of influenza
B virus, the lower susceptibility to the R152K mutation has been
reported. Better understanding of oseltamivir efficiency and
resistance toward the influenza B NA wild-type and R152K mutant,
respectively, could be useful for rational drug design. Here, two
complex systems of wild-type and R152K NAs with oseltamivir
bound were studied using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations.
Based on 5-ns MD simulation, the loss of notable hydrogen bond and
decrease in per-residue decomposition energy from the mutated
residue K152 contributed to drug compared to those of R152 in wildtype
were found to be a primary source of high-level of oseltamivir
resistance due to the R152K mutation.