Abstract: The aim of this study is to discuss the relationship between tourist awareness of environmental issues and their own recreational behaviors in the Taipei Guandu Wetland. A total of 392 questionnaires were gathered for data analysis using descriptive statistics, t-testing, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and least significant difference (LSD) post hoc comparisons. The results showed that most of the visitors there enjoying the beautiful scenery are 21 to 30 years old with a college education. The means and standard deviations indicate that tourists express a positive degree of cognition of environmental issues and recreational behaviors. They suggest that polluting the environment is harmful to the natural ecosystem and that the natural resources of ecotourism are fragile, as well as expressing a high degree of recognition of the need to protect wetlands. Most of respondents are cognizant of the regulations proposed by the Guandu Wetland administration which asks that users exercise self-control and follow recommended guidelines when traveling the wetland. There were significant differences in the degree of cognition related to the variables of age, number of visits and reasons for visiting. We found that most respondents with relatively high levels of education would like to learn more about the wetland and are supportive of its conservation.
Abstract: This paper proposes a new design of spatial FIR
filter to automatically detect water level from a video signal of
various river surroundings. A new approach in this report applies
"addition" of frames and a "horizontal" edge detector to distinguish
water region and land region. Variance of each line of a filtered
video frame is used as a feature value. The water level is recognized
as a boundary line between the land region and the water region.
Edge detection filter essentially demarcates between two distinctly
different regions. However, the conventional filters are not
automatically adaptive to detect water level in various lighting
conditions of river scenery. An optimized filter is purposed so that
the system becomes robust to changes of lighting condition. More
reliability of the proposed system with the optimized filter is
confirmed by accuracy of water level detection.
Abstract: Adolescents in Northern Uganda are at risk of teenage
pregnancies, unsafe abortions and sexually transmitted infections
(STIs). There is silence on sex both at home and school. This cross
sectional descriptive analytical study interviews a random sample of
827 students and 13 teachers on knowledge, perception and
acceptability to a comprehensive adolescent sexual and reproductive
health education in “O” and “A” level secondary schools in Gulu
District. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS 16.0. Directed
content analysis of themes of transcribed qualitative data was
conducted manually for common codes, sub-categories and
categories. Of the 827 students; 54.3% (449) reported being in a
sexual relationship especially those aged 15-17 years. Majority
96.1% (807) supported the teaching of a comprehensive ASRHE,
citing no negative impact 71.5% (601). Majority 81.6% (686) agreed
that such education could help prevention of STIs, abortions and
teenage pregnancies, and that it should be taught by health workers
69.0% (580). Majority 76.6% (203) reported that ASRHE was not
currently being taught in their schools. Students had low knowledge
levels and misconceptions about ASRHE. ASRHE was highly
acceptable though not being emphasized; its success in school
settings requires multidisciplinary culturally sensitive approaches
amongst which health workers should be frontiers.
Abstract: Today, the preferences and participation of the TD groups such as the elderly and disabled is still lacking in decision-making of transportation planning, and their reactions to certain type of policies are not well known. Thus, a clear methodology is needed. This study aimed to develop a method to extract the preferences of the disabled to be used in the policy-making stage that can also guide to future estimations. The method utilizes the combination of cluster analysis and data filtering using the data of the Arao city (Japan). The method is a process that follows: defining the TD group by the cluster analysis tool, their travel preferences in tabular form from the household surveys by policy variableimpact pairs, zones, and by trip purposes, and the final outcome is the preference probabilities of the disabled. The preferences vary by trip purpose; for the work trips, accessibility and transit system quality policies with the accompanying impacts of modal shifts towards public mode use as well as the decreasing travel costs, and the trip rate increase; for the social trips, the same accessibility and transit system policies leading to the same mode shift impact, together with the travel quality policy area leading to trip rate increase. These results explain the policies to focus and can be used in scenario generation in models, or any other planning purpose as decision support tool.
Abstract: Various intelligences and inspirations have been
adopted into the iterative searching process called as meta-heuristics.
They intelligently perform the exploration and exploitation in the
solution domain space aiming to efficiently seek near optimal
solutions. In this work, the bee algorithm, inspired by the natural
foraging behaviour of honey bees, was adapted to find the near
optimal solutions of the transportation management system, dynamic
multi-zone dispatching. This problem prepares for an uncertainty and
changing customers- demand. In striving to remain competitive,
transportation system should therefore be flexible in order to cope
with the changes of customers- demand in terms of in-bound and outbound
goods and technological innovations. To remain higher service
level but lower cost management via the minimal imbalance scenario,
the rearrangement penalty of the area, in each zone, including time
periods are also included. However, the performance of the algorithm
depends on the appropriate parameters- setting and need to be
determined and analysed before its implementation. BEE parameters
are determined through the linear constrained response surface
optimisation or LCRSOM and weighted centroid modified simplex
methods or WCMSM. Experimental results were analysed in terms
of best solutions found so far, mean and standard deviation on the
imbalance values including the convergence of the solutions
obtained. It was found that the results obtained from the LCRSOM
were better than those using the WCMSM. However, the average
execution time of experimental run using the LCRSOM was longer
than those using the WCMSM. Finally a recommendation of proper
level settings of BEE parameters for some selected problem sizes is
given as a guideline for future applications.
Abstract: Vertical Double Gate (DG) Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) is believed to suppress various short channel effect problems. The gate to channel coupling in vertical DG-MOSFET are doubled, thus resulting in higher current density. By having two gates, both gates are able to control the channel from both sides and possess better electrostatic control over the channel. In order to ensure that the transistor possess a superb turn-off characteristic, the subs-threshold swing (SS) must be kept at minimum value (60-90mV/dec). By utilizing SILVACO TCAD software, an n-channel vertical DG-MOSFET was successfully designed while keeping the sub-threshold swing (SS) value as minimum as possible. From the observation made, the value of sub-threshold swing (SS) was able to be varied by adjusting the height of the silicon pillar. The minimum value of sub-threshold swing (SS) was found to be 64.7mV/dec with threshold voltage (VTH) of 0.895V. The ideal height of the vertical DG-MOSFET pillar was found to be at 0.265 µm.
Abstract: This paper presents a review on vision aided systems
and proposes an approach for visual rehabilitation using stereo vision
technology. The proposed system utilizes stereo vision, image
processing methodology and a sonification procedure to support
blind navigation. The developed system includes a wearable
computer, stereo cameras as vision sensor and stereo earphones, all
moulded in a helmet. The image of the scene infront of visually
handicapped is captured by the vision sensors. The captured images
are processed to enhance the important features in the scene in front,
for navigation assistance. The image processing is designed as model
of human vision by identifying the obstacles and their depth
information. The processed image is mapped on to musical stereo
sound for the blind-s understanding of the scene infront. The
developed method has been tested in the indoor and outdoor
environments and the proposed image processing methodology is
found to be effective for object identification.
Abstract: Micro electromechanical sensors (MEMS) play a vital
role along with global positioning devices in navigation of
autonomous vehicles .These sensors are low cost ,easily available but
depict colored noises and unpredictable discontinuities .Conventional
filters like Kalman filters and Sigma point filters are not able to cope
with nonwhite noises. This research has utilized H∞ filter in nonlinear
frame work both with Kalman filter and Unscented filter for
navigation and self alignment of an airborne vehicle. The system is
simulated for colored noises and discontinuities and results are
compared with not robust nonlinear filters. The results are found
40%-70% more robust against colored noises and discontinuities.
Abstract: In two studies we challenged the well consolidated
position in regret literature according to which the necessary
condition for the emergence of regret is a bad outcome ensuing from
free decisions. Without free choice, and, consequently, personal
responsibility, other emotions, such as disappointment, but not regret,
are supposed to be elicited. In our opinion, a main source of regret is
being obliged by circumstance out of our control to chose an
undesired option. We tested the hypothesis that regret resulting from
a forced choice is more intense than regret derived from a free choice
and that the outcome affects the latter, not the former. Besides, we
investigated whether two other variables – the perception of the level
of freedom of the choice and the choice justifiability – mediated the
relationships between choice and regret, as well as the other four
emotions we examined: satisfaction, anger toward oneself,
disappointment, anger towards circumstances. The two studies were
based on the scenario methodology and implied a 2 x 2 (choice x
outcome) between design. In the first study the foreseen short-term
effects of the choice were assessed; in the second study the
experienced long-term effects of the choice were assessed. In each
study 160 students of the Second University of Naples participated.
Results largely corroborated our hypotheses. They were discussed in
the light of the main theories on regret and decision making.
Abstract: Scene interpretation systems need to match (often ambiguous)
low-level input data to concepts from a high-level ontology.
In many domains, these decisions are uncertain and benefit greatly
from proper context. This paper demonstrates the use of decision
trees for estimating class probabilities for regions described by feature
vectors, and shows how context can be introduced in order to improve
the matching performance.
Abstract: Due to availability of powerful image processing software
and improvement of human computer knowledge, it becomes
easy to tamper images. Manipulation of digital images in different
fields like court of law and medical imaging create a serious problem
nowadays. Copy-move forgery is one of the most common types
of forgery which copies some part of the image and pastes it to
another part of the same image to cover an important scene. In
this paper, a copy-move forgery detection method proposed based
on Fourier transform to detect forgeries. Firstly, image is divided to
same size blocks and Fourier transform is performed on each block.
Similarity in the Fourier transform between different blocks provides
an indication of the copy-move operation. The experimental results
prove that the proposed method works on reasonable time and works
well for gray scale and colour images. Computational complexity
reduced by using Fourier transform in this method.
Abstract: Shadows add great amount of realism to a scene and
many algorithms exists to generate shadows. Recently, Shadow
volumes (SVs) have made great achievements to place a valuable
position in the gaming industries. Looking at this, we concentrate on
simple but valuable initial partial steps for further optimization in SV
generation, i.e.; model simplification and silhouette edge detection
and tracking. Shadow volumes (SVs) usually takes time in generating
boundary silhouettes of the object and if the object is complex then
the generation of edges become much harder and slower in process.
The challenge gets stiffer when real time shadow generation and
rendering is demanded. We investigated a way to use the real time
silhouette edge detection method, which takes the advantage of
spatial and temporal coherence, and exploit the level-of-details
(LOD) technique for reducing silhouette edges of the model to use
the simplified version of the model for shadow generation speeding
up the running time. These steps highly reduce the execution time of
shadow volume generations in real-time and are easily flexible to any
of the recently proposed SV techniques. Our main focus is to exploit
the LOD and silhouette edge detection technique, adopting them to
further enhance the shadow volume generations for real time
rendering.
Abstract: WOLED is widely used as lighting for high efficacy and little power consumption. In this research, power factor testing between WOLED and fluorescent lamp to see which one is more efficient in consuming energy. Since both lamps use semiconductor components, so calculation of the power factor need to consider the effects of harmonics. Harmonic make bigger losses. The study is conducted by comparing the value of the power factor regardless of harmonics (DPF) and also by included the harmonics (TPF). The average value of DPF of fluorescent is 0.953 while WOLED is 0.972. The average value of TPF of fluorescent is 0.717 whereas WOLED is 0.933. So from the review of power factor WOLED is more energy efficient than fluorescent lamp.
Abstract: A new target detection technique is presented in this
paper for the identification of small boats in coastal surveillance. The
proposed technique employs an adaptive progressive thresholding (APT) scheme to first process the given input scene to separate any
objects present in the scene from the background. The preprocessing
step results in an image having only the foreground objects, such as
boats, trees and other cluttered regions, and hence reduces the search
region for the correlation step significantly. The processed image is then fed to the shifted phase-encoded fringe-adjusted joint transform
correlator (SPFJTC) technique which produces single and delta-like
correlation peak for a potential target present in the input scene. A
post-processing step involves using a peak-to-clutter ratio (PCR) to determine whether the boat in the input scene is authorized or unauthorized. Simulation results are presented to show that the
proposed technique can successfully determine the presence of an authorized boat and identify any intruding boat present in the given input scene.
Abstract: COPD is characterized by loss of elastic fibers from
small airways and alveolar walls, with the decrease in elastin
increasing with disease severity. It is unclear why there is a lack of
repair of elastic fibers. We have examined fibroblasts cultured from
lung tissue from normal and COPD subjects to determine if the
secretory profile explains lack of tissue repair. In this study,
fibroblasts were cultured from lung parenchyma of bronchial
carcinoma patients with varying degrees of COPD; controls
(non-COPD, n=5), mild COPD (GOLD 1, n=5) and moderate-severe
COPD (GOLD 2-3, n=12). Measurements were made of proliferation,
senescence-associated beta-galactosidase-1, mRNA expression of
IL-6, IL-8, MMP-1, tropoelastin and versican, and protein levels for
IL-6, IL-8, PGE2, tropoelastin, insoluble elastin, and versican. It was
found that GOLD 2-3 fibroblasts proliferated more slowly (p
Abstract: Impact is one of very important subjects which always have been considered in mechanical science. Nature of impact is such that which makes its control a hard task. Therefore it is required to present the transfer of impact to other vulnerable part of a structure, when it is necessary, one of the best method of absorbing energy of impact, is by using Thin-walled tubes these tubes collapses under impact and with absorption of energy, it prevents the damage to other parts.Purpose of recent study is to survey the deformation and energy absorption of tubes with different type of cross section (rectangular or square) and with similar volumes, height, mean cross section thickness, and material under loading with different speeds. Lateral loading of tubes are quasi-static type and beside as numerical analysis, also experimental experiences has been performed to evaluate the accuracy of the results. Results from the surveys is indicates that in a same conditions which mentioned above, samples with square cross section ,absorb more energy compare to rectangular cross section, and also by increscent in speed of loading, energy absorption would be more.
Abstract: Mycotoxin (aflatoxins) contamination of peanuts is a
great concern for human health. A total of 72 samples of unripe,
roasted, and salty peanuts were collected randomly from Pothohar
plateau of Pakistan for the assessment of aflatoxin. Samples were
dried, ground and extracted by acetonitrile (84%). The filtered
extracts were cleaned up by MycoSep-226 and analyzed by high
performance liquid chromatography with flourescence detector.
Quantification limit of Aflatoxin was 1 μg/kg and 70% Recovery was
observed in spiked samples in the range 1–10 μg/kg. The screening
of mycotoxins indicated that aflatoxins were present in most of the
samples being detected in 82%, in concentrations from 14.25 μg/kg
to 98.80 μg/kg. Optimal conditions for mycotoxin production and
fungal growth are frequently found in the crop fields as well as in
store houses. Human exposure of such toxin can be controlled by
pointed out such awareness and implemented the regulations.
Abstract: In blended learning environments, the Internet can be combined with other technologies. The aim of this research was to design, introduce and validate a model to support synchronous and asynchronous activities by managing content domains in an Adaptive Hypermedia System (AHS). The application is based on information recovery techniques, clustering algorithms and adaptation rules to adjust the user's model to contents and objects of study. This system was applied to blended learning in higher education. The research strategy used was the case study method. Empirical studies were carried out on courses at two universities to validate the model. The results of this research show that the model had a positive effect on the learning process. The students indicated that the synchronous and asynchronous scenario is a good option, as it involves a combination of work with the lecturer and the AHS. In addition, they gave positive ratings to the system and stated that the contents were adapted to each user profile.
Abstract: A camera in the building site is exposed to different
weather conditions. Differences between images of the same scene
captured with the same camera arise also due to temperature variations.
The influence of temperature changes on camera parameters
were modelled and integrated into existing analytical camera model.
Modified camera model enables quantitatively assessing the influence
of temperature variations.
Abstract: In this paper the use of sequential machines for recognizing actions taken by the objects detected by a general tracking algorithm is proposed. The system may deal with the uncertainty inherent in medium-level vision data. For this purpose, fuzzification of input data is performed. Besides, this transformation allows to manage data independently of the tracking application selected and enables adding characteristics of the analyzed scenario. The representation of actions by means of an automaton and the generation of the input symbols for finite automaton depending on the object and action compared are described. The output of the comparison process between an object and an action is a numerical value that represents the membership of the object to the action. This value is computed depending on how similar the object and the action are. The work concludes with the application of the proposed technique to identify the behavior of vehicles in road traffic scenes.