Temperature and heat flux estimation from sampled transient sensor measurements

The final version of this paper appears in: "International Journal of Thermal Sciences" 49 (2010): 2385-2390. Print.Laplace transform is used to solve the problem of heat conduction over a finite slab. The temperature and heat flux on the two surfaces of a slab are related by the transfer functions. These relationships can be used to calculate the front surface heat input (temperature and heat flux) from the back surface measurements (temperature and/or heat flux) when the front surface measurements are not feasible to obtain. This paper demonstrates that the front surface inputs can be obtained from the sensor data without resorting to inverse Laplace transform. Through Hadamard Factorization Theorem, the transfer functions are represented as infinite products of simple polynomials. Consequently, the relationships between the front and back surfaces are translated to the time-domain without inverse Laplace transforms. These time-domain relationships are used to obtain approximate solutions through iterative procedures. We select a numerical method that can smooth the data to filter out noise and at the same time obtain the time derivatives of the data. The smoothed data and time derivatives are then used to calculate the front surface inputs

Towards Generic Detection of Unusual Events in Video Surveillance

In this paper, we consider the challenging problem of unusual event detection in video surveillance systems. The proposed approach makes a step toward generic and automatic detection of unusual events in terms of velocity and acceleration. At first, the moving objects in the scene are detected and tracked. A better representation of moving objects trajectories is then achieved by means of appropriate pre-processing techniques. A supervised Support Vector Machine method is then used to train the system with one or more typical sequences, and the resulting model is then used for testing the proposed method with other typical sequences (different scenes and scenarios). Experimental results are shown to be promising. The presented approach is capable of determining similar unusual events as in the training sequences

Differentiation by integration using orthogonal polynomials, a survey

This survey paper discusses the history of approximation formulas for n-th order derivatives by integrals involving orthogonal polynomials. There is a large but rather disconnected corpus of literature on such formulas. We give some results in greater generality than in the literature. Notably we unify the continuous and discrete case. We make many side remarks, for instance on wavelets, Mantica's Fourier-Bessel functions and Greville's minimum R_alpha formulas in connection with discrete smoothing.Comment: 35 pages, 3 figures; minor corrections, subsection 3.11 added; accepted by J. Approx. Theor

The impedance cardiography technique in medical diagnosis

Background: Thoracic Electrical Bioimpedance (TEB) Technology sometimes called the Impedance Cardiography (ICG).  In 1940, the Impedance Cardiography emerged; the studies of this technique are realized to the cardiovascular diseases detection which used hemodynamic parameters measurements based on the skin electrodes contact by injecting a low amplitude alternating signal. The objective of this article is to review the various studies based on this signal type and to present the multiple methods used for the treatment and to have a correct analysis. Methods: This ICG technique consists for applying an electric field longitudinally across a segment of the thorax with amplitude in mean, high frequency and low amplitude current. To analyze the ICG signal, the signal denoising is necessary that’s why a multiple filters are proposed, and the Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) denoising is also used. Results: The ICG is considered advantageous compared to other invasive conventional techniques; it gives a good correlation, and solves the Doppler ultrasound and Thermodilution problems. According to the studies, the Daubechies wavelet family (db8) is the best DWT to eliminate the noises. There are several algorithms for the signal characteristic point’s detection. Conclusion: For the purpose of cardiovascular disease diagnosis and monitoring, the non-invasive ICG technique comes to solve the complexity problem for measurement and analyzing heart disease based on the thoracic electrical impedance change assessment that is due to blood velocity and resistivity changes (blood volume changes) in order to estimate several hemodynamic parameters. Keywords: ICG, cardiovascular disease, hemodynamic parameters, diagnosis and monitoring, correct analysis. &nbsp

As cast microstructures on the mechanical and corrosion behaviour of ZK40 modified with Gd and Nd additions

The microstructure of ZK40, ZK40 with 2 wt% of Nd and Gd (ZK40-2Nd and ZK40-2Gd, respectively) were investigated with optical, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Scanning Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy. The mechanical properties and the corrosion behaviour were correlated with the microstructure. The 2 wt% Gd addition enhanced the ductility, while the Nd addition resulted in deterioration in mechanical properties. The corrosion behaviour was also enhanced with the addition of Gd.The authors acknowledge the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY) for the provision of facilities within the framework of proposal I-20130434. RHB acknowledges University of Sao Paulo for granting the fellowship ´Bolsa Empreendedorismo´. MM acknowledges the Alexander von Humboldt foundation for the provision of financial support in the form of post-doctoral fellowship

An eye tracking based framework for safety improvement of offshore operations

Offshore drilling operations consist of complex and high-risk processes. Lack of situational awareness in drilling operations has become an important human factor issue that causes safety accidents. Prolonged work shifts and fatigue are some of the crucial issues that impact performance. Eye tracking technology can be used to distinguish the degree of awareness or alertness of participants that might be related to fatigue or onsite distractions. Oculomotor activity can be used to obtain visual cues that can quantify the drilling operators’ situational awareness that might enable us to develop warning alarms to alert the driller. Such systems can help reduce accidents and save non-productive time. In this paper, eye movement characteristics were investigated to differentiate the situational awareness between a representative expert and a group of novices using a scenario-based Virtual Reality Drilling Simulator. Significant visual oculomotor activity differences were identified between the expert and the novices that indicate an eye-tracking based system can detect the distraction and alertness exhibited by the workers. Results show promise on developing a framework which implements a real-time eye tracking technology in various drilling operations at drilling rigs and Real Time Operation Centers to improve process safety

Effects of stencil width on surface ocean geostrophic velocity and vorticity estimation from gridded satellite altimeter data

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90421/1/2011JC007367.pd