Hand Image Feature for Human Identification

This paper presents an algorithm for efficient personal identification using robust hand features. The feature is extracted from hand boundary points and print of hand palm. The centre of gravity of the edge map of the hand image is determined to serve as a reference point. Thereafter City block distances between the reference point and hand boundary points are found. These distance feature vectors are compared using Euclidean distance measure for effective image classification. The proposed algorithm will improve personal identification in access control and attendance recor

Vertical Off-line Signature Feature Block for Verification

Handwritten signature image is normally used as a mark of endorsement of written document. Signatures of the same person vary and they can be forged by imposters. Effective feature extraction algorithm is needed in off-line signature verification. Robust features capable of increases interpersonal variation and decreases intra personal variation are required. This work presents robust signature feature that can be used to build effective off-line signature verification system. Signature processing is performed and the preprocessed signature image is vertically divided into sixteen smaller image blocks through the center of gravity. Three features are extracted from these smaller image blocks. Feature vector is formed and are passed to Support Vector Machine (SVM) for training and classification. The proposed signature feature vector increases the accuracy of tested off-line signature verification syste

Biometric Enabled E-Banking in Nigeria: Management and Customers’ Perspectives

The adoption of biometric technology is rapidly increasing around the globe due to the increasing sensitivity of security issues. With the recent 2015-plan and collaborations of the Central Bank of Nigeria to incorporate biometrics into her banking system, it is imperative to assess the perception of the managers and customers to the use of the long-awaited biometrics for secure, seamless and successful transactions.  The banking sector touches the daily lives of at least 60% of the over 150-million Nigerian population and it is expected to increase as more security measures are put in place.  Therefore, this empirical evaluation captures the factors influencing the perception of the bank management and ATM users. A total of 740 respondents participated in the survey cutting across different age groups and educational backgrounds. Descriptive statistics and T-test analysis of the survey showed that management and customers of strongly support the adoption of biometric ATM in Nigeria. Keywords: E-Banking, Biometric, ATM,  Security

AVALIAÇÃO DO COMPORTAMENTO DOS CUSTOS DE PRODUÇÃO EM RELAÇÃO À AGREGAÇÃO DO VALOR PERCEBIDO PELO CLIENTE FINAL: CASO DO GADO DE CORTE

Neste artigo, apresentam-se os resultados de um estudo de caso realizado na cadeia produtiva do gado de corte do Rio Grande do Sul. A contribuição principal do estudo centrase na proposta de um modelo que conjugue duas faces de análise: custos e valor. Para a decomposição e análise da cadeia de valor do produto carne bovina, o estudo foi fundamentado no método de Custeio Baseado em Atividades (ABC), bem como na perspectiva do marketing, que é necessária para o entendimento e aproximação dos aspectos de valor pertinentes ao consumidor final. Verificou-se que os aspectos valorizados pelos clientes concentram-se em atividades localizadas próximo ao final do processo de produção. Essa observação está em concordância com a distribuição das margens ao longo da cadeia analisada. Evidencia-se uma valorização predominante de atividades que interferem mais na aparência do produto em detrimento de outras mais ligadas à qualidade intrínsica, que sob um ponto de vista técnico, estão localizadas nas fases iniciais de produção.Neste artigo, apresentam-se os resultados de um estudo de caso realizado na cadeia produtiva do gado de corte do Rio Grande do Sul. A contribuição principal do estudo centrase na proposta de um modelo que conjugue duas faces de análise: custos e valor. Para a decomposição e análise da cadeia de valor do produto carne bovina, o estudo foi fundamentado no método de Custeio Baseado em Atividades (ABC), bem como na perspectiva do marketing, que é necessária para o entendimento e aproximação dos aspectos de valor pertinentes ao consumidor final. Verificou-se que os aspectos valorizados pelos clientes concentram-se em atividades localizadas próximo ao final do processo de produção. Essa observação está em concordância com a distribuição das margens ao longo da cadeia analisada. Evidencia-se uma valorização predominante de atividades que interferem mais na aparência do produto em detrimento de outras mais ligadas à qualidade intrínsica, que sob um ponto de vista técnico, estão localizadas nas fases iniciais de produção

Automatic Vehicle Identification System Using License Plate

This paper presents a new approach for development of an Automatic Vehicle Identification System (A VIS). The proposed system can be divided into three major modules; they are vehicle image preprocessing, license plate feature extraction and classification algorithm based on Hidden Markov Model (HMM). Experiment has been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed system. The proposed system is tested using Nigeria vehicle license plates. Recognition rate of 98% is obtained; the result is superior in comparison with the results obtained from previous system

Experimental performance of LPG refrigerant charges with varied concentration of TiO2 nano-lubricants in a domestic refrigerator

This article present an experimental investigation of varied mass charges of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (40 g, 50 g, 60 g and 70 g) enhanced with varied TiO2 nanoparticle/mineral oil concentrations (0.2 g/L, 0.4 g/L and 0.6 g/L nanolubricants) in a R134a compressor of a domestic refrigerator. Performance tests investigated at steady state included: pull down time, power consumption, compressor power input, cooling capacity and coefficient of performance (COP). Analysis was based on temperature and pressure readings obtained from appropriate gauges attached to the test rig. Refrigerant property characteristics were obtained using Ref-Prop NIST 9.0 software. Results obtained showed almost equal evaporator air temperatures and reduction in power consumption for all tested nano-lubricant concentrations except at 70 g charge of LPG using 0.6 g/L nano-lubricant. Furthermore, the lowest compressor power input was found to be 21 W and obtained using 70 g of LPG with either of 0.2 g/L or 0.4 g/L nano-lubricants. At 70 g of LPG using 0.6 g/L concentration of nano-lubricant, highest cooling capacity index of 65 W was obtained while the highest COP of 2.8 was obtained with 40 g charge of LPG using 0.4 g/L concentration of nanolubricant. In conclusion, LPG-TiO2 nano-lubricant mixture works safely and efficiently in domestic refrigerators without modification of capillary tube length, but requires adequate optimization

EVALUATION OF TWO-STAGE SUBSURFACE FLOW CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS FOR ABATTOIR WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT

Abattoir wastewater is high in organic content, the waste recovery and treatment facility is expensive and this results in indiscriminate dumping into streams without adequate treatment. The effectiveness of using a two-stage subsurface flow constructed wetland to treat abattoir effluent was examined in this study. Diluted abattoir wastewater from Lafenwa Abattoir, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria was fed into a two-stage Vegetated Subsurface Bed Constructed Wetlands (VSBCW). The VSBCW consisted of 500 mm deep 10-15 mm diameter granite with 150 mm thick overlay of well graded sand planted with locally available Vetiveria nigritana. Grab samples were collected at selected points along Ogun river and measurement of physico-chemical parameters such as: Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5), Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Total Suspended Solid (TSS) of the influent and effluent from the VSBCW were carried out. Irrigation with water and diluted abattoir wastewater to examine the variation in plant growth rate was also investigated. The results revealed a pollution load reduction as the wastewater moves away from the discharge point but inadequate to meet the FEPA (1991) standard for wastewater discharge into rivers. The VSBCW was observed to reduce the concentration of BOD5, COD, EC, TDS and TSS in the abattoir wastewater by 88.71, 87.28, 45.72, 56.89 and 72.27 % respectively. The growth rate of the V. nigritana reduced by 1.9% when irrigated with abattoir wastewater. The study revealed that locally available V. nigritana in VSBCW is effective in abattoir wastewater treatment and could be use to curtail the pollution caused by discharge of untreated wastewater into rivers.     &nbsp