Voice recognition system for Massey University Smarthouse : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Information Engineering at Massey University

The concept of a smarthouse aims to integrate technology into houses to a level where most daily tasks are automated and to provide comfort, safety and entertainment to the house residents. The concept is mainly aimed at the elderly population to improve their quality of life. In order to maintain a natural medium of communication, the house employs a speech recognition system capable of analysing spoken language, and extracting commands from it. This project focuses on the development and evaluation of a windows application developed with a high level programming language which incorporates speech recognition technology by utilising a commercial speech recognition engine. The speech recognition system acts as a hub within the Smarthouse to receive and delegate user commands to different switching and control systems. Initial trails were built using Dragon Naturally Speaking as the recognition engine. However that proved inappropriate for use in the Smarthouse project as it is speaker dependent and requires each user to train it with his/her own voice. The application now utilizes the Microsoft Speech Application Programming Interface (SAPI), a software layer which sits between applications and speech engines and the Microsoft Speech Recognition Engine, which is freely distributed with some Microsoft products. Although Dragon Naturally Speaking offers better recognition for dictation, MS engine can be optimized using Context Free Grammar (CFG) to give enhanced recognition in the intended application. The application is designed to be speaker independent and can handle continuous speech. It connects to a database oriented expert system to carry out full conversations with the users. Audible prompts and confirmations are achieved through speech synthesis using any SAPI compliant text to speech engine. Other developments focused on designing a telephony system using Microsoft Telephony Application Programming Interface (TAPI). This allows the house to be remotely controlled from anywhere in the world. House residents will be able to call their house from any part of the world and regardless of their location, the house will be able to respond to and fulfil their commands

Conceptions of Learning Among the Sudanese Students in Universiti Putra Malaysia

The main point of the study is that human learning should be studied from a second-order perspective. Twenty-five post-graduate Sudanese students from various faculties at Universiti Putra Malaysia were asked about their view of learning. The qualitative data that has been acquired were analysed by using the inductive process known as phenomenography. The result of the analysis has identified four categories of learning conceptions: 1. acquisition of knowledge, 2. application of acquired knowledge, 3. understanding, and 4. changing human behaviour. Most of the subjects in this study fall under the third and fourth categories that are, understanding and changing human behaviour respectively. In the third category, the subject goes deeply into the meaning of what he learned, so learning in this category is an active process that involves looking deeply into the materials. In the fourth category, the change occurs due to the knowledge that was acquired by the person

Studies of stem cell and adhesion proteins in breast cancer

Breast cancer is the commonest cancer and second leading cause of cancer death in women. It has been shown that breast cancer tumorigenic/stem cell like cells are CD24-/low CD44+EpCAM+. These cells constitute less than 5% of the cells within a cancer and are probably responsible for recurrence and metastasis. In the first paper of the thesis we show that there is uncoupling of the ERα regulated morphological phenotype from the cancer stem cell phenotype in human breast cancer cells. Experimental silencing of ERα resulted in a reduced epithelial appearance and partial reduction of CD24 mRNA, while levels of CD44 and EpCAM were unaltered. Moreover, knockdown of ERα led to a change in the morphology of the cells similar to the epithelial to mesenchymal transition phenotype and was associated with decreased E-cadherin level. Our findings offer new insights into the regulation of the breast cancer cell phenotype by ERα. In the second and third papers we chose to immunoprecipitate the stem cell and cell adhesion protein EpCAM to identify new EpCAM interacting proteins. We have found a candidate EpCAM associated protein named Endoplasmic Reticulum Aminopeptidase 2 (ERAP2). ERAP2 was co-precipitated and colocalized with EpCAM in breast cancer cells both in the cytoplasm/ER and the plasma membrane. We expressed the two proteins in vitro in presence of dog pancreas rough microsomes (ER vesicles) and confirmed N-linked glycosylation of both proteins and the size of EpCAM. We conclude that the association between ERAP2 and EpCAM is a unique and novel finding, providing new ideas on how antigen presentation may be regulated. In the third paper we continue to search for EpCAM associated proteins using coimmunoprecipitation (IP) and mass spectrometry. We found that Annexin A2 co-precipitated with EpCAM. IP, Western blotting and reverse co-IP confirmed the finding. Furthermore both EpCAM and Annexin A2 colocalized in the cytoplasm and cell membrane in EpCAM+ cells. This association requires more studies to show the role of Annexin A2 in breast cancer. In the fourth paper we have assembled a list of genes potentially associated with the breast cancer stem cells and genes that are involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). We performed a gene expression clustering analysis of breast cancer cell lines using cancer cell lines encyclopedia and GenePattern. We found three clusters, one epithelial (cluster alpha), one mesenchymal (beta) and a third (gamma). Both cluster beta and gamma were characterized by relatively low levels of ESR1 (ERα) as compared to cluster alpha. Clustering analysis performed on clinical samples also generated two distinct groups with low ESR1 levels. Further analysis of these three clusters will show whether there are unique gene expression patterns or overlap between them, especially between cluster beta and gamma. Subsequently we have used the same gene list and analyzed different breast cancer datasets present in the Oncomine ® platform to study relationship between EMT and stem cell phenotypes expressing these genes and their correlation with molecular subtypes, and clinical outcome

Design and simulation of an integrated process for biodiesel production from waste cooking oil using supercritical methanolysis

Non-catalytic transesterification has been recognised as an effective technique for biodiesel production. It has many advantages over conventional catalytic transesterification, where it eliminates the difficulties of catalysts preparation and separation. It also produces high biodiesel yield in shorter reaction time. However, it requires harsh operating conditions at high reaction temperature and pressure, in addition to using large excess of methanol. In an attempt to mitigate these problems, a process design/integration for biodiesel production has been performed. The process has been subjected to both mass and energy integration to minimise fresh methanol requirements and to minimise heating and cooling energies, respectively. A new graphical Pinch Analysis method has been used to evaluate the energy performance of a literature design for the current process. It has been subsequently used to develop an optimum heat exchanger network (HEN) for the process by matching of process streams. Also, the design made by using an automated commercial simulation (Aspen Energy Analyzer) has been evaluated using the same graphical method. The produced HEN design from graphical method has achieved the optimum results with respect to energy targets

Arabic Imperfect Verbs in Translation: A Corpus Study of English Renderings

This paper proposes a model for translating Standard Arabic imperfect verbs into English based on their contextual references. It starts with a brief introduction to tense and aspect in English and Arabic. Then, it shows the study aim and technique. After that, it provides an analysis of the study results by discussing the various translations of Arabic imperfect verbs in the translations of two novels written by Naguib Mahfouz. The study compares the translations with the original texts to highlight the different English renderings of the Arabic imperfect verbs.Cet article propose pour traduire en anglais des verbes arabes standard à l’inaccompli un modèle basé sur les références contextuelles. Il commence par une brève introduction sur le temps et l’aspect en anglais et en arabe. Ensuite, il présente le but et la technique d’étude. Il fournit une analyse des résultats d’étude en s’appuyant sur les diverses traductions des verbes arabes à l’inaccompli dans les traductions de deux romans de Naguib Mahfouz. L’étude compare les traductions aux textes originaux pour accentuer les différents réalisations en anglais de ces verbes arabes

Patterns of Women's Enrolment in University Mathematics, Engineering and Computer Science in Canada, 1972-1995

Efforts to ensure equity for women in scientific and technological disciplines must precede, or at least accompany, efforts to persuade them to pursue these studies. To achieve gender equity in these disciplines, factors discouraging women from full participation in them should be removed. Many psychological, sociological and institutional factors have been identified as contributors to the under-representation of women in these fields. For the aim of understanding and appraising these factors, this study offers a factual characterization of women's enrolment levels in mathematics, engineering, and computer science in Canadian universities and the change in these levels over the period 1972 to 1995. Findings indicate that patterns of women's enrolment in these three dis- ciplines are vastly different, a fact which suggests that factors specific to each discipline interact with and modify the effects of the more general sociological and psychological obstacles impeding women's participa- tion in them.Tout effort qui vise à assurer l'équité féminine dans les disciplines scientifiques et technologiques doit précéder, ou du moins accompagner, tout effort employé pour persuader ces femmes à poursuivre leurs études dans ces domaines. Pour que l'équité se réalise pleinement à travers ces disciplines, il est important que tout facteur qui puisse décourager la pleine participation féminine dans ces disciplines soit éliminé. Plusieurs éléments psychologiques, sociologiques et institutionnels ont déjà été identifiés comme étant des facteurs contribuant à la faible représentation féminine dans ces disciplines. Cette étude offre une représentation factuelle des niveaux d'inscriptions féminines ainsi que les changements dans ces niveaux au cours de la période partant de 1972 à 1995. Les résultats de cette étude démontrent de vastes différences entre les niveaux d'inscriptions féminines de discipline en discipline, ce qui suggère que des facteurs propres à chaque discipline s'entremêlent et modifient les aspects plus généraux des obstacles sociologiques et psychologiques qui empêchent la pleine participation féminine dans ces domaines

Investigation of Groundwater Quality of Al Hayer Area, (North of Al Ain City) Using Hydro geochemical Approach

Al Hayer is located in the northeast of Al Ain area, Eastern region of the United Arab Emirates. Groundwater abstraction for domestic, agricultural and industrial uses has led to major depletion in the aquifer resulting in groundwater quality deterioration. This study aims to identify the factors affecting the groundwater quality in this area, and to determine the recharge mechanism for the study area to understand the behaviour of major ions in regional groundwater by using hydrogeochemical and isotopic approaches. The hydrochemical analysis of 37 collected samples of groundwater revealed that the groundwater is characterized by moderate salinity and high concentrations of cadmium in some of the samples. Therefore, Al Hayer groundwater is not suitable for domestic uses. Groundwater samples were evaluated for agricultural uses by calculation of SAR, TH, Na+ percentage and MAR. By using these parameters, Al Hayer groundwater was found to be acceptable for agricultural purposes in 60% of the samples. Three water geneses have been identified; the first one is paleo-marine water, which is originated from magnesium chloride water type, indicating over pumping of deep water. The second is meteoric water, which is originated from sodium sulphate-water type, indicating an occurrence of infiltration of rainfall and ion exchange processes. The third one is meteoric water, which is originated from sodium bicarbonate-water type, found only in few samples. The hydrochemical analyses showed that the dominance of sodium and chloride in the area is due to agricultural effluents and provides indication of moderate-to-high salinity water in the studied area. Isotope analyses of hydrogen and oxygen of twenty-nine groundwater samples suggested that the study area has two different zones. The first one is represented by majority of groundwater samples and located below the LMWL and to the west of the study area, which suggests high rate of evaporation. Meanwhile, the second zone is located above the LMWL and to the east of the study area in close proximity to Northern Oman Mountains, which reveals quick infiltration to rainfall into major aquifer of the study area without evaporation

Valorisation of high acid value waste cooking oil into biodiesel using supercritical methanolysis: Experimental assessment and statistical optimisation on typical Egyptian feedstock

In this study, valorisation of high acid value waste cooking oil into biodiesel has been investigated. Non-catalytic transesterification using supercritical methanol has been used for biodiesel production. Four controllable independent process variables have been considered for analysis including methanol to oil (M:O) molar ratio, temperature, pressure and time. Uncommon effects of process variables on the reaction responses, e.g. biodiesel and glycerol yields, have been observed and extensively discussed. Response surface methodology (RSM) via Central Composite Design (CCD) has been used to analyse the effect of the process variables and their interactions on the reaction responses. A quadratic model for each response has been developed representing the interrelationships between process variables and responses. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) has been used to verify the significance effect of each process variable and their interactions on reaction responses. Optimal reaction conditions have been predicted using RSM for 98% and 2.05% of biodiesel and glycerol yields, respectively at 25:1 M:O molar ratio, 265oC temperature, 110 bar pressure and 20 minutes reaction time. The predicted optimal conditions have been validated experimentally resulting in 98.82% biodiesel yield, representing 0.83% relative error. The quality of the produced biodiesel showed excellent agreement with the European biodiesel standard (EN14214)

Systematic multivariate optimization of biodiesel synthesis from high acid value waste cooking oil: A response surface methodology approach

Biodiesel has received increasing attention as a green renewable alternative fuel for petroleum diesel. It is synthesised from renewable resources including vegetable oils, animal fats and microalgal cells. Recently, biodiesel production using supercritical technology has been considered as a viable production technique for different feedstocks with potential industrial application. Supercritical production of biodiesel has many advantages over conventional catalysed methods e.g. it neither requires catalyst nor washing water, requires shorter reaction time, provides higher biodiesel yield and produces purer glycerol and purer methanol without involving any dehydration processes. However, the high process energy consumption due to harsh operating conditions is the main obstacle for industrial scale-up of the process. In the present study, a multivariate optimisation technique has been employed for optimising the supercritical production of biodiesel from high acid value waste cooking oil (WCO). The feedstock has been selected as it is widely available from various food industries. The following process variables have been analysed for optimisation e.g. methanol to oil (M:O) molar ratio, temperature, pressure and reaction time. Different responses have been considered for the reaction including overall biodiesel yield, free fatty acids (FFAs) conversion and the conversion of different triglycerides. Response surface methodology (RSM) using central composite design (CCD) have been used to design the experiments and to optimise the process. A quadratic mathematical regression model has been developed for each response function in the reaction variables. The influence of reaction variables and their interactions on the reaction responses have been extensively investigated. The significant process variables have been identified using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Highly significant influences of reaction temperature, pressure and time have been observed. In addition, the interactions between different reaction variables have shown significant effect on reaction responses. The optimum conditions have been identified at M:O molar ratio of 25:1, 266oC reaction temperature and 110 bar pressure within 20 min of reaction time. Finally, the quality of the produced biodiesel showed excellent agreement with the European biodiesel standard (EN14214)