Classifier Performance in Materials Sorting Using Sound Properties

This paper explores an intelligent classification of different materials from their sound properties irrespective of shape, texture or size. This is towards the building of smart devices particularly useful in waste sorting and recycling.  The selected materials are of three broad categories namely metals, glass and plastic. Pre-processing involves filtering noise from the captured sound data, application of principal component analysis (PCA) was carried on extracted frequency and bandwidth feature vectors with the aim of extracting the characteristic properties that contribute the most to variance in order to improve classification accuracy of the training samples. Some common classifiers were tested with the data for accuracy of classification. These include KNN, Random Forest, Adaboost, SVM, Neural Network. KNN gave the best classification accuracy of 96.8%, while the Support Vector Machine (SVM) gave the least performance. By including the band width data for the three materials, it was observed that better identification of materials was achieved.

Exploration disclosures of internal control as the impact of earnings quality and audit committee

Information disclosure carried out by management as an appointed agent is increasing in importance and hence, a source of concerns to users. It is widely believed that information received by the stakeholders should be appropriate and sufficient for useful decision making, especially in the era of the Fourth industrial revolution. An appropriate and sufficient disclosure in the Annual report indicates a reflection of the effective implementation of the company's operational, strategic, financial and compliance objectives that have been carried out by the management. This study employed secondary data obtained from the annual report for the banks listed in the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). The data for internal control disclosure was observed through a content analysis approach by calculating the internal control system index obtained in the annual report. This study has shown that companies with high earnings quality report more openly convey the application of internal controls system disclosure. This study demonstrated that company with the high characteristics of the audit committee would significantly increase disclosure of internal controls system than a company without audit committee. Supervision, as one of the internal controls established by the management, enhances the performances of the audit committee in ensuring compliance through full disclosure of the financial statements. Thus, restoring users’ trust and confidence in making informed and useful decisions on information emanating from the management

Factors associated with COVID-19 pandemic induced post-traumatic stress symptoms among adults living with and without HIV in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

Background: Nigeria is a country with high risk for traumatic incidences, now aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to identify differences in COVID-19 related post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) among people living and not living with HIV; to assess whether PTSS were associated with COVID-19 pandemic-related anger, loneliness, social isolation, and social support; and to determine the association between PTSS and use of COVID-19 prevention strategies.Methods: The data of the 3761 respondents for this analysis was extracted from a cross-sectional online survey that collected information about mental health and wellness from a convenience sample of adults, 18 years and above, in Nigeria from July to December 2020. Information was collected on the study's dependent variable (PTSS), independent variables (self-reported COVID-19, HIV status, use of COVID-19 prevention strategies, perception of social isolation, access to emotional support, feelings of anger and loneliness), and potential confounder (age, sex at birth, employment status). A binary logistic regression model tested the associations between independent and dependent variables.Results: Nearly half (47.5%) of the respondents had PTSS. People who had symptoms but were not tested (AOR = 2.20), felt socially isolated (AOR = 1.16), angry (AOR = 2.64), or lonely (AOR = 2.19) had significantly greater odds of reporting PTSS (p p Conclusion: The present study identified some multifaceted relationships between post-traumatic stress, HIV status, facemask use, anger, loneliness, social isolation, and access to emotional support during this protracted COVID-19 pandemic. These findings have implications for the future health of those affected, particularly for individuals living in Nigeria. Public health education should be incorporated in programs targeting prevention and prompt diagnosis and treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder at the community level.</p

Classifier Performance in Materials Sorting Using Sound Properties

This paper explores an intelligent classification of different materials from their sound properties irrespective of shape, texture or size. This is towards the building of smart devices particularly useful in waste sorting and recycling.  The selected materials are of three broad categories namely metals, glass and plastic. Pre-processing involves filtering noise from the captured sound data, application of principal component analysis (PCA) was carried on extracted frequency and bandwidth feature vectors with the aim of extracting the characteristic properties that contribute the most to variance in order to improve classification accuracy of the training samples. Some common classifiers were tested with the data for accuracy of classification. These include KNN, Random Forest, Adaboost, SVM, Neural Network. KNN gave the best classification accuracy of 96.8%, while the Support Vector Machine (SVM) gave the least performance. By including the band width data for the three materials, it was observed that better identification of materials was achieved.Â

A Finger Vein Recognition Method Using Improved Oriented Filter and Elastic Registration

Abstract: In order to reduce the influence of relative position deviation and angle deviation between minutia point sets caused by external factors when finger vein images are obtained, a finger vein recognition method using elastic registration is presented. The proposed algorithm is based on an improved neighborhood direction template and oriented filter template which facilitates the enhancement of the finger vein image while taking full account of image orientation. Elastic registration is then applied to matching of feature points within the predefined angle and radius. Applying the idea of elastic registration to existing finger vein recognition method removes the need for perfect matching between corresponding feature points and has shown to be an effective method for dealing with the problem of nonlinear distortion of images. Experimental results show that this algorithm not only overcomes the limitations of traditional point matching method, but also effectively improves the recognition performance of the system

Available online at www.mijst.mju.ac.th A multi-criteria model for maintenance job scheduling

Abstract: This paper presents a multi-criteria maintenance job scheduling model, which is formulated using a weighted multi-criteria integer linear programming maintenance scheduling framework. Three criteria, which have direct relationship with the primary objectives of a typical production setting, were used. These criteria are namely minimization of equipment idle time, manpower idle time and lateness of job with unit parity. The mathematical model constrained by available equipment, manpower and job available time within planning horizon was tested with a 10-job, 8-hour time horizon problem with declared equipment and manpower available as against the required. The results, analysis and illustrations justify multi-criteria consideration. Thus, maintenance managers are equipped with a tool for adequate decision making that guides against error in the accumulated data which may lead to wrong decision making. The idea presented is new since it provides an approach that has not been documented previously in the literature

Associations between mental health challenges, sexual activity, alcohol consumption, use of other psychoactive substances and use of COVID-19 preventive measures during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic by adults in Nigeria

Background The aims of this study were to assess: 1) the associations among sexual activity, alcohol consumption, use of other psychoactive substances and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic; and 2) the associations between COVID-19 preventive measures, alcohol consumption and use of psychoactive substances. Methods This was a secondary analysis of data collected from adults in Nigeria between July and December 2020. The variables extracted included change in sexual activity, alcohol consumption and use of other psychoactive substances, COVID-19 preventive behaviors (wearing face masks, washing hands, physical distancing), anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and sociodemographic variables (age, sex, education, HIV status, employment status). Multivariable logistic regressions were conducted. A model was run to regress depression, anxiety, PTSD, increased alcohol consumption, and increased use of other psychoactive substances, on increased sexual activity. In separate models, anxiety, depression, and PTSD were regressed on increased alcohol consumption and on increased use of other psychoactive substances. Finally, three models were constructed to determine the associations between increased alcohol consumption and increased use of other psychoactive substances on three separate COVID-19 preventive behaviors. All models were adjusted for sociodemographic variables. Results Increased alcohol consumption (AOR:2.19) and increased use of other psychoactive substances (AOR: 3.71) were significantly associated with higher odds of increased sexual activity. Depression was associated with significantly higher odds of increased alcohol consumption (AOR:1.71) and increased use of other psychoactive substances (AOR:3.21). Increased alcohol consumption was associated with significantly lower odds of physical distancing (AOR:0.59). Conclusion There was a complex inter-relationship between mental health, sexual health, increased use of psychoactive substances. The consumption of alcohol also affected compliance with physical distancing. Further studies are needed to understand the observed relationships.Peer reviewe