3D Object Recognition Using Multiple Views And Neural Networks.

This paper proposes a method for recognition and classification of 3D objects. The method is based on 2D moments and neural networks. The 2D moments are calculated based on 2D intensity images taken from multiple cameras that have been arranged using multiple views technique. 2D moments are commonly used for 2D pattern recognition

Comparison of Artificial Neural Networks and Autoregressive Model to Forecast Inflows to Roseires Reservoir for better Prediction of Irrigation Water Supply in the Sudan

The Blue Nile River is utilized in Sudan as the main source of irrigation water. However, the river has a long, dry, low-flow season (October–May), which necessitates the use of regulations and rules to manage its water use during this period. This depends on the use of accurate lead time forecasts of inflows to the reservoirs built along the river. Thus a reliable and tested forecasting tool is needed to provide inflow forecast, with sufficient lead time. In the present study, artificial neural network (ANN) is used to model the recession curve of the flow hydrograph at El-Deim gauging station, which subsequently is used as inflows to the Roseires Reservoir on the Blue Nile River. Different scenarios of ANN have been tested to forecast 23 10-day mean discharges during the recession period and their performances were assessed. Results from the optimal ANN model were compared to those simulated with an autoregressive (AR1) model to check their accuracy. Modelling results showed that the ANN model developed is capable of accurately forecasting the inflows to the Roseires Reservoir and outperforms the AR1 model. It has then proposed for use in operation of the reservoir for purposes of predicting irrigation water supply

Application of the UKCP09 WG Outputs to Assess Performance of Combined Sewers System in a Changing Climate

In many parts of the world old sewer systems have been designed without consideration for change in climate, so probabilities and risks of sewer surcharge and flooding are elevated due to increase in extreme rainfall events as a consequence of global warming. The current paper is aiming to assess how the climate change on interannual to multidecadal timescale (2020s, 2050s, 2080s) will affect design standards of waste water networks due to the presumed increase in rainfall intensity and frequency in the Northwest of England area (selected site). Design storms have been analysed for future rainfall obtained from the UK Climate Projection version 2009 (UKCP09) weather generator, which was applied to the existing urban drainage system to check the level of service in winter and summer seasons. Two emission scenarios (SRES) have been adopted to simulate the greenhouse gas concentration; high scenario (A1FI) and low scenario (B1). Results indicate that the impact of increase in the deign storm of the system in winter lead to a potential of increase flood volume from manholes and intern basements at risk of flooding with the worst condition associated with 24 hours storm in 2080s. Moreover, when this design storm depth increased by only 15%, the corresponding flood volume increase by 40%, this indicates that the relation between the cause of flooding and its consequences is non-linear. Summer season has an opposite picture and flood volume is projected to decrease with the increase in the storm duration causing low risk. Considering climate change in this study caused most of urban drainage models runs to be very slow with some interruption in the simulation due to the inflation in some parameters, so cautious should be taken

Towards a Low Carbon Design: A case study of an Industrial Building

In construction industry a large amount of carbon dioxide is emitted due to embodied and operational energy. In order to reduce the carbon emission from buildings during the operation stage to mitigate the climate change impact, some low carbon and clean technologies should be considered. This study analyses the relationship between different carbon-generating activities and the carbon footprint for an industrial case study in the UK using Carbon Neutral Protocol. The research included data collection through networking and visual inspection in order to identify which activities produce the most carbon emissions and allow investigation for solutions to aspire to a future sustainable building and to achieve carbon neutrality. Results from this study showed that operational carbon, especially from electricity and gas are the largest contributor. Results also showed that CO2e from fossil fuel exceeded the standard benchmark for that type of building. Some clean technologies (solar, ground source heat pump) and energy efficient measures (fabric insulation) were suggested in order to minimise the emissions. The impact of these technologies have been modelled with IES-VE software in order to investigate each system size and potential saving. To achieve the carbon neutrality in the case study, the remaining carbon emission has been offset using an international renewable scheme, this requires the industrial building to pay a certain amount of money for each tonne they produced towards installation of any sustainable measure around the world

Validity of Finite Element Method: Analysis of Laminated Composite Decks Plates Subjected to in Plane Loading

To verify the accuracy of the present technique, buckling loads are evaluated and validated with other works available in the literature. Further comparisons were carried out and compared with the results obtained by the ANSYS package and experimental results. The good agreement with available data demonstrates the reliability of the finite element method used

Stability of Thin Laminated Decks Plates Under Plane Compressive Loading

It was found that symmetric laminates are stiffer than the anti – symmetric one due to coupling between bending and stretching which decreases the buckling loads of symmetric laminates. The buckling load increases with increasing aspect ratio, and decreases with increase in modulus ratio. The buckling load will remain the same even when the lamination order is reversed. The buckling load increases with the mode number but at different rates depending on the type of end support. It is also observed that as the mode number increases, the plate needs additional support

Selection of important input parameters using neural network trained with genetic algorithm for damage to light structures

Abstract not available

Expected Future Precipitation in Central Iraq Using LARS-WG Stochastic Weather Generator

The Middle East (ME) is characterized by its water shortage problem. This region with its arid climate is expected to be the most vulnerable in the world to the potential impacts of climate change. Iraq (located in ME) is seriously experiencing water shortage problem. To overcome this problem rain water harvesting can be used. In this study the applicability of the long-term weather generator model in downscaling daily precipitation Central Iraq is used to project future changes of precipitation based on scenario of seven General Circulation Models (GCMs) outputs for the periods of 2011-2030, 2046-2065, and 2080-2099. The results indicated that December-February and September-November periods, based on the ensemble mean of seven GCMs, showed an increasing trend in the periods considered; however, a decreasing trend can be found in March, April, and May in the future

ENHANCEMENT OF DISSOLUTION RATE OF HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE

Objective: The aim of this study was to enhance the dissolution rate of hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ).Methods: Binary solid dispersions (SDs) of HCTZ with increasing weight ratios of poloxamer 407, polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG 6000) or gelucire 50/13 were prepared by solvent evaporation technique. The solid dispersions were deposited on the surface of aerosil 200 to produce a dry product with large surface area. The SDs were characterized with respect to drug dissolution. The mechanism of dissolution enhancement was researched using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).Results: The unprocessed drug showed erratic, slow dissolution which can be explained on the basis of its hydrophobic nature. Preparation of SDs with hydrophilic carriers resulted in a significant increase in the dissolution rate with most of the drug being liberated in the first 5 min. The dissolution pattern of the drug from the prepared SDs depends mainly on the type of polymer used, and the best dissolution pattern was observed in the SD prepared using 1:1 ratio of the drug to gelucire 50/13 in the presence of aerosil 200 as a carrier. FTIR studies revealed no interaction between the drug and polymers. DSC showed a change in the crystalline structure of the drug after SDs formation. This change can explain the recorded dissolution enhancement.Conclusion: The study presented a system capable of increasing the dissolution rate of HCTZ using polymers which can increase the intestinal permeability as well.Keywords: Hydrochlorothiazide, Poloxamer 407, PEG 6000, Gelucire 50/13, Solid dispersion, Dissolutio