Self-Configuring and Evolving Fuzzy Image Thresholding

Every segmentation algorithm has parameters that need to be adjusted in order to achieve good results. Evolving fuzzy systems for adjustment of segmentation parameters have been proposed recently (Evolving fuzzy image segmentation -- EFIS [1]. However, similar to any other algorithm, EFIS too suffers from a few limitations when used in practice. As a major drawback, EFIS depends on detection of the object of interest for feature calculation, a task that is highly application-dependent. In this paper, a new version of EFIS is proposed to overcome these limitations. The new EFIS, called self-configuring EFIS (SC-EFIS), uses available training data to auto-configure the parameters that are fixed in EFIS. As well, the proposed SC-EFIS relies on a feature selection process that does not require the detection of a region of interest (ROI).Comment: To appear in proceedings of The 14th International Conference on Machine Learning and Applications (IEEE ICMLA 2015), Miami, Florida, USA, 201

Sustainable Development: An Analytical Vision for Smart Dubai City Social Policies

This study explores the sociological perspective required for achieving holistic and sustainable development in social contexts. It focuses on Dubai as a smart city exemplar, investigating the integration of comprehensive development that encompasses social, economic, cultural, and technological aspects, as well as sustainable development that includes environmental sustainability. The research provides valuable insights into Smart Dubais social dimensions and highlights its commendable efforts towards sustainable social development. The discussion explores the various social policies implemented in Dubai, which serve to regulate the conduct, initiatives, and practices of both the government and non-governmental entities, as well as individuals, in order to address a wide array of social challenges. Furthermore, it explores the application of certain development theories, such as post-modernism, and how they have contributed to Dubais cultural shift towards embracing socio-economic standards. Additionally, the theory of ecological modernization is examined, highlighting its role in integrating environmental concerns with social institutions that promote sustainable policies for the advancement of a smart city. The research employs a case study methodology, analyzing secondary data and official records to assess Smart Dubais policies and highlight its social sustainability development. Findings reveal that Smart Dubai has made significant progress in embracing social issues through its policies, and it is on the road towards social sustainability in terms of family unity, gender equality, demographic balance, health, education, popular participation and balancing in terms of services between UAE citizens and expatriates. The research recommends that Dubai have a bureau for studying policies to mitigate social challenges and phenomena as well as an authority for collecting social data

Decay kinetics and energy transfer in ternary phosphate glass doped Eu and Eu/Dy

Different series of glass samples with different glass compositions and different concentrations of rare earth ions (Eu and Eu/ Dy co-doped) were prepared. Excitation and photo-luminescence spectra were measured, for which the observed peaks are attributed to the f-f transitions of the rare earth ions. Decay kinetics of the characteristic emission peaks were registered and investigated using Inokuti-Hirayama model (IH model),when the emission decay deviated from the exponential pattern to study energy transfer in the prepared samples. The IH model is used to determine the energy transfer parameter which is correlated to the glass composition factor

Assessment of drought impacts on vegetation health: a case study in Kedah

Prolonged drought in the early of 2014 has caused Malaysia to experience water supply shortage which directly affects both health and growth of vegetation. Thus this study aims to assess the risk vegetation areas that were impacted during 2014's drought by integrating the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Normalized Differentiation Vegetation Index (NDVI) methods. These two methods were able to assess the risk areas for the vegetation by measuring its health and classifying them according to its severity while considering the rainfall reduction at the specific time and location. The results obtained from this study shows that the central and north west of Kedah was vulnerable to the occurrence of drought. Kedah was more impacted by the dry event during the northeast monsoon. This study is significant as a fundamental input for further research and as an alternative approach by the application of space technology

Reduced graphene oxide-multiwalled carbon nanotubes hybrid film with low Pt loading as counter electrode for improved photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitised solar cells

In this work, the role of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) with hyperbranched surfactant and its hybridisation with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and platinum (Pt) nanoparticles (NPs) as counter electrode (CE) were investigated to determine the photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSCs). Sodium 1,4-is(neopentyloxy)-3-(neopentyloxycarbonyl)- 1,4-dioxobutane-2-sulphonate (TC14) surfactant was utilised as dispersing and stabilising agent in electrochemical exfoliation to synthesise graphene oxide (GO) as initial solution for rGO production prior to its further hybridisation and fabrication as thin film. A chemical reduction process utilising hydrazine hydrate was conducted to produce rGO due to the low temperature process and water-based GO solution. Subsequently, hybrid solution was prepared by mixing 1 wt% MWCNTs into the produced rGO solution. TC14-rGO and TC14-rGO_MWCNTs hybrid solution were transferred into fluorine-doped tin oxide substrate to fabricate thin film by spraying deposition method. Finally, the CE films were prepared by coating with thin Pt NPs. Photoanode film was prepared by a two-step process: hydrothermal growth method to synthesise titanium dioxide nanowires (TiO2 NWs) and subsequent squeegee method to apply TiO2 NPs. According to solar simulator measurement, the highest energy conversion efficiency (η) was achieved by using CE-based TC14-rGO_MWCNTs/Pt (1.553%), with the highest short current density of 4.424 mA/cm2. The highest η was due to the high conductivity of CE hybrid film and the morphology of fabricated TiO2 NWs/TiO2 NPs. Consequently, the dye adsorption was high, and the photovoltaic performance of DSSCs was increased. This result also showed that rGO and rGO_MWCNTs hybrid can be used as considerable potential candidate materials to replace Pt gradually

Load capacity predictions of continuous concrete deep beams reinforced with GFRP bars

YesNine continuous concrete deep beams reinforced with glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars were experimentally tested to failure. Three main parameters were investigated, namely, shear span-to-overall depth ratio, web reinforcement and size effect. The experimental results confirmed the impacts of web reinforcement and size effect that were not considered by the strut-and-tie method (STM) of the only code provision, the Canadian S806-12, that addressed such elements. The experimental results were employed to evaluate the applicability of the methods suggested by the American, European and Canadian codes as well as the previous studies to predict the load capacities of continuous deep beams reinforced with GFRP bars. It was found that these methods were unable to reflect the influences of size effect and/or web reinforcement, the impact of which has been confirmed by the current experimental investigation. Therefore, a new effectiveness factor was recommended to be used with the STM. Additionally, an upper-bound analysis was developed to predict the load capacity of the tested specimens considering a reduced bond strength of GFRP bars. A good agreement between the predicted results and the experimental ones was obtained with the mean and coefficient of variation values of 1.02 and 5.9%, respectively, for the STM and 1.03 and 8.6%, respectively, for the upper-bound analysis.Higher Committee of Education Development in Iraq (HCED

IMPLEMENTATION OF NEURAL - CRYPTOGRAPHIC SYSTEM USING FPGA

Modern cryptography techniques are virtually unbreakable. As the Internet and other forms of electronic communication become more prevalent, electronic security is becoming increasingly important. Cryptography is used to protect e-mail messages, credit card information, and corporate data. The design of the cryptography system is a conventional cryptography that uses one key for encryption and decryption process. The chosen cryptography algorithm is stream cipher algorithm that encrypt one bit at a time. The central problem in the stream-cipher cryptography is the difficulty of generating a long unpredictable sequence of binary signals from short and random key. Pseudo random number generators (PRNG) have been widely used to construct this key sequence. The pseudo random number generator was designed using the Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). The Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) providing the required nonlinearity properties that increases the randomness statistical properties of the pseudo random generator. The learning algorithm of this neural network is backpropagation learning algorithm. The learning process was done by software program in Matlab (software implementation) to get the efficient weights. Then, the learned neural network was implemented using field programmable gate array (FPGA)

The Effects of Cognitive Behavorial Therapy Group and Social Support Group on the Self Esteem Among Breast Cancer Patients

This study is aimed to determine the main effects of CBT group, social support group (DS) and control group (KK) on the self esteem among breast cancer patients. Rosemberg self esteem scale (RSE) was used to measure self-esteem. The treatment group consisted of CBT and DS groups. Each  treatment group received 12 counselling sessions within six weeks. Quantitative analysis general linear model (GLM) repeated measures was used to identify the groups’ (CBT, DS, and KK) main effect, the repeated test RSE scale (pre test, post test 1, post test 2, and post test 3) main effect and the interaction effect (CBT, DS, and KK), and repeated tests RSE scale (pre test, post test 1, post test 2, post test 3). There was no significant difference in the groups (CBT, DS, and KK) main effect on the Rosenberg Self Esteem (RSE) scores. There was a significant difference (F (3.10) =  66.823, p = 0.0001 (Wilk's Lambda) on the repeated test RSE scale (pre test, post test 1, post test 2, and post test 3) main effects on self esteem score. Overall findings showed an increase in RSE scores between the pre test, post test 1, post test 2 and post test 3

Analyzing Group by Time Effects in Longitudinal Two-Group Randomized Trial Designs With Missing Data

We investigated bias, sampling variability, Type I error and power of nine approaches for testing the group by time interaction in a repeated measures design under three types of missing data mechanisms. One procedure due to Overall, Ahn, Shivakumar, and Kalburgi (1999) performed reasonably well over a range of conditions

The effect of talent management factors on teacher's leadership at the secondary school

Talent management is one of the roles in human resources management and there has been a long debate about talent management for years. This study aims to identify the relationship between talent management and teacher leadership development. In addition, the study also analyzes the talent management and teacher leadership levels. The data are analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences Software (SPSS) version 23 and Partial Least Squares Structural (Smart PLS) version 3 are also applied to analyze the data. The survey study involves 473 teachers in Malaysia residential school. The findings reveal that talent management and teacher leadership practices were at high levels. There is a significant positive relationship between talent management and teacher leadership development. The results of the study promote the role of talent management that can lead to positive changes in teacher leadership at schools. It is hoped that through this study various stakeholders such as schools, district education offices and the ministry of education of Malaysia will be able to assist in planning and organizing efforts in order to produce good leaders in future. It is hoped that through this study, various stakeholders such as school, district education offices as well as the Ministry of Education will be able to assist in planning and organizing efforts to address the role of teacher leadership to produce highly talented future leaders at schools