Fusion of IRST and Radar Measurements for 3D Target Tracking

Two different types of measurement fusion methods for fusing IRST (infrared search and track) and radar measurements to track a target in 3D Cartesian coordinates are evaluated and discussed in this paper. Performance evaluation metrics were provided to evaluate the tracking algorithm. It was observed that both the fusion algorithms are performed alike. Proof was provided to show that both the methods are functionally similar

The relationship of regret and the negative impact of life events on life satisfaction : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University

The present study provided a comparative, descriptive account, across age and gender, of the content and incidence of regret along ten domains; namely, career, finance, leisure, health, family relationships, relationships with friends, intimate relationships, sexual relations, education, and spiritual or religious life. The relationships between regret and life satisfaction, negative impact of life events and life satisfaction, and regret and negative impact of life events were also investigated. The role of negative impact of life events as a mediator and moderator of the relationship between regret and life satisfaction was also explored. The questionnaire comprised an 11-item life satisfaction scale, a modified 46-item Life Experiences Survey, a specifically developed 83-item regret scale and a 20-item regret scale validity check. One hundred and sixty-one adults, comprising 71 males and 90 females, across an age range of 22 to 82 years, completed the questionnaire. Results showed that most respondents experienced some form of regret and these tended to cluster around Family Relationships, Health and Spiritual or Religious Life. Age and gender differences were found mainly at the domain level, with female and older adults reporting regret in more domains than males and younger adults. Overall levels of life satisfaction were clustered along a narrow band ranging from equally satisfied and dissatisfied, to pleased. The level of negative impact of life events showed no age or gender differences. Individuals experiencing greater regret and negative impact of life events, also reported lower life satisfaction. Individuals who reported greater negative impact of life events also reported experiencing higher levels of regret. Negative impact of life events was found to both moderate and partially mediate the relationship between regret and life satisfaction. The study also identified age and gender to be salient to regret research, especially at the domain level. It is suggested that future research focuses its efforts at the domain level, so that the relational complexities that exist between regret and life satisfaction that have hitherto remained hidden in research conducted at a global level can be unmasked

The determination of gold in vegetation and its application to specific problems in biogeochemistry : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Chemistry in the Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Massey University

Studies were carried out to devise a method for determining nanogram quantities of gold in vegetation. The samples (0.5g) were digested with fuming nitric acid over a water bath. After addition of hydrochloric acid, the gold was extracted into a small volume (1 ml) of methylisobutyl ketone (MIBK). The organic layer was back-extracted with distilled water to remove iron interference and gold in the MIBK was determined by an electro­ thermal atomization technique with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The optimum instrumental conditions for drying, ashing and atomization of gold were as follows: drying, 4.5V, 20 secs; ashing 6V, 20 secs; atomization 8V, 4 secs. A furnace cooling time of 50 sec. was allowed to attain high precision of signal heights. Tests on the efficiency of the method developed, showed high precision, good accuracy with the limit of detection of 1 ng/g. Recovery studies on the known amounts of gold added to vegetation, showed an average recovery of 99.4%. On the basis of these results, the method developed and outlined can be used on a routine basis for analysis of vegetation, soils and rocks. Biogeochemical and geochemical studies were carried out at 4 areas having different geological, topographical and climatic conditions. These were: Waihi, New Zealand, Seruwila in Sri Lanka, the Serbomaced­onian massif in Northern Greece, and Yathkyed Lake in Arctic Canada. At each of these study areas, different plant species were collected and analyzed together with the soil for biogeochemical studies. Investigations were carried out to determine whether the concent­ration of gold in plants could be used to predict the concentration of this element in the soil and also whether any other elements present could be used as a pathfinder for gold. The results of biogeochemistry showed good correlation existing between gold in plant and gold in soil provided the gold concentration in the substrate was sufficiently high. Arsenic was found to be a possible pathfinder element for gold, particularly when the latter is present with chalcophile elements. The range of plant species analyzed in this study suggest that gold uptake is not restricted to any particular plant species or to plants with deep rooting system provided the substrate is auriferous

Detection of Airport Runway Edges using Line Detection Techniques

Airport runway detection is a vital aspect for both military and commercial applications. An algorithm to extract runway edges based on edge detection and line detection techniques is discussed. The runway images are initially enhanced by dilation, thresholding and edge detection. Based on some unique characteristics like the runway being gray with two white lines indicating the runway boundaries, long and continuous edges of the runway are considered to be straight lines. The straight lines are detected using Convolution operators pertaining to vertical, 45° or -45° lines. Hough Transform is then applied to fit only the pair of lines corresponding to the runway boundaries in certain orientations. The test results prove that combination of Convolution and Hough transform is very competent in detecting runway edges accurately

Hochschild cohomology and quantum Drinfeld Hecke algebras

Quantum Drinfeld Hecke algebras are generalizations of Drinfeld Hecke algebras in which polynomial rings are replaced by quantum polynomial rings. We identify these algebras as deformations of skew group algebras, giving an explicit connection to Hochschild cohomology. We compute the relevant part of Hochschild cohomology for actions of many reflection groups and we exploit computations from our paper with Shroff for diagonal actions. By combining our work with recent results of Levandovskyy and Shepler, we produce examples of quantum Drinfeld Hecke algebras. These algebras generalize the braided Cherednik algebras of Bazlov and Berenstein.Comment: 22 pages; v2: minor revisions as suggested by the refere

Implementation of IMMPDAF Algorithm in LabVIEW for Multi Sensor Single Target Tracking

Real time IMMPDAF algorithm has been implemented and tested in LabVIEW. Single aircraft flight profiles have been simulated and the plot data from multiple radars observing the single aircraft are generated with noise as well as clutter. The performance of the algorithm is evaluated using standard procedures. Since it is implemented and tested in LabVIEW, this algorithm can be easily realized in hardware for real time tracking applications

Implementation and Validation of Video Stabilization using Simulink

A fast video stabilization technique based on Gray-coded bit-plane (GCBP) matching for translational motion is implemented and tested using various image sequences. This technique performs motion estimation using GCBP of image sequences which greatly reduces the computational load. In order to further improve computational efficiency, the three-step search (TSS) is used along with GCBP matching to perform a competent search during correlation measure calculation. The entire technique has been implemented in Simulink to perform in real-time

Gendered effects of work and participation in collective forest management

This paper reports the results of a statistical investigation of the relationship between labor time expended in rural livelihoods, social structure, and community forest management. The object is to understand the impact of labor constraints to collective action. There are three main results. First, increasing time burden of work has a negative impact on collective forest management. Second, the gendered nature of work imposes a high burden on women and hence impedes their ability to participate in collective management even if incentives exist. In addition, lower access to social infrastructure further increases work burdens and decreases ability to participate. Finally, high levels of wealth lead to lower individual participation but this not because of high opportunity of time worked.time use; collective action; gender; forests; South Asia; India