On a region-of-interest based approach to robust wireless video transmission

This paper presents a scheme aiming at transmitting real-time video to wireless channel with vigorously varying quality, which is in practice the norm rather than the exception. Region of Interest (ROI) is an efficient approach to making the video more adaptive to the wireless channel because ROI is the region that human eyes tend to put more attention to than the Remainder Region (RM). In our proposed scheme, we will adopt this feature. The real-time source video stream is divided into two regions, the ROI and the RM regions. The two regions will be encoded using H.263 standard codec such that the video transmission is adaptive to the current channel state, which is characterized by the effective data rate that varies from tens of kilobits per second to hundreds of kilobits per second. Channel state parameters are fed back to the source coder to adjust the compression ratio as well as the intra/inter options of the encoders. Results including frame loss probability, compression characteristics, Peak Signal the Noise Ratio (PSNR) against channel states are given, indicating that the resulting adaptive video codec can respond judiciously to time-varying channel quality. Our scheme is evaluated together with a ROI-enabled moving picture coding standard JPEG2000. Using the features provided in JPEG2000, we have made the JPEG2000 codec adaptive to the vigorously varying wireless channel and then compared it with the H.263 scheme. Our technique is suitable for a broad area of applications including real-time news reporting and video conferencing.published_or_final_versio

Load forecasting by fuzzy neural network in Box-Jenkins models

In this paper, the use of FNN to identify appropriate Box-Jenkins models for the electricity load forecasting in Hong Kong is presented. FNN is found to be suitable to identify the Box-Jenkin model. By such model, we can forecast the load accurately.published_or_final_versio

Qualitative phase space modeling of non-linear electrical dynamic systems

The purpose of this paper is to combine the existing methodologies that describe non-linear dynamic systems, by using the phase space and the descriptions of qualitative behaviors of ordinary differential equations. The swing equation of a synchronous machine has been illustrated as an example.published_or_final_versio

Life Cycle, Divestment and Corporate Governance

Divestment activities have become a popular trend in recent years. This thesis is a pioneering UK study examining divestitures from three points of view: shareholder wealth; corporate governance, and the life cycle. While the growth factor is important for most firms, most previous divestment research appears not to have given enough emphasis to the growth variable. This research emphasises the importance of the growth variable and the importance of two variables, growth and concentration ratio, are examined in a classification study, thereby enhancing previous research. Furthermore, most of the previous literature would appear to have made a more general investigation of divestments without reference to shareholder wealth or the corporate governance characteristics of each life cycle stage. The question is then raised: “Will market reaction to divesting firms be different when they are classified into different life-cycle sub-samples?” This study classifies divestments into different life cycle stages and seeks to provide a detailed study of understanding market reaction and corporate governance across the life cycle. For the cluster analysis, three clusters (late expansion, early maturity and mature/decline) are found. Young firms have lower agency problems and older firms have higher agency problems. The research builds a detailed picture of share price performance for different life cycle stages, finding that the market takes a more positive view of divestitures across the life cycle on the divestitures announcement day. In contrast, the market takes a less positive view for divestures across the life cycle during the post-announcement period, including day 0 to day +60. Finally, the research uses regression analysis to examine the impact of different corporate governance variables on the stock market reaction across different stages of the life cycle. The finding is that the size of the divested unit is positively significant for divesting firms for all three stages in the life cycle. The corporate governance variable still plays quite an important role in the regression

Speed estimation of an induction motor drive using an optimized extended Kalman filter

Author name used in this publication: K. L. ShiAuthor name used in this publication: Y. K. WongAuthor name used in this publication: S. L. Ho2001-2002 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

A rule-based acceleration control scheme for an induction motor

Author name used in this publication: Y. K. WongAuthor name used in this publication: S. L. Ho2001-2002 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

A simulation study on sensorless control of permanent magnet synchronous motor drives

Author name used in this publication: Tze-Fun ChanRefereed conference paper2006-2007 > Academic research: refereed > Refereed conference paperVersion of RecordPublishe

Direct self control of induction motor based on neural network

Author name used in this publication: Y. K. WongAuthor name used in this publication: S. L. Ho2001-2002 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

A comparative study of Kalman filtering for sensorless control of a permanent-magnet synchronous motor drive

Author name used in this publication: Borsje, P.Author name used in this publication: Wong, Y. K.Author name used in this publication: Ho, S. L.Refereed conference paper2004-2005 > Academic research: refereed > Refereed conference paperVersion of RecordPublishe

Mental health first aid training for the Chinese community in Melbourne, Australia: effects on knowledge about and attitudes toward people with mental illness

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this study was to investigate in members of the Chinese community in Melbourne the impact of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training on knowledge about mental disorders and on attitudes to people with mental illness. The hypotheses were that at the end of the training participants would have increased knowledge of mental disorders and related treatments, and decreased negative attitudes towards people with mental disorders.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Respondents were 108 participants of three MHFA training workshops for the Chinese community in Melbourne conducted by a qualified MHFA trainer. Participants completed the research questionnaire prior to the commencement of the training (pre-test) and at its completion (post-test). The questionnaires assessed participants' ability to recognize a mental disorder (depression and schizophrenia) described in the vignettes, knowledge about the professional help and treatment, and negative attitudes towards people with mental illness.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Between pre- and post-test there was significant improvement in the recognition of mental disorders, beliefs about treatment became more concordant with health professionals, and negative attitudes reduced.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The MHFA training course for general members of the Chinese community in Melbourne produced significant positive change in the level of mental health literacy and reductions in stigmatizing attitudes. The evidence from this study, together with the accumulated evidence of the benefits of MHFA training in the general Australian community, suggests that this approach should be scaled up to a level where it can have an impact on the whole of the Chinese community in Australia.</p