Visual tracking using convolutional features with sparse coding

Artificial Intelligence Review - Visual object tracking has become one of the most active research topics in computer vision, and it has been applied in several commercial...     

Adaptive synchronization of master–slave systems with mixed neutral and discrete time‐delays and nonlinear perturbations

This paper investigates the delay‐dependent adaptive synchronization problem of the master and slave structure of linear systems with both constant neutral and time‐varying discrete time‐delays and nonlinear perturbations based on the Barbalat lemma and matching conditions. An adaption law which includes the master‐slave parameters is obtained by using the Lyapunov functional method and inequality techniques to synchronize the master‐slave systems without the knowledge of upper bounds of perturbation terms. Particularly, it is shown that the synchronization speed can be controlled by adjusting the update gain of the synchronization signal. A numerical example has been given to show the effectiveness of the method. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society     

Energy-efficient clustering in mobile ad-hoc networks using multi-objective particle swarm optimization

A mobile ad hoc network (MANET) is dynamic in nature and is composed of wirelessly connected nodes that perform hop-by-hop routing without the help of any fixed infrastructure. One of the important requirements of a MANET is the efficiency of energy, which increases the lifetime of the network. Several techniques have been proposed by researchers to achieve this goal and one of them is clustering in MANETs that can help in providing an energy-efficient solution. Clustering involves the selection of cluster-heads (CHs) for each cluster and fewer CHs result in greater energy efficiency as these nodes drain more power than noncluster-heads. In the literature, several techniques are available for clustering by using optimization and evolutionary techniques that provide a single solution at a time. In this paper, we propose a multi-objective solution by using multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) algorithm to optimize the number of clusters in an ad hoc network as well as energy dissipation in nodes in order to provide an energy-efficient solution and reduce the network traffic. In the proposed solution, inter-cluster and intra-cluster traffic is managed by the cluster-heads. The proposed algorithm takes into consideration the degree of nodes, transmission power, and battery power consumption of the mobile nodes. The main advantage of this method is that it provides a set of solutions at a time. These solutions are achieved through optimal Pareto front. We compare the results of the proposed approach with two other well-known clustering techniques; WCA and CLPSO-based clustering by using different performance metrics. We perform extensive simulations to show that the proposed approach is an effective approach for clustering in mobile ad hoc networks environment and performs better than the other two approaches.     

Autocatalytic dissolution of Pb in HNO3

The reaction between Pb and HNO₃ has been investigated using the thermometric technique. Weight-loss measurements on the reaction were also obtained. As the HNO₃ concentration is increased from 5×10^–2 to 4mol l^–1, the corrosion rate increases. This is shown thermometrically by a substantial increase in the maximum temperature attained, T _m, as well as a decrease in the time, t, required for reaching T _m. Dissolution of Pb in HNO₃ is proposed to take place according to an autocatalytic mechanism. Passivation sets were detected in solutions 11 mol l^–1 HNO₃. A parallel indication between the thermometric technique and weight-loss measurements was obtained. The rate-determining step of the autocatalytic process involves HNO₂ in dissolution of Pb in HNO₃. This is supported by the results of addition of hydrazine to the solution. This additive raises the maximum measured temperature, without affecting the corresponding time necessary to reach it. The effect of addition of NaNO₂, NaNO₃, NaCl, Na₂SO₄, NaH₂PO₄ and NaClO₄ on the reaction number, RN, of Pb in 4 mol l^–1 HNO₃ was examined. Only NaNO₂ accelerates the dissolution reaction while the other salts show as inhibition effect. It was found that these additives inhibit dissolution due to the displacement of some cathodic depolarizing components, as NO₂, from the active sites on the metal surface. The effect of addition of HCl, H₂SO₄, HClO₄ and H₃PO₄ on the reaction number, RN, of Pb in 4 mol l^–1 HNO₃ was also investigated. The observed acceleration and retardation of the dissolution of Pb was found to be dependent on both the concentration and nature of anions of the extra acids added.     

Meat production characteristics of Egyptian Baladi and Angora goats

Fifteen Baladi and 20 Angora intact males raised together from birth until 8 months of age were grown on a commercial concentrate mixture fed at the rate of 0·6 kg/head/day with chopped wheat straw fed at 0·5 kg/head/day for 14 weeks. Body measurements were taken before slaughter and carcass measurements and offal weights after it. The right sides of all carcasses were dissected into cuts, weighed and deboned. Fat was separated from the 9-10-11 rib joints and estimated. The two breeds did not significantly differ in birth weight, weaning weight, carcass weight, dressing percentage, most body measurements, all carcass measurements and most offal weights. Sigmificant differences were only found in body length, height at withers, weights of spleen and kidney fat. However, the Baladi had significant heavier loin and shoulder (P < 0·05) and breast and flank (P < 0·05) than the Angora which had heavier legs (P < 0·05). The carcasses of the two breeds had very similar percentage of edible meat (68·38 versus 68·65), lean (57·47 versus 57·38) and fat in the rib joint (10·91 versus 11·27).     

Mesoporous SBA-15@n-Pr-THAM-ZrO organic–inorganic hybrid: as a highly efficient reusable nanocatalyst for the synthesis of polyhydroquinolines and 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4 (1h)-ones

Journal of Porous Materials - In this work, tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane-Zirconium complex supported on modified SBA-15 (SBA-15@n-Pr-THMAM-ZrO) prepared as a novel mesoporous catalyst. The...     

Effect of SiO2 Addition on Chromium Transitions in Borate Glasses

Silicon - Melt-quenching technique was used to prepare borosilicate glasses of composition xSiO2- (75-x) B2O3–24.7Li2O-0.3Cr2O3 (x = 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50&nbsp;mol%). With...     

Corrosion inhibition of carbon steel in hydrochloric acid by cationic arylthiophenes as new eco-friendly inhibitors: Experimental and quantum chemical study

This study describes the adsorption behavior of three arylthiophene derivatives namely: 2-(4-amidino-3-fluorophenyl)-5-[4-methoxy phenyl] thiophene dihydrochloride salt (MA-1217), 2-(4-amidinophenyl)-5-[4-chlorophenyl] thiophene dihydrochloride salt (MA-1316) and 2-(4-amidino-3-fluorophenyl)-5-[4-chlorophenyl]thiophene dihydrochloride salt (MA-1312) at C-steel in 1.0 mol·L^-1 HCl interface using experimental and theoretical studies. Electrochemical and mass loss measurements showed that the inhibition efficiency (IE) of the arylthiophene derivatives increases with increasing concentrations and exhibited maximum efficiency 89% at 21×10^-6 mol·L^-1 (MA-1217) by mass loss method. The investigated arylthiophene derivatives obey the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. From polarization studies the arylthiophene derivatives act as mixed-type inhibitors. Surface analysis were carried out and discussed. The mode of orientation and adsorption of inhibitor molecules on C-steel surface was studied using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Quantum chemical parameters as well as the radial distribution function indices and binding energies confirm the experimental results.     

Effect of Addition of Ni metal catalyst onto the Co and Fe supported catalysts for the formation of carbon nanotubes

Production of novel porous material is a major target in current material science research due to its wide applications. As carbon nanotube (CNTs) is a one dimensional hollow structure it is also one of the promising materials in applications ranging from electronics to hydrogen storage medium. Catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD) is a method whereby CNTs can be produced in large amount. Thus, in this work, we have synthesized CNTs via pyrolysis of acetylene using various supported transition-metal catalysts in a fixed-bed reactor. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) were used to investigate the CNTs structure. The structures of nanotubes formed by acetylene pyrolysis were dependent on the catalysts used. It was found that alumina supported Ni/Fe catalyst inhibited the formation of CNTs growth while alumina supported Ni/Co catalyst gave high density of CNTs. However, nanotubes grown over alumina supported Ni/Fe catalyst were less dense due to the deactivation of the catalyst at the early stage of the pyrolysis process.