Convolutional neural network with joint stepwise character/word modeling based system for scene text recognition

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Text recognition in the wild is a challenging task in the field of computer vision and machine learning. Existing optical character recognition engines cannot...     

An exploration of corrosion inhibition of mild steel in sulphuric acid solution through experimental study and Monte Carlo simulations

Abstract

4-[4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl]methylbenzophenone (ITBP) and 4[4-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)methyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl]methylbenzophenone (TTBP) are synthesized as new heterocyclic compounds of the triazole derivative family and tested successfully as potential inhibitors for MS in 1?M H₂SO₄ corrosive medium by using gravimetric analysis, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, potentiodynamic polarization, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Polarization curves show that the tested inhibitors are mixed-type inhibitors. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) affirmed the existence of an adsorbed film on the steel surface. Monte Carlo simulations were in excellent agreement with the experimental tests.

Abbreviation: PDP: Potentiodynamic Polarization; EIS: Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; DFT: Density functional theory; MC: Monte Carlo     

A lightweight autonomous MAV for indoor search and rescue

Micro Aerial Vehicles (MAVs) have great potentials to be applied for indoor search and rescue missions. In this paper, we propose a modular lightweight design of an autonomous MAV with integrated hardware and software. The MAV is equipped with the 2D laser scanner, camera, mission computer and flight controller, running all the computation onboard in real time. The onboard perception system includes a laser‐based SLAM module and a custom‐designed visual detection module. A dual Kalman filter design provides robust state estimation by multiple sensor fusion. Specifically, the fusion module provides robust altitude measurement in the circumstance of surface changing. In addition, indoor‐outdoor transition is explicitly handled by the fusion module. In order to efficiently navigate through obstacles and adapt to multiple tasks, a task tree‐based mission planning method is seamlessly integrated with path planning and control modules. The MAV is capable of searching and rescuing victims from unknown indoor environments effectively. It was validated by our award‐winning performance at the 2017 International Micro Air Vehicle Competition (IMAV 2017), held in Toulouse, France. The performance video is available on https://youtu.be/8H19ppS_VXM .     

Study of planar structure applying reciprocity technique combined with MGEC and analysis of discontinuity

The 3D structure electromagnetic computation presents several difficulties related to the volume mesh. In fact, the entire volume space must be taken into account even the smallest details. In this article, we propose a formulation based on the reciprocity theorem combined with the generalized equivalent circuit method to model a planar 3D structure with both coaxial and planar excitation. The major advantage of this formulation is the fact to reduce the computational volume into 2D ones in the discontinuity plane. In addition, we focused on the calculation of the discontinuity between the excitation source and the planar structure to determine the exact behavior of the electric coaxial excitation model. The obtained current density, electric field distributions, and the input impedance are presented and discussed in the following sections. An approximately good agreement of input impedance with those obtained by the simulator and measurement is shown.     

A survey and taxonomy on virtual data center embedding

The Journal of Supercomputing - Data center network virtualization is being considered as a promising technology to provide a performance guarantee for cloud computing applications. One important...     

Design of a retention tank: comparison of stormwater quality models with various levels of complexity.

Stormwater quality simulation models are useful tools for the design and management of sewer systems. Modelling results are highly sensitive to experimental data used for calibration. This sensitivity is examined for three modelling approaches of various complexities (site mean concentration approach, event mean concentration approach and build-up, washoff and transport modelling approach) applied to a typical case study (design of a dry detention tank), accounting for the variability of calibration data and their effect on simulation results. Calibrated models with different calibration data sets were used to simulate 3 years of rainfall with different retention tank specific volumes. Annual pollutant load interception efficiencies were determined. Simulations results revealed (i) that there is no advantage in using the EMC model compared to the SMC model and (ii) that the BWT model resulted in higher design ratios than those given by the SMC/hydraulic approach. For both EMC and BWT models, using an increasing number n of events for calibration leads to narrower confidence intervals for the design ratios. It is crucial for design ratios to account for successive storm events in chronological order and to account for the maximum allowable flow to be transferred to the downstream WWTP.     

LNG冷量优化集成利用技术

我国将相继在沿海地区建成多个LNG接收站，每年将进口数以千万吨计的LNG，同时携带数着巨额冷量，而这些冷量可用于发电、空气分离、制造干冰、低温冷库等众多领域。基于国外LNG冷量利用现状，指出我国即将展开和实施此项技术还存在着：过程火用损较大，缺乏系统、全面的LNG冷量利用技术的研发指导机制，以及宏观调控力度薄弱等问题，进而提出了发展LNG冷量的集成利用方案，可为此类技术的研发利用提供新思路。以福建即将进口的LNG为例，模拟了空气分离与干冰制备的集成工艺流程，结果表明：福建每年进口的260×10⁴t LNG可以冷却290×10⁴t空气，相当于60000 m³/h的氧气制备规模，还可以生产100×10⁴t的干冰，其过程火用损较小；其剩余的高温位冷量可应用于低温冻结库或冰灯等项目，这对主体装置的实施效果和过程火用损的影响较小。该技术的优点在于可灵活控制冷却空气的液化率，基本不用冷却循环水，流程简单，设备投资少，能耗低等。     

Assay of oral vaccination of dogs against rabies in Tunisia with the vaccinal strain SADBern

The possibility of immunizing dogs orally against rabies, using SADBern, an attenuated strain, was tested on dogs in the field in Tunisia. This strain induced high neutralizing antibody titres and conferred to all vaccinated dogs total resistance against a challenge with a Maghrebian strain. However, an excretion of virus of vaccinal origin was observed in one dog, hampering the use of SADBern in dogs. Nevertheless, this work demonstrates for the first time that dogs in developing countries, especially those which are inaccessible to parenteral vaccination, could be efficiently immunized against rabies by the oral route.