Vision-Based Target Tracking and Surveillance With Robust Set-Valued State Estimation

Tracking a target from a video stream (or a sequence of image frames) involves nonlinear measurements in Cartesian coordinates. However, the target dynamics, modeled in Cartesian coordinates, result in a linear system. We present a robust linear filter based on an analytical nonlinear to linear measurement conversion algorithm. Using ideas from robust control theory, a rigorous theoretical analysis is given which guarantees that the state estimation error for the filter is bounded, i.e., a measure against filter divergence is obtained. In fact, an ellipsoidal set-valued estimate is obtained which is guaranteed to contain the true target location with an arbitrarily high probability. The algorithm is particularly suited to visual surveillance and tracking applications involving targets moving on a plane.      

MALTING QUALITY OF SRI LANKAN VARIETIES OF SORGHUM

The malting quality of Sri Lankan sorghum was studied using seventeen varieties. These varieties represented four colour categories (brown, yellow, pink and white) of sorghum found in Sri Lanka. The main criteria used for the assessment of malting quality in this study were the malting loss, diastatic power, liquefying power and the quantity of extract. Malting losses of these varieties were somewhat higher than those encountered in malting barley. However, they appeared to depend partly on the malting conditions. The diastatic powers and liquefying powers observed in this study were inferior to those observed with barley malt. However, with some varieties they appeared to be adequate for the purpose of mashing, as indicated by the high extract values obtained, which were comparable with those of some barley malts. Extract values of the four colour categories varied considerably and the best values were observed with the yellow and pink varieties and some varieties of white. Brown varieties in spite of their comparatively high diastatic powers and liquefying powers gave very little or no extract on mashing.     

Antioxidant properties of commercial soft and hard winter wheats (Triticum aestivum L.) and their milling fractions

The total phenolic content (TPC), total antioxidant activity (TAA), 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging capacity, inhibition of coupled oxidation in a β‐carotene–linoleate model system, iron(II) chelation activity and inhibition of copper‐induced oxidation of human low‐density lipoprotein (hLDL) cholesterol of 80% ethanolic extracts of soft and hard winter wheat samples and their milling fractions, namely flour, germ, bran and shorts, were investigated. Soft wheat extracts examined demonstrated higher TPC and TAA compared to those of hard wheat extracts. The germ fraction possessed the highest TPC, followed by bran, shorts, whole grain and flour for both wheat types examined. The TAA of both wheat types showed similar results except that shorts performed better than bran in this assay. Free radical scavenging properties of whole grain and milling fractions of both soft and hard wheat samples were examined against DPPH radical. The germ and flour fractions demonstrated the highest and lowest DPPH radical scavenging activity, respectively, among wheat fractions. Wheat extracts were also efficient in preventing bleaching of β‐carotene, which is also known to be free radical mediated. In the iron(II) chelation assay the flour extracts demonstrated excellent activity, while the germ extracts showed a weak activity. The trends were similar in both soft and hard wheat for the iron(II) chelation assay. Wheat extracts also inhibited copper‐induced oxidation of hLDL. In LDL oxidation assay, wheat extracts performed better than the reference antioxidant, ferulic acid. Thus wheat phenolics may serve as effective antioxidative components as measured by in vitro techniques. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Node localization using mobile robots in delay-tolerant sensor networks

We present a novel scheme for node localization in a delay-tolerant sensor network (DTN). In a DTN, sensor devices are often organized in network clusters that may be mutually disconnected. Some mobile robots may be used to collect data from the network clusters. The key idea in our scheme is to use this robot to perform location estimation for the sensor nodes it passes based on the signal strength of the radio messages received from them. Thus, we eliminate the processing constraints of static sensor nodes and the need for static reference beacons. Our mathematical contribution is the use of a robust extended Kalman filter (REKF)-based state estimator to solve the localization. Compared to the standard extended Kalman filter, REKF is computationally efficient and also more robust. Finally, we have implemented our localization scheme on a hybrid sensor network test bed and show that it can achieve node localization accuracy within 1 m in a large indoor setting.     

Location estimation and trajectory prediction for cellular networks with mobile base stations

This paper provides mobility estimation and prediction for a variant of the GSM network that resembles an ad hoc wireless mobile network in which base stations and users are both mobile. We propose using a Robust Extended Kalman Filter (REKF) to derive an estimate of the mobile user's next mobile base station from the user's location, heading, and altitude, to improve connection reliability and bandwidth efficiency of the underlying system. Our analysis demonstrates that our algorithm can successfully track the mobile users with less system complexity, as it requires measurements from only one or two closest mobile base stations. Further, the technique is robust against system uncertainties caused by the inherent deterministic nature of the mobility model. Through simulation, we show the accuracy of our prediction algorithm and the simplicity of its implementation.     

Stability analysis of a general family of nonlinear positive discrete time-delay systems

In this paper, we propose a new approach to analyse the stability of a general family of nonlinear positive discrete time-delay systems. First, we introduce a new class of nonlinear positive discrete time-delay systems, which generalises some existing discrete time-delay systems. Second, through a new technique that relies on the comparison and mathematical induction method, we establish explicit criteria for stability and instability of the systems. Three numerical examples are given to illustrate the feasibility of the obtained results.     

Performance evaluation of serial‐search strategies for the acquisition of DS/CDMA signals

Search strategies for initial synchronization of direct sequence (DS) spread spectrum communication systems are compared, modelled and implemented using MATLAB then tested in the presence of additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) and narrowband interference. The performance of these search strategies, namely, offset‐z‐search strategies and expanding alternate search strategies, in terms of the mean value of the search length is evaluated for different probabilities of detection. A truncated Gaussian probability phase distribution is assumed (as a priori information about the correct phase) and the performance of these search strategies is tested for different standard deviations (σ) of the phase. A novel search strategy, namely the offset‐z3, based on the offset z‐search strategy is introduced. Among all search strategies investigated the non‐uniform expanding alternate (NUEA) search strategy is found to perform best at high probability of detection. However, for a more peaked phase distribution, the offset‐z3‐search strategy is shown to offer better performance at low probability of detection. Outcomes of the simulated system support trends predicted by theory for the performance of different search strategies. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Enteric pathogens in flood-related waters in urban areas of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta: a case study of Ninh Kieu district,Can Tho city

ABSTRACT

This paper investigates the contamination of floodwaters in the urban center of Can Tho city, Vietnam. We sampled water from sewers, surface water bodies, and flood, before, during, and after specific flooding events. Total nucleic acid was extracted from the samples and subjected to a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to detect specific enteric pathogens. The difference between pathogen concentrations in floodwater and sewer water was compared by using the Mann Whitney U test. Correlations between the different pathogens were determined using the non-parametric Spearman test. E. coli and Rotavirus-A were the most prevalent pathogens in floodwater. We observed a weak association between E. coli and Rotavirus in flood-related waters (r < 0.5). Floodwater quality showed no difference to sewer water quality in terms of the E. coli and Rotavirus A concentrations (p > 0.05). Our results indicate that floodwater poses a significant urban public health risk due to the presence of enteric pathogens.     

An Analytical Model for the Lateral Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (LIGBT) on Thin SOI

While there are several analytical models dedicated to vertical insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) there is virtually no reliable model for lateral IGBTs (LIGBTs). LIGBTs are increasingly popular in smart power and power integrated circuits, especially in those applications where high voltage (e.g., 600 V) and high current capability (e.g., 30 A/cm²) are required. In this paper, we report for the first time a complete analytical model for the LIGBT based on semiconductor physics with very few fitting parameters. The model is implemented in the widely available circuit simulator PSpice. The model consistently describes the current and voltage waveforms for all loading conditions. The model is assessed against finite element device simulations and experimental results