Neural Networks Pipeline for Offline Machine Printed Arabic OCR

In the context of Arabic optical characters recognition, Arabic poses more challenges because of its cursive nature. We purpose a system for recognizing a document containing Arabic text, using a pipeline of three neural networks. The first network model predicts the font size of an Arabic word, then the word is normalized to an 18pt font size that will be used to train the next two models. The second model is used to segment a word into characters. The problem of words segmentation in the Arabic language, as in many similar cursive languages, presents a challenge to the OCR systems. This paper presents a multichannel neural network to solve the offline segmentation of machine-printed Arabic documents. The segmented characters are then fed as an input to a convolutional neural network for Arabic characters recognition. The font size prediction model produced a test accuracy of 99.1%. The accuracy of the segmentation model using one font is 98.9%, while four-font model showed 95.5% accuracy. The whole pipeline showed an accuracy of 94.38% on Arabic Transparent font of size 18pt from APTI data set.     

A generalized family of memristor‐based voltage controlled relaxation oscillator

Recently, memristive oscillators are a significant topic in the nonlinear circuit theory where there is a possibility to build relaxation oscillators without existence of reactive elements. In this paper, a family of voltage‐controlled memristor‐based relaxation oscillator including two memristors is presented. The operation of two memristors‐based voltage relaxation oscillator circuits is demonstrated theoretically with the mathematical analysis and with numerical simulations. The generalized expressions for the oscillation frequency and conditions are derived for different cases, where a closed form is introduced for each case. The effect of changing the circuit parameters on the oscillation frequency and conditions is investigated numerically. In addition, the derived equations are verified using several transient PSPICE simulations. The power consumption of each oscillator is obtained numerically and compared with its PSPICE counterpart. Furthermore, controlling the memristive oscillator with a voltage grants the design an extra degree of freedom which increases the design flexibility. The nonlinear exponential model of memristor is employed to prove the oscillation concept. As an application, two examples of voltage‐controlled memristor‐based relaxation oscillator are provided to elaborate the effect of the reference voltage on the output voltage. This voltage‐controlled memristor‐based relaxation oscillator has nano size with storage property that makes it more efficient compared with the conventional one. It would be helpful in many communication applications.     

Accumulation of heavy metals in a lake ecosystem

The concentrations of Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Ni, Cd, Pb and Co have been determined in water, bottom sediments, plankton, zoobenthos and ichthyofauna of mesotropic Lake Piaseczno located in eastern Poland. In water, sediments, plankton and benthos the most abundant heavy metals were Fe, Zn and Mn, whereas in fish Zn, Cu, and Mn were most abundant. The amount of heavy metals in the biotic components was dependent upon their concentration in water and partly upon the concentration in bottom sediments. A considerably less important role in the translocation of heavy metals is probably played by trophic interactions.     

Combustion synthesis of single-phase β-sialons (z = 2–4)

Single-phase β-sialon powders (z = 2–4) have been prepared with homogeneous compositions by the combustion synthesis. The raw materials (Si, Al and SiO₂) were combusted under N₂ pressure of 1 MPa. Without using a diluent, the reaction temperatures were very high (>2000 °C) and the combustion products contained Si and Al residues. With addition of commercial β-sialon (z = 1) as a diluent (up to 50 wt%), both the reaction temperatures and amount of residual Si and Al significantly decreased. The combustion reactions completed at 50 wt% dilution, and pure β-sialon phases were synthesized. When the combustion product itself is used instead of the commercial diluent, the phase content of desired z value increased with the repetition times until a single-phase powder is produced. The sinterability of the synthesized powders was then tested using 5 wt% Y₂O₃ as a sintering aid by the spark plasma sintering (SPS).     

Optimization of Fractional-Order RLC Filters

This paper introduces some generalized fundamentals for fractional-order RL _β C _α circuits as well as a gradient-based optimization technique in the frequency domain. One of the main advantages of the fractional-order design is that it increases the flexibility and degrees of freedom by means of the fractional parameters, which provide new fundamentals and can be used for better interpretation or best fit matching with experimental results. An analysis of the real and imaginary components, the magnitude and phase responses, and the sensitivity must be performed to obtain an optimal design. Also new fundamentals, which do not exist in conventional RLC circuits, are introduced. Using the gradient-based optimization technique with the extra degrees of freedom, several inverse problems in filter design are introduced. The concepts introduced in this paper have been verified by analytical, numerical, and PSpice simulations with different examples, showing a perfect matching.     

Non linear dynamics of memristor based 3rd order oscillatory system

In this paper, we report for the first time the nonlinear dynamics of three memristor based phase shift oscillators, and consider them as a plausible solution for the realization of parametric oscillation as an autonomous linear time variant system. Sustained oscillation is reported through oscillating resistance while time dependent poles are present. The memristor based phase shift oscillator is explored further by varying the parameters so as to present the resistance of the memristor as a time varying parameter, thus potentially eliminating the need of external periodic forces in order for it to oscillate. Multi memristors, used simultaneously with similar and different parameters, are investigated in this paper. Mathematical formulas for analyzing such oscillators are verified with simulation results and are found to be in good agreement.     

Fractional-Order RC and RL Circuits

This paper is a step forward to generalize the fundamentals of the conventional RC and RL circuits in fractional-order sense. The effect of fractional orders is the key factor for extra freedom, more flexibility, and novelty. The conditions for RC and RL circuits to act as pure imaginary impedances are derived, which are unrealizable in the conventional case. In addition, the sensitivity analyses of the magnitude and phase response with respect to all parameters showing the locations of these critical values are discussed. A?qualitative revision for the fractional RC and RL circuits in the frequency domain is provided. Numerical and PSpice simulations are included to validate this study     

The PCDD/PCDF Dioxin Releases in the Climate of Environment of Jordan in the Period （2000-2008）

Many environment problems of the full using of several categories of processing include mining, heat generators, direct combustion of forest fires, cement production, power plant, transport, medical waste. Dioxin/furan releases from these categories are one of these environment problems. Possible lines of reducing the PCDD/ PCDF （Polychlorinated dibenzo-para-dioxins/Polychlorinated dibenzofurans） releases from these categories are eluci- dated. The contribution of this paper is present the identification and estimation of the latest figure of dioxin/furan releases in the climate of environment of Jordan in the period 2000-2008 from the following categories （cement, aluminum, ceramic, medical waste, power plant, land fill, ferrous and non- ferrous metals, uncontrolled combustion process （biomass burning, waste burning, accidental fires in house, transport）. These finding shows the sign of growth of estimated PCDD/PCDF releases from categories which did not calculated and followed after 2003. The result shows the highest PCDD/PCDF release from landfill fires （62.75 g TEQ/year）, medical waste （8.8264 g TEQ/year）, and transport （3.0145 g TEQ/year）. Jordan seeks by next years, a reduction in total releases of dioxins and furans from sources resulting from human activity. This challenge will apply to the aggregate of releases to the air nationwide and of releases to the water within the Jordan area. Jordan should conduct air monitoring for dioxin in order to track fluctuations in atmospheric deposition levels.     

Safety evaluation of individual non‐fried and fried sunflower oil,paraffin oil,jojoba oil and their binary mixtures on rat health

Sunflower, jojoba, paraffin oils and binary oil mixtures of sunflower, jojoba and sunflower–paraffin oils were continuously heated at 180 °C for 12 h. Aliquots of potato chips were fried in the aforementioned oil samples. Organoleptic tests were performed on fried chips and safety limits of the oil samples were measured by certain biochemical tests. Histopathological examinations of rat liver and kidney tissues were microscopically done. Organoleptic results for fried potato chips indicate that all types of chips obtained from heated oils were categorised good. Histopathological examinations indicate changes in rat tissues of liver and kidney paralleled the biochemical data. In general, the results suggest that paraffin oil alone and in mixtures with sunflower oil have to ban its use in frying processes.