Biometric authentication based on PCG and ECG signals: present status and future directions

Due to the great advances in biomedical digital signal processing, new biometric traits have showed noticeable improvements in authentication systems. Recently, the ElectroCardioGram (ECG) and the PhonoCardioGraph (PCG) have been proposed as novel biometrics. This paper aims to review the previous studies related to the usage of the ECG and PCG signals in human recognition. In addition, we discuss briefly the most important techniques and methodologies used by researchers in the preprocessing, feature extraction and classification of the ECG and PCG signals. At the end, we introduce some future considerations that can be applied in this topic such as: the fusion between different techniques previously used, use both ECG and PCG signals in a multimodal biometric authentication system and building a prototype system for real-time authentication.     

Dominant Mechanisms for Metal Removal from Acidic Aqueous Solutions by Cement Kiln Dust

Copper and zinc ions were removed from synthetic acidic aqueous solutions onto cement kiln dust (CKD) particles in a single component system. The objectives of this study were to: distinguish between adsorption and precipitation when both mechanisms are occurring simultaneously; define their individual contributions; and consequently, specify the dominant mechanism. This was achieved by conducting a new experimental procedure for the precipitation phase that depended on CKD leachate in combination with a derivation of a simultaneous adsorption-precipitation equation. High removal efficiencies, approaching 100?%, of the Cu and Zn ions, were attained. Precipitation was the dominant mechanism for removing low concentrations of these metals, while adsorption appears to be more significant in removal of high metal concentrations.     

Multidimensional appraisal of customer relationship management: integrating balanced scorecard and multi criteria decision making approaches

This paper presents a comprehensive integrative framework for measuring the performance of customer relationship management (CRM) system based on a detailed empirical study of 32 Iranian internet service provider (ISP) firms. At first, by an extensive literature review and experts who have real practical experiences in the field of CRM, appropriate key performance indicators (KPIs) based on four perspectives of balanced scorecard have been extracted. Then, due to the interdependency and feedback among these KPIs, multiple criteria decision making techniques are used to evaluate CRM performance. Specifically, this study first applies the decision making trial and evaluation laboratory approach to determine the interrelated relationships among criteria, and to find the crucial central and influential factors. Then, the analytical network process method is used to obtain the criterion weights. Finally, according to these previous results, the technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution method is adopted to analyze the CRM performance of 32 Iranian ISP firms. The results of this study illustrated that learning and growth is the most crucial influential perspective and it would influence on the other perspectives much more. Furthermore, indicators including organization capital, human capital, customer retention process, customer perceived value, and customer expansion process play an essential role in succeeding of CRM. The results of this study can provide a comprehensive insight for managers into discerning how and through which mechanisms CRM can create merits for the organizations.     

The use of basalt powder as a natural heterogeneous catalyst in the Fenton and Photo-Fenton oxidation of cationic dyes

The use of naturally present heterogeneous catalysts has recently been an essential issue in the Fenton and photo-Fenton processes. In this study, the uses of basalt as a catalyst for the Fenton and photo-Fenton reactions for methylene Blue (MB) and Basic Red 18 (BR18) degradations were investigated. Basalt was selected because of the presence of the iron (III) oxide in the structure. Basalt was characterized by X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis to obtain the chemical composition and the crystalline phase. The surface charge and the surface area were obtained by zeta potential and Brunauer Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were utilized to explore the functional group and the surface morphology. Fenton and photo-Fenton processes were applied to explore the best degradation method. Adsorption was also tested and the adsorption process had minimum removal efficiency (12% for MB and 17% for BR18). The removal efficiencies for MB and BR18 by the Fenton process were 87% and 28%, respectively. The photo-Fenton process had maximum removal efficiency with 100% for MB and 70% for BR18. The optimum conditions were 70 mg/L dye concentration, 5 mM H₂O₂, 1.0 g/L basalt loading and pH 2. Basalt has shown reuse capability as a catalyst for three consecutive cycles.     

Eigenvalue approach for an unbounded medium with a spherical cavity based upon two-temperature generalized thermoelastic theory

The thermoelastic interaction in an unbounded medium with a spherical cavity is studied using two-temperature generalized thermoelasticity theory. The medium is assumed to be initially quiescent. The inner surface of the cavity is taken traction free and subjected to a thermal shock. By the Laplace transformation, the basic equations are expressed in the form of a vector-matrix differential equation, which is solved by an eigenvalue approach. Some comparison have been shown in figures to estimate the effect of the two-temperature parameter.     

Preparation, characterization and application of advanced isoconversional kinetics to epoxy/1,4-Bis(3-aminopropoxy) butane/MWCNT nanocomposite

A novel nanocomposite consisting bisphenol A diglycidyl ether/1,4-Bis(3-aminopropoxy) butane (1,4-APB)/multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) was synthesized and characterized. Kinetics of the reaction was described by applying differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) data to isoconversional methods of Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO), advanced isoconversional method of Vyazovkin, and non-linear integral isoconversional algorithm (NLN). It was found that at the presence of MWCNT the thermal decomposition temperature increased by rising the curing temperature and time. Data from dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) showed that the glass transition temperature of the cured nanocomposite is 7 °C higher than that value found for the system without carbon nanotube. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe the fracture surface morphology and results indicated evidence of the interfacial interaction improvement and adhesion strength due to good dispersion of MWCNT.