Face recognition using a fuzzy fisherface classifier

In this study, we are concerned with face recognition using fuzzy fisherface approach and its fuzzy set based augmentation. The well-known fisherface method is relatively insensitive to substantial variations in light direction, face pose, and facial expression. This is accomplished by using both principal component analysis and Fisher's linear discriminant analysis. What makes most of the methods of face recognition (including the fisherface approach) similar is an assumption about the same level of typicality (relevance) of each face to the corresponding class (category). We propose to incorporate a gradual level of assignment to class being regarded as a membership grade with anticipation that such discrimination helps improve classification results. More specifically, when operating on feature vectors resulting from the PCA transformation we complete a Fuzzy K-nearest neighbor class assignment that produces the corresponding degrees of class membership. The comprehensive experiments completed on ORL, Yale, and CNU (Chungbuk National University) face databases show improved classification rates and reduced sensitivity to variations between face images caused by changes in illumination and viewing directions. The performance is compared vis-à-vis other commonly used methods, such as eigenface and fisherface.     

Synthesis and properties of porous ion-exchange membranes,I. Polymer-polymer-filler system

A method of preparation of porous ion-exchange membranes (PIEM's) with sulfonic groups is presented. One of the four studied polymer blends is recommended for PIEM's preparation. It is the ternary blend of polyethylene with poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene), isotactic polypropylene, and calcium carbonate. The effect of blend composition on membrane properties is also discussed. Both blend components, PP and CaCO₃, affected the membrane porosity while only PP governed the pore diameter. A model of PIEM's creation is suggested. The antifouling behaviour of PIEM's was evaluated by means of ultrafiltration of bovine serum albumine or poly(ethylene glycol) solutions as well as skimmed-milk and an active sludge designated for bioconversion of aldehydes. It was found that membranes with ion-exchange capacity higher than 1 mmol/g offer antifouling effect. PIEM's have also higher solute rejection parameter and are easier to regenerate than membranes without sulfonic groups.     

AN EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF YIELD STRESS OF WESTERN CANADIAN COAL WATER FUELS

The concept of a yield value is important to many areas of slurry coal water fuel transport such as in predicting its stability or estimating the pressure requirements for pipe-line start-up and turbulent flow. This paper describes techniques to accurately measure coal water fuel yield point. In order to display a wide variation in coal water fuel properties, slurries made from two Western Canadian coals were made available to CRL for yield point study. The proprietory Salzgiter Industrial AG technology (DENSECOAL) was used for a low volatile or bituminous coal (A) and the CARBOGEL process for a medium volatile bituminous (B).     

Synthesis and characterization of novel alkyd-silicone hyperbranched nanoresins with high solid contents

Hyperbranched alkyd-silicone nanoresins (ASiHBRs) with high solid content were synthesized by etherification reaction between a hyperbranched alkyd resin (HABR) and Z-6018 silicone. ASiHBRs were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and several other techniques. NMR spectra show the presence of aromatic rings, -Si-O and -C-O; grafting was successful. The molar masses of ASiHBRs determined by GPC are higher than that of HABR. The hydroxyl values decrease with increasing silicone content. ASiHBRs have low viscosities what allows easier film formation. Hydrodynamic dimensions, refractive indices, glass transition temperatures, gloss and hardness of ASiHBRs increase with increasing silicone contents. Low contents of volatile organic compounds provide more environmentally friendly coatings.     

Effect of plasma treatment on the surface properties of polydimethylsiloxane

In this work, the analysis of the plasma modification of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates was conducted. The influence of the modification onto the changes occurred within the geometrical structure and chemical composition of the surface was analyzed. Due to the study of the atomic force microscopy, it was possible to determine the relationships between the surface development and applied process parameters, defining the conditions facilitating to obtain isotropic or anisotropic orientations of wrinkles. A precise analysis of the chemical composition of the surface, executed before and after the modification processes, enabled to define the changes in their elementary composition. Moreover, the modification influence onto the changes of the contact angle and the surface free energy were also analyzed. So, based on the research it was stated that the increase of value of the surface free energy is proportional to the sp³ phase contents in the DLC coatings. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41635.     

Effects of γ radiation on fiber‐reinforced polymer concrete

Composites were made from 30% unsaturated polyester resin + 70% calcium bentonite and marble as aggregates, as well as 0.3 and 0.4 vol% of nylon fibers. The fiber‐containing polymer concretes (PCs) were subjected to 5, 10, 50, and 100 kGy applied radiation doses. The compressive strength values depend on both the fiber concentration and the irradiation dose applied. Moreover, the polyester‐based PCs containing two mineral aggregates, calcium carbonate and marble, have lower compressive strength values than those reported earlier for PCs containing only either silica sand or CaCO₃. However, significant improvement of the compressive strain and the compression modulus of elasticity are achieved when nylon fibers are added. Both these properties go symbatically with the radiation dose. Mechanical characteristics can be related to the morphological features observed by scanning electron microscopy. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Stability analysis of stiffened plates by finite strips

The stability analysis of stiffened plates by means of the finite strip method is presented. The studies are based on the thin shallow theory, giving nonlinear strain displacement relations, but linear curvature displacement relations. The nonlinear equilibrium equations are obtained by the principle of incremental virtual work, using finite strip discretization. The higher order strip with one internal nodal line is applied. It is shown that considerable improvements can be obtained using this kind of strip. It is especially true for the postbuckling analysis. Numerical examples of the strength of stiffened plates in compression are carried out, covering a range of plate and stiffener slenderness.     

Children's use of the common ground in interpreting ambiguous referential utterances.

Common ground is contextual information shared by a listener and speaker that enables the listener to convert an ambiguous utterance to an informative communication. Four experiments examined young children's understanding of the common ground in interpreting ambiguous referential utterances. Kindergarten and 2nd-grade children and college students were read short vignettes containing statement, joint activity, status common ground, and an ambiguous or informative utterance about a display of 4–6 object drawings. The subjects were asked (a) whether the listener knew which object to pick (Experiment 1), (b) to pick an object themselves or choose "none" (Experiment 2), (c) the source of the listener's knowledge in the context or utterance (Experiment 3), and (d) whether a designated object was the "right one," the one the speaker "meant," or the one the speaker "could have meant" (Experiment 4). Even the kindergarten children used statement information effectively in interpreting ambiguous utterances, and all groups had difficulty using status information. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)