On-Line Shape recognition with incremental training using binary synaptic weights algorithm

Recognition of hand drawn shapes is beneficial in drawing packages and automated sketch entry in handheld computers. In this paper, we propose a new approach to on-line geometric shape recognition with incremental training function, which utilizes a heuristic function to reduce noise and a neural network for classification and on-line training. Instead of recognizing segments of a drawing and then performing syntactical analysis to match with a predefined shape, which is weak in terms of generalization and dealing with noise, we examine the shape as a whole. The main concept of the recognition method is derived from the fact that internal angles are very important in the perceived shape of outlines. Our application's aim is to recognize elliptic, rectangular, and triangular shapes in a way similar to human cognition of these shapes. Human beings recognize such basic shapes regardless of the variations in size, noise on the shape border, rotation and in the case of triangles, regardless of the type of the triangle. The key concept is that the neural network learns the relationships between the internal angles of a shape and its classification, therefore only a few training samples which represent the class of the shape are sufficient. Fast meremental training, which is performed on-line, is accomplished by the use of the Binary Synaptic Weights algorithm, a one pass, feedforward neural network training algorithm. Incremental training offers the advantage of adjusting the recognition capability of the system to the user's drawings. the results are very successful, such that the neural network correctly classified shapes that did not have any resemblance to the shapes in the initial training set.     

3-D micro-ceramic components from hydrothermally processed carbon nanotube–boehmite powders by electrophoretic deposition

Boehmite/multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composite powders were prepared by hydrothermal processing. Starting chemical of aluminum acetate powders (2Al(OH)(C₂H₃O₂)₂) and MWCNTs were mixed for the formation of stoichiometric boehmite powders in an attempt to synthesize MWCNT-reinforced boehmite nano-powders via hydrothermal synthesis at 200 °C for 2 h. Kinetically stable suspensions of MWCNT–boehmite composite powders were prepared and subsequently electrophoretic deposition (EPD) was applied to obtain complex shape products in the form of micro-gears. It is shown that the EPD technique is a powerful tool to manufacture small components in a short time. Detail TEM observations also indicated that hydrothermal processing provides an ideal environment to obtain homogeneous mixtures of MWCNT–boehmite powders due to effective surface functionalization of MWCNTs under hydrothermal conditions.     

Carbon nanotube/boehmite-derived alumina ceramics obtained by hydrothermal synthesis and spark plasma sintering (SPS)

Preparation, structure and properties of hydrothermally treated carbon nanotube/boehmite (CNT/γ-AlOOH) and densification with spark plasma sintering of Al₂O₃ and CNT/Al₂O₃ nanocomposites were investigated. Hydrothermal synthesis was employed to produce CNT/boehmite from an aluminum acetate (Al(OH)(C₂H₃O₂)₂) and multiwall-CNTs mixture (200 °C/2 h.). TEM observations revealed that the size of the cubic shape boehmite particles lies around 40 nm and the presence of the interaction between surface functionalized CNTs and boehmite particles acts to form ‘nanocomposite particles’. Al₂O₃ and CNT/Al₂O₃ compact bodies were formed by means of spark plasma sintering (SPS) at 1600 °C for 5 min using an applied pressure of 50MPa resulting in the formation of stable α-Al₂O₃ phase and CNT–alumina compacts with nearly full density. It was also found that CNTs tend to locate along the alumina grain boundaries and therefore inhibit the grain coarsening and cause inter-granular fracture mode. The DC conductivity measurements reveal that the DC conductivity of CNT/Al₂O₃ is 10^?4 S/m which indicate that there is a 4 orders of magnitude increase in conductivity compared to monolithic Al₂O₃. The results of the microhardness tests indicate a slight increase in hardness for CNT/Al₂O₃ (28.35 GPa for Al₂O₃ and 28.57 GPa for CNT/Al₂O₃).     

Parametric investigation on anhydrous sodium metaborate (NaBO2) synthesis from concentrated tincal

In this study, anhydrous sodium metaborate (NaBO₂), an industrial and technologically important boron compound, synthesis from concentrated tincal (CT) was carried out. Experiments with different temperature and time were performed in the parametric investigation to map out the reaction mechanism. Crystalline phase characterization of metaborates products indicates that anhydrous NaBO₂ synthesis from CT occurred at 400 °C with 5 h of reaction conditions. At the end of synthesis, the obtained anhydrous NaBO₂ product can be used in many fields without having the calcination step due to the advantages of this method.     

Different approaches to synthesize carnosine selective imprinted polymers

Selective recognition of proteins by synthetic molecularly imprinted polymers is one of the interesting topics in biosciences. Carnosine (β-alanyl-l-histidine) and related histidine containing peptides are distributed in a wide range of tissues in vertebrate organisms. These peptides have been extensively studied because of their important physiological properties besides their metal chelation property. In this study, preparation of carnosine specific imprinted polymers (MIPs) for the recognition of imidazole containing peptides with and without copper ion is reported. Carnosine and copper–carnosine complex were employed as template molecules where 4-vinylpyridine and ethylenglycol dimethacrylate were chosen as monomer and crosslinker, respectively. The selectivity and binding studies of copper–carnosine imprinted polymer showed high selectivity toward both carnosine (template peptide) and the cupric ion. The selectivity of copper–carnosine imprinted polymer was 65% and carnosine imprinted polymer was approximately 40%. These results indicate that specific recognition of carnosine is depending on the basis of metal coordination     

Physicochemical Characterization of Whole Egg Powder Microencapsulated by Spray Drying

Physical characterization and oxidative stability of egg powder microencapsulated by spray drying were studied in this work. The wall material (gelatin, lactose, pullulan, and their mixtures) and liquid egg mixtures were prepared by homogenization at 22,000 rpm for 60 s. The spray drying was carried out at pilot-scale spray dryer (Niro Mobile Minor, Søborg, Denmark). The spray-dried egg powders were analyzed for moisture content, water activity, peroxide value, total cholesterol oxidation products (TCOPs), particle properties, and bulk properties. Using gelatin as wall material resulted in a significant increase in the moisture content and water activity of egg powder during storage and it improved flowability. Egg powders containing pullulan as wall material showed a fibrous structure and had the lowest bulk density. Adding lactose as wall material increased the oxidative stability, which was indicated with lowest peroxide value and TCOPs level of egg powder.     

Classification of Turkish Extra Virgin Olive Oils by a SAW Detector Electronic Nose

An electronic nose (e-nose), in combination with chemometrics, has been used to classify the cultivar, harvest year, and geographical origin of economically important Turkish extra virgin olive oils. The aroma fingerprints of the eight different olive oil samples [Memecik (M), Erkence (E), Gemlik (G), Ayvalık (A), Domat (D), Nizip (N), Gemlik–Edremit (GE), Ayvalık–Edremit (AE)] were obtained using an e-nose consisting a surface acoustic wave detector. Data were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminant function analysis (DFA). Classification of cultivars using PCA revealed that A class model was correctly discriminated from N in two harvest years. The DFA classified 100 and 97% of the samples correctly according to the cultivar in the 1st and 2nd harvest years, respectively. Successful separation among the harvest years and geographical origins were obtained. Sensory analyses were performed for determining the differences in the geographical origin of the olive oils and the preferences of the panelists. The panelists could not detect the differences among olive oils from two different regions. The cultivar, harvest year, and geographical origin of extra virgin olive oils could be discriminated successfully by the e-nose.     

Physical and mechanical properties of materials prepared using Class C fly ash and soybean oil

In present work; epoxidized soybean oil (ESO), fly ash (FA) and natural clay (C) are used to produce 45 kinds of biocomposite materials and by analyzing the physical–mechanical properties of these novel materials, their use as an insulation material is investigated. The compressive strength, tensile strength, abrasion loss, thermal conductivity and oven-dry mass of each sample are measured. The minimum thermal conductivity of 0.273 W/mK is observed with the samples containing ESO–FA–C. It is increased with the decrease of ESO and FA. The compressive and tensile strengths are varied from 13.53 to 6.31 MPa and 1.287 to 0.879 MPa, respectively.     

Production of sodium metaborate tetrahydrate (NaB(OH)4·2H2O) using ultrasonic irradiation

Sodium metaborate, a derivative of the borax compound, has a wide range of industrial applications. Recently, it is used as a source of boron in the production of sodium borohydride (NaBH₄), which is a medium for hydrogen storage. In the present study, sodium metaborate tetrahydrate (SMT, NaB(OH)₄·2H₂O) was produced by the reaction of borax (B) with the sodium hydroxide (SH) solution under ultrasonic irradiation. The effect of the reaction parameters (amount of water, temperature, particle size, and time) on the production of sodium metaborate tetrahydrate was investigated in the present study. It was shown that the reaction parameters (amount of water, temperature, and time) played a significant role in the synthesis of sodium metaborate tetrahydrate. In addition, the concentration of characteristic B–O group in the reaction solution was quantitatively determined by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The optimum condition for the production process included 26% water by weight, borax particles of size ?250+150 μm and irradiation time of 60 min at 80 °C.