Cross-dataset person re-identification using deep convolutional neural networks: effects of context and domain adaptation

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Over the past years, the impact of surveillance systems on public safety increases dramatically. One significant challenge in this domain is person...     

A one-hop opportunistic network coding algorithm for wireless mesh networks

This paper proposes a Bearing Opportunistic Network (BON) coding procedure that operates in wireless multihop networks over multiple unicast sessions and it introduces very low overhead to the network. The BON coding is used to increase network performance in terms of a higher throughput and a lower delay. It can be seen as an independent layer in the communication stack, relying solely on information that is on the node itself. The proposed coding procedure is easy to implement and deploy. The performance evaluation of the BON coding procedure was performed in a dedicated simulation model. The comparison was made to the well-known network coding procedure COPE and the case where network coding is not used at all. Results show that BON coding increases the network goodput and decreases the delay in comparison to COPE and case where network coding is not used.     

Histogram-based automatic segmentation of images

Neural Computing and Applications - The segmentation process is defined by separating the objects as clustering in the images. The most used method in the segmentation is k-means clustering...     

Short–mid-term solar power prediction by using artificial neural networks

Solar irradiation is one of the major renewable energy sources and technologies related with this source have reached to high level applications. Prediction of solar irradiation shows some uncertainties depending on atmospheric parameters such as temperature, cloud amount, dust and relative humidity. These conditions add new uncertainties to the prediction of this astronomical parameter. In this case, prediction of generated electricity by photovoltaic or other solar technologies could be better than directly solar irradiation.In this paper, firstly, Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) methodology is applied to data obtained from a 750 W power capacity of solar PV panel. The main objective of this paper is to determine time horizon having the highest representative for generated electricity prediction of small scale solar power system applications. It is seen that 5 min time horizon gives the best solar power prediction for short term and 35 min could be used for medium terms in April. In addition, these time horizons have increased to 3 and 40 min for very short time and medium time prediction respectively during August. During April and August Root Mean Square Errors (RMSEs) between measured and testing values changed between 33–55 W and 37–63 W ranges respectively. Especially, during August for solar irradiation, stationary conditions are observed and these situations let ANN predict easily generated electricity from 30 to 300 min ahead.     

Mobile banking in the government-to-person payment sector for financial inclusion in Pakistan*

ABSTRACT

Whilst there have been growing interest and efforts by governments in developing countries to disburse digital government-to-person (G2P) payments to promote financial inclusion, the role of mobile banking in the receipt of social cash remains under-researched. Through an interpretive case study of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) in Pakistan, this paper applies Orlikowski’s Duality of Technology that critically examines mobile banking usage by women beneficiaries and technology's effects on the institutional properties of their households. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews from participants located in Pakistan. The findings highlighted that mobile banking enabled women to receive the full amount of grants, securely and conveniently, from agents. However, mobile banking imposed human, socio-economic and technological constraints which restricted women's access to and usage of financial services that limited financial inclusion. Women were socially and politically empowered, thereby, social inclusion was transformative. This paper theoretically contributes to the Duality of Technology framework that was deterministic for women beneficiaries. The study accentuates the redesign of mobile banking to match women's capabilities, and imparting financial and digital training to them. Also, the provision of a range of financial resources to beneficiaries may steer micro-entrepreneurial activities to advance the inclusion agenda in Pakistan.     

Modeling the Influence of Immersed Objects on Pool Fire Burning

Fire Technology - The study presents a heat transfer model for prediction of the effect of immersed objects with high thermal conductivity (refluxer) on the mass burning characteristics of a pool...     

Changes in yield and seed quality traits in rapeseed genotypes by sulphur fertilization

Sulphur is considered more as a soil amendment to remedy alkaline soils rather than a fertilizer in crop production. However, as one of the macronutrients, just as N–P–K, it is able to have a direct and significant effect on yield and quality in some crops. There might be a sound potential of increasing seed yield and quality of rapeseed, the second important oil crop around the world, with the use of sulphur as a fertilizer in cultural practices. Our objective in this study is to determine the effects of sulphur fertilization on seed yield and several seed and oil quality traits in rapeseed. Five rapeseed genotypes were grown for two consecutive growing seasons in Çanakkale, in a RCB design with three replications. The experimental plots were given 0, 100 or 200 kg ha^?1 sulphur along with a fixed amount of 240 kg ha^?1 N. Results indicated that sulphur fertilization had positive effects on seed yield and some of the seed and oil quality components. On the other hand, excessive sulphur fertilization, or naturally occurring high levels in the soil, may have adverse effects in elevating some undesired compounds, such as glucosinolates.     

Preparation and properties of flame retardant poly(urethane‐imide)s containing phosphine oxide moiety

The preparation of new poly(urethane‐imide)s (PUIs) having acceptable thermal stability and higher flame resistance was aimed. Two new aromatic diisocyanate‐containing methyldiphenylphosphine oxide and triphenylphosphine oxide moieties were synthesized via Curtius rearrangement in situ and polymerized by various prepared diols. Four aliphatic hydroxy terminated aromatic based diols were synthesized by the reaction between ethylene carbonate and various diphenolic substances. Chemical structures of monomers and polymers were characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. Thermal stabilities and decomposition behaviors of the PUIs were tested by DSC and TGA. Thermal measurements indicate that the polymers have high thermal stability and produce high char. Polymers exhibit quite high fire resistance, evaluated by fire test UL‐94. The films of the polymers were prepared by casting the solution. Inherent viscosities, solubilities, and water absorbtion behaviors of the polymers were reported in. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009