Two-tier architecture for unconstrained handwritten character recognition

In this paper, we propose an approach that combines the unsupervised and supervised learning techniques for unconstrained handwritten numeral recognition. This approach uses the Kohonen self-organizing neural network for data classification in the first stage and the learning vector quantization (LVQ) model in the second stage to improve classification accuracy. The combined architecture performs better than the Kohonen self-organizing map alone. In the proposed approach, the collection of centroids at different phases of training plays a vital role in the performance of the recognition system. Four experiments have been conducted and experimental results show that the collection of centroids in the middle of the training gives high performance in terms of speed and accuracy. The systems developed also resolve the confusion between handwritten numerals.     

Properties of ligno‐cellulose fiber Hildegardia

Studies on some properties such as the density, the degradation temperatures, the morphology and the spectral features of the ligno‐cellulose fiber Hildegardia were carried out in both untreated and alkali treated form. The fibers are found to have good morphology and moderate initial and final degradation temperatures. On alkali treatment, the lignin was found to be eliminated. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 84: 2216–2221, 2002     

Sequentially Enhanced Electrokinetic Remediation of Heavy Metals in Low Buffering Clayey Soils

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation undertaken to evaluate different purging solutions to enhance the removal of multiple heavy metals, particularly chromium, nickel, and cadmium, from a low buffering clay, specifically kaolin, during electrokinetic remediation. Experiments were conducted on kaolin spiked with Cr(VI), Ni(II), and Cd(II) in concentrations of 1,000, 500, and 250 mg/kg, respectively, which simulate typical electroplating waste contamination. A total of five different tests were performed to investigate the effect of different electrode purging solutions on the electrokinetic remedial efficiency. A constant DC voltage gradient of 1 V/cm was applied for all the tests. The removal of heavy metals from the soil using tap water as the purging solution was very low. When 1 M acetic acid was used as the purging solution in the cathode, the removal of chromium, nickel, and cadmium was increased to 20, 19, and 13%, respectively. Using 0.1 M ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid as the purging solution in the cathode, 83% of the initial Cr was removed; however, the nickel and cadmium removal was very low. A sequentially enhanced electrokinetic remediation approach involving the use of water as a purging solution at both the anode and cathode initially, followed by the use of acetic acid as the cathode purging solution and a NaOH alkaline solution as the anode purging solution was tested. This sequential approach resulted in a maximum removal of chromium, nickel, and cadmium of 68–71, 71–73, and 87–94%, respectively. This study shows that the sequential use of appropriate electrode purging solutions, rather than a single electrode purging solution, is necessary to remediate multiple heavy metals in soils using electrokinetics.     

Aerobic degradation by white‐rot fungi of trichloroethylene (TCE) and mixtures of TCE and perchloroethylene (PCE)

BACKGROUND: Trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE) are considered among the most important groundwater pollutants around the world. These compounds are usually found together in polluted environments but little is known about the ability of microorganisms to simultaneously degrade TCE and PCE. RESULTS: Data showed that several species of white‐rot fungi, including Trametes versicolor, Ganoderma lucidum, and Irpex lacteus, degrade substantial levels of TCE in pure culture. T. versicolor was chosen for further study since it degraded higher levels of TCE than the other organisms. Initial glucose concentration and reoxygenation of samples increased the amount of TCE dechlorination, but no significant difference in percentage TCE degradation was observed. T. versicolor was able to degrade 34.1 and 47.7% of PCE and TCE added as mixtures (containing 5 and 10 mg L⁻¹, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The degradation ability of TCE was extended to other species of white‐rot fungi. Percentage degradation as well as chloride release from mixtures of TCE and PCE showed that T. versicolor degrades mixtures of TCE and PCE almost as well as its ability to degrade individually added TCE or PCE. The results suggest the potential promise of T. versicolor for bioremediation of TCE and PCE in the environment. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

The complex pathology of trinucleotide repeats

The expansion of trinucleotide repeat sequences has now been shown to be the underlying cause of at least ten human disorders. Unifying features among these diseases include the unstable behavior of the triplet repeat during germline transmission when the length of the repeat exceeds a critical value. However, the trinucleotide repeat disorders can be divided into two distinct groups. Type I disorders involve the expansion of CAG repeats, which encode an expanded polyglutamine, inserted into the open-reading frame of a gene that is usually quite broadly expressed. Recently, mouse models for type I disorders have been developed and the basis of pathology is under study, both in these models and through biochemical and cell biological approaches. The type II disorders involve repeat expansions in noncoding regions of genes. The mechanisms by which these repeat expansions lead to pathology may be quite diverse.     

Fast RCS computation over a frequency band using method of momentsin conjunction with asymptotic waveform evaluation technique

The method of moments (MoM) in conjunction with the asymptotic waveform evaluation (AWE) technique is applied to obtain the radar cross section (RCS) of an arbitrarily shaped three-dimensional (3-D) perfect electric conductor (PEC) body over a frequency band. The electric field integral equation (EFIE) is solved using the MoM to obtain the equivalent surface current on the PEC body. In the AWE technique, the equivalent surface current is expanded in a Taylor's series around a frequency in the desired frequency band. The Taylor series coefficients are then matched via the Pade approximation to a rational function. Using the rational function, the surface current is obtained at any frequency within the frequency range, which is in turn used to calculate the RCS of the 3-D PEC body. A rational function approximation is also obtained using the model-based parameter estimation (MBPE) method and compared with the Pade approximation. Numerical results for a square plate, a cube, and a sphere are presented over a frequency bandwidth. Good agreement between the AWE and the exact solution over the bandwidth is observed     

In situ synthesis of TiC-Al (Ti) nanocomposite powders by thermal plasma technology

A novel processing technology was developed to investigate in situ synthesis of TiC-Al (Ti) nanocomposite powders by thermal plasma technology. Thermodynamic analysis was performed to predict possible starting materials and synthesizing conditions of TiC-Al (Ti) nanocomposite powders. A mathematical model was developed to describe temperature profile and velocity distribution in the reactor. The model is applied to optimize feeding rate, input power, and other processing parameters of TiC-Al (Ti) nanocomposite powders by thermal plasma technology, and to predict which materials can be used as starting materials. This paper emphasizes the investigation of the effect of feeding rate, input power, mole ratio, and other process parameters on synthesis of TiC-Al (Ti) nanocomposite powders by thermal plasma technology. The experimental results showed that TiC-Al (Ti) nanocomposite powders can be synthesized in situ by thermal plasma technology, and the average size of TiC-Al (Ti) nanocomposite powders was less than 100 nm.     

A MEMS-Based Evaluation of the Mechanical Properties of Metallic Thin Films

Characterizing the mechanical properties of metal thin films is critical for the design and fabrication of metal microelectromechanical systems and integrated circuit devices. This paper focuses on wafer-level determination of the mechanical behavior of sputtered aluminum and nickel thin films, using a variety of measurement techniques. Elastic moduli have been determined in devices fabricated with standard micromachining techniques using bulge testing of square diaphragms and lateral resonator structures. We find a Young's modulus of ~70 GPa for Al and ~200 GPa for Ni, in agreement with data for the bulk metals. Using pressurize/depressurize cycles, the load-deflection curves of the membranes have also been determined, and in conjunction with finite element simulations, were used to determine the yield strength and fracture strength of these films. Residual stresses in the films have also been investigated using wafer curvature, bulge testing, and X-ray diffraction. The merits of each measurement technique are discussed.