BilVideo: Design and Implementation of a Video Database Management System

With the advances in information technology, the amount of multimedia data captured, produced, and stored is increasing rapidly. As a consequence, multimedia content is widely used for many applications in today’s world, and hence, a need for organizing this data, and accessing it from repositories with vast amount of information has been a driving stimulus both commercially and academically. In compliance with this inevitable trend, first image and especially later video database management systems have attracted a great deal of attention, since traditional database systems are designed to deal with alphanumeric information only, thereby not being suitable for multimedia data.In this paper, a prototype video database management system, which we call BilVideo, is introduced. The system architecture of BilVideo is original in that it provides full support for spatio-temporal queries that contain any combination of spatial, temporal, object-appearance, external-predicate, trajectory-projection, and similarity-based object-trajectory conditions by a rule-based system built on a knowledge-base, while utilizing an object-relational database to respond to semantic (keyword, event/activity, and category-based), color, shape, and texture queries. The parts of BilVideo (Fact-Extractor, Video-Annotator, its Web-based visual query interface, and its SQL-like textual query language) are presented, as well. Moreover, our query processing strategy is also briefly explained.This work is partially supported by the Scientific and Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) under Project Code 199E025, Turkish State Planning Organization (DPT) under Grant No. 2004K120720, and European Union under Grant No. FP6-507752 (MUSCLE Network of Excellence Project).     

Investigation of Effects of Nonlinear Static Analysis Procedures to Performance Evaluation on Low-Rise RC Buildings

The aim of the study is to compare and evaluate structural response demands obtained from nonlinear static analysis procedures (NSPs) which are displacement coefficient method (DCM) recommended in FEMA 356 and capacity spectrum method (CSM) recommended in ATC 40. For these reasons, three of three-dimensional low-rise RC buildings with different characteristics are investigated. In order to determine nonlinear behavior of the buildings under lateral loads, the base shear-roof displacement relationships (capacity curves) are obtained by pushover analysis including P-delta effects. Then by considering four different seismic hazard levels, building performances are determined by using the CSM and by using from DCM results determined in a previous study. In order to determine performance levels of the buildings, maximum beam and column plastic rotation demands and maximum story drift demands are determined in the related maximum displacement demands. Plastic strains in the equivalent diagonal struts, representing the nonstructural infill walls, are also determined, similarly. Comparing structural response quantities (such as plastic rotations, story drifts, etc.) obtained from the NSPs for considered low-rise RC buildings, effects of different NSPs in performance evaluations of the buildings are investigated comparatively, as well.     

Gastrointestinal tract classification using improved LSTM based CNN

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Automated medical image analysis is a challenging field of research that has become quite widespread recently. This process, which is advantageous in terms of...     

3D Nanoprinted Plastic Kinoform X‐Ray Optics

High‐performance focusing of X‐rays requires the realization of very challenging 3D geometries with nanoscale features, sub‐millimeter‐scale apertures, and high aspect ratios. A particularly difficult structure is the profile of an ideal zone plate called a kinoform, which is manufactured in nonideal approximated patterns, nonetheless requires complicated multistep fabrication processes. Here, 3D fabrication of high‐performance kinoforms with unprecedented aspect ratios out of low‐loss plastics using femtosecond two‐photon 3D nanoprinting is presented. A thorough characterization of the 3D‐printed kinoforms using direct soft X‐ray imaging and ptychography demonstrates superior performance with an efficiency reaching up to 20%. An extended concept is proposed for on‐chip integration of various X‐ray optics toward high‐fidelity control of X‐ray wavefronts and ultimate efficiencies even for harder X‐rays. Initial results establish new, advanced focusing optics for both synchrotron and laboratory sources for a large variety of X‐ray techniques and applications ranging from materials science to medicine.     

Comparison of single-cell testing,short-stack testing and mathematical modeling methods for a direct methanol fuel cell

In this paper, a comparison between direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) measurements performed on a single cell and a short-stack, and the results of a mathematical model for a DMFC, is presented. The testing of a short-stack, which consists of 5 cells with an active area of 315 cm², was performed at various current densities, permeation current densities, and cathode flow rates (CFR) in order to determine the voltage outputs of each cell. Methanol concentration and stack temperature results obtained from short-stack testing were then integrated into the single cell test and single cell mathematical model as the input parameters. For the mathematical modelling, transport equations originating from methanol, water, and oxygen were coupled with the electrochemical relations. Therefore, a comparison between these three methods is made in order to gain a deeper understanding of the effects of the operating parameters on DMFC performance. This study showed that the model could describe experimental results well when lower methanol concentrations (under 1.2 M) and temperature (under 60 °C) values are used as input parameters. The results also show very good agreement at lower methanol permeation rates and therefore lower temperatures. It is found that the voltage output for a given current density is higher for the theoretical model than that of the experimental studies; and the differences in the results can be up to 0.04 V for a cell.     

Production and characterization of particleboards from cork-rich <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus cerris</Emphasis> bark

Single-layered particleboards were produced from granulated Quercus cerris bark containing cork and phloem granules using standard hot-press equipment and phenol–formaldehyde resin. The experimental boards were tested for thickness swelling, mechanical strength and thermal properties. Scanning electron microscopy observations were carried out to analyze the panel structure. The results showed that Q. cerris bark particleboards had low thickness swelling in water, high resistance to thermal degradation and high calorific values but their mechanical strength was below that of commercial wood particleboards. The produced Q. cerris bark particleboards were adequate for exterior applications where mechanical strength is not the key factor. Potential for process and feedstock optimization was acknowledged.     

Carbothermic reduction synthesis of calcium hexaboride using PVA-calcium hexaborate mixed gels

In this study, PVA-CaB₆O₁₀·5H₂O precursor mixtures were prepared by coating the ceramic powders with PVA to synthesize CaB₆ via carbothermal reduction. Boron loss, the main problem in the synthesis of borides, was reduced by the use of metastable CaB₆O₁₀ as a transitional phase which is stable until the critical temperature ranges where the boron sub-oxides have higher volatilities. To minimize boron loss, due to the high hydrophilicity and ability to form cross-linked PVA-borate gels, PVA was used as a carbon source and carbon coating process was carried out via pyrolysis of the PVA - CaB₆O₁₀·5H₂O mixed gels. The effect of the molecular weight of PVA on the CaB₆ synthesis was also studied. Because of highly efficient interaction of CaB₆O₁₀·5H₂O with the PVA60-water solution, PVA60 was found to be the optimal carbon source. The CaB₆O₁₀·5H₂O-PVA60 composite powder was characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and the effect of molecular weight of the PVA’s on the thermal characteristics of mixed powders were analyzed by using simultaneous thermal analysis (STA). The effect of carbothermic reduction temperature and dwell time on the phase formation were examined via x-ray diffractometer (XRD) and scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) techniques. The optimum synthesis conditions were determined for the formation of CaB₆ as 1450ºC for 12 h under an Argon flow by using the CaB₆O₁₀·5H₂O-PVA60 mixed precursor.     

A biosensor platform based on amine functionalized conjugated benzenediamine-benzodithiophene polymer for testosterone analysis

A novel benzenediamine-benzodithiophene polymer is synthesized for use in biosensor fabrication for the detection of testosterone. The sensory platform is constructed via drop coating on a screen-printed carbon electrode, using poly(benzenediamine-Bis[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]benzodithiophene) (pBDBT) as the polymer layer. Testosterone antibodies are immobilized on the polymer-coated electrode surface via glutaraldehyde, which binds to the surface through the amino functional groups on the polymer backbone. The changes in the surface features due to testosterone binding are investigated via electrochemical techniques such as differential pulse voltammetry, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectrometry as well as contact angle measurements. Surface morphology of the modified electrodes is characterized by atomic force microscopy. The linear range and limit of detection of the sensor are calculated. Impact of possible interfering compounds is investigated. Furthermore, the sensory platform is utilized for testosterone analysis in synthetic biological fluids.     

Electrochemical properties of ZnO anode materials with MicNo® morphology

ZnO-based anodes are currently possessing drawbacks such as their low cyclic stability, high capacity fade, and relatively low electronic conductivity that prevent their widespread use in commercial batteries. A commercially available, patented MicNo morphology of ZnO is known to adopt the advantages of nanosize into bulk in the field of semiconductor and cosmetic technology. In this study, the electrochemical performance of ZnO having MicNo morphology and its potential use in Li-ion batteries were investigated. After 100 galvanostatic cycles at constant 100 mA/g current density, the retained capacity of MicNo is higher than nanosized ZnO-the starting powder for MicNo ZnO. On the contrary, at higher current densities of 500 or 1000 mA/g, the nano-ZnO showed better cyclability and lower capacity fade compared to MicNo ZnO. In cyclic voltammetry results, reduction in ZnO, LiZn, and Li₂Zn₃ formation was dominant during formation cycle of MicNo ZnO along with excellent reversibility. After lithiation, phase change from crystalline ZnO into metallic Zn and amorphous ZnO was observed from transmission electron microscopy analysis. Improved Li⁺ diffusion in SEI and pore channels, better charge-transfer characteristics, poor electronic contact, and high EDL capacitance are other features of MicNo ZnO according to electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.