A modular system for global and local abnormal event detection and categorization in videos

This paper presents a modular system for both abnormal event detection and categorization in videos. Complementary normalcy models are built both globally at the image level and locally within pixels blocks. Three features are analyzed: (1) spatio-temporal evolution of binary motion where foreground pixels are detected using an enhanced background subtraction method that keeps track of temporarily static pixels; (2) optical flow, using a robust pyramidal KLT technique; and (3) motion temporal derivatives. At the local level, a normalcy MOG model is built for each block and for each flow feature and is made more compact using PCA. Then, the activity is analyzed qualitatively using a set of compact hybrid histograms embedding both optical flow orientation (or temporal gradient orientation) and foreground statistics. A compact binary signature of maximal size 13 bits is extracted from these different features for event characterization. The performance of the system is illustrated on different datasets of videos recorded on static cameras. The experiments show that the anomalies are well detected even if the method is not dedicated to one of the addressed scenarios.     

Trajectory planning/re-planning for satellite systems in rendezvous mission in the presence of actuator faults based on attainable efforts analysis

The objective of fault-tolerant control (FTC) is to minimise the effect of faults on system performance (stability, trajectory tracking, etc.). However, the majority of the existing FTC methods continue to force the system to follow the pre-fault trajectories without considering the reduction in available control resources caused by actuator faults. Forcing the system to follow the same trajectories as before fault occurrence may result in actuator saturation and system's instability. Thus, pre-fault objectives should be redefined in function of the remaining resources to avoid potential saturation. The main contribution of this paper is a flatness-based trajectory planning/re-planning method that can be combined with any active FTC approach. The work considers the case of over-actuated systems where a new idea is proposed to evaluate the severity of faults occurred. In addition, the trajectory planning/re-planning approach is formulated as an optimisation problem based on the analysis of attainable efforts domain in fault-free and fault cases. The proposed approach is applied to two satellite systems in rendezvous mission.     

A k‐means clustering‐based security framework for mobile data mining

Data mining is a process of digging data sets from large data‐bases, especially for use to improve the operation efficiency of a company, institution, or an organization. With the increasing cases of cyber and other computer‐related crimes, computer and mobile data security has become a matter of concern, secure, and non‐contaminated data is very important for data mining to improve the performance of a system. This paper proposes a system framework that is able to collect information and then be able to generate alerts in real time. The proposed scheme is then simulated using the K‐means clustering algorithm, which is one of the most popular clustering algorithms to determine the efficiency and the accuracy of the proposed scheme. The paper concludes by proposing further improvements to be undertaken on the proposed system to improve its efficiency and accuracy. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of cooling curve to determine the end point of freezing

The cooling curve method used for the measurement of freezing point of food is further analyzed to explore whether it can be used to identify the end point of freezing or glass transition. In this method, slope of the cooling curve is determined and plotted as a function of time to identify the end point of freezing (T′_m). Initially, the slope is decreased and then reached a minimum value, which is identified as the nucleation of ice. Then the slope is increased until the end point of freezing. The end point of freezing is identified when the slope starts to decrease from its highest value or plateau. Sucrose solutions and starch gels were used to measure its T′_m in identifying validity of the proposed method. The measured values of T′_m by the proposed method is very close to the literature values.     

PC-compatible optical data acquisition unit

A personal computer compatible optical data acquisition unit is described. The unit hardware architecture consists of optical analog sensors, optical digital sensors, and standard digital-to-analog converters. It can be accessed and programmed using a variety of programming languages. The unit has several applications in color sorting, data communication, aerospace guidance, and remote optical sensing.     

MICROFLORA CHANGES IN TUNA MINCE DURING CONVECTION AIR DRV1NG

Microorganisms grow in tuna during drying at low temperatures. The drying temperature of 50°C or below is not lethal to the microflora. The decimal reduction time (D-value) varied from 12.66 to 2.63 hr when drying temperature increased from 60 to 100°C, respectively. These values can be used to estimate the lethal effect of drying on the natural microflora in tuna.     

Characterization of endotoxic indicative organic matter (2-keto-3deoxyoctulosonic acid) in raw and biologically treated domestic wastewater

The aim of this research is to characterize the organic matter showing endotoxicity in domestic wastewater. It is assumed that endotoxicity is caused by lipo-polysaccharide (LPS), particularly large and hydrophobic molecules. In this study, a batch experiment (decay test for 12 h) was conducted to confirm whether LPS is the cause of endotoxicity or not. 2-keto-3deoxyoctulosonic acid (KDO) was used as an indicator of presence of LPS.A size and structural characterization of several samples from raw and domestic wastewater was also carried out in order know which fractions are causing endotoxicity. Endotoxin and KDO patterns were found to be similar, peaking at the same time. Thus, organic matter showing endotoxicity, such as LPS was released in the decay test. Moreover, the organic matter released from bacteria during decay test was partly biodegradable. Results from size characterization (Molecular Weight Distribution) showed that the majority of endotoxin (up to 82%), in domestic sewage and secondary effluents,is composed of molecules larger than 100 kDa and less than 0.1 μm. Similarly, structural characterization (hydrophobic and hydrophilic) showed that the majority of endotoxin, ranging from 59% to 83% of the total endotoxicity, is hydrophobic fractions. Therefore, removing large and hydrophobic molecules from wastewater can be an effective way to achieve a significant decrease in its endotoxicity.     

Physicochemical properties of fermented Arabian mares' milk

Due to its numerous benefits, including health-promoting characteristics, there is increasing interest in finding product applications for mares' milk. In the present study, the physicochemical properties, turbidity and conductivity of Arabian mares' milk were studied during acidification by fermentation at 30 °C and compared with those of bovine milk. The data for the acidification rate were modelled using a logistic equation. Mares' milk showed a longer latency phase (284 min) and lower acidification rate (μ_max = 0.0052 dpH min^?1) compared with bovine milk (194 min and 0.0098 dpH min^?1 respectively). The general shape of the curves of the turbidity versus time and pH were similar in nature for the acidification of both milks. However, the characteristic points were different, due to the differences in casein micelle composition. Measurement of electrical conductivity during acidification showed that maximum demineralization of casein micelles started around pH 6.09 and 5.31, for mares' and bovine milk, respectively. In conclusion, the technological characteristics of mares' milk were very different from those of bovine milk, due to intrinsic physicochemical properties of both milks.     

Simulation of the control of a salt gradient solar pond in the south of Tunisia

We are interested in the modeling and control of a salt gradient solar pond (SGSP) in the south of Tunisia. We developed a model of a closed cycle salt gradient solar pond (CCSGSP) that ensures successful year round operation. This model was used to study the response of the solar pond (SP) to various control techniques. It takes into account heat and salt diffusion within the pond and simulates the transient behavior of a SGSP. Furthermore, we investigated the dynamic process, which involves internal gradient stability, boundary behavior between the gradient zone and the convective zones. We thus incorporated the double diffusive processes into the SP model by using the one dimensional stability criterion produced by linear theory. The governing differential equations are solved numerically by using a control-volume scheme.The results show that successful operation of a SP requires three things: the maintenance of the storage zone temperature through heat extraction and brine injection, the use of surface washing to control the deepening of the upper mixed layer and a well designed initial salt stratification to prevent the formation of instability within the gradient. Using linear salinity profile as an initial condition, three round year simulations were run using average meteorological data with the result that adequate stability (Rρ2 throughout the gradient and Rρ10 at the interfaces) was maintained. Numerical results show also that 10–30% efficiency could have been reached if heat extraction is performed routinely especially when one considers that the storage temperature is within 40–80 °C. The model is validated against data taken from the operation of the UTEP SP. Close correlation between computed and measured data was obtained.     

Self-regulating network utilization in mobile ad hoc wireless networks

In mobile ad hoc wireless LANs, it is very difficult to maintain a targeted network utilization due to the time-varying nature of the contention-based medium access control protocol and the lack of a central control. Furthermore, previous research has been mainly focusing on the aspect of optimizing the performance at each station. But doing so may result in a very low overall network utilization. Therefore, self-regulating network utilization is very important to provide quality-of-service (QoS) in mobile ad hoc wireless networks. Through self-disciplining its own behaviors locally, each station will optimize its protocol parameters to meet the targeted overall network utilization, which is very important for QoS provisioning to multimedia services. This paper proposes and evaluates a fully distributed scheme for each station to self-regulate its behaviors through adapting the local protocol parameters to meet the targeted overall network utilization with the changes in the network environment such as the number of stations and channel quality.