Long-term tracking based on spatio-temporal context

Aiming at the problem that the fast tracking algorithm using spatio-temporal context (STC) will inevitably lead to drift and even lose the target in long-term tracking, a new algorithm based on spatio-temporal context that integrates long-term tracking with detecting is proposed in this paper. We track the target by the fast tracking algorithm, and the cascaded search strategy is introduced to the detecting part to relocate the target if the fast tracking fails. To a large extent, the proposed algorithm effectively improves the accuracy and stability of long-term tracking. Extensive experimental results on benchmark datasets show that the proposed algorithm can accurately track and relocate the target though the target is partially or completely occluded or reappears after being out of the scene.     

Efficient clustering and simulated annealing approach for circuit partitioning

Circuit net list bipartitioning using simulated annealing technique has been proposed in the paper. The method converges asymptotically and probabilistically to global optimization. The circuit net list is partitioned into two partitions such that the number of interconnections between the partitions is minimized. The proposed method begins with an innovative clustering technique to obtain a good initial solution. Results obtained show the versatility of the proposed method in solving non polynomial hard problems of circuit net list partitioning and show an improvement over those available in literature.     

Study on bending conditions of plate in coil box

In a coil box between the roughing and finishing stands on a hot strip mill, a problem has been encountered that the entry region of the plate touches the bending rolls and deforms. As a result, the defective coil occurs. The condition of plate bending, which forms a new deformation feature in coiling, is analyzed. In this paper, the authors focus on the research of the effects of coiling parameters, such as the thickness of plate, roll speed and feeding speed of plate in coil box, and on specific plate bending. A finite element method is developed to simulate this coiling process. Based on numerical simulation, the effects of the coiling parameters on the mechanics and deformation of the bending plate are obtained. Numerical simulation tests have verified the validity of the developed model.     

Comments on enhanced yoking proof protocols for radio frequency identification tags and tag groups

A radio frequency identification (RFID) yoking proof scheme can generate proofs of simultaneous presence of two tags in the range of a specified reader so that an off-line verifier can verify the proofs later. This proof has found several interesting applications. However, many existing RFID yoking schemes are vulnerable to replay attacks. To overcome the weaknesses, Cho et al. proposed a new RFID yoking proof protocol and a new grouping protocol. Unfortunately, Cho et al.’s schemes are still vulnerable to replay attacks. In this paper, in addition to demonstrating weaknesses, we further discuss the rationale behind these weaknesses to provide a guide line for designing secure RFID yoking schemes. Based on the guide line, we propose a new RFID yoking scheme and a new RFID grouping scheme. Performance evaluation shows that our scheme outperforms its counterparts.     

Application of the reverse 3D scanning method to evaluate the wear of forging tools divided on two selected areas

This study is focused on tools used in the industrial hot forging process of a front wheel forging (eventually–gear wheel) manufactured for the automotive industry. Four different variants were applied for the tools: 2 die inserts were coated with two different hybrid layers (GN + PVD type), i.e. AlCrTiN and AlCrTiSiN, one insert was only nitrided, and one was pad welded, to improve tool durability. The tool wear was analysed and represented by the material degradation on the working surface, based on the 3D scanning and the material growth of the periodically collected forgings. Additionally, the scanned tools were divided into two areas, in which it was found, based on the reliminary analysis, that various degradation mechanisms are predominant. Microstructural and hardness measurements of the analyzed tools were also performed. Based on the results, it was found that, in the central part of the die insert (area A), thermo-mechanical fatigue and wear occurred, while in the area of the bridge insert (area B), only abrasive wear could be observed. For these areas (A and B), the loss of material was determined separately. In area A for the inserts with hybrid layer GN+AlCrTiSiN and gas nitrided, an intensive increase of wear took place, which was not observed for the pad welded and GN+AlCrTiN layer insert, for which, together with the increase of the forging number, a proportional growth of the loss of material occurred. In area B the weakest results were obtained for the insert with GN+AlCrTiSiN layer, while wear of other die inserts grew similar and proportional.     

Finite element modeling of hydrostatic stress distribution in copper dual-damascene interconnects

Hydrostatic stresses of copper dual-damascene interconnects are calculated by a commercial finite element software in this paper. The analytical work is performed to examine the effects of different low-k (k is permittivity) dielectrics, barrier layer and aspect ratio of via on hydrostatic stress distribution in the copper interconnects. The results of calculation indicate that the hydrostatic stresses are highly non-uniform throughout the copper interconnects and the highest tensile hydrostatic stress exists on the top interface of lower level interconnect near via. Both the high coefficient of thermal expansion and the low elastic modulus of the low-k dielectrics and barrier layer can decrease the highest hydrostatic stress on the top interface, which can improve the reliability of the copper interconnects.     

Women’s mode and trip structure choices in daily activity-travel: a developing country perspective

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we analyze the travel patterns of Iranian women, where typical patriarchal views and specific social and cultural norms may differ from the patterns of those in western societies. In addition to inherent psycho-physical gender differences, women in Iran can face special constraints forcing them not to be involved in all activity-travel patterns that people in developed countries usually undertake. We pay special attention to the role of marital and employment status on women’s activity-travel patterns. To this end, we develop a joint mode and daily activity pattern (DAP) discrete choice model, which is a two-level mixed nested Logit. The upper nest of the proposed model embodies women’s DAP choices, and the lower nest belongs to the mode choices. In this paper, we try to show how different factors in a patriarchal Muslim society like Iran affect or restrict women’s type and structure of activity-travel patterns.     

Altimeter assimilation in the OCCAM global model: Part I: A twin experiment

An altimeter data assimilation scheme has been tested in the OCCAM (Ocean Circulation and Climate Advanced Modelling) global 1/4°, 36-level model using a twin experiment format. The Cooper and Haines displacement scheme is used. The method works well in most regions and depths. Currents and densities in the top 1000 m generally improve by over 50–70% after 5 months of sea level assimilation every 15 days. Below 1000 m, an error reduction of up to 50% is achieved. The errors remain low during a further 60-day run without assimilation. Diagnostics for the North Atlantic, the Tropical Pacific and the Antarctic Circumpolar Current are shown alongside the global averages.The main problems encountered were in weakly stratified regions of the Antarctic and Arctic seas. A scale selective filter is developed to avoid assimilating scales much larger than the local deformation radius, and this avoids the adverse assimilation effects in the southern oceans. A companion paper uses this scheme to assimilate TOPEX and ERS-1 altimeter maps.     

Lightweight mixture faults detection method for gasoline engine using on-line trend analysis

Mixture faults detection is meaningful for gasoline engines because proper mixture is the basic prerequisite for healthy running of a combustion engine. Among existing methods for faults detection, the data-driven trend analysis technique is widely used due to the simplicity and efficiency in time-domain. The CUSUM (Cumulative Sum Of Errors) algorithm is good at real-time trend extraction, but it’s easy to be costly on the fuel trim signal during the engine in normal working conditions, which will increase battery energy consumption because engine failure is rarely occurs. Hence, the conventional treatment methods of artifacts in the CUSUM algorithm are modified by means of decay function and detection time analysis. The thresholds are tuned according to the characteristics of artifacts instead of residual variability, which leads to better results of trend extraction and less computation. Then, the revised CUSUM algorithm is used for monitoring the mixture abnormal behaviors, and the mixture faults can be detected in real time through analyzing the variation features of fuel trim signal. The lightweight faults detector using the advanced CUSUM algorithm (FD-A-CUSUM) is evaluated on the experimental data collected from a Ford engine. The validation results show that while engine works under normal conditions, the computation of FD-A-CUSUM has decreased by 72.79 % in comparison with the detection method using the original CUSUM algorithm (FD-O-CUSUM), and the false alarm ratio of FD-A-CUSUM is 3.37 %. Futhermore, the detection results of FD-A-CUSUM for two leakage faults have achieved 91.18 % test accuracy.