ABSTRACT:
The ability to monitor computer file systems for unauthorized changes is a powerful administrative tool. Ideally this task could be performed remotely under the direction of the administrator to allow on-demand checking, and use of tailorable reporting and exception policies targeted to adjustable groups of network elements. This paper introduces M-FICA, a Mobile File Integrity and Consistency Analyzer as a prototype to achieve this capability using mobile agents. The M-FICA file tampering detection approach uses MD5 message digests to identify file changes. Two agent types, Initiator and Examiner, are used to perform file integrity tasks. An Initiator travels to client systems, computes a file digest, then stores those digests in a database file located on write-once media. An Examiner agent computes a new digest to compare with the original digests in the database file. Changes in digest values indicate that the file contents have been modified. The design and evaluation results for a prototype developed in the Concordia agent framework are described.

ABSTRACT:
Camera calibration is an initial step employed in many computer vision applications for the estimation of camera parameters. Along with images of an arbitrary scene, these parameters allow for inference of the scene’s metric information. This is a primary reason for camera calibration’s significance to computer vision. In this paper, we present a novel approach to solving the camera calibration problem. The method was developed as part of a Human Computer Interaction (HCI) System for the NASA Virtual GloveBox (VGX) Project. Our algorithm is based on the geometric properties of perspective projections and provides a closed form solution for the camera parameters. Its accuracy is evaluated in the context of the NASA VGX, and the results indicate that our algorithm achieves accuracy similar to other calibration methods which are characterized by greater complexity and computational cost. Because of its reliability and wide variety of potential applications, we are confident that our calibration algorithm will be of interest to many.

ABSTRACT:
In the traditional paradigm for Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining, tool paths are programmed offline from the CNC machine using the Computer-Aided Design (CAD) model of the workpiece. The program is downloaded to the CNC controller and the part is then machined. Since a CAD model does not exist inside the CNC controller, it is unaware of the part to be machined and cannot predict or prevent errors. Not only is this paradigm labor intensive, it can lead to catastrophic damage if there are errors during machining. This paper presents a new concept for CNC machine control whereby a CAD model of the workpiece exists inside the controller and the tool positions are generated in real-time by the controller using the computer’s graphics hardware without human intervention. The new concept was implemented on an experimental lathe machine specifically designed to machine complicated ornamental wood workpieces with a personal computer. An example workpiece was machined and measured using a 3D camera. The measured data was registered to the CAD model to evaluate machining accuracy.

ABSTRACT:
This paper describes Free-Piston Generator (FPG) model and its control for achieving steady operation. A FPG is a special type of combustion engine representing a new approach concerning the conversion of the chemical energy of hydrocarbon fuel into electrical energy. Unlike conventional engines, this type of engine does not use a crankshaft, and generates electric energy directly by a linear movement of pistons.

ABSTRACT:
Image processing is an effective tool for the analysis of optical sensor information for driver assistance systems and controlling of autonomous robots. Algorithms for image processing are often very complex and costly in terms of computation. In robotics and driver assistance systems, real-time processing is necessary. Signal processing algorithms must often be drastically modified so they can be implemented in the hardware. This task is especially difficult for continuous real-time processing at high speeds. This article describes a hardware-software co-design for a multi-object position sensor based on a stereophotogrammetric measuring method. In order to cover a large measuring area, an optimized algorithm based on an image pyramid is implemented in an FPGA as a parallel hardware solution for depth map calculation. Object recognition and tracking are then executed in real-time in a processor with help of software. For this task a statistical cluster method is used. Stabilization of the tracking is realized through use of a Kalman filter. Keywords: stereophotogrammetry, hardware-software co-design, FPGA, 3-d image analysis, real-time, clustering and tracking.

ABSTRACT:
In this paper a special way to use intelligence tests in order to strengthen the student teachers’ meta-cognition and their ability to master the skills was examined. The objective of this exercise is to prepare the students to use these skills, which are relevant also for carrying out scientific experiments. These student teachers reported that the process of carrying out the experiments became more transparent after their experimenting with the matrices.

ABSTRACT:
This research was inspired by the need of a flexible and cost effective biometric security system. The flexibility of the wireless sensor network makes it a natural choice for data transmission. Swarm intelligence (SI) is used to optimize routing in distributed time varying network. In this paper, SI maintains the required bit error rate (BER) for varied channel conditions while consuming minimal energy. A specific biometric, the face recognition system, is discussed as an example. Simulation shows that the wireless sensor network is efficient in energy consumption while keeping the transmission accuracy, and the wireless face recognition system is competitive to the traditional wired face recognition system in classification accuracy.

ABSTRACT:
A set of mathematical models were derived based on the bio-kinetics and material balance principles to describe the performance of membrane system in this research. A synthetic wastewater and a meat packing wastewater were processed through a lab-scale membrane bioreactor system to generate experimental data for calibration and verification of the derived models. For the synthetic wastewater treatment, a high and stable Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal was achieved with volumetric organic loading from 0.2 to 24.2 kg TOC/m3ƒ{d). It was found that the derived system models fit the experimental data well. The bio-kinetic coefficients of k, Ks, Y and kd in the models were found to be 0.16 d-1, 1.0 mg/L, 1.75 mg Mixed Liquor Volatile Suspended Solids (MLVSS)/mg TOC and 0.11 d-1, respectively. For the meat packing wastewater treatment, the bio-kinetic coefficients of k, Ks, Y and kd were found to be 0.48 d-1, 56.3 mg/L, 0.53 mg MLVSS/mg COD and 0.04 d-1, respectively. F/M ratio of 0.08 was found to be the proper operating condition for the system. Based on the proposed system models, the optimum MLSS concentration and F/M ratio can be computed to yield minimum cost of a membrane bioreactor system without excess biomass production.

ABSTRACT:
Lidar is a powerful tool for monitoring vertical profile of aerosol pollutant layer (APL) and its variation. The extinction-to-backscatter ratio, S1, is a crucial parameter for quantitative interpretation of lidar data. Because of the large and quick variation of S1 in APL, it is necessary to measure real-timely S1. A multi-instrument method is introduced for monitoring APL by lidar combined with some other instruments. Some experiments were completed for monitoring APL variation at Beijing, China in several periods during 2001-2004. The statistic of APL can be analyzed upon the data of aerosol profile, such as APL top-height, the total mass of aerosol loading in APL.

ABSTRACT:
Numerical experiments show that the full potential of the Finite Element Method (FEM) can be exploited by combination of classical with meshless FEM. A class structure for flexible consistent implementation of both methods is presented. Fully automatized 3D mesh-generation still constitutes a serious problem in software development concerning FEM. In the recent years various methods of meshless FEM have been developed as an alternative to overcome this problem. In this work meshless and classical FEM have been implemented. A further objective of this work is to implement different classical and meshless methods together with an appropriate mesh/point-set generation method. An appropriate class structure for realizing this in a consistent manner with classical FEM is developed and implemented in C++. The performance of the discussed methods was tested with problems relevant in electrical and civil engineering i.e. static electrical field calculations (Poison equation) and elasticity problems.

ABSTRACT:
The frequencies with which the sixty-four codons occur in human coding DNA are known. If we assume that the codons occur randomly, subject only to these probabilities, then it is possible to predict trinucleotide frequencies in each of the five other reading frames. A model is developed for evaluating the extent to which a given sequence has trinucleotide frequencies compatible with coding DNA. This model is tested using known samples of coding DNA taken at random from GenBank, and good agreement is found. Practical and theoretical applications are discussed, including determination of coding open reading frames, evaluation of sequence data for frameshift mutations and examination of hypothetical genes.

ABSTRACT:
Corrosion has a vast impact on the global and domestic economy, and currently incurs losses of nearly $300 billion annually to the U.S. economy alone. Because of the huge impact of corrosion, it is imperative to have a systematic approach to recognizing and mitigating corrosion problems as soon as possible after they become apparent. A proper failure analysis includes collection of pertinent background data and service history, followed by visual inspection, photographic documentation, material evaluation, data review and conclusion procurement. In analyzing corrosion failures, one must recognize the wide range of common corrosion mechanisms. The features of any corrosion failure give strong clues as to the most likely cause of the corrosion. This article details a proven approach to properly determining the root cause of a failure, and includes pictographic illustrations of the most common corrosion mechanisms, including general corrosion, pitting, galvanic corrosion, dealloying, crevice corrosion, microbiologically-influenced corrosion (MIC), corrosion fatigue, stress corrosion cracking (SCC), intergranular corrosion, fretting, erosion corrosion and hydrogen damage.

ABSTRACT:
The proposed goal oriented knowledge acquisition and assessment are based on the flexible educational model and allows to implement an adaptive control of the enhanced learning process according to the requirements of student’s knowledge level, his state of cognition and subject learning history. The enhanced learner knowledge model specifies how the cognition state of the user will be achieved step by step. The use case actions definition is a starting point of the specification, which depends on different levels of learning scenarios and user cognition sub goals. The use case actions specification is used as a basis to set the requirements for service software specification and attributes of learning objects respectively. The paper presents the enhanced architecture of the student self-evaluation and on-line assessment system TestTool. The system is explored as an assessment engine capable of supporting and improving the individualized intelligent goal oriented self-instructional and simulation based mode of learning, grounded on the GRID distributed service architecture.

ABSTRACT:
Various trip generators (e.g., buildings, shopping malls, recreational centers) continually influence travel demand in urban and suburban areas. As a result, the headway regularity that should be kept among transit vehicles is difficult to maintain, specifically during peak hours. The variation of headways lengthens the average wait times and deteriorates service quality. Providing a tool to monitor and maintain most up-to-date information through Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS) can assist effective system planning and scheduling, while reducing the door-to-door travel time. This paper develops a methodology for clustering the state variables (number served passengers and halting stations in each vehicle trip) and using that for service planning. The data used to develop the models were collected by Automatic Passenger Counters (APC) on buses operated by a transit agency in the northeast region of the United States. The results illustrate that the developed tool can provide suggestions for improving systems performance as well as future planning.