A Hybrid Adaptive Compressive Sensing Model for Visual Tracking in Wireless Visual Sensor Networks

The employ of Wireless Visual Sensor Networks (WVSNs) has grown enormously in the last few years and have emerged in distinctive applications. WVSNs-based Surveillance applications are one of the important applications that requires high detection reliability and robust tracking, while minimizing the usage of energy to maximize the lifetime of sensor nodes as visual sensor nodes can be left for months without any human interaction. The constraints of WVSNs such as resource constraints due to limited battery power, memory space and communication bandwidth have brought new WVSNs implementation challenges. Hence, the aim of this paper is to investigate the impact of adaptive Compressive Sensing (CS) in designing efficient target detection and tracking techniques, to reduce the size of transmitted data without compromising the tracking performance as well as space and energy constraints. In this paper, a new hybrid adaptive compressive sensing scheme is introduced to dynamically achieve higher compression rates, as different datasets have different sparsity nature that affects the compression. Afterwards, a modified quantized clipped Least Mean square (LMS) adaptive filter is proposed for the tracking model. Experimental results showed that adaptive CS achieved high compression rates reaching 70%, while preserving the detection and tracking accuracy which is measured in terms of mean squared error, peak-signal-to-noise-ratio and tracking trajectory

Proposed force majeure clause for construction contracts under prevailing laws

Force majeure is one of the most critical risks that affects the obligations of the contract parties in the construction industry. The concept of force majeure, basically, is a civil law concept that is found in the civil codes of most civil law jurisdictions, while common law does not recognize such concept with the same wide definition and application. Occurrence of a Force majeure event can dramatically affect the execution of the contract as it hinders a party of the contract, or both parties, from fulfilling its/their obligations for a reason beyond its/their control and expectation. Thus it is vital to have a well drafted force majeure clause in construction contracts to give an excuse to the affected party from further performance of its obligations under the contract until the expiration of the event or, sometimes, to give a right to terminate the contract. The aim of this research is to propose a force majeure clause applicable to all kinds of construction contracts either governed by a civil law or a common law jurisdiction. To achieve that aim, a questionnaire survey is conducted to explore the opinions and past experience of a selected professional group consisting of twenty five professionals working in the construction field with contract administration background. Based on the finding of literature review, the survey findings, and on a number of contracts the researcher dealt with during his professional life a model clause is developed. The model clause is then verified by obtaining the opinions of three experts in contracts administration. It is also compared with four mega project contracts in several countries. The results of the comparison indicates that the model clause is comprehensive and can be applied to construction contracts to achieve its intended purpose

Use of STATCOM in wind farms with fixed-speed generators for grid code compliance

The increasing penetration of wind energy into power systems has pushed grid operators to set new requirements for this kind of generating plants in order to keep acceptable and reliable operation of the system. In addition to the low voltage ride through capability, wind farms are required to participate in voltage support, stability enhancement and power quality improvement. This paper presents a solution for wind farms with fixed-speed generators based on the use of STATCOM with braking resistor and additional series impedances, with an adequate control strategy. The focus is put on guaranteeing the grid code compliance when the wind farm faces an extensive series of grid disturbances

Meditations in the Administrative Disputes in the United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates complies with the system of unified jurisdiction. But as a federal state, the judicial function is divided between the federal government and the Emirates. The constitution has defined the competence of the federal jurisdiction and left the rest to the Emirates ones. But all of the Emirates except Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah have joined the federal jurisdicaon. The constitution confined the juridical supervision on the administration actions and specified the competence of the federal jurisdiction in the settlement of administrative disputes. The federal courts has put into effect federal legislations and general principles in order to resolve the administrative disputes. Administrative disputes are examined on three degrees, in spite of the fact that the constitution did not refer to an appellate federal court existence. We think that the primary federal court Of Abu Dhabi -and not the supreme federal court- is competent to resolve the administrative disputes in each of Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah otherwise the numerousness of judicial grades will be missed. In Dubai, the domestic law requires the ruler approval as a condition to the acceptance of any claim against the ruler or the govemment in the princedom. This law is unconstitutional because it contradicts article 41 of the constitution that assures the right to judicial complaint

Environmental Law and Air Pollution in U.A.E. - Prof. Maged Rageb El-Helw

The serious impact of air pollution is of great concern to both citi­zens and authorities of all communities in the world. Every bod y hopes to breathe clean air, and every government wishes to keep its country as environmentally pure as possible, free from any kind of pollution , with a heal thy clear atmosphere . However, industrial processes, power generation, motor vehicles, burning of wastes and other sources of pollution tend to pollute the air to which the general population is exposed in almost all countries. This brief study is concerned with air pollution in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), particularly i n the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Its objec­tive is to define present condition s of air protection, to state whether or not a problem relating to the air i n the country exists, and to focus the attitude of environmental law towards the question. The existence of an. adequate legislation, supported by regulatory standards or guidelines became indispensable for air protection and control of environmental pollution in any state in the world. The U.A .E. like man y other countries, lacks basic legislation and regulatory standards, applicable throughout all its territories. There is no federal act that provides for an integrated approach for tackling en­vironmental problems relating to either the whole environment or the only air pollution in the country. Many governmental activities reveal the environmental concerns and commitments to the protect ion of the air as well as the other ele­men ts of the environment by the authorities of the U.A.E. However much is bei ng done for keeping public health and developing general welfare; it rests inextricable to enact an effective air pollution legisla­tion to protect the atmosphere of the country. It may be separated or incorporated in a whole environmental law

Government Ideologies and Islamic Centrism

For some time in the recent past, certain states have based their system of government on particular ideologies dominant in modern times. However, experience has shown that these ideologies have in no way contributed to the fulfilment of cherished goals. Individualism and Marxism came to the fore, and between them shared the majority of countries, sowing the seeds of dissention among them. Individualism made the individual the ultimate end of the state. It, therefore, emphasized and legitimated human rights and freedoms, but only at the expense of the group and the weaker segments of society. The adoption of absolute individualism has led to numerous shortcomings affecting both the individual in relation to his economic rights, and society with regard to its public interests. States adopting individualism were thus forced to tone it down, and even abandon some of its teachings in favour of society, and in a bid to protect weaker individuals. On the other hand, Marxism claimed that individuals\u27 economic rights are the more important aspect, it therefore neglected political rights, suppressed public freedoms, and prohibited individuals, ownership of means of production. The public, represented in a workers\u27 government, was made the absolute power in the state. Marxism explicitly acknowledged worker\u27s dictatorship (or proletariat dictatorship as they called it) for a so-called transition stage ultimately leading to communism and the removal of the state, a fabulous transition which could never occur. The adoption of Marxism by East Bloc countries has only led to economic decline, and suppression of people\u27s freedoms, ultimately triggering popular revolt, and the subsequent toppling of Marxist regimes in East European nations. The Soviet Union itself is reconsidering its political and economic system, so that individuals may enjoy the necessary measure of those public freedoms and human rights most closely related to human nature. It was thus that the two major ideologies, with their extremist and absolute features, have tended to moderate their stands, and abandon exaggeration. Centrism thus emerged as an objective sought by the majority of nations. This Centrism is inherent in Sharia (Islamic Law), since its inception fourteen centures ago. However, it was neglected by most people, and Muslims slackened the process of conveying it to other nations. The message was relayed neither adequately nor appropriately. Meanwhile, Muslims have failed to provide an example, having been swayed by worldly affairs, and distracted by mundane riches, and hence fell apart letting loose conflicts over the perishable aspects of the world. Had humanity followed the Sharia revealed by the All-Knowing Creator, it could have saved itself the pain and confusion resulting from invoking such man-made ideologies, with all their shortcomings, paradoxes and lack of insight. Sharia actually entails principles and teachings that would rectify people\u27s affairs in full accord with God\u27s Commands and man\u27s nature as well. It caters for both the individual and the group without bias or injustice. Human rights and freedoms are fully recognized in relation to man\u27s nature and ambitions, and in way compatible with public interest. The group, too, maintains its own entity, and its interests prevail over those of the individual if and when the two come into conflict with each other, so that the group and its weaker segments are duely protected

Assessment of phacoaspiration techniques in clear lens extraction for correction of high myopia

Mostafa A El-Helw, Ahmed M EmarahDepartment of Ophthalmology, Cairo University, EgyptPurpose: To evaluate various phacoaspiration techniques in clear lens extraction for the incidence of intraoperative difficulties and complications.Patients and methods: This was a prospective study in which bilateral clear lens extraction was performed on 40 eyes of 20 patients, to correct high myopia. The patients were divided into 2 groups: group A underwent supracapsular phacoaspiration; group B were the contralateral eyes of the same patient. These patients were operated on with endocapsular phacoaspiration with the divide and conquer (D and C) technique. Preoperative ocular examination data were recorded and tested for significance. Intraoperative difficulties and complications such as nucleus cracking, capsule rupture and vitreous loss, and repeated chamber collapse were recorded. Postoperative examination data were recorded.Results: Mean age was 35.65 ± 5.85 years. Mean follow-up time was 17.1 ± 8.56 months. In group A mean myopia was -17.3 ± 5.07 diopters; in group B myopia was -17.9 ± 4.20 diopters. Mean preoperative uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) was 0.04 ± 0.0167, while the mean postoperative UCVA was 0.435 ± 0.1442. There was a significant difference in pre and postoperative BCVA within both groups, but not between the two groups. In both groups endothelial cell count (ECC) showed a significant difference between pre- and postoperative data; however, there was no statistically significant difference between both groups in postoperative ECC. The effective phacoaspiration time for group A was 4.6 ± 1.6 seconds, and for group B 9.90 ± 2.27 seconds (P < 0.005). No cases of capsule rupture occurred in group A, but 3 cases occurred in group B (15 %) (not significant, P = 0.231). Nucleus cracking did not occur in group A, but in group B 13 cases occurred (65%). Chamber collapse occurred in 4 cases (20%) in group A and 5 cases (25%) in group B (not significant, P = 1.000). Three cases of moderate postoperative iritis were recorded in group B in (15%), in which posterior capsular rupture also occurred. No cases of iritis were recorded in group A (not significant, P = 0.231). Two cases of cystoid macular edema were recorded in group B (10%) and none in group A (not significant, P = 0.487).Conclusions: Supracapsular phacoaspiration for clear lens extraction in correction of high myopia seems to present no risk for the posterior capsule, although there is a marginal risk to the ECC.Keywords: clear lens extraction, correction of high myopia, supracapsular phacoaspiratio

Predictability and stability of refraction with increasing optical zone diameter in hyperopic LASIK

Mostafa A El-Helw, Ahmed M EmarahCairo University, Cairo, EgyptObjective: We undertook a prospective nonrandomized study to assess refractive outcome and patient satisfaction with hyperopic laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) using variable optical zone diameters in correction of hyperopia of more than 4.00 diopters.Methods: Fourteen adults (comprising 28 hyperopic eyes) underwent hyperopic LASIK correction for hyperopia of more than 4.00 diopters. The sample was divided into two groups. Group 1 included the right eyes of the 14 patients who underwent hyperopic LASIK using a 6.5 mm optical zone diameter. Group 2 comprised the left eyes of the same patients with the only difference being that the optical zone diameter was 6.0 mm.Results: The mean age of the patients was 36.42 ± 5.10 years. Group 1 eyes had a median (range) preoperative uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) of 0.79 (0.52) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 0.15 (0.08). Group 2 had a median preoperative UCVA of 0.79 (0.60) and BCVA of 0.15 (0.08). The median postoperative UCVA in Group 1 was 0.17 (0.21) and BCVA was 0.15 (0.13). In Group 2, the median postoperative UCVA was 0.30 (0.32) and BCVA was 0.15 (0.26). Group 1 had a median preoperative refraction of +5.37 (1.75) diopters and the median postoperative refraction at one week was −0.23 (1.25) diopters, at three months was +0.75 (0.75) diopters, and at six months was +0.75 (1.00) diopters. Group 2 had a median preoperative refraction of +5.00 (1.75) diopters, and the median postoperative refraction at one week was +0.13 (1.5) diopters, at three months was +1.00 (0.75) diopters and at six months +1.25 (1.25) diopters. The difference was statistically significant between groups 1 and 2. The difference within each group was also significant. Group 1 eyes were stabilizing after the three-month period in contrast with Group 2 in which the refractive changes continued throughout the follow-up period.Conclusion: Larger optical zone diameter in correction of hyperopia of more than 4.00 diopters was more predictable, stable and safe.Keywords: hyperopia, LASIK, optical zone, refractio

Query Optimization in Dynamic Environments

Most modern applications deal with very large amounts of data. Having to deal with such huge amounts of data is in itself a challenge. This challenge is complicated even more by the fact that, in many cases, this data is constantly changing and evolving. For instance, relational databases that handle the data of day-to-day transactional applications often have tables with very high data change rates. It is not uncommon to even have temporary or volatile tables that get created from scratch and completely dropped over the course of one query workload. This dissertation focuses on optimizing structured queries over dynamic and constantly changing data sets. Our work address this issue, and some of the challenges related to it. We address the issue of database statistics becoming stale and inaccurate due to constantly changing data. We introduce ways to automatically analyze the existing statistics and recommend and collect the necessary statistics to optimize a single query or a query workload. We introduce a mechanism to automate the recommendation and collection of statistical views for a given query workload. We also compare two methods of using these statistical views in selectivity estimation. We evaluate our methods and techniques with experimental studies using prototypes that we built into commercial database systems