scholarly journals An automated barcode tracking system for behavioural studies in birds

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo Alarcon-Nieto ◽  
Jacob Graving ◽  
James A. Klarevas-Irby ◽  
Adriana Maldonado-Chaparro ◽  
Inge Mueller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Power ◽  
Tracking System ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Human Perception ◽  
Automated System ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Image Capture ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Long Timescales ◽  
Machine Readable

1. Recent advances in technology allow researchers to automate the measurement of animal behaviour. These methods have multiple advantages over direct observations and manual data input as they reduce bias related to human perception and fatigue, and deliver more extensive and complete data sets that enhance statistical power. One major challenge that automation can overcome is the observation of many individuals at once, enabling whole-group or whole-population tracking. 2. We provide a detailed description for implementing an automated system for tracking birds. Our system uses printed, machine-readable codes mounted on backpacks. This simple, yet robust, tagging system can be used simultaneously on multiple individuals to provide data on bird identity, position and directionality. Further, because our codes and backpacks are printed on paper, they are very lightweight. 3. We describe the implementation of this automated system on two flocks of zebra finches. We test different camera options, and describe their advantages and disadvantages. We show that our method is reliable, relatively easy to implement and monitor, and with proper handling, has proved to be safe for the birds over long periods of time. Further, we highlight how using single-board computers to control the frequency and duration of image capture makes this system affordable, flexible, and adaptable to a range of study systems. 4. The ability to automate the measurement of individual positions has the potential to significantly increase the power of both observational and experimental studies. The system can capture both detailed interactions (using video recordings) and repeated observations (e.g. once per second for the entire day) of individuals over long timescales (months or potentially years). This approach opens the door to tracking life-long relationships among individuals, while also capturing fine-scale differences in behaviour.

scholarly journals A Study on Vision-Based Backstepping Control for a Target Tracking System

Actuators ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 105
Author(s):  
Thinh Huynh ◽  
Minh-Thien Tran ◽  
Dong-Hun Lee ◽  
Soumayya Chakir ◽  
Young-Bok Kim
Keyword(s):  
Control System ◽  
Visual Servoing ◽  
Tracking System ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Imaging Geometry ◽  
Control Scheme ◽  
Decoupled Control ◽  
Control Configuration ◽  
A New Technique ◽  
Pointing Control

This paper proposes a new method to control the pose of a camera mounted on a two-axis gimbal system for visual servoing applications. In these applications, the camera should be stable while its line-of-sight points at a target located within the camera’s field of view. One of the most challenging aspects of these systems is the coupling in the gimbal kinematics as well as the imaging geometry. Such factors must be considered in the control system design process to achieve better control performances. The novelty of this study is that the couplings in both mechanism’s kinematics and imaging geometry are decoupled simultaneously by a new technique, so popular control methods can be easily implemented, and good tracking performances are obtained. The proposed control configuration includes a calculation of the gimbal’s desired motion taking into account the coupling influence, and a control law derived by the backstepping procedure. Simulation and experimental studies were conducted, and their results validate the efficiency of the proposed control system. Moreover, comparison studies are conducted between the proposed control scheme, the image-based pointing control, and the decoupled control. This proves the superiority of the proposed approach that requires fewer measurements and results in smoother transient responses.

scholarly journals Predicting the liquefaction potential of soil layers in Tabriz city via artificial neural network analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Alizadeh Mansouri ◽  
Rouzbeh Dabiri
Keyword(s):  
Neural Network ◽  
Artificial Neural Network ◽  
Soil Liquefaction ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Liquefaction Potential ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Artificial Neural ◽  
Artificial Neural Network Ann ◽  
Prediction Approach ◽  
Empirical Approaches

AbstractSoil liquefaction is a phenomenon through which saturated soil completely loses its strength and hardness and behaves the same as a liquid due to the severe stress it entails. This stress can be caused by earthquakes or sudden changes in soil stress conditions. Many empirical approaches have been proposed for predicting the potential of liquefaction, each of which includes advantages and disadvantages. In this paper, a novel prediction approach is proposed based on an artificial neural network (ANN) to adequately predict the potential of liquefaction in a specific range of soil properties. To this end, a whole set of 100 soil data is collected to calculate the potential of liquefaction via empirical approaches in Tabriz, Iran. Then, the results of the empirical approaches are utilized for data training in an ANN, which is considered as an option to predict liquefaction for the first time in Tabriz. The achieved configuration of the ANN is utilized to predict the liquefaction of 10 other data sets for validation purposes. According to the obtained results, a well-trained ANN is capable of predicting the liquefaction potential through error values of less than 5%, which represents the reliability of the proposed approach.

Experimental Studies on Axially Loaded Concrete Columns Confined by Different Materials

2008 ◽  
Vol 400-402 ◽  
pp. 513-518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Chang Guo ◽  
Pei Yan Huang ◽  
Yang Yang ◽  
Li Juan Li
Keyword(s):  
Bearing Capacity ◽  
Glass Fiber ◽  
Failure Modes ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Concrete Columns ◽  
Steel Tube ◽  
Ultimate Bearing Capacity ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Axially Loaded ◽  
Normal Strength

The improvement of the load carrying capacity of concrete columns under a triaxial compressive stress results from the strain restriction. Under a triaxial stress state, the capacity of the deformation of concrete is greatly decreased with the increase of the side compression. Therefore, confining the deformation in the lateral orientation is an effective way to improve the strength and ductility of concrete columns. This paper carried out an experimental investigation on axially loaded normal strength concrete columns confined by 10 different types of materials, including steel tube, glass fiber confined steel tube (GFRP), PVC tube, carbon fiber confined PVC tube (CFRP), glass fiber confined PVC tube (GFRP), CFRP, GFRP, polyethylene (PE), PE hybrid CFRP and PE hybrid GFRP. The deformation, macroscopical deformation characters, failure mechanism and failure modes are studied in this paper. The ultimate bearing capacity of these 10 types of confined concrete columns and the influences of the confining materials on the ultimate bearing capacity are obtained. The advantages and disadvantages of these 10 types of confining methods are compared.

Think about it – can portrayals of homosexuality in advertising prime consumer-perceived social connectedness and empathy?

2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Åkestam ◽  
Sara Rosengren ◽  
Micael Dahlen
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Social Effects ◽  
Attitudes Toward Homosexuality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Thought Listing ◽  
Societal Level ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to investigate whether portrayals of homosexuality in advertising can generate social effects in terms of consumer-perceived social connectedness and empathy. Design/methodology/approach In three experimental studies, the effects of advertising portrayals of homosexuality were compared to advertising portrayals of heterosexuality. Study 1 uses a thought-listing exercise to explore whether portrayals of homosexuality (vs heterosexuality) can evoke more other-related thoughts and whether such portrayals affect consumer-perceived social connectedness and empathy. Study 2 replicates the findings while introducing attitudes toward homosexuality as a boundary condition and measuring traditional advertising effects. Study 3 replicates the findings while controlling for gender, perceived similarity and targetedness. Findings The results show that portrayals of homosexuality in advertising can prime consumers to think about other people, thereby affecting them socially. In line with previous studies of portrayals of homosexuality in advertising, these effects are moderated by attitudes toward homosexuality. Research limitations/implications This paper adds to a growing body of literature on the potentially positive extended effects of advertising. They also challenge some of the previous findings regarding homosexuality in advertising. Practical implications The finding that portrayals of homosexuality in advertising can (at least, temporarily) affect consumers socially in terms of social connectedness and empathy should encourage marketers to explore the possibilities of creating advertising that benefits consumers and brands alike. Originality/value The paper challenges the idea that the extended effects of advertising have to be negative. By showing how portrayals of homosexuality can increase social connectedness and empathy, it adds to the discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of advertising on a societal level.

The structure and application of an automated system for monitoring passenger traffic

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 4-11
Author(s):  
Evgeniy Anikeev
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
General Structure ◽  
Automated System ◽  
Passenger Transport ◽  
Service Levels ◽  
Passenger Traffic ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Transport Services ◽  
Transport Control

Various methods of collecting data on passenger traffic, their advantages and disadvantages are considered. It is shown that in order to improve the quality of transport services, it is necessary to regularly collect and refine data on passenger traffic. The goals and methods of obtaining information about passenger traffic in the system of municipal passenger transport are indicated. All currently existing methods are divided into three categories: data collection using technical means, data collection with the help of censors and volunteers, and interpretation of fare payments. All the methods presented in the article were compared in terms of labor intensity, costs and accuracy of the results obtained. The advantages and disadvantages of each method are considered. The general structure of an automated system for collecting data on passenger traffic is presented. The necessity of creating a centralized system for collecting and processing data associated with all passenger transport control systems has been substantiated. The tasks solved by this system at all levels of transport services for passengers are shown. Each of the tasks is assigned to one of three service levels: pre-transport, transport and post-transport. It is shown that only solving problems at all levels can ensure high-quality operation of the municipal passenger transport system.

EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM FOR REGULATING THE SOIL DENSITY USED IN A SEEDING MACHINE

2021 ◽  
pp. 9-15
Author(s):  
ALEKSEI S. DOROKHOV ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Control System ◽  
Automatic Control ◽  
Automatic Control System ◽  
Power Supply ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Automated System ◽  
Statistical Characteristics ◽  
Vegetable Crops ◽  
Soil Density ◽  
Density Control

Research on the development of an automatic control system for the rolling-in working units is aimed at establishing the reliability and analytical relationships, determining the quality indicators of work in real conditions of the rolling-in working units of a seeding machine, and checking the patterns obtained in the fi eld and identifi ed theoretically. Research on the development of an automatic control system for the rolling implements was carried out when sowing dragee seeds of table beet of the Bordeaux variety with a seeding unit consisting of a Belarus-4235 tractor and a Monopil S15/12 precision seeding machine. The system for automatic control of soil density includes the main hardware and software: actuators for maintaining and deepening the rolling working units, microcontrollers, motor drivers, a non-contact ultrasonic sensor, a power supply unit and a sensor for measuring soil density. The paper presents the results of a study to determine the soil density when sowing seeds of table beet, depending on the moisture content of the soil in the sowing layer. The authors describe research methodology, provide graphical relationships between changes in soil density and the depth of seeding, and comment on the main obtained statistical characteristics of the experiment. As a result of the study, structural, echnological and functional diagrams of a rolling rink with an automatic control system using electronically controlled electric cylinders (linear actuators) have been developed. The optimal parameters of the linear drive of the press roller have been established: power - 50W, power supply - 12V, rod stroke - 200…600 mm, speed - 10…45 mm/s, load - 200…900 N. Experimental studies have shown the applicability of the presented system of the automatic control of soil density, which ensures the optimum density of the seedbed of 1.3…1.4 g/cm³. The described technique can be used to develop a soil density control system when sowing seeds of other vegetable crops.

scholarly journals The pros and cons pertaining to tuberculosis and tuberculosis protocols

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (11) ◽  
pp. 641-646
Author(s):  
Rishan Singh
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Drug Action ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Treatment Protocols ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Resistant Tuberculosis ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Pros And Cons ◽  
Plant Compounds

There are many pros and cons with the protocols used to diagnose patient with TB, particularly because research isn't able to correlate findings with the virulence of the tuberculosis pathogen. This has resulted in further experiments to try optimise protocols for better evaluation of susceptible and resistant tuberculosis strains. This indicates the need for more health-care facilities to treat patients with tuberculosis, or co-tuberculosis infections, more precisely. This article presents some advantages and disadvantages of tuberculosis treatment protocols, with emphasis on drugs, tuberculosis data sets and the administration of plant compounds. This paper also highlights some points on the mechanism of drug action with tuberculosis. Controversies and the present status of tuberculosis studies are also commented on. This is the first (generalised) paper to highlight laboratory as well as non-laboratory points pertaining to tuberculosis and tuberculosis protocols.

scholarly journals Investigation of a Turbogenerator Based on the Vortex Expansion Machine with a Peripheral Side Channel

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. F11-F18
Author(s):  
S.M. Vaneev ◽  
V.S. Martsynkovskyy ◽  
A. Kulikov ◽  
D.V. Miroshnichenko ◽  
Ya.І. Bilyk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electricity Generation ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Geometric Parameters ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Lateral Channel ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Flow Part ◽  
Special Stand ◽  
Constant Improvement

The creation of energy-saving turbogenerators is an essential component of the development of small energy systems. The gradual growth of interest in distributed electricity generation necessitates the constant improvement of these units. Moreover, they implement a more environmentally friendly generation method than when using microturbine units that use fuel to carry out the work process. Nowadays, turbogenerators are created based on different types of expansion machines, which have their advantages and disadvantages, given in this article. Compared to competitors, vortex expansion machines have good prospects and the necessary potential to expand their research and produce turbogenerators. An experimental vortex expansion machine with a peripheral-lateral channel and ability to change the geometric parameters of its flowing part was created to meet these needs. Experimental studies of the machine were performed on a special stand with air as a working fluid. As a result of the tests, the data were successfully obtained and processed. They are presented in the form of tables and graphical dependencies. The nature of the influence of thermodynamic parameters and geometric parameters of the flow part on the efficiency of the vortex expansion machine and turbogenerator based on it to further improve and create new turbogenerators is clarified.

scholarly journals Visual odometry in local underwater navigation problems

2021 ◽  
Vol 2091 (1) ◽  
pp. 012053
Author(s):  
I M Azhmukhamedov ◽  
P I Tamkov ◽  
N D Svishchev ◽  
A V Rybakov
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Visual Odometry ◽  
Ecological Monitoring ◽  
Video Stream ◽  
Video Data ◽  
Work Processes ◽  
Underwater Robots ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Local Navigation ◽  
Slam Algorithm

Abstract The work processes of the ORB-SLAM algorithm are presented. The results of experimental studies on temporal comparisons of the operation of the algorithm with different parameters and cameras are presented. The necessity of forming a visual odometry (VO) system as a local navigation of remote-controlled and autonomous underwater robots has been substantiated. The two most suitable odometry methods in the underwater environment are described, such as their advantages and disadvantages. The work processes of the ORB-SLAM algorithm are presented. The results of experimental studies on temporal comparisons of the operation of the algorithm with different parameters and cameras are presented. The procedure for preparing video data is described: processing a video stream, adjusting camera parameters for calibration. The experiments represent the testing of the ORB-SLAM3 algorithm on a sample of video filmed as part of the ecological monitoring of the Caspian shelf in 2020.

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