9 research outputs found
A load-cell based in-bed body motion detection and classification system
No full textThe basic necessity of sleep in our life is critically important to ensure our wellbeing. Sufficient sleep of good quality is highly desired in order to have enough energy to live. One of the main factors to measure sleep quality is the amount of body motion during sleep. In-bed motion detection is an important technique that can enable an array of applications, among which are sleep monitoring and abnormal movement detection. When detection is combined with classification, it can be used to detect, notify, and recognize specific events, enabling us to focus on critical tasks. In this study, we present a low-cost, low-overhead, and highly robust system for in-bed movement detection and classification that uses low-end load cells. By observing the forces sensed by the load cells, placed under each bed leg, we can detect many different types of movements, and further classify them as big or small depending on magnitude of the force changes on the load cells. We have designed three different features, which we refer to as Log-Peak, Energy-Peak, and ZeroX-Valley, that can effectively extract body movement signals from load cell data that is collected through wireless links in an energy-efficient manner. After establishing feature values, we employ a simple threshold-based algorithm to detect and classify movements. We have conducted a thorough evaluation, that involves collecting data from 30 subjects who perform 27 pre-defined movements in an experiment. By comparing our detection and classification results against the ground truth captured by a video camera, we show the Log-Peak strategy can detect these 27 types of movements at an error rate of 6.3% while classifying them as big or small movements at an error rate of 4.2%. In the second part of this dissertation, we set out to achieve much finer body motion classification. Towards this goal, we define 9 classes of movements, and design a machine learning algorithm using Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Random Forest techniques to classify a movement into one of these 9 classes. In this way, we can find out which body parts are involved in every movement. For every movement, we have extracted 24 features and used them in our model. This movement classification system was evaluated on data collected from 40 subjects who performed 35 predefined movements in each experiment. The accuracy of our model is not the same for all classes of movements. On average, it correctly classifies 90% of movements. This model can be used conveniently for long-term home monitoring. To improve the classification accuracy, we investigate more machine learning techniques. We use Random Forest and XGBoost as additional classification tools. We apply multiple tree topologies for each technique to reach their best results. After examining various combinations, we achieve the final classification accuracy of 91.5%. Lastly, another in-bed motion detection system is built. We use a geophone sensor to detect body motions in bed, which we call MotionPhone. MotionPhone is more accurate in detecting motion but not efficient for classification purposes. We thus believe combining these two systems can give us better results. Both systems are unobtrusive, low-cost, and private, which can thus enable a large array of important applications.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical referencesby Musaab Adil Alazi
Intonation in Iraqi Musical Melodies
No full textThis paper deals with intonation in Iraqi musical melodies (MMs). As such, it aims to analyze the intonational patterns in the Iraqi music. The main musical melodies in the Iraqi music are Rast, Dasht, Hijaaz, Kurd, and Bayaat. In this vein, the current study attempts to answer the following questions: the current paper attempts to answer the following questions: (i) What are the intonational patterns of Iraqi MMs? And (ii) What is the additional function of intonation in MMs? In the light of these questions, the corner hypothesis is that Iraqi MMs have their own specific definable intonational patterns. On the basis of the analysis, it is concluded that intonation can be a useful tool for analyzing musical variations in the basic Iraqi MMs. Moreover, musical intonation, which is the task of musicologists, is accompanied by phonological intonation to create the final form of the melody. Finally, in addition to previous functions of intonation, such as grammatical, semantic, and so on, intonation has a new one, namely ‘musical function’ because it gives music special effects and evaluations
Influence of Socio-Cultural Aspects on the Production of Main Speech Acts in Mohammed Mahdi Al-Jawahiri's Poem 'O Sir! Inspire me
No full textRamadan Fasting and Complications of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: Impacts on Liver Cirrhosis and Heart Failure
No full textBackground: Metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and heart failure are two intersecting growing pandemics. Studies have demonstrated a strong association between MASLD and heart failure. Liver cirrhosis is a well-recognized complication of MASLD. This study aimed to summarize the potential effects of Ramadan fasting on MASLD, liver cirrhosis, and heart failure. The author searched the SCOPUS and PubMed databases using specific terms. The literature review focused on research articles published in English from 2000 to 2024. Twenty-two articles were selected for this narrative review. Ramadan fasting reduced serum cholesterol serum levels, improved symptoms of heart failure and reduced anthropometric measurements. However, it increased ascitic fluid production and plasma bilirubin levels and might increase the risk of hepatic encephalopathy and upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage in liver cirrhosis. Ramadan fasting might improve symptoms of heart failure and might decrease the risk of heart failure in patients with MASLD. Further research studies are needed to confirm the efficacy and evaluate the safety of Ramadan fasting in patients with heart failure and liver cirrhosis
Group Dynamics in the EFL Classroom: The Role of the Cohesive Group of Syrian Tertiary Learners
No full textAbstractGroup Dynamics is perceived by many, as one of the very critical sub disciplines in the social sciences for language teachers. Cohesiveness refers to the mutual support and commitment of group members to the group and to one another. In this paper, the author endeavors to explore factors with the potential to develop a cohesive language classroom environment. In this environment, initializing and sustaining co-operation and commitment is primarily sought. For reasons of convenience, 10 Syrian tertiary learners, aged 18-24, from different academic departments in the University of Aleppo, Syria, taking a general English course have been chosen to constitute the context of this present study. The paper highlights particular techniques utilized by the learners and pinpoints particular problems they encountered. It has been clearly noticed that learning is likely to be more fruitful when the group is cohesive, flagging the importance of raising the EFL teachers’ full cognizance about the efficacy and effectiveness of establishing cohesiveness in the EFL classroom. Subsequent to collecting and analyzing the data, the results strongly indicate that students’ classmates play an essential part in their learning and in their motivation as well
Corrigendum to Coital Incontinence: What Can We Learn From Urodynamic Assessment? [Urology 85 (2015) 1034-1038].
No full textThe authors regret the surname of the last author was misspelled. The byline to this Corrigendum is correct. The XML and online PDF of the article has been reposted and replaced. Unfortunately, the discovery of the error was too late to correct the printed issue. The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused. DOI of original article: 10.1016/j.urology.2015.02.007 From the Department of Urogynecology, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, Devon, UK; the Department of Urogynecology, Bristol Urological Institute, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK; Department of Urogynecology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; and the Department of Urogynecology, Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth, Devon, UK Address correspondence to: Musaab Yassin, [email protected]
Application of GIS-based machine learning algorithms for prediction of irrigational groundwater quality indices
No full textAgriculture is considered one of the primary elements for socioeconomic stability in most parts of Sudan. Consequently, the irrigation water should be properly managed to achieve sustainable crop yield and soil fertility. This research aims to predict the irrigation indices of sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), sodium percentage (Na%), permeability index (PI), and potential salinity (PS) using innovative machine learning (ML) techniques, including K-nearest neighbor (KNN), random forest (RF), support vector regression (SVR), and Gaussian process regression (GPR). Thirty-seven groundwater samples are collected and analyzed for twelve physiochemical parameters (TDS, pH, EC, TH, Ca+2, Mg+2, Na+, HCO3−, Cl, SO4−2, and NO3−) to assess the hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater and its suitability for irrigation purposes. The primary investigation indicated that the samples are dominated by Ca-Mg-HCO3 and Na-HCO3 water types resulted from groundwater recharge and ion exchange reactions. The observed irrigation indices of SAR, Na%, PI, and PS showed average values of 7, 42.5%, 64.7%, and 0.5, respectively. The ML modeling is based on the ion’s concentration as input and the observed values of the indices as output. The data is divided into two sets for training (70%) and validation (30%), and the models are validated using a 10-fold cross-validation technique. The models are tested with three statistical criteria, including mean square error (MSE), root means square error (RMSE), and correlation coefficient (R2). The SVR algorithm showed the best performance in predicting the irrigation indices, with the lowest RMSE value of 1.45 for SAR. The RMSE values for the other indices, Na%, PI, and PS, were 6.70, 7.10, and 0.55, respectively. The models were applied to digital predictive data in the Nile River area of Khartoum state, and the uncertainty of the maps was estimated by running the models 10 times iteratively. The standard deviation maps were generated to assess the model’s sensitivity to the data, and the uncertainty of the model can be used to identify areas where a denser sampling is needed to improve the accuracy of the irrigation indices estimates.Water Resource
Geophysical investigations for the identification of subsurface features influencing mineralization zones
No full textThe numerous hydrothermal alteration zones and subsurface structures affecting the mineralized deposits of the Dungash region were identified using aeromagnetic data. The Center of Exploration Targeting (CET) approach and several filters, such as reduction-to-pole, Tilt derivative, First Vertical Derivative, Horizontal gradient map, Downward continuation, analytical signal methods, regional, and residual separation, were used to analyze the aeromagnetic data. The research region is impacted by several structural trends running in the N-S, E-W, NW-SE, and NE-SW directions, and these trends are strongly related to the gold mineralization and surrounding hydrothermal alteration zones. In the NW-SE direction, four alteration zones have been identified. The research region's northern and eastern regions have shallower basement relief, with depths of only approximately 100 m, and those depths show that the area is rootless. Conversely, the basement relief and surface depths are lower in the study region's western and southern regions. The routes taken by the ascending hydrothermal fluids can be seen as aeromagnetic lineaments at the hydrothermal alteration zones. Mineralization appears to be linked to structural lineaments, as evidenced by airborne magnetic data. For gold prospecting, the aeromagnetic technique seems to be the most effective and efficient geophysical method because gold is typically found in severely deformed shear zones and faults.Water Resource
Investigation of petrophysical and hydrogeological parameters of the transboundary Nubian Aquifer system using geophysical methods
No full textThe recent research aims to investigate the petrophysical and hydrogeological parameters of the Nubian aquifer system (NAS) in Northern Khartoum State, Sudan, using integrated geophysical methods, including surface electrical resistivity and geophysical well-logging. The Nubian aquifer is a transboundary regional aquifer that covers vast areas in Sudan, Egypt, Libya and Chad. The well-logs, including self-potential (SP), natural gamma ray (GR), and long normal resistivity (RS), are integrated with Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) measurements to delineate the hydrostratigraphical units. As a result, two aquifers are detected. An upper aquifer comprises coarse sand with an average thickness of 50 m and a lower aquifer of sandstone with more than 200 m thickness. For a thorough evaluation of the aquifers, in the first stage, the petrophysical and hydrogeological parameters, including formation factor, total and effective porosity, shale volume, hydraulic conductivity, and transmissivity, are measured solely from geophysical well-logs. In the second step, the results of geophysical well logs are combined with VES and pumping test data to detect the spatial variation of the measured parameters over the study area. As a result, the hydraulic conductivity of the Nubian aquifers ranged from 1.9 to 7.8 m/day, while the transmissivity varied between 120 and 733 m2/day. These results indicated that the potentiality of the Nubian formation is high; however, in some regions, due to the sediment heterogeneity, the aquifers have intermediate to high potential. According to the obtained results, it can be concluded that the Nubian Aquifer in Khartoum state is ideal for groundwater development. This research discovered that geophysical approaches can be used to characterize moderately heterogeneous groundwater systems by comparing the Nubian aquifer with similar aquifer systems that have similar hydrogeological settings. This study emphasized the application of universal principles in extrapolating hydraulic parameters in hydrogeophysical surveys. This approach aims to reduce the costs and efforts associated with traditional hydrogeological approaches.Water Resource
