Engineering Commons^™

An Integrated Neuroimaging Approach For The Prediction And Analysis Of Alzheimer’S Disease And Its Prodromal Stages, Qi Zhou

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation proposes to combine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) and a neuropsychological test, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), as input to a multidimensional space for the classification of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and it’s prodromal stages including amnestic MCI (aMCI) and non-amnestic MCI (naMCI). An assessment is provided on the effect of different MRI normalization techniques on the prediction of AD. Statistically significant variables selected for each combination model were used to construct the classification space using support vector machines. To combine MRI and PET, orthogonal partial least squares to latent structures is used as a multivariate analysis …

Predicting Cross-Gaming Propensity Using E-Chaid Analysis, Eunju Suh, Matt Alhaery

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

Cross-selling different types of games could provide an opportunity for casino operators to generate additional time and money spent on gaming from existing patrons. One way to identify the patrons who are likely to cross-play is mining individual players’ gaming data using predictive analytics. Hence, this study aims to predict casino patrons’ propensity to play both slots and table games, also known as cross-gaming, by applying a data-mining algorithm to patrons’ gaming data. The Exhaustive Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detector (E-CHAID) method was employed to predict cross-gaming propensity. The E-CHAID models based on the gaming-related behavioral data produced actionable model accuracy …

An Evaluation Of The Use Of Diversity To Improve The Accuracy Of Predicted Ratings In Recommender Systems, Gillian Browne

Dissertations

The diversity; versus accuracy trade off, has become an important area of research within recommender systems as online retailers attempt to better serve their customers and gain a competitive advantage through an improved customer experience. This dissertation attempted to evaluate the use of diversity measures in predictive models as a means of improving predicted ratings. Research literature outlines a number of influencing factors such as personality, taste, mood and social networks in addition to approaches to the diversity challenge post recommendation. A number of models were applied included DecisionStump, Linear Regression, J48 Decision Tree and Naive Bayes. Various evaluation metrics …

Human Performance Engineering Approach, Dotan I. Shvorin

Dr. Dotan Shvorin

Wavelet-Based Non-Homogeneous Hidden Markov Chain Model For Hyperspectral Signature Classification, Siwei Feng

Masters Theses

Hyperspectral signature classification is a kind of quantitative analysis approach for hyperspectral imagery which performs detection and classification of the constituent materials at pixel level in the scene. The classification procedure can be operated directly on hyperspectral data or performed by using some features extracted from corresponding hyperspectral signatures containing information like signature energy or shape. In this paper, we describe a technique that applies non-homogeneous hidden Markov chain (NHMC) models to hyperspectral signature classification. The basic idea is to use statistical models (NHMC models) to characterize wavelet coefficients which capture the spectrum structural information at multiple levels. Experimental results …

A New Hybrid Support Vector Machine-Wavelet Transform Approach For Estimation Of Horizontal Global Solar Radiation

Faculty of Engineering University of Malaya

In this paper, a new hybrid approach by combining the Support Vector Machine (SVM) with Wavelet Transform (WT) algorithm is developed to predict horizontal global solar radiation. The predictions are conducted on both daily and monthly mean scales for an Iranian coastal city. The proposed SVM-WT method is compared against other existing techniques to demonstrate its efficiency and viability. Three different sets of parameters are served as inputs to establish three models. The results indicate that the model using relative sunshine duration, difference between air temperatures, relative humidity, average temperature and extraterrestrial solar radiation as inputs shows higher performance than …

Soft Computing Methodologies For Estimation Of Bridge Girder Forces With Perforations Under Tsunami Wave Loading

Faculty of Engineering University of Malaya

Tsunamis pose a great threat to coastal infrastructures. Bridges without adequate provisions for earthquake and tsunami loading generally are vulnerable when a tsunami occurs. During the last two disastrous tsunami events (i.e., the tsunami in the Indian Ocean and the tsunami that struck Japan), many bridges were damaged by the waves created by the tsunamis. In this paper, in order to address this crucial problem, we used soft computing techniques to design and develop a process that simulates the effects of perforations in the girders of bridges on reducing the forces applied on the bridge when a tsunami occurs. Soft …

Probabilistic Ensemble Fuzzy Artmap Optimization Using Hierarchical Parallel Genetic Algorithms

Faculty of Engineering University of Malaya

In this study, a comprehensive methodology for overcoming the design problem of the Fuzzy ARTMAP neural network is proposed. The issues addressed are the sequence of training data for supervised learning and optimum parameter tuning for parameters such as baseline vigilance. A genetic algorithm search heuristic was chosen to solve this multi-objective optimization problem. To further augment the ARTMAP's pattern classification ability, multiple ARTMAPs were optimized via genetic algorithm and assembled into a classifier ensemble. An optimal ensemble was realized by the inter-classifier diversity of its constituents. This was achieved by mitigating convergence in the genetic algorithms by employing a …

Video Classification Based On Spatial Gradient And Optical Flow Descriptors, Xiaolin Tang, Abdesselam Bouzerdoum, Son Lam Phung

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

Feature point detection and local feature extraction are the two critical steps in trajectory-based methods for video classification. This paper proposes to detect trajectories by tracking the spatiotemporal feature points in salient regions instead of the entire frame. This strategy significantly reduces noisy feature points in the background region, and leads to lower computational cost and higher discriminative power of the feature set. Two new spatiotemporal descriptors, namely the STOH and RISTOH are proposed to describe the spatiotemporal characteristics of the moving object. The proposed method for feature point detection and local feature extraction is applied for human action recognition. …

A New Approach For Classification And Characterization Of Voltage Dips And Swells Using 3d Polarization Ellipse Parameters, Mollah R. Alam, Kashem M. Muttaqi, Abdesselam Bouzerdoum

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

This paper presents a new method for classification and characterization of voltage dips and swells in electricity networks. The proposed method exploits unique signatures and parameters of three phase voltage signals extracted from the polarization ellipse in three-dimensional (3D) co-ordinates. Five ellipse parameters, which include azimuthal angle, elevation, tilt, semi-minor axis and semi-major axis, are used to classify and characterize voltage dips and swells. Seven types of voltage dips, which include a total of 19 groups of dips incorporating different kinds of balanced (three-phase dips) and unbalanced (single-phase or double-phase) dips, are identified and successfully classified using the 3D polarization …

Functional Brain Network Classification With Compact Representation Of Sice Matrices, Jianjia Zhang, Luping Zhou, Lei Wang, Wanqing Li

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

Recently, sparse inverse covariance estimation (SICE) technique has been employed to model functional brain connectivity. The inverse covariance matrix (SICE matrix in short) estimated for each subject is used as a representation of brain connectivity to discriminate Alzheimers disease from normal controls. However, we observed that direct use of the SICE matrix does not necessarily give satisfying discrimination, due to its high dimensionality and the scarcity of training subjects. Looking into this problem, we argue that the intrinsic dimensionality of these SICE matrices shall be much lower, considering i) an SICE matrix resides on a Riemannian manifold of symmetric positive …

Classification Of Micro-Doppler Signatures Of Human Motions Using Log-Gabor Filters, Fok Hing Chi Tivive, Son Lam Phung, Abdesselam Bouzerdoum

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

In recent years, Doppler radar has been used as a sensing modality for human gait recognition, due to its ability to operate in adverse weather and penetrate opaque obstacles. Doppler radar captures not only the speed of the target, but also the micro-motions of its moving parts. These micro-motions induce frequency modulations that can be used to characterise the target movements. However, a major challenge in Doppler signal processing is to extract discriminative features from the radar returns for target classification. This study presents a feature extraction method for classification of human motions from the micro-Doppler radar signal. The proposed …

Towards Closed-Loop Deep Brain Stimulation: Behavior Recognition From Human Stn, Soroush Niketeghad

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) provides significant therapeutic benefit for movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease (PD). Current DBS devices lack real-time feedback (thus are open loop) and stimulation parameters are adjusted during scheduled visits with a clinician. A closed-loop DBS system may reduce power consumption and side effects by adjusting stimulation parameters based on patient’s behavior. Thus behavior detection is a major step in designing such systems. Various physiological signals can be used to recognize the behaviors. Subthalamic Nucleus (STN) Local field Potential (LFP) is a great candidate signal for the neural feedback, because it can be recorded from the …

Identification Of Geostationary Satellites Using Polarization Data From Unresolved Images, Andy Speicher

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In order to protect critical military and commercial space assets, the United States Space Surveillance Network must have the ability to positively identify and characterize all space objects. Unfortunately, positive identification and characterization of space objects is a manual and labor intensive process today since even large telescopes cannot provide resolved images of most space objects. Since resolved images of geosynchronous satellites are not technically feasible with current technology, another method of distinguishing space objects was explored that exploits the polarization signature from unresolved images.

The objective of this study was to collect and analyze visible-spectrum polarization data from unresolved …

Intelligent Network Intrusion Detection Using An Evolutionary Computation Approach, Samaneh Rastegari

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

With the enormous growth of users' reliance on the Internet, the need for secure and reliable computer networks also increases. Availability of effective automatic tools for carrying out different types of network attacks raises the need for effective intrusion detection systems.

Generally, a comprehensive defence mechanism consists of three phases, namely, preparation, detection and reaction. In the preparation phase, network administrators aim to find and fix security vulnerabilities (e.g., insecure protocol and vulnerable computer systems or firewalls), that can be exploited to launch attacks. Although the preparation phase increases the level of security in a network, this will never completely …

Vehicle Tracking And Classification Via 3d Geometries For Intelligent Transportation Systems, William Mcdowell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, we present generalized techniques which allow for the tracking and classification of vehicles by tracking various Point(s) of Interest (PoI) on a vehicle. Tracking the various PoI allows for the composition of those points into 3D geometries which are unique to a given vehicle type. We demonstrate this technique using passive, simulated image based sensor measurements and three separate inertial track formulations. We demonstrate the capability to classify the 3D geometries in multiple transform domains (PCA & LDA) using Minimum Euclidean Distance, Maximum Likelihood and Artificial Neural Networks. Additionally, we demonstrate the ability to fuse separate classifiers …

Novel Classification Of Slow Movement Objects In Urban Traffic Environments Using Wideband Pulse Doppler Radar, Berta Rodriguez Hervas

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Every year thousands of people are involved in traffic accidents, some of which are fatal. An important percentage of these fatalities are caused by human error, which could be prevented by increasing the awareness of drivers and the autonomy of vehicles. Since driver assistance systems have the potential to positively impact tens of millions of people, the purpose of this research is to study the micro-Doppler characteristics of vulnerable urban traffic components, i.e. pedestrians and bicyclists, based on information obtained from radar backscatter, and to develop a classification technique that allows automatic target recognition with a vehicle integrated system. For …

A Comparative Study Of Two Different Fpga-Based Arrhythmia Classifier Architectures, Ahmet Turan Özdemi̇r, Kenan Danişman

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

Early diagnosis of dangerous heart conditions is very important for the treatment of heart diseases and for the prevention of sudden cardiac death. Automatic electrocardiogram (ECG) arrhythmia classifiers are essential to timely diagnosis. However, most of the medical diagnosis systems proposed in the literature are software-based. This work focused on the hardware implementation of a mobile artificial neural network (ANN)-based arrhythmia classifier that is implemented on a field programmable gate array (FPGA) as a single chip solution, as an alternative to various software models of ANNs. Due to the parallel nature of ANNs, hardware implementation of ANNs needs a large …

Contrast Pattern Aided Regression And Classification, Vahid Taslimitehrani

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Regression and classification techniques play an essential role in many data mining tasks and have broad applications. However, most of the state-of-the-art regression and classification techniques are often unable to adequately model the interactions among predictor variables in highly heterogeneous datasets. New techniques that can effectively model such complex and heterogeneous structures are needed to significantly improve prediction accuracy. In this dissertation, we propose a novel type of accurate and interpretable regression and classification models, named as Pattern Aided Regression (PXR) and Pattern Aided Classification (PXC) respectively. Both PXR and PXC rely on identifying regions in the data space where …