Extracting fingerprint features using textures

Personal identification of individuals is becoming increasingly adopted in society today. Due to the large number of electronic systems that require human identification, faster and more secure identification systems are pursued. Biometrics is based upon the physical characteristics of individuals; of these the fingerprint is the most common as used within law enforcement. Fingerprint-based systems have been introduced into the society but have not been well received due to relatively high rejection rates and false acceptance rates. This limited acceptance of fingerprint identification systems requires new techniques to be investigated to improve this identification method and the acceptance of the technology within society. Electronic fingerprint identification provides a method of identifying an individual within seconds quickly and easily. The fingerprint must be captured instantly to allow the system to identify the individual without any technical user interaction to simplify system operation. The performance of the entire system relies heavily on the quality of the original fingerprint image that is captured digitally. A single fingerprint scan for verification makes it easier for users accessing the system as it replaces the need to remember passwords or authorisation codes. The identification system comprises of several components to perform this function, which includes a fingerprint sensor, processor, feature extraction and verification algorithms. A compact texture feature extraction method will be implemented within an embedded microprocessor-based system for security, performance and cost effective production over currently available commercial fingerprint identification systems. To perform these functions various software packages are available for developing programs for windows-based operating systems but must not constrain to a graphical user interface alone. MATLAB was the software package chosen for this thesis due to its strong mathematical library, data analysis and image analysis libraries and capability. MATLAB enables the complete fingerprint identification system to be developed and implemented within a PC environment and also to be exported at a later date directly to an embedded processing environment. The nucleus of the fingerprint identification system is the feature extraction approach presented in this thesis that uses global texture information unlike traditional local information in minutiae-based identification methods. Commercial solid-state sensors such as the type selected for use in this thesis have a limited contact area with the fingertip and therefore only sample a limited portion of the fingerprint. This limits the number of minutiae that can be extracted from the fingerprint and as such limits the number of common singular points between two impressions of the same fingerprint. The application of texture feature extraction will be tested using variety of fingerprint images to determine the most appropriate format for use within the embedded system. This thesis has focused on designing a fingerprint-based identification system that is highly expandable using the MATLAB environment. The main components that are defined within this thesis are the hardware design, image capture, image processing and feature extraction methods. Selection of the final system components for this electronic fingerprint identification system was determined by using specific criteria to yield the highest performance from an embedded processing environment. These platforms are very cost effective and will allow fingerprint-based identification technology to be implemented in more commercial products that can benefit from the security and simplicity of a fingerprint identification system.

Process analysis of the solution strategies used for problems contained in the Minnesota Paper Board Form Board test

This thesis reviews progress toward an understanding of the processes involved in the solution of spatial problems. Previous work employing factor analysis and information processing analysis is reviewed and the emphasis on variations in speed and accuracy as the major contributers to individual differences is noted. It is argued that the strategy used by individuals is a preferable explanatory concept for identifying the cognitive substratum necessary for problem solving. Using the protocols obtained from subjects solving The Minnesota Paper Form Board (Revised), a test commonly regarded as measuring skill in spatial visualization, a number of different strategies are isolated. Assumptions as to the task variants which undergird these strategies are made and tested experimentally. The results suggest that task variants such as the size of the stimulus and the shape of the pieces interact with subject variables to produce the operating strategy. Skill in problem solving is revealed in the ability to structure the array, to hold a structured image and to reduce the number of answers requiring intensive processing. The interaction between task and subject variables results in appropriate or inappropriate strategies which in turn affect speed and accuracy. Results suggest that strategy formation and usage are the keys to explaining individual differences and an heuristic model is presented to explain the performance of individual subjects on the problems involved in the Minnesota Paper Form Board. The model can be used to predict performance on other tests; and as an aid to teaching subjects experiencing difficulties. The model presented incorporates strategy variation and is consequently mores complex than previously suggested models. It is argued that such complexity is necessary to explain the nature of a subject's performance and is also necessary to perform diagnostic evaluation. Certain structural -features of the Minnesota Paper Form Board are questioned and suggestions for improvement included. The essential explanatory function of the strategy in use makes the prevalent group administration approach suspect in the prediction of future performance in spatial or vocational activity.

Adolescent girls in physical education and sport : an analysis of influences on participation

This study investigates the influences on participation in physical activity of thirty adolescent girls from a metropolitan secondary school in Victoria. It seeks to understand how they perceived, experienced and explained their involvement or non involvement in both competitive and non competitive physical activity during four years of their secondary schooling. Participants experienced physical education as both a single sex group in Years 7 and 9 and a coeducational group in Years 8 and 10. They were exposed to a predominantly competitive curriculum in Years 7 to 9 and a less structured, more social, recreational program in Year 10. These experiences enabled them to compare the differences between class structures and activity programs and identify the significant issues which impacted on their participation. Large Australian population studies have revealed that fewer girls participated in sport and regular physical activity than boys. An important consequence is that girls miss out on the health benefits associated with participating in physical activity. Other research has found adolescence is the time that girls drop out of competitive sport. However, an important issue is whether girls who drop out of competitive sport cease to be involved in any physical activity. There are some studies which have reported good participation rates by adolescent girls in non competitive, recreational forms of physical activity and the possibility exists that they may drop out of competitive and into non competitive physical activity. This study primarily utilises a qualitative approach in contrast to previous studies which have largely relied upon the use of surveys and questionnaires. Whilst quantitative research has provided useful information about the bigger picture, there are limitations caused by reliance on the researchers' own interpretations of the data. Additionally there is no opportunity for any clarification and explanation of findings and trends by the respondents themselves. The current study utilized qualitative individual and collective interviews in three stages. Questions were asked in the broad areas of coeducation and single sex classes, preferences for competitive or recreational activity and body image issues. Some quantitative information focusing on nature and extent of current activity patterns was also gathered in the first stage. Thirty Year 10 girls participated in individual first interviews. Nine selected girls then took part in the second (individual) and third (collective) interview stages. Results revealed three groups based on the nature of physical activity involvement: [1] competitive activity group, [2] social activity group and [3] transition group. The transition group represented those who were in the process of withdrawing from competitive sport to take up more non competitive, recreational activity. The most significant difference between groups was skill level. On the whole those entering adolescence with the highest skill levels, such as those in the competitive group, were the most confident and relished competing against others. The social group was low in skill and confidence and had predominantly negative experiences in physical education and sport because their deficiencies were plainly visible to all. Similarly, a lack of skill improvement relative to those of 'better performers' affected the interest and confidence levels of those in the transition group. Boys' domination in coeducational classes through verbal and physical intimidation of the less competent and confident girls and exclusion of very competent girls was a major issue. Social and transition group members demonstrated compliance with boys' power by hanging back and sitting out of competitive activities. Conversely, the competitive group resisted boy's attempts to dominate but had to work hard to demonstrate their athletic capabilities in order to do so. Body image issues such as the skimpy physical education and sport uniform along with body revealing activities such as swimming and gymnastics, heightened feelings of self-consciousness and embarrassment for most girls. When strategies were adopted by social and transition group members to avoid any body exposure or physical humiliation, participation levels were subsequently affected. However, where girls felt confident about their physical abilities and body image, they were able to ignore their unflattering uniforms and thus participation was unaffected. Specific teaching practices such as giving more attention to boys, for example by segregating the sexes in mixed classes to focus attention on boys, reinforced stereotypical notions of gender and contributed to the inequities for girls in physical education. The competitive group were frustrated with having to prove themselves as capable as boys in order to receive greater teacher attention. The transition group rejected teacher's attempts to coerce them into participating in the inter school sports program. The social group believed that teachers viewed and treated them less favourably than others because of their limited skills. Girls were not passive in the face of these obstacles. Rather than give up physical activity they disengaged from competitive sport and took up other forms of activity which they had the confidence to perform. These activity choices also reflected their expanding social interests such as spending time with male and female friends outside school and increased demands on their time by study and part time work commitments. This study not only highlighted the diversity and complexity of attitudes and behaviours of girls towards physical activity but also demonstrated that they display agency in making conscious, sensible decisions about their physical activity choices. Plain Language Summary of Thesis Adolescent girls in physical education and sport; An analysis of influences on participation by Julia Whitty Submitted for the degree of Master of Applied Science Deakin University Supervisor: Dr Judy Ann Jones This study investigates the influences on participation in physical activity of thirty adolescent girls from a metropolitan secondary school in Victoria in order to understand how girls' perceived, experienced and explained their involvement or non involvement in both competitive and non competitive physical activity. Qualitative individual and collective interviews were conducted. Questions focussed on attitudes about coeducation and single sex classes, preferences for competitive or recreational activity and feelings about body image. Some quantitative information about the nature and extent of current activity patterns was also gathered in the first stage. Thirty Year 10 girls participated in individual first interviews. Nine selected girls then took part in the second (individual) and third (collective) interview stages. Results revealed three clearly different groups based on the nature of physical activity involvement (1) Competitive, (2) Social and (3) Transition (those in the process of withdrawing from competitive sport to take up more non competitive, recreational activity). The major difference between groups was skill level. Those entering adolescence with the highest skill levels were more competent and confident in the coeducational and competitive sport setting. Other significant issues included boys' domination, body image and teaching behaviours and practices.

Fiji's tourism industry : a SWOT analysis

Within the last two decades Fiji’s tourism industry has grown dramatically, in the process overtaking the traditional export sector of sugar as the main foreign exchange earner and employment creator. Since Fiji depends enormously on tourism for its growth and development, this paper provides an analysis of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats on
the tourism industry. The paper aims to provide a clear picture of the tourism industry in Fiji and attempts to provide information, particularly to the policy makers, that will assist them in making policy decisions regarding the future growth and development of the industry - at a time when the industry's image has been tarnished as a consequence of Fiji's third coup in May 2000. The paper also provides some recommendations that need to be considered by policy makers and incorporated into any future development plans on the Fiji tourism industry.

Painting that moves : digital realism and the single moving image

Explores space and object relations in a digital 3-D animation production, "Moving-Image". The exegesis examines these relations through an analysis of pictorial realism in painting. The illusion of three dimensional forms in the space of the computer screen is contextualised by investigation of the work's underlying digital conditions.

Electron backscattering diffraction analysis of a reconstructed wootz damascus steel blade

The historical impact and subsequent fame of wootz weaponry in the ancient world has created interest in what has come to be seen as an advanced material even by modern standards. Ancient wootz artifacts are classed as high carbon (hypereutectoid) crucible steels and are characterised by high strength, hardness and wear resistance, but especially by their attractive surface pattern.

An embedded two-layer feature selection approach for microarray data analysis

Feature selection is an important technique in dealing with application problems with large number of variables and limited training samples, such as image processing, combinatorial chemistry, and microarray analysis. Commonly employed feature selection strategies can be divided into filter and wrapper. In this study, we propose an embedded two-layer feature selection approach to combining the advantages of filter and wrapper algorithms while avoiding their drawbacks. The hybrid algorithm, called GAEF (Genetic Algorithm with embedded filter), divides the feature selection process into two stages. In the first stage, Genetic Algorithm (GA) is employed to pre-select features while in the second stage a filter selector is used to further identify a small feature subset for accurate sample classification. Three benchmark microarray datasets are used to evaluate the proposed algorithm. The experimental results suggest that this embedded two-layer feature selection strategy is able to improve the stability of the selection results as well as the sample classification accuracy.

Corporate image in the leisure services sector

Purpose – This paper seeks to empirically examine the relationship between corporate image and customer satisfaction in the leisure services sector. It also aims to examine the mediating impact of employees and servicescape on this relationship.
Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from a sample of 195 individuals who had visited an Australian zoological garden over a specified time period. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test the validity of the measures, whilst structural equation modelling and multiple regression were used in hypothesis testing.
Findings – Findings reveal that corporate image has a significant positive relationship with customer satisfaction. Although the results indicate that the relationship between corporate image and customer satisfaction is not mediated by either servicescape or employees, they imply that corporate image and employees directly influence customer satisfaction.
Research limitations/implications – A single-case study design was implemented, limiting the generalisability of the findings. This provides an opportunity for replication of the model in other leisure services environments and services contexts outside the leisure services industry.
Practical implications – The findings reinforce the need for leisure services operators to prioritise the development of a strong, clear corporate image. The extended analysis illustrates that the disaggregated dimensions of corporate image are valuable to consider in terms of directing managerial strategy. Employees and servicescape are key aspects of the service offer on which management needs to focus to ensure that their desired corporate image is communicated and reinforced.
Originality/value – This study addresses an identified need to further examine the relationship between corporate image and customer satisfaction. It also contributes to corporate branding research by broadening the conceptualisation of the corporate image construct. Moreover, this study contributes to the corporate image literature by examining the mediating factors of employees and servicescape.

An open source approach for regional cortical bone mineral density analysis

Objective: Cortical porosity, particularly at the endocortical region, is recognised to play a central role in the pathogenesis of bone fragility. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to: 1) demonstrate how cortical volumetric BMD (vBMD) distribution can be analysed from (p)QCT images and 2) highlight the clinical significance of assessing regional density distribution of cortical bone. 

Methods: We used pQCT to compare mid-tibial cortical volumetric BMD distribution of 20 young (age 24(SD2) years, mass 77(11) kg, height 178(6) cm) and 25 elderly (72(4) years, 75(9) kg, 172(5) cm) men. Radial and polar cortical vBMD distributions were analysed using a custom built open source analysis tool which allowed the cortex to be divided into three concentric cortical divisions and in 36 cortical sectors originating from the centroid of the bone.

Results: Mean vBMD did not differ between the groups (1135(16) vs. 1130(28) mg/cm, P=0.696). In contrast, there was a significant age-group by radial division interaction for radial cortical vBMD (P<0.001).

Conclusions: The proposed analysis method for analysing cortical bone density distribution of pQCT images was effective for detecting regional differences in cortical density between young and elderly men, which would have been missed by just looking at mean vBMD values.

Graph matching with subdivision surfaces for texture synthesis on surfaces

Existing texture synthesis-from-example strategies for polygon meshes typically make use of three components: a multi-resolution mesh hierarchy that allows the overall nature of the pattern to be reproduced before filling in detail; a matching strategy that extends the synthesized texture using the best fit from a texture sample; and a transfer mechanism that copies the selected portion of the texture sample to the target surface. We introduce novel alternatives for each of these components. Use of p2-subdivision surfaces provides the mesh hierarchy and allows fine control over the surface complexity. Adaptive subdivision is used to create an even vertex distribution over the surface. Use of the graph defined by a surface region for matching, rather than a regular texture neighbourhood, provides for flexible control over the scale of the texture and allows simultaneous matching against multiple levels of an image pyramid created from the texture sample. We use graph cuts for texture transfer, adapting this scheme to the context of surface synthesis. The resulting surface textures are realistic, tolerant of local mesh detail and are comparable to results produced by texture neighbourhood sampling approaches.

Dynamic analysis of drug-induced cytotoxicity using chip-based dielectrophoretic cell immobilization technology

Quantification of programmed and accidental cell death provides useful end-points for the anticancer drug efficacy assessment. Cell death is, however, a stochastic process. Therefore, the opportunity to dynamically quantify individual cellular states is advantageous over the commonly employed static, end-point assays. In this work, we describe the development and application of a microfabricated, dielectrophoretic (DEP) cell immobilization platform for the realtime analysis of cancer drug-induced cytotoxicity. Microelectrode arrays were designed to generate weak electro-thermal vortices that support efficient drug mixing and rapid cell immobilization at the delta-shape regions of strong electric field formed between the opposite microelectrodes. We applied this technology to the dynamic analysis of hematopoietic tumor cells that represent a particular challenge for real-time imaging due to their dislodgement during image acquisition. The present study was designed to provide a comprehensive mechanistic rationale for accelerated cell-based assays on DEP chips using real-time labeling with cell permeability markers. In this context, we provide data on the complex behavior of viable vs dying cells in the DEP fields and probe the effects of DEP fields upon cell responses to anticancer drugs and overall bioassay performance. Results indicate that simple DEP cell immobilization technology can be readily applied for the dynamic analysis of investigational drugs in hematopoietic cancer cells. This ability is of particular importance in studying the outcome of patient derived cancer cells, when exposed to therapeutic drugs, as these cells are often rare and difficult to collect, purify and immobilize.

An integrated method of feature extraction and objective evaluation of fabric pilling

A pilled fabric image consists of sub-images of different frequency components, and the fabric texture and the pilling information are in different frequency bands. Interference from fabric background texture affects the accuracy of computer-aided pilling ratings. A new approach for pilling evaluation based on the multi-scale two-dimensional dualtree complex wavelet transform (CWT) is presented in this paper to extract the pilling information from pilled fabric images. The CWT method can effectively decompose the pilled fabric image with six orientations at different scales and reconstruct fabric background texture and pilling sub-images. This study used an energy analysis method to search for an optimum image decomposition scale and dynamically discriminate pilling image from noise, fabric texture, fabric surface unevenness, and illuminative variation in the pilled fabric image. For pilling objective rating, six parameters were extracted from the pilling image to describe pill properties. A Levenberg-Marquardt backpropagation neural rule was used as a classifier to classify the pilling grade. The proposed method was evaluated using knitted, woven, and nonwoven pilled fabric images photographed with a digital camera.

Stereo vision and wavelets/multiwavelets analysis : 3d reconstruction using wavelets/multiwavelets theory and stereo vision

During the image formation process of the camera, explicit 3D information about the scene or objects in the scene are lost. Therefore, 3D structure or depth information has to be inferred implicitly from the 2D intensity images. This problem is com- monly referred to as 3D reconstruction. In this work a complete 3D reconstruction algorithm is presented, capable of reconstructing dimensionally accurate 3D models of the objects, based on stereo vision and multi-resolution analysis. The developed system uses a reference depth model of the objects under observation to improve the disparity maps, estimated. Only a few features are extracted from that reference model, which are the relative location of the discontinuities and the z-dimensional extremes of objects depth. The maximum error deviation of the estimated depth along the surfaces is less than 0.5mm and along the discontinuities is less than 1.5mm. The developed system is invariant to illuminative variations, and orientation, location and scaling of the objects under consideration, which makes the developed system highly robust.

An analysis on human personality and hotel web design : a Kohonen network approach

Having an eye catching and attractive website could help hotels to compete in the vigorous online market. This study attempts to examine the relationship between human personality and the web design preferences. Kohonen Networks were adopted to cluster people with similar personality characteristics and identify their differences on web design preferences. Empirical results indicated people with similar personality traits have similar design preferences. For example, to attract those who got high scores in agreeableness, conscientiousness and openness but low score in neuroticism, a web page should start with a language selection page with introductory movie, one large image on the web page showing hotel interior design with hotel guest in the photo, and with background music.