In this paper we have studied the driftless control system on a Lie group which arises due to the invariance of Black-Scholes equation by conformal transformations. These type of studies are possible as Black-Scholes equation can be mapped to one dimensional free Schrödinger equation. In particular we have studied the controllability, optimal control of the resulting dynamics as well as stability aspects of this system.We have also found out the trajectories of the states of the system through two unconventional integrators along with conventional Runge-Kutta integrator.

Biometrics provide an alternative to passwords and pins for authentication. The emergence of machine learning algorithms provides an easy and economical solution to authentication problems. The phases of speaker verification protocol are training, enrollment of speakers and evaluation of unknown voice. In this paper, we addressed text independent speaker verification using Siamese convolutional network. Siamese networks are twin networks with shared weights. Feature space can be learnt easily by training these networks even if similar observations are placed in proximity. Extracted features from Siamese then can be classified using difference or correlation measures. We have implemented a customized scoring scheme that utilizes Siamese’ capability of applying distance measures with the convolutional learning. Experiments made on cross language audios of multi-lingual speakers confirm the capability of our architecture to handle gender, age and language independent speaker verification. Moreover, our designed Siamese network, SpeakerNet, provided better results than the existing speaker verification approaches by decreasing the equal error rate to 0.02.

In this paper, a modified sound quality evaluation (SQE) model is developed based on combination of an optimized artificial neural network (ANN) and the wavelet packet transform (WPT). The presented SQE model is a signal processing technique, which can be implemented in current microphones for predicting the sound quality. The proposed method extracts objective psychoacoustic metrics including loudness, sharpness, roughness, and tonality from sound samples, by using a special selection of multi-level nodes of the WPT combined with a trained ANN. The model is optimized using the particle swarm optimization (PSO) and the back propagation (BP) algorithms. The obtained results reveal that the proposed model shows the lowest mean square error and the highest correlation with human perception while it has the lowest computational cost compared to those of the other models and software.

The development of in vitro embryo production (IVEP) techniques in Felis catus is a fitting model with potential application to the conservation of endangered felid species. To improve the quality of IVEP techniques an appropriate balance of pro- and antioxidants should be provided. Under in vitro conditions, high levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT) mRNA provide a defence mechanism against oxidative stress for embryos. In order to improve the development of cat oocytes, the effects of SOD and CAT supplemented to in vitro maturation (IVM) medium and of GPx supplemented to in vitro fertilization (IVF) medium on development and embryo production in vitro were evaluated. Data showed an increase of 70 and 77 % of cleaved embryo and blastocyst formation, respectively, in the experiment with SOD and CAT addition to IVM medium; in the experiment with GPx addition to IVF medium the number of cleaved embryos doubled and the number of embryos increased by 96 %. Therefore, our results were positive and encourage us to continue studies on cat oocytes evaluating the effects of various dosages and combination of antioxidants.

During the Brexit campaign, both those who opted for Britain leaving the EU and those who wanted to remain in the structures of the Union referred to William Shakespeare to support the rightness of their preference. The question of how Shakespeare would have voted was raised by numerous journalists, writers and politicians who either tried to present Shakespeare as a national bard promoting British isolationism or a staunch adherent of England being an integral part of the European continent. The paper scrutinizes some aspects of Shakespeare’s plays which indicate the writer’s attitude towards the relations between England and Europe.

In this research work, the Ti-6Al-4V material was used for the investigation of machining parameters by means of hybrid micro electrical discharge machining to improve the machining process and reduce the negative effects of debris accumulation in the drilled hole. L9 orthogonal array was used in the Taguchi based grey relational analysis to optimize the parameters such as material removal rate and diametrical accuracy of the machining process for Ti-6Al-4V. This work encompasses the design, development, and calibration of the work piece vibration platform and experimental analysis of the process parameters by means of the hybrid micro electrical discharge machining process. The maximum material removal rate and minimum surface roughness was observed at the current value of 2.5 A, pulse on time is 2 µs and pulse off time is 14.5 µs. The maximum material removal rate was observed for the increase in pulse on time with 14.4  µs and 4 A current level. The diametrical accuracy of the microholes was increased while increasing the pulse off time and decreasing the pulse on time. The fluid flow simulation has been conducted to find out the pressure drop and to know the velocity of the flow inside the hole for the effective flushing of the debris during machining.

This paper presents probabilistic assessment of load-bearing capacity and reliability for different STM of beams loaded with a torsional and bending moment. Three beams having different reinforcement arrangement obtained on the basis of STM but the same overall geometry and loading pattern were analysed. Stochastic modelling of this beams were performed in order to assess probabilistic load-bearing capacity. In the analysis, the random character of input data - concrete and steel was assumed. During the randomization of variables the Monte Carlo simulation with the reduce the number of simulations the Latin Hypercube Sampling (LHS) method was applied. The use of simulation methods allows for approximation of implicit response functions for complex in description and non-linear reinforced concrete structures. On the basis of the analyses and examples presented in the paper, it has been shown that the adoption of different ST models determines the different reliability of the analysed systems and elements.

The constrained averaged controllability of linear one-dimensional heat equation defined on R and R+ is studied. The control is carried out by means of the time-dependent intensity of a heat source located at an uncertain interval of the corresponding domain, the end-points of which are considered as uniformly distributed random variables. Employing the Green’s function approach, it is shown that the heat equation is not constrained averaged controllable neither in R nor in R+. Sufficient conditions on initial and terminal data for the averaged exact and approximate controllabilities are obtained. However, constrained averaged controllability of the heat equation is established in the case of point heat source, the location of which is considered as a uniformly distributed random variable. Moreover, it is obtained that the lack of averaged controllability occurs for random variables with arbitrary symmetric density function.

The technical requirements for the determination of physical parameters of vibration isolating material have not been standardized in Europe and Poland yet, which significantly hinders the ability to compare vibration isolating materials offered on the market. Therefore, there is a need for establishing a norm that could be applied both for the determination of the physico-mechanical properties of elastic vibration isolation elements in rail transport for domestic and foreign producers as well as in their selection for application in a specific vibration isolation system. The paper presents a proposal to standardize the methodology of the estimation of vibration isolation materials physical parameters authorized for use in vibration isolation systems used in rail transport. Methodology for measuring the physico-mechanical parameters of vibration isolating material presented in the paper forms uniform test procedure developed based on a fragmentary norms for flexible materials testing. The use of the proposed research methodology enables the creation of a unified database of elastic materials which parameters will be easy to compare, and choice between them will become easier for designers of vibration isolation systems used in rail transport.

The knowledge about membrane contactors is growing rapidly but is still insufficient for a reliable designing. This paper presents a new type of membrane contactors that are integrated with one of the following ways of separation by using absorbents, micelles, flocculants, functionalized polymers, molecular imprints, or other methods that are based on aggregation. The article discusses methods for designing multi-stage cascade, usually counter-current. At every stage of this cascade, relevant aggregates are retained by the membrane, while the permeate passes freely through membrane. The process takes place in the membrane boundary layer with a local cross-flow of the permeate and the retentate. So the whole system can be called a cross-counter-current. The process kinetics, k, must be coordinated with the permeate flux, J, and the rate of surface renewal of the sorbent on the membrane surface, s. This can be done by using ordinary back-flushing or relevant hydrodynamic method of sweeping, such as: turbulences, shear stresses or lifting forces. A surface renewal model has been applied to adjust the optimal process conditions to sorbent kinetics. The experimental results confirmed the correctness of the model and its suitability for design of the new type of contactors.

The electrical power drawn by an induction motor is distorted in case of appearance of a certain type of failures. Under spectral analysis of the instantaneous power one obtains the components which are connected with definite types of damage. An analysis of the amplitudes and frequencies of the components allows to recognize the type of fault.

The paper presents a metrological analysis of the measurement system used for diagnosis of induction motor bearings, based on the analysis of the instantaneous power. This system was implemented as a set of devices with dedicated software installed on a PC. A number of measurements for uncertainty estimation was carried out. The results of the measurements are presented in the paper. The results of the aforementioned analysis helped to determine the measurement uncertainty which can be expected during bearing diagnostic measurements, by the method relying on measurement and analysis of the instantaneous power of an induction machine.

Sapelovirus A (SV-A) is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus which is associated with acute diarrhea, pneumonia and reproductive disorders. The virus capsid is composed of four proteins, and the functions of the structural proteins are unclear. In this study, we expressed SV-A structural protein VP1 and studied its antigenicity and immunogenicity. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed that the target gene was expressed at high levels at 0.6 mM concentration of IPTG for 24 h. The mouse polyclonal antibody against SV-A VP1 protein was produced and reached a high antiserum titer (1: 2,048,000). Immunized mice sera with the recombinant SV-A VP1 protein showed specific recognition of purified VP1 protein by western blot assay and could recognize native SV-A VP1 protein in PK-15 cells infected with SV-A by indirect immunofluorescence assay. The successfully purified recombinant protein was able to preserve its antigenic determinants and the generated mouse anti-SV-A VP1 antibodies could recognize native SV-A, which may have the potential to be used to detect SV-A infection in pigs.