Abstract: Regression testing is a maintenance activity applied to
modified software to provide confidence that the changed parts are
correct and that the unchanged parts have not been adversely affected
by the modifications. Regression test selection techniques reduce the
cost of regression testing, by selecting a subset of an existing test
suite to use in retesting modified programs. This paper presents the
first general regression-test-selection technique, which based on code
and allows selecting test cases for any programs written in any
programming language. Then it handles incomplete program. We
also describe RTSDiff, a regression-test-selection system that
implements the proposed technique. The results of the empirical
studied that performed in four programming languages java, C#, Cµ
and Visual basic show that the efficiency and effective in reducing
the size of test suit.
Abstract: The introduction of mass-customization has enabled
new ways to treat patients within medicine. However, the
introduction of industrialized treatments has also meant new
obstacles. The purpose of this study was to introduce and
theoretically test a method for improving dental crown fit. The
optimization method allocates support points in order to check the
final variation for dental crowns. Three different types of geometries
were tested and compared. The three geometries were also divided
into three sub-geometries: Current method, Optimized method and
Feasible method. The Optimized method, using the whole surface for
support points, provided the best results. The results support the
objective of the study. It also seems that the support optimization
method can dramatically improve the robustness of dental crown
treatments.
Abstract: Today, canines are still used effectively in acceleration detection situation. However, this method is becoming impractical in modern age and a new automated replacement to the canine is required. This paper reports the design of an innovative accelerant detector. Designing an accelerant detector is a long process as is any design process; therefore, a solution to the need for a mobile, effective accelerant detector is hereby presented. The device is simple and efficient to ensure that any accelerant detection can be conducted quickly and easily. The design utilizes Ultra Violet (UV) light to detect the accelerant. When the UV light shines on an accelerant, the hydrocarbons in the accelerant emit florescence. The advantages of using the UV light to detect accelerant are also outlined in this paper. The mobility of the device is achieved by using a Direct Current (DC) motor to run tank tracks. Tank tracks were chosen as to ensure that the device will be mobile in the rough terrain of a fire site. The materials selected for the various parts are also presented. A Solid Works Simulation was also conducted on the stresses in the shafts and the results are presented. This design is an innovative solution which offers a user friendly interface. The design is also environmentally friendly, ecologically sound and safe to use.
Abstract: Supplier appraisal fosters energy in Supply Chain
Management and helps in best optimization of viable business
partners for a company. Many Decision Making techniques have
already been proposed by researchers for supplier-s appraisal.
However, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is assumed to be the
most structured technique to attain near-best solution of the problem.
This paper focuses at implementation of AHP in the procurement
processes. It also suggests that on what factors a Public Sector
Enterprises must focus while dealing with their suppliers and what
should the suppliers do to synchronize their activities with the
strategic objectives of Organization. It also highlights the weak areas
in supplier appraisal process with a view to suggest viable
recommendations.
Abstract: Image watermarking has become an important tool for
intellectual property protection and authentication. In this paper a
watermarking technique is suggested that incorporates two
watermarks in a host image for improved protection and robustness.
A watermark, in form of a PN sequence (will be called the secondary
watermark), is embedded in the wavelet domain of a primary
watermark before being embedded in the host image. The technique
has been tested using Lena image as a host and the camera man as
the primary watermark. The embedded PN sequence was detectable
through correlation among other five sequences where a PSNR of
44.1065 dB was measured. Furthermore, to test the robustness of the
technique, the watermarked image was exposed to four types of
attacks, namely compression, low pass filtering, salt and pepper noise
and luminance change. In all cases the secondary watermark was
easy to detect even when the primary one is severely distorted.
Abstract: In this work we introduce an efficient method to limit
the impact of the hiding process on the quality of the cover speech.
Vector quantization of the speech spectral information reduces drastically
the number of the secret speech parameters to be embedded
in the cover signal. Compared to scalar hiding, vector quantization
hiding technique provides a stego signal that is indistinguishable from
the cover speech. The objective and subjective performance measures
reveal that the current hiding technique attracts no suspicion about the
presence of the secret message in the stego speech, while being able
to recover an intelligible copy of the secret message at the receiver
side.
Abstract: This paper compares the recent transformerless ACDC
power converter architectures and provides an assessment of
each. A prototype of one of the transformerless AC-DC converter
architecture is also presented depicting the feasibility of a small form
factor, power supply design. In this paper component selection
guidelines to achieve high efficiency AC-DC power conversion are
also discussed.
Abstract: Neoclassical and functionalist explanations of self
organization in multiagent systems have been criticized on several accounts including unrealistic explication of overadapted agents and
failure to resolve problems of externality. The paper outlines a more
elaborate and dynamic model that is capable of resolving these dilemmas. An illustrative example where behavioral diversity is
cobred in a repeated nonzero sum task via evolutionary computing is
presented.
Abstract: A study of the H-beam's nanosize structure phase
states after thermomechanical strengthening was carried out by TEM.
The following processes were analyzed. 1. The dispersing of the
cementite plates by cutting them by moving dislocations. 2. The
dissolution of cementite plates and repeated precipitation of the
cementite particles on the dislocations, the boundaries, subgrains and
grains. 3. The decay of solid solution of carbon in the α-iron after
"self-tempering" of martensite. 4. The final transformation of the
retained austenite in beinite with α-iron particles and cementite
formation. 5. The implementation of the diffusion mechanism of γ ⇒
α transformation.
Abstract: This paper describes a novel method for automatic
estimation of the contours of weld defect in radiography images.
Generally, the contour detection is the first operation which we apply
in the visual recognition system. Our approach can be described as a
region based maximum likelihood formulation of parametric
deformable contours. This formulation provides robustness against
the poor image quality, and allows simultaneous estimation of the
contour parameters together with other parameters of the model.
Implementation is performed by a deterministic iterative algorithm
with minimal user intervention. Results testify for the very good
performance of the approach especially in synthetic weld defect
images.
Abstract: The effect of a time delay on the transmission on
dengue fever is studied. The time delay is due to the presence of an
incubation period for the dengue virus to develop in the mosquito
before the mosquito becomes infectious. The conditions for the
existence of a Hopf bifurcation to limit cycle behavior are
established. The conditions are different from the usual one and they
are based on whether a particular third degree polynomial has
positive real roots. A theorem for determining whether for a given
set of parameter values, a critical delay time exist is given. It is
found that for a set of realistic values of the parameters in the model,
a Hopf bifurcation can not occur. For a set of unrealistic values of
some of the parameters, it is shown that a Hopf bifurcation can occur.
Numerical solutions using this last set show the trajectory of two of
the variables making a transition from a spiraling orbit to a limit
cycle orbit.
Abstract: In this paper, a thermal model of cast- resin dry type
transformer is proposed. The proposed thermal model is solved by
finite element technique to get the temperature at any location of the
transformer. The basic modes of heat transfer such as conduction;
convection and radiation are used to get the steady state temperature
distribution of the transformer. The predicted temperatures are
compared with experimental results reported in this paper and it is
found a good agreement between them. The effects of various
parameters such as width of air duct, ambient temperature and
emissivity of the outer surface were also studied.
Abstract: Separation of propylene-propane mixture using
immobilized liquid membrane was investigated. The effect of transmembrane
pressure and carrier concentration on membrane
separation performance was studied. It was observed that for 30:70
(vol. %) propylene-propane mixture, at pressure of 120kPa and
carrier concentration of 20wt. %, a separation factor of 474 was
obtained.
Abstract: Over recent years, the number of building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) installations for home systems have been increasing in Malaysia. The paper concerns an analysis - as part of current Research and Development (R&D) efforts - to integrate photovoltaics as an architectural feature of a detached house in the new satellite township of Putrajaya, Malaysia. The analysis was undertaken using calculation and simulation tools to optimize performance of BIPV home system. In this study, a the simulation analysis was undertaken for selected bungalow units based on a long term recorded weather data for city of Kuala Lumpur. The simulation and calculation was done with consideration of a PV panels' tilt and direction, shading effect and economical considerations. A simulation of the performance of a grid connected BIPV house in Kuala Lumpur was undertaken. This case study uses a 60 PV modules with power output of 2.7 kW giving an average of PV electricity output is 255 kWh/month..
Abstract: Since atmosphere pressure field is an actual envoy of
climatic signal the atmospheric Highs and Lows should be attributed
to the key active focal points within the ocean-atmosphere interplay
system. Here we were set a task to determine how the dynamics of
those centres of action relates to the climate change both on regional
and global scales. For this target the near-surface temperature and
atmospheric pressure differences between the Icelandic Low and the
Azores High were considered. The secular term of phase states of the
system under consideration was found divided into three
nonintersecting subsets. Each of that was put in consequence with
one of three climatic scenarios related to the periods of 1905-1935
(relatively warm phase), 1940-1970 (cold phase) and 1980-2000
(warm phase).
Abstract: Four phenylurea herbicides (isoproturon, chlortoluron, diuron and linuron) were dissolved in different water matrices in order to study their chemical degradation by using UV radiation, ozone and some advanced oxidation processes (UV/H2O2, O3/H2O2, Fenton reagent and the photo- Fenton system). The waters used were: ultra-pure water, a commercial mineral water, a groundwater and a surface water taken from a reservoir. Elimination levels were established for each herbicide and for several global quality parameters, and a kinetic study was performed in order to determine basic kinetic parameters of each reaction between the target phenylureas and these oxidizing systems.
Abstract: The paper shows how the CASMAS modeling language,
and its associated pervasive computing architecture, can be
used to facilitate continuity of care by providing members of patientcentered
communities of care with a support to cooperation and
knowledge sharing through the usage of electronic documents and
digital devices. We consider a scenario of clearly fragmented care to
show how proper mechanisms can be defined to facilitate a better
integration of practices and information across heterogeneous care
networks. The scenario is declined in terms of architectural components
and cooperation-oriented mechanisms that make the support
reactive to the evolution of the context where these communities
operate.
Abstract: New regulations and standards for noise emission increasingly compel the automotive firms to make some improvements about decreasing the engine noise. Nowadays, the perforated reactive mufflers which have an effective damping capability are specifically used for this purpose. New designs should be analyzed with respect to both acoustics and back pressure. In this study, a reactive perforated muffler is investigated numerically and experimentally. For an acoustical analysis, the transmission loss which is independent of sound source of the present cross flow, the perforated muffler was analyzed by COMSOL. To be able to validate the numerical results, transmission loss was measured experimentally. Back pressure was obtained based on the flow field analysis and was also compared with experimental results. Numerical results have an approximate error of 20% compared to experimental results.
Abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the
chemical and biological properties of local cowpea seed protein
cultivated in Gizan region. The results showed that the cowpea and
its products contain high level of protein (22.9-77.6%), high
carbohydrates (9.4-64.3%) and low fats (0.1-0.3%). The trypsin and
chymotrypsin activities were found to be 32.2 and 15.2 units,
respectively. These activities were not affected in both defatted and
protein concentrate whereas they were significantly reduced in
isolated protein and cooked samples. The phytate content of cooked
and concentrated cowpea samples varied from 0.25% -0.32%,
respectively. Tannin content was found to be 0.4% and 0.23% for
cooked and raw samples, respectively. The in vitro protein
digestibility was very high in cowpea seeds (75.04-78.76%). The
biological evaluation using rats showed that the group fed with
animal feed containing casein gain more weight than those fed with
that containing cowpea. However, the group fed with cooked cowpea
gain more weight than those fed with uncooked cowpea. On the
other hand, in vivo digestion showed high value (98.33%) among the
group consumed casein compared to other groups those consumed
cowpea contains feed. This could be attributed to low antinutritional
factors in casein contains feed compared to those of cowpea contains
feed because cooking significantly increased the digestion rate
(80.8% to 83.5%) of cowpea contains feed. Furthermore, the
biological evaluation was high (91.67%) of casein containing feed
compared to that of cowpea containing feed (80.83%-87.5%). The
net protein utilization (NPU) was higher (89.67%) in the group fed
with casein containing feed than that of cowpea containing feed
(56.33%-69.67%).
Abstract: As a popular rank-reduced vector space approach,
Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) has been used in information
retrieval and other applications. In this paper, an LSI-based content
vector model for text classification is presented, which constructs
multiple augmented category LSI spaces and classifies text by their
content. The model integrates the class discriminative information
from the training data and is equipped with several pertinent feature
selection and text classification algorithms. The proposed classifier
has been applied to email classification and its experiments on a
benchmark spam testing corpus (PU1) have shown that the approach
represents a competitive alternative to other email classifiers based
on the well-known SVM and naïve Bayes algorithms.