Abstract: Information and communication service providers
(ICSP) that are significant in size and provide Internet-based services
take administrative, technical, and physical protection measures via
the information security check service (ISCS). These protection
measures are the minimum action necessary to secure the stability and
continuity of the information and communication services (ICS) that
they provide. Thus, information assets are essential to providing ICS,
and deciding the relative importance of target assets for protection is a
critical procedure. The risk analysis model designed to decide the
relative importance of information assets, which is described in this
study, evaluates information assets from many angles, in order to
choose which ones should be given priority when it comes to
protection. Many-sided risk analysis (MSRS) grades the importance of
information assets, based on evaluation of major security check items,
evaluation of the dependency on the information and communication
facility (ICF) and influence on potential incidents, and evaluation of
major items according to their service classification, in order to
identify the ISCS target. MSRS could be an efficient risk analysis
model to help ICSPs to identify their core information assets and take
information protection measures first, so that stability of the ICS can
be ensured.
Abstract: Synthetic juice clarification was done through spiral
wound ultrafiltration (UF) membrane module. Synthetic juice was
clarified at two different operating conditions, such as, with and
without permeates recycle at turbulent flow regime. The performance
of spiral wound ultrafiltration membrane was analyzed during
clarification of synthetic juice. Synthetic juice was the mixture of
deionized water, sucrose and pectin molecule. The operating
conditions are: feed flowrate of 10 lpm, pressure drop of 413.7 kPa
and Reynolds no of 5000. Permeate sample was analyzed in terms of
volume reduction factor (VRF), viscosity (Pa.s), ⁰Brix, TDS (mg/l),
electrical conductivity (μS) and turbidity (NTU). It was observe that
the permeate flux declined with operating time for both conditions of
with and without permeate recycle due to increase of concentration
polarization and increase of gel layer on membrane surface. For
without permeate recycle, the membrane fouling rate was faster
compared to with permeate recycle. For without permeate recycle,
the VRF rose up to 5 and for with recycle permeate the VRF is 1.9.
The VRF is higher due to adsorption of solute (pectin) molecule on
membrane surface and resulting permeateflux declined with VRF.
With permeate recycle, quality was within acceptable limit. Fouled
membrane was cleaned by applying different processes (e.g.,
deionized water, SDS and EDTA solution). Membrane cleaning was
analyzed in terms of permeability recovery.
Abstract: Tourism industry is an important sector in Malaysia economy and this motivates the examination of long-run relationships between tourist arrivals from three selected European countries in Malaysia and four possible determinants; relative prices, exchange rates, transportation cost and relative prices of substitute destination. The study utilizes data from January 1999 to September 2008 and employs standard econometric techniques that include unit root test and cointegration test. The estimated demand model indicates that depreciation of local currency and increases in prices at substitute destination have positive impact on tourist arrivals while increase in transportation cost has negative impact on tourist arrivals. In addition, the model suggests that higher rate of increase in local prices relative to prices at tourist country of origin may not deter tourists from coming to Malaysia
Abstract: Business Process Modeling (BPM) is the first and
most important step in business process management lifecycle. Graph
based formalism and rule based formalism are the two most
predominant formalisms on which process modeling languages are
developed. BPM technology continues to face challenges in coping
with dynamic business environments where requirements and goals
are constantly changing at the execution time. Graph based
formalisms incur problems to react to dynamic changes in Business
Process (BP) at the runtime instances. In this research, an adaptive
and flexible framework based on the integration between Object
Oriented diagramming technique and Petri Net modeling language is
proposed in order to support change management techniques for
BPM and increase the representation capability for Object Oriented
modeling for the dynamic changes in the runtime instances. The
proposed framework is applied in a higher education environment to
achieve flexible, updatable and dynamic BP.
Abstract: Smart Grids employ wireless sensor networks for
their control and monitoring. Sensors are characterized by limitations
in the processing power, energy supply and memory spaces, which
require a particular attention on the design of routing and data
management algorithms.
Since most routing algorithms for sensor networks, focus on
finding energy efficient paths to prolong the lifetime of sensor
networks, the power of sensors on efficient paths depletes quickly,
and consequently sensor networks become incapable of monitoring
events from some parts of their target areas. In consequence, the
design of routing protocols should consider not only energy
efficiency paths, but also energy efficient algorithms in general.
In this paper we propose an energy efficient routing protocol for
wireless sensor networks without the support of any location
information system. The reliability and the efficiency of this protocol
have been demonstrated by simulation studies where we compare
them to the legacy protocols. Our simulation results show that these
algorithms scale well with network size and density.
Abstract: In this paper, the semi–ratio–dependent predator-prey system with nonmonotonic functional response on time scales is investigated. By using the coincidence degree theory, sufficient conditions for existence of periodic solutions are obtained.
Abstract: The process parameters, temperature, pH and
substrate concentration, were optimized for the production of
gentamicin using Micromonouspora echinospora. Experiments were
carried out according to central composite design in response surface
method. The optimum conditions for the maximum production of
gentamicin were found to be: temperature – 31.7oC, pH – 6.8 and
substrate concentration – 3%. At these optimized conditions the
production of gentamicin was found to be – 1040 mg/L. The R2 value
of 0.9465 indicates a good fitness of the model.
Abstract: Knowledge of an organization does not merely reside
in structured form of information and data; it is also embedded in
unstructured form. The discovery of such knowledge is particularly
difficult as the characteristic is dynamic, scattered, massive and
multiplying at high speed. Conventional methods of managing
unstructured information are considered too resource demanding and
time consuming to cope with the rapid information growth.
In this paper, a Multi-faceted and Automatic Knowledge
Elicitation System (MAKES) is introduced for the purpose of
discovery and capture of organizational knowledge. A trial
implementation has been conducted in a public organization to
achieve the objective of decision capture and navigation from a
number of meeting minutes which are autonomously organized,
classified and presented in a multi-faceted taxonomy map in both
document and content level. Key concepts such as critical decision
made, key knowledge workers, knowledge flow and the relationship
among them are elicited and displayed in predefined knowledge
model and maps. Hence, the structured knowledge can be retained,
shared and reused.
Conducting Knowledge Management with MAKES reduces work
in searching and retrieving the target decision, saves a great deal of
time and manpower, and also enables an organization to keep pace
with the knowledge life cycle. This is particularly important when
the amount of unstructured information and data grows extremely
quickly. This system approach of knowledge management can
accelerate value extraction and creation cycles of organizations.
Abstract: Measurement and the following evaluation of
performance represent important part of management. The paper
focuses on indicators as the basic elements of performance
measurement system. It emphasizes a necessity of searching
requirements for quality indicators so that they can become part of
the useful system. It introduces standpoints for a systematic dividing
of indicators so that they have as high as possible informative value
of background sources for searching, analysis, designing and using of
indicators. It draws attention to requirements for indicators' quality
and at the same it deals with some dangers decreasing indicator's
informative value. It submits a draft of questions that should be
answered at the construction of indicator. It is obvious that particular
indicators need to be defined exactly to stimulate the desired
behavior in order to attain expected results. In the enclosure a
concrete example of the defined indicator in the concrete conditions
of a small firm is given. The authors of the paper pay attention to the
fact that a quality indicator makes it possible to get to the basic
causes of the problem and include the established facts into the
company information system. At the same time they emphasize that
developing of a quality indicator is a prerequisite for the utilization
of the system of measurement in management.
Abstract: Radio wave propagation on the road surface is a major
problem on wireless sensor network for traffic monitoring. In this
paper, we compare receiving signal strength on two scenarios 1) an
empty road and 2) a road with a vehicle. We investigate the effect of
antenna polarization and antenna height to the receiving signal
strength. The transmitting antenna is installed on the road surface.
The receiving signal is measured 360 degrees around the transmitting
antenna with the radius of 2.5 meters. Measurement results show the
receiving signal fluctuation around the transmitting antenna in both
scenarios. Receiving signal with vertical polarization antenna results
in higher signal strength than horizontal polarization antenna. The
optimum antenna elevation is 1 meter for both horizon and vertical
polarizations with the vehicle on the road. In the empty road, the
receiving signal level is unvarying with the elevation when the
elevation is greater than 1.5 meters.
Abstract: Solar shading designs are important for reduction of building energy consumption and improvement of indoor thermal environment. This paper carried out a number of building simulations for evaluation of the energy performance of different shading devices based on incremental costs. The results show that movable shading devices lower incremental costs by up to 50% compared with fixed ones for the same building energy efficiency for residential buildings, and wing panel shadings are much more suitable in commercial buildings than baring screen ones and overhangs for commercial buildings.
Abstract: Nowadays, Multimedia Communication has been developed and improved rapidly in order to enable users to communicate between each other over the Internet. In general, the multimedia communication consists of audio and video communication. However, this paper focuses on audio streams. The audio translation between protocols is a very critical issue due to solving the communication problems between any two protocols, as well as it enables people around the world to talk with each other at anywhere and anytime even they use different protocols. In this paper, a proposed method for an audio translation module between two protocols has been presented. These two protocols are InterAsterisk eXchange Protocol (IAX) and Real Time Switching Control Protocol (RSW), which they are widely used to provide two ways audio transfer feature. The result of this work is to introduce possibility of interworking together.
Abstract: This paper present an efficient and reliable technique of optimization which combined fuel cost economic optimization and emission dispatch using the Sigmoid Decreasing Inertia Weight Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm (PSO) to reduce the cost of fuel and pollutants resulting from fuel combustion by keeping the output of generators, bus voltages, shunt capacitors and transformer tap settings within the security boundary. The performance of the proposed algorithm has been demonstrated on IEEE 30-bus system with six generating units. The results clearly show that the proposed algorithm gives better and faster speed convergence then linearly decreasing inertia weight.
Abstract: As computer network technology becomes
increasingly complex, it becomes necessary to place greater
requirements on the validity of developing standards and the
resulting technology. Communication networks are based on large
amounts of protocols. The validity of these protocols have to be
proved either individually or in an integral fashion. One strategy for
achieving this is to apply the growing field of formal methods.
Formal methods research defines systems in high order logic so that
automated reasoning can be applied for verification. In this research
we represent and implement a formerly announced multicast protocol
in Prolog language so that certain properties of the protocol can be
verified. It is shown that by using this approach some minor faults in
the protocol were found and repaired. Describing the protocol as
facts and rules also have other benefits i.e. leads to a process-able
knowledge. This knowledge can be transferred as ontology between
systems in KQML format. Since the Prolog language can increase its
knowledge base every time, this method can also be used to learn an
intelligent network.
Abstract: ZnO nanostructures including nanowires, nanorods,
and nanoneedles were successfully deposited on GaAs substrates,
respectively, by simple two-step chemical method for the first time. A
ZnO seed layer was firstly pre-coated on the O2-plasma treated
substrate by sol-gel process, followed by the nucleation of ZnO
nanostructures through hydrothermal synthesis. Nanostructures with
different average diameter (15-250 nm), length (0.9-1.8 μm), density
(0.9-16×109 cm-2) were obtained via adjusting the growth time and
concentration of precursors. From the reflectivity spectra, we
concluded ordered and taper nanostructures were preferential for
photovoltaic applications. ZnO nanoneedles with an average diameter
of 106 nm, a moderate length of 2.4 μm, and the density of 7.2×109
cm-2 could be synthesized in the concentration of 0.04 M for 18 h.
Integrated with the nanoneedle array, the power conversion efficiency
of single junction solar cell was increased from 7.3 to 12.2%,
corresponding to a 67% improvement.
Abstract: Because support interference corrections are not properly
understood, engineers mostly rely on expensive dummy measurements
or CFD calculations. This paper presents a method based on uncorrected wind tunnel measurements and fast calculation techniques
(it is a hybrid method) to calculate wall interference, support interference and residual interference (when e.g. a support member
closely approaches the wind tunnel walls) for any type of wind tunnel and support configuration. The method provides with a simple formula
for the calculation of the interference gradient. This gradient is
based on the uncorrected measurements and a successive calculation
of the slopes of the interference-free aerodynamic coefficients. For the latter purpose a new vortex-lattice routine is developed that corrects
the slopes for viscous effects. A test case of a measurement on a wing proves the value of this hybrid method as trends and orders of
magnitudes of the interference are correctly determined.
Abstract: The paper presents a modelling methodology for
small scale multi-source renewable energy systems. Using historical
site-specific weather data, the relationships of cost, availability and
energy form are visualised as a function of the sizing of photovoltaic
arrays, wind turbines, and battery capacity. The specific dependency
of each site on its own particular weather patterns show that unique
solutions exist for each site. It is shown that in certain cases the
capital component cost can be halved if the desired theoretical
demand availability is reduced from 100% to 99%.
Abstract: A new analytical model is developed which provides
close-formed solutions for both transient indoor and envelope
temperature changes in buildings. Time-dependent boundary
temperature is presented as Fourier series which can approximate real
weather conditions. The final close-formed solutions are simple,
concise, and comprehensive. The model was compared with
numerical results and good accuracy was obtained. The model can
be used as design and control guidelines in engineering applications
for analysing mechanical heat transfer properties for buildings.
Abstract: Present wireless communication demands compact and intelligent devices with multitasking capabilities at affordable cost. The focus in the presented paper is on a dual band antenna for wireless communication with the capability of operating at two frequency bands with same structure. Two resonance frequencies are observed with the second operation band at 4.2GHz approximately three times the first resonance frequency at 1.5GHz. Structure is simple loop of microstrip line with characteristic impedance 50 ohms. The proposed antenna is designed using defective ground structure (DGS) and shows the nearly one third reductions in size as compared to without DGS. This antenna was simulated on electromagnetic (EM) simulation software and fabricated using microwave integrated circuit technique on RT-Duroid dielectric substrate (εr= 2.22) of thickness (H=15 mils). The designed antenna was tested on automatic network analyzer and shows the good agreement with simulated results. The proposed structure is modeled into an equivalent electrical circuit and simulated on circuit simulator. Subsequently, theoretical analysis was carried out and simulated. The simulated, measured, equivalent circuit response, and theoretical results shows good resemblance. The bands of operation draw many potential applications in today’s wireless communication.
Abstract: In biological and biomedical research motif finding tools are important in locating regulatory elements in DNA sequences. There are many such motif finding tools available, which often yield position weight matrices and significance indicators. These indicators, p-values and E-values, describe the likelihood that a motif alignment is generated by the background process, and the expected number of occurrences of the motif in the data set, respectively. The various tools often estimate these indicators differently, making them not directly comparable. One approach for comparing motifs from different tools, is computing the E-value as the product of the p-value and the number of possible alignments in the data set. In this paper we explore the combinatorics of the motif alignment models OOPS, ZOOPS, and ANR, and propose a generic algorithm for computing the number of possible combinations accurately. We also show that using the wrong alignment model can give E-values that significantly diverge from their true values.