Abstract: Fly ash is an important waste, produced in thermal
power plants which causes very important environmental pollutions.
For this reason the usage and evaluation the fly ash in various areas
are very important. Nearly, 15 million tons/year of fly ash is
produced in Turkey. In this study, usage of fly ash with diatomite and
molasses for heavy metal (Cd) adsorption from wastewater is
investigated. The samples of Seyitomer region fly ash were analyzed
by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Scanning Electron Microscope
(SEM) then diatomite (0 and 1% in terms of fly ash, w/w) and
molasses (0-0.75 mL) were pelletized under 30 MPa of pressure for
the usage of cadmium (Cd) adsorption in wastewater. After the
adsorption process, samples of Seyitomer were analyzed using
Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). As a result, it is seen that
the usage of Seyitomer fly ash is proper for cadmium (Cd) adsorption
and an optimum adsorption yield with 52% is found at a compound
with Seyitomer fly ash (10 g), diatomite (0.5 g) and molasses (0.75
mL) at 2.5 h of reaction time, pH:4, 20ºC of reaction temperature and
300 rpm of stirring rate.
Abstract: Recent perceived climate variability raises concerns
with unprecedented hydrological phenomena and extremes.
Distribution and circulation of the waters of the Earth become
increasingly difficult to determine because of additional uncertainty
related to anthropogenic emissions. The world wide observed
changes in the large-scale hydrological cycle have been related to an
increase in the observed temperature over several decades. Although
the effect of change in climate on hydrology provides a general
picture of possible hydrological global change, new tools and
frameworks for modelling hydrological series with nonstationary
characteristics at finer scales, are required for assessing climate
change impacts. Of the downscaling techniques, dynamic
downscaling is usually based on the use of Regional Climate Models
(RCMs), which generate finer resolution output based on atmospheric
physics over a region using General Circulation Model (GCM) fields
as boundary conditions. However, RCMs are not expected to capture
the observed spatial precipitation extremes at a fine cell scale or at a
basin scale. Statistical downscaling derives a statistical or empirical
relationship between the variables simulated by the GCMs, called
predictors, and station-scale hydrologic variables, called predictands.
The main focus of the paper is on the need for using statistical
downscaling techniques for projection of local hydrometeorological
variables under climate change scenarios. The projections can be then
served as a means of input source to various hydrologic models to
obtain streamflow, evapotranspiration, soil moisture and other
hydrological variables of interest.
Abstract: As an entity of the tourism system, local communities
were considered have better understanding of their region as well as
influenced positively or negatively by the tourism activities in the
region. This paper aimed to study role of community involvement in
the development of ecotourism at Kintamani Bali from two
perspectives of view, i.e. participation in the process of initiatives and
participation in the utilizing the economic benefits of tourism.
Thorough participation as an antecedent of social capital form, the
sustainability of ecotourism at Kintamani could be expected.
Abstract: It is well known, that any interpolating polynomial
p (x, y) on the vector space Pn,m of two-variable polynomials with
degree less than n in terms of x and less than m in terms of y, has
various representations that depends on the basis of Pn,m that we
select i.e. monomial, Newton and Lagrange basis e.t.c.. The aim of
this short note is twofold : a) to present transformations between the
coordinates of the polynomial p (x, y) in the aforementioned basis
and b) to present transformations between these bases.
Abstract: One of the major goals of Spoken Dialog Systems
(SDS) is to understand what the user utters.
In the SDS domain, the Spoken Language Understanding (SLU)
Module classifies user utterances by means of a pre-definite
conceptual knowledge. The SLU module is able to recognize only the
meaning previously included in its knowledge base. Due the vastity
of that knowledge, the information storing is a very expensive
process.
Updating and managing the knowledge base are time-consuming
and error-prone processes because of the rapidly growing number of
entities like proper nouns and domain-specific nouns. This paper
proposes a solution to the problem of Name Entity Recognition
(NER) applied to a SDS domain. The proposed solution attempts to
automatically recognize the meaning associated with an utterance by
using the PANKOW (Pattern based Annotation through Knowledge
On the Web) method at runtime.
The method being proposed extracts information from the Web to
increase the SLU knowledge module and reduces the development
effort. In particular, the Google Search Engine is used to extract
information from the Facebook social network.
Abstract: This paper presents a new meta-heuristic bio-inspired
optimization algorithm which is called Cuttlefish Algorithm (CFA).
The algorithm mimics the mechanism of color changing behavior of
the cuttlefish to solve numerical global optimization problems. The
colors and patterns of the cuttlefish are produced by reflected light
from three different layers of cells. The proposed algorithm considers
mainly two processes: reflection and visibility. Reflection process
simulates light reflection mechanism used by these layers, while
visibility process simulates visibility of matching patterns of the
cuttlefish. To show the effectiveness of the algorithm, it is tested with
some other popular bio-inspired optimization algorithms such as
Genetic Algorithms (GA), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and
Bees Algorithm (BA) that have been previously proposed in the
literature. Simulations and obtained results indicate that the proposed
CFA is superior when compared with these algorithms.
Abstract: Three dimensional non-Interlaced carbon fibre
reinforced silicon carbide (3-D-Cf/SiC) composites with pyrocarbon
interphase were fabricated using isothermal chemical vapor
infiltration (ICVI) combined with polymer impregnation pyrolysis
(PIP) process. Polysilazane (PSZ) is used as a preceramic polymer to
obtain silicon carbide matrix. Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA),
Infrared spectroscopic analysis (IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD)
analysis were carried out on PSZ pyrolysed at different temperatures
to understand the pyrolysis and obtaining the optimum pyrolysing
condition to yield β-SiC phase. The density of the composites was
1.94 g cm-3 after the 3-D carbon preform was SiC infiltrated for 280 h
with one intermediate polysilazane pre-ceramic PIP process.
Mechanical properties of the composite materials were investigated
under tensile, flexural, shear and impact loading. The values of
tensile strength were 200 MPa at room temperature (RT) and 195
MPa at 500°C in air. The average RT flexural strength was 243 MPa.
The lower flexural strength of these composites is because of the
porosity. The fracture toughness obtained from single edge notched
beam (SENB) technique was 39 MPa.m1/2. The work of fracture
obtained from the load-displacement curve of SENB test was 22.8
kJ.m-2. The composites exhibited excellent impact resistance and the
dynamic fracture toughness of 44.8 kJ.m-2 is achieved as determined
from instrumented Charpy impact test. The shear strength of the
composite was 93 MPa, which is significantly higher compared 2-D
Cf/SiC composites. Microstructure evaluation of fracture surfaces
revealed the signatures of fracture processes and showed good
support for the higher toughness obtained.
Abstract: This paper presents the performance state analysis of
Self-Excited Induction Generator (SEIG) using Artificial Bee Colony
(ABC) optimization technique. The total admittance of the induction
machine is minimized to calculate the frequency and magnetizing
reactance corresponding to any rotor speed, load impedance and
excitation capacitance. The performance of SEIG is calculated using
the optimized parameter found. The results obtained by ABC
algorithm are compared with results from numerical method. The
results obtained coincide with the numerical method results. This
technique proves to be efficient in solving nonlinear constrained
optimization problems and analyzing the performance of SEIG.
Abstract: The purposes of this research were to study concepts
and strategies of human resource development in the automotive
manufacturers and to articulate the proposals against the government
about the human resource development for automotive industry. In
the present study, qualitative study was an in-depth interview in
which the qualitative data were collected from the executive or the
executive of human resource division from five automotive
companies - Toyota Motor (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Nissan Motor
(Thailand) Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Honda
Automobile (Thailand) Co., Ltd., and Suzuki Motor (Thailand) Co.,
Ltd. Qualitative data analysis was performed by using inter-coder
agreement technique. The research findings were as follows:
The external factors included the current conditions of the
automotive industry, government’s policy related to the automotive
industry, technology, labor market and human resource development
systems of the country. The internal factors included management,
productive management, organizational strategies, leadership,
organizational culture and philosophy of human resource
development. These factors were affected to the different concept of
human resources development -the traditional human resource
development and the strategies of human resource development. The
organization focuses on human resources as intellectual capital and
uses the strategies of human resource development in all
development processes. The strategies of human resource
development will enhance the ability of human resources in the
organization and the country.
Abstract: Concerns on corrosion and effective coating
protection of double hull tankers and bulk carriers in service have
been raised especially in water ballast tanks (WBTs). Test
protocols/methodologies specifically that which is incorporated in the
International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Performance Standard
for Protective Coatings for Dedicated Sea Water ballast tanks (PSPC)
are being used to assess and evaluate the performance of the coatings
for type approval prior to their application in WBTs. However, some
of the type approved coatings may be applied as very thick films to
less than ideally prepared steel substrates in the WBT. As such films
experience hygrothermal cycling from operating and environmental
conditions, they become embrittled which may ultimately result in
cracking. This embrittlement of the coatings is identified as an
undesirable feature in the PSPC but is not mentioned in the test
protocols within it. There is therefore renewed industrial research
aimed at understanding this issue in order to eliminate cracking and
achieve the intended coating lifespan of 15 years in good condition.
This paper will critically review test protocols currently used for
assessing and evaluating coating performance, particularly the IMO
PSPC.
Abstract: Recently, to cope with the rapidly changing
construction trend with aging infrastructures, modular bridge
technology has been studied actively. Modular bridge is easily
constructed by assembling standardized precast structure members in
the field. It will be possible to construct rapidly and reduce
construction cost efficiently. However, the shape of the transverse
connection of T-type girder newly developed between the segmented
modules is not verified. Therefore, the verification of the connection
shape is needed. In this study, shape of the modular T-girder bridge
transverse connection was analyzed by finite element model that was
verified in study which was verified model of transverse connection
using Abaqus. Connection angle was chosen as the parameter. The
result of analyses showed that optimal value of angle is 130 degree.
Abstract: A blood pressure monitor or sphygmomanometer can
be either manual or automatic, employing respectively either the
auscultatory method or the oscillometric method.
The manual version of the sphygmomanometer involves an
inflatable cuff with a stethoscope adopted to detect the sounds
generated by the arterial walls to measure blood pressure in an artery.
An automatic sphygmomanometer can be effectively used to
monitor blood pressure through a pressure sensor, which detects
vibrations provoked by oscillations of the arterial walls.
The pressure sensor implemented in this device improves the
accuracy of the measurements taken.
Abstract: Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C) E-commerce has been
growing at a very high speed in recent years. Since identical or
nearly-same kinds of products compete one another by relying on
keyword search in C2C E-commerce, some sellers describe their
products with spam keywords that are popular but are not related to
their products. Though such products get more chances to be retrieved
and selected by consumers than those without spam keywords,
the spam keywords mislead the consumers and waste their time.
This problem has been reported in many commercial services like
ebay and taobao, but there have been little research to solve this
problem. As a solution to this problem, this paper proposes a method
to classify whether keywords of a product are spam or not. The
proposed method assumes that a keyword for a given product is
more reliable if the keyword is observed commonly in specifications
of products which are the same or the same kind as the given
product. This is because that a hierarchical category of a product
in general determined precisely by a seller of the product and so is
the specification of the product. Since higher layers of the hierarchical
category represent more general kinds of products, a reliable degree
is differently determined according to the layers. Hence, reliable
degrees from different layers of a hierarchical category become
features for keywords and they are used together with features only
from specifications for classification of the keywords. Support Vector
Machines are adopted as a basic classifier using the features, since
it is powerful, and widely used in many classification tasks. In
the experiments, the proposed method is evaluated with a golden
standard dataset from Yi-han-wang, a Chinese C2C E-commerce,
and is compared with a baseline method that does not consider
the hierarchical category. The experimental results show that the
proposed method outperforms the baseline in F1-measure, which
proves that spam keywords are effectively identified by a hierarchical
category in C2C E-commerce.
Abstract: Heating, cooling and lighting appliances in buildings
account for more than one third of the world’s primary energy
demand. Therefore, main components of the building heating systems
play an essential role in terms of energy consumption. In this context,
efficient energy and exergy utilization in HVAC-R systems has been
very essential, especially in developing energy policies towards
increasing efficiencies. The main objective of the present study is to
assess the performance of a family house with a volume of 326.7 m3
and a net floor area of 121 m2, located in the city of Izmir, Turkey in
terms of energetic, exergetic and sustainability aspects. The indoor
and exterior air temperatures are taken as 20°C and 1°C, respectively.
In the analysis and assessment, various metrics (indices or indicators)
such as exergetic efficiency, exergy flexibility ratio and sustainability
index are utilized. Two heating options (Case 1: condensing boiler
and Case 2: air heat pump) are considered for comparison purposes.
The total heat loss rate of the family house is determined to be
3770.72 W. The overall energy efficiencies of the studied cases are
calculated to be 49.4% for Case 1 and 54.7% for Case 2. The overall
exergy efficiencies, the flexibility factor and the sustainability index
of Cases 1 and 2 are computed to be around 3.3%, 0.17 and 1.034,
respectively.
Abstract: In this paper the issue of dimensionality reduction is
investigated in finger vein recognition systems using kernel Principal
Component Analysis (KPCA). One aspect of KPCA is to find the
most appropriate kernel function on finger vein recognition as there
are several kernel functions which can be used within PCA-based
algorithms. In this paper, however, another side of PCA-based
algorithms -particularly KPCA- is investigated. The aspect of
dimension of feature vector in PCA-based algorithms is of
importance especially when it comes to the real-world applications
and usage of such algorithms. It means that a fixed dimension of
feature vector has to be set to reduce the dimension of the input and
output data and extract the features from them. Then a classifier is
performed to classify the data and make the final decision. We
analyze KPCA (Polynomial, Gaussian, and Laplacian) in details in
this paper and investigate the optimal feature extraction dimension in
finger vein recognition using KPCA.
Abstract: The construction of a new airport or the extension of
an existing one requires massive investments and many times public
private partnerships were considered in order to make feasible such
projects. One characteristic of these projects is uncertainty with
respect to financial and environmental impacts on the medium to long
term. Another one is the multistage nature of these types of projects.
While many airport development projects have been a success, some
others have turned into a nightmare for their promoters.
This communication puts forward a new approach for airport
investment risk assessment. The approach takes explicitly into
account the degree of uncertainty in activity levels prediction and
proposes milestones for the different stages of the project for
minimizing risk. Uncertainty is represented through fuzzy dual theory
and risk management is performed using dynamic programming. An
illustration of the proposed approach is provided.
Abstract: Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs)
possess immunomodulatory properties. The effect of MSCs on the
crucial cellular immunity compartment – T-cells is of a special
interest. It is known that MSC tissue niche and expected milieu of
their interaction with T- cells are characterized by low oxygen
concentration, whereas the in vitro experiments usually are carried
out at a much higher ambient oxygen (20%). We firstly evaluated
immunomodulatory effects of MSCs on T-cells at tissue-related
oxygen (5%) after interaction implied cell-to-cell contacts and
paracrine factors only. It turned out that MSCs under reduced oxygen
can effectively suppress the activation and proliferation of PHAstimulated
T-cells and can provoke decrease in the production of
proinflammatory and increase in anti-inflammatory cytokines. In
hypoxia some effects were amplified (inhibition of proliferation, antiinflammatory
cytokine profile shift). This impact was more evident
after direct cell-to-cell interaction; lack of intercellular contacts could
revoke the potentiating effect of hypoxia.
Abstract: This paper presents the variation of the dynamic
characteristics of a spindle with the change of bearing preload. The
correlations between the variation of bearing preload and fundamental
modal parameters were first examined by conducting vibration tests on
physical spindle units. Experimental measurements show that the
dynamic compliance and damping ratio associated with the
dominating modes were affected to vary with variation of the bearing
preload. When the bearing preload was slightly deviated from a
standard value, the modal frequency and damping ability also vary to
different extent, which further enable the spindle to perform with
different compliance. For the spindle used in this study, a standard
preload value set on bearings would enable the spindle to behave a
higher stiffness as compared with others with a preload variation. This
characteristic can be served as a reference to examine the variation of
bearing preload of spindle in assemblage or operation.
Abstract: The purposes of this study were to design and find
users’ satisfaction after using the decision support system for tourism
northern part of Thailand, which can provide tourists touristic
information and plan their personal voyage. Such information can be
retrieved systematically based on personal budget and provinces. The
samples of this study were five experts and users 30 persons white
collars in Bangkok. This decision support system was designed via
ASP.NET. Its database was developed by using MySQL, for
administrators are able to effectively manage the database. The
application outcome revealed that the innovation works properly as
sought in objectives. Specialists and white collars in Bangkok have
evaluated the decision support system; the result was satisfactorily
positive.
Abstract: The high Peak to Average Power Ratio (PAR) in Filter
Bank Multicarrier with Offset Quadrature Amplitude Modulation
(FBMC-OQAM) can significantly reduce power efficiency and
performance. In this paper, we address the problem of PAPR
reduction for FBMC-OQAM systems using Tone Reservation (TR)
technique. Due to the overlapping structure of FBMCOQAM signals,
directly applying TR schemes of OFDM systems to FBMC-OQAM
systems is not effective. We improve the tone reservation (TR)
technique by employing sliding window with Active Constellation
Extension for the PAPR reduction of FBMC-OQAM signals, called
sliding window tone reservation Active Constellation Extension
(SW-TRACE) technique. The proposed SW-TRACE technique uses
the peak reduction tones (PRTs) of several consecutive data
blocks to cancel the peaks of the FBMC-OQAM signal inside a
window, with dynamically extending outer constellation points in
active(data-carrying) channels, within margin-preserving constraints,
in order to minimize the peak magnitude. Analysis and simulation
results compared to the existing Tone Reservation (TR) technique for
FBMC/OQAM system. The proposed method SW-TRACE has better
PAPR performance and lower computational complexity.