Abstract: In this paper a novel method for finding the fault zone
on a Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitor (TCSC) incorporated
transmission line is presented. The method makes use of the Support
Vector Machine (SVM), used in the classification mode to
distinguish between the zones, before or after the TCSC. The use of
Discrete Wavelet Transform is made to prepare the features which
would be given as the input to the SVM. This method was tested on a
400 kV, 50 Hz, 300 Km transmission line and the results were highly
accurate.
Abstract: Particulate matter (PM) in ambient air is responsible
for adverse health effects in adults and children. Relatively little is
known about the concentrations, sources and health effects of PM in
indoor air. A monitoring study was conducted in Ankara by three
campaigns in order to measure PM levels in indoor and outdoor
environments to identify and quantify associations between sources
and concentrations. Approximately 82 homes (1st campaign for 42,
2nd campaign for 12, and 3rd campaign for 28), three rooms (living
room, baby-s room and living room used as a baby-s room) and
outdoor ambient at each home were sampled with Grimm
Environmental Dust Monitoring (EDM) 107, during different
seasonal periods of 2011 and 2012. In this study, the relationship
between indoor and outdoor PM levels for particulate matter less than
10 micrometer (.m) (PM10), particulate matter less than 2.5.m
(PM2.5) and particulate matter less than 1.0.m (PM1) were
investigated. The mean concentration of PM10, PM2.5, and PM1.0 at
living room used as baby-s room is higher than living and baby-s
room (or bedroom) for three sampling campaigns. It is concluded that
the household activities and environmental conditions are very
important for PM concentrations in the indoor environments during
the sampling periods. The amount of smokers, being near a main
street and/or construction activities increased the PM concentration.
This study is based on the assessment the relationship between indoor
and outdoor PM levels and the household activities and
environmental conditions
Abstract: In construction of any structure, the aesthetic and utility values should be considered in such a way as to make the structure cost-effective. Most structures are composed of elements and joints which are very critical in any skeletal space structure because they majorly determine the performance of the structure. In early times, most space structures were constructed using rigid joints which had the advantage of better performing structures as compared to pin-jointed structures but with the disadvantage of requiring all the construction work to be done on site. The discovery of semi-rigid joints now enables connections to be prefabricated and quickly assembled on site while maintaining good performance. In this paper, cost-effective is discussed basing on strength of connectors at the joints, buckling of joints and overall structure, and the effect of initial geometrical imperfections. Several existing joints are reviewed by classifying them into categories and discussing where they are most suited and how they perform structurally. Also, finite element modeling using ABAQUS is done to determine the buckling behavior. It is observed that some joints are more economical than others. The rise to span ratio and imperfections are also found to affect the buckling of the structures. Based on these, general principles that guide the design of cost-effective joints and structures are discussed.
Abstract: It is established that the instantaneous heart rate (HR) of healthy humans keeps on changing. Analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) has become a popular non invasive tool for assessing the activities of autonomic nervous system. Depressed HRV has been found in several disorders, like diabetes mellitus (DM) and coronary artery disease, characterised by autonomic nervous dysfunction. A new technique, which searches for pattern repeatability in a time series, is proposed specifically for the analysis of heart rate data. These set of indices, which are termed as pattern repeatability measure and pattern repeatability ratio are compared with approximate entropy and sample entropy. In our analysis, based on the method developed, it is observed that heart rate variability is significantly different for DM patients, particularly for patients with diabetic foot ulcer.
Abstract: This article analyses the relationship between
sovereign credit risk rating and gross domestic product for Central
and Eastern European Countries for the period 1996 – 2010. In order
to study the metioned relationship, we have used a numerical
transformation of the risk qualification, thus: we marked 0 the lowest
risk; then, we went on ascending, with a pace of 5, up to the score of
355 corresponding to the maximum risk. The used method of analysis
is that of econometric modelling with EViews 7.0. programme. This
software allows the analysis of data into a pannel type system,
involving a mix of periods of time and series of data for different
entities. The main conclusion of the work is the one confirming the
negative relationship between the sovereign credit risk and the gross
domestic product for the Central European and Eastern countries
during the reviewed period.
Abstract: Due to memory leaks, often-valuable system memory
gets wasted and denied for other processes thereby affecting the
computational performance. If an application-s memory usage
exceeds virtual memory size, it can leads to system crash. Current
memory leak detection techniques for clusters are reactive and
display the memory leak information after the execution of the
process (they detect memory leak only after it occur).
This paper presents a Dynamic Memory Monitoring Agent
(DMMA) technique. DMMA framework is a dynamic memory leak
detection, that detects the memory leak while application is in
execution phase, when memory leak in any process in the cluster is
identified by DMMA it gives information to the end users to enable
them to take corrective actions and also DMMA submit the affected
process to healthy node in the system. Thus provides reliable service
to the user. DMMA maintains information about memory
consumption of executing processes and based on this information
and critical states, DMMA can improve reliability and
efficaciousness of cluster computing.
Abstract: The Taiwan Health Literacy Scale (THLS) was developed to cope with the need of measuring heath literacy of Chinese-speaking adults in Taiwan. Although the scale was proven having good reliability and validity, it was not popularly adopted by the practitioners due to the length, and the time required completing. Based on the THLS, this research further invited healthcare professionals to review the original scale for a possible shorten work. Under the logic of THLS, the research adopted an analytic hierarchy process technique to consolidate the healthcare experts- assessments to shorten the original scale. There are fifteen items out of the original 66 items were identified having higher loadings. Confirmed by the experts and passed a pilot test with 40 undergraduate students, a short form of THLS is then introduced. This research then used 839 samples from the major cities of the Hua-lien county in the eastern part of Taiwan to test the reliability and validity of this new scale. The reliability of the scale is high and acceptable. The current scale is also highly correlated with the original, of which provide evidence for the validity of the scale.
Abstract: In this paper, we propose a robust controller design method for discrete-time systems with sector-bounded nonlinearities and time-varying delay. Based on the Lyapunov theory, delaydependent stabilization criteria are obtained in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) by constructing the new Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional and using some inequalities. A robust state feedback controller is designed by LMI framework and a reciprocally convex combination technique. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified throughout a numerical example.
Abstract: Powerline Communications –PLC– as an alternative
method for broadband networking, has the advantage of transmitting
over channels already used for electrical distribution or even
transmission. But these channels have been not designed with usual
wired channels requirements for broadband applications such as
stable impedance or known attenuation, and the network have to
reject noises caused by electrical appliances that share the same
channel. Noise control standards are difficult to complain or simply
do not exist on Latin-American environments. This paper analyzes
PLC throughput for home connectivity by probing noisy channel
scenarios in a PLC network and the statistical results are shown.
Abstract: The one of best robust search technique on large scale
search area is heuristic and meta heuristic approaches. Especially in
issue that the exploitation of combinatorial status in the large scale
search area prevents the solution of the problem via classical
calculating methods, so such problems is NP-complete. in this
research, the problem of winner determination in combinatorial
auctions have been formulated and by assessing older heuristic
functions, we solve the problem by using of genetic algorithm and
would show that this new method would result in better performance
in comparison to other heuristic function such as simulated annealing
greedy approach.
Abstract: In this study two series of self compacting concrete
mixtures were prepared with 100% coarse recycled concrete
aggregates and different percentages of 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%
and 100% fine recycled concrete aggregates. In series I and II the
water to binder ratios were 0.50 and 0.45, respectively. The cement
content was kept 350
3 m
kg for those mixtures that don't have any
Nano-Silica. To improve the compressive strength of samples, Nano-
Silica replaced with 10% of cement weight in concrete mixtures. By
doing the tests, the results showed that, adding Nano-silica to the
samples with less percentage of fine recycled concrete aggregates,
lead to more increase on the compressive strength.
Abstract: The proposed Multimedia Pronunciation Learning
Management System (MPLMS) in this study is a technology with
profound potential for inducing improvement in pronunciation
learning. The MPLMS optimizes the digitised phonetic symbols with
the integration of text, sound and mouth movement video. The
components are designed and developed in an online management
system which turns the web to a dynamic user-centric collection of
consistent and timely information for quality sustainable learning.
The aim of this study is to design and develop the MPLMS which
serves as an innovative tool to improve English pronunciation. This
paper discusses the iterative methodology and the three-phase Alessi
and Trollip model in the development of MPLMS. To align with the
flexibility of the development of educational software, the iterative
approach comprises plan, design, develop, evaluate and implement is
followed. To ensure the instructional appropriateness of MPLMS, the
instructional system design (ISD) model of Alessi and Trollip serves
as a platform to guide the important instructional factors and process.
It is expected that the results of future empirical research will support
the efficacy of MPLMS and its place as the premier pronunciation
learning system.
Abstract: Recently, the health of retired National Football
League players, particularly lineman has been investigated. A
number of studies have reported increased cardiometabolic risk,
premature cardiovascular disease and incidence of type 2 diabetes.
Rugby union players have somatotypes very similar to National
Football League players which suggests that rugby players may have
similar health risks. The International Golden Oldies World Rugby
Festival (GORF) provided a unique opportunity to investigate the
demographics of veteran rugby players. METHODOLOGIES: A
cross-sectional, observational study was completed using an online
web-based questionnaire that consisted of medical history and
physiological measures. Data analysis was completed using a one
sample t-test (50yrs) and Chi-square test. RESULTS:
A total of 216 veteran rugby competitors (response rate = 6.8%)
representing 10 countries, aged 35-72 yrs (mean 51.2, S.D. ±8.0),
participated in the online survey. As a group, the incidence of current
smokers was low at 8.8% (avg 72.4 cigs/wk) whilst the percentage
consuming alcohol was high (93.1% (avg 11.2 drinks/wk).
Competitors reported the following top six chronic
diseases/disorders; hypertension (18.6%), arthritis (OA/RA, 11.5%),
asthma (9.3%), hyperlipidemia (8.2%), diabetes (all types, 7.5%) and
gout (6%), there were significant differences between groups with
regard to cancer (all types) and migraines. When compared to the
Australian general population (Australian Bureau of Statistics data,
n=18,000), GORF competitors had a significantly lower incidence of
anxiety (p
Abstract: Energy consumption rate during the cooling process
of industrial glass tempering process is considerably high. In this
experimental study the effect of dimensionless jet to jet distance
(S/D) and jet to plate distance (H/D) on the cooling time have been
investigated. In the experiments 4 mm thick glass samples have been
used. Cooling unit consists of 16 mutually placed seamless aluminum
nozzles of 8 mm in diameter and 80 mm in length. Nozzles were in
staggered arrangement. Experiments were conducted with circular
jets for H/D values between 1 and 10, and for S/D values between 2
and 10. During the experiments Reynolds number has been kept
constant at 30000. Experimental results showed that the longest
cooling time with 87 seconds has been observed in the experiments
for S/D=10 and H/D=10 values, while the shortest cooling time with
42.5 seconds has been measured in the experiments for S/D=2 and
H/D=4 values.
Abstract: The current study has investigated the ageing
phenomena of silica optical fibres in relation to water activity which might be accelerated when exposed to a supplementary energy, such as microwaves. A controlled stress by winding fibres onto accurate
diameter mandrel was applied. Taking into account that normally a
decrease in fibre strength is induced in time by chemical action of water, the effects of cumulative reagents such as: water, applied stress and supplementary energy (microwave) in some cases acted in
the opposite manner. The microwave effect as a structural relaxation
catalyst appears unexpected, even if the overall gain in fibre strength is not high, but the stress corrosion factor revealed significant
increase in certain simulation conditions.
Abstract: In order to find the particular interaction energy
between cylcloguanil and the amino acids surrounding the pocket of
wild type and quadruple mutant type PfDHFR enzymes, the MP2
method with basis set 6-31G(d,p) level of calculations was
performed. The obtained interaction energies found that Asp54 has
the strongest interaction energy to both wild type and mutant type of -
12.439 and -11.250 kcal/mol, respectively and three amino acids;
Asp54, Ile164 and Ile14 formed the H-bonding with cycloguanil
drug. Importantly, the mutation at Ser108Asn was the key important
of cycloguanil resistant with showing repulsive interaction energy.
Abstract: A new analysis of perceptual speech enhancement is
presented. It focuses on the fact that if only noise above the masking
threshold is filtered, then noise below the masking threshold, but
above the absolute threshold of hearing, can become audible after the
masker filtering. This particular drawback of some perceptual filters,
hereafter called the maskee-to-audible-noise (MAN) phenomenon,
favours the emergence of isolated tonals that increase musical noise.
Two filtering techniques that avoid or correct the MAN phenomenon
are proposed to effectively suppress background noise without introducing
much distortion. Experimental results, including objective
and subjective measurements, show that these techniques improve
the enhanced speech quality and the gain they bring emphasizes the
importance of the MAN phenomenon.
Abstract: Monitoring of microbial flora in aquacultured sea bream, in relation to the physicochemical parameters of the rearing seawater, ended to a model describing the influence of the last to the quality of the fisheries. Fishes were sampled during eight months from four aqua farms in Western Greece and analyzed for psychrotrophic, H2S producing bacteria, Salmonella sp., heterotrophic plate count (PCA), with simultaneous physical evaluation. Temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, TDS, salinity, NO3 - and NH4 + ions were recorded. Temperature, dissolved oxygen and conductivity were correlated, respectively, to PCA, Pseudomonas sp. and Shewanella sp. counts. These parameters were the inputs of the model, which was driving, as outputs, to the prediction of PCA, Vibrio sp., Pseudomonas sp. and Shewanella sp. counts, and fish microbiological quality. The present study provides, for the first time, a ready-to-use predictive model of fisheries hygiene, leading to an effective management system for the optimization of aquaculture fisheries quality.
Abstract: The problem of generation expansion planning (GEP)
has been extensively studied for many years. This paper presents
three topics in GEP as follow: statistical model, models for
generation expansion, and expansion problem. In the topic of
statistical model, the main stages of the statistical modeling are
briefly explained. Some works on models for GEP are reviewed in
the topic of models for generation expansion. Finally for the topic of
expansion problem, the major issues in the development of a longterm
expansion plan are summarized.
Abstract: Most of the well known methods for generating
Gaussian variables require at least one standard uniform distributed
value, for each Gaussian variable generated. The length of the
random number generator therefore, limits the number of
independent Gaussian distributed variables that can be generated
meanwhile the statistical solution of complex systems requires a
large number of random numbers for their statistical analysis. We
propose an alternative simple method of generating almost infinite
number of Gaussian distributed variables using a limited number of
standard uniform distributed random numbers.