Abstract: A wideband 2-1-1 cascaded ΣΔ modulator with a
single-bit quantizer in the two first stages and a 4-bit quantizer in the
final stage is developed. To reduce sensitivity of digital-to-analog
converter (DAC) nonlinearities in the feedback of the last stage,
dynamic element matching (DEM) is introduced. This paper presents
two modelling approaches: The first is MATLAB description and the
second is VHDL-AMS modelling of the proposed architecture and
exposes some high-level-simulation results allowing a behavioural
study. The detail of both ideal and non-ideal behaviour modelling are
presented. Then, the study of the effect of building blocks
nonidealities is presented; especially the influences of nonlinearity,
finite operational amplifier gain, amplifier slew rate limitation and
capacitor mismatch. A VHDL-AMS description presents a good
solution to predict system-s performances and can provide sensitivity
curves giving the impact of nonidealities on the system performance.
Abstract: In the way of growing and developing firms especially
high-tech firms, on many occasions manager of firm is mainly involved in solving problems of his business and decision making about executive activities of the firm, while besides executive
measures, attention to planning of firm's success and growth way and
application of long experience and sagacity in designing business model are vital and necessary success in a business is achieved as a
result of different factors, one of the most important of them is designing and performing an optimal business model at the beginning
of the firm's work. This model is determining the limit of profitability
achieved by innovation and gained value added. Therefore, business
model is the process of connecting innovation environment and
technology with economic environment and business and is important
for succeeding modern businesses considering their traits.
Abstract: A rigorous two-dimensional model is developed for simulating the operation of a less-investigated type steam reformer having a considerably lower operating Reynolds number, higher tube diameter, and non-availability of extra steam in the feed compared with conventional steam reformers. Simulation results show that reasonable predictions can only be achieved when certain correlations for wall to fluid heat transfer equations are applied. Due to severe operating conditions, in all cases, strong radial temperature gradients inside the reformer tubes have been found. Furthermore, the results show how a certain catalyst loading profile will affect the operation of the reformer.
Abstract: Analyses carried out on examples of detected defects
echoes showed clearly that one can describe these detected forms according to a whole of characteristic parameters in order to be able to make discrimination between a planar defect and a volumic defect.
This work answers to a problem of ultrasonics NDT like Identification of the defects. The problems as well as the objective of
this realized work, are divided in three parts: Extractions of the parameters of wavelets from the ultrasonic echo of the detected defect - the second part is devoted to principal components analysis
(PCA) for optimization of the attributes vector. And finally to establish the algorithm of classification (SVM, Support Vector Machine) which allows discrimination between a plane defect and a
volumic defect. We have completed this work by a conclusion where we draw up a summary of the completed works, as well as the robustness of the
various algorithms proposed in this study.
Abstract: This paper presents probabilistic horizontal seismic
hazard assessment of Naghan, Iran. It displays the probabilistic
estimate of Peak Ground Horizontal Acceleration (PGHA) for the
return period of 475, 950 and 2475 years. The output of the
probabilistic seismic hazard analysis is based on peak ground
acceleration (PGA), which is the most common criterion in designing
of buildings. A catalogue of seismic events that includes both
historical and instrumental events was developed and covers the
period from 840 to 2009. The seismic sources that affect the hazard
in Naghan were identified within the radius of 200 km and the
recurrence relationships of these sources were generated by Kijko
and Sellevoll. Finally Peak Ground Horizontal Acceleration (PGHA)
has been prepared to indicate the earthquake hazard of Naghan for
different hazard levels by using SEISRISK III software.
Abstract: The Detour matrix (DD) of a graph has for its ( i , j)
entry the length of the longest path between vertices i and j. The
DD-eigenvalues of a connected graph G are the eigenvalues for its
detour matrix, and they form the DD-spectrum of G. The DD-energy
EDD of the graph G is the sum of the absolute values of its DDeigenvalues.
Two connected graphs are said to be DD- equienergetic
if they have equal DD-energies. In this paper, the DD- spectra of a
variety of graphs and their DD-energies are calculated.
Abstract: This study assesses the vulnerability of Bulgarian
agriculture to drought using the WINISAREG model and seasonal
standard precipitation index SPI(2) for the period 1951-2004. This
model was previously validated for maize on soils of different water
holding capacity (TAW) in various locations. Simulations are
performed for Plovdiv, Stara Zagora and Sofia. Results relative to
Plovdiv show that in soils of large TAW (180 mm m-1) net irrigation
requirements (NIRs) range 0-40 mm in wet years and 350-380 mm in
dry years. In soils of small TAW (116 mm m-1), NIRs reach 440 mm
in the very dry year. NIRs in Sofia are about 80 mm smaller. Rainfed
maize is associated with great yield variability (29%
Abstract: Parallel Prefix addition is a technique for improving
the speed of binary addition. Due to continuing integrating intensity
and the growing needs of portable devices, low-power and highperformance
designs are of prime importance. The classical parallel
prefix adder structures presented in the literature over the years
optimize for logic depth, area, fan-out and interconnect count of logic
circuits. In this paper, a new architecture for performing 8-bit, 16-bit
and 32-bit Parallel Prefix addition is proposed. The proposed prefix
adder structures is compared with several classical adders of same
bit width in terms of power, delay and number of computational
nodes. The results reveal that the proposed structures have the least
power delay product when compared with its peer existing Prefix
adder structures. Tanner EDA tool was used for simulating the adder
designs in the TSMC 180 nm and TSMC 130 nm technologies.
Abstract: This paper describes an experimental investigation of
the drying behavior and conditions of rosehip in a convective
cyclone-type dryer. Drying experiments were conducted at air inlet
temperatures of 50, 60 and 70 o C and air velocities of 0.5, 1 and 1.5
ms–1. The parametric values obtained from the experiments were
fitted to the Newton mathematical models. Consequently, the drying
model developed by Newton model showed good agreement with the
data obtained from the experiments. Concluding, it was obtained that;
(i) the temperature is the major effect on the drying process, (ii) air
velocity has low effect on the drying of rosehip, (iii) the C-vitamin is
observed to change according to the temperature, moisture, drying
time and flow types. The changing ratio is found to be in the range of
0.70-0.74.
Abstract: Nowadays, web-based technologies influence in
people-s daily life such as in education, business and others.
Therefore, many web developers are too eager to develop their web
applications with fully animation graphics and forgetting its
accessibility to its users. Their purpose is to make their web
applications look impressive. Thus, this paper would highlight on the
usability and accessibility of a voice recognition browser as a tool to
facilitate the visually impaired and blind learners in accessing virtual
learning environment. More specifically, the objectives of the study
are (i) to explore the challenges faced by the visually impaired
learners in accessing virtual learning environment (ii) to determine
the suitable guidelines for developing a voice recognition browser
that is accessible to the visually impaired. Furthermore, this study
was prepared based on an observation conducted with the Malaysian
visually impaired learners. Finally, the result of this study would
underline on the development of an accessible voice recognition
browser for the visually impaired.
Abstract: A new distance-adjusted approach is proposed in
which static square contours are defined around an estimated
symbol in a QAM constellation, which create regions that
correspond to fixed step sizes and weighting factors. As a
result, the equalizer tap adjustment consists of a linearly
weighted sum of adaptation criteria that is scaled by a variable
step size. This approach is the basis of two new algorithms: the
Variable step size Square Contour Algorithm (VSCA) and the
Variable step size Square Contour Decision-Directed
Algorithm (VSDA). The proposed schemes are compared with
existing blind equalization algorithms in the SCA family in
terms of convergence speed, constellation eye opening and
residual ISI suppression. Simulation results for 64-QAM
signaling over empirically derived microwave radio channels
confirm the efficacy of the proposed algorithms. An RTL
implementation of the blind adaptive equalizer based on the
proposed schemes is presented and the system is configured to
operate in VSCA error signal mode, for square QAM signals
up to 64-QAM.
Abstract: Fractional-order controller was proven to perform better than the integer-order controller. However, the absence of a pole at origin produced marginal error in fractional-order control system. This study demonstrated the enhancement of the fractionalorder PI over the integer-order PI in a steam temperature control. The fractional-order controller was cascaded with an error compensator comprised of a very small zero and a pole at origin to produce a zero steady-state error for the closed-loop system. Some modification on the error compensator was suggested for different order fractional integrator that can improve the overall phase margin.
Abstract: In order to monitor the water table depth on soil profile
salinity buildup, a field study was carried out during 2006-07. Wheat
(Rabi) and Sorghum (Kharif) fodder were sown in with three
treatments. The results showed that watertable depth lowered from
1.15m to 2.89 m depth at the end of experiment. With lower of
watertable depth, pH, ECe and SAR decreased under crops both
without and with gypsum and increased in fallowing. Soil moisture
depletion was directly proportional to lowering of watertable. With the
application of irrigation water (58cm) pH, ECe and SAR were reduced
in cropped plots, reduction was higher in gypsum applied plots than
non-gypsum plots. In case of fallowing, there was increase in pH, EC,
while slight reduction occurred in SAR values. However, soil salinity
showed an increasing upward trend under fallowing and its value in
0-30 cm soil layer was the highest amongst the treatments.
Abstract: Electrophysiological signals were recorded from primary cultures of dissociated rat cortical neurons coupled to Micro-Electrode Arrays (MEAs). The neuronal discharge patterns may change under varying physiological and pathological conditions. For this reason, we developed a new burst detection method able to identify bursts with peculiar features in different experimental conditions (i.e. spontaneous activity and under the effect of specific drugs). The main feature of our algorithm (i.e. Burst On Hurst), based on the auto-similarity or fractal property of the recorded signal, is the independence from the chosen spike detection method since it works directly on the raw data.
Abstract: Based on the Lagrangian for the Gross –Pitaevskii
equation as derived by H. Sakaguchi and B.A Malomed [5] we have
derived a double well model for the nonlinear optical lattice. This
model explains the various features of nonlinear optical lattices.
Further, from this model we obtain and simulate the probability for
tunneling from one well to another which agrees with experimental
results [4].
Abstract: One of the most importance of intelligence in-car and
roadside systems is the cooperative vehicle-infrastructure system. In
Thailand, ITS technologies are rapidly growing and real-time vehicle
information is considerably needed for ITS applications; for example,
vehicle fleet tracking and control and road traffic monitoring
systems. This paper defines the communication protocols and
software design for middleware components of B-VIS (Burapha
Vehicle-Infrastructure System). The proposed B-VIS middleware architecture serves the needs of a distributed RFID sensor network and simplifies some intricate details of several communication standards.
Abstract: Linear and weakly nonlinear analysis of shallow wake
flows is presented in the present paper. The evolution of the most
unstable linear mode is described by the complex Ginzburg-Landau
equation (CGLE). The coefficients of the CGLE are calculated
numerically from the solution of the corresponding linear stability
problem for a one-parametric family of shallow wake flows. It is
shown that the coefficients of the CGLE are not so sensitive to the
variation of the base flow profile.
Abstract: There has been gradual progress of late in construction projects, particularly in big-scale megaprojects. Due to the long-term construction period, however, with large-scale budget investment, lack of construction management technologies, and increase in the incomplete elements of project schedule management, a plan to conduct efficient operations and to ensure business safety is required. In particular, as the project management information system (PMIS) is meant for managing a single project centering on the construction phase, there is a limitation in the management of program-scale businesses like megaprojects. Thus, a program management information system (PgMIS) that includes program-level management technologies is needed to manage multiple projects. In this study, a support tool was developed for managing the cost and schedule information occurring in the construction phase, at the program level. In addition, a case study on the developed support tool was conducted to verify the usability of the system. With the use of the developed support tool program, construction managers can monitor the progress of the entire project and of the individual subprojects in real time.
Abstract: The aim of this study is to describe the associations
between the temperamental traits and the narrative emotional
expression. The Temperament Questionnaire was used: The FCB-TI
of Zawadzki & Strelau. A sample of 85 persons described three
emotional situations: love. hate, and anxiety. This study analyzes the
verbal form of expression by means of a written account of
emotions. The relationship between the narratives of love, hate and
anxiety and temperament characteristics were studied. Results
indicate that vigorousness (VI), perseverance (PE), sensory
sensitivity (SS), emotional reactivity (ER), endurance (EN) and
activeness (AC) have a significant impact on the emotional
expression in narratives. The temperamental traits are linked to the
form of emotional language. It means that temperament has an
impact on cognitive representations of emotions.
Abstract: In this paper, we propose a novel approach for image
segmentation via fuzzification of Rènyi Entropy of Generalized
Distributions (REGD). The fuzzy REGD is used to precisely measure
the structural information of image and to locate the optimal
threshold desired by segmentation. The proposed approach draws
upon the postulation that the optimal threshold concurs with
maximum information content of the distribution. The contributions
in the paper are as follow: Initially, the fuzzy REGD as a measure of
the spatial structure of image is introduced. Then, we propose an
efficient entropic segmentation approach using fuzzy REGD.
However the proposed approach belongs to entropic segmentation
approaches (i.e. these approaches are commonly applied to grayscale
images), it is adapted to be viable for segmenting color images.
Lastly, diverse experiments on real images that show the superior
performance of the proposed method are carried out.