Abstract: Social learning network analysis has drawn attention
for most researcher on e-learning research domain. This is due to the
fact that it has the capability to identify the behavior of student
during their social interaction inside e-learning. Normally, the social
network analysis (SNA) is treating the students' interaction merely as
node and edge with less meaning. This paper focuses on providing an
ontology structure of e-learning Moodle that can enrich the
relationships among students, as well as between the students and the
teacher. This ontology structure brings great benefit to the future
development of e-learning system.
Abstract: This paper proposes a novel architecture for At-
Home medical care which enables senior citizens, patients
with chronic ailments and patients requiring post- operative
care to be remotely monitored in the comfort of their homes.
This architecture is implemented using sensors and wireless
networking for transmitting patient data to the hospitals,
health- care centers for monitoring by medical professionals.
Patients are equipped with sensors to measure their
physiological parameters, like blood pressure, pulse rate etc.
and a Wearable Data Acquisition Unit is used to transmit the
patient sensor data. Medical professionals can be alerted to
any abnormal variations in these values for diagnosis and
suitable treatment. Security threats and challenges inherent to
wireless communication and sensor network have been
discussed and a security mechanism to ensure data
confidentiality and source authentication has been proposed.
Symmetric key algorithm AES has been used for encrypting
the data and a patent-free, two-pass block cipher mode CCFB
has been used for implementing semantic security.
Abstract: The current study aims at investigating the
relationship between the learners- integrative and instrumental
motivation and English proficiency among Iranian EFL learners. The
participants in this study consisted of 128 undergraduate university
students including 64 males and 64 females, majoring in English as a
foreign language, from Shiraz Azad University. Two research
instruments were used to gather the needed data for this study: 1)
Language Proficiency Test. 2) A scale on motivation which
determines the type of the EFL learners- motivation. Correlatin
coefficient and t-test were used to analyze the collected data and the
main result was found as follows: There is a significant relationship
between the integrative motivation and instrumental motivation with
English proficiency among EFL learners of Shiraz Azad University.
Abstract: This research is intended to develop a raw material allocation model in timber processing industry in Perum Perhutani Unit I, Central Java, Indonesia. The model can be used to determine the quantity of allocation of timber between chain in the supply chain to select supplier considering factors that are log price and the distance. In determining the quantity of allocation of timber between chains in the supply chain, the model considers the optimal inventory in each chain. Whilst the optimal inventory is determined based on demand forecast, the capacity and safety stock. Problem solving allocation is conducted by developing linear programming model that aims to minimize the total cost of the purchase, transportation cost and storage costs at each chain. The results of numerical examples show that the proposed model can generate savings of the purchase cost of 20.84% and select suppliers with mileage closer.
Abstract: In order to protect original data, watermarking is first consideration direction for digital information copyright. In addition, to achieve high quality image, the algorithm maybe can not run on embedded system because the computation is very complexity. However, almost nowadays algorithms need to build on consumer production because integrator circuit has a huge progress and cheap price. In this paper, we propose a novel algorithm which efficient inserts watermarking on digital image and very easy to implement on digital signal processor. In further, we select a general and cheap digital signal processor which is made by analog device company to fit consumer application. The experimental results show that the image quality by watermarking insertion can achieve 46 dB can be accepted in human vision and can real-time execute on digital signal processor.
Abstract: The present paper reports results of an experimental
program conducted to study performance of fly ash based
geopolymer pastes at elevated temperature. Three series of
geopolymer pastes differing in Na2O content (8.5%, 10% and 11.5%)
were manufactured by activating low calcium fly ash with a mixture
of sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate solution. The paste
specimens were subjected to temperatures as high as 900oC and the
behaviour at elevated temperatures were investigated on the basis of
physical appearance, weight losses, residual strength, shrinkage
measurements and sorptivity tests at different temperatures. Scanning
electron microscopy along with EDX and XRD tests were also
conducted to examine microstructure and mineralogical changes
during the thermal exposure. Specimens which were initially grey
turned reddish accompanied by appearance of small cracks as the
temperature increased to 900oC. Loss of weight was more in
specimens manufactured with highest Na2O content. Geopolymer
paste specimen containing minimum Na2O performed better than
those with higher Na2O content in terms of residual compressive
strength.
Abstract: In contrast to existing of calculation of temperature field of a profile part a blade with convective cooling which are not taking into account multi connective in a broad sense of this term, we develop mathematical models and highly effective combination (BIEM AND FDM) numerical methods from the point of view of a realization on the PC. The theoretical substantiation of these methods is proved by the appropriate theorems.
Abstract: Let M be an almost split quaternionic manifold on
which its almost split quaternionic structure is defined by a three
dimensional subbundle V of ( T M) T (M)
*
Ôèù and
{F,G,H} be a local basis for V . Suppose that the (global)
(1, 2) tensor field defined[V ,V ]is defined by
[V,V ] = [F,F]+[G,G] + [H,H], where [,] denotes
the Nijenhuis bracket. In ref. [7], for the almost split-hypercomplex
structureH = J α,α =1,2,3, and the Obata
connection ÔêçH
vanishes if and only if H is split-hypercomplex.
In this study, we give a prof, in particular, prove that if either
M is a split quaternionic Kaehler manifold, or if M is a splitcomplex
manifold with almost split-complex structure F , then the
vanishing [V ,V ] is equivalent to that of all the Nijenhuis brackets
of {F,G,H}. It follows that the bundle V is trivial if and only if
[V ,V ] = 0 .
Abstract: This study was carried out to evaluate concentration
of micro minerals (Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu and Se) of forages and their
distribution in fiber fraction (neutral detergent fiber/NDF and acid
detergent fiber/ADF) in South Sumatra during dry and rainy seasons.
Seven species of commonly forages namely Axonopus compressus,
Panicum maximum, Pennisetum purpuphoides, Leucaena
leucocephala, Centrocema pubescens, Calopogonium mucunoides
and Acacia mangium were collected at native pasture during rainy
and dry seasons. The results showed that micro minerals
concentration of forages and their distribution in fiber fraction varied
among species and season. In general, concentration of micro
minerals was slightly higher in rainy season compared to dry season
either in grass or legumes forages. In grass, concentration of Fe and
Mn were above the critical level, while 33.3 %, 100 % and 16.7 % of
evaluated grass were deficient in Zn, Cu and Se. Data on legume
forages show that 75 % of legumes were deficient in Zn and Mn, 62.5
% deficient in Cu and 50 % deficient in Se. There was no species of
legume deficient in Fe. Distribution of micro minerals in NDF and
ADF were also significantly affected by species and season and
depends on the kinds of element measured. Generally, micro minerals
were associated in fiber fractions much higher during dry season
compared to rainy season. Iron (Fe) and selenium (Se) in forages
were the highest elements associated in NDF and ADF, while the
lowest was found in Copper (Cu).
Abstract: Two seperate experiments by barley and alfalfa were
conducted to a 2×8 factorial completely randomised design, with four
replicates. Factors were inoculation (M) with Gomus mosseae or uninoculation
(M0) and seven levels of contaminants (Co, Cd, Pb and
combinations) plus an uncontaminated control treatment (C). Heavy
metals in plant tissues and soil were quantified by Inductively
Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES) (Variant-
Liberty 150AX Turbo). Phytoextraction coefficient of contaminants
calculated by concentration of heavy metals in the shoot (mgkg-1) /
concentration of heavy metals in soil (mgkg-1). In the barley, the
highest rate of phytoextraction coefficient of Pb, Cd and Co was in
M0Pb, M0PbCoCd and MCo, respectively (P
Abstract: Reinforced concrete stair slabs with mid landings i.e.
Dog-legged shaped are conventionally designed as per specifications
of standard codes of practices which guide about the effective span
according to the varying support conditions. Presently, the behavior
of such slabs has been investigated using Finite Element method. A
single flight stair slab with landings on both sides and supported at
ends on wall, and a multi flight stair slab with landings and six
different support arrangements have been analyzed. The results
obtained for stresses, strains and deflections are used to describe the
behavior of such stair slabs, including locations of critical moments
and deflections. Values of critical moments obtained by F.E. analysis
have also have been compared with that obtained from conventional
analysis. Analytical results show that the moments are also critical
near the kinks i.e. junction of mid-landing and inclined waist slab.
This change in the behavior of dog-legged stair slab may be due to
continuity of the material in transverse direction in two landings
adjoining the waist slab, hence additional stiffness achieved. This
change in the behavior is generally not taken care of in conventional
method of design.
Abstract: Face Recognition is a field of multidimensional
applications. A lot of work has been done, extensively on the most of
details related to face recognition. This idea of face recognition using
PCA is one of them. In this paper the PCA features for Feature
extraction are used and matching is done for the face under
consideration with the test image using Eigen face coefficients. The
crux of the work lies in optimizing Euclidean distance and paving the
way to test the same algorithm using Matlab which is an efficient tool
having powerful user interface along with simplicity in representing
complex images.
Abstract: This research evaluated and compared the thermodynamic performance of heat pump systems which can be run under two different modes as air to air and air to water by using only one compressor. To achieve this comparison an experimental performance study was made on a traditional vapor compressed heat pump system that can be run air to air mode and air to water mode by help of a valve. The experiments made under different thermal conditions. Thermodynamic performance of the systems are presented and compared with each other for different working conditions.
Abstract: Although achieving zero-defect software release is
practically impossible, software industries should take maximum
care to detect defects/bugs well ahead in time allowing only bare
minimums to creep into released version. This is a clear indicator of
time playing an important role in the bug detection. In addition to
this, software quality is the major factor in software engineering
process. Moreover, early detection can be achieved only through
static code analysis as opposed to conventional testing.
BugCatcher.Net is a static analysis tool, which detects bugs in .NET®
languages through MSIL (Microsoft Intermediate Language)
inspection. The tool utilizes a Parser based on Finite State Automata
to carry out bug detection. After being detected, bugs need to be
corrected immediately. BugCatcher.Net facilitates correction, by
proposing a corrective solution for reported warnings/bugs to end
users with minimum side effects. Moreover, the tool is also capable
of analyzing the bug trend of a program under inspection.
Abstract: Designing modern machine tools is a complex task. A
simulation tool to aid the design work, a virtual machine, has
therefore been developed in earlier work. The virtual machine
considers the interaction between the mechanics of the machine
(including structural flexibility) and the control system. This paper
exemplifies the usefulness of the virtual machine as a tool for product
development. An optimisation study is conducted aiming at
improving the existing design of a machine tool regarding weight and
manufacturing accuracy at maintained manufacturing speed. The
problem can be categorised as constrained multidisciplinary multiobjective
multivariable optimisation. Parameters of the control and
geometric quantities of the machine are used as design variables. This
results in a mix of continuous and discrete variables and an
optimisation approach using a genetic algorithm is therefore
deployed. The accuracy objective is evaluated according to
international standards. The complete systems model shows nondeterministic
behaviour. A strategy to handle this based on statistical
analysis is suggested. The weight of the main moving parts is reduced
by more than 30 per cent and the manufacturing accuracy is
improvement by more than 60 per cent compared to the original
design, with no reduction in manufacturing speed. It is also shown
that interaction effects exist between the mechanics and the control,
i.e. this improvement would most likely not been possible with a
conventional sequential design approach within the same time, cost
and general resource frame. This indicates the potential of the virtual
machine concept for contributing to improved efficiency of both
complex products and the development process for such products.
Companies incorporating such advanced simulation tools in their
product development could thus improve its own competitiveness as
well as contribute to improved resource efficiency of society at large.
Abstract: This paper uses the radial basis function neural
network (RBFNN) for system identification of nonlinear systems.
Five nonlinear systems are used to examine the activity of RBFNN in
system modeling of nonlinear systems; the five nonlinear systems are
dual tank system, single tank system, DC motor system, and two
academic models. The feed forward method is considered in this
work for modelling the non-linear dynamic models, where the KMeans
clustering algorithm used in this paper to select the centers of
radial basis function network, because it is reliable, offers fast
convergence and can handle large data sets. The least mean square
method is used to adjust the weights to the output layer, and
Euclidean distance method used to measure the width of the Gaussian
function.
Abstract: The purposes of this research were 1) to investigate
behavior of media exposure and participation in environmental
activities of King Mongkut-s University of Technology Thonburi
(KMUTT) dormitory students, 2) to compare the correlation between
faculties and participation in environmental activities of KMUTT
dormitory students, and 3) to compare the correlation between media
exposure and participation in environmental activities of KMUTT
dormitory students. The tool used for collecting data was
questionnaire. The research findings revealed that dormitory students
were mostly exposed to the environmental media via public relations
boards for general media and KMUTT dormitory media. Dormitory
students were daily exposed to media via websites on the internet and
weekly for other media. Dormitory students participation in the
environmental activities was at high level (x = 3.65) on an
individual basis and was at medium level (x = 2.76) on a collective
basis. Faculties did not correlate with the participation in
environmental activities of dormitory students at the .01 statistical
level and media exposure via various media correlated with
participation in environmental activities of dormitory students at the
.01 statistical level.
Abstract: The present work presents the extraction of copper(II)
from sulphuric acid solutions with Sodium diethyldithiocarbamate
(SDDT), and six different organic diluents: Dichloromethane,
Chloroform, Carbon tetrachloride, Toluene, xylene and Cyclohexane,
were tested. The pair SDDT/Chloroform showed to be the most
selective in removing the copper cations, and hence was considered
throughout the experimental study.
The effects of operating parameters such as the initial concentration
of the extracting agent, the agitation time, the agitation speed and the
acid concentration were considered.
For an initial concentration of Cu (II) of 63 ppm in a 0.5 M sulphuric
acid solution, both with a mass of the extracting agent of 20 mg, an
extraction percentage of about 97.8 % and a distribution coefficient
of 44.42 were obtained, respectively, confirming the performance
of the SDDT-Chloroform pair.
Abstract: Biochemical investigations were carried out to assess
the effect of different exposure regimes of Kazakhstan crude oil
(KCO) on hepatic antioxidant defense system in albino rats.
Contaminants were delivered under two different dosing regimes,
with all treatments receiving the same total contaminant load by the
end of the exposure period. Rats in regime A injected with KCO
once at a dose of 6 ml/kg bw while in regime B injected multiply at a
dose of 1.5 ml/kg bw on day 1, 3, 5 and 8. Antioxidant biomarkers
were measured in hepatic tissue after 1, 3, 5 and 8 days. Significant
induction was observed in serum aminotransferases (ALT, AST)
(p
Abstract: This paper demonstrates the feasibility of replacing
the metal coil spring with the composite coil spring. Three different
types of springs were made using glass fiber, carbon fiber and
combination of glass fiber and carbon fiber. The objective of the
study is to reduce the weight of the spring. According to the
experimental results the spring rate of the carbon fiber spring is
34% more than the glass fiber spring and 45% more than the glass
fiber/carbon fiber spring. The weight of the carbon fiber spring is
18% less than the glass fiber spring, 15% less than the Glass
fiber/carbon fiber spring and 80% less than the steel spring.