Abstract: In the paper we discuss the influence of the route
flexibility degree, the open rate of operations and the production type
coefficient on makespan. The flexible job-open shop scheduling
problem FJOSP (an extension of the classical job shop scheduling) is
analyzed. For the analysis of the production process we used a
hybrid heuristic of the GRASP (greedy randomized adaptive search
procedure) with simulated annealing algorithm. Experiments with
different levels of factors have been considered and compared. The
GRASP+SA algorithm has been tested and illustrated with results for
the serial route and the parallel one.
Abstract: Springback is a significant problem in the sheet metal
forming process. When the tools are released after the stage of
forming, the product springs out, because of the action of the internal
stresses. In many cases the deviation of form is too large and the
compensation of the springback is necessary. The precise prediction
of the springback of product is increasingly significant for the design
of the tools and for compensation because of the higher ratio of the
yield stress to the elastic modulus.
The main object in this paper was to study the effect of the
anisotropy on the springback for three directions of rolling: 0°, 45°
and 90°. At the same time, we highlighted the influence of three
different metallic materials: Aluminum, Steel and Galvanized steel.
The original of our purpose consist on tests which are ensured by
adapting a U-type stretching-bending device on a tensile testing
machine, where we studied and quantified the variation of the
springback according to the direction of rolling. We also showed the
role of lubrication in the reduction of the springback.
Moreover, in this work, we have studied important characteristics
in deep drawing process which is a springback. We have presented
defaults that are showed in this process and many parameters
influenced a springback.
Finally, our results works lead us to understand the influence of
grains orientation with different metallic materials on the springback
and drawing some conclusions how to concept deep drawing tools. In
addition, the conducted work represents a fundamental contribution
in the discussion the industry application.
Abstract: Discretization of spatial derivatives is an important
issue in meshfree methods especially when the derivative terms
contain non-linear coefficients. In this paper, various methods used
for discretization of second-order spatial derivatives are investigated
in the context of Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics. Three popular
forms (i.e. "double summation", "second-order kernel derivation",
and "difference scheme") are studied using one-dimensional unsteady
heat conduction equation. To assess these schemes, transient response
to a step function initial condition is considered. Due to parabolic
nature of the heat equation, one can expect smooth and monotone
solutions. It is shown, however in this paper, that regardless of
the type of kernel function used and the size of smoothing radius,
the double summation discretization form leads to non-physical
oscillations which persist in the solution. Also, results show that when
a second-order kernel derivative is used, a high-order kernel function
shall be employed in such a way that the distance of inflection
point from origin in the kernel function be less than the nearest
particle distance. Otherwise, solutions may exhibit oscillations near
discontinuities unlike the "difference scheme" which unconditionally
produces monotone results.
Abstract: An attempt has been made to investigate the
machinability of zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA) inserts while
turning AISI 4340 steel. The insert was prepared by powder
metallurgy process route and the machining experiments were
performed based on Response Surface Methodology (RSM) design
called Central Composite Design (CCD). The mathematical model of
flank wear, cutting force and surface roughness have been developed
using second order regression analysis. The adequacy of model has
been carried out based on Analysis of variance (ANOVA) techniques.
It can be concluded that cutting speed and feed rate are the two most
influential factor for flank wear and cutting force prediction. For
surface roughness determination, the cutting speed & depth of cut
both have significant contribution. Key parameters effect on each
response has also been presented in graphical contours for choosing
the operating parameter preciously. 83% desirability level has been
achieved using this optimized condition.
Abstract: Conventional WBL is effective for meaningful student, because rote student learn by repeating without thinking or trying to understand. It is impossible to have full benefit from conventional WBL. Understanding of rote student-s intention and what influences it becomes important. Poorly designed user interface will discourage rote student-s cultivation and intention to use WBL. Thus, user interface design is an important factor especially when WBL is used as comprehensive replacement of conventional teaching. This research proposes the influencing factors that can enhance student-s intention to use the system. The enhanced TAM is used for evaluating the proposed factors. The research result points out that factors influencing rote student-s intention are Perceived Usefulness of Homepage Content Structure, Perceived User Friendly Interface, Perceived Hedonic Component, and Perceived (homepage) Visual Attractiveness.
Abstract: In this paper we propose and examine an Adaptive
Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) in Smoothing Transition
Autoregressive (STAR) modeling. Because STAR models follow
fuzzy logic approach, in the non-linear part fuzzy rules can be
incorporated or other training or computational methods can be
applied as the error backpropagation algorithm instead to nonlinear
squares. Furthermore, additional fuzzy membership functions can be
examined, beside the logistic and exponential, like the triangle,
Gaussian and Generalized Bell functions among others. We examine
two macroeconomic variables of US economy, the inflation rate and
the 6-monthly treasury bills interest rates.
Abstract: The paper aims at investigating influence of medium
capacity on linear adsorbed solute dispersion into chemically
heterogeneous fixed beds. A discrete chemical heterogeneity
distribution is considered in the one-dimensional advectivedispersive
equation. The partial differential equation is solved using
finite volumes method based on the Adam-Bashforth algorithm.
Increased dispersion is estimated by comparing breakthrough curves
second order moments and keeping identical hydrodynamic
properties. As a result, dispersion increase due to chemical
heterogeneity depends on the column size and surprisingly on the
solid capacity. The more intense capacity is, the more important
solute dispersion is. Medium length which is known to favour this
effect vanishing according to the linear adsorption in fixed bed seems
to create nonmonotonous variation of dispersion because of the
heterogeneity. This nonmonotonous behaviour is also favoured by
high capacities.
Abstract: The separation efficiency of a hydrocyclone has
extensively been considered on the rigid particle assumption. A
collection of experimental studies have demonstrated their
discrepancies from the modeling and simulation results. These
discrepancies caused by the actual particle elasticity have generally
led to a larger amount of energy consumption in the separation
process. In this paper, the influence of particle elasticity on the
separation efficiency of a hydrocyclone system was investigated
through the Finite Element (FE) simulations using crude oil droplets
as the elastic particles. A Reitema-s design hydrocyclone with a
diameter of 8 mm was employed to investigate the separation
mechanism of the crude oil droplets from water. The cut-size
diameter eter of the crude oil was 10 - Ðçm in order to fit with the
operating range of the adopted hydrocylone model. Typical
parameters influencing the performance of hydrocyclone were varied
with the feed pressure in the range of 0.3 - 0.6 MPa and feed
concentration between 0.05 – 0.1 w%. In the simulation, the Finite
Element scheme was applied to investigate the particle-flow
interaction occurred in the crude oil system during the process. The
interaction of a single oil droplet at the size of 10 - Ðçm to the flow
field was observed. The feed concentration fell in the dilute flow
regime so the particle-particle interaction was ignored in the study.
The results exhibited the higher power requirement for the separation
of the elastic particulate system when compared with the rigid
particulate system.
Abstract: The Pads have unique values of thermophysical
properties (THP) having important contribution over heat transfer
into the PCB structure.
Materials with high thermal diffusivity (TD) rapidly adjust their
temperature to that of their surroundings, because the HT is quick in
compare to their volumetric heat capacity (VHC).
In the paper is presenting the diffusivity tests (ASTM E1461 flash
method) for PCBs with different core materials. In the experiments,
the multilayer structure of PCBA was taken into consideration, an
equivalent property referring to each of experimental structure be
practically measured.
Concerning to entire structure, the THP emphasize the major
contribution of substrate in establishing of reflow soldering process
(RSP) heat transfer necessities. This conclusion offer practical
solution for heat transfer time constant calculation as function of
thickness and substrate material diffusivity with an acceptable error
estimation.
Abstract: This study develops a relation to explore the factors influencing management and technology capabilities in strategic alliances. Alliances between firms are recognizing increasingly popular as a vehicle to create and extract greater value from the market. Firm’s alliance can be described as the collaborative problem solving process to solve problems jointly. This study starts from research questions what factors of firm’s management and technology characteristics affect performance of firms which are formed alliances. In this study, we investigated the effect of strategic alliances on company performance. That is, we try to identify whether firms made an alliance with other organizations are differed by characteristics of management and technology. And we test that alliance type and alliance experiences moderate the relationship between firm’s capabilities and its performance. We employ problem-solving perspective and resource-based view perspective to shed light on this research questions. The empirical work is based on the Survey of Business Activities conducted from2006 to 2008 by Statistics Korea. We verify correlations between to point out that these results contribute new empirical evidence on the effect of strategic alliances on company performance.
Abstract: Value engineering is an efficacious contraption for
administrators to make up their minds. Value perusals proffer the
gaffers a suitable instrument to decrease the expenditures of the life
span, quality amelioration, structural improvement, curtailment of the
construction schedule, longevity prolongation or a merging of the
aforementioned cases. Subjecting organizers to pressures on one
hand and their accountability towards their pertinent fields together
with inherent risks and ambiguities of other options on the other hand
set some comptrollers in a dilemma utilization of risk management
and the value engineering in projects manipulation with regard to
complexities of implementing projects can be wielded as a
contraption to identify and efface each item which wreaks
unnecessary expenses and time squandering sans inflicting any
damages upon the essential project applications. Of course It should
be noted that implementation of risk management and value
engineering with regard to the betterment of efficiency and functions
may lead to the project implementation timing elongation. Here time
revamping does not refer to time diminishing in the whole cases. his
article deals with risk and value engineering conceptualizations at
first. The germane reverberations effectuated due to its execution in
Iran Khodro Corporation are regarded together with the joint features
and amalgamation of the aforesaid entia; hence the proposed
blueprint is submitted to be taken advantage of in engineering and
industrial projects including Iran Khodro Corporation.
Abstract: A solar powered air heating system using one ended evacuated tubes is experimentally investigated. A solar air heater containing forty evacuated tubes is used for heating purpose. The collector surface area is about 4.44 m2. The length and outer diameters of the outer glass tube and absorber tube are 1500, 47 and 37 mm, respectively. In this experimental setup, we have a header (heat exchanger) of square shape (190 mm x 190 mm). The length of header is 1500 mm. The header consists of a hollow pipe in the center whose diameter is 60 mm through which the air is made to flow. The experimental setup contains approximately 108 liters of water. Water is working as heat collecting medium which collects the solar heat falling on the tubes. This heat is delivered to the air flowing through the header pipe. This heat flow is due to natural convection and conduction. The outlet air temperature depends upon several factors along with air flow rate and solar radiation intensity. The study has been done for both up-flow and down-flow of air in header in similar weather conditions, at different flow rates. In the present investigations the study has been made to find the effect of intensity of solar radiations and flow rate of air on the out let temperature of the air with time and which flow is more efficient. The obtained results show that the system is highly effective for the heating in this region. Moreover, it has been observed that system is highly efficient for the particular flow rate of air. It was also observed that downflow configuration is more effective than up-flow condition at all flow rates due to lesser losses in down-flow. The results show that temperature differences of upper head and lower head, both of water and surface of pipes on the respective ends is lower in down-flow.
Abstract: This paper analyzes the effect of a single uniform accounting rule on reporting quality by investigating the influence of IFRS on earnings management. This paper examines whether earnings management is reduced after IFRS adoption through the use of “loss avoidance thresholds”, a method that has been verified in earlier studies. This paper concentrates on two European countries: one that represents the continental code law tradition with weak protection of investors (France) and one that represents the Anglo-American common law tradition, which typically implies a strong enforcement system (the United Kingdom).
The research investigates a sample of 526 companies (6822 firm-year observations) during the years 2000 – 2013. The results are different for the two jurisdictions. This study demonstrates that a single set of accounting standards contributes to better reporting quality and reduces the pervasiveness of earnings management in France. In contrast, there is no evidence that a reduction in earnings management followed the implementation of IFRS in the United Kingdom. Due to the fact that IFRS benefit France but not the United Kingdom, other political and economic factors, such legal system or capital market strength, must play a significant role in influencing the comparability and transparency cross-border companies’ financial statements. Overall, the result suggests that IFRS moderately contribute to the accounting quality of reported financial statements and bring benefit for stakeholders, though the role played by other economic factors cannot be discounted.
Abstract: This paper examines economic and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) development influence on recently increasing Internet purchases by individuals for European Union member states. After a growing trend for Internet purchases in EU27 was noticed, all possible regression analysis was applied using nine independent variables in 2011. Finally, two linear regression models were studied in detail. Conducted simple linear regression analysis confirmed the research hypothesis that the Internet purchases in analyzed EU countries is positively correlated with statistically significant variable Gross Domestic Product per capita (GDPpc). Also, analyzed multiple linear regression model with four regressors, showing ICT development level, indicates that ICT development is crucial for explaining the Internet purchases by individuals, confirming the research hypothesis.
Abstract: The past decade has seen enormous growth in the amount of software produced. However, given the ever increasing complexity of the software being developed and the concomitant rise in the typical project size, managers are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of issues that influence the productivity levels of the project teams involved. By analyzing the latest release of ISBSG data repository, we report on the factors found to significantly influence the productivity among which average team size and language type are the two most essential ones. Building on this we present an original model for evaluating the potential productivity during the project planning stage.
Abstract: Confucius was a fifth-century BCE Chinese thinker whose influence upon East Asian intellectual and social history is immeasurable. Better known is in China as “Master Kong”. As a culturally symbolic figure, he has been alternately idealized, deified, dismissed, vilified, and rehabilitated over the millennia by both Asian and non-Asian thinkers and regimes. Given his extraordinary impact on Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese thought, it is ironic that so little can be known about Confucius. The tradition that bears his name – “Confucianizm” (Chinese: Rujia) – ultimately traces itself to the sayings and biographical fragments recorded in the text known as the Analects (Chinese: Lunyu). In the Analects, two types of persons are opposed to one another – not in terms of basic potential, but in terms of developed potential. These are the junzi (literally, “lord’s son” or “gentleman”) and the xiaoren (“small person”). The junzi is the person who always manifests the quality of ren in his
person and the displays the quality of lee in his actions. In this article examines the category of the ideal man and the spiritual and moral values of the philosophy of Confucius. According to Confucius high-morality Jun-zi is characterized by two things: a sense of humanity and duty. This article provides an analysis of the ethical category for the ideal man.
Abstract: Chatter vibration has been a troublesome problem
for a machine tool toward the high precision and high speed machining.
Essentially, the machining performance is determined by the dynamic
characteristics of the machine tool structure and dynamics of cutting
process, which can further be identified in terms of the stability lobe
diagram. Therefore, realization on the machine tool dynamic behavior
can help to enhance the cutting stability. To assess the dynamic
characteristics and machining stability of a vertical milling system
under the influence of a linear guide, this study developed a finite
element model integrated the modeling of linear components with the
implementation of contact stiffness at the rolling interface. Both the
finite element simulations and experimental measurements reveal that
the linear guide with different preload greatly affects the vibration
behavior and milling stability of the vertical column spindle head
system, which also clearly indicate that the predictions of the
machining stability agree well with the cutting tests. It is believed that
the proposed model can be successfully applied to evaluate the
dynamics performance of machine tool systems of various
configurations.
Abstract: Atherosclerosis is the condition in which an artery
wall thickens as the result of a build-up of fatty materials such as
cholesterol. It is a syndrome affecting arterial blood vessels, a
chronic inflammatory response in the walls of arteries, in large part
due to the accumulation of macrophage white blood cells and
promoted by low density (especially small particle) lipoproteins
(plasma proteins that carry cholesterol and triglycerides) without
adequate removal of fats and cholesterol from the macrophages by
functional high density lipoproteins (HDL). It is commonly referred
to as a hardening or furring of the arteries. It is caused by the
formation of multiple plaques within the arteries.
Abstract: In This paper, the behavior of eccentric braced frame
(EBF) is studied with replacing friction damper (FD) in confluence of these braces, in 5 and 10-storey steel frames. For FD system, the main step is to determine the slip load. For this reason, the performance indexes include roof displacement, base shear, dissipated energy and relative performance should be investigated. In
nonlinear dynamic analysis, the response of structure to three
earthquake records has been obtained and the values of roof
displacement, base shear and column axial force for FD and EBF
frames have been compared. The results demonstrate that use of the FD in frames, in comparison with the EBF, substantially reduces the roof displacement, column axial force and base shear. The obtained results show suitable performance of FD in higher storey structure in
comparison with the EBF.
Abstract: The ability of pomelo peel, a natural biosorbent, to remove Cd(II) ions from aqueous solution by biosorption was investigated. The experiments were carried out by batch method at 25 °C. The influence of solution pH, initial cadmium ion concentrations and contact times were evaluated. Cadmium ion removal increased significantly as the pH of the solution increased from pH 1 to pH 5. At pH 5, the cadmium ion removal reached a maximum value. The equilibrium process was described well by the Langmuir isotherm model, with a maximum biosorption capacity of 21.83 mg/g. The biosorption was relatively quick, (approx. 20 min). Biosorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model. The result showed that pomelo peel was effective as a biosorbent for removing cadmium ions from aqueous solution. It is a low cost material that shows potential to be applied in wastewater technology for remediation of heavy metal contamination.