Abstract: This paper considers people’s driving skills
diagnosis under real driving conditions. In that sense, this research
presents an approach that uses GPS signals which have a direct
correlation with driving maneuvers. Besides, it is presented a novel
expert-driving-criteria approximation using fuzzy logic which
seeks to analyze GPS signals in order to issue an intelligent driving
diagnosis.
Based on above, this works presents in the first section the
intelligent driving diagnosis system approach in terms of its own
characteristics properties, explaining in detail significant
considerations about how an expert-driving-criteria approximation
must be developed. In the next section, the implementation of our
developed system based on the proposed fuzzy logic approach is
explained. Here, a proposed set of rules which corresponds to a
quantitative abstraction of some traffics laws and driving secure
techniques seeking to approach an expert-driving- criteria
approximation is presented.
Experimental testing has been performed in real driving
conditions. The testing results show that the intelligent driving
diagnosis system qualifies driver’s performance quantitatively with
a high degree of reliability.
Abstract: In the process of recovering oil in weak sandstone formations, the strength of sandstones around the wellbore is weakened due to the increase of effective stress/load from the completion activities around the cavity. The weakened and de-bonded sandstone may be eroded away by the produced fluid, which is termed sand production. It is one of the major trending subjects in the petroleum industry because of its significant negative impacts, as well as some observed positive impacts. For efficient sand management therefore, there has been need for a reliable study tool to understand the mechanism of sanding. One method of studying sand production is the use of the widely recognized Discrete Element Method (DEM), Particle Flow Code (PFC3D) which represents sands as granular individual elements bonded together at contact points. However, there is limited knowledge of the particle-scale behavior of the weak sandstone, and the parameters that affect sanding. This paper aims to investigate the reliability of using PFC3D and a simple Darcy flow in understanding the sand production behavior of a weak sandstone. An isotropic tri-axial test on a weak oil sandstone sample was first simulated at a confining stress of 1MPa to calibrate and validate the parallel bond models of PFC3D using a 10m height and 10m diameter solid cylindrical model. The effect of the confining stress on the number of bonds failure was studied using this cylindrical model. With the calibrated data and sample material properties obtained from the tri-axial test, simulations without and with fluid flow were carried out to check on the effect of Darcy flow on bonds failure using the same model geometry. The fluid flow network comprised of every four particles connected with tetrahedral flow pipes with a central pore or flow domain. Parametric studies included the effects of confining stress, and fluid pressure; as well as validating flow rate – permeability relationship to verify Darcy’s fluid flow law. The effect of model size scaling on sanding was also investigated using 4m height, 2m diameter model. The parallel bond model successfully calibrated the sample’s strength of 4.4MPa, showing a sharp peak strength before strain-softening, similar to the behavior of real cemented sandstones. There seems to be an exponential increasing relationship for the bigger model, but a curvilinear shape for the smaller model. The presence of the Darcy flow induced tensile forces and increased the number of broken bonds. For the parametric studies, flow rate has a linear relationship with permeability at constant pressure head. The higher the fluid flow pressure, the higher the number of broken bonds/sanding. The DEM PFC3D is a promising tool to studying the micromechanical behavior of cemented sandstones.
Abstract: Human skin detection recognized as the primary step in most of the applications such as face detection, illicit image filtering, hand recognition and video surveillance. The performance of any skin detection applications greatly relies on the two components: feature extraction and classification method. Skin color is the most vital information used for skin detection purpose. However, color feature alone sometimes could not handle images with having same color distribution with skin color. A color feature of pixel-based does not eliminate the skin-like color due to the intensity of skin and skin-like color fall under the same distribution. Hence, the statistical color analysis will be exploited such mean and standard deviation as an additional feature to increase the reliability of skin detector. In this paper, we studied the effectiveness of statistical color feature for human skin detection. Furthermore, the paper analyzed the integrated color and texture using eight classifiers with three color spaces of RGB, YCbCr, and HSV. The experimental results show that the integrating statistical feature using Random Forest classifier achieved a significant performance with an F1-score 0.969.
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to analyze and to give empirical proof about the effect of fair value implementation on financial asset against information asymmetry in Indonesia’s banking sector. This research tested the effect of fair value implementation on financial asset based on Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (PSAK) No. 55 and the fair value reliability measurement based on PSAK No. 60 against level of information asymmetry. The scope of research is Indonesia’s banking sector. The test’s result shows that the use of fair value based on PSAK No. 55 is significantly associated with information asymmetry. This positive relation is higher than the amortized cost implementation on financial asset. In addition, the fair value hierarchy based on PSAK No. 60 is significantly associated with information asymmetry. This research proves that the more reliable measurement of fair value on financial asset, the more observable fair value measurement and reduces level of information asymmetry.
Abstract: The purposed of this research was to study the eating
habit of teenage pregnancy and its relationship to the knowledge of
nutrition during pregnancy. The 100 samples were derived from
simple random sampling technique of the teenage pregnancy in
Bangkae District. The questionnaire was used to collect data with the
reliability of 0.8. The data were analyzed by SPSS for Windows with
multiple regression technique. Percentage, mean and the relationship
of knowledge of eating and eating behavior were obtained. The
research results revealed that their knowledge in nutrition was at the
average of 4.07 and their eating habit that they mentioned most was
to refrain from alcohol and caffeine at 82% and the knowledge in
nutrition influenced their eating habits at 54% with the statistically
significant level of 0.001.
Abstract: Pipelines are extensively used engineering structures
which convey fluid from one place to another. Most of the time,
pipelines are placed underground and are encumbered by soil weight
and traffic loads. Corrosion of pipe material is the most common
form of pipeline deterioration and should be considered in both the
strength and serviceability analysis of pipes.
The study in this research focuses on concrete pipes in sewage
systems (concrete sewers). This research firstly investigates how to
involve the effect of corrosion as a time dependent process of
deterioration in the structural and failure analysis of this type of pipe.
Then three probabilistic time dependent reliability analysis methods
including the first passage probability theory, the gamma distributed
degradation model and the Monte Carlo simulation technique are
discussed and developed. Sensitivity analysis indexes which can be
used to identify the most important parameters that affect pipe failure
are also discussed.
The reliability analysis methods developed in this paper contribute
as rational tools for decision makers with regard to the strengthening
and rehabilitation of existing pipelines. The results can be used to
obtain a cost-effective strategy for the management of the sewer
system.
Abstract: The Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS)
technology is a new advanced solution that increases the reliability
and provides more flexibility, controllability, and stability of a power
system. The Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC), as the most
versatile FACTS device for regulating power flow, is able to control
respectively transmission line real power, reactive power, and node
voltage. The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the effect of the
UPFC on the load flow, the power losses, and the voltage stability
using NEPLAN software modules, Newton-Raphson load flow is
used for the power flow analysis and the modal analysis is used for
the study of the voltage stability. The simulation was carried out on
the IEEE 14-bus test system.
Abstract: The present study aims to explore the effect of
computerization on marketing performance in Snowa Company. In
other words, this study intends to respond to this question that
whether or not, is there any relationship between utilization of
computerization in marketing activities and marketing performance?
The statistical population included 60 marketing managers of Snowa
Company. In order to test the research hypotheses, Pearson
correlation coefficient was employed. The reliability was equal to
96.8%. In this study, computerization was the independent variable
and marketing performance was the dependent variable with
characteristics of market share, improving the competitive position,
and sales volume. The results of testing the hypotheses revealed that
there is a significant relationship between utilization of
computerization and market share, sales volume and improving the
competitive position.
Abstract: The occurrences of precipitation, also commonly
referred as rain, in the form of "convective" and "stratiform" have
been identified to exist worldwide. In this study, the radar return
echoes or known as reflectivity values acquired from radar scans
have been exploited in the process of classifying the type of rain
endured. The investigation use radar data from Malaysian
Meteorology Department (MMD). It is possible to discriminate the
types of rain experienced in tropical region by observing the vertical
characteristics of the rain structure. .Heavy rain in tropical region
profoundly affects radiowave signals, causing transmission
interference and signal fading. Required wireless system fade margin
depends on the type of rain. Information relating to the two
mentioned types of rain is critical for the system engineers and
researchers in their endeavour to improve the reliability of
communication links. This paper highlights the quantification of
percentage occurrences over one year period in 2009.
Abstract: Computer education is referred to as the knowledge
and ability to use computers and related technology efficiently, with a
range of skills covering levels from basic use to advance. Computer
continues to make an ever-increasing impact on all aspect of human
endeavours such as education. With numerous benefits of computer
education, what are the insights of students on computer education?
This study investigated the perception of senior secondary school
students on computer education in Federal Capital Territory (FCT),
Abuja, Nigeria. A sample of 7500 senior secondary schools students
was involved in the study, one hundred (100) private and fifty (50)
public schools within FCT. They were selected by using simple
random sampling technique. A questionnaire [PSSSCEQ] was
developed and validated through expert judgement and reliability coefficient
of 0.84 was obtained. It was used to gather relevant data on
computer education. Findings confirmed that the students in the FCT
had positive perception on computer education. Some factors were
identified that affect students’ perception on computer education. The
null hypotheses were tested using t-test and ANOVA statistical
analyses at 0.05 level of significance. Based on these findings, some
recommendations were made which include competent teachers
should be employed into all secondary schools. This will help
students to acquire relevant knowledge in computer education,
technological supports should be provided to all secondary schools;
this will help the users (students) to solve specific problems in
computer education and financial supports should be provided to
procure computer facilities that will enhance the teaching and the
learning of computer education.
Abstract: The major environmental risk of soil pollution is the
contamination of groundwater by infiltration of organic and inorganic
pollutants which can cause a serious menace. To prevent this risk and
to protect the groundwater, we proceeded in this study to test the
reliability of a biosolid as barrier to prevent the migration of very
dangerous pollutants as ‘Cadmium’ through the different soil layers. In this study, we tried to highlight the effect of several parameters
such as: turbidity (different cycle of Hydration/Dehydration),
rainfall, effect of initial Cd(II) concentration and the type of soil.
These parameters allow us to find the most effective manner to
integrate this barrier in the soil. From the results obtained, we found a
significant effect of the barrier. Indeed, the recorded passing
quantities are lowest for the highest rainfall; we noted also that the
barrier has a better affinity towards higher concentrations; the most
retained amounts of cadmium has been in the top layer of the two
types of soil tested, while the lowest amounts of cadmium are
recorded in the bottom layers of soils.
Abstract: Context-aware technologies provide system
applications with the awareness of environmental conditions,
customer behaviours, object movements, etc. Further, with such
capability system applications can be smart to intelligently adapt their
responses to the changing conditions. In regard to business
operations, this promises businesses that their business processes can
run more intelligently, adaptively and flexibly, and thereby either
improve customer experience, enhance reliability of service delivery,
or lower operational cost, to make the business more competitive and
sustainable. Aiming at realising such context-aware business process
management, this paper firstly explores its potential benefit, and then
identifies some gaps between the current business process
management support and the expected. In addition, some preliminary
solutions are also discussed in regard to context definition, rule-based
process execution, run-time process evolution, etc. A framework is
also presented to give a conceptual architecture of context-aware
business process management system to guide system
implementation.
Abstract: When evaluating the capacity of a generation park to
cover the load in transmission systems, traditional Loss of Load
Expectation (LOLE) and Expected Energy not Served (EENS)
indices can be used. If those indices allow computing the annual
duration and severity of load non covering situations, they do not take
into account the fact that the load excess is generally shifted from one
penury state (hour or quarter of an hour) to the following one. In this
paper, a sequential Monte Carlo framework is introduced in order to
compute adjusted LOLE and EENS indices. Practically, those
adapted indices permit to consider the effect of load excess transfer
on the global adequacy of a generation park, providing thus a more
accurate evaluation of this quantity.
Abstract: Opportunistic Routing (OR) increases the
transmission reliability and network throughput. Traditional routing
protocols preselects one or more predetermined nodes before
transmission starts and uses a predetermined neighbor to forward a
packet in each hop. The opportunistic routing overcomes the
drawback of unreliable wireless transmission by broadcasting one
transmission can be overheard by manifold neighbors. The first
cooperation-optimal protocol for Multirate OR (COMO) used to
achieve social efficiency and prevent the selfish behavior of the
nodes. The novel link-correlation-aware OR improves the
performance by exploiting the miscellaneous low correlated forward
links. Context aware Adaptive OR (CAOR) uses active suppression
mechanism to reduce packet duplication. The Context-aware OR
(COR) can provide efficient routing in mobile networks. By using
Cooperative Opportunistic Routing in Mobile Ad hoc Networks
(CORMAN), the problem of opportunistic data transfer can be
tackled. While comparing to all the protocols, COMO is the best as it
achieves social efficiency and prevents the selfish behavior of the
nodes.
Abstract: During the last decades, a number of food crises such
as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), Mad-Cow disease,
Dioxin in chicken food, Food-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), have
certainly inflected the reliability of the food industry. Consequently,
the trend in applying different scientific methods of risk assessment
in food safety has obtained more attentions in the academic and
practice. However, lack of practical approach considering entire food
supply chain is tangible in the academic literature. In this regard, this
paper aims to apply risk assessment tool (FMEA) with integration of
Human Factor along the entire supply chain of food production and
test the method in a case study of Diary production, and analyze its
results.
Abstract: Job satisfaction and motivation have been given an
important attention in psychology because they are seen as main
instruments in maintaining organizational growth and development;
they are also used to accomplish organizational aims and objectives.
However, it has been observed that some institutions failed in
motivating and stimulating their workers; in contrast, workers may be
motivated but not satisfied with the job and failed to perform
efficiently and effectively. It is hoped that the study of this nature
would be of significance value to all stakeholders in education
specifically, lecturers in higher institutions in Nigeria. Also, it is
hoped that the findings of this study will enhance lecturers’
effectiveness and performance in discharging their duties. In the light
of the above statements, this study investigated whether job
satisfaction and motivation predict lecturers’ effectiveness in Nigeria
Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State. Correlational research method
was adopted for the study, while purposive sampling technique was
used to choose the institution and the sampled lectures (70). Simple
random sampling technique was used to select one hundred cadets
across the academy. Two instruments were used to elicit information
from both lecturers and cadets. These were job satisfaction and
motivation; and lecturers’ effectiveness Questionnaires. The
instruments were subjected to pilot testing and found to have
reliability coefficient of 0.69 and 0.71 respectively. The results of the
study revealed that there was a significance relationship among job
satisfaction, motivation and lecturers effectiveness in Nigeria Police
Academy. There was a significance relationship between job
satisfaction and lecturers’ effectiveness in Nigeria Police Academy
the cal r is 0.21 while the crt r is 0.19. at p
Abstract: Considering the challenges of short product life cycles
and growing variant diversity, cost minimization and manufacturing
flexibility increasingly gain importance to maintain a competitive
edge in today’s global and dynamic markets. In this context, an
aerodynamic part feeding system for high-speed industrial assembly
applications has been developed at the Institute of Production
Systems and Logistics (IFA), Leibniz Universitaet Hannover. The
aerodynamic part feeding system outperforms conventional systems
with respect to its process safety, reliability, and operating speed. In
this paper, a multi-objective optimisation of the aerodynamic feeding
system regarding the orientation rate, the feeding velocity, and the
required nozzle pressure is presented.
Abstract: The purpose of the study was to examine lifelong
education for teachers as a tool for achieving effective teaching and
learning. Lifelong education enhances social inclusion, personal
development, citizenship, employability, teaching and learning,
community and the nation. It is imperative that the teacher needs to
update his knowledge regularly to be able to perform optimally, since
he has a major position in the inculcation of desirable elements in
students, and the challenges of lifelong education were also
discussed. Descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. A
simple random sampling technique was used to select 80 teachers as
sample from a population of 105 senior secondary school teachers in
Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State. A 20-item self
designed questionnaire subjected to expert validation and reliability
was used to collect data. The reliability Alpha coefficient of 0.87 was
established using Cronbach’s Alpha technique, mean scores and
standard deviation were used to answer the 2 research questions
while chi-square was used to analyse data for the 2 null hypotheses,
which states that lifelong education for teachers is not a significant
tool for achieving effective teaching and lifelong education for
teachers does not significantly impact on effective learning. The
findings of the study revealed that, lifelong education for teachers can
be used as a tool for achieving effective teaching and learning, and
the study recommended among others that government, organizations
and individuals should in collaboration put lifelong education
programmes for teachers on the priority list. The paper concluded
that the strategic position of lifelong education for teachers towards
enhanced teaching, learning and the production of quality manpower
in the society makes it imperative for all hands to be on “deck” to
support the programme financially and otherwise.
Abstract: This study was conducted to investigate the
psychological variables motivating sport participation and
involvement among student-athletes of tertiary institutions in southwest
Nigeria. One thousand three hundred and fifty (N-1350) studentathletes
were randomly selected in all sports from nine tertiary
institutions in south-west Nigeria. These tertiary institutions include
University of Lagos, Lagos State University, Obafemi Awolowo
University, Osun State University, University of Ibadan, University
of Agriculture Abeokuta, Federal University of Technology
Akungba, University of Ilorin, and Kwara State University. The
descriptive survey research method was adopted while a self
developed validated Likert type questionnaire named Sport
Participation Scale (SPS) was used to elicit opinion from
respondents. The test-retest reliability value obtained for the
instrument, using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Co-efficient
was 0.96. Out of the one thousand three hundred and fifty (N-1350)
questionnaire administered, only one thousand two hundred and five
(N-1286) were correctly filled, coded and analysed using inferential
statistics of Chi-Square (X2) while all the tested hypotheses were set
at. 05 alpha level. Based on the findings of this study, the result
revealed that several psychological factors influence student athletes
to continue participation in sport one which includes love for the
game, famous athletes as role model and family support. However,
the analysis further revealed that the stipends the student-athletes get
from their universities have no influence on their participation and
involvement in sport.
Abstract: In this study, a general approach to the reliability
based limit analysis of laterally loaded piles is presented. In
engineering practice the uncertainties play a very important role. The
aim of this study is to evaluate the lateral load capacity of free-head
and fixed-head long pile when plastic limit analysis is considered. In
addition to the plastic limit analysis to control the plastic behaviour
of the structure, uncertain bound on the complementary strain energy
of the residual forces is also applied. This bound has significant effect
for the load parameter. The solution to reliability-based problems is
obtained by a computer program which is governed by the reliability
index calculation.