Abstract: Database management systems that integrate user preferences promise better solution for personalization, greater flexibility and higher quality of query responses. This paper presents a tentative work that studies and investigates approaches to express user preferences in queries. We sketch an extend capabilities of SQLf language that uses the fuzzy set theory in order to define the user preferences. For that, two essential points are considered: the first concerns the expression of user preferences in SQLf by so-called fuzzy commensurable predicates set. The second concerns the bipolar way in which these user preferences are expressed on mandatory and/or optional preferences.
Abstract: In view of geological origin, formation of the shallow
gas reservoir of the Hangzhou Bay, northern Zhejiang Province,
eastern China, and original occurrence characteristics of the gassy
sand are analyzed. Generally, gassy sand in scale gas reservoirs is in
the state of residual moisture content and the approximate scope of
initial matric suction of sand ranges about from 0kPa to100kPa.
Results based on GDS triaxial tests show that the classical shear
strength formulas of unsaturated soil can not effectively describe basic
strength characteristics of gassy sand; the relationship between
apparent cohesion and matric suction of gassy sand agrees well with
the power function, which can reasonably be used to describe the
strength of gassy sand. In the stress path of gas release, shear strength
of gassy sand will increase and experimental results show the formula
proposed in this paper can effectively predict the strength increment.
When saturated strength indexes of the sand are used in engineering
design, moderate reduction should be considered.
Abstract: For several high speed networks, providing resilience against failures is an essential requirement. The main feature for designing next generation optical networks is protecting and restoring high capacity WDM networks from the failures. Quick detection, identification and restoration make networks more strong and consistent even though the failures cannot be avoided. Hence, it is necessary to develop fast, efficient and dependable fault localization or detection mechanisms. In this paper we propose a new fault localization algorithm for WDM networks which can identify the location of a failure on a failed lightpath. Our algorithm detects the failed connection and then attempts to reroute data stream through an alternate path. In addition to this, we develop an algorithm to analyze the information of the alarms generated by the components of an optical network, in the presence of a fault. It uses the alarm correlation in order to reduce the list of suspected components shown to the network operators. By our simulation results, we show that our proposed algorithms achieve less blocking probability and delay while getting higher throughput.
Abstract: The effects of seawater and slurry ice bleeding methods on the sensory, microbiological and chemical quality changes of cod fillets during chilled storage were examined in this study. The results from sensory evaluation showed that slurry ice bleeding method prolonged the shelf life of cod fillets up to 13-14 days compared to 10-11 days for fish bled in seawater. Slurry ice bleeding method also led to a slower microbial growth and biochemical developments, resulting lower total plate count (TPC), H2S-producing bacteria count, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), trimethylamine (TMA), free fatty acid (FFA) content and higher phospholipid content (PL) compared to those of samples bled in seawater. The results of principle component analysis revealed that TPC, H2S-producing bacteria, TVB-N, TMA and FFA were in significant correlation. They were also in negative correlation with sensory evaluation (Torry score), PL and water holding capacity (WHC).
Abstract: This research tries to analyze the role that knowledge
about foreign markets has in increasing firms- exports in clustered
spaces. We consider two interrelated sources of knowledge: firms-
direct experience and indirect experience from other clustered firms –
export externalities. In particular, it is proposed that firms would
improve their export performance by accessing to export externalities
if they have some previous direct experience that allows them to
identify, understand and exploit them. Also, we propose that this
positive influence of previous direct experience on export
externalities keeps only up to a point, where it becomes negative,
creating an inverted “U" shape. Empirical evidence gathered among
wine producers located in La Rioja tends to confirm that firms enjoy
of export externalities if they have export experience along several
years and countries increase their export performance. While this
relationship becomes less relevant as they develop a higher
experience, we could not confirm the existence of a curvilinear
relationship in their influence on export externalities and export
performance.
Abstract: Landslide susceptibility map delineates the potential
zones for landslide occurrence. Previous works have applied
multivariate methods and neural networks for mapping landslide
susceptibility. This study proposed a new approach to integrate
decision tree model and spatial cluster statistic for assessing landslide
susceptibility spatially. A total of 2057 landslide cells were digitized
for developing the landslide decision tree model. The relationships of
landslides and instability factors were explicitly represented by using
tree graphs in the model. The local Getis-Ord statistics were used to
cluster cells with high landslide probability. The analytic result from
the local Getis-Ord statistics was classed to create a map of landslide
susceptibility zones. The map was validated using new landslide data
with 482 cells. Results of validation show an accuracy rate of 86.1% in
predicting new landslide occurrence. This indicates that the proposed
approach is useful for improving landslide susceptibility mapping.
Abstract: The purpose of this paper was to study motivation
factors affecting job performance effectiveness. This paper drew
upon data collected from an Internal Audit Staffs of Internal Audit
Line of Head Office of Krung Thai Public Company Limited.
Statistics used included frequency, percentage, mean and standard
deviation, t-test, and one-way ANOVA test. The finding revealed that
the majority of the respondents were female of 46 years of age and
over, married and live together, hold a bachelor degree, with an
average monthly income over 70,001 Baht. The majority of
respondents had over 15 years of work experience. They generally
had high working motivation as well as high job performance
effectiveness.
The hypotheses testing disclosed that employees with different
working status had different level of job performance effectiveness at
a 0.01 level of significance. Working motivation factors had an effect
on job performance in the same direction with high level. Individual
working motivation included working completion, reorganization,
working progression, working characteristic, opportunity,
responsibility, management policy, supervision, relationship with
their superior, relationship with co-worker, working position,
working stability, safety, privacy, working conditions, and payment.
All of these factors related to job performance effectiveness in the
same direction with medium level.
Abstract: The communication networks development and
advancement during two last decades has been toward a single goal
and that is gradual change from circuit-switched networks to packed
switched ones. Today a lot of networks operates are trying to
transform the public telephone networks to multipurpose packed
switch. This new achievement is generally called "next generation
networks". In fact, the next generation networks enable the operators
to transfer every kind of services (sound, data and video) on a
network. First, in this report the definition, characteristics and next
generation networks services and then ad-hoc networks role in the
next generation networks are studied.
Abstract: The paper considers a novel modular and intrinsically safe redundant robotic system with biologically inspired actuators (pneumatic artificial muscles and rubber bellows actuators). Similarly to the biological systems, the stiffness of the internal parallel modules, representing 2 DOF joints in the serial robotic chains, is controlled by co-activation of opposing redundant actuator groups in the null-space of the module Jacobian, without influencing the actual robot position. The decoupled position/stiffness control allows the realization of variable joint stiffness according to different force-displacement relationships. The variable joint stiffness, as well as limited pneumatic muscle/bellows force ability, ensures internal system safety that is crucial for development of human-friendly robots intended for human-robot collaboration. The initial experiments with the system prototype demonstrate the capabilities of independently, simultaneously controlling both joint (Cartesian) motion and joint stiffness. The paper also presents the possible industrial applications of snake-like robots built using the new modules.
Abstract: Trihalogenmethanes are the most significant byproducts of the reaction of disinfection agent with organic precursors naturally present in ground and surface waters.Their incidence negatively affects the quality of drinking water in relation to their nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic and genotoxic effects on human health. Taking into consideration the considerable volatility of monitored contaminants it could be assumed that their incidence in drinking water would depend on the distance of sampling from the area of disinfection. Based on the concentration of trihalogenmethanes determined with the help of gas chromatography with mass detector and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) such dependence has been proved as statistically significant. The acquired outcomes will be used for assessing the non-carcinogenic and genotoxic risks to consumers.
Abstract: This study applied the Gaussian trajectory
transfer-coefficient model (GTx) to simulate the particulate matter
concentrations and the source apportionments at Nanzih Air Quality
Monitoring Station in southern Taiwan from November 2007 to
February 2008. The correlation coefficient between the observed and
the calculated daily PM10 concentrations is 0.5 and the absolute bias of
the PM10 concentrations is 24%. The simulated PM10 concentrations
matched well with the observed data. Although the emission rate of
PM10 was dominated by area sources (58%), the results of source
apportionments indicated that the primary sources for PM10 at Nanzih
Station were point sources (42%), area sources (20%) and then upwind
boundary concentration (14%). The obvious difference of PM10 source
apportionment between episode and non-episode days was upwind
boundary concentrations which contributed to 20% and 11% PM10
sources, respectively. The gas-particle conversion of secondary
aerosol and long range transport played crucial roles on the PM10
contribution to a receptor.
Abstract: This article deals with the conceptual modeling under uncertainty. First, the division of information systems with their definition will be described, focusing on those where the construction of a conceptual model is suitable for the design of future information system database. Furthermore, the disadvantages of the traditional approach in creating a conceptual model and database design will be analyzed. A comprehensive methodology for the creation of a conceptual model based on analysis of client requirements and the selection of a suitable domain model is proposed here. This article presents the expert system used for the construction of a conceptual model and is a suitable tool for database designers to create a conceptual model.
Abstract: The objective of this paper, is to apply support vector machine (SVM) approach for the classification of cancerous and normal regions of prostate images. Three kinds of textural features are extracted and used for the analysis: parameters of the Gauss- Markov random field (GMRF), correlation function and relative entropy. Prostate images are acquired by the system consisting of a microscope, video camera and a digitizing board. Cross-validated classification over a database of 46 images is implemented to evaluate the performance. In SVM classification, sensitivity and specificity of 96.2% and 97.0% are achieved for the 32x32 pixel block sized data, respectively, with an overall accuracy of 96.6%. Classification performance is compared with artificial neural network and k-nearest neighbor classifiers. Experimental results demonstrate that the SVM approach gives the best performance.
Abstract: An inflation–extension test with human vena cava
inferior was performed with the aim to fit a material model. The vein
was modeled as a thick–walled tube loaded by internal pressure and
axial force. The material was assumed to be an incompressible
hyperelastic fiber reinforced continuum. Fibers are supposed to be
arranged in two families of anti–symmetric helices. Considered
anisotropy corresponds to local orthotropy. Used strain energy
density function was based on a concept of limiting strain
extensibility. The pressurization was comprised by four pre–cycles
under physiological venous loading (0 – 4kPa) and four cycles under
nonphysiological loading (0 – 21kPa). Each overloading cycle was
performed with different value of axial weight. Overloading data
were used in regression analysis to fit material model. Considered
model did not fit experimental data so good. Especially predictions
of axial force failed. It was hypothesized that due to
nonphysiological values of loading pressure and different values of
axial weight the material was not preconditioned enough and some
damage occurred inside the wall. A limiting fiber extensibility
parameter Jm was assumed to be in relation to supposed damage.
Each of overloading cycles was fitted separately with different values
of Jm. Other parameters were held the same. This approach turned out
to be successful. Variable value of Jm can describe changes in the
axial force – axial stretch response and satisfy pressure – radius
dependence simultaneously.
Abstract: Polyurethane foams (PUF) has been prepared from
vegetable; soybean based polyols. They were characterized into
flexible and semi rigid polyurethane foam. This work is directed to
production of flexible polyurethane foams by a process involving the
reaction of mixture of 2,4- and 2,6-Toluene di Isocyanate isomers,
with portion of to blends of soy polyols with petroleum polyol in the
presence of other ingredients such as blowing agents, silicone
surfactants and accelerating agents. Additon of chain extender
improves the property then further decreases the properties on further
addition of the same. The objective of this work was to study the
effect of chain extender and role of phosphoric acid catalyst to the
final properties and correlate the morphology image with mechanical
properties of these foams.
Abstract: Auckland has a temperate climate with comfortable
warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. An Auckland school
normally does not need air conditioning for cooling during the
summer and only need heating during the winter. The space hating
energy is the major portion of winter school energy consumption and
the winter energy consumption is major portion of annual school
energy consumption. School building thermal design should focus
on the winter thermal performance for reducing the space heating
energy. A number of Auckland schools- design data and energy
consumption data are used for this study. This pilot study
investigates the relationships between their energy consumption data
and school building design data to improve future school design for
energy efficiency.
Abstract: Methods of clustering which were developed in the
data mining theory can be successfully applied to the investigation of
different kinds of dependencies between the conditions of
environment and human activities. It is known, that environmental
parameters such as temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric
pressure and illumination have significant effects on the human
mental performance. To investigate these parameters effect, data
mining technique of clustering using entropy and Information Gain
Ratio (IGR) K(Y/X) = (H(X)–H(Y/X))/H(Y) is used, where
H(Y)=-ΣPi ln(Pi). This technique allows adjusting the boundaries of
clusters. It is shown that the information gain ratio (IGR) grows
monotonically and simultaneously with degree of connectivity
between two variables. This approach has some preferences if
compared, for example, with correlation analysis due to relatively
smaller sensitivity to shape of functional dependencies. Variant of an
algorithm to implement the proposed method with some analysis of
above problem of environmental effects is also presented. It was
shown that proposed method converges with finite number of steps.
Abstract: Technological innovation capability (TIC) is
defined as a comprehensive set of characteristics of a firm that
facilities and supports its technological innovation strategies.
An audit to evaluate the TICs of a firm may trigger
improvement in its future practices. Such an audit can be used
by the firm for self assessment or third-party independent
assessment to identify problems of its capability status. This
paper attempts to develop such an auditing framework that
can help to determine the subtle links between innovation
capabilities and business performance; and to enable the
auditor to determine whether good practice is in place. The
seven TICs in this study include learning, R&D, resources
allocation, manufacturing, marketing, organization and
strategic planning capabilities. Empirical data was acquired
through a survey study of 200 manufacturing firms in the
Hong Kong/Pearl River Delta (HK/PRD) region. Structural
equation modelling was employed to examine the
relationships among TICs and various performance indicators:
sales performance, innovation performance, product
performance, and sales growth. The results revealed that
different TICs have different impacts on different
performance measures. Organization capability was found to
have the most influential impact. Hong Kong manufacturers
are now facing the challenge of high-mix-low-volume
customer orders. In order to cope with this change, good
capability in organizing different activities among various
departments is critical to the success of a company.
Abstract: We investigated this hypothesis that arterial CO2 pressure (PaCO2) drives ventilation (V.E) with a time delay duringrecovery from short impulse-like exercise (10 s) with work load of 200 watts. V.E and end tidal CO2 pressure (PETCO2) were measured continuously during rest, warming up, exercise and recovery periods. PaCO2 was predicted (PaCO2 pre) from PETCO2 and tidal volume (VT). PETCO2 and PaCO2 pre peaked at 20 s of recovery. V.E increased and peaked at the end of exercise and then decreased during recovery; however, it peaked again at 30 s of recovery, which was 10 s later than the peak of PaCO2 pre. The relationship between V. E and PaCO2pre was not significant by using data of them obtained at the same time but was significant by using data of V.E obtained 10 s later for data of PaCO2 pre. The results support our hypothesis that PaCO2 drives V.E with a time delay.
Abstract: We have developed an analytic model for the radial pn-junction in a nanowire (NW) core-shell structure utilizing as a new
building block in different semiconductor devices. The potential distribution through the p-n-junction is calculated and the analytical expressions are derived to compute the depletion region widths. We
show that the widths of space charge layers, surrounding the core, are
the functions of core radius, which is the manifestation of so called classical size effect. The relationship between the depletion layer width and the built-in potential in the asymptotes of infinitely large
core radius transforms to square-root dependence specific for conventional planar p-n-junctions. The explicit equation is derived to
compute the capacitance of radial p-n-junction. The current-voltage behavior is also carefully determined taking into account the “short
base" effects.