Abstract: The aim of this research is to develop a fast and
reliable surveillance system based on a personal digital assistant
(PDA) device. This is to extend the capability of the device to detect
moving objects which is already available in personal computers.
Secondly, to compare the performance between Background
subtraction (BS) and Temporal Frame Differencing (TFD) techniques
for PDA platform as to which is more suitable. In order to reduce
noise and to prepare frames for the moving object detection part,
each frame is first converted to a gray-scale representation and then
smoothed using a Gaussian low pass filter. Two moving object
detection schemes i.e., BS and TFD have been analyzed. The
background frame is updated by using Infinite Impulse Response
(IIR) filter so that the background frame is adapted to the varying
illuminate conditions and geometry settings. In order to reduce the
effect of noise pixels resulting from frame differencing
morphological filters erosion and dilation are applied. In this
research, it has been found that TFD technique is more suitable for
motion detection purpose than the BS in term of speed. On average
TFD is approximately 170 ms faster than the BS technique
Abstract: Building maintenance plays an important role among other activities in building operation. Building defect and damages are part of the building maintenance 'bread and butter' as their input indicated in the building inspection is very much justified, particularly as to determine the building performance. There will be no escape route or short cut from building maintenance work. This study attempts to identify a competitive performance that translates the Critical Success Factor achievements and satisfactorily meet the university-s expectation. The quality and efficiency of maintenance management operation of building depends, to some extent, on the building condition information, the expectation from the university sector and the works carried out for each maintenance activity. This paper reviews the critical success factor in building maintenance management practice for university sectors from four (4) perspectives which include (1) customer (2) internal processes (3) financial and (4) learning and growth perspective. The enhancement of these perspectives is capable to reach the maintenance management goal for a better living environment in university campus.
Abstract: With the aim of improving nutritional profile and antioxidant capacity of gluten-free cookies, blueberry pomace, by-product of juice production, was processed into a new food ingredient by drying and grinding and used for a gluten-free cookie formulation. Since the quality of a baked product is highly influenced by the baking conditions, the objective of this work was to optimize the baking time and thickness of dough pieces, by applying Response Surface Methodology (RSM) in order to obtain the best technological quality of the cookies. The experiments were carried out according to a Central Composite Design (CCD) by selecting the dough thickness and baking time as independent variables, while hardness, color parameters (L*, a* and b* values), water activity, diameter and short/long ratio were response variables. According to the results of RSM analysis, the baking time of 13.74min and dough thickness of 4.08mm was found to be the optimal for the baking temperature of 170°C. As similar optimal parameters were obtained by previously conducted experiment based on sensory analysis, response surface methodology (RSM) can be considered as a suitable approach to optimize the baking process.
Abstract: Today the intangible assets are the capital of knowledge and are the most important and the most valuable resource for organizations. All employees have knowledge independently of the kind of jobs they do. Knowledge is thus an asset, which influences business operations. The objective of this article is to identify knowledge continuity as an objective of business continuity management. The article has been prepared based on the analysis of secondary sources and the evaluation of primary sources of data by means of a quantitative survey conducted in the Czech Republic. The conclusion of the article is that organizations that apply business continuity management do not focus on the preservation of the knowledge of key employees. Organizations ensure knowledge continuity only intuitively, on a random basis, non-systematically and discontinuously. The non-ensuring of knowledge continuity represents a threat of loss of key knowledge for organizations and can also negatively affect business continuity.
Abstract: The seemingly ambiguous title of this paper – use of the terms maturity and innovation in concord – signifies the imperative of every organisation within the competitive domain. Where organisational maturity and innovativeness were traditionally considered antonymous, the assimilation of these two seemingly contradictory notions is fundamental to the assurance of long-term organisational prosperity. Organisations are required, now more than ever, to grow and mature their innovation capability – rending consistent innovative outputs. This paper describes research conducted to consolidate the principles of innovation and identify the fundamental components that constitute organisational innovation capability. The process of developing an Innovation Capability Maturity Model is presented. A brief description is provided of the basic components of the model, followed by a description of the case studies that were conducted to evaluate the model. The paper concludes with a summary of the findings and potential future research.
Abstract: ECG contains very important clinical information about the cardiac activities of the heart. Often the ECG signal needs to be captured for a long period of time in order to identify abnormalities in certain situations. Such signal apart of a large volume often is characterised by low quality due to the noise and other influences. In order to extract features in the ECG signal with time-varying characteristics at first need to be preprocessed with the best parameters. Also, it is useful to identify specific parts of the long lasting signal which have certain abnormalities and to direct the practitioner to those parts of the signal. In this work we present a method based on wavelet transform, standard deviation and variable threshold which achieves 100% accuracy in identifying the ECG signal peaks and heartbeat as well as identifying the standard deviation, providing a quick reference to abnormalities.
Abstract: This paper focuses on operational risk measurement
techniques and on economic capital estimation methods. A data
sample of operational losses provided by an anonymous Central
European bank is analyzed using several approaches. Loss
Distribution Approach and scenario analysis method are considered.
Custom plausible loss events defined in a particular scenario are
merged with the original data sample and their impact on capital
estimates and on the financial institution is evaluated. Two main
questions are assessed – What is the most appropriate statistical
method to measure and model operational loss data distribution? and
What is the impact of hypothetical plausible events on the financial
institution? The g&h distribution was evaluated to be the most
suitable one for operational risk modeling. The method based on the
combination of historical loss events modeling and scenario analysis
provides reasonable capital estimates and allows for the measurement
of the impact of extreme events on banking operations.
Abstract: The Object of this paper is to design and analyze a
Hysteresis modulation based sliding mode control (HMSMC) for
positive output elementary super lift Luo converter (POESLLC),
which is the start-of-the-art DC-DC converter. The positive output
elementary super lift Luo converter performs the voltage
conversion from positive source voltage to positive load voltage.
This paper proposes a HMSMC capable of providing the good
steady state and dynamic performance compared to conventional
controllers. Dynamic equations describing the positive output
elementary super lift luo converter are derived by using state space
average method. The simulation model of the positive output
elementary super lift Luo converter with its control circuit is
implemented in Matlab/Simulink. The HMSMC for positive
output elementary super lift Luo converter is tested for line
changes, load changes and also for components variations.
Abstract: The balance between nitrogen loading and runoff in the
forested headwater streams of the Kanna River was estimated to
elucidate the current status of nitrogen saturation in a forested
watershed. NO3-N concentration in the study area was far higher than
the average value in Japan. Estimated nitrogen runoff accounted for
55–57% of nitrogen loading; suggesting that the forest-s nitrogen
retention capacity is most likely in decline. Since the 1970s, Japan-s
forestry industry has been declining due to the decrease in lumber
demand and increase in cheap imported materials. Thus, this decline
will contribute significantly to further reducing nitrogen saturation in
forest ecosystems.
Abstract: In this paper a sliding-mode torque and flux control is
designed for encoderless synchronous reluctance motor drive. The
sliding-mode plus PI controllers are designed in the stator-flux field
oriented reference frame which is able to track the mentioned
reference signals with a minimum pulsations in the state condition. In
addition, with these controllers a fast dynamic response is also
achieved for the drive system. The proposed control scheme is robust
subject to parameters variation except to stator resistance. To solve
this problem a simple estimator is used for on-line detecting of this
parameter. Moreover, the rotor position and speed are estimated by
on-line obtaining of the stator-flux-space vector. The effectiveness
and capability of the proposed control approach is verified by both
the simulation and experimental results.
Abstract: With the prevalence of computer and development of information technology, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have long used for a variety of applications in electrical engineering. GIS are designed to support the analysis, management, manipulation and mapping of spatial data. This paper presents several usages of GIS in power utilities such as automated route selection for the construction of new power lines which uses a dynamic programming model for route optimization, load forecasting and optimizing planning of substation-s location and capacity with comprehensive algorithm which involves an accurate small-area electric load forecasting procedure and simulates the different cost functions of substations.
Abstract: The previous researches focused on the influence of
anthropogenic greenhouse gases exerting global warming, but not
consider whether desert sand may warm the planet, this could be
improved by accounting for sand's physical and geometric properties.
Here we show, sand particles (because of their geometry) at the desert
surface form an extended surface of up to 1 + π/4 times the planar area
of the desert that can contact sunlight, and at shallow depths of the
desert form another extended surface of at least 1 + π times the planar
area that can contact air. Based on this feature, an enhanced heat
exchange system between sunlight, desert sand, and air in the spaces
between sand particles could be built up automatically, which can
increase capture of solar energy, leading to rapid heating of the sand
particles, and then the heating of sand particles will dramatically heat
the air between sand particles. The thermodynamics of deserts may
thus have contributed to global warming, especially significant to
future global warming if the current desertification continues to
expand.
Abstract: Tehran, one of the heavily-populated capitals, is
severely suffering from increasing air pollution. To show a
documented trend of such pollutants during last years, plane tree
species (Platanus orientalis) were suited to be studied as indicators,
for the species have been planted throughout the city many years
ago. Two areas (Saadatabad and Narmak districts) allotting different
contents of crowed and highly-traffic routs but the same ecological
characteristics were selected. Twelve sample individuals were cored
twice perpendicularly in each area. Tree-rings of each core were
measured by a binocular microscope and separated annually for the
last 25 years. Two heavy metals including Cd and Pb accompanied
by a mineral element (Ca) were analyzed using Hatch method. Treerings
analysis of the two areas showed different groups in term of
physiologically ability as the growths were plunged during the last
10 years in Saadatabad district and showed a slight decrease in the
same period for another studying area. In direct contrast to
decreasing growth trend in Saadatabad, all three mentioned elements
increased sharply during last 25 years in the same area. When it came
to Narmak district, the trend was completely different with
Saadatabad. There were some fluctuations in absorbing trace
elements like tree-rings widths were, yet calcium showed an upward
trend all the last 25 years. The results of the study proved the
possibility of using tree species of each region to monitor its air
pollution trends of the past, hence to depict a pollution assessment of
a populated city for last years and then to make appropriate decisions
for the future as it is well-known what the trend is. On the other
hand, risen values of calcium (as the stress-indicator element)
accompanied by increased trace elements suggests non-sustainable
state of the trees.
Abstract: A two-dimensional thin-walled capsule of a flexible
semi-permeable membrane is adhered onto a rigid planar substrate
under adhesive forces (derived from a potential function) in the
presence of osmosis across the membrane. The capsule is immersed
in a hypotonic and diluted binary solution of a non-electrolyte
solute. The Stokes flow problem is solved by the immersed interface
method (IIM) with equal viscosities for the enclosed and
surrounding fluid of the capsule. The numerical results obtained are
verified against two simplified theoretical solutions and the
agreements are good. The osmotic inflation of the adhered capsule is
studied as a function of the solute concentration field, hydraulic
conductivity, and the initial capsule shape. Our findings indicate that
the contact length shrinks in dimension as capsule inflates in the
hypotonic medium, and the equilibrium contact length does not
depend on the hydraulic conductivity of the membrane and the
initial shape of the capsule.
Abstract: In recent years, there have been attempts to store
natural gas in adsorptive form. This is called adsorptive natural gas,
or ANG. The problem with this technology is the low sorption
capacity. The purpose is to achieve compressed natural gas (CNG)
capacity of 230 V/V. Further research is required to achieve such
target. Several research studies have been performed with this target;
through either the modification or development of new sorbents or
the optimization of the operation sorption process itself. In this work,
storage of methane on molecular sieves 5A and 13X was studied on
dry basis, and on wet basis to certain extent. The temperature and the
pressure dynamics were investigated. The results indicated that
regardless of the charge pressure, the time for the peak temperature
during the methane charge process is always the same. This can be
used as a characteristic of the adsorbent. The total achieved
deliveries using molecular sieves were much lower than that of
activated carbons; 53.0 V/V for the case of 13X molecular sieves and
43 V/V for the case of 5A molecular sieves, both at 2oC and 4 MPa
(580 psi). Investigation of charge pressure dynamic using wet
molecular sieves at 2oC and a mass ratio of 0.5, revealed slowness of
the process and unexpected behavior.
Abstract: In order to apply partially filled steel grid composite deck as the horizontal supporting structure of various kinds of infrastructures, the variation of its flexural strength according to design parameters such as cross and longitudinal bars constituting the steel grid and the type of shear connection is evaluated and compared experimentally. The result shows that the design sensitivity of the deck to the spacing of the cross bars is insignificant in the case of structure with low risk of punching failure or without load distribution problem. By means of shear connection composed by transverse rebar and longitudinal bar without additional shear stud bolts, the complete interaction between steel grid and concrete slab is able to be achieved and the composite deck can develop its bending resistance capacity.
Abstract: The aim of this study is to determine the basic information and communication technology (ICT) skills that may be needed by students studying in the 8th grade of the primary education in their cooperative project works implemented via the Internet. Within the scope of the study, the curriculum used for European Computer Driving License (ECDL) and the curriculum used in Turkey are also compared in terms of the ability to use ICT, which is aimed to be provided to the students. The research population of the study, during which the pre test – post test control group experimental model was used, consisted of 40 students from three different schools. In the first stage of the study, the skills that might be needed by students for their cooperative project works implemented via the Internet were determined through examination of the completed Comenious, e – twinning and WorldLinks projects. In the second stage of the study, the curriculums of the Turkish Ministry of National Education (MEB) and ECDL were evaluated by seven different teachers in line with these skills. Also in this study the ECDL and MEB curriculums were compared in terms of capability to provide the skills to implement cooperative projects via the Internet. In line with the findings of the study, the skills that might be needed by students to implement cooperative projects via the Internet were outlined, and existence of a significant difference was established in favor of the ECDL curriculum upon comparison of both curriculums in accordance with this outline (U = 50,500; p
Abstract: In this paper, a new face recognition method based on
PCA (principal Component Analysis), LDA (Linear Discriminant
Analysis) and neural networks is proposed. This method consists of
four steps: i) Preprocessing, ii) Dimension reduction using PCA, iii)
feature extraction using LDA and iv) classification using neural
network. Combination of PCA and LDA is used for improving the
capability of LDA when a few samples of images are available and
neural classifier is used to reduce number misclassification caused by
not-linearly separable classes. The proposed method was tested on
Yale face database. Experimental results on this database
demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed method for face
recognition with less misclassification in comparison with previous
methods.
Abstract: Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) is one of the various
methods that can be used to reduce the carbon footprint of the
energy sector. This paper focuses on the absorption of CO2 from
flue gas using packed columns, whose efficiency is highly dependent
on the structure of the liquid films within the column. To study the
characteristics of liquid films a CFD solver, OpenFOAM is utilised
to solve two-phase, isothermal film flow using the volume-of-fluid
(VOF) method. The model was validated using existing experimental
data and the Nusselt theory. It was found that smaller plate inclination
angles, with respect to the horizontal plane, resulted in larger wetted
areas on smooth plates. However, only a slight improvement in
the wetted area was observed. Simulations were also performed
using a ridged plate and it was observed that these surface textures
significantly increase the wetted area of the plate. This was mainly
attributed to the channelling effect of the ridges, which helped to
oppose the surface tension forces trying to minimise the surface area.
Rivulet formations on the ridged plate were also flattened out and
spread across a larger proportion of the plate width.
Abstract: The antioxidant capability of beverage blends made from cocoa, zobo and ginger with standard antioxidant assay procedures was investigated. The DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl) scavenging capacity ranged from 21.2-25.8% in comparison with GSH of 37.1%. The ferric reducing ability was highest in the zobo drink and lowest in ginger. The superoxide scavenging capacity was also highest in the zobo drink followed by the drink with alkalized cocoa. The metal chelating power decreased as the level of zobo in the blends decreases. The chelating power of zobo and ginger were significantly lower than the natural and alkalized cocoa. The 100% zobo drink inhibited linoleic acid till the fifth day while natural and alkalized cocoa as well as the blend with 50% alkalized cocoa inhibited linoleic acid greatly till the sixth day. The finding describes the potential health benefit of the phytochemical antioxidants of cocoa:zobo:ginger beverage blends.