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: In this paper, a robust watermarking algorithm using
the wavelet transform and edge detection is presented. The efficiency
of an image watermarking technique depends on the preservation of
visually significant information. This is attained by embedding the
watermark transparently with the maximum possible strength. The
watermark embedding process is carried over the subband
coefficients that lie on edges, where distortions are less noticeable,
with a subband level dependent strength. Also, the watermark is
embedded to selected coefficients around edges, using a different
scale factor for watermark strength, that are captured by a
morphological dilation operation. The experimental evaluation of the
proposed method shows very good results in terms of robustness and
transparency to various attacks such as median filtering, Gaussian
noise, JPEG compression and geometrical transformations.
Abstract: Deep cold rolling (DCR) is a cold working process, which easily produces a smooth and work-hardened surface by plastic deformation of surface irregularities. In the present study, the influence of main deep cold rolling process parameters on the surface roughness and the hardness of AISI 4140 steel were studied by using fractional factorial design of experiments. The assessment of the surface integrity aspects on work material was done, in terms of identifying the predominant factor amongst the selected parameters, their order of significance and setting the levels of the factors for minimizing surface roughness and/or maximizing surface hardness. It was found that the ball diameter, rolling force, initial surface roughness and number of tool passes are the most pronounced parameters, which have great effects on the work piece-s surface during the deep cold rolling process. A simple, inexpensive and newly developed DCR tool, with interchangeable collet for using different ball diameters, was used throughout the experimental work presented in this paper.
Abstract: Dried soy protein hydrolysate powder was added to
the burger in order to enhance the oxidative stability as well as
decreases the microbial spoilage. The soybean bioactive compounds
(soy protein hydrolysate) as antioxidant and antimicrobial were added
at level of 1, 2 and 3 %.Chemical analysis and physical properties
were affected by protein hydrolysate addition. The TBA values were
significantly affected (P < 0.05) by the storage period and the level of
soy protein hydrolysate. All the tested soybean protein hydrolysate
additives showed strong antioxidant properties. Samples of soybean
protein hydrolysate showed the lowest (P < 0.05) TBA values at each
time of storage.
The counts of all determined microbiological indicators were
significantly (P < 0.05) affected by the addition of the soybean
protein hydrolysate. Decreasing trends of different extent were also
observed in samples of the treatments for total viable counts,
Coliform, Staphylococcus aureus, yeast and molds. Storage period
was being significantly (P < 0.05) affected on microbial counts in all
samples Staphylococcus aureus were the most sensitive microbe
followed by Coliform group of the sample containing protein
hydrolysate, while molds and yeast count showed a decreasing trend
but not significant (P < 0.05) until the end of the storage period
compared with control sample. Sensory attributes were also
performed, added protein hydrolysate exhibits beany flavor which
was clear about samples of 3% protein hydrolysate.
Abstract: This paper presents a low-voltage low-power differential linear transconductor with near rail-to-rail input swing. Based on the current-mirror OTA topology, the proposed transconductor combines the Flipped Voltage Follower (FVF) technique to linearize the transconductor behavior that leads to class- AB linear operation and the virtual transistor technique to lower the effective threshold voltages of the transistors which offers an advantage in terms of low supply requirement. Design of the OTA has been discussed. It operates at supply voltages of about ±0.8V. Simulation results for 0.18μm TSMC CMOS technology show a good input range of 1Vpp with a high DC gain of 81.53dB and a total harmonic distortion of -40dB at 1MHz for an input of 1Vpp. The main aim of this paper is to present and compare new OTA design with high transconductance, which has a potential to be used in low voltage applications.
Abstract: The aim of this work is to analyze a viscous flow in
the axisymmetric nozzle taken into account the mesh size both in the
free stream and into the boundary layer. The resolution of the Navier-
Stokes equations is realized by using the finite volume method to
determine the supersonic flow parameters at the exit of convergingdiverging
nozzle. The numerical technique uses the Flux Vector
Splitting method of Van Leer. Here, adequate time stepping
parameter, along with CFL coefficient and mesh size level is selected
to ensure numerical convergence. The effect of the boundary layer
thickness is significant at the exit of the nozzle. The best solution is
obtained with using a very fine grid, especially near the wall, where
we have a strong variation of velocity, temperature and shear stress.
This study enabled us to confirm that the determination of boundary
layer thickness can be obtained only if the size of the mesh is lower
than a certain value limits given by our calculations.
Abstract: One of the most challengeable issues in ESL
(Electronic System Level) design is the lack of a general modeling
scheme for on chip communication architecture. In this paper some
of the mostly used methodologies for modeling and representation of
on chip communication are investigated. Our goal is studying the
existing methods to extract the requirements of a general
representation scheme for communication architecture synthesis. The
next step, will be introducing a modeling and representation method
for being used in automatically synthesis process of on chip
communication architecture.
Abstract: The experimental and theoretical results of a ZVS
(Zero Voltage Switching) isolated flyback DC-DC converter using
multilayered coreless PCB step down 2:1 transformer are presented.
The performance characteristics of the transformer are shown which
are useful for the parameters extraction. The measured energy
efficiency of the transformer is found to be more than 94% with the
sinusoidal input voltage excitation. The designed flyback converter
has been tested successfully upto the output power level of 10W,
with a switching frequency in the range of 2.7MHz-4.3MHz. The
input voltage of the converter is varied from 25V-40V DC.
Frequency modulation technique is employed by maintaining
constant off time to regulate the output voltage of the converter. The
energy efficiency of the isolated flyback converter circuit under ZVS
condition in the MHz frequency region is found to be approximately
in the range of 72-84%. This paper gives the comparative results in
terms of the energy efficiency of the hard switched and soft switched
flyback converter in the MHz frequency region.
Abstract: Restructured electricity markets may provide
opportunities for producers to exercise market power maintaining
prices in excess of competitive levels. In this paper an oligopolistic
market is presented that all Generation Companies (GenCos) bid in a
Cournot model. Genetic algorithm (GA) is applied to obtain
generation scheduling of each GenCo as well as hourly market
clearing prices (MCP). In order to consider network constraints a
multiperiod framework is presented to simulate market clearing
mechanism in which the behaviors of market participants are
modelled through piecewise block curves. A mixed integer linear
programming (MILP) is employed to solve the problem. Impacts of
market clearing process on participants- characteristic and final
market prices are presented. Consequently, a novel multi-objective
model is addressed for security constrained optimal bidding strategy
of GenCos. The capability of price-maker GenCos to alter MCP is
evaluated through introducing an effective-supply curve. In addition,
the impact of exercising market power on the variation of market
characteristics as well as GenCos scheduling is studied.
Abstract: Bone material is treated as heterogeneous and hierarchical in nature therefore appropriate size of bone specimen is required to analyze its tensile properties at a particular hierarchical level. Tensile properties of cortical bone are important to investigate the effect of drug treatment, disease and aging as well as for development of computational and analytical models. In the present study tensile properties of buffalo as well as goat femoral and tibiae cortical bone are analyzed using sub-size tensile specimens. Femoral cortical bone was found to be stronger in tension as compared to the tibiae cortical bone and the tensile properties obtained using sub-size specimens show close resemblance with the tensile properties of full-size cortical specimens. A two dimensional finite element (FE) modal was also applied to simulate the tensile behavior of sub-size specimens. Good agreement between experimental and FE model was obtained for sub-size tensile specimens of cortical bone.
Abstract: This experiment was performed with the purpose of
investigating effect of additional blend of probiotics Saccharomyces
cerevisiae and Lactobacillus acidophilus on plasma fatty acid profiles
particularly conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in growing goats fed corn
silage, and selected the optimal levels of the probiotics for further study.
Twenty-four growing crossbred (Thai native x Anglo-Nubian) goats that
weighed (14.2 ± 2.3) kg, aged about 6 months, were purchased and
allocated to 4 treatments according to Randomized Complete Block
Design (RCBD) with 6 goats in each treatment. The blocks were made by
weight into heavy, medium, and light goats and each of the treatments
contained two goats from each of the blocks. In the mean time, ruminal
average pH unaffected, but the NH3-N and also plasma urea nitrogen
(p0.05) were raised, but propionic
proportion (p0.05) were reduced in
concurrent with raise of acetic proportion and resultantly C2:C3 ratio
(p>0.05). On plasma fatty acid profiles, total saturated fatty acids
(p>0.05) was increased, and contrasted with decrease of C15:0
(p0.05), and C18-C22 polyunsaturated fatty acids
(p
Abstract: Next Generation Wireless Network (NGWN) is
expected to be a heterogeneous network which integrates all different
Radio Access Technologies (RATs) through a common platform. A
major challenge is how to allocate users to the most suitable RAT for
them. An optimized solution can lead to maximize the efficient use
of radio resources, achieve better performance for service providers
and provide Quality of Service (QoS) with low costs to users.
Currently, Radio Resource Management (RRM) is implemented
efficiently for the RAT that it was developed. However, it is not
suitable for a heterogeneous network. Common RRM (CRRM) was
proposed to manage radio resource utilization in the heterogeneous
network. This paper presents a user level Markov model for a three
co-located RAT networks. The load-balancing based and service
based CRRM algorithms have been studied using the presented
Markov model. A comparison for the performance of load-balancing
based and service based CRRM algorithms is studied in terms of
traffic distribution, new call blocking probability, vertical handover
(VHO) call dropping probability and throughput.
Abstract: The Requirements Abstraction Model (RAM) helps in managing abstraction in requirements by organizing them at four levels (product, feature, function and component). The RAM is adaptable and can be tailored to meet the needs of the various organizations. Because software requirements are an important source of information for developing high-level tests, organizations willing to adopt the RAM model need to know the suitability of the RAM requirements for developing high-level tests. To investigate this suitability, test cases from twenty randomly selected requirements were developed, analyzed and graded. Requirements were selected from the requirements document of a Course Management System, a web based software system that supports teachers and students in performing course related tasks. This paper describes the results of the requirements document analysis. The results show that requirements at lower levels in the RAM are suitable for developing executable tests whereas it is hard to develop from requirements at higher levels.
Abstract: The American Health Level Seven (HL7) Reference Information Model (RIM) consists of six back-bone classes that have different specialized attributes. Furthermore, for the purpose of enforcing the semantic expression, there are some specific mandatory vocabulary domains have been defined for representing the content values of some attributes. In the light of the fact that it is a duplicated effort on spending a lot of time and human cost to develop and modify Clinical Information Systems (CIS) for most hospitals due to the variety of workflows. This study attempts to design and develop sharing RIM-based components of the CIS for the different business processes. Therefore, the CIS contains data of a consistent format and type. The programmers can do transactions with the RIM-based clinical repository by the sharing RIM-based components. And when developing functions of the CIS, the sharing components also can be adopted in the system. These components not only satisfy physicians- needs in using a CIS but also reduce the time of developing new components of a system. All in all, this study provides a new viewpoint that integrating the data and functions with the business processes, it is an easy and flexible approach to build a new CIS.
Abstract: Municipal solid waste (MSW) comprises of a wide
range of heterogeneous materials generated by individual, household
or organization and may include food waste, garden wastes, papers,
textiles, rubbers, plastics, glass, ceramics, metals, wood wastes,
construction wastes but it is not limited to the above mentioned
fractions. The most common Municipal Solid Waste pretreatment
method in use is thermal pretreatment (incineration) and Mechanical
Biological pretreatment. This paper presents an overview of these
two pretreatment methods describing their benefits and laboratory
scale reactors that simulate landfill conditions were constructed in
order to compare emissions in terms of biogas production and
leachate contamination between untreated Municipal Solid Waste and
Mechanical Biological Pretreated waste. The findings of this study
showed that Mechanical Biological pretreatment of waste reduces the
emission level of waste and the benefit over the landfilling of
untreated waste is significant.
Abstract: A spatial classification technique incorporating a State of Art Feature Extraction algorithm is proposed in this paper for classifying a heterogeneous classes present in hyper spectral images. The classification accuracy can be improved if and only if both the feature extraction and classifier selection are proper. As the classes in the hyper spectral images are assumed to have different textures, textural classification is entertained. Run Length feature extraction is entailed along with the Principal Components and Independent Components. A Hyperspectral Image of Indiana Site taken by AVIRIS is inducted for the experiment. Among the original 220 bands, a subset of 120 bands is selected. Gray Level Run Length Matrix (GLRLM) is calculated for the selected forty bands. From GLRLMs the Run Length features for individual pixels are calculated. The Principle Components are calculated for other forty bands. Independent Components are calculated for next forty bands. As Principal & Independent Components have the ability to represent the textural content of pixels, they are treated as features. The summation of Run Length features, Principal Components, and Independent Components forms the Combined Features which are used for classification. SVM with Binary Hierarchical Tree is used to classify the hyper spectral image. Results are validated with ground truth and accuracies are calculated.
Abstract: We introduce a novel approach to measuring how
humans learn based on techniques from information theory and
apply it to the oriental game of Go. We show that the total amount
of information observable in human strategies, called the strategic
information, remains constant for populations of players of differing
skill levels for well studied patterns of play. This is despite the very
large amount of knowledge required to progress from the recreational
players at one end of our spectrum to the very best and most
experienced players in the world at the other and is in contrast to
the idea that having more knowledge might imply more 'certainty'
in what move to play next. We show this is true for very local
up to medium sized board patterns, across a variety of different
moves using 80,000 game records. Consequences for theoretical and
practical AI are outlined.
Abstract: This paper studies the effect of different compression
constraints and schemes presented in a new and flexible paradigm to
achieve high compression ratios and acceptable signal to noise ratios
of Arabic speech signals. Compression parameters are computed for
variable frame sizes of a level 5 to 7 Discrete Wavelet Transform
(DWT) representation of the signals for different analyzing mother
wavelet functions. Results are obtained and compared for Global
threshold and level dependent threshold techniques. The results
obtained also include comparisons with Signal to Noise Ratios, Peak
Signal to Noise Ratios and Normalized Root Mean Square Error.
Abstract: The construction industry is the pillar industry in
China, accounting for about 6% of the gross domestic product. Along
with changes in the external environment of the construction industry
in China, the construction firm faces fierce competition. The paper
aims to investigate the relationship between diversified types of
construction firm and its performance in China. Based on generalist
and specialist strategy in organizational ecology, we think a generalist
organization can be applied to an enterprise with diversified
developments, while specialist groups are extended to professional
enterprises .This study takes advantage of annual financial data of
listed construction firm to empirically verify the relationship between
diversification and corporation performance establishing a regression
equation to econometric analysis. We find that: 1) Specialization can
significantly improve the level of profitability of listed construction
firms, and there is a significant positive relationship with corporate
performance; 2) The level of operating performance of listed
construction enterprises which engage in unrelated diversification is
higher than those with related diversification; 3) The relationship
between state-owned construction firms and corporate performance is
negative. The more the year of foundation is, the higher performance
will be; however, the more the year of being listed, the lower
performance will be.
Abstract: Reliability Centered Maintenance(RCM) is one of
most widely used methods in the modern power system to schedule a
maintenance cycle and determine the priority of inspection. In order
to apply the RCM method to the Smart Grid, a precedence study for
the new structure of rearranged system should be performed due to
introduction of additional installation such as renewable and
sustainable energy resources, energy storage devices and advanced
metering infrastructure. This paper proposes a new method to
evaluate the priority of maintenance and inspection of the power
system facilities in the Smart Grid using the Risk Priority Number. In
order to calculate that risk index, it is required that the reliability
block diagram should be analyzed for the Smart Grid system. Finally,
the feasible technical method is discussed to estimate the risk
potential as part of the RCM procedure.