Abstract: The Economic factors are leading to the rise of
infrastructures provides software and computing facilities as a
service, known as cloud services or cloud computing. Cloud services
can provide efficiencies for application providers, both by limiting
up-front capital expenses, and by reducing the cost of ownership over
time. Such services are made available in a data center, using shared
commodity hardware for computation and storage. There is a varied
set of cloud services available today, including application services
(salesforce.com), storage services (Amazon S3), compute services
(Google App Engine, Amazon EC2) and data services (Amazon
SimpleDB, Microsoft SQL Server Data Services, Google-s Data
store). These services represent a variety of reformations of data
management architectures, and more are on the horizon.
Abstract: School leadership is commonly considered to have a
significant influence on school effectiveness and improvement.
Effective school leaders are expected to successfully introduce and
support change and innovation at the school unit. Despite an
abundance of studies on educational leadership, very few studies
have provided evidence on the link between leadership models, and
specific educational and school outcomes. This is true of a popular
contemporary approach to leadership, namely, distributed leadership.
The paper provides an overview of research findings on the effect of
distributed leadership on educational outcomes. The theoretical basis
for this approach to leadership is presented, with reference to
methodological and research limitations. The paper discusses
research findings and draws their implications for educational
research on school leadership.
Abstract: The solvated electron is self-trapped (polaron) owing
to strong interaction with the quantum polarization field. If the
electron and quantum field are strongly coupled then the collective
localized state of the field and quasi-particle is formed. In such a
formation the electron motion is rather intricate. On the one hand the
electron oscillated within a rather deep polarization potential well
and undergoes the optical transitions, and on the other, it moves
together with the center of inertia of the system and participates in
the thermal random walk. The problem is to separate these motions
correctly, rigorously taking into account the conservation laws. This
can be conveniently done using Bogolyubov-Tyablikov method of
canonical transformation to the collective coordinates. This
transformation removes the translational degeneracy and allows one
to develop the successive approximation algorithm for the energy and
wave function while simultaneously fulfilling the law of conservation
of total momentum of the system. The resulting equations determine
the electron transitions and depend explicitly on the translational
velocity of the quasi-particle as whole. The frequency of optical
transition is calculated for the solvated electron in ammonia, and an
estimate is made for the thermal-induced spectral bandwidth.
Abstract: Microtomographic images and thin section (TS)
images were analyzed and compared against some parameters of
geological interest such as porosity and its distribution along the
samples. The results show that microtomography ( CT) analysis,
although limited by its resolution, have some interesting information
about the distribution of porosity (homogeneous or not) and can also
quantify the connected and non-connected pores, i.e., total porosity.
TS have no limitations concerning resolution, but are limited by the
experimental data available in regards to a few glass sheets for
analysis and also can give only information about the connected
pores, i.e., effective porosity. Those two methods have their own
virtues and flaws but when paired together they are able to
complement one another, making for a more reliable and complete
analysis.
Abstract: Advent enhancements in the field of computing have
increased massive use of web based electronic documents. Current
Copyright protection laws are inadequate to prove the ownership for
electronic documents and do not provide strong features against
copying and manipulating information from the web. This has
opened many channels for securing information and significant
evolutions have been made in the area of information security.
Digital Watermarking has developed into a very dynamic area of
research and has addressed challenging issues for digital content.
Watermarking can be visible (logos or signatures) and invisible
(encoding and decoding). Many visible watermarking techniques
have been studied for text documents but there are very few for web
based text. XML files are used to trade information on the internet
and contain important information. In this paper, two invisible
watermarking techniques using Synonyms and Acronyms are
proposed for XML files to prove the intellectual ownership and to
achieve the security. Analysis is made for different attacks and
amount of capacity to be embedded in the XML file is also noticed.
A comparative analysis for capacity is also made for both methods.
The system has been implemented using C# language and all tests are
made practically to get the results.
Abstract: A multi-block algorithm and its implementation in two-dimensional finite element numerical model CCHE2D are presented. In addition to a conventional Lagrangian Interpolation Method (LIM), a novel interpolation method, called Consistent Interpolation Method (CIM), is proposed for more accurate information transfer across the interfaces. The consistent interpolation solves the governing equations over the auxiliary elements constructed around the interpolation nodes using the same numerical scheme used for the internal computational nodes. With the CIM, the momentum conservation can be maintained as well as the mass conservation. An imbalance correction scheme is used to enforce the conservation laws (mass and momentum) across the interfaces. Comparisons of the LIM and the CIM are made using several flow simulation examples. It is shown that the proposed CIM is physically more accurate and produces satisfactory results efficiently.
Abstract: In this paper; we are interested in dynamic modelling of quadrotor while taking into account the high-order nonholonomic constraints as well as the various physical phenomena, which can influence the dynamics of a flying structure. These permit us to introduce a new state-space representation and new control scheme. We present after the development and the synthesis of a stabilizing control laws design based on sliding mode in order to perform best tracking results. It ensures locally asymptotic stability and desired tracking trajectories. Nonlinear observer is then synthesized in order to estimate the unmeasured states and the effects of the external disturbances such as wind and noise. Finally simulation results are also provided in order to illustrate the performances of the proposed controllers.
Abstract: The present study has been taken to explore the
screening of in vitro antimicrobial activities of D-galactose-binding
sponge lectin (HOL-30). HOL-30 was purified from the marine
demosponge Halichondria okadai by affinity chromatography. The
molecular mass of the lectin was determined to be 30 kDa with a
single polypeptide by SDS-PAGE under non-reducing and reducing
conditions. HOL-30 agglutinated trypsinized and glutaraldehydefixed
rabbit and human erythrocytes with preference for type O
erythrocytes. The lectin was subjected to evaluation for inhibition of
microbial growth by the disc diffusion method against eleven human
pathogenic gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The lectin
exhibited strong antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria,
such as Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus subtilis. However, it did
not affect against gram-negative bacteria such as Salmonella typhi
and Escherichia coli. The largest zone of inhibition was recorded of
Bacillus megaterium (12 in diameter) and Bacillus subtilis (10 mm in
diameter) at a concentration of the lectin (250 μg/disc). On the other
hand, the antifungal activity of the lectin was investigated against six
phytopathogenic fungi based on food poisoning technique. The lectin
has shown maximum inhibition (22.83%) of mycelial growth of
Botrydiplodia theobromae at a concentration of 100 μg/mL media.
These findings indicate that the lectin may be of importance to
clinical microbiology and have therapeutic applications.
Abstract: In this paper, we give an overview of an online elearning
tool which has been developed for kids aged from nine to
eleven years old in Mauritius for the self-study of Mathematics in
order to prepare them for the CPE examination. The software does
not intend to render obsolete the existing pedagogical approaches.
Nowadays, the teaching-learning process is mainly focused towards
the class-room model. Moreover, most of the e-learning platforms
that exist are simply static ways of delivering resources using the
internet. There is nearly no interaction between the learner and the
tool. Our application will enable students to practice exercises online
and also work out sample examination papers. Another interesting
feature is that the kid will not have to wait for someone to correct the
work as the correction will be done online and on the spot. Additional
feedback is also provided for some exercises.
Abstract: In this paper, we propose a solution to the motion
control problem of a 2-link revolute manipulator arm. We require the
end-effector of the arm to move safely to its designated target in a
priori known workspace cluttered with fixed circular obstacles of
arbitrary position and sizes. Firstly a unique velocity algorithm is
used to move the end-effector to its target. Secondly, for obstacle
avoidance a turning angle is designed, which when incorporated into
the control laws ensures that the entire robot arm avoids any number
of fixed obstacles along its path enroute the target. The control laws
proposed in this paper also ensure that the equilibrium point of the
system is asymptotically stable. Computer simulations of the
proposed technique are presented.
Abstract: Providing Services at Home has become over the last
few years a very dynamic and promising technological domain. It is
likely to enable wide dissemination of secure and automated living
environments. We propose a methodology for identifying threats to
Services at Home Delivery systems, as well as a threat analysis
of a multi-provider Home Gateway architecture. This methodology
is based on a dichotomous positive/preventive study of the target
system: it aims at identifying both what the system must do, and
what it must not do. This approach completes existing methods with
a synthetic view of potential security flaws, thus enabling suitable
measures to be taken into account. Security implications of the
evolution of a given system become easier to deal with. A prototype
is built based on the conclusions of this analysis.
Abstract: Cognitive Science appeared about 40 years ago,
subsequent to the challenge of the Artificial Intelligence, as common
territory for several scientific disciplines such as: IT, mathematics,
psychology, neurology, philosophy, sociology, and linguistics. The
new born science was justified by the complexity of the problems
related to the human knowledge on one hand, and on the other by the
fact that none of the above mentioned sciences could explain alone
the mental phenomena. Based on the data supplied by the
experimental sciences such as psychology or neurology, models of
the human mind operation are built in the cognition science. These
models are implemented in computer programs and/or electronic
circuits (specific to the artificial intelligence) – cognitive systems –
whose competences and performances are compared to the human
ones, leading to the psychology and neurology data reinterpretation,
respectively to the construction of new models. During these
processes if psychology provides the experimental basis, philosophy
and mathematics provides the abstraction level utterly necessary for
the intermission of the mentioned sciences.
The ongoing general problematic of the cognitive approach
provides two important types of approach: the computational one,
starting from the idea that the mental phenomenon can be reduced to
1 and 0 type calculus operations, and the connection one that
considers the thinking products as being a result of the interaction
between all the composing (included) systems. In the field of
psychology measurements in the computational register use classical
inquiries and psychometrical tests, generally based on calculus
methods. Deeming things from both sides that are representing the
cognitive science, we can notice a gap in psychological product
measurement possibilities, regarded from the connectionist
perspective, that requires the unitary understanding of the quality –
quantity whole. In such approach measurement by calculus proves to
be inefficient. Our researches, deployed for longer than 20 years,
lead to the conclusion that measuring by forms properly fits to the
connectionism laws and principles.
Abstract: The public sector losses are the major cause of stagnant growth of Pakistan. Public sector automotive manufacturing industry is one of the major contributors of these losses. This research has been carried out in order to identify the major barriers of productivity of this industry and suggest measures for improvement. This qualitative and quantitative research consisted of informal interviews, discussions augmented by closed ended questionnaire. Three major manufacturing units were chosen for this research and responses from 103 employees were collected. It was found out in this research that numerous productivity flaws exist in the system which requires immediate attention. Besides highlighting flaws this research also suggests corrective actions and areas for future research to overcome these problems.
Abstract: The paper presents a simple and an accurate formula
that has been developed for the conduction angle (δ) of a single
phase half-wave or full-wave controlled rectifier with RL load. This
formula can be also used for calculating the conduction angle (δ) in
case of A.C. voltage regulator with inductive load under
discontinuous current mode. The simulation results shows that the
conduction angle calculated from the developed formula agree very
well with that obtained from the exact solution arrived from the
iterative method. Applying the developed formula can reduce the
computational time and reduce the time for manual classroom
calculation. In addition, the proposed formula is attractive for real
time implementations.
Abstract: This paper addresses the problem of the partial state
feedback stabilization of a class of nonlinear systems. In order to
stabilization this class systems, the especial place of this paper is
to reverse designing the state feedback control law from the method
of judging system stability with the center manifold theory. First of
all, the center manifold theory is applied to discuss the stabilization
sufficient condition and design the stabilizing state control laws for a
class of nonlinear. Secondly, the problem of partial stabilization for a
class of plane nonlinear system is discuss using the lyapunov second
method and the center manifold theory. Thirdly, we investigate specially
the problem of the stabilization for a class of homogenous plane
nonlinear systems, a class of nonlinear with dual-zero eigenvalues and
a class of nonlinear with zero-center using the method of lyapunov
function with homogenous derivative, specifically. At the end of this
paper, some examples and simulation results are given show that the
approach of this paper to this class of nonlinear system is effective
and convenient.
Abstract: This study is concerned with a new adaptive impedance control strategy to compensate for unknown time-varying environment stiffness and position. The uncertainties are expressed by Function Approximation Technique (FAT), which allows the update laws to be derived easily using Lyapunov stability theory. Computer simulation results are presented to validate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy.
Abstract: The ultimate goal of this article is to develop a robust and accurate numerical method for solving hyperbolic conservation laws in one and two dimensions. A hybrid numerical method, coupling a cheap fourth order total variation diminishing (TVD) scheme [1] for smooth region and a Robust seventh-order weighted non-oscillatory (WENO) scheme [2] near discontinuities, is considered. High order multi-resolution analysis is used to detect the high gradients regions of the numerical solution in order to capture the shocks with the WENO scheme, while the smooth regions are computed with fourth order total variation diminishing (TVD). For time integration, we use the third order TVD Runge-Kutta scheme. The accuracy of the resulting hybrid high order scheme is comparable with these of WENO, but with significant decrease of the CPU cost. Numerical demonstrates that the proposed scheme is comparable to the high order WENO scheme and superior to the fourth order TVD scheme. Our scheme has the added advantage of simplicity and computational efficiency. Numerical tests are presented which show the robustness and effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
Abstract: In this paper, a new developed construction model of
the UPFC is proposed. The construction of this model consists of one
shunt compensation block and two series compensation blocks. In
this case, the UPFC with the new construction model will be
investigated when it is installed in multi-machine systems with nonlinear
load model. In addition, the steady–state performance of the
new model operating as impedance compensation will be presented
and compared with that obtained from the system without
compensation.
Abstract: Fracture process in mechanically loaded steel fiber
reinforced high-strength (SFRHSC) concrete is characterized by
fibers bridging the crack providing resistance to its opening.
Structural SFRHSC fracture model was created; material fracture
process was modeled, based on single fiber pull-out laws, which were
determined experimentally (for straight fibers, fibers with end hooks
(Dramix), and corrugated fibers (Tabix)) as well as obtained
numerically ( using FEM simulations). For this purpose experimental
program was realized and pull-out force versus pull-out fiber length
was obtained (for fibers embedded into concrete at different depth
and under different angle). Model predictions were validated by
15x15x60cm prisms 4 point bending tests. Fracture surfaces analysis
was realized for broken prisms with the goal to improve elaborated
model assumptions. Optimal SFRHSC structures were recognized.
Abstract: In the national and professional music of oral tradition
of many people in the East there is the metric formula called “ussuli",
that is to say rhythmic constructions of different character and a
composition. Ussuli in translation from Arabic means the law. The
cultural contacts of the ancient and medieval inhabitants of the
Central Asia, India, China, East Turkestan, Iraq, Afghanistan,
Turkey, and Iran have played a certain role in formation of both
musical and dancing heritage of each of these people. During
theatrical shows many dances were performed under the
accompaniment of percussion instruments as nagra, dayulpaz, doll.
The abovementioned tools are used as the obligatory accompanying
tool in an orchestra and at support of dancing acts as the solo tool.
Dynamics of development of a dancing composition, at times
execution of technique of movement depends on various
combinations of ussuli and their receptions of execution.