Abstract: The present paper concerns with the influence of fiber
packing on the transverse plastic properties of metal matrix
composites. A micromechanical modeling procedure is used to
predict the effective mechanical properties of composite materials at
large tensile and compressive deformations. Microstructure is
represented by a repeating unit cell (RUC). Two fiber arrays are
considered including ideal square fiber packing and random fiber
packing defined by random sequential algorithm. The
micromechanical modeling procedure is implemented for
graphite/aluminum metal matrix composite in which the
reinforcement behaves as elastic, isotropic solids and the matrix is
modeled as an isotropic elastic-plastic solid following the von Mises
criterion with isotropic hardening and the Ramberg-Osgood
relationship between equivalent true stress and logarithmic strain.
The deformation is increased to a considerable value to evaluate both
elastic and plastic behaviors of metal matrix composites. The yields
strength and true elastic-plastic stress are determined for
graphite/aluminum composites.
Abstract: Eight steel reinforced concrete beams (SRC), were
fabricated and tested under earthquake type cyclic loading. The
effectiveness of intermediate stiffeners, such as mid-span stiffener and
plastic hinge zone stiffeners, in enhancing composite action and
ductility of SRC beams was investigated. The effectiveness of
strengthened beam-to-column (SBC) and weakened beam-to-column
(WBC) connections in enhancing beam ductility was also studied. It
was found that: (1) All the specimens possessed fairly high flexural
ductility and were found adequate for structures in high seismic zones.
(2) WBC connections induced stress concentration which caused extra
damage to concrete near the flange tapering zone. This extra damage
inhibited the flexural strength development and the ductility of the
specimens with WBC connections to some extent. (3) Specimens with
SBC connections demonstrated higher flexural strength and ductility
compared to specimens with WBC connections. (4) The intermediate
stiffeners, especially combination of plastic hinge zone stiffener and
mid span stiffeners, have an obvious effect in enhancing the ductility
of the beams with SBC connection.
Abstract: The Taiwan government has invested approximately
21 billion NT dollars in the construction of bicycle paths since
bicycling has gained huge popularity as a healthy leisure and
recreational activity. This study focuses on the behavior of
recreational bicyclists in Danshuei and Bali, northern Taiwan. Data
were collected from a field investigation carried out along the
Danshuei bicycle path and Bali left-bank bicycle path. A total of 578
questionnaires were gathered for data analysis. Descriptive statistics
and Chi-Square tests were used to assess bicyclists- behaviors. The
frequency shows that, in these areas, Danshuei and Bali, most
bicyclists rented bicycles, rode the bicycle path in the afternoon for
about 2 hours. The used the bicycle path one time per week. For most,
it was the first time to ride these bicycle paths. There were significant
differences in distribution of bicycle ownership, time of day, duration
of ride, ride frequency, and whether riding occurred on weekdays or
weekends. Results indicated that most bicyclists in Danshuei and Bali
were infrequent users.
Abstract: This research project is developed in order to study
managerial styles of modern Thai executives. The thorough
understanding will lead to continuous improvement and efficient
performance of Thai business organizations. Regarding managerial
skills, Thai executives focus heavily upon human skills. Also, the
negotiator roles are most emphasis in their management. In addition,
Thai executives pay most attention to the fundamental management
principles including Harmony and Unity of Direction of the
organizations. Moreover, the management techniques, consisting of
Team work and Career Planning are of their main concern. Finally,
Thai executives wish to enhance their firms- image and employees-
morale through conducting the ethical and socially responsible
activities. The major tactic deployed to stimulate employees- ethical
behaviors and mindset is Code of Ethics development.
Abstract: Reference point effects of top managers exerts an influence on managerial decision-making behaviors. We introduces the main idea of developing the decision behavior testing system designed for top manager in team task circumstance. According to the theory of the reference point effect, study of testing experiments in the reference point effect is carried out. Under managerial decision-making simulation environment, a platform is designed for testing reference point effect. The system uses the outcome of the value of the reference point to report the characteristics of the decision behavior of top managers.
Abstract: As a company competitiveness depends more and more on the relationship with its stakeholders, the topic of companystakeholder fit is becoming increasingly important. This fit affects the extent to which a stakeholder perceives CSR company commitment, values and behaviors and, therefore, stakeholder identification in a company and his/her loyalty to it. Consequently, it is important to measure the alignment or the gap between stakeholder CSR demands, values, preferences and perceptions, and the company CSR disclosed commitment, values and policies. In this paper, in order to assess the company-stakeholder fit about corporate responsibility, an innovative CSR fit positioning matrix is proposed. This matrix is based on the measurement of a company CSR disclosed commitment and stakeholder perceived and required commitment. The matrix is part of a more complex methodology based on Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) indicators, content analysis and stakeholder questionnaires. This methodology provides appropriate indications for helping companies to achieve CSR company-stakeholder fit, by leveraging both CSR commitment and communication. Moreover, it could be used by top management for comparing different companies and stakeholders, and for planning specific CSR strategies, policies and activities.
Abstract: The incidences of dengue hemorrhagic disease (DHF)
over the long term exhibit a seasonal behavior. It has been
hypothesized that these behaviors are due to the seasonal climate
changes which in turn induce a seasonal variation in the incubation
period of the virus while it is developing the mosquito. The standard
dynamic analysis is applied for analysis the Susceptible-Exposed-
Infectious-Recovered (SEIR) model which includes an annual
variation in the length of the extrinsic incubation period (EIP). The
presence of both asymptomatic and symptomatic infections is
allowed in the present model. We found that dynamic behavior of the
endemic state changes as the influence of the seasonal variation of
the EIP becomes stronger. As the influence is further increased, the
trajectory exhibits sustained oscillations when it leaves the chaotic
region.
Abstract: How to coordinate the behaviors of the agents through
learning is a challenging problem within multi-agent domains.
Because of its complexity, recent work has focused on how
coordinated strategies can be learned. Here we are interested in using
reinforcement learning techniques to learn the coordinated actions of a
group of agents, without requiring explicit communication among
them. However, traditional reinforcement learning methods are based
on the assumption that the environment can be modeled as Markov
Decision Process, which usually cannot be satisfied when multiple
agents coexist in the same environment. Moreover, to effectively
coordinate each agent-s behavior so as to achieve the goal, it-s
necessary to augment the state of each agent with the information
about other existing agents. Whereas, as the number of agents in a
multiagent environment increases, the state space of each agent grows
exponentially, which will cause the combinational explosion problem.
Profit sharing is one of the reinforcement learning methods that allow
agents to learn effective behaviors from their experiences even within
non-Markovian environments. In this paper, to remedy the drawback
of the original profit sharing approach that needs much memory to
store each state-action pair during the learning process, we firstly
address a kind of on-line rational profit sharing algorithm. Then, we
integrate the advantages of modular learning architecture with on-line
rational profit sharing algorithm, and propose a new modular
reinforcement learning model. The effectiveness of the technique is
demonstrated using the pursuit problem.
Abstract: In this paper I have developed a system for evaluating
the degree of fear emotion that the intelligent agent-based system
may feel when it encounters to a persecuting event. In this paper I
want to describe behaviors of emotional agents using human
behavior in terms of the way their emotional states evolve over time.
I have implemented a fuzzy inference system using Java
environment. As the inputs of this system, I have considered three
parameters related on human fear emotion. The system outputs can
be used in agent decision making process or choosing a person for
team working systems by combination the intensity of fear to other
emotion intensities.
Abstract: While many studies have conducted the achievement
gap between groups of students in school districts, few studies have
utilized resilience research to investigate achievement gaps within
classrooms. This paper aims to summarize and discuss some recent
studies Waxman, Padr├│n, and their colleagues conducted, in which
they examined learning environment differences between resilient
and nonresilient students in reading and mathematics classrooms.
The classes consist of predominantly Hispanic elementary school
students from low-income families. These studies all incorporated
learning environment questionnaires and systematic observation
methods. Significant differences were found between resilient and
nonresilient students on their classroom learning environments and
classroom behaviors. The observation results indicate that the amount
and quality of teacher and student academic interaction are two of the
most influential variables that promote student outcomes. This paper
concludes by suggesting the following teacher practices to promote
resiliency in schools: (a) using feedback from classroom observation
and learning environment measures, (b) employing explicit teaching
practices; and (c) understanding students on a social and personal
level.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the
environmental conservation behavior of the Applied Health Science
students of Suranaree University of Technology, a green and clean
university. The sample group was 184 Applied Health Science
students (medical, nursing, and public health). A questionnaire was
used to collect information.
The result of the study found that the students had more negative
than positive behaviors towards energy, water, and forest
conservation. This result can be used as basic information for
designing long-term behavior modification activities or research
projects on environmental conservation. Thus Applied Health
Science students will be encouraged to be conscious and also be a
good example of environmental conservation behavior.
Abstract: In this paper, we proposed a method for detecting consistency violation between UML state machine diagrams and communication diagrams using Alloy. Using input language of Alloy, the proposed method expresses system behaviors described by state machine diagrams, message sequences described by communication diagrams, and a consistency property. As a result of application for an example system, we confirmed that consistency violation could be detected using Alloy correctly.
Abstract: This study presents a systematic analysis of the
dynamic behaviors of a gear-bearing system with porous squeeze film
damper (PSFD) under nonlinear suspension, nonlinear oil-film force
and nonlinear gear meshing force effect. It can be found that the
system exhibits very rich forms of sub-harmonic and even the chaotic
vibrations. The bifurcation diagrams also reveal that greater values of
permeability may not only improve non-periodic motions effectively,
but also suppress dynamic amplitudes of the system. Therefore, porous
effect plays an important role to improve dynamic stability of
gear-bearing systems or other mechanical systems. The results
presented in this study provide some useful insights into the design
and development of a gear-bearing system for rotating machinery that
operates in highly rotational speed and highly nonlinear regimes.
Abstract: According to the statistics, the prevalence of congenital hearing loss in Taiwan is approximately six thousandths; furthermore, one thousandths of infants have severe hearing impairment. Hearing ability during infancy has significant impact in the development of children-s oral expressions, language maturity, cognitive performance, education ability and social behaviors in the future. Although most children born with hearing impairment have sensorineural hearing loss, almost every child more or less still retains some residual hearing. If provided with a hearing aid or cochlear implant (a bionic ear) timely in addition to hearing speech training, even severely hearing-impaired children can still learn to talk. On the other hand, those who failed to be diagnosed and thus unable to begin hearing and speech rehabilitations on a timely manner might lose an important opportunity to live a complete and healthy life. Eventually, the lack of hearing and speaking ability will affect the development of both mental and physical functions, intelligence, and social adaptability. Not only will this problem result in an irreparable regret to the hearing-impaired child for the life time, but also create a heavy burden for the family and society. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a set of computer-assisted predictive model that can accurately detect and help diagnose newborn hearing loss so that early interventions can be provided timely to eliminate waste of medical resources. This study uses information from the neonatal database of the case hospital as the subjects, adopting two different analysis methods of using support vector machine (SVM) for model predictions and using logistic regression to conduct factor screening prior to model predictions in SVM to examine the results. The results indicate that prediction accuracy is as high as 96.43% when the factors are screened and selected through logistic regression. Hence, the model constructed in this study will have real help in clinical diagnosis for the physicians and actually beneficial to the early interventions of newborn hearing impairment.
Abstract: To investigate the possible correlation between peer aggression and peer victimization, 148 sixth-graders were asked to respond to the Reduced Aggression and Victimization Scales (RAVS). RAVS measures the frequency of reporting aggressive behaviors or of being victimized during the previous week prior to the survey. The scales are composed of six items each. Each point represents one instance of aggression or victimization. Specifically, the Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient (PMCC) was used to determine the correlations between the scores of the sixthgraders in the two scales, both in individual items and total scores. Positive correlations were established and correlations were significant at the 0.01 levels.
Abstract: Three strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (690, BCRC
13023 and BCRC 13025) implicated in food poisoning outbreaks in
Taiwan were subjected to acid adaptation at pH 5.5 for 90 min. The
growth behaviors of acid-adapted and non-adapted V.
parahaemolyticus in the media supplemented with various nitrogen
and carbon sources were investigated. The effects of acid adaptation
on the thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH) secretion and fatty acid
profiles of V. parahaemolyticus were also examined. Results showed
that acid-adapted and non-adapted V. parahaemolyticus 690, BCRC
13023 and BCRC 13025 grew similarly in TSB-3% NaCl and basal
media supplemented with various carbon and nitrogen sources during
incubation period. Higher TDH secretion was noted with V.
parahaemolyticus 690 among the three strains. However, acid-adapted
strains produced less amounts of TDH than non-adapted strains when
they were grown in TSB-3% NaCl. Additionally, acid adaptation
increased the ratio of SFA/USFA in cells of V. parahaemolyticus
strains.
Abstract: Mobile Ad Hoc network is an infrastructure less
network which operates with the coordination of each node. Each node
believes to help another node, by forwarding its data to/from another
node. Unlike a wired network, nodes in an ad hoc network are resource
(i.e. battery, bandwidth computational capability and so on)
constrained. Such dependability of one node to another and limited
resources of nodes can result in non cooperation by any node to
accumulate its resources. Such non cooperation is known as selfish
behavior.
This paper discusses the performance analysis of very well known
MANET single-path (i.e. AODV) and multi-path (i.e. AOMDV)
routing protocol, in the presence of selfish behaviors. Along with
existing selfish behaviors, a new variation is also studied. Extensive
simulations were carried out using ns-2 and the study concluded that
the multi-path protocol (i.e. AOMDV) with link disjoint configuration
outperforms the other two configurations.
Abstract: All the geophysical phenomena including river
networks and flow time series are fractal events inherently and fractal
patterns can be investigated through their behaviors. A non-linear
system like a river basin can well be analyzed by a non-linear
measure such as the fractal analysis. A bilateral study is held on the
fractal properties of the river network and the river flow time series.
A moving window technique is utilized to scan the fractal properties
of them. Results depict both events follow the same strategy
regarding to the fractal properties. Both the river network and the
time series fractal dimension tend to saturate in a distinct value.
Abstract: This paper tries to study the effect of geosynthetic inclusion on the improvement of the load-settlement characters of two layered soil. In addition, the effect of geogrid and geotextile in reduction of the required thickness of subbase layer in unpaved roads is studied. Considering the vast application of bearing ratio tests in road construction projects, this test is used in present investigation. Bearing ratio tests were performed on two layered soil including a granular soil layer at the top (as the subbase layer) and a weak clayey soil placed at the bottom (as the subgrade layer). These tests were performed for different conditions including unreinforced and reinforced by geogrid and geotextile and three thicknesses for top layer soil (subbase layer). In the reinforced condition the reinforcing element was placed on the interface of the top granular layer and the beneath clayey layer to study the separation effect of geosynthetics. In all tests the soils (both granular and clayey soil layers) were compacted according to optimum water content. At the end, the diagrams were plotted and were compared with each other. Furthermore, a comparison between geogrids and geotextiles behaviors on two layer soil is done in this paper. The results show an increase in compression strength of reinforced specimen in comparison with unreinforced soil sample. The effect of geosynthetic inclusion reduces by increasing the subbase thickness. In addition it was found that geogrids have more desirable behavior rather than geotextiles due to interlocking with the subbase layer aggregates.
Abstract: The mechanical behavior of porous media is governed by the interaction between its solid skeleton and the fluid existing inside its pores. The interaction occurs through the interface of gains and fluid. The traditional analysis methods of porous media, based on the effective stress and Darcy's law, are unable to account for these interactions. For an accurate analysis, the porous media is represented in a fluid-filled porous solid on the basis of the Biot theory of wave propagation in poroelastic media. In Biot formulation, the equations of motion of the soil mixture are coupled with the global mass balance equations to describe the realistic behavior of porous media. Because of irregular geometry, the domain is generally treated as an assemblage of fmite elements. In this investigation, the numerical formulation for the field equations governing the dynamic response of fluid-saturated porous media is analyzed and employed for the study of transient wave motion. A finite element model is developed and implemented into a computer code called DYNAPM for dynamic analysis of porous media. The weighted residual method with 8-node elements is used for developing of a finite element model and the analysis is carried out in the time domain considering the dynamic excitation and gravity loading. Newmark time integration scheme is developed to solve the time-discretized equations which are an unconditionally stable implicit method Finally, some numerical examples are presented to show the accuracy and capability of developed model for a wide variety of behaviors of porous media.