Abstract: The distribution of macrobenthic polychaetes along
the coastal waters of Penang National Park was surveyed to estimate
the effect of various environmental parameters at three stations
(200m, 600m and 1200m) from the shoreline, during six sampling
months, from June 2010 to April 2011.The use of polychaetes in
descriptive ecology is surveyed in the light of a recent investigation
particularly concerning the soft bottom biota environments.
Polychaetes, often connected in the former to the notion of
opportunistic species able to proliferate after an enhancement in
organic matter, had performed a momentous role particularly with
regard to effected soft-bottom habitats. The objective of this survey
was to investigate different environment stress over soft bottom
polychaete community along Teluk Ketapang and Pantai Acheh
(Penang National Park) over a year period. Variations in the
polychaete community were evaluated using univariate and
multivariate methods. The results of PCA analysis displayed a
positive relation between macrobenthic community structures and
environmental parameters such as sediment particle size and organic
matter in the coastal water. A total of 604 individuals were examined
which was grouped into 23 families. Family Nereidae was the most
abundant (22.68%), followed by Spionidae (22.02%), Hesionidae
(12.58%), Nephtylidae (9.27%) and Orbiniidae (8.61%). It is
noticeable that good results can only be obtained on the basis of good
taxonomic resolution. We proposed that, in monitoring surveys,
operative time could be optimized not only by working at a highertaxonomic
level on the entire macrobenthic data set, but by also
choosing an especially indicative group and working at lower
taxonomic and good level.
Abstract: In the upgrade process of enterprise information
systems, whether new systems will be success and their development
will be efficient, depends on how to deal with and utilize those legacy systems. We propose an evaluation system, which comprehensively
describes the capacity of legacy information systems in five aspects.
Then a practical legacy systems evaluation method is scripted. Base on
the evaluation result, we put forward 4 kinds of migration strategy: eliminated, maintenance, modification, encapsulating. The methods
and strategies play important roles in practice.
Abstract: In recent times, corporations are increasingly under pressure to ensure diversity within their boardrooms and a large number of academic research have reported findings consistent with the view that boards perform better when they include a diverse range of people. Women have unique characteristics needed to positively influence the strategic direction of a corporation and contribute to the growth of firms. In spite of such revelations, evidence suggests that women are under-represented in senior executive and board positions. In many parts of Africa, socio-cultural traditions inhibit women from attaining these roles. Given the emphasis placed on board diversity and inclusion of women as an essential part of good corporate governance, the relationship between gender diversity and board effectiveness deserves both theoretical and empirical investigation. This research is important because it represents the first theoretical review on gender diversity in corporate boards in Nigeria.
Abstract: This paper proposes a new optimal feedback controller
for voltage source converters VSC's, for current regulated voltage
source converters, which allows compensate the harmonics of current
produced by nonlinear loads and load reactive power. The aim of the
present paper is to describe a novel switching signal generation
technique called optimal controller which guarantees that the injected
currents follow the reference currents determined by the
compensation strategy, with the smallest possible tracking error and
fixed switching frequency. It is compared with well-known
hysteresis current controller HCC. The validity of presented method
and its comparison with HCC is studied through simulation results.
Abstract: This paper treats a discrete-time batch arrival queue with single working vacation. The main purpose of this paper is to present a performance analysis of this system by using the supplementary variable technique. For this purpose, we first analyze the Markov chain underlying the queueing system and obtain its ergodicity condition. Next, we present the stationary distributions of the system length as well as some performance measures at random epochs by using the supplementary variable method. Thirdly, still based on the supplementary variable method we give the probability generating function (PGF) of the number of customers at the beginning of a busy period and give a stochastic decomposition formulae for the PGF of the stationary system length at the departure epochs. Additionally, we investigate the relation between our discretetime system and its continuous counterpart. Finally, some numerical examples show the influence of the parameters on some crucial performance characteristics of the system.
Abstract: Supply chain management has become more
challenging with the emerging trend of globalization and
sustainability. Lately, research related to perishable products supply
chains, in particular agricultural food products, has emerged. This is
attributed to the additional complexity of managing this type of
supply chains with the recently increased concern of public health,
food quality, food safety, demand and price variability, and the
limited lifetime of these products. Inventory management for agrifood
supply chains is of vital importance due to the product
perishability and customers- strive for quality. This paper
concentrates on developing a simulation model of a real life case
study of a two echelon production-distribution system for agri-food
products. The objective is to improve a set of performance measures
by developing a simulation model that helps in evaluating and
analysing the performance of these supply chains. Simulation results
showed that it can help in improving overall system performance.
Abstract: Extreme temperature of several stations in Malaysia is
modelled by fitting the monthly maximum to the Generalized
Extreme Value (GEV) distribution. The Mann-Kendall (MK) test
suggests a non-stationary model. Two models are considered for
stations with trend and the Likelihood Ratio test is used to determine
the best-fitting model. Results show that half of the stations favour a
model which is linear for the location parameters. The return level is
the level of events (maximum temperature) which is expected to be
exceeded once, on average, in a given number of years, is obtained.
Abstract: Antimicrobial (AM) starch-based films were
developed by incorporating chitosan and lauric acid as antimicrobial
agent into starch-based film. Chitosan has wide range of applications
as a biomaterial, but barriers still exist to its broader use due to its
physical and chemical limitations. In this work, a series of
starch/chitosan (SC) blend films containing 8% of lauric acid was
prepared by casting method. The structure of the film was
characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Xray
diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
The results indicated that there were strong interactions were present
between the hydroxyl groups of starch and the amino groups of
chitosan resulting in a good miscibility between starch and chitosan
in the blend films. Physical properties and optical properties of the
AM starch-based film were evaluated. The AM starch-based films
incorporated with chitosan and lauric acid showed an improvement in
water vapour transmission rate (WVTR) and addition of starch
content provided more transparent films while the yellowness of the
film attributed to the higher chitosan content. The improvement in
water barrier properties was mainly attributed to the hydrophobicity
of lauric acid and optimum chitosan or starch content. AM starch
based film also showed excellent oxygen barrier. Obtaining films
with good oxygen permeability would be an indication of the
potential use of these antimicrobial packaging as a natural packaging
and an alternative packaging to the synthetic polymer to protect food
from oxidation reactions
Abstract: Malaria is a serious, acute and chronic relapsing
infection to humans. It is characterized by periodic attacks of chills,
fever, nausea, vomiting, back pain, increased sweating anemia,
splenomegaly (enlargement of the spleen) and often-fatal
complications.The malaria disease is caused by the multiplication of
protozoa parasite of the genus Plasmodium. Malaria in humans is due
to 4 types of malaria parasites such that Plasmodium falciparum,
Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium ovale.
P.vivax malaria differs from P. falciparum malaria in that a person
suffering from P. vivax malaria can experience relapses of the
disease. Between the relapses, the malaria parasite will remain
dormant in the liver of the patient, leading to the patient being
classified as being in the dormant class. A mathematical model for
the transmission of P. vivax is developed in which the human
population is divided into four classes, the susceptible, the infected,
the dormant and the recovered. In this paper, we formulate the
dynamical model of P. vivax malaria to see the distribution of this
disease at the district level.
Abstract: in this paper, we propose a numerical method
for the approximate solution of fuzzy Fredholm functional
integral equations of the second kind by using an iterative
interpolation. For this purpose, we convert the linear fuzzy
Fredholm integral equations to a crisp linear system of integral
equations. The proposed method is illustrated by some fuzzy
integral equations in numerical examples.
Abstract: We study the dynamic response of a wind turbine
structure subjected to theoretical seismic motions, taking into account
the rotational component of ground shaking. Models are generated
for a shallow moderate crustal earthquake in the Madrid Region
(Spain). Synthetic translational and rotational time histories are
computed using the Discrete Wavenumber Method, assuming a point
source and a horizontal layered earth structure. These are used to
analyze the dynamic response of a wind turbine, represented by a
simple finite element model. Von Mises stress values at different
heights of the tower are used to study the dynamical structural
response to a set of synthetic ground motion time histories
Abstract: New Zealand-s product markets experienced a surge in
import competition beginning from the late 1970-s when its
government began to promote a policy of more open markets. This
study considers how the trade liberalization aspect of the policy may
have influenced unionization and union-organizing success. For
describing the trade liberalization, a model shows how the removal of
import tariffs can lead to countervailing influences upon the union
membership of a domestic firm. The evidence supports the prediction
that union membership has been decreased rather than increased. In
the context of debates concerning globalization, it can be said that the
power of unions has been diminished.
Abstract: Among the various cooling processes in industrial
applications such as: electronic devices, heat exchangers, gas
turbines, etc. Gas turbine blades cooling is the most challenging one.
One of the most common practices is using ribbed wall because of
the boundary layer excitation and therefore making the ultimate
cooling. Vortex formation between rib and channel wall will result in
a complicated behavior of flow regime. At the other hand, selecting
the most efficient method for capturing the best results comparing to
experimental works would be a fascinating issue. In this paper 4
common methods in turbulence modeling: standard k-e, rationalized
k-e with enhanced wall boundary layer treatment, k-w and RSM
(Reynolds stress model) are employed to a square ribbed channel to
investigate the separation and thermal behavior of the flow in the
channel. Finally all results from different methods which are used in
this paper will be compared with experimental data available in
literature to ensure the numerical method accuracy.
Abstract: Over Current Relays (OCRs) and Directional Over Current Relays (DOCRs) are widely used for the radial protection and ring sub transmission protection systems and for distribution systems. All previous work formulates the DOCR coordination problem either as a Non-Linear Programming (NLP) for TDS and Ip or as a Linear Programming (LP) for TDS using recently a social behavior (Particle Swarm Optimization techniques) introduced to the work. In this paper, a Modified Particle Swarm Optimization (MPSO) technique is discussed for the optimal settings of DOCRs in power systems as a Non-Linear Programming problem for finding Ip values of the relays and for finding the TDS setting as a linear programming problem. The calculation of the Time Dial Setting (TDS) and the pickup current (Ip) setting of the relays is the core of the coordination study. PSO technique is considered as realistic and powerful solution schemes to obtain the global or quasi global optimum in optimization problem.
Abstract: In this paper, multiobjective design of multi-machine Power System Stabilizers (PSSs) using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is presented. The stabilizers are tuned to simultaneously shift the lightly damped and undamped electro-mechanical modes of all machines to a prescribed zone in the s-plane. A multiobjective problem is formulated to optimize a composite set of objective functions comprising the damping factor, and the damping ratio of the lightly damped electromechanical modes. The PSSs parameters tuning problem is converted to an optimization problem which is solved by PSO with the eigenvalue-based multiobjective function. The proposed PSO based PSSs is tested on a multimachine power system under different operating conditions and disturbances through eigenvalue analysis and some performance indices to illustrate its robust performance.
Abstract: Interactive installations for public spaces are a
particular kind of interactive systems, the design of which has been
the subject of several research studies. Sensor-based applications are
becoming increasingly popular, but the human-computer interaction
community is still far from reaching sound, effective large-scale
interactive installations for public spaces. The 6DSpaces project is
described in this paper as a research approach based on studying the
role of multisensory interactivity and how it can be effectively used
to approach people to digital, scientific contents. The design of an
entire scientific exhibition is described and the result was evaluated
in the real world context of a Science Centre. Conclusions bring
insight into how the human-computer interaction should be designed
in order to maximize the overall experience.
Abstract: To calculate the temperature distribution of the slab in
a hot rolled reheating furnace a mathematical model has been
developed by considering the thermal radiation in the furnace and
transient conduction in the slab. The furnace is modeled as radiating
medium with spatially varying temperature. Radiative heat flux within
the furnace including the effect of furnace walls, combustion gases,
skid beams and buttons is calculated using the FVM and is applied as
the boundary condition of the transient conduction equation of the
slab. After determining the slab emissivity by comparison between
simulation and experimental work, variation of heating characteristics
in the slab is investigated in the case of changing furnace temperature
with various time and the slab residence time is optimized with this
evaluation.
Abstract: The purposes of this paper are to (1) promote
excellence in computer science by suggesting a cohesive innovative
approach to fill well documented deficiencies in current computer
science education, (2) justify (using the authors- and others anecdotal
evidence from both the classroom and the real world) why this
approach holds great potential to successfully eliminate the
deficiencies, (3) invite other professionals to join the authors in proof
of concept research. The authors- experiences, though anecdotal,
strongly suggest that a new approach involving visual modeling
technologies should allow computer science programs to retain a
greater percentage of prospective and declared majors as students
become more engaged learners, more successful problem-solvers,
and better prepared as programmers. In addition, the graduates of
such computer science programs will make greater contributions to
the profession as skilled problem-solvers. Instead of wearily
rememorizing code as they move to the next course, students will
have the problem-solving skills to think and work in more
sophisticated and creative ways.
Abstract: The recent trend has been using hybrid approach rather than using a single intelligent technique to solve the problems. In this paper, we describe and discuss a framework to develop enterprise solutions that are backed by intelligent techniques. The framework not only uses intelligent techniques themselves but it is a complete environment that includes various interfaces and components to develop the intelligent solutions. The framework is completely Web-based and uses XML extensively. It can work like shared plat-form to be accessed by multiple developers, users and decision makers.
Abstract: Environmental accounting is a recent phenomenon in the modern jurisprudence. It may reflect the corporate governance mechanisms in line with the natural resources and environmental sound management and administration systems in any country of the world. It may be a corporate focused on the improving of the environmental quality. But it is often identified that it is ignored due to some reasons such as unconsciousness, lack of ethical education etc. At present, the world community is very much concerned about the state of the environmental accounting and auditing systems as it bears sustainability on the mother earth for our generations. It is one of the important tools for understanding on the role played by the natural environment in the economy. It provides adequate data which is highlighted both in the contribution of natural resources to economic well-being as well as the costs imposed by pollution or resource degradation. It can play a critical role as on be a part of the many international environmental organizations such as IUCN, WWF, PADELIA, WRI etc.; as they have been taking many initiatives for ensuring the environmental accouting for our competent survivals. The global state actors have already taken some greening accounting initiatives under the forum of the United Nations Division for Sustainable Dedevolpment, the United Nations Statistical Division, the United Nations Conference on Environment and development known as Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Johannesburg Conference 2002 etc. This study will provide an overview of the environmental accounting education consisting of 25 respondents based on the primary and secondary sources.