Abstract: Semisolid metal processing uses solid–liquid slurries
containing fine and globular solid particles uniformly distributed in a
liquid matrix, which can be handled as a solid and flow like a liquid.
In the recent years, many methods have been introduced for the
production of semisolid slurries since it is scientifically sound and
industrially viable with such preferred microstructures called
thixotropic microstructures as feedstock materials. One such process
that needs very low equipment investment and running costs is the
cooling slope. In this research by using a mechanical stirrer slurry
maker constructed by the authors, the effects of mechanical stirring
parameters such as: stirring time, stirring temperature and stirring
Speed on micro-structure and mechanical properties of A360
aluminum alloy in semi-solid forming, are investigated. It is
determined that mold temperature and holding time of part in
temperature of 580ºC have a great effect on micro-structure and
mechanical properties(stirring temperature of 585ºC, stirring time of
20 minutes and stirring speed of 425 RPM). By optimizing the
forming parameters, dendrite microstructure changes to globular and
mechanical properties improves. This is because of breaking and
globularzing dendrites of primary α-AL.
Abstract: Modeling and simulation of biochemical reactions is of great interest in the context of system biology. The central dogma of this re-emerging area states that it is system dynamics and organizing principles of complex biological phenomena that give rise to functioning and function of cells. Cell functions, such as growth, division, differentiation and apoptosis are temporal processes, that can be understood if they are treated as dynamic systems. System biology focuses on an understanding of functional activity from a system-wide perspective and, consequently, it is defined by two hey questions: (i) how do the components within a cell interact, so as to bring about its structure and functioning? (ii) How do cells interact, so as to develop and maintain higher levels of organization and functions? In recent years, wet-lab biologists embraced mathematical modeling and simulation as two essential means toward answering the above questions. The credo of dynamics system theory is that the behavior of a biological system is given by the temporal evolution of its state. Our understanding of the time behavior of a biological system can be measured by the extent to which a simulation mimics the real behavior of that system. Deviations of a simulation indicate either limitations or errors in our knowledge. The aim of this paper is to summarize and review the main conceptual frameworks in which models of biochemical networks can be developed. In particular, we review the stochastic molecular modelling approaches, by reporting the principal conceptualizations suggested by A. A. Markov, P. Langevin, A. Fokker, M. Planck, D. T. Gillespie, N. G. van Kampfen, and recently by D. Wilkinson, O. Wolkenhauer, P. S. Jöberg and by the author.
Abstract: Currently, there are many local area industrial networks
that can give guaranteed bandwidth to synchronous traffic, particularly
providing CBR channels (Constant Bit Rate), which allow
improved bandwidth management. Some of such networks operate
over Ethernet, delivering channels with enough capacity, specially
with compressors, to integrate multimedia traffic in industrial monitoring
and image processing applications with many sources. In
these industrial environments where a low latency is an essential
requirement, JPEG is an adequate compressing technique but it
generates VBR traffic (Variable Bit Rate). Transmitting VBR traffic
in CBR channels is inefficient and current solutions to this problem
significantly increase the latency or further degrade the quality. In
this paper an R(q) model is used which allows on-line calculation of
the JPEG quantification factor. We obtained increased quality, a lower
requirement for the CBR channel with reduced number of discarded
frames along with better use of the channel bandwidth.
Abstract: The equilibrium chemical reactions taken place in a converter reactor of the Khorasan Petrochemical Ammonia plant was studied using the minimization of Gibbs free energy method. In the minimization of the Gibbs free energy function the Davidon– Fletcher–Powell (DFP) optimization procedure using the penalty terms in the well-defined objective function was used. It should be noted that in the DFP procedure along with the corresponding penalty terms the Hessian matrices for the composition of constituents in the Converter reactor can be excluded. This, in fact, can be considered as the main advantage of the DFP optimization procedure. Also the effect of temperature and pressure on the equilibrium composition of the constituents was investigated. The results obtained in this work were compared with the data collected from the converter reactor of the Khorasan Petrochemical Ammonia plant. It was concluded that the results obtained from the method used in this work are in good agreement with the industrial data. Notably, the algorithm developed in this work, in spite of its simplicity, takes the advantage of short computation and convergence time.
Abstract: We introduce, a new interactive 3D simulation system of ocular motion and expressions suitable for: (1) character animation applications to game design, film production, HCI (Human Computer Interface), conversational animated agents, and virtual reality; (2) medical applications (ophthalmic neurological and muscular pathologies: research and education); and (3) real time simulation of unconscious cognitive and emotional responses (for use, e.g., in psychological research). The system is comprised of: (1) a physiologically accurate parameterized 3D model of the eyes, eyelids, and eyebrow regions; and (2) a prototype device for realtime control of eye motions and expressions, including unconsciously produced expressions, for application as in (1), (2), and (3) above. The 3D eye simulation system, created using state-of-the-art computer animation technology and 'optimized' for use with an interactive and web deliverable platform, is, to our knowledge, the most advanced/realistic available so far for applications to character animation and medical pedagogy.
Abstract: Today, building automation is advancing from simple
monitoring and control tasks of lightning and heating towards more
and more complex applications that require a dynamic perception
and interpretation of different scenes occurring in a building. Current
approaches cannot handle these newly upcoming demands. In this
article, a bionically inspired approach for multimodal, dynamic scene
perception and interpretation is presented, which is based on neuroscientific
and neuro-psychological research findings about the perceptual
system of the human brain. This approach bases on data from diverse
sensory modalities being processed in a so-called neuro-symbolic
network. With its parallel structure and with its basic elements being
information processing and storing units at the same time, a very
efficient method for scene perception is provided overcoming the
problems and bottlenecks of classical dynamic scene interpretation
systems.
Abstract: One major difficulty that faces developers of
concurrent and distributed software is analysis for concurrency based
faults like deadlocks. Petri nets are used extensively in the
verification of correctness of concurrent programs. ECATNets [2] are
a category of algebraic Petri nets based on a sound combination of
algebraic abstract types and high-level Petri nets. ECATNets have
'sound' and 'complete' semantics because of their integration in
rewriting logic [12] and its programming language Maude [13].
Rewriting logic is considered as one of very powerful logics in terms
of description, verification and programming of concurrent systems.
We proposed in [4] a method for translating Ada-95 tasking
programs to ECATNets formalism (Ada-ECATNet). In this paper,
we show that ECATNets formalism provides a more compact
translation for Ada programs compared to the other approaches based
on simple Petri nets or Colored Petri nets (CPNs). Such translation
doesn-t reduce only the size of program, but reduces also the number
of program states. We show also, how this compact Ada-ECATNet
may be reduced again by applying reduction rules on it. This double
reduction of Ada-ECATNet permits a considerable minimization of
the memory space and run time of corresponding Maude program.
Abstract: As application of re-activation of backside on power
device Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT), laser annealing was
employed to irradiate amorphous silicon substrate, and resistivities
were measured using four point probe measurement. For annealing
the amorphous silicon two lasers were used at wavelength of visible
green (532 nm) together with Infrared (793 nm). While the green
laser efficiently increased temperature at top surface the Infrared
laser reached more deep inside and was effective for melting the
top surface. A finite element method was employed to evaluate time
dependent thermal distribution in silicon substrate.
Abstract: In this paper, we propose effective system for digital music retrieval. We divided proposed system into Client and Server. Client part consists of pre-processing and Content-based feature extraction stages. In pre-processing stage, we minimized Time code Gap that is occurred among same music contents. As content-based feature, first-order differentiated MFCC were used. These presented approximately envelop of music feature sequences. Server part included Music Server and Music Matching stage. Extracted features from 1,000 digital music files were stored in Music Server. In Music Matching stage, we found retrieval result through similarity measure by DTW. In experiment, we used 450 queries. These were made by mixing different compression standards and sound qualities from 50 digital music files. Retrieval accurate indicated 97% and retrieval time was average 15ms in every single query. Out experiment proved that proposed system is effective in retrieve digital music and robust at various user environments of web.
Abstract: This paper presents a remote on-line diagnostic system
for vehicles via the use of On-Board Diagnostic (OBD), GPS, and 3G
techniques. The main parts of the proposed system are on-board
computer, vehicle monitor server, and vehicle status browser. First,
the on-board computer can obtain the location of deriver and vehicle
status from GPS receiver and OBD interface, respectively. Then
on-board computer will connect with the vehicle monitor server
through 3G network to transmit the real time vehicle system status.
Finally, vehicle status browser could show the remote vehicle status
including vehicle speed, engine rpm, battery voltage, engine coolant
temperature, and diagnostic trouble codes. According to the
experimental results, the proposed system can help fleet managers and
car knockers to understand the remote vehicle status. Therefore this
system can decrease the time of fleet management and vehicle repair
due to the fleet managers and car knockers who find the diagnostic
trouble messages in time.
Abstract: Forecasting the values of the indicators, which
characterize the effectiveness of performance of organizations is of
great importance for their successful development. Such forecasting
is necessary in order to assess the current state and to foresee future
developments, so that measures to improve the organization-s
activity could be undertaken in time. The article presents an
overview of the applied mathematical and statistical methods for
developing forecasts. Special attention is paid to artificial neural
networks as a forecasting tool. Their strengths and weaknesses are
analyzed and a synopsis is made of the application of artificial neural
networks in the field of forecasting of the values of different
education efficiency indicators. A method of evaluation of the
activity of universities using the Balanced Scorecard is proposed and
Key Performance Indicators for assessment of e-learning are
selected. Resulting indicators for the evaluation of efficiency of the
activity are proposed. An artificial neural network is constructed and
applied in the forecasting of the values of indicators for e-learning
efficiency on the basis of the KPI values.
Abstract: This paper aims at to develop a robust optimization methodology for the mechatronic modules of machine tools by considering all important characteristics from all structural and control domains in one single process. The relationship between these two domains is strongly coupled. In order to reduce the disturbance caused by parameters in either one, the mechanical and controller design domains need to be integrated. Therefore, the concurrent integrated design method Design For Control (DFC), will be employed in this paper. In this connect, it is not only applied to achieve minimal power consumption but also enhance structural performance and system response at same time. To investigate the method for integrated optimization, a mechatronic feed drive system of the machine tools is used as a design platform. Pro/Engineer and AnSys are first used to build the 3D model to analyze and design structure parameters such as elastic deformation, nature frequency and component size, based on their effects and sensitivities to the structure. In addition, the robust controller,based on Quantitative Feedback Theory (QFT), will be applied to determine proper control parameters for the controller. Therefore, overall physical properties of the machine tool will be obtained in the initial stage. Finally, the technology of design for control will be carried out to modify the structural and control parameters to achieve overall system performance. Hence, the corresponding productivity is expected to be greatly improved.
Abstract: This paper considers a scheduling problem in flexible
flow shops environment with the aim of minimizing two important
criteria including makespan and cumulative tardiness of jobs. Since
the proposed problem is known as an Np-hard problem in literature,
we have to develop a meta-heuristic to solve it. We considered
general structure of Genetic Algorithm (GA) and developed a new
version of that based on Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Two
objective functions assumed as two different inputs for each Decision
Making Unit (DMU). In this paper we focused on efficiency score of
DMUs and efficient frontier concept in DEA technique. After
introducing the method we defined two different scenarios with
considering two types of mutation operator. Also we provided an
experimental design with some computational results to show the
performance of algorithm. The results show that the algorithm
implements in a reasonable time.
Abstract: A Laboratory-scale packed bed reactor with microbial
cellulose as the biofilm carrier was used to investigate the
denitrification of high-strength nitrate wastewater with specific
emphasis on the effect the nitrogen loading rate and hydraulic
retention time. Ethanol was added as a carbon source for
denitrification. As a result of this investigation, it was found that up
to 500 mg/l feed nitrate concentration the present system is able to
produce an effluent with nitrate content below 10 ppm at 3 h
hydraulic retention time. The highest observed denitrification rate
was 4.57 kg NO3-N/ (m3 .d) at a nitrate load of 5.64 kg NO3-
N/(m3 .d), and removal efficiencies higher than 90% were obtained
for loads up to 4.2 kg NO3-N/(m3 .d). A mass relation between COD
consumed and NO3-N removed around 2.82 was observed. This
continuous-flow bioreactor proved an efficient denitrification system
with a relatively low retention time.
Abstract: The objective of this manuscript is to find area under the plasma concentration- time curve (AUC) for multiple doses of salbutamol sulphate sustained release tablets (Ventolin® oral tablets SR 8 mg, GSK, Pakistan) in the group of 18 healthy adults by using computational mathematics techniques. Following the administration of 4 doses of Ventolin® tablets 12 hourly to 24 healthy human subjects and bioanalysis of obtained plasma samples, plasma drug concentration-time profile was constructed. AUC, an important pharmacokinetic parameter, was measured using integrated equation of multiple oral dose regimens. The approximated AUC was also calculated by using computational mathematics techniques such as repeated rectangular, repeated trapezium and repeated Simpson's rule and compared with exact value of AUC calculated by using integrated equation of multiple oral dose regimens to find best computational mathematics method that gives AUC values closest to exact. The exact values of AUC for four consecutive doses of Ventolin® oral tablets were 150.5819473, 157.8131756, 164.4178231 and 162.78 ng.h/ml while the closest values approximated AUC values were 149.245962, 157.336171, 164.2585768 and 162.289224 ng.h/ml, respectively as found by repeated rectangular rule. The errors in the approximated values of AUC were negligible. It is concluded that all computational tools approximated values of AUC accurately but the repeated rectangular rule gives slightly better approximated values of AUC as compared to repeated trapezium and repeated Simpson's rules.
Abstract: The research was conducted with three replications as
“Randomized Block Design” in Konya-Turkey ecological conditions.
In the study, 16 of promising safflower lines (A8, E1, F4, F6, G16,
H14, I1), and 1 cultivar (Dinçer) were evaluated in 2008-09 growing
season. Some of the yield components such as plant height (cm), first
branch height (cm), number of branches per plant, 1000 seed weight
(g), seed yield (kg ha-1), oil content (%), oil yield (kg ha-1) were
determined. Winter sowing showed higher values than spring sowing.
The highest values were taken from Dinçer for plant height (86.7
cm), E1 (37.5 cm) for first branch height, F6 for number of branch
(11.6 per plant), I1 for number of head (24.9 per plant), A8 for 1000
seed weight (51.75 g), Dinçer for seed yield (2927.1 kg ha-1), oil
content (28.79 %) and also for oil yield (87.44 kg ha-1) respectively.
Abstract: An adaptive Fuzzy Inference Perceptual model has
been proposed for watermarking of digital images. The model
depends on the human visual characteristics of image sub-regions in
the frequency multi-resolution wavelet domain. In the proposed
model, a multi-variable fuzzy based architecture has been designed to
produce a perceptual membership degree for both candidate
embedding sub-regions and strength watermark embedding factor.
Different sizes of benchmark images with different sizes of
watermarks have been applied on the model. Several experimental
attacks have been applied such as JPEG compression, noises and
rotation, to ensure the robustness of the scheme. In addition, the
model has been compared with different watermarking schemes. The
proposed model showed its robustness to attacks and at the same time
achieved a high level of imperceptibility.
Abstract: Nowadays companies strive to survive in a
competitive global environment. To speed up product
development/modifications, it is suggested to adopt a collaborative
product development approach. However, despite the advantages of
new IT improvements still many CAx systems work separately and
locally. Collaborative design and manufacture requires a product
information model that supports related CAx product data models. To
solve this problem many solutions are proposed, which the most
successful one is adopting the STEP standard as a product data model
to develop a collaborative CAx platform. However, the improvement
of the STEP-s Application Protocols (APs) over the time, huge
number of STEP AP-s and cc-s, the high costs of implementation,
costly process for conversion of older CAx software files to the STEP
neutral file format; and lack of STEP knowledge, that usually slows
down the implementation of the STEP standard in collaborative data
exchange, management and integration should be considered. In this
paper the requirements for a successful collaborative CAx system is
discussed. The STEP standard capability for product data integration
and its shortcomings as well as the dominant platforms for supporting
CAx collaboration management and product data integration are
reviewed. Finally a platform named LAYMOD to fulfil the
requirements of CAx collaborative environment and integrating the
product data is proposed. The platform is a layered platform to enable
global collaboration among different CAx software
packages/developers. It also adopts the STEP modular architecture
and the XML data structures to enable collaboration between CAx
software packages as well as overcoming the STEP standard
limitations. The architecture and procedures of LAYMOD platform
to manage collaboration and avoid contradicts in product data
integration are introduced.
Abstract: Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) films of polyaniline (PANI) grown onto ITO coated glass substrates were utilized for the fabrication of Uric acid biosensor for efficient detection of uric acid by immobilizing Uricase via EDC–NHS coupling. The modified electrodes were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The response characteristics after immobilization of uricase were studied using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques. The uricase/PANI/ITO/glass bioelectrode studied by CV and EIS techniques revealed detection of uric acid in a wide range of 0.05 mM to 1.0 mM, covering the physiological range in blood. A low Michaelis–Menten constant (Km) of 0.21 mM indicates the higher affinity of immobilized Uricase towards its analyte (uric acid). The fabricated uric acid biosensor based on PANI LB films exhibits excellent sensitivity of 0.21 mA/mM with a response time of 4 s, good reproducibility, long shelf life (8 weeks) and high selectivity.
Abstract: Due to the coexistence of different Radio Access
Technologies (RATs), Next Generation Wireless Networks (NGWN)
are predicted to be heterogeneous in nature. The coexistence of
different RATs requires a need for Common Radio Resource
Management (CRRM) to support the provision of Quality of Service
(QoS) and the efficient utilization of radio resources. RAT selection
algorithms are part of the CRRM algorithms. Simply, their role is to
verify if an incoming call will be suitable to fit into a heterogeneous
wireless network, and to decide which of the available RATs is most
suitable to fit the need of the incoming call and admit it.
Guaranteeing the requirements of QoS for all accepted calls and at
the same time being able to provide the most efficient utilization of
the available radio resources is the goal of RAT selection algorithm.
The normal call admission control algorithms are designed for
homogeneous wireless networks and they do not provide a solution
to fit a heterogeneous wireless network which represents the NGWN.
Therefore, there is a need to develop RAT selection algorithm for
heterogeneous wireless network. In this paper, we propose an
approach for RAT selection which includes receiving different
criteria, assessing and making decisions, then selecting the most
suitable RAT for incoming calls. A comprehensive survey of
different RAT selection algorithms for a heterogeneous wireless
network is studied.