Abstract: In this article, while it is attempted to describe the
problem and its importance, transformational leadership is studied by considering leadership theories. Issues such as the definition of
transformational leadership and its aspects are compared on the basis of the ideas of various connoisseurs and then it (transformational leadership) is examined in successful and
unsuccessful companies. According to the methodology, the
method of research, hypotheses, population and statistical sample
are investigated and research findings are analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistical methods in the framework of
analytical tables. Finally, our conclusion is provided by considering the results of statistical tests. The final result shows that
transformational leadership is significantly higher in successful companies than unsuccessful ones P
Abstract: Software reliability, defined as the probability of a
software system or application functioning without failure or errors
over a defined period of time, has been an important area of research
for over three decades. Several research efforts aimed at developing
models to improve reliability are currently underway. One of the
most popular approaches to software reliability adopted by some of
these research efforts involves the use of operational profiles to
predict how software applications will be used. Operational profiles
are a quantification of usage patterns for a software application. The
research presented in this paper investigates an innovative multiagent
framework for automatic creation and management of
operational profiles for generic distributed systems after their release
into the market. The architecture of the proposed Operational Profile
MAS (Multi-Agent System) is presented along with detailed
descriptions of the various models arrived at following the analysis
and design phases of the proposed system. The operational profile in
this paper is extended to comprise seven different profiles. Further,
the criticality of operations is defined using a new composed metrics
in order to organize the testing process as well as to decrease the time
and cost involved in this process. A prototype implementation of the
proposed MAS is included as proof-of-concept and the framework is
considered as a step towards making distributed systems intelligent
and self-managing.
Abstract: Optimization is often a critical issue for most system
design problems. Evolutionary Algorithms are population-based,
stochastic search techniques, widely used as efficient global
optimizers. However, finding optimal solution to complex high
dimensional, multimodal problems often require highly
computationally expensive function evaluations and hence are
practically prohibitive. The Dynamic Approximate Fitness based
Hybrid EA (DAFHEA) model presented in our earlier work [14]
reduced computation time by controlled use of meta-models to
partially replace the actual function evaluation by approximate
function evaluation. However, the underlying assumption in
DAFHEA is that the training samples for the meta-model are
generated from a single uniform model. Situations like model
formation involving variable input dimensions and noisy data
certainly can not be covered by this assumption. In this paper we
present an enhanced version of DAFHEA that incorporates a
multiple-model based learning approach for the SVM approximator.
DAFHEA-II (the enhanced version of the DAFHEA framework) also
overcomes the high computational expense involved with additional
clustering requirements of the original DAFHEA framework. The
proposed framework has been tested on several benchmark functions
and the empirical results illustrate the advantages of the proposed
technique.
Abstract: In the present work, behavior of inoxydable steel as
reinforcement bar in composite concrete is being investigated. The
bar-concrete adherence in reinforced concrete (RC) beam is studied
and focus is made on the tension stiffening parameter. This study
highlighted an approach to observe this interaction behavior in
bending test instead of direct tension as per reported in many
references. The approach resembles actual loading condition of the
structural RC beam. The tension stiffening properties are then
applied to numerical finite element analysis (FEA) to verify their
correlation with laboratory results. Comparison with laboratory
shows a good correlation between the two. The experimental settings
is able to determine tension stiffening parameters in RC beam and
the modeling strategies made in ABAQUS can closely represent the
actual condition. Tension stiffening model used can represent the
interaction properties between inoxydable steel and concrete.
Abstract: This paper presents an inexpensive and effective temperature-controlled chamber for temperature environment tests of Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) panels. The proposed chamber is a compact warmer and cooler with an exact temperature control system. In the temperature-controlled space of the chamber, thermoelectric modules (TEMs) are utilized to cool or to heat OLED panels, novel fixtures are designed to flexibly clamp the OLED panels of different size, and special connectors for wiring between the OLED panels and the test instrument are supplied. The proposed chamber has the following features. (1) The TEMs are solid semi-conductive devices, so they operate without noise and without pollution. (2) The volume of the temperature-controlled space of the chamber about 160mm*160mm*120mm, so the chamber are compact and easy to move. (3) The range of the controlled temperatures is from -10 oC to +80 oC, and the precision is ?0.5 oC. (4) The test instrument can conveniently and easily measure the OLED panels via the novel fixtures and special connectors. In addition to a constant temperature being maintained in the chamber, a temperature shock experiments can run for a long time. Therefore, the chamber will be convenient and useful for temperature environment tests of OLED panels.
Abstract: As a part of the development of a numerical method of
close capture exhausts systems for machining devices, a test rig
recreating a situation similar to a grinding operation, but in a
perfectly controlled environment, is used. The properties of the
obtained spray of solid particles are initially characterized using
particle tracking velocimetry (PTV), in order to obtain input and
validation parameters for numerical simulations. The dispersion of a
tracer gas (SF6) emitted simultaneously with the particle jet is then
studied experimentally, as the dispersion of such a gas is
representative of that of finer particles, whose aerodynamic response
time is negligible. Finally, complete modeling of the test rig is
achieved to allow comparison with experimental results and thus to
progress towards validation of the models used to describe a twophase
flow generated by machining operation.
Abstract: In this paper, multilayered coreless printed circuit
board (PCB) step-down power transformers for DC-DC converter
applications have been designed, manufactured and evaluated. A set
of two different circular spiral step-down transformers were
fabricated in the four layered PCB. These transformers have been
modelled with the assistance of high frequency equivalent circuit and
characterized with both sinusoidal and square wave excitation. This
paper provides the comparative results of these two different
transformers in terms of their resistances, self, leakage, mutual
inductances, coupling coefficient and also their energy efficiencies.
The operating regions for optimal performance of these transformers
for power transfer applications are determined. These transformers
were tested for the output power levels of about 30 Watts within the
input voltage range of 12-50 Vrms. The energy efficiency for these
step down transformers is observed to be in the range of 90%-97% in
MHz frequency region.
Abstract: Groundwater resources in Arsanjan plain provide
water for agriculture, industry, and human consumption. Continued
agricultural development in this area needs to additional groundwater
resources for, particularly during of drought periods, and effects on
the quantity and quality of ground water available. The purpose of
this study is to evaluate water level changes in the aquifer of
Arsanjan plain in the Fars province in order to determine the areas of
greatest depletion and the causes of depletion. In this plain, farmers
and other users are pumping groundwater faster than its natural
replenishment rate, causing a continuous drop in groundwater tables
and depletion of this resource. In this research variation of
groundwater level, their effects and ways to help control groundwater
levels in aquifer of the Arsanjan plains were evaluated .Excessive
exploitation of groundwater in this aquifer caused the groundwater
levels fall too fast or to unacceptable levels. The average drawdown
of the groundwater level in this plain were 19.66 meters during
1996 to 2003.
Abstract: This paper presents the experimental results of
leakage current waveforms which appears on porcelain insulator
surface due to existence of artificial pollutants. The tests have been
done using the chemical compounds of NaCl, Na2SiO3, H2SO4, CaO,
Na2SO4, KCl, Al2SO4, MgSO4, FeCl3, and TiO2. The insulator
surface was coated with those compounds and dried. Then, it was
tested in the chamber where the high voltage was applied. Using
correspondence analysis, the result indicated that the fundamental
harmonic of leakage current was very close to the applied voltage
and third harmonic leakage current was close to the yielded leakage
current amplitude. The first harmonic power was correlated to first
harmonic amplitude of leakage current, and third harmonic power
was close to third harmonic one. The chemical compounds of H2SO4
and Na2SiO3 affected to the power factor of around 70%. Both are the
most conductive, due to the power factor drastically increase among
the chemical compounds.
Abstract: An improved processing description to be employed in biosonar signal processing in a cochlea model is proposed and examined. It is compared to conventional models using a modified discrimination analysis and both are tested. Their performances are evaluated with echo data captured from natural targets (trees).Results indicate that the phase characteristics of low-pass filters employed in the echo processing have a significant effect on class separability for this data.
Abstract: Lake Nasser is one of the largest reservoirs in the
world. Over 120 million metric tons of sediments are deposited in its
dead storage zone every year. The main objective of the present work
was to determine the physical and chemical characteristics of Lake
Nasser sediments. The sample had a relatively low surface area of 2.9
m2/g which increased more than 3-fold upon chemical activation. The
main chemical elements of the raw sediments were C, O and Si with
some traces of Al, Fe and Ca. The organic functional groups for the
tested sample included O-H, C=C, C-H and C-O, with indications of
Si-O and other metal-C and/or metal-O bonds normally associated
with clayey materials. Potentiometric titration of the sample in
different ionic strength backgrounds revealed an alkaline material with
very strong positive surface charge at pH values just a little less than
the pH of zero charge which is ~9. Surface interactions of the
sediments with the background electrolyte were significant. An
advanced surface complexation model was able to capture these
effects, employing a single-site approach to represent protolysis
reactions in aqueous solution, and to determine the significant surface
species in the pH range of environmental interest.
Abstract: Employee-s task performance has been recognized as a
core contributor to overall organizational effectiveness. Hence,
verifying the determinants of task performance is one of the most
important research issues. This study tests the influence of perceived
organizational support, abusive supervision, and exchange ideology
on employee-s task performance. We examined our hypotheses by
collecting self-reported data from 413 Korean employees in different
organizations. Our all hypotheses gained support from the results.
Implications for research and directions for future research are
discussed.
Abstract: Economic dispatch problem is an optimization problem where objective function is highly non linear, non-convex, non-differentiable and may have multiple local minima. Therefore, classical optimization methods may not converge or get trapped to any local minima. This paper presents a comparative study of four different evolutionary algorithms i.e. genetic algorithm, bacteria foraging optimization, ant colony optimization and particle swarm optimization for solving the economic dispatch problem. All the methods are tested on IEEE 30 bus test system. Simulation results are presented to show the comparative performance of these methods.
Abstract: The aim of this work is to determine the supersonic
nozzle profiles used in propulsion, for the launchers or embarked
with the satellites. This design has as a role firstly, to give a
important propulsion, i.e. with uniform and parallel flow at exit,
secondly to find a short length profiles without modification of the
flow in the nozzle. The first elaborate program is used to determine
the profile of divergent by using the characteristics method for an
axisymmetric flow. The second program is conceived by using the
finite volume method to determine and test the profile found
connected to a convergent.
Abstract: Three-dimensional reconstruction of small objects has
been one of the most challenging problems over the last decade.
Computer graphics researchers and photography professionals have
been working on improving 3D reconstruction algorithms to fit the
high demands of various real life applications. Medical sciences,
animation industry, virtual reality, pattern recognition, tourism
industry, and reverse engineering are common fields where 3D
reconstruction of objects plays a vital role. Both lack of accuracy and
high computational cost are the major challenges facing successful
3D reconstruction. Fringe projection has emerged as a promising 3D
reconstruction direction that combines low computational cost to both
high precision and high resolution. It employs digital projection,
structured light systems and phase analysis on fringed pictures.
Research studies have shown that the system has acceptable
performance, and moreover it is insensitive to ambient light.
This paper presents an overview of fringe projection approaches. It
also presents an experimental study and implementation of a simple
fringe projection system. We tested our system using two objects
with different materials and levels of details. Experimental results
have shown that, while our system is simple, it produces acceptable
results.
Abstract: Real-time object tracking is a problem which involves extraction of critical information from complex and uncertain imagedata. In this paper, we present a comprehensive methodology to design an artificial neural network (ANN) for a real-time object tracking application. The object, which is tracked for the purpose of demonstration, is a specific airplane. However, the proposed ANN can be trained to track any other object of interest. The ANN has been simulated and tested on the training and testing datasets, as well as on a real-time streaming video. The tracking error is analyzed with post-regression analysis tool, which finds the correlation among the calculated coordinates and the correct coordinates of the object in the image. The encouraging results from the computer simulation and analysis show that the proposed ANN architecture is a good candidate solution to a real-time object tracking problem.
Abstract: Students in high education are presented with new terms and concepts in nearly every lecture they attend. Many of them prefer Web-based self-tests for evaluation of their concepts understanding since they can use those tests independently of tutors- working hours and thus avoid the necessity of being in a particular place at a particular time. There is a large number of multiple-choice tests in almost every subject designed to contribute to higher level learning or discover misconceptions. Every single test provides immediate feedback to a student about the outcome of that test. In some cases a supporting system displays an overall score in case a test is taken several times by a student. What we still find missing is how to secure delivering of personalized feedback to a user while taking into consideration the user-s progress. The present work is motivated to throw some light on that question.
Abstract: Minor problems arising from optimizations by
welding of fixed prostheses frameworks can be identified by
macroscopic and microscopic visual inspection. The purpose of this
study was to highlight the visible discontinuities present in the laser
welds of dental Ni-Cr alloys. Ni-Cr base metal alloys designated for
fixed prostheses manufacture were selected for the experiments.
Using cast plates, preliminary tests were conducted by laser welding.
Macroscopic visual inspection was done carefully to assess the
defects of the welding rib. Electron microscopy images allowed
visualization of small discontinuities, which escapes visual
inspection. Making comparison to Ni-Cr alloys taken in the
experiment and laser welded, after visual analysis, the best welds
appear for Heraenium NA alloy.
Abstract: The aerodynamics characteristics of a blended-wing body (BWB) aircraft were obtained in Universiti Teknologi MARA low speed wind tunnel. The scaled-down of BWB model consisted of a canard as its horizontal stabilizer. There were four canards with different aspect ratio used in the experiments. Canard setting angles were varied from -20q to 20q. All tests were conducted at velocity of 35 m/s, with Mach number 0.1. At low angles of attacks, the increment of lift slope for various canards aspect ratio is small and almost constant. Higher canard aspect ratio will cause higher drag. However, canard has a high effect to the moment at zero lift, CM,0.The visualization using mini tuff was performed to observe the airflow at the upper surface of canard. KeywordsAerodynamics,blended-wing body, canard, wind tunnel.
Abstract: Physiological control of a left ventricle assist device (LVAD) is generally a complicated task due to diverse operating environments and patient variability. In this work, a tracking control algorithm based on sliding mode and feed forward control for a class of discrete-time single input single output (SISO) nonlinear uncertain systems is presented. The controller was developed to track the reference trajectory to a set operating point without inducing suction in the ventricle. The controller regulates the estimated mean pulsatile flow Qp and mean pulsatility index of pump rotational speed PIω that was generated from a model of the assist device. We recall the principle of the sliding mode control theory then we combine the feed-forward control design with the sliding mode control technique to follow the reference trajectory. The uncertainty is replaced by its upper and lower boundary. The controller was tested in a computer simulation covering two scenarios (preload and ventricular contractility). The simulation results prove the effectiveness and the robustness of the proposed controller