Abstract: An on-line condition monitoring method for transmission line is proposed using electrical circuit theory and IT technology in this paper. It is reasonable that the circuit parameters such as resistance (R), inductance (L), conductance (g) and capacitance (C) of a transmission line expose the electrical conditions and physical state of the line. Those parameters can be calculated from the linear equation composed of voltages and currents measured by synchro-phasor measurement technique at both end of the line. A set of linear voltage drop equations containing four terminal constants (A, B ,C ,D ) are mathematical models of the transmission line circuits. At least two sets of those linear equations are established from different operation condition of the line, they may mathematically yield those circuit parameters of the line. The conditions of line connectivity including state of connecting parts or contacting parts of the switching device may be monitored by resistance variations during operation. The insulation conditions of the line can be monitored by conductance (g) and capacitance(C) measurements. Together with other condition monitoring devices such as partial discharge, sensors and visual sensing device etc.,they may give useful information to monitor out any incipient symptoms of faults. The prototype of hardware system has been developed and tested through laboratory level simulated transmission lines. The test has shown enough evident to put the proposed method to practical uses.
Abstract: We present an implementation of an Online Exhibition System (OES) web service(s) that reflects our experiences with using web service development packages and software process models. The system provides major functionality that exists in similar packages. While developing such a complex web service, we gained insightful experience (i) in the traditional software development processes: waterfall model and evolutionary development and their fitness to web services development, (ii) in the fitness and effectiveness of a major web services development kit.
Abstract: Electronic commerce is growing rapidly with on-line
sales already heading for hundreds of billion dollars per year. Due to
the huge amount of money transferred everyday, an increased
security level is required. In this work we present the architecture of
an intelligent speaker verification system, which is able to accurately
verify the registered users of an e-commerce service using only their
voices as an input. According to the proposed architecture, a
transaction-based e-commerce application should be complemented
by a biometric server where customer-s unique set of speech models
(voiceprint) is stored. The verification procedure requests from the
user to pronounce a personalized sequence of digits and after
capturing speech and extracting voice features at the client side are
sent back to the biometric server. The biometric server uses pattern
recognition to decide whether the received features match the stored
voiceprint of the customer who claims to be, and accordingly grants
verification. The proposed architecture can provide e-commerce
applications with a higher degree of certainty regarding the identity
of a customer, and prevent impostors to execute fraudulent
transactions.
Abstract: Changing technology and increased constituent
demand for government services derive the need for governmental
responsiveness. The government organisations in the developing
countries will be under increased pressure to change their
bureaucratic systems to be able to respond rapidly to changing and
increasing requirements and rapid technology advancements. This
paper aims to present a conceptual framework for explaining the
main barriers and drivers of public e-service development. Therefore,
the framework provides a basic context within which the process and
practice of E-Service can be implemented successfully in the public
sector organisations. The framework is flexible enough to be adopted
by governments at different levels; national or local by developing
countries around the world.
Abstract: While in practice negotiation is always a mix of
cooperation and competition, these two elements correspond to
different approaches of the relationship and also different orientations
in term of strategy, techniques, tactics and arguments employed by
the negotiators with related effects and in the end leading to different
outcomes. The levels of honesty, trust and therefore cooperation are
influenced not only by the uncertainty of the situation, the objectives,
stakes or power but also by the orientation given from the very
beginning of the relationship. When negotiation is reduced to a
confrontation of power, participants rely on coercive measures, using
different kinds of threats or make false promises and bluff in order to
establish a more acceptable balance of power.
Most of the negotiators have a tendency to complain about the
unethical aspects of the tactics used by their counterparts while, as
the same time, they are mostly unaware of the sources of influence of
their own vision and practices. In this article, our intention is to
clarify these sources and try to understand what can lead negotiators
to unethical practices.
Abstract: The effectiveness of consuming a nutrient fortified oat drink on iron, zinc, vitamin A and vitamin C status was assessed among a cohort of school-aged Filipino children. Ultimate study implementation permitted only a within-subject comparison of change in nutritional status after four months of consuming a nutrient fortified oat drink. Thirty-eight anemic children (5-8 years) consumed an oat drink fortified with iron as NaFeEDTA, zinc, vitamin A and vitamin C for 120 days. Height, weight, serum nutrient levels, anemia status and dietary intake were assessed pre and post intervention. Thirty-four anemic children completed the intervention. After 4 months of intervention, prevalence of anemia decreased by 68% and significant improvements in iron and vitamin A status were observed. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of the fortified oat drink in alleviating anemia in young children and highlight the value of fortification programs
Abstract: A design flow of multi-standard down-conversion
CMOS mixers for three modern standards: Global System Mobile,
Digital Enhanced Cordless Telephone and Universal Mobile
Telecommunication Systems is presented. Three active mixer-s
structures are studied. The first is based on the Gilbert cell which
gives a tolerable noise figure and linearity with a low conversion
gain. The second and third structures use the current bleeding and
charge injection techniques in order to increase the conversion gain.
An improvement of about 2 dB of the conversion gain is achieved
without a considerable degradation of the other characteristics. The
models used for noise figure, conversion gain and IIP3 used are
studied. This study describes the nature of trade-offs inherent in such
structures and gives insights that help in identifying which structure
is better for given conditions.
Abstract: Generation system reliability assessment is an
important task which can be performed using deterministic or
probabilistic techniques. The probabilistic approaches have
significant advantages over the deterministic methods. However,
more complicated modeling is required by the probabilistic
approaches. Power generation model is a basic requirement for this
assessment. One form of the generation models is the well known
capacity outage probability table (COPT). Different analytical
techniques have been used to construct the COPT. These approaches
require considerable mathematical modeling of the generating units.
The unit-s models are combined to build the COPT which will add
more burdens on the process of creating the COPT. Decimal to
Binary Conversion (DBC) technique is widely and commonly applied
in electronic systems and computing This paper proposes a novel
utilization of the DBC to create the COPT without engaging in
analytical modeling or time consuming simulations. The simple
binary representation , “0 " and “1 " is used to model the states o f
generating units. The proposed technique is proven to be an effective
approach to build the generation model.
Abstract: Thrombosis can be life threatening, necessitating therefore its instant treatment. Hydergine, a nootropic agent is used as a cognition enhancer in stroke patients but relatively little is known about its anti-thrombolytic effect. To investigate this aspect, in vivo and ex vivo experiments were designed and conducted. Three groups of rats were injected 1.5mg, 3.0mg and 4.5mg hydergine intraperitonealy with and without prior exposure to fresh plasma. Positive and negative controls were run in parallel. Animals were sacrificed after 1.5hrs and BT, CT, PT, INR, APTT, plasma calcium levels were estimated. For ex vivo analyses, each 1ml blood aspirated was exposed to 0.1mg, 0.2mg, 0.3mg dose of hydergine with parallel controls. Parameters analyzed were as above. Statistical analysis was through one-way ANOVA. Dunken-s and Tukey-s tests provided intra-group variance. BT, CT, PT, INR and APTT increased while calcium levels dropped significantly (P
Abstract: This work presents a numerical model developed to
simulate the dynamics and vibrations of a multistage tractor gearbox.
The effect of time varying mesh stiffness, time varying frictional
torque on the gear teeth, lateral and torsional flexibility of the shafts
and flexibility of the bearings were included in the model. The model
was developed by using the Lagrangian method, and it was applied to
study the effect of three design variables on the vibration and stress
levels on the gears. The first design variable, module, had little effect
on the vibration levels but a higher module resulted to higher bending
stress levels. The second design variable, pressure angle, had little
effect on the vibration levels, but had a strong effect on the stress
levels on the pinion of a high reduction ratio gear pair. A pressure
angle of 25o resulted to lower stress levels for a pinion with 14 teeth
than a pressure angle of 20o. The third design variable, contact ratio,
had a very strong effect on both the vibration levels and bending
stress levels. Increasing the contact ratio to 2.0 reduced both the
vibration levels and bending stress levels significantly. For the gear
train design used in this study, a module of 2.5 and contact ratio of
2.0 for the various meshes was found to yield the best combination
of low vibration levels and low bending stresses. The model can
therefore be used as a tool for obtaining the optimum gear design
parameters for a given multistage spur gear train.
Abstract: In this paper, Fabless Prototyping Methodology is
introduced for the design and analysis of MEMS devices.
Conventionally Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is performed before
system level simulation. In our proposed methodology, system level
simulation is performed earlier than FEA as it is computationally less
extensive and low cost. System level simulations are based on
equivalent behavioral models of MEMS device. Electrostatic
actuation based MEMS Microgripper is chosen as case study to
implement this methodology. This paper addresses the behavioral
model development and simulation of actuator part of an
electrostatically actuated Microgripper. Simulation results show that
the actuator part of Microgripper works efficiently for a voltage range
of 0-45V with the corresponding jaw displacement of 0-4.5425μm.
With some minor changes in design, this range can be enhanced to
15μm at 85V.
Abstract: The leisure boatbuilding industry has tight profit margins that demand that boats are created to a high quality but with low cost. This requirement means reduced design times combined with increased use of design for production can lead to large benefits. The evolutionary nature of the boatbuilding industry can lead to a large usage of previous vessels in new designs. With the increase in automated tools for concurrent engineering within structural design it is important that these tools can reuse this information while subsequently feeding this to designers. The ability to accurately gather this materials and parts data is also a key component to these tools. This paper therefore aims to develop an architecture made up of neural networks and databases to feed information effectively to the designers based on previous design experience.
Abstract: To achieve reliable solutions, today-s numerical and
experimental activities need developing more accurate methods and
utilizing expensive facilities, respectfully in microchannels. The analytical
study can be considered as an alternative approach to alleviate
the preceding difficulties. Among the analytical solutions, those with
high robustness and low complexities are certainly more attractive.
The perturbation theory has been used by many researchers to analyze
microflows. In present work, a compressible microflow with constant
heat flux boundary condition is analyzed. The flow is assumed to be
fully developed and steady. The Mach and Reynolds numbers are also
assumed to be very small. For this case, the creeping phenomenon
may have some effect on the velocity profile. To achieve robustness
solution it is assumed that the flow is quasi-isothermal. In this study,
the creeping term which appears in the slip boundary condition
is formulated by different mathematical formulas. The difference
between this work and the previous ones is that the creeping term
is taken into account and presented in non-dimensionalized form.
The results obtained from perturbation theory are presented based
on four non-dimensionalized parameters including the Reynolds,
Mach, Prandtl and Brinkman numbers. The axial velocity, normal
velocity and pressure profiles are obtained. Solutions for velocities
and pressure for two cases with different Br numbers are compared
with each other and the results show that the effect of creeping
phenomenon on the velocity profile becomes more important when
Br number is less than O(ε).
Abstract: Group contribution methods such as the UNIFAC are
of major interest to researchers and engineers involved synthesis,
feasibility studies, design and optimization of separation processes as
well as other applications of industrial use. Reliable knowledge of
the phase equilibrium behavior is crucial for the prediction of the fate
of the chemical in the environment and other applications. The
objective of this study was to predict the solubility of selected
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in glycol polymers and
biodiesel. Measurements can be expensive and time consuming,
hence the need for thermodynamic models. The results obtained in
this study for the infinite dilution activity coefficients compare very
well those published in literature obtained through measurements. It
is suggested that in preliminary design or feasibility studies of
absorption systems for the abatement of volatile organic compounds,
prediction procedures should be implemented while accurate fluid
phase equilibrium data should be obtained from experiment.
Abstract: The paper presents the results of a series of
experiments conducted on physical models of Quarter-circle
breakwater (QBW) in a two dimensional monochromatic wave
flume. The purpose of the experiments was to evaluate the reflection
coefficient Kr of QBW models of different radii (R) for different
submergence ratios (d/hc), where d is the depth of water and hc is the
height of the breakwater crest from the sea bed. The radii of the
breakwater models studied were 20cm, 22.5cm, 25cm, 27.5cm and
submergence ratios used varied from 1.067 to 1.667. The wave
climate off the Mangalore coast was used for arriving at the various
model wave parameters. The incident wave heights (Hi) used in the
flume varied from 3 to 18cm, and wave periods (T) ranged from 1.2 s
to 2.2 s. The water depths (d) of 40cm, 45cm and 50cm were used in
the experiments. The data collected was analyzed to compute
variation of reflection coefficient Kr=Hr/Hi (where Hr=reflected wave
height) with the wave steepness Hi/gT2 for various R/Hi
(R=breakwater radius) values. It was found that the reflection
coefficient increased as incident wave steepness increased. Also as
wave height decreases reflection coefficient decreases and as
structure radius R increased Kr decreased slightly.
Abstract: Detecting object in video sequence is a challenging
mission for identifying, tracking moving objects. Background
removal considered as a basic step in detected moving objects tasks.
Dual static cameras placed in front and rear moving platform
gathered information which is used to detect objects. Background
change regarding with speed and direction moving platform, so
moving objects distinguished become complicated. In this paper, we
propose framework allows detection moving object with variety of
speed and direction dynamically. Object detection technique built on
two levels the first level apply background removal and edge
detection to generate moving areas. The second level apply Moving
Areas Filter (MAF) then calculate Correlation Score (CS) for
adjusted moving area. Merging moving areas with closer CS and
marked as moving object. Experiment result is prepared on real scene
acquired by dual static cameras without overlap in sense. Results
showing accuracy in detecting objects compared with optical flow
and Mixture Module Gaussian (MMG), Accurate ratio produced to
measure accurate detection moving object.
Abstract: This study discusses the effect of uncertainty on
production levels of a petrochemical complex. Uncertainly or
variations in some model parameters, such as prices, supply and
demand of materials, can affect the optimality or the efficiency of any
chemical process. For any petrochemical complex with many plants,
there are many sources of uncertainty and frequent variations which
require more attention. Many optimization approaches are proposed
in the literature to incorporate uncertainty within the model in order
to obtain a robust solution. In this work, a stability analysis approach
is applied to a deterministic LP model of a petrochemical complex
consists of ten plants to investigate the effect of such variations on
the obtained optimal production levels. The proposed approach can
determinate the allowable variation ranges of some parameters,
mainly objective or RHS coefficients, before the system lose its
optimality. Parameters with relatively narrow range of variations, i.e.
stability limits, are classified as sensitive parameters or constraints
that need accurate estimate or intensive monitoring. These stability
limits offer easy-to-use information to the decision maker and help in
understanding the interaction between some model parameters and
deciding when the system need to be re-optimize. The study shows
that maximum production of ethylene and the prices of intermediate
products are the most sensitive factors that affect the stability of the
optimum solution
Abstract: The effect of streamwise conduction on the thermal
characteristics of forced convection for nanofluidic flow in
rectangular microchannel heat sinks under isothermal wall has been
investigated. By applying the fin approach, models with and without
streamwise conduction term in the energy equation were developed
for hydrodynamically and thermally fully-developed flow. These two
models were solved to obtain closed form analytical solutions for the
nanofluid and solid wall temperature distributions and the analysis
emphasized details of the variations induced by the streamwise
conduction on the nanofluid heat transport characteristics. The effects
of the Peclet number, nanoparticle volume fraction, thermal
conductivity ratio on the thermal characteristics of forced convection
in microchannel heat sinks are analyzed. Due to the anomalous
increase in the effective thermal conductivity of nanofluid compared
to its base fluid, the effect of streamwise conduction is expected to be
more significant. This study reveals the significance of the effect of
streamwise conduction under certain conditions of which the
streamwise conduction should not be neglected in the forced
convective heat transfer analysis of microchannel heat sinks.
Abstract: Recurrence of aneurysm rupture can be attributed to
coil migration and compaction. In order to verify the effects of
hemodynamics on coil compaction and migration, we analyze the
forces and displacements on the coil bundle using a computational
method. Lateral aneurysms partially filled coils are modeled, and
blood flow fields and coil deformations are simulated considering
fluid and solid interaction. Effects of aneurysm neck size and parent
vessel geometry are also investigated. The results showed that coil
deformation was larger in the aneurysms with a wider neck. Parent
vessel geometry and aneurysm neck size also affected mean pressure
force profiles on the coil surface. Pressure forces were higher in wide
neck models with curved parent vessel geometry. Simulation results
showed that coils in the wide neck aneurysm with a curved parent
vessel may be displaced and compacted more easily.
Abstract: This paper gives a study about forging solution to
deploy the fixed wireless access (FWA) in the band 3300-3400MHz
instead of 3400-3600MHz to eschew the harmful interference
between from the FWA towards fixed satellite services receiver
presented in this band. The impact of FWA services toward the FSS
and the boundaries of spectrum emission mask had been considered
to calculate the possible Guard band required in this case. In
addition, supplementary separation distance added to improve the
coexistence between the two adjacent bands. Simulation had been
done using Matlab software base on ITU models reliance on the most
popular specification used for the tropical weather countries. Review
the current problem of interference between two systems and some
mitigation techniques which adopted in Malaysia as a case study is a
part of this research.