Abstract: According to the new developments in the field of information and communication technologies, the necessity arises for active use of these new technologies in education. It is clear that the integration of technology in education system will be different for primary-higher education or traditional- distance education. In this study, the subject of the integration of technology for distance education was discussed. The subject was taken from the viewpoint of students. With using the information of student feedback about education program in which new technological medias are used, how can survey variables can be separated into the factors as positive, negative and supporter and how can be redesigned education strategy of the higher education associations with the examining the variables of each determinated factor is explained. The paper concludes with the recommendations about the necessitity of working as a group of different area experts and using of numerical methods in establishing of education strategy to be successful.
Abstract: In this paper, a target signal detection method using
multiple signal classification (MUSIC) algorithm is proposed. The
MUSIC algorithm is a subspace-based direction of arrival (DOA)
estimation method. The algorithm detects the DOAs of multiple
sources using the inverse of the eigenvalue-weighted eigen spectra. To
apply the algorithm to target signal detection for GSC-based
beamforming, we utilize its spectral response for the target DOA in
noisy conditions. For evaluation of the algorithm, the performance of
the proposed target signal detection method is compared with that of
the normalized cross-correlation (NCC), the fixed beamforming, and
the power ratio method. Experimental results show that the proposed
algorithm significantly outperforms the conventional ones in receiver
operating characteristics(ROC) curves.
Abstract: This article proposes a current-mode square-rooting
circuit using current follower transconductance amplifier (CTFA).
The amplitude of the output current can be electronically controlled
via input bias current with wide input dynamic range. The proposed
circuit consists of only single CFTA. Without any matching
conditions and external passive elements, the circuit is then
appropriate for an IC architecture. The magnitude of the output signal
is temperature-insensitive. The PSpice simulation results are
depicted, and the given results agree well with the theoretical
anticipation. The power consumption is approximately 1.96mW at
±1.5V supply voltages.
Abstract: Our objectives were to evaluate the effects of sire
breed, type of protein supplement, level of supplementation and sex
on wool spinning fineness (SF), its correlations with other wool
characteristics and prediction accuracy in F1 Merino crossbred lambs.
Texel, Coopworth, White Suffolk, East Friesian and Dorset rams
were mated with 500 purebred Merino dams at a ratio of 1:100 in
separate paddocks within a single management system. The F1
progeny were raised on ryegrass pasture until weaning, before forty
lambs were randomly allocated to treatments in a 5 x 2 x 2 x 2
factorial experimental design representing 5 sire breeds, 2
supplementary feeds (canola or lupins), 2 levels of supplementation
(1% or 2% of liveweight) and sex (wethers or ewes). Lambs were
supplemented for six weeks after an initial three weeks of adjustment,
wool sampled at the commencement and conclusion of the feeding
trial and analyzed for SF, mean fibre diameter (FD), coefficient of
variation (CV), standard deviation, comfort factor (CF), fibre
curvature (CURV), and clean fleece yield. Data were analyzed using
mixed linear model procedures with sire fitted as a random effect,
and sire breed, sex, supplementary feed type, level of
supplementation and their second-order interactions as fixed effects.
Sire breed (P
Abstract: Pretreatment is an essential step in the conversion of
lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugar that used for biobutanol
production. Among pretreatment processes, microwave is considered
to improve pretreatment efficiency due to its high heating efficiency,
easy operation, and easily to combine with chemical reaction. The
main objectives of this work are to investigate the feasibility of
microwave pretreatment to enhance enzymatic hydrolysis of
corncobs and to determine the optimal conditions using response
surface methodology. Corncobs were pretreated via two-stage
pretreatment in dilute sodium hydroxide (2 %) followed by dilute
sulfuric acid 1 %. Pretreated corncobs were subjected to enzymatic
hydrolysis to produce reducing sugar. Statistical experimental design
was used to optimize pretreatment parameters including temperature,
residence time and solid-to-liquid ratio to achieve the highest amount
of glucose. The results revealed that solid-to-liquid ratio and
temperature had a significant effect on the amount of glucose.
Abstract: This paper proposes a novel approach to the question of lithofacies classification based on an assessment of the uncertainty in the classification results. The proposed approach has multiple neural networks (NN), and interval neutrosophic sets (INS) are used to classify the input well log data into outputs of multiple classes of lithofacies. A pair of n-class neural networks are used to predict n-degree of truth memberships and n-degree of false memberships. Indeterminacy memberships or uncertainties in the predictions are estimated using a multidimensional interpolation method. These three memberships form the INS used to support the confidence in results of multiclass classification. Based on the experimental data, our approach improves the classification performance as compared to an existing technique applied only to the truth membership. In addition, our approach has the capability to provide a measure of uncertainty in the problem of multiclass classification.
Abstract: The passive electrical properties of a tissue depends
on the intrinsic constituents and its structure, therefore by measuring
the complex electrical impedance of the tissue it might be possible to
obtain indicators of the tissue state or physiological activity [1].
Complete bio-impedance information relative to physiology and
pathology of a human body and functional states of the body tissue or
organs can be extracted by using a technique containing a fourelectrode
measurement setup. This work presents the estimation
measurement setup based on the four-electrode technique. First, the
complex impedance is estimated by three different estimation
techniques: Fourier, Sine Correlation and Digital De-convolution and
then estimation errors for the magnitude, phase, reactance and
resistance are calculated and analyzed for different levels of
disturbances in the observations. The absolute values of relative
errors are plotted and the graphical performance of each technique is
compared.
Abstract: A higher order spline interpolated contour obtained
with up-sampling of homogenously distributed coordinates for
segmentation of kidney region in different classes of ultrasound
kidney images has been developed and presented in this paper. The
performance of the proposed method is measured and compared with
modified snake model contour, Markov random field contour and
expert outlined contour. The validation of the method is made in
correspondence with expert outlined contour using maximum coordinate
distance, Hausdorff distance and mean radial distance
metrics. The results obtained reveal that proposed scheme provides
optimum contour that agrees well with expert outlined contour.
Moreover this technique helps to preserve the pixels-of-interest
which in specific defines the functional characteristic of kidney. This
explores various possibilities in implementing computer-aided
diagnosis system exclusively for US kidney images.
Abstract: There has been a growing interest in implementing humanoid avatars in networked virtual environment. However, most existing avatar communication systems do not take avatars- social backgrounds into consideration. This paper proposes a novel humanoid avatar animation system to represent personalities and facial emotions of avatars based on culture, profession, mood, age, taste, and so forth. We extract semantic keywords from the input text through natural language processing, and then the animations of personalized avatars are retrieved and displayed according to the order of the keywords. Our primary work is focused on giving avatars runtime instruction from multiple natural languages. Experiments with Chinese, Japanese and English input based on the prototype show that interactive avatar animations can be displayed in real time and be made available online. This system provides a more natural and interesting means of human communication, and therefore is expected to be used for cross-cultural communication, multiuser online games, and other entertainment applications.
Abstract: Laminar natural-convective heat transfer from a
horizontal cylinder is studied by solving the Navier-Stokes and
energy equations using higher order compact scheme in cylindrical
polar coordinates. Results are obtained for Rayleigh numbers of 1,
10, 100 and 1000 for a Prandtl number of 0.7. The local Nusselt
number and mean Nusselt number are calculated and compared with
available experimental and theoretical results. Streamlines, vorticity -
lines and isotherms are plotted.
Abstract: The 4G front-end transceiver needs a high
performance which can be obtained mainly with an optimal
architecture and a multi-band Local Oscillator. In this study, we
proposed and presented a new architecture of multi-band frequency
synthesizer based on an Inverse Sine Phase Detector Phase Locked
Loop (ISPD PLL) without any filters and any controlled gain block
and associated with adapted multi band LC tuned VCO using a
several numeric controlled capacitive branches but not binary
weighted. The proposed architecture, based on 0.35μm CMOS
process technology, supporting Multi-band GSM/DCS/DECT/
UMTS/WiMax application and gives a good performances: a phase
noise @1MHz -127dBc and a Factor Of Merit (FOM) @ 1MHz -
186dB and a wide band frequency range (from 0.83GHz to 3.5GHz),
that make the proposed architecture amenable for monolithic
integration and 4G multi-band application.
Abstract: Magnetic carbon nanotubes composites were obtained
by filling carbon nanotubes with paramagnetic iron oxide particles.
Detailed investigation of magnetic behaviour of resulting composites
was done at different temperatures. Measurements indicate that these
functionalized nanotubes are superparamagnetic at room temperature;
however, no superparamagnetism was observed at 125 K and 80 K.
The blocking temperature TB was estimated at 145 K. These magnetic
carbon nanotubes have the potential of being used in a wide range of
applications, in particular, the production of nanofluids, which can be
controlled and steered by appropriate magnetic fields.
Abstract: Given a bivariate normal sample of correlated variables,
(Xi, Yi), i = 1, . . . , n, an alternative estimator of Pearson’s correlation
coefficient is obtained in terms of the ranges, |Xi − Yi|.
An approximate confidence interval for ρX,Y is then derived, and
a simulation study reveals that the resulting coverage probabilities
are in close agreement with the set confidence levels. As well, a
new approximant is provided for the density function of R, the
sample correlation coefficient. A mixture involving the proposed
approximate density of R, denoted by hR(r), and a density function
determined from a known approximation due to R. A. Fisher is shown
to accurately approximate the distribution of R. Finally, nearly exact
density approximants are obtained on adjusting hR(r) by a 7th degree
polynomial.
Abstract: During the process of compaction in Hot-Mix Asphalt
(HMA) mixtures, the distance between aggregate particles decreases
as they come together and eliminate air-voids. By measuring the
inter-particle distances in a cut-section of a HMA sample the degree
of compaction can be estimated. For this, a calibration curve is
generated by computer simulation technique when the gradation and
asphalt content of the HMA mixture are known. A two-dimensional
cross section of HMA specimen was simulated using the mixture
design information (gradation, asphalt content and air-void content).
Nearest neighbor distance methods such as Delaunay triangulation
were used to study the changes in inter-particle distance and area
distribution during the process of compaction in HMA. Such
computer simulations would enable making several hundreds of
repetitions in a short period of time without the necessity to compact
and analyze laboratory specimens in order to obtain good statistics on
the parameters defined. The distributions for the statistical
parameters based on computer simulations showed similar trends as
those of laboratory specimens.
Abstract: This research study examines cases of Saudi Arabian
universities and female academics for work environment issues
within the context of design management applications. The study
proposes use of design research, ergonomics and systems design
thinking to develop the university design which facilitates removal of
physical and cognitive barriers for female academics. Review of
literature demonstrates that macro and micro ergonomic combined
with design management and system design strategies can
significantly improve the workplace design for female academics.
The university design model would be prepared based on the analyses
of primary data obtained from archived documents, participants'
observation logs, photo audits, focus groups and semi-structured
interviews of currently employed female academics in the selected
case universities.
Abstract: In this work, a characterization and modeling of
packet loss of a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication
is developed. The distributions of the number of consecutive received
and lost packets (namely gap and burst) are modeled from the
transition probabilities of two-state and four-state model.
Measurements show that both models describe adequately the burst
distribution, but the decay of gap distribution for non-homogeneous
losses is better fit by the four-state model. The respective
probabilities of transition between states for each model were
estimated with a proposed algorithm from a set of monitored VoIP
calls in order to obtain representative minimum, maximum and
average values for both models.
Abstract: In this paper an alternative analysis in the time
domain is described and the results of the interpolation process are
presented by means of functions that are based on the rule of
conditional mathematical expectation and the covariance function. A
comparison between the interpolation error caused by low order
filters and the classic sinc(t) truncated function is also presented.
When fewer samples are used, low-order filters have less error. If the
number of samples increases, the sinc(t) type functions are a better
alternative. Generally speaking there is an optimal filter for each
input signal which depends on the filter length and covariance
function of the signal. A novel scheme of work for adaptive
interpolation filters is also presented.
Abstract: In this paper three basic approaches and different
methods under each of them for extracting region of interest (ROI)
from stationary images are explored. The results obtained for each of
the proposed methods are shown, and it is demonstrated where each
method outperforms the other. Two main problems in ROI
extraction: the channel selection problem and the saliency reversal
problem are discussed and how best these two are addressed by
various methods is also seen. The basic approaches are 1) Saliency
based approach 2) Wavelet based approach 3) Clustering based
approach. The saliency approach performs well on images containing
objects of high saturation and brightness. The wavelet based
approach performs well on natural scene images that contain regions
of distinct textures. The mean shift clustering approach partitions the
image into regions according to the density distribution of pixel
intensities. The experimental results of various methodologies show
that each technique performs at different acceptable levels for
various types of images.
Abstract: In this study, noise characteristics of structure were analyzed in an effort to reduce noise passing through an opening of an
enclosure surrounding the structure that generates noise. Enclosures
are essential measure to protect noise propagation from operating machinery. Access openings of the enclosures are important path of noise leakage. First, noise characteristics of structure were analyzed
and feed-forward noise control was performed using simulation in
order to reduce noise passing through the opening of enclosure, which
surrounds a structure generating noise. We then implemented a
feed-forward controller to actively control the acoustic power through
the opening. Finally, we conducted optimization of placement of the
reference sensors for several cases of the number of sensors. Good
control performances were achieved using the minimum number of microphones arranged an optimal placement.
Abstract: In the present paper the displacement-based nonconforming quadrilateral affine thin plate bending finite element ARPQ4 is presented, derived directly from non-conforming quadrilateral thin plate bending finite element RPQ4 proposed by Wanji and Cheung [19]. It is found, however, that element RPQ4 is only conditionally unisolvent. The new element is shown to be inherently unisolvent. This convenient property results in the element ARPQ4 being more robust and thus better suited for computations than its predecessor. The convergence is proved and the rate of convergence estimated. The mathematically rigorous proof of convergence presented in the paper is based on Stummel-s generalized patch test and the consideration of the element approximability condition, which are both necessary and sufficient for convergence.