Abstract: Amongst the consistently fluctuating conditions
prevailing today, changeability represents a strategic key factor for a
manufacturing company to achieve success on the international
markets. In order to cope with turbulences and the increasing level of
incalculability, not only the flexible design of production systems but
in particular the employee as enabler of change provide the focus
here. It is important to enable employees from manufacturing
companies to participate actively in change events and in change
decisions. To this end, the learning factory has been created, which is
intended to serve the development of change-promoting competences
and the sensitization of employees for the necessity of changes.
Abstract: This paper applies an anthropological approach to illuminate the dynamic cultural geography of Kazakhstani Korean ethnicity focusing on its turning point, the historic “Seoul Olympic Games in 1988." The Korean ethnic group was easily considered as a harmonious and homogeneous community by outsiders, but there existed deep-seated conflicts and hostilities within the ethnic group. The majority-s oppositional dichotomy of superiority and inferiority toward the minority was continuously reorganized and reinforced by difference in experience, memory and sentiment. However, such a chronic exclusive boundary was collapsed following the patriotism ignited by the Olympics held in their mother country. This paper explores the fluidity of subject by formation of the boundary in which constructed cultural differences are continuously essentialized and reproduced, and by dissolution of cultural barrier in certain contexts.
Abstract: The paper deals with the perspectives and possibilities
of "smart solutions" to critical infrastructure protection. It means that
common computer aided technologies are used from the perspective
of new, better protection of selected infrastructure objects. The paper
is focused on the co-product of the Czech Defence Research Project -
ADAPTIV. This project is carrying out by the University of Defence,
Faculty of Economics and Management at the Department of Civil
Protection. The project creates system and technology for adaptive
cybernetic camouflage of armed forces objects, armaments, vehicles
and troops and of mobilization infrastructure. These adaptive
camouflage system and technology will be useful for army tactic
activities protection and for decoys generation also. The fourth
chapter of the paper concerns the possibilities of using the introduced
technology to the protection of selected civil (economically
important), critical infrastructure objects. The aim of this section
is to introduce the scientific capabilities and potential of the
University of Defence research results and solutions for the practice.
Abstract: We constructed a method of phase unwrapping for a typical wave-front by utilizing the maximizer of the posterior marginal (MPM) estimate corresponding to equilibrium statistical mechanics of the three-state Ising model on a square lattice on the basis of an analogy between statistical mechanics and Bayesian inference. We investigated the static properties of an MPM estimate from a phase diagram using Monte Carlo simulation for a typical wave-front with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) interferometry. The simulations clarified that the surface-consistency conditions were useful for extending the phase where the MPM estimate was successful in phase unwrapping with a high degree of accuracy and that introducing prior information into the MPM estimate also made it possible to extend the phase under the constraint of the surface-consistency conditions with a high degree of accuracy. We also found that the MPM estimate could be used to reconstruct the original wave-fronts more smoothly, if we appropriately tuned hyper-parameters corresponding to temperature to utilize fluctuations around the MAP solution. Also, from the viewpoint of statistical mechanics of the Q-Ising model, we found that the MPM estimate was regarded as a method for searching the ground state by utilizing thermal fluctuations under the constraint of the surface-consistency condition.
Abstract: Nowadays, under developed countries for progress in
science and technology and decreasing the technologic gap with
developed countries, increasing the capacities and technology
transfer from developed countries. To remain competitive, industry is
continually searching for new methods to evolve their products.
Business model is one of the latest buzzwords in the Internet and
electronic business world. To be successful, organizations must look
into the needs and wants of their customers. This research attempts to
identify a specific feature of the company with a strong competitive
advantage by analyzing the cause of Customer satisfaction. Due to
the rapid development of knowledge and information technology,
business environments have become much more complicated.
Information technology can help a firm aiming to gain a competitive
advantage. This study explores the role and effect of Information
Communication Technology in Business Models and Customer
satisfaction on firms and also relationships between ICTs and
Outsourcing strategic.
Abstract: For higher order multiplications, a huge number of
adders or compressors are to be used to perform the partial product
addition. We have reduced the number of adders by introducing
special kind of adders that are capable to add five/six/seven bits per
decade. These adders are called compressors. Binary counter
property has been merged with the compressor property to develop
high order compressors. Uses of these compressors permit the
reduction of the vertical critical paths. A 16×16 bit multiplier has
been developed using these compressors. These compressors make
the multipliers faster as compared to the conventional design that
have been used 4-2 compressors and 3-2 compressors.
Abstract: This research proposes a Preemptive Possibilistic
Linear Programming (PPLP) approach for solving multiobjective
Aggregate Production Planning (APP) problem with interval demand
and imprecise unit price and related operating costs. The proposed
approach attempts to maximize profit and minimize changes of
workforce. It transforms the total profit objective that has imprecise
information to three crisp objective functions, which are maximizing
the most possible value of profit, minimizing the risk of obtaining the
lower profit and maximizing the opportunity of obtaining the higher
profit. The change of workforce level objective is also converted.
Then, the problem is solved according to objective priorities. It is
easier than simultaneously solve the multiobjective problem as
performed in existing approach. Possible range of interval demand is
also used to increase flexibility of obtaining the better production
plan. A practical application of an electronic company is illustrated to
show the effectiveness of the proposed model.
Abstract: In this paper, the effects of thermodynamic,
hydrodynamic and geometric of an air cooled condenser on COP of
vapor compression cycle are investigated for a fixed condenser facing
surface area. The system is utilized with a scroll compressor,
modeled based on thermodynamic and heat transfer equations
employing Matlab software. The working refrigerant is R134a whose
thermodynamic properties are called from Engineering Equation
Software. This simulation shows that vapor compression cycle can
be designed by different configurations and COPs, economical and
optimum working condition can be obtained via considering these
parameters.
Abstract: One way for optimum loading of overdimensioning
conveyers is speed (capacity) decrement, with attention for
production capabilities and demands. At conveyers which drives with
three phase slip-ring induction motor, technically reasonable solution
for conveyer (driving motors) speed regulation is using constant
torque subsynchronous cascade with static semiconductor converter
and transformer for energy reversion to the power network. In the
paper is described mathematical model for parameter calculation of
two-motors 6 kV subsynchronous cascade. It is also demonstrated
that applying of this cascade gave several good properties, foremost
in electrical energy saving, also in improving of other energy
indexes, and finally that results in cost reduction of complete
electrical motor drive.
Abstract: Several trillion cigarettes produced worldwide annually lead to many thousands of kilograms of toxic waste. Cigarette butts (CBs) accumulate in the environment due to the poor biodegradability of the cellulose acetate filters. This paper presents some of the results from a continuing study on recycling CBs into fired clay bricks. Physico-mechanical properties of fired clay bricks manufactured with different percentages of CBs are reported and discussed. The results show that the density of fired bricks was reduced by up to 30 %, depending on the percentage of CBs incorporated into the raw materials. Similarly, the compressive strength of bricks tested decreased according to the percentage of CBs included in the mix. The thermal conductivity performance of bricks was improved by 51 and 58 % for 5 and 10 % CBs content respectively. Leaching tests were carried out to investigate the levels of possible leachates of heavy metals from the manufactured clay-CB bricks. The results revealed trace amounts of heavy metals.
Abstract: Snoring is prevalent and is the most significant feature
of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Ignore the therapies of SDB will
lead to serious problems in health. Based on the research of
mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatments of snoring, oral appliances are
ensured in therapeutic effect and compliance, especially the
mandibular advancement devices (MADs). Market survey includes
commercial product reviews and patent analyses. Due to pay more
attention to the sleep medicine, the oral appliances are considered as a
standard treatment of snoring that promoted by American Academy of
Sleep Medicine (AASM). There are more and more adjustable MADs
developed since 1995. According to the patent analyses, there are
many drawbacks existed in the present design, such as uncomfortable,
high cost, bulky volume, and complex adjustment. In this study,
several new designs of the MAD are proposed.
Abstract: Failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) is an effective technique for preventing potential problems and actions needed to error cause removal. On the other hand, the oil producing companies paly a critical role in the oil industry of Iran as a developing country out of which, Sepahan Oil Co. has a considerable contribution. The aim of this research is to show how FMEA could be applied and improve the quality of products at Sepahan Oil Co. For this purpose, the four liter production line of the company has been selected for investigation. The findings imply that the application of FMEA has reduced the scraps from 50000 ppm to 5000 ppm and has resulted in a 0.92 percent decrease of the oil waste.
Abstract: The present study based on removal of natural dyes of
Roselle petals, then used Roselle petals powder (RPP) as an
adsorbent for the removal of methylene blue dye (as a typical cationic
or basic dye) from aqueous solutions. The present study shows that
used Roselle petals powder exhibit adsorption trend for the dye. The
adsorption processes were carried out at various conditions of
temperatures ranging from 278 to 338 K ± 2 K , concentrations,
processing time and a wide range of pH between 2.5-11. Adsorption
isotherm equations such as Freundlich, and Langmuir were applied to
calculate the values of respective constants. Adsorption study was
found that the currently introduced adsorbent can be used to remove
cationic dyes such as methylene blue from aqueous solutions.
Abstract: Biomimicry has many potential benefits as many
technologies found in nature are superior to their man-made
counterparts. As technological device components approach the micro
and nanoscale, surface properties such as surface adhesion and friction
may need to be taken into account. Lowering surface adhesion by
manipulating chemistry alone might no longer be sufficient for such
components and thus physical manipulation may be required.
Adhesion reduction is only one of the many surface functions
displayed by micro/nano-structured cuticles of insects. Here, we
present a mini review of our understanding of insect cuticle structures
and the relationship between the structure dimensions and the
corresponding functional mechanisms. It may be possible to introduce
additional properties to material surfaces (indeed multi-functional
properties) based on the design of natural surfaces.
Abstract: Vector quantization is a powerful tool for speech
coding applications. This paper deals with LPC Coding of speech
signals which uses a new technique called Multi Switched Split
Vector Quantization (MSSVQ), which is a hybrid of Multi, switched,
split vector quantization techniques. The spectral distortion
performance, computational complexity, and memory requirements
of MSSVQ are compared to split vector quantization (SVQ), multi
stage vector quantization(MSVQ) and switched split vector
quantization (SSVQ) techniques. It has been proved from results that
MSSVQ has better spectral distortion performance, lower
computational complexity and lower memory requirements when
compared to all the above mentioned product code vector
quantization techniques. Computational complexity is measured in
floating point operations (flops), and memory requirements is
measured in (floats).
Abstract: This paper proposes a framework for product
development including hardware and software components. It
provides separation of hardware dependent software, modifications of
current product development process, and integration of software
modules with existing product configuration models and assembly
product structures. In order to decide the dependent software, the
framework considers product configuration modules and engineering
changes of associated software and hardware components. In order to
support efficient integration of the two different hardware and
software development, a modified product development process is
proposed. The process integrates the dependent software development
into product development through the interchanges of specific product
information. By using existing product data models in Product Data
Management (PDM), the framework represents software as modules
for product configurations and software parts for product structure.
The framework is applied to development of a robot system in order to
show its effectiveness.
Abstract: Neighborhood Rough Sets (NRS) has been proven to
be an efficient tool for heterogeneous attribute reduction. However,
most of researches are focused on dealing with complete and noiseless
data. Factually, most of the information systems are noisy, namely,
filled with incomplete data and inconsistent data. In this paper, we
introduce a generalized neighborhood rough sets model, called
VPTNRS, to deal with the problem of heterogeneous attribute
reduction in noisy system. We generalize classical NRS model with
tolerance neighborhood relation and the probabilistic theory.
Furthermore, we use the neighborhood dependency to evaluate the
significance of a subset of heterogeneous attributes and construct a
forward greedy algorithm for attribute reduction based on it.
Experimental results show that the model is efficient to deal with noisy
data.
Abstract: Soils are normally dried in either a convection oven or stove. Laboratory moisture content testing indicated that the typical drying durations for a convection oven were, 24 hours. The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy and soil drying duration of both, moisture content and liquid limit using microwave radiation. The soils were tested with both, convection and microwave ovens. The convection oven was considered to produce the true values for both, natural moisture content and liquid limit of soils; it was, therefore, used as a basis for comparison for the results of the microwave ovens. The samples used in this study were obtained from different projects of Consulting Engineering Bureau of College of Engineering of Sulaimani University. These samples were collected from different locations and at the different depths and consist mostly of brown and light brown clay and silty clay. A total of 102 samples were prepared. 26 of them were tested for natural moisture determination, while the other 76 were used for liquid limits determination
Abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of
texturizers on the rheological properties of the apple mass and
desserts made from various raw materials. The apple varieties -
‘Antonovka’, ‘Baltais Dzidrais’, and ‘Zarja Alatau’ harvested in
Latvia, were used for the experiment. The apples were processed in a
blender unpeeled for obtaining a homogenous mass. The apple mass
was analyzed fresh and after storage at –18ºC. Both fresh and thawed
apple mass samples with added gelatin, xantan gum, and sodium
carboxymethylcellulose were whisked obtaining dessert. Pectin, pH
and soluble dry matter of the product were determined. Apparent
viscosity was measured using a rotational viscometer DV–III Ultra.
Pectin content in frozen apple mass decreased significantly (p
Abstract: The demand of the energy management systems (EMS) set forth by modern power systems requires fast energy management systems. Contingency analysis is among the functions in EMS which is time consuming. In order to handle this limitation, this paper introduces agent based technology in the contingency analysis. The main function of agents is to speed up the performance. Negotiations process in decision making is explained and the issue set forth is the minimization of the operating costs. The IEEE 14 bus system and its line outage have been used in the research and simulation results are presented.