Abstract: The paper focuses on the area of context modeling with respect to the specification of context-aware systems supporting ubiquitous applications. The proposed approach, followed within the SIMPLICITY IST project, uses a high-level system ontology to derive context models for system components which consequently are mapped to the system's physical entities. For the definition of user and device-related context models in particular, the paper suggests a standard-based process consisting of an analysis phase using the Common Information Model (CIM) methodology followed by an implementation phase that defines 3GPP based components. The benefits of this approach are further depicted by preliminary examples of XML grammars defining profiles and components, component instances, coupled with descriptions of respective ubiquitous applications.
Abstract: The recognition of human faces, especially those with
different orientations is a challenging and important problem in image
analysis and classification. This paper proposes an effective scheme
for rotation invariant face recognition using Log-Polar Transform and
Discrete Cosine Transform combined features. The rotation invariant
feature extraction for a given face image involves applying the logpolar
transform to eliminate the rotation effect and to produce a row
shifted log-polar image. The discrete cosine transform is then applied
to eliminate the row shift effect and to generate the low-dimensional
feature vector. A PSO-based feature selection algorithm is utilized to
search the feature vector space for the optimal feature subset.
Evolution is driven by a fitness function defined in terms of
maximizing the between-class separation (scatter index).
Experimental results, based on the ORL face database using testing
data sets for images with different orientations; show that the
proposed system outperforms other face recognition methods. The
overall recognition rate for the rotated test images being 97%,
demonstrating that the extracted feature vector is an effective rotation
invariant feature set with minimal set of selected features.
Abstract: This study has been prepared with the purpose to get the views of senior class Elementary Education Mathematics preservice teachers on proving. Data have been obtained via surveys and interviews carried out with 104 preservice teachers. According to the findings, although preservice teachers have positive views about using proving in mathematics teaching, it is seen that their experiences related to proving is limited to courses and they think proving is a work done only for the exams. Furthermore, they have expressed in the interviews that proving is difficult for them, and because of this reason they prefer memorizing instead of learning.
Abstract: When binary decision diagrams are formed from
uniformly distributed Monte Carlo data for a large number of
variables, the complexity of the decision diagrams exhibits a
predictable relationship to the number of variables and minterms. In
the present work, a neural network model has been used to analyze the
pattern of shortest path length for larger number of Monte Carlo data
points. The neural model shows a strong descriptive power for the
ISCAS benchmark data with an RMS error of 0.102 for the shortest
path length complexity. Therefore, the model can be considered as a
method of predicting path length complexities; this is expected to lead
to minimum time complexity of very large-scale integrated circuitries
and related computer-aided design tools that use binary decision
diagrams.
Abstract: Understanding how airborne pathogens are
transported through hospital wards is essential for determining the
infection risk to patients and healthcare workers. This study utilizes
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to explore
possible pathogen transport within a six-bed partitioned Nightingalestyle
hospital ward.
Grid independence of a ward model was addressed using the Grid
Convergence Index (GCI) from solutions obtained using three fullystructured
grids. Pathogens were simulated using source terms in
conjunction with a scalar transport equation and a RANS turbulence
model. Errors were found to be less than 4% in the calculation of air
velocities but an average of 13% was seen in the scalar field.
A parametric study of variations in the pathogen release point
illustrated that its distribution is strongly influenced by the local
velocity field and the degree of air mixing present.
Abstract: An investigation of noise in a micro stepping motor is
considered to study in this article. Because of the trend towards higher
precision and more and more small 3C (including Computer,
Communication and Consumer Electronics) products, the micro
stepping motor is frequently used to drive the micro system or the
other 3C products. Unfortunately, noise in a micro stepped motor is
too large to accept by the customs. To depress the noise of a micro
stepped motor, the dynamic characteristics in this system must be
studied. In this article, a Visual Basic (VB) computer program speed
controlled micro stepped motor in a digital camera is investigated.
Karman KD2300-2S non-contract eddy current displacement sensor,
probe microphone, and HP 35670A analyzer are employed to analyze
the dynamic characteristics of vibration and noise in a motor. The
vibration and noise measurement of different type of bearings and
different treatment of coils are compared. The rotating components,
bearings, coil, etc. of the motor play the important roles in producing
vibration and noise. It is found that the noise will be depressed about
3~4 dB and 6~7 dB, when substitutes the copper bearing with plastic
one and coats the motor coil with paraffin wax, respectively.
Abstract: The purposes of this study are 1) to study the frequent
English writing errors of students registering the course: Reading and
Writing English for Academic Purposes II, and 2) to find out the
results of writing error correction by using coded indirect corrective
feedback and writing error treatments. Samples include 28 2nd year
English Major students, Faculty of Education, Suan Sunandha
Rajabhat University. Tool for experimental study includes the lesson
plan of the course; Reading and Writing English for Academic
Purposes II, and tool for data collection includes 4 writing tests of
short texts. The research findings disclose that frequent English
writing errors found in this course comprise 7 types of grammatical
errors, namely Fragment sentence, Subject-verb agreement, Wrong
form of verb tense, Singular or plural noun endings, Run-ons
sentence, Wrong form of verb pattern and Lack of parallel structure.
Moreover, it is found that the results of writing error correction by
using coded indirect corrective feedback and error treatment reveal
the overall reduction of the frequent English writing errors and the
increase of students’ achievement in the writing of short texts with
the significance at .05.
Abstract: Modern retailers such as hypermarket/supermarket
need to be more customer-oriented in order to survive in today-s
competitive business world. As a result, the investigation of
determinant factors of store loyalty becomes important issue for
modern retailing players. This study suggests that consumers- store
loyalty in the modern retailing market (hypermarkets and
supermarkets) is influenced by environmental factors (such as store
image, store personnel). Using a model of stimulus-organismresponse
(S-O-R), this research examines S-R relationship of store
loyalty. S-O-R framework is derived from the existence literature and
tested empirically based on Indonesian consumers- experience. The
stimuli for this study are store image, store personnel, satisfaction
and culture factors. Affect, or the consumers- liking to modern
retailing stores, mediates the chosen environmental factors on
consumer-s store loyalty. The findings showed that store image, store
satisfaction and culture have significant positive relationship to store
loyalty via affect.
Abstract: Structural representation and technology mapping of
a Boolean function is an important problem in the design of nonregenerative
digital logic circuits (also called combinational logic
circuits). Library aware function manipulation offers a solution to
this problem. Compact multi-level representation of binary networks,
based on simple circuit structures, such as AND-Inverter Graphs
(AIG) [1] [5], NAND Graphs, OR-Inverter Graphs (OIG), AND-OR
Graphs (AOG), AND-OR-Inverter Graphs (AOIG), AND-XORInverter
Graphs, Reduced Boolean Circuits [8] does exist in
literature. In this work, we discuss a novel and efficient graph
realization for combinational logic circuits, represented using a
NAND-NOR-Inverter Graph (NNIG), which is composed of only
two-input NAND (NAND2), NOR (NOR2) and inverter (INV) cells.
The networks are constructed on the basis of irredundant disjunctive
and conjunctive normal forms, after factoring, comprising terms with
minimum support. Construction of a NNIG for a non-regenerative
function in normal form would be straightforward, whereas for the
complementary phase, it would be developed by considering a virtual
instance of the function. However, the choice of best NNIG for a
given function would be based upon literal count, cell count and
DAG node count of the implementation at the technology
independent stage. In case of a tie, the final decision would be made
after extracting the physical design parameters.
We have considered AIG representation for reduced disjunctive
normal form and the best of OIG/AOG/AOIG for the minimized
conjunctive normal forms. This is necessitated due to the nature of
certain functions, such as Achilles- heel functions. NNIGs are found
to exhibit 3.97% lesser node count compared to AIGs and
OIG/AOG/AOIGs; consume 23.74% and 10.79% lesser library cells
than AIGs and OIG/AOG/AOIGs for the various samples considered.
We compare the power efficiency and delay improvement achieved
by optimal NNIGs over minimal AIGs and OIG/AOG/AOIGs for
various case studies. In comparison with functionally equivalent,
irredundant and compact AIGs, NNIGs report mean savings in power
and delay of 43.71% and 25.85% respectively, after technology
mapping with a 0.35 micron TSMC CMOS process. For a
comparison with OIG/AOG/AOIGs, NNIGs demonstrate average
savings in power and delay by 47.51% and 24.83%. With respect to
device count needed for implementation with static CMOS logic
style, NNIGs utilize 37.85% and 33.95% lesser transistors than their
AIG and OIG/AOG/AOIG counterparts.
Abstract: One of the most important areas of knowledge management studies is knowledge sharing. Measured in terms of number of scientific articles and organization-s applications, knowledge sharing stands as an example of success in the field. This paper reviews the related papers in the context of the underlying individual behavioral variables to providea direction framework for future research and writing.
Abstract: Ten simply supported grossly underreinforced
tapered concrete beams of full size were tested upto complete
collapse under flexural effect .Out of 10 beams, 5 beams were
nonfibrous and the remaining beams contained fibres. The beams
had a variation in the tapered angle as 2°, 4°, 6°, 8° and 10°. The
concrete mix, conventional steel and the type of fibre used were
held constant. Flat corrugated steel fibres were utilized as
secondary reinforcement. The strength and stability parameters
were measured. It is established that the fibrous tapered beams can
be used economically in earthquake prone areas.
Abstract: Design patterns describe good solutions to common
and reoccurring problems in program design. Applying design
patterns in software design and implementation have significant
effects on software quality metrics such as flexibility, usability,
reusability, scalability and robustness. There is no standard rule for
using design patterns. There are some situations that a pattern is
applied for a specific problem and this pattern uses another pattern.
In this paper, we study the effect of using chain of patterns on
software quality metrics.
Abstract: Sediment loads transfer in hydraulic installations and their consequences for the O&M of modern canal systems is emerging as one of the most important considerations in hydraulic engineering projects apriticularly those which are inteded to feed the irrigation and draiange schemes of large command areas such as the Dez and Mogahn in Iran.. The aim of this paper is to investigate the applicability of the vortex tube as a viable means of extracting sediment loads entering the canal systems in general and the water inatke structures in particulars. The Western conveyance canal of the Dez Diversion weir which feeds the Karkheh Flood Plain in Sothwestern Dezful has been used as the case study using the data from the Dastmashan Hydrometric Station. The SHARC software has been used as an analytical framework to interprete the data. Results show that given the grain size D50 and the canal turbulence the adaption length from the beginning of the canal and after the diversion dam is estimated at 477 m, a point which is suitable for laying the vortex tube.
Abstract: Optical flow is a research topic of interest for many
years. It has, until recently, been largely inapplicable to real-time
applications due to its computationally expensive nature. This paper
presents a new reliable flow technique which is combined with a
motion detection algorithm, from stationary camera image streams,
to allow flow-based analyses of moving entities, such as rigidity, in
real-time. The combination of the optical flow analysis with motion
detection technique greatly reduces the expensive computation of
flow vectors as compared with standard approaches, rendering the
method to be applicable in real-time implementation. This paper
describes also the hardware implementation of a proposed pipelined
system to estimate the flow vectors from image sequences in real
time. This design can process 768 x 576 images at a very high frame
rate that reaches to 156 fps in a single low cost FPGA chip, which is
adequate for most real-time vision applications.
Abstract: Previous research has demonstrated that negative
attitudes towards people with physical disabilities and obesity are
predicted by a component of perceived vulnerability to disease; germ
aversion. These findings have been suggested as illustrations of an
evolved but over-active mechanism which promotes the avoidance of
pathogen-carrying individuals. To date, this interpretation of attitude
formation has not been explored with regard to people with
intellectual disability, and no attempts have been made to examine
possible mediating factors. This study examined attitudes in 333
adults and demonstrated that the moderate positive relationship
between germ aversion and negative attitudes toward people with
intellectual disability is fully mediated by social dominance
orientation, a general preference for hierarchies and inequalities
among social groups. These findings have implications for the
design of programs which attempt to promote community acceptance
and inclusion of people with disabilities.
Abstract: The frequency dependence of the phase field
model(PFM) is studied. A simple PFM is proposed, and is tested in a
laminar boundary layer. The Blasius-s laminar boundary layer
solution on a flat plate is used for the flow pattern, and several
frequencies are imposed on the PFM, and the decay times of the
interfaces are obtained. The computations were conducted for three
cases: 1) no-flow, and 2) a half ball on the laminar boundary layer, 3) a
line of mass sources in the laminar boundary layer. The computations
show the decay time becomes shorter as the frequency goes larger, and
also show that it is sensitive to both background disturbances and
surface tension parameters. It is concluded that the proposed simple
PFM can describe the properties of decay process, and could give the
fundamentals for the decay of the interface in turbulent flows.
Abstract: The rapid development of manufacturing and information systems has caused significant changes in manufacturing environments in recent decades. Mass production has given way to flexible manufacturing systems, in which an important characteristic is customized or "on demand" production. In this scenario, the seamless and without gaps information flow becomes a key factor for success of enterprises. In this paper we present a framework to support the mapping of features into machining workingsteps compliant with the ISO 14649 standard (known as STEP-NC). The system determines how the features can be made with the available manufacturing resources. Examples of the mapping method are presented for features such as a pocket with a general surface.
Abstract: The paper presents an analytical solution for dispersion
of a solute in the peristaltic motion of a couple stress fluid
through a porous medium with slip condition in the presence of both
homogeneous and heterogeneous chemical reactions. The average
effective dispersion coefficient has been found using Taylor-s limiting
condition and long wavelength approximation. The effects of various
relevant parameters on the average coefficient of dispersion have been
studied. The average effective dispersion coefficient tends to increase
with permeability parameter but tends to decrease with homogeneous
chemical reaction rate parameter, couple stress parameter, slip parameter
and heterogeneous reaction rate parameter.
Abstract: Most of the losses in a power system relate to
the distribution sector which always has been considered.
From the important factors which contribute to increase losses
in the distribution system is the existence of radioactive flows.
The most common way to compensate the radioactive power
in the system is the power to use parallel capacitors. In
addition to reducing the losses, the advantages of capacitor
placement are the reduction of the losses in the release peak of
network capacity and improving the voltage profile. The point
which should be considered in capacitor placement is the
optimal placement and specification of the amount of the
capacitor in order to maximize the advantages of capacitor
placement.
In this paper, a new technique has been offered for the
placement and the specification of the amount of the constant
capacitors in the radius distribution network on the basis of
Genetic Algorithm (GA). The existing optimal methods for
capacitor placement are mostly including those which reduce
the losses and voltage profile simultaneously. But the
retaliation cost and load changes have not been considered as
influential UN the target function .In this article, a holistic
approach has been considered for the optimal response to this
problem which includes all the parameters in the distribution
network: The price of the phase voltage and load changes. So,
a vast inquiry is required for all the possible responses. So, in
this article, we use Genetic Algorithm (GA) as the most
powerful method for optimal inquiry.
Abstract: In this paper we propose a new traffic simulation
package, TDMSim, which supports both macroscopic and
microscopic simulation on free-flowing and regulated traffic systems.
Both simulators are based on travel demands, which specify the
numbers of vehicles departing from origins to arrive at different
destinations. The microscopic simulator implements the carfollowing
model given the pre-defined routes of the vehicles but also
supports the rerouting of vehicles. We also propose a macroscopic
simulator which is built in integration with the microscopic simulator
to allow the simulation to be scaled for larger networks without
sacrificing the precision achievable through the microscopic
simulator. The macroscopic simulator also enables the reuse of
previous simulation results when simulating traffic on the same
networks at later time. Validations have been conducted to show the
correctness of both simulators.