Abstract: Vortices can develop in intakes of turbojet and turbo
fan aero engines during high power operation in the vicinity of solid
surfaces. These vortices can cause catastrophic damage to the engine.
The factors determining the formation of the vortex include both
geometric dimensions as well as flow parameters. It was shown that
the threshold at which the vortex forms or disappears is also
dependent on the initial flow condition (i.e. whether a vortex forms
after stabilised non vortex flow or vice-versa). A computational fluid
dynamics study was conducted to determine the difference in
thresholds between the two conditions. This is the first reported
numerical investigation of the “memory effect". The numerical
results reproduce the phenomenon reported in previous experimental
studies and additional factors, which had not been previously studied,
were investigated. They are the rate at which ambient velocity
changes and the initial value of ambient velocity. The former was
found to cause a shift in the threshold but not the later. It was also
found that the varying condition thresholds are not symmetrical about
the neutral threshold. The vortex to no vortex threshold lie slightly
further away from the neutral threshold compared to the no vortex to
vortex threshold. The results suggests that experimental investigation
of vortex formation threshold performed either in vortex to no vortex
conditions, or vice versa, solely may introduce mis-predictions
greater than 10%.
Abstract: This paper presents the use of three-dimensional finite
elements coupled with infinite elements to investigate the ground
vibrations at the surface in terms of the peak particle velocity (PPV)
due to construction of the first bore of the Dublin Port Tunnel. This
situation is analysed using a commercially available general-purpose
finite element package ABAQUS. A series of parametric studies is
carried out to examine the sensitivity of the predicted vibrations to
variations in the various input parameters required by finite element
method, including the stiffness and the damping of ground. The
results of this study show that stiffness has a more significant effect
on the PPV rather than the damping of the ground.
Abstract: The use of neural networks for recognition application is generally constrained by their inherent parameters inflexibility after the training phase. This means no adaptation is accommodated for input variations that have any influence on the network parameters. Attempts were made in this work to design a neural network that includes an additional mechanism that adjusts the threshold values according to the input pattern variations. The new approach is based on splitting the whole network into two subnets; main traditional net and a supportive net. The first deals with the required output of trained patterns with predefined settings, while the second tolerates output generation dynamically with tuning capability for any newly applied input. This tuning comes in the form of an adjustment to the threshold values. Two levels of supportive net were studied; one implements an extended additional layer with adjustable neuronal threshold setting mechanism, while the second implements an auxiliary net with traditional architecture performs dynamic adjustment to the threshold value of the main net that is constructed in dual-layer architecture. Experiment results and analysis of the proposed designs have given quite satisfactory conducts. The supportive layer approach achieved over 90% recognition rate, while the multiple network technique shows more effective and acceptable level of recognition. However, this is achieved at the price of network complexity and computation time. Recognition generalization may be also improved by accommodating capabilities involving all the innate structures in conjugation with Intelligence abilities with the needs of further advanced learning phases.
Abstract: In the 1980s, companies began to feel the effect of three major influences on their product development: newer and innovative technologies, increasing product complexity and larger organizations. And therefore companies were forced to look for new product development methods. This paper tries to focus on the two of new product development methods (DFM and CE). The aim of this paper is to see and analyze different product development methods specifically on Design for Manufacturability and Concurrent Engineering. Companies can achieve and be benefited by minimizing product life cycle, cost and meeting delivery schedule. This paper also presents simplified models that can be modified and used by different companies based on the companies- objective and requirements. Methodologies that are followed to do this research are case studies. Two companies were taken and analysed on the product development process. Historical data, interview were conducted on these companies in addition to that, Survey of literatures and previous research works on similar topics has been done during this research. This paper also tries to show the implementation cost benefit analysis and tries to calculate the implementation time. From this research, it has been found that the two companies did not achieve the delivery time to the customer. Some of most frequently coming products are analyzed and 50% to 80 % of their products are not delivered on time to the customers. The companies are following the traditional way of product development that is sequentially design and production method, which highly affect time to market. In the case study it is found that by implementing these new methods and by forming multi disciplinary team in designing and quality inspection; the company can reduce the workflow steps from 40 to 30.
Abstract: The goal of a network-based intrusion detection
system is to classify activities of network traffics into two major
categories: normal and attack (intrusive) activities. Nowadays, data
mining and machine learning plays an important role in many
sciences; including intrusion detection system (IDS) using both
supervised and unsupervised techniques. However, one of the
essential steps of data mining is feature selection that helps in
improving the efficiency, performance and prediction rate of
proposed approach. This paper applies unsupervised K-means
clustering algorithm with information gain (IG) for feature selection
and reduction to build a network intrusion detection system. For our
experimental analysis, we have used the new NSL-KDD dataset,
which is a modified dataset for KDDCup 1999 intrusion detection
benchmark dataset. With a split of 60.0% for the training set and the
remainder for the testing set, a 2 class classifications have been
implemented (Normal, Attack). Weka framework which is a java
based open source software consists of a collection of machine
learning algorithms for data mining tasks has been used in the testing
process. The experimental results show that the proposed approach is
very accurate with low false positive rate and high true positive rate
and it takes less learning time in comparison with using the full
features of the dataset with the same algorithm.
Abstract: Information systems practitioners are frequently
required to master new technology, often without the aid of formal
training. They require the skill to manage their own learning and,
when this skill is developed in their formal training, their adaptability
to new technology may be improved. Self- directed learning is the
ability of the learner to manage his or her own learning experience
with some guidance from a facilitator. Self-directed learning skills
are best improved when practiced. This paper reflects on a critical
social research project to improve the self-directed learning skills of
fourth year Information Systems students. Critical social research
differs from other research paradigms in that the researcher is viewed
as the agent of change to achieve the desired outcome in the problem
situation.
Abstract: This paper proposes a novel improvement of forecasting approach based on using time-invariant fuzzy time series. In contrast to traditional forecasting methods, fuzzy time series can be also applied to problems, in which historical data are linguistic values. It is shown that proposed time-invariant method improves the performance of forecasting process. Further, the effect of using different number of fuzzy sets is tested as well. As with the most of cited papers, historical enrollment of the University of Alabama is used in this study to illustrate the forecasting process. Subsequently, the performance of the proposed method is compared with existing fuzzy time series time-invariant models based on forecasting accuracy. It reveals a certain performance superiority of the proposed method over methods described in the literature.
Abstract: Artificial neural networks (ANN) have the ability to model input-output relationships from processing raw data. This characteristic makes them invaluable in industry domains where such knowledge is scarce at best. In the recent decades, in order to overcome the black-box characteristic of ANNs, researchers have attempted to extract the knowledge embedded within ANNs in the form of rules that can be used in inference systems. This paper presents a new technique that is able to extract a small set of rules from a two-layer ANN. The extracted rules yield high classification accuracy when implemented within a fuzzy inference system. The technique targets industry domains that possess less complex problems for which no expert knowledge exists and for which a simpler solution is preferred to a complex one. The proposed technique is more efficient, simple, and applicable than most of the previously proposed techniques.
Abstract: A packet analyzer is a tool for debugging sensor
network systems and is convenient for developers. In this paper, we
introduce a new packet analyzer based on an embedded system. The
proposed packet analyzer is compatible with IEEE 802.15.4, which is
suitable for the wireless communication standard for sensor networks,
and is available for remote control by adopting a server-client scheme
based on the Ethernet interface. To confirm the operations of the
packet analyzer, we have developed two types of sensor nodes based
on PIC4620 and ATmega128L microprocessors and tested the
functions of the proposed packet analyzer by obtaining the packets
from the sensor nodes.
Abstract: The move from cash accounting to accrual accounting, or rule-based to principle-based accounting, by many governments is part of an ongoing efforts in promoting a more business-like and performance-focused public sector. Using questionnaire responses from preparers of financial statements of public universities in Malaysia, this study examines the implementation challenges and benefits of principle-based accounting. Results from these responses suggest that most respondents perceived significant costs would be incurred in relation to staff training and recruitment of staffs with relevant technical knowledge. In addition, most respondents also perceived that there will be significant changes in the current accounting system and structure in order to comply with the principle-based accounting requirements. However, most respondents perceived that these changes might not result in significant benefits for management purposes, for example, financial management, budgeting and allocation of resources. Nevertheless, most respondents perceived that principle-based accounting information would facilitate the monitoring function of the board. The general perception is that adoption of principle-based accounting information is not significantly useful than rule-based accounting information is expected to change over time as preparers of the financial statements gradually understand and appreciate the benefits of principle-based accounting information. This infers that the perceived usefulness of different accounting system is a function of familiarity by the preparers.
Abstract: The protection of groundwater resources is the great
important many semiarid and arid environments. Baghan watershed
is located in the north of Kangan in the Boshehr province in Iran. The
groundwater resources have a vital role in supplying agricultural,
drinking, domestic and industrial water demand in Baghan
watershed. For our investigation into the water quality we collected
30 samples to chemical and physical analysis. The result showed the
marl and evaporation deposits that contain anhydrite and gypsum is
the main source of groundwater pollution, and one part of the
groundwater was polluted by oil and gas industrial. Another part of
the groundwater was contaminated by urban waste water. The
electrical conductivity and captions and anions increased around of
towns and gas refinery. Although the negative impact of untreated
domestic wastewater is relatively low but the results showed strongly
the negative impact of wastewater refinery is very considerable. This
negative impact increased in downstream due to shallow aquifer.
Additionally, the agents that adversely affect the quality of
groundwater come from a variety of sources, including geology,
domestic wastewater and the Jam refinery in Baghan watershed.
Abstract: Keys to high-quality face-to-face education are ensuring flexibility in the way lectures are given, and providing care and responsiveness to learners. This paper describes a face-to-face education support system that is designed to raise the satisfaction of learners and reduce the workload on instructors. This system consists of a lecture adaptation assistance part, which assists instructors in adapting teaching content and strategy, and a Q&A assistance part, which provides learners with answers to their questions. The core component of the former part is a “learning achievement map", which is composed of a Bayesian network (BN). From learners- performance in exercises on relevant past lectures, the lecture adaptation assistance part obtains information required to adapt appropriately the presentation of the next lecture. The core component of the Q&A assistance part is a case base, which accumulates cases consisting of questions expected from learners and answers to them. The Q&A assistance part is a case-based search system equipped with a search index which performs probabilistic inference. A prototype face-to-face education support system has been built, which is intended for the teaching of Java programming, and this approach was evaluated using this system. The expected degree of understanding of each learner for a future lecture was derived from his or her performance in exercises on past lectures, and this expected degree of understanding was used to select one of three adaptation levels. A model for determining the adaptation level most suitable for the individual learner has been identified. An experimental case base was built to examine the search performance of the Q&A assistance part, and it was found that the rate of successfully finding an appropriate case was 56%.
Abstract: To achieve competitive advantage nowadays, most of
the industrial companies are considering that success is sustained to
great product development. That is to manage the product throughout
its entire lifetime ranging from design, manufacture, operation and
destruction. Achieving this goal requires a tight collaboration
between partners from a wide variety of domains, resulting in various
product data types and formats, as well as different software tools. So
far, the lack of a meaningful unified representation for product data
semantics has slowed down efficient product development. This
paper proposes an ontology based approach to enable such semantic
interoperability. Generic and extendible product ontology is
described, gathering main concepts pertaining to the mechanical field
and the relations that hold among them. The ontology is not
exhaustive; nevertheless, it shows that such a unified representation
is possible and easily exploitable. This is illustrated thru a case study
with an example product and some semantic requests to which the
ontology responds quite easily. The study proves the efficiency of
ontologies as a support to product data exchange and information
sharing, especially in product development environments where
collaboration is not just a choice but a mandatory prerequisite.
Abstract: Safe drinking water is one of the biggest issues facing
the planet this century. The primary aim of this paper is to present our
research focused on theoretical and experimental analysis of potable
water and in-building water distribution systems from the point of
view of microbiological risk on the basis of confrontation between
the theoretical analysis and synthesis of gathered information in
conditions of the Slovak Republic. The presence of the bacteria
Legionella in water systems, especially in hot water distribution
system, represents in terms of health protection of inhabitants the
crucial problem which cannot be overlooked. Legionella
pneumophila discovery, its classification and its influence on
installations inside buildings are relatively new. There are a lot of
guidelines and regulations developed in many individual countries for
the design, operation and maintenance for tap water systems to avoid
the growth of bacteria Legionella pneumophila, but in Slovakia we
don-t have any. The goal of this paper is to show the necessity of
prevention and regulations for installations inside buildings verified
by simulation methods.
Abstract: The optimal extraction condition of dried
Echinocactus grusonii powder was studied. The three independent
variables are raw material drying temperature, extraction
temperature, and extraction time. The dependent variables are both
yield percentage of crude extract and total phenolic quantification as
gallic acid equivalent in crude extract. The experimental design was
based on central composite design. Highest yield percentage of crude
extract could get from extraction condition at raw material drying
temperature at 60°C, extraction temperature at 15°C, and extraction
time for 25 min °C. Moreover, the crude extract with highest phenolic
occurred by extraction condition of raw material drying temperature
at 60°C, extraction temperature at 35 °C, and extraction lasting 25
min.
Abstract: Assassination of politicians, school mass murders, purported suicides, aircraft crash, mass shootings by police, sinking of sea ferries, mysterious car accidents, mass fire deaths and horrificterror attacks are some of the cases that bring forth scientific and legal conflicts. Questions about truth, justice and human rights are raised by both victims and perpetrators/offenders as they seek to understand why and how it happened to them. This kind of questioning manifests itself in medical-criminological-legalpsychological and scientific realms. An agreement towards truthinvestigations for possible legal-political-psychological transitory issues such as prosecution, victim-offender mediation, healing, reconciliation, amnesty, reparation, restitution, and policy formulations is seen as one way of transforming these conflicts. Forensic scientists and pathologists in particular have formed professional groups where the complexities between legal truth and scientific truth are dramatized and elucidated within the anatomy of courtrooms. This paper focuses on how pathological truth and legal truth interact with each other in Kenya’s criminal justice system.
Abstract: This paper studies the effect of time delay on stability
of mutualism population model with limited resources for both
species. First, the stability of the model without time delay is
analyzed. The model is then improved by considering a time delay in
the mechanism of the growth rate of the population. We analyze the
effect of time delay on the stability of the stable equilibrium point.
Result showed that the time delay can induce instability of the stable
equilibrium point, bifurcation and stability switches.
Abstract: Antioxidants contribute to endogenous photoprotection
and are important for the maintenance of skin health. The study was carried out to compare the skin hydration and transepidermal
water loss (TEWL) effects of a stable cosmetic preparation
containing flavonoids, following two applications a day over a period
of tenth week. The skin trans-epidermal water loss and skin hydration
effect was measured at the beginning and up to the end of study period of ten weeks. Any effect produced was measured by Corneometer and TEWA meter (Non-invasive probe).
Two formulations were developed for this study design. Formulation one the control formulation in which no apple juice
extract( Flavonoids) was incorporated while second one was the active formulation in which the apple juice extract (3%) containing
flavonoids was incorporated into water in oil emulsion using Abil EM 90 as an emulsifier. Stable formulations (control and Active)
were applied on human cheeks (n = 12) for a study period of 10 weeks. Result of each volunteer of skin hydration and TEWL was
measured by corneometer and TEWA meter. By using ANOVA and Paired sample t test as a statistical evaluation, result of both base and
formulation were compared. Statistical significant results (p≤0.05)
were observed regarding skin hydration and TEWL when two creams, control and Formulation were compared. It showed that
desired formulation (Active) may have interesting application as an
active moisturizing cream on healthy skin.
Abstract: The equilibrium process of plasma nitrogen species by
chemical kinetic reactions along various pressures is successfully
investigated. The equilibrium process is required in industrial
application to obtain the stable condition when heating up the
material for having homogenous reaction. Nitrogen species densities
is modeled by a continuity equation and extended Arrhenius form.
These equations are used to integrate the change of density over the
time. The integration is to acquire density and the reaction rate of
each reaction where temperature and time dependence are imposed.
A comparison is made with global model within pressure range of 1-
100mTorr and the temperature of electron is set to be higher than
other nitrogen species. The results shows that the chemical kinetic
model only agrees for high pressure because of no power imposed;
while the global model considers the external power along the
pressure range then the electron and nitrogen species give highly
quantity densities by factor of 3 to 5.
Abstract: This paper explores the idea of globalisation and
considers accounting-s role in that process in order to develop new
spaces for accounting research. That-s why in this paper we are
looking for questions not necessary for answers. Adopting an
'alternative' view of accounting it-s related to the fact that we sees
accounting as social and evolutionist process, that pays heed to those
voices arguing for greater social and environmental justice, and that
draws attention to the role of accounting researchers in the process of
globalisation. The paper defines globalisation and expands the
globalisation and accounting research agenda introducing in this
context the harmonization process in accounting. There are the two
main systems which are disputing the first stage of being the
benchmark: GAAP and IFRS. Each of them has his pluses and
minuses on being the selected one. Due to this fact a convergence of
the two, joining the advantages and disadvantages of the two should
be the solution for an unique international accounting solution. Is this
idea realizable, what steps has been made until now, what should be
done in the future. The paper is emphasising the role of the cultural
differences in the process of imposing of an unique international
accounting system by the global organizations..