Abstract: Given the motivation of maps impact in enhancing the
perception of the quality of life in a region, this work examines the
use of spatial analytical techniques in exploring the role of space in
shaping human development patterns in Assiut governorate.
Variations of human development index (HDI) of the governorate-s
villages, districts and cities are mapped using geographic information
systems (GIS). Global and local spatial autocorrelation measures are
employed to assess the levels of spatial dependency in the data and to
map clusters of human development. Results show prominent
disparities in HDI between regions of Assiut. Strong patterns of
spatial association were found proving the presence of clusters on the
distribution of HDI. Finally, the study indicates several "hot-spots" in
the governorate to be area of more investigations to explore the
attributes of such levels of human development. This is very
important for accomplishing the development plan of poorest regions
currently adopted in Egypt.
Abstract: Measurement of competitiveness between countries or regions is an important topic of many economic analysis and scientific papers. In European Union (EU), there is no mainstream approach of competitiveness evaluation and measuring. There are many opinions and methods of measurement and evaluation of competitiveness between states or regions at national and European level. The methods differ in structure of using the indicators of competitiveness and ways of their processing. The aim of the paper is to analyze main sources of competitive potential of the EU Member States with the help of Factor analysis (FA) and to classify the EU Member States to homogeneous units (clusters) according to the similarity of selected indicators of competitiveness factors by Cluster analysis (CA) in reference years 2000 and 2011. The theoretical part of the paper is devoted to the fundamental bases of competitiveness and the methodology of FA and CA methods. The empirical part of the paper deals with the evaluation of competitiveness factors in the EU Member States and cluster comparison of evaluated countries by cluster analysis.
Abstract: Using neural network we try to model the unknown function f for given input-output data pairs. The connection strength of each neuron is updated through learning. Repeated simulations of crisp neural network produce different values of weight factors that are directly affected by the change of different parameters. We propose the idea that for each neuron in the network, we can obtain quasi-fuzzy weight sets (QFWS) using repeated simulation of the crisp neural network. Such type of fuzzy weight functions may be applied where we have multivariate crisp input that needs to be adjusted after iterative learning, like claim amount distribution analysis. As real data is subjected to noise and uncertainty, therefore, QFWS may be helpful in the simplification of such complex problems. Secondly, these QFWS provide good initial solution for training of fuzzy neural networks with reduced computational complexity.
Abstract: The distribution, enrichment, and accumulation of zinc
(Zn) in the sediments of Kaohsiung Ocean Disposal Site (KODS),
Taiwan were investigated. Sediment samples from two outer disposal
site stations and nine disposed stations in the KODS were collected per
quarterly in 2009 and characterized for Zn, aluminum, organic matter,
and grain size. Results showed that the mean Zn concentrations varied
from 48 mg/kg to 456 mg/kg. Results from the enrichment factor (EF)
and geo-accumulation index (Igeo) analyses imply that the sediments
collected from the KODS can be characterized between moderate and
moderately severe degree enrichment and between none and none to
medium accumulation of Zn, respectively. However, results of
potential ecological risk index indicate that the sediment has low
ecological potential risk. The EF, Igeo, and Zn concentrations at the
disposed stations were slightly higher than those at outer disposal site.
This indicated that the disposed area centers may be subjected to the
disposal impaction of harbor dredged sediments.
Abstract: Using data of listed Croatian firms from the Zagreb
Stock Exchange we analyze the relationship between firm ownership
(ownership concentration and type) and performance (ROA).
Empirical research was conducted for the period 2003-2010, yielding
with the total of 1,430 observations. Empirical findings based on
dynamic panel analysis indicate that ownership concentration
variable - CR4 is negatively related with performance, i.e. listed firms
with dispersed ownership perform better than firms with concentrated
ownership. Also, the research indicated that foreign controlled listed
firms perform better than domestically controlled firms. Majority
state owned firms perform worse than privately held firms but
dummy variable for privately controlled firms was not statistically
significant in the estimated panel model.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to develop a “teachers’
self-efficacy scale for high school physical education teachers
(TSES-HSPET)” in Taiwan. This scale is based on the self-efficacy
theory of Bandura [1], [2]. This study used exploratory and
confirmatory factor analyses to test the reliability and validity. The
participants were high school physical education teachers in Taiwan.
Both stratified random sampling and cluster sampling were used to
sample participants for the study. 350 teachers were sampled in the
first stage and 234 valid scales (male 133, female 101) returned.
During the second stage, 350 teachers were sampled and 257 valid
scales (male 143, female 110, 4 did not indicate gender) returned. The
exploratory factor analysis was used in the first stage, and it got
60.77% of total variance for construct validity. The Cronbach’s alpha
coefficient of internal consistency was 0.91 for sumscale, and
subscales were 0.84 and 0.90. In the second stage, confirmatory factor
analysis was used to test construct validity. The result showed that the
fit index could be accepted (χ2 (75) =167.94, p
Abstract: Proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) is used to reconstruct spatio-temporal data of a fully developed turbulent channel flow with density variation at Reynolds number of 150, based on the friction velocity and the channel half-width, and Prandtl number of 0.71. To apply POD to the fully developed turbulent channel flow with density variation, the flow field (velocities, density, and temperature) is scaled by the corresponding root mean square values (rms) so that the flow field becomes dimensionless. A five-vector POD problem is solved numerically. The reconstructed second-order moments of velocity, temperature, and density from POD eigenfunctions compare favorably to the original Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) data.
Abstract: This paper unifies power optimization approaches in
various energy converters, such as: thermal, solar, chemical, and
electrochemical engines, in particular fuel cells. Thermodynamics
leads to converter-s efficiency and limiting power. Efficiency
equations serve to solve problems of upgrading and downgrading of
resources. While optimization of steady systems applies the
differential calculus and Lagrange multipliers, dynamic optimization
involves variational calculus and dynamic programming. In reacting
systems chemical affinity constitutes a prevailing component of an
overall efficiency, thus the power is analyzed in terms of an active
part of chemical affinity. The main novelty of the present paper in the
energy yield context consists in showing that the generalized heat
flux Q (involving the traditional heat flux q plus the product of
temperature and the sum products of partial entropies and fluxes of
species) plays in complex cases (solar, chemical and electrochemical)
the same role as the traditional heat q in pure heat engines.
The presented methodology is also applied to power limits in fuel
cells as to systems which are electrochemical flow engines propelled
by chemical reactions. The performance of fuel cells is determined by
magnitudes and directions of participating streams and mechanism of
electric current generation. Voltage lowering below the reversible
voltage is a proper measure of cells imperfection. The voltage losses,
called polarization, include the contributions of three main sources:
activation, ohmic and concentration. Examples show power maxima
in fuel cells and prove the relevance of the extension of the thermal
machine theory to chemical and electrochemical systems. The main
novelty of the present paper in the FC context consists in introducing
an effective or reduced Gibbs free energy change between products p
and reactants s which take into account the decrease of voltage and
power caused by the incomplete conversion of the overall reaction.
Abstract: With Power system movement toward restructuring along with factors such as life environment pollution, problems of transmission expansion and with advancement in construction technology of small generation units, it is expected that small units like wind turbines, fuel cells, photovoltaic, ... that most of the time connect to the distribution networks play a very essential role in electric power industry. With increase in developing usage of small generation units, management of distribution networks should be reviewed. The target of this paper is to present a new method for optimal management of active and reactive power in distribution networks with regard to costs pertaining to various types of dispersed generations, capacitors and cost of electric energy achieved from network. In other words, in this method it-s endeavored to select optimal sources of active and reactive power generation and controlling equipments such as dispersed generations, capacitors, under load tapchanger transformers and substations in a way that firstly costs in relation to them are minimized and secondly technical and physical constraints are regarded. Because the optimal management of distribution networks is an optimization problem with continuous and discrete variables, the new evolutionary method based on Ant Colony Algorithm has been applied. The simulation results of the method tested on two cases containing 23 and 34 buses exist and will be shown at later sections.
Abstract: With today's fast lifestyles and busy schedule, nuclear
families are becoming popular. Thus, the elderly members of these
families are often neglected. This has lead to the popularity of the
concept of Community living for the aged. The elders reside at a
centre, which is controlled by the MANAGER. The manager takes
responsibility of the functioning of the centre which includes taking
care of 'residents' at the centre along with managing the daily chores
of the centre, which he accomplishes with the help of a number of
staff members and volunteers Often the Manager is not an employee
but a volunteer. In such cases especially, time is an important
constraint. A system, which provides an easy and efficient manner of
managing the working of an old age home in detail, will prove to be
of great benefit. We have developed a P.C. based organizer used to
monitor the various activities of an old age home. It is an effective
and easy-to-use system which will enable the manager to keep an
account of all the residents, their accounts, staff members, volunteers,
the centre-s logistic requirements etc. It is thus, a comprehensive
'Organizer' for Old Age Homes.
Abstract: In image processing and visualization, comparing two
bitmapped images needs to be compared from their pixels by matching
pixel-by-pixel. Consequently, it takes a lot of computational time
while the comparison of two vector-based images is significantly
faster. Sometimes these raster graphics images can be approximately
converted into the vector-based images by various techniques. After
conversion, the problem of comparing two raster graphics images
can be reduced to the problem of comparing vector graphics images.
Hence, the problem of comparing pixel-by-pixel can be reduced to
the problem of polynomial comparisons. In computer aided geometric
design (CAGD), the vector graphics images are the composition of
curves and surfaces. Curves are defined by a sequence of control
points and their polynomials. In this paper, the control points will be
considerably used to compare curves. The same curves after relocated
or rotated are treated to be equivalent while two curves after different
scaled are considered to be similar curves. This paper proposed an
algorithm for comparing the polynomial curves by using the control
points for equivalence and similarity. In addition, the geometric
object-oriented database used to keep the curve information has also
been defined in XML format for further used in curve comparisons.
Abstract: Detection and tracking of the lip contour is an important
issue in speechreading. While there are solutions for lip tracking
once a good contour initialization in the first frame is available,
the problem of finding such a good initialization is not yet solved
automatically, but done manually. We have developed a new tracking
solution for lip contour detection using only few landmarks (15
to 25) and applying the well known Active Shape Models (ASM).
The proposed method is a new LMS-like adaptive scheme based on
an Auto regressive (AR) model that has been fit on the landmark
variations in successive video frames. Moreover, we propose an extra
motion compensation model to address more general cases in lip
tracking. Computer simulations demonstrate a fair match between
the true and the estimated spatial pixels. Significant improvements
related to the well known LMS approach has been obtained via a
defined Frobenius norm index.
Abstract: The new optimization method for fiber orientation
angle optimization of symmetrical multilayer plates like plywood is
proposed. Optimization method consists of seeking for minimal
compliance by choosing appropriate fiber orientation angle in outer
layers of flexural plate. The discrete values of fiber orientation angles
are used in method. Optimization results of simply supported plate
and multispan plate with uniformly distributed load are provided.
Results show that stiffness could be increased up to 20% by changing
wood fiber orientation angle in one or two outer layers.
Abstract: This paper reports optimization of characteristics of bioballistic transformation of spring soft wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cultivar Raduga) and getting of transgenic plants, carrying pea lectin gene. This gene will let to create new associative wheat symbiosis with nodule bacteria of field pea, which has growth encouraging, fungistatic and other useful characteristics.
Abstract: The hydrolysis kinetics of polycrystalline lithium hydride (LiH) in argon at various low humidities was measured by gravimetry and Raman spectroscopy with ambient water concentration ranging from 200 to 1200 ppm. The results showed that LiH hydrolysis curve revealed a paralinear shape, which was attributed to two different reaction stages that forming different products as explained by the 'Layer Diffusion Control' model. Based on the model, a novel two-stage rate equation for LiH hydrolysis reactions was developed and used to fit the experimental data for determination of Li2O steady thickness Hs and the ultimate hydrolysis rate vs. The fitted data presented a rise of Hs as ambient water concentration cw increased. However, in spite of the negative effect imposed by Hs increasing, the upward trend of vs remained, which implied that water concentration, rather than Li2O thickness, played a predominant role in LiH hydrolysis kinetics. In addition, the proportional relationship between vsHs and cw predicted by rate equation and confirmed by gravimetric data validated the model in such conditions.
Abstract: The transformation of vocal characteristics aims at
modifying voice such that the intelligibility of aphonic voice is
increased or the voice characteristics of a speaker (source speaker) to
be perceived as if another speaker (target speaker) had uttered it. In
this paper, the current state-of-the-art voice characteristics
transformation methodology is reviewed. Special emphasis is placed
on voice transformation methodology and issues for improving the
transformed speech quality in intelligibility and naturalness are
discussed. In particular, it is suggested to use the modulation theory
of speech as a base for research on high quality voice transformation.
This approach allows one to separate linguistic, expressive, organic
and perspective information of speech, based on an analysis of how
they are fused when speech is produced. Therefore, this theory
provides the fundamentals not only for manipulating non-linguistic,
extra-/paralinguistic and intra-linguistic variables for voice
transformation, but also for paving the way for easily transposing the
existing voice transformation methods to emotion-related voice
quality transformation and speaking style transformation. From the
perspectives of human speech production and perception, the popular
voice transformation techniques are described and classified them
based on the underlying principles either from the speech production
or perception mechanisms or from both. In addition, the advantages
and limitations of voice transformation techniques and the
experimental manipulation of vocal cues are discussed through
examples from past and present research. Finally, a conclusion and
road map are pointed out for more natural voice transformation
algorithms in the future.
Abstract: The Prediction of aerodynamic characteristics and
shape optimization of airfoil under the ground effect have been carried
out by integration of computational fluid dynamics and the multiobjective
Pareto-based genetic algorithm. The main flow
characteristics around an airfoil of WIG craft are lift force, lift-to-drag
ratio and static height stability (H.S). However, they show a strong
trade-off phenomenon so that it is not easy to satisfy the design
requirements simultaneously. This difficulty can be resolved by the
optimal design. The above mentioned three characteristics are chosen
as the objective functions and NACA0015 airfoil is considered as a
baseline model in the present study. The profile of airfoil is
constructed by Bezier curves with fourteen control points and these
control points are adopted as the design variables. For multi-objective
optimization problems, the optimal solutions are not unique but a set
of non-dominated optima and they are called Pareto frontiers or Pareto
sets. As the results of optimization, forty numbers of non- dominated
Pareto optima can be obtained at thirty evolutions.
Abstract: This study deals with Computational Fluid Dynamics
(CFD) studies of the interactions between the air flow and louvered
fins which equipped the automotive heat exchangers. 3D numerical
simulation results are obtained by using the ANSYS Fluent 13.0 code
and compared to experimental data. The paper studies the effect of
louver angle and louver pitch geometrical parameters, on overall
thermal hydraulic performances of louvered fins.
The comparison between CFD simulations and experimental data
show that established 3-D CFD model gives a good agreement. The
validation agrees, with about 7% of deviation respectively of friction
and Colburn factors to experimental results. As first, it is found that
the louver angle has a strong influence on the heat transfer rate. Then,
louver angle and louver pitch variation of the louvers and their effects
on thermal hydraulic performances are studied. In addition to this
study, it is shown that the second half of the fin takes has a
significant contribution on pressure drop increase without any
increase in heat transfer.
Abstract: Cameron Highlands is known for upland tourism area
with vast natural wealth, mountainous landscape endowed with rich
diverse species as well as people traditions and cultures. With these
various resources, CH possesses an interesting visual and panorama
that can be offered to the tourist. However this benefit may not be
utilized without obtaining the understanding of existing landscape
structure and visual. Given a limited data, this paper attempts to
classify landscape visual of Cameron Highlands using land use and
contour data. Visual points of view were determined from the given
tourist attraction points in the CH Local Plan 2003-2015. The result
shows landscape visual and structure categories offered in the study
area. The result can be used for further analysis to determine the best
alternative tourist trails for tourism planning and decision making
using readily available data.
Abstract: Games can be classified as games of skill, games of chance or otherwise be classified as mixed. This paper deals with the topic of scientifically classifying mixed games as more reliant on elements of chance or elements of skill and ways to scientifically measure the amount of skill involved. This is predominantly useful for classification of games as legal or illegal in deferent jurisdictions based on the local gaming laws. We propose a novel measure of skill to chance ratio called the Game Skill Measure (GSM) and utilize it to calculate the skill component of a popular variant of Poker.