Abstract: The Kumamoto area, Kyushu, Japan has 1,041km2 in
area and about 1milion in population. This area is a greatest area in Japan which depends on groundwater for all of drinking water. Quantity of this local groundwater use is about 200MCM during the
year. It is understood that the main recharging area of groundwater exist in the rice field zone which have high infiltrate height ahead of
100mm/ day of the irrigated water located in the middle area of the Shira-River Basin. However, by decrease of the paddy-rice planting
area by urbanization and an acreage reduction policy, the groundwater income and expenditure turned worse. Then Kumamoto city and four
companies expended financial support to increase recharging water to
underground by ponded water in the field from 2004.
In this paper, the author reported the situation of recovery of groundwater by recharge and estimates the efficiency of recharge by
statistical method.
Abstract: In North America, Most power distribution systems
employ a four-wire multi-grounded neutral (MGN) design. This paper has explained the inherent characteristics of multi-grounded three-phase four-wire distribution systems under unbalanced
situations. As a result, the mechanism of voltage swell and voltage sag in MGN feeders becomes difficult to understand. The simulation
tool that has been used in this paper is MATLAB under Windows software. In this paper the equivalent model of a full-scale multigrounded
distribution system implemented by MATLAB is
introduced. The results are expected to help utility engineers to understand the impact of MGN on distribution system operations.
Abstract: The Spiral development model has been used
successfully in many commercial systems and in a good number of
defense systems. This is due to the fact that cost-effective
incremental commitment of funds, via an analogy of the spiral model
to stud poker and also can be used to develop hardware or integrate
software, hardware, and systems. To support adaptive, semantic
collaboration between domain experts and knowledge engineers, a
new knowledge engineering process, called Spiral_OWL is proposed.
This model is based on the idea of iterative refinement, annotation
and structuring of knowledge base. The Spiral_OWL model is
generated base on spiral model and knowledge engineering
methodology. A central paradigm for Spiral_OWL model is the
concentration on risk-driven determination of knowledge engineering
process. The collaboration aspect comes into play during knowledge
acquisition and knowledge validation phase. Design rationales for the
Spiral_OWL model are to be easy-to-implement, well-organized, and
iterative development cycle as an expanding spiral.
Abstract: This paper describes an automatic algorithm to restore
the shape of three-dimensional (3D) left ventricle (LV) models created
from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data using a geometry-driven
optimization approach. Our basic premise is to restore the LV shape
such that the LV epicardial surface is smooth after the restoration. A
geometrical measure known as the Minimum Principle Curvature (κ2)
is used to assess the smoothness of the LV. This measure is used to
construct the objective function of a two-step optimization process.
The objective of the optimization is to achieve a smooth epicardial
shape by iterative in-plane translation of the MRI slices.
Quantitatively, this yields a minimum sum in terms of the magnitude
of κ
2, when κ2 is negative. A limited memory quasi-Newton algorithm,
L-BFGS-B, is used to solve the optimization problem. We tested our
algorithm on an in vitro theoretical LV model and 10 in vivo
patient-specific models which contain significant motion artifacts. The
results show that our method is able to automatically restore the shape
of LV models back to smoothness without altering the general shape of
the model. The magnitudes of in-plane translations are also consistent
with existing registration techniques and experimental findings.
Abstract: Construction projects generally take place in
uncontrolled and dynamic environments where construction waste is
a serious environmental problem in many large cities. The total
amount of waste and carbon dioxide emissions from transportation
vehicles are still out of control due to increasing construction
projects, massive urban development projects and the lack of
effective tools for minimizing adverse environmental impacts in
construction. This research is about utilization of the integrated
applications of automated advanced tracking and data storage
technologies in the area of environmental management to monitor
and control adverse environmental impacts such as construction
waste and carbon dioxide emissions. Radio Frequency Identification
(RFID) integrated with the Global Position System (GPS) provides
an opportunity to uniquely identify materials, components, and
equipments and to locate and track them using minimal or no worker
input. The transmission of data to the central database will be carried
out with the help of Global System for Mobile Communications
(GSM).
Abstract: The statistical distributions are modeled in explaining
nature of various types of data sets. Although these distributions are
mostly uni-modal, it is quite common to see multiple modes in the
observed distribution of the underlying variables, which make the
precise modeling unrealistic. The observed data do not exhibit
smoothness not necessarily due to randomness, but could also be due
to non-randomness resulting in zigzag curves, oscillations, humps
etc. The present paper argues that trigonometric functions, which
have not been used in probability functions of distributions so far,
have the potential to take care of this, if incorporated in the
distribution appropriately. A simple distribution (named as, Sinoform
Distribution), involving trigonometric functions, is illustrated in the
paper with a data set. The importance of trigonometric functions is
demonstrated in the paper, which have the characteristics to make
statistical distributions exotic. It is possible to have multiple modes,
oscillations and zigzag curves in the density, which could be suitable
to explain the underlying nature of select data set.
Abstract: To decompose organochlorides by bioremediation, co-culture biohydrogen producer and dehalogenation microorganisms is a useful method. In this study, we combined these two characteristics from a biohydrogen producer, Rhodopseudomonas palustris, and a dehalogenation microorganism, Pseudomonas putida, to enchance halorespiration in R. palustris. The genes encoding cytochrome P450cam system (camC, camA, and camB) from P. putida were expressed in R. palustris with designated expression plasmid. All tested strains were cultured to log phase then presented pentachloroethane (PCA) in media. The vector control strain could degrade PCA about 78% after 16 hours, however, the cytochrome P450cam system expressed strain, CGA-camCAB, could completely degrade PCA in 12 hours. While taking chlorinated aromatic, 3-chlorobenzoate, as sole carbon source or present benzoate as co-substrate, CGA-camCAB presented faster growth rate than vector control strain.
Abstract: In this paper a study on the vibration of thin
cylindrical shells with ring supports and made of functionally graded
materials (FGMs) composed of stainless steel and nickel is presented.
Material properties vary along the thickness direction of the shell
according to volume fraction power law. The cylindrical shells have
ring supports which are arbitrarily placed along the shell and impose
zero lateral deflections. The study is carried out based on third order
shear deformation shell theory (T.S.D.T). The analysis is carried out
using Hamilton-s principle. The governing equations of motion of
FGM cylindrical shells are derived based on shear deformation
theory. Results are presented on the frequency characteristics,
influence of ring support position and the influence of boundary
conditions. The present analysis is validated by comparing results
with those available in the literature.
Abstract: The sensitivity of orifice plate metering to disturbed
flow (either asymmetric or swirling) is a subject of great concern to
flow meter users and manufacturers. The distortions caused by pipe
fittings and pipe installations upstream of the orifice plate are major
sources of this type of non-standard flows. These distortions can alter
the accuracy of metering to an unacceptable degree. In this work, a
multi-scale object known as metal foam has been used to generate a
predetermined turbulent flow upstream of the orifice plate. The
experimental results showed that the combination of an orifice plate
and metal foam flow conditioner is broadly insensitive to upstream
disturbances. This metal foam demonstrated a good performance in
terms of removing swirl and producing a repeatable flow profile
within a short distance downstream of the device. The results of using
a combination of a metal foam flow conditioner and orifice plate for
non-standard flow conditions including swirling flow and asymmetric
flow show this package can preserve the accuracy of metering up to
the level required in the standards.
Abstract: Metallic micro parts are playing an important role in micro-fabrication industry. Recently, we have demonstrated a new deformation mechanism for micro-formability of polycrystalline materials. Different depressed micro-features smaller than the grain size have been successfully fabricated on 6061 aluminum alloy (AA6061) substrates with good fidelity. To further verify this proposed deformation mechanism that grain size is not a limiting factor, we demonstrate here that in addition of depressed features, protruded micro-features on a polycrystalline substrate can similarly be fabricated.
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: In this work, bending fatigue life of notched
specimens with various notch geometries and dimensions is
investigated by experiment and Manson-Caffin theoretical method. In
this theoretical method, fatigue life of notched specimens is
calculated using the fatigue life obtained from the experiments for
plain specimens (without notch). Three notch geometries including
∪-shape, ∨-shape and C -shape notches are considered in this
investigation. The experiments are conducted on a rotary bending
Moore machine. The specimens are made of a low carbon steel alloy,
which has wide application in industry. The stress- life curves are
captured for all notched specimen by experiment. The results indicate
that Manson-Caffin analytical method cannot adequately predict
the fatigue life of notched specimen. However, it seems that the
difference between the experiments and Manson-Caffin predictions
can be compensated by a proportional factor.
Abstract: PARIS (Personal Archiving and Retrieving Image
System) is an experiment personal photograph library, which includes
more than 80,000 of consumer photographs accumulated within a
duration of approximately five years, metadata based on our proposed
MPEG-7 annotation architecture, Dozen Dimensional Digital Content
(DDDC), and a relational database structure. The DDDC architecture
is specially designed for facilitating the managing, browsing and
retrieving of personal digital photograph collections. In annotating
process, we also utilize a proposed Spatial and Temporal Ontology
(STO) designed based on the general characteristic of personal
photograph collections. This paper explains PRAIS system.
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: The aim of the study was to follow changes of powervelocity
relationship in female volleyball players during an annual
training cycle. The study was conducted on eleven female volleyball
players: age 21.6±1.7 years, body height 177.9±4.7 cm, body mass
71.3±6.6 kg and training experience 8.6±3.3 years. Power–velocity
relationship was determined from five maximal 10-second
cycloergometer efforts with external loads equal: 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0
and 12.5% of body weight (BW) before (I) and after (II) the
preparatory period, after the first (III) and second (IV) competitive
season. The maximal power output increased from 9.30±0.85 W•kg–1
(I) to 9.50±0.96 W•kg–1 (II), 9.77±0.96 W•kg–1 (III) and 9.95±1.13
W•kg–1 (IV, p
Abstract: In this paper we describe a hybrid technique of Minimax search and aggregate Mahalanobis distance function synthesis to evolve Awale game player. The hybrid technique helps to suggest a move in a short amount of time without looking into endgame database. However, the effectiveness of the technique is heavily dependent on the training dataset of the Awale strategies utilized. The evolved player was tested against Awale shareware program and the result is appealing.
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to find natural gait of
biped robot such as human being by analyzing the COG (Center Of
Gravity) trajectory of human being's gait. It is discovered that human
beings gait naturally maintain the stability and use the minimum
energy. This paper intends to find the natural gait pattern of biped
robot using the minimum energy as well as maintaining the stability by
analyzing the human's gait pattern that is measured from gait image on
the sagittal plane and COG trajectory on the frontal plane. It is not
possible to apply the torques of human's articulation to those of biped
robot's because they have different degrees of freedom. Nonetheless,
human and 5-link biped robots are similar in kinematics. For this, we
generate gait pattern of the 5-link biped robot by using the GA
algorithm of adaptation gait pattern which utilize the human's ZMP
(Zero Moment Point) and torque of all articulation that are measured
from human's gait pattern. The algorithm proposed creates biped
robot's fluent gait pattern as that of human being's and to minimize
energy consumption because the gait pattern of the 5-link biped robot
model is modeled after consideration about the torque of human's each
articulation on the sagittal plane and ZMP trajectory on the frontal
plane. This paper demonstrate that the algorithm proposed is superior
by evaluating 2 kinds of the 5-link biped robot applied to each gait
patterns generated both in the general way using inverse kinematics
and in the special way in which by considering visuality and
efficiency.
Abstract: In this paper we investigated a number of the Internet
congestion control algorithms that has been developed in the last few
years. It was obviously found that many of these algorithms were
designed to deal with the Internet traffic merely as a train of
consequent packets. Other few algorithms were specifically tailored
to handle the Internet congestion caused by running media traffic that
represents audiovisual content. This later set of algorithms is
considered to be aware of the nature of this media content. In this
context we briefly explained a number of congestion control
algorithms and hence categorized them into the two following
categories: i) Media congestion control algorithms. ii) Common
congestion control algorithms. We hereby recommend the usage of
the media congestion control algorithms for the reason of being
media content-aware rather than the other common type of
algorithms that blindly manipulates such traffic. We showed that the
spread of such media content-aware algorithms over Internet will
lead to better congestion control status in the coming years. This is
due to the observed emergence of the era of digital convergence
where the media traffic type will form the majority of the Internet
traffic.
Abstract: IMCS is Integrated Monitoring and Control System for
thermal power plant. This system consists of mainly two parts; controllers and OIS (Operator Interface System). These two parts are
connected by Ethernet-based communication. The controller side of communication is managed by CNet module and OIS side is managed
by data server of OIS. CNet module sends the data of controller to data
server and receives commend data from data server. To minimizes or
balance the load of data server, this module buffers data created by controller at every cycle and send buffered data to data server on request of data server. For multiple data server, this module manages
the connection line with each data server and response for each request
from multiple data server. CNet module is included in each controller
of redundant system. When controller fail-over happens on redundant system, this module can provide data of controller to data sever
without loss. This paper presents three main features – separation of get task, usage of ring buffer and monitoring communication status –of CNet module to carry out these functions.
Abstract: Sandwich panels are widely used in the construction
industry for their ease of assembly, light weight and efficient thermal
performance. They are composed of two RC thin outer layers
separated by an insulating inner layer. In this research the inner
insulating layer is made of lightweight Autoclaved Aerated Concrete
(AAC) blocks which has good thermal insulation properties and yet
possess reasonable mechanical strength. The shear strength of the
AAC infill is relied upon to replace the traditionally used insulating
foam and to provide the shear capacity of the panel. A
comprehensive experimental program was conducted on full scale
sandwich panels subjected to bending. In this paper, detailed
numerical modeling of the tested sandwich panels is reported. Nonlinear
3-D finite element modeling of the composite action of the
sandwich panel is developed using ANSYS. Solid elements with
different crashing and cracking capabilities and different constitutive
laws were selected for the concrete and the AAC. Contact interface
elements are used in this research to adequately model the shear
transfer at the interface between the different layers. The numerical
results showed good correlation with the experimental ones
indicating the adequacy of the model in estimating the loading
capacity of panels.