Abstract: Flash floods are considered natural disasters that can
cause casualties and demolishing of infra structures. The problem is
that flash floods, particularly in arid and semi arid zones, take place
in very short time. So, it is important to forecast flash floods earlier to
its events with a lead time up to 48 hours to give early warning alert
to avoid or minimize disasters. The flash flood took place over Wadi
Watier - Sinai Peninsula, in October 24th, 2008, has been simulated,
investigated and analyzed using the state of the art regional weather
model. The Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) model, which is a
reliable short term forecasting tool for precipitation events, has been
utilized over the study area. The model results have been calibrated
with the real data, for the same date and time, of the rainfall
measurements recorded at Sorah gauging station. The WRF model
forecasted total rainfall of 11.6 mm while the real measured one was
10.8 mm. The calibration shows significant consistency between
WRF model and real measurements results.
Abstract: A procedure commonly used in Job Shop Scheduling Problem (JSSP) to evaluate the neighborhoods functions that use the non-deterministic algorithms is the calculation of the critical path in a digraph. This paper presents an experimental study of the cost of computation that exists when the calculation of the critical path in the solution for instances in which a JSSP of large size is involved. The results indicate that if the critical path is use in order to generate neighborhoods in the meta-heuristics that are used in JSSP, an elevated cost of computation exists in spite of the fact that the calculation of the critical path in any digraph is of polynomial complexity.
Abstract: This paper addresses the problem of determining the current 3D location of a moving object and robustly tracking it from a sequence of camera images. The approach presented here uses a particle filter and does not perform any explicit triangulation. Only the color of the object to be tracked is required, but not any precisemotion model. The observation model we have developed avoids the color filtering of the entire image. That and the Monte Carlotechniques inside the particle filter provide real time performance.Experiments with two real cameras are presented and lessons learned are commented. The approach scales easily to more than two cameras and new sensor cues.
Abstract: This paper investigates the application of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) technique for coordinated design of a Power System Stabilizer (PSS) and a Thyristor Controlled Series Compensator (TCSC)-based controller to enhance the power system stability. The design problem of PSS and TCSC-based controllers is formulated as a time domain based optimization problem. PSO algorithm is employed to search for optimal controller parameters. By minimizing the time-domain based objective function, in which the deviation in the oscillatory rotor speed of the generator is involved; stability performance of the system is improved. To compare the capability of PSS and TCSC-based controller, both are designed independently first and then in a coordinated manner for individual and coordinated application. The proposed controllers are tested on a weakly connected power system. The eigenvalue analysis and non-linear simulation results are presented to show the effectiveness of the coordinated design approach over individual design. The simulation results show that the proposed controllers are effective in damping low frequency oscillations resulting from various small disturbances like change in mechanical power input and reference voltage setting.
Abstract: The classical temporal scan statistic is often used to
identify disease clusters. In recent years, this method has become as a
very popular technique and its field of application has been notably
increased. Many bioinformatic problems have been solved with this
technique. In this paper a new scan fuzzy method is proposed. The
behaviors of classic and fuzzy scan techniques are studied with
simulated data. ROC curves are calculated, being demonstrated the
superiority of the fuzzy scan technique.
Abstract: InGaAsN and GaAsN epitaxial layers with similar
nitrogen compositions in a sample were successfully grown on a
GaAs (001) substrate by solid source molecular beam epitaxy. An
electron cyclotron resonance nitrogen plasma source has been used to
generate atomic nitrogen during the growth of the nitride layers. The
indium composition changed from sample to sample to give
compressive and tensile strained InGaAsN layers. Layer
characteristics have been assessed by high-resolution x-ray
diffraction to determine the relationship between the lattice constant
of the GaAs1-yNy layer and the fraction x of In. The objective was to
determine the In fraction x in an InxGa1-xAs1-yNy epitaxial layer which
exactly cancels the strain present in a GaAs1-yNy epitaxial layer with
the same nitrogen content when grown on a GaAs substrate.
Abstract: This essay presents applicative methods to reduce human exposure levels in the area around base transceiver stations in a environment with multiple sources based on ITU-T recommendation K.70. An example is presented to understand the mitigation techniques and their results and also to learn how they can be applied, especially in developing countries where there is not much research on non-ionizing radiations.
Abstract: Workflow Management Systems (WfMS) alloworganizations to streamline and automate business processes and reengineer their structure. One important requirement for this type of system is the management and computation of the Quality of Service(QoS) of processes and workflows. Currently, a range of Web processes and workflow languages exist. Each language can be characterized by the set of patterns they support. Developing andimplementing a suitable and generic algorithm to compute the QoSof processes that have been designed using different languages is a difficult task. This is because some patterns are specific to particular process languages and new patterns may be introduced in future versions of a language. In this paper, we describe an adaptive algorithm implemented to cope with these two problems. The algorithm is called adaptive since it can be dynamically changed as the patterns of a process language also change.
Abstract: Malay Folk Literature in early childhood education
served as an important agent in child development that involved
emotional, thinking and language aspects. Up to this moment not
much research has been carried out in Malaysia particularly in the
teaching and learning aspects nor has there been an effort to publish
“big books." Hence this article will discuss the stance taken by
university undergraduate students, teachers and parents in evaluating
Malay Folk Literature in early childhood education to be used as big
books. The data collated and analyzed were taken from 646
respondents comprising 347 undergraduates and 299 teachers. Results
of the study indicated that Malay Folk Literature can be absorbed into
teaching and learning for early childhood with a mean of 4.25 while it
can be in big books with a mean of 4.14. Meanwhile the highest mean
value required for placing Malay Folk Literature genre as big books in
early childhood education rests on exemplary stories for
undergraduates with mean of 4.47; animal fables for teachers with a
mean of 4.38. The lowest mean value of 3.57 is given to lipurlara
stories. The most popular Malay Folk Literature found suitable for
early children is Sang Kancil and the Crocodile, followed by Bawang
Putih Bawang Merah. Pak Padir, Legends of Mahsuri, Origin of
Malacca, and Origin of Rainbow are among the popular stories as
well. Overall the undergraduates show a positive attitude toward all
the items compared to teachers. The t-test analysis has revealed a non
significant relationship between the undergraduate students and
teachers with all the items for the teaching and learning of Malay Folk
Literature.
Abstract: A novel idea presented in this paper is to combine
multihop routing with single-frequency networks (SFNs) for a
broadcasting scenario. An SFN is a set of multiple nodes that transmit
the same data simultaneously, resulting in transmitter macrodiversity.
Two of the most important performance factors of multihop
networks, node reachability and routing robustness, are analyzed.
Simulation results show that our proposed SFN-D routing algorithm
improves the node reachability by 37 percentage points as compared
to non-SFN multihop routing. It shows a diversity gain of 3.7 dB,
meaning that 3.7 dB lower transmission powers are required for the
same reachability. Even better results are possible for larger
networks. If an important node becomes inactive, this algorithm can
find new routes that a non-SFN scheme would not be able to find.
Thus, two of the major problems in multihopping are addressed;
achieving robust routing as well as improving node reachability or
reducing transmission power.
Abstract: In this paper, we propose a dynamic TDMA slot
reservation (DTSR) protocol for cognitive radio ad hoc networks.
Quality of Service (QoS) guarantee plays a critically important role
in such networks. We consider the problem of providing QoS
guarantee to users as well as to maintain the most efficient use of
scarce bandwidth resources. According to one hop neighboring
information and the bandwidth requirement, our proposed protocol
dynamically changes the frame length and the transmission schedule.
A dynamic frame length expansion and shrinking scheme that
controls the excessive increase of unassigned slots has been
proposed. This method efficiently utilizes the channel bandwidth by
assigning unused slots to new neighboring nodes and increasing the
frame length when the number of slots in the frame is insufficient to
support the neighboring nodes. It also shrinks the frame length when
half of the slots in the frame of a node are empty. An efficient slot
reservation protocol not only guarantees successful data
transmissions without collisions but also enhance channel spatial
reuse to maximize the system throughput. Our proposed scheme,
which provides both QoS guarantee and efficient resource utilization,
be employed to optimize the channel spatial reuse and maximize the
system throughput. Extensive simulation results show that the
proposed mechanism achieves desirable performance in multichannel
multi-rate cognitive radio ad hoc networks.
Abstract: The paper proposes a methodology to process the signals coming from the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) in order to identify the pathology and evaluate the therapy to treat the patients affected by demency diseases. In particular, a fuzzy model is developed to identify the demency of the patients affected by Subcortical Ischemic Vascular Dementia and to measure the positive effect, if any, of a repetitive TMS on their motor performances. A tool is also presented to support the mentioned analysis.
Abstract: In the Equivalent Transformation (ET) computation
model, a program is constructed by the successive accumulation of
ET rules. A method by meta-computation by which a correct ET
rule is generated has been proposed. Although the method covers a
broad range in the generation of ET rules, all important ET rules
are not necessarily generated. Generation of more ET rules can be
achieved by supplementing generation methods which are specialized
for important ET rules. A Specialization-by-Equation (Speq) rule is
one of those important rules. A Speq rule describes a procedure in
which two variables included in an atom conjunction are equalized
due to predicate constraints. In this paper, we propose an algorithm
that systematically and recursively generate Speq rules and discuss
its effectiveness in the synthesis of ET programs. A Speq rule is
generated based on proof of a logical formula consisting of given
atom set and dis-equality. The proof is carried out by utilizing some
ET rules and the ultimately obtained rules in generating Speq rules.
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to investiagte the use of
the ecommerce website in Indonesia as a developing country. The
ecommerce website has been identified having the significant impact
on business activities in particular solving the geographical problem
for islanded countries likes Indonesia. Again, website is identified as
a crucial marketing tool. This study presents the effect of quality and
features on the use and user satisfaction employing ecommerce
websites. Survey method for 115 undergraduate students of
Management Department in Andalas University who are attending
Management Information Systems (SIM) class have been
undertaken. The data obtained is analyzed using Structural Equation
Modeling (SEM) using SmartPLS program. This result found that
quality of system and information, feature as well satisfaction
influencing the use ecommerce website in Indonesia contexts.
Abstract: The link between Gröbner basis and linear algebra was
described by Lazard [4,5] where he realized the Gr¨obner basis
computation could be archived by applying Gaussian elimination over
Macaulay-s matrix .
In this paper, we indicate how same technique may be used to
SAGBI- Gröbner basis computations in invariant rings.
Abstract: Microstrip lines, widely used for good reason, are
broadband in frequency and provide circuits that are compact and
light in weight. They are generally economical to produce since they
are readily adaptable to hybrid and monolithic integrated circuit (IC)
fabrication technologies at RF and microwave frequencies. Although,
the existing EM simulation models used for the synthesis and
analysis of microstrip lines are reasonably accurate, they are
computationally intensive and time consuming. Neural networks
recently gained attention as fast and flexible vehicles to microwave
modeling, simulation and optimization. After learning and
abstracting from microwave data, through a process called training,
neural network models are used during microwave design to provide
instant answers to the task learned.This paper presents simple and
accurate ANN models for the synthesis and analysis of Microstrip
lines to more accurately compute the characteristic parameters and
the physical dimensions respectively for the required design
specifications.
Abstract: Avionic software architecture has transit from a
federated avionics architecture to an integrated modular avionics
(IMA) .ARINC 653 (Avionics Application Standard Software Interface) is a software specification for space and time partitioning in
Safety-critical avionics Real-time operating systems. Methods to transform the abstract avionics application logic function to the
executable model have been brought up, however with less
consideration about the code generating input and output model specific for ARINC 653 platform and inner-task synchronous dynamic
interaction order sequence. In this paper, we proposed an
AADL-based model-driven design methodology to fulfill the purpose
to automatically generating Cµ executable model on ARINC 653 platform from the ARINC653 architecture which defined as AADL653 in order to facilitate the development of the avionics software constructed on ARINC653 OS. This paper presents the
mapping rules between the AADL653 elements and the elements in
Cµ language, and define the code generating rules , designs an automatic C µ code generator .Then, we use a case to illustrate our
approach. Finally, we give the related work and future research directions.
Abstract: Taking into account that many problems of natural
sciences and engineering are reduced to solving initial-value problem
for ordinary differential equations, beginning from Newton, the
scientists investigate approximate solution of ordinary differential
equations. There are papers of different authors devoted to the
solution of initial value problem for ODE. The Euler-s known
method that was developed under the guidance of the famous
scientists Adams, Runge and Kutta is the most popular one among
these methods.
Recently the scientists began to construct the methods preserving
some properties of Adams and Runge-Kutta methods and called them
hybrid methods. The constructions of such methods are investigated
from the middle of the XX century. Here we investigate one
generalization of multistep and hybrid methods and on their base we
construct specific methods of accuracy order p = 5 and p = 6 for
k = 1 ( k is the order of the difference method).
Abstract: This study on “The relationship between human
resource practices and Firm Performance is a speculative
investigation research. The purpose of this research are (1) to provide
and to understand of HRM history and current HR practices in the
Philippines (2) to examine the extent of HRM practice among its
Philippine firms effectively; (3) to investigate the relationship
between HRM practice and firm performance in the Philippines. The
survey was done to 233 companies in the Philippines. The
questionnaire is divided into three parts a) to gathers information on
the profile of respondent, b) to measures the extent to which human
resource practices are being practiced in their organization c) to
measure the organizations performance as perceived by human
resource managers and top executives as compared with their
competitors in the same industry. As a result an interesting finding
was that almost 50 percent of firm performance is affected by the
extent of implementation of HR practices in the firm. These results
show that HR practices that are in line with the organization’s
strategic goals are important for future performance.
Abstract: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition
which affects 2-3% of population around the world. Psoriasis Area
and Severity Index (PASI) is a gold standard to assess psoriasis
severity as well as the treatment efficacy. Although a gold standard,
PASI is rarely used because it is tedious and complex. In practice,
PASI score is determined subjectively by dermatologists, therefore
inter and intra variations of assessment are possible to happen even
among expert dermatologists. This research develops an algorithm to
assess psoriasis lesion for PASI scoring objectively. Focus of this
research is thickness assessment as one of PASI four parameters
beside area, erythema and scaliness. Psoriasis lesion thickness is
measured by averaging the total elevation from lesion base to lesion
surface. Thickness values of 122 3D images taken from 39 patients
are grouped into 4 PASI thickness score using K-means clustering.
Validation on lesion base construction is performed using twelve
body curvature models and show good result with coefficient of
determinant (R2) is equal to 1.