Abstract: The quest of providing more secure identification
system has led to a rise in developing biometric systems. Dorsal
hand vein pattern is an emerging biometric which has attracted the
attention of many researchers, of late. Different approaches have
been used to extract the vein pattern and match them. In this work,
Principle Component Analysis (PCA) which is a method that has
been successfully applied on human faces and hand geometry is
applied on the dorsal hand vein pattern. PCA has been used to obtain
eigenveins which is a low dimensional representation of vein pattern
features. Low cost CCD cameras were used to obtain the vein
images. The extraction of the vein pattern was obtained by applying
morphology. We have applied noise reduction filters to enhance the
vein patterns. The system has been successfully tested on a database
of 200 images using a threshold value of 0.9. The results obtained are
encouraging.
Abstract: The atmospheric pressure plasma torch with a direct
current arc discharge stabilized by water vapor vortex was
experimentally investigated. Overheated up to 450K water vapor was
used as plasma forming gas. Plasma torch design is one of the most
important factors leading to a stable operation of the device. The
electrical and thermal characteristics of the plasma torch were
determined during the experimental investigations. The design and
the basic characteristics of the water vapor plasma torch are presented
in the paper.
Plasma torches with the electric arc stabilized by water vapor
vortex provide special performance characteristics in some plasma
processing applications such as thermal plasma neutralization and
destruction of organic wastes enabling to extract high caloric value
synthesis gas as by-product of the process. Syngas could be used as a
surrogate fuel partly replacing the dependence on the fossil fuels or
used as a feedstock for hydrogen, methanol production.
Abstract: This study uses GIS (Geographic Information
Systems) to conduct an evaluation of the degree of the sufficiency of
public green spaces such as parks and urban green areas as an
indicator of the density of metropolitan areas, in particular the Chubu
metropolitan area, in Japan. To that end, it first grasps the distribution
situation of green spaces in the three metropolitan areas in Japan,
especially in the Chubu metropolitan area, using GIS digital maps.
And based on this result, it conducts a GIS evaluation of the degree of
sufficiency of public green spaces and arranges the result for every
distance belt from the central part to compare and exam for every
distance belt away from the center in the Chubu metropolitan area.
Furthermore, after pointing out the insufficient areas of public green
spaces based on the result, it also proposes the improvement policy
which can be introduced in the Chubu metropolitan area.
Abstract: Cooktop burners are widely used nowadays. In
cooktop burner design, nozzle efficiency and greenhouse
gas(GHG) emissions mainly depend on heat transfer from the
premixed flame to the impinging surface. This is a complicated
issue depending on the individual and combined effects of various
input combustion variables. Optimal operating conditions for
sustainable burner design were rarely addressed, especially in the
case of multiple slot-jet burners. Through evaluating the optimal
combination of combustion conditions for a premixed slot-jet
array, this paper develops a practical approach for the sustainable
design of gas cooktop burners. Efficiency, CO and NOx emissions
in respect of an array of slot jets using premixed flames were
analysed. Response surface experimental design were applied to
three controllable factors of the combustion process, viz.
Reynolds number, equivalence ratio and jet-to-vessel distance.
Desirability Function Approach(DFA) is the analytic technique
used for the simultaneous optimization of the efficiency and
emission responses.
Abstract: The present work is concerned with the effect of turning process parameters (cutting speed, feed rate, and depth of cut) and distance from the center of work piece as input variables on the chip micro-hardness as response or output. Three experiments were conducted; they were used to investigate the chip micro-hardness behavior at diameter of work piece for 30[mm], 40[mm], and 50[mm]. Response surface methodology (R.S.M) is used to determine and present the cause and effect of the relationship between true mean response and input control variables influencing the response as a two or three dimensional hyper surface. R.S.M has been used for designing a three factor with five level central composite rotatable factors design in order to construct statistical models capable of accurate prediction of responses. The results obtained showed that the application of R.S.M can predict the effect of machining parameters on chip micro-hardness. The five level factorial designs can be employed easily for developing statistical models to predict chip micro-hardness by controllable machining parameters. Results obtained showed that the combined effect of cutting speed at it?s lower level, feed rate and depth of cut at their higher values, and larger work piece diameter can result increasing chi micro-hardness.
Abstract: In this paper, a new efficient method for load balancing in low voltage distribution systems is presented. The proposed method introduces an improved Leap-frog method for optimization. The proposed objective function includes the difference between three phase currents, as well as two other terms to provide the integer property of the variables; where the latter are the status of the connection of loads to different phases. Afterwards, a new algorithm is supplemented to undertake the integer values for the load connection status. Finally, the method is applied to different parts of Tabriz low voltage network, where the results have shown the good performance of the proposed method.
Abstract: Many IT projects come to failure because of having
technical approach, focusing on the final product and lack of proper
attention to strategic alignment. Project management models quite
often have technical management view [4], [8], [13], [14]. These
models focus greatly on the finalization of the project product and the
delivery of the product to the customer. However, many project
problems are due to lack of attention to the needs and capabilities of
the organizations or disregarding how to deploy and use the product
in the organization. In this regard, in the current research we are
trying to present a solution with the purpose of raising the value of
the project in an organization. This way, the project outputs will be
properly deployed in the organization. Therefore, a comprehensive
model is presented which takes into account the whole processes
from initial step of project definition to the deployment of the final
outputs in the organization and then the definition of all roles and
responsibilities to put the model into practice. Taking into account
the opinions of experts and project managers, to prove the
performance of the model, the project problems were recognized and
based on the model, categorized and analyzed. And at the end it is
made clear that ignoring the proper definition of the project and not
having a proper understanding of the expected value on the one hand
and not supervising the emerged value in the process of production
and installment are among the most important factors that bring a
project to failure.
Abstract: The multiple traveling salesman problem (mTSP) can be used to model many practical problems. The mTSP is more complicated than the traveling salesman problem (TSP) because it requires determining which cities to assign to each salesman, as well as the optimal ordering of the cities within each salesman's tour. Previous studies proposed that Genetic Algorithm (GA), Integer Programming (IP) and several neural network (NN) approaches could be used to solve mTSP. This paper compared the results for mTSP, solved with Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Nearest Neighbor Algorithm (NNA). The number of cities is clustered into a few groups using k-means clustering technique. The number of groups depends on the number of salesman. Then, each group is solved with NNA and GA as an independent TSP. It is found that k-means clustering and NNA are superior to GA in terms of performance (evaluated by fitness function) and computing time.
Abstract: Serious games have proven to be a useful instrument
to engage learners and increase motivation. Nevertheless, a broadly
accepted, practical instructional design approach to serious games
does not exist. In this paper, we introduce the use of an instructional
design model that has not been applied to serious games yet, and has
some advantages compared to other design approaches. We present
the case of mechanics mechatronics education to illustrate the close
match with timing and role of knowledge and information that the
instructional design model prescribes and how this has been
translated to a rigidly structured game design. The structured
approach answers the learning needs of applicable knowledge within
the target group. It combines advantages of simulations with
strengths of entertainment games to foster learner-s motivation in the
best possible way. A prototype of the game will be evaluated along a
well-respected evaluation method within an advanced test setting
including test and control group.
Abstract: Science and technology of ultrasonic is widely used in
recent years for industrial and medicinal application. The acoustical
properties of 2-mercapto substituted pyrimidines viz.,2- Mercapto-4-
(2’,4’ –dichloro phenyl) – 6-(2’ – hydroxyl -4’ –methyl-5’ –
chlorophenyl) pyrimidine and 2 –Mercapto – 4-(4’ –chloro phenyl) –
6-(2’ – hydroxyl -4’ –methyl-5’ –chlorophenyl) pyrimidine have been
investigated from the ultrasonic velocity and density measurements at
different concentration and different % in dioxane-water mixture at
305K. The adiabatic compressibility (βs), acoustic impedance (Z),
intermolecular free length (Lf), apparent molar volume(ϕv) and
relative association (RA) values have been calculated from the
experimental data of velocity and density measurement at
concentration range of 0.01- 0.000625 mol/lit and 70%,75% and 80%
dioxane water mixture. These above parameters are used to discuss
the structural and molecular interactions.
Abstract: This paper investigates the effectiveness of the use of
seismic isolation devices on the overall 3D seismic response of
curved highway viaducts with an emphasis on expansion joints.
Furthermore, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the use of cable
restrainers is presented. For this purpose, the bridge seismic
performance has been evaluated on four different radii of curvature,
considering two cases: restrained and unrestrained curved viaducts.
Depending on the radius of curvature, three-dimensional non-linear
dynamic analysis shows the vulnerability of curved viaducts to
pounding and deck unseating damage. In this study, the efficiency of
using LRB supports combined with cable restrainers on curved
viaducts is demonstrated, not only by reducing in all cases the
possible damage, but also by providing a similar behavior in the
viaducts despite of curvature radius.
Abstract: Traditional multivariate control charts assume that measurement from manufacturing processes follows a multivariate normal distribution. However, this assumption may not hold or may be difficult to verify because not all the measurement from manufacturing processes are normal distributed in practice. This study develops a new multivariate control chart for monitoring the processes with non-normal data. We propose a mechanism based on integrating the one-class classification method and the adaptive technique. The adaptive technique is used to improve the sensitivity to small shift on one-class classification in statistical process control. In addition, this design provides an easy way to allocate the value of type I error so it is easier to be implemented. Finally, the simulation study and the real data from industry are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the propose control charts.
Abstract: Iron ore and coal are the two major important raw
materials being used in Iron making industries. Usually ore fines
containing around 5% Alumina are rejected due to higher proportion
of alumina. Therefore, a technology or process which may reduce
the alumina content by 2% by beneficiation process will be highly
attractive . In addition fine coals with ash content is used nearly 12%
is directly injected in blast furnace. Fast fluidization is a technology
by using dry beneficiation of coal and iron ore can be done. During
the fluidization process the iron ore band coal is fluidized at high
velocity in the riser of a fast fluidized bed, the heavier and coarse
particles is generally settled at the bottom in a dense zone of the riser
while the finer and lighter particle are entrained to the top dilute zone
and then via a cyclone is fed back to the bottom of the riser column.
Most of the alumina and low ash fine size coals being lighter are
expected to move up to the riser and by a natural beneficiation of
ores is expected to take place in the riser. Therefore in this study an
attempt has been made for dry beneficiation of iron ore and coal in a
fluidized bed and its hydrodynamic characterization.
Abstract: In this paper, we introduce a new method for elliptical
object identification. The proposed method adopts a hybrid scheme
which consists of Eigen values of covariance matrices, Circular
Hough transform and Bresenham-s raster scan algorithms. In this
approach we use the fact that the large Eigen values and small Eigen
values of covariance matrices are associated with the major and minor
axial lengths of the ellipse. The centre location of the ellipse can be
identified using circular Hough transform (CHT). Sparse matrix
technique is used to perform CHT. Since sparse matrices squeeze zero
elements and contain a small number of nonzero elements they
provide an advantage of matrix storage space and computational time.
Neighborhood suppression scheme is used to find the valid Hough
peaks. The accurate position of circumference pixels is identified
using raster scan algorithm which uses the geometrical symmetry
property. This method does not require the evaluation of tangents or
curvature of edge contours, which are generally very sensitive to
noise working conditions. The proposed method has the advantages of
small storage, high speed and accuracy in identifying the feature. The
new method has been tested on both synthetic and real images.
Several experiments have been conducted on various images with
considerable background noise to reveal the efficacy and robustness.
Experimental results about the accuracy of the proposed method,
comparisons with Hough transform and its variants and other
tangential based methods are reported.
Abstract: A conjugate heat transfer for steady two-dimensional
mixed convection with magnetic hydrodynamic (MHD) flow of an
incompressible quiescent fluid over an unsteady thermal forming
stretching sheet has been studied. A parameter, M, which is used to
represent the dominance of the magnetic effect has been presented in
governing equations. The similar transformation and an implicit
finite-difference method have been used to analyze the present
problem. The numerical solutions of the flow velocity distributions,
temperature profiles, the wall unknown values of f''(0) and '(θ (0) for
calculating the heat transfer of the similar boundary-layer flow are
carried out as functions of the unsteadiness parameter (S), the Prandtl
number (Pr), the space-dependent parameter (A) and
temperature-dependent parameter (B) for heat source/sink and the
magnetic parameter (M). The effects of these parameters have also
discussed. At the results, it will produce greater heat transfer effect
with a larger Pr and M, S, A, B will reduce heat transfer effects. At
last, conjugate heat transfer for the free convection with a larger G has
a good heat transfer effect better than a smaller G=0.
Abstract: Experiments with pumpkin-rowanberry marmalade
candies were carried out at the Faculty of Food Technology of the
Latvia University of Agriculture. The objective of this investigation
was to evaluate the quality changes of pumpkin-rowanberry
marmalade candies packed in different packaging materials during
the storage of 15 weeks, and to find the most suitable packaging
material for prolongation of low sugar marmalade candies shelf-life.
An active packaging in combination with modified atmosphere
(MAP, CO2 100%) was examined and compared with traditional
packaging in air ambiance. Polymer Multibarrier 60 and paper bags
were used. Influence of iron based oxygen absorber in sachets of 500
cc obtained from Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Europe Ageless® on the
marmalade candies’ quality was tested during shelf life. Samples of
80±5 g were packaged in polymer pouches (110 mm x 110 mm),
hermetically sealed by MULTIVAC C300 vacuum chamber machine,
and stored in a room temperature +21±0.5 °C. The physiochemical
properties –moisture content, hardness, aw, pH, changes of
atmosphere content (CO2 and O2), ascorbic acid, total carotenoids,
total phenols in headspace of packs, and microbial conditions were
analysed before packaging and in the 1st, 3rd , 5th, 8th, 11th and 15th
weeks of storage.
Abstract: Nowadays, access to sustainable development in cities is assumed as one of the most important goals of urban managers. In the meanwhile, neighborhood as the smallest unit of urban spatial organization has a substantial effect on urban sustainability. Hence, attention to and focus on this subject is highly important in urban development plans. The objective of this study is evaluation of the status of Jahanshahr Neighborhood in Karaj city based on sustainable neighborhood development indicators. This research has been applied based on documentary method and field surveys. Also, evaluating of Jahanshahr Neighborhood of Karaj shows that it has a high level in sustainability in physical and economical dimension while a low level in cultural and social dimension. For this purpose, this neighborhood as a semi-sustainable neighborhood must take measures for development of collective spaces and efficiency of utilizing the public neighborhood spaces via collaboration of citizens and officials.
Abstract: A numerical study has been carried out to investigate
the heat transfer by natural convection of nanofluid taking Cu as
nanoparticles and the water as based fluid in a three dimensional
annulus enclosure filled with porous media (silica sand) between two
horizontal concentric cylinders with 12 annular fins of 2.4mm
thickness attached to the inner cylinder under steady state conditions.
The governing equations which used are continuity, momentum and
energy equations under an assumptions used Darcy law and
Boussinesq-s approximation which are transformed to dimensionless
equations. The finite difference approach is used to obtain all the
computational results using the MATLAB-7. The parameters affected
on the system are modified Rayleigh number (10 ≤Ra*≤ 1000), fin
length Hf (3, 7 and 11mm), radius ratio Rr (0.293, 0.365 and 0.435)
and the volume fraction(0 ≤ ¤ò ≤ 0 .35). It was found that the
average Nusselt number depends on (Ra*, Hf, Rr and φ). The results
show that, increasing of fin length decreases the heat transfer rate and
for low values of Ra*, decreasing Rr cause to decrease Nu while for
Ra*
greater than 100, decreasing Rr cause to increase Nu and adding
Cu nanoparticles with 0.35 volume fraction cause 27.9%
enhancement in heat transfer. A correlation for Nu in terms of Ra*,
Hf and φ, has been developed for inner hot cylinder.
Abstract: This paper presents the results of an analytical study
on the seismic response of a Multi-Span-Simply-Supported precast
bridge in Washington State. The bridge was built in the early 1960's
along Interstate 5 and was widened the first time in 1979 and the
second time in 2001. The primary objective of this research project
is to determine the seismic vulnerability of the bridge in order to
develop the required retrofit measure. The seismic vulnerability of
the bridge is evaluated using two seismic evaluation methods
presented in the FHWA Seismic Retrofitting Manual for Highway
Bridges, Method C and Method D2. The results of the seismic
analyses demonstrate that Method C and Method D2 vary markedly
in terms of the information they provide to the bridge designer
regarding the vulnerability of the bridge columns.
Abstract: In this paper, an analytical approach for free vibration
analysis of four edges simply supported rectangular Kirchhoff plates
is presented. The method is based on wave approach. From wave
standpoint vibration propagate, reflect and transmit in a structure.
Firstly, the propagation and reflection matrices for plate with simply
supported boundary condition are derived. Then, these matrices are
combined to provide a concise and systematic approach to free
vibration analysis of a simply supported rectangular Kirchhoff plate.
Subsequently, the eigenvalue problem for free vibration of plates is
formulated and the equation of plate natural frequencies is
constructed. Finally, the effectiveness of the approach is shown by
comparison of the results with existing classical solution.