Abstract: Knowledge is attributed to human whose problemsolving
behavior is subjective and complex. In today-s knowledge
economy, the need to manage knowledge produced by a community
of actors cannot be overemphasized. This is due to the fact that
actors possess some level of tacit knowledge which is generally
difficult to articulate. Problem-solving requires searching and sharing
of knowledge among a group of actors in a particular context.
Knowledge expressed within the context of a problem resolution
must be capitalized for future reuse. In this paper, an approach that
permits dynamic capitalization of relevant and reliable actors-
knowledge in solving decision problem following Economic
Intelligence process is proposed. Knowledge annotation method and
temporal attributes are used for handling the complexity in the
communication among actors and in contextualizing expressed
knowledge. A prototype is built to demonstrate the functionalities of
a collaborative Knowledge Management system based on this
approach. It is tested with sample cases and the result showed that
dynamic capitalization leads to knowledge validation hence
increasing reliability of captured knowledge for reuse. The system
can be adapted to various domains.
Abstract: This paper proposes a novel stereo vision technique
for top view book scanners which provide us with dense 3d point
clouds of page surfaces. This is a precondition to dewarp bound
volumes independent of 2d information on the page. Our method is
based on algorithms, which normally require the projection of pattern
sequences with structured light. We use image sequences of the
moving stripe lighting of the top view scanner instead of an additional
light projection. Thus the stereo vision setup is simplified without
losing measurement accuracy. Furthermore we improve a surface
model dewarping method through introducing a difference vector
based on real measurements. Although our proposed method is hardly
expensive neither in calculation time nor in hardware requirements
we present good dewarping results even for difficult examples.
Abstract: The direct implementation of interleaver functions
in WiMAX is not hardware efficient due to presence of complex
functions. Also the conventional method i.e. using memories for
storing the permutation tables is silicon consuming. This work
presents a 2-D transformation for WiMAX channel interleaver
functions which reduces the overall hardware complexity to
compute the interleaver addresses on the fly. A fully reconfigurable
architecture for address generation in WiMAX
channel interleaver is presented, which consume 1.1 k-gates in
total. It can be configured for any block size and any modulation
scheme in WiMAX. The presented architecture can run at a
frequency of 200 MHz, thus fully supporting high bandwidth
requirements for WiMAX.
Abstract: A new design of a planar passive T-micromixer with fin-shaped baffles in the mixing channel is presented. The mixing efficiency and the level of pressure loss in the channel have been investigated by numerical simulations in the range of Reynolds number (Re) 1 to 50. A Mixing index (Mi) has been defined to quantify the mixing efficiency, which results over 85% at both ends of the Re range, what demonstrates the micromixer can enhance mixing using the mechanisms of diffusion (lower Re) and convection (higher Re). Three geometric dimensions: radius of baffle, baffles pitch and height of the channel define the design parameters, and the mixing index and pressure loss are the performance parameters used to optimize the micromixer geometry with a multi-criteria optimization method. The Pareto front of designs with the optimum trade-offs, maximum mixing index with minimum pressure loss, is obtained. Experiments for qualitative and quantitative validation have been implemented.
Abstract: Several models of vulnerability assessment have been proposed. The selection of one of these models depends on the objectives of the study. The classical methodologies for seismic vulnerability analysis, as a part of seismic risk analysis, have been formulated with statistical criteria based on a rapid observation. The information relating to the buildings performance is statistically elaborated. In this paper, we use the European Macroseismic Scale EMS-98 to define the relationship between damage and macroseismic intensity to assess the seismic vulnerability. Applying to Algiers area, the first step is to identify building typologies and to assign vulnerability classes. In the second step, damages are investigated according to EMS-98.
Abstract: Modern managements of water distribution system
(WDS) need water quality models that are able to accurately predict
the dynamics of water quality variations within the distribution system
environment. Before water quality models can be applied to solve
system problems, they should be calibrated. Although former
researchers use GA solver to calibrate relative parameters, it is
difficult to apply on the large-scale or medium-scale real system for
long computational time. In this paper a new method is designed
which combines both macro and detailed model to optimize the water
quality parameters. This new combinational algorithm uses radial
basis function (RBF) metamodeling as a surrogate to be optimized for
the purpose of decreasing the times of time-consuming water quality
simulation and can realize rapidly the calibration of pipe wall reaction
coefficients of chlorine model of large-scaled WDS. After two cases
study this method is testified to be more efficient and promising, and
deserve to generalize in the future.
Abstract: Development of motor car safety devices has reduced
fatality rates in car accidents. Yet despite this increase in car safety,
neck injuries resulting from rear impact collisions, particularly at low
speed, remain a primary concern. In this study, FEA(Finite Element
Analysis) of seat was performed to evaluate neck injuries in rear
impact. And the FEA result was verified by comparison with the actual
test results. The dummy used in FE model and actual test is BioRID II
which is regarded suitable for rear impact collision analysis. A
threshold of the BioRID II neck injury indicators was also proposed to
upgrade seat performance in order to reduce whiplash injury. To
optimize the seat for a low-speed rear impact collision, a method was
proposed, which is multi-objective optimization idea using DOE
(Design of Experiments) results.
Abstract: The pedagogy project has been proven as an active
learning method, which is used to develop learner-s skills and
knowledge.The use of technology in the learning world, has filed
several gaps in the implementation of teaching methods, and online
evaluation of learners. However, the project methodology presents
challenges in the assessment of learners online.
Indeed, interoperability between E-learning platforms (LMS) is
one of the major challenges of project-based learning assessment.
Firstly, we have reviewed the characteristics of online assessment
in the context of project-based teaching. We addressed the
constraints encountered during the peer evaluation process.
Our approach is to propose a meta-model, which will describe a
language dedicated to the conception of peer assessment scenario in
project-based learning. Then we illustrate our proposal by an
instantiation of the meta-model through a business process in a
scenario of collaborative assessment on line.
Abstract: The struggle between modern and postmodern
understanding is also displayed in terms of the superiorities of
quantitative and qualitative methods to each other which are
evaluated within the scope of these understandings. By way of
assuming that the quantitative researches (modern) are able to
account for structure while the qualitative researches (postmodern)
explain the process, these methods are turned into a means for
worldviews specific to a period. In fact, process is not a functioning
independent of structure. In addition to this issue, the ability of
quantitative methods to provide scientific knowledge is also
controversial so long as they exclude the dialectical method. For this
reason, the critiques charged against modernism in terms of
quantitative methods are, in a sense, legitimate. Nevertheless, the
main issue is in which parameters postmodernist critique tries to
legitimize its critiques and whether these parameters represent a point
of view enabling democratic solutions.
In this respect, the scientific knowledge covered in Turkish media
as a means through which ordinary people have access to scientific
knowledge will be evaluated by means of content analysis within a
new objectivity conception.
Abstract: Disordered function of maniphalanx and difficulty with
ambulation will occur insofar as a human has a failure in the spinal
marrow. Cervical spondylotic myelopathy as one of the myelopathy
emanates from not only external factors but also increased age. In
addition, the diacrisis is difficult since cervical spondylotic
myelopathy is evaluated by a doctor-s neurological remark and
imaging findings. As a quantitative method for measuring the degree
of disability, hand-operated triangle step test (for short, TST) has
formulated. In this research, a full automatic triangle step counter
apparatus is designed and developed to measure the degree of
disability in an accurate fashion according to the principle of TST. The
step counter apparatus whose shape is a low triangle pole displays the
number of stepping upon each corner. Furthermore, the apparatus has
two modes of operation. Namely, one is for measuring the degree of
disability and the other for rehabilitation exercise. In terms of
usefulness, clinical practice should be executed before too long.
Abstract: Deaths from cardiovascular diseases have decreased substantially over the past two decades, largely as a result of advances in acute care and cardiac surgery. These developments have produced a growing population of patients who have survived a myocardial infarction. These patients need to be continuously monitored so that the initiation of treatment can be given within the crucial golden hour. The available conventional methods of monitoring mostly perform offline analysis and restrict the mobility of these patients within a hospital or room. Hence the aim of this paper is to design a Portable Cardiac Telemedicine System to aid the patients to regain their independence and return to an active work schedule, there by improving the psychological well being. The portable telemedicine system consists of a Wearable ECG Transmitter (WET) and a slightly modified mobile phone, which has an inbuilt ECG analyzer. The WET is placed on the body of the patient that continuously acquires the ECG signals from the high-risk cardiac patients who can move around anywhere. This WET transmits the ECG to the patient-s Bluetooth enabled mobile phone using blue tooth technology. The ECG analyzer inbuilt in the mobile phone continuously analyzes the heartbeats derived from the received ECG signals. In case of any panic condition, the mobile phone alerts the patients care taker by an SMS and initiates the transmission of a sample ECG signal to the doctor, via the mobile network.
Abstract: This paper includes a review of three physics simulation packages that can be used to provide researchers with a virtual ground for modeling, implementing and simulating complex models, as well as testing their control methods with less cost and time of development. The inverted pendulum model was used as a test bed for comparing ODE, DANCE and Webots, while Linear State Feedback was used to control its behavior. The packages were compared with respect to model creation, solving systems of differential equation, data storage, setting system variables, control the experiment and ease of use. The purpose of this paper is to give an overview about our experience with these environments and to demonstrate some of the benefits and drawbacks involved in practice for each package.
Abstract: The ElectroEncephaloGram (EEG) is useful for
clinical diagnosis and biomedical research. EEG signals often
contain strong ElectroOculoGram (EOG) artifacts produced
by eye movements and eye blinks especially in EEG recorded
from frontal channels. These artifacts obscure the underlying
brain activity, making its visual or automated inspection
difficult. The goal of ocular artifact removal is to remove
ocular artifacts from the recorded EEG, leaving the underlying
background signals due to brain activity. In recent times,
Independent Component Analysis (ICA) algorithms have
demonstrated superior potential in obtaining the least
dependent source components. In this paper, the independent
components are obtained by using the JADE algorithm (best
separating algorithm) and are classified into either artifact
component or neural component. Neural Network is used for
the classification of the obtained independent components.
Neural Network requires input features that exactly represent
the true character of the input signals so that the neural
network could classify the signals based on those key
characters that differentiate between various signals. In this
work, Auto Regressive (AR) coefficients are used as the input
features for classification. Two neural network approaches
are used to learn classification rules from EEG data. First, a
Polynomial Neural Network (PNN) trained by GMDH (Group
Method of Data Handling) algorithm is used and secondly,
feed-forward neural network classifier trained by a standard
back-propagation algorithm is used for classification and the
results show that JADE-FNN performs better than JADEPNN.
Abstract: The objective of our work is to develop a new approach for discovering knowledge from a large mass of data, the result of applying this approach will be an expert system that will serve as diagnostic tools of a phenomenon related to a huge information system. We first recall the general problem of learning Bayesian network structure from data and suggest a solution for optimizing the complexity by using organizational and optimization methods of data. Afterward we proposed a new heuristic of learning a Multi-Entities Bayesian Networks structures. We have applied our approach to biological facts concerning hereditary complex illnesses where the literatures in biology identify the responsible variables for those diseases. Finally we conclude on the limits arched by this work.
Abstract: In this paper, we present user pattern learning
algorithm based MDSS (Medical Decision support system) under
ubiquitous. Most of researches are focus on hardware system, hospital
management and whole concept of ubiquitous environment even
though it is hard to implement. Our objective of this paper is to design
a MDSS framework. It helps to patient for medical treatment and
prevention of the high risk patient (COPD, heart disease, Diabetes).
This framework consist database, CAD (Computer Aided diagnosis
support system) and CAP (computer aided user vital sign prediction
system). It can be applied to develop user pattern learning algorithm
based MDSS for homecare and silver town service. Especially this
CAD has wise decision making competency. It compares current vital
sign with user-s normal condition pattern data. In addition, the CAP
computes user vital sign prediction using past data of the patient. The
novel approach is using neural network method, wireless vital sign
acquisition devices and personal computer DB system. An intelligent
agent based MDSS will help elder people and high risk patients to
prevent sudden death and disease, the physician to get the online
access to patients- data, the plan of medication service priority (e.g.
emergency case).
Abstract: This paper proposes the application of a hierarchical fuzzy system (HFS) based on multi-input power system stabilizer (MPSS) and also Static Var Compensator (SVC) in multi-machine environment.The number of rules grows exponentially with the number of variables in a conventional fuzzy logic system. The proposed HFS method is developed to solve this problem. To reduce the number of rules the HFS consists of a number of low-dimensional fuzzy systems in a hierarchical structure. In fact, by using HFS the total number of involved rules increases only linearly with the number of input variables. In the MPSS, to have better efficiency an auxiliary signal of reactive power deviation (ΔQ) is added with ΔP+ Δω input type Power system stabilizer (PSS). Phasor model of SVC is described and used in this paper. The performances of MPSS, Conventional power system stabilizer (CPSS), hierarchical Fuzzy Multi-input Power System Stabilizer (HFMPSS) and the proposed method in damping inter-area mode of oscillation are examined in response to disturbances. By using digital simulations the comparative study is illustrated. It can be seen that the proposed PSS is performing satisfactorily within the whole range of disturbances.
Abstract: The symmetric solution set Σ sym is the set of all solutions to the linear systems Ax = b, where A is symmetric and lies between some given bounds A and A, and b lies between b and b. We present a contractor for Σ sym, which is an iterative method that starts with some initial enclosure of Σ sym (by means of a cartesian product of intervals) and sequentially makes the enclosure tighter. Our contractor is based on polyhedral approximation and solving a series of linear programs. Even though it does not converge to the optimal bounds in general, it may significantly reduce the overestimation. The efficiency is discussed by a number of numerical experiments.
Abstract: The operation performance of a valveless micro-pump
is strongly dependent on the shape of connected nozzle/diffuser and
Reynolds number. The aims of present work are to compare the
performance curves of micropump with the original straight
nozzle/diffuser and contoured nozzle/diffuser under different back
pressure conditions. The tested valveless micropumps are assembled
of five pieces of patterned PMMA plates with hot-embracing
technique. The structures of central chamber, the inlet/outlet
reservoirs and the connected nozzle/diffuser are fabricated with laser
cutting machine. The micropump is actuated with circular-type PZT
film embraced on the bottom of central chamber. The deformation of
PZT membrane with various input voltages is measured with a
displacement laser probe. A simple testing facility is also constructed
to evaluate the performance curves for comparison.
In order to observe the evaluation of low Reynolds number
multiple vortex flow patterns within the micropump during suction
and pumping modes, the unsteady, incompressible laminar
three-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations are
solved. The working fluid is DI water with constant thermo-physical
properties. The oscillating behavior of PZT film is modeled with the
moving boundary wall in way of UDF program. With the dynamic
mesh method, the instants pressure and velocity fields are obtained
and discussed.Results indicated that the volume flow rate is not
monotony increased with the oscillating frequency of PZT film,
regardless of the shapes of nozzle/diffuser. The present micropump
can generate the maximum volume flow rate of 13.53 ml/min when
the operation frequency is 64Hz and the input voltage is 140 volts.
The micropump with contoured nozzle/diffuser can provide 7ml/min
flow rate even when the back pressure is up to 400 mm-H2O. CFD
results revealed that the flow central chamber was occupied with
multiple pairs of counter-rotating vortices during suction and
pumping modes. The net volume flow rate over a complete
oscillating periodic of PZT
Abstract: In this paper we present a novel approach for human
Body configuration based on the Silhouette. We propose to address
this problem under the Bayesian framework. We use an effective
Model based MCMC (Markov Chain Monte Carlo) method to solve
the configuration problem, in which the best configuration could be
defined as MAP (maximize a posteriori probability) in Bayesian
model. This model based MCMC utilizes the human body model to
drive the MCMC sampling from the solution space. It converses the
original high dimension space into a restricted sub-space constructed
by the human model and uses a hybrid sampling algorithm. We
choose an explicit human model and carefully select the likelihood
functions to represent the best configuration solution. The
experiments show that this method could get an accurate
configuration and timesaving for different human from multi-views.
Abstract: Ethanol is generally used as a therapeutic reagent against Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC or hepatoma) worldwide, as it can induce Hepatocellular carcinoma cell apoptosis at low concentration through a multifactorial process regulated by several unknown proteins. This paper provides a simple and available proteomic strategy for exploring differentially expressed proteins in the apoptotic pathway. The appropriate concentrations of ethanol required to induce HepG2 cell apoptosis were first assessed by MTT assay, Gisma and fluorescence staining. Next, the central proteins involved in the apoptosis pathway processs were determined using 2D-PAGE, SDS-PAGE, and bio-software analysis. Finally the downregulation of two proteins, AFP and survivin, were determined by immunocytochemistry and reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) technology. The simple, useful method demonstrated here provides a new approach to proteomic analysis in key bio-regulating process including proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, immunity and metastasis.