Abstract: This paper is concerned with studying the forgetting factor of the recursive least square (RLS). A new dynamic forgetting factor (DFF) for RLS algorithm is presented. The proposed DFF-RLS is compared to other methods. Better performance at convergence and tracking of noisy chirp sinusoid is achieved. The control of the forgetting factor at DFF-RLS is based on the gradient of inverse correlation matrix. Compared with the gradient of mean square error algorithm, the proposed approach provides faster tracking and smaller mean square error. In low signal-to-noise ratios, the performance of the proposed method is superior to other approaches.
Abstract: Natural pozzolan (NP) is one of the potential
prehistoric alternative binders in the construction industry. It has
been investigated as cement replacement in ordinary concrete by
several researchers for many purposes. Various supplementary
cementitious materials (SCMs) such as fly ash, limestone dust and
silica fume are widely used in the production of SCC; however,
limited studies to address the effect of NP on the properties of SCC
are documented. The current research is composed of different SCC
paste and concrete mixtures containing different replacement levels
of local NP as an alternative SCM. The effect of volume of paste
containing different amounts of local NP related to W/B ratio and
cement content on SCC fresh properties was assessed. The variations
in the fresh properties of SCC paste and concrete represented by
slump flow (flowability) and the flow rate were determined and
discussed. The results indicated that the flow properties of SCC paste
and concrete mixtures, at their optimized superplasticizer dosages,
were affected by the binder content of local NP and the total volume
fraction of SCC paste.
Abstract: commercially produced in Malaysia granular
palm shell activated carbon (PSAC) was biomodified with
bacterial biomass (Bacillus subtilis) to produce a hybrid
biosorbent of higher efficiency. The obtained biosorbent was
evaluated in terms of adsorption capacity to remove copper
and zinc metal ions from aqueous solutions. The adsorption
capacity was evaluated in batch adsorption experiments where
concentrations of metal ions varied from 20 to 350 mg/L. A
range of pH from 3 to 6 of aqueous solutions containing metal
ions was tested. Langmuir adsorption model was used to
interpret the experimental data. Comparison of the adsorption
data of the biomodified and original palm shell activated
carbon showed higher uptake of metal ions by the hybrid
biosorbent. A trend in metal ions uptake increase with the
increase in the solution-s pH was observed. The surface
characterization data indicated a decrease in the total surface
area for the hybrid biosorbent; however the uptake of copper
and zinc by it was at least equal to the original PSAC at pH 4
and 5. The highest capacity of the hybrid biosorbent was
observed at pH 5 and comprised 22 mg/g and 19 mg/g for
copper and zinc, respectively. The adsorption capacity at the
lowest pH of 3 was significantly low. The experimental results
facilitated identification of potential factors influencing the
adsorption of copper and zinc onto biomodified and original
palm shell activated carbon.
Abstract: In most wheat growing moderate regions and
especially in the north of Iran climate, is affected grain filling by
several physical and abiotic stresses. In this region, grain filling often
occurs when temperatures are increasing and moisture supply is
decreasing. The experiment was designed in RCBD with split plot
arrangements with four replications. Four irrigation treatments
included (I0) no irrigation (check); (I1) one irrigation (50 mm) at
heading stage; (I2) two irrigation (100 mm) at heading and anthesis
stage; and (I3) three irrigation (150 mm) at heading, anthesis and
early grain filling growth stage, two wheat cultivars (Milan and
Shanghai) were cultured in the experiment. Totally raining was 453
mm during the growth season. The result indicated that biological
yield, grain yield and harvest index were significantly affected by
irrigation levels. I3 treatment produced more tillers number in m2,
fertile tillers number in m2, harvest index and biological yield. Milan
produced more tillers number in m2, fertile tillers in m2, while
Shanghai produced heavier tillers and grain 1000 weight. Plant height
was significant in wheat varieties while were not statistically
significant in irrigation levels. Milan produced more grain yield,
harvest index and biological yield. Grain yield shown that I1, I2, and
I3 produced increasing of 5228 (21%), 5460 (27%) and 5670 (29%)
kg ha-1, respectively. There was an interaction of irrigation and
cultivar on grain yields. In the absence of the irrigation reduced grain
1000 weight from 45 to 40 g. No irrigation reduced soil moisture
extraction during the grain filling stage. Current assimilation as a
source of carbon for grain filling depends on the light intercepting
viable green surfaces of the plant after anthesis that due to natural
senescence and the effect of various stresses. At the same time the
demand by the growing grain is increasing. It is concluded from
research work that wheat crop irrigated Milan cultivar could increase
the grain yield in comparison with Shanghai cultivar. Although, the
grain yield of Shanghai under irrigation was slightly lower than
Milan. This grain yield also was related to weather condition, sowing
date, plant density and location conditions and management of
fertilizers, because there was not significant difference in biological
and straw yield. The best result was produced by I1 treatment. I2 and
I3 treatments were not significantly difference with I1 treatment.
Grain yield of I1 indicated that wheat is under soil moisture
deficiency. Therefore, I1 irrigation was better than I0.
Abstract: Voltage collapse is instability of heavily loaded electric
power systems that cause to declining voltages and blackout. Power
systems are predicated to become more heavily loaded in the future
decade as the demand for electric power rises while economic and
environmental concerns limit the construction of new transmission
and generation capacity. Heavily loaded power systems are closer to
their stability limits and voltage collapse blackouts will occur if
suitable monitoring and control measures are not taken. To control
transmission lines, it can be used from FACTS devices.
In this paper Harmony search algorithm (HSA) and Genetic
Algorithm (GA) have applied to determine optimal location of
FACTS devices in a power system to improve power system stability.
Three types of FACTS devices (TCPAT, UPFS, and SVC) have been
introduced. Bus under voltage has been solved by controlling reactive
power of shunt compensator. Also a combined series-shunt
compensators has been also used to control transmission power flow
and bus voltage simultaneously.
Different scenarios have been considered. First TCPAT, UPFS, and
SVC are placed solely in transmission lines and indices have been
calculated. Then two types of above controller try to improve
parameters randomly. The last scenario tries to make better voltage
stability index and losses by implementation of three types controller
simultaneously. These scenarios are executed on typical 34-bus test
system and yields efficiency in improvement of voltage profile and
reduction of power losses; it also may permit an increase in power
transfer capacity, maximum loading, and voltage stability margin.
Abstract: New generation mobile communication networks have
the ability of supporting triple play. In order that, Orthogonal
Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) access techniques have
been chosen to enlarge the system ability for high data rates
networks. Many of cross-layer modeling and optimization schemes
for Quality of Service (QoS) and capacity of downlink multiuser
OFDM system were proposed. In this paper, the Maximum Weighted
Capacity (MWC) based resource allocation at the Physical (PHY)
layer is used. This resource allocation scheme provides a much better
QoS than the previous resource allocation schemes, while
maintaining the highest or nearly highest capacity and costing similar
complexity. In addition, the Delay Satisfaction (DS) scheduling at the
Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, which allows more than one
connection to be served in each slot is used. This scheduling
technique is more efficient than conventional scheduling to
investigate both of the number of users as well as the number of
subcarriers against system capacity. The system will be optimized for
different operational environments: the outdoor deployment scenarios
as well as the indoor deployment scenarios are investigated and also
for different channel models. In addition, effective capacity approach
[1] is used not only for providing QoS for different mobile users, but
also to increase the total wireless network's throughput.
Abstract: This paper proposes an Interactive Chinese Character
Learning System (ICCLS) based on pictorial evolution as an
edutainment concept in computer-based learning of language. The
advantage of the language origination itself is taken as a learning
platform due to the complexity in Chinese language as compared to
other types of languages. Users especially children enjoy more by
utilize this learning system because they are able to memories the
Chinese Character easily and understand more of the origin of the
Chinese character under pleasurable learning environment, compares
to traditional approach which children need to rote learning Chinese
Character under un-pleasurable environment. Skeletonization is used
as the representation of Chinese character and object with an animated
pictograph evolution to facilitate the learning of the language. Shortest
skeleton path matching technique is employed for fast and accurate
matching in our implementation. User is required to either write a
word or draw a simple 2D object in the input panel and the matched
word and object will be displayed as well as the pictograph evolution
to instill learning. The target of computer-based learning system is for
pre-school children between 4 to 6 years old to learn Chinese
characters in a flexible and entertaining manner besides utilizing
visual and mind mapping strategy as learning methodology.
Abstract: This paper looks into areas not covered by prominent
Agent-Oriented Software Engineering (AOSE) methodologies.
Extensive paper review led to the identification of two issues, first
most of these methodologies almost neglect semantic web and
ontology. Second, as expected, each one has its strength and
weakness and may focus on some phases of the development
lifecycle but not all of the phases. The work presented here builds
extensions to a highly regarded AOSE methodology (MaSE) in order
to cover the areas that this methodology does not concentrate on. The
extensions include introducing an ontology stage for semantic
representation and integrating early requirement specification from a
methodology which mainly focuses on that. The integration involved
developing transformation rules (with the necessary handling of nonmatching
notions) between the two sets of representations and
building the software which automates the transformation. The
application of this integration on a case study is also presented in the
paper. The main flow of MaSE stages was changed to smoothly
accommodate the new additions.
Abstract: The myocardial sintigraphy is an imaging modality which provides functional informations. Whereas, coronarography modality gives useful informations about coronary arteries anatomy. In case of coronary artery disease (CAD), the coronarography can not determine precisely which moderate lesions (artery reduction between 50% and 70%), known as the “gray zone", are haemodynamicaly significant. In this paper, we aim to define the relationship between the location and the degree of the stenosis in coronary arteries and the observed perfusion on the myocardial scintigraphy. This allows us to model the impact evolution of these stenoses in order to justify a coronarography or to avoid it for patients suspected being in the gray zone. Our approach is decomposed in two steps. The first step consists in modelling a coronary artery bed and stenoses of different location and degree. The second step consists in modelling the left ventricle at stress and at rest using the sphercical harmonics model and myocardial scintigraphic data. We use the spherical harmonics descriptors to analyse left ventricle model deformation between stress and rest which permits us to conclude if ever an ischemia exists and to quantify it.
Abstract: A healthcare monitoring system is presented in this
paper. This system is based on ultra-low power sensor nodes and a
personal server, which is based on hardware and software extensions
to a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)/Smartphone. The sensor node
collects data from the body of a patient and sends it to the personal
server where the data is processed, displayed and made ready to be
sent to a healthcare network, if necessary. The personal server
consists of a compact low power receiver module and equipped with
a Smartphone software. The receiver module takes less than 30 × 30
mm board size and consumes approximately 25 mA in active mode.
Abstract: This paper presents a new adaptive impedance control
strategy, based on Function Approximation Technique (FAT) to
compensate for unknown non-flat environment shape or time-varying
environment location. The target impedance in the force controllable
direction is modified by incorporating adaptive compensators and the
uncertainties are represented by FAT, allowing the update law to be
derived easily. The force error feedback is utilized in the estimation
and the accurate knowledge of the environment parameters are not
required by the algorithm. It is shown mathematically that the
stability of the controller is guaranteed based on Lyapunov theory.
Simulation results presented to demonstrate the validity of the
proposed controller.
Abstract: DNA microarrays allow the measurement of expression levels for a large number of genes, perhaps all genes of an organism, within a number of different experimental samples. It is very much important to extract biologically meaningful information from this huge amount of expression data to know the current state of the cell because most cellular processes are regulated by changes in gene expression. Association rule mining techniques are helpful to find association relationship between genes. Numerous association rule mining algorithms have been developed to analyze and associate this huge amount of gene expression data. This paper focuses on some of the popular association rule mining algorithms developed to analyze gene expression data.
Abstract: A new power regulator controller with multiple-access
PID compensator is proposed, which can achieve a minimum memory
requirement for fully table look-up. The proposed regulator controller
employs hysteresis comparators, an error process unit (EPU) for
voltage regulation, a multiple-access PID compensator and a lowpower-
consumption digital PWM (DPWM). Based on the multipleaccess
mechanism, the proposed controller can alleviate the penalty of
large amount of memory employed for fully table look-up based PID
compensator in the applications of power regulation. The proposed
controller has been validated with simulation results.
Abstract: Heterogeneity has to be taken into account when
integrating a set of existing information sources into a distributed
information system that are nowadays often based on Service-
Oriented Architectures (SOA). This is also particularly applicable to
distributed services such as event monitoring, which are useful in the
context of Event Driven Architectures (EDA) and Complex Event
Processing (CEP). Web services deal with this heterogeneity at a
technical level, also providing little support for event processing. Our
central thesis is that such a fully generic solution cannot provide
complete support for event monitoring; instead, source specific
semantics such as certain event types or support for certain event
monitoring techniques have to be taken into account. Our core result
is the design of a configurable event monitoring (Web) service that
allows us to trade genericity for the exploitation of source specific
characteristics. It thus delivers results for the areas of SOA, Web
services, CEP and EDA.
Abstract: Characterization of radio communication signals aims
at automatic recognition of different characteristics of radio signals in
order to detect their modulation type, the central frequency, and the
level. Our purpose is to apply techniques used in image processing in
order to extract pertinent characteristics. To the single analysis, we
add several rules for checking the consistency of hypotheses using
fuzzy logic. This allows taking into account ambiguity and
uncertainty that may remain after the extraction of individual
characteristics. The aim is to improve the process of radio
communications characterization.
Abstract: The amount of urban artificial heat which affects the
urban temperature rise in urban meteorology was investigated in order
to clarify the relationships between urbanization and urban
meteorology in this study.
The results of calculation to identify how urban temperate was
increased through the establishment of a model for measuring the
amount of urban artificial heat and theoretical testing revealed that the
amount of urban artificial heat increased urban temperature by plus or
minus 0.23 ˚ C in 2007 compared with 1996, statistical methods
(correlation and regression analysis) to clarify the relationships
between urbanization and urban weather were as follows.
New design techniques and urban growth management are
necessary from urban growth management point of view suggested
from this research at city design phase to decrease urban temperature
rise and urban torrential rain which can produce urban disaster in terms
of urban meteorology by urbanization.
Abstract: The Minimal Residual (MR) is modified for adaptive
filtering application. Three forms of MR based algorithm are
presented: i) the low complexity SPCG, ii) MREDSI, and iii)
MREDSII. The low complexity is a reduced complexity version of a
previously proposed SPCG algorithm. Approximations introduced
reduce the algorithm to an LMS type algorithm, but, maintain the
superior convergence of the SPCG algorithm. Both MREDSI and
MREDSII are MR based methods with Euclidean direction of search.
The choice of Euclidean directions is shown via simulation to give
better misadjustment compared to their gradient search counterparts.
Abstract: Modular fixtures (MFs) are very important tools in
manufacturing processes in terms of reduction the cost and the
production time. This paper introduces an automated approach for
assembling MFs elements by employing SolidWorks as a powerful
3D CAD software. Visual Basic (VB) programming language was
applied integrating with SolidWorks API (Application programming
interface) functions. This integration allowed creating plug-in file and
generating new menus in the SolidWorks environment. The menus
allow the user to select, insert, and assemble MFs elements.
Abstract: Smoke from domestic wood burning has been
identified as a major contributor to air pollution, motivating detailed
emission measurements under controlled conditions. A series of
experiments was performed to characterise the emissions from wood
combustion in a fireplace and in a woodstove of two common species
of trees grown in Spain: Pyrenean oak (Quercus pyrenaica) and
black poplar (Populus nigra). Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in
the exhaust emissions were collected in Tedlar bags, re-sampled in
sorbent tubes and analysed by thermal desorption-gas
chromatography-flame ionisation detection. Pyrenean oak presented
substantially higher emissions in the woodstove than in the fireplace,
for the majority of compounds. The opposite was observed for
poplar. Among the 45 identified species, benzene and benzenerelated
compounds represent the most abundant group, followed by
oxygenated VOCs and aliphatics. Emission factors obtained in this
study are generally of the same order than those reported for
residential experiments in the USA.
Abstract: The contribution deals with analysis of identity style
at adolescents (N=463) at the age from 16 to 19 (the average age is
17,7 years). We used the Identity Style Inventory by Berzonsky,
distinguishing three basic, measured identity styles: informational,
normative, diffuse-avoidant identity style and also commitment. The
informational identity style influencing on personal adaptability,
coping strategies, quality of life and the normative identity style, it
means the style in which an individual takes on models of authorities
at self-defining were found to have the highest representation in the
studied group of adolescents by higher scores at girls in comparison
with boys. The normative identity style positively correlates with the
informational identity style. The diffuse-avoidant identity style was
found to be positively associated with maladaptive decisional
strategies, neuroticism and depressive reactions. There is the style,
in which the individual shifts aside defining his personality. In our
research sample the lowest score represents it and negatively
correlates with commitment, it means with coping strategies, thrust in
oneself and the surrounding world. The age of adolescents did not
significantly differentiate representation of identity style. We were
finding the model, in which informational and normative identity
style had positive relationship and the informational and diffuseavoidant
style had negative relationship, which were determinated
with commitment. In the same time the commitment is influenced
with other outside factors.