Abstract: This study reports results of a meta-analytic path analysis e-learning Acceptance Model with k = 27 studies, Databases searched included Information Sciences Institute (ISI) website. Variables recorded included perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, attitude toward behavior, and behavioral intention to use e-learning. A correlation matrix of these variables was derived from meta-analytic data and then analyzed by using structural path analysis to test the fitness of the e-learning acceptance model to the observed aggregated data. Results showed the revised hypothesized model to be a reasonable, good fit to aggregated data. Furthermore, discussions and implications are given in this article.
Abstract: This paper details a new concept of using compressed air as a potential zero pollution power source for motorbikes. In place of an internal combustion engine, the motorbike is equipped with an air turbine transforms the energy of the compressed air into shaft work. The mathematical modeling and performance evaluation of a small capacity compressed air driven vaned type novel air turbine is presented in this paper. The effect of isobaric admission and adiabatic expansion of high pressure air for different rotor diameters, casing diameters and ratio of rotor to casing diameters of the turbine have been considered and analyzed. It is concluded that the work output is found optimum for some typical values of rotor / casing diameter ratios. In this study, the maximum power works out to 3.825 kW (5.20 HP) for casing diameter of 200 mm and rotor to casing diameter ratio of 0.65 to 0.60 which is sufficient to run motorbike.
Abstract: This study investigated the relationship between urban
and rural ozone concentrations and quantified the extent to which
ambient rural conditions and the concentrations of other pollutants
can be used to predict urban ozone concentrations. The study
describes the variations of ozone in weekday and weekends as well as
the daily maximum recorded at selected monitoring stations. The
results showed that Putrajaya station had the highest concentrations
of O3 on weekend due the titration of NO during the weekday.
Additionally, Jerantut had the lowest average concentration with a
reading value high on Wednesdays. The comparisons of average and
maximum concentrations of ozone for the three stations showed that
the strongest significant correlation is recorded in Jerantut station
with the value R2= 0.769. Ozone concentrations originating from a
neighbouring urban site form a better predictor to the urban ozone
concentrations than widespread rural ozone at some levels of
temporal averaging. It is found that in urban and rural of Malaysian
peninsular, the concentration of ozone depends on the concentration
of NOx and seasonal meteorological factors. The HYSPLIT Model
(the northeast monsoon) showed that the wind direction can also
influence the concentration of ozone in the atmosphere in the studied
areas.
Abstract: This paper proposes a method which reduces power consumption in single-error correcting, double error-detecting checker circuits that perform memory error correction code. Power is minimized with little or no impact on area and delay, using the degrees of freedom in selecting the parity check matrix of the error correcting codes. The genetic algorithm is employed to solve the non linear power optimization problem. The method is applied to two commonly used SEC-DED codes: standard Hamming and odd column weight Hsiao codes. Experiments were performed to show the performance of the proposed method.
Abstract: In this work, we present a comparison between
different techniques of image compression. First, the image is
divided in blocks which are organized according to a certain scan.
Later, several compression techniques are applied, combined or
alone. Such techniques are: wavelets (Haar's basis), Karhunen-Loève
Transform, etc. Simulations show that the combined versions are the
best, with minor Mean Squared Error (MSE), and higher Peak Signal
to Noise Ratio (PSNR) and better image quality, even in the presence
of noise.
Abstract: The purposes of this study are 1) to identify
learning styles of university students in Bangkok, and 2) to study
the frequency of the relevant instructional context of the identified
learning styles. Learning Styles employed in this study are those of
Honey and Mumford, which include 1) Reflectors, 2) Theorists, 3)
Pragmatists, and 4) Activists. The population comprises 1383
students and 5 lecturers. Research tools are 2 questionnaires – one
used for identifying students- learning styles, and the other used for
identifying the frequency of the relevant instructional context of
the identified learning styles.
The research findings reveal that 32.30 percent - are Activists,
while 28.10 percent are Theorists, 20.10 are Reflectors, and 19.50
are Pragmatists. In terms of the relevant instructional context of the
identified 4 learning styles, it is found that the frequency level of
the instructional context is totally in high level. Moreover, 2 lists of
the context being conducted most frequently are 'Lead'in activity
to review background knowledge,- and 'Information retrieval
report.' And these two activities serve the learning styles of
theorists and activists. It is, therefore, suggested that more
instructional context supporting the activists, the majority of the
population, learning best by doing, as well as emotional learning
situation should be added.
Abstract: A hybrid learning automata-genetic algorithm (HLGA) is proposed to solve QoS routing optimization problem of next generation networks. The algorithm complements the advantages of the learning Automato Algorithm(LA) and Genetic Algorithm(GA). It firstly uses the good global search capability of LA to generate initial population needed by GA, then it uses GA to improve the Quality of Service(QoS) and acquiring the optimization tree through new algorithms for crossover and mutation operators which are an NP-Complete problem. In the proposed algorithm, the connectivity matrix of edges is used for genotype representation. Some novel heuristics are also proposed for mutation, crossover, and creation of random individuals. We evaluate the performance and efficiency of the proposed HLGA-based algorithm in comparison with other existing heuristic and GA-based algorithms by the result of simulation. Simulation results demonstrate that this paper proposed algorithm not only has the fast calculating speed and high accuracy but also can improve the efficiency in Next Generation Networks QoS routing. The proposed algorithm has overcome all of the previous algorithms in the literature.
Abstract: The main criteria of designing in the most hydraulic
constructions essentially are based on runoff or discharge of water. Two of those important criteria are runoff and return period. Mostly,
these measures are calculated or estimated by stochastic data.
Another feature in hydrological data is their impreciseness.
Therefore, in order to deal with uncertainty and impreciseness, based
on Buckley-s estimation method, a new fuzzy method of evaluating hydrological measures are developed. The method introduces
triangular shape fuzzy numbers for different measures in which both
of the uncertainty and impreciseness concepts are considered. Besides, since another important consideration in most of the
hydrological studies is comparison of a measure during different
months or years, a new fuzzy method which is consistent with special form of proposed fuzzy numbers, is also developed. Finally, to
illustrate the methods more explicitly, the two algorithms are tested on one simple example and a real case study.
Abstract: Today, people are more interested in the foods
beneficial on their health. However, there are still lacks of accurate
knowledge in the field of biological properties, functional properties,
including the application of legume in foods. This study focused on
antioxidant activity of soybean (SB) and fermented soybean (FSB)
crude extracts evaluating to have more information in fortification SB
and FSB crude extracts in food products and/or dietary supplement.
SB and FSB crude extracts were prepared by infusion with water and
ethanol. The antioxidant activity of crude extracts was studied with
DPPH and ABTS assay including commercial standard. From both
DPPH and ABTS assay, the antioxidant activity of SB and FSB water
crude extract showed higher antioxidant activity than ethanol crude
extract, and FSB crude extract showed higher antioxidant activity
than SB crude extract. In DPPH assay, BHT and vitamin C showed
IC50 values at 0.241, 0.039 mg/ml, in ABTS assay. In addition,
Trolox showed IC50 at 0.058 mg/ml respectively. FSB water crude
extract showed high antioxidant activity. Finally, the functional
properties study of both water and ethanol crude extracts should be
done for beneficial in application of these extracts in food products
and dietary supplement in the near future.
Abstract: The use of Inverse Discrete Fourier Transform (IDFT) implemented in the form of Inverse Fourier Transform (IFFT) is one of the standard method of reconstructing Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) from uniformly sampled K-space data. In this tutorial, three of the major problems associated with the use of IFFT in MRI reconstruction are highlighted. The tutorial also gives brief introduction to MRI physics; MRI system from instrumentation point of view; K-space signal and the process of IDFT and IFFT for One and two dimensional (1D and 2D) data.
Abstract: The purpose of the study was to find out the efficacy
of selected mobility exercises and participation in special games on psychomotor abilities, functional abilities and skill performance
among intellectually disabled children of age group under 14. Thirty male students who were studying in Balar Kalvi Nilayam and YMCA
College Special School, Chennai, acted as subjects for the study.
They were only mild and moderate in intellectual disability. These
students did not undergo any special training or coaching programme apart from their regular routine physical activity classes as a part of
the curriculum in the school. They were attached at random, based on
age in which 30 belonged to under 14 age group, which was divided
into three equal group of ten for each experimental treatment. 10
students (Treatment group I) underwent calisthenics and special
games participation, 10 students (Treatment group II) underwent
aquatics and special games participation, 10 students (Treatment
group III) underwent yoga and special games participation. The subjects were tested on selected criterion variables prior (pre test)
and after twelve weeks of training (post test). The pre and post test
data collected from three groups on functional abilities(self care,
learning, capacity for independent living), psychomotor
variables(static balance, eye hand coordination, simple reaction time
test) and skill performance (bocce skill, badminton skill, table tennis
skill) were statistically examined for significant difference, by
applying the analysis ANACOVA. Whenever an 'F' ratio for
adjusted test was found to be significant for adjusted post test means,
Scheffe-s test was followed as a post-hoc test to determine which of
the paired mean differences was significant. The result of the study
showed that among under 14 age groups there was a significant improvement on selected criterion variables such as, Balance,
Coordination, self-care and learning and also in Bocce, Badminton & Table Tennis skill performance, due to mobility exercises and
participation in special games. However there were no significant
differences among the groups.
Abstract: This paper discusses the implementation of the Kalman
Filter along with the Global Positioning System (GPS) for indoor
robot navigation. Two dimensional coordinates is used for the map
building, and refers to the global coordinate which is attached to the
reference landmark for position and direction information the robot
gets. The Discrete Kalman Filter is used to estimate the robot position,
project the estimated current state ahead in time through time update
and adjust the projected estimated state by an actual measurement at
that time via the measurement update. The navigation test has been
performed and has been found to be robust.
Abstract: In this paper, applying He-s energy balance method to determine frequency formulation relations of nonlinear oscillators with discontinuous term or fractional potential. By calculation and computer simulations, compared with the exact solutions show that the results obtained are of high accuracy.
Abstract: This study was aimed to study the probability about
the production of fiberboard made of durian rind through latex with
phenolic resin as binding agent. The durian rind underwent the
boiling process with NaOH [7], [8] and then the fiber from durian
rind was formed into fiberboard through heat press. This means that
durian rind could be used as replacement for plywood in plywood
industry by using durian fiber as composite material with adhesive
substance. This research would study the probability about the
production of fiberboard made of durian rind through latex with
phenolic resin as binding agent. At first, durian rind was split,
exposed to light, boiled and steamed in order to gain durian fiber.
Then, fiberboard was tested with the density of 600 Kg/m3 and 800
Kg/m3. in order to find a suitable ratio of durian fiber and latex.
Afterwards, mechanical properties were tested according to the
standards of ASTM and JIS A5905-1994. After the suitable ratio was
known, the test results would be compared with medium density
fiberboard (MDF) and other related research studies. According to
the results, fiberboard made of durian rind through latex with
phenolic resin at the density of 800 Kg/m3 at ratio of 1:1, the
moisture was measured to be 5.05% with specific gravity (ASTM D
2395-07a) of 0.81, density (JIS A 5905-1994) of 0.88 g/m3, tensile
strength, hardness (ASTM D2240), flexibility or elongation at break
yielded similar values as the ones by medium density fiberboard
(MDF).
Abstract: In this paper we propose a method for recognition of
adult video based on support vector machine (SVM). Different kernel
features are proposed to classify adult videos. SVM has an advantage
that it is insensitive to the relative number of training example in
positive (adult video) and negative (non adult video) classes. This
advantage is illustrated by comparing performance between different
SVM kernels for the identification of adult video.
Abstract: In this paper, we propose a new modular approach called neuroglial consisting of two neural networks slow and fast which emulates a biological reality recently discovered. The implementation is based on complex multi-time scale systems; validation is performed on the model of the asynchronous machine. We applied the geometric approach based on the Gerschgorin circles for the decoupling of fast and slow variables, and the method of singular perturbations for the development of reductions models.
This new architecture allows for smaller networks with less complexity and better performance in terms of mean square error and convergence than the single network model.
Abstract: Route bus system is the fundamental public transportation
system and has an important role in every province. To improve
the usability of it greatly, we develop an AR application for "Bus-
Net". The Bus-Net system is the shortest path planning system.
Bus-Net supports bus users to make a plan to change buses by
providing them with information about the direction. However, with
Bus-Net, these information are provided in text-base. It is difficult
to understand them for the person who does not know the place. We
developed the AR application for Bus-Net. It supports the action of
a bus user in an innovative way by putting information on a camera
picture and leading the way to a bus stop. The application also inform
the user the correct bus to get, the direction the bus takes and the
fare, which ease many anxieties and worries people tend to feel when
they take buses.
Abstract: One very interesting field of research in Pattern Recognition that has gained much attention in recent times is Gesture Recognition. In this paper, we consider a form of dynamic hand gestures that are characterized by total movement of the hand (arm) in space. For these types of gestures, the shape of the hand (palm) during gesturing does not bear any significance. In our work, we propose a model-based method for tracking hand motion in space, thereby estimating the hand motion trajectory. We employ the dynamic time warping (DTW) algorithm for time alignment and normalization of spatio-temporal variations that exist among samples belonging to the same gesture class. During training, one template trajectory and one prototype feature vector are generated for every gesture class. Features used in our work include some static and dynamic motion trajectory features. Recognition is accomplished in two stages. In the first stage, all unlikely gesture classes are eliminated by comparing the input gesture trajectory to all the template trajectories. In the next stage, feature vector extracted from the input gesture is compared to all the class prototype feature vectors using a distance classifier. Experimental results demonstrate that our proposed trajectory estimator and classifier is suitable for Human Computer Interaction (HCI) platform.
Abstract: Since its independence in 1962, Algeria has struggled
to establish an educational system tailored to the needs of the
population it may address. Considering the historical connection with
France, Algeria has always looked at the French language as a
cultural imperative until late in the seventies. After the Arabization
policy of 1971 and the socioeconomic changes taking place
worldwide, the use of English as a communicating vehicle started to
gain more space within globalized Algeria. Consequently, disparities
in the use of French started to fade away at the cross-roads leaving
more space to the teaching of English as a second foreign language.
Moreover, the introduction of the Bologna Process and the
European Credit Transfer System in Higher Education has
necessitated some innovations in the design and development of new
curricula adapted to the socioeconomic market. In this paper, I will
try to highlight the important historical dimensions Algeria has taken
towards the implementation of an English language methodology and
to the status it acquired from second foreign language, to first foreign
language to “the language of knowledge and sciences". I will also
propose new pedagogical perspectives for a better treatment of the
English language in order to encourage independent and autonomous
learning.
Abstract: Diagnostic goal of transformers in service is to detect the winding or the core in fault. Transformers are valuable equipment which makes a major contribution to the supply security of a power system. Consequently, it is of great importance to minimize the frequency and duration of unwanted outages of power transformers. So, Frequency Response Analysis (FRA) is found to be a useful tool for reliable detection of incipient mechanical fault in a transformer, by finding winding or core defects. The authors propose as first part of this article, the coupled circuits method, because, it gives most possible exhaustive modelling of transformers. And as second part of this work, the application of FRA in low frequency in order to improve and simplify the response reading. This study can be useful as a base data for the other transformers of the same categories intended for distribution grid.