Abstract: In this study, shaking table tests are performed to investigate the behavior of excess pore water pressure in different soft soil-foundations of soil-structure interaction (SSI) system. The variation of the behaviors under cycled minor shock is observed. Moreover, The generation and variation mechanism of excess pore water pressure under earthquake excitation in different soft soilfoundations are analyzed and discussed.
Abstract: Mobile Picture Puzzle is a mobile game application where the player use existing images stored in the mobile phone to create a puzzle to be played. This traditional picture puzzle is not so challenging once the player is familiar with the game. The objective of the developed mobile game application is to have a similar mobile game application that can provide the player with more challenging gaming experience. The developed mobile game application is also a mobile picture puzzle game application to create a puzzle to be played but instead of just using existing images that are stored, the personalised capability allows the player to use the built-in camera phone to capture an image and use the newly captured image to create the puzzle. The development of the mobile game application uses Symbian Operating System (OS), Mobile Media API (Application Programming Interface), Record Management System (RMS) storage and TiledLayer class from Game API.
Abstract: Project selection problems on management
information system (MIS) are often considered a multi-criteria
decision-making (MCDM) for a solving method. These problems
contain two aspects, such as interdependencies among criteria and
candidate projects and qualitative and quantitative factors of projects.
However, most existing methods reported in literature consider these
aspects separately even though these two aspects are simultaneously
incorporated. For this reason, we proposed a hybrid method using
analytic network process (ANP) and fuzzy logic in order to represent
both aspects. We then propose a goal programming model to conduct
an optimization for the project selection problems interpreted by a
hybrid concept. Finally, a numerical example is conducted as
verification purposes.
Abstract: Technology of thin film deposition is of interest in
many engineering fields, from electronic manufacturing to corrosion
protective coating. A typical deposition process, like that developed
at the University of Eindhoven, considers the deposition of a thin,
amorphous film of C:H or of Si:H on the substrate, using the
Expanding Thermal arc Plasma technique. In this paper a computing
procedure is proposed to simulate the flow field in a deposition
chamber similar to that at the University of Eindhoven and a
sensitivity analysis is carried out in terms of: precursor mass flow
rate, electrical power, supplied to the torch and fluid-dynamic
characteristics of the plasma jet, using different nozzles. To this
purpose a deposition chamber similar in shape, dimensions and
operating parameters to the above mentioned chamber is considered.
Furthermore, a method is proposed for a very preliminary evaluation
of the film thickness distribution on the substrate. The computing
procedure relies on two codes working in tandem; the output from
the first code is the input to the second one. The first code simulates
the flow field in the torch, where Argon is ionized according to the
Saha-s equation, and in the nozzle. The second code simulates the
flow field in the chamber. Due to high rarefaction level, this is a
(commercial) Direct Simulation Monte Carlo code. Gas is a mixture
of 21 chemical species and 24 chemical reactions from Argon plasma
and Acetylene are implemented in both codes. The effects of the
above mentioned operating parameters are evaluated and discussed
by 2-D maps and profiles of some important thermo-fluid-dynamic
parameters, as per Mach number, velocity and temperature. Intensity,
position and extension of the shock wave are evaluated and the
influence of the above mentioned test conditions on the film
thickness and uniformity of distribution are also evaluated.
Abstract: We propose an enhanced collaborative filtering
method using Hofstede-s cultural dimensions, calculated for 111
countries. We employ 4 of these dimensions, which are correlated to
the costumers- buying behavior, in order to detect users- preferences
for items. In addition, several advantages of this method
demonstrated for data sparseness and cold-start users, which are
important challenges in collaborative filtering. We present
experiments using a real dataset, Book Crossing Dataset.
Experimental results shows that the proposed algorithm provide
significant advantages in terms of improving recommendation
quality.
Abstract: The accelerated growth in aircraft industries desire
effectual schemes, programs, innovative designs of advanced systems
to accomplishing the augmenting need for home-free air
transportation. In this paper, a contemporary conceptual design of an
airplane has been proposed without landing gear systems in order to
reducing accidents, time consumption, and to eliminating drawbacks
by using superconducting levitation phenomenon. This invention of
an airplane with superconductive material coating, on the solar plexus
region assist to reduce weight by approximately 4% of the total takeoff
weight, and cost effective. Moreover, we conjectured that
superconductor landing system reduces ground friction, mission fuel,
total drag, take-off and landing distance.
Abstract: This research focus on the intrusion detection system (IDS) development which using artificial immune system (AIS) with population based incremental learning (PBIL). AIS have powerful distinguished capability to extirpate antigen when the antigen intrude into human body. The PBIL is based on past learning experience to adjust new learning. Therefore we propose an intrusion detection system call PBIL-AIS which combine two approaches of PBIL and AIS to evolution computing. In AIS part we design three mechanisms such as clonal selection, negative selection and antibody level to intensify AIS performance. In experimental result, our PBIL-AIS IDS can capture high accuracy when an intrusion connection attacks.
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to develop models that would enable predicting student success. These models could improve allocation of students among colleges and optimize the newly introduced model of government subsidies for higher education. For the purpose of collecting data, an anonymous survey was carried out in the last year of undergraduate degree student population using random sampling method. Decision trees were created of which two have been chosen that were most successful in predicting student success based on two criteria: Grade Point Average (GPA) and time that a student needs to finish the undergraduate program (time-to-degree). Decision trees have been shown as a good method of classification student success and they could be even more improved by increasing survey sample and developing specialized decision trees for each type of college. These types of methods have a big potential for use in decision support systems.
Abstract: Recent advances in both the testing and verification of software based on formal specifications of the system to be built have reached a point where the ideas can be applied in a powerful way in the design of agent-based systems. The software engineering research has highlighted a number of important issues: the importance of the type of modeling technique used; the careful design of the model to enable powerful testing techniques to be used; the automated verification of the behavioural properties of the system; the need to provide a mechanism for translating the formal models into executable software in a simple and transparent way. This paper introduces the use of the X-machine formalism as a tool for modeling biology inspired agents proposing the use of the techniques built around X-machine models for the construction of effective, and reliable agent-based software systems.
Abstract: Roadways in Amman city face many problems consequent upon poor drainage systems. Evaluation tools are necessary to identify those roads needing improvement in their drainage system, and those needing regular maintenance. This work aims at evaluating drainage conditions in selected roadways in Amman city with the intent of identifying the problems encountered in their drainage systems. Three sites in the vicinity of Amman city have been selected and then inspected via several field visits to determine the state of their existing drainage systems and define the major problems encountered in these systems. The evaluation tool used in this study is based on visual inspection supported by photographs that depicted the defined problems. Following the field assessment, the drainage system in each road was rated as excellent, fair, good, or poor. The study reveals that more than 60% of the roadways in the selected sites were in poor drainage conditions, which lead to tremendous environmental problems. This assessment serves as a guide for local decision makers to help plan for the maintenance of Amman city roadways drainage systems, and propose ways of managing the associated problems.
Abstract: Planning of economic activities development has various dimensions one of which determines adequate capacity of economic activities in provinces regarding the government-s goals. Paralleling planning goals of economic activities development including subjects being focused on the view statement is effective to better realize the statement's goals. Current paper presents a native framework for economic activities development in provincial level. Triple steps within the framework are concordant with the view statement-s goals achievement. At first step of the proposed framework, economic activities are being prioritized in terms of employment indices, and secondly economic activities regarding to the province's relative advantages are being recognized. In the third step, desirable capacity of economic activities is determined with regards to the government's goals and effective constraints in economic activities development. Development of economic activities related to the provinces- relative advantages, contributes on regional balance and on equal development of economic activities. Furthermore, results of the framework enable more confident investment, affect employment development and remove unemployment concern as the main goals of the view statement.
Abstract: Telemedicine is brought to life by contemporary changes of our world and summarizes the entire range of services that are at the crossroad of traditional healthcare and information technology. It is believed that eHealth can help in solving critical issues of rising costs, care for ageing and housebound population, staff shortage. It is a feasible tool to provide routine as well as specialized health service as it has the potential to improve both the access to and the standard of care. eHealth is no more an optional choice. It has already made quite a way but it still remains a fantastic challenge for the future requiring cooperation and coordination at all possible levels. The strategic objectives of this paper are: 1. To start with an attempt to clarify the mass of terms used nowadays; 2. To answer the question “Who needs eHealth"; 3. To focus on the necessity of bridging telemedicine and medical (health) informatics as well as on the dual relationship between them; as well as 4. To underline the need of networking in understanding, developing and implementing eHealth.
Abstract: A water reuse system in wetland paddy was simulated
to supply water for industrial in this paper. A two-tank model was employed to represent the return flow of the wetland paddy.Historical data were performed for parameter estimation and model verification. With parameters estimated from the data, the model was then used to simulate a reasonable return flow rate from the wetland
paddy. The simulation results show that the return flow ratio was 11.56% in the first crop season and 35.66% in the second crop
season individually; the difference may result from the heavy rainfall in the second crop season. Under the existent pond with surplus
active capacity, the water reuse ratio was 17.14%, and the water supplementary ratio was 21.56%. However, the pattern of rainfall, the
active capacity of the pond, and the rate of water treatment limit the
volume of reuse water. Increasing the irrigation water, dredging the
depth of pond before rainy season and enlarging the scale of module are help to develop water reuse system to support for the industrial
water use around wetland paddy.
Abstract: In this paper a novel approach for generalized image
retrieval based on semantic contents is presented. A combination of
three feature extraction methods namely color, texture, and edge
histogram descriptor. There is a provision to add new features in
future for better retrieval efficiency. Any combination of these
methods, which is more appropriate for the application, can be used
for retrieval. This is provided through User Interface (UI) in the
form of relevance feedback. The image properties analyzed in this
work are by using computer vision and image processing algorithms.
For color the histogram of images are computed, for texture cooccurrence
matrix based entropy, energy, etc, are calculated and for
edge density it is Edge Histogram Descriptor (EHD) that is found.
For retrieval of images, a novel idea is developed based on greedy
strategy to reduce the computational complexity. The entire system
was developed using AForge.Imaging (an open source product),
MATLAB .NET Builder, C#, and Oracle 10g. The system was tested
with Coral Image database containing 1000 natural images and
achieved better results.
Abstract: A laboratory study on the influence of compactive
effort on expansive black cotton specimens treated with up to 8%
ordinary Portland cement (OPC) admixed with up to 8% bagasse ash
(BA) by dry weight of soil and compacted using the energies of the
standard Proctor (SP), West African Standard (WAS) or
“intermediate” and modified Proctor (MP) were undertaken. The
expansive black cotton soil was classified as A-7-6 (16) or CL using
the American Association of Highway and Transportation Officials
(AASHTO) and Unified Soil Classification System (USCS),
respectively. The 7day unconfined compressive strength (UCS)
values of the natural soil for SP, WAS and MP compactive efforts are
286, 401 and 515kN/m2 respectively, while peak values of 1019,
1328 and 1420kN/m2 recorded at 8% OPC/ 6% BA, 8% OPC/ 2% BA
and 6% OPC/ 4% BA treatments, respectively were less than the
UCS value of 1710kN/m2 conventionally used as criterion for
adequate cement stabilization. The soaked California bearing ratio
(CBR) values of the OPC/BA stabilized soil increased with higher
energy level from 2, 4 and 10% for the natural soil to Peak values of
55, 18 and 8% were recorded at 8% OPC/4% BA 8% OPC/2% BA
and 8% OPC/4% BA, treatments when SP, WAS and MP compactive
effort were used, respectively. The durability of specimens was
determined by immersion in water. Soils treatment at 8% OPC/ 4%
BA blend gave a value of 50% resistance to loss in strength value
which is acceptable because of the harsh test condition of 7 days
soaking period specimens were subjected instead of the 4 days
soaking period that specified a minimum resistance to loss in strength
of 80%. Finally An optimal blend of is 8% OPC/ 4% BA is
recommended for treatment of expansive black cotton soil for use as
a sub-base material.
Abstract: The upgrading of low quality crude natural gas (NG) is attracting interest due to high demand of pipeline-grade gas in recent years. Membrane processes are commercially proven technology for the removal of impurities like carbon dioxide from NG. In this work, cross flow mathematical model has been suggested to be incorporated with ASPEN HYSYS as a user defined unit operation in order to design the membrane system for CO2/CH4 separation. The effect of operating conditions (such as feed composition and pressure) and membrane selectivity on the design parameters (methane recovery and total membrane area required for the separation) has been studied for different design configurations. These configurations include single stage (with and without recycle) and double stage membrane systems (with and without permeate or retentate recycle). It is shown that methane recovery can be improved by recycling permeate or retentate stream as well as by using double stage membrane systems. The ASPEN HYSYS user defined unit operation proposed in the study has potential to be applied for complex membrane system design and optimization.
Abstract: The provision of urban public transport in Indonesia is not free of problems. Some of the problems include: an overall lack of capacity, lack of quality and choice, severe traffic congestions and insufficient fund to renew and repair vehicles. Generally, the comfort and quality of the city bus is poor, and many of the vehicles are dilapidated and dirty. Surveys were carried out in the city of Yogyakarta, by counting city bus vehicles and occupancies, interviewing the bus passengers, drivers and institutional staffs, who involve in public transport management. This paper will then analyze the possible plan to develop the public transport system to become more attractive and to improve the public transport management. The short, medium and long term plans are analyzed, to find the best solutions. Some constraints such as social impacts and financial impact are also taken into accounts.
Abstract: Among the numerous economic evaluation techniques currently available, Multi-criteria Spatial Analysis lends itself to solving localization problems of property complexes and, in particular, production plants. The methodology involves the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and the mapping overlay technique, which overlaps the different information layers of a territory in order to obtain an overview of the parameters that characterize it. This first phase is used to detect possible settlement surfaces of a new agglomeration, subsequently selected through Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), so as to choose the best alternative. The result ensures the synthesis of a multidimensional profile that expresses both the quantitative and qualitative effects. Each criterion can be given a different weight.
Abstract: Education, as the most important resource in any country, has multiplying effects on all facets of development in a society. The new social realities, particularly the interplay between democratization of education; unprecedented developments in IT sector; emergence of knowledge society, liberalization of economy and globalization have greatly influenced the educational process of all nations. This turbulence entails upon education to undergo dramatic changes to keep up with the new expectations. Growth of entrepreneurship among Indian women is highly important for empowering them and this is highly essential for socio-economic development of a society. Unfortunately in India there is poor acceptance of entrepreneurship among women as unfounded myths and fears restrain them to be enterprising. To remove these inhibitions, education system needs to be re-engineered to make entrepreneurship more acceptable. This paper empirically analyses the results of a survey done on around 500 female graduates in North India to measure and evaluate various entrepreneurial traits present in them. A formative model has been devised in this context, which should improve the teaching-learning process in our education system, which can lead to sustainable growth of women entrepreneurship in India.
Abstract: The growing interest in the issue of intangible assets not only in the scientific community but also in some professional bodies internationally can be explained by several points of view. From the business perspective, enterprises are increasingly motivated by external and internal forces to measure and proactively manage their intangibles. With respect to the issue of intangibles, goodwill has been debated in many countries throughout the world. Despite the numerous efforts and the existence of international accounting standards there is not yet a common accepted accounting treatment for goodwill. This study attempts on the one hand to impress the accounting treatment of goodwill internationally, on the other hand analyses the major subjects in relation to the accounting treatment of goodwill in Greece, since 2005, year where the international accounting standards have been in use for the Greek listed companies. The results indicate that the accounting treatment for the goodwill in Greece, despite the effort for accounting harmonization in Europe from 2005, sustains many differences especially for the no listed companies.