Abstract: Development of a Robust Supply Chain for Dynamic
Operating Environment as we move further into the twenty first
century, organisations are under increasing pressure to deliver a high
product variation at a reasonable cost without compromise in quality.
In a number of cases this will take the form of a customised or high
variety low volume manufacturing system that requires prudent
management of resources, among a number of functions, to achieve
competitive advantage. Purchasing and Supply Chain management is
one of such function and due to the substantial interaction with
external elements needs to be strategically managed. This requires a
number of primary and supporting tools that will enable the
appropriate decisions to be made rapidly. This capability is
especially vital in a dynamic environment as it provides a pivotal role
in increasing the profit margin of the product. The management of
this function can be challenging by itself and even more for Small
and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) due to the limited resources and
expertise available at their disposal.
This paper discusses the development of tools and concepts
towards effectively managing the purchasing and supply chain
function. The developed tools and concepts will provide a cost
effective way of managing this function within SMEs. The paper
further shows the use of these tools within Contechs, a manufacturer
of luxury boat interiors, and the associated benefits achieved as a
result of this implementation. Finally a generic framework towards
use in such environments is presented.
Abstract: Directive 2009/28/CE establishes, as obligatory objective, a share of renewable energies on energetic consumption of 20%, in European Union, in 2020 However, such European normative gives freedom to member states in the selection of the renewable promotion mechanism that allows them to obtain that objective. In this paper, we analyze the main characteristics of the promotion mechanisms of renewable energy used in the countries that shape the Electricity Iberian Market (Spain and Portugal) and the results in employment. The importance of these countries is given by the great increasing of the renewable energies which suppose a share higher than 30% of the overall generation in 2010. Therefore, this research paper can serve as the basis for the learning of other countries with regard to the main advantages that entail the use of a feed-in tariff system.
Abstract: This paper describes a computer model of Quantum Field Theory (QFT), referred to in this paper as QTModel. After specifying the initial configuration for a QFT process (e.g. scattering) the model generates the possible applicable processes in terms of Feynman diagrams, the equations for the scattering matrix, and evaluates probability amplitudes for the scattering matrix and cross sections. The computations of probability amplitudes are performed numerically. The equations generated by QTModel are provided for demonstration purposes only. They are not directly used as the base for the computations of probability amplitudes. The computer model supports two modes for the computation of the probability amplitudes: (1) computation according to standard QFT, and (2) computation according to a proposed functional interpretation of quantum theory.
Abstract: This paper provides a scheme to improve the read efficiency of anti-collision algorithm in EPCglobal UHF Class-1 Generation-2 RFID standard. In this standard, dynamic frame slotted ALOHA is specified to solve the anti-collision problem. Also, the Q-algorithm with a key parameter C is adopted to dynamically adjust the frame sizes. In the paper, we split the C parameter into two parameters to increase the read speed and derive the optimal values of the two parameters through simulations. The results indicate our method outperforms the original Q-algorithm.
Abstract: In syntactic pattern recognition a pattern can be
represented by a graph. Given an unknown pattern represented by
a graph g, the problem of recognition is to determine if the graph g
belongs to a language L(G) generated by a graph grammar G. The
so-called IE graphs have been defined in [1] for a description of
patterns. The IE graphs are generated by so-called ETPL(k) graph
grammars defined in [1]. An efficient, parsing algorithm for ETPL(k)
graph grammars for syntactic recognition of patterns represented by
IE graphs has been presented in [1]. In practice, structural
descriptions may contain pattern distortions, so that the assignment
of a graph g, representing an unknown pattern, to
a graph language L(G) generated by an ETPL(k) graph grammar G is
rejected by the ETPL(k) type parsing. Therefore, there is a need for
constructing effective parsing algorithms for recognition of distorted
patterns. The purpose of this paper is to present a new approach to
syntactic recognition of distorted patterns. To take into account all
variations of a distorted pattern under study, a probabilistic
description of the pattern is needed. A random IE graph approach is
proposed here for such a description ([2]).
Abstract: Combined conduction-free convection heat transfer in
vertical eccentric annuli is numerically investigated using a finitedifference
technique. Numerical results, representing the heat transfer
parameters such as annulus walls temperature, heat flux, and heat
absorbed in the developing region of the annulus, are presented for a
Newtonian fluid of Prandtl number 0.7, fluid-annulus radius ratio 0.5,
solid-fluid thermal conductivity ratio 10, inner and outer wall
dimensionless thicknesses 0.1 and 0.2, respectively, and
dimensionless eccentricities 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7. The annulus walls
are subjected to thermal boundary conditions, which are obtained by
heating one wall isothermally whereas keeping the other wall at inlet
fluid temperature. In the present paper, the annulus heights required
to achieve thermal full development for prescribed eccentricities are
obtained. Furthermore, the variation in the height of thermal full
development as function of the geometrical parameter, i.e.,
eccentricity is also investigated.
Abstract: This study develops a relation to explore the factors influencing management and technology capabilities in strategic alliances. Alliances between firms are recognizing increasingly popular as a vehicle to create and extract greater value from the market. Firm’s alliance can be described as the collaborative problem solving process to solve problems jointly. This study starts from research questions what factors of firm’s management and technology characteristics affect performance of firms which are formed alliances. In this study, we investigated the effect of strategic alliances on company performance. That is, we try to identify whether firms made an alliance with other organizations are differed by characteristics of management and technology. And we test that alliance type and alliance experiences moderate the relationship between firm’s capabilities and its performance. We employ problem-solving perspective and resource-based view perspective to shed light on this research questions. The empirical work is based on the Survey of Business Activities conducted from2006 to 2008 by Statistics Korea. We verify correlations between to point out that these results contribute new empirical evidence on the effect of strategic alliances on company performance.
Abstract: There are several ways of improving the performance of a vapor compression refrigeration cycle. Use of an ejector as expansion device is one of the alternative ways. The present paper aims at evaluate the performance improvement of a vapor compression refrigeration cycle under a wide range of operating conditions. A numerical model is developed and a parametric study of important parameters such as condensation (30-50°C) and evaporation temperatures (-20-5°C), nozzle and diffuser efficiencies (0.75-0.95), subcooling and superheating degrees (0-15K) are investigated. The model verification gives a good agreement with the literature data. The simulation results revealed that condensation temperature has the highest effect (129%) on the performance improvement ratio while superheating has the lowest one (6.2%). Among ejector efficiencies, the diffuser efficiency has a significant effect on the COP of ejector expansion refrigeration cycle. The COP improvement percentage decreases from 10.9% to 4.6% as subcooling degrees increases by 15K.
Abstract: The industrial process of the sugar cane crystallization produces a residual that still contains a lot of soluble sucrose and the objective of the factory is to improve its extraction. Therefore, there are substantial losses justifying the search for the optimization of the process. Crystallization process studied on the industrial site is based on the “three massecuites process". The third step of this process constitutes the final stage of exhaustion of the sucrose dissolved in the mother liquor. During the process of the third step of crystallization (Ccrystallization), the phase that is studied and whose control is to be improved, is the growing phase (crystal growth phase). The study of this process on the industrial site is a problem in its own. A control scheme is proposed to improve the standard PID control law used in the factory. An auto-tuning PID controller based on instantaneous linearization of a neural network is then proposed.
Abstract: This paper presents a wavelet transform and Support
Vector Machine (SVM) based algorithm for estimating fault location
on transmission lines. The Discrete wavelet transform (DWT) is used
for data pre-processing and this data are used for training and testing
SVM. Five types of mother wavelet are used for signal processing to
identify a suitable wavelet family that is more appropriate for use in
estimating fault location. The results demonstrated the ability of SVM
to generalize the situation from the provided patterns and to
accurately estimate the location of faults with varying fault resistance.
Abstract: Modeling of complex dynamic systems, which are
very complicated to establish mathematical models, requires new and
modern methodologies that will exploit the existing expert
knowledge, human experience and historical data. Fuzzy cognitive
maps are very suitable, simple, and powerful tools for simulation and
analysis of these kinds of dynamic systems. However, human experts
are subjective and can handle only relatively simple fuzzy cognitive
maps; therefore, there is a need of developing new approaches for an
automated generation of fuzzy cognitive maps using historical data.
In this study, a new learning algorithm, which is called Big Bang-Big
Crunch, is proposed for the first time in literature for an automated
generation of fuzzy cognitive maps from data. Two real-world
examples; namely a process control system and radiation therapy
process, and one synthetic model are used to emphasize the
effectiveness and usefulness of the proposed methodology.
Abstract: The log periodogram regression is widely used in empirical
applications because of its simplicity, since only a least squares
regression is required to estimate the memory parameter, d, its good
asymptotic properties and its robustness to misspecification of the
short term behavior of the series. However, the asymptotic distribution
is a poor approximation of the (unknown) finite sample distribution
if the sample size is small. Here the finite sample performance of different
nonparametric residual bootstrap procedures is analyzed when
applied to construct confidence intervals. In particular, in addition to
the basic residual bootstrap, the local and block bootstrap that might
adequately replicate the structure that may arise in the errors of the
regression are considered when the series shows weak dependence in
addition to the long memory component. Bias correcting bootstrap
to adjust the bias caused by that structure is also considered. Finally,
the performance of the bootstrap in log periodogram regression based
confidence intervals is assessed in different type of models and how
its performance changes as sample size increases.
Abstract: Vertex configuration for a vertex in an orthogonal
pseudo-polyhedron is an identity of a vertex that is determined by the
number of edges, dihedral angles, and non-manifold properties
meeting at the vertex. There are up to sixteen vertex configurations
for any orthogonal pseudo-polyhedron (OPP). Understanding the
relationship between these vertex configurations will give us insight
into the structure of an OPP and help us design better algorithms for
many 3-dimensional geometric problems. In this paper, 16 vertex
configurations for OPP are described first. This is followed by a
number of formulas giving insight into the relationship between
different vertex configurations in an OPP. These formulas
will be useful as an extension of orthogonal polyhedra usefulness on
pattern analysis in 3D-digital images.
Abstract: Ultrafast doped zinc oxide crystal promised us a good
opportunity to build new instruments for ICF fusion neutron
measurement. Two pulsed neutron detectors based on ZnO crystal
wafer have been conceptually designed, the superfast ZnO timing
detector and the scintillation recoil proton neutron detection system.
The structure of these detectors was presented, and some characters
were studied as well. The new detectors could be much faster than
existing systems, and would be more competent for ICF neutron
diagnostics.
Abstract: Efficient modulo 2n+1 adders are important for
several applications including residue number system, digital signal
processors and cryptography algorithms. In this paper we present a
novel modulo 2n+1 addition algorithm for a recently represented
number system. The proposed approach is introduced for the
reduction of the power dissipated. In a conventional modulo 2n+1
adder, all operands have (n+1)-bit length. To avoid using (n+1)-bit
circuits, the diminished-1 and carry save diminished-1 number
systems can be effectively used in applications. In the paper, we also
derive two new architectures for designing modulo 2n+1 adder, based
on n-bit ripple-carry adder. The first architecture is a faster design
whereas the second one uses less hardware. In the proposed method,
the special treatment required for zero operands in Diminished-1
number system is removed. In the fastest modulo 2n+1 adders in
normal binary system, there are 3-operand adders. This problem is
also resolved in this paper. The proposed architectures are compared
with some efficient adders based on ripple-carry adder and highspeed
adder. It is shown that the hardware overhead and power
consumption will be reduced. As well as power reduction, in some
cases, power-delay product will be also reduced.
Abstract: Value engineering is an efficacious contraption for
administrators to make up their minds. Value perusals proffer the
gaffers a suitable instrument to decrease the expenditures of the life
span, quality amelioration, structural improvement, curtailment of the
construction schedule, longevity prolongation or a merging of the
aforementioned cases. Subjecting organizers to pressures on one
hand and their accountability towards their pertinent fields together
with inherent risks and ambiguities of other options on the other hand
set some comptrollers in a dilemma utilization of risk management
and the value engineering in projects manipulation with regard to
complexities of implementing projects can be wielded as a
contraption to identify and efface each item which wreaks
unnecessary expenses and time squandering sans inflicting any
damages upon the essential project applications. Of course It should
be noted that implementation of risk management and value
engineering with regard to the betterment of efficiency and functions
may lead to the project implementation timing elongation. Here time
revamping does not refer to time diminishing in the whole cases. his
article deals with risk and value engineering conceptualizations at
first. The germane reverberations effectuated due to its execution in
Iran Khodro Corporation are regarded together with the joint features
and amalgamation of the aforesaid entia; hence the proposed
blueprint is submitted to be taken advantage of in engineering and
industrial projects including Iran Khodro Corporation.
Abstract: The experimental design was 4 x 5 factorial with three
replications in fully controlled research greenhouse in Department of
Soil Sciences and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, University
of Selcuk in the year of 2009. Determination of tolerant chickpea
genotypes to drought was made in the research. Additionally,
sophisticated effects of drought on plant growth and development,
biochemical and physical properties or physical defense mechanisms
were presented. According to the results, the primary genotypes were
Ilgın YP (0.0063 g/gh) for leaf water capacity, 22235 70.44(%) for
relative water content, 22159 (82.47%) for real water content,
22159 (5.03 mg/l) for chlorophyll a+b, Ilgın YP (125.89 nmol
H2O2.dak-1/ mg protein-1) for peroxidase, Yunak YP (769.67
unit/ mg protein-1) for superoxide dismutase, Seydişehir YP
(16.74 μg.TA-1) for proline, Gökçe (80.01 nmol H2O2.dak-1/ mg
protein-1) for catalase. Consequently, all the genotypes
increased their enzyme activity depending on the increasing of
drought stress consider with the effects of drought stress on leaf
enzyme activity. Chickpea genotypes are increasing enzyme
activity against to drought stress.
Abstract: Today-s children, who are born into a more colorful,
more creative, more abstract and more accessible communication
environment than their ancestors as a result of dizzying advances in
technology, have an interesting capacity to perceive and make sense
of the world. Millennium children, who live in an environment where
all kinds of efforts by marketing communication are more intensive
than ever are, from their early childhood on, subject to all kinds of
persuasive messages. As regards advertising communication, it
outperforms all the other marketing communication efforts in
creating little consumer individuals and, as a result of processing of
codes and signs, plays a significant part in building a world of seeing,
thinking and understanding for children. Children who are raised with
metaphorical expressions such as tales and riddles also meet that fast
and effective meaning communication in advertisements.
Children-s perception of metaphors, which help grasp the “product
and its promise" both verbally and visually and facilitate association
between them is the subject of this study. Stimulating and activating
imagination, metaphors have unique advantages in promoting the
product and its promise especially in regard to print advertisements,
which have certain limitations. This study deals comparatively with
both literal and metaphoric versions of print advertisements
belonging to various product groups and attempts to discover to what
extent advertisements are liked, recalled, perceived and are
persuasive. The sample group of the study, which was conducted in
two elementary schools situated in areas that had different socioeconomic
features, consisted of children aged 12.
Abstract: Recently ORC(Organic Rankine Cycle) has attracted
much attention due to its potential in reducing consumption of fossil
fuels and its favorable characteristics to exploit low-grade heat sources.
In this work thermodynamic performance of ORC with superheating of
vapor is comparatively assessed for various working fluids. Special
attention is paid to the effects of system parameters such as the evaporating
temperature and the turbine inlet temperature on the characteristics
of the system such as maximum possible work extraction from
the given source, volumetric flow rate per 1 kW of net work and
quality of the working fluid at turbine exit as well as thermal and
exergy efficiencies. Results show that for a given source the thermal
efficiency increases with decrease of the superheating but exergy
efficiency may have a maximum value with respect to the superheating
of the working fluid. Results also show that in selection of working
fluid it is required to consider various criteria of performance characteristics
as well as thermal efficiency.
Abstract: A low-complexity, high-accurate frequency offset
estimation for multi-band orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MB-OFDM) based ultra-wide band systems is presented regarding different carrier frequency offsets, different channel frequency
responses, different preamble patterns in different bands. Utilizing a
half-cycle Constant Amplitude Zero Auto Correlation (CAZAC) sequence as the preamble sequence, the estimator with a semi-cross
contrast scheme between two successive OFDM symbols is proposed. The CRLB and complexity of the proposed algorithm are derived.
Compared to the reference estimators, the proposed method achieves
significantly less complexity (about 50%) for all preamble patterns of the MB-OFDM systems. The CRLBs turn out to be of well performance.