Abstract: Dynamic location referencing method is an important technology to shield map differences. These method references objects of the road network by utilizing condensed selection of its real-world geographic properties stored in a digital map database, which overcomes the defections existing in pre-coded location referencing methods. The high attributes completeness requirements and complicated reference point selection algorithm are the main problems of recent researches. Therefore, a dynamic location referencing algorithm combining intersection points selected at the extremities compulsively and road link points selected according to link partition principle was proposed. An experimental system based on this theory was implemented. The tests using Beijing digital map database showed satisfied results and thus verified the feasibility and practicability of this method.
Abstract: There have been many variations of technologies that helped educators in teaching & learning. From the past research it is evident that Information Technology significantly increases student participation and interactivity in the classrooms. This research started with a aim to find whether adoption of Wi-Fi environment by Malaysian Higher Educational Institutions (HEI) can benefit students and staff equally. The study was carried out in HEI-s of Klang Valley, Malaysia and the data is gathered through paper based surveys. A sample size of 237 units were randomly selected from 5 higher educational institutions in the Klang Valley using the Stratified Random sampling method and from the analysis of the data, it was found that the implementation of wireless technologies in HEIs have created lot of opportunities and also challenges.
Abstract: In this study, communities of ammonia-oxidizing
archaea (AOA) and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in nitrifying
activated sludge (NAS) prepared by enriching sludge from a
municipal wastewater treatment plant in three continuous-flow
reactors receiving an inorganic medium containing different
ammonium concentrations of 2, 10, and 30 mM NH4
+-N (NAS2,
NAS10, and NAS30, respectively) were investigated using molecular
analysis. Results suggested that almost all AOA clones from NAS2,
NAS10, and NAS30 fell into the same AOA cluster and AOA
communities in NAS2 and NAS10 were more diverse than those of
NAS30. In contrast to AOA, AOB communities obviously shifted
from the seed sludge to enriched NASs and in each enriched NAS,
communities of AOB varied particularly. The seed sludge contained
members of N. communis cluster and N. oligotropha cluster. After it
was enriched under various ammonium loads, members of N.
communis cluster disappeared from all enriched NASs. AOB with
high affinity to ammonia presented in NAS 2, AOB with low affinity
to ammonia presented in NAS 30, and both types of AOB survived in
NAS 10. These demonstrated that ammonium load significantly
influenced AOB communities, but not AOA communities in enriched
NASs.
Abstract: This paper presents an overview of the Ocean wave kinetic energy harvesting system. Energy harvesting is a concept by which energy is captured, stored, and utilized using various sources by employing interfaces, storage devices, and other units. Ocean wave energy harvesting in which the kinetic and potential energy contained in the natural oscillations of Ocean waves are converted into electric power. The kinetic energy harvesting system could be used for a number of areas. The main applications that we have discussed in this paper are to how generate the energy from Ocean wave energy (kinetic energy) to electric energy that is to eliminate the requirement for continual battery replacement.
Abstract: For a long time as a result of accommodating car
traffic, planning ideologies in the past put a low priority on public
space, pedestrianism and the role of city space as a meeting place for
urban dwellers. In addition, according to authors such as Jan Gehl,
market forces and changing architectural perceptions began to shift
the focus of planning practice from the integration of public space in
various pockets around the contemporary city to individual buildings.
Eventually, these buildings have become increasingly more isolated
and introverted and have turned their backs to the realm of the public
space adjoining them. As a result of this practice, the traditional
function of public space as a social forum for city dwellers has in
many cases been reduced or even phased out. Author Jane Jacobs
published her seminal book “The Death and Life of Great American
Cities" more than fifty years ago, but her observations and
predictions at the time still ring true today, where she pointed out
how the dramatic increase in car traffic and its accommodation by the
urban planning ideology that was brought about by the Modern
movement has prompted a separation of the uses of the city. At the
same time it emphasizes free standing buildings that threaten urban
space and city life and result in underutilized and lifeless urban cores.
In this discussion context, the aim of this paper is to showcase a
reversal of just such a situation in the case of the Dasoupolis
neighborhood in Strovolos, Cyprus, where enlightened urban design
practice has see the reclamation of pedestrian space in a car
dominated area.
Abstract: In this study, the adhesion of ice to solid substrates
with different surface properties is compared. Clear ice, similar to
atmospheric in-flight icing encounters, is accreted on the different
substrates under controlled conditions. The ice adhesion behavior is
investigated by means of a dynamic vibration testing technique with
an electromagnetic shaker initiating ice de-bonding in the interface
between the substrate and the ice. The results of the experiments
reveal that the affinity for ice accretion is significantly influenced by
the water contact angle of the respective sample.
Abstract: In this paper, the application of sliding-mode control to a permanent-magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) is presented. The control design is based on a generic mathematical model of the motor. Some dynamics of the motor and of the power amplification stage remain unmodelled. This model uncertainty is estimated in realtime. The estimation is based on the differentiation of measured signals using the ideas of robust exact differentiator (RED). The control law is implemented on an industrial servo drive. Simulations and experimental results are presented and compared to the same control strategy without uncertainty estimation. It turns out that the proposed concept is superior to the same control strategy without uncertainty estimation especially in the case of non-smooth reference signals.
Abstract: This paper is focused on issues of process modeling
and two model based control strategies of a fed-batch sugar
crystallization process applying the concept of artificial neural
networks (ANNs). The control objective is to force the operation into
following optimal supersaturation trajectory. It is achieved by
manipulating the feed flow rate of sugar liquor/syrup, considered as
the control input. The control task is rather challenging due to the
strong nonlinearity of the process dynamics and variations in the
crystallization kinetics. Two control alternatives are considered –
model predictive control (MPC) and feedback linearizing control
(FLC). Adequate ANN process models are first built as part of the
controller structures. MPC algorithm outperforms the FLC approach
with respect to satisfactory reference tracking and smooth control
action. However, the MPC is computationally much more involved
since it requires an online numerical optimization, while for the FLC
an analytical control solution was determined.
Abstract: Mostly the real life signals are time varying in nature. For proper characterization of such signals, time-frequency representation is required. The STFT (short-time Fourier transform) is a classical tool used for this purpose. The limitation of the STFT is its fixed time-frequency resolution. Thus, an enhanced version of the STFT, which is based on the cross-level sampling, is devised. It can adapt the sampling frequency and the window function length by following the input signal local variations. Therefore, it provides an adaptive resolution time-frequency representation of the input. The computational complexity of the proposed STFT is deduced and compared to the classical one. The results show a significant gain of the computational efficiency and hence of the processing power. The processing error of the proposed technique is also discussed.
Abstract: For Seismic design, it is important to estimate,
maximum lateral displacement (inelastic displacement) of the
structures due to sever earthquakes for several reasons. Seismic
design provisions estimate the maximum roof and storey drifts
occurring in major earthquakes by amplifying the drifts of the
structures obtained by elastic analysis subjected to seismic design
load, with a coefficient named “displacement amplification factor"
which is greater than one. Here, this coefficient depends on various
parameters, such as ductility and overstrength factors. The present
research aims to evaluate the value of the displacement amplification
factor in seismic design codes and then tries to propose a value to
estimate the maximum lateral structural displacement from sever
earthquakes, without using non-linear analysis. In seismic codes,
since the displacement amplification is related to “force reduction
factor" hence; this aspect has been accepted in the current study.
Meanwhile, two methodologies are applied to evaluate the value of
displacement amplification factor and its relation with the force
reduction factor. In the first methodology, which is applied for all
structures, the ratio of displacement amplification and force reduction
factors is determined directly. Whereas, in the second methodology
that is applicable just for R/C moment resisting frame, the ratio is
obtained by calculating both factors, separately. The acquired results
of these methodologies are alike and estimate the ratio of two factors
from 1 to 1.2. The results indicate that the ratio of the displacement
amplification factor and the force reduction factor differs to those
proposed by seismic provisions such as NEHRP, IBC and Iranian
seismic code (standard no. 2800).
Abstract: Among the many promising nanomaterials with antifungal properties, metal nanoparticles (silver nanoparticles) stand out due to their high chemical activity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against Phomopsis sp. AgNPs were synthesized by silver nitrate reduction with sodium citrate and stabilized with ammonia. The synthesized AgNPs have further been characterized by UV/Visible spectroscopy, Biophysical techniques like Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The average diameter of the prepared silver colloidal nanoparticles was about 52 nm. Absolute inhibitions (100%) were observed on treated with a 270 and 540 µg ml-1 concentration of AgNPs. The results from the study of the AgNPs antifungal effect are significant and suggest that the synthesized silver nanoparticles may have an advantage compared with conventional fungicides.
Abstract: This paper proposes a balance control scheme for a biped robot to trace an arbitrary path using image information. While moving, it estimates the zero moment point(ZMP) of the biped robot in the next step using a Kalman filter and renders an appropriate balanced pose of the robot. The ZMP can be calculated from the robot's pose, which is measured from the reference object image acquired by a CCD camera on the robot's head. For simplifying the kinematical model, the coordinates systems of individual joints of each leg are aligned and the robot motion is approximated as an inverted pendulum so that a simple linear dynamics, 3D-LIPM(3D-Linear Inverted Pendulum Mode) can be applied. The efficiency of the proposed algorithm has been proven by the experiments performed on unknown trajectory.
Abstract: This paper presents two different sequential switching hybrid-modulation strategies and implemented for cascaded multilevel inverters. Hybrid modulation strategies represent the combinations of Fundamental-frequency pulse width modulation (FFPWM) and Multilevel sinusoidal-modulation (MSPWM) strategies, and are designed for performance of the well-known Alternative Phase opposition disposition (APOD), Phase shifted carrier (PSC). The main characteristics of these modulations are the reduction of switching losses with good harmonic performance, balanced power loss dissipation among the devices with in a cell, and among the series-connected cells. The feasibility of these modulations is verified through spectral analysis, power loss analysis and simulation.
Abstract: Nowadays, a passenger car suspension must has high
performance criteria with light weight, low cost, and low energy
consumption. Pilot controlled proportional valve is designed and
analyzed to get small pressure change rate after blow-off, and to get a
fast response of the damper, a reverse damping mechanism is adapted.
The reverse continuous variable damper is designed as a HS-SH
damper which offers good body control with reduced transferred input
force from the tire, compared with any other type of suspension
system. The damper structure is designed, so that rebound and
compression damping forces can be tuned independently, of which the
variable valve is placed externally. The rate of pressure change with
respect to the flow rate after blow-off becomes smooth when the fixed
orifice size increases, which means that the blow-off slope is
controllable using the fixed orifice size. Damping forces are measured
with the change of the solenoid current at the different piston
velocities to confirm the maximum hysteresis of 20 N, linearity, and
variance of damping force. The damping force variance is wide and
continuous, and is controlled by the spool opening, of which scheme is
usually adapted in proportional valves. The reverse continuous
variable damper developed in this study is expected to be utilized in
the semi-active suspension systems in passenger cars after its
performance and simplicity of the design is confirmed through a real
car test.
Abstract: Fecal sterol has been proposed as a chemical indicator
of human fecal pollution even when fecal coliform populations have
diminished due to water chlorination or toxic effects of industrial
effluents. This paper describes an improved derivatization procedure
for simultaneous determination of four fecal sterols including
coprostanol, epicholestanol, cholesterol and cholestanol using gas
chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), via optimization study
on silylation procedures using N-O-bis
(trimethylsilyl)-trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA), and
N-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-N-methyltrifluoroacetamide
(MTBSTFA), which lead to the formation of trimethylsilyl (TMS) and
tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBS) derivatives, respectively. Two
derivatization processes of injection-port derivatization and water bath
derivatization (60 oC, 1h) were inspected and compared. Furthermore,
the methylation procedure at 25 oC for 2h with
trimethylsilydiazomethane (TMSD) for fecal sterols analysis was also
studied. It was found that most of TMS derivatives demonstrated the
highest sensitivities, followed by methylated derivatives. For BSTFA
or MTBSTFA derivatization processes, the simple injection-port
derivatization process could achieve the same efficiency as that in the
tedious water bath derivatization procedure.
Abstract: This work has been conducted to study on comfort level of drivers of suspended cabin tractor semitrailer. Some drivers suffer from low back pain caused by vibration. The practical significance of applying suspended cabin type of tractor semi trailer was tested at different road conditions, different speed as well as different load conditions for comfortable driver seat interface (x, y, z ) and the process parameters have been prioritized using Taguchi-s L27 orthogonal array. Genetic Algorithm (GA) is used to optimize the human comfort vibration of suspended cabin tractor semitrailer drivers. The practical significance of applying GA to human comfort to reaction of suspended cabin tractor semitrailer has been validated by means of computing the deviation between predicted and experimentally obtained human comfort to vibration. The optimized acceleration data indicate a little uncomfortable ride for suspended cabin tractor semitrailer.
Abstract: Three similar negative differential resistance (NDR)
profiles with both high peak to valley current density ratio (PVCDR)
value and high peak current density (PCD) value in unity resonant
tunneling electronic circuit (RTEC) element is developed in this paper.
The PCD values and valley current density (VCD) values of the three
NDR curves are all about 3.5 A and 0.8 A, respectively. All PV values
of NDR curves are 0.40 V, 0.82 V, and 1.35 V, respectively. The VV
values are 0.61 V, 1.07 V, and 1.69 V, respectively. All PVCDR
values reach about 4.4 in three NDR curves. The PCD value of 3.5 A
in triple PVCDR RTEC element is better than other resonant
tunneling devices (RTD) elements. The high PVCDR value is
concluded the lower VCD value about 0.8 A. The low VCD value is
achieved by suitable selection of resistors in triple PVCDR RTEC
element. The low PV value less than 1.35 V possesses low power
dispersion in triple PVCDR RTEC element. The designed multiple
value logical level (MVLL) system using triple PVCDR RTEC
element provides equidistant logical level. The logical levels of
MVLL system are about 0.2 V, 0.8 V, 1.5 V, and 2.2 V from low
voltage to high voltage and then 2.2 V, 1.3 V, 0.8 V, and 0.2 V from
high voltage back to low voltage in half cycle of sinusoid wave. The
output level of four levels MVLL system is represented in 0.3 V, 1.1 V,
1.7 V, and 2.6 V, which satisfies the NMP condition of traditional
two-bit system. The remarkable logical characteristic of improved
MVLL system with paralleled capacitor are with four significant
stable logical levels about 220 mV, 223 mV, 228 mV, and 230 mV.
The stability and articulation of logical levels of improved MVLL
system are outstanding. The average holding time of improved MVLL
system is approximately 0.14 μs. The holding time of improved
MVLL system is fourfold than of basic MVLL system. The function of
additional capacitor in the improved MVLL system is successfully
discovered.
Abstract: Ethanol has become more attractive in fuel industry
either as fuel itself or an additive that helps enhancing the octane
number and combustibility of gasoline. This research studied a
pressure swing adsorption using cassava-based adsorbent prepared
from mixture of cassava starch and cassava pulp for dehydration of
ethanol vapor. The apparatus used in the experiments consisted of
double adsorption columns, an evaporator, and a vacuum pump. The
feed solution contained 90-92 %wt of ethanol. Three process
variables: adsorption temperatures (110, 120 and 130°C), adsorption
pressures (1 and 2 bar gauge) and feed vapor flow rate (25, 50 and 75
% valve opening of the evaporator) were investigated. According to
the experimental results, the optimal operating condition for this
system was found to be at 2 bar gauge for adsorption pressure, 120°C
for adsorption temperature and 25% valve opening of the evaporator.
Production of 1.48 grams of ethanol with concentration higher than
99.5 wt% per gram of adsorbent was obtained. PSA with cassavabased
adsorbent reported in this study could be an alternative method
for production of nearly anhydrous ethanol. Dehydration of ethanol
vapor achieved in this study is due to an interaction between free
hydroxyl group on the glucose units of the starch and the water
molecules.
Abstract: We consider herein a concise view of discreet
programming models and methods. There has been conducted the
models and methods analysis. On the basis of discreet programming
models there has been elaborated and offered a new class of
problems, i.e. block-symmetry models and methods of applied tasks
statements and solutions.
Abstract: Ontology-based modelling of multi-formatted
software application content is a challenging area in content
management. When the number of software content unit is huge and
in continuous process of change, content change management is
important. The management of content in this context requires
targeted access and manipulation methods. We present a novel
approach to deal with model-driven content-centric information
systems and access to their content. At the core of our approach is an
ontology-based semantic annotation technique for diversely
formatted content that can improve the accuracy of access and
systems evolution. Domain ontologies represent domain-specific
concepts and conform to metamodels. Different ontologies - from
application domain ontologies to software ontologies - capture and
model the different properties and perspectives on a software content
unit. Interdependencies between domain ontologies, the artifacts and
the content are captured through a trace model. The annotation traces
are formalised and a graph-based system is selected for the
representation of the annotation traces.