Abstract: The main purpose of this paper is to investigate thelong-run equilibrium and short-run dynamics of international housing prices when macroeconomic variables change. We apply the Pedroni’s, panel cointegration, using the unbalanced panel data analysis of 33 countries over the period from 1980Q1 to 2013Q1, to examine the relationships among house prices and macroeconomic variables. Our empirical results of panel data cointegration tests support the existence of a cointegration among these macroeconomic variables and house prices. Besides, the empirical results of panel DOLS further present that a 1% increase in economic activity, long-term interest rates, and construction costs cause house prices to respectively change 2.16%, -0.04%, and 0.22% in the long run.Furthermore, the increasing economic activity and the construction cost would cause strongerimpacts on the house prices for lower income countries than higher income countries.The results lead to the conclusion that policy of house prices growth can be regarded as economic growth for lower income countries. Finally, in America region, the coefficient of economic activity is the highest, which displays that increasing economic activity causes a faster rise in house prices there than in other regions. There are some special cases whereby the coefficients of interest rates are significantly positive in America and Asia regions.
Abstract: Fuzzy random variables have been introduced as an imprecise concept of numeric values for characterizing the imprecise knowledge. The descriptive parameters can be used to describe the primary features of a set of fuzzy random observations. In fuzzy environments, the expected values are usually represented as fuzzy-valued, interval-valued or numeric-valued descriptive parameters using various metrics. Instead of the concept of area metric that is usually adopted in the relevant studies, the numeric expected value is proposed by the concept of distance metric in this study based on two characters (fuzziness and randomness) of FRVs. Comparing with the existing measures, although the results show that the proposed numeric expected value is same with those using the different metric, if only triangular membership functions are used. However, the proposed approach has the advantages of intuitiveness and computational efficiency, when the membership functions are not triangular types. An example with three datasets is provided for verifying the proposed approach.
Abstract: Response surface methodology with Box–Benhken (BB) design of experiment approach has been utilized to study the mechanism of interface slip damping in layered and jointed tack welded beams with varying surface roughness. The design utilizes the initial amplitude of excitation, tack length and surface roughness at the interfaces to develop the model for the logarithmic damping decrement of the layered and jointed welded structures. Statistically designed experiments have been performed to estimate the coefficients in the mathematical model, predict the response, and check the adequacy of the model. Comparison of predicted and experimental response values outside the design conditions have shown good correspondence, implying that empirical model derived from response surface approach can be effectively used to describe the mechanism of interface slip damping in layered and jointed tack welded structures.
Abstract: The purpose of my research proposal is to
demonstrate that there is a relationship between EEG and
endometrial cancer.
The above relationship is based on an Aristotelian Syllogism;
since it is known that the 14-3-3 protein is related to the electrical
activity of the brain via control of the flow of Na+ and K+ ions and
since it is also known that many types of cancer are associated with
14-3-3 protein, it is possible that there is a relationship between EEG
and cancer. This research will be carried out by well-defined
diagnostic indicators, obtained via the EEG, using signal processing
procedures and pattern recognition tools such as neural networks in
order to recognize the endometrial cancer type. The current research
shall compare the findings from EEG and hysteroscopy performed on
women of a wide age range. Moreover, this practice could be
expanded to other types of cancer. The implementation of this
methodology will be completed with the creation of an ontology.
This ontology shall define the concepts existing in this research-s
domain and the relationships between them. It will represent the
types of relationships between hysteroscopy and EEG findings.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity
of a range of EEG indices to time-on-task effects and to a workload
manipulation (cueing), during performance of a resource-limited
vigilance task. Effects of task period and cueing on performance and
subjective state response were consistent with previous vigilance
studies and with resource theory. Two EEG indices – the Task Load
Index (TLI) and global lower frequency (LF) alpha power – showed
effects of task period and cueing similar to those seen with correct
detections. Across four successive task periods, the TLI declined and
LF alpha power increased. Cueing increased TLI and decreased LF
alpha. Other indices – the Engagement Index (EI), frontal theta and
upper frequency (UF) alpha failed to show these effects. However, EI
and frontal theta were sensitive to interactive effects of task period
and cueing, which may correspond to a stronger anxiety response to
the uncued task.
Abstract: In conventional seedling production, the seedlings are
being grown in the open field under natural conditions. Here they are
susceptible to sudden changes in climate were their quality and yield
is affected. Quality seedlings are essential for good growth and
performance of crops in main field; they serve as a foundation for the
economic returns to the farmer. Producing quality seedling demands
usage of hybrid seeds as they have the ability to result in better yield,
greater uniformity, improved color, disease resistance, and so forth.
Hybrid seed production poses major operational challenge and its
seed use efficiency plays an important role. Thus in order to
overcome the difficulties currently present in conventional seedling
production and to efficiently use hybrid seeds, ITC Limited Agri
Business Divisions - Sustainability Cell as conceptualized a novel
method of seedling production unit for farmers in West Godavari
District of Andhra Pradesh. The “Green House based Float Seedling"
methodology aims at a protected cultivation technique wherein the
micro climate surrounding the plant/seedling body is controlled
partially or fully as per the requirement of the species. This paper
reports on the techno economic evaluation of green house for
cultivation of float based seedling production with experimental
results that was attained from the pilot implementation in West
Godavari District, Rajahmundry region of India.
Abstract: Improving the performance of the QCL through block diagram as well as mathematical models is the main scope of this paper. In order to enhance the performance of the underlined device, the mathematical model parameters are used in a reliable manner in such a way that the optimum behavior was achieved. These parameters play the central role in specifying the optical characteristics of the considered laser source. Moreover, it is important to have a large amount of radiated power, where increasing the amount of radiated power represents the main hopping process that can be predicted from the behavior of quantum laser devices. It was found that there is a good agreement between the calculated values from our mathematical model and those obtained with VisSim and experimental results. These demonstrate the strength of mplementation of both mathematical and block diagram models.
Abstract: FW4 is a newly developed hot die material widely
used in Forging Dies manufacturing. The right selection of the
machining conditions is one of the most important aspects to take
into consideration in the Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) of
FW4. In this paper an attempt has been made to develop
mathematical models for relating the Material Removal Rate (MRR),
Tool Wear Ratio (TWR) and surface roughness (Ra) to machining
parameters (current, pulse-on time and voltage). Furthermore, a study
was carried out to analyze the effects of machining parameters in
respect of listed technological characteristics. The results of analysis
of variance (ANOVA) indicate that the proposed mathematical
models, can adequately describe the performance within the limits of
the factors being studied.
Abstract: Organizations face challenges supporting knowledge
workers due to their particular requirements for an environment
supportive of their self-guided learning activities which are important
to increase their productivity and to develop creative solutions to
non-routine problems. Face-to-face knowledge sharing remains
crucial in spite of a large number of knowledge management
instruments that aim at supporting a more impersonal transfer of
knowledge. This paper first describes the main criteria for a
conceptual and technical solution targeted at flexible management of
office space that aims at assigning those knowledge workers to the
same room that are most likely to thrive when being brought together
thus enhancing their knowledge work productivity. The paper
reflects on lessons learned from the implementation and operation of
such a solution in a project-focused organization and derives several
implications for future extensions that target to foster problem
solving, informal learning and personal development.
Abstract: The Institute of Product Development is dealing
with the development, design and dimensioning of micro components
and systems as a member of the Collaborative Research
Centre 499 “Design, Production and Quality Assurance of
Molded micro components made of Metallic and Ceramic Materials".
Because of technological restrictions in the miniaturization
of conventional manufacturing techniques, shape and
material deviations cannot be scaled down in the same proportion
as the micro parts, rendering components with relatively
wide tolerance fields. Systems that include such components
should be designed with this particularity in mind, often requiring
large clearance. On the end, the output of such systems
results variable and prone to dynamical instability. To save
production time and resources, every study of these effects
should happen early in the product development process and
base on computer simulation to avoid costly prototypes. A
suitable method is proposed here and exemplary applied to a
micro technology demonstrator developed by the CRC499. It
consists of a one stage planetary gear train in a sun-planet-ring
configuration, with input through the sun gear and output
through the carrier. The simulation procedure relies on ordinary
Multi Body Simulation methods and subsequently adds
other techniques to further investigate details of the system-s
behavior and to predict its response. The selection of the relevant
parameters and output functions followed the engineering
standards for regular sized gear trains. The first step is to
quantify the variability and to reveal the most critical points of
the system, performed through a whole-mechanism Sensitivity
Analysis. Due to the lack of previous knowledge about the system-s
behavior, different DOE methods involving small and
large amount of experiments were selected to perform the SA.
In this particular case the parameter space can be divided into
two well defined groups, one of them containing the gear-s profile
information and the other the components- spatial location.
This has been exploited to explore the different DOE techniques
more promptly. A reduced set of parameters is derived for
further investigation and to feed the final optimization process,
whether as optimization parameters or as external perturbation
collective. The 10 most relevant perturbation factors and 4 to 6
prospective variable parameters are considered in a new, simplified
model. All of the parameters are affected by the mentioned
production variability. The objective functions of interest
are based on scalar output-s variability measures, so the
problem becomes an optimization under robustness and reliability constrains. The study shows an initial step on the development
path of a method to design and optimize complex micro
mechanisms composed of wide tolerated elements accounting
for the robustness and reliability of the systems- output.
Abstract: Utilization of various sensors has made it possible to
extend capabilities of industrial robots. Among these are vision
sensors that are used for providing visual information to assist robot
controllers. This paper presents a method of integrating a vision
system and a simulation program with an industrial robot. The vision
system is employed to detect a target object and compute its location
in the robot environment. Then, the target object-s information is sent
to the robot controller via parallel communication port. The robot
controller uses the extracted object information and the simulation
program to control the robot arm for approaching, grasping and
relocating the object. This paper presents technical details of system
components and describes the methodology used for this integration.
It also provides a case study to prove the validity of the methodology
developed.
Abstract: The phylogenetic analysis using the most conservative
portions of 18S rRNA gene revealed the phylogenetic relationship
among the two populations where DNA divergence showed that the
nucleotides diversity value were -0.00838 for the Tanjung Dawai,
Kedah and -0.00708 for the Cherating, Pahang populations
respectively. The net nucleotide divergence among populations (Da)
was -0.0073 indicating a low polymorphism among the populations
studied. Total number of mutations in the Tanjung Dawai, Kedah
samples was higher than Cherating, Pahang samples, which are 73 and
59 respectively while shared mutations across the populations were 8,
and reveal the evolutionary in the genome of Malaysian T. gigas. The
tree topology of both populations inferred using Neigbour-joining
method by comparing 1791 bp of partial 18S rRNA sequence revealed
that T. gigas haplotypes were clustered into seven clades, suggesting
that they are genetically diverse among populations which derived
from a common ancestor.
Abstract: After the development of the Internet a suitable
discipline for trading goods electronically has been emerged.
However, this type of markets is not still mature enough in order to
become independent and get closer to seller/buyer-s needs.
Furthermore, the buyable and sellable goods in these markets still
don-t have essential standards for being well-defined. In this paper,
we will present a model for development of a market which can
contain goods with variable definitions and we will also investigate
its characteristics. Besides, by noticing the fact that people have
different discriminations, it-s figured out that the significance of each
attribute of a specific product may vary from different people-s view
points. Consequently we-ll present a model for weighting and
accordingly different people-s view points could be satisfied. These
two aspects will be discussed completely throughout this paper.
Abstract: An IEC technique is described for a multi-objective
search of conceptual solutions. The survivability of solutions is
influenced by both model-based fitness and subjective human
preferences. The concepts- preferences are articulated via a hierarchy
of sub-concepts. The suggested method produces an objectivesubjective
front. Academic example is employed to demonstrate the
proposed approach.
Abstract: In this study, the density dependent nonlinear reactiondiffusion
equation, which arises in the insect dispersal models, is
solved using the combined application of differential quadrature
method(DQM) and implicit Euler method. The polynomial based
DQM is used to discretize the spatial derivatives of the problem. The
resulting time-dependent nonlinear system of ordinary differential
equations(ODE-s) is solved by using implicit Euler method. The
computations are carried out for a Cauchy problem defined by a onedimensional
density dependent nonlinear reaction-diffusion equation
which has an exact solution. The DQM solution is found to be in a
very good agreement with the exact solution in terms of maximum
absolute error. The DQM solution exhibits superior accuracy at large
time levels tending to steady-state. Furthermore, using an implicit
method in the solution procedure leads to stable solutions and larger
time steps could be used.
Abstract: The literature has argued that firms based in industrial districts enjoy advantages for creating internal knowledge and absorbing external knowledge as a consequence of to the knowledge flows and spillovers that exist in the district. However, empirical evidence to show how belonging to an industrial district affects the business processes of creation and absorption of knowledge is scarce and, moreover, empirical research has not taken into account the influence of variations in the flows of knowledge circulating in each cluster. This study aims to extend empirical evidence on the effect that the stock of shared competencies in industrial districts has on the business processes of creation and absorption of knowledge, through data from an initial study on 952 firms and 35 industrial districts in Spain.
Abstract: This paper presents a research conducted to investigate the effect of mixing process on polypropylene (PP) modified bitumen mixed with well graded aggregate to form modified bituminous concrete mix. Two mode of mixing, namely dry and wet with different concentration of polymer polypropylene was used with 80/100 pen bitumen, to evaluate the bituminous concrete mix properties. Three percentages of polymer varying from 1-3% by the weight of bitumen was used in this study. Three mixes namely control mix, wet mix and dry mix were prepared. Optimum binder content was calculated considering Marshall Stability, flow, air voids and Marshall Quotient at different bitumen content varying from 4% - 6.5% for control, dry and wet mix. Engineering properties thus obtained at the calculated optimum bitumen content revealed that wet mixing process is advantageous in comparison to dry mixing as it increases the stiffness of the mixture with the increase in polymer content in bitumen. Stiffness value for wet mix increases with the increase in polymer content which is beneficial in terms of rutting. 1% PP dry mix also shows enhanced stiffness, with the air void content limited to 4%.The flow behaviour of dry mix doesn't indicate any major difference with the increase in polymer content revealing that polymer acting as an aggregate only without affecting the viscosity of the binder in the mix. Polypropylene (PP) when interacted with 80 pen base bitumen enhances its performance characteristics which were brought about by altered rheological properties of the modified bitumen. The decrease in flow with the increase in binder content reflects the increase in viscosity of binder which induces the plastic flow in the mix. Workability index indicates that wet mix were easy to compact up to desired void ratio in comparison to dry mix samples.
Abstract: Among the most fundamental prerequisites for the successful development of electronic Government Services (e- Government) is Citizen Acceptance. Based on the UTAUT model, the paper describes a hypothetical framework that integrates the unique features of E- government to improve our understanding of the acceptance and usage of e-Government Saudi Arabia. The proposed model, based on UTAUT, includes the characteristics of Egovernment, consideration and inclusion of trust, privacy, and Saudi culture and context.
Abstract: The purpose of this work was to study the effect of the
irrigation using waste water with various electric conductivities (T(0,92ds/m), EC3 (3ds/m) and EC6 (6ds/m) on three varieties of
quinoa cultivated in a field south of Morocco. The follow up of the evolution of the chemical and agronomic parameters throughout the
culture made it possible to determine the responses to the saline stress in arid conditions. Results showed that the salinity caused the
depression of plant-s height, and reduced the fresh and dry weight in
the different parts of the three varieties plants. The increase of the irrigation water EC didn-t affect the yield for the varieties. Thus,
quinoa resisted to salinity and proved a behavior of a facultative halophyte crop. In fact, the cultivation of this using treated wastewater is feasible especially in arid areas for a sustainable use of
water resources.
Abstract: This paper starts with a critical view of beautiful female images in the mass media being frequently generated by a stereotypical Korean concept of beauty. Several female beauty myths have evolved in Korea during the present decade. Nearly all of them have formed due to a deeply-ingrained androcentric ideology which objectifies women. Mass media causes the public to hold a distorted concept about female beauty. There is a huge gap between women in reality and representative women in the mass media. It is essential to have an unbiased perception of female images presented in the mass media. Due to cosmetic advertisements projecting contemporary images of female beauty to promote products, cosmetics images will be examined in regard to female beauty myths portrayed by the mass media. This paper will analyze features of female beauty myths in Korea and their intrinsic characteristics.