Abstract: While service quality is acceptably most valued in the tourism industry, the issue of safety and security plays a key role in sustaining the industry success. Such an issue has been part of Thailand-s tourism development and promotion for several years. Evidently, the Tourist Police Department was set up for this purpose. Its main responsibility is to deal with international tourists- safety and confidence in travelling within Thai territory. However, to strengthen the tourism safety of the country, it is important to better understand international tourists- safety concerns about Thailand. This article seeks to compare international tourists- safety needs and Thai tourist polices- perception towards the tourists- safety concern to determine what measure should be taken to assure the tourist of Thailand-s secure environment. Through the employment of quantitative and qualitative methodological approaches, the tourism safety need of international tourists from Europe, North America and Asia was excavated, how Thai tourist polices and local polices perceived the international tourist-s safety concern was investigated, and opinion and experiences about how the police deal with international tourists- problems in eight touristic areas were also explored. A comparative result reveals a certain degrees of differences in international tourists- safety needs and Thai polices- perception towards their needs. The tourism safety prevention and protection measure and practice are also suggested.
Abstract: Hardness of the widely used structural steel is of vital
importance since it may help in the determination of many
mechanical properties of a material under loading situations. In order
to obtain reliable information for design, properties homogeneity
should be validated. In the current study the hardness variation over
the different diameters of the same AISI 4140 bar is investigated.
Measurements were taken on the two faces of the stock at equally
spaced eight sectors and fifteen layers. Statistical and graphical
analysis are performed to asses the distribution of hardness
measurements over the specified area. Hardness measurements
showed some degree of dispersion with about ± 10% of its nominal
value provided by manufacturer. Hardness value is found to have a
slight decrease trend as the diameter is reduced. However, an
opposite behavior is noticed regarding the sequence of the sector
indicating a nonuniform distribution over the same area either on the
same face or considering the corresponding sector on the other face
(cross section) of the same material bar.
Abstract: Developing techniques for mobile robot navigation constitutes one of the major trends in the current
research on mobile robotics. This paper develops a local
model network (LMN) for mobile robot navigation. The
LMN represents the mobile robot by a set of locally valid
submodels that are Multi-Layer Perceptrons (MLPs).
Training these submodels employs Back Propagation (BP) algorithm. The paper proposes the fuzzy C-means (FCM) in this scheme to divide the input space to sub regions, and then a submodel (MLP) is identified to represent a particular
region. The submodels then are combined in a unified
structure. In run time phase, Radial Basis Functions (RBFs) are employed as windows for the activated submodels. This
proposed structure overcomes the problem of changing operating regions of mobile robots. Read data are used in all experiments. Results for mobile robot navigation using the
proposed LMN reflect the soundness of the proposed
scheme.
Abstract: Censored Production Rule is an extension of standard
production rule, which is concerned with problems of reasoning with
incomplete information, subject to resource constraints and problem
of reasoning efficiently with exceptions. A CPR has a form: IF A
(Condition) THEN B (Action) UNLESS C (Censor), Where C is the
exception condition. Fuzzy CPR are obtained by augmenting
ordinary fuzzy production rule “If X is A then Y is B with an
exception condition and are written in the form “If X is A then Y is B
Unless Z is C. Such rules are employed in situation in which the
fuzzy conditional statement “If X is A then Y is B" holds frequently
and the exception condition “Z is C" holds rarely. Thus “If X is A
then Y is B" part of the fuzzy CPR express important information
while the unless part acts only as a switch that changes the polarity of
“Y is B" to “Y is not B" when the assertion “Z is C" holds. The
proposed approach is an attempt to discover fuzzy censored
production rules from set of discovered fuzzy if then rules in the
form:
A(X)  B(Y) || C(Z).
Abstract: The aim of this study was to compare the effects
of an altitude training camp on heart rate variability and
performance in elite triathletes. Ten athletes completed 20 days of live-high, train-low training at 1650m. Athletes
underwent pre and post 800-m swim time trials at sea-level, and two heart rate variability tests at 1650m on the first and
last day of the training camp. Based on their time trial results,
athletes were divided into responders and non-responders. Relative to the non-responders, the responders sympathetic-toparasympathetic
ratio decreased substantially after 20 days of altitude training (-0.68 ± 1.08 and -1.2 ± 0.96, mean ± 90%
confidence interval for supine and standing respectively). In
addition, sympathetic activity while standing was also
substantially lower post-altitude in the responders compared to the non-responders (-1869 ± 4764 ms2). Results indicate that
responders demonstrated a change to more vagal
predominance compared to non-responders.
Abstract: Biclustering aims at identifying several biclusters that
reveal potential local patterns from a microarray matrix. A bicluster is
a sub-matrix of the microarray consisting of only a subset of genes
co-regulates in a subset of conditions. In this study, we extend the
motif of subspace clustering to present a K-biclusters clustering (KBC)
algorithm for the microarray biclustering issue. Besides minimizing
the dissimilarities between genes and bicluster centers within all
biclusters, the objective function of the KBC algorithm additionally
takes into account how to minimize the residues within all biclusters
based on the mean square residue model. In addition, the objective
function also maximizes the entropy of conditions to stimulate more
conditions to contribute the identification of biclusters. The KBC
algorithm adopts the K-means type clustering process to efficiently
make the partition of K biclusters be optimized. A set of experiments
on a practical microarray dataset are demonstrated to show the
performance of the proposed KBC algorithm.
Abstract: In this paper, we propose a dual version of the first
threshold ring signature scheme based on error-correcting code proposed
by Aguilar et. al in [1]. Our scheme uses an improvement of
Véron zero-knowledge identification scheme, which provide smaller
public and private key sizes and better computation complexity than
the Stern one. This scheme is secure in the random oracle model.
Abstract: Battery storage system is emerging as an essential component of hybrid power system based on renewable energy resources such as solar and wind in order to make these sources dispatchable. Accurate modeling of battery storage system is ssential in order to ensure optimal planning of hybrid power systems incorporating battery storage. Majority of the system planning studies involving battery storage assume battery charging efficiency to be constant. However a strong correlation exists between battery charging efficiency and battery state of charge. In this work a Fuzzy logic based model has been presented for determining battery charging efficiency relative to a particular SOC. In order to demonstrate the efficacy of proposed approach, reliability evaluation studies are carried out for a hypothetical autonomous hybrid power system located in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India. The impact of considering battery charging efficiency as a function of state of charge is compared against the assumption of fixed battery charging efficiency for three different configurations comprising of wind-storage, solar-storage and wind-solar-storage.
Abstract: Interaction Model plays an important role in Modelbased
Intelligent Interface Agent Architecture for developing
Intelligent User Interface. In this paper we are presenting some
improvements in the algorithms for development interaction model of
interface agent including: the action segmentation algorithm, the
action pair selection algorithm, the final action pair selection
algorithm, the interaction graph construction algorithm and the
probability calculation algorithm. The analysis of the algorithms also
presented. At the end of this paper, we introduce an experimental
program called “Personal Transfer System".
Abstract: Heavy rainfall greatly affects the aerodynamic performance of the aircraft. There are many accidents of aircraft caused by aerodynamic efficiency degradation by heavy rain. In this Paper we have studied the heavy rain effects on the aerodynamic efficiency of NACA 64-210 & NACA 0012 airfoils. For our analysis, CFD method and preprocessing grid generator are used as our main analytical tools, and the simulation of rain is accomplished via two phase flow approach-s Discrete Phase Model (DPM). Raindrops are assumed to be non-interacting, non-deforming, non-evaporating and non-spinning spheres. Both airfoil sections exhibited significant reduction in lift and increase in drag for a given lift condition in simulated rain. The most significant difference between these two airfoils was the sensitivity of the NACA 64-210 to liquid water content (LWC), while NACA 0012 performance losses in the rain environment is not a function of LWC . It is expected that the quantitative information gained in this paper will be useful to the operational airline industry and greater effort such as small scale and full scale flight tests should put in this direction to further improve aviation safety.
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: Many digital signal processing, techniques have been used to automatically distinguish protein coding regions (exons) from non-coding regions (introns) in DNA sequences. In this work, we have characterized these sequences according to their nonlinear dynamical features such as moment invariants, correlation dimension, and largest Lyapunov exponent estimates. We have applied our model to a number of real sequences encoded into a time series using EIIP sequence indicators. In order to discriminate between coding and non coding DNA regions, the phase space trajectory was first reconstructed for coding and non-coding regions. Nonlinear dynamical features are extracted from those regions and used to investigate a difference between them. Our results indicate that the nonlinear dynamical characteristics have yielded significant differences between coding (CR) and non-coding regions (NCR) in DNA sequences. Finally, the classifier is tested on real genes where coding and non-coding regions are well known.
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: In this paper, a fuzzy algorithm and a fuzzy multicriteria
decision framework are developed and used for a practical
question of optimizing biofuels policy making. The methodological
framework shows how to incorporate fuzzy set theory in a decision
process of finding a sustainable biofuels policy among several policy
options. Fuzzy set theory is used here as a tool to deal with
uncertainties of decision environment, vagueness and ambiguities of
policy objectives, subjectivities of human assessments and imprecise
and incomplete information about the evaluated policy instruments.
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: 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: This study explores perceptions of English as a Foreign
Language (EFL) learners on using computer mediated communication
technology in their learner of English. The data consists of
observations of both synchronous and asynchronous communication
participants engaged in for over a period of 4 months, which included
online, and offline communication protocols, open-ended interviews
and reflection papers composed by participants.
Content analysis of interview data and the written documents listed
above, as well as, member check and triangulation techniques are the
major data analysis strategies. The findings suggest that participants
generally do not benefit from computer-mediated communication in
terms of its effect in learning a foreign language. Participants regarded
the nature of CMC as artificial, or pseudo communication that did not
aid their authentic communicational skills in English. The results of
this study sheds lights on insufficient and inconclusive findings, which
most quantitative CMC studies previously generated.
Abstract: ZnO nanocrystals with mean diameter size 14 nm
have been prepared by precipitation method, and examined as
photocatalyst for the UV-induced degradation of insecticide diazinon
as deputy of organic pollutant in aqueous solution. The effects of
various parameters, such as illumination time, the amount of
photocatalyst, initial pH values and initial concentration of
insecticide on the photocatalytic degradation diazinon were
investigated to find desired conditions. In this case, the desired
parameters were also tested for the treatment of real water containing
the insecticide. Photodegradation efficiency of diazinon was
compared between commercial and prepared ZnO nanocrystals. The
results indicated that UV/ZnO process applying prepared
nanocrystalline ZnO offered electrical energy efficiency and
quantum yield better than commercial ZnO. The present study, on the
base of Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism, illustrated a pseudo
first-order kinetic model with rate constant of surface reaction equal
to 0.209 mg l-1 min-1 and adsorption equilibrium constant of 0.124 l
mg-1.