Abstract: The mixing behaviors of dry and wet granular
materials in gas fluidized bed systems were investigated
computationally using the combined Computational Fluid Dynamics
and Discrete Element Method (CFD-DEM). Dry particles were
observed to mix fairly rapidly during the fluidization process due to
vigorous relative motions between particles induced by the flow of
gas. In contrast, due to the presence of strong cohesive forces arising
from capillary liquid bridges between wet particles, the mixing
efficiencies of wet granular materials under similar operating
conditions were observed to be reduced significantly.
Abstract: In this paper we introduce a new class of mg-continuous mapping and studied some of its basic properties.We obtain some characterizations of such functions. Moreover we define sub minimal structure and further study certain properties of mg-closed sets.
Abstract: Ground-level tropospheric ozone is one of the air
pollutants of most concern. It is mainly produced by photochemical
processes involving nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds
in the lower parts of the atmosphere. Ozone levels become
particularly high in regions close to high ozone precursor emissions
and during summer, when stagnant meteorological conditions with
high insolation and high temperatures are common.
In this work, some results of a study about urban ozone
distribution patterns in the city of Badajoz, which is the largest and
most industrialized city in Extremadura region (southwest Spain) are
shown. Fourteen sampling campaigns, at least one per month, were
carried out to measure ambient air ozone concentrations, during
periods that were selected according to favourable conditions to
ozone production, using an automatic portable analyzer.
Later, to evaluate the ozone distribution at the city, the measured
ozone data were analyzed using geostatistical techniques. Thus, first,
during the exploratory analysis of data, it was revealed that they were
distributed normally, which is a desirable property for the subsequent
stages of the geostatistical study. Secondly, during the structural
analysis of data, theoretical spherical models provided the best fit for
all monthly experimental variograms. The parameters of these
variograms (sill, range and nugget) revealed that the maximum
distance of spatial dependence is between 302-790 m and the
variable, air ozone concentration, is not evenly distributed in reduced
distances. Finally, predictive ozone maps were derived for all points
of the experimental study area, by use of geostatistical algorithms
(kriging). High prediction accuracy was obtained in all cases as
cross-validation showed. Useful information for hazard assessment
was also provided when probability maps, based on kriging
interpolation and kriging standard deviation, were produced.
Abstract: This paper presents the approach to design the Auto-
Tuning PID controller for interactive Water Level Process using
integral step response. The Integral Step Response (ISR) is the
method to model a dynamic process which can be done easily,
conveniently and very efficiently. Therefore this method is advantage
for design the auto tune PID controller. Our scheme uses the root
locus technique to design PID controller. In this paper MATLAB is
used for modeling and testing of the control system. The
experimental results of the interacting water level process can be
satisfyingly illustrated the transient response and the steady state
response.
Abstract: Simulation of occlusal function during laboratory
material-s testing becomes essential in predicting long-term
performance before clinical usage. The aim of the study was to assess
the influence of chamfer preparation depth on failure risk of heat
pressed ceramic crowns with and without zirconia framework by
means of finite element analysis. 3D models of maxillary central
incisor, prepared for full ceramic crowns with different depths of the
chamfer margin (between 0.8 and 1.2 mm) and 6-degree tapered
walls together with the overlying crowns were generated using
literature data (Fig. 1, 2). The crowns were designed with and
without a zirconia framework with a thickness of 0.4 mm. For all
preparations and crowns, stresses in the pressed ceramic crown,
zirconia framework, pressed ceramic veneer, and dentin were
evaluated separately. The highest stresses were registered in the
dentin. The depth of the preparations had no significant influence on
the stress values of the teeth and pressed ceramics for the studied
cases, only for the zirconia framework. The zirconia framework
decreases the stress values in the veneer.
Abstract: This paper proposes an architectural and graphical
user interface (GUI) design of a traditional Thai musical instrument
application for tablet computers for practicing “Ranaad Ek" which is
a trough-resonated keyboard percussion instrument. The application
provides percussion methods for a player as real as a physical
instrument. The application consists of two playing modes. The first
mode is free playing, a player can freely multi touches on wooden bar
to produce instrument sounds. The second mode is practicing mode
that guilds the player to follow percussions and rhythms of practice
songs. The application has achieved requirements and specifications.
Abstract: In this paper, the use of beam search and look-ahead strategies for solving the strip packing problem (SPP) is investigated. Given a strip of fixed width W, unlimited length L, and a set of n circular pieces of known radii, the objective is to determine the minimum length of the initial strip that packs all the pieces. An augmented algorithm which combines beam search and a look-ahead strategies is proposed. The look-ahead is used in order to evaluate the nodes at each level of the tree search. The best nodes are then retained for branching. The computational investigation showed that the proposed augmented algorithm is able to improve the best known solutions of the literature on most instances used.
Abstract: Due to the call of global warming effects, city planners aim at actions for reducing carbon emission. One of the approaches is to promote the usage of public transportation system toward the transit-oriented-development. For example, rapid transit system in Taipei city and Kaohsiung city are opening. However, until November 2008 the average daily patronage counted only 113,774 passengers at Kaohsiung MRT systems, much less than which was expected. Now the crucial questions: how the public transport competes with private transport? And more importantly, what factors would enhance the use of public transport? To give the answers to those questions, our study first applied regression to analyze the factors attracting people to use public transport around cities in the world. It is shown in our study that the number of MRT stations, city population, cost of living, transit fare, density, gasoline price, and scooter being a major mode of transport are the major factors. Subsequently, our study identified successful and unsuccessful cities in regard of the public transport usage based on the diagnosis of regression residuals. Finally, by comparing transportation strategies adopted by those successful cities, our conclusion stated that Kaohsiung City could apply strategies such as increasing parking fees, reducing parking spaces in downtown area, and reducing transfer time by providing more bus services and public bikes to promote the usage of public transport.
Abstract: This article examines the nature and structure of ecological education of biology specialists in Kazakhstan. Also characterizes the ecological education in high school and specific features in training of biology specialists.
Abstract: Bacterial magnetic nanoparticles have great useful potential in biotechnological and biomedical applications. In this study, a liquid growth medium was modified for cultivation a fastidious magnetotactic bacterium that has been isolated from Anzali
lagoon, Iran in our previous research. These modifications include
change in vitamin, mineral, carbon sources and etcetera. In our
experience, the serum bottles and designed air-tight laboratory bottles
were used to create microaerobic conditions in order to development
of a method for scale-up experiment. This information may serve as a
guide to green chemistry based biological protocols for the synthesis
of magnetic nanoparticles with control over the chemical
composition, morphology and size.
Abstract: In this paper we canvass three case studies of unique
research partnerships between universities and schools in the wider
community. In doing so, we consider those areas of indeterminate
zones of professional practice explored by academics in their
research activities within the wider community. We discuss three
cases: an artist-in-residence program designed to engage primary
school children with new understandings about local Indigenous
Australian issues in their pedagogical and physical landscapes; an
assessment of pedagogical concerns in relation to the use of physical
space in classrooms; and the pedagogical underpinnings of a
costumed museum school program. In doing so, we engage issues of
research as playing an integral part in the development,
implementation and maintenance of academic engagements with
wider community issues.
Abstract: Internet is largely composed of textual contents and a
huge volume of digital contents gets floated over the Internet daily.
The ease of information sharing and re-production has made it
difficult to preserve author-s copyright. Digital watermarking came
up as a solution for copyright protection of plain text problem after
1993. In this paper, we propose a zero text watermarking algorithm
based on occurrence frequency of non-vowel ASCII characters and
words for copyright protection of plain text. The embedding
algorithm makes use of frequency non-vowel ASCII characters and
words to generate a specialized author key. The extraction algorithm
uses this key to extract watermark, hence identify the original
copyright owner. Experimental results illustrate the effectiveness of
the proposed algorithm on text encountering meaning preserving
attacks performed by five independent attackers.
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to discuss a low-cost methodology that can predict traffic flow conflicts and quantitatively rank crash expectancies (based on relative probability) for various traffic facilities. This paper focuses on the application of statistical distributions to model traffic flow and Monte Carlo techniques to simulate traffic and discusses how to create a tool in order to predict the possibility of a traffic crash. A low-cost data collection methodology has been discussed for the heterogeneous traffic flow that exists and a GIS platform has been proposed to thematically represent traffic flow from simulations and the probability of a crash. Furthermore, discussions have been made to reflect the dynamism of the model in reference to its adaptability, adequacy, economy, and efficiency to ensure adoption.
Abstract: In this paper we intend to ascertain the state of the art on multifingered end-effectors, also known as robotic hands or dexterous robot hands, and propose an experimental setup for an innovative task based design approach, involving cutting edge technologies in motion capture. After an initial description of the capabilities and complexity of a human hand when grasping objects, in order to point out the importance of replicating it, we analyze the mechanical and kinematical structure of some important works carried out all around the world in the last three decades and also review the actuators and sensing technologies used. Finally we describe a new design philosophy proposing an experimental setup for the first stage using recent developments in human body motion capture systems that might lead to lighter and always more dexterous robotic hands.
Abstract: The design of high-rise building is more often dictated
by its serviceability rather than strength. Structural Engineers are
always striving to overcome challenge of controlling lateral
deflection and storey drifts as well as self weight of structure
imposed on foundation.
One of the most effective techniques is the use of outrigger and
belt truss system in Composite structures that can astutely solve the
above two issues in High-rise constructions.
This paper investigates deflection control by effective utilisation
of belt truss and outrigger system on a 60-storey composite building
subjected to wind loads. A three dimensional Finite Element Analysis
is performed with one, two and three outrigger levels. The reductions
in lateral deflection are 34%, 42% and 51% respectively as compared
to a model without any outrigger system. There is an appreciable
decline in the storey drifts with the introduction of these stiffer
arrangements.
Abstract: The question of interethnic and interreligious conflicts
in ex-Yugoslavia receives much attention within the framework of
the international context created after 1991 because of the impact of
these conflicts on the security and the stability of the region of
Balkans and of Europe.
This paper focuses on the rationales leading to the declaration of
independence by Kosovo according to ethnic and religious criteria
and analyzes why these same rationales were not applied in Bosnia
and Herzegovina. The approach undertaken aims at comparatively
examining the cases of Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the
same time, it aims at understanding the political decision making of
the international community in the case of Kosovo. Specifically, was
this a good political decision for the security and the stability of the
region of Balkans, of Europe, or even for global security and
stability?
This research starts with an overview on the European security
framework post 1991, paying particular attention to Kosovo and
Bosnia and Herzegovina. It then presents the theoretical and
methodological framework and compares the representative cases.
Using the constructivism issue and the comparative methodology, it
arrives at the results of the study. An important issue of the paper is
the thesis that this event modifies the principles of international law
and creates dangerous precedents for regional stability in the
Balkans.
Abstract: Recently, the design is becoming important in product development. The technology which is a strong point of Japan is immediately caught up by the foreign countries, and the price competition begins. Therefore companies tend to plan differentiation of products by the design or a color. The purpose of my work was to consider the optimal color for using by product development. We needed to clarify the thing leading to color preference for this purpose. Two kinds of investigations were made. By the first investigation, we found out that a geographical factor difference existed in color preference. Then, investigation which regarded the difference as latitude was conducted. However, the result expected from the difference in latitude was not obtained. It seems that it is necessary to set up difference of latitude a little more greatly, or to reexamine by other geographical factors.
Abstract: In this paper, some common gearboxes vibration analysis methods and condition monitoring systems are explained. In addition, an experimental gearbox vibration analysis is discussed through a critical case history for a mixer gearbox related to Iran oil industry. The case history also consists of gear manufacturing (machining) recommendations, lubrication condition of gearbox and machinery maintenance activities that caused reduction in noise and vibration of the gearbox. Besides some of the recent patents and innovations in gearboxes, lubrication and vibration monitoring systems explained. Finally micro pitting and surface fatigue in pinion and bevel of mentioned horizontal to vertical gearbox discussed in details.
Abstract: Through 1980s, management accounting researchers
described the increasing irrelevance of traditional control and
performance measurement systems. The Balanced Scorecard (BSC)
is a critical business tool for a lot of organizations. It is a
performance measurement system which translates mission and
strategy into objectives. Strategy map approach is a development
variant of BSC in which some necessary causal relations must be
established. To recognize these relations, experts usually use
experience. It is also possible to utilize regression for the same
purpose. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), which is one of the
most powerful methods of multivariate data analysis, obtains more
appropriate results than traditional methods such as regression. In the
present paper, we propose SEM for the first time to identify the
relations between objectives in the strategy map, and a test to
measure the importance of relations. In SEM, factor analysis and test
of hypotheses are done in the same analysis. SEM is known to be
better than other techniques at supporting analysis and reporting. Our
approach provides a framework which permits the experts to design
the strategy map by applying a comprehensive and scientific method
together with their experience. Therefore this scheme is a more
reliable method in comparison with the previously established
methods.
Abstract: As a structure for processing string problem, suffix
array is certainly widely-known and extensively-studied. But if the
string access pattern follows the “90/10" rule, suffix array can not take
advantage of the fact that we often find something that we have just
found. Although the splay tree is an efficient data structure for small
documents when the access pattern follows the “90/10" rule, it
requires many structures and an excessive amount of pointer
manipulations for efficiently processing and searching large
documents. In this paper, we propose a new and conceptually powerful
data structure, called splay suffix arrays (SSA), for string search. This
data structure combines the features of splay tree and suffix arrays into
a new approach which is suitable to implementation on both
conventional and clustered computers.