Abstract: Since the pioneering work of Zadeh, fuzzy set theory has been applied to a myriad of areas. Song and Chissom introduced the concept of fuzzy time series and applied some methods to the enrollments of the University of Alabama. In recent years, a number of techniques have been proposed for forecasting based on fuzzy set theory methods. These methods have either used enrollment numbers or differences of enrollments as the universe of discourse. We propose using the year to year percentage change as the universe of discourse. In this communication, the approach of Jilani, Burney, and Ardil is modified by using the year to year percentage change as the universe of discourse. We use enrollment figures for the University of Alabama to illustrate our proposed method. The proposed method results in better forecasting accuracy than existing models.
Abstract: This paper proposes a power-controlled scheduling scheme for devices using a directional antenna in smart home. In the case of the home network using directional antenna, devices can concurrently transmit data in the same frequency band. Accordingly, the throughput increases compared to that of devices using omni-directional antenna in proportional to the number of concurrent transmissions. Also, the number of concurrent transmissions depends on the beamwidth of antenna, the number of devices operating in the network , transmission power, interference and so on. In particular, the less transmission power is used, the more concurrent transmissions occur due to small transmission range. In this paper, we considered sub-optimal scheduling scheme for throughput maximization and power consumption minimization. In the scheme, each device is equipped with a directional antenna. Various beamwidths, path loss components, and antenna radiation efficiencies are considered. Numerical results show that the proposed schemes outperform the scheduling scheme using directional antennas without power control.
Abstract: Austenite and Martensite indicate the phases of solids undergoing phase transformation which we usually associate with materials and not with living organisms. This article provides an overview of bacterial proteins and structures that are undergoing phase transformation and suggests its probable effect on mechanical behavior. The context is mainly within the role of phase transformations occurring in the flagellum of bacteria. The current knowledge of molecular mechanism leading to phase variation in living organisms is reviewed. Since in bacteria, each flagellum is driven by a separate motor, similarity to a Differential drive in case of four-wheeled vehicles is suggested. It also suggests the application of the mechanism in which bacteria changes its direction of movement to facilitate single point turning of a multi-wheeled vehicle. Finally, examples are presented to illustrate that the motion due to phase transformation of flagella in bacteria can start a whole new research on motion mechanisms.
Abstract: While financial institutions have faced difficulties
over the years for a multitude of reasons, the major cause of serious
banking problems continues to be directly related to lax credit
standards for borrowers and counterparties, poor portfolio risk
management, or a lack of attention to changes in economic or other
circumstances that can lead to a deterioration in the credit standing of
a bank's counterparties. Credit risk is most simply defined as the
potential that a bank borrower or counterparty will fail to meet its
obligations in accordance with agreed terms. The goal of credit risk
management is to maximize a bank's risk-adjusted rate of return by
maintaining credit risk exposure within acceptable parameters. Banks
need to manage the credit risk inherent in the entire portfolio as well
as the risk in individual credits or transactions. Banks should also
consider the relationships between credit risk and other risks. The
effective management of credit risk is a critical component of a
comprehensive approach to risk management and essential to the
long-term success of any banking organization. In this research we
also study the relationship between credit risk indices and borrower-s
timely payback in Karafarin bank.
Abstract: There is lot of work done in prediction of the fault proneness of the software systems. But, it is the severity of the faults that is more important than number of faults existing in the developed system as the major faults matters most for a developer and those major faults needs immediate attention. In this paper, we tried to predict the level of impact of the existing faults in software systems. Neuro-Fuzzy based predictor models is applied NASA-s public domain defect dataset coded in C programming language. As Correlation-based Feature Selection (CFS) evaluates the worth of a subset of attributes by considering the individual predictive ability of each feature along with the degree of redundancy between them. So, CFS is used for the selecting the best metrics that have highly correlated with level of severity of faults. The results are compared with the prediction results of Logistic Models (LMT) that was earlier quoted as the best technique in [17]. The results are recorded in terms of Accuracy, Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE). The results show that Neuro-fuzzy based model provide a relatively better prediction accuracy as compared to other models and hence, can be used for the modeling of the level of impact of faults in function based systems.
Abstract: Among the chemicals used for ammunition production, TNT (Trinitrotoluene) play a significant role since World War I and II. Various types of military weapon utilize TNT in casting process. However, the TNT casting process for warhead is difficult to control the cooling rate of the liquid TNT. This problem occurs because the casting process lacks the equipment to detect the temperature during the casting procedure This study presents the temperature detected by infrared camera to illustrate the cooling rate and cooling zone of curing, and demonstrates the optimization of TNT condition to reduce the risk of air gap occurred in the warhead which can result in the destruction afterward. Premature initiation of explosive-filled projectiles in response to set-back forces during gunfiring cause by casting defects. Finally the study can help improving the process of the TNT casting. The operators can control the curing of TNT inside the case by rising up the heating rod at the proper time. Consequently this can reduce tremendous time of rework if the air gaps occur and increase strength to lower elastic modulus. Therefore, it can be clearly concluded that the use of Infrared Cameras in this process is another method to improve the casting procedure.
Abstract: The performance of time-reversal MUSIC algorithm will be dramatically degrades in presence of strong noise and multiple scattering (i.e. when scatterers are close to each other). This is due to error in determining the number of scatterers. The present paper provides a new approach to alleviate such a problem using an information theoretic criterion referred as minimum description length (MDL). The merits of the novel approach are confirmed by the numerical examples. The results indicate the time-reversal MUSIC yields accurate estimate of the target locations with considerable noise and multiple scattering in the received signals.
Abstract: Monitoring lightning electromagnetic pulses (sferics)
and other terrestrial as well as extraterrestrial transient radiation signals
is of considerable interest for practical and theoretical purposes
in astro- and geophysics as well as meteorology. Managing a continuous
flow of data, automisation of the detection and classification
process is important. Features based on a combination of wavelet and
statistical methods proved efficient for analysis and characterisation
of transients and as input into a radial basis function network that is
trained to discriminate transients from pulse like to wave like.
Abstract: This paper presents a method for functional projective H∞ synchronization problem of chaotic systems with external disturbance. Based on Lyapunov theory and linear matrix inequality (LMI) formulation, the novel feedback controller is established to not only guarantee stable synchronization of both drive and response systems but also reduce the effect of external disturbance to an H∞ norm constraint.
Abstract: This paper discusses a genetic algorithm (GA) based optimal load shedding that can apply for electrical distribution networks with and without dispersed generators (DG). Also, the proposed method has the ability for considering constant and variable capacity deficiency caused by unscheduled outages in the bulked generation and transmission system of bulked power supply. The genetic algorithm (GA) is employed to search for the optimal load shedding strategy in distribution networks considering DGs in two cases of constant and variable modelling of bulked power supply of distribution networks. Electrical power distribution systems have a radial network and unidirectional power flows. With the advent of dispersed generations, the electrical distribution system has a locally looped network and bidirectional power flows. Therefore, installed DG in the electrical distribution systems can cause operational problems and impact on existing operational schemes. Introduction of DGs in electrical distribution systems has introduced many new issues in operational and planning level. Load shedding as one of operational issue has no exempt. The objective is to minimize the sum of curtailed load and also system losses within the frame-work of system operational and security constraints. The proposed method is tested on a radial distribution system with 33 load points for more practical applications.
Abstract: The information revealed by derivatives can help to
better characterize digital near-end crosstalk signatures with the
ultimate goal of identifying the specific aggressor signal.
Unfortunately, derivatives tend to be very sensitive to even low
levels of noise. In this work we approximated the derivatives of both
quiet and noisy digital signals using a wavelet-based technique. The
results are presented for Gaussian digital edges, IBIS Model digital
edges, and digital edges in oscilloscope data captured from an actual
printed circuit board. Tradeoffs between accuracy and noise
immunity are presented. The results show that the wavelet technique
can produce first derivative approximations that are accurate to
within 5% or better, even under noisy conditions. The wavelet
technique can be used to calculate the derivative of a digital signal
edge when conventional methods fail.
Abstract: The breakdown strength characteristic of Low Density
Polyethylene films (LDPE) under DC voltage application and the
effect of water absorption have been studied. Mainly, our experiment
was investigated under two conditions; dry and heavy water
absorption. Under DC ramp voltage, the result found that the
breakdown strength under heavy water absorption has a lower value
than dry condition. In order to clarify the effect, the temperature rise of
film was observed using non contact thermograph until the occurrence
of the electrical breakdown and the conduction current of the sample
was also measured in correlation with the thermograph measurement.
From the observations, it was shown that under the heavy water
absorption, the hot spot in the samples appeared at lower voltage. At
the same voltage the temperature of the hot spot and conduction
current was higher than that under the dry condition. The measurement
result has a good correlation between the existence of a critical field
for conduction current and thermograph observation. In case of the
heavy water absorption, the occurrence of the threshold field was
earlier than the dry condition as result lead to higher of conduction
current and the temperature rise appears after threshold field was
significantly increased in increasing of field. The higher temperature
rise was caused by the higher current conduction as the result the
insulation leads to breakdown to the lower field application.
Abstract: To study on effect of PEG and NaCl stress on
germination and early seedling stages on two cultivar of corn, two
separated experiment were laid out at physiology laboratory, faculty
of Agriculture, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran in 2009. This
investigation was performed as factorial experiment under Complete
Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. Cultivar factor
contains of two varieties (sweet corn SC403 and Flint corn SC704)
and five levels of stress (0, -2, -4, -6 and -8 bar). The principal aim of
current study was to compare the two varieties of maize in relative to
the stress conditions. Results indicated that significant decrease was
observed in percentage of germination, germination rate, length of
radicle and plumule and radicle and plumule dry matter. On the basis
of the results, NaCl as compared with PEG had more effect on
germination and early seedling stage and sweet corn had more
resistant than flint corn in both stress conditions.
Abstract: In this paper, the Gaussian type quadrature rules for fuzzy functions are discussed. The errors representation and convergence theorems are given. Moreover, four kinds of Gaussian type quadrature rules with error terms for approximate of fuzzy integrals are presented. The present paper complements the theoretical results of the paper by T. Allahviranloo and M. Otadi [T. Allahviranloo, M. Otadi, Gaussian quadratures for approximate of fuzzy integrals, Applied Mathematics and Computation 170 (2005) 874-885]. The obtained results are illustrated by solving some numerical examples.
Abstract: The purpose of the experiments described in this article was the comparison of integrated fixed film activated sludge (IFAS) and activated sludge (AS) system. The IFAS applied system consists of the cigarette filter rods (wasted filter in tobacco factories) as a biofilm carrier. The comparison with activated sludge was performed by two parallel treatment lines. Organic substance, ammonia and TP removal was investigated over four month period. Synthetic wastewater was prepared with ordinary tap water and glucose as the main sources of carbon and energy, plus balanced macro and micro nutrients. COD removal percentages of 94.55%, and 81.62% were achieved for IFAS and activated sludge system, respectively. Also, ammonia concentration significantly decreased by increasing the HRT in both systems. The average ammonia removal of 97.40 % and 96.34% were achieved for IFAS and activated sludge system, respectively. The removal efficiency of total phosphorus (TP-P) was 60.64%, higher than AS process by 56.63% respectively.
Abstract: In this paper, we apply the PQ theory with shunt active power filter in an unbalanced and distorted power system voltage to compensate the perturbations generated by non linear load. The power factor is also improved in the current source. The PLL system is used to extract the fundamental component of the even sequence under conditions mentioned of the power system voltage.
Abstract: This paper presents an innovative approach within the area of Group Decision Support System (GDSS) by using tools based on intelligent agents. It introduces iGDSS, a software platform for decision support and collaboration and an application of this platform - eCollaborative Decisions - for academic environment, all these developed within a framework of a research project.
Abstract: Classifier fusion may generate more accurate
classification than each of the basic classifiers. Fusion is often based
on fixed combination rules like the product, average etc. This paper
presents decision templates as classifier fusion method for the
recognition of the handwritten English and Farsi numerals (1-9).
The process involves extracting a feature vector on well-known
image databases. The extracted feature vector is fed to multiple
classifier fusion. A set of experiments were conducted to compare
decision templates (DTs) with some combination rules. Results from
decision templates conclude 97.99% and 97.28% for Farsi and
English handwritten digits.
Abstract: There are different kinds of online systems on the Internet for people who need support and develop new knowledge. Online communities and Ask the Expert systems are two such systems. In the health care area, the number of users of these systems has increased at a rapid pace. Interactions with medical trained experts take place online, and people with concerns about similar health problems come together to share experiences and advice. The systems are also used as storages and browsed for health information. Over the years, studies have been conducted of the usage of the different systems. However, in what ways the systems can be used together to enhance learning has not been explored. This paper presents results from a study of online health-communities and an Ask the Expert system for people who suffer from overweight. Differences and similarities in regards to posted issues and replies are discussed, and suggestions for a new holistic design of the two systems are presented.
Abstract: This study, focusing on the importance of encouraging
outdoor activities for children, aims to propose and implement a Web-GIS based outdoor education program for junior high schools,
which will then be evaluated by users. Specifically, for the purpose of improved outdoor activities in the junior high school education, the
outdoor education program, with chiefly using the Web-GIS that provides a good information provision and sharing tool, is proposed
and implemented before being evaluated by users. The conclusion of
this study can be summarized in the following two points.
(1) A five -step outdoor education program based on Web-GIS was
proposed for a “second school" at junior high schools that was then implemented before being evaluated by teachers as users.
(2) Based on the results of evaluation by teachers, it was clear that the general operation of Web-GIS based outdoor education program with them only is difficult due to their lack of knowledge regarding Web-GIS and that support staff who can effectively utilize Web-GIS are essential.