Abstract: A Decision Support System/Expert System for stock
portfolio selection presented where at first step, both technical and
fundamental data used to estimate technical and fundamental return
and risk (1st phase); Then, the estimated values are aggregated with
the investor preferences (2nd phase) to produce convenient stock
portfolio.
In the 1st phase, there are two expert systems, each of which is
responsible for technical or fundamental estimation. In the technical
expert system, for each stock, twenty seven candidates are identified
and with using rough sets-based clustering method (RC) the effective
variables have been selected. Next, for each stock two fuzzy rulebases
are developed with fuzzy C-Mean method and Takai-Sugeno-
Kang (TSK) approach; one for return estimation and the other for
risk. Thereafter, the parameters of the rule-bases are tuned with backpropagation
method. In parallel, for fundamental expert systems,
fuzzy rule-bases have been identified in the form of “IF-THEN" rules
through brainstorming with the stock market experts and the input
data have been derived from financial statements; as a result two
fuzzy rule-bases have been generated for all the stocks, one for return
and the other for risk.
In the 2nd phase, user preferences represented by four criteria and
are obtained by questionnaire. Using an expert system, four estimated
values of return and risk have been aggregated with the respective
values of user preference. At last, a fuzzy rule base having four rules,
treats these values and produce a ranking score for each stock which
will lead to a satisfactory portfolio for the user.
The stocks of six manufacturing companies and the period of
2003-2006 selected for data gathering.
Abstract: Packing problems arise in a wide variety of application
areas. The basic problem is that of determining an efficient arrangement
of different objects in a region without any overlap and
with minimal wasted gap between shapes. This paper presents a
novel population based approach for optimizing arrangement of irregular
shapes. In this approach, each shape is coded as an agent and
the agents' reproductions and grouping policies results in arrangements
of the objects in positions with least wasted area between
them. The approach is implemented in an application for cutting
sheets and test results on several problems from literature are presented.
Abstract: Liquid-liquid extraction is a process using two immiscible
liquids to extract compounds from one phase without high
temperature requirement. Mostly, the technical implementation of
this process is carried out in mixer-settlers or extraction columns. In
real chemical processes, chemicals may have high viscosity and
contain impurities. These impurities may change the settling behavior
of the process without measurably changing the physical properties
of the phases. In the current study, the settling behavior and the affected
parameters in a high-viscosity system were observed. Batchsettling
experiments were performed to experimentally quantify the
settling behavior and the mixer-settler model of Henschke [1] was
used to evaluate the behavior of the toluene + water system. The
viscosity of the system was increased by adding polyethylene glycol
4000 to the aqueous phase. NaCl and Na2SO4 were used to study the
influence of electrolytes. The results from this study show that increasing
the viscosity of water has a higher influence on the settling
behavior in comparison to the effects of the electrolytes. It can be
seen from the experiments that at high salt concentrations, there was
no effect on the settling behavior.
Abstract: The development and use of mobile devices as well as its integration within education systems to deliver electronic contents and to support real-time communications was the focus of this research. In order to investigate the software engineering issues in using mobile devices a research on electronic content was initiated. The Developed MP3 mobile software solution was developed as a prototype for testing and developing a strategy for designing a usable m-learning environment. The mobile software solution was evaluated using mobile device using the link: http://projects.seeu.edu.mk/mlearn. The investigation also tested the correlation between the two mobile learning indicators: electronic content and attention, based on the Task Based learning instructional method. The mobile software solution ''M-Learn“ was developed as a prototype for testing the approach and developing a strategy for designing usable m-learning environment. The proposed methodology is about what learning modeling approach is more appropriate to use when developing mobile learning software.
Abstract: This research paper designs a unique motion planner
of multiple platoons of nonholonomic car-like robots as a feasible
solution to the lane changing/merging maneuvers. The decentralized
planner with a leaderless approach and a path-guidance principle
derived from the Lyapunov-based control scheme generates collision
free avoidance and safe merging maneuvers from multiple lanes to a
single lane by deploying a split/merge strategy. The fixed obstacles
are the markings and boundaries of the road lanes, while the moving
obstacles are the robots themselves. Real and virtual road lane
markings and the boundaries of road lanes are incorporated into a
workspace to achieve the desired formation and configuration of the
robots. Convergence of the robots to goal configurations and the
repulsion of the robots from specified obstacles are achieved by
suitable attractive and repulsive potential field functions,
respectively. The results can be viewed as a significant contribution
to the avoidance algorithm of the intelligent vehicle systems (IVS).
Computer simulations highlight the effectiveness of the split/merge
strategy and the acceleration-based controllers.
Abstract: Fuel cell is an emerging technology in the field
of renewable energy sources which has the capacity to replace
conventional energy generation sources. Fuel cell utilizes hydrogen
energy to produce electricity. The electricity generated by the fuel
cell can’t be directly used for a specific application as it needs
proper power conditioning. Moreover, the output power fluctuates
with different operating conditions. To get a stable output power
at an economic rate, power conditioning circuit is essential for fuel
cell. This paper implements a two-staged power conditioning unit for
fuel cell based distributed generation using hysteresis current control
technique.
Abstract: In the article the experience of principle new
technology development of ethnopsychological experiment on the
basis of using other virtual independent experimental variables is
presented. It is shown that ethnic prejudices are the result of forming
and development of specific semantic barriers, arising up in the
conditions of interethnic co-operation and people-s communication.
Their overcoming is more successful in the conditions of the special
organized process of teaching in a polyethnic environment,
characteristic for the modern institute
Abstract: This experiment was conducted to investigate the
effect of different levels of dietary chromium yeast (Cr-yeast) on
thigh meat quality of broiler chicks reared under heat stress
condition. Two hundred and forty Ross male chickens in heat stress
condition (33±3°C) were allocated to five treatments in a completely
randomized design. Treatments were supplemented with 0 (control),
200, 400, 800 and 1200 μg kg-1 Cr in the form of Cr yeast. Twelve
chicks from each treatment were slaughtered at 42 d, to evaluate
moisture, protein, lipid, pH and lipid oxidation of thigh meat.
Protein, moisture, lipid and pH of thigh meat were not affected by
supplemental Cr. Thigh meat lipid tended to decrease in broilers
received 1200 μg kg-1. Storage time increased lipid oxidation of
meat (P
Abstract: Over recent years, the number of building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) installations for home systems have been increasing in Malaysia. The paper concerns an analysis - as part of current Research and Development (R&D) efforts - to integrate photovoltaics as an architectural feature of a detached house in the new satellite township of Putrajaya, Malaysia. The analysis was undertaken using calculation and simulation tools to optimize performance of BIPV home system. In this study, a the simulation analysis was undertaken for selected bungalow units based on a long term recorded weather data for city of Kuala Lumpur. The simulation and calculation was done with consideration of a PV panels' tilt and direction, shading effect and economical considerations. A simulation of the performance of a grid connected BIPV house in Kuala Lumpur was undertaken. This case study uses a 60 PV modules with power output of 2.7 kW giving an average of PV electricity output is 255 kWh/month..
Abstract: Transdermal delivery of ondansetron hydrochloride (OdHCl) can prevent the problems encountered with oral ondansetron. In previously conducted studies, effect of amount of polyvinyl pyrrolidone, permeation enhancer and casting solvent on the physicochemical properties on OdHCl were investigated. It is feasible to develop ondansetron transdermal patch by using ethyl cellulose and polyvinyl pyrrolidone with dibutyl pthalate as plasticizer, however, the desired flux is not achieved. The primary aim of this study is to use dimethyl succinate (DMS) and propylene glycol that are not incorporated in previous studies to determine their effect on the physicochemical properties of an OdHCl transdermal patch using ethyl cellulose and polyvinyl pyrrolidone. This study also investigates the effect of permeation enhancer (eugenol and phosphatidylcholine) on the release of OdHCl. The results showed that propylene glycol is a more suitable plasticizer compared to DMS in the fabrication of OdHCl transdermal patch using ethyl cellulose and polyvinyl pyrrolidone as polymers. Propylene glycol containing patch has optimum drug content, thickness, moisture content and water absorption, tensile strength, and a better release profile than DMS. Eugenol and phosphatidylcholine can increase release of OdHCl from the patches. From the physicochemical result and permeation profile, a combination of 350mg of ethyl cellulose, 150mg polyvinyl pyrrolidone, 3% of total polymer weight of eugenol, and 40% of total polymer weight of propylene glycol is the most suitable formulation to develop an OdHCl patch. OdHCl release did not increase with increasing the percentage of plasticiser. DMS 4, PG 4, DMS 9, PG 9, DMS 14, and PG 14 gave better release profiles where using 300mg: 0mg, 300mg: 100mg, and 350mg: 150mg of EC: PVP. Thus, 40% of PG or DMS appeared to be the optimum amount of plasticiser when the above combination where EC: PVP was used. It was concluded from the study that a patch formulation containing 350mg EC, 150mg PVP, 40% PG and 3% eugenol is the best transdermal matrix patch compositions for the uniform and continuous release/permeation of OdHCl over an extended period. This patch design can be used for further pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies in suitable animal models.
Abstract: This research studied the hypoglycemic effect of
water soluble polysaccharide (WSP) extracted from yam (Dioscorea
hispida) tuber by three different methods: aqueous extraction, papain
assisted extraction, and tempeh inoculums assisted extraction. The
two later extraction methods were aimed to remove WSP binding
protein to have more pure WSP. The hypoglycemic activities were
evaluated by means in vivo test on alloxan induced hyperglycemic
rats, glucose response test (GRT), in situ glucose absorption test
using everted sac, and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) analysis. All
yam WSP extracts exhibited ability to decrease blood glucose level in
hyperglycemia condition as well as inhibited glucose absorption and
SCFA formation. The order of hypoglycemic activity was tempeh
inoculums assisted- >papain assisted- >aqueous WSP extracts. GRT
and in situ glucose absorption test showed that order of inhibition
was papain assisted- >tempeh inoculums assisted- >aqueous WSP
extracts. Digesta of caecum of yam WSP extracts oral fed rats had
more SCFA than control. Tempeh inoculums assisted WSP extract
exhibited the most significant hypoglycemic activity.
Abstract: The critical period for weed control (CPWC) is the period in the crop growth cycle during which weeds must be controlled to prevent unacceptable yield losses. Field studies were conducted in 2005 and 2006 in the University of Birjand at the south east of Iran to determine CPWC of corn using a randomized complete block design with 14 treatments and four replications. The treatments consisted of two different periods of weed interference, a critical weed-free period and a critical time of weed removal, were imposed at V3, V6, V9, V12, V15, and R1 (based on phonological stages of corn development) with a weedy check and a weed-free check. The CPWC was determined with the use of 2.5, 5, 10, 15 and 20% acceptable yield loss levels by non-linear Regression method and fitting Logistic and Gompertz nonlinear equations to relative yield data. The CPWC of corn was from 5- to 15-leaf stage (19-55 DAE) to prevent yield losses of 5%. This period to prevent yield losses of 2.5, 10 and 20% was 4- to 17-leaf stage (14-59 DAE), 6- to 12-leaf stage (25-47 DAE) and 8- to 9-leaf stage (31-36 DAE) respectively. The height and leaf area index of corn were significantly decreased by weed competition in both weed free and weed infested treatments (P
Abstract: In order to supplement the brittle property of concrete,
fibers are added into concrete mixtures. Compared to general concrete,
various characteristics such as tensile strength, bending strength,
bending toughness, and resistance to crack are superior, and even
when cracks occur, improvements on toughness as well as resistance
to shock are excellent due to the growth of fracture energy. Increased
function of steel fiber reinforced concrete can be differentiated
depending on the fiber dispersion, and sand percentage can be an
important influence on the fiber dispersion. Therefore, in this research,
experiments were planned on sand percentage in order to apprehend
the influence of sand percentage on the bending properties and direct
tension of SFRC and basic experiments were conducted on bending
and direct tension in order to recognize the properties of bending
properties and direct tension following the size of the aggregates and
sand percentage.
Abstract: Since atmosphere pressure field is an actual envoy of
climatic signal the atmospheric Highs and Lows should be attributed
to the key active focal points within the ocean-atmosphere interplay
system. Here we were set a task to determine how the dynamics of
those centres of action relates to the climate change both on regional
and global scales. For this target the near-surface temperature and
atmospheric pressure differences between the Icelandic Low and the
Azores High were considered. The secular term of phase states of the
system under consideration was found divided into three
nonintersecting subsets. Each of that was put in consequence with
one of three climatic scenarios related to the periods of 1905-1935
(relatively warm phase), 1940-1970 (cold phase) and 1980-2000
(warm phase).
Abstract: In this paper, a new method is proposed to find the fuzzy optimal solution of fuzzy assignment problems by representing all the parameters as triangular fuzzy numbers. The advantages of the pro-posed method are also discussed. To illustrate the proposed method a fuzzy assignment problem is solved by using the proposed method and the obtained results are discussed. The proposed method is easy to understand and to apply for finding the fuzzy optimal solution of fuzzy assignment problems occurring in real life situations.
Abstract: The RANS method with Saffman-s turbulence model
was employed to solve the time-dependent turbulent Navier-Stokes
and energy equations for oscillating pipe flows. The method of
partial sums of the Fourier series is used to analyze the harmonic
velocity and temperature results. The complete structures of the
oscillating pipe flows and the averaged Nusselt numbers on the tube
wall are provided by numerical simulation over wide ranges of ReA
and ReR. Present numerical code is validated by comparing the
laminar flow results to analytic solutions and turbulence flow results
to published experimental data at lower and higher Reynolds
numbers respectively. The effects of ReA and ReR on the velocity,
temperature and Nusselt number distributions have been di scussed.
The enhancement of the heat transfer due to oscillating flows has
also been presented. By the way of analyzing the overall Nusselt
number over wide ranges of the Reynolds number Re and Keulegan-
Carpenter number KC, the optimal ratio of the tube diameter over
the oscillation amplitude is obtained based on the existence of a
nearly constant optimal KC number. The potential application of the
present results in sea water cooling has also been discussed.
Abstract: We propose photo-BJMOSFET (Bipolar Junction Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) fabricated on SOI film. ITO film is adopted in the device as gate electrode to reduce light absorption. I-V characteristics of photo-BJMOSFET obtained in dark (dark current) and under 570nm illumination (photo current) are studied furthermore to achieve high photo-to-dark-current contrast ratio. Two variables in the calculation were the channel length and the thickness of the film which were set equal to six different values, i.e., L=2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12μm and three different values, i.e., dsi =100, 200 and 300nm, respectively. The results indicate that the greatest photo-to-dark-current contrast ratio is achieved with L=10μm and dsi=200 nm at VGK=0.6V.
Abstract: The improvement of irrigation systems in the Nile
Delta is one of the most important attempts in Egypt to implement
more effective irrigation technology by improving the existing
irrigation networks. Demand delivery system in the existing irrigation
network is using of mechanical gates structures to automatically
divert water from one portion of an agricultural field to another in the
desired amount and sequence. This paper discusses evaluating main
irrigation networks system under the government managed before
and after improvement systems in the Nile Delta. The overall results
indicate that policy of using the demand delivery concept through
irrigation networks is successful by improving water delivery
performance among them than the rotation delivery concept that used
before. It is provided fair share of water delivery among irrigation
districts and available water in the end of irrigation network,
although this system located in an end of irrigation networks in the
Nile Delta.
Abstract: Content-Based Image Retrieval has been a major area
of research in recent years. Efficient image retrieval with high
precision would require an approach which combines usage of both
the color and texture features of the image. In this paper we propose
a method for enhancing the capabilities of texture based feature
extraction and further demonstrate the use of these enhanced texture
features in Texture-Based Color Image Retrieval.
Abstract: Four phenylurea herbicides (isoproturon, chlortoluron, diuron and linuron) were dissolved in different water matrices in order to study their chemical degradation by using UV radiation, ozone and some advanced oxidation processes (UV/H2O2, O3/H2O2, Fenton reagent and the photo- Fenton system). The waters used were: ultra-pure water, a commercial mineral water, a groundwater and a surface water taken from a reservoir. Elimination levels were established for each herbicide and for several global quality parameters, and a kinetic study was performed in order to determine basic kinetic parameters of each reaction between the target phenylureas and these oxidizing systems.