Abstract: Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) plants are cultivated for lawn constitution and as forage plants. Considerable number of perennial ryegrass genotypes are present in the flora of our country and they present substantial was performed based on a Project supported bu TUBITAK (Project numver : 106O159) and perannial ryegrass genotypes from 8 provinces were collected during 2006. Seeds of perennial ryegrass were collected from 48 different locations. Populations of turfgrass seeds in flowerpots to be 20 and 1 cm deep greenhouse were sown in three replications at 07.07.2007.Then the growth of turfgrass seedlings in the greenhouse in pots showed sufficiently separated from the plants were planted in each population. Plants planted in the garden of the observation scale of 1-9 was evaluated by the quality, 1 = the weakest / worst, 6 = acceptable and 9 = superior or considered as an ideal. Essentially only recognized in assessing the quality of the color of grass, but the color, density, uniformity, texture (texture), illness or environmental stresses are evaluated as a combination reaction. Turfgrass quality 15.11.2007, 19.03.2008, 27.05.2008, 27.11.2008, 07.03.2009 and 02.06.2009 have been 6 times to be in order. Observations made regarding the quality of grass; 3 years according to seasonal environments turf quality genotypes belonging to 14 different populations were found to be 7.5 and above are reserved for future use in breeding works.The number of genotypes belonging to 41 populations in terms of turfgrass quality was determined as 7.9 of 3 year average seasonal. Argıthan between Doğanhisar (Konya) is located 38.09 latitude and 31.40 longitude, altitude 1158 m in the set that population numbered 41.
Abstract: One of the popular methods for recognition of facial
expressions such as happiness, sadness and surprise is based on
deformation of facial features. Motion vectors which show these
deformations can be specified by the optical flow. In this method, for
detecting emotions, the resulted set of motion vectors are compared
with standard deformation template that caused by facial expressions.
In this paper, a new method is introduced to compute the quantity of
likeness in order to make decision based on the importance of
obtained vectors from an optical flow approach. For finding the
vectors, one of the efficient optical flow method developed by
Gautama and VanHulle[17] is used. The suggested method has been
examined over Cohn-Kanade AU-Coded Facial Expression Database,
one of the most comprehensive collections of test images available.
The experimental results show that our method could correctly
recognize the facial expressions in 94% of case studies. The results
also show that only a few number of image frames (three frames) are
sufficient to detect facial expressions with rate of success of about
83.3%. This is a significant improvement over the available methods.
Abstract: This paper examines the influence of communication
form on employee uncertainty during mergers and acquisitions
(M&As). Specifically, the author uses narrative theory to analyze
how narrative organizational communication affects the three
components of uncertainty – decreased predictive, explanatory, and
descriptive ability. It is hypothesized that employees whose
organizations use narrative M&A communication will have greater
predictive, explanatory, and descriptive abilities than employees of
organizations using non-narrative M&A communication. This paper
contributes to the stream of research examining uncertainty during
mergers and acquisitions and argues that narratives are an effective
means of managing uncertainty in the mergers and acquisitions
context.
Abstract: This paper presents the results of the authors in designing, experimenting, assessing and transferring an innovative approach to energy education in secondary schools, aimed to enhance the quality of learning in terms of didactic curricula and pedagogic methods. The training is online delivered to youngsters via e-Books and portals specially designed for this purpose or by learning by doing via interactive games. An online educational methodology is available teachers.
Abstract: This document describes an electronic speed control designed to drive two DC motors from a 6 V battery pack to be controlled by a commercial universal infrared remote control hand set. Conceived for a tank-like vehicle, one motor drives the left side wheels or tracks and the other motor drives the right side. As it is shown here, there is a left-right steering input and a forward– backward throttles input, like would be used on a model car. It is designed using a microcontroller PIC16F873A.
Abstract: This paper explores steady-state characteristics of
grid-connected doubly fed induction motor (DFIM) in case of unity
power factor operation. Based on the synchronized mathematical
model, analytic determination of the control laws is presented and
illustrated by various figures to understand the effect of the applied
rotor voltage on the speed and the active power. On other hand,
unlike previous works where the stator resistance was neglected, in
this work, stator resistance is included such that the equations can be
applied to small wind turbine generators which are becoming more
popular. Finally the work is crowned by integration of the studied
induction generator in a wind system where an open loop control is
proposed confers a remarkable simplicity of implementation
compared to the known methods.
Abstract: Supply Chain Management (SCM) is the integration
between manufacturer, transporter and customer in order to form one
seamless chain that allows smooth flow of raw materials, information
and products throughout the entire network that help in minimizing
all related efforts and costs. The main objective of this paper is to
develop a model that can accept a specified number of spare-parts
within the supply chain, simulating its inventory operations
throughout all stages in order to minimize the inventory holding
costs, base-stock, safety-stock, and to find the optimum quantity of
inventory levels, thereby suggesting a way forward to adapt some
factors of Just-In-Time to minimizing the inventory costs throughout
the entire supply chain. The model has been developed using Micro-
Soft Excel & Visual Basic in order to study inventory allocations in
any network of the supply chain. The application and reproducibility
of this model were tested by comparing the actual system that was
implemented in the case study with the results of the developed
model. The findings showed that the total inventory costs of the
developed model are about 50% less than the actual costs of the
inventory items within the case study.
Abstract: Plants are commonly known for its positive
correlation in reducing temperature. Since it can benefit buildings by
modifying the microclimate, it-s also believed capable of reducing
the internal temperature. Various experiments have been done in
Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang to investigate the comparison in
thermal benefits between two rooms, one being a typical control
room (exposed wall) and the other a biofacade room (plant shaded
wall). The investigations were conducted during non-rainy season for
approximately a month. Climbing plant Psophocarpus
tetrogonobulus from legume species was selected as insulation for
the biofacade wall. Conclusions were made on whether the biofacade
can be used to tackle the energy efficiency, based on the parameters
taken into consideration.
Abstract: Lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles which can convert near-infrared lights to visible lights have attracted growing interest because of their great potentials in fluorescence imaging. Upconversion fluorescence imaging technique with excitation in the near-infrared (NIR) region has been used for imaging of biological cells and tissues. However, improving the detection sensitivity and decreasing the absorption and scattering in biological tissues are as yet unresolved problems. In this present study, a novel NIR-reflected multispectral imaging system was developed for upconversion fluorescent imaging in small animals. Based on this system, we have obtained the high contrast images without the autofluorescence when biocompatible UCPs were injected near the body surface or deeply into the tissue. Furthermore, we have extracted respective spectra of the upconversion fluorescence and relatively quantify the fluorescence intensity with the multispectral analysis. To our knowledge, this is the first time to analyze and quantify the upconversion fluorescence in the small animal imaging.
Abstract: This paper presents the control performance of a high-precision positioning device using the hybrid actuator composed of a piezoelectric (PZT) actuator and a voice-coil motor (VCM). The combined piezo-VCM actuator features two main characteristics: a large operation range due to long stroke of the VCM, and high precision and heavy load positioning ability due to PZT impact force. A one-degree-of-freedom (DOF) experimental setup was configured to examine the fundamental characteristics, and the control performance was effectively demonstrated by using a switching controller. In rough positioning state, an integral variable structure controller (IVSC) was used for the VCM to conduct long range of operation; in precision positioning state, an impact force controller (IFC) for the PZT actuator coupled with presliding states of the sliding table was used to obtain high-precision position control and achieve both forward and backward actuations. The experimental results showed that the sliding table having a mass of 881g and with a preload of 10 N was successfully positioned within the positioning accuracy of 10 nm in both forward and backward position controls.
Abstract: Using spatial models as a shared common basis of
information about the environment for different kinds of contextaware
systems has been a heavily researched topic in the last years.
Thereby the research focused on how to create, to update, and to
merge spatial models so as to enable highly dynamic, consistent and
coherent spatial models at large scale. In this paper however, we
want to concentrate on how context-aware applications could use this
information so as to adapt their behavior according to the situation
they are in. The main idea is to provide the spatial model
infrastructure with a situation recognition component based on
generic situation templates. A situation template is – as part of a
much larger situation template library – an abstract, machinereadable
description of a certain basic situation type, which could be
used by different applications to evaluate their situation. In this
paper, different theoretical and practical issues – technical, ethical
and philosophical ones – are discussed important for understanding
and developing situation dependent systems based on situation
templates. A basic system design is presented which allows for the
reasoning with uncertain data using an improved version of a
learning algorithm for the automatic adaption of situation templates.
Finally, for supporting the development of adaptive applications, we
present a new situation-aware adaptation concept based on
workflows.
Abstract: This paper compares Hilditch, Rosenfeld, Zhang-
Suen, dan Nagendraprasad Wang Gupta (NWG) thinning algorithms
for Javanese character image recognition. Thinning is an effective
process when the focus in not on the size of the pattern, but rather on
the relative position of the strokes in the pattern. The research
analyzes the thinning of 60 Javanese characters.
Time-wise, Zhang-Suen algorithm gives the best results with the
average process time being 0.00455188 seconds. But if we look at
the percentage of pixels that meet one-pixel thickness, Rosenfelt
algorithm gives the best results, with a 99.98% success rate. From the
number of pixels that are erased, NWG algorithm gives the best
results with the average number of pixels erased being 84.12%. It can
be concluded that the Hilditch algorithm performs least successfully
compared to the other three algorithms.
Abstract: This paper presents an approach based on the
adoption of a distributed cognition framework and a non parametric
multicriteria evaluation methodology (DEA) designed specifically to
compare e-commerce websites from the consumer/user viewpoint. In
particular, the framework considers a website relative efficiency as a
measure of its quality and usability. A website is modelled as a black
box capable to provide the consumer/user with a set of
functionalities. When the consumer/user interacts with the website to
perform a task, he/she is involved in a cognitive activity, sustaining a
cognitive cost to search, interpret and process information, and
experiencing a sense of satisfaction. The degree of ambiguity and
uncertainty he/she perceives and the needed search time determine
the effort size – and, henceforth, the cognitive cost amount – he/she
has to sustain to perform his/her task. On the contrary, task
performing and result achievement induce a sense of gratification,
satisfaction and usefulness. In total, 9 variables are measured,
classified in a set of 3 website macro-dimensions (user experience,
site navigability and structure). The framework is implemented to
compare 40 websites of businesses performing electronic commerce
in the information technology market. A questionnaire to collect
subjective judgements for the websites in the sample was purposely
designed and administered to 85 university students enrolled in
computer science and information systems engineering
undergraduate courses.
Abstract: Lactic acid alone and its combined application with
nisin were evaluated for reducing population of naturally occurring
microorganisms on chilled shrimp. Fresh shrimps were dipped in 0,
1.0% and 2.0% (v/v) lactic acid alone and their combined application
with 0.04 (g/L/kg) nisin solution for 10 min. Total plate counts of
aerobic bacteria (TPCs), Psychrotrophic counts, population of
Pseudomonas spp., H2S producing bacteria and Lactic acid bacteria
(LAB) on shrimps were determined during storage at 4 °C. The
results indicated that total plate counts were 2.91 and 2.63 log CFU/g
higher on untreated shrimps after 7 and 14 days of storage,
respectively, than on shrimps treated with 2.0% lactic acid combined
with 0.04 (g/L/kg) nisin. Both concentrations of lactic acid indicated
significant reduction on Pseudomonas counts during storage, while
2.0% lactic acid combined with nisin indicated the highest reduction.
In addition, H2S producing bacteria were more sensitive to high
concentration of lactic acid combined with nisin during storage.
Abstract: The identification and elimination of bad
measurements is one of the basic functions of a robust state estimator
as bad data have the effect of corrupting the results of state
estimation according to the popular weighted least squares method.
However this is a difficult problem to handle especially when dealing
with multiple errors from the interactive conforming type. In this
paper, a self adaptive genetic based algorithm is proposed. The
algorithm utilizes the results of the classical linearized normal
residuals approach to tune the genetic operators thus instead of
making a randomized search throughout the whole search space it is
more likely to be a directed search thus the optimum solution is
obtained at very early stages(maximum of 5 generations). The
algorithm utilizes the accumulating databases of already computed
cases to reduce the computational burden to minimum. Tests are
conducted with reference to the standard IEEE test systems. Test
results are very promising.
Abstract: Protection and proper management of archaeological heritage are an essential process of studying and interpreting the generations present and future. Protecting the archaeological heritage is based upon multidiscipline professional collaboration. This study aims to gather data by different sources (Photogrammetry and Geographic Information System (GIS)) integrated for the purpose of documenting one the of significant archeological sites (Ahl-Alkahf, Jordan). 3D modeling deals with the actual image of the features, shapes and texture to represent reality as realistically as possible by using texture. The 3D coordinates that result of the photogrammetric adjustment procedures are used to create 3D-models of the study area. Adding Textures to the 3D-models surfaces gives a 'real world' appearance to the displayed models. GIS system combined all data, including boundary maps, indicating the location of archeological sites, transportation layer, digital elevation model and orthoimages. For realistic representation of the study area, 3D - GIS model prepared, where efficient generation, management and visualization of such special data can be achieved.
Abstract: As mobile ad hoc networks (MANET) have different
characteristics from wired networks and even from standard wireless
networks, there are new challenges related to security issues that
need to be addressed. Due to its unique features such as open nature,
lack of infrastructure and central management, node mobility and
change of dynamic topology, prevention methods from attacks on
them are not enough. Therefore intrusion detection is one of the
possible ways in recognizing a possible attack before the system
could be penetrated. All in all, techniques for intrusion detection in
old wireless networks are not suitable for MANET. In this paper, we
classify the architecture for Intrusion detection systems that have so
far been introduced for MANETs, and then existing intrusion
detection techniques in MANET presented and compared. We then
indicate important future research directions.
Abstract: Nuclear energy sources have been widely used in the
past decades in order to power spacecraft subsystems. Nevertheless,
their use has attracted controversy because of the risk of harmful
material released into the atmosphere if an accident were to occur
during the launch phase of the mission, leading to the general
adoption of photovoltaic systems.
As compared to solar cells, wind turbines have a great advantage
on Mars, as they can continuously produce power both during dust
storms and at night-time: this paper focuses on the potential of a wind
energy conversion system (WECS) considering the atmospheric
conditions on Mars. Wind potential on Martian surface has been
estimated, as well as the average energy requirements of a Martian
probe or surface rover. Finally, the expected daily energy output of
the WECS has been computed on the basis of both the swept area of
the rotor and the equivalent wind speed at the landing site.
Abstract: This work presents an approach for the measurement
of mutual inductance on near field inductive coupling. The mutual
inductance between inductive circuits allows the simulation of energy
transfer from reader to tag, that can be used in RFID and powerless
implantable devices. It also allows one to predict the maximum
voltage in the tag of the radio-frequency system.
Abstract: We consider linear regression models where both input data (the values of independent variables) and output data (the observations of the dependent variable) are interval-censored. We introduce a possibilistic generalization of the least squares estimator, so called OLS-set for the interval model. This set captures the impact of the loss of information on the OLS estimator caused by interval censoring and provides a tool for quantification of this effect. We study complexity-theoretic properties of the OLS-set. We also deal with restricted versions of the general interval linear regression model, in particular the crisp input – interval output model. We give an argument that natural descriptions of the OLS-set in the crisp input – interval output cannot be computed in polynomial time. Then we derive easily computable approximations for the OLS-set which can be used instead of the exact description. We illustrate the approach by an example.