Abstract: The fast growing accessibility and capability of emerging technologies have fashioned enormous possibilities of designing, developing and implementing innovative teaching methods in the classroom. The global technological scenario has paved the way to new pedagogies in teaching-learning process focusing on technology based learning environment and its impact on student achievement. The present experimental study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of technology based learning environment on student achievement in English as a foreign language. The sample of the study was 90 students of 10th grade of a public school located in Islamabad. A pretest- posttest equivalent group design was used to compare the achievement of the two groups. A Pretest and A posttest containing 50 items each from English textbook were developed and administered. The collected data were statistically analyzed. The results showed that there was a significant difference between the mean scores of Experimental group and the Control group. The performance of Experimental group was better on posttest scores that indicted that teaching through technology based learning environment enhanced the achievement level of the students. On the basis of the results, it was recommended that teaching and learning through information and communication technologies may be adopted to enhance the language learning capability of the students.
Abstract: In this paper we consider a nonlinear feedback control
called augmented automatic choosing control (AACC) using the
gradient optimization automatic choosing functions for nonlinear
systems. Constant terms which arise from sectionwise linearization
of a given nonlinear system are treated as coefficients of a stable
zero dynamics. Parameters included in the control are suboptimally
selected by expanding a stable region in the sense of Lyapunov
with the aid of the genetic algorithm. This approach is applied to
a field excitation control problem of power system to demonstrate
the splendidness of the AACC. Simulation results show that the new
controller can improve performance remarkably well.
Abstract: This research was aimed at determining the impact of conservation techniques including bench terrace, stone terrace, mulching, grass strip and intercropping on soil erosion at tobacco-based farming system at Progo Hulu subwatershed, Central Java, Indonesia. Research was conducted from September 2007 to September 2009, located at Progo Hulu subwatershed, Central Java, Indonesia. Research site divided into 27 land units, and experimental fields were grouped based on the soil type and slope, ie: 30%, 45% and 70%, with the following treatments: 1) ST0= stone terrace (control); 2) ST1= stone terrace + Setaria spacelata grass strip on a 5 cm height dike at terrace lips + tobacco stem mulch with dose of 50% (7 ton/ ha); 3) ST2= stone terrace + Setaria spacelata grass strip on a 5 cm height dike at terrace lips + tobacco stem mulch with dose of 100% (14 ton/ ha); 4) ST3= stone terrace + tobacco and red bean intercropping + tobacco stem mulch with dose of 50% (7 ton/ ha). 5) BT0= bench terrace (control); 6) BT1= bench terrace + Setaria spacelata grass strip at terrace lips + tobacco stem mulch with dose of 50% (7 ton/ ha); 7) BT2= bench terrace + Setaria spacelata grass strip at terrace lips + tobacco stem mulch with dose of 100% (14 ton/ ha); 8) BT3= bench terrace + tobacco and red bean intercropping + tobacco stem mulch with dose of 50% (7 ton/ ha). The results showed that the actual erosion rates of research site were higher than that of tolerance erosion with mean value 89.08 ton/ha/year and 33.40 ton/ha/year, respectively. These resulted in 69% of total research site (5,119.15 ha) highly degraded. Conservation technique of ST2 was the most effective in suppressing soil erosion, by 42.87%, following with BT2 as much 30.63%. Others suppressed erosion only less than 21%.
Abstract: This study proposes a multi-response surface
optimization problem (MRSOP) for determining the proper choices
of a process parameter design (PPD) decision problem in a noisy
environment of a grease position process in an electronic industry.
The proposed models attempts to maximize dual process responses
on the mean of parts between failure on left and right processes. The
conventional modified simplex method and its hybridization of the
stochastic operator from the hunting search algorithm are applied to
determine the proper levels of controllable design parameters
affecting the quality performances. A numerical example
demonstrates the feasibility of applying the proposed model to the
PPD problem via two iterative methods. Its advantages are also
discussed. Numerical results demonstrate that the hybridization is
superior to the use of the conventional method. In this study, the
mean of parts between failure on left and right lines improve by
39.51%, approximately. All experimental data presented in this
research have been normalized to disguise actual performance
measures as raw data are considered to be confidential.
Abstract: In this paper, the application of multiple Elman neural networks to time series data regression problems is studied. An ensemble of Elman networks is formed by boosting to enhance the performance of the individual networks. A modified version of the AdaBoost algorithm is employed to integrate the predictions from multiple networks. Two benchmark time series data sets, i.e., the Sunspot and Box-Jenkins gas furnace problems, are used to assess the effectiveness of the proposed system. The simulation results reveal that an ensemble of boosted Elman networks can achieve a higher degree of generalization as well as performance than that of the individual networks. The results are compared with those from other learning systems, and implications of the performance are discussed.
Abstract: Ranong province has the best kaolin, and it is the most
useful of all the clay types used in ceramic making. Until recently,
there has been only one community business making ceramics in
Ranong province. And this business could not build the mix of body
and glaze from their raw material without assistance. Considering
these problems, this research is aimed to test the composition of
ceramic body and glaze which suit. Kaolin from Ranong is the raw
material which these search focuses on. All other raw materials use in
the investigation will come from southern Thailand, kaolin and
limestone from Ranong province, ball clay from Surat Thani
province, white sand from Songkhla province, and feldspar from
Nakhon Si Thammarat province. Results can be used to develop the
efficiency of industrial production which in return will enhance the
business process.
Abstract: Because of excellent properties, people has paid more
attention to SPIHI algorithm, which is based on the traditional wavelet
transformation theory, but it also has its shortcomings. Combined the
progress in the present wavelet domain and the human's visual
characteristics, we propose an improved algorithm based on human
visual characteristics of SPIHT in the base of analysis of SPIHI
algorithm. The experiment indicated that the coding speed and quality
has been enhanced well compared to the original SPIHT algorithm,
moreover improved the quality of the transmission cut off.
Abstract: In this paper we present a new approach to deal with
image segmentation. The fact that a single segmentation result do not
generally allow a higher level process to take into account all the
elements included in the image has motivated the consideration of
image segmentation as a multiobjective optimization problem. The
proposed algorithm adopts a split/merge strategy that uses the result
of the k-means algorithm as input for a quantum evolutionary
algorithm to establish a set of non-dominated solutions. The
evaluation is made simultaneously according to two distinct features:
intra-region homogeneity and inter-region heterogeneity. The
experimentation of the new approach on natural images has proved
its efficiency and usefulness.
Abstract: Drilling is the most common machining operation and it forms the highest machining cost in many manufacturing activities including automotive engine production. The outcome of this operation depends upon many factors including utilization of proper cutting tool geometry, cutting tool material and the type of coating used to improve hardness and resistance to wear, and also cutting parameters. With the availability of a large array of tool geometries, materials and coatings, is has become a challenging task to select the best tool and cutting parameters that would result in the lowest machining cost or highest profit rate. This paper describes an algorithm developed to help achieve good performances in drilling operations by automatically determination of proper cutting tools and cutting parameters. It also helps determine machining sequences resulting in minimum tool changes that would eventually reduce machining time and cost where multiple tools are used.
Abstract: This paper describes an effective solution to the task
of a remote monitoring of super-extended objects (oil and gas
pipeline, railways, national frontier). The suggested solution is based
on the principle of simultaneously monitoring of seismoacoustic and
optical/infrared physical fields. The principle of simultaneous
monitoring of those fields is not new but in contrast to the known
solutions the suggested approach allows to control super-extended
objects with very limited operational costs. So-called C-OTDR
(Coherent Optical Time Domain Reflectometer) systems are used to
monitor the seismoacoustic field. Far-CCTV systems are used to
monitor the optical/infrared field. A simultaneous data processing
provided by both systems allows effectively detecting and classifying
target activities, which appear in the monitored objects vicinity. The
results of practical usage had shown high effectiveness of the
suggested approach.
Abstract: Partial oxidation (POX) of light hydrocarbons (e.g.
methane) is occurred in the first part of the autothermal reformer
(ATR). The results of the detailed modeling of the reformer based on
the thermodynamic model of the POX and 1D heterogeneous
catalytic model for the fixed bed section are considered here.
According to the results, the overall performance of the ATR can be
improved by changing the important feed parameters.
Abstract: Motor imagery classification provides an important basis for designing Brain Machine Interfaces [BMI]. A BMI captures and decodes brain EEG signals and transforms human thought into actions. The ability of an individual to control his EEG through imaginary mental tasks enables him to control devices through the BMI. This paper presents a method to design a four state BMI using EEG signals recorded from the C3 and C4 locations. Principle features extracted through principle component analysis of the segmented EEG are analyzed using two novel classification algorithms using Elman recurrent neural network and functional link neural network. Performance of both classifiers is evaluated using a particle swarm optimization training algorithm; results are also compared with the conventional back propagation training algorithm. EEG motor imagery recorded from two subjects is used in the offline analysis. From overall classification performance it is observed that the BP algorithm has higher average classification of 93.5%, while the PSO algorithm has better training time and maximum classification. The proposed methods promises to provide a useful alternative general procedure for motor imagery classification
Abstract: In this paper, two matrix iterative methods are presented to solve the matrix equation A1X1B1 + A2X2B2 + ... + AlXlBl = C the minimum residual problem l i=1 AiXiBi−CF = minXi∈BRni×ni l i=1 AiXiBi−CF and the matrix nearness problem [X1, X2, ..., Xl] = min[X1,X2,...,Xl]∈SE [X1,X2, ...,Xl] − [X1, X2, ..., Xl]F , where BRni×ni is the set of bisymmetric matrices, and SE is the solution set of above matrix equation or minimum residual problem. These matrix iterative methods have faster convergence rate and higher accuracy than former methods. Paige’s algorithms are used as the frame method for deriving these matrix iterative methods. The numerical example is used to illustrate the efficiency of these new methods.
Abstract: We seek exact solutions of the coupled Klein-Gordon-Schrödinger equation with variable coefficients with the aid of Lie classical approach. By using the Lie classical method, we are able to derive symmetries that are used for reducing the coupled system of partial differential equations into ordinary differential equations. From reduced differential equations we have derived some new exact solutions of coupled Klein-Gordon-Schrödinger equations involving some special functions such as Airy wave functions, Bessel functions, Mathieu functions etc.
Abstract: The pressure drag from a cam shaped tube in cross flows have been investigated experimentally using pressure distribution measurement. The range of angle of attack and Reynolds number based on an equivalent circular tube are within 0≤α≤360° and 2×104< Reeq < 3.4 ×104, respectively. It is found that the pressure drag coefficient is at its highest at α=90° and 270° over the whole range of Reynolds number. Results show that the pressure drag coefficient of the cam shaped tube is lower than that of circular tube with the same surface area for more of the angles of attack. Furthermore, effects of the diameter ratio and finite length of the cam shaped tube upon the pressure drag coefficient are discussed.
Abstract: Analytical investigation of the free vibration behavior
of circular functionally graded (FG) plates integrated with two
uniformly distributed actuator layers made of piezoelectric (PZT4)
material on the top and bottom surfaces of the circular FG plate
based on the classical plate theory (CPT) is presented in this paper.
The material properties of the functionally graded substrate plate are
assumed to be graded in the thickness direction according to the
power-law distribution in terms of the volume fractions of the
constituents and the distribution of electric potential field along the
thickness direction of piezoelectric layers is simulated by a quadratic
function. The differential equations of motion are solved analytically
for clamped edge boundary condition of the plate. The detailed
mathematical derivations are presented and Numerical investigations
are performed for FG plates with two surface-bonded piezoelectric
layers. Emphasis is placed on investigating the effect of varying the
gradient index of FG plate on the free vibration characteristics of the
structure. The results are verified by those obtained from threedimensional
finite element analyses.
Abstract: This paper presents a novel CMOS four-transistor
SRAM cell for very high density and low power embedded SRAM
applications as well as for stand-alone SRAM applications. This cell
retains its data with leakage current and positive feedback without
refresh cycle. The new cell size is 20% smaller than a conventional
six-transistor cell using same design rules. Also proposed cell uses
two word-lines and one pair bit-line. Read operation perform from
one side of cell, and write operation perform from another side of
cell, and swing voltage reduced on word-lines thus dynamic power
during read/write operation reduced. The fabrication process is fully
compatible with high-performance CMOS logic technologies,
because there is no need to integrate a poly-Si resistor or a TFT load.
HSPICE simulation in standard 0.25μm CMOS technology confirms
all results obtained from this paper.
Abstract: Attitude Determination (AD) of a spacecraft using the
phase measurements of the Global Navigation Satellite System
(GNSS) is an active area of research. Various attitude determination
algorithms have been developed in yester years for spacecrafts using
different sensors but the last two decades have witnessed a
phenomenal increase in research related with GPS receivers as a
stand-alone sensor for determining the attitude of satellite using the
phase measurements of the signals from GNSS. The GNSS-based
Attitude determination algorithms have been experimented in many
real missions. The problem of AD algorithms using GNSS phase
measurements has two important parts; the ambiguity resolution and
the determining of attitude. Ambiguity resolution is the widely
addressed topic in literature for implementing the AD algorithm
using GNSS phase measurements for achieving the accuracy of
millimeter level. This paper broadly overviews the different
techniques for resolving the integer ambiguities encountered in AD
using GNSS phase measurements.
Abstract: System testing is actually done to the entire system
against the Functional Requirement Specification and/or the System
Requirement Specification. Moreover, it is an investigatory testing
phase, where the focus is to have almost a destructive attitude and
test not only the design, but also the behavior and even the believed
expectations of the customer. It is also intended to test up to and
beyond the bounds defined in the software/hardware requirements
specifications. In Motorola®, Automated Testing is one of the testing
methodologies uses by GSG-iSGT (Global Software Group - iDEN
TM
Subcriber Group-Test) to increase the testing volume, productivity
and reduce test cycle-time in iDEN
TM
phones testing. Testing is able
to produce more robust products before release to the market. In this
paper, iHopper is proposed as a tool to perform stress test on iDEN
TM
phonse. We will discuss the value that automation has brought to
iDEN
TM
Phone testing such as improving software quality in the
iDEN
TM
phone together with some metrics. We will also look into
the advantages of the proposed system and some discussion of the
future work as well.
Abstract: Optimal load shedding (LS) design as an emergency plan is one of the main control challenges posed by emerging new uncertainties and numerous distributed generators including renewable energy sources in a modern power system. This paper presents an overview of the key issues and new challenges on optimal LS synthesis concerning the integration of wind turbine units into the power systems. Following a brief survey on the existing LS methods, the impact of power fluctuation produced by wind powers on system frequency and voltage performance is presented. The most LS schemas proposed so far used voltage or frequency parameter via under-frequency or under-voltage LS schemes. Here, the necessity of considering both voltage and frequency indices to achieve a more effective and comprehensive LS strategy is emphasized. Then it is clarified that this problem will be more dominated in the presence of wind turbines.