Abstract: The focal aspire of e-Government (eGovt) is to offer
citizen-centered service delivery. Accordingly, the citizenry
consumes services from multiple government agencies through
national portal. Thus, eGovt is an enterprise with the primary
business motive of transparent, efficient and effective public services
to its citizenry and its logical structure is the eGovernment Enterprise
Architecture (eGEA). Since eGovt is IT oriented multifaceted
service-centric system, EA doesn’t do much on an automated
enterprise other than the business artifacts. Service-Oriented
Architecture (SOA) manifestation led some governments to pertain
this in their eGovts, but it limits the source of business artifacts. The
concurrent use of EA and SOA in eGovt executes interoperability and
integration and leads to Service-Oriented e-Government Enterprise
(SOeGE). Consequently, agile eGovt system becomes a reality. As an
IT perspective eGovt comprises of centralized public service artifacts
with the existing application logics belong to various departments at
central, state and local level. The eGovt is renovating to SOeGE by
apply the Service-Orientation (SO) principles in the entire system.
This paper explores IT perspective of SOeGE in India which
encompasses the public service models and illustrated with a case
study the Passport service of India.
Abstract: Logistics distributors face the issue of having to
provide increasing service levels while being forced to reduce costs at
the same time. Same-day delivery, quick order processing and rapidly
growing ranges of articles are only some of the prevailing challenges.
One key aspect of the performance of an intra-logistics system is how
often and in which amplitude congestions and dysfunctions affect the
processing operations. By gaining knowledge of the so called
‘performance availability’ of such a system during the planning stage,
oversizing and wasting can be reduced whereas planning
transparency is increased. State of the art for the determination of this
KPI is simulation studies. However, their structure and therefore their
results may vary unforeseeably. This article proposes a concept for
the establishment of ‘certified’ and hence reliable and comparable
simulation models.
Abstract: To develop AZ91D magnesium alloys with improved
properties, we have applied TiN and VN/TiN multilayer coatings
using DC magnetron sputter technique. Coating structure, surface
morphology, chemical bonding and corrosion resistance of coatings
were analyzed by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron
microscope (SEM), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and
tafel extrapolation method, respectively. XPS analysis reveal that VN
overlayer reacts with oxygen at the VN/TiN interface and forms more
stable TiN layer. Morphological investigations and the corrosion
results show that VN/TiN multilayer thin film coatings are quite
effective to optimize the corrosion resistance of Mg alloys.
Abstract: Axial flow fans, while incapable of developing high
pressures, they are well suitable for handling large volumes of air at
relatively low pressures. In general, they are low in cost and possess
good efficiency, and can have blades of airfoil shape. Axial flow fans
show good efficiencies, and can operate at high static pressures if
such operation is necessary. Our objective is to model and analyze
the flow through AXIAL FANS using CFD Software and draw
inference from the obtained results, so as to get maximum efficiency.
The performance of an axial fan was simulated using CFD and the
effect of variation of different parameters such as the blade number,
noise level, velocity, temperature and pressure distribution on the
blade surface was studied. This paper aims to present a final 3D CAD
model of axial flow fan. Adapting this model to the available
components in the market, the first optimization was done. After this
step, CFX flow solver is used to do the necessary numerical analyses
on the aerodynamic performance of this model. This analysis results
in a final optimization of the proposed 3D model which is presented
in this article.
Abstract: Machining parameters are very important in
determining the surface quality of any material. In the past decade,
some new engineering materials were developed for the
manufacturing industry which created a need to conduct an
investigation on the impact of the said parameters on their surface
roughness. Polyurethane (PU) block is widely used in the automotive
industry to manufacture parts such as checking fixtures that are used
to verify the dimensional accuracy of automotive parts. In this paper,
the design of experiment (DOE) was used to investigate on the effect
of the milling parameters on the PU block. Furthermore, an analysis
of the machined surface chemical composition was done using
scanning electron microscope (SEM). It was found that the surface
roughness of the PU block is severely affected when PU undergoes a
flood machining process instead of a dry condition. In addition the
stepover and the silicon content were found to be the most significant
parameters that influence the surface quality of the PU block.
Abstract: The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) study of
stirred tank with the air-water interface are carried out in the presence
of different types of the impeller and with or without baffles. A
multiple reference frame (MRF) approach with the volume of fluid
(VOF) method is used to capture the air-water interface. The RANS
(Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes) equations with k-ε turbulence
model are solved to predict the flow behavior of water and air phase
which are treated as a different phases. The predicted results have
shown that the VOF method is able to capture the interface in the
unbaffled tank. While, the VOF method is showing an unfeasible
results in the baffled tank with high rotational impeller speed. For
continuous stirred tank, the air-water interface is disturbed by the
inflow and the level of water is also increased with time.
Abstract: Solar air heater is a type of heat exchanger which
transforms solar radiation into heat energy. The thermal performance
of conventional solar air heater has been found to be poor because of
the low convective heat transfer coefficient from the absorber plate to
the air. It is attributed to the formation of a very thin boundary layer
at the absorber plate surface commonly known as viscous sub-layer.
Thermal efficiency of solar air heater can be improved by providing
the artificial roughness on absorber plate is the most efficient
technique. In this paper an attempt is made to provide artificial
roughness by incorporating inclined multiple V-ribs in the underside
of the absorber plate. 60˚V – ribs are arranged inclined to the
direction of air flow. Performance of collector estimated theoretically
and experimentally. Results of the investigation reveal that thermal
efficiency of collector with multiple V-ribs increased by 14%.
Abstract: Exact solution of an unsteady flow of elastico-viscous
electrically conducting fluid through a porous media in a tube of
elliptical cross section under the influence of constant pressure
gradient and magnetic field has been obtained in this paper. Initially,
the flow is generated by a constant pressure gradient. After attaining
the steady state, the pressure gradient is suddenly withdrawn and the
resulting fluid motion in a tube of elliptical cross section by taking
into account of the transverse magnetic field and porosity factor of
the bounding surface is investigated. The problem is solved in twostages
the first stage is a steady motion in tube under the influence of
a constant pressure gradient, the second stage concern with an
unsteady motion. The problem is solved employing separation of
variables technique. The results are expressed in terms of a nondimensional
porosity parameter (K), magnetic parameter (m) and
elastico-viscosity parameter (β), which depends on the Non-
Newtonian coefficient. The flow parameters are found to be identical
with that of Newtonian case as elastic-viscosity parameter and
magnetic parameter tends to zero and porosity tends to infinity. It is
seen that the effect of elastico-viscosity parameter, magnetic
parameter and the porosity parameter of the bounding surface has
significant effect on the velocity parameter.
Abstract: The study is devoted to define the optimal conditions
for the nitriding of pure iron at atmospheric pressure by using NH3-
Ar-C3H8 gas mixtures. After studying the mechanisms of phase
formation and mass transfer at the gas-solid interface, a mathematical
model is developed in order to predict the nitrogen transfer rate in the
solid, the ε-carbonitride layer growth rate and the nitrogen and
carbon concentration profiles. In order to validate the model and to
show its possibilities, it is compared with thermogravimetric
experiments, analyses and metallurgical observations (X-ray
diffraction, optical microscopy and electron microprobe analysis).
Results obtained allow us to demonstrate the sound correlation
between the experimental results and the theoretical predictions.
Abstract: Many of the ever-growing elderly population require
exercise, such as running, for health management. One important
element of a runner’s training is the choice of shoes for exercise; shoes
are important because they provide the interface between the feet and
road. When we purchase shoes, we may instinctively choose a pair
after trying on many different pairs of shoes. Selecting the shoes
instinctively may work, but it does not guarantee a suitable fit for
running activities. Therefore, if we could select suitable shoes for each
runner from the viewpoint of brain activities, it would be helpful for
validating shoe selection. In this paper, we describe how brain
activities show different characteristics during particular task,
corresponding to different properties of shoes. Using five subjects, we
performed a verification experiment, applying weight, softness, and
flexibility as shoe properties. In order to affect the shoe property’s
differences to the brain, subjects run for 10 min. Before and after
running, subjects conducted a paced auditory serial addition task
(PASAT) as the particular task; and the subjects’ brain activities
during the PASAT are evaluated based on oxyhemoglobin and
deoxyhemoglobin relative concentration changes, measured by
near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). When the brain works actively,
oxihemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin concentration drastically
changes; therefore, we calculate the maximum values of concentration
changes. In order to normalize relative concentration changes after
running, the maximum value are divided by before running maximum
value as evaluation parameters. The classification of the groups of
shoes is expressed on a self-organizing map (SOM). As a result,
deoxyhemoglobin can make clusters for two of the three types of
shoes.
Abstract: The effect of a 3-dimensional (3D) blade on the turbine
characteristics of Wells turbine for wave energy conversion has been
investigated experimentally by model testing under steady flow
conditions in this study, in order to improve the peak efficiency and
stall characteristics. The aim of use of 3D blade is to prevent flow
separation on the suction surface near the tip. The chord length is
constant with radius and the blade profile changes gradually from the
mean radius to tip. The proposed blade profiles in the study are
NACA0015 from the hub to mean radius and NACA0025 at the tip.
The performances of Wells turbine with 3D blades has been compared
with those of the original Wells turbine, i.e., the turbine with
2-dimensional (2D) blades. As a result, it was concluded that although
the peak efficiency of Wells turbine can be improved by the use of the
proposed 3D blade, its blade does not overcome the weakness of
stalling.
Abstract: Brown seaweeds are abundant in Portuguese coastline
and represent an almost unexploited marine economic resource. One
of the most common species, easily available for harvesting in the
northwest coast, is Saccorhiza polyschides grows in the lowest shore
and costal rocky reefs. It is almost exclusively used by local farmers
as natural fertilizer, but contains a substantial amount of valuable
compounds, particularly alginates, natural biopolymers of high
interest for many industrial applications.
Alginates are natural polysaccharides present in cell walls of
brown seaweed, highly biocompatible, with particular properties that
make them of high interest for the food, biotechnology, cosmetics
and pharmaceutical industries. Conventional extraction processes are
based on thermal treatment. They are lengthy and consume high
amounts of energy and solvents. In recent years, microwave-assisted
extraction (MAE) has shown enormous potential to overcome major
drawbacks that outcome from conventional plant material extraction
(thermal and/or solvent based) techniques, being also successfully
applied to the extraction of agar, fucoidans and alginates. In the
present study, acid pretreatment of brown seaweed Saccorhiza
polyschides for subsequent microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) of
alginate was optimized. Seaweeds were collected in Northwest
Portuguese coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean between May and
August, 2014. Experimental design was used to assess the effect of
temperature and acid pretreatment time in alginate extraction.
Response surface methodology allowed the determination of the
optimum MAE conditions: 40 mL of HCl 0.1 M per g of dried
seaweed with constant stirring at 20ºC during 14h. Optimal acid
pretreatment conditions have enhanced significantly MAE of
alginates from Saccorhiza polyschides, thus contributing for the
development of a viable, more environmental friendly alternative to
conventional processes.
Abstract: The Smart Help for persons with disability (PWD) is a
part of the project SMARTDISABLE which aims to develop relevant
solution for PWD that target to provide an adequate workplace
environment for them. It would support PWD needs smartly through
smart help to allow them access to relevant information and
communicate with other effectively and flexibly, and smart editor
that assist them in their daily work. It will assist PWD in knowledge
processing and creation as well as being able to be productive at the
work place. The technical work of the project involves design of a
technological scenario for the Ambient Intelligence (AmI) - based
assistive technologies at the workplace consisting of an integrated
universal smart solution that suits many different impairment
conditions and will be designed to empower the Physically disabled
persons (PDP) with the capability to access and effectively utilize the
ICTs in order to execute knowledge rich working tasks with
minimum efforts and with sufficient comfort level. The proposed
technology solution for PWD will support voice recognition along
with normal keyboard and mouse to control the smart help and smart
editor with dynamic auto display interface that satisfies the
requirements for different PWD group. In addition, a smart help will
provide intelligent intervention based on the behavior of PWD to
guide them and warn them about possible misbehavior. PWD can
communicate with others using Voice over IP controlled by voice
recognition. Moreover, Auto Emergency Help Response would be
supported to assist PWD in case of emergency. This proposed
technology solution intended to make PWD very effective at the
work environment and flexible using voice to conduct their tasks at
the work environment. The proposed solution aims to provide
favorable outcomes that assist PWD at the work place, with the
opportunity to participate in PWD assistive technology innovation
market which is still small and rapidly growing as well as upgrading
their quality of life to become similar to the normal people at the
workplace. Finally, the proposed smart help solution is applicable in
all workplace setting, including offices, manufacturing, hospital, etc.
Abstract: This paper presents the application of the Discrete
Component Model for heating and evaporation to multi-component
biodiesel fuel droplets in direct injection internal combustion engines.
This model takes into account the effects of temperature gradient,
recirculation and species diffusion inside droplets. A distinctive
feature of the model used in the analysis is that it is based on the
analytical solutions to the temperature and species diffusion
equations inside the droplets. Nineteen types of biodiesel fuels are
considered. It is shown that a simplistic model, based on the
approximation of biodiesel fuel by a single component or ignoring
the diffusion of components of biodiesel fuel, leads to noticeable
errors in predicted droplet evaporation time and time evolution of
droplet surface temperature and radius.
Abstract: Social media continues to grow, and user interfaces
may become more appealing if cultural characteristics are
incorporated into their design.
Facebook was designed in the west, and the original language was
English. Subsequently, the words in the user interface were translated
to other languages, including Arabic.
Arabic words are written from right to left, and English is written
from left to right. The translated version may misrepresent the
original design and users’ preferences may be influenced by their
culture, which should be considered in the user interface design.
Previous research indicates that users are more comfortable when
interacting with a user interface, which relates to their own culture.
Therefore, this paper, using a survey, investigates the preferences of
Saudi Arabians on the Arabic version of the user interface of
Facebook.
Abstract: This study presents a cost-effective approach for rapid
fabricating modeling platforms utilized in fused deposition modeling
system. A small-batch production of modeling platforms about 20
pieces can be obtained economically through silicone rubber mold
using vacuum casting without applying the plastic injection molding.
The air venting systems is crucial for fabricating modeling platform
using vacuum casting. Modeling platforms fabricated can be used for
building rapid prototyping model after sandblasting. This study offers
industrial value because it has both time-effectiveness and
cost-effectiveness.
Abstract: Floods play a key role in landform evolution of an
area. This process is likely to alter the topography of the earth’s
surface. The present study area, Kota Bharu is very prone to floods
extends from upstream of Kelantan River near Kemubu to the
downstream area near Kuala Besar. These flood events which occur
every year in the study area exhibit a strong bearing on river
morphological set-up. In the present study, three satellite imageries of
different time periods have been used to manifest the post-flood
landform changes. The pre-processing of the images such as subset,
geometric corrections and atmospheric corrections were carried-out
using ENVI 4.5 followed by the analysis processes. Twenty sets of
cross sections were plotted using software Erdas 9.2, ERDAS and
ArcGis 10 for the all three images. The results show a significant
change in the length of the cross section which suggest that the
geomorphological processes play a key role in carving and shaping
the river banks during the floods.
Abstract: This paper proposes a new technique to design a
fixed-structure robust loop shaping controller for the pneumatic
servosystem. In this paper, a new method based on a particle swarm
optimization (PSO) algorithm for tuning the weighting function
parameters to design an H∞ controller is presented. The PSO
algorithm is used to minimize the infinity norm of the transfer
function of the nominal closed loop system to obtain the optimal
parameters of the weighting functions. The optimal stability margin is
used as an objective in PSO for selecting the optimal weighting
parameters; it is shown that the proposed method can simplify the
design procedure of H∞ control to obtain optimal robust controller for
pneumatic servosystem. In addition, the order of the proposed
controller is much lower than that of the conventional robust loop
shaping controller, making it easy to implement in practical works.
Also two-degree-of-freedom (2DOF) control design procedure is
proposed to improve tracking performance in the face of noise and
disturbance. Result of simulations demonstrates the advantages of the
proposed controller in terms of simple structure and robustness
against plant perturbations and disturbances.
Abstract: Learner motivation is considered to be an important
component for the Blended e-Learning (BL) Method. BL is an
effective learning method in multiple domains, which opens several
opportunities for its participants to engage in the learning
environment. This research explores the learners’ perspective of BL
according to the Self-Determination Theory (SDT). It identifies the
opportunities and challenges for using the BL in Logistics Education
(LE) in Egyptian Higher Education (HE). SDT is approached from
different perspectives within the relationship between Intrinsic
Motivation (IM), Extrinsic Motivation (EM) and Amotivation (AM).
A self-administered face-to-face questionnaire was used to collect
data from learners who were geographically widely spread around
three colleges of International Transport and Logistics (CILTs) at the
Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport
(AAST&MT) in Egypt. Six hundred and sixteen undergraduates
responded to a questionnaire survey. Respondents were drawn from
three branches in Greater Cairo, Alexandria, and Port Said. The data
analysis used was SPSS 22 and AMOS 18.
Abstract: E-business technologies, whereby business
transactions are conducted remotely using the Internet, present
unique opportunities and challenges for business. E-business
technologies are applicable to a wide range of organizations and
small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are no exception. There
is an established body of literature about e-business, looking at
definitions, concepts, benefits and challenges. In general, however,
the research focus has been on larger organizations, not SMEs. In an
attempt to redress the balance of research, this paper looks at ebusiness
technologies specifically from a small business perspective.
It seeks to identify the possible barriers that SMEs might face when
considering adoption of the e-business concept and practice as part of
their business process change initiatives and implementation. To
facilitate analysis of these barriers a conceptual framework has been
developed which outlines the key conceptual and practical challenges
of e-business implementation in SMEs. This is developed following a
literature survey comprised of three categories: characteristics of
SMEs, issues of IS/IT use in SMEs and general e-business adoption
and implementation issues. The framework is then empirically
assessed against 7 SMEs who have yet to implement e-business or
whose e-business efforts have been unsatisfactory. Conclusions from
the case studies can be used to verify the framework, and set
parameters for further larger scale empirical investigation.