Abstract: Multi criteria decision analysis (MDCA) covers both
data and experience. It is very common to solve the problems with
many parameters and uncertainties. GIS supported solutions improve
and speed up the decision process. Weighted grading as a MDCA
method is employed for solving the geotechnical problems. In this
study, geotechnical parameters namely soil type; SPT (N) blow
number, shear wave velocity (Vs) and depth of underground water
level (DUWL) have been engaged in MDCA and GIS. In terms of
geotechnical aspects, the settlement suitability of the municipal area
was analyzed by the method. MDCA results were compatible with
the geotechnical observations and experience. The method can be
employed in geotechnical oriented microzoning studies if the criteria
are well evaluated.
Abstract: One major difficulty that faces developers of
concurrent and distributed software is analysis for concurrency based
faults like deadlocks. Petri nets are used extensively in the
verification of correctness of concurrent programs. ECATNets are a
category of algebraic Petri nets based on a sound combination of
algebraic abstract types and high-level Petri nets. ECATNets have
'sound' and 'complete' semantics because of their integration in
rewriting logic and its programming language Maude. Rewriting
logic is considered as one of very powerful logics in terms of
description, verification and programming of concurrent systems We
proposed previously a method for translating Ada-95 tasking
programs to ECATNets formalism (Ada-ECATNet) and we showed
that ECATNets formalism provides a more compact translation for
Ada programs compared to the other approaches based on simple
Petri nets or Colored Petri nets. We showed also previously how the
ECATNet formalism offers to Ada many validation and verification
tools like simulation, Model Checking, accessibility analysis and
static analysis. In this paper, we describe the implementation of our
translation of the Ada programs into ECATNets.
Abstract: Environmental contamination is a common problem in ex-industrial and industrial sites. This article gives a brief description of general applied environmental investigation methodologies and possible remediation applications in Latvia. Most of contaminated areas are situated in former and active industrial, military areas and ports. Industrial and logistic activities very often have been with great impact for more than hundred years thus the contamination level with heavy metals, hydrocarbons, pesticides, persistent organic pollutants is high and is threatening health and environment in general. 242 territories now are numbered as contaminated and fixed in the National Register of contaminated territories in Latvia. Research and remediation of contamination in densely populated areas are of important environmental policy domain. Four different investigation case studies of contaminated areas are given describing the history of use, environmental quality assessment as well as planned environmental management actions. All four case study locations are situated in Riga - the capital of the Republic of Latvia. The aim of this paper is to analyze the situation and problems with management of contaminated areas in Latvia, give description of field research methods and recommendations for remediation industry based on scientific data and innovations.
Abstract: We propose a new perspective on speech
communication using blind source separation. The original speech is
mixed with key signals which consist of the mixing matrix, chaotic
signals and a random noise. However, parts of the keys (the mixing
matrix and the random noise) are not necessary in decryption. In
practice implement, one can encrypt the speech by changing the noise
signal every time. Hence, the present scheme obtains the advantages
of a One Time Pad encryption while avoiding its drawbacks in key
exchange. It is demonstrated that the proposed scheme is immune
against traditional attacks.
Abstract: The peel of dragon fruit is a byproduct left over after consuming. Normally, the use of plants as antioxidant source must be dried before further process. Therefore, the aim of this study is interesting to dry the peel by heat pump dryer (45 ºC) and fluidized bed dryer (110 º C) compared with the sun drying method. The sample with initial moisture content of about 85-91% wet basis was dried down to about 10% wet basis where it took 620 and 25 min for heat pump dryer and fluidized bed dryer, respectively. However, the sun drying took about 900 min to dry the peel. After that, sample was evaluated antioxidant activity, -carotene and betalains contents. The results found that the antioxidant activity and betalains contents of dried peel obtained from heat pump and fluidized bed dryings were significantly higher than that sun drying (p 0.05). Moreover, the drying by heat pump provided the highest -carotene content.
Abstract: The paper presents the design of a mini-UAV attitude
controller using the backstepping method. Starting from the nonlinear
dynamic equations of the mini-UAV, by using the backstepping
method, the author of this paper obtained the expressions of the
elevator, rudder and aileron deflections, which stabilize the UAV, at
each moment, to the desired values of the attitude angles. The attitude
controller controls the attitude angles, the angular rates, the angular
accelerations and other variables that describe the UAV longitudinal
and lateral motions. To design the nonlinear controller, by using the
backstepping technique, the nonlinear equations and the Lyapunov
analysis have been directly used. The designed controller has been
implemented in Matlab/Simulink environment and its effectiveness
has been tested with a campaign of numerical simulations using data
from the UAV flight tests. The obtained results are very good and
they are better than the ones found in previous works.
Abstract: This work deals with the design of the robotic assembly
system for the roller clamps. The task is characterized by high speed,
high yield and safety engagement. This paper describes the design of
different parts of an automated high speed machine to assemble the
parts of roller clamps. The roller clamp robotic assembly system
performs various processes in the assembly line which include clamp
body and roller feeding, inserting the roller into the clamp body, and
dividing the rejected clamp and successfully assembled clamp into
their own tray. The electrical/electronics design of the machine is
discussed. The target is to design a cost effective, minimum
maintenance and high speed machine for the industry applications.
Abstract: Text Mining is an important step of Knowledge
Discovery process. It is used to extract hidden information from notstructured
o semi-structured data. This aspect is fundamental because
much of the Web information is semi-structured due to the nested
structure of HTML code, much of the Web information is linked,
much of the Web information is redundant. Web Text Mining helps
whole knowledge mining process to mining, extraction and
integration of useful data, information and knowledge from Web
page contents.
In this paper, we present a Web Text Mining process able to
discover knowledge in a distributed and heterogeneous multiorganization
environment. The Web Text Mining process is based on
flexible architecture and is implemented by four steps able to
examine web content and to extract useful hidden information
through mining techniques. Our Web Text Mining prototype starts
from the recovery of Web job offers in which, through a Text Mining
process, useful information for fast classification of the same are
drawn out, these information are, essentially, job offer place and
skills.
Abstract: In this study the elastic-plastic stress distribution in
weld-bonded joint, fabricated from austenitic stainless steel (AISI
304) sheet of 1.00 mm thickness and Epoxy adhesive Araldite 2011,
subjected to axial loading is investigated. This is needed to improve
design procedures and welding codes, and saving efforts in the
cumbersome experiments and analysis. Therefore, a complete 3-D
finite element modelling and analysis of spot welded, bonded and
weld-bonded joints under axial loading conditions is carried out. A
comprehensive systematic experimental program is conducted to
determine many properties and quantities, of the base metals and the
adhesive, needed for FE modelling, such like the elastic – plastic
properties, modulus of elasticity, fracture limit, the nugget and heat
affected zones (HAZ) properties, etc. Consequently, the finite
element models developed, for each case, are used to evaluate
stresses distributions across the entire joint, in both the elastic and
plastic regions. The stress distribution curves are obtained,
particularly in the elastic regions and found to be consistent and in
excellent agreement with the published data. Furthermore, the
stresses distributions are obtained in the weld-bonded joint and
display the best results with almost uniform smooth distribution
compared to spot and bonded cases. The stress concentration peaks at
the edges of the weld-bonded region, are almost eliminated resulting
in achieving the strongest joint of all processes.
Abstract: This paper invites to dialogue and reflections on
innovation and entrepreneurship by presenting concepts of innovation
leading to the introduction of a complex theoretical framework;
Cooperative Innovation (CO-IN). CO-IN is a didactic model
enhancing and scaffolding processes of cooperation creating
innovation drawing on a Scandinavian tradition.
CO-IN is based on a cross-sectorial and multidisciplinary
approach. We introduce the concept of complementarity to help
capture the validity of diversity and we suggest the concept of “the
space in between" to understand the creation of identity as a
collective mind. We see dialogue and the use of multi modal
techniques as essential tools for conceptualizations giving possibility
for clarification of the complexity and diversity leading to decision
making based on knowledge as commons.
We introduce the didactic design and present our empirical
findings from an innovation workshop in Argentina. In a final
paragraph we reflect on the design as a support of the development of
common ground, collective mind and collective action and the
creation of knowledge as commons to facilitate innovation and
entrepreneurship.
Abstract: The overriding goal of software engineering is to
provide a high quality system, application or a product. To achieve
this goal, software engineers must apply effective methods coupled
with modern tools within the context of a mature software process
[2]. In addition, it is also must to assure that high quality is realized.
Although many quality measures can be collected at the project
levels, the important measures are errors and defects. Deriving a
quality measure for reusable components has proven to be
challenging task now a days. The results obtained from the study are
based on the empirical evidence of reuse practices, as emerged from
the analysis of industrial projects. Both large and small companies,
working in a variety of business domains, and using object-oriented
and procedural development approaches contributed towards this
study. This paper proposes a quality metric that provides benefit at
both project and process level, namely defect removal efficiency
(DRE).
Abstract: In order to survive in a rapidly changing business environment, Malaysian business firms must improve their own business practices and procedures. This paper describes the impact of Critical Success Factors (CSFs) during the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system implementations using the responses from 151 organizations that completed or are in the process of completing an ERP implementation and identifying the key benefits of ERP implementation in the firm. The importance of these factors was investigated within Malaysian companies using questionnaire survey method. Our results provide advice to management on how best to utilize their limited resources to choose those CSFs that are most likely to have an impact upon the implementation of the ERP system.
Abstract: Conventional industrial monitoring systems are
tedious, inefficient and the at times integrity of the data is
unreliable. The objective of this system is to monitor industrial
processes specifically the fluid level which will measure the
instantaneous fluid level parameter and respond by text
messaging the exact value of the parameter to the user when
being enquired by a privileged access user. The development of
the embedded program code and the circuit for fluid level
measuring are discussed as well. Suggestions for future
implementations and efficient remote monitoring works are
included.
Abstract: In this paper, the implementation of low power,
high throughput convolutional filters for the one dimensional
Discrete Wavelet Transform and its inverse are presented. The
analysis filters have already been used for the implementation of a
high performance DWT encoder [15] with minimum memory
requirements for the JPEG 2000 standard. This paper presents the
design techniques and the implementation of the convolutional filters
included in the JPEG2000 standard for the forward and inverse DWT
for achieving low-power operation, high performance and reduced
memory accesses. Moreover, they have the ability of performing
progressive computations so as to minimize the buffering between
the decomposition and reconstruction phases. The experimental
results illustrate the filters- low power high throughput characteristics
as well as their memory efficient operation.
Abstract: This paper proposes a VPN Accelerator Board
(VPN-AB), a virtual private network (VPN) protocol designed for
trust channel security system (TCSS). TCSS supports safety
communication channel between security nodes in internet. It
furnishes authentication, confidentiality, integrity, and access control
to security node to transmit data packets with IPsec protocol. TCSS
consists of internet key exchange block, security association block,
and IPsec engine block. The internet key exchange block negotiates
crypto algorithm and key used in IPsec engine block. Security
Association blocks setting-up and manages security association
information. IPsec engine block treats IPsec packets and consists of
networking functions for communication. The IPsec engine block
should be embodied by H/W and in-line mode transaction for high
speed IPsec processing. Our VPN-AB is implemented with high speed
security processor that supports many cryptographic algorithms and
in-line mode. We evaluate a small TCSS communication environment,
and measure a performance of VPN-AB in the environment. The
experiment results show that VPN-AB gets a performance throughput
of maximum 15.645Gbps when we set the IPsec protocol with
3DES-HMAC-MD5 tunnel mode.
Abstract: Our results showed that treatment with both
cyclooxygenase (COX1 or COX2) inhibitors impair reproduction
parameters of the medaka. Resveratrol (COX1 inhibitor) caused an
decrease in the number of spawning females at the first week of
feeding fish with experimental diets. In the group treated with NS-
398 (COX2 inhibitor) we found the lowest sperm velocity parameters
and decreased linearity of movement. The ovaries of the medaka fed
feed supplemented with Resveratrol or NS-398 were confirmed to
have a lower share of matured oocytes however during the
experiment (four weeks) the number of eggs spawned by females was
similar. Both inhibitors in fish diet (20 mg/kg body weight/day)
caused a decrease in the embryo survival. Our results revealed that
for the medaka female reproduction, activity of both COX enzymes
might be necessary whereas males reproduction competence, as
expressed by sperm motility parameters, might be related to COX2
activity.
Abstract: This paper describes the development of a WLAN
propagation model, using Spectral Analyzer measurements. The
signal is generated by two Access Points (APs) on the base floor at
the administrative Communication School of ESPOL building. In
general, users do not have a Q&S reference about a wireless network;
however, this depends on the level signal as a function of frequency,
distance and other path conditions between receiver and transmitter.
Then, power density of the signal decrease as it propagates through
space and data transfer rate is affected. This document evaluates and
implements empirical mathematical formulation for the
characterization of WLAN radio wave propagation on two aisles of
the building base floor.
Abstract: High pressure adsorption of carbon dioxide on zeolite
13X was investigated in the pressure range (0 to 4) Mpa and
temperatures 298, 308 and 323K. The data fitting is accomplished
with the Toth, UNILAN, Dubinin-Astakhov and virial adsorption
models which are generally used for micro porous adsorbents such as
zeolites. Comparison with experimental data from the literature
indicated that the virial model would best determine results. These
results may be partly attributed to the flexibility of the virial model
which can accommodate as many constants as the data warrants.
Abstract: Any decision-making is based on certain theory. Taking
the public rental housing in Chongqing municipality as an example,
this essay states that the stakeholder theory can provide innovative
criteria and evaluation methods for Public Private Partnership (PPP)
projects. It gives an analysis of how to choose decision-making criteria
for different stakeholders in the PPP model and what measures to take
to meet the criteria to form “symbiotic" decision-making mode
through contracts and to boost the application of PPP model in
large-scale public programs in China.
Abstract: An experimental investigation was performed on pulp
liquid flow in straight ducts with a square cross section. Fully
developed steady flow was visualized and the fiber concentration was
obtained using a light-section method developed by the author et al.
The obtained results reveal quantitatively, in a definite form, the
distribution of the fiber concentration. From the results and
measurements of pressure loss, it is found that the flow characteristics
of pulp liquid in ducts can be classified into five patterns. The
relationships among the distributions of mean and fluctuation of fiber
concentration, the pressure loss and the flow velocity are discussed,
and then the features for each pattern are extracted. The degree of
nonuniformity of the fiber concentration, which is indicated by the
standard deviation of its distribution, is decreased from 0.3 to 0.05
with an increase in the velocity of the tested pulp liquid from 0.4 to
0.8%.