Abstract: The Taiwan government has started to promote the “Plain Landscape Afforestation and Greening Program" since 2002. A key task of the program was the payment for environmental services (PES), entitled the “Plain Landscape Afforestation Policy" (PLAP), which was certificated by the Executive Yuan on August 31, 2001 and enacted on January 1, 2002. According to the policy, it is estimated that the total area of afforestation will be 25,100 hectares by December 31, 2007. Until the end of 2007, the policy had been enacted for six years in total and the actual area of afforestation was 8,919.18 hectares. Among them, Taiwan Sugar Corporation (TSC) was accounted for 7,960 hectares (with 2,450.83 hectares as public service area) which occupied 86.22% of the total afforestation area; the private farmland promoted by local governments was accounted for 869.18 hectares which occupied 9.75% of the total afforestation area. Based on the above, we observe that most of the afforestation area in this policy is executed by TSC, and the achievement ratio by TSC is better than by others. It implies that the success of the PLAP is seriously related to the execution of TSC. The objective of this study is to analyze the relevant policy planning of TSC's participation in the PLAP, suggest complementary measures, and draw up effective adjustment mechanisms, so as to improve the effectiveness of executing the policy. Our main conclusions and suggestions are summarized as follows: 1. The main reason for TSC’s participation in the PLAP is based on their passive cooperation with the central government or company policy. Prior to TSC’s participation in the PLAP, their lands were mainly used for growing sugarcane. 2. The main factors of TSC's consideration on the selection of tree species are based on the suitability of land and species. The largest proportion of tree species is allocated to economic forests, and the lack of technical instruction was the main problem during afforestation. Moreover, the method of improving TSC’s future development in leisure agriculture and landscape business becomes a key topic. 3. TSC has developed short and long-term plans on participating in the PLAP for the future. However, there is no great willingness or incentive on budgeting for such detailed planning. 4. Most people from TSC interviewed consider the requirements on PLAP unreasonable. Among them, an unreasonable requirement on the number of trees accounted for the greatest proportion; furthermore, most interviewees suggested that the government should continue to provide incentives even after 20 years. 5. Since the government shares the same goals as TSC, there should be sufficient cooperation and communication that support the technical instruction and reduction of afforestation cost, which will also help to improve effectiveness of the policy.
Abstract: The purpose of the article is to illustrate the main
characteristics of the corporate governance challenge facing the
countries of South-Eastern Europe (SEE) and to subsequently
determine and assess the extensiveness and effectiveness of corporate
governance regulations in these countries. Therefore, we start with an
overview on the subject of the key problems of corporate governance
in transition. We then address the issue of corporate governance
measurement for SEE countries. To this end, we include a review of
the methodological framework for determining both the
extensiveness and the effectiveness of corporate governance
legislation. We then focus on the actual analysis of the quality of
corporate governance codes, as well as of legal institutions
effectiveness and provide a measure of corporate governance in
Romania and other SEE emerging markets. The paper concludes by
emphasizing the corporate governance enforcement gap and by
identifying research issues that require further study.
Abstract: A dynamic of Bertrand duopoly game is analyzed, where players use different production methods and choose their prices with bounded rationality. The equilibriums of the corresponding discrete dynamical systems are investigated. The stability conditions of Nash equilibrium under a local adjustment process are studied. The stability conditions of Nash equilibrium under a local adjustment process are studied. The stability of Nash equilibrium, as some parameters of the model are varied, gives rise to complex dynamics such as cycles of higher order and chaos. On this basis, we discover that an increase of adjustment speed of bounded rational player can make Bertrand market sink into the chaotic state. Finally, the complex dynamics, bifurcations and chaos are displayed by numerical simulation.
Abstract: In the end of the day, meteorological data and environmental data becomes widely used such as plant varieties selection system. Variety plant selection for planted area is of almost importance for all crops, including varieties of sugarcane. Since sugarcane have many varieties. Variety plant non selection for planting may not be adapted to the climate or soil conditions for planted area. Poor growth, bloom drop, poor fruit, and low price are to be from varieties which were not recommended for those planted area. This paper presents plant varieties selection system for planted areas in Thailand from meteorological data and environmental data by the use of decision tree techniques. With this software developed as an environmental data analysis tool, it can analyze resulting easier and faster. Our software is a front end of WEKA that provides fundamental data mining functions such as classify, clustering, and analysis functions. It also supports pre-processing, analysis, and decision tree output with exporting result. After that, our software can export and display data result to Google maps API in order to display result and plot plant icons effectively.
Abstract: DC-DC converters are widely used in regulated switched mode power supplies and in DC motor drive applications. There are several sources of unwanted nonlinearity in practical power converters. In addition, their operation is characterized by switching that gives birth to a variety of nonlinear dynamics. DC-DC buck and boost converters controlled by pulse-width modulation (PWM) have been simulated. The voltage waveforms and attractors obtained from the circuit simulation have been studied. With the onset of instability, the phenomenon of subharmonic oscillations, quasi-periodicity, bifurcations, and chaos have been observed. This paper is mainly motivated by potential contributions of chaos theory in the design, analysis and control of power converters, in particular and power electronics circuits, in general.
Abstract: Korea Train eXpress (KTX) is now being operated,
which allows Korea being one of the countries that operates the
high-speed rail system. The high-speed rail has its advantage of short
time transportation of population and materials, which lead to many
researches performed in this matter. In the case of high speed classical
trackbed system, the maintenance and usability of gravel ballast
system is costly. Recently, the concrete trackbed structure has been
introduced as a replacement of classical trackbed system. In this case,
the sleeper plays a critical role. Current study investigated to develop
the track sleepers readily applicable to the top of the asphalt trackbed,
as part of the trcakbed study utilizing the asphalt material. Among
many possible shapes and design of sleepers, current study proposed
two types of wide-sleepers according to the shear-key installation
method. The structural behavior analysis and safety evaluation on each
case was conducted using Korean design standard.
Abstract: Nowadays there is a growing interest in biofuel production in most countries because of the increasing concerns about hydrocarbon fuel shortage and global climate changes, also for enhancing agricultural economy and producing local needs for transportation fuel. Ethanol can be produced from biomass by the hydrolysis and sugar fermentation processes. In this study ethanol was produced without using expensive commercial enzymes from sugarcane bagasse. Alkali pretreatment was used to prepare biomass before enzymatic hydrolysis. The comparison between NaOH, KOH and Ca(OH)2 shows NaOH is more effective on bagasse. The required enzymes for biomass hydrolysis were produced from sugarcane solid state fermentation via two fungi: Trichoderma longibrachiatum and Aspergillus niger. The results show that the produced enzyme solution via A. niger has functioned better than T. longibrachiatum. Ethanol was produced by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) with crude enzyme solution from T. longibrachiatum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast. To evaluate this procedure, SSF of pretreated bagasse was also done using Celluclast 1.5L by Novozymes. The yield of ethanol production by commercial enzyme and produced enzyme solution via T. longibrachiatum was 81% and 50% respectively.
Abstract: A theoretical approach to radiation damage evolution
is developed. Stable temporal behavior taking place in solids under
irradiation are examined as phenomena of self-organization in nonequilibrium
systems.
Experimental effects of temporal self-organization in solids under
irradiation are reviewed. Their essential common properties and
features are highlighted and analyzed.
Dynamical model to describe development of self-oscillation of
density of point defects under stationary irradiation is proposed. The
emphasis is the nonlinear couplings between rate of annealing and
density of defects that determine the kind and parameters of an
arising self-oscillation.
The field of parameters (defect generation rate and environment
temperature) at which self-oscillations develop is found. Bifurcation
curve and self-oscillation period near it is obtained.
Abstract: To produce sugar and ethanol, sugarcane processing
generates several agricultural residues, being straw and bagasse is
considered as the main among them. And what to do with this
residues has been subject of many studies and experiences in an
industry that, in recent years, highlighted by the ability to transform
waste into valuable products such as electric power. Cellulose is the
main component of these materials. It is the most common organic
polymer and represents about 1.5 x 1012 tons of total production of
biomass per year and is considered an almost inexhaustible source of
raw material. Pretreatment with mineral acids is one of the most
widely used as stage of cellulose extraction from lignocellulosic
materials for solubilizing most of the hemicellulose content. This
study had as goal to find the best reaction time of sugarcane bagasse
pretreatment with sulfuric acid in order to minimize the losses of
cellulose concomitantly with the highest possible removal of
hemicellulose and lignin. It was found that the best time for this
reaction was 40 minutes, in which it was reached a loss of
hemicelluloses around 70% and lignin and cellulose, around 15%.
Over this time, it was verified that the cellulose loss increased and
there was no loss of lignin and hemicellulose.
Abstract: In this paper, applying frequency domain approach, a delayed predator-prey fishery model with prey reserve is investigated. By choosing the delay τ as a bifurcation parameter, It is found that Hopf bifurcation occurs as the bifurcation parameter τ passes a sequence of critical values. That is, a family of periodic solutions bifurcate from the equilibrium when the bifurcation parameter exceeds a critical value. The length of delay which preserves the stability of the positive equilibrium is calculated. Some numerical simulations are included to justify the theoretical analysis results. Finally, main conclusions are given.
Abstract: the paper presents the optimization results for several
electrical machines dedicated for powered electric wheel-chairs. The
optimization, using the Hook-Jeeves algorithm, was employed based
on a design approach which takes into consideration the road
conditions. Also, through numerical simulations (based on finite
element method), the analytical approach was validated. The
optimization approach gave satisfactory results and the best suited
variant was chosen for the motorization of the wheel-chair.
Abstract: Nonlinear response behaviour of a cracked RC beam under harmonic excitation is analysed to investigate various instability phenomena like, bifurcation, jump phenomena etc. The nonlinearity of the system arises due to opening and closing of the cracks in the RC beam and is modelled as a cubic polynomial. In order to trace different branches at the bifurcation point on the response curve (amplitude versus frequency of excitation plot), an arc length continuation technique along with the incremental harmonic balance (IHBC) method is employed. The stability of the solution is investigated by the Floquet theory using Hsu-s scheme. The periodic solutions obtained by the IHBC method are compared with these obtained by the numerical integration of the equation of motion. Characteristics of solutions fold bifurcation, jump phenomena and from stable to unstable zones are identified.
Abstract: In this paper, an approach for finding optimized
layouts for connecting PV units delivering maximum array output
power is suggested. The approach is based on considering the
different varying parameters of PV units that might be extracted from
a general two-diode model. These are mainly, solar irradiation,
reverse saturation currents, ideality factors, series and shunt
resistances in addition to operating temperature. The approach has
been tested on 19 possible 2×3 configurations and allowed to
determine the optimized configurations as well as examine the effects
of the different units- parameters on the maximum output power.
Thus, using this approach, standard arrays with n×m units can be
configured for maximum generated power and allows designing PV
based systems having reduced surfaces to fit specific required power,
as it is the case for solar cars and other mobile systems.
Abstract: The present study has been conducted to characterize
the prophenoloxidase (PPO) system of the desert locust, Schistocerca
gregaria following injection of Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Bt).
The bulk of PPO system was associated with haemocytes and a little
amount was found in plasma. This system was activated by different
activators such as laminarin, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and trypsin
suggesting that the stimulatory mechanism may involve an enzyme
cascade of one or more associated molecules. These activators did
not activate all the molecules of the cascade. Presence of
phenoloxidase activity (PO) coincides with the appearance of protein
band with molecular weight (MW) 70.154 KD (Kilo Dalton).
Abstract: In this paper, we propose a novel algorithm for
delineating the endocardial wall from a human heart ultrasound scan.
We assume that the gray levels in the ultrasound images are
independent and identically distributed random variables with
different Rician Inverse Gaussian (RiIG) distributions. Both synthetic
and real clinical data will be used for testing the algorithm. Algorithm
performance will be evaluated using the expert radiologist evaluation
of a soft copy of an ultrasound scan during the scanning process and
secondly, doctor’s conclusion after going through a printed copy of
the same scan. Successful implementation of this algorithm should
make it possible to differentiate normal from abnormal soft tissue and
help disease identification, what stage the disease is in and how best
to treat the patient. We hope that an automated system that uses this
algorithm will be useful in public hospitals especially in Third World
countries where problems such as shortage of skilled radiologists and
shortage of ultrasound machines are common. These public hospitals
are usually the first and last stop for most patients in these countries.
Abstract: In the gas refineries of Iran-s South Pars Gas
Complex, Sulfrex demercaptanization process is used to remove
volatile and corrosive mercaptans from liquefied petroleum gases by
caustic solution. This process consists of two steps. Removing low
molecular weight mercaptans and regeneration exhaust caustic. Some
parameters such as LPG feed temperature, caustic concentration and
feed-s mercaptan in extraction step and sodium mercaptide content in
caustic, catalyst concentration, caustic temperature, air injection rate
in regeneration step are effective factors. In this paper was focused on
temperature factor that play key role in mercaptans extraction and
caustic regeneration. The experimental results demonstrated by
optimization of temperature, sodium mercaptide content in caustic
because of good oxidation minimized and sulfur impurities in
product reduced.
Abstract: In the Northern hemisphere, sheep reproduction is
seasonal (September-November). Among several natural factors
influencing the reproduction status of rams, we studied the daylight
length and temperature. Rams from different breeds were studied:
Merinos de Palas (half-precocious), Karakul de Botosani (halfbelated)
and Turcana (belated breed, low reproductive plasticity). In
Merinos de Palas, ejaculate volume during sexual repose is 51.3%
from normal quantity. When autumn climate was experimentally
induced, ejaculate volume reached 98.45% (Merinos), 94.97%
(Karakul) and 97.59% (Turcana). Semen density increased from
1.031-1.033 till 1.035 after exposition to artificial light and
temperature conditions. Spermatozoids mobility and sperm pH
improved, passing over 82% and 6.75, values identical to those in the
natural reproduction season. Behaviour analysis after
photoperiodicity indicated that over 83.3% Merinos and Karakul
males and all Turcana rams exteriorised normal and intense sexual
reflexes. Certain effort and reduced expenses brought rams in good
condition, producing higher quantity and quality sperm.
Abstract: International competitiveness receives much attention
nowadays, but up to now its assessment has been heavily based on
manufacturing industry statistics. This paper addresses the need for
competitiveness indicators that cover the service sector and sets out a
multilevel framework for measuring international services trade
competitiveness. The approach undertaken here aims at
comparatively examining the international competitiveness of the
EU-25 (the twenty-five European Union member states before the 1st
of January 2007), Romanian and Bulgarian services trade, as well as
the last two countries- structure of specialization on the EU-25
services market. The primary changes in the international
competitiveness of three major services sectors – transportation,
travel and other services - are analyzed. This research attempts to
determine the ability of the two recent European Union (EU) member
states to contend with the challenges that might arise from the hard
competition within the enlarged EU, in the field of services trade.
Abstract: Thermoplastic starch, polylactic acid glycerol and
maleic anhydride (MA) were compounded with natural
montmorillonite (MMT) through a twin screw extruder to investigate
the effects of different loading of MMT on structure, thermal and
absorption behavior of the nanocomposites. X-ray diffraction analysis
(XRD) showed that sample with MMT loading 4phr exhibited
exfoliated structure while sample that contained MMT 8 phr
exhibited intercalated structure. FESEM images showed big lump
when MMT loading was at 8 phr. The thermal properties were
characterized by using differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The
results showed that MMT increased melting temperature and
crystallization temperature of matrix but reduction in glass transition
temperature was observed Meanwhile the addition of MMT has
improved the water barrier property. The nanosize MMT particle is
also able to block a tortuous pathway for water to enter the starch
chain, thus reducing the water uptake and improved the physical
barrier of nanocomposite.
Abstract: By utilizing the system of the recurrence equations, containing two parameters, the dynamics of two antagonistically interconnected populations is studied. The following areas of the system behavior are detected: the area of the stable solutions, the area of cyclic solutions occurrence, the area of the accidental change of trajectories of solutions, and the area of chaos and fractal phenomena. The new two-dimensional diagram of the dynamics of the solutions change (the fractal cabbage) has been obtained. In the cross-section of this diagram for one of the equations the well-known Feigenbaum tree of doubling has been noted.Keywordsbifurcation, chaos, dynamics of populations, fractals