Abstract: The present study was designed to test the influence
of intrinsic ICT-motivation, perceived usefulness and ease of use on
business students- willingness to use a particular software package. A
questionnaire was completed by 196 business students in Norway.
We found that 34% of the variance in the students- willingness to use
the software could be explained by the three proposed antecedents.
Intrinsic ICT-motivation seems to be the most important predictor of
students- satisfaction willingness to use the software package.
Abstract: Knowing the geometrical object pose of products in manufacturing line before robot manipulation is required and less time consuming for overall shape measurement. In order to perform it, the information of shape representation and matching of objects is become required. Objects are compared with its descriptor that conceptually subtracted from each other to form scalar metric. When the metric value is smaller, the object is considered closed to each other. Rotating the object from static pose in some direction introduce the change of value in scalar metric value of boundary information after feature extraction of related object. In this paper, a proposal method for indexing technique for retrieval of 3D geometrical models based on similarity between boundaries shapes in order to measure 3D CAD object pose using object shape feature matching for Computer Aided Testing (CAT) system in production line is proposed. In experimental results shows the effectiveness of proposed method.
Abstract: In this paper, the experimental design of using the
Taguchi method is employed to optimize the processing parameters in
the plasma arc surface hardening process. The processing parameters
evaluated are arc current, scanning velocity and carbon content of
steel. In addition, other significant effects such as the relation between
processing parameters are also investigated. An orthogonal array,
signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio and analysis of variance (ANOVA) are
employed to investigate the effects of these processing parameters.
Through this study, not only the hardened depth increased and surface
roughness improved, but also the parameters that significantly affect
the hardening performance are identified. Experimental results are
provided to verify the effectiveness of this approach.
Abstract: The most Malaria cases are occur along Thai-Mynmar border. Mathematical model for the transmission of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria in a mixed population of Thais and migrant Burmese living along the Thai-Myanmar Border is studied. The population is separated into two groups, Thai and Burmese. Each population is divided into susceptible, infected, dormant and recovered subclasses. The loss of immunity by individuals in the infected class causes them to move back into the susceptible class. The person who is infected with Plasmodium vivax and is a member of the dormant class can relapse back into the infected class. A standard dynamical method is used to analyze the behaviors of the model. Two stable equilibrium states, a disease-free state and an epidemic state, are found to be possible in each population. A disease-free equilibrium state in the Thai population occurs when there are no infected Burmese entering the community. When infected Burmese enter the Thai community, an epidemic state can occur. It is found that the disease-free state is stable when the threshold number is less than one. The epidemic state is stable when a second threshold number is greater than one. Numerical simulations are used to confirm the results of our model.
Abstract: Cloud Computing (CC) has become one of the most
talked about emerging technologies that provides powerful
computing and large storage environments through the use of the
Internet. Cloud computing provides different dynamically scalable
computing resources as a service. It brings economic benefits to
individuals and businesses that adopt the technology. In theory
adoption of cloud computing reduces capital and operational
expenditure on information technology. For this to be a reality there
is need to solve some challenges and at the same time addressing
concerns that consumers have about cloud computing. This paper
looks at Cloud Computing in general then highlights the challenges
of Cloud Computing and finally suggests solutions to some of the
challenges.
Abstract: To help the client to select a competent agent
construction enterprise (ACE), this study aims to investigate the
selection standards by using the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process
(FAHP) and build an evaluation mathematical model with Grey
Relational Analysis (GRA). According to the outputs of literature
review, four orderly levels are established within the model, taking the
consideration of various agent construction models in practice. Then,
the process of applying FAHP and GRA is discussed in detailed.
Finally, through a case study, this paper illustrates how to apply these
methods in getting the weights of each standard and the final
assessment result.
Abstract: Capacity and efficiency of any refrigerating system
diminish rapidly as the difference between the evaporating and
condensing temperature is increased by a reduction in the evaporator
temperature. The single stage vapour compression refrigeration
system using various refrigerants are limited to an evaporator
temperature of -40 0C. Below temperature of -40 0C the either
cascade refrigeration system or multi stage vapour compression
system is employed. Present work describes thermal design of
condenser (HTS), cascade condenser and evaporator (LTS) of
R404A-R508B and R410A-R23 cascade refrigeration system. Heat
transfer area of condenser, cascade condenser and evaporator for
both systems are compared and the effect of condenser and
evaporator temperature on heat-transfer area for both systems is
studied under same operating condition. The results shows that the
required heat-transfer area of condenser and cascade condenser for
R410A-R23 cascade system is lower than the R404A-R508B cascade
system but heat transfer area of evaporator is similar for both the
system. The heat transfer area of condenser and cascade condenser
decreases with increase in condenser temperature (Tc), whereas the
heat transfer area of cascade condenser and evaporator increases with
increase in evaporator temperature (Te).
Abstract: Stuck-pipe in drilling operations is one of the most
pressing and expensive problems in the oil industry. This paper
describes a computational simulation and an experimental study of
the hydrodynamic vibrator, which may be used for liquidation of
stuck-pipe problems during well drilling. The work principle of the
vibrator is based upon the known phenomena of Vortex Street of
Karman and the resulting generation of vibrations. We will discuss
the computational simulation and experimental investigations of
vibrations in this device. The frequency of the vibration parameters
has been measured as a function of the wide range Reynolds Number.
The validity of the computational simulation and of the assumptions
on which it is based has been proved experimentally. The
computational simulation of the vibrator work and its effectiveness
was carried out using FLUENT software. The research showed high
degree of congruence with the results of the laboratory tests and
allowed to determine the effect of the granular material features upon
the pipe vibration in the well. This study demonstrates the potential
of using the hydrodynamic vibrator in a well drilling system.
Abstract: The existence of maximal durations drastically modifies the performance evaluation in Discrete Event Systems (DES). The same particularity may be found on systems where the associated constraints do not concern the time. For example weight measures, in chemical industry, are used in order to control the quantity of consumed raw materials. This parameter also takes a fundamental part in the product quality as the correct transformation process is based upon a given percentage of each essence. Weight regulation therefore increases the global productivity of the system by decreasing the quantity of rejected products. In this paper we present an approach based on mixing different characteristics theories, the fuzzy system and Petri net system to describe the behaviour. An industriel application on a tobacco manufacturing plant, where the critical parameter is the weight is presented as an illustration.
Abstract: In this paper, hybrid FDMA-TDMA access technique in a cooperative distributive fashion introducing and implementing a modified protocol introduced in [1] is analyzed termed as Power and Cooperation Diversity Gain Protocol (PCDGP). A wireless network consists of two users terminal , two relays and a destination terminal equipped with two antennas. The relays are operating in amplify-and-forward (AF) mode with a fixed gain. Two operating modes: cooperation-gain mode and powergain mode are exploited from source terminals to relays, as it is working in a best channel selection scheme. Vertical BLAST (Bell Laboratories Layered Space Time) or V-BLAST with minimum mean square error (MMSE) nulling is used at the relays to perfectly detect the joint signals from multiple source terminals. The performance is analyzed using binary phase shift keying (BPSK) modulation scheme and investigated over independent and identical (i.i.d) Rayleigh, Ricean-K and Nakagami-m fading environments. Subsequently, simulation results show that the proposed scheme can provide better signal quality of uplink users in a cooperative communication system using hybrid FDMATDMA technique.
Abstract: Musculoskeletal problems are common in high
performance dance population. This study attempts to identify lower
extremity muscle flexibility parameters prevailing among
bharatanatyam dancers and analyze if there is any significant
difference exist between normal and injured dancers in flexibility
parameters. Four hundred and one female dancers and 17 male
dancers were participated in this study. Flexibility parameters
(hamstring tightness, hip internal and external rotation and
tendoachilles in supine and sitting posture) were measured using
goniometer. Results of our study it is evident that injured female
bharathnatyam dancers had significantly (p < 0.05) high hamstring
tightness on left side lower extremity compared to normal female
dancers. The range of motion for left tendoachilles was significantly
(p < 0.05) high for the normal female group when compared to
injured dancers during supine lying posture. Majority of the injured
dancers had high hamstring tightness that could be a possible reason
for pain and MSDs.
Abstract: In this study, optimization is carried out to find the optimized design of a foam-filled column for the best Specific Energy Absorption (SEA) and Crush Force Efficiency (CFE). In order to maximize SEA, the optimization gives the value of 2.3 for column thickness and 151.7 for foam length. On the other hand to maximize CFE, the optimization gives the value of 1.1 for column thickness and 200 for foam length. Finite Element simulation is run by using this value and the SEA and CFE obtained 1237.76 J/kg and 0.92.
Abstract: Selection of a project among a set of possible
alternatives is a difficult task that the decision maker (DM) has to
face. In this paper, by using a fuzzy TOPSIS technique we propose a
new method for a project selection problem. After reviewing four
common methods of comparing investment alternatives (net present
value, rate of return, benefit cost analysis and payback period) we
use them as criteria in a TOPSIS technique. First we calculate the
weight of each criterion by a pairwise comparison and then we utilize
the improved TOPSIS assessment for the project selection.
Abstract: An original DEA model is to evaluate each DMU
optimistically, but the interval DEA Model proposed in this paper
has been formulated to obtain an efficiency interval consisting of
Evaluations from both the optimistic and the pessimistic view points.
DMUs are improved so that their lower bounds become so large as to
attain the maximum Value one. The points obtained by this method
are called ideal points. Ideal PPS is calculated by ideal of efficiency
DMUs. The purpose of this paper is to rank DMUs by this ideal PPS.
Finally we extend the efficiency interval of a DMU under variable
RTS technology.
Abstract: In this paper we propose a novel approach for
searching eCommerce products using a mobile phone, illustrated by a
prototype eCoMobile. This approach aims to globalize the mobile
search by integrating the concept of user multilinguism into it. To
show that, we particularly deal with English and Arabic languages.
Indeed the mobile user can formulate his query on a commercial
product in either language (English/Arabic). The description of his
information need on commercial products relies on the ontology that
represents the conceptualization of the product catalogue knowledge
domain defined in both English and Arabic languages. A query
expressed on a mobile device client defines the concept that
corresponds to the name of the product followed by a set of pairs
(property, value) specifying the characteristics of the product. Once a
query is submitted it is then communicated to the server side which
analyses it and in its turn performs an http request to an eCommerce
application server (like Amazon). This latter responds by returning
an XML file representing a set of elements where each element
defines an item of the searched product with its specific
characteristics. The XML file is analyzed on the server side and then
items are displayed on the mobile device client along with its
relevant characteristics in the chosen language.
Abstract: Fast delay estimation methods, as opposed to
simulation techniques, are needed for incremental performance
driven layout synthesis. On-chip inductive effects are becoming
predominant in deep submicron interconnects due to increasing clock
speed and circuit complexity. Inductance causes noise in signal
waveforms, which can adversely affect the performance of the circuit
and signal integrity. Several approaches have been put forward which
consider the inductance for on-chip interconnect modelling. But for
even much higher frequency, of the order of few GHz, the shunt
dielectric lossy component has become comparable to that of other
electrical parameters for high speed VLSI design. In order to cope up
with this effect, on-chip interconnect has to be modelled as
distributed RLCG line. Elmore delay based methods, although
efficient, cannot accurately estimate the delay for RLCG interconnect
line. In this paper, an accurate analytical delay model has been
derived, based on first and second moments of RLCG
interconnection lines. The proposed model considers both the effect
of inductance and conductance matrices. We have performed the
simulation in 0.18μm technology node and an error of as low as less
as 5% has been achieved with the proposed model when compared to
SPICE. The importance of the conductance matrices in interconnect
modelling has also been discussed and it is shown that if G is
neglected for interconnect line modelling, then it will result an delay
error of as high as 6% when compared to SPICE.
Abstract: Fair share objective has been included into the goaloriented
parallel computer job scheduling policy recently. However,
the previous work only presented the overall scheduling performance.
Thus, the per-user performance of the policy is still lacking. In this
work, the details of per-user fair share performance under the
Tradeoff-fs(Tx:avgX) policy will be further evaluated. A basic fair
share priority backfill policy namely RelShare(1d) is also studied.
The performance of all policies is collected using an event-driven
simulator with three real job traces as input. The experimental results
show that the high demand users are usually benefited under most
policies because their jobs are large or they have a lot of jobs. In the
large job case, one job executed may result in over-share during that
period. In the other case, the jobs may be backfilled for
performances. However, the users with a mixture of jobs may suffer
because if the smaller jobs are executing the priority of the remaining
jobs from the same user will be lower. Further analysis does not show
any significant impact of users with a lot of jobs or users with a large
runtime approximation error.
Abstract: The NGN (Next Generation Network), which can
provide advanced multimedia services over an all-IP based network, has been the subject of much attention for years. While there have
been tremendous efforts to develop its architecture and protocols, especially for IMS, which is a key technology of the NGN, it is far
from being widely deployed. However, efforts to create an advanced
signaling infrastructure realizing many requirements have resulted in a
large number of functional components and interactions between those
components. Thus, the carriers are trying to explore effective ways to
deploy IMS while offering value-added services. As one such
approach, we have proposed a self-organizing IMS. A self-organizing
IMS enables IMS functional components and corresponding physical
nodes to adapt dynamically and automatically based on situation such
as network load and available system resources while continuing IMS
operation. To realize this, service continuity for users is an important
requirement when a reconfiguration occurs during operation. In this
paper, we propose a mechanism that will provide service continuity to
users and focus on the implementation and describe performance
evaluation in terms of number of control signaling and processing time
during reconfiguration
Abstract: The complexity of teaching English in higher
institutions by non-native speakers within a second/foreign language
setting has created continuous discussions and research about
teaching approaches and teaching practises, professional identities
and challenges. In addition, there is a growing awareness that
teaching English within discipline-specific contexts adds up to the
existing complexity. This awareness leads to reassessments,
discussions and suggestions on course design and content and
teaching approaches and techniques. In meeting expectations
teaching at a university specified in a particular discipline such as
engineering, English language educators are not only required to
teach students to be able to communicate in English effectively but
also to teach soft skills such as problem solving skills. This paper is
part of a research conducted to investigate how English language
educators negotiate with the complexities of teaching problem
solving skills through English language teaching at a technical
university. This paper reports the way an English language educator
identified himself and the way he approached his teaching in this
institutional context.
Abstract: In this study a clustering technique has been implemented which is K-Means like with hierarchical initial set (HKM). The goal of this study is to prove that clustering document sets do enhancement precision on information retrieval systems, since it was proved by Bellot & El-Beze on French language. A comparison is made between the traditional information retrieval system and the clustered one. Also the effect of increasing number of clusters on precision is studied. The indexing technique is Term Frequency * Inverse Document Frequency (TF * IDF). It has been found that the effect of Hierarchical K-Means Like clustering (HKM) with 3 clusters over 242 Arabic abstract documents from the Saudi Arabian National Computer Conference has significant results compared with traditional information retrieval system without clustering. Additionally it has been found that it is not necessary to increase the number of clusters to improve precision more.