Abstract: Control of a semi-batch polymerization reactor using
an adaptive radial basis function (RBF) neural network method is
investigated in this paper. A neural network inverse model is used to
estimate the valve position of the reactor; this method can identify the
controlled system with the RBF neural network identifier. The
weights of the adaptive PID controller are timely adjusted based on
the identification of the plant and self-learning capability of RBFNN.
A PID controller is used in the feedback control to regulate the actual
temperature by compensating the neural network inverse model
output. Simulation results show that the proposed control has strong
adaptability, robustness and satisfactory control performance and the
nonlinear system is achieved.
Abstract: Al-Si-Mg-Ni(-Cu) alloys are widely used in the automotive industry. They have the advantage of low weight associated with low coefficient of thermal expansion and excellent mechanical properties – mainly at high temperatures. The corrosion resistance of these alloys in coastal area, particularly sea water, however is not yet known. In this investigation, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization have been used to evaluate the corrosion resistance of Al-6Si-0.5Mg-2Ni (-2Cu) alloys in simulated sea water environments. The potentiodynamic polarization curves reveal that 2 wt% Cu content alloy (Alloy-2) is more prone to corrosion than the Cu free alloy (Alloy-1). But the EIS test results showed that corrosion resistance or charge transfer resistance (Rct) increases with the addition of Cu. Due to addition of Cu and thermal treatment, the magnitude of open circuit potential (OCP), corrosion potential (Ecorr) and pitting corrosion potential (Epit) of Al-6Si-0.5Mg-2Ni alloy in NaCl solution were shifted to the more noble direction.
Abstract: The classroom of the 21st century is an ever changing forum for new and innovative thoughts and ideas. With increasing technology and opportunity, students have rapid access to information that only decades ago would have taken weeks to obtain. Unfortunately, new techniques and technology is not a cure for the fundamental problems that have plagued the classroom ever since education was established. Class size has been an issue long debated in academia. While it is difficult to pin point an exact number, it is clear that in this case more does not mean better. By looking into the success and pitfalls of classroom size the true advantages of smaller classes will become clear. Previously, one class was comprised of 50 students. Being seventeen and eighteen-year-old students, sometimes it was quite difficult for them to stay focused. To help them understand and gain much knowledge, a researcher introduced “The Theory of Multiple Intelligence” and this, in fact, enabled students to learn according to their own learning preferences no matter how they were being taught. In this lesson, the researcher designed a cycle of learning activities involving all intelligences so that everyone had equal opportunities to learn.
Abstract: In recent years in Italy the progress of the automobile industry, in the field of reduction of emissions values, is very remarkable. Nevertheless their evaluation and reduction is a key problem, especially in the cities, that account for more than 50% of world population. In this paper we dealt with the problem of describing a quantitatively approach for the reconstruction of GPS coordinates and altitude, in the context of correlation study between driving cycles / emission / geographical location, during an experimental campaign realized with some instrumented cars.
Abstract: A continuous time model of the interaction between
crop insect pests and naturally beneficial pest enemies is created
using a set of simultaneous, non-linear, ordinary differential
equations incorporating natural death rates based on the Weibull
distribution. The crop pest is present in all its life-cycle stages of:
egg, larva, pupa and adult. The beneficial insects, parasitoid wasps,
may be present in either or all parasitized: eggs, larva and pupa.
Population modelling is used to estimate the quantity of the natural
pest enemies that should be introduced into the pest infested
environment to suppress the pest population density to an
economically acceptable level within a prescribed number of days.
The results obtained illustrate the effect of different combinations of
parasitoid wasps, using the Pascal distribution to estimate their
success in parasitizing different pest developmental stages, to deliver
pest control to a sustainable level. Effective control, within a
prescribed number of days, is established by the deployment of two
or all three species of wasps, which partially destroy pest: egg, larvae
and pupae stages. The selected scenarios demonstrate effective
sustainable control of the pest in less than thirty days.
Abstract: Biometallic materials are the most important materials for use in biomedical applications especially in manufacturing a variety of biological artificial replacements in a modern worlds, e.g. hip, knee or shoulder joints, due to their advanced characteristics. Titanium (Ti) and its alloys are used extensively in biomedical applications based on their high specific strength and excellent corrosion resistance. Beta-Ti alloys containing completely biocompatible elements are exceptionally prospective materials for manufacturing of bioimplants. They have superior mechanical, chemical and electrochemical properties for use as biomaterials. These biomaterials have the ability to introduce the most important property of biochemical compatibility which is low elastic modulus. This review examines current information on the recent developments in alloying elements leading to improvements of beta Ti alloys for use as biomaterials. Moreover, this paper focuses mainly on the evolution, evaluation and development of the modulus of elasticity as an effective factor on the performance of beta alloys.
Abstract: In recent years, in addition to face the external threats such as energy shortages and climate change, traffic congestion and environmental pollution have become anxious problems for many cities. Considering private automobile-oriented urban development had produced many negative environmental and social impacts, the transit-oriented development (TOD) has been considered as a sustainable urban model. TOD encourages public transport combined with friendly walking and cycling environment designs, however, non-motorized modes help improving human health, energy saving, and reducing carbon emissions. Due to environmental changes often affect the planners’ decision-making; this research applies dynamic network process (DNP) which includes the time dependent concept to promoting friendly walking and cycling environmental designs as an advanced planning support system for environment improvements.
This research aims to discuss what kinds of design strategies can improve a friendly walking and cycling environment under TOD. First of all, we collate and analyze environment designing factors by reviewing the relevant literatures as well as divide into three aspects of “safety”, “convenience”, and “amenity” from fifteen environment designing factors. Furthermore, we utilize fuzzy Delphi Technique (FDT) expert questionnaire to filter out the more important designing criteria for the study case. Finally, we utilized DNP expert questionnaire to obtain the weights changes at different time points for each design criterion. Based on the changing trends of each criterion weight, we are able to develop appropriate designing strategies as the reference for planners to allocate resources in a dynamic environment. In order to illustrate the approach we propose in this research, Taipei city as one example has been used as an empirical study, and the results are in depth analyzed to explain the application of our proposed approach.
Abstract: Vertical slotted walls can be used as permeable
breakwaters to provide economical and environmental protection
from undesirable waves and currents inside the port. The permeable
breakwaters are partially protection and have been suggested to
overcome the environmental disadvantages of fully protection
breakwaters. For regular waves a semi-analytical model is based on
an eigenfunction expansion method and utilizes a boundary condition
at the surface of each wall are developed to detect the energy
dissipation through the slots. Extensive laboratory tests are carried
out to validate the semi-analytic models. The structure of the physical
model contains two walls and it consists of impermeable upper and
lower part, where the draft is based a decimal multiple of the total
depth. The middle part is permeable with a porosity of 50%. The
second barrier is located at a distant of 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 times of the
water depth from the first one. A comparison of the theoretical results
with previous studies and experimental measurements of the present
study show a good agreement and that, the semi-analytical model is
able to adequately reproduce most the important features of the
experiment.
Abstract: In this study, too, an attempt was made to reveal the
place and effects of information technologies on the lives and
education of gifted children based on the views of gifted. To this end,
the effects of information technologies on gifted are general skills,
technology use, academic and social skills, and cooperative and
personal skills were investigated. These skills were explored
depending on whether or not gifted had their own computers, had
internet connection at home, or how often they use the internet,
average time period they spent at the computer, how often they
played computer games and their use of social media.
The study was conducted using the screening model with a
quantitative approach. The sample of the study consisted of 129
gifted attending 5-12th classes in 12 provinces in different regions of
Turkey. 64 of the participants were female while 65 were male. The
research data were collected using the using computer of gifted and
information technologies (UCIT) questionnaire which was developed
by the researchers and given its final form after receiving expert
view.
As a result of the study, it was found that UCIT use improved
foreign language speaking skills of gifted, enabled them to get to
know and understand different cultures, and made use of computer
and information technologies while they study. At the end of the
study these result were obtained: Gifted have positive idea using
computer and communication technology. There are differences
whether using the internet about the ideas UCIT. But there are not
differences whether having computer, inhabited city, grade level,
having internet at home, daily and weekly internet usage durations,
playing the computer and internet game, having Facebook and
Twitter account about the UCIT.
UCIT contribute to the development of gifted vocabulary, allows
knowing and understand different cultures, developing foreign
language speaking skills, gifted do not give up computer when they
do their homework, improve their reading, listening, understanding
and writing skills in a foreign language.
Gifted children want to have transition to the use of tablets in
education. They think UCIT facilitates doing their homework,
contributes learning more information in a shorter time. They'd like
to use computer-assisted instruction programs at courses. They think
they will be more successful in the future if their computer skills are
good. But gifted students prefer teacher instead of teaching with
computers and they said that learning can be run from home without
going to school.
Abstract: The study explored the role of metacognition in foreign language anxiety on a sample of 411 Taiwanese students of English as a Foreign Language. The reading strategy inventory was employed to evaluate the tertiary learners’ level of metacognitive awareness and a semi-structured background questionnaire was also used to examine the learners’ perceptions of their English proficiency and satisfaction of their current English learning. In addition, gender and academic level differences in employment of reading strategies were investigated. The results showed the frequency of reading strategy use increase slightly along with academic years and males and females actually employ different reading strategies. The EFL tertiary learners in the present study utilized cognitive strategies more frequently than metacognitive strategies or support strategies. Male students use metacognitive strategy more often while female students use cognitive and support strategy more frequently.
Abstract: The objective is to study the satisfaction on English with an online learning. Online learning system mainly consists of English lessons, exercises, tests, web boards, and supplementary lessons for language practice. The sample groups are 80 Thai students studying English for Business Communication, majoring in Hotel and Lodging Management. The data are analyzed by mean, standard deviation (S.D.) value from the questionnaires. The results were found that the most average of satisfaction on academic aspects are technological searching tool through E-learning system that support the students’ learning (4.51), knowledge evaluation on pre-post learning and teaching (4.45), and change for project selections according to their interest, subject contents including practice in the real situations (4.45), respectively.
Abstract: Each of the countries around the world has different
ways of management and many of them depend on people to
administrate their country. Thailand, for example, empowers the
sovereignty of Thai people under constitution; however, our Thai
voting system is not able to flow fast enough under the current
Political management system. The sovereignty of Thai people is
addressing this problem through representatives during current
elections, in order to set a new policy for the countries ideology to
change in the House and the Cabinet.
This is particularly important in a democracy to be developed
under our current political institution. The Organic Act on Political
Parties 2007 is the establishment we have today that is causing
confrontations within the establishment. There are many political
parties that will soon be abolished. Many political parties have
already been subsidized. This research study is to analyze the legal
problems with the political party establishment under the Organic Act
on Political Parties 2007.
This will focus on the freedom of each political establishment
compared to an effective political operation. Textbooks and academic
papers will be referenced from studies home and abroad.
The study revealed that Organic Act on Political Parties 2007 has
strict provisions on the political structure over the number of
members and the number of branches involved within political
parties system.
Such operations shall be completed within one year; but under the
existing laws the small parties are not able to participate with the
bigger parties. The cities are capable of fulfilling small political party
requirements but fail to become coalesced because the current laws
won't allow them to be united as one. It is important to allow all
independent political parties to join our current political structure.
Board members can’t help the smaller parties to become a large
organization under the existing Thai laws.
Creating a new establishment that functions efficiently throughout
all branches would be one solution to these legal problems between
all political parties. With this new operation, individual political
parties can participate with the bigger parties during elections. Until
current political institutions change their system to accommodate
public opinion, these current Thai laws will continue to be a problem
with all political parties in Thailand.
Abstract: In this paper, a backward semi-Lagrangian scheme
combined with the second-order backward difference formula
is designed to calculate the numerical solutions of nonlinear
advection-diffusion equations. The primary aims of this paper are
to remove any iteration process and to get an efficient algorithm
with the convergence order of accuracy 2 in time. In order to achieve
these objects, we use the second-order central finite difference and the
B-spline approximations of degree 2 and 3 in order to approximate
the diffusion term and the spatial discretization, respectively. For the
temporal discretization, the second order backward difference formula
is applied. To calculate the numerical solution of the starting point
of the characteristic curves, we use the error correction methodology
developed by the authors recently. The proposed algorithm turns out
to be completely iteration free, which resolves the main weakness
of the conventional backward semi-Lagrangian method. Also, the
adaptability of the proposed method is indicated by numerical
simulations for Burgers’ equations. Throughout these numerical
simulations, it is shown that the numerical results is in good
agreement with the analytic solution and the present scheme offer
better accuracy in comparison with other existing numerical schemes.
Abstract: This paper presents a neural network based model predictive control (MPC) strategy to control a strongly exothermic reaction with complicated nonlinear kinetics given by Chylla-Haase polymerization reactor that requires a very precise temperature control to maintain product uniformity. In the benchmark scenario, the operation of the reactor must be guaranteed under various disturbing influences, e.g., changing ambient temperatures or impurity of the monomer. Such a process usually controlled by conventional cascade control, it provides a robust operation, but often lacks accuracy concerning the required strict temperature tolerances. The predictive control strategy based on the RBF neural model is applied to solve this problem to achieve set-point tracking of the reactor temperature against disturbances. The result shows that the RBF based model predictive control gives reliable result in the presence of some disturbances and keeps the reactor temperature within a tight tolerance range around the desired reaction temperature.
Abstract: In this paper, we employ a directed hypergraph model
to investigate the extent to which environmental variability influences
the set of available biochemical reactions within a living cell.
Such an approach avoids the limitations of the usual complex
network formalism by allowing for the multilateral relationships (i.e.
connections involving more than two nodes) that naturally occur
within many biological processes. More specifically, we extend the
concept of network reciprocity to complex hyper-networks, thus
enabling us to characterise a network in terms of the existence
of mutual hyper-connections, which may be considered a proxy
for metabolic network complexity. To demonstrate these ideas, we
study 115 metabolic hyper-networks of bacteria, each of which
can be classified into one of 6 increasingly varied habitats.
In particular, we found that reciprocity increases significantly
with increased environmental variability, supporting the view that
organism adaptability leads to increased complexities in the resultant
biochemical networks.
Abstract: The Ballast Water Convention requires less than 5% of the world tonnage for ratification. Consequently, ships will have to comply with the requirements. Compliance evaluation and enforcement will become mandatory. Ship owners have to invest in treatment systems and shipboard personnel have to operate them and ensure compliance. The monitoring and enforcement will be the responsibilities of the Administrations. Herein, a review of the current status of the Ballast Water Management and the issues faced by these are projected. Issues range from efficacy and economics of the treatment systems to sampling and testing. Health issues of chemical systems, paucity of data for decision support etc., are other issues. It is emphasized that management of ballast water must be extended to ashore and sustainable solutions must be researched upon. An exemplar treatment system based on ship’s waste heat is also suggested.
Abstract: Combustion phenomenon will be accomplished
effectively by the development of low emission combustor. One of the
significant factors influencing the entire Combustion process is the
mixing between a swirling angular jet (Primary Air) and the
non-swirling inner jet (fuel). To study this fundamental flow, the
chamber had to be designed in such a manner that the combustion
process to sustain itself in a continuous manner and the temperature of
the products is sufficiently below the maximum working temperature
in the turbine. This study is used to develop the effective combustion
with low unburned combustion products by adopting the concept of
high swirl flow and motility of holes in the secondary chamber. The
proper selection of a swirler is needed to reduce emission which can be
concluded from the emission of Nox and CO2. The capture of CO2 is
necessary to mitigate CO2 emissions from natural gas. Thus the
suppression of unburned gases is a meaningful objective for the
development of high performance combustor without affecting turbine
blade temperature.
Abstract: The use of biodiesel in conventional diesel engines results in substantial reduction of unburned hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide and particulate matters. The performance, emission and combustion characteristics of a single cylinder four stroke variable compression ratio engine when fueled with Karanja (Pongamia) methyl ester and its 10-50 % blends with diesel (on a volume basis) are investigated and compared with standard diesel. The suitability of karanja methyl ester as a biofuel has been established in this study. The useful brake power obtained is similar to diesel fuel for all loads. Experiment has been conducted at a fixed engine speed of 1500 rpm, variable load and at compression ratios of 17.5:1 and 18.5:1. The impact of compression ratio on fuel consumption, combustion pressures and exhaust gas emissions has been investigated and presented. Optimum compression ratio which gives best performance has been identified. The results indicate longer ignition delay, maximum rate of pressure rise, lower heat release rate and higher mass fraction burnt at higher compression ratio for pongamia oil methyl ester when compared to that of diesel. The brake thermal efficiency for pongamia oil methyl ester blends and diesel has been calculated and the blend B20 is found to give maximum thermal efficiency. The blends when used as fuel results in reduction of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon and increase in nitrogen oxides emissions. PME as an oxygenated fuel generated more complete combustion, which means increased torque and power. This is also supported with higher thermal efficiencies of the PME blends. NOx is slightly increased due to the higher combustion temperature and the presence of fuel oxygen with the blend at full load. PME as a new Biodiesel and its blends can be used in diesel engines without any engine modification.
Abstract: This research aims to critical analyze the feminine violent within Thai daily newspaper. This study was qualitative base; content analysis from two popular newspapers (Thairath and Dailynews) two qualitative newspapers (Thaipost and Mathichon). Purposive sampling was used to select eleven specialize news reporters to do in-depth interview. The result found that, popular newspapers, Thairath and dailynews have presented feminine violent news in their paper more than Thaipost and Mathichon the qualitative newspaper. Beside, majority of sample present the feminine violent within news under the code of ethic, The National Press Council of Thailand. Interesting, the age of feminine violent victim was the information that has been focused most. The popular newspaper have illustrated crime scene photo on their first-page while qualitative newspaper used only headline to present the same news.
Abstract: In order to respond the human needs, all regional, social, and economical factors are available to gain residents’ comfort and ideal architecture. There is no doubt the thermal comfort has to satisfy people not only for daily and physical activities but also creating pleasant area for mental activities and relaxing. It costs energy and increases greenhouse gas emissions.
Reducing energy use in buildings is a critical component of meeting carbon reduction commitments. Hence housing design represents a major opportunity to cut energy use and CO2 emissions.
In terms of energy efficiency, it is vital to propose and research modern design methods for buildings however vernacular architecture techniques are proven empirical existing practices which have to be considered. This research tries to compare two architectural solution were proposed by Persian vernacular architecture, to achieve energy efficiency in hot areas.
The aim of this research is to analyze two forms of traditional Persian architecture in different locations in order to develop a systematic research and sustainable technologies on adaptation to contemporary living standards.