Abstract: The Adaptive Line Enhancer (ALE) is widely used for
enhancing narrowband signals corrupted by broadband noise. In this
paper, we propose novel ALE methods to improve the enhancing
capability. The proposed methods are motivated by the fact that the
output of the ALE is a fine estimate of the desired narrowband signal
with the broadband noise component suppressed. The proposed
methods preprocess the input signal using ALE filter to regenerate a
finer input signal. Thus the proposed ALE is driven by the input signal
with higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The analysis and simulation
results are presented to demonstrate that the proposed ALE has better
performance than conventional ALE’s.
Abstract: Networked environments which provide platforms for
business organizations are configured in different forms depending
on many factors including life time, member characteristics,
communication structure, and business objectives, among others.
With continuing advances in digital technologies the distance has
become a less barrier for business minded collaboration among
organizations. With the need and ease to make business collaborate
nowadays organizations are sometimes forced to co-work with others
that are either unknown or less known to them in terms of history and
performance. A promising approach for sustaining established
collaboration has been establishment of trust relationship among
organizations based on assessed trustworthiness for each participating
organization. It has been stated in research that trust in organization is
dynamic and thus assessment of trust level must address such
dynamic nature. This paper assesses relevant aspects of trust and
applies the assessed concepts to propose a semi-automated system for
the management of Sustainability and Evolution of trust in
organizations participating in specific objective in a networked
organizations environment.
Abstract: A biosphere reserve is developed to create harmony
amongst economic development, community development, and
environmental protection, through partnership between human and
nature. Giam Siak Kecil Bukit Batu Biosphere Reserve (GSKBB BR)
in Riau Province, Indonesia, is unique in that it has peat soil
dominating the area, many springs essential for human livelihood,
high biodiversity. Furthermore, it is the only biosphere reserve
covering privately managed production forest areas. In this research, we aimed at analyzing the threat of deforestation
and forest fire, and the potential of CO2 emission at GSKBB BR. We
used Landsat image, arcView software, and ERDAS IMAGINE 8.5
Software to conduct spatial analysis of land cover and land use
changes, calculated CO2 emission based on emission potential from
each land cover and land use type, and exercised simple linear
regression to demonstrate the relation between CO2 emission
potential and deforestation. The result showed that, beside in the buffer zone and transition
area, deforestation also occurred in the core area. Spatial analysis of
land cover and land use changes from years 2010, 2012, and 2014
revealed that there were changes of land cover and land use from
natural forest and industrial plantation forest to other land use types,
such as garden, mixed garden, settlement, paddy fields, burnt areas,
and dry agricultural land. Deforestation in core area, particularly at
the Giam Siak Kecil Wildlife Reserve and Bukit Batu Wildlife
Reserve, occurred in the form of changes from natural forest in to
garden, mixed garden, shrubs, swamp shrubs, dry agricultural land,
open area, and burnt area. In the buffer zone and transition area,
changes also happened, what once swamp forest changed into garden,
mixed garden, open area, shrubs, swamp shrubs, and dry agricultural
land. Spatial analysis on land cover and land use changes indicated
that deforestation rate in the biosphere reserve from 2010 to 2014 had
reached 16 119 ha/year. Beside deforestation, threat toward the
biosphere reserve area also came from forest fire. The occurrence of forest fire in 2014 had burned 101 723 ha of the
area, in which 9 355 ha of core area, and 92 368 ha of buffer zone
and transition area. Deforestation and forest fire had increased CO2
emission as much as 24 903 855 ton/year.
Abstract: Salinity is one of the major factors limiting crop
production in an arid environment. Despite its global importance
soybean production suffer the problems of salinity stress causing
damages at plant development. So it is implacable to either search for
salinity enhancement of soybean plants. Therefore, in the current
study we try to clarify the mechanism that might be involved in the
ameliorating effects of osmo-protectants such as proline and glycine
betaine as well as, compost application on soybean plants grown
under salinity stress. The experiment was conducted under
greenhouse conditions at the Graduate School of Biosphere Science
Laboratory of Hiroshima University, Japan in 2011. The experiment
was designed as a spilt-split plot based on randomized complete
block design with four replications. The treatments could be
summarized as follows; (i) salinity concentrations (0 and 15 mM), (ii)
compost treatments (0 and 24 t ha-1) and (iii) the exogenous, proline
and glycine betaine concentrations (0 mM and 25 mM) for each.
Results indicated that salinity stress induced reduction in growth and
physiological aspects (dry weight per plant, chlorophyll content, N
and K+ content) of soybean plant compared with those of the
unstressed plants. On the other hand, salinity stress led to increases in
the electrolyte leakage ratio, Na and proline contents. Special
attention was paid to, the tolerance against salt stress was observed,
the improvement of salt tolerance resulted from proline, glycine
betaine and compost were accompanied with improved K+, and
proline accumulation. While, significantly decreased electrolyte
leakage ratio and Na+ content. These results clearly demonstrate that
harmful effect of salinity could reduce on growth aspects of soybean.
Consequently, exogenous osmoprotectants combine with compost
will effectively solve seasonal salinity stress problem and are a good
strategy to increase salinity resistance of soybean in the drylands.
Abstract: As a basic physiology need, threat to sufficient food
production is threat to human survival. Food security has been an
issue that has gained global concern. This paper looks at the food
security in Nigeria by assessing the availability of food and
accessibility of the available food. The paper employed multiple
linear regression technique and graphic trends of growth rates of
relevant variables to show the situation of food security in Nigeria.
Results of the tests revealed that population growth rate was higher
than the growth rate of food availability in Nigeria for the earlier
period of the study. Commercial bank credit to agricultural sector,
foreign exchange utilization for food and the Agricultural Credit
Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF) contributed significantly to food
availability in Nigeria. Food prices grew at a faster rate than the
average income level, making it difficult to access sufficient food. It
implies that prior to the year 2012; there was insufficient food to feed
the Nigerian populace. However, continued credit to the food and
agricultural sector will ensure sustained and sufficient production of
food in Nigeria. Microfinance banks should make sufficient credit
available to smallholder farmer. Government should further control
and subsidize the rising price of food to make it more accessible by
the people.
Abstract: A new approach has been developed to estimate the
load share and distribution of worm gear drives, and to calculate the
instantaneous tooth meshing stiffness. In the approach, the worm gear
drive was modelled as a series of spur gear slices, and each slice was
analyzed separately using the well-established formulae of spur gear
loading and stresses. By combining the results obtained for all slices,
the entire envolute worm gear set loading and stressing was obtained. The geometric modelling method presented allows tooth elastic
deformation and tooth root stresses of worm gear drives under
different load conditions to be investigated. Based on the slicing
method introduced in this study, the instantaneous meshing stiffness
and load share are obtained. In comparison with existing methods,
this approach has both good analysis accuracy and less computing
time.
Abstract: The moisture content of densified biomass is a
limiting parameter influencing the quality of this solid biofuel. It
influences its calorific value, density, mechanical strength and
dimensional stability as well as affecting its production process. This
paper deals with experimental research into the effect of moisture
content of the densified material on the final quality of biofuel in the
form of logs (briquettes or pellets). Experiments based on the singleaxis
densification of the spruce sawdust were carried out with a
hydraulic piston press (piston and die), where the densified logs were
produced at room temperature. The effect of moisture content on the
qualitative properties of the logs, including density, change of
moisture, expansion and physical changes, and compressive and
impact resistance were studied. The results show the moisture ranges
required for producing good-quality logs. The experiments were
evaluated and the moisture content of the tested material was
optimized to achieve the optimum value for the best quality of the
solid biofuel. The dense logs also have high-energy content per unit
volume. The research results could be used to develop and optimize
industrial technologies and machinery for biomass densification to
achieve high quality solid biofuel.
Abstract: In VLSI, testing plays an important role. Major
problem in testing are test data volume and test power. The important
solution to reduce test data volume and test time is test data
compression. The Proposed technique combines the bit maskdictionary
and 2n pattern run length-coding method and provides a
substantial improvement in the compression efficiency without
introducing any additional decompression penalty. This method has
been implemented using Mat lab and HDL Language to reduce test
data volume and memory requirements. This method is applied on
various benchmark test sets and compared the results with other
existing methods. The proposed technique can achieve a compression
ratio up to 86%.
Abstract: Drought is one of the most serious problems posing a
grave threat to cereals production including maize. Maize
improvement in drought-stress tolerance poses a great challenge as
the global need for food and bio-energy increases. Thus, the current
study was planned to explore the variations and determine the
performance of target traits of maize hybrids at grain growth stage
under drought conditions during 2014 under Adana, Mediterranean
climate conditions, Turkey. Maize hybrids (Sancia, Indaco,
71May69, Aaccel, Calgary, 70May82, 72May80) were evaluated
under (irrigated and water stress). Results revealed that, grain yield
and yield traits had a negative effects because of water stress
conditions compared with the normal irrigation. As well as, based on
the result under normal irrigation, the maximum biological yield and
harvest index were recorded. According to the differences among
hybrids were found that, significant differences were observed among
hybrids with respect to yield and yield traits under current research. Based on the results, grain weight had more effect on grain yield
than grain number during grain filling growth stage under water
stress conditions. In this concern, according to low drought
susceptibility index (less grain yield losses), the hybrid (Indaco) was
more stable in grain number and grain weight. Consequently, it may
be concluded that this hybrid would be recommended for use in the
future breeding programs for production of drought tolerant hybrids.
Abstract: This paper presents the modeling approach in SBO
sequence for VVER 1000 reactors and describes the reactor core
behavior at late in-vessel phase in case of late reflooding by HPIS
and gives preliminary results for the ASTECv2 validation. The work
is focused on investigation of plant behavior during total loss of
power and the operator actions. The main goal of these analyses is to
assess the phenomena arising during the Station blackout (SBO)
followed by primary side high pressure injection system (HPIS)
reflooding of already damaged reactor core at very late “in-vessel”
phase. The purpose of the analyses is to define how the later HPIS
switching on can delay the time of vessel failure or possibly avoid
vessel failure. The times for HPP injection were chosen based on
previously performed investigations.
Abstract: In this study, failure analysis of pipe system at a micro
hydroelectric power plant is investigated. Failure occurred at the pipe
system in the powerhouse during shut down operation of the water
flow by a valve. This locking had caused a sudden shock wave, also
called “Water-hammer effect”, resulting in noise and inside pressure
increase. After visual investigation of the effect of the shock wave on
the system, a circumference crack was observed at the pipe flange
weld region. To establish the reason for crack formation, calculations
of pressure and stress values at pipe, flange and welding seams were
carried out and concluded that safety factor was high (2.2), indicating
that no faulty design existed. By further analysis, pipe system and
hydroelectric power plant was examined. After observations it is
determined that the plant did not include a ventilation nozzle (air
trap), that prevents the system of sudden pressure increase inside the
pipes which is caused by water-hammer effect. Analyses were carried
out to identify the influence of water-hammer effect on inside
pressure increase and it was concluded that, according Jowkowsky’s
equation, shut down time is effective on inside pressure increase. The
valve closing time was uncertain but by a shut down time of even one
minute, inside pressure would increase by 7.6 bar (working pressure
was 34.6 bar). Detailed investigations were also carried out on the
assembly of the pipe-flange system by considering technical
drawings. It was concluded that the pipe-flange system was not
installed according to the instructions. Two of five weld seams were
not applied and one weld was carried out faulty. This incorrect and
inadequate weld seams resulted in; insufficient connection of the pipe
to the flange constituting a strong notch effect at weld seam regions,
increase in stress values and the decrease of strength and safety
factor.
Abstract: This paper addresses minimizing the makespan of the
distributed permutation flow shop scheduling problem. In this
problem, there are several parallel identical factories or flowshops
each with series of similar machines. Each job should be allocated to
one of the factories and all of the operations of the jobs should be
performed in the allocated factory. This problem has recently gained
attention and due to NP-Hard nature of the problem, metaheuristic
algorithms have been proposed to tackle it. Majority of the proposed
algorithms require large computational time which is the main
drawback. In this study, a general variable neighborhood search
algorithm (GVNS) is proposed where several time-saving schemes
have been incorporated into it. Also, the GVNS uses the sophisticated
method to change the shaking procedure or perturbation depending
on the progress of the incumbent solution to prevent stagnation of the
search. The performance of the proposed algorithm is compared to
the state-of-the-art algorithms based on standard benchmark
instances.
Abstract: Sweden has succeeded to maintain a high level of
growth and development and has managed to sustain highly ranked
position among the world’s developed countries. In this regard,
Swedish universities are playing a vital role in supporting innovation
and entrepreneurship at all levels and developing Swedish knowledge
economy. This paper is aiming to draw on the experiences of two leading
Swedish universities, addressing their transformation approach to
create entrepreneurial universities and fulfilling their objectives in the
era of knowledge economy. The objectives of the paper include: 1) Introducing the Swedish
higher education and its characteristics. 2) Examining the
infrastructure elements for innovation and Entrepreneurship at two of
the Swedish entrepreneurial universities. 3) Addressing the key
aspects of support systems in the initiatives of both Chalmers and
Gothenburg universities to support innovation and advance
entrepreneurial practices. The paper will contribute to two discourses: 1) Examining the
relationship between support systems for innovation and
entrepreneurship and the Universities’ policies and practices. 2)
Lessons for University leaders to assist the development and
implementation of effective innovation and entrepreneurship policies
and practices.
Abstract: Hollow section for bridge columns has some
advantages. However, current seismic design codes do not provide
design regulations for hollow bridge piers. There have been many
experimental studied for hollow reinforced concrete piers in the world.
But, Study for hollow section for bridge piers in Korea has been begun
with approximately 2000s. There has been conducted experimental
study for hollow piers of flexural controlled sections by Yeungnam
University, Sung kyunkwan University, Korea Expressway
Corporation in 2009. This study concluded that flexural controlled
sections for hollow piers showed the similar behavior to solid sections.
And there have been conducted experimental study for hollow piers of
compression controlled sections by Yeungnam University, Korea
Institute of Construction Technology in 2012. This study concluded
that compression controlled sections for hollow piers showed
compression fracture of concrete in inside wall face. Samsung
Construction & Trading Corporation has been conducted study with
Yeungnam University for reduce the quantity of reinforcement details
about hollow piers. Reduce the quantity of reinforcement details are
triangular cross tie. This study concluded that triangular reinforcement
details showed the similar behavior as compared with existing
reinforcement details.
Abstract: Recently attention has been focused on incomplete
spinal cord injuries (SCI) to the central spine caused by pressure on
parts of the white matter conduction pathway, such as the pyramidal
tract. In this paper, we focus on a training robot designed to assist with
primary walking-pattern training. The target patient for this training
robot is relearning the basic functions of the usual walking pattern; it is
meant especially for those with incomplete-type SCI to the central
spine, who are capable of standing by themselves but not of
performing walking motions. From the perspective of human
engineering, we monitored the operator’s actions to the robot and
investigated the movement of joints of the lower extremities, the
circumference of the lower extremities, and exercise intensity with the
machine. The concept of the device was to provide mild training
without any sudden changes in heart rate or blood pressure, which will
be particularly useful for the elderly and disabled. The mechanism of
the robot is modified to be simple and lightweight with the expectation
that it will be used at home.
Abstract: In some applications, such as image recognition or
compression, segmentation refers to the process of partitioning a
digital image into multiple segments. Image segmentation is typically
used to locate objects and boundaries (lines, curves, etc.) in images.
Image segmentation is to classify or cluster an image into several
parts (regions) according to the feature of image, for example, the
pixel value or the frequency response. More precisely, image
segmentation is the process of assigning a label to every pixel in an
image such that pixels with the same label share certain visual
characteristics. The result of image segmentation is a set of segments
that collectively cover the entire image, or a set of contours extracted
from the image. Several image segmentation algorithms were
proposed to segment an image before recognition or compression. Up
to now, many image segmentation algorithms exist and be
extensively applied in science and daily life. According to their
segmentation method, we can approximately categorize them into
region-based segmentation, data clustering, and edge-base
segmentation. In this paper, we give a study of several popular image
segmentation algorithms that are available.
Abstract: Although there has been a growing interest in the
hybrid free-space optical link and radio frequency FSO/RF
communication system, the current literature is limited to results
obtained in moderate or cold environment. In this paper, using a soft
switching approach, we investigate the effect of weather
inhomogeneities on the strength of turbulence hence the channel
refractive index under Qatar harsh environment and their influence
on the hybrid FSO/RF availability. In this approach, either FSO/RF
or simultaneous or none of them can be active. Based on soft
switching approach and a finite state Markov Chain (FSMC) process,
we model the channel fading for the two links and derive a
mathematical expression for the outage probability of the hybrid
system. Then, we evaluate the behavior of the hybrid FSO/RF under
hazy and harsh weather. Results show that the FSO/RF soft switching
renders the system outage probability less than that of each link
individually. A soft switching algorithm is being implemented on
FPGAs using Raptor code interfaced to the two terminals of a
1Gbps/100 Mbps FSO/RF hybrid system, the first being implemented
in the region. Experimental results are compared to the above
simulation results.
Abstract: This paper seeks to assess the implications of bank
consolidation on the performance of small and medium scale
enterprises in the Nigerian economy. Multiple linear regression
technique and correlation matrix test were employed to measure the
extent to which small and medium scale enterprises asset size,
survival and access to credit were influenced. The result showed that
bank deposit (BD) and bank credit (L or BC) impacted on asset size
and survival of small and medium scale enterprises. None of the
variables had significant impact on SMEs access to credit. There is a
shift of focus by commercial banks away from small and medium
scale enterprises (small customers), which is evidenced by the
significant negative influence of bank credit to both the survival and
asset size of small and medium enterprises. While micro finance
banks work hard at providing funds to small and medium scale
entrepreneurs, their capacity to meet the needs of these entrepreneurs
is constrained. CBN should make policies that will boost micro
finance bank’s capital and also monitor closely the management of
the banks to ensure prudent financing of small and medium scale
investments.
Abstract: The present study aimed to determine the
effectiveness of Metaphor therapy on depression among female
students. The sample included 60 female students with depression
symptoms selected by simple sampling and randomly divided into
two equal groups (experimental and control groups). Beck
Depression Inventory was used to measure the variables. This was an
experimental study with a pre-test/post-test design with control
group. Eight metaphor therapy sessions were held for the
experimental group. A post-test was administered to both groups.
Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance
(MANCOVA). Results showed that the Metaphor therapy decreased
depression in the experimental group compared to the control group.
Abstract: The present paper attempts to investigate the
prediction of air entrainment rate and aeration efficiency of a free
overfall jets issuing from a triangular sharp crested weir by using
regression based modelling. The empirical equations, Support vector
machine (polynomial and radial basis function) models and the linear
regression techniques were applied on the triangular sharp crested
weirs relating the air entrainment rate and the aeration efficiency to
the input parameters namely drop height, discharge, and vertex angle.
It was observed that there exists a good agreement between the
measured values and the values obtained using empirical equations,
Support vector machine (Polynomial and rbf) models and the linear
regression techniques. The test results demonstrated that the SVM
based (Poly & rbf) model also provided acceptable prediction of the
measured values with reasonable accuracy along with empirical
equations and linear regression techniques in modelling the air
entrainment rate and the aeration efficiency of a free overfall jets
issuing from triangular sharp crested weir. Further sensitivity analysis
has also been performed to study the impact of input parameter on the
output in terms of air entrainment rate and aeration efficiency.