Abstract: In this paper, a discrete-time SIR epidemic model with nonlinear incidence rate, time delays and impulses is investigated. Sufficient conditions for the existence and uniqueness of periodic solutions are obtained by using contraction theorem and inequality techniques. An example is employed to illustrate our results.
Abstract: In this paper, we propose a Connect6 solver which
adopts a hybrid approach based on a tree-search algorithm and image
processing techniques. The solver must deal with the complicated
computation and provide high performance in order to make real-time
decisions. The proposed approach enables the solver to be
implemented on a single Spartan-6 XC6SLX45 FPGA produced by
XILINX without using any external devices. The compact
implementation is achieved through image processing techniques to
optimize a tree-search algorithm of the Connect6 game. The tree
search is widely used in computer games and the optimal search brings
the best move in every turn of a computer game. Thus, many
tree-search algorithms such as Minimax algorithm and artificial
intelligence approaches have been widely proposed in this field.
However, there is one fundamental problem in this area; the
computation time increases rapidly in response to the growth of the
game tree. It means the larger the game tree is, the bigger the circuit
size is because of their highly parallel computation characteristics.
Here, this paper aims to reduce the size of a Connect6 game tree using
image processing techniques and its position symmetric property. The
proposed solver is composed of four computational modules: a
two-dimensional checkmate strategy checker, a template matching
module, a skilful-line predictor, and a next-move selector. These
modules work well together in selecting next moves from some
candidates and the total amount of their circuits is small. The details of
the hardware design for an FPGA implementation are described and
the performance of this design is also shown in this paper.
Abstract: A direct adaptive controller for a class of unknown nonlinear discrete-time systems is presented in this article. The proposed controller is constructed by fuzzy rules emulated network (FREN). With its simple structure, the human knowledge about the plant is transferred to be if-then rules for setting the network. These adjustable parameters inside FREN are tuned by the learning mechanism with time varying step size or learning rate. The variation of learning rate is introduced by main theorem to improve the system performance and stabilization. Furthermore, the boundary of adjustable parameters is guaranteed through the on-line learning and membership functions properties. The validation of the theoretical findings is represented by some illustrated examples.
Abstract: In this paper a functional interpretation of quantum
theory (QT) with emphasis on quantum field theory (QFT) is proposed.
Besides the usual statements on relations between a functions
initial state and final state, a functional interpretation also contains
a description of the dynamic evolution of the function. That is, it
describes how things function. The proposed functional interpretation
of QT/QFT has been developed in the context of the author-s work
towards a computer model of QT with the goal of supporting
the largest possible scope of QT concepts. In the course of this
work, the author encountered a number of problems inherent in the
translation of quantum physics into a computer program. He came
to the conclusion that the goal of supporting the major QT concepts
can only be satisfied, if the present model of QT is supplemented
by a "functional interpretation" of QT/QFT. The paper describes a
proposal for that
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: Estimation of runoff water quality parameters is required to determine appropriate water quality management options. Various models are used to estimate runoff water quality parameters. However, most models provide event-based estimates of water quality parameters for specific sites. The work presented in this paper describes the development of a model that continuously simulates the accumulation and wash-off of water quality pollutants in a catchment. The model allows estimation of pollutants build-up during dry periods and pollutants wash-off during storm events. The model was developed by integrating two individual models; rainfall-runoff model, and catchment water quality model. The rainfall-runoff model is based on the time-area runoff estimation method. The model allows users to estimate the time of concentration using a range of established methods. The model also allows estimation of the continuing runoff losses using any of the available estimation methods (i.e., constant, linearly varying or exponentially varying). Pollutants build-up in a catchment was represented by one of three pre-defined functions; power, exponential, or saturation. Similarly, pollutants wash-off was represented by one of three different functions; power, rating-curve, or exponential. The developed runoff water quality model was set-up to simulate the build-up and wash-off of total suspended solids (TSS), total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN). The application of the model was demonstrated using available runoff and TSS field data from road and roof surfaces in the Gold Coast, Australia. The model provided excellent representation of the field data demonstrating the simplicity yet effectiveness of the proposed model.
Abstract: The present paper deals with the most adopted technical
solutions for the enhancement of the lift force of a wing. In fact,
during several flight conditions (such as take off and landing), the
lift force needs to be dramatically enhanced. Both trailing edge
devices (such as flaps) and leading edge ones (such as slats) are
described. Finally, the most advanced aerodynamic solutions to avoid
the separation of the boundary layer from aircraft wings at high angles
of attack are reviewed.
Abstract: Today, design requirements are extending more and
more from electronic (analogue and digital) to multidiscipline design.
These current needs imply implementation of methodologies to make
the CAD product reliable in order to improve time to market, study
costs, reusability and reliability of the design process.
This paper proposes a high level design approach applied for the
characterization and the optimization of Switched-Current Sigma-
Delta Modulators. It uses the new hardware description language
VHDL-AMS to help the designers to optimize the characteristics of
the modulator at a high level with a considerably reduced CPU time
before passing to a transistor level characterization.
Abstract: In this study, the theoretical relationship between pressure and density was investigated on cylindrical hollow fuel briquettes produced of a mixture of fibrous biomass material using a screw press without any chemical binder. The fuel briquettes were made of biomass and other waste material such as spent coffee beans, mielie husks, saw dust and coal fines under pressures of 0.878-2.2 Mega Pascals (MPa). The material was densified into briquettes of outer diameter of 100mm, inner diameter of 35mm and 50mm long. It was observed that manual screw compression action produces briquettes of relatively low density as compared to the ones made using hydraulic compression action. The pressure and density relationship was obtained in the form of power law and compare well with other cylindrical solid briquettes made using hydraulic compression action. The produced briquettes have a dry density of 989 kg/m3 and contain 26.30% fixed carbon, 39.34% volatile matter, 10.9% moisture and 10.46% ash as per dry proximate analysis. The bomb calorimeter tests have shown the briquettes yielding a gross calorific value of 18.9MJ/kg.
Abstract: Script identification is one of the challenging steps in the development of optical character recognition system for bilingual or multilingual documents. In this paper an attempt is made for identification of English numerals at word level from Punjabi documents by using Gabor features. The support vector machine (SVM) classifier with five fold cross validation is used to classify the word images. The results obtained are quite encouraging. Average accuracy with RBF kernel, Polynomial and Linear Kernel functions comes out to be greater than 99%.
Abstract: Scale Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) has been
widely applied, but extracting SIFT feature is complicated and
time-consuming. In this paper, to meet the demand of the real-time
applications, SIFT is parallelized and optimized on cluster system,
which is named pSIFT. Redundancy storage and communication are
used for boundary data to improve the performance, and before
representation of feature descriptor, data reallocation is adopted to
keep load balance in pSIFT. Experimental results show that pSIFT
achieves good speedup and scalability.
Abstract: This paper presents a novel method for inferring the
odor based on neural activities observed from rats- main olfactory
bulbs. Multi-channel extra-cellular single unit recordings were done
by micro-wire electrodes (tungsten, 50μm, 32 channels) implanted in
the mitral/tufted cell layers of the main olfactory bulb of anesthetized
rats to obtain neural responses to various odors. Neural response
as a key feature was measured by substraction of neural firing rate
before stimulus from after. For odor inference, we have developed a
decoding method based on the maximum likelihood (ML) estimation.
The results have shown that the average decoding accuracy is about
100.0%, 96.0%, 84.0%, and 100.0% with four rats, respectively. This
work has profound implications for a novel brain-machine interface
system for odor inference.
Abstract: In high bitrate information hiding techniques, 1 bit is
embedded within each 4 x 4 Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT)
coefficient block by means of vector quantization, then the hidden bit
can be effectively extracted in terminal end. In this paper high bitrate
information hiding algorithms are summarized, and the scheme of
video in video is implemented. Experimental result shows that the host
video which is embedded numerous auxiliary information have little
visually quality decline. Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR)Y of host
video only degrades 0.22dB in average, while the hidden information
has a high percentage of survives and keeps a high robustness in
H.264/AVC compression, the average Bit Error Rate(BER) of hiding
information is 0.015%.
Abstract: Freeze concentration freezes or crystallises the water
molecules out as ice crystals and leaves behind a highly concentrated
solution. In conventional suspension freeze concentration where ice
crystals formed as a suspension in the mother liquor, separation of
ice is difficult. The size of the ice crystals is still very limited which
will require usage of scraped surface heat exchangers, which is very
expensive and accounted for approximately 30% of the capital cost.
This research is conducted using a newer method of freeze
concentration, which is progressive freeze concentration. Ice crystals
were formed as a layer on the designed heat exchanger surface. In
this particular research, a helical structured copper crystallisation
chamber was designed and fabricated. The effect of two operating
conditions on the performance of the newly designed crystallisation
chamber was investigated, which are circulation flowrate and coolant
temperature. The performance of the design was evaluated by the
effective partition constant, K, calculated from the volume and
concentration of the solid and liquid phase. The system was also
monitored by a data acquisition tool in order to see the temperature
profile throughout the process. On completing the experimental
work, it was found that higher flowrate resulted in a lower K, which
translated into high efficiency. The efficiency is the highest at 1000
ml/min. It was also found that the process gives the highest
efficiency at a coolant temperature of -6 °C.
Abstract: This paper deals with a high-order accurate Runge
Kutta Discontinuous Galerkin (RKDG) method for the numerical
solution of the wave equation, which is one of the simple case of a
linear hyperbolic partial differential equation. Nodal DG method is
used for a finite element space discretization in 'x' by discontinuous
approximations. This method combines mainly two key ideas which
are based on the finite volume and finite element methods. The
physics of wave propagation being accounted for by means of
Riemann problems and accuracy is obtained by means of high-order
polynomial approximations within the elements. High order accurate
Low Storage Explicit Runge Kutta (LSERK) method is used for
temporal discretization in 't' that allows the method to be nonlinearly
stable regardless of its accuracy. The resulting RKDG
methods are stable and high-order accurate. The L1 ,L2 and L∞ error
norm analysis shows that the scheme is highly accurate and effective.
Hence, the method is well suited to achieve high order accurate
solution for the scalar wave equation and other hyperbolic equations.
Abstract: This work presents the Risk Threshold RED (RTRED)
congestion control strategy for TCP networks. In addition to the
maximum and minimum thresholds in existing RED-based strategies,
we add a third dropping level. This new dropping level is the risk
threshold which works with the actual and average queue sizes to
detect the immediate congestion in gateways. Congestion reaction
by RTRED is on time. The reaction to congestion is neither too
early, to avoid unfair packet losses, nor too late to avoid packet
dropping from time-outs. We compared our novel strategy with RED
and ARED strategies for TCP congestion handling using a NS-2
simulation script. We found that the RTRED strategy outperformed
RED and ARED.
Abstract: This paper aimed to study the factors that relate to
working behavior of employees at Pakkred Municipality, Nonthaburi
Province. A questionnaire was utilized as the tool in collecting
information. Descriptive statistics included frequency, percentage,
mean and standard deviation. Independent- sample t- test, analysis of
variance and Pearson Correlation were also used. The findings of this
research revealed that the majority of the respondents were female,
between 25- 35 years old, married, with a Bachelor degree. The
average monthly salary of respondents was between 8,001- 12,000
Baht, and having about 4-7 years of working experience. Regarding
the overall working motivation factors, the findings showed that
interrelationship, respect, and acceptance were ranked as highly
important factors, whereas motivation, remunerations & welfare,
career growth, and working conditions were ranked as moderately
important factors. Also, overall working behavior was ranked as high.
The hypotheses testing revealed that different genders had a
different working behavior and had a different way of working as a
team, which was significant at the 0.05 confidence level, Moreover,
there was a difference among employees with different monthly
salary in working behavior, problem- solving and decision making,
which all were significant at the 0.05 confidence level. Employees
with different years of working experience were found to have work
working behavior both individual and as a team at the statistical
significance level of 0.01 and 0.05. The result of testing the
relationship between motivation in overall working revealed that
interrelationship, respect and acceptance from others, career growth,
and working conditions related to working behavior at a moderate
level, while motivation in performing duties and remunerations and
welfares related to working behavior towards the same direction at a
low level, with a statistical significance of 0.01.
Abstract: Face and facial expressions play essential roles in
interpersonal communication. Most of the current works on the facial
expression recognition attempt to recognize a small set of the
prototypic expressions such as happy, surprise, anger, sad, disgust
and fear. However the most of the human emotions are
communicated by changes in one or two of discrete features. In this
paper, we develop a facial expressions synthesis system, based on the
facial characteristic points (FCP's) tracking in the frontal image
sequences. Selected FCP's are automatically tracked using a crosscorrelation
based optical flow. The proposed synthesis system uses a
simple deformable facial features model with a few set of control
points that can be tracked in original facial image sequences.
Abstract: In IETF RFC 2002, Mobile-IP was developed to
enable Laptobs to maintain Internet connectivity while moving
between subnets. However, the packet loss that comes from
switching subnets arises because network connectivity is lost while
the mobile host registers with the foreign agent and this encounters
large end-to-end packet delays. The criterion to initiate a simple and
fast full-duplex connection between the home agent and foreign
agent, to reduce the roaming duration, is a very important issue to be
considered by a work in this paper. State-transition Petri-Nets of the
modeling scenario-based CIA: communication inter-agents procedure
as an extension to the basic Mobile-IP registration process was
designed and manipulated to describe the system in discrete events.
The heuristic of configuration file during practical Setup session for
registration parameters, on Cisco platform Router-1760 using IOS
12.3 (15)T and TFTP server S/W is created. Finally, stand-alone
performance simulations from Simulink Matlab, within each subnet
and also between subnets, are illustrated for reporting better end-toend
packet delays. Results verified the effectiveness of our Mathcad
analytical manipulation and experimental implementation. It showed
lower values of end-to-end packet delay for Mobile-IP using CIA
procedure-based early registration. Furthermore, it reported packets
flow between subnets to improve losses between subnets.
Abstract: The presented work is motivated by a French law
regarding nuclear waste management. A new conceptual Accelerator
Driven System (ADS) designed for the Minor Actinides (MA)
transmutation has been assessed by numerical simulation. The
MUltiple Spallation Target (MUST) ADS combines high thermal power (up to 1.4 GWth) and high specific power. A 30 mA and 1
GeV proton beam is divided into three secondary beams transmitted on three liquid lead-bismuth spallation targets. Neutron and thermalhydraulic
simulations have been performed with the code MURE, based on the Monte-Carlo transport code MCNPX. A methodology has been developed to define characteristic of the MUST ADS concept according to a specific transmutation scenario. The reference
scenario is based on a MA flux (neptunium, americium and curium)
providing from European Fast Reactor (EPR) and a plutonium multireprocessing
strategy is accounted for. The MUST ADS reference
concept is a sodium cooled fast reactor. The MA fuel at equilibrium is mixed with MgO inert matrix to limit the core reactivity and
improve the fuel thermal conductivity. The fuel is irradiated over five
years. Five years of cooling and two years for the fuel fabrication are
taken into account. The MUST ADS reference concept burns about 50% of the initial MA inventory during a complete cycle. In term of
mass, up to 570 kg/year are transmuted in one concept. The methodology to design the MUST ADS and to calculate fuel
composition at equilibrium is precisely described in the paper. A detailed fuel evolution analysis is performed and the reference scenario is compared to a scenario where only americium transmutation is performed.