Abstract: Prediction of highly non linear behavior of suspended
sediment flow in rivers has prime importance in the field of water
resources engineering. In this study the predictive performance of
two Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) namely, the Radial Basis
Function (RBF) Network and the Multi Layer Feed Forward (MLFF)
Network have been compared. Time series data of daily suspended
sediment discharge and water discharge at Pari River was used for
training and testing the networks. A number of statistical parameters
i.e. root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE),
coefficient of efficiency (CE) and coefficient of determination (R2)
were used for performance evaluation of the models. Both the models
produced satisfactory results and showed a good agreement between
the predicted and observed data. The RBF network model provided
slightly better results than the MLFF network model in predicting
suspended sediment discharge.
Abstract: Nowadays increasingly the population makes use of
Information Technology (IT). As such, in recent year the Portuguese
government increased its focus on using the IT for improving
people-s life and began to develop a set of measures to enable the
modernization of the Public Administration, and so reducing the gap
between Public Administration and citizens.Thus the Portuguese
Government launched the Simplex Program. However these
SIMPLEX eGov measures, which have been implemented over the
years, present a serious challenge: how to forecast its impact on
existing Information Systems Architecture (ISA). Thus, this research
is focus in addressing the problem of automating the evaluation of the
actual impact of implementation an eGovSimplification and
Modernization measures in the Information Systems Architecture. To
realize the evaluation we proposes a Framework, which is supported
by some key concepts as: Quality Factors, ISA modeling,
Multicriteria Approach, Polarity Profile and Quality Metrics
Abstract: The induction hardening machines are utilized in
the industries which modify machine parts and tools needed to
achieve high ware resistance. This paper describes the model of
induction heating process design of inverter circuit and the results
of induction surface hardening of heating coil. In the design of
heating coil, the shape and the turn numbers of the coil are very
important design factors because they decide the overall operating
performance of induction heater including resonant frequency, Q
factor, efficiency and power factor. The performance will be tested
by experiments in some cases high frequency induction hardening
machine.
Abstract: Populations of wild boar present in semi-arid of central Iran. We studied features influencing bed site selection by this species in semi-arid central steppe of Iran. Habitat features of the detected bed site were compared with randomly selected by quantifying number of habitat variables in semi- arid area in Iran. The results revealed that the most important influencing factors in bed site selection were vegetation cover, number of Artemisia sieberi, percentage cover and height of Acer cinerascens, percentage cover and height of Amygdalus scoparia. This is the first ecological study of the wild boar in a protected area of the semi desert biome of Iran. Sustainability of wild boar populations in this area dependent to shrubs of Amygdalus scoparia and Acer cinerascens for thermal and camouflage cover.
Abstract: Bridge is an architectural symbol in Iran as Badgir
(wind catcher); fire temples and arch are vaults are such. Therefore, from the very old ages, construction of bridges in Iran has mixed with
architecture, social customs, alms and charity and holiness. Since long ago, from Mad, Achaemenid, Parthian and Sassanid times which construction of bridges got an inseparable relation with social dependency and architecture, based on those dependency bridges and
dams got holy names; as Dokhtar castle and Dokhtar bridges were constructed. This method continued even after Islam and whenever
Iranians got free from political fights and the immunity of roads were established the bridge construction did also prospered. In ancient
times bridge construction passes through it growing and completion process and in Sassanid time in some way it reached to the peak of art
and glory; as after Islam especially during 4th. century (Arab calendar) it put behind a period of glory and in Safavid time it
reached to an exceptional glory and magnificence by constructing
glorious bridges on Zayandeh Roud River in Isfahan.
Having a combined style and changeability into bridge barrier, some of these bridges develop into magnificent constructions. The
sustainable structures, mentioned above, are constructed for various
reasons as follows: connecting two sides of a river, storing water,
controlling floods, using water energy to operate water windmills, making lanes of streams for farms- use, and building recreational
places for people, etc. These studies carried in bridges reveals the fact
that in construction and designing mentioned above, lots of
technological factors have been taken into consideration such as
exceeding floods in the rives, hydraulic and hydrology of the rivers and bridges, geology, foundation, structure, construction material, and adopting appropriate executing methods, all of which are being analyzed in this article.
Abstract: The utilisation of Industrial Building System (IBS) in construction industry will lead to a safe site condition since minimum numbers of workers are required to be on-site, timely material delivery, systematic component storage, reduction of construction material and waste. These matters are being promoted in the Construction Industry Master Plan (CIMP 2006-2015). However, the enabling factors of IBS that will foster a safer working environment are indefinite; on that basis a research has been conducted. The purpose of this paper is to discuss and identify the relevant factors towards safety improvement for IBS. A quantitative research by way of questionnaire surveys have been conducted to 314 construction companies. The target group was Grade 5 to Grade 7 contractors registered with Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) which specialise in IBS. The findings disclosed seven factors linked to the safety improvement of IBS construction site in Malaysia. The factors were historical, economic, psychological, technical, procedural, organisational and the environmental factors. From the findings, a psychological factor ranked as the highest and most crucial factor contributing to safer IBS construction site. The psychological factor included the self-awareness and influences from workmates behaviour. Followed by organisational factors, where project management style will encourage the safety efforts. From the procedural factors, it was also found that training was one of the significant factors to improve safety culture of IBS construction site. Another important finding that formed as a part of the environmental factor was storage of IBS components, in which proper planning of the layout would able to contribute to a safer site condition. To conclude, in order to improve safety of IBS construction site, a welltrained and skilled workers are required for IBS projects, thus proper training is permissible and should be emphasised.
Abstract: The current sheath dynamics in plasma focus facilities
is the most important factors. In this paper the current sheath velocity
at three dimensional with Sahand plasma focus facility is
investigated. For this purpose the discharge is produced in argon gas
with deposited energy lying in the range of 20-37kJ. The current
sheath is monitored using two tridimensional magnetic probes. These
probes installed near the surface of the interior electrode (anode) at
125mm from the anode axis (pinch place). The effect of gas pressure
on the current sheath velocity also is investigated.
Abstract: Neonatal lupus erythematous (NLE) is a rare disease marked by clinical characteristic and specific maternal autoantibody. Many cutaneous, cardiac, liver, and hematological manifestations could happen with affect of one organ or multiple. In this case, both babies were premature, low birth weight (LBW), small for gestational age (SGA) and born through caesarean section from a systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) mother. In the first case, we found a baby girl with dyspnea and grunting. Chest X ray showed respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) great I and echocardiography showed small atrial septal defect (ASD) and ventricular septal defect (VSD). She also developed anemia, thrombocytopenia, elevated C-reactive protein, hypoalbuminemia, increasing coagulation factors, hyperbilirubinemia, and positive blood culture of Klebsiella pneumonia. Anti-Ro/SSA and Anti-nRNP/sm were positive. Intravenous fluid, antibiotic, transfusion of blood, thrombocyte concentrate, and fresh frozen plasma were given. The second baby, male presented with necrotic tissue on the left ear and skin rashes, erythematous macula, athropic scarring, hyperpigmentation on all of his body with various size and facial haemorrhage. He also suffered from thrombocytopenia, mild elevated transaminase enzyme, hyperbilirubinemia, anti-Ro/SSA was positive. Intravenous fluid, methyprednisolone, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), blood, and thrombocyte concentrate transfution were given. Two cases of neonatal lupus erythematous had been presented. Diagnosis based on clinical presentation and maternal auto antibody on neonate. Organ involvement in NLE can occur as single or multiple manifestations.
Abstract: A new topology of unified power quality conditioner
(UPQC) is proposed for different power quality (PQ) improvement in
a three-phase four-wire (3P-4W) distribution system. For neutral
current mitigation, a star-hexagon transformer is connected in shunt
near the load along with three-leg voltage source inverters (VSIs)
based UPQC. For the mitigation of source neutral current, the uses of
passive elements are advantageous over the active compensation due
to ruggedness and less complexity of control. In addition to this, by
connecting a star-hexagon transformer for neutral current mitigation
the over all rating of the UPQC is reduced. The performance of the
proposed topology of 3P-4W UPQC is evaluated for power-factor
correction, load balancing, neutral current mitigation and mitigation
of voltage and currents harmonics. A simple control algorithm based
on Unit Vector Template (UVT) technique is used as a control
strategy of UPQC for mitigation of different PQ problems. In this
control scheme, the current/voltage control is applied over the
fundamental supply currents/voltages instead of fast changing APFs
currents/voltages, thereby reducing the computational delay.
Moreover, no extra control is required for neutral source current
compensation; hence the numbers of current sensors are reduced. The
performance of the proposed topology of UPQC is analyzed through
simulations results using MATLAB software with its Simulink and
Power System Block set toolboxes.
Abstract: A hotel mainly uses its energy on water heating, space
heating, refrigeration, space cooling, cooking, lighting and other
building services. A number of 4-5 stars hotels in Auckland city are
selected for this study. Comparing with the energy used for others,
the energy used for the internal space thermal control (e.g. internal
space heating) is more closely related to the hotel building itself.
This study not only investigates relationship between annual energy
(and winter energy) consumptions and building design data but also
relationships between winter extra energy consumption and building
design data. This study is to identify the major design factors that
significantly impact hotel energy consumption for improving the
future hotel design for energy efficient.
Abstract: The task of strategic information technology
management is to focus on adapting technology to ensure
competitiveness. A key factor for success in this sector is awareness
and readiness to deploy new technologies and exploit the services
they offer. Recently, the need for more flexible and dynamic user
interfaces (UIs) has been recognized, especially in mobile
applications. An ongoing research project (MOP), initiated by TUT
in Finland, is looking at how mobile device UIs can be adapted for
different needs and contexts. It focuses on examining the possibilities
to develop adapter software for solving the challenges related to the
UI and its flexibility in mobile devices. This approach has great
potential for enhancing information transfer in mobile devices, and
consequently for improving information management. The
technology presented here could be one of the key emerging
technologies in the information technology sector in relation to
mobile devices and telecommunications.
Abstract: This paper explores the issues that influence online retailing in Saudi Arabia. Retailers in Saudi Arabia have been reserved in their adoption of electronically delivered aspects of their business. Despite the fact that Saudi Arabia has the largest and fastest growth of ICT marketplaces in the Arab region, e-commerce activities are not progressing at the same speed. Only very few Saudi companies, mostly medium and large companies from the manufacturing sector, are involved in e-commerce implementation. Based on qualitative data collected by conducting interviews with 16 retailers and 16 potential customers in Saudi Arabia, several factors influencing online retailing diffusion in Saudi Arabia are identified. However, government support comes the highest and most influencing factor for online retailing growth as identified by both parties; retailers and potential customers in Saudi Arabia.
Abstract: We apply a particle tracking technique to track the motion of individual pathogenic Leptospira. We observe and capture images of motile Leptospira by means of CCD and darkfield microscope. Image processing, statistical theories and simulations are used for data analysis. Based on trajectory patterns, mean square displacement, and power spectral density characteristics, we found that the motion modes are most likely to be directed motion mode (70%) and the rest are either normal diffusion or unidentified mode. Our findings may support the fact that why leptospires are very well efficient toward targeting internal tissues as a result of increase in virulence factor.
Abstract: The success of IT-projects concerning the
implementation of business application Software is strongly
depending upon the application of an efficient requirements
management, to understand the business requirements and to realize
them in the IT. But in fact, the Potentials of the requirements
management are not fully exhausted by small and medium sized
enterprises (SME) of the IT sector. To work out recommendations for
action and furthermore a possible solution, allowing a better exhaust
of potentials, it shall be examined in a scientific research project,
which problems occur out of which causes. In the same place, the
storage of knowledge from the requirements management, and its
later reuse are important, to achieve sustainable improvements of the
competitive of the IT-SMEs. Requirements Engineering is one of the
most important topics in Product Management for Software to
achieve the goal of optimizing the success of the software product.
Abstract: Overall cost is a significant consideration in any
decision-making process. Although many studies were carried out on
overall cost in construction, little has treated the uncertainties of real
life cycle development. On the basis of several case studies, a
feedback process was performed on the historical data of studied
buildings. This process enabled to identify some factors causing
uncertainty during the operational period. As a result, the research
proposes a new method for assessing the overall cost during a part of
the building-s life cycle taking account of the building actual value,
its end-of-life value and the influence of the identified life cycle
uncertainty factors. The findings are a step towards a higher level of
reliability in overall cost evaluation taking account of some usually
unexpected uncertainty factors.
Abstract: In this paper, we show that the association of the PI
regulators for the speed and stator currents with a control strategy
using the linearization by state feedback for an induction machine
without speed sensor, and with an adaptation of the rotor resistance.
The rotor speed is estimated by using the model reference adaptive
system approach (MRAS). This method consists of using two
models: The first is the reference model and the second is an
adjustable one in which two components of the stator flux, obtained
from the measurement of the currents and stator voltages are
estimated. The estimated rotor speed is then obtained by canceling
the difference between stator-flux of the reference model and those
of the adjustable one. Satisfactory results of simulation are obtained
and discussed in this paper to highlight the proposed approach.
Abstract: This study aimed at assessing whether and to what extent moral judgment and behaviour were: 1. situation-dependent; 2. selectively dependent on cognitive and affective components; 3. influenced by gender and age; 4. reciprocally congruent. In order to achieve these aims, four different types of moral dilemmas were construed and five types of thinking were presented for each of them – representing five possible ways to evaluate the situation. The judgment criteria included selfishness, altruism, sense of justice, and the conflict between selfishness and the two moral issues. The participants were 250 unpaid volunteers (50% male; 50% female) belonging to two age-groups: young people and adults. The study entailed a 2 (gender) x 2 (age-group) x 5 (type of thinking) x 4 (situation) mixed design: the first two variables were betweensubjects, the others were within-subjects. Results have shown that: 1. moral judgment and behaviour are at least partially affected by the type of situations and by interpersonal variables such as gender and age; 2. moral reasoning depends in a similar manner on cognitive and affective factors; 3. there is not a gender polarity between the ethic of justice and the ethic of cure/ altruism; 4. moral reasoning and behavior are perceived as reciprocally congruent even though their congruence decreases with a more objective assessment. Such results were discussed in the light of contrasting theories on morality.
Abstract: This paper made an attempt to investigate the problem associated with enhancement of emulsions of light crude oil-water recovery in an oil field of Algerian Sahara. Measurements were taken through experiments using RheoStress (RS600). Factors such as shear rate, temperature and light oil concentration on the viscosity behavior were considered. Experimental measurements were performed in terms of shear stress–shear rate, yield stress and flow index on mixture of light crude oil–water. The rheological behavior of emulsion showed Non-Newtonian shear thinning behavior (Herschel-Bulkley). The experiments done in the laboratory showed the stability of some water in light crude oil emulsions form during consolidate oil recovery process. To break the emulsion using additives may involve higher cost and could be very expensive. Therefore, further research should be directed to find solution of these problems that have been encountered.
Abstract: Currently, there are many local area industrial networks
that can give guaranteed bandwidth to synchronous traffic, particularly
providing CBR channels (Constant Bit Rate), which allow
improved bandwidth management. Some of such networks operate
over Ethernet, delivering channels with enough capacity, specially
with compressors, to integrate multimedia traffic in industrial monitoring
and image processing applications with many sources. In
these industrial environments where a low latency is an essential
requirement, JPEG is an adequate compressing technique but it
generates VBR traffic (Variable Bit Rate). Transmitting VBR traffic
in CBR channels is inefficient and current solutions to this problem
significantly increase the latency or further degrade the quality. In
this paper an R(q) model is used which allows on-line calculation of
the JPEG quantification factor. We obtained increased quality, a lower
requirement for the CBR channel with reduced number of discarded
frames along with better use of the channel bandwidth.
Abstract: This paper analyzed the perception of e-commerce
application services by construction material traders in Malaysia.
Five attributes were tested: usability, reputation, trust, privacy and
familiarity. Study methodology consists of survey questionnaire and
statistical analysis that includes reliability analysis, factor analysis,
ANOVA and regression analysis. The respondents were construction
material traders, including hardware stores in Klang Valley, Kuala
Lumpur.
Findings support that usability and familiarity with e-commerce
services in Malaysia have insignificant influence on the acceptance of
e-commerce application. However, reputation, trust and privacy
attributes have significant influence on the choice of e-commerce
acceptance by construction material traders. E-commerce
applications studied included customer database, e-selling, emarketing,
e-payment, e-buying and online advertising. Assumptions
are made that traders have basic knowledge and exposure to ICT
services. i.e. internet service and computers. Study concludes that
reputation, privacy and trust are the three website attributes that
influence the acceptance of e-commerce by construction material
traders.