Abstract: Physical urban form is recognized to be the media for
human transactions. It directly influences the travel demand of people
in a specific urban area and the amount of energy used for
transportation. Distorted, sprawling form often creates sustainability
problems in urban areas. It is declared in EU strategic planning
documents that compact urban form and mixed land use pattern must
be given the main focus to achieve better sustainability in urban
areas, but the methods to measure and compare these characteristics
are still not clear.
This paper presents the simple methods to measure the spatial
characteristics of urban form by analyzing the location and
distribution of objects in an urban environment. The extended CA
(cellular automata) model is used to simulate urban development
scenarios.
Abstract: Most of the image watermarking methods, using the properties of the human visual system (HVS), have been proposed in literature. The component of the visual threshold is usually related to either the spatial contrast sensitivity function (CSF) or the visual masking. Especially on the contrast masking, most methods have not mention to the effect near to the edge region. Since the HVS is sensitive what happens on the edge area. This paper proposes ultrasound image watermarking using the visual threshold corresponding to the HVS in which the coefficients in a DCT-block have been classified based on the texture, edge, and plain area. This classification method enables not only useful for imperceptibility when the watermark is insert into an image but also achievable a robustness of watermark detection. A comparison of the proposed method with other methods has been carried out which shown that the proposed method robusts to blockwise memoryless manipulations, and also robust against noise addition.
Abstract: Surface water pollution is one of the serious
environmental problems in rural areas of South Africa due to
discharge of household waste into the streams, turning them into
open sewers. In this study, samples of water were collected from a
stream in Soshanguve and analysed. The result showed that pollution
in the area was caused by man and its activities. The water quality in
the area was found to have deterioted significantly after water runoff
from farms and household wastes. The result shows, fertilizer runoff
contributes 50% of the pollution while pesticides and sediments
contribute up to 10% respectively in the streams, while household
waste contributes up to 30%. This study gives an outline of the
sources of water pollution in the area and provides a process of
creating a clean and unpolluted environment for Soshanguve
community in Pretoria north in order to achieve the 7th aim of the
millennium development goals by 2015, which is ensuring
environmental sustainability.
Abstract: Giving birth is a natural process and most women have to go through it. Gynecologist or Midwife usually uses the leg holder to position the cervix in the stitching process. In some part of rural areas in Indonesia, the labor process normally being done at homes by calling in a midwife or gynecologist. The facilities for this kind of labor process is not yet sufficient, as the use of leg holder supposedly on the obstetric bed. The reality is that it is impossible to bring in the obstetric bed to the patient-s house at the time they call for giving birth or the time when the stitching of the cervix need to be done. This research is redesigning the leg holder through Biomechanics and ergonomic approaches to obtain the optimal design which is suitable to the user of a developing country such as Indonesia.
Abstract: The evolution of technology and construction techniques has enabled the upgrading of transport networks. In particular, the high-speed rail networks allow convoys to peak at above 300 km/h. These structures, however, often significantly impact the surrounding environment. Among the effects of greater importance are the ones provoked by the soundwave connected to train transit. The wave propagation affects the quality of life in areas surrounding the tracks, often for several hundred metres. There are substantial damages to properties (buildings and land), in terms of market depreciation. The present study, integrating expertise in acoustics, computering and evaluation fields, outlines a useful model to select project paths so as to minimize the noise impact and reduce the causes of possible litigation. It also facilitates the rational selection of initiatives to contain the environmental damage to the already existing railway tracks. The research is developed with reference to the Italian regulatory framework (usually more stringent than European and international standards) and refers to a case study concerning the high speed network in Italy.
Abstract: In this paper spatial variability of some chemical and
physical soil properties were investigated in mountain rangelands of
Nesho, Mazandaran province, Iran. 110 soil samples from 0-30 cm
depth were taken with systematic method on grid 30×30 m2 in
regions with different vegetation cover and transported to laboratory.
Then soil chemical and physical parameters including Acidity (pH),
Electrical conductivity, Caco3, Bulk density, Particle density, total
phosphorus, total Nitrogen, available potassium, Organic matter,
Saturation moisture, Soil texture (percentage of sand, silt and clay),
Sodium, Calcium, magnesium were measured in laboratory. Data
normalization was performed then was done statistical analysis for
description of soil properties and geostatistical analysis for indication
spatial correlation between these properties and were perpetrated
maps of spatial distribution of soil properties using Kriging method.
Results indicated that in the study area Saturation moisture and
percentage of Sand had highest and lowest spatial correlation
respectively.
Abstract: The systematic manipulations of shapes and sizes of
inorganic compounds greatly benefit the various application fields
including optics, magnetic, electronics, catalysis and medicine.
However shape control has been much more difficult to achieve.
Hence exploration of novel method for the preparation of differently
shaped nanoparticles is challenging research area. II-VI group of
semiconductor cadmium sulphide (CdS) nanostructure with different
morphologies (such as, acicular like, mesoporous, spherical shapes)
and of crystallite sizes vary from 11 to 16 nm were successfully
synthesized by chemical aqueous precipitation of Cd2+ ions with
homogeneously released S2- ions from decomposition of cadmium
sulphate (CdSO4) and thioacetamide (CH3CSNH2) by annealing at
different radiations (microwave, ultrasonic and sunlight) with matter
and systematic research has been done for various factors affecting
the controlled growth rate of CdS nanoparticles. The obtained
nanomaterials have been characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD),
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR),
Thermogravometric (DSC-TGA) analysis and Scanning Electron
Microscopy (SEM). The result indicates that on increasing the
reaction time particle size increases but on increasing the molar ratios
grain size decreases.
Abstract: In present days the area of data migration is very topical. Current tools for data migration in the area of relational database have several disadvantages that are presented in this paper. We propose a methodology for data migration of the database tables and their data between various types of relational database systems (RDBMS). The proposed methodology contains an expert system. The expert system contains a knowledge base that is composed of IFTHEN rules and based on the input data suggests appropriate data types of columns of database tables. The proposed tool, which contains an expert system, also includes the possibility of optimizing the data types in the target RDBMS database tables based on processed data of the source RDBMS database tables. The proposed expert system is shown on data migration of selected database of the source RDBMS to the target RDBMS.
Abstract: The remediation of water resources pollution in
developing countries requires the application of alternative
sustainable cheaper and efficient end-of-pipe wastewater treatment
technologies. The feasibility of use of South African cheap and
abundant pine tree (Pinus patula) sawdust for development of lowcost
AC of comparable quality to expensive commercial ACs in the
abatement of water pollution was investigated. AC was developed at
optimized two-stage N2-superheated steam activation conditions in a
fixed bed reactor, and characterized for proximate and ultimate
properties, N2-BET surface area, pore size distribution, SEM, pHPZC
and FTIR. The sawdust pyrolysis activation energy was evaluated by
TGA. Results indicated that the chars prepared at 800oC and 2hrs
were suitable for development of better quality AC at 800oC and 47%
burn-off having BET surface area (1086m2/g), micropore volume
(0.26cm3/g), and mesopore volume (0.43cm3/g) comparable to
expensive commercial ACs, and suitable for water contaminants
removal. The developed AC showed basic surface functionality at
pHPZC at 10.3, and a phenol adsorption capacity that was higher than
that of commercial Norit (RO 0.8) AC. Thus, it is feasible to develop
better quality low-cost AC from (Pinus patula) sawdust using twostage
N2-steam activation in fixed-bed reactor.
Abstract: Educational institutions often implement policies with
the intention of influencing how learning and teaching occur.
Generally, such policies are not as effective as their makers would
like; changing the behavior of third-level teachers proves difficult.
Nevertheless, a policy instituted in 2006 at the Dublin Institute of
Technology has met with success: each newly hired faculty member
must have a post-graduate qualification in “Learning and Teaching"
or successfully complete one within the first two years of
employment. The intention is to build teachers- knowledge about
student-centered pedagogies and their capacity to implement them.
As a result of this policy (and associated programs that support it),
positive outcomes are readily apparent. Individual teachers who have
completed the programs have implemented significant change at the
course and program levels. This paper introduces the policy,
identifies outcomes in relation to existing theory, describes research
underway, and pinpoints areas where organizational learning has
occurred.
Abstract: Luneberg lens is a new generation of antennas that is
developed in the last few years and inserts itself strongly in
Microwaves, Communications and Telescopes area. The idea of this
research is to improve the radiation pattern by decreasing the side
lobes and increasing the main lobe. The new design is proposed to
work in the X-band. The simulated result and analysis are presented.
Abstract: The belief decision tree (BDT) approach is a decision
tree in an uncertain environment where the uncertainty is represented
through the Transferable Belief Model (TBM), one interpretation
of the belief function theory. The uncertainty can appear either in
the actual class of training objects or attribute values of objects to
classify. In this paper, we develop a post-pruning method of belief
decision trees in order to reduce size and improve classification
accuracy on unseen cases. The pruning of decision tree has a
considerable intention in the areas of machine learning.
Abstract: A neurofuzzy approach for a given set of input-output training data is proposed in two phases. Firstly, the data set is partitioned automatically into a set of clusters. Then a fuzzy if-then rule is extracted from each cluster to form a fuzzy rule base. Secondly, a fuzzy neural network is constructed accordingly and parameters are tuned to increase the precision of the fuzzy rule base. This network is able to learn and optimize the rule base of a Sugeno like Fuzzy inference system using Hybrid learning algorithm, which combines gradient descent, and least mean square algorithm. This proposed neurofuzzy system has the advantage of determining the number of rules automatically and also reduce the number of rules, decrease computational time, learns faster and consumes less memory. The authors also investigate that how neurofuzzy techniques can be applied in the area of control theory to design a fuzzy controller for linear and nonlinear dynamic systems modelling from a set of input/output data. The simulation analysis on a wide range of processes, to identify nonlinear components on-linely in a control system and a benchmark problem involving the prediction of a chaotic time series is carried out. Furthermore, the well-known examples of linear and nonlinear systems are also simulated under the Matlab/Simulink environment. The above combination is also illustrated in modeling the relationship between automobile trips and demographic factors.
Abstract: There are many automotive accidents due to blind spots and driver inattentiveness. Blind spot is the area that is invisible to the driver's viewpoint without head rotation. Several methods are available for assisting the drivers. Simplest methods are — rear mirrors and wide-angle lenses. But, these methods have a disadvantage of the requirement for human assistance. So, the accuracy of these devices depends on driver. Another approach called an automated approach that makes use of sensors such as sonar or radar. These sensors are used to gather range information. The range information will be processed and used for detecting the collision. The disadvantage of this system is — low angular resolution and limited sensing volumes. This paper is a panoramic sensor based automotive vehicle monitoring..
Abstract: Few decades ago, electronic and sensor technologies
are merged into vehicles as the Advanced Driver Assistance
System(ADAS). However, sensor-based ADASs have limitations
about weather interference and a line-of-sight nature problem. In our
project, we investigate a Relative Position based ADAS(RP-ADAS).
We divide the RP-ADAS into four main research areas: GNSS,
VANET, Security/Privacy, and Application. In this paper, we research
the GNSS technologies and determine the most appropriate one. With
the performance evaluation, we figure out that the C/A code based
GPS technologies are inappropriate for 'which lane-level' application.
However, they can be used as a 'which road-level' application.
Abstract: With increasing utilization of the wireless devices in
different fields such as medical devices and industrial fields, the
paper presents a method for simplify the Bluetooth packets with
throughput enhancing. The paper studies a vital issue in wireless
communications, which is the throughput of data over wireless
networks. In fact, the Bluetooth and ZigBee are a Wireless Personal
Area Network (WPAN). With taking these two systems competition
consideration, the paper proposes different schemes for improve the
throughput of Bluetooth network over a reliable channel. The
proposition depends on the Channel Quality Driven Data Rate
(CQDDR) rules, which determines the suitable packet in the
transmission process according to the channel conditions. The
proposed packet is studied over additive White Gaussian Noise
(AWGN) and fading channels. The Experimental results reveal the
capability of extension of the PL length by 8, 16, 24 bytes for classic
and EDR packets, respectively. Also, the proposed method is suitable
for the low throughput Bluetooth.
Abstract: Load forecasting has become in recent years one of the major areas of research in electrical engineering. Most traditional forecasting models and artificial intelligence neural network techniques have been tried out in this task. Artificial neural networks (ANN) have lately received much attention, and a great number of papers have reported successful experiments and practical tests. This article presents the development of an ANN-based short-term load forecasting model with improved generalization technique for the Regional Power Control Center of Saudi Electricity Company, Western Operation Area (SEC-WOA). The proposed ANN is trained with weather-related data and historical electric load-related data using the data from the calendar years 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004 for training. The model tested for one week at five different seasons, typically, winter, spring, summer, Ramadan and fall seasons, and the mean absolute average error for one hour-ahead load forecasting found 1.12%.
Abstract: Recent developments in storage technology and
networking architectures have made it possible for broad areas of applications to rely on data streams for quick response and accurate
decision making. Data streams are generated from events of real world so existence of associations, which are among the occurrence of these events in real world, among concepts of data streams is
logical. Extraction of these hidden associations can be useful for prediction of subsequent concepts in concept shifting data streams. In this paper we present a new method for learning association among
concepts of data stream and prediction of what the next concept will be. Knowing the next concept, an informed update of data model will be possible. The results of conducted experiments show that the proposed method is proper for classification of concept shifting data
streams.
Abstract: This paper describes the design and fabrication of a clock and data recovery circuit (CDR). We propose a new clock and data recovery which is based on a 1/4-rate frequency detector (QRFD). The proposed frequency detector helps reduce the VCO frequency and is thus advantageous for high speed application. The proposed frequency detector can achieve low jitter operation and extend the pull-in range without using the reference clock. The proposed CDR was implemented using a 1/4-rate bang-bang type phase detector (PD) and a ring voltage controlled oscillator (VCO). The CDR circuit has been fabricated in a standard 0.18 CMOS technology. It occupies an active area of 1 x 1 and consumes 90 mW from a single 1.8V supply.
Abstract: Drought is a phenomenon caused by
environmental and climatic changes. This phenomenon is
affected by shortage of rainfall and temperature. Dust is one
of important environmental problems caused by climate
change and drought. With recent multi-year drought, many
environmental crises caused by dust in Iran and Middle East.
Dust in the vast areas of the provinces occurs with high
frequency. By dust affecting many problems created in terms
of health, social and economic. In this study, we tried to study
the most important factors causing dust. In this way we have
used the satellite images and meteorological data. Finally,
strategies to deal with the dust will be mentioned.