Abstract: The research on “The Way of Life of the Civil Servant
Community under the Bureau of the Royal Household” aims to study
1) the way of life of the people who live in the civil servant
community in Tha Wasukri, and 2) the model of community
administration of civil servants under the Bureau of the Royal
Household. This research is conducted qualitatively and
quantitatively by collecting data from interviews, focus group
discussion, participant and non-participant observation along with the
data from questionnaire based on age groups which include elder
group, working age group and youth group.
The result of the research shows that the origin of this community
is related to the history during the Rama V’s reign. It has been a
harbor for the king to boat in any royal ceremonies; this custom is
still maintained until today. The status or position of person who
serves the king in terms of working is often inherited from the bureau
of the Royal Household based on his/her consanguinity and, hence,
further receives the rights to live in the Tha Wasukri area. Therefore,
this community has some special characteristics demonstrating the
way of living influenced by the regulation of the Bureau of the Royal
Household such as respecting elders and interdependence in which
there is internal social organization with the practice of bureaucracy
in going in and out the community. The person who has rights to live
here must be friendly to everybody so that this community will be a
safe place for lives and property. The administration based on the
model of Bangkok for local administration was used as an external
structure only, but the way of living still follows the practice of the
Bureau of the Royal Household.
Abstract: The organizations in the knowledge economy era have
recognized the importance of building knowledge assets for
sustainable growth and development. In comparison to other
industries, Information Technology (IT) enterprises, holds an edge in
developing an effective Knowledge Management (KM) programmethanks
to their in-house technological abilities. This paper tries to
study the various knowledge based incentive programmes and its
effect on Knowledge Sharing and Learning in the context of the
Indian IT sector. A conceptual model is developed linking KM
Incentives, Knowledge Sharing and Learning. A questionnaire study
is conducted to collect primary data from the knowledge workers of
the IT organizations located in India. The data was analysed using
Structural Equation Modeling using Partial Least Square method. The
results show a strong influence of knowledge management incentives
on knowledge sharing and an indirect influence on learning.
Abstract: Environmental impact assessment techniques have
been developed as a result of the worldwide efforts to reduce the
environmental impact of global warming. By using the quantification
method in the construction industry, it is now possible to manage the
greenhouse gas is to systematically evaluate the impact on the
environment over the entire construction process. In particular, the
proportion of greenhouse gas emissions at the production stage of
construction material occupied is high, and efforts are needed in
particular in the construction field.
In this research, intended for concrete products for the construction
materials, by using the LCA method, we compared the results of
environmental impact assessment and carbon emissions of developing
products that have been applied low-carbon technologies compared to
existing products. As a results, by introducing a raw material of
industrial waste, showed carbon reduction. Through a comparison of
the carbon emission reduction effect of low carbon technologies, it is
intended to provide academic data for the evaluation of greenhouse
gases in the construction sector and the development of low carbon
technologies of the future.
Abstract: The air transport impact on environment is more than
ever a limitative obstacle to the aeronautical industry continuous
growth. Over the last decades, considerable effort has been carried
out in order to obtain quieter aircraft solutions, whether by changing
the original design or investigating more silent maneuvers. The
noise propagated by rotating surfaces is one of the most important
sources of annoyance, being present in most aerial vehicles. Bearing
this is mind, CEIIA developed a new computational chain for
noise prediction with in-house software tools to obtain solutions in
relatively short time without using excessive computer resources. This
work is based on the new acoustic tool, which aims to predict the
rotor noise generated during steady and maneuvering flight, making
use of the flexibility of the C language and the advantages of GPU
programming in terms of velocity. The acoustic tool is based in the
Formulation 1A of Farassat, capable of predicting two important
types of noise: the loading and thickness noise. The present work
describes the most important features of the acoustic tool, presenting
its most relevant results and framework analyses for helicopters and
UAV quadrotors.
Abstract: Logistics processes of perishable food in the supply
chain include the distribution activities and the real time temperature
monitoring to fulfil the cold chain requirements. The paper presents
the use of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology as an
identification tool of receiving and shipping activities in the cold
store. At the same time, the use of RFID data loggers with
temperature sensors is presented to observe and store the
temperatures for the purpose of analyzing the processes and having
the history data available for traceability purposes and efficient recall
management.
Abstract: Kazakhstan is currently one of the dynamically
developing states in its region. The stable growth in all sectors of the
economy leads to a corresponding increase in energy consumption.
Thus country consumes significant amount of energy due to the high
level of industrialisation and the presence of energy-intensive
manufacturing such as mining and metallurgy which in turn leads to
low energy efficiency. With allowance for this the Government has
set several priorities to adopt a transition of Republic of Kazakhstan
to a “green economy”. This article provides an overview of
Kazakhstan’s energy efficiency situation in for the period of 1991-
2014. First, the dynamics of production and consumption of
conventional energy resources are given. Second, the potential of
renewable energy sources is summarised followed by the description
of GHG emissions trends in the country. Third, Kazakhstan’ national
initiatives, policies and locally implemented projects in the field of
energy efficiency are described.
Abstract: Reverse Logistics (RL) Network is considered as
complex and dynamic network that involves many stakeholders such
as: suppliers, manufactures, warehouse, retails and costumers, this
complexity is inherent in such process due to lack of perfect
knowledge or conflicting information. Ontologies on the other hand
can be considered as an approach to overcome the problem of sharing
knowledge and communication among the various reverse logistics
partners. In this paper we propose a semantic representation based on
hybrid architecture for building the Ontologies in ascendant way, this
method facilitates the semantic reconciliation between the
heterogeneous information systems that support reverse logistics
processes and product data.
Abstract: Early pre-code reinforced concrete structures present
undetermined resistance to earthquakes. This situation is particularly
unacceptable in the case of essential structures, such as healthcare
structures and pilgrims' houses. Amongst these, an existing old RC
building in Madinah city (KSA) is seismically evaluated with and
without infill wall and their dynamic characteristics are compared
with measured values in the field using ambient vibration
measurements (AVM). After updating the mathematical models for
this building with the experimental results, three dimensional
pushover analysis (Nonlinear static analysis) was carried out using
commercial structural analysis software incorporating inelastic
material properties for concrete, infill and steel. The purpose of this
analysis is to evaluate the expected performance of structural systems
by estimating, strength and deformation demands in design, and
comparing these demands to available capacities at the performance
levels of interest. The results summarized and discussed.
Abstract: To date, one of the few comprehensive indicators for
the measurement of food security is the Global Food Security Index
(GFSI). This index is a dynamic quantitative and qualitative
benchmarking model, constructed from 28 unique indicators, that
measures drivers of food security across both developing and
developed countries. Whereas the GFSI has been calculated across a
set of 109 countries, in this paper we aim to present and compare, for
the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), 1) the Food Security
Index scores achieved and 2) the data available on affordability,
availability, and quality of food. The data for this work was taken
from the latest available report published by the creators of the GFSI,
which in turn used information from national and international
statistical sources. MENA countries rank from place 17/109 (Israel,
although with resent political turmoil this is likely to have changed)
to place 91/109 (Yemen) with household expenditure spent in food
ranging from 15.5% (Israel) to 60% (Egypt). Lower spending on food
as a share of household consumption in most countries and better
food safety net programs in the MENA have contributed to a notable
increase in food affordability. The region has also, however,
experienced a decline in food availability, owing to more limited
food supplies and higher volatility of agricultural production. In
terms of food quality and safety the MENA has the top ranking
country (Israel). The most frequent challenges faced by the countries
of the MENA include public expenditure on agricultural research and
development as well as volatility of agricultural production. Food
security is a complex phenomenon that interacts with many other
indicators of a country’s wellbeing; in the MENA it is slowly but
markedly improving.
Abstract: This paper focuses on the assessment of the air
pollution and morbidity relationship in Tunisia. Air pollution is
measured by ozone air concentration and the morbidity is measured
by the number of respiratory-related restricted activity days during
the 2-week period prior to the interview. Socioeconomic data are also
collected in order to adjust for any confounding covariates. Our
sample is composed by 407 Tunisian respondents; 44.7% are women,
the average age is 35.2, near 69% are living in a house built after
1980, and 27.8% have reported at least one day of respiratory-related
restricted activity. The model consists on the regression of the
number of respiratory-related restricted activity days on the air
quality measure and the socioeconomic covariates. In order to correct
for zero-inflation and heterogeneity, we estimate several models
(Poisson, negative binomial, zero inflated Poisson, Poisson hurdle,
negative binomial hurdle and finite mixture Poisson models).
Bootstrapping and post-stratification techniques are used in order to
correct for any sample bias. According to the Akaike information
criteria, the hurdle negative binomial model has the greatest goodness
of fit. The main result indicates that, after adjusting for
socioeconomic data, the ozone concentration increases the probability
of positive number of restricted activity days.
Abstract: The objective of this research is to design and
construct the PV-Wind hybrid autonomous system for the greenhouse
plantation, and analyze the technical performance of the PV-Wind
energy system. This design depends on the water consumption in the
greenhouse by using 24 of the fogging mist each with the capability
of 24 liter/min. The operating time is 4 times per day, each round for
15 min. The fogging system is being driven by water pump with AC
motor rating 0.5 hp. The load energy consumed is around 1.125
kWh/d. The designing results of the PV-Wind hybrid energy system
is that sufficient energy could be generated by this system. The
results of this study can be applied as a technical data reference for
other areas in the central part of Thailand.
Abstract: The paper examines the interaction between the
environmental taxation, size of government spending on
environmental protection and greenhouse gas emissions and gross
inland energy consumption. The aim is to analyze the effects of
environmental taxation and government spending on environmental
protection as an environmental policy instruments on greenhouse gas
emissions and gross inland energy consumption in the EU15. The
empirical study is performed using a VAR approach with the
application of aggregated data of EU15 over the period 1995 to 2012.
The results provide the evidence that the reactions of greenhouse gas
emission and gross inland energy consumption to the shocks of
environmental policy instruments are strong, mainly in the short term
and decay to zero after about 8 years. Further, the reactions of the
environmental policy instruments to the shocks of greenhouse gas
emission and gross inland energy consumption are also strong in the
short term, however with the deferred effects. In addition, the results
show that government spending on environmental protection together
with gross inland energy consumption has stronger effect on
greenhouse gas emissions than environmental taxes in EU15 over the
examined period.
Abstract: Precast residential houses are normally constructed in Malaysia using precast shear-key wall panel and this panel is designed using BS8110 where there is no provision for earthquake. However, the safety of this house under moderate and strong earthquake is still questionable. Consequently, the full-scale of residential house are designed, constructed, tested and analyzed under in-plane lateral quasi-static cyclic loading. Hysteresis loops are plotted based on the experimental work and compared with modeling of hysteresis loops using HYSTERES in RUAUMOKO 2D program. Modified Takeda hysteresis model is chosen to behave a similar pattern with experimental work. This program will display the earthquake excitations, spectral displacements, pseudo spectral acceleration, mode shape and deformation of the structure. It can be concluded that this building is suffering severe cracks and damage under moderate and severe earthquake.
Abstract: The efficiency of wood vinegar mixed with each
individual of three plants extract such as: citronella grass
(Cymbopogon nardus), neem seed (Azadirachta indica A. Juss), and
yam bean seed (Pachyrhizus erosus Urb.) were tested against the
second instar larvae of housefly (Musca domestica L.). Steam
distillation was used for extraction of the citronella grass while neem
and yam bean were simple extracted by fermentation with ethyl
alcohol. Toxicity test was evaluated in laboratory based on two
methods of larvicidal bioassay: topical application method (contact
poison) and feeding method (stomach poison). Larval mortality was
observed daily and larval survivability was recorded until the
survived larvae developed to pupae and adults. The study resulted
that treatment of wood vinegar mixed with citronella grass showed
the highest larval mortality by topical application method (50.0%)
and by feeding method (80.0%). However, treatment of mixed wood
vinegar and neem seed showed the longest pupal duration to 25 day
and 32 days for topical application method and feeding method
respectively. Additional, larval duration on treated M. domestica
larvae was extended to 13 days for topical application method and 11
days for feeding method. Thus, the feeding method gave higher
efficiency compared with the topical application method.
Abstract: The present study involved analysis of certain
characteristics of the perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)
genotypes collected from the natural flora of Ankara, and explores a
correlation among them. In order to evaluate the plants for breeding
purpose as per Turkey's environmental conditions, the perennial
ryegrass plants were collected from natural pasture of Ankara in 2004
and were utilized for the study. Seeds of the collected plants were
sown in pots and seedlings were prepared in a greenhouse. In 2005,
the seedlings were transplanted at 50 × 50 cm2 intervals in
Randomized Complete Blocks Design in an experimental field. In
2007 and 2008, data were recorded from the observations and
measurements of 568 perennial ryegrasses. The plant characteristics,
which were investigated, included re-growth time in spring, color,
density, growth habit, tendency to form inflorescence, time of
inflorescence, plant height, length of upper internode, spike length,
leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, leaf shape, number of spikelets per
spike, seed yield per spike and 1000 grain weight and the correlation
analyses were made using this data. Correlation coefficients were
estimated between all paired combinations of the studied traits. The
yield components exhibited varying trends of association among
themselves. Seed yield per spike showed significant and positive
association with the number of spikelets per spike, 1000 grain weight,
plant height, length of upper internode, spike length, leaf length, leaf
width, leaf area and color, but significant and negative association
with the growth habit and re-growth time in spring.
Abstract: Reduction of CO2 emissions has become a priority for
several countries due to increasing concerns about global warming
and climate change, especially in the developed countries. Residential
sector is considered one of the most important sectors for
considerable reduction of CO2 emissions since it represents a
significant amount of the total consumed energy in those countries. A
significant CO2 reduction cannot be achieved unless some initiatives
have been adopted in the policy of these countries. Introducing micro
combined heat and power (!CHP) systems into residential energy
systems is one of these initiatives, since such a technology offers
several advantages. Moreover, !CHP technology has the opportunity
to be operated not only by natural gas but it could also be operated by
renewable fuels. However, this technology can be operated by
different operation strategies. Each strategy has some advantages and
disadvantages.
This paper provides a review of different operation strategies of
such a technology used for residential energy systems, especially for
single dwellings. The review summarizes key points that outline the
trend of previous research carried out in this field.
Abstract: The postharvest quality management of tomatoes is
important to limit the amount of losses that occur due to deterioration
between harvest and consumption. This study was undertaken to
investigate the effects of pre- and postharvest integrated agrotechnologies,
involving greenhouse microclimate and postharvest
storage conditions, on the postharvest quality attributes of four
tomato cultivars. Tomato fruit firmness, colour (hue angle (h°) and
L* value), pH and total soluble solids for the cultivars Bona,
Star 9037, Star 9009 and Zeal, grown in a fan-pad evaporativelycooled
and an open-ended naturally-ventilated tunnel, were harvested
at the mature-green stage. The tomatoes were stored for 28 days
under cold storage conditions, with a temperature of 13°C and RH of
85%, and under ambient air conditions, with a temperature of 23±
2°C and RH of 52± 4%. This study has provided information on the
effect of integrated pre-harvest and postharvest agro-technologies,
involving greenhouse microclimate and postharvest storage
environment on the postharvest quality attributes of four of the
tomato cultivars in South Africa. NVT-grown tomatoes retained
better textural qualities, but ripened faster by changing from green to
red faster, although these were reduced under cold storage conditions.
FPVT-grown tomatoes had lower firmness, but ripened slowly with
higher colour attributes. With cold storage conditions, the firmness of
FPVT-grown tomatoes was maintained. Cultivar Bona firmness and
colour qualities depreciated the fastest, but it had higher TSS content
and lower pH values. Star 9009 and Star 9037 presented better
quality, by retaining higher firmness and ripening slowly, but they
had the lowest TSS contents and high pH values, especially
Star 9037. Cold storage improved the firmness of tomato cultivars
with poor textural quality and faster colour changes.
Abstract: Recently, there have been a lot of earthquakes in Japan.
It is necessary to promote seismic isolation devices for buildings. The
devices have been hardly diffused in attached houses, because the
devices are very expensive. We should develop a low-cost seismic
isolation device for detached houses. We suggested a new seismic
isolation device which uses a two-layer circular tube as a unit. If
hysteresis is produced in the two-layer circular tube under lateral
compression load, we think that the two-layer circular tube can have
energy absorbing capacity. It is necessary to contact the outer layer
and the inner layer to produce hysteresis. We have previously reported
how the inner layer comes in contact with the outer layer from a
perspective of analysis used mechanics of materials. We have clarified
that the inner layer comes in contact with the outer layer under a lateral
compression load. In this paper, we explored contact area between the
outer layer and the inner layer under a lateral compression load by
using FEA. We think that changing the inner layer’s thickness is
effective in increase the contact area. In order to change the inner
layer’s thickness, we changed the shape of the inner layer. As a result,
the contact area changes depending on the inner layer’s thickness.
Additionally, we experimented to check whether hysteresis occurs in
fact. As a consequence, we can reveal hysteresis in the two-layer
circular tube under the condition.
Abstract: FengShui, an old Chinese discipline, dates back to
more than 5000 years, is one of the design principles that aim at
creating habitable and sustainable spaces in harmony with nature by
systematizing data within its own structure. Having emerged from
Chinese mysticism and embodying elements of faith in its principles,
FengShui argues that the positive energy in the environment channels
human behavior and psychology. This argument is supported with the
thesis of quantum physics that ‘everything is made up of energy’ and
gains an important place.
In spaces where living and working take place with several
principles and systematized rules, FengShui promises a happier, more
peaceful and comfortable life by influencing human psychology, acts,
and soul as well as the professional and social life of the individual.
Observing these design properties in houses, workplaces, offices, the
environment, and daily life as a design paradigm is significant. In this
study, how FengShui, a Central Asian culture emanated from Chinese
mysticism, shapes design and how it is used as an element of
sustainable design will be explained.
Abstract: Load Forecasting plays a key role in making today's
and future's Smart Energy Grids sustainable and reliable. Accurate
power consumption prediction allows utilities to organize in advance
their resources or to execute Demand Response strategies more
effectively, which enables several features such as higher
sustainability, better quality of service, and affordable electricity
tariffs. It is easy yet effective to apply Load Forecasting at larger
geographic scale, i.e. Smart Micro Grids, wherein the lower available
grid flexibility makes accurate prediction more critical in Demand
Response applications. This paper analyses the application of
short-term load forecasting in a concrete scenario, proposed within the
EU-funded GreenCom project, which collect load data from single
loads and households belonging to a Smart Micro Grid. Three
short-term load forecasting techniques, i.e. linear regression, artificial
neural networks, and radial basis function network, are considered,
compared, and evaluated through absolute forecast errors and training
time. The influence of weather conditions in Load Forecasting is also
evaluated. A new definition of Gain is introduced in this paper, which
innovatively serves as an indicator of short-term prediction
capabilities of time spam consistency. Two models, 24- and
1-hour-ahead forecasting, are built to comprehensively compare these
three techniques.