Abstract: In the recent years multimedia traffic and in particular
VoIP services are growing dramatically. We present a new algorithm
to control the resource utilization and to optimize the voice codec
selection during SIP call setup on behalf of the traffic condition
estimated on the network path.
The most suitable methodologies and the tools that perform realtime
evaluation of the available bandwidth on a network path have
been integrated with our proposed algorithm: this selects the best
codec for a VoIP call in function of the instantaneous available
bandwidth on the path. The algorithm does not require any explicit
feedback from the network, and this makes it easily deployable over
the Internet. We have also performed intensive tests on real network
scenarios with a software prototype, verifying the algorithm
efficiency with different network topologies and traffic patterns
between two SIP PBXs.
The promising results obtained during the experimental validation
of the algorithm are now the basis for the extension towards a larger
set of multimedia services and the integration of our methodology
with existing PBX appliances.
Abstract: Mathematical justifications are given for a simulation technique of multivariate nonGaussian random processes and fields based on Rosenblatt-s transformation of Gaussian processes. Different types of convergences are given for the approaching sequence. Moreover an original numerical method is proposed in order to solve the functional equation yielding the underlying Gaussian process autocorrelation function.
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: Protective relays are components of a protection system
in a power system domain that provides decision making element for
correct protection and fault clearing operations. Failure of the
protection devices may reduce the integrity and reliability of the power
system protection that will impact the overall performance of the
power system. Hence it is imperative for power utilities to assess the
reliability of protective relays to assure it will perform its intended
function without failure. This paper will discuss the application of
reliability analysis using statistical method called Life Data Analysis
in Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), a government linked power utility
company in Malaysia, namely Transmission Division, to assess and
evaluate the reliability of numerical overcurrent protective relays from
two different manufacturers.
Abstract: Integration of process planning and scheduling
functions is necessary to achieve superior overall system
performance. This paper proposes a methodology for integration of
process planning and scheduling for prismatic component that can be
implemented in a company with existing departments. The developed
model considers technological constraints whereas available time for
machining in shop floor is the limiting factor to produce multiple
process plan (MPP). It takes advantage of MPP while guarantied the
fulfillment of the due dates via using overtime. This study has been
proposed to determinate machining parameters, tools, machine and
amount of over time within the minimum cost objective while
overtime is considered for this. At last the illustration shows that the
system performance is improved by as measured by cost and
compatible with due date.
Abstract: In this paper we discuss the behaviour of the longitudinal modes of a magnetized non collisional plasma subjected to an external electromagnetic field. We apply a semiclassical formalism, with the electrons being studied in a quantum mechanical viewpoint whereas the electromagnetic field in the classical context. We calculate the dielectric function in order to obtains the modes and found that, unlike the Bernstein modes, the presence of radiation induces oscillations around the cyclotron harmonics, which are smoothed as the energy stored in the radiation field becomes small compared to the thermal energy of the electrons. We analyze the influence of the number of photon involved in the electronic transitions between the Landau levels and how the parameters such as the external fields strength, plasma density and temperature affect the dispersion relation
Abstract: A trend in agent community or enterprises is that they are shifting from closed to open architectures composed of a large number of autonomous agents. One of its implications could be that interface agent framework is getting more important in multi-agent system (MAS); so that systems constructed for different application domains could share a common understanding in human computer interface (HCI) methods, as well as human-agent and agent-agent interfaces. However, interface agent framework usually receives less attention than other aspects of MAS. In this paper, we will propose an interface web agent framework which is based on our former project called WAF and a Distributed HCI template. A group of new functionalities and implications will be discussed, such as web agent presentation, off-line agent reference, reconfigurable activation map of agents, etc. Their enabling techniques and current standards (e.g. existing ontological framework) are also suggested and shown by examples from our own implementation in WAF.
Abstract: A heuristic conceptual model for to develop the
Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM), especially in preventive
strategy, has been explored during this paper. In most real cases
which complicity of system obligates high degree of reliability, this
model proposes a more appropriate reliability function between life
time distribution based and another which is based on relevant
Extreme Value (EV) distribution. A statistical and mathematical
approach is used to estimate and verify these two distribution
functions. Then best one is chosen just among them, whichever is
more reliable. A numeric Industrial case study will be reviewed to
represent the concepts of this paper, more clearly.
Abstract: The index of sustainable functionality (ISF) is an adaptive, multi-criteria technique that is used to measure sustainability; it is a concept that can be transposed to many regions throughout the world. An ISF application of the Southern Regional Organisation of Councils (SouthROC) in South East Queensland (SEQ) – the fastest growing region in Australia – indicated over a 25 year period an increase of over 10% level of functionality from 58.0% to 68.3%. The ISF of SouthROC utilised methodologies that derived from an expert panel based approach. The overall results attained an intermediate level of functionality which amounted to related concerns of economic progress and lack of social awareness. Within the region, a solid basis for future testing by way of measured changes and developed trends can be established. In this regard as management tool, the ISF record offers support for regional sustainability practice and decision making alike. This research adaptively analyses sustainability – a concept that is lacking throughout much of the academic literature and any reciprocal experimentation. This lack of knowledge base has been the emphasis of where future sustainability research can grow from and prove useful in rapidly growing regions. It is the intentions of this research to help further develop the notions of index-based quantitative sustainability.
Abstract: This study created new graphical icons and operating
functions in a CAD/CAM software system by analyzing icons in some
of the popular systems, such as AutoCAD, AlphaCAM, Mastercam
and the 1st edition of LiteCAM. These software systems all focused on
geometric design and editing, thus how to transmit messages
intuitively from icon itself to users is an important function of
graphical icons. The primary purpose of this study is to design
innovative icons and commands for new software.
This study employed the TRIZ method, an innovative design
method, to generate new concepts systematically. Through literature
review, it then investigated and analyzed the relationship between
TRIZ and idea development. Contradiction Matrix and 40 Principles
were used to develop an assisting tool suitable for icon design in
software development. We first gathered icon samples from the
selected CAD/CAM systems. Then grouped these icons by
meaningful functions, and compared useful and harmful properties.
Finally, we developed new icons for new software systems in order to
avoid intellectual property problem.
Abstract: Drying characteristics of rough rice (variety of lenjan) with an initial moisture content of 25% dry basis (db) was studied in a hot air dryer assisted by infrared heating. Three arrival air temperatures (30, 40 and 500C) and four infrared radiation intensities (0, 0.2 , 0.4 and 0.6 W/cm2) and three arrival air speeds (0.1, 0.15 and 0.2 m.s-1) were studied. Bending strength of brown rice kernel, percentage of cracked kernels and time of drying were measured and evaluated. The results showed that increasing the drying arrival air temperature and radiation intensity of infrared resulted decrease in drying time. High bending strength and low percentage of cracked kernel was obtained when paddy was dried by hot air assisted infrared dryer. Between this factors and their interactive effect were a significant difference (p
Abstract: Directional over current relays (DOCR) are commonly used in power system protection as a primary protection in distribution and sub-transmission electrical systems and as a secondary protection in transmission systems. Coordination of protective relays is necessary to obtain selective tripping. In this paper, an approach for efficiency reduction of DOCRs nonlinear optimum coordination (OC) is proposed. This was achieved by modifying the objective function and relaxing several constraints depending on the four constraints classification, non-valid, redundant, pre-obtained and valid constraints. According to this classification, the far end fault effect on the objective function and constraints, and in consequently on relay operating time, was studied. The study was carried out, firstly by taking into account the near-end and far-end faults in DOCRs coordination problem formulation; and then faults very close to the primary relays (nearend faults). The optimal coordination (OC) was achieved by simultaneously optimizing all variables (TDS and Ip) in nonlinear environment by using of Genetic algorithm nonlinear programming techniques. The results application of the above two approaches on 6-bus and 26-bus system verify that the far-end faults consideration on OC problem formulation don-t lose the optimality.
Abstract: Apart from geometry, functionality is one of the most
significant hallmarks of a product. The functionality of a product can
be considered as the fundamental justification for a product
existence. Therefore a functional analysis including a complete and
reliable descriptor has a high potential to improve product
development process in various fields especially in knowledge-based
design. One of the important applications of the functional analysis
and indexing is in retrieval and design reuse concept. More than 75%
of design activity for a new product development contains reusing
earlier and existing design know-how. Thus, analysis and
categorization of product functions concluded by functional
indexing, influences directly in design optimization. This paper
elucidates and evaluates major classes for functional analysis by
discussing their major methods. Moreover it is finalized by
presenting a noble hybrid approach for functional analysis.
Abstract: In this paper, we first introduce the model of games on augmenting systems with a coalition structure, which can be seen as an extension of games on augmenting systems. The core of games on augmenting systems with a coalition structure is defined, and an equivalent form is discussed. Meantime, the Shapley function for this type of games is given, and two axiomatic systems of the given Shapley function are researched. When the given games are quasi convex, the relationship between the core and the Shapley function is discussed, which does coincide as in classical case. Finally, a numerical example is given.
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: Equilibrium and stability equations of a thin rectangular plate with length a, width b, and thickness h(x)=C1x+C2, made of functionally graded materials under thermal loads are derived based on the first order shear deformation theory. It is assumed that the material properties vary as a power form of thickness coordinate variable z. The derived equilibrium and buckling equations are then solved analytically for a plate with simply supported boundary conditions. One type of thermal loading, uniform temperature rise and gradient through the thickness are considered, and the buckling temperatures are derived. The influences of the plate aspect ratio, the relative thickness, the gradient index and the transverse shear on buckling temperature difference are all discussed.
Abstract: A new method for color image segmentation using fuzzy logic is proposed in this paper. Our aim here is to automatically produce a fuzzy system for color classification and image segmentation with least number of rules and minimum error rate. Particle swarm optimization is a sub class of evolutionary algorithms that has been inspired from social behavior of fishes, bees, birds, etc, that live together in colonies. We use comprehensive learning particle swarm optimization (CLPSO) technique to find optimal fuzzy rules and membership functions because it discourages premature convergence. Here each particle of the swarm codes a set of fuzzy rules. During evolution, a population member tries to maximize a fitness criterion which is here high classification rate and small number of rules. Finally, particle with the highest fitness value is selected as the best set of fuzzy rules for image segmentation. Our results, using this method for soccer field image segmentation in Robocop contests shows 89% performance. Less computational load is needed when using this method compared with other methods like ANFIS, because it generates a smaller number of fuzzy rules. Large train dataset and its variety, makes the proposed method invariant to illumination noise
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: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a complex
metabolic disorder that characterized by the presence of high glucose
in blood that cause from insulin resistance and insufficiency due to
deterioration β-cell Langerhans functions. T2DM is commonly
caused by the combination of inherited genetic variations as well as
our own lifestyle. Metallothionein (MT) is a known cysteine-rich
protein responsible in helping zinc homeostasis which is important in
insulin signaling and secretion as well as protection our body from
reactive oxygen species (ROS). MT scavenged ROS and free
radicals in our body happen to be one of the reasons of T2DM and its
complications. The objective of this study was to investigate the
association of MT1A and MT2A polymorphisms between T2DM and
control subjects among Malay populations. This study involved 150
T2DM and 120 Healthy individuals of Malay ethnic with mixed
genders. The genomic DNA was extracted from buccal cells and
amplified for MT1A and MT2A loci; the 347bp and 238bp banding
patterns were respectively produced by mean of the Polymerase
Chain Reaction (PCR). The PCR products were digested with Mlucl
and Tsp451 restriction enzymes respectively and producing
fragments lengths of (158/189/347bp) and (103/135/238bp)
respectively. The ANOVA test was conducted and it shown that there
was a significant difference between diabetic and control subjects for
age, BMI, WHR, SBP, FPG, HBA1C, LDL, TG, TC and family
history with (P0.05). The genotype
frequency for AA, AG and GG of MT1A polymorphisms was 72.7%,
22.7% and 4.7% in cases and 15%, 55% and 30% in control
respectively. As for MT2A, genotype frequency of GG, GC and CC
was 42.7%, 27.3% and 30% in case and 5%, 40% and 55% for
control respectively. Both polymorphisms show significant difference
between two investigated groups with (P=0.000). The Post hoc test
was conducted and shows a significant difference between the
genotypes within each polymorphism (P=0. 000). The MT1A and
MT2A polymorphisms were believed to be the reliable molecular
markers to distinguish the T2DM subjects from healthy individuals in
Malay populations.