Abstract: The objective of this paper is to investigate a new
approach based on the idea of pictograms for food portion size. This
approach adopts the model of the United States Pharmacopeia- Drug
Information (USP-DI). The representation of each food portion size
composed of three parts: frame, the connotation of dietary portion
sizes and layout. To investigate users- comprehension based on this
approach, two experiments were conducted, included 122 Taiwanese
people, 60 male and 62 female with ages between 16 and 64 (divided
into age groups of 16-30, 31-45 and 46-64). In Experiment 1, the mean
correcting rate of the understanding level of food items is 48.54%
(S.D.= 95.08) and the mean response time 2.89sec (S.D.=2.14). The
difference on the correct rates for different age groups is significant
(P*=0.00
Abstract: So much energy is used in high rise buildings to fulfill
the basic needs of users such as lighting and thermal comfort.
Malaysia has hot and humid climate, buildings especially high rise
buildings receive unnecessary solar radiation that cause more solar
heat gain. Energy use specially electricity consumption in high rise
buildings has increased. There have been growing concerns about
energy consumption and its effect on environment. Building, energy
and the environment are important issues that the designers should
consider to them. Self protected form is one of possible ways against
the impact of solar radiation in high rise buildings. The Energy
performance of building envelopes was investigated in term of the
Overall Thermal Transfer Value (OTTV ).In this paper, the amount
of OTTV reduction was calculated through OTTV Equations to
clear the effectiveness of self shading strategy on minimizing energy
consumption for cooling interior spaces in high rise buildings which
has considerable envelope areas against solar radiation. Also increasing
the optimum window area was investigated using self-shading
strategy in designing high rise buildings. As result, the significant
reduction in OTTV was shown based on WWR.In addition slight
increase was demonstrated in WWR that can influence on visible
comfort interior spaces.
Abstract: Optimum communication and performance in
Wireless Sensor Networks, constitute multi-facet challenges due to
the specific networking characteristics as well as the scarce resource
availability. Furthermore, it is becoming increasingly apparent that
isolated layer based approaches often do not meet the demands posed
by WSNs applications due to omission of critical inter-layer
interactions and dependencies. As a counterpart, cross-layer is
receiving high interest aiming to exploit these interactions and
increase network performance. However, in order to clearly identify
existing dependencies, comprehensive performance studies are
required evaluating the effect of different critical network parameters
on system level performance and behavior.This paper-s main
objective is to address the need for multi-parametric performance
evaluations considering critical network parameters using a well
known network simulator, offering useful and practical conclusions
and guidelines. The results reveal strong dependencies among
considered parameters which can be utilized by and drive future
research efforts, towards designing and implementing highly efficient
protocols and architectures.
Abstract: The effect of different combinations of response
feedback on the performance of active control system on nonlinear
frames has been studied in this paper. To this end different feedback
combinations including displacement, velocity, acceleration and full
response feedback have been utilized in controlling the response of
an eight story bilinear hysteretic frame which has been subjected to a
white noise excitation and controlled by eight actuators which could
fully control the frame. For active control of nonlinear frame
Newmark nonlinear instantaneous optimal control algorithm has been
used which a diagonal matrix has been selected for weighting
matrices in performance index. For optimal design of active control
system while the objective has been to reduce the maximum drift to
below the yielding level, Distributed Genetic Algorithm (DGA) has
been used to determine the proper set of weighting matrices. The
criteria to assess the effect of each combination of response feedback
have been the minimum required control force to reduce the
maximum drift to below the yielding drift. The results of numerical
simulation show that the performance of active control system is
dependent on the type of response feedback where the velocity
feedback is more effective in designing optimal control system in
comparison with displacement and acceleration feedback. Also using
full feedback of response in controller design leads to minimum
control force amongst other combinations. Also the distributed
genetic algorithm shows acceptable convergence speed in solving the
optimization problem of designing active control systems.
Abstract: In industry, on of the most important subjects is die
and it's characteristics in which for cutting and forming different
mechanical pieces, various punch and matrix metal die are used.
whereas the common parts which form the main frame die are not
often proportion with pieces and dies therefore using a part as socalled
common part for frames in specified dimension ranges can
decrease the time of designing, occupied space of warehouse and
manufacturing costs. Parts in dies with getting uniform in their shape
and dimension make common parts of dies. Common parts of punch
and matrix metal die are as bolster, guide bush, guide pillar and
shank. In this paper the common parts and effective parameters in
selecting each of them as the primary information are studied,
afterward for selection and design of mechanical parts an
introduction and investigation based on the Mech. Desk. software is
done hence with developing this software can standardize the metal
common parts of punch and matrix. These studies will be so useful
for designer in their designing and also using it has with very much
advantage for manufactures of products in decreasing occupied
spaces by dies.
Abstract: Modularized design approach can facilitate the
modeling of complex systems and support behavior analysis and
simulation in an iterative and thus complex engineering process, by
using encapsulated submodels of components and of their interfaces.
Therefore it can improve the design efficiency and simplify the
solving complicated problem. Multi-drivers off-road vehicle is
comparatively complicated. Driving-line is an important core part to a
vehicle; it has a significant contribution to the performance of a
vehicle. Multi-driver off-road vehicles have complex driving-line, so
its performance is heavily dependent on the driving-line. A typical
off-road vehicle-s driving-line system consists of torque converter,
transmission, transfer case and driving-axles, which transfer the
power, generated by the engine and distribute it effectively to the
driving wheels according to the road condition. According to its main
function, this paper puts forward a modularized approach for
designing and evaluation of vehicle-s driving-line. It can be used to
effectively estimate the performance of driving-line during concept
design stage. Through appropriate analysis and assessment method, an
optimal design can be reached. This method has been applied to the
practical vehicle design, it can improve the design efficiency and is
convenient to assess and validate the performance of a vehicle,
especially of multi-drivers off-road vehicle.
Abstract: Internet is nowadays included to all National Curriculums of the elementary school. A comparative study of their
goals leads to the conclusion that a complete curriculum should aim to student-s acquisition of the abilities to navigate and search for
information and additionally to emphasize on the evaluation of the information provided by the World Wide Web. In a constructivistic knowledge framework the design of a course has to take under
consideration the conceptual representations of students. The following paper presents the conceptual representation of students of eleven years old, attending the Sixth Grade of Greek Elementary School about World Wide Web and their use in the design and
implementation of an innovative course.
Abstract: A theoretical study is conducted to design and explore
the effect of different parameters such as heat loads, the tube size of
piping system, wick thickness, porosity and hole size on the
performance and capability of a Loop Heat Pipe(LHP). This paper
presents a steady state model that describes the different phenomena
inside a LHP. Loop Heat Pipes(LHPs) are two-phase heat transfer
devices with capillary pumping of a working fluid. By their original
design comparing with heat pipes and special properties of the
capillary structure, they-re capable of transferring heat efficiency for
distances up to several meters at any orientation in the gravity field,
or to several meters in a horizontal position. This theoretical model is
described by different relations to satisfy important limits such as
capillary and nucleate boiling. An algorithm is developed to predict
the size of the LHP satisfying the limitations mentioned above for a
wide range of applied loads. Finally, to assess and evaluate the
algorithm and all the relations considered, we have used to design a
new kind of LHP to recover the heat from the exhaust of an actual
Gas Turbine. By finding the results, it showed that we can use the
LHP as a very high efficient device to recover the heat even in high
amount of loads(exhaust of a gas turbine). The sizes of all parts of the
LHP were obtained using the developed algorithm.
Abstract: Knowledge-based e-mail systems focus on
incorporating knowledge management approach in order to enhance
the traditional e-mail systems. In this paper, we present a knowledgebased
e-mail system called KS-Mail where people do not only send
and receive e-mail conventionally but are also able to create a sense
of knowledge flow. We introduce semantic processing on the e-mail
contents by automatically assigning categories and providing links to
semantically related e-mails. This is done to enrich the knowledge
value of each e-mail as well as to ease the organization of the e-mails
and their contents. At the application level, we have also built
components like the service manager, evaluation engine and search
engine to handle the e-mail processes efficiently by providing the
means to share and reuse knowledge. For this purpose, we present the
KS-Mail architecture, and elaborate on the details of the e-mail
server and the application server. We present the ontology mapping
technique used to achieve the e-mail content-s categorization as well
as the protocols that we have developed to handle the transactions in
the e-mail system. Finally, we discuss further on the implementation
of the modules presented in the KS-Mail architecture.
Abstract: Geosynthetics have proved to be suitable for
reinforced soil retaining walls. Based on the increasing uses of
geosynthetic reinforced soil systems in the regions, which bear
frequent earthquakes, the study of dynamic behavior of structures
seems necessary. Determining the reinforcement forces is; therefore,
one of the most important and main points of discussions in
designing retaining walls, by which we prevent from conservative
planning. Thus, this paper intended to investigate the effects of such
parameters as wall height, acceleration type, vertical spacing of
reinforcement, type of reinforcement and soil type on forces and
deformation through numerical modeling of the geosynthetic
reinforced soil retaining walls (GRSRW) under dynamic loading with
finite difference method by using FLAC. The findings indicate rather
positive results with each parameter.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the most satisfying and frustrating aspects of ICT (Information and Communications Technologies) teaching in Turkish schools. Another aim was to compare these aspects based-on ICT teachers- selfefficacy. Participants were 119 ICT teachers from different geographical areas of Turkey. Participants were asked to list salient satisfying and frustrating aspects of ICT teaching, and to fill out the Self-Efficacy Scale for ICT Teachers. Results showed that the high self-efficacy teachers listed more positive and negative aspects of ICT teaching then did the low self-efficacy teachers. The satisfying aspects of ICT teaching were the dynamic nature of ICT subject, higher student interest, having opportunity to help other subject teachers, and lecturing in well-equipped labs, whereas the most frequently cited frustrating aspects of ICT teaching were ICT-related extra works of schools and colleagues, shortages of hardware and technical problems, indifferent students, insufficient teaching time, and the status of ICT subject in school curriculum. This information could be useful in redesigning ICT teachers- roles and responsibilities as well as job environment in schools.
Abstract: Recently, genetic algorithms (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique have attracted considerable attention among various modern heuristic optimization techniques. Since the two approaches are supposed to find a solution to a given objective function but employ different strategies and computational effort, it is appropriate to compare their performance. This paper presents the application and performance comparison of PSO and GA optimization techniques, for Thyristor Controlled Series Compensator (TCSC)-based controller design. The design objective is to enhance the power system stability. The design problem of the FACTS-based controller is formulated as an optimization problem and both the PSO and GA optimization techniques are employed to search for optimal controller parameters. The performance of both optimization techniques in terms of computational time and convergence rate is compared. Further, the optimized controllers are tested on a weakly connected power system subjected to different disturbances, and their performance is compared with the conventional power system stabilizer (CPSS). The eigenvalue analysis and non-linear simulation results are presented and compared to show the effectiveness of both the techniques in designing a TCSC-based controller, to enhance power system stability.
Abstract: Industrial robots become useless without end-effectors
that for many instances are in the form of friction grippers.
Commonly friction grippers apply frictional forces to different
objects on the basis of programmers- experiences. This puts a
limitation on the effectiveness of gripping force that may result in
damaging the object. This paper describes various stages of design
and development of a low cost sensor-based robotic gripper that
would facilitate the task of applying right gripping forces to different
objects. The gripper is also equipped with range sensors in order to
avoid collisions of the gripper with objects. It is a fully functional
automated pick and place gripper which can be used in many
industrial applications. Yet it can also be altered or further developed
in order to suit a larger number of industrial activities. The current
design of gripper could lead to designing completely automated robot
grippers able to improve the efficiency and productivity of industrial
robots.
Abstract: Nowadays e-Learning is more popular, in Vietnam
especially. In e-learning, materials for studying are very important.
It is necessary to design the knowledge base systems and expert
systems which support for searching, querying, solving of
problems. The ontology, which was called Computational Object
Knowledge Base Ontology (COB-ONT), is a useful tool for
designing knowledge base systems in practice. In this paper, a
design method for knowledge base systems in education using
COKB-ONT will be presented. We also present the design of a
knowledge base system that supports studying knowledge and
solving problems in higher mathematics.
Abstract: Designing and implementing intelligent systems has become a crucial factor for the innovation and development of better products of space technologies. A neural network is a parallel system, capable of resolving paradigms that linear computing cannot. Field programmable gate array (FPGA) is a digital device that owns reprogrammable properties and robust flexibility. For the neural network based instrument prototype in real time application, conventional specific VLSI neural chip design suffers the limitation in time and cost. With low precision artificial neural network design, FPGAs have higher speed and smaller size for real time application than the VLSI and DSP chips. So, many researchers have made great efforts on the realization of neural network (NN) using FPGA technique. In this paper, an introduction of ANN and FPGA technique are briefly shown. Also, Hardware Description Language (VHDL) code has been proposed to implement ANNs as well as to present simulation results with floating point arithmetic. Synthesis results for ANN controller are developed using Precision RTL. Proposed VHDL implementation creates a flexible, fast method and high degree of parallelism for implementing ANN. The implementation of multi-layer NN using lookup table LUT reduces the resource utilization for implementation and time for execution.
Abstract: The main criteria of designing in the most hydraulic
constructions essentially are based on runoff or discharge of water. Two of those important criteria are runoff and return period. Mostly,
these measures are calculated or estimated by stochastic data.
Another feature in hydrological data is their impreciseness.
Therefore, in order to deal with uncertainty and impreciseness, based
on Buckley-s estimation method, a new fuzzy method of evaluating hydrological measures are developed. The method introduces
triangular shape fuzzy numbers for different measures in which both
of the uncertainty and impreciseness concepts are considered. Besides, since another important consideration in most of the
hydrological studies is comparison of a measure during different
months or years, a new fuzzy method which is consistent with special form of proposed fuzzy numbers, is also developed. Finally, to
illustrate the methods more explicitly, the two algorithms are tested on one simple example and a real case study.
Abstract: The worldwide prevalence of H3N2 influenza virus
and its increasing resistance to the existing drugs necessitates for the
development of an improved/better targeting anti-influenza drug.
H3N2 influenza neuraminidase is one of the two membrane-bound
proteins belonging to group-2 neuraminidases. It acts as key player
involved in viral pathogenicity and hence, is an important target of
anti-influenza drugs. Oseltamivir is one of the potent drugs targeting
this neuraminidase. In the present work, we have taken subtype N2
neuraminidase as the receptor and probable analogs of oseltamivir as
drug molecules to study the protein-drug interaction in anticipation of
finding efficient modified candidate compound. Oseltamivir analogs
were made by modifying the functional groups using Marvin Sketch
software and were docked using Schrodinger-s Glide. Oseltamivir
analog 10 was detected to have significant energy value (16% less
compared to Oseltamivir) and could be the probable lead molecule. It
infers that some of the modified compounds can interact in a novel
manner with increased hydrogen bonding at the active site of
neuraminidase and it might be better than the original drug. Further
work can be carried out such as enzymatic inhibition studies;
synthesis and crystallizing the drug-target complex to analyze the
interactions biologically.
Abstract: The Malaysia Highway Authority (MHA) was
established by the Government in 1980 for the purpose of designing,
constructing and maintaining toll highways in Malaysia that include
the North-South Expressway and the Penang Bridge, which were
procured using the publicly-funded traditional procurement. However
following a recession in the mid 80-s, the operations of these tolledhighways
had been privatized to ensure that their operational services
continue through private financing as a result of long-term
concession agreement concurred between the Malaysian Government
and private operators. The change in the contract strategy for
highway projects in Malaysia would have a great tendency to dictate
a significant risk exposure towards the key parties involved,
particularly the Malaysian Government as project principal, unless
operational risks are clearly identified and managed via appropriate
mitigation measures prior to a contract signing.
This research identifies potential operational risks that have a
possibility to occur in highway projects in Malaysia from the
perspective of public sector clients. Since this research focuses on the
operational risks for highway projects in Malaysia, the initial results
acquired from literature review on the operational risks of highway
projects in some Asian countries are then justified by a number of
key individuals from the MHA through interviews. As a result,
among key operational risks that have possibility to occur in the
highway projects in Malaysia include initial toll-tariff decided by the
Government, traffic congestion, change of road network and overloaded
freight transportation, which could cause damage to the road
surface and hence affecting the operation of a particular highway.
Abstract: In this paper, an approach for finding optimized
layouts for connecting PV units delivering maximum array output
power is suggested. The approach is based on considering the
different varying parameters of PV units that might be extracted from
a general two-diode model. These are mainly, solar irradiation,
reverse saturation currents, ideality factors, series and shunt
resistances in addition to operating temperature. The approach has
been tested on 19 possible 2×3 configurations and allowed to
determine the optimized configurations as well as examine the effects
of the different units- parameters on the maximum output power.
Thus, using this approach, standard arrays with n×m units can be
configured for maximum generated power and allows designing PV
based systems having reduced surfaces to fit specific required power,
as it is the case for solar cars and other mobile systems.
Abstract: Aim. We have introduced the notion of order to multinormed spaces and countable union spaces and their duals. The topology of bounded convergence is assigned to the dual spaces. The aim of this paper is to develop the theory of ordered topological linear
spaces La,b, L(w, z), the dual spaces of ordered multinormed spaces
La,b, ordered countable union spaces L(w, z), with the topology of bounded convergence assigned to the dual spaces. We apply Laplace transformation to the ordered linear space of Laplace transformable
generalized functions. We ultimately aim at finding solutions to nonhomogeneous
nth order linear differential equations with constant
coefficients in terms of generalized functions and comparing different
solutions evolved out of different initial conditions.
Method. The above aim is achieved by
• Defining the spaces La,b, L(w, z).
• Assigning an order relation on these spaces by identifying a
positive cone on them and studying the properties of the cone.
• Defining an order relation on the dual spaces La,b, L(w, z) of La,b, L(w, z) and assigning a topology to these dual spaces which makes the order dual and the topological dual the same. • Defining the adjoint of a continuous map on these spaces
and studying its behaviour when the topology of bounded
convergence is assigned to the dual spaces.
• Applying the two-sided Laplace Transformation on the ordered
linear space of generalized functions W and studying some
properties of the transformation which are used in solving
differential equations.
Result. The above techniques are applied to solve non-homogeneous
n-th order linear differential equations with constant coefficients in
terms of generalized functions and to compare different solutions of the differential equation.