Abstract: The aim of this paper is to explain what a multienterprise tie is, what evidence its analysis provides and how does the cooperation mechanism influence the establishment of a multienterprise tie. The study focuses on businesses of smaller dimension, geographically dispersed and whose businessmen are learning to cooperate in an international environment. The empirical evidence obtained at this moment permits to conclude the following: The tie is not long-lasting, it has an end; opportunism is an opportunity to learn; the multi-enterprise tie is a space to learn about the cooperation mechanism; the local tie permits a businessman to alternate between competition and cooperation strategies; the disappearance of a tie is an experience of learning for a businessman, diminishing the possibility of failure in the next tie; the cooperation mechanism tends to eliminate hierarchical relations; the multienterprise tie diminishes the asymmetries and permits SME-s to have a better position when they negotiate with large companies; the multi-enterprise tie impacts positively on the local system. The collection of empirical evidence was done trough the following instruments: direct observation in a business encounter to which the businesses attended in 2003 (202 Mexican agro industry SME-s), a survey applied in 2004 (129), a questionnaire applied in 2005 (86 businesses), field visits to the businesses during the period 2006-2008 and; a survey applied by telephone in 2008 (55 Mexican agro industry SME-s).
Abstract: In terms of total online audience, newspapers are the most successful form of online content to date. The online audience for newspapers continues to demand higher-quality services, including personalized news services. News providers should be able to offer suitable users appropriate content. In this paper, a news article recommender system is suggested based on a user-s preference when he or she visits an Internet news site and reads the published articles. This system helps raise the user-s satisfaction, increase customer loyalty toward the content provider.
Abstract: Traditional optical networks are gradually evolving towards intelligent optical networks due to the need for faster bandwidth provisioning, protection and restoration of the network that can be accomplished with devices like optical switch, add drop multiplexer and cross connects. Since dense wavelength multiplexing forms the physical layer for intelligent optical networking, the roll of high speed all optical switch is important. This paper analyzes such an ultra-high speed polymer electro-optic switch. The performances of the 2x2 optical waveguide switch with rectangular, triangular and trapezoidal grating profiles on various device parameters are analyzed. The simulation result shows that trapezoidal grating is the optimized structure which has the coupling length of 81μm and switching voltage of 11V for the operating wavelength of 1550nm. The switching time for this proposed switch is 0.47 picosecond. This makes the proposed switch to be an important element in the intelligent optical network.
Abstract: One of the major problems in liberalized power
markets is loss allocation. In this paper, a different method for
allocating transmission losses to pool market participants is
proposed. The proposed method is fundamentally based on
decomposition of loss function and current projection concept. The
method has been implemented and tested on several networks and
one sample summarized in the paper. The results show that the
method is comprehensive and fair to allocating the energy losses of a
power market to its participants.
Abstract: A synchronous network-on-chip using wormhole packet switching
and supporting guaranteed-completion best-effort with low-priority (LP)
and high-priority (HP) wormhole packet delivery service is presented in
this paper. Both our proposed LP and HP message services deliver a good
quality of service in term of lossless packet completion and in-order message
data delivery. However, the LP message service does not guarantee minimal
completion bound. The HP packets will absolutely use 100% bandwidth of
their reserved links if the HP packets are injected from the source node with
maximum injection. Hence, the service are suitable for small size messages
(less than hundred bytes). Otherwise the other HP and LP messages, which
require also the links, will experience relatively high latency depending on the
size of the HP message. The LP packets are routed using a minimal adaptive
routing, while the HP packets are routed using a non-minimal adaptive routing
algorithm. Therefore, an additional 3-bit field, identifying the packet type,
is introduced in their packet headers to classify and to determine the type
of service committed to the packet. Our NoC prototypes have been also
synthesized using a 180-nm CMOS standard-cell technology to evaluate the
cost of implementing the combination of both services.
Abstract: Cloud Computing has recently emerged as a
compelling paradigm for managing and delivering services over the
internet. The rise of Cloud Computing is rapidly changing the
landscape of information technology, and ultimately turning the longheld
promise of utility computing into a reality. As the development
of Cloud Computing paradigm is speedily progressing, concepts, and
terminologies are becoming imprecise and ambiguous, as well as
different technologies are interfering. Thus, it becomes crucial to
clarify the key concepts and definitions. In this paper, we present the
anatomy of Cloud Computing, covering its essential concepts,
prominent characteristics, its affects, architectural design and key
technologies. We differentiate various service and deployment
models. Also, significant challenges and risks need are tackled in
order to guarantee the long-term success of Cloud Computing. The
aim of this paper is to provide a better understanding of the anatomy
of Cloud Computing and pave the way for further research in this
area.
Abstract: The line sleeves on power transmission line connects
two conductors while the transmission line is constructing. However,
the line sleeves sometimes cause transmission line break down,
because the line sleeves are deteriorated and decayed by acid rain.
When the transmission line is broken, the economical loss is huge.
Therefore the line sleeves on power transmission lines should be
inspected periodically to prevent power failure. In this paper, Korea
Electric Power Research Institute reviewed several robots to inspect
line status and proposes a robot to inspect line sleeve by measuring
magnetic field on line sleeve. The developed inspection tool can
reliable to move along transmission line and overcome several
obstacles on transmission line. The developed system is also applied
on power transmission line and verified the efficiency of the robot.
Abstract: Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is a form of cloud
computing that relieves the user of the burden of hardware and
software installation and management. SaaS can be used at the course
level to enhance curricula and student experience. When cloud
computing and SaaS are included in educational literature, the focus
is typically on implementing administrative functions. Yet, SaaS can
make more immediate and substantial contributions to the technical
course content in educational offerings. This paper explores cloud
computing and SaaS, provides examples, reports on experiences
using SaaS to offer specialized software in courses, and analyzes the
advantages and disadvantages of using SaaS at the course level. The
paper contributes to the literature in higher education by analyzing
the major technical concepts, potential, and constraints for using
SaaS to deliver specialized software at the course level. Further it
may enable more educators and students to benefit from this
emerging technology.
Abstract: Data mining, which is the exploration of
knowledge from the large set of data, generated as a result of
the various data processing activities. Frequent Pattern Mining
is a very important task in data mining. The previous
approaches applied to generate frequent set generally adopt
candidate generation and pruning techniques for the
satisfaction of the desired objective. This paper shows how
the different approaches achieve the objective of frequent
mining along with the complexities required to perform the
job. This paper will also look for hardware approach of cache
coherence to improve efficiency of the above process. The
process of data mining is helpful in generation of support
systems that can help in Management, Bioinformatics,
Biotechnology, Medical Science, Statistics, Mathematics,
Banking, Networking and other Computer related
applications. This paper proposes the use of both upward and
downward closure property for the extraction of frequent item
sets which reduces the total number of scans required for the
generation of Candidate Sets.
Abstract: We propose a method for discrimination and
classification of ovarian with benign, malignant and normal tissue
using independent component analysis and neural networks. The
method was tested for a proteomic patters set from A database, and
radial basis functions neural networks. The best performance was
obtained with probabilistic neural networks, resulting I 99% success
rate, with 98% of specificity e 100% of sensitivity.
Abstract: In this paper, we propose an effective relay
communication for layered video transmission as an alternative to
make the most of limited resources in a wireless communication
network where loss often occurs. Relaying brings stable multimedia
services to end clients, compared to multiple description coding
(MDC). Also, retransmission of only parity data about one or more
video layer using channel coder to the end client of the relay device is
paramount to the robustness of the loss situation. Using these
methods in resource-constrained environments, such as real-time user
created content (UCC) with layered video transmission, can provide
high-quality services even in a poor communication environment.
Minimal services are also possible. The mathematical analysis shows
that the proposed method reduced the probability of GOP loss rate
compared to MDC and raptor code without relay. The GOP loss rate
is about zero, while MDC and raptor code without relay have a GOP
loss rate of 36% and 70% in case of 10% frame loss rate.
Abstract: Medical applications are among the most impactful
areas of microrobotics. The ultimate goal of medical microrobots is
to reach currently inaccessible areas of the human body and carry out
a host of complex operations such as minimally invasive surgery
(MIS), highly localized drug delivery, and screening for diseases at
their very early stages. Miniature, safe and efficient propulsion
systems hold the key to maturing this technology but they pose
significant challenges. A new type of propulsion developed recently,
uses multi-flagella architecture inspired by the motility mechanism of
prokaryotic microorganisms. There is a lack of efficient methods for
designing this type of propulsion system. The goal of this paper is to
overcome the lack and this way, a numerical strategy is proposed to
design multi-flagella propulsion systems. The strategy is based on the
implementation of the regularized stokeslet and rotlet theory, RFT
theory and new approach of “local corrected velocity". The effects of
shape parameters and angular velocities of each flagellum on overall
flow field and on the robot net forces and moments are considered.
Then a multi-layer perceptron artificial neural network is designed
and employed to adjust the angular velocities of the motors for
propulsion control. The proposed method applied successfully on a
sample configuration and useful demonstrative results is obtained.
Abstract: The rate of nitrate adsorption by a nitrate selective ion
exchange resin was investigated in a well-stirred batch experiments.
The kinetic experimental data were simulated with diffusion models including external mass transfer, particle diffusion and chemical
adsorption. Particle pore volume diffusion and particle surface diffusion were taken into consideration separately and simultaneously
in the modeling. The model equations were solved numerically using the Crank-Nicholson scheme. An optimization technique was
employed to optimize the model parameters. All nitrate concentration
decay data were well described with the all diffusion models. The
results indicated that the kinetic process is initially controlled by external mass transfer and then by particle diffusion. The external
mass transfer coefficient and the coefficients of pore volume diffusion and surface diffusion in all experiments were close to each
other with the average value of 8.3×10-3 cm/S for external mass
transfer coefficient. In addition, the models are more sensitive to the
mass transfer coefficient in comparison with particle diffusion. Moreover, it seems that surface diffusion is the dominant particle
diffusion in comparison with pore volume diffusion.
Abstract: Wireless sensor networks is an emerging technology
that serves as environment monitors in many applications. Yet
these miniatures suffer from constrained resources in terms of
computation capabilities and energy resources. Limited energy
resource in these nodes demands an efficient consumption of that
resource either by developing the modules itself or by providing
an efficient communication protocols. This paper presents a
comprehensive summarization and a comparative study of the
available MAC protocols proposed for Wireless Sensor Networks
showing their capabilities and efficiency in terms of energy
consumption and delay guarantee.
Abstract: Because nodes are usually battery-powered, the energy
presents a very scarce resource in wireless sensor networks. For this
reason, the design of medium access control had to take energy
efficiency as one of its hottest concerns. Accordingly, in order to
improve the energy performance of MAC schemes in wireless sensor
networks, several ways can be followed. In fact, some researchers try
to limit idle listening while others focus on mitigating overhearing
(i.e. a node can hear a packet which is destined to another node)
or reducing the number of the used control packets. We, in this
paper, propose a new hybrid MAC protocol termed ELE-MAC
(i.e. Energy Latency Efficient MAC). The ELE-MAC major design
goals are energy and latency efficiencies. It adopts less control
packets than SMAC in order to preserve energy. We carried out ns-
2 simulations to evaluate the performance of the proposed protocol.
Thus, our simulation-s results prove the ELE-MAC energy efficiency.
Additionally, our solution performs statistically the same or better
latency characteristic compared to adaptive SMAC.
Abstract: This paper aims to improve a fine lapping process of
hard disk drive (HDD) lapping machines by removing materials from
each slider together with controlling the strip height (SH) variation to
minimum value. The standard deviation is the key parameter to
evaluate the strip height variation, hence it is minimized. In this
paper, a design of experiment (DOE) with factorial analysis by twoway
analysis of variance (ANOVA) is adopted to obtain a
statistically information. The statistics results reveal that initial stripe
height patterns affect the final SH variation. Therefore, initial SH
classification using a radial basis function neural network is
implemented to achieve the proportional gain prediction.
Abstract: This paper presents an overview of the multiobjective shortest path problem (MSPP) and a review of essential and recent issues regarding the methods to its solution. The paper further explores a multiobjective evolutionary algorithm as applied to the MSPP and describes its behavior in terms of diversity of solutions, computational complexity, and optimality of solutions. Results show that the evolutionary algorithm can find diverse solutions to the MSPP in polynomial time (based on several network instances) and can be an alternative when other methods are trapped by the tractability problem.
Abstract: In this paper, a novel approach for robust trajectory tracking of induction motor drive is presented. By combining variable structure systems theory with fuzzy logic concept and neural network techniques, a new algorithm is developed. Fuzzy logic was used for the adaptation of the learning algorithm to improve the robustness of learning and operating of the neural network. The developed control algorithm is robust to parameter variations and external influences. It also assures precise trajectory tracking with the prescribed dynamics. The algorithm was verified by simulation and the results obtained demonstrate the effectiveness of the designed controller of induction motor drives which considered as highly non linear dynamic complex systems and variable characteristics over the operating conditions.
Abstract: This paper proposes fractal patterns for power quality
(PQ) detection using color relational analysis (CRA) based classifier.
Iterated function system (IFS) uses the non-linear interpolation in the
map and uses similarity maps to construct various fractal patterns of
power quality disturbances, including harmonics, voltage sag, voltage
swell, voltage sag involving harmonics, voltage swell involving
harmonics, and voltage interruption. The non-linear interpolation
functions (NIFs) with fractal dimension (FD) make fractal patterns
more distinguishing between normal and abnormal voltage signals.
The classifier based on CRA discriminates the disturbance events in a
power system. Compared with the wavelet neural networks, the test
results will show accurate discrimination, good robustness, and faster
processing time for detecting disturbing events.
Abstract: In order to study seed yield and seed yield
components in bean under reduced irrigation condition and
assessment drought tolerance of genotypes, 15 lines of White beans
were evaluated in two separate RCB design with 3 replications under
stress and non stress conditions. Analysis of variance showed that
there were significant differences among varieties in terms of traits
under study, indicating the existence of genetic variation among
varieties. The results indicate that drought stress reduced seed yield,
number of seed per plant, biological yield and number of pod in
White been. In non stress condition, yield was highly correlated with
the biological yield, whereas in stress condition it was highly
correlated with harvest index. Results of stepwise regression showed
that, selection can we done based on, biological yield, harvest index,
number of seed per pod, seed length, 100 seed weight. Result of path
analysis showed that the highest direct effect, being positive, was
related to biological yield in non stress and to harvest index in stress
conditions. Factor analysis were accomplished in stress and nonstress
condition a, there were 4 factors that explained more than 76
percent of total variations. We used several selection indices such as
Stress Susceptibility Index ( SSI ), Geometric Mean Productivity (
GMP ), Mean Productivity ( MP ), Stress Tolerance Index ( STI ) and
Tolerance Index ( TOL ) to study drought tolerance of genotypes, we
found that the best Stress Index for selection tolerance genotypes
were STI, GMP and MP were the greatest correlations between these
Indices and seed yield under stress and non stress conditions. In
classification of genotypes base on phenotypic characteristics, using
cluster analysis ( UPGMA ), all allels classified in 5 separate groups
in stress and non stress conditions.