Abstract: Vacuum insulation panel (VIP) is a promising thermal
insulator for buildings, refrigerator, LNG carrier and so on. In general,
it has the thermal conductivity of 2~4 mW/m·K. However, this thermal
conductivity is that measured at the center of VIP. The total effective
thermal conductivity of VIP is larger than this value due to the edge
conduction through the envelope. In this paper, the edge conduction of
VIP is examined theoretically, numerically and experimentally. To
confirm the existence of the edge conduction, numerical analysis is
performed for simple two-dimensional VIP model and a theoretical
model is proposed to calculate the edge conductivity. Also, the edge
conductivity is measured using the vacuum guarded hot plate and the
experiment is validated against numerical analysis. The results show
that the edge conductivity is dependent on the width of panel and
thickness of Al-foil. To reduce the edge conduction, it is recommended
that the VIP should be made as big as possible or made of thin Al film
envelope.
Abstract: Key frame extraction methods select the most
representative frames of a video, which can be used in different areas
of video processing such as video retrieval, video summary, and video
indexing. In this paper we present a novel approach for extracting key
frames from video sequences. The frame is characterized uniquely by
his contours which are represented by the dominant blocks. These
dominant blocks are located on the contours and its near textures.
When the video frames have a noticeable changement, its dominant
blocks changed, then we can extracte a key frame. The dominant
blocks of every frame is computed, and then feature vectors are
extracted from the dominant blocks image of each frame and arranged
in a feature matrix. Singular Value Decomposition is used to calculate
sliding windows ranks of those matrices. Finally the computed ranks
are traced and then we are able to extract key frames of a video.
Experimental results show that the proposed approach is robust
against a large range of digital effects used during shot transition.
Abstract: Forging parts is used to automobiles; because, they have high strength and it is possible to press them into complicated shape. When itis possible to manufacture hollow forging parts, it leads to reduce weightof the automobiles. But, hollow forging parts are confined to axisymmetrical shape. Hollowforging parts that were pressed to complicated shape are expected. Therefore, we forge a blank that aluminum alloy was inserted in stainless steel. After that, we can providecomplex forging parts that are reduced weight,ifit is possible to be melted the aluminum alloy away by using different of melting points.It is necessary to establish heat forging analysis methodon blank consist of stainless steel and aluminum alloy. Because,this forging is different from conventional forging and this technology is not confirmed. In this study, we compared forging experiment with numerical analysis on the view point of forming load and shape after forming and establish how to set the material temperaturesof two metals and material property of stainless steel on the analysis method. Consequently, temperature difference of stainless steel and aluminum alloy was obtained by experiment. We got material property of stainless steel on forging experimental by compression tests. We had compared numerical analysis that was used the temperature difference of two metals and the material property of stainless steel on forging experimental with forging experiment. Forging analysis method on blankconsist of two metals was established by result of numerical analysis having agreedwith result of forging experiment.
Abstract: This paper illustrates the effect of nano Magnesium
Hydroxide (MH) loading on the thermal properties of Low Density
Polyethylene (LDPE)/Poly (ethylene-co vinyl acetate) (EVA) nano
composite. Thermal studies were conducted, as it understanding is
vital for preliminary development of new polymeric systems.
Thermal analysis of nanocomposite was conducted using thermo
gravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry
(DSC). Major finding of TGA indicated two main stages of
degradation process found at (350 ± 25oC) and (480 ± 25oC)
respectively. Nano metal filler expressed better fire resistance as it
stand over high degree of temperature. Furthermore, DSC analysis
provided a stable glass temperature around 51 (±1oC) and captured
double melting point at 84 (±2oC) and 108 (±2oC). This binary
melting point reflects the modification of nano filler to the polymer
matrix forming melting crystals of folded and extended chain. The
percent crystallinity of the samples grew vividly with increasing filler
content. Overall, increasing the filler loading improved the
degradation temperature and weight loss evidently and a better
process and phase stability was captured in DSC.
Abstract: There are a variety of reference current identification
methods, for the shunt active power filter (SAPF), such as the
instantaneous active and reactive power, the instantaneous active and
reactive current and the synchronous detection method are evaluated
and compared under ideal, non sinusoidal and unbalanced voltage
conditions. The SAPF performances, for the investigated
identification methods, are tested for a non linear load. The
simulation results, using Matlab Power System Blockset Toolbox
from a complete structure, are presented and discussed.
Abstract: This research work is concerned with the life cycle
assessment (LCA) of an expressway, as well as its infrastructure, in
Thailand. The life cycle of an expressway encompasses the raw
material acquisition phase, the construction phase, the use or service
phase, the rehabilitation phase, and finally the demolition and
disposal phase. The LCA in this research was carried out using CML
baseline 2000 and in accordance with the ISO 14040 standard. A
functional unit refers to transportation of one person over one
kilometer of a 3-lane expressway with a 50-year lifetime. This
research has revealed that the construction phase produced the largest
proportion of the environmental impact (81.46%), followed by the
service, rehabilitation, demolition and disposal phases and
transportation at 11.97%, 3.72% 0.33% and 2.52%, respectively. For
the expressway under study, the total carbon footprint over its
lifetime is equivalent to 245,639 tons CO2-eq per 1 kilometer
functional unit, with the phases of construction, service,
rehabilitation, demolition and disposal and transportation
contributing 153,690; 73,773; 3693, 755 and 13,728 tons CO2-eq,
respectively. The findings could be adopted as a benchmark against
which the environmental impacts of future similar projects can be
measured.
Abstract: In this work, a Multi-Level Artificial Bee Colony
(called MLABC) for optimizing numerical test functions is presented.
In MLABC, two species are used. The first species employs n
colonies where each of them optimizes the complete solution vector.
The cooperation between these colonies is carried out by exchanging
information through a leader colony, which contains a set of elite
bees. The second species uses a cooperative approach in which the
complete solution vector is divided to k sub-vectors, and each of
these sub-vectors is optimized by a colony. The cooperation between
these colonies is carried out by compiling sub-vectors into the
complete solution vector. Finally, the cooperation between two
species is obtained by exchanging information. The proposed
algorithm is tested on a set of well-known test functions. The results
show that MLABC algorithm provides efficiency and robustness to
solve numerical functions.
Abstract: This paper proposes the designing direct adaptive
neural controller to apply for a class of a nonlinear pendulum
dynamic system. The radial basis function (RBF) neural adaptive
controller is robust in presence of external and internal uncertainties.
Both the effectiveness of the controller and robustness against
disturbances are importance of this paper. The simulation results
show the promising performance of the proposed controller.
Abstract: The use of mobile phones is growing tremendously all
over the world. In Tanzania there are a number of operators licensed
by Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) aiming
at attracting customers into their networks. So far
telecommunications market competition has been very stiff. Various
measures are being taken by mobile operators to survive in the
market. Such measure include introducing of different air time
bundles on daily, weekly and monthly at lower tariffs. Other
measures include the introduction of normal tariff, tourist package
and one network. Despite of all these strategies, there is a dynamic
competition in the market which needs to be explored. Some
influences which attract customers to choose a certain mobile
operator are of particular interest. This paper is investigating if the
network effects and Quality of Services (QoS) influence mobile
customers in selection of their mobile network operators. Seventy
seven students from high learning institutions in Dodoma
Municipality in Tanzania participated in responding to prepared
questionnaires. The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for
Social Science (SPSS) Software. The results indicate that, network
coverage does influence customers in selection of mobile operators.
In addition, this paper proposes further research in some areas
especially where the study came up with different findings from what
the theory has in place.
Abstract: Artificial Immune Systems (AIS), inspired by the
human immune system, are algorithms and mechanisms which are
self-adaptive and self-learning classifiers capable of recognizing and
classifying by learning, long-term memory and association. Unlike
other human system inspired techniques like genetic algorithms and
neural networks, AIS includes a range of algorithms modeling on
different immune mechanism of the body. In this paper, a mechanism
of a human immune system based on apoptosis is adopted to build an
Intrusion Detection System (IDS) to protect computer networks.
Features are selected from network traffic using Fisher Score. Based
on the selected features, the record/connection is classified as either
an attack or normal traffic by the proposed methodology. Simulation
results demonstrates that the proposed AIS based on apoptosis
performs better than existing AIS for intrusion detection.
Abstract: In this paper, the influence of upstream structures on the flow patternaround and inside the wind-catcher is experimentally investigated by smoke flow visualization techniques. Wind-catchers are an important part of natural ventilation in residential buildings or public places such as shopping centers, libraries, etc. Wind-catchers might be also used in places of high urban densities; hence their potential to provide natural ventilation is dependent on the presence of upstream structures. In this study, the two-sided wind-catcher model was based on a real wind-catcher observed in the city of Yazd, Iran. The present study focuses on the flow patterns around and inside the isolated two-sided wind-catcher, and on a two-sided wind-catcher in the presence of an upstream structure. The results show that the presence of an upstream structure influences the airflow pattern force and direction. Placing a high upstream structure reverses the airflow direction inside the wind-catcher.
Abstract: Existing methods of data mining cannot be applied on
spatial data because they require spatial specificity consideration, as
spatial relationships.
This paper focuses on the classification with decision trees, which
are one of the data mining techniques. We propose an extension of
the C4.5 algorithm for spatial data, based on two different approaches
Join materialization and Querying on the fly the different tables.
Similar works have been done on these two main approaches, the
first - Join materialization - favors the processing time in spite of
memory space, whereas the second - Querying on the fly different
tables- promotes memory space despite of the processing time.
The modified C4.5 algorithm requires three entries tables: a target
table, a neighbor table, and a spatial index join that contains the
possible spatial relationship among the objects in the target table and
those in the neighbor table. Thus, the proposed algorithms are applied
to a spatial data pattern in the accidentology domain.
A comparative study of our approach with other works of
classification by spatial decision trees will be detailed.
Abstract: In the cloud computing hierarchy IaaS is the lowest
layer, all other layers are built over it. Thus it is the most important
layer of cloud and requisite more importance. Along with advantages
IaaS faces some serious security related issue. Mainly Security
focuses on Integrity, confidentiality and availability. Cloud
computing facilitate to share the resources inside as well as outside of
the cloud. On the other hand, cloud still not in the state to provide
surety to 100% data security. Cloud provider must ensure that end
user/client get a Quality of Service. In this report we describe
possible aspects of cloud related security.
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: Botnets are one of the most serious and widespread
cyber threats. Today botnets have been facilitating many
cybercrimes, especially financial, top secret thefts. Botnets can be
available for lease in the market and are utilized by the
cybercriminals to launch massive attacks like DDoS, click fraud,
phishing attacks etc., Several large institutions, hospitals, banks,
government organizations and many social networks such as twitter,
facebook etc., became the target of the botmasters. Recently,
noteworthy researches have been carried out to detect bot, C&C
channels, botnet and botmasters. Using many sophisticated
technologies, botmasters made botnet a titan of the cyber world.
Innumerable challenges have been put forth by the botmasters to the
researchers in the detection of botnet. In this paper we present a
survey of different types of botnet C&C channels and also provide a
comparison of various botnet categories. Finally we hope that our
survey will create awareness for forthcoming botnet research
endeavors.
Abstract: This paper presents a hybrid fuzzy logic control
strategy for a unicycle trajectory following robot on irregular terrains.
In literature, researchers have presented the design of path tracking
controllers of mobile robots on non-frictional surface. In this work,
the robot is simulated to drive on irregular terrains with contrasting
frictional profiles of peat and rough gravel. A hybrid fuzzy logic
controller is utilised to stabilise and drive the robot precisely with the
predefined trajectory and overcome the frictional impact. The
controller gains and scaling factors were optimised using spiral
dynamics optimisation algorithm to minimise the mean square error
of the linear and angular velocities of the unicycle robot. The robot
was simulated on various frictional surfaces and terrains and the
controller was able to stabilise the robot with a superior performance
that is shown via simulation results.
Abstract: The exposure to outdoor air pollution causes lung
cancer and increases the risk of bladder cancer. Because air pollution
in urban areas is mainly caused by transportation, it is necessary to
evaluate pollutant exhaust emissions from vehicles during their realworld
use. Nevertheless their evaluation and reduction is a key
problem, especially in the cities, that account for more than 50% of
world population.
A particular attention was given to the slope variability along the
streets during each journey performed by the instrumented vehicle.
In this paper we dealt with the problem of describing a
quantitatively approach for the reconstruction of GPS coordinates and
altitude, in the context of correlation study between driving cycles /
emission / geographical location, during an experimental campaign
realized with some instrumented cars.
Finally the slope analysis can be correlated to the emission and
consumption values in a specific road position, and it could be
evaluated its influence on their behaviour.
Abstract: The influence of three different types of halloysite
nanotubes (HNTs) with different dimensions, namely as camel lake
(CLA), Jarrahdale (JA) and Matauri Bay (MB), on their reinforcing
ability of ethylene propylene dine monomer (EPDM) were
investigated by varying the HNTs loading (from 0-15 phr).
Mechanical properties of the nanocomposites improved with addition
of all three HNTs, but CLA based nanocomposites exhibited a
significant enhancement compared to the other HNTs. For instance,
tensile properties of EPDM nanocomposites increased by 120%,
256% and 340% for MB, JA and CLA, respectively, with addition of
15 phr of HNTs. This could be due to the higher aspect ratio and
higher surface area of CLA compared to others. Scanning electron
microscopy (SEM) of nanocomposites at 15 phr of HNT loadings
showed low amounts of pulled-out nanotubes which confirmed the
presence of more embedded nanotubes inside the EPDM matrix, as
well as aggregates within the fracture surface of EPDM/HNT
nanocomposites
Abstract: This paper evaluates the performance of a multi-lane
four legged modern roundabout operating in Muscat using SIDRA
model. The performance measures include Degree of Saturation
(DOS), average delay, and queue lengths. The geometric and traffic
data were used for model preparation. Gap acceptance parameters,
critical gap and follow up headway, were used for calibration of
SIDRA model. The results from the analysis showed that currently
the roundabout is experiencing delays up to 610 seconds per vehicle
with DOS 1.67 during peak hour. Further, sensitivity analysis for
general and roundabout parameters was performed, amongst lane
width, cruise speed, inscribed diameter, entry radius and entry angle
showed that inscribed diameter is most crucial factor affecting delay
and DOS. Up gradation of roundabout to fully signalized junction
was found as the suitable solution which will serve for future years
with LOS C for design year having DOS of 0.9 with average control
delay of 51.9 seconds per vehicle.
Abstract: This paper discusses the potential benefits of an
interactive multimedia information representation in enhancing
students’ critical thinking aligned with history reasoning in learning
history amongst Secondary School students in Malaysia. Two modes
of multimedia information representation were implemented;
chronologic and thematic information representations. A qualitative
study of an unstructured interview was conducted among two history
teachers, one history education lecturer, two i-think experts, and five
students from Form Four secondary school. The interview was to
elicit their opinions on the implementation of thinking maps and
interactive multimedia information representation in history learning.
The key elements of the interactive multimedia (e.g. multiple media,
user control, interactivity and use of timelines and concept maps)
were then considered to improve the learning process. Findings of the
preliminary investigation reveal that the interactive multimedia
information representations have the potential benefits to be
implemented as an instructional resource in enhancing students’
higher order thinking skills (HOTs). This paper concludes by giving
suggestions for future work.