Abstract: A knowledge base stores facts and rules about the
world that applications can use for the purpose of reasoning. By
applying the concept of granular computing to a knowledge base,
several advantages emerge. These can be harnessed by applications
to improve their capabilities and performance. In this paper, the
concept behind such a construct, called a granular knowledge cube,
is defined, and its intended use as an instrument that manages to
cope with different data types and detect knowledge domains is
elaborated. Furthermore, the underlying architecture, consisting of the
three layers of the storing, representing, and structuring of knowledge,
is described. Finally, benefits as well as challenges of deploying it
are listed alongside application types that could profit from having
such an enhanced knowledge base.
Abstract: This study suggests the estimation method of stress
distribution for the beam structures based on TLS (Terrestrial Laser
Scanning). The main components of method are the creation of the
lattices of raw data from TLS to satisfy the suitable condition and
application of CSSI (Cubic Smoothing Spline Interpolation) for
estimating stress distribution. Estimation of stress distribution for the
structural member or the whole structure is one of the important
factors for safety evaluation of the structure. Existing sensors which
include ESG (Electric strain gauge) and LVDT (Linear Variable
Differential Transformer) can be categorized as contact type sensor
which should be installed on the structural members and also there are
various limitations such as the need of separate space where the
network cables are installed and the difficulty of access for sensor
installation in real buildings. To overcome these problems inherent in
the contact type sensors, TLS system of LiDAR (light detection and
ranging), which can measure the displacement of a target in a long
range without the influence of surrounding environment and also get
the whole shape of the structure, has been applied to the field of
structural health monitoring. The important characteristic of TLS
measuring is a formation of point clouds which has many points
including the local coordinate. Point clouds are not linear distribution
but dispersed shape. Thus, to analyze point clouds, the interpolation is
needed vitally. Through formation of averaged lattices and CSSI for
the raw data, the method which can estimate the displacement of
simple beam was developed. Also, the developed method can be
extended to calculate the strain and finally applicable to estimate a
stress distribution of a structural member. To verify the validity of the
method, the loading test on a simple beam was conducted and TLS
measured it. Through a comparison of the estimated stress and
reference stress, the validity of the method is confirmed.
Abstract: The main objective of this study was to assess the
seasonal variation of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon
(PAH) concentrations associated with PM10 in an urban site of Győr,
Hungary. A total of 112 PM10 aerosol samples were collected in the
years of 2012 and 2013 and analyzed for PAHs by gas
chromatography method. The total PAH concentrations (sum of the
concentrations of 19 individual PAH compounds) ranged from 0.19
to 70.16 ng/m3 with the mean value of 12.29 ng/m3. Higher
concentrations of both total PAHs and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) were
detected in samples collected in the heating seasons. Using BaPequivalent
potency index on the carcinogenic PAH concentration
data, the local population appears to be exposed to significantly
higher cancer risk in the heating seasons. However, the comparison
of the BaP and total PAH concentrations observed for Győr with
other cities it was found that the PAH levels in Győr generally
corresponded to the EU average.
Abstract: Neural activity in the human brain starts from the
early stages of prenatal development. This activity or signals
generated by the brain are electrical in nature and represent not only
the brain function but also the status of the whole body. At the
present moment, three methods can record functional and
physiological changes within the brain with high temporal resolution
of neuronal interactions at the network level: the
electroencephalogram (EEG), the magnet oencephalogram (MEG),
and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI); each of these has
advantages and shortcomings. EEG recording with a large number of
electrodes is now feasible in clinical practice. Multichannel EEG
recorded from the scalp surface provides very valuable but indirect
information about the source distribution. However, deep electrode
measurements yield more reliable information about the source
locations intracranial recordings and scalp EEG are used with the
source imaging techniques to determine the locations and strengths of
the epileptic activity. As a source localization method, Low
Resolution Electro-Magnetic Tomography (LORETA) is solved for
the realistic geometry based on both forward methods, the Boundary
Element Method (BEM) and the Finite Difference Method (FDM). In
this paper, we review the findings EEG- LORETA about epilepsy.
Abstract: Since 1920, the industry has almost completely
changed the rivets production techniques for the manufacture of
permanent welding join production of structures and manufacture of
other products. The welding arc is the process more widely used in
industries. This is accomplished by the heat of an electric arc which
melts the base metal while the molten metal droplets are transferred
through the arc to the welding pool, protected from the atmosphere
by a gas curtain. The GMAW (Gas metal arc welding) process is
influenced by variables such as: current, polarity, welding speed,
electrode: extension, position, moving direction; type of joint,
welder's ability, among others. It is remarkable that the knowledge
and control of these variables are essential for obtaining satisfactory
quality welds, knowing that are interconnected so that changes in one
of them requiring changes in one or more of the other to produce the
desired results. The optimum values are affected by the type of base
metal, the electrode composition, the welding position and the quality
requirements. Thus, this paper proposes a new methodology, adding
the variable vibration through a mechanism developed for GMAW
welding, in order to improve the mechanical and metallurgical
properties which does not affect the ability of the welder and enables
repeatability of the welds made. For confirmation metallographic
analysis and mechanical tests were made.
Abstract: This paper proposes a linear model for optimizing
domestic energy consumption in Romania. The particularity of the
model is that it is putting in competition both tangible technologies
and thermal insulation projects with different financing modes.
The model is optimizing the energy system by minimizing the
global discounted cost in household sector, by integrating residential
lighting, space heating, hot water, combined space heating – hot
water, as well as space cooling, in a monolithic model. Another
demand sector included is the passenger transport.
This paper focuses on space heating part, analyzing technical and
economic issues related to investment decisions to envelope and
insulate buildings, in order to minimize energy consumption.
Abstract: Brownfields are one of the most important problems
that must be solved by today's cities. The topic of this article is
description of developing a comprehensive transformation of postindustrial
area of the former iron factory national cultural heritage
lower Vítkovice. City of Ostrava used to be industrial superpower of
the Czechoslovak Republic, especially in the area of coal mining and
iron production, after declining industrial production and mining in
the 80s left many unused areas of former factories generally
brownfields and backfields. Since the late 90s we are observing how
the city officials or private entities seeking to remedy this situation.
Regeneration of brownfields is a very expensive and long-term
process. The area is now rebuilt for tourists and residents of the city
in the entertainment, cultural, and social center. It was necessary do
the reconstruction of the industrial monuments. Equally important
was the construction of new buildings, which helped reusing of the
entire complex. This is a unique example of transformation of
technical monuments and completion of necessary new objects, so
that the area could start working again and reintegrate back into the
urban system.
Abstract: A new fast growing trend in tourism is ecotourism, in
which tourists visit natural ecosystems under low impact, nonconsumptive
and locally oriented activities. Through these activities
species and habitats are maintained and typically, underdeveloped
regions are emphasized. Ecotourism provides a great alternative,
especially for rural and undeveloped area. At the same time, despite
its many benefits, it also poses many risks for the naturally protected
areas. If ecotourism is practiced improperly degradation and
irreversible damages could be the unwanted result. In addition, the
lack of MSc programs in the field of Ecotourism in Europe makes it a
necessity to be developed. Such an MSc program is being
implemented with the lead partner the Technical University of
Madrid. The entire partnership has six Universities, seven SMEs and
one National Park from seven different countries all over Europe.
The MSc will have 10 educational modules that will be available
online and will prepare professionals that will be able to implement
ecotourism in a sustainable way. Only through awareness and
education a sustainable ecotourism will be achieved in the protected
areas of Europe.
Abstract: In this paper, improved performance scheme for
joint transmission (JT) is proposed in downlink (DL) coordinated
multi-point (CoMP) in case of the constraint transmission power.
This scheme is that a serving transmission point (TP) requests the
JT to an inter-TP and it selects a precoding technique according
to the channel state information (CSI) from user equipment (UE).
The simulation results show that the bit error rate (BER) and the
throughput performances of the proposed scheme provide the high
spectral efficiency and the reliable data at the cell edge.
Abstract: Cemented carbides, owing to their excellent
mechanical properties, have been of immense interest in the field of
hard materials for the past few decades. A number of processing
techniques have been developed to obtain high quality carbide tools,
with a wide range of grain size depending on the application and
requirements. Microwave sintering is one of the heating processes,
which has been used to prepare a wide range of materials including
ceramics. A deep understanding of microwave sintering and its
contribution towards control of grain growth and on deformation of
the resulting carbide materials requires further studies and attention.
In addition, the effect of binder materials and their behavior during
microwave sintering is another area that requires clear understanding.
This review aims to focus on microwave sintering, providing
information of how the process works and what type of materials it is
best suited for. In addition, a closer look at some microwave sintered
Tungsten Carbide-Cobalt samples will be taken and discussed,
highlighting some of the key issues and challenges faced in this
research area.
Abstract: There have been rigorous research and development
of unmanned aerial vehicles in the field of search and rescue (SAR)
operation recently. UAVs reduce unnecessary human risks while
assisting rescue efforts through aerial imagery, topographic mapping
and emergency delivery. The application of UAVs in offshore and
nearshore marine SAR missions is discussed in this paper. Projects
that integrate UAV technology into their systems are introduced to
highlight the great advantages and capabilities of UAVs. Scenarios
where UAVs could provide invaluable assistance are also suggested.
Abstract: Elastomeric polymer foam has been used widely in
the automotive industry, especially for isolating unwanted vibrations.
Such material is able to absorb unwanted vibration due to its
combination of elastic and viscous properties. However, the ‘creep
effect’, poor stress distribution and susceptibility to high
temperatures are the main disadvantages of such a system.
In this study, improvements in the performance of elastomeric
foam as a vibration isolator were investigated using the concept of
Foam Filled Fluid (FFFluid). In FFFluid devices, the foam takes the
form of capsule shapes, and is mixed with viscous fluid, while the
mixture is contained in a closed vessel. When the FFFluid isolator is
affected by vibrations, energy is absorbed, due to the elastic strain of
the foam. As the foam is compressed, there is also movement of the
fluid, which contributes to further energy absorption as the fluid
shears. Also, and dependent on the design adopted, the packaging
could also attenuate vibration through energy absorption via friction
and/or elastic strain.
The present study focuses on the advantages of the FFFluid
concept over the dry polymeric foam in the role of vibration isolation.
This comparative study between the performance of dry foam and the
FFFluid was made according to experimental procedures. The paper
concludes by evaluating the performance of the FFFluid isolator in
the suspension system of a light vehicle. One outcome of this
research is that the FFFluid may preferable over elastomer isolators
in certain applications, as it enables a reduction in the effects of high
temperatures and of ‘creep effects’, thereby increasing the reliability
and load distribution. The stiffness coefficient of the system has
increased about 60% by using an FFFluid sample. The technology
represented by the FFFluid is therefore considered by this research
suitable for application in the suspension system of a light vehicle.
Abstract: The literature on language teaching and second
language acquisition has been largely driven by monolingual
ideology with a common assumption that a second language (L2) is
best taught and learned in the L2 only. The current study challenges
this assumption by reporting learners' positive perceptions of tertiary
level teachers' code switching practices in Vietnam. The findings of
this study contribute to our understanding of code switching practices
in language classrooms from a learners' perspective.
Data were collected from student participants who were working
towards a Bachelor degree in English within the English for Business
Communication stream through the use of focus group interviews.
The literature has documented that this method of interviewing has a
number of distinct advantages over individual student interviews. For
instance, group interactions generated by focus groups create a more
natural environment than that of an individual interview because they
include a range of communicative processes in which each individual
may influence or be influenced by others - as they are in their real
life. The process of interaction provides the opportunity to obtain the
meanings and answers to a problem that are "socially constructed
rather than individually created" leading to the capture of real-life
data. The distinct feature of group interaction offered by this
technique makes it a powerful means of obtaining deeper and richer
data than those from individual interviews. The data generated
through this study were analysed using a constant comparative
approach. Overall, the students expressed positive views of this
practice indicating that it is a useful teaching strategy. Teacher code
switching was seen as a learning resource and a source supporting
language output. This practice was perceived to promote student
comprehension and to aid the learning of content and target language
knowledge. This practice was also believed to scaffold the students'
language production in different contexts. However, the students
indicated their preference for teacher code switching to be
constrained, as extensive use was believed to negatively impact on
their L2 learning and trigger cognitive reliance on the L1 for L2
learning. The students also perceived that when the L1 was used to a
great extent, their ability to develop as autonomous learners was
negatively impacted.
This study found that teacher code switching was supported in
certain contexts by learners, thus suggesting that there is a need for
the widespread assumption about the monolingual teaching approach
to be re-considered.
Abstract: Waste Load Allocation (WLA) strategies usually
intend to find economic policies for water resource management.
Water quality trading (WQT) is an approach that uses discharge
permit market to reduce total environmental protection costs. This
primarily requires assigning discharge limits known as total
maximum daily loads (TMDLs). These are determined by monitoring
organizations with respect to the receiving water quality and
remediation capabilities. The purpose of this study is to compare two
approaches of TMDL assignment for WQT policy in small catchment
area of Haraz River, in north of Iran. At first, TMDLs are assigned
uniformly for the whole point sources to keep the concentrations of
BOD and dissolved oxygen (DO) at the standard level at checkpoint
(terminus point). This was simply simulated and controlled by
Qual2kw software. In the second scenario, TMDLs are assigned
using multi objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) method
in which the environmental violation at river basin and total treatment
costs are minimized simultaneously. In both scenarios, the equity
index and the WLA based on trading discharge permits (TDP) are
calculated. The comparative results showed that using economically
optimized TMDLs (2nd scenario) has slightly more cost savings rather
than uniform TMDL approach (1st scenario). The former annually
costs about 1 M$ while the latter is 1.15 M$. WQT can decrease
these annual costs to 0.9 and 1.1 M$, respectively. In other word,
these approaches may save 35 and 45% economically in comparison
with command and control policy. It means that using multi objective
decision support systems (DSS) may find more economical WLA,
however its outcome is not necessarily significant in comparison with
uniform TMDLs. This may be due to the similar impact factors of
dischargers in small catchments. Conversely, using uniform TMDLs
for WQT brings more equity that makes stakeholders not feel that
much envious of difference between TMDL and WQT allocation. In
addition, for this case, determination of TMDLs uniformly would be
much easier for monitoring. Consequently, uniform TMDL for TDP
market is recommended as a sustainable approach. However,
economical TMDLs can be used for larger watersheds.
Abstract: Due to the resultant leachate from waste
decomposition in landfills has polluter potential hundred times
greater than domestic sewage, this is considered a problem related to
the depreciation of environment requiring pre-disposal treatment.In
seeking to improve this situation, this project proposes the treatment
of landfill leachate using natural fibers intercropped with advanced
oxidation processes. The selected natural fibers were palm, coconut
and banana fiber.These materials give sustainability to the project
because, besides having adsorbent capacity, are often part of waste
discarded. The study was conducted in laboratory scale.In trials, the
effluents were characterized as Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD),
Turbidity and Color. The results indicate that is technically
promising since that there were extremely oxidative conditions, the
use of certain natural fibers in the reduction of pollutants in leachate
have been obtained results of COD removals between 67.9% and
90.9%, Turbidity between 88.0% and 99.7% and Color between
67.4% and 90.4%.The expectation generated is to continue evaluating
the association of efficiency of other natural fibers with other landfill
leachate treatment processes.
Abstract: Several parameters are established in order to measure
biodiesel quality. One of them is the iodine value, which is an
important parameter that measures the total unsaturation within a
mixture of fatty acids. Limitation of unsaturated fatty acids is
necessary since warming of higher quantity of these ones ends in
either formation of deposits inside the motor or damage of lubricant.
Determination of iodine value by official procedure tends to be very
laborious, with high costs and toxicity of the reagents, this study uses
artificial neural network (ANN) in order to predict the iodine value
property as an alternative to these problems. The methodology of
development of networks used 13 esters of fatty acids in the input
with convergence algorithms of back propagation of back
propagation type were optimized in order to get an architecture of
prediction of iodine value. This study allowed us to demonstrate the
neural networks’ ability to learn the correlation between biodiesel
quality properties, in this caseiodine value, and the molecular
structures that make it up. The model developed in the study reached
a correlation coefficient (R) of 0.99 for both network validation and
network simulation, with Levenberg-Maquardt algorithm.
Abstract: Currently, continuous two-phase decanter process
used for olive oil production is the more internationally widespread.
The wastewaters generated from this industry (OMW) are a real
environmental problem because of its high organic load. Among
proposed treatments for these wastewaters, advanced oxidation
technologies (Fenton, ozone, photoFenton, etc.) are the most
favourable. The direct application of these processes is somewhat
expensive. Therefore, the application of a previous stage based on a
flocculation-sedimentation operation is of high importance. In this
research five commercial flocculants (three cationic, and two anionic)
have been used to achieve the separation of phases (liquid clarifiedsludge).
For each flocculant, different concentrations (0-1000 mg/L)
have been studied. In these experiments, sludge volume formed and
the final water quality were determined. The final removal
percentages of total phenols (11.3-25.1%), COD (5.6-20.4%), total
carbon (2.3-26.5%), total organic carbon (1.50-23.8%), total nitrogen
(1.45-24.8%), and turbidity (27.9-61.4%) were determined. The
variation on electric conductivity reduction percentage (1-8%) was
also determined. Finally, the best flocculants with highest removal
percentages have been determined (QG2001 and Flocudex CS49).
Abstract: This paper aims to study the effect of cold work
condition on the microstructure of Cu-1.5wt%Ti, and Cu-3.5wt%Ti
and hence mechanical properties. The samples under investigation
were machined, and solution heat treated. X-ray diffraction technique
is used to identify the different phases present after cold deformation
by compression and also different heat treatment and also measuring
the relative quantities of phases present. The metallographic
examination is used to study the microstructure of the samples. The
hardness measurements were used to indicate the change in
mechanical properties. The results are compared with the mechanical
properties obtained by previous workers. Experiments on cold
compression followed by aging of Cu-Ti alloys have indicated that
the most efficient hardening of the material results from continuous
precipitation of very fine particles within the matrix. These particles
were reported to be β`-type, Cu4Ti phase. The β`-β transformation
and particles coarsening within the matrix as well as long grain
boundaries were responsible for the overaging of Cu-1.5wt%Ti and
Cu-3.5wt%Ti alloys. It is well known that plate-like particles are β –
type, Cu3Ti phase. Discontinuous precipitation was found to start at
the grain boundaries and expand into grain interior. At the higher
aging temperature, a classic Widmanstätten morphology forms giving
rise to a coarse microstructure comprised of α and the equilibrium
phase β. Those results were confirmed by X-ray analysis, which
found that a few percent of Cu3Ti, β precipitates are formed during
aging at high temperature for long time for both Cu- Ti alloys (i.e.
Cu-1.5wt%Ti and Cu-3.5wt%Ti).
Abstract: Cloud computing has emerged as a promising
direction for cost efficient and reliable service delivery across data
communication networks. The dynamic location of service facilities
and the virtualization of hardware and software elements are stressing
the communication networks and protocols, especially when data
centres are interconnected through the internet. Although the
computing aspects of cloud technologies have been largely
investigated, lower attention has been devoted to the networking
services without involving IT operating overhead. Cloud computing
has enabled elastic and transparent access to infrastructure services
without involving IT operating overhead. Virtualization has been a
key enabler for cloud computing. While resource virtualization and
service abstraction have been widely investigated, networking in
cloud remains a difficult puzzle. Even though network has significant
role in facilitating hybrid cloud scenarios, it hasn't received much
attention in research community until recently. We propose Network
as a Service (NaaS), which forms the basis of unifying public and
private clouds. In this paper, we identify various challenges in
adoption of hybrid cloud. We discuss the design and implementation
of a cloud platform.
Abstract: Construction projects are information intensive in
nature and involve many activities that are related to each other.
Wireless technologies can be used to improve the accuracy and
timeliness of data collected from construction sites and shares it with
appropriate parties. Nonetheless, the construction industry tends to be
conservative and shows hesitation to adopt new technologies. A main
concern for owners, contractors or any person in charge on a job site
is the cost of the technology in question. Wireless technologies are
not cheap. There are a lot of expenses to be taken into consideration,
and a study should be completed to make sure that the importance
and savings resulting from the usage of this technology is worth the
expenses. This research attempts to assess the effectiveness of using
the appropriate wireless technologies based on criteria such as
performance, reliability, and risk. The assessment is based on a utility
function model that breaks down the selection issue into alternatives
attribute. Then the attributes are assigned weights and single
attributes are measured. Finally, single attribute are combined to
develop one single aggregate utility index for each alternative.