Abstract: Bioinformatics methods for predicting the T cell
coreceptor usage from the array of membrane protein of HIV-1 are
investigated. In this study, we aim to propose an effective prediction
method for dealing with the three-class classification problem of
CXCR4 (X4), CCR5 (R5) and CCR5/CXCR4 (R5X4). We made
efforts in investigating the coreceptor prediction problem as follows: 1)
proposing a feature set of informative physicochemical properties
which is cooperated with SVM to achieve high prediction test
accuracy of 81.48%, compared with the existing method with
accuracy of 70.00%; 2) establishing a large up-to-date data set by
increasing the size from 159 to 1225 sequences to verify the proposed
prediction method where the mean test accuracy is 88.59%, and 3)
analyzing the set of 14 informative physicochemical properties to
further understand the characteristics of HIV-1coreceptors.
Abstract: This paper presents a simple method for estimation of
additional load as a factor of the existing load that may be drawn
before reaching the point of line maximum loadability of radial
distribution system (RDS) with different realistic load models at
different substation voltages. The proposed method involves a simple
line loadability index (LLI) that gives a measure of the proximity of
the present state of a line in the distribution system. The LLI can use
to assess voltage instability and the line loading margin. The
proposed method also compares with the existing method of
maximum loadability index [10]. The simulation results show that the
LLI can identify not only the weakest line/branch causing system
instability but also the system voltage collapse point when it is near
one. This feature enables us to set an index threshold to monitor and
predict system stability on-line so that a proper action can be taken to
prevent the system from collapse. To demonstrate the validity of the
proposed algorithm, computer simulations are carried out on two bus
and 69 bus RDS.
Abstract: An image compression method has been developed
using fuzzy edge image utilizing the basic Block Truncation Coding
(BTC) algorithm. The fuzzy edge image has been validated with
classical edge detectors on the basis of the results of the well-known
Canny edge detector prior to applying to the proposed method. The
bit plane generated by the conventional BTC method is replaced with
the fuzzy bit plane generated by the logical OR operation between
the fuzzy edge image and the corresponding conventional BTC bit
plane. The input image is encoded with the block mean and standard
deviation and the fuzzy bit plane. The proposed method has been
tested with test images of 8 bits/pixel and size 512×512 and found to
be superior with better Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR) when
compared to the conventional BTC, and adaptive bit plane selection
BTC (ABTC) methods. The raggedness and jagged appearance, and
the ringing artifacts at sharp edges are greatly reduced in
reconstructed images by the proposed method with the fuzzy bit
plane.
Abstract: Recognition of Indian languages scripts is challenging problems. In Optical Character Recognition [OCR], a character or symbol to be recognized can be machine printed or handwritten characters/numerals. There are several approaches that deal with problem of recognition of numerals/character depending on the type of feature extracted and different way of extracting them. This paper proposes a recognition scheme for handwritten Hindi (devnagiri) numerals; most admired one in Indian subcontinent. Our work focused on a technique in feature extraction i.e. global based approach using end-points information, which is extracted from images of isolated numerals. These feature vectors are fed to neuro-memetic model [18] that has been trained to recognize a Hindi numeral. The archetype of system has been tested on varieties of image of numerals. . In proposed scheme data sets are fed to neuro-memetic algorithm, which identifies the rule with highest fitness value of nearly 100 % & template associates with this rule is nothing but identified numerals. Experimentation result shows that recognition rate is 92-97 % compared to other models.
Abstract: Along with the progress of our information society,
various risks are becoming increasingly common, causing multiple social problems. For this reason, risk communications for
establishing consensus among stakeholders who have different
priorities have become important. However, it is not always easy for the decision makers to agree on measures to reduce risks based on
opposing concepts, such as security, privacy and cost. Therefore, we previously developed and proposed the “Multiple Risk Communicator" (MRC) with the following functions: (1) modeling
the support role of the risk specialist, (2) an optimization engine, and (3) displaying the computed results. In this paper, MRC program
version 1.0 is applied to the personal information leakage problem. The application process and validation of the results are discussed.
Abstract: In this study, the effect of mechanical activation on the synthesis of Fe3Al/Al2O3 nanocomposite has been investigated by using mechanochemical method. For this purpose, Aluminum powder and hematite as precursors, with stoichiometric ratio, have been utilized and other effective parameters in milling process were kept constant. Phase formation analysis, crystallite size measurement and lattice strain were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) by using Williamson-Hall method as well as microstructure and morphology were explored by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Also, Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis was used in order to probe the particle distribution. The results showed that after 30-hour milling, the reaction was started, combustibly done and completed.
Abstract: Due to the tremendous amount of information provided
by the World Wide Web (WWW) developing methods for mining
the structure of web-based documents is of considerable interest. In
this paper we present a similarity measure for graphs representing
web-based hypertext structures. Our similarity measure is mainly
based on a novel representation of a graph as linear integer strings,
whose components represent structural properties of the graph. The
similarity of two graphs is then defined as the optimal alignment of
the underlying property strings. In this paper we apply the well known
technique of sequence alignments for solving a novel and challenging
problem: Measuring the structural similarity of generalized trees.
In other words: We first transform our graphs considered as high
dimensional objects in linear structures. Then we derive similarity
values from the alignments of the property strings in order to
measure the structural similarity of generalized trees. Hence, we
transform a graph similarity problem to a string similarity problem for
developing a efficient graph similarity measure. We demonstrate that
our similarity measure captures important structural information by
applying it to two different test sets consisting of graphs representing
web-based document structures.
Abstract: Analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) has become a
popular non-invasive tool for assessing the activities of autonomic
nervous system. Most of the methods were hired from techniques
used for time series analysis. Currently used methods are time
domain, frequency domain, geometrical and fractal methods. A new
technique, which searches for pattern repeatability in a time series, is
proposed for quantifying heart rate (HR) time series. These set of
indices, which are termed as pattern repeatability measure and
pattern repeatability ratio are able to distinguish HR data clearly
from noise and electroencephalogram (EEG). The results of analysis
using these measures give an insight into the fundamental difference
between the composition of HR time series with respect to EEG and
noise.
Abstract: Water level forecasting using records of past time series is of importance in water resources engineering and management. For example, water level affects groundwater tables in low-lying coastal areas, as well as hydrological regimes of some coastal rivers. Then, a reliable prediction of sea-level variations is required in coastal engineering and hydrologic studies. During the past two decades, the approaches based on the Genetic Programming (GP) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) were developed. In the present study, the GP is used to forecast daily water level variations for a set of time intervals using observed water levels. The measurements from a single tide gauge at Urmia Lake, Northwest Iran, were used to train and validate the GP approach for the period from January 1997 to July 2008. Statistics, the root mean square error and correlation coefficient, are used to verify model by comparing with a corresponding outputs from Artificial Neural Network model. The results show that both these artificial intelligence methodologies are satisfactory and can be considered as alternatives to the conventional harmonic analysis.
Abstract: This paper deals with tracking and estimating time delay between two signals. The simulation of this algorithm accomplished by using Mathcad package is carried out. The algorithm we will present adaptively controls and tracking the delay, so as to minimize the mean square of this error. Thus the algorithm in this case has task not only of seeking the minimum point of error but also of tracking the change of position, leading to a significant improving of performance. The flowchart of the algorithm is presented as well as several tests of different cases are carried out.
Abstract: Exposure to ambient air pollution has been linked to a
number of health outcomes, starting from modest transient changes in
the respiratory tract and impaired pulmonary function, continuing to
restrict activity/reduce performance and to the increase emergency
rooms visits, hospital admissions or mortality. The increase of
allergenic symptoms has been associated with air contaminants such
as ozone, particulate matter, fungal spores and pollen.
Considering the potential relevance of crossed effects of nonbiological
pollutants and airborne pollens and fungal spores on
allergy worsening, the aim of this work was to evaluate the influence
of non-biological pollutants (O3 and PM10) and meteorological
parameters on the concentrations of pollen and fungal spores using
multiple linear regressions.
The data considered in this study were collected in Oporto which
is the second largest Portuguese city, located in the North. Daily
mean of O3, PM10, pollen and fungal spore concentrations,
temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, wind velocity, pollen
and fungal spore concentrations, for 2003, 2004 and 2005 were
considered. Results showed that the 90th percentile of the adjusted
coefficient of determination, P90 (R2aj), of the multiple regressions
varied from 0.613 to 0.916 for pollen and from 0.275 to 0.512 for
fungal spores. O3 and PM10 showed to have some influence on the
biological pollutants. Among the meteorological parameters
analysed, temperature was the one that most influenced the pollen
and fungal spores airborne concentrations. Relative humidity also
showed to have some influence on the fungal spore dispersion.
Nevertheless, the models for each pollen and fungal spore were
different depending on the analysed period, which means that the
correlations identified as statistically significant can not be, even so,
consistent enough.
Abstract: In this paper we present a GP-based method for automatically evolve projections, so that data can be more easily classified in the projected spaces. At the same time, our approach can reduce dimensionality by constructing more relevant attributes. Fitness of each projection measures how easy is to classify the dataset after applying the projection. This is quickly computed by a Simple Linear Perceptron. We have tested our approach in three domains. The experiments show that it obtains good results, compared to other Machine Learning approaches, while reducing dimensionality in many cases.
Abstract: Microbial-induced calcite precipitation (MICP) is a
relatively green and sustainable soil improvement technique. It
utilizes biochemical process that exists naturally in soil to improve
engineering properties of soils. The calcite precipitation process is
uplifted by the mean of injecting higher concentration of urease
positive bacteria and reagents into the soil. The main objective of this
paper is to provide an overview of the factors affecting the MICP in
soil. Several factors were identified including nutrients, bacteria type,
geometric compatibility of bacteria, bacteria cell concentration,
fixation and distribution of bacteria in soil, temperature, reagents
concentration, pH, and injection method. These factors were found to
be essential for promoting successful MICP soil treatment.
Furthermore, a preliminary laboratory test was carried out to
investigate the potential application of the technique in improving the
shear strength and impermeability of a residual soil specimen. The
results showed that both shear strength and impermeability of
residual soil improved significantly upon MICP treatment. The
improvement increased with increasing soil density.
Abstract: This study is concerned with pH solution detection
using 2 × 4 flexible sensor array based on a plastic polyethylene
terephthalate (PET) substrate that is coated a conductive layer and a
ruthenium dioxide (RuO2) sensitive membrane with the technologies
of screen-printing and RF sputtering. For data analysis, we also
prepared a dynamic measurement system for acquiring the response
voltage and analyzing the characteristics of the working electrodes
(WEs), such as sensitivity and linearity. In this condition, an array
measurement system was designed to acquire the original signal from
sensor array, and it is based on the method of digital signal processing
(DSP). The DSP modifies the unstable acquisition data to a direct
current (DC) output using the technique of digital filter. Hence, this
sensor array can obtain a satisfactory yield, 62.5%, through the design
measurement and analysis system in our laboratory.
Abstract: Strategic alliances generally mean the cooperation or
collaboration between firms which pursue for a synergy that each
member hopes the benefits from the alliances would be much more
than those from individual efforts. Past researches provide us
sufficient theories and considerations for alliance forming in liner
shipping market. This research reviews important academic journals
for the past decade regarding to the most important reasons to form the
alliances. We would explain the motive of alliances and details of
shipping cooperation in literature review.
The paper also empirically investigates the key service quality
requirements improved through alliances by using quality function
deployment (QFD). Moreover, the research investigates famous
shipping reports, shipping consultant websites and most recent
shipping publications to find out the executive-s viewpoint of several
leading carriers among top 20 to assess current shipping strategic
alliance on Asia/Europe route. These comments provide meaningful
managerial reasons to consider alliance formations and search if there
is any gap between the theories and industrial practice. Analysis of the
empirical investigation and top management-s perspective on current
market situation will contribute us some meaningful managerial
suggestions to evaluate these theories applied to current strategic
alliances.
Abstract: How to maintain the service speeds for the business
to make the biggest profit is a problem worthy of study, which is
discussed in this paper with the use of queuing theory. An M/M/1/N
queuing model with variable input rates, variable service rates and
impatient customers is established, and the following conclusions
are drawn: the stationary distribution of the model, the relationship
between the stationary distribution and the probability that there are n
customers left in the system when a customer leaves (not including
the customer who leaves himself), the busy period of the system,
the average operating cycle, the loss probability for the customers
not entering the system while they arriving at the system, the mean
of the customers who leaves the system being for impatient, the
loss probability for the customers not joining the queue due to the
limited capacity of the system and many other indicators. This paper
also indicates that the following conclusion is not correct: the more
customers the business serve, the more profit they will get. At last,
this paper points out the appropriate service speeds the business
should keep to make the biggest profit.
Abstract: Headphones and earphones have many extremely small
holes or narrow slits; they use sound-absorbing or porous material (i.e.,
dampers) to suppress vibratory system resonance. The air viscosity in
these acoustic paths greatly affects the acoustic properties. Simulation
analyses such as the finite element method (FEM) therefore require
knowledge of the material properties of sound-absorbing or porous
materials, such as the characteristic impedance and propagation
constant. The transfer function method using acoustic tubes is a widely
known measuring method, but there is no literature on taking
measurements up to the audible range. To measure the acoustic
properties at high-range frequencies, the acoustic tubes that form the
measuring device need to be narrowed, and the distance between the
two microphones needs to be reduced. However, when the tubes are
narrowed, the characteristic impedance drops below the air impedance.
In this study, we considered the effect of air viscosity in an acoustical
tube, introduced a theoretical formula for this effect in the form of
complex density and complex sonic velocity, and verified the
theoretical formula. We also conducted an experiment and observed
the effect from air viscosity in the actual measurements.
Abstract: Supplement use is common in athletes. Besides their cost, they may have side effects on health and performance. 250 questionnaires were distributed among female athletes (mean age 27.08 years). The questionnaire aimed to explore the frequency, type, believes, attitudes and knowledge regarding dietary supplements. Knowledge was good in 30.3%, fair in 60.2%, and poor in 9.1% of respondents. 65.3% of athletes did not use supplements regularly. The most widely used supplements were vitamins (48.4%), minerals (42.9%), energy supplements (21.3%), and herbals (20.9%). 68.9% of athletes believed in their efficacy. 34.4% experienced performance enhancement and 6.8% of reported side effects. 68.2% reported little knowledge and 60.9% were eager to learn more. In conclusion, many of the female athletes believe in the efficacy of supplements and think they are an unavoidable part of competitive sports. However, their information is not sufficient. We have to stress on education, consulting sessions, and rational prescription.
Abstract: Depression is a serious mental health problem that
affects people of all ages, including children and adolescents. Studies
showed that female gender is one of the risk factors may influence
the development of depression in adolescents. However, some of the
studies from Turkey suggested that gender does not lead to any
significant difference in the youth depression level. Therefore, the
presented study investigated whether girls differ from boys in respect
of depression. The association between genders and test scores for
the adolescents in a population of primary and secondary school
students was also evaluated. The study was consisting of 254
adolescents (122 boys and 132 girls) with a mean age of 13.86±1.43
(Mean±SD) ranging from 12-16 years. Psychological assessment was
performed using Children-s Depression Inventory (CDI). Chi-square
and Student-s t-test statistics were employed to analyze the data. The
mean of the CDI scores of the girls were higher than boys- CDI
scores (t = -4.580, p = 0.001). Higher ratio appeared for the girls
when they compared with boy group-s depression levels using a CDI
cut-off point of 19 (p = 0.001, Odds Ratio = 2,603). The findings of
the present study suggested that adolescent girls have high level of
depression than adolescent boys aged between 12-16 years in
Turkey. Although some studies reported that there is no any
differences depression level between adolescent boys and girls in
Turkey, result of the present study showed that adolescent girls have
high level of depression than adolescent boys in Turkey.
Abstract: For future Broad band ISDN, Asynchronous Transfer
Mode (ATM) is designed not only to support a wide range of traffic
classes with diverse flow characteristics, but also to guarantee the
different quality of service QOS requirements. The QOS may be
measured in terms of cell loss probability and maximum cell delay.
In this paper, ATM networks in which the virtual path (VP)
concept is implemented are considered. By applying the Markov
Deterministic process method, an efficient algorithm to compute the
minimum capacity required to satisfy the QOS requirements when
multiple classes of on-off are multiplexed on to a single VP. Using
the result, we then proposed a simple algorithm to determine different
combinations of VP to achieve the optimum of the total capacity
required for satisfying the individual QOS requirements (loss- delay).