Abstract: Limited competition has been a serious concern in infrastructure procurement. Importantly, however, there are normally a number of potential bidders initially showing interest in proposed projects. This paper focuses on tackling the question why these initially interested bidders fade out. An empirical problem is that no bids of fading-out firms are observable. They could decide not to enter the process at the beginning of the tendering or may be technically disqualified at any point in the selection process. The paper applies the double selection model to procurement data from road development projects in developing countries and shows that competition ends up restricted, because bidders are self-selective and auctioneers also tend to limit participation depending on the size of contracts.Limited competition would likely lead to high infrastructure procurement costs, threatening fiscal sustainability and economic growth.
Abstract: Information is a critical asset and an important source for gaining competitive advantage in firms. The effective maintenance of IT becomes an important task. In order to better understand the determinants of IT effectiveness, this study employs the Industrial Organization (I/O) and Resource Based View (RBV) theories and investigates the industry effect and several major firmspecific factors in relation to their impact on firms- IT effectiveness. The data consist of a panel data of ten-year observations of firms whose IT excellence had been recognized by the CIO Magazine. The non-profit organizations were deliberately excluded, as explained later. The results showed that the effectiveness of IT management varied significantly across industries. Industry also moderated the effects of firm demographic factors such as size and age on IT effectiveness. Surprisingly, R & D investment intensity had negative correlation to IT effectiveness. For managers and practitioners, this study offers some insights for evaluation criteria and expectation for IT project success. Finally, the empirical results indicate that the sustainability of IT effectiveness appears to be short in duration.
Abstract: Digital watermarking has become an important technique for copyright protection but its robustness against attacks remains a major problem. In this paper, we propose a normalizationbased robust image watermarking scheme. In the proposed scheme, original host image is first normalized to a standard form. Zernike transform is then applied to the normalized image to calculate Zernike moments. Dither modulation is adopted to quantize the magnitudes of Zernike moments according to the watermark bit stream. The watermark extracting method is a blind method. Security analysis and false alarm analysis are then performed. The quality degradation of watermarked image caused by the embedded watermark is visually transparent. Experimental results show that the proposed scheme has very high robustness against various image processing operations and geometric attacks.
Abstract: A neuron can emit spikes in an irregular time basis and by averaging over a certain time window one would ignore a lot of information. It is known that in the context of fast information processing there is no sufficient time to sample an average firing rate of the spiking neurons. The present work shows that the spiking neurons are capable of computing the radial basis functions by storing the relevant information in the neurons' delays. One of the fundamental findings of the this research also is that when using overlapping receptive fields to encode the data patterns it increases the network-s clustering capacity. The clustering algorithm that is discussed here is interesting from computer science and neuroscience point of view as well as from a perspective.
Abstract: In this paper we address the problem of musical style
classification, which has a number of applications like indexing in
musical databases or automatic composition systems. Starting from
MIDI files of real-world improvisations, we extract the melody track
and cut it into overlapping segments of equal length. From these
fragments, some numerical features are extracted as descriptors of
style samples. We show that a standard Bayesian classifier can be
conveniently employed to build an effective musical style classifier,
once this set of features has been extracted from musical data.
Preliminary experimental results show the effectiveness of the
developed classifier that represents the first component of a musical
audio retrieval system
Abstract: Textures are replications, symmetries and
combinations of various basic patterns, usually with some random
variation one of the gray-level statistics. This article proposes a
new approach to Segment texture images. The proposed approach
proceeds in 2 stages. First, in this method, local texture information
of a pixel is obtained by fuzzy texture unit and global texture
information of an image is obtained by fuzzy texture spectrum.
The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the usefulness of fuzzy
texture spectrum for texture Segmentation.
The 2nd Stage of the method is devoted to a decision process,
applying a global analysis followed by a fine segmentation,
which is only focused on ambiguous points. The above Proposed
approach was applied to brain image to identify the components
of brain in turn, used to locate the brain tumor and its Growth
rate.
Abstract: In the area of Human Resource Management, the trend is towards online exchange of information about human resources. For example, online applications for employment become standard and job offerings are posted in many job portals. However, there are too many job portals to monitor all of them if someone is interested in a new job. We developed a prototype for integrating information of different job portals into one meta-search engine. First, existing job portals were investigated and XML schema documents were derived automated from these portals. Second, translation rules for transforming each schema to a central HR-XML-conform schema were determined. The HR-XML-schema is used to build a form for searching jobs. The data supplied by a user in this form is now translated into queries for the different job portals. Each result obtained by a job portal is sent to the meta-search engine that ranks the result of all received job offers according to user's preferences.
Abstract: Safety instrumented systems (SISs) are becoming
increasingly complex and the proportion of programmable electronic
parts is growing. The IEC 61508 global standard was established to
ensure the functional safety of SISs, but it was expressed in highly
macroscopic terms. This study introduces an evaluation process for
hardware safety integrity levels through failure modes, effects, and
diagnostic analysis (FMEDA).FMEDA is widely used to evaluate
safety levels, and it provides the information on failure rates and
failure mode distributions necessary to calculate a diagnostic coverage
factor for a given component. In our evaluation process, the
components of the SIS subsystem are first defined in terms of failure
modes and effects. Then, the failure rate and failure mechanism
distribution are assigned to each component. The safety mode and
detectability of each failure mode are determined for each component.
Finally, the hardware safety integrity level is evaluated based on the
calculated results.
Abstract: This paper presents the optimum design for a double
stator, cup rotor machine; a novel type of BLDC PM Machine. The optimization approach is divided into two stages: the first stage is
calculating the machine configuration using Matlab, and the second stage is the optimization of the machine using Finite Element
Modeling (FEM). Under the design specifications, the machine
model will be selected from three pole numbers, namely, 8, 10 and 12 with an appropriate slot number. A double stator brushless DC
permanent magnet machine is designed to achieve low cogging torque; high electromagnetic torque and low ripple torque.
Abstract: While OCD is one of the most commonly occurring
psychiatric conditions experienced by older adults, there is a paucity
of research conducted into the treatment of older adults with OCD.
This case study represents the first published investigation of a
cognitive treatment for geriatric OCD. It describes the successful
treatment of an 86-year old man with a 63-year history of OCD using
Danger Ideation Reduction Therapy (DIRT). The client received 14
individual, 50-minute treatment sessions of DIRT over 13 weeks.
Clinician-based Y-BOCS scores reduced 84% from 25 (severe) at
pre-treatment, to 4 (subclinical) at 6-month post-treatment follow-up
interview, demonstrating the efficacy of DIRT for this client. DIRT
may have particular advantages over ERP and pharmacological
approaches, however further research is required in older adults with
OCD.
Abstract: Using Turkish data, in this study it is investigated that
whether a firm’s ownership structure has an impact on its stock
prices after the crisis. A linear regression model is conducted on the
data of non-financial firms that are trading in Istanbul Stock
Exchange 100 Index (ISE 100) index. The findings show that, all
explanatory variables such as inside ownership, largest ownership,
concentrated ownership, foreign shareholders, family controlled and
dispersed ownership are not very important to explain stock prices
after the crisis. Family controlled firms and concentrated ownership
is positively related to stock price, dispersed ownership, largest
ownership, foreign shareholders, and inside ownership structures
have negative interaction between stock prices, but because of the p
value is not under the value of 0.05 this relation is not significant. In
addition, the analysis shows that, the shares of firms that have inside,
largest and dispersed ownership structure are outperform comparing
with the other firms. Furthermore, ownership concentrated firms
outperform to family controlled firms.
Abstract: Distant-talking voice-based HCI system suffers from
performance degradation due to mismatch between the acoustic
speech (runtime) and the acoustic model (training). Mismatch is
caused by the change in the power of the speech signal as observed at
the microphones. This change is greatly influenced by the change in
distance, affecting speech dynamics inside the room before reaching
the microphones. Moreover, as the speech signal is reflected, its
acoustical characteristic is also altered by the room properties. In
general, power mismatch due to distance is a complex problem. This
paper presents a novel approach in dealing with distance-induced
mismatch by intelligently sensing instantaneous voice power variation
and compensating model parameters. First, the distant-talking speech
signal is processed through microphone array processing, and the
corresponding distance information is extracted. Distance-sensitive
Gaussian Mixture Models (GMMs), pre-trained to capture both
speech power and room property are used to predict the optimal
distance of the speech source. Consequently, pre-computed statistic
priors corresponding to the optimal distance is selected to correct
the statistics of the generic model which was frozen during training.
Thus, model combinatorics are post-conditioned to match the power
of instantaneous speech acoustics at runtime. This results to an
improved likelihood in predicting the correct speech command at
farther distances. We experiment using real data recorded inside two
rooms. Experimental evaluation shows voice recognition performance
using our method is more robust to the change in distance compared
to the conventional approach. In our experiment, under the most
acoustically challenging environment (i.e., Room 2: 2.5 meters), our
method achieved 24.2% improvement in recognition performance
against the best-performing conventional method.
Abstract: The main objective of this study is to test the
relationship between numbers of variables representing the firm
characteristics (market-related variables) and the extent of voluntary
disclosure levels (forward-looking disclosure) in the annual reports of
Egyptian firms listed on the Egyptian Stock Exchange. The results
show that audit firm size is significantly positively correlated (in all
the three years) with the level of forward-looking disclosure.
However, industry type variable (which divided to: industries,
cement, construction, petrochemicals and services), is found being
insignificantly association with the level of forward-looking
information disclosed in the annual reports for all the three years.
Abstract: In this work, we present for the first time in our perception an efficient digital watermarking scheme for mpeg audio layer 3 files that operates directly in the compressed data domain, while manipulating the time and subband/channel domain. In addition, it does not need the original signal to detect the watermark. Our scheme was implemented taking special care for the efficient usage of the two limited resources of computer systems: time and space. It offers to the industrial user the capability of watermark embedding and detection in time immediately comparable to the real music time of the original audio file that depends on the mpeg compression, while the end user/audience does not face any artifacts or delays hearing the watermarked audio file. Furthermore, it overcomes the disadvantage of algorithms operating in the PCMData domain to be vulnerable to compression/recompression attacks, as it places the watermark in the scale factors domain and not in the digitized sound audio data. The strength of our scheme, that allows it to be used with success in both authentication and copyright protection, relies on the fact that it gives to the users the enhanced capability their ownership of the audio file not to be accomplished simply by detecting the bit pattern that comprises the watermark itself, but by showing that the legal owner knows a hard to compute property of the watermark.
Abstract: In this paper, five options of Iran’s gas flare recovery
have been compared via MCDM method. For developing the model,
the weighing factor of each indicator an AHP method is used via the
Expert-choice software. Several cases were considered in this
analysis. They are defined where the priorities were defined always
keeping one criterion in first position, while the priorities of the other
criteria were defined by ordinal information defining the mutual
relations of the criteria and the respective indicators. The results,
show that amongst these cases, priority is obtained for CHP usage
where availability indicator is highly weighted while the pipeline
usage is obtained where environmental indicator highly weighted and
the injection priority is obtained where economic indicator is highly
weighted and also when the weighing factor of all the criteria are the
same the Injection priority is obtained.
Abstract: Facility location problem involves locating a facility
to optimize some performance measures. Location of a public facility
to serve the community, such as a fire station, significantly affects its
service quality. Main objective in locating a fire station is to
minimize the response time, which is the time duration between
receiving a call and reaching the place of incident. In metropolitan
areas, fire vehicles need to cross highways and other traffic obstacles
through some obstacle-overcoming points which delay the response
time. In this paper, fire station location problem is analyzed.
Simulation models are developed for the location problems which
involve obstacles. Particular case problems are analyzed and the
results are presented.
Abstract: This work represents the first review paper to explore the relationship between perfectionistic personality and borderline personality organization. The developmental origins, identity diffusion, interpersonal difficulties, and defense mechanisms that are common to both borderline personality and the interpersonal components of perfectionism are explored, and existing research on perfectionism and borderline personality is reviewed. The importance of the link between perfectionism and borderline features is discussed in terms of its contribution to the conceptual understanding of personality pathology as well as to applied clinical practices.
Abstract: Coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG) are widely
studied with respect to hemodynamic conditions which play
important role in presence of a restenosis. However, papers which
concern with constitutive modeling of CABG are lacking in the
literature. The purpose of this study is to find a constitutive model for
CABG tissue. A sample of the CABG obtained within an autopsy
underwent an inflation–extension test. Displacements were
recoredered by CCD cameras and subsequently evaluated by digital
image correlation. Pressure – radius and axial force – elongation
data were used to fit material model. The tissue was modeled as onelayered
composite reinforced by two families of helical fibers. The
material is assumed to be locally orthotropic, nonlinear,
incompressible and hyperelastic. Material parameters are estimated
for two strain energy functions (SEF). The first is classical
exponential. The second SEF is logarithmic which allows
interpretation by means of limiting (finite) strain extensibility.
Presented material parameters are estimated by optimization based
on radial and axial equilibrium equation in a thick-walled tube. Both
material models fit experimental data successfully. The exponential
model fits significantly better relationship between axial force and
axial strain than logarithmic one.
Abstract: In this paper, acoustic techniques are used to detect hidden insect infestations of date palm tress (Phoenix dactylifera L.). In particular, we use an acoustic instrument for early discovery of the presence of a destructive insect pest commonly known as the Red Date Palm Weevil (RDPW) and scientifically as Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier). This type of insect attacks date palm tress and causes irreversible damages at late stages. As a result, the infected trees must be destroyed. Therefore, early presence detection is a major part in controlling the spread and economic damage caused by this type of infestation. Furthermore monitoring and early detection of the disease can asses in taking appropriate measures such as isolating or treating the infected trees. The acoustic system is evaluated in terms of its ability for early discovery of hidden bests inside the tested tree. When signal acquisitions is completed for a number of date palms, a signal processing technique known as time-frequency analysis is evaluated in terms of providing an estimate that can be visually used to recognize the acoustic signature of the RDPW. The testing instrument was tested in the laboratory first then; it was used on suspected or infested tress in the field. The final results indicate that the acoustic monitoring approach along with signal processing techniques are very promising for the early detection of presence of the larva as well as the adult pest in the date palms.
Abstract: In the present essay, a model of choice by actors is analysedby utilizing the theory of chaos to explain how change comes about. Then, by using ancient and modern sources of literature, the theory of the social contract is analysed as a historical phenomenon that first appeared during the period of Classical Greece. Then, based on the findings of this analysis, the practice of direct democracy and public choice in ancient Athens is analysed, through two historical cases: Eubulus and Lycurgus political program in the second half of the 4th century. The main finding of this research is that these policies can be interpreted as an implementation of a social contract, through which citizens were taking decisions based on rational choice according to economic considerations.