Abstract: Business process modeling has become an accepted
means for designing and describing business operations. Thereby,
consistency of business process models, i.e., the absence of modeling
faults, is of upmost importance to organizations. This paper presents
a concept and subsequent implementation for detecting faults in
business process models and for computing a measure of their
consistency. It incorporates not only syntactic consistency but also
semantic consistency, i.e., consistency regarding the meaning of
model elements from a business perspective.
Abstract: This article presents a current-mode quadrature
oscillator using differential different current conveyor (DDCC) and
voltage differencing transconductance amplifier (VDTA) as active
elements. The proposed circuit is realized fro m a non-inverting
lossless integrator and an inverting second order low-pass filter. The
oscillation condition and oscillation frequency can be
electronically/orthogonally controlled via input bias currents. The
circuit description is very simple, consisting of merely 1 DDCC, 1
VDTA, 1 grounded resistor and 3 grounded capacitors. Using only
grounded elements, the proposed circuit is then suitable for IC
architecture. The proposed oscillator has high output impedance
which is easy to cascade or dive the external load without the buffer
devices. The PSPICE simulation results are depicted, and the given
results agree well with the theoretical anticipation. The power
consumption is approximately 1.76mW at ±1.25V supply voltages.
Abstract: The crop rice is the staple food of most Sierra Leone
with no close substitute. However, its cultivation has been on its last
legs over the years. The decline in the domestic rice cultivation has
had vicious socio-economic implications such as hiking consumer
prices, balance of payment dilemmas with debt burden. The objective
of this study is thus, to assess the effect of the shift of rural labour
towards non-agricultural sectors on rice cultivation. The tools utilized
for analyzing the problem under consideration involved a thorough
descriptive statistics and generalized linear model using OLS
technique. Increased rural population was established positive and
significant in affecting rice cultivation. Fertilizer utilization was
insignificant in rice cultivation. For reducing the shift of rural labor
force towards nonagricultural sectors, the government should make
the agricultural sector very lucrative.
Abstract: This paper presents a system overview of Mobile to Server Face Recognition, which is a face recognition application developed specifically for mobile phones. Images taken from mobile phone cameras lack of quality due to the low resolution of the cameras. Thus, a prototype is developed to experiment the chosen method. However, this paper shows a result of system backbone without the face recognition functionality. The result demonstrated in this paper indicates that the interaction between mobile phones and server is successfully working. The result shown before the database is completely ready. The system testing is currently going on using real images and a mock-up database to test the functionality of the face recognition algorithm used in this system. An overview of the whole system including screenshots and system flow-chart are presented in this paper. This paper also presents the inspiration or motivation and the justification in developing this system.
Abstract: This article presents the simulation, parameterization and optimization of an electromagnet with the C–shaped configuration, intended for the study of magnetic properties of materials. The electromagnet studied consists of a C-shaped yoke, which provides self–shielding for minimizing losses of magnetic flux density, two poles of high magnetic permeability and power coils wound on the poles. The main physical variable studied was the static magnetic flux density in a column within the gap between the poles, with 4cm2 of square cross section and a length of 5cm, seeking a suitable set of parameters that allow us to achieve a uniform magnetic flux density of 1x104 Gaussor values above this in the column, when the system operates at room temperature and with a current consumption not exceeding 5A. By means of a magnetostatic analysis by the finite element method, the magnetic flux density and the distribution of the magnetic field lines were visualized and quantified. From the results obtained by simulating an initial configuration of electromagnet, a structural optimization of the geometry of the adjustable caps for the ends of the poles was performed. The magnetic permeability effect of the soft magnetic materials used in the poles system, such as low– carbon steel (0.08% C), Permalloy (45% Ni, 54.7% Fe) and Mumetal (21.2% Fe, 78.5% Ni), was also evaluated. The intensity and uniformity of the magnetic field in the gap showed a high dependence with the factors described above. The magnetic field achieved in the column was uniform and its magnitude ranged between 1.5x104 Gauss and 1.9x104 Gauss according to the material of the pole used, with the possibility of increasing the magnetic field by choosing a suitable geometry of the cap, introducing a cooling system for the coils and adjusting the spacing between the poles. This makes the device a versatile and scalable tool to generate the magnetic field necessary to perform magnetic characterization of materials by techniques such as vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), Hall-effect, Kerr-effect magnetometry, among others. Additionally, a CAD design of the modules of the electromagnet is presented in order to facilitate the construction and scaling of the physical device.
Abstract: This paper describes an algorithm to estimate realtime vehicle velocity using image processing technique from the known camera calibration parameters. The presented algorithm involves several main steps. First, the moving object is extracted by utilizing frame differencing technique. Second, the object tracking method is applied and the speed is estimated based on the displacement of the object-s centroid. Several assumptions are listed to simplify the transformation of 2D images from 3D real-world images. The results obtained from the experiment have been compared to the estimated ground truth. From this experiment, it exhibits that the proposed algorithm has achieved the velocity accuracy estimation of about ± 1.7 km/h.
Abstract: Hexavalent chromium is highly toxic to most living organisms and a known human carcinogen by the inhalation route of exposure. Therefore, treatment of Cr(VI) contaminated wastewater is essential before their discharge to the natural water bodies. Cr(VI) reduction to Cr(III) can be beneficial because a more mobile and more toxic chromium species is converted to a less mobile and less toxic form. Zero-valence-state metals, such as scrap iron, can serve as electron donors for reducing Cr(VI) to Cr(III). The influence of pH on scrap iron capacity to reduce Cr(VI) was investigated in this study. Maximum reduction capacity of scrap iron was observed at the beginning of the column experiments; the lower the pH, the greater the experiment duration with maximum scrap iron reduction capacity. The experimental results showed that highest maximum reduction capacity of scrap iron was 12.5 mg Cr(VI)/g scrap iron, at pH 2.0, and decreased with increasing pH up to 1.9 mg Cr(VI)/g scrap iron at pH = 7.3.
Abstract: With the advent of emerging personal computing paradigms such as ubiquitous and mobile computing, Web contents are becoming accessible from a wide range of mobile devices. Since these devices do not have the same rendering capabilities, Web contents need to be adapted for transparent access from a variety of client agents. Such content adaptation is exploited for either an individual element or a set of consecutive elements in a Web document and results in better rendering and faster delivery to the client device. Nevertheless, Web content adaptation sets new challenges for semantic markup. This paper presents an advanced components platform, called SMC, enabling the development of mobility applications and services according to a channel model based on the principles of Services Oriented Architecture (SOA). It then goes on to describe the potential for integration with the Semantic Web through a novel framework of external semantic annotation that prescribes a scheme for representing semantic markup files and a way of associating Web documents with these external annotations. The role of semantic annotation in this framework is to describe the contents of individual documents themselves, assuring the preservation of the semantics during the process of adapting content rendering. Semantic Web content adaptation is a way of adding value to Web contents and facilitates repurposing of Web contents (enhanced browsing, Web Services location and access, etc).
Abstract: Models are placed by modeling paradigm at the center of development process. These models are represented by languages, like UML the language standardized by the OMG which became necessary for development. Moreover the ontology engineering paradigm places ontologies at the center of development process; in this paradigm we find OWL the principal language for knowledge representation. Building ontologies from scratch is generally a difficult task. The bridging between UML and OWL appeared on several regards such as the classes and associations. In this paper, we have to profit from convergence between UML and OWL to propose an approach based on Meta-Modelling and Graph Grammars and registered in the MDA architecture for the automatic generation of OWL ontologies from UML class diagrams. The transformation is based on transformation rules; the level of abstraction in these rules is close to the application in order to have usable ontologies. We illustrate this approach by an example.
Abstract: In this paper, an analytical modeling is presentated to
describe the channel noise in GME SGT/CGT MOSFET, based on
explicit functions of MOSFETs geometry and biasing conditions for
all channel length down to deep submicron and is verified with the
experimental data. Results shows the impact of various parameters
such as gate bias, drain bias, channel length ,device diameter and gate
material work function difference on drain current noise spectral
density of the device reflecting its applicability for circuit design
applications.
Abstract: Computerized alarm systems have been applied
increasingly to nuclear power plants. For existing plants, an add-on
computer alarm system is often installed to the control rooms. Alarm
avalanches during the plant transients are major problems with the
alarm systems in nuclear power plants. Computerized alarm systems
can process alarms to reduce the number of alarms during the plant
transients. This paper describes various alarm processing methods, an
alarm cause tracking function, and various alarm presentation schemes
to show alarm information to the operators effectively which are
considered during the development of several computerized alarm
systems for Korean nuclear power plants and are found to be helpful to
the operators.
Abstract: In many buildings we rely on large footings to offer
structural stability. Designers often compensate for the lack of
knowledge available with regard to foundation-soil interaction by
furnishing structures with overly large footings. This may lead to a
significant increase in building expenditures if many large
foundations are present. This paper describes the interface material
law that governs the behavior along the contact surface of adjacent
materials, and the behavior of a large foundation under ultimate limit
loading. A case study is chosen that represents a common
foundation-soil system frequently used in general practice and
therefore relevant to other structures. Investigations include
compressing versus uplifting wind forces, alterations to the
foundation size and subgrade compositions, the role of the slab
stiffness and presence and the effect of commonly used structural
joints and connections. These investigations aim to provide the
reader with an objective design approach, efficiently preventing
structural instability.
Abstract: This paper presents kinematic and dynamic analysis of a novel 8-DOF hybrid robot manipulator. The hybrid robot manipulator under consideration consists of a parallel robot which
is followed by a serial mechanism. The parallel mechanism has three translational DOF, and the serial mechanism has five DOF so that the overall degree of freedom is eight. The introduced
manipulator has a wide workspace and a high capability to reduce
the actuating energy. The inverse and forward kinematic solutions are described in closed form. The theoretical results are verified by
a numerical example. Inverse dynamic analysis of the robot is presented by utilizing the Iterative Newton-Euler and Lagrange dynamic formulation methods. Finally, for performing a multi-step
arc welding process, results have indicated that the introduced manipulator is highly capable of reducing the actuating energy.
Abstract: This article makes and attempt to disclose the
dynamics of development of social interactions in an aggravated
environment in relation to the distinctive features of religious wars
and their negative impact to the society. Crisis situations that took
place in all spheres of social life are described, on the grounds of
which the author comes to specific conclusions.
Abstract: In this paper, we present a comparative study between two computer vision systems for objects recognition and tracking, these algorithms describe two different approach based on regions constituted by a set of pixels which parameterized objects in shot sequences. For the image segmentation and objects detection, the FCM technique is used, the overlapping between cluster's distribution is minimized by the use of suitable color space (other that the RGB one). The first technique takes into account a priori probabilities governing the computation of various clusters to track objects. A Parzen kernel method is described and allows identifying the players in each frame, we also show the importance of standard deviation value research of the Gaussian probability density function. Region matching is carried out by an algorithm that operates on the Mahalanobis distance between region descriptors in two subsequent frames and uses singular value decomposition to compute a set of correspondences satisfying both the principle of proximity and the principle of exclusion.
Abstract: A cross sectional survey design was used to collect
data from 370 diabetic patients. Two instruments were used in
obtaining data; in-depth interview guide and researchers- developed
questionnaire. Fisher's exact test was used to investigate association
between the identified factors and nonadherence. Factors identified
were: socio-demographic factors such as: gender, age, marital status,
educational level and occupation; psychosocial obstacles such as:
non-affordability of prescribed diet, frustration due to the restriction,
limited spousal support, feelings of deprivation, feeling that
temptation is inevitable, difficulty in adhering in social gatherings
and difficulty in revealing to host that one is diabetic; health care
providers obstacles were: poor attitude of health workers, irregular
diabetes education in clinics , limited number of nutrition education
sessions/ inability of the patients to estimate the desired quantity of
food, no reminder post cards or phone calls about upcoming patient
appointments and delayed start of appointment / time wasting in
clinics.
Abstract: In the past years, the world has witnessed significant work in the field of Manufacturing. Special efforts have been made in the implementation of new technologies, management and control systems, among many others which have all evolved the field. Closely following all this, due to the scope of new projects and the need of turning the existing flexible ideas into more autonomous and intelligent ones, i.e.: moving toward a more intelligent manufacturing, the present paper emerges with the main aim of contributing to the analysis and a few customization issues of a new iCIM 3000 system at the IPSAM. In this process, special emphasis in made on the material flow problem. For this, besides offering a description and analysis of the system and its main parts, also some tips on how to define other possible alternative material flow scenarios and a partial analysis of the combinatorial nature of the problem are offered as well. All this is done with the intentions of relating it with the use of simulation tools, for which these have been briefly addressed with a special focus on the Witness simulation package. For a better comprehension, the previous elements are supported by a few figures and expressions which would help obtaining necessary data. Such data and others will be used in the future, when simulating the scenarios in the search of the best material flow configurations.
Abstract: Lately, significant work in the area of Intelligent
Manufacturing has become public and mainly applied within the
frame of industrial purposes. Special efforts have been made in the
implementation of new technologies, management and control
systems, among many others which have all evolved the field. Aware
of all this and due to the scope of new projects and the need of
turning the existing flexible ideas into more autonomous and
intelligent ones, i.e.: Intelligent Manufacturing, the present paper
emerges with the main aim of contributing to the design and analysis
of the material flow in either systems, cells or work stations under
this new “intelligent" denomination. For this, besides offering a
conceptual basis in some of the key points to be taken into account
and some general principles to consider in the design and analysis of
the material flow, also some tips on how to define other possible
alternative material flow scenarios and a classification of the states a
system, cell or workstation are offered as well. All this is done with
the intentions of relating it with the use of simulation tools, for which
these have been briefly addressed with a special focus on the Witness
simulation package. For a better comprehension, the previous
elements are supported by a detailed layout, other figures and a few
expressions which could help obtaining necessary data. Such data and
others will be used in the future, when simulating the scenarios in the
search of the best material flow configurations.
Abstract: Supersonic hydrogen-air cylindrical mixing layer is
numerically analyzed to investigate the effect of inlet swirl on
ignition time delay in scramjets. Combustion is treated using detail
chemical kinetics. One-equation turbulence model of Spalart and
Allmaras is chosen to study the problem and advection upstream
splitting method is used as computational scheme. The results show
that swirling both fuel and oxidizer streams may drastically decrease
the ignition distance in supersonic combustion, unlike using the swirl
just in fuel stream which has no helpful effect.
Abstract: Candida albicans ATCC 10231 had low endogenous activity of the alternative oxidase compared with that of C. albicans ATCC 10261. In C. albicans ATCC 10231 the endogenous activity declined as the cultures aged. Alternative oxidase activity could be induced in C. albicans ATCC 10231 by treatment with cyanide, but the induction of this activity required the presence of oxygen which could be replaced, at least in part, with high concentrations of potassium ferricyanide. We infer from this that the expression of the gene encoding the alternative oxidase is under the control of a redoxsensitive transcription factor.