Abstract: Processing the data by computers and performing
reasoning tasks is an important aim in Computer Science. Semantic
Web is one step towards it. The use of ontologies to enhance the
information by semantically is the current trend. Huge amount of
domain specific, unstructured on-line data needs to be expressed in
machine understandable and semantically searchable format.
Currently users are often forced to search manually in the results
returned by the keyword-based search services. They also want to use
their native languages to express what they search. In this paper, an
ontology-based automated question answering system on software
test documents domain is presented. The system allows users to enter
a question about the domain by means of natural language and
returns exact answer of the questions. Conversion of the natural
language question into the ontology based query is the challenging
part of the system. To be able to achieve this, a new algorithm
regarding free text to ontology based search engine query conversion
is proposed. The algorithm is based on investigation of suitable
question type and parsing the words of the question sentence.
Abstract: The use of solar control film on windows as one of
solar passive strategies for building have becoming important and is
gaining recognition. Malaysia located close to equator is having
warm humid climate with long sunshine hours and abundant solar
radiation throughout the year. Hence, befitting solar control on
windows is absolutely necessary to capture the daylight whilst
moderating thermal impact and eliminating glare problems. This is
one of the energy efficient strategies to achieve thermal and visual
comfort in buildings. Therefore, this study was carried out to
investigate the effect of window solar controls on thermal and visual
performance of naturally ventilated buildings. This was conducted via
field data monitoring using a test building facility. Four types of
window glazing systems were used with three types of solar control
films. Data were analysed for thermal and visual impact with
reference to thermal and optical characteristics of the films. Results
show that for each glazing system, the surface temperature of
windows are influenced by the Solar Energy Absorption property, the
indoor air temperature are influenced by the Solar Energy
Transmittance and Solar Energy Reflectance, and the daylighting by
Visible Light Transmission and Shading Coefficient. Further
investigations are underway to determine the mathematical relation
between thermal energy and visual performance with the thermal and
optical characteristics of solar control films.
Abstract: Effect of temperature and light was investigated on a
thin film of organic semiconductor formyl-TIPPCu(II) deposited on a
glass substrate with preliminary evaporated gold electrodes. The
electrical capacitance and resistance of the fabricated device were
evaluated under the effect of temperature and light. The relative
capacitance of the fabricated sensor increased by 4.3 times by rising
temperature from 27 to 1870C, while under illumination up to 25000
lx, the capacitance of the Au/formyl-TIPPCu(II)/Au photo capacitive
sensor increased continuously by 13.2 times as compared to dark
conditions.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate whether
magnetite nanoparticles affect the viability of Bradyrhizobium
japanicum cells residing on the surface of soybean seeds during
desiccation. Different concentrations of nanoparticles suspended in
liquid medium, mixed with and adhering to Bradyrhizobium
japanicum, were investigated at two temperatures, using both
soybean seeds and glass beads as surrogates. Statistical design was a
complete randomized block (CRB) in a factorial 6×2×2×6
experimental arrangement with four replications. The most important
variable was the viability of Bradyrhizobium on the surface of the
seeds. The nanoparticles increased Bradyrhizobium viability and
inoculated seeds stored at low temperature had greater viability when
nanoparticles had been added. At the optimum nanoparticle
concentration, 50% bacterium viability on the seeds was retained
after 5 days at 4ºC. Possible explanations for the observed effects are
proposed.
Abstract: The combustion chamber dimensions have important
effects on pollutant emission in furnaces as a direct result of
temperature distribution and maximum temperature value. In this
paper the pollutant emission and the temperature distribution in two
cylindrical furnaces with different dimensions (with similar length to
diameter ratio) in similar condition have been investigated
experimentally. The furnace fuel is gas oil that is used with three
different flow rates. The results show that in these two cases the
temperature increases to its maximum value quickly, and then
decreases slowly. The results also show that increase in fuel flow rate
cause to increase in NOx emission in each case, but this increase is
greater in small furnace. With increase in fuel flow rate, CO emission
decreases firstly, and then it increases. Combustion efficiency
reduces with increase in fuel flow rate but the rate of reduction in
small furnace is greater than large furnace. The results of axial
temperature distribution have been compared with those have been
obtained numerically and experimentally by Moghiman.
Abstract: Turbulent heat transfer to fluid flow through channel with triangular ribs of different angles are presented in this paper. Ansys 14 ICEM and Ansys 14 Fluent are used for meshing process and solving Navier stokes equations respectively. In this investigation three angles of triangular ribs with the range of Reynolds number varied from 20000 to 60000 at constant surface temperature are considered. The results show that the Nusselt number increases with the increase of Reynolds number for all cases at constant surface temperature. According to the profile of local Nusselt number on ribs walled of channel, the peak is at the midpoint between the two ribs. The maximum value of average Nusselt number is obtained for triangular ribs of angel 60°and at Reynolds number of 60000 compared to the Nusselt number for the ribs of angel 90° and 45° and at same Reynolds number. The recirculation regions generated by the ribs corresponding to the velocity streamline show the largest recirculation region at triangular ribs of angle 60° which also provides the highest enhancement of heat transfer.
Abstract: Seasonal variability of nutrients concentration in the Baltic Sea using the 3D ecosystem numerical model 3D-CEMBS has been investigated. Additionally this study shows horizontal and vertical distribution of nutrients in the Baltic Sea. Model domain is an extended Baltic Sea area divided into 600x640 horizontal grid cells. Aside from standard hydrodynamic parameters 3D-CEMBS produces modeled ecological variables such as: three types of phytoplankton, two detrital classes, dissolved oxygen and the nutrients (nitrate, ammonium, phosphate and silicate). The presented model allows prediction of parameters that describe distribution of nutrients concentration and phytoplankton biomass. 3D-CEMBS can be used to study the effect of different hydrodynamic and biogeochemical processes on distributions of these variables in a larger scale.
Abstract: This article analyses the peculiarities of Japan’s policy toward the countries of Central Asia. The increasing role of Central Asia in the system of international relations engendered an objective need for understanding of the policy of leading states, including Japan, in the region in the twenty-first century. The purpose of the study is to investigate the peculiarities of the formation and development of Japan policy in Central Asia and to identify the problems and prospects of Japan’s policy toward the countries of the region on the basis of experts’ opinions. In this article, the method of analysis of the situation and a systematic method were used. Prognostic methods, the collective expert assessment and scenarios were used in the study to determine the prospects of Japan’s policy toward the countries of Central Asia.
Abstract: This study uses natural water and the surface properties of powdered activated carbon to acclimatize organics, forming biofilms on the surface of powdered activated carbon. To investigate the influence of different hydraulic retention times on the removal efficacy of trace organics in raw water, and to determine the optimal hydraulic retention time of a biological powdered activated carbon system, this study selects ozone-treated water processed by Feng-shan Advanced Water Purification Plant in southern Taiwan for the experiment. The evaluation indicators include assimilable organic carbon, dissolved organic carbon, and total organic carbon. The results of this study can improve the quality of drinking water treated using advanced water purification procedures.
Abstract: In this research, the researchers have managed to
design a model to investigate the current trend of stock price of the
"IRAN KHODRO corporation" at Tehran Stock Exchange by
utilizing an Adaptive Neuro - Fuzzy Inference system. For the Longterm
Period, a Neuro-Fuzzy with two Triangular membership
functions and four independent Variables including trade volume,
Dividend Per Share (DPS), Price to Earning Ratio (P/E), and also
closing Price and Stock Price fluctuation as an dependent variable are
selected as an optimal model. For the short-term Period, a neureo –
fuzzy model with two triangular membership functions for the first
quarter of a year, two trapezoidal membership functions for the
Second quarter of a year, two Gaussian combination membership
functions for the third quarter of a year and two trapezoidal
membership functions for the fourth quarter of a year were selected
as an optimal model for the stock price forecasting. In addition, three
independent variables including trade volume, price to earning ratio,
closing Stock Price and a dependent variable of stock price
fluctuation were selected as an optimal model. The findings of the
research demonstrate that the trend of stock price could be forecasted
with the lower level of error.
Abstract: The main purpose of the research is to address the role of psychological harassment behaviors (mobbing) to which employees are exposed and personality characteristics over work alienation. Research population was composed of the employees of Provincial Special Administration. A survey with four sections was created to measure variables and reach out the basic goals of the research. Correlation and step-wise regression analyses were performed to investigate the separate and overall effects of sub-dimensions of psychological harassment behaviors and personality characteristic on work alienation of employees. Correlation analysis revealed significant but weak relationships between work alienation and psychological harassment and personality characteristics. Step-wise regression analysis revealed also significant relationships between work alienation variable and assault to personality, direct negative behaviors (sub dimensions of mobbing) and openness (sub-dimension of personality characteristics). Each variable was introduced into the model step by step to investigate the effects of significant variables in explaining the variations in work alienation. While the explanation ratio of the first model was 13%, the last model including three variables had an explanation ratio of 24%.
Abstract: Membrane distillation (MD) is a rising technology for
seawater or brine desalination process. In this work, an air gap
membrane distillation (AGMD) performance was investigated for
aqueous NaCl solution along with natural ground water and seawater.
In order to enhance the performance of the AGMD process in
desalination, that is, to get more flux, it is necessary to study the
effect of operating parameters on the yield of distillate water. The
influence of operational parameters such as feed flow rate, feed
temperature, feed salt concentration, coolant temperature and air gap
thickness on the membrane distillation (MD) permeation flux have
been investigated for low and high salt solution. the natural
application of ground water and seawater over 90 h continuous
operation, scale deposits observed on the membrane surface and
reduction in flux represents 23% for ground water and 60% for
seawater, in 90 h. This reduction was eliminated (less than 14 %) by
acidification of feed water. Hence, promote the research attention in
apply of AGMD for the ground water as well as seawater
desalination over today-s conventional RO operation.
Abstract: The thermal expansion behaviour of silicon carbide
(SCS-2) fibre reinforced 6061 aluminium matrix composite subjected
to the influenced thermal mechanical cycling (TMC) process were
investigated. The thermal stress has important effect on the
longitudinal thermal expansion coefficient of the composites. The
present paper used experimental data of the thermal expansion
behaviour of a SiC/Al composite for temperatures up to 370°C, in
which their data was used for carrying out modelling of theoretical
predictions.
Abstract: Land surface temperature (LST) is an important
parameter to study in urban climate. The understanding of the
influence of biophysical factors could improve the establishment of
modeling urban thermal landscape. It is well established that climate
hold a great influence on the urban landscape. However, it has been
recognize that climate has a low priority in urban planning process,
due to the complex nature of its influence. This study will focus on
the relatively cloud free Landsat Thematic Mapper image of the study
area, acquired on the 2nd March 2006. Correlation analyses were
conducted to identify the relationship of LST to the biophysical
factors; vegetation indices, impervious surface, and albedo to
investigate the variation of LST. We suggest that the results can be
considered by the stackholders during decision-making process to
create a cooler and comfortable environment in the urban landscape
for city dwellers.
Abstract: The antimicrobial, antiplasmid and cytotoxic activities of marine algae Halimeda opuntia and Sarconema filiforme were investigated. Antimicrobial bioassay against some human pathogenic bacteria and yeast were conducted using disc diffusion method. Halimeda extract exhibited antibacterial activity against six species of microrganisms, with significant inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus. While Sarconema extract was better potent as antifungal against Candida albicans. Comparative antibacterial studies showed that Halimeda extract showed equivalent or better activity as compared with commercial antibiotic when tested against Staphylococcus aureus. Further tests conducted using dilution method showed both extracts as having bacteriostatic mode of action against the tested microorganisms. Methanol extract of two species showed significant cytotoxicity (LC50
Abstract: A facile vapour deposition method of synthesis of vertically aligned ZnO nanowires on carbon seed layer was developed. The received samples were investigated on electronic microscope JSM-6490 LA JEOL and x-ray diffractometer X, pert MPD PRO. The photoluminescence spectra (PL) of obtained ZnO samples at a room temperature were studied using He-Cd laser (325 nm line) as excitation source.
Abstract: This paper presents a microstrip meandered open
circuited stub with bandstop characteristic. The proposed structure is
designed on a high frequency laminate with dielectric constant of 4.0
and board thickness of 0.508 millimeters. The scattering parameters
and electromagnetic field distributions at various frequencies are
investigated by modeling the structure with three dimensional
electromagnetic simulation tool. In order to describe the resonant
and bandstop characteristic of the meandered open circuited stub, a
Smith chart as well as electric field at various frequencies and phases
is illustrated accordingly. The structure can be an alternative method
in suppressing the harmonic response of a bandpass filter.
Abstract: Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks pose a
serious threat to network security. There have been a lot of
methodologies and tools devised to detect DDoS attacks and reduce
the damage they cause. Still, most of the methods cannot
simultaneously achieve (1) efficient detection with a small number of
false alarms and (2) real-time transfer of packets. Here, we introduce
a method for proactive detection of DDoS attacks, by classifying the
network status, to be utilized in the detection stage of the proposed
anti-DDoS framework. Initially, we analyse the DDoS architecture
and obtain details of its phases. Then, we investigate the procedures
of DDoS attacks and select variables based on these features. Finally,
we apply the k-nearest neighbour (k-NN) method to classify the
network status into each phase of DDoS attack. The simulation result
showed that each phase of the attack scenario is classified well and
we could detect DDoS attack in the early stage.
Abstract: This paper investigates the performance of Multiple- Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) feedback system combined with Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM). Two types of codebook based channel feedback techniques are used in this work. The first feedback technique uses a combination of both the long-term and short-term channel state information (CSI) at the transmitter, whereas the second technique uses only the short term CSI. The long-term and short-term CSI at the transmitter is used for efficient channel utilization. OFDM is a powerful technique employed in communication systems suffering from frequency selectivity. Combined with multiple antennas at the transmitter and receiver, OFDM proves to be robust against delay spread. Moreover, it leads to significant data rates with improved bit error performance over links having only a single antenna at both the transmitter and receiver. The effectiveness of these techniques has been demonstrated through the simulation of a MIMO-OFDM feedback system. The results have been evaluated for 4x4 MIMO channels. Simulation results indicate the benefits of the MIMO-OFDM channel feedback system over the one without incorporating OFDM. Performance gain of about 3 dB is observed for MIMO-OFDM feedback system as compared to the one without employing OFDM. Hence MIMO-OFDM becomes an attractive approach for future high speed wireless communication systems.
Abstract: The globe Sustainability has become the subject of international attention, the key reason is that global climate change. Climate and disasters around the abnormal frequency multiplier, the global temperature of the catastrophe and disaster continue to occur throughout the world, as well as countries around the world. Currently there are many important international conferences and policy, it is a "global environmental sustainability " and "living human health " as the goal of development, including the APEC 2007 meeting to "climate Clean Energy" as the theme Sydney Declaration, 2008 World Economic Forum's "Carbon - promote Cool Earth energy efficiency improvement project", the EU proposed "Green Idea" program, the Japanese annual policy, "low-carbon society, sustainable eco-city environment (Eco City) "And from 2009 to 2010 to promote the "Eco-Point" to promote green energy and carbon reduction products .And the 2010 World Climate Change Conference (COP16 United Nations Climate Change Conference Copenhagen), the world has been the subject of Negative conservative "Environmental Protection ", "save energy consumption, " into a positive response to the "Sustainable " and" LOHAS", while Taiwan has actively put forward eco-cities, green building, green building materials and other related environmental response Measures, especially green building construction environment that is the basis of factors, the most widely used application level, and direct contact with human health and the key to sustainable planet. "Sustainable development "is a necessary condition for continuation of the Earth, "healthy and comfortable" is a necessary condition for the continuation of life, and improve the "quality" is a necessary condition for economic development, balance between the three is "to enhance the efficiency of ", According to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) for the "environmental efficiency "(Eco-Efficiency) proposed: " the achievement of environmental efficiency, the price to be competitive in the provision of goods or services to meet people's needs, improve living Quality at the same time, the goods or services throughout the life cycle. Its impact on the environment and natural resource utilization and gradually reduced to the extent the Earth can load. "whichever is the economy "Economic" and " Ecologic". The research into the methodology to obtain the Taiwan Green Building Material Labeling product as the scope of the study, by investigating and weight analysis to explore green building environmental load (Ln) factor and the Green Building Quality (Qn) factor to Establish green building environmental efficiency assessment model (GBM Eco-Efficiency). And building materials for healthy green label products for priority assessment object, the object is set in the material evidence for the direct response to the environmental load from the floor class-based, explicit feedback correction to the Green Building environmental efficiency assessment model, "efficiency " as a starting point to achieve balance between human "health "and Earth "sustainable development of win-win strategy. The study is expected to reach 1.To establish green building materials and the quality of environmental impact assessment system, 2. To establish value of GBM Eco-Efficiency model, 3. To establish the GBM Eco-Efficiency model for application of green building material feedback mechanisms.