Abstract: The full length mitochondrial small subunit ribosomal
(mt-rns) gene has been characterized for Ophiostoma novo-ulmi
subspecies americana. The gene was also characterized for
Ophiostoma ulmi and a group II intron was noted in the mt-rns gene
of O. ulmi. The insertion in the mt-rns gene is at position S952 and it
is a group IIB1 intron that encodes a double motif LAGLIDADG
homing endonuclease from an open reading frame located within a
loop of domain III. Secondary structure models for the mt-rns RNA
of O. novo-ulmi subsp. americana and O. ulmi were generated to
place the intron within the context of the ribosomal RNA. The in vivo
splicing of the O.ul-mS952 group II intron was confirmed with
reverse transcription-PCR. A survey of 182 strains of Dutch Elm
Diseases causing agents showed that the mS952 intron was absent in
what is considered to be the more aggressive species O. novo-ulmi
but present in strains of the less aggressive O. ulmi. This observation
suggests that the O.ul-mS952 intron can be used as a PCR-based
molecular marker to discriminate between O. ulmi and O. novo-ulmi
subsp. americana.
Abstract: In this paper, a vision based system has been used for
controlling an industrial 3P Cartesian robot. The vision system will
recognize the target and control the robot by obtaining images from
environment and processing them. At the first stage, images from
environment are changed to a grayscale mode then it can diverse and
identify objects and noises by using a threshold objects which are
stored in different frames and then the main object will be
recognized. This will control the robot to achieve the target. A vision
system can be an appropriate tool for measuring errors of a robot in a
situation where the experimental test is conducted for a 3P robot.
Finally, the international standard ANSI/RIA R15.05-2 is used for
evaluating the path-related characteristics of the robot. To evaluate
the performance of the proposed method experimental test is carried
out.
Abstract: Risk Assessment Tool (RAT) is an expert system that
assesses, monitors, and gives preliminary treatments automatically
based on the project plan. In this paper, a review was taken out for
the current project time management risk assessment tools for SME
software development projects, analyze risk assessment parameters,
conditions, scenarios, and finally propose risk assessment tool (RAT)
model to assess, treat, and monitor risks. An implementation prototype
system is developed to validate the model.
Abstract: In many sensor network applications, sensor nodes are deployed in open environments, and hence are vulnerable to physical attacks, potentially compromising the node's cryptographic keys. False sensing report can be injected through compromised nodes, which can lead to not only false alarms but also the depletion of limited energy resource in battery powered networks. Ye et al. proposed a statistical en-route filtering scheme (SEF) to detect such false reports during the forwarding process. In this scheme, the choice of a security threshold value is important since it trades off detection power and overhead. In this paper, we propose a fuzzy logic for determining a security threshold value in the SEF based sensor networks. The fuzzy logic determines a security threshold by considering the number of partitions in a global key pool, the number of compromised partitions, and the energy level of nodes. The fuzzy based threshold value can conserve energy, while it provides sufficient detection power.
Abstract: An increasingly dynamic and complex environment poses huge challenges to production enterprises, especially with regards to logistics. The Logistic Operating Curve Theory, developed at the Institute of Production Systems and Logistics (IFA) of the Leibniz University of Hanover, is a recognized approach to describing logistic interactions, nevertheless, it reaches its limits when it comes to the dynamic aspects. In order to facilitate a timely and optimal Logistic Positioning a method is developed for quickly and reliably identifying dynamic processing states.
Abstract: Fractional-order controller was proven to perform better than the integer-order controller. However, the absence of a pole at origin produced marginal error in fractional-order control system. This study demonstrated the enhancement of the fractionalorder PI over the integer-order PI in a steam temperature control. The fractional-order controller was cascaded with an error compensator comprised of a very small zero and a pole at origin to produce a zero steady-state error for the closed-loop system. Some modification on the error compensator was suggested for different order fractional integrator that can improve the overall phase margin.
Abstract: Advertising is one of the important marketing
strategies and the choice of media is an important aspect of
effectiveness of advertising media. The two most popular advertising
media, TV and web media are highly effective in creating successful
advertisements as they influence the purchase decision of the
viewers. Although TV and web are electronic media, they are unique
in their features and traits of advertising. Hence, the present study
attempts to analyze the influence of these two media towards buying
behavior of the viewers. The two media are analyzed separately to
determine its level of influence towards buying behavior and finally a
comparative analysis of these media is attempted to find the
difference in their level of influence.
Abstract: One of the most importance of intelligence in-car and
roadside systems is the cooperative vehicle-infrastructure system. In
Thailand, ITS technologies are rapidly growing and real-time vehicle
information is considerably needed for ITS applications; for example,
vehicle fleet tracking and control and road traffic monitoring
systems. This paper defines the communication protocols and
software design for middleware components of B-VIS (Burapha
Vehicle-Infrastructure System). The proposed B-VIS middleware architecture serves the needs of a distributed RFID sensor network and simplifies some intricate details of several communication standards.
Abstract: In this paper, we propose a novel approach for image
segmentation via fuzzification of Rènyi Entropy of Generalized
Distributions (REGD). The fuzzy REGD is used to precisely measure
the structural information of image and to locate the optimal
threshold desired by segmentation. The proposed approach draws
upon the postulation that the optimal threshold concurs with
maximum information content of the distribution. The contributions
in the paper are as follow: Initially, the fuzzy REGD as a measure of
the spatial structure of image is introduced. Then, we propose an
efficient entropic segmentation approach using fuzzy REGD.
However the proposed approach belongs to entropic segmentation
approaches (i.e. these approaches are commonly applied to grayscale
images), it is adapted to be viable for segmenting color images.
Lastly, diverse experiments on real images that show the superior
performance of the proposed method are carried out.
Abstract: South Africa is facing a crisis with not being able to produce enough graduates in the scarce skills areas to sustain economic growth. The crisis is fuelled by a school system that does not produce enough potential students with Mathematics, Accounting and Science. Since the introduction of the new school curriculum in 2008, there is no longer an option to take pure maths on a standard grade level. Instead, only two mathematical subjects are offered: pure maths (which is on par with higher grade maths) and mathematical literacy. It is compulsory to take one or the other. As a result, lees student finishes Grade 12 with pure mathematics every year. This national problem needs urgent attention if South Africa is to make any headway in critical skills development as mathematics is a gateway to scarce skills professions. Higher education institutions initiated several initiatives in an attempt to address the above, including preparatory courses, bridging programmes and extended curricula with foundation provisions. In view of the above, and government policy directives to broaden access in the scarce skills areas to increase student throughput, foundation provision was introduced for Commerce and Information Technology programmes at the Vaal Triangle Campus (VTC) of North-West University (NWU) in 2010. Students enrolling for extended programmes do not comply with the minimum prerequisites for the normal programmes. The question then arises as to whether these programmes have the intended impact? This paper reports the results of a two year longitudinal study, tracking the first year academic achievement of the two cohorts of enrolments since 2010. The results provide valuable insight into the structuring of an extended programme and its potential impact.
Abstract: Many supervised induction algorithms require discrete
data, even while real data often comes in a discrete
and continuous formats. Quality discretization of continuous
attributes is an important problem that has effects on speed,
accuracy and understandability of the induction models. Usually,
discretization and other types of statistical processes are applied
to subsets of the population as the entire population is practically
inaccessible. For this reason we argue that the discretization
performed on a sample of the population is only an estimate of
the entire population. Most of the existing discretization methods,
partition the attribute range into two or several intervals using
a single or a set of cut points. In this paper, we introduce a
technique by using resampling (such as bootstrap) to generate
a set of candidate discretization points and thus, improving the
discretization quality by providing a better estimation towards
the entire population. Thus, the goal of this paper is to observe
whether the resampling technique can lead to better discretization
points, which opens up a new paradigm to construction of
soft decision trees.
Abstract: The aim of this study is to investigate the kinematics of undulatory elongated fish swimming against a velocity flow. We perform the experiments on European eel Anguilla Anguilla swimming in a hydrodynamic re-circulating tank with the velocity flow fixed at 0.2 m/s. We find that the undulating shape of overall eel body changes when it swims slantwise from the flow direction, by comparison to axial undulation shape. We examine this kinematics and we propose a general equation describing the lateral position of undulation body taking into account the direction of the eel-s swimming.
Abstract: Throughout the world, the Islamic way of banking and
financing is increasing. The same trend is also visible in Pakistan, where the Islamic banking sector is increasing in size and volume
each year. The question immediately arises as why the Pakistanis patronize the Islamic banking system? This study was carried out to
find whether following the Islamic rules in finance is the main factor for such selection or whether other factors such as customer service,
location, banking hour, physical facilities of the bank etc also have
importance. The study was carried by distributing questionnaire and
200 responses were collected from the clients of Islamic banks. The result showed that the service quality and other factors are as
important as following the Islamic rules for finance to retain old ustomers and catch new customers. The result is important and
Islamic banks can take actions accordingly to look after both the factors
Abstract: This paper describes the two stage control using a disturbance observer and a Kalman filter. The system feedback uses the estimated state when it controls the speed. After the change-over point, its feedback uses the controlled plant output when it controls the position. To change the system continually, a change-over point has to be determined pertinently, and the controlled plant input has to be adjusted by the addition of the appropriate value. The proposed method has noise-reduction effect. It changes the system continually, even if the controlled plant identification has the error. Although the conventional method needs a speed sensor, the proposed method does not need it. The proposed method has a superior robustness compared with the conventional two stage control.
Abstract: The rapid advance of communication technology is
evolving the network environment into the broadband convergence
network. Likewise, the IT services operated in the individual network
are also being quickly converged in the broadband convergence
network environment. VoIP and IPTV are two examples of such new
services. Efforts are being made to develop the video phone service,
which is an advanced form of the voice-oriented VoIP service.
However, the new IT services will be subject to stability and reliability
vulnerabilities if the relevant security issues are not answered during
the convergence of the existing IT services currently being operated in
individual networks within the wider broadband network
environment. To resolve such problems, this paper attempts to analyze
the possible threats and identify the necessary security measures
before the deployment of the new IT services. Furthermore, it
measures the quality of the encryption algorithm application example
to describe the appropriate algorithm in order to present security
technology that will have no negative impact on the quality of the
video phone service.
Abstract: Many firms implemented various initiatives such as outsourced manufacturing which could make a supply chain (SC) more vulnerable to various types of disruptions. So managing risk has become a critical component of SC management. Different types of SC vulnerability management methodologies have been proposed for managing SC risk, most offer only point-based solutions that deal with a limited set of risks. This research aims to reinforce SC risk management by proposing an integrated approach. SC risks are identified and a risk index classification structure is created. Then we develop a SC risk assessment approach based on the analytic network process (ANP) and the VIKOR methods under the fuzzy environment where the vagueness and subjectivity are handled with linguistic terms parameterized by triangular fuzzy numbers. By using FANP, risks weights are calculated and then inserted to the FVIKOR to rank the SC members and find the most risky partner.
Abstract: Inter-symbol interference if not taken care off may cause severe error at the receiver and the detection of signal becomes difficult. An adaptive equalizer employing Recursive Least Squares algorithm can be a good compensation for the ISI problem. In this paper performance of communication link in presence of Least Mean Square and Recursive Least Squares equalizer algorithm is analyzed. A Model of communication system having Quadrature amplitude modulation and Rician fading channel is implemented using MATLAB communication block set. Bit error rate and number of errors is evaluated for RLS and LMS equalizer algorithm, due to change in Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) and fading component gain in Rician fading Channel.
Abstract: The city of Suceava, one of the most important
medieval capital of Moldova, owes its urban genesis to the power
center established in its territory at the turn of the thirteenth and
fourteenth centuries. Freed from the effective control exercised by
the Emir Nogai through Alanians, the local center of power evolved
as the main representative of the interests of indigenous people in
relation to the Hungarian Angevin dinasty and to their
representatives from Maramures. From this perspective, the political
and military role of the settlement of Suceava was archeologically
proved by the discovery of extensive fortifications, unrivaled in the
first half of the XIVth century-s Moldavia. At the end of that century,
voivod Peter I decides to move the capital of the state from Siret to
Suceava. That option stimulated the development of the settlement
on specific urban coordinates.
Abstract: The most widely used semiconductor memory types
are the Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) and Static
Random Access memory (SRAM). Competition among memory
manufacturers drives the need to decrease power consumption and
reduce the probability of read failure. A technology that is relatively
new and has not been explored is the FinFET technology. In this
paper, a single cell Schmitt Trigger Based Static RAM using FinFET
technology is proposed and analyzed. The accuracy of the result is
validated by means of HSPICE simulations with 32nm FinFET
technology and the results are then compared with 6T SRAM using
the same technology.
Abstract: As communications systems and technology become more advanced and complex, it will be increasingly important to focus on users- individual needs. Personalization and effective user profile management will be necessary to ensure the uptake and success of new services and devices and it is therefore important to focus on the users- requirements in this area and define solutions that meet these requirements. The work on personalization and user profiles emerged from earlier ETSI work on a Universal Communications Identifier (UCI) which is a unique identifier of the user rather than a range of identifiers of the many of communication devices or services (e.g. numbers of fixed phone at home/work, mobile phones, fax and email addresses). This paper describes work on personalization including standardized information and preferences and an architectural framework providing a description of how personalization can be integrated in Next Generation Networks, together with the UCI concept.